Fresh Ice

by Sarah J. Bradley

  “Dude, you almost died. Everyone will give you a pass. Don’t sweat it.”

  “Still doesn’t make me happy that you three had to pick up the slack.”

  “Shush, we loved doing this.” Izzy stretched her arms over her head, and yawned.

  “Go sleep in the bedroom tonight. I mean it.” Because neither of them felt safe with Serena still at large, Izzy had been sleeping on his sofa since the day he came home from the hospital. Knowing she was so close was maddening. Even now, exhausted as he was, sleep was the furthest thing from Quinn’s mind when he pictured her in his bed.

  Blinking away the image, and the arousal that went with it, Quinn tuned in to Cat’s chipper chatter.

  “Speaking of romantic ice stuff, ‘Cutting Edge’ is on cable tonight.”

  “I’ll make popcorn!” Benny was surprisingly quick on his feet when it came to making Cat happy.

  They are a weird couple, but it works for them. “I’m assuming you think you’re going to watch the movie here?”

  Cat made a sad face. “Jenna and Mikayla are covering at the coffee shop this week and they promised the ‘Monty Python’ idiots an all night marathon. Don’t make me go back there. I can’t take it!” She dramatically buried her face in Benny’s ample shoulder.

  “Fine. Just keep the volume to a dull roar. I’m going to bed.” Quinn turned off his computer. He didn’t miss Cat’s giddy smile.

  “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Cat cheered as he headed toward the bedroom.

  Not sure what she thinks we’d be up to. Izzy’s arm is still so sore and I have my orders. Quinn smiled. Another few days and it will be a different story. “Just don’t make a mess you can’t clean up, okay?”

  “Sure Dad.” Benny grumbled good-naturedly, snapping Quinn out of his reverie.

  “I don’t like that anymore than I like Boss Man, Benny.” Quinn walked into his bedroom where Izzy was already asleep on the bed.

  He eased a blanket over her form and slipped next to her. He turned on the fireplace and stared at her still, angelic face in the firelight.

  The only thing I regret is that I won’t be able to skate with you tomorrow.

  That’s a lie. I can’t wait to see you skate in front of a huge crowd.

  No, my regret is that I didn’t look for you harder that night at Chance’s. I should have found you, told you everything right away. We might have avoided all this mess.

  Quinn turned on the television, to Sports Center. He couldn’t take another news report with his face next to Serena’s. Knowing she was still out there, exhausted him. He tried to focus on the positive as he stretched out on the bed.

  Soon I’ll be free to love this angel next to me.

  ***

  Izzy stared at the audience and shuddered. What was I thinking?

  I can’t do this. I can’t go out there and skate by myself. People will laugh.

  “You can do this, Izzy, you know you can.”

  Izzy turned to see Collier, grinning at her. “How do you know what I’m thinking?”

  Collier shrugged. “You forget, we were partners, once.”

  “Yeah, for a minute, ages ago.”

  “Hey, a guy never forgets his first star lift.” Collier’s grin took on a lecherous quality. “Pity a hand position like that was wasted on me when I was thirteen. I’d make so much more of it now.”

  Izzy wanted to smack him with a skate guard. “There are so many people out there. Were we expecting this many people?”

  “When I saw the guest list, I figured Quinn pulled out all the stops. People are going to show up for a celebrity list like that. Plus, having the organizer caught in the middle of Nashville’s biggest scandal in a generation didn’t hurt.”

  Izzy shook her head. “Why would people focus on that? Half of it isn’t true.”

  “For the same reason Quinn had my manger find him someone to write the book.”

  “What?”

  Collier chuckled. “He didn’t tell you? Turns out, he’s gotten a few requests for a book. And, since he’s a hockey player, he can’t read much less put together a sentence.”

  This time Izzy did smack him with a skate guard. “Stop it, you’re being mean!”

  “I’m kidding. He told me the other day he didn’t want anything to do with the actual writing, so I had my manager connect Quinn with an author he trusts.” He arched an eyebrow. “I offered to co-write it, given how Quinn is a close, personal friend.”

  He dodged Izzy’s thrown skate guard.

