Chapter 24 Ingrid
Ingrid
Snow crunches beneath their feet as Ingrid and Hattie leave the café’s warmth, having met for coffee after work. Time together
was a welcome respite, considering Ingrid has spent this last month reviewing her report over and over, meeting with Archie
and others in the office, and awaiting orders. Today she learned they would be returning to California in May in accordance
with HUAC’s developing plans to conduct hearings in Los Angeles.
Hearings. Why it has come to hearings, Ingrid does not know, but it shouldn’t take her long to satisfy Crenshaw and Stieber’s
demands, so hopefully Ada will avoid something so unnecessary. As they step out into the chilly January evening, she tugs
her coat around her while Hattie tucks a loose brown curl behind her ear and exhales, her breath forming a hazy cloud.
“Call me once your fellow takes you to dinner,” Ingrid says, since their conversation over coffee involved an FBI agent Hattie
has been getting to know recently. “You really should accept his invitation.”
“I know, I know. It’s just so strange to think of another man that way, even though it’s been nearly six years since I lost my husband. But the fellow from work really is kind, and Ian would want me to be happy.”
“He would, and so do I.” Ingrid gives her friend a reassuring squeeze, then checks her wristwatch. “Well, I should get home.
Tomorrow, if I call after lunch, will you—?”
“You’re going to call me to ask about Dietrich again, aren’t you?”
“I’m hardly that predictable, am I?” Her friend’s pointed silence communicates the answer. “Check again, please. You’re an
absolute dear,” she adds with a smile.
“And don’t you forget it.”
After thanking Hattie, Ingrid bids her friend goodbye and continues on her way, biting back her frustration. Hattie has yet
to find any information on Gregor Dietrich’s fate, but information must be somewhere.
When Ingrid returns to the apartment, Lars is not home. His law office usually keeps him late, so she cracks open a window
to welcome the chilly winter air and lights a cigarette, then the telephone rings—Lars, probably, saying he’s going to be
later than usual. When she answers, the urgency of the other voice—Ada’s voice—brings immediate tension to her chest.
“It was him. At work. It was him, I know it was, and—”
“Slow down, what are you talking about?”
“Him.” A fragile breath. “Dietrich. The exclusive published today, and I received a gift on set—a silver brooch shaped like a
skeleton key. Nothing else, no note, nothing. That key is part of his family crest, remember?” Her voice sounds the way it
did the morning after the Star Society party, when she spoke of her experiences. The sound of memories, of suffering, of everything
Ingrid can’t bear to hear. “If this was from him, the cryptic messages have been too. I’m sure of it. He wants the evidence,
he’s trying to frighten me so I’ll give it up, and—”
“Listen to me, listen to me,” Ingrid interrupts, the words coming so fast she hardly knows what she’s saying, overcome by a singular, aching need to ease the horror in her sister’s voice.
“We expected this, didn’t we? It’s like you told me: If he knows where you are, but he hasn’t come for the evidence yet, there’s a reason he’s taking his time. ”
“Why? What reason?”
“Maybe just to taunt you like you said, but whatever it is, it’s keeping you safe, and this proves your theory. He probably
saw the exclusive this morning, so he sent the brooch—targeting you again like you thought he would following provocation.
For whatever reason, he hasn’t contacted you directly yet, but now we know if you keep this up, it might draw him out once
he’s had enough. The plan is working.”
Silence follows while Ingrid can’t breathe, can’t fold her sister into her arms, can’t reassure her. She listens, seeing only
a broken, frightened, lonely girl haunted by her past, fighting for survival now as she was then.
“Provoking him was my idea, wasn’t it?” Ada asks softly. Another moment of quiet, then a weak laugh. “God, you must think
I’ve gone completely mad.”
Quiet settles while Ingrid fumbles for a cigarette. She takes a long draw before Ada’s murmur comes again.
“This is how it’s going to be for the rest of my life, isn’t it? Even if we find him and get justice. Even if considering
him makes no logical sense. He will always be my first thought.” More silence. Ingrid twists the phone cord around her finger,
searching for a suggestion, a solution, anything to take away the fear, then Ada speaks with slightly more assurance. “Well,
since the plan seems to be working, I’ll encourage Gordon to have Paul build the gate around the property, and I could always
hire security. If for no other reason than peace of mind.”
“Yes, do both. Call the moment we hang up. Especially with your career advancing, security is a wise investment anyway, and I’ll feel better knowing you feel better.
” Security. Of course. Why didn’t she think of that?
“And don’t do anything more for now. Let Dietrich think he’s successfully subdued you so Hattie will have more time to find information, if it exists, and you can get security in place and wait for me to come back before we try anything else. ”
Silence on the other line, then Ada’s voice, gentle and hopeful. “You’re coming back?”
“Your premiere is in May, isn’t it? I wouldn’t miss it. And I’m sure you’ll need an assistant in the weeks leading up to it,”
she teases, to which Ada gives a faint chuckle. “Well done on finishing your shoot, by the way. How do you feel?”
“Utterly exhausted, though never too exhausted for a post-filming party.” She sounds more like her usual self, thank God.
Ingrid has little trouble picturing the extravagance that will certainly be taking place at Gordon’s house this evening.
“I’m so proud of you, Leidje, and so sorry I’m not there to celebrate.”
“I wish you were coming tonight. Jimmy will be here—Stewart, one of Vince’s friends who enlisted—so I’m excited to meet him
and glad he’s working again. From the way Vince talks about him, I think you’d like him too.”
The name is familiar, and Ingrid tries to focus on it, on anything other than the anxiety refusing to settle. “Was he in a
Christmas film that released recently? Lars and I saw one a few weeks ago, It’s a Wonderful Life.”
“Yes, James Stewart, that’s Jimmy. See, I knew you’d like him.”
They carry on a light conversation while Ingrid fidgets, guilt and worry and concern vibrating through her. Soon she will
be back in Los Angeles. Present for Ada, able to help and reassure her.
As she finishes her cigarette, the door swings open, so she bids her sister goodbye.
“Sorry I’m late. Was that Aleida?” Lars asks as he enters the apartment.
“Yes, she’s finished filming.”
She couldn’t tell him about her initial investigation—confidentiality, after all—but she did tell him that she saw an advertisement about the actress and realized her sister survived, so after her work assignment, she took a trip to visit Ada before coming home.
He glances at her, a look that makes Ingrid curse her own thoughtlessness.
She didn’t even attempt to control her tone, and now it’s betrayed the tension fraying every nerve.
“Did something happen between you?” he asks as he hangs up his hat and coat.
This time her reply is more relaxed, though she’s aching to light another cigarette. “No, we’re fine. I’m just tired. How
was your day?”
After they talk, Lars disappears into their bedroom to change clothes. In the ensuing silence, the conversation with Ada cycles
through Ingrid’s mind.
Dietrich is growing bolder. It’s what they wanted, what they expected, what they needed. Except if he takes her evidence and
disappears again, they will be exactly where they are now. Building a case, if only they could find the culprit.