Free Thou Art With Me by Debbie Viguié Page A

couple feet away, intent on something.
    She and Jeremiah walked over. As soon as they got close all four looked up at them and then moved quickly forward with greetings.
    “Hi, we’re the Werthers, Kim and Levi,” the shorter man with brown hair said, holding out his hand.
    “Cindy and Jeremiah,” Jeremiah said, introducing them.
    “Hi,” Kim, a redhead with brilliant green eyes, said.
    They shook hands with both of them. Then the second couple who were both tall, blond, and tan introduced themselves.
    “We’re Jack and Jill,” the man said. “I know, but it’s true. And believe it or not I did not marry her for her name,” he said.
    “But I married him for his,” Jill said quickly.
    They both threw back their heads and laughed.
    Almost like a pair of hyenas , Cindy couldn’t help but think. She was about to chide herself for being unkind, but they kept going for what seemed like forever. When they finally stopped laughing it was unnaturally abrupt, almost like they had decided that was the moment to stop.
    “Have you seen who’s with us?” Jill asked, without skipping a beat. She pointed to the couple standing next to Arnold.
    “Do you know them?” Cindy asked.
    Jack and Jill both laughed again. This time, mercifully, it was shorter than the last. As before, though, they stopped abruptly. Without even taking a breath Jill said, “Only in my wildest fantasies! That’s Dorothea and Flynn Castleback.”
    “They’re millionaires,” Kim said.
    “Billionaires,” Jill corrected.
    Jim laughed and clapped a hand on Jeremiah’s shoulder. “I bet yours is just as into society and fashion and all that as ours are.”
    Before Cindy or Jeremiah could say a word, Jill and Kim had each taken one of Cindy’s arms. “Ignore them, Cindy,” Kim said as they pulled her a few feet away. “Now we were just trying to figure out, how long exactly do you think that strand of pearls is?”
    “I wouldn’t know,” Cindy said, glancing at Dorothea Castleback.
    “I say it’s one really long strand looped three times,” Kim said.
    “And I say that’s three separate strands,” Jill said.
    “They’re very pretty,” Cindy said, having nothing constructive to add to their debate.
    “Gorgeous. You can tell from here how expensive they are,” Jill said. “I tell you, if Jack ever bought me a necklace that fine I would never bring it to a place like this in a million years. I would leave it in the safe at home. You know how it is with vacations. It seems like something always gets... lost.”
    And by “lost” she clearly meant stolen.
    Two more couples arrived in the room and eventually Jill and Kim had seized the opportunity to tell them all about Dorothea’s pearls as well.
    Fortunately within a few minutes the place had filled up. It looked like there were couples from all age ranges present. It might be interesting to hear some of their stories. There were also a few individuals that she suspected were staff at the resort.
    After a couple more minutes Arnold clapped his hands together three times. Apparently it was the magic signal for silence because everyone suddenly became quiet. The man wasn’t smiling as he looked out over those assembled. She still didn’t like him and with the look on his face now she liked him less.
    Jeremiah walked up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. She took a deep breath. His touch always reassured her and helped her calm down.
    Here we go , she thought to herself.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, so glad you could make it. I am Arnold Smith. I have some announcements to make, but first it is imperative that I tell you something and that you hear me, really hear me.”
    He paused and looked around the room, meeting everyone’s eyes.
    “All of you are in terrible, terrible danger.”
     
     
     
     

 
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    There was a ripple effect throughout the room as people shifted uncomfortably but remained silent. Jeremiah squeezed Cindy’s