  “My point it, dear Izzy, his story, this book needs an ending. An author will bring up all kinds of dirt, the kind that will sell millions of books, but that’s only part of the story. Quinn wants the whole story out there. And everything in his story begins and ends with you on that ice.” Collier nodded to the doorway, where they heard the crowd chattering. “We need a happy ending, a big finish. We need you to skate.”

  Izzy smiled. “Coach couldn’t have said it any better, Col. Thanks.”

  Collier hugged her. “I think, if you look really carefully, you might see him way up in the rafters. You know he’s not missing this.”

  Izzy wiped her eyes and nodded. Behind her, the chatter quieted and the house lights dimmed. Quinn’s coming out to introduce me.

  She stepped to the darkened edge of the ice and waited.

  ***

  Quinn stood in the outer box of the announcer’s booth and gave the crowd a weary smile. It had been a long day watching everyone else run the event while he had to content himself with signing autographs and sitting still. He hated having to introduce Izzy from the announcer’s booth. He ached to be on center ice, able to see every face when she emerged from the shadows. I’ve never sat on the sidelines before.

  He knew why so many people showed up. Serena’s name was on everyone’s lips. He didn’t care. He was, in this moment, the center of attention for nearly four thousand people. A sense of satisfaction washed over him. Because everyone was so distracted with the news, Quinn knew Izzy would be a complete and utter surprise.

  A year ago this would have been the high point of my year, having so many people come out for an event. Now, all that matters is Izzy finally reclaiming what’s been hers all along.

  Nashville, this ice, and my heart.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you for what has turned out to be the most amazing day. Nashville has once again gone above and beyond for the Aubri Brown Club! I know, once I reveal the final surprise of the day, we will reach that goal!”

  He waited for the applause to subside. “I have to thank my hockey brothers. Everything you’ve donated today, your time, your memorabilia, it’s all been awesome. Watch out, though, because next year I won’t be sitting on the sideline for the game, I’ll be out there kicking your tails.” He nodded to the hockey players who applauded.

  Quinn’s smile softened. “And all you aspiring figure skaters, I think I see a few future Olympians in this room today.” He pointed to the front row of young skaters and there was more polite applause.

  “Before I introduce the last celebrity of the day,” Quinn looked toward the darkened tunnel, where he knew Izzy waited with Collier, “I wanted to clear up some confusion about a few things.”

  The crowd murmured in low tones, and Quinn held up his hand. “I know. I’ve been on TV more than I was in my playing days.” He grinned and nodded, allowing the crowd a relieved chuckle. “Some of what you have heard is true, some was not. Some of you fine folks maybe aren’t my biggest fans at the moment. Some of you like me anyway.” The players chuckled, while the rest of the crowd waited.

  “It’s going to take a long time for the ugliness to get sorted out.” He looked at a group of children, “I’ve disappointed a lot of you guys. I’m sorry for that.”

  “What I’m really sorry for, is that, somewhere along the way, I lost it. You all,” he nodded to the kids in the front rows, “you know about losing it, don’t you? Everything’s going along fine, and the
n something happens, then something else, and suddenly you’ve lost it. You can’t get out, you can’t fix what’s wrong, and you lose your control, your self-respect. You lose it all because you don’t know how to make things right.” He took a deep breath.

  The quiet tension in the arena hung like a fog.

  He waited for the emotion welling inside him to calm. “In hockey…well, in every ice sport really…the very best time to skate is when the ice is fresh. You know how ice gets after a period of hockey, or maybe after a lot of figure skating, it’s chipped, it’s not smooth…it’s ugly. Then the Zamboni comes out and does its job and that ice is smooth, it’s clean. There is nothing better than fresh ice, is there?”

  The hockey players and skaters cheered.

  “Well, it’s the same in life. I used to behave very badly. I felt lousy about it, but I didn’t see a way to make my life better. I was willing to just skate on busted up ice because I didn’t know how to fix it and I thought I didn’t deserve any better.”

  “You don’t deserve any better, Quinn Murray! You deserve to go to hell!”

