Evercrossed kbaa-4

by Элизабет Чандлер

Twenty‐three

  IT FELT STRANGE, BEING AT ODDS WITH HER TWO best friends. Ivy was worried about Beth, but there was no point in discussing her concerns with Will, not now, when he was convinced that Ivy was the one going off the deep end.

  Late that afternoon, having made plans to go with Guy to a summer carnival, Ivy went upstairs to look for something special to wear. She found Beth pacing the bedroom, her cell phone pressed to her ear.

  ʺNo, Iʹm busy,” Beth said to the caller. ʺIʹve already made plans for tonight.ʺ

  Listening for a moment, Beth frowned. ʺI never said that, Chase. . No, you canʹt come with me.ʺ

  Seeing Ivy, Beth turned her back and hunched over the phone.

  Ivy watched her for a moment in the mirror, then continued toward her bureau.

  ʺSorry, I have to go,ʺ Beth said, and clicked off the phone.

  Ivy glanced over her shoulder. A week ago, she would have sat on the bed, patted the place next to her, and asked her friend, Howʹs everything? Now she gazed silently at Beth, who frowned at her image in the mirror, wriggling her shoulders as if she had touched something distasteful, and headed downstairs.

  ʺSTRAWBERRY DAYS!ʺ IVY SAID SEVERAL HOURS LATER, happily slipping her hand in Guyʹs and gazing up at a banner that stretched between two antique fire trucks. The annual week‐long carnival, which raised money for the Capeʹs fire departments, was a colorful jumble of booths and rides spread beneath strings of lights.

  ʺWhere do you want to start?ʺ she asked.

  ʺGames,ʺ said Guy, smiling down at her. ʺI feel lucky tonight. How about darts?

  Over there.ʺ

  The booth, tended by a woman wearing a fire hat, had rows of red, white, and blue balloons. Guy plunked down two dollars.

  ʺHereʹs your dahts,ʺ the woman said with a strong Massachusetts accent. ʺGood luck.ʺ Guy picked up a dart and turned it in his hands, examining it. ʺI canʹt remember. . which way does it go?ʺ he asked Ivy, then laughed at her reaction.

  ʺIʹm kidding.ʺ Raising his arm, he aimed and threw. Pop!

  ʺOne!ʺ said the woman. He missed with the next dart. ʺOne for two.ʺ Guy set his jaw and threw — Pop! — and threw again. Pop! ʺThree for four,ʺ the woman announced. Guy threw the final dart. Pop! ʺFour for five! Pick a prize, any row, sir!ʺ

  Guy turned to Ivy. ʺWhat would you like?ʺ

  ʺYou choose,ʺ Ivy told him, curious to see what he would select. Guy studied the rainbow of stuffed animals. ʺTop row, third from the left.ʺ The woman handed him a plush white horse with wings. ʺIf s either an angel horse or Pegasus,ʺ Guy told Ivy as he laid the stuffed toy in her hands.

  ʺPegasus,ʺ she repeated. ʺYou know your mythology.ʺ

  Guy gave her a crooked smile. ʺMore proof that Iʹm a classy guy.ʺ

  ʺI always knew it! Thank you,” Ivy said, tucking the toy under her arm. ʺPeg is very sweet.ʺ

  They moved on to another booth and took turns tossing hoops over bottles, then caught a ride on the Ferris wheel, rising and falling through the twinkling lights of the carnival.

  ʺWant another ride or dinner?ʺ Guy asked her when they got off.

  ʺDessert for me,ʺ Ivy said. ʺAnd then another ride. And then another dessert.ʺ

  He laughed and they walked with arms around each other, following the signs to the food concessions. On the way. Ivy was flagged down by Max.

  ʺIvy, over here!ʺ he called. He and Beth were sitting on a bench near the bumper cars. ʺWhoʹs that?ʺ Guy asked. ʺMax. And Beth.ʺ

  ʺIs Will here tonight?ʺ Guyʹs voice held a tinge of uneasiness. ʺI think they all came together/ʹ she replied, and saw the guarded way Guy glanced around.

