In the Paths of Righteousness (Psalm 23 Mysteries) by Debbie Viguié

“I don’t know where they went.”
    “They’ve been gone about ten minutes. I was starting to wonder what’s up.”
    “Yeah, guys don’t go to the bathroom in groups,” Cindy muttered.
    “But girls do.”
    As if reading each other’s minds they both got up at the same time. Cindy winced, reaching for the walking stick Jeremiah had found for her after dinner. Her ankle was still sore even though the pain medication Zack had given her was pretty effective.
    She hobbled slowly alongside Traci and they didn’t speak a word until they were out of earshot of the sleeping figures.
    “Anyone who’s watching should think we’re just heading for the bathroom,” Traci said. “Actually, now that I’m up, that doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. I don’t want to have to go at like four in the morning.”
    “Are you sure my brother won’t have us up at four in the morning anyway?” Cindy asked.
    “He’s crazy. I’m hoping he’s not that crazy,” Traci said.
    “So, where do you think the guys went?” Cindy asked, bringing them back to the topic at hand.
    “Do you think they’re investigating the murder of the cameraman?” Traci asked, eyes widening.
    “What? No, he wasn’t murdered,” Cindy said.
    “Are you so sure?”
    “Yes, why? Do you think he was murdered?”
    Traci nodded. “The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced he must have been.”
    That got Cindy’s attention. “Really, why?”
    “Because even if something looks like an accident, if someone dies and you and Jeremiah are around, it wasn’t.”
    Cindy fought the urge to laugh at the sheer preposterousness of the other woman’s reasoning. Then she realized Traci wasn’t smiling. She looked dead serious.
    “There must be more to it than that,” Cindy said cautiously.
    “No, just that, and a feeling I guess.”
    “Feelings aren’t something to be ignored,” Cindy said. She’d learned that, if nothing else, through all her misadventures. “Okay, so who do you think killed him and why?”
    “That’s what I want to figure out. You’re so good at this I was sure you’d have a theory already.”
    Cindy shook her head. “To be honest, I was happy with the ‘just an accident’ theory. I’d like to live my life without getting sucked into any more of these situations.”
    “Somehow I think the universe has other plans.”
    “You mean God keeps putting me in these situations for a reason?” Cindy mused.
    Traci shrugged. “I don’t know anything about God, but I do know that you’ve been involved in too many of these things for it to be coincidence. I think God or fate or whatever wants you to get involved, lend a hand. I mean, who knows how many more people would have died over the last couple of years if you hadn’t been around helping to solve these things.”
    “Don’t let your husband hear you say that.”
    “Mark’s happy for the help, but he would never admit it.” She sighed. “I just wish you could help him figure out the whole mystery of who Paul really was.”
    “I’ve heard a little about that,” Cindy admitted.
    “It’s driving him crazy, to be honest. He’s become so obsessed with it it’s hard for him to focus on anything else.”
    Cindy reached out and gave Traci a quick hug. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
    “Thanks,” Traci said, pulling back after a moment. “But now, back to the task at hand, who do you think killed that guy?”
     
    “I don’t know who might be trying to kill Kyle,” Jeremiah said to Mark.
    The detective sighed. “Who wouldn’t want to kill him might be a better question. I know I’ve harbored murderous thoughts a couple times in the past day and I don’t even know the guy.”
    Jeremiah bit back a chuckle.
    “I have a feeling I’m not the only one,” Mark commented.
    Jeremiah shook his head, but didn’t say anything.
    “Shouldn’t you be on your best behavior, you know, given that he’s the first family member of Cindy’s that you’ve