  All eyes flashed toward the rafters of the arena, but only Quinn saw the speaker.

  Benny raised the house lights immediately, and Quinn’s first thought was Izzy. He glanced toward the tunnel.

  “Is that Serena?” Benny squinted into the rafters.

  “Shut up all of you!”

  The shrieking female voice sent shivers down Quinn’s spine. “The one and only.”

  “How the hell did she get in?”

  “She must have hidden in Burkes’ box. She’s part owner of the Preds, she’s got all the right keys.”

  “You’d think they’d search the place, wouldn’t you?”

  Quinn shook his head. “Yeah, you would.”

  “It’s time everyone knew about you, Quinn Murray!”

  Quinn stayed on the outer deck, and struggled to keep his voice calm. “Ladies and gentlemen, please return to your seats. I can assure you, that no one is going to get hurt.”

  “Can you assure them Quinn? Can you?” Serena’s voice, slightly less hyper, drifted over the tense audience.

  Is she holding guns? Quinn squinted at her. How would she have guns in here?

  Quinn closed his eyes and pictured the suite. Burkes kept a pair of antique pistols mounted on a wall in there. Civil War or something like that.

  Relief washed over him. There can’t be much in the way of ammo.

  “I know what you’re thinking.”

  The crowd kept silent, all eyes bouncing between Quinn and the shadowy rafters where Serena remained out of sight.

  “What am I thinking, Serena?”

  “You’re thinking I’m using Burkes’ old pistols, I must not have any bullets, and so I can’t possibly hurt anyone. You’re thinking I’ll be caught, and you’ll get to be with your precious Izzy. And then she’ll win.”

  Quinn bit his lip. How do I respond to any of that?

  “You’re wrong. She won’t win.”

  “Okay Serena.”

  “You understand I have no choice. I have to do this. I can’t lose to her again.”

  Quinn watched the faces of the audience. They watched with a mix of horror and interest. Live theater. You can’t beat it. “No, I don’t understand, Serena.”

  “Jason had to be punished. He left me for Isabella Landry and he had to be punished. Now it’s your turn to be punished for Sally, and for …her.”

  At the mention of Sally, there was a soft wave of whispers. Quinn ignored it, and kept his gaze locked on Serena. He didn’t say a word, waiting for her next move.

  “Quinn had nothing to do with Sally Meyers’ death and you know it.”

  All eyes focused on Benny, who now stood next to Quinn. “I drove Quinn home that night and he wasn’t the father of her baby. But you knew all that.”

  “Liar!” This time she fired the ancient pistol in Quinn and Benny’s general direction. The acrid stink of gunpowder filled the arena for a moment, and people screamed and ducked in their seats. As the smell faded, Quinn realized she was no longer in the rafters.

  Where did she go?

  Quinn eyed the panicked crowd. I have to keep this group from stampeding or Serena will escape. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to find this woman, but I ask that you please, please stay in your seats. For the safety of everyone, stay in your seats.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Quinn saw arena security running through the outer corridors of the arena. They’ll find her. They have to find her.

  I have to find Izzy.

  Quinn left the pandemonium of the arena, where Benny repeated the call for calm, and headed down darkened halls to the locker rooms. Footsteps echoed around him, but there was no sign of Serena; or of Izzy.

  “Quinn!”

  Quinn stopped to make out Collier’s form in the half light. “Where’s Izzy?”

  “Don’t know. The second we heard Serena’s voice, she peeled off her skates and started running.” Collier gasped for air. “Clearly, she’s in better shape than I am.”

  “Where were you headed?”

  “Not sure. She took a left when I must’ve taken a right.”

  “Okay, you go that way,” Quinn nodded over his shoulder. “Shout like hell if you find her.”

  Collier nodded and ran.

  Quinn moved from one hall to another, checking locked doors, and listening for any sound that would lead him to Izzy. Another twenty feet, around a corner, and he halted. There Serena was, standing ten feet in front of Izzy, an ancient pistol pointed in both directions. He stared at the pistols, and glimmer of hope sparking in his heart. Muzzle loaders. She fired one in the arena. At best she has one bullet left.

