Zack listened carefully to Josha's message. The color began to drain from his
face. He and Ivy were at home. He ran down the stairs and into the living
room where Ivy was doing a crossword puzzle.

"Zack, what's wrong?"

"Ivy, if I told you to do something to save your neck, would you do it?"

"Of course. What are you driving at?"

"Break up with Frederick."

"Is Josha paying you to say that?"

"Ivy, please."

"Zackary, you can't tell me who to date. You're not Dad! And I'm meeting
Frederick in about an hour at that pond." She walked away in a huff.

Pond? Cold dread seized Zack. He ran out the door.
*************************************************************************
At the same time, Carmen was seated at a table in a restaurant. Soon, Martin
came in and sat down beside her.

Carmen braced herself for what she now had to do. "I think I've reached a
decision."

"Before you tell me, Carmen, would you mind trying on the ring. I need to see
if it fits."

Carmen obeyed. The ring fit perfectly. She stared at it with increasing
disbelief. A stream of voices ran through her mind rapidly.

Say yes.
Say yes and marry him.
Say yes and be happy.
Say no. Marrying him means giving up all you stand for.
Say no. A certain ghost will make your life miserable.
You're a criminal. You'll be putting both of you in danger.

Tears welled in Carmen's eyes. "I can't do it, Martin. I'm so sorry." She
began to cry.

Martin pulled out his handkerchief and began to dry Carmen's tears. "No, I'm
sorry. I thought about it more. It's too hasty now. Maybe we should get
better acquainted."

Carmen stopped crying. "Dinner at Eight tomorrow?"

"It's a deal. How about the Gourmet Parlor?"

Martin soon left. Carmen sighed. Saying no hadn't made her lose Martin after
all. She felt lighter, a massive burden shed. She got up and left the
restaurant.

On the streets, Zack came up to Carmen. "Help!"
******************************************************************************

**************
At the pond, Frederick and Ivy had borrowed a rowboat and were rowing toward
the center of the pond. They were silent.

Frederick thought of what he planned to do. Soon he may not be lonely
anymore. But yet, Francesca's advice still pounded in his ears. For what
might have been the thousand time, he wished he were still alive. In spite of
himself, a tear coursed down his cheek.

"Frederick! What's wrong?" Ivy asked, breaking the chain of thought.

Frederick stood up and jumped out of the boat. He barely felt the cold
temperature of the water. Floods of memories came to him. The bridge
cracking. Him trying to run to the banks. Being deposited in the cold water.
Trying to swim, but trapped in weeds and bridge debris. Then came anger.
Thanks to that bridge, he was now more spirit and air than flesh and blood.

Back in the boat. Ivy debated looking for Frederick, or running for help just
as.......

the boat capsized.

Ivy screamed as she hit the water. It felt freezing. She went under the
surface and popped up again. "Frederick!"

Frederick heard her scream. He suddenly had a change of heart. Ivy was too
precious to lose, too precious to betray.

Ivy battled with the water, struggling to keep her head above it. She saw
Frederick. He was walking ON the water like it was solid ground! She nearly
fainted. Frederick took her hands and carried  her back to the banks.

"Ivy, I am so sorry. I am so sorry." Frederick sighed. He began to cry.

Ivy noticed that Frederick's normal-looking coloring was fading. He looked
white, then almost transparent. She was seeing the real ghost, unshielded by
disguise.

Frederick continued crying. "No matter what, I am practically chained to my
afterlife and that pond. And as much as I hate it, I cannot leave it." He
buried his face in his hands. "You had better go now. Please forgive me."

Josha, Carmen, Zack and Tatyanna came in.

"We'd better take you somewhere warm before you catch pneumonia." Carmen
suggested, taking Ivy's hand in hers.

Tatyanna agreed. "She's right. You'll catch your death in those clothes,"

Ivy turned to leave. "Goodbye, Frederick." she whispered.

******************************************************************************

**********
Back at ACME Headquarters, the detectives and Carmen were silent. Ivy's
clothes were dry now. For once, she didn't care if Carmen slipped through her
fingers.

In Josha's lab, he and Zack were talking about their escapade.

"I wonder what kind of dreams I'll have tonight," Zack commented. "Probably
the one I had Saturday where I tell Ivy 'Forget it, I've kept my mouth shut
for ten years on this matter,' and she screeches back at me, 'Ten years and
never a word!' " He sighed. "Pretty hard to laugh thinking of that time gap.
Ten years is a long time to wait."

Josha only replied, "I'd wait a million years for Ivy."

Zack groaned. The pair went back to the main room.

Carmen had told the Chief everything about Martin. He then announced, "Hey,
everybody. I wanted to tell you something. Since the original auction brought
in so much money for the charity, they're holding another one. Let's enter
it. Except for lucky duck Carmen, of course."

Everybody groaned.

The End.