Chapter 30 Ingrid
Ingrid
When Ada called to invite Ingrid to join her and Mother for dinner, every reservation had told Ingrid to refuse. But, as she
has reminded herself countless times, any evidence that the Star Society is not a front will likely be at Gordon’s, so she
has little choice. If she must endure Mother’s company, so be it.
In the kitchen, where Ada has given Gordon’s cook the night off, she boils potatoes, carrots, and onions, then combines them
with spices, butter, and cream until smooth to make hutspot while Ingrid prepares the sausages. Not rookworst, but it’ll do. Neither has had a proper Dutch meal in far too long. Mother
settles in the living room with wine, stating her inexperience with Dutch cooking will hinder the girls, which is perfectly
fine with Ingrid. She would rather cook with her sister anyway.
This was a meal their grandmother taught them to make prior to her death, and they often prepared it for Opa in memory of his late wife. She can almost envision Opa’s warm blue eyes, almost hear the faint rumble of approval in his chest as he takes the first bite and compliments his granddaughters.
As they work, Ingrid peers down the hall to ensure Mother is occupied, then she steps to Ada’s side and lowers her voice.
“Minnie Musgrave wants another exclusive, which would reassure your fans amid these hearings and help us determine if Mother
is behind the threats. Now that she’s here, it might be easier to catch her leaving the next note.”
“You really mustn’t be so quick to accuse her,” Ada replies, matching Ingrid’s tone. Any response Ingrid makes will only provoke
argument, so she stays quiet. “After the premiere, I can capitalize on the attention from the film with my next statement,
then once I’ve named Dietrich, we can turn in the evidence. That should encourage the FBI to explore the matter.”
After further discussion, they agree Ada will give the interview now if Mrs. Musgrave will agree to run it after the premiere.
Ingrid promises to set it up for later this week. Perhaps while Ada is occupied, Ingrid will wait at Gordon’s and explore
her office for more evidence of the Star Society’s innocence.
Assuming Mother is not here to interfere.
While Ada calls Mother in from the living room, Ingrid proceeds into the dining room and sits. The meal looks just as it did
when they made it at home in Arnhem, bringing both warmth and an ache to her chest.
Ada joins her, then Mother enters, holding an old edition of The Dish.
“You gave an exclusive to the press, Aleida? Mentioning politics? I should think that would be of interest to Ingrid, not
you.”
“Well, she did encourage me,” Ada replies with a knowing smile. “I thought I might as well speak freely.”
“‘My silence has always been for my own protection . . . but I’ll have more to say in that regard some other time,’” Mother quotes, reading aloud before she sets the gossip rag down and sits with a sigh. “Darling, no one could speak freely then, and no one wants to be reminded of those times.”
“And no one wants to feel silenced,” Ingrid counters.
“Which is why I’ll be giving another exclusive, to—”
“Clarify a few things,” Ingrid interrupts, silencing Ada with a kick to the ankle beneath the table. What did she tell her
about not sharing their plans with Mother? Nothing can stop Mother from reading the piece, but then it will be too late for
her to interfere.
“Right,” Ada replies tightly even as she returns the kick out of indignation. “Because all this trouble over Communism is
increasing, isn’t it, Inge? With the hearings?”
“What, that fuss? No need to trouble yourselves over such nonsense.” Mother scoops a forkful of dinner into her mouth and
gives an approving nod. “Lovely. Well done, you two.”
An effort to change the subject. Ingrid will not let the matter go so easily.
“Media frenzy creates fuss and noise, which runs the risk of transforming a concerning issue into a farce. Such possibilities
don’t make the matter any less serious,” she says. “Communism threatens democracy, and if such issues have been identified
in the entertainment industry, the government will address them without permitting the innocent to fall victim. So I think
it’s best if we make our positions clear, then leave them to it.”
While Ingrid takes a bite of her meal, she watches Mother, seeking a reaction. Mother sips her wine—perhaps carrying on with
dinner, perhaps avoiding Ingrid’s probing gaze.
“But hearings?” Ada presses. “You don’t find it concerning? The way the government has decided when it should be allowed to
question someone over how they vote?”
Ingrid sighs. “Well, that’s another issue entirely.
These methods are . . . unconventional. It’s quite early, so I don’t know enough to know how I feel.
Part of attempting to understand is to avoid drawing hasty conclusions.
” Then Ingrid looks across the table. “But to avoid confusion or potential repercussions, it’s wise to clarify one’s position, isn’t it, Mother? ”
“Certainly.”
A little glimmer of anticipation rises unbidden in Ingrid’s chest. Is she actually going to explain her views, to satisfy
the curiosity that’s been plaguing Ingrid all these years?
“But clarifying one’s position should not be done at the expense of one’s happiness,” Mother continues, meeting Ingrid’s gaze.
“The time of war and politics is behind us. We put forth so much effort to build new lives, so why sully them?”
The glimmer dies. Ingrid is starting to wonder if Mother is choosing to be vague simply to irritate her. Or maybe she is like
Ada once was, believing such things are not necessary to address. Whatever the reason, it gives Ingrid no more confidence
in her.
