I Will Fear No Evil (Psalm 23 Mysteries Book 10) (28 page)

“Give him a scratch behind the ears for me,” Geanie said. “When are you introducing him to Jeremiah’s dog?”

“We were thinking maybe sometime next week after Blackie’s settled in a bit more.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” Geanie said.

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

As they exited the office and locked the door Cindy stared in amazement. The line outside the gym was already wrapping three times and the haunted house wasn’t even opening for another hour.

“Definitely more people are going to be here than last night,” Geanie said.

“Well, Dave got his wish. He’s getting all the unchurched kids here one way or another.”

And given all the horror she’d seen in the last week, she couldn’t think of a better thing than that.

23

Cindy had to admit that Geanie and Joseph knew how to throw a party. The couple had certainly taken the Addam’s Family theme to the extreme. They had hired a few local handymen to put up a false facade on the front of their house to make it look like a spooky old mansion and they had redressed everything inside on the bottom floor to fit the theme as well.

She had just walked into the ballroom with the two of them as they were doing final inspections before the party was to begin.

“My darling, how long has it been since we danced?” Joseph asked dramatically, taking Geanie by the hand.

Geanie spun into his arms. “Oh, Joseph. Hours.” They giggled as they spun around the room and Cindy couldn’t help but smile. The two of them were so well-matched it was ridiculous. Plus she had finally watched the first film the night before and she got the reference.

“It’s going to be an awesome party,” Cindy said as they came spinning back and stopped next to her.

“More than you can guess,” Geanie said with a mysterious smile. If there was one thing Geanie loved, it was surprises and Cindy couldn’t even guess what the other woman might have in store for the evening.

“Well, ladies, shall we get ready for the festivities?” Joseph asked with a smile.

Geanie nodded and grabbed Cindy’s arm. “I’m just sorry that in having you come early I’ve robbed you of the chance to arrive at the party in style.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’re using the parking lot at the bottom of the hill and having people ride up it in a horse drawn carriage,” Joseph said. “Maybe if we hurry, though, we’ll all have time to ride down and back up with the first guests.”

“Yes, perfect! I knew there was a reason I married you,” Geanie said flirtatiously. “Now, Cindy and I will get dressed in our room. You can get dressed in your office.”

“Banished again! How cruel, how heartless, I like it,” Joseph said melodramatically. He was clearly working on getting into character.

Cindy went upstairs with Geanie and once they were in the master bedroom Geanie started giggling like she was losing her mind.

“What is it?”

“I can’t tell you, but it’s going to be epic,” Geanie said.

“Okay, then let’s see your dress.”

Geanie walked over to a garment bag hanging on a hook on the wall and pulled out a perfect replica of the Morticia dress from the movie.

“Wow,” Cindy said as Geanie brought it over. “Is that the real one?”

“No. I made this one.”

“You made it?”

“Yup. I made Joseph’s costume, too. The hardest part was finding the right materials.”

Cindy shook her head in amazement. It was just part of the enigma that was Geanie and Joseph. They had all the money in the world and had bought her an expensive, authentic dress from the actual film she loved, and yet when it came to their costumes Geanie had made them herself instead of tracking down the originals or paying someone else to make them.

She shouldn’t have been surprised. Part of the reason she was there early was Geanie had enlisted her help making some of the finger foods for the party even though the desserts were being provided by a caterer.

“You must have put a lot of work into this,” she said, admiring the dress.

“It took weeks,” Geanie said. “But, it will all be worth it tonight. I’m planning on getting lots of pictures.”

“Did you hire a photographer?”

“No, I figured we could just use our cameras. You think I should have?”

“Nah. Everyone will be taking a million pictures with their phones anyway.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Geanie ended up doing Cindy’s hair and makeup for her, and she was blown away by the results when she finally saw herself in the mirror. Once she put the dress on and had safety pinned it so it was nice and snug on top she twirled in the dress.

Geanie clapped her hands. “You look like a real Spanish señorita!” She gave her a little curtsey, “Señorita de la Vega!”

“I can’t believe it,” Cindy said, admiring the entire effect in the full-length mirror in the room.

“Believe it, you look amazing,” Geanie said as she set to work on her own hair.

Forty-five minutes later Cindy was seated across from Geanie and Joseph in a black Cinderella style carriage drawn by four massive black horses as it rolled slowly down the hill. It really did feel like they were driving in style and it helped Cindy get into the mood of a character from a bygone era.

They reached the lower parking lot just as a familiar car was pulling up. Mark stepped out of the car. He looked beyond tired. His movements were slow and his face was haggard. Cindy was stunned to see that he was actually wearing a costume. He was dressed up like Dick Tracy.

The passenger side door opened and Lizzie appeared, looking a lot better than the last time Cindy had seen her. Together they walked up to the carriage. Joseph opened the door and the two climbed in settling next to Cindy.

The driver turned the horses and in short order they were heading up the hill back toward the mansion. Mark leaned his head back.

“Trina’s heading out of town tonight and is going to take Lizzie with her into protective federal custody until the rest of the coven is caught. Trina had some stuff to take care of this afternoon, though, so we decided to meet here,” Mark explained.

“We’re happy to help in any way that we can,” Joseph said.

“I figured we were probably safer here than at home.”

Whatever the reason Cindy was relieved that Mark wouldn’t be alone that night. A couple minutes later the driver pulled up in front of the mansion with a grand flourish.

