Mysteries in Our National Parks: Escape From Fear: A Mystery in Virgin Islands National Park

“Forrest asked if I wanted one, but I said I wasn’t hungry. He must have piles of money. You know, we’ve had lots of kids staying with us, but I’ve never met anyone like Forrest.”

“The very rich are different from you and me,” Olivia said without looking up from her reading. “F. Scott Fitzgerald said that. I think he’s right.”

Steven rubbed his chin, thoughtful. “Maybe not. When all is said and done, Forrest’s still a child. I want to keep an eye on him and make sure he hooks up with his cousins when we land. The airport is no place for a kid, no matter how rich he is.”

Jack pressed his head against the window and looked into the darkening sky. Typical, he thought. His parents had always held out their hands to anyone who needed help. Fortunately, Forrest looked as though he was managing fine on his own. That was good. There was something about that guy Jack didn’t like, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Well, it didn’t make any difference. They’d land at the airport and go their separate ways, and that would be the end of it.

The sun was setting in a ball of fire, turning the night sky ablaze. As they made their descent, the sun disappeared completely, sending the plane into a velvet darkness.

“I see lights. Is that St. Thomas?” Ashley asked, leaning across Jack to press her face against his window.

“I think so. Wow, look at all those lights—it’s like the island is on fire. A lot of people must live there!”

St. Thomas, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands, was not the Landons’ final destination, but it was the island with the nearest airport. They’d take a ferry to St. John.

“I can’t believe we’re almost here!” Ashley exclaimed. “First thing tomorrow I want to go snorkeling and stay in the water until night.”

“If you do, you’ll wrinkle up like a raisin,” Jack told her. “Remember Hawaii? Mom said we were going to have to iron you back to normal.”

“So?” Ashley retorted. “It was worth it. I wonder if Forrest is going to snorkel.”

“If he does he won’t wrinkle. He’s w-a-a-y too starched for that.”

Punching him in the arm, Ashley said, “I thought he was nice!”

“Yeah, whatever.” Before she could say anything more, Jack exclaimed, “Look, we’re about to touch down. Three…two…one!”

They landed with a gentle bump, the engines screaming as the plane came to a stop. Everyone spilled out of their seats, popping open overhead bins and crowding into the aisle until no one moved at all. No one, Jack realized, except those in First Class, who got to leave the plane ahead of everyone else. The rest of the passengers, weary from the long flight, had to wait before they slowly filed off the plane.

Once outside, the first thing Jack noticed was the humidity. It enfolded him like a wet blanket, thick and heavy with smoky airplane fuel that mingled with the honeyed scent of island flowers. Lights blazed overhead, so bright that Jack cast a shadow as he made his way inside the small, crowded terminal. His attention was immediately caught by some men in cotton shirts and pants of wildly colored prints, wearing hats that sat high on their heads.

“Rastifarians,” his mother explained. “They don’t ever cut their hair. They tuck it up into those hats.”

Through the milling people, Jack spotted Forrest at an information desk. He looked at Jack, then turned away quickly, as though Jack were now a complete stranger. The woman behind the counter handed a map to Forrest and pointed to a main exit.

“Are you noticing Forrest?” Steven asked Olivia.

“Yes, I’m noticing. There’s no one here to meet him.”

“I wonder where his cousins are.”

The carousel turned slowly, churning out bag after bag like a giant Pez dispenser. Jack grabbed his and Ashley’s, while Steven pulled out the one he and Olivia shared. Jack noticed his father’s eyes were still locked on Forrest, who was handing the woman a credit card.

“Come on, Dad, don’t worry about Forrest,” Jack pleaded. “He’ll be fine.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” Steven answered, his hand resting lightly on Jack’s shoulder. “But I think I’ll go talk to him, just to be sure.”

Too late. Quickly, efficiently, Forrest slipped his wallet into his pants pocket and glided out the door, disappearing into the night, all alone.

CHAPTER TWO

“He’s gone now,” Steven sighed. “Obviously, he was lying to us on the plane. Forrest’s traveling by himself, which is a very dangerous thing for a child to do.”