  ʺWhy donʹt you get in line at the burger stand while I say hello,” Ivy suggested.

  She joined Max and Beth, squeezing onto the bench. ʺHey, where are the others?ʺ Max pointed. ʺIn the Dodgʹems. Beth didnʹt want to drive one.

  And I know how Bryan and Kelsey get into slamming cars, so I didnʹt want to either.ʺ Ivy smiled, then stood for a moment to watch. The bumper cars were the old‐fashioned kind, with tall black poles ending in snakelike tongues that licked and sparked across a metal ceiling. Will and Dhanya drove smoothly around the polished floor; Bryan, Kelsey, and someone else, spun their cars like lunatics, causing multiple crashes.

  ʺIs that Chase?ʺ Ivy asked, surprised. ʺYes,ʺ Max replied, when Beth didnʹt.

  ʺThe smell,ʺ Beth murmured. ʺIvy, that terrible smell.ʺ

  ʺKind of like burnt hair?ʺ Max asked. ʺBumper cars always smell that way.ʺ

  Ivy sat down. ʺI didnʹt think Chase was coming tonight.ʺ

  ʺNeither did we,ʺ Max replied. ʺHe was waiting in the parking lot and followed us in.ʺ

  Be careful/ʹ Beth said. ʺIf s dangerous/ʹ Ivy frowned. Was it Chase who was scaring Beth?

  ʺIt’s electric, but it’s safe,ʺ Max assured her. Beth shook her head, twisting the chain of her pendant. They were carrying on two different conversations. Ivy realized, neither seeming aware that the other didnʹt understand.

  The cars stopped, and Kelsey, Bryan, and Chase kept up their boisterous shoving and laughing as they came down the exit ramp. Will and Dhanya followed quietly.

  ʺHey, Ivy! You should have been out there with us, you and Guy,ʺ Kelsey said, then stopped to look around. ʺWhere is Mystery Man?ʺ Ivy pointed over her shoulder toward the burger stand. ʺGetting something to eat.ʺ

  ʺMystery Man,ʺ Bryan said. ʺYou mean our friendly local amnesiac?ʺ

  ʺWhere?ʺ Chase asked, his gray eyes shining with curiosity. ʺThe gorgeous guy, third in line,ʺ Kelsey told them.

  They craned their necks to see. When Ivy saw Willʹs eyes narrow, she turned to look as well. Guy was talking to a dark‐haired girl, shaking his head and gesturing forcefully, as if making a point.

  He walked away from the girl, but a moment later, after she said something to his back, he turned toward her again and continued the conversation, more heatedly than before. ʺExcuse me,ʺ Ivy said as she moved toward them.

  ʺCatfight!ʺ Kelsey announced hopefully. Before Ivy reached Guy, the girl walked away. She was digging in her purse and Ivy caught a snatch of the ringtone from the girlʹs phone.

  The girl pressed the phone to her ear, then gazed back one more time at Guy.

  Ivy barely caught the sound of her light voice as the girl hurried away. ʺDid she say ʹBye, Lukeʹ?ʺ Ivy asked. Guy spun around. ʺWhat?ʺ

  ʺI thought she called you ʹLuke,” Ivy said. ʺShe didnʹt,ʺ he replied, but he wouldnʹt meet Ivyʹs eyes. ʺDo you know her, Guy?ʺ

  ʺIʹve never seen her in my life. She was asking directions.ʺ He had gotten awfully riled up over a set of directions. ʺTo where?ʺ His eyes sparked. ʺIs this an interrogation?ʺ Tilting her head to one side, Ivy studied him.