  Quinn knew his assumption was a gamble, but he also knew it was unlikely Serena could have reloaded in the time it took her to run through the back passageways of the center. “Serena.”

  Serena stiffened, but did not look at him. “I wouldn’t come any closer, Quinn.”

  “Look at me.” He kept his voice low, smooth. Over Serena’s shoulder, he watched Izzy. Her face remained stoic. Quinn sensed she wasn’t afraid. She looked as if she was waiting for the right moment to pounce and disarm Serena.

  Did she go after Serena?

  He looked at her face again. There was no question. Izzy intended to fight this battle. They were a team, and she was as ready for whatever happened as he.

  “It’s over, Serena. You have one shot, if that. Put the guns down.”

  Serena didn’t flinch. “I may have only one shot, but which gun? If I fire, someone will die.” Her face broke into a strained smile. “You’re going to pay, both of you. One will die, and the other is just going to have to live with that.”

  Izzy bit her lip, her eyes resolute. Watching her body tense, Quinn realized their weeks of skating practice paid off. He was ready to move in sync with her. He didn’t even need to count to three.

  He sprang forward and slammed Serena’s arm down the same moment Izzy leapt and forced her other hand up. The pistol fired, harmlessly, into the ceiling. The hall filled with the stink of ancient gunpowder and security guards. Quinn pulled Izzy to him in an iron embrace.

  Amid the confusion as the guards dragged Serena away, Collier reached them. “Are you guys okay?”

  Quinn loosened his grip on Izzy. “I think so. Izzy?”

  “I’m fine.” Her voice quavered.

  “She was pointing the loaded gun at you. You could have been killed.” Quinn held her close to him again.

  “We didn’t know that. It could have been the other one. You’re the one who knew she only had one bullet. How?”

  “I used to have to listen to Burkes brag about those pistols. I knew they were muzzle loaders. I also knew Serena wouldn’t have a clue how to load one.”

  “So you saved her life, and she almost took a bullet for you. How can I ever compete with that?” Collier’s smile held a shadow of loss.

  Izzy left Quinn’s embrace and hug
ged Collier. “Col…”

  “No Izzy. Don’t be sorry.”

  “But, Collier…”

  Collier gave her a tight squeeze and handed her back to Quinn. “A little heartbreak is great for my line of business. I’ll be able to write tons of great songs.”

  “Any chance there could be a happy song in there?” Izzy’s concern for Collier echoed in her words.

  “Only if there’s a happy ending to this. So, you have to skate.”

  Izzy and Quinn exchanged a glance. “I don’t know. Everyone’s pretty shaken up out there,” Izzy smiled. “We’ll do it another day.”

  Collier shook his head. “Like hell. You have to skate. Right, Quinn?”

  Quinn closed his eyes. Above them, he heard the sound of the loudspeaker, as Benny assured the crowd that Serena had, indeed, been caught. There was a thunderous cheer. “It doesn’t sound like anyone left. I think we need to give them a finish that’s a bit more upbeat, don’t you?”

  “Right. You’d hate to end a charity event with a shooting.” Collier relaxed.

  Izzy turned to Quinn. “Are you sure?”

  “After everything we’ve been through to get you on that ice in front of those people I think, if you’re up to it, you should do it. But it’s your call.”

  A tear welled in her eye. What did I say? I’m an idiot. He brushed the tear away. “Don’t cry. If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to do it.”

  “No, it’s my call.” She beamed. “I’m doing it.”

  She’s never been given a choice. To this moment she’s had exactly one choice at every turn of her life. No one gave her more than one choice, one way to go.

  He knew the look on her face very well. She’s finally seeing a full sheet of fresh ice in front of her, no expectations, no demands, just the perfect ice.

  “Come on,” he held out his hand, “I have an introduction to finish. And I want to do it from center ice wearing my skates, like I always meant to.”

  ***

  After putting on his skates, Quinn waited at center ice for the crowd to settle down. What do I say to an audience that came for a charity event and wound up witnessing an act of insanity?

  “Well, ladies and gentlemen, when I promise a day full of surprises, I mean it.”