“You don’t know that he’s alone, Steven,” Olivia replied. “Maybe his cousins’ plans changed suddenly.”

Steven shook his head. “There’s something going on with that kid—I can feel it. I just wish I knew what it was.” He stared at the colorful crowd before adding, “Well, there’s nothing we can do for him now. Jack, give me a hand with the bags. We’ve got to find a taxi to take us to the dock.”

Jack didn’t want to admit how relieved he felt that Forrest was gone from their lives, so he kept his eyes on the bags as he wheeled them to the front doors. The taxi turned out to be a big van that seated ten people and their mound of luggage. Since he got to sit up front next to the driver, he had the best view of the streets of St. Thomas. Lights shone from houses perched upon the surrounding hills. Narrow roads switchbacked in breathtaking turns. More than once, Jack had to close his eyes as the driver careened around sharp corners; when he looked back, he noticed his mother gripping the edge of her seat.

“Are we going to die?” Ashley whispered.

“I’m sure the driver is in complete control,” Olivia answered, trying to convince herself as much as Ashley.

Finally, the taxi screeched to a halt and everyone spilled out onto the dock. Boys not much older than Jack leaped forward to carry the luggage to the white, two-tiered ferryboat that bobbed on gentle waves.

“Can we sit up on the top deck?” Ashley begged.

“Absolutely,” Steven told her. “Go on and lead the way.” Since the upper deck was uncrowded, each of the Landons got a bench, one behind the other. They hung their arms over the rail so they could peer into the ebony water 20 feet below. On impulse, Jack got up from his bench and went to sit next to his father.

“It’s pretty spectacular, isn’t it,” Steven said, smiling. “See those lights? Seems like someone’s having a party.”

Jack looked at what he guessed was a restaurant. The wooden building had been decorated with white lights that reflected against the water in ropes of stars.

“You know, I saw a lot of young people going in that direction. I wonder if Forrest will end up there?”

Shrugging in reply, Jack hoped his irritation didn’t show. He must have failed at hiding it because a moment later his father asked, “Is something wrong, son?”

“No.”

“Then why do you have that look on your face?”

“What look?”

“The one where your forehead wrinkles up and you scowl. The one you’ve got right now.”

Jack made a real effort to smooth his expression. “It’s—I guess I don’t know why you’re so worried about Forrest all of a sudden. I mean, why do you even care?” His words came out in a rush. “It’s just—I don’t want an extra kid with us, Dad. We always take foster kids along on our trips, but this time it’s just our family, and I want to keep it that way. It’s not like the social workers assigned him to us or anything. We’re not responsible. If he’s run away or he’s off on his own, I don’t see why that’s any of our business. Is it?”

Just then the ferry got underway, stirring a breeze that quickly turned into a rush of wind. Ashley’s hair blew out in dark ribbons while Jack’s jacket ballooned around his chest. Air that had felt so warm moments before now chilled him. He watched as his mother pulled her collar close around her neck.

As far back as Jack could remember, his mother had taken care of animals or anything that was hurt, and that extended to neighbors and friends and stray children. He was glad she hadn’t heard what he’d just said to his father; she would probably tell him he was acting selfish. Well, for once he didn’t care. Why couldn’t some other family step in for a change? He’d almost decided his father wasn’t going to answer his question when Steven said, “Jack, I told you about the time I ran away, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, when you headed off to Idaho. You were in a bad foster home, right? I forget how old you were—”

“Twelve. Hardly big enough to lick a stamp and there I was, hitching a ride west with the aim of trying my hand at farmwork.” He looked off into the distance. “It was a stupid thing to do—a risky thing. I don’t know what would have happened if Carlos hadn’t taken me under his wing and talked me into going back. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Jack wasn’t sure, but he said, “I guess so.”

“Things could have been very different if that migrant worker hadn’t stepped in and helped me out. There was nothing in it for Carlos, nothing but the good that comes from helping a fellow human being. Carlos taught me a lot—things I don’t want to forget.”