“Wow,” Lizzie said as she stepped out of the carriage.

Even Mark managed to look impressed.

“Let’s head inside and start attacking the food table,” Geanie said cheerily as she disembarked.

That was precisely what the four of them did. Within five minutes other people began to arrive and the energy in the air was high as people laughed and admired the theming for the party.

Half an hour later the orchestra began playing and couples began migrating to the ballroom. Cindy went along to watch and admire some of the dancers who moved with such grace and ease across the floor that she couldn’t help but wonder if they were professional dancers. The orchestra seemed to be playing a mixture of Halloween themed tunes and the scores from different films.

As one song was coming to an end a thickly accented Spanish voice spoke behind her. “May I have this dance?”

She turned, getting ready to tell whoever it was that she didn’t really dance. She froze before she could say anything, though.

She was staring at Zorro.

He swept low in a courtly bow and when he straightened he gave her a dazzling smile that she recognized.

It was Jeremiah dressed up in a Zorro costume, right down to the cloak and sword. He offered her his hand and she placed hers in it.

“I have to warn you, señor, I’m not a very good dancer,” she admitted.

“That is alright. As it turns out, I’m an excellent dancer,” he said.

He put his other arm around her waist and a moment later he had swept her onto the dance floor just as the first strains of
I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You
began to play. It was the love theme from
The Mask of Zorro
.

Jeremiah was right. He was an amazing dancer and with gentle but firm moves of his hands he guided her in where to go, when to turn, until it felt like they were flying across the floor and that she knew how to dance as well. The more she relaxed into his arms, the more she trusted him, the faster they danced, beginning to move across the floor as one.

Everything else faded away until there was only the two of them and the music driving them onward. When at last it stopped, he twirled her in his arms and then walked with her side-by-side off the dance floor.

“Zorro. Geanie’s idea?” she asked, trying to catch her breath.

“Yes, she told me that it would be perfect. Now I see why.”

Cindy leaned her head on Jeremiah’s shoulder as they walked. Everywhere she looked she saw smiling people in costumes of all sorts. A group of young women had dressed up like the Greek muses and were posing on the grand staircase while a lanky photographer took their picture.

“You look amazing,” Jeremiah said.

“You’re pretty gorgeous yourself.”

They strolled outside, taking in some of the cool, crisp night air. After a few minutes they returned inside and walked into the sitting room where chairs and couches were draped in black fabric. Mark was sitting on one of the couches, phone pressed to his ear.

“It’s nearly a perfect night,” Cindy commented.

“Nearly?” Jeremiah questioned.

“I wish Traci had come.”

“Maybe she’ll come around still. At least she knows her sister is safe.”

Cindy nodded. She didn’t see Lizzie and she wondered if the F.B.I. agent had already come to get her. “I wish they’d caught all the members of the coven. I’m sure once they do, Lizzie will be able to breathe easier.”

“All of us will. I’d be willing to bet, though, that whoever they haven’t rounded up yet is long gone.”

Her eyes drifted around the room and she realized she was looking for Lizzie, but she didn’t see her anywhere. Maybe Trina had already come to get her.

Mark got off the phone and they started to walk toward him when Cindy stopped suddenly, a shudder going through her entire body.

“What is it?” Jeremiah asked.

“The photographer taking the picture of the girls on the stairs,” Cindy said, realization dawning on her.

“Yeah?”

“He’s not supposed to be here. Geanie and Joseph didn’t hire a photographer.”

“Mark! Where’s Lizzie?” Jeremiah asked, moving quickly toward the detective.

Mark frowned and glanced around the room before standing up. “She went to the bathroom a few minutes ago. She should have been back by now.”

“I think someone’s gotten to her,” Cindy said.

“What?”

Jeremiah didn’t have time to answer. He was already on his way back to the foyer. The photographer who had been there just a few minutes before was gone. Jeremiah ran outside, Cindy on his heels, where they found the carriage driver unhitching his horses. He had the first one completely freed and was holding it by the bridle it was still wearing.

“Sorry, animals are taking a break until the end of the evening,” the man said.

“Did you see a tall man come through here, possibly with a woman?” Jeremiah asked.

“Yeah. Two or three minutes ago. He seemed to be in quite a hurry. Of course, he had a very pretty young woman in his arms, carrying her real romantic.”

“Where did they go?”

“They headed for the parking lot.”

Jeremiah took three running steps and jumped on top of the horse. With an exclamation the man let go of the bridle as Jeremiah kicked the animal forward.

“It’s an emergency!” he heard Cindy shouting at the man.

The horse leaped forward and Jeremiah urged him down the hill. They raced down the path, the wind stinging his eyes. The moon sailed high overhead turning the road into a ribbon of light.

They pounded into the parking lot and Jeremiah saw a man ahead of him carrying a woman who was limp in his arms. Jeremiah raced up close then dismounted in one step as he brought the horse to a halt.

The man spun with an oath, dropped Lizzie on the ground, and then stepped to the side. From his waistband he yanked a wicked looking knife. It was very ornate and he guessed it was a ceremonial dagger that the man had taken to use for more than just rituals.

Jeremiah unsheathed his sword, thankful that Geanie had insisted that he wear a real weapon with his costume. The man lunged forward and Jeremiah easily parried and then stabbed him in the arm. The knife dropped from the man’s hands. He warred with himself for a moment. It was always safer to kill your enemies than to let them come back to haunt you another day. Before he could make that decision, though, he heard running footsteps.