On Ice (Contemporary Romantic Thriller)

by J. D. Faver

  After the service, she and her small party were among the first to arrive in the community room due to their proximity to the exit. Mrs. Pindar arrived close behind and began to take the plastic and aluminum foil off a large platter of cookies and a plate of sliced pumpkin bread.

  “Would you serve coffee, my dear?” she asked, though Rene couldn’t imagine anyone refusing this regal lady.

  Brett led the children over to talk to the McCorkill family.

  “Thank heavens you and Brett have come to your senses,” Mrs. Pindar said. “I was afraid the two of you might make a mistake you would regret for the rest of your lives.”

  “Ma’am?” Rene asked, pausing with an empty cup under the spigot of the shiny chrome urn.

  “I was afraid you two young people would,” she paused, then spat out, “screw up.”

  Rene started laughing in spite of Mrs. Pindar’s grave expression. She set the coffee down, not trusting herself with the scalding liquid. Mrs. Pindar chuckled. Soon laughter shook her tiny frame.

  “What’s going on?” Nadine asked. “I haven’t seen anybody laugh so hard since Sam rented all of the Three Stooges movies in the store.”

  “It was a private joke,” Mrs. Pindar said sternly. “Would you like refreshments?”

  “Yeah, why not?” Nadine picked up a paper plate and held it out as Mrs. Pindar scooped pumpkin bread and cookies onto it.”

  “Coffee?” Rene asked, but couldn’t keep her face straight. She burst into giggles as Mrs. Pindar offered sweets to Father Paul.

  “What have you done?” Nadine whispered.

  “Whatever do you mean?” Rene asked.

  “Don’t play the innocent with me, girlie. I wasn’t born yesterday, or the day before either.” Her flame-colored eyebrows had crept high on her forehead. “I thought you and Brett were on the outs. When did you two get back together?”

  “He just came over and we talked and--” Rene stammered.

  “Oh, my God! You did it, didn’t you?” Nadine’s mouth dropped open as Cindy came over.

  “What’s up?” She juggled the baby on her hip, shifting the diaper bag to her shoulder.

  “Guess!” Nadine demanded.

  “Oh, let me see,” Cindy said. “Rene and Brett are back together. That’s obvious.”

  “And?” Nadine urged.

  “And they both look very happy.” Cindy glanced across the room to where Buddy and Brett were deep in conversation with all the children circling like wild animals.

  “And?” Nadine asked insistently.

  “And--” Cindy looked Rene over critically. “You did it, didn’t you?” she whispered slowly.

  Rene’s blush was answer enough.

  After leaving the church, Brett turned away from the hotel, heading out of town. “I thought we could grab a bite at Honeybee’s a little later. Is anyone starving?”

  “I’m afraid we had too much pumpkin bread and cookies to be hungry now.” Rene looked at the children in the back seat. “Are you two all right for a while?”

  “I’m not hungry yet,” Sara offered.

  “Me neither,” Seth said. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise,” Brett said, grinning.

  “Oh, no!” Sara covered her head with her jacket.

  “What’s wrong, honey?” Rene asked.

  “That’s what you said when we came here,” she howled.

  “Don’t worry,” Rene said. “We’re not leaving Sad Horse.”

  “We’re not?” Seth said. “You mean we’re never going home?”

  “This is our home!” Sara said, defiantly tearing the jacket from her head and leaving her hair standing on end from static electricity. “We live here.”

  “No, we don’t,” Seth said. “We live in Houston.”

  “Wait,” Brett said. “Let’s figure this out when we stop. Okay?”

  Reluctantly, the children agreed. Rene and Brett exchanged a glance as he slowed to turn onto a narrow two-lane road.

  They drove north in silence for about fifteen minutes and pulled off the road into a muddy driveway. Stopping in front of a ramshackle house, he honked the horn and waited until a stout man wearing an anorak and an eared cap emerged from the house. Several dogs spilled out, barking in a joyous fashion.

  “That dog looks like its smiling.” Seth said.

  “Hello, Thomas,” Brett called out as he opened the door. The dogs surrounded him, barking and circling, sniffing at his boots.

  The short, wide man embraced Brett. They clapped each other on the back repeatedly. Rene and the children stared from inside the vehicle until Brett motioned them out. Brett picked Sara up and held her above the friendly yapping dogs.

  “Let’s go inside,” the man called Thomas said. He led them up onto a covered porch and into the house, shutting the dogs outside. “Back here,” he said, motioning them into his kitchen. He stepped over a baby gate and lifted it to one side, allowing them to pass. A parade of small fuzzy creatures came out from under the enamel sink. The first one was pure white, followed by one with a pinkish-brown saddle and spot over one ear. The next two were gray with white on their faces and the last one was mostly red-brown with a white mask. The puppies seemed as delighted with the children as they were.

  “Oh, can we play with them?” Sara asked. She held out her fingers and the white puppy licked them eagerly.

  “You better play with them all,” Brett said. “It’s the best way to pick out the one you want.”

  “Oh, Mom,” Seth said. “Can we? Can we please?”

  “Brett,” Rene said, tears threatening to spill over. “They’ve never been allowed to have a pet.”

