Page 80 of Wild Idol

“Ivy? Is that you?”

“Yeah. It’s me.”

Anna was silent for a long moment. “Why are you calling?”

There was venom in her voice, no doubt a lot of unresolved history.

“I’m not sure.”

There was a long silence.

“Where are you?” Anna asked.

“I’m in a hotel room in San Montego,” Ivy replied.

It had been so long, the two girls really didn’t know what to say to each other.

“What are you doing there?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Still following that dirtbag?”

Ivy’s face tensed. “Have you talked to dad?”

“No. I tried calling him, but he hasn’t returned my calls. I figured he was off on one of his adventures, but I’m starting to get worried about him.”

“I think you should be,” Ivy said in a meek voice.

“Why do you say that?”

“I think he may have been kidnapped or…” Ivy didn’t want to say it.

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said,” Ivy barked, her voice filling with worry and frustration. “It’s a long story.”

“It’s always a story with you, isn’t it?”

“I didn’t call to fight.”

“Why did you call?” Anna’s tone was sharp.

“Because I’m worried about dad.”

Anna scoffed. “You? Worried about dad? That’s rich.”

“Don’t start.”

“What’s going on?”

Ivy gave her an abridged version.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“This isn’t one of your dramatic stories?”