  ʺNo.ʺ

  ʺSorry,ʺ Guy apologized, his voice softening. ʺI shouldnʹt have snapped.ʺ

  After a moment. Ivy nodded. ʺAnd I shouldnʹt have pressed you.ʺ

  Guy looked past her, glancing around anxiously. ʺIʹm really tired, Ivy. Do you mind taking me home?ʺ

  ʺDonʹt you want to eat something?ʺ

  ʺI have stuff in my cooler.ʺ She gave in with a sigh. Perhaps Luke was the name of the person who called the girl on her phone, Ivy thought, as they walked silently to her car. Even so, she knew that something had upset Guy and he was covering it up.

  When they arrived back at Willow Pond, Guy didnʹt want her to stay. ʺIʹm going straight to bed,ʺ he said, climbing quickly out of the Beetle.

  Ivy opened her door and met him halfway around the car. ʺWhat if I just sit by the pond and check on you in a little while to make sure youʹre okay?ʺ

  ʺNo.ʺ The swiftness of his response made her blink. ʺI need some sleep, Ivy. I need… some time to myself — some space.ʺ

  The same thing that she had asked of Will. Ivyʹs throat tightened. ʺIʹll be better tomorrow. Donʹt forget to feed Pegasus,ʺ he added with a forced smile.

  ʺCall me,ʺ she sai
d.

  Without replying, Guy brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers and walked away.

  IVY PACED THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE COTTAGE, mentally replaying the scene between Guy and the girl at the carnival, trying to interpret it. Guyʹs gestures suggested strong emotions, but whether she had seen anger, frustration, or disbelief, Ivy couldnʹt say.

  If the girl had claimed she knew Guy, why hadnʹt he told Ivy, so they could pursue whatever clues he now had? Maybe he wanted to check things out without her looking over his shoulder. Maybe he didnʹt like what he had heard about himself; maybe it was something terrible.

  No, Ivy told herself. Your mind has been poisoned by Beth and Will.

  Still, once suspicion had taken root, she couldnʹt get rid of it. Each time she passed through the kitchen, she saw Bethʹs laptop lying open on the table. Was it a desire to help or a failure to trust that tempted her?

  She wasnʹt sure, but at eleven fifteen, with the others still out, she sat down to Google the name ʺLuke.ʺ

  ʺLukeʺ and what? Ivy drummed her fingers. ʺLukeʺ and ʺmissing person,ʺ she typed, then laughed at herself. Only 51,800 results. She tried ʺLukeʺ and ʺmissing personʺ and ʺMassachusetts.ʺ 8,310 results. As she scanned them she found entries for hospitals named St Luke and people named Luke who were not from Massachusetts but had a relative there or had passed through there.

  She could eliminate ʺSt.ʺ and ʺhospitalʺ from the search, but did it really make sense to restrict her search to Massachusetts? Why not Rhode Island or any other state, she thought; Cape Cod was crawling with tourists — the girl at the carnival could have been one.

  Perhaps if she searched by date. But when did Guy go missing? The day he was left for dead on the beach, or could it have been some time before? The articles and postings always mentioned age, but she didnʹt know exactly how old he was.

  Ivy continued scanning, clicking on entries, reading description after description of people who had disappeared into thin air. Sheʹd had no idea there were so many.

  Had something terrible happened to them, she wondered, or had they ʺescapedʺ and lied to start new lives? Engrossed in what she was reading, she didnʹt hear the footsteps. She wasnʹt aware of Will until he leaned on the back of her chair.

  ʺIvy, what are you doing?ʺ She slammed down the computer lid and whirled around. ʺWill! You scared me,ʺ she said, knowing that was a flimsy excuse for her overreaction. Will remained unruffled. ʺWhoʹs Luke?ʺ When he reached as if he was going to open the laptop, she laid her hand on it. ʺI donʹt know.ʺ

  ʺIs that Guyʹs real name?ʺ

  ʺIf it is,ʺ she replied, ʺIʹm sure you would have discovered that by now with your thorough investigation.ʺ Will grimaced. ʺIʹm not your enemy. Ivy.ʺ

  ʺAnd you think that Guy is?ʺ He folded his arms. ʺI think you canʹt tell the difference between a guy caring about you and a guy using you.ʺ

  Ivy felt the heat rise in her cheeks. ʺGet out of here! Get out now!ʺ

  Before Will could slam the door behind him. Ivy closed down her search and turned off the computer. If only she could turn off the growing fear in her mind.