  “That was then, this is now.” Brett pulled her into a one-armed hug.

  “The white and one of the grays are female, the rest are male.” Thomas pointed to the frolicking pups.

  “Mommy, I think this one’s pretty,” Sara said, pulling the white puppy onto her lap.

  “Yes, she is,” Rene agreed. “Were those the parents outside?”

  “The white one is the mother of the younger litter,” Thomas said. “The big gray is the father of all.” He spread his arms expansively.

  “Thomas is famous for raising racing huskies. His dogs are often in the Iditarod.”

  “That’s the long sled race?” Rene asked.

  “Right. Huskies love to run.”

  “Do they make good pets?” Rene asked.

  “The best.” Brett drew her over to where the children sat surrounded by wiggling puppies. He squatted amid the furry creatures and pulled Rene’s hand down to pat them. “What do you think?”

  “Ooh, they’re so soft.” Rene cooed. “Its fur is so thick. No wonder they stay warm in the snow.” She knelt and the puppies surrounded her, licking her hands and jumping up on her. She fell back and one licked her cheek.

  “Mommy, can we have them all?” Sara threw herself on top of Rene.

  “Yeah, Mom,” Seth said. “I can’t pick.”

  “You better,” Brett said. “Your Mom isn’t ready to have a house full of dogs. Why don’t you start out with one?”

  They finally agreed on the white female, a ball of thick fur with shiny black eyes.

  “Look at her little tail.” Sara uncurled the fluffy white pouf that waggled enthusiastically. “And her little ears are curly, too.”

  “They’ll straighten and stand up like her parents,” Thomas said.

  “The big dogs look like smiling wolves,” Rene said.

  “They’re related,” Thomas said.

  Brett gave Thomas a check and the transaction was complete. Thomas gave instructions on puppy care and threw in a bag of food.

  “Let’s take her home,” Brett said.

  “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for us,” Rene said.

  “It’s no big deal,” he said. “The kids deserve so much more.”

  “I think our lives will be much better from now on,” she said.

  “Mine, too.” Br
ett climbed in beside her. The puppy whined from the back seat as the children argued about who was going to hold her.

  Rene listened to the happy din. It was a noise that wouldn’t have been tolerated in the past. She framed a silent prayer that was all feeling, but only contained the words, “Please, God—”

  ~*~

  Mark felt some loathing for what he was about to do. In the past, he had strayed from his marriage vows, but only when the temptation had been worthy. The women who had entertained him were beauties, anxious to please him. He knew he was the best and he deserved the best in return. He’d never deviated from this belief. Now he was preparing to deviate from everything he’d considered normal in the past.

  He selected a gift tag to go with the small box of Godiva chocolates and printed a message. If anyone read the card later, they couldn’t identify his handwriting from this precise sample. He held the card and read it over, ‘A little something sweet for my sweetie’. That in itself made his gag reflex throb. He wasn’t proud of his actions but no one would ever have to know he’d sunk this low. What he had planned for tonight strained the limits of his sensibilities. He had to be convincing in his role as suitor to the kind of person he could have never imagined himself touching, let alone having physical intimacy. He wondered if the pasty white flesh would envelope him like freshly risen dough.

  He shook his head. He only had to be convincing until he got what he wanted. He needed continued help to have access to Maddy’s communication and this was the only way. It didn’t have to take long. Just long enough to gain trust, and then.

  It was now or never. He’d said he would do anything to find Rene and now he had to prove it. Rene deserved to be punished for making him sink so low.

  ~*~

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  The next Saturday morning, Rene awoke in Brett’s arms. Opening her eyes to the soaring beams overhead, she momentarily forgot where she was, forgot their lovemaking the previous night and forgot that they had talked about their future as though they actually had one. She lay quietly, keeping her breathing even, enjoying every sensation. Brett’s skin was warm where it touched hers. His breath against her neck sent a tingling sensation down her spine.

  Twisting her head slightly, she noticed an expression of peace and contentment new to his face. He looked younger, somehow more vulnerable.

  Relaxed for the first time in as long as she could remember, Rene wanted the moment to go on forever. Of course it would end. The little moments were never long enough. She tried to soak up every feeling, every scent and every thought she was having.

  He stirred a little, his arm slipping lower across her torso. She felt his fingers caress her midriff. He was waking up. Brett stretched and kissed her shoulder. The perfect moment was ending.

  “G’mornin’”, he mumbled against her skin. The stubble of his beard tickled her shoulder sending a shiver down her spine. “Cold?” he asked.

  “Hmm-unh.” She feigned sleepiness. Squeezing her lids tight, she savored the tenderness, snuggling against him.

  “If you’re not cold, it must be love,” he whispered in a sleep-husky voice.

  “Must be,” she agreed.

  ~*~

  “Have you heard anything from your great and good friend, the Chief of Police?” Maddy asked. “Wake up, Ted.”

  “I’m awake, dear.” He opened his eyes and groped for his glasses. “Whatever are you talking about?” He had fallen asleep in the sitting room adjacent to their bedroom.

