As soon as Ivy left the coffee house, she made a call to Valarie. Valarie had informed her that she was working on David's case and she was the one who handled it. Though she had not told about it completely to her, she had given her subtle hints about it.
The phone rang a few times, but nobody picked it up. She tried again and met the same result. She waited for a few minutes before she tried again. She was outside near the parking lot. Not many people were present at that time.
On the fourth try, the call was picked up. However, it was a man who responded.
"Hello," A man spoke on the other side.
"Doesn't this number belong to Valarie Evans?" Ivy asked doubtfully.
"It does." The man said.
"Then, I need to speak to her. It's urgent."
"May I know who is speaking?"
"Ivy, Ivy West."
"Oh," The man was silent for a few seconds.
"It's very important. Please I need to meet her."
"Okay, when do you want to meet her?"
"Right now."
"What?" The man asked shocked.
"As I said, it is a matter of life and death."
"Okay, how about the Regal Medical Hospital. We are there right now."
"Okay, I'll meet you shortly."
The man cut the call and sighed.
"Who was it, Ryder?" Preston asked without looking up from his phone screen.
"Have you heard about Ivy West?" Ryder asked sitting down on the nearby chair.
"Yes, I have heard the Deputy speak about her. What does she want?"
"She wants to meet the Deputy."
Preston finally looked up. "What? Right now?"
"Yes, she said it was something important and it was a matter of life and death."
"Hmm. What could she mean?"
"Guess, we will find out once she arrives."
Twenty minutes later, Preston, Ryder, and Ivy were sitting in the hospital canteen.
"I want to meet Valarie Evans please," Ivy said looking at them with pleading eyes.
"Why?" Preston asked as he scrutinized Ivy. He relaxed a little when he did not sense anything bad about her.
"I have something important to tell her."
"You can tell us. We are her colleagues." Ryder said with a serious face.
"I am not sure about that. I have met you just now and I am not sure if I can trust you yet."
Ryder was impressed. Ivy was not just a pretty face, she was intelligent too.
"You cannot meet our Deputy, I mean Valarie Evans."
"Why?" Ivy had made a trip to the hospital at this time of the night in hopes of meeting her. Now, it looked like her efforts had gone in vain.
"She is sick," Preston answered her question.
"Is that so?" She was quite disheartened.
Ryder looked at Ivy's sad face and he sighed. He knew his Deputy trusted her, she was a good woman. Also, he had heard her tell that she was a journalist. So, she must have come here to tell me some important news. He knew he could trust her.
"Come with me." Ryder got up.
"Where?" Ivy asked skeptically.
"You said you wanted to meet Deputy, right?"
"Ryder what are you doing?" Preston was bewildered.
"I trust her."
"What happened? Is it something serious?" Ivy asked afraid.
"Come."
Ryder said nothing and started walking. Ivy had no choice other than to follow him.
The three people reached Valarie's ward.
"Our Deputy here." Ryder opened the door and motioned for Ivy to walk in first. She looked at him and walked him confused.
But when she saw the person lying on the bed, she gasped.
"What happened to Valarie?"
"She met with an accident."
"Oh my God. Is she alright?"
"Yes, she will wake up in a few days," Ryder answered all her questions while Preston watched her keenly.
"So, what did you want to tell her?" He asked her impatiently.
"Now, since she is unconscious, I have no other option than to tell you."
"Tell us fast." Preston urged.
"Yes, have you heard about David's death." Ivy looked forth between Preston and Ryder.
"Yes."
"Don't you think his death is a little strange?"
"Okay, where are you getting at?" Ryder asked. He too was confused now.
"See, it's like this. David's death does not look as simple as it does. Also, there is a war going on between our country and the neighboring country."
"Yes, we know that," Preston said a little annoyed now. Ivy was not saying what she had come to say and was talking in a roundabout way.
Ivy ignored his tone and continued. "Now there is chaos everywhere. Everybody's attention is on these two matters."
"Yes, what are you getting at?" Ryder folded his hands.
"We all know that David was not working alone in this case. There was someone stronger backing him and now with David's death he has removed all the clues that trace back to him."
"Yes."
"Put yourself in that person's shoes. What would you do now when everybody's attention is diverted?"
Preston and Ryder realized what she wanted to say. Their eyes widened at once.
Ivy noticed their changes in expression.
"That was what I wanted to say." She said.
"Crap," Preston said.
They were so involved in looking into Valarie's accident that they had overlooked other matters altogether.
"Now since you have understood what I wanted to tell you, I will get going. My job is done."
"Miss West, thank you," Preston said sincerely.
"No problem."
Ivy left the two men behind and stepped out of the ward. Since she was in the hospital, she could as well meet Aria. She knew where her cabin was, she needed no guidance. She went to her cabin and opened it without thinking. The scene she saw inside made her freeze. She saw Aria and Noah kissing passionately with Aria sitting on Noah's lap.
As soon as the door opened, Aria pushed Noah and got up immediately. Noah was angered by the sudden disruption. He had finally got Aria in his arms after a long day at work and now somebody had interrupted his sweet moment. But, when Noah saw that it was his sister-in-law who had interrupted their sweet time, his anger diminished.
"I saw nothing, I heard nothing and I will speak nothing," Ivy said and closed her eyes.
"You guys continue. I was only passing by." She said and turned to walk away.
"Ivy wait." Aria ran to stop her but before that she did not forget to glare at Noah.
"I presume you are busy, I'll meet you later," Ivy said and winked at her.
"No, no. Come, let me introduce you to Noah."
"Noah?" Ivy raised her eyebrows.
"My boyfriend." Aria folded her hands.
"Yeah, I remember."
Aria pulled Ivy inside the cabin and introduced them to each other.
"Ivy, this is Noah. Noah, this is my twin Ivy."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Noah held out his hand which Ivy shook.
"Same here."
They both acted as if they were meeting for the first time.
"Ivy, what are you doing here?" Aria questioned her.
"I was here to meet an acquaintance. Thought I would meet you too."
"Ohh. Who were you meeting?"
"You know Valarie Evans?"
"Yes." Aria did not know a thing about Valarie, Ivy had not told her about her.
"She is a friend of mine. I'll tell you about her later. Now, I'll get going. I don't want Noah to think that I am purposely disturbing you guys. Yeah continue where you left."
"Ivy," Aria called her out but she did not stop this time.
Noah smiled. As expected of his genius sister-in-law. She left early, now he could continue where he had left before.
"So, as my sister-in-law ordered, shall we continue with where we left?"
Aria's face was flushed red. First of all, she was embarrassed because she was caught kissing by her sister and now her pervert of a boyfriend was flirting with her openly.
"No, I have work to do."
"Aria."
"Noah."
"Aria."
"Noah, go please. I need to work."
"Okay fine."
Aria looked at Noah's dejected back and stifled a laugh. Who knew that a successful business tycoon had a side like this too?