  Twenty‐four

  FROM THE MOMENT SHE AWOKE TUESDAY MORNING, Ivy checked her cell phone, but Guy didnʹt call. It was hard not to phone him, but heʹd said he wanted space, so she forced herself to be patient.

  Late in the afternoon, finding the phoneʹs silence unbearable, she drove to St.

  Peterʹs to practice piano, hoping to fill her head with Chopin, Schubert, and Beethoven. At six thirty, she picked up a sandwich at a cafe near the church, then returned to practice.

  What if something has happened to Guy? she thought, and almost used that as an excuse to call him. But she knew that Kip had her phone number ʺin case of emergencyʺ and would have contacted her if there had been a problem. At eight twenty, she drove home, setting her phone on the car seat so she could quickly pick it up.

  Arriving at the Seabright, Ivy saw that both Kelseyʹs and Willʹs cars were gone.

  The cottageʹs windows were dark, and inside it was silent. Ivy walked quietly, reluctant to disturb the buildingʹs twilight In the kitchen only the night‐light burned, shining on a note from Aunt Cindy that said she would be out for the evening.

  Hoping to take her mind off Guy, Ivy headed upstairs to fetch her paperback mystery. Halfway up the steps she stopped. Candlelight flickered against the bedroomʹs low ceiling. She tiptoed to the top of the stairs and stared with amazement at Beth, who was sitting on the floor by Dhanyaʹs bed, focusing on the Ouija board.

  Above the circle of tea lights, Bethʹs profile was ghostly white, a streak of crimson staining her cheek. She gave no sign of knowing that Ivy was moving toward her.

  With her fingers resting on the planchette, Beth closed her eyes and chanted softly. Ivy leaned forward, trying to hear the words. ʺAnswer, answer, give me your answerʺ Beth murmured.

  Seconds ticked by. Bethʹs hands, shoulders, and head were still. The only movement was that of her eyes beneath pale, closed lids. She was like a person dreaming, her eyes darting behind the lids, seeing things that Ivy could not.

  ʺ Answer, answer, give me your answer.ʺ

  The planchette started to move, its motion erratic at first.

  ʺ Answer, answer!ʺ Beth chanted, her voice more insistent. The triangular piece moved in a slow circle around the board — counterclockwise.

  Ivy counted six circles. Then six more, and six more again.

  ʺ Answer, answer, give me your answer, Is it you?ʺ

  The planchette moved to the letter G.

  Ivy held her breath. Guy or Gregory?

  The plastic slid sideways and down to the letter R.

  Ivy watched, nerves tingling.

  E…G…O…R…Y…

  ʺGregory,ʺ Ivy mouthed.

  I…S…

  ʺIs,ʺ she said softly, but Beth, deep in a trance, didnʹt hear.

  H…

  ʺStop it!ʺ Ivy cried out.

  E…

  ʺStop it, Beth!ʺ

  R…

  ʺStop it now!ʹʹ

  Before the planchette touched the final E, Ivy leaned down and swept it toward GOOD BYE, then off the board.

  Bethʹs head jerked back as if Ivy had slapped her. ʺBeth, what are you doing?ʺ

  Ivy demanded. ʺI canʹt believe youʹd try to—ʺ

  ʺHeʹs hereʺ Beth said in a faraway voice. ʹThereʹs no stopping him now.ʺ

  A loud knock made Ivy jump. She glanced toward the stairway — someone was at the cottage door. Beth leaned forward and calmly blew out each candle. Before she reached the last Ivy ran down the steps. Taking a deep breath, she opened the front door.

