On Ice by J. D. Faver Page A

She recalled what it felt like to spend time in the company of friendly laughing people. She had friends before she married, but Mark alienated her friends or intimidated her into dropping them. The only friend she refused to give up was her sister Maddy.
    ~*~
     
    “ Here we are,” Ted announced, turning off the ignition.
    “ Today's castle is much smaller than yesterday's,” Miranda observed with five-year-old wisdom.
    “ Yeah,” Genna agreed. “But it's not as ugly.”
    Maddy peered out the windshield at the turrets reflecting in the lake, or loch as she had been told. Most of the windows were tall narrow slits, but the wider turret windows were raised several stories off the ground.
    Yesterday’s tension evaporated with the mysterious black car. She could almost convince herself she had imagined the danger. They wandered the grounds before going inside to take the guided tour being offered for a fee. Ted snapped pictures of Maddy and the girls, indulging himself in his only hobby other than golf. Upon entering a little turret room, they saw that the open window had a lovely view and included a wide seat upholstered in faded rose-colored velvet.
    After their tour Ted asked Maddy to return to sit in the window looking out across the gardens. Maddy retraced her steps, seating herself and leaning out to wave down to Ted and the girls. Using a telephoto lens he shot several frames in rapid succession. He motioned for her to lean out a bit more. With his shooting completed he grinned and waved her to join them. She turned from the window, startled to find Mark Desmond standing close to her.
    “ So easy,” he said, with a chilling smile. “Just one little push and I’m rid of you forever.” He snapped his fingers several times in succession.
    She couldn't move. Her pulse thundered in her ears. Mark stood between her and the doorway. He loomed over her, leaning even closer.
    He laughed, amused by her discomfort. “In fact, I can see you down on the flagstone, crumpled and bent, blood coming from your skull where it hit the walk.” The fingers snapped again to a rhythm he, alone, heard.
    “ That's not going to happen now, is it?” Her voice betrayed her with a rusty squeak.
    “ Little Maddy, always so fierce.” His smile vanished as he reached out to capture her arm in his vise-like grip. “Where is my wife!” he snarled close to her face.
    She gritted her teeth. “I don't know what you're talking about.” She grimaced as his fingers bit into her flesh.
    “ Don't play games, Maddy. Tell me where Rene has gone or you'll regret it.” He stroked her shoulder in what was almost a caress raising goose flesh in his path.
    She shivered as his expression changed from a superior tolerance to one of pure hatred.
    Slowly, he wrapped his fingers around her throat. “Such a delicate little neck. So easily broken. Even Dr. Ted can't save you. Now where is Rene?”
    “ She's safe! You can't hurt her any more.” Maddy swallowed hard as his fingers squeezed her throat, constricted her airway. She struggled to loosen his grip. Prying at his fingers, her nails ripped across his hands.
    “ Don't try to struggle, Maddy.” Mark's lips were almost touching her face as he breathed his threats. “If I crush your windpipe, no amount of CPR can save you. Just answer my question and I'll let you return to your dull husband.”
    Maddy felt lightheaded. The edges of the room started to go dark as she struggled against the crushing pain in her throat. Her field of vision narrowed until she only saw Mark's face, but she couldn't hear his words. Darkness enveloped her and the pain in her throat abated only to be replaced by a sharp pain in her head.
    When she opened her eyes, Ted knelt over her. The frightened faces of the girls peered around his broad shoulders. She tried to speak, but no sound came out.
    “ What happened?” he demanded. “Did you become dizzy when you were looking down?”
    “ Mark,” she rasped out. Her