Once the meal concludes, Ada suggests sitting by the pool for dessert, so Ingrid volunteers to slice the flourless chocolate
cake Ada made this morning. The conversation over dinner has left her even more anxious to find something beyond Ada’s word
to satisfy Crenshaw and Stieber, so she can seize the alone time to slip into Ada’s office. A hearing is nothing of concern,
but if Ingrid can close this investigation, then there is no need to put Ada through one.
Mother places a restraining hand on Ingrid. “Go outside and relax. I was no help with dinner, so let me prepare dessert.”
“And a splash of Scotch,” Ada calls as she gestures for Ingrid to accompany her. “It’s delightful with a cigarette in the
evenings.”
Ingrid reluctantly follows Ada toward the pool, her jaw already tightening. Mother is alone in the house, where Ingrid was hoping to be. More importantly, where Ada’s evidence is hidden.
When Ada notices Ingrid’s furrowed brow, she sighs. “How are you supposed to make peace with Mother when you won’t stop being
so suspicious? We don’t know if she’s behind the messages, and she’s just being helpful.”
“Is she, or was she trying to get rid of us? You trust her far too readily.”
“Contrary to what you seem to believe, I’m not entirely gullible. I know we can’t be certain of anything yet. I’m just trying
to give her the opportunity to earn my trust. And you could do the same.”
Maybe Ingrid should try harder with Mother, but not at the cost of her sister’s safety. She glances toward the house. Sowerby. If she goes inside to let the terrier out, it’s the perfect excuse to thwart Mother if she’s prying.
After sharing her intentions to get the dog—although Ada will surely see through her motives—Ingrid rushes back toward the
house before Ada can stop her. Once inside, she goes immediately to the kitchen.
Three slices of decadent cake rest on three small plates. And Mother is gone.
Ingrid knew it; of course Mother is up to no good. She must be looking for the evidence, or perhaps she’s preparing the next
threatening note to send to Ada now that she knows Ada will be giving another exclusive. Quietly so as not to alert her, Ingrid
continues down the hall, where she notices the library door is ajar.
The library. Where Ada keeps the evidence.
Her heartbeat picks up speed as she nears, then she peers around the corner. Mother’s back is to Ingrid—no doubt she is examining
the shelves for clues, or maybe she suspects the documents are in this room and she has only to find them.
“I don’t recall the cake being in here,” Ingrid says loudly. She wants Mother to be caught, to face her, to admit that her reasons for reconnecting with Ada are not as innocent as Ada might think.
Indeed, Mother steps back and turns, her brow lined with confusion. “No, not cake . . .” She gestures with the empty crystal
glass in her hand, indicating the bar cart near the edge of the sofa, which her original position had blocked from Ingrid’s
view. “Scotch. For your sister.” She picks up a second empty glass. “And for you, if you’d like?”
Heat flushes Ingrid’s neck. She shakes her head, muttering her excuse about letting the dog out. Mother fills a glass of amber
liquid for Ada, then leads the way from the library. Ingrid calls to Sowerby, then they follow her outside.
The night is comfortable and warm, yet between the dinner conversation about the hearings and her concerns over Mother, a
weight remains in her chest. Maybe Ada is right; maybe Ingrid is far too suspicious. And she will continue to be suspicious
until she has a reason not to be.
A couple of days later, Ingrid makes her way to the Biltmore Hotel conference room for the final day of hearings, every step
light with a relief that might be premature but she hopes is not. After today, HUAC will surely have all the information it
needs, subversives will be dealt with accordingly, and this threat of Communism will cease. And with Ada meeting with Mrs.
Musgrave today to give the next exclusive, which will publish after her premiere next Friday, everything Ingrid has set into
motion is shaping up rather nicely.
Ingrid is about to enter the conference room when a young woman approaches. A familiar woman.
Beverly Tolbert.
The actress doesn’t notice Ingrid as she speaks with a few men gathered around the door before disappearing inside. What is she doing at the hearings? And more importantly, what does she intend to share?
That charming little Brit, she had sneered about Ada. If ever there was an opportunity to remove her competition by accusing the more successful actress
of being a Communist, this is it. And Ingrid has no doubt Beverly will seize her chance.
Another familiar figure is approaching the conference room—Archie—so Ingrid grabs his arm and pulls him away from the crowd.
“That woman who just entered the room is one of Ada’s friends,” she says in a low voice. “You met her at the party, then again
at Schwab’s, remember? I can’t risk her recognizing me, but you’ll blend in more easily, so will you go in there and stay
out of sight? I need to know everything she says. Especially if she says anything about Ada.”
“This sounds awfully similar to a favor, and a risky one since I might be noticed and recognized, which means you owe me something
in exchange.” He crosses his arms, as if pondering. “Do I want information? Another invitation to a Star Society party? A
romantic evening with—?”
“I’ll buy you a drink. Now go.” There is no time for this nonsense. She shoves him toward the door. He obeys, strolling toward
the room while listing his terms.
“A strong drink—no, two strong drinks. From Ciro’s. And a third drink after the hearings move home.”
Ingrid’s breath catches, and she hurries after him. “More hearings at home? HUAC doesn’t have enough?”
He laughs. “Far from it. We’re only just getting started.”
Archie disappears into the hearing room while Ingrid stares at the closed door, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. Hearings
at home. Her earlier relief was indeed premature.
This is not the end of matters as she hoped. It’s only the beginning.