  ʺOh, thank God!ʺ she said. ʺIvy, are you okay?ʺ Guy asked and quickly stepped inside. ʺYouʹre trembling. Whatʹs wrong?ʺ

  ʺIʹm just — just spooked.ʺ It was too dark to see his eyes, but Ivy could feel Guy studying her. ʺSpooked by me?ʺ he asked. She laughed shakily. ʺNo. Beth—ʺ

  How could she explain? ʺItʹs a long story.ʺ

  ʺSo letʹs take a long walk,ʺ he said.

  ʺTHE THING I LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING ON A BEACH IS that one half of the world is the sky,ʺ Ivy told Guy as they stood at the top of the steps that led down the bluff.

  ʺOne half of the world is the stars,ʺ he replied. Ivy turned to him. Tristan, she thought do you remember? Do you remember kissing me in a cathedral of stars?

  Guy gazed upward, his head back, taking in the stars. ʺTheyʹre so bright when youʹre away from town lights. They look closer.ʺ

  ʺClose enough to touch,ʺ Ivy said. ʺThereʹs Orion, the hunter.” Guy pointed. ʺI recognize his sword.ʺ They walked down the steps together, removed their shoes, and followed the path through the dunes. ʺWant to walk by the waterʹs edge?ʺ Guy asked. ʺNow that I know how to float,” he added with a smile, ʺIʹm not afraid of drowning in an inch of ocean.ʺ

  Ivy reached for Guyʹs hand and they walked toward the water. The tide was receding, leav
ing behind a cache of silver pebbles and shells. After they had walked a distance, Ivy turned to look at their footprints, his close to hers, matching strides. Guy turned too, then smiled and put his arm around her as they continued to walk.

  ʺSo tell me what spooked you,ʺ. Guy said, ʺSomething about Beth?ʺ Ivy nodded.

  ʺBeth is psychic.ʺ Guy slowed midstride. ʺShe is?ʺ

  ʺYes, she truly has the gift. But itʹs a curse, too. What Beth sees, what she senses, often frightens her.ʺ

  ʺYou said she helped you last year. Did she figure out that Gregory was the killer?ʺ

  ʺShe figured out an important part of it.ʺ ʺWhat did Beth see tonight?ʺ he asked.

  Ivy shrugged off his question. ʺIt doesnʹt matter. I overreacted. Sometimes I think that Beth mixes up what she sees and what she imagines. Sheʹs got a very fertile imagination.ʺ

  With one hand, Guy turned Ivyʹs face toward him and gazed at her steadily. ʺI think it does matter, because it upset you. But youʹll tell me when youʹre ready.ʺ

  Then he dropped his arm from her shoulder, and said, ʺWatch this!ʺ

  He dashed into the water, up to his thighs, then turned to grin at her, letting a wave race past him. ʺAre you impressed?ʺ he asked. ʺTell me youʹre impressed.ʺ

  ʺVery!ʺ

  She ran toward him, kicking up the frothy surf. They held hands facing each other, as wave after wave rushed at them. Each time a wave receded, she felt him gripping her hand harder. ʺYou donʹt like the undertow.ʺ

  ʺIt scares me more than a breaking wave,ʺ he admitted. ʺIt feels like the ocean wants to pull me back into the darkness.ʺ

  ʺI wonʹt let the ocean have you,ʺ she said. ʺNothing can make me let go.ʺ

  ʺHow did I ever get this lucky? I must have done something really good in my life.ʺ ʺYou did many good things.ʺ He laughed. ʺNo, I know it!ʺ she insisted.

  Laughing still, he lifted her left hand and kissed her on the knuckle.

  ʺAnd I believe in something much more than luck,ʺ she said.

  ʺYour angels,ʺ he guessed. ʺYouʹve nearly made a believer out of me… Nearly.ʺ

  They waded back to shore and followed their own footprints, returning to the path through the dimes. Halfway up the wooden steps, at the landing with the facing benches, Guy reached up and caught Ivy by the elbow. ʺCan we stop? I want to take a look,ʺ he said.