Icing Ivy by Evan Marshall Page A

sudden discretion when there was a violent knock on the door. Jane hurried to open it and found Rhoda standing in the corridor. She bustled in, obviously disturbed about something.
    â€œYou’re not going to believe this,” she said. “You know Tom’s room is downstairs next to the storage room?”
    They all looked at her blankly.
    â€œWell, it is. Anyway, Tom just told Adam that there are people carrying on in the storage room.”
    â€œReally?” Ivy asked avidly. “Who?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Rhoda said, exasperated, and turned to Jane. “What should I do?”
    Jane’s eyes grew wide and she hunched her shoulders in a shrug. “Beats me. Let Adam handle it. It’s his lodge. He can look into it if he likes.” And she thought, I’ve got a pretty good idea who’s in there.
    For a moment Rhoda stood there, staring. Then she nodded resolutely, turned, and hurried out of the room and down the stairs.
    â€œI’m not much in the mood for coffee after all,” Ginny said, and Daniel nodded in agreement.
    â€œI guess I’m about ready to turn in,” Jane said, and was grateful when Ivy got the hint and left with them.
    Jane took a long hot shower, put on her nightgown, brushed her teeth, combed her hair, and settled on the bed with a manuscript she’d brought from the office. Just as she turned over the title page, there was a knock on the door.
    â€œWho is it?”
    â€œJane, it’s me, Ivy.”
    Jane let out a great sigh. “Coming.” Throwing on her robe, she went to the door and opened it. At the far end of the corridor, Tamara Henley emerged from her room, crossed to the room Carla and Ellyn were sharing, and knocked on their door.
    Ivy walked into Jane’s room and shut the door. “You know, that Tamara is totally cold and unfeeling. It’s really bothering me. That nice William Ives can vouch for it.”
    â€œVouch for what? What did she do?”
    â€œRight after I left here before, I went downstairs to see if there was anything to eat in the kitchen. Tamara and William were in the conference room and we had some fruit together. Anyway, we got to chatting about this and that, and somehow I got on to how I lost Marlene. Well. Tamara made it abundantly clear that she didn’t want to hear anything about it. Don’t you think that’s cold?”
    â€œYes, I do. I don’t blame you for being hurt. Ivy, where’s Johnny?”
    â€œI think he’s in the lounge, watching the news. Can you believe there are no TVs in these rooms? Speaking of the news,” Ivy swept on, sitting on the bed, “have you heard anything more about that bus hijacking story?”
    â€œNo, why?”
    Ivy shook her head, frowning, then yawned mightily. “I’m going to bed. Good night, Jane.”
    Bewildered, Jane let Ivy out and watched her enter her room across the hall. Then she resumed her position on the bed, took up her manuscript, and started to read.
    Ten minutes later there was another knock.
    â€œOh, for goodness’ sake.” She went to the door. “Ivy, I thought you were going to bed.”
    â€œIt’s me, Daniel.”
    â€œDaniel?” She opened the door and he walked in.
    â€œSorry to bother you, Jane, but there’s something I think you’d better know. A few minutes ago I was walking through the lounge. Ivy was there, sitting and talking with Larry Graham. Suddenly the door to the storage room opened and out came Johnny and Carla. You should have seen Ivy’s face. Poor thing.”
    â€œDid Johnny see her?”
    â€œYes, he gave her a quick glance and walked past her as if she didn’t matter in the least.”
    Poor Ivy. What would happen now?
    â€œAnd as if that wasn’t enough,” Daniel went on, “as I was coming upstairs, I passed Tom Brockman. He had a real stormy look and I wondered what was bothering him. Then I