  “I’m talking about time, dear. Time is going by and Mark Desmond is still out there. Has it occurred to your influential golf buddy to make an arrest?”

  “Why, I’m sure he makes arrests, dearest.” Ted yawned and stretched luxuriously.

  “Just not the right one.” Maddy tied the sash of her peach negligee, folding her arms across her breast. “I want to know what they’re doing.”

  “Who, dear?” Ted asked.

  “The police! What are they doing?” Her voice had risen in timbre.

  “I’m sure I don’t know, dear.” Ted turned on his side. “Why do you ask?”

  “Because I want to be sure they won’t bother to arrest me when I maim, mutilate and murder you for irritating me beyond the limit of human endurance.”

  “What did you say, dear?” He turned back to face her. She regarded him with a steady gaze. “I said,” she said slowly, “I want to know what progress your friend, the Chief of Police, is making on the arrest of Mark Desmond on two charges of assault and attempted murder.”

  Ted succeeded in locating his glasses and fumbled the gold wire rims into place. “Let me see, I know that they’re working on it.”

  “Have you talked to him at all this week?”

  “The fact is, dear,” he paused, “No.”

  “Would it be possible for you to pick up the telephone and ask this man what progress he’s made?”

  “You seem to be upset, dear.”

  There was a long silence. “Yes.” She glanced back at him, then turned and strode from the room.

  “Maddy! Maddy, come on. Don’t walk away,” he called after her.

  She stomped down the curved stairway, feeling a certain satisfaction as her bare feet slapped against the cold, polished marble floor in the foyer. A twinge of guilt assailed her as the sound of Ted’s voice trailed after her.

  It was a glorious sunny day, probably cooler than it appeared from indoors. Maddy felt stifled and bound. Wishing she had dressed for the outdoors, she realized it would mean going back up to change. Ted would probably stop her; tell her how dangerous it would be to go out into their back yard. A guttural sound escaped Maddy’s throat, something like a growl, but born of pure frustration.

  “I can go out if I want to,” she said aloud. “And woe onto Mark if he’s out there.”

  Maddy punched the code, disarming the alarm and slowly twisted the knob. Cool air swirled around her. The negligee rippled open, revealing her slender legs as the chill caused her nipples to tighten. Enjoying the effect, she smiled. She drew in a deep breath of fresh air and stepped outside onto the long porch leading to the pool. Standing beside the wrought-iron fence, built to keep small children from falling into the water, she enjoyed the sensation of sunshine falling on her shoulders. The breeze stirred the surface of the water, sending her hair flicking across her face. She reached to brush her hair back just as strong arms grabbed her from behind, lifting her off her feet.

  Maddy let loose with a blood-curdling scream, a scream that came from the very tips of her brightly polished toes. A scream that her former karate instructor at the fitness center would have applauded. Screaming, she drove her elbow into Mark’s ribs.

  “Ooof!” he said as he released her. She landed on her feet and rounded on him, driving her fist into his slightly paunchy middle with all her might. Wait, Mark isn’t paunchy.

  It was Ted who sat on the concrete holding his stomach. “I realized you were a bit snappish, dear,” he said looking up at her over the rims of his glasses, which had slipped to the end of his nose, “but it never occurred to me that you would go so far as to strike me.”

  A wave of remorse washed over her as she quickly knelt beside him. “Darling, what have I done?” She put her arms around him, hugging him awkwardly. “Of course, I would never intentionally strike you.”

  “Oh, my mistake.” He opened his arms and slid her onto his lap. “I could have sworn that was what happened.”

  “Yes,” she said, anger and frustration forgotten. “But I thought you were Mark. I was trying to use what I learned in karate.”

  “I would say that you got your money’s worth with those classes, dear.” He pulled her closer. “And outside of the initial shock, I really like this.” He kissed her lips.

  “Me, too,” she said, “but I think we can get arrested for this indecent display.”

  “Didn’t you say something before about getting arrested?”

  “Yes, I did,” Maddy said. “Now that I h
ave your attention, I want to find out what’s going on with the police investigation.”

  “I can do that.”

  “I want my sister back,” she said. “And my life, I want my life back.”

  “Then, let’s go inside,” Ted suggested. “I’ll call the Chief.”

  ~*~

  They had done absolutely nothing all day. Almost nothing. Rene smiled as she recalled their activities. She lit candles and prepared to serve dinner. She enjoyed puttering around the kitchen and put together quite a fine meal from Mrs. Jolly’s well-stocked larder.

  Exploring the house proved to be a treat as well. Brett showed her all the nooks and crannies. It was impossible not to imagine which room would be Seth’s and which one Sara’s. She envisioned her possessions, so perfect in the small cabin, relocated to this big cavern of a home.

  The puppy trailed after her. When Rene went in the kitchen, the small white ball of fluff followed her. As she cooked, the puppy untied her shoelaces. Rene had to watch her step to avoid tripping over her little white shadow.

  The best thing about Saturday was the talking. They talked about everything. She told him about her childhood, sharing her feelings about growing up in the old bungalow with her parents and Maddy. She described her relationship with her sister and her dreams of becoming a teacher. She told him how much she loved teaching at the little one-room school.