Read Online Icing Ivy by Evan Marshall - Free Book Online Page B

Johnny running through the snowy woods in her mind.
    Adam said, “Jane, I want to talk to Ivy, see what she knows about this.”
    â€œDon’t you think we should wait for Stanley?”
    Adam ignored this, leaving Jane’s room and crossing to Ivy’s. He banged on her door.
    â€œGo away,” she shouted from inside.
    â€œIvy, open the door. We need to talk to you. Please.”
    After a few moments they heard her shuffling steps, and then the door opened. They walked past her, Jane closing the door.
    â€œIvy,” Jane said, “who was that man chasing Johnny?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Ivy sat down on the bed, the very picture of dejection.
    â€œI think you do, Ivy.”
    â€œI don’t know who he is, Jane. I only know that Johnny’s been trying to get away from him. I don’t know why.” She looked up miserably into Jane’s eyes. “Johnny was never really going away this weekend. I used you, Jane. I knew Johnny was looking for a place to hide from that man. When you told me about the retreat, I realized it would be perfect. So I got you to invite me, and then I convinced you to let Johnny come. I’m sorry.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter, Ivy,” Jane said sadly. “He’s gone now.”
    The phone in Jane’s room began to ring. Jane hurried across the hall and grabbed it.
    â€œHello, hello, missus,” came Florence’s lilting Trinidadian voice. “How are you holding up, all stranded?”
    â€œFlorence,” Jane said, “you have no idea.”
    â€œI see . . .” Florence said, though she of course didn’t. “I wanted to report in, tell you that Nicholas is fine, and so are Winky and the kittens. We’re working on names, but no final decisions have been made. Is the old road clear yet? It seems everyone in town is talking about you all stuck up there.”
    â€œThey’re still working on the road.” Jane thought of something. “Florence, has anyone come to the house looking for me or Ivy?”
    â€œWhy, yes, missus, as a matter of fact someone did. Yesterday. A man.”
    â€œWhat did he look like?”
    â€œKind of overweight, missus, in a light-colored coat, like a trench coat. Maybe in his forties. He asked for Ivy Benson. Why?”
    â€œWhat did you tell him?”
    â€œThat she was at the retreat, of course. Why, missus ? Did I do something wrong?”
    â€œNo, it’s all right, Florence. I’d better go now. Give Nick a kiss for me, okay?”
    â€œWill do.”
    As Jane hung up, Rhoda appeared in the doorway. She turned when Adam emerged from Ivy’s room.
    â€œCome on,” Jane said to them both. “I want to see something.”
    â€œWhere?” Adam asked.
    â€œOutside.”
    Jane led the way along the corridor to the stairs down which Johnny and the gunman had run. They went out through the door at the end of the building and emerged onto the snow-covered lawn. Jane immediately spotted two sets of footprints. “This way.”
    The prints led into the woods, but there was no trail here, and they were quickly lost in the tangle of brush. Returning to the lodge, Jane wondered if the man with the gun had caught up with Johnny.
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    Not surprisingly, no one got any writing done that morning, and lunch was abuzz with speculation. Somehow Adam had found out it was Ellyn Bass’s birthday, and after lunch he and Ginny brought out an Entenmann’s coffee cake studded with candles, along with some fruit punch. Adam sent Tom into the kitchen for ice, but Tom reappeared a few moments later.
    â€œMr. Forrest, the icemaker is malfunctioning again. The ice cubes have melted together into a blob. Do you have the ice pick?”
    â€œNo,” Adam replied impatiently, “what would I be doing with the ice pick?” He went into the kitchen himself, and they could hear him rummaging in drawers, then,