“It’s not ‘they’—it’s ‘she.’ My father will send my mother. She does his errands. He’s an important diplomat, remember?” Forrest let out a loud sigh. “Look, the fact is, I can’t afford to trust you or anyone. I don’t even know you—you’re just somebody I met on the plane.” Rolling over, he clutched his covers and pulled them over his chest. “Just forget this whole conversation.”
“Wait a minute—back up. Saying you can’t trust me,” Jack sputtered, “that’s an insult.”
“No. I can’t reveal anything. It could be dangerous.”
“How? Are you guarding some kind of nuclear secret or something and the spies are trying to snag you and if you tell me they’ll have to kill us both?” Jack made it sound as ridiculous as possible.
“The less you know, the better.”
Even though it was too dim for Forrest to see, Jack rolled his eyes. There was no way he was going to believe that a guy like Forrest, with his preppy manners and perfect clothes, could be involved in something dangerous. Sure, Forrest had enough spare cash in his account to hop on a plane—First Class—and come to St. John, which meant he lived a very different life. Jack could believe “different.” But to be involved in something dangerous? He wondered if Forrest IV had a clue how absurd he sounded. He didn’t even talk like a kid—more like some snooty college professor. “OK, don’t tell me if you don’t want to,” Jack said, frustrated, “but I know my parents would try to help you—”
“Do not repeat anything I told you, understand?” Forrest’s voice chilled as he put a space between each word. “I mean it, Jack. I may have said too much—
OK, that’s my fault. But I expect you to keep your mouth shut. Unless you’re a squealer.” He paused. “Are you?”
For a moment, the question hung in the air. Finally, Jack whispered, “No.”
“I didn’t think so.” With his back toward Jack, Forrest clutched his pillow and thumped it hard. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to try to get some more sleep.”
“Hey—maybe this time I won’t let you sleep.”
Silence.
“I’ll shut up if you tell me about this big secret you’re carrying around.”
More silence. Jack watched as Forrest’s sides rose and fell in sudden, rhythmic breathing. He wasn’t asleep—no one could nod off in seconds like that.
But it let Jack know he’d been dismissed. As far as Forrest was concerned, the conversation was over.
Sliding back down onto his hot mattress, Jack kept his eyes focused on the slowly whirling ceiling fan overhead, forcing his mind onto other things—good things—like snorkeling in the bays around St. John. He made a mental checklist of the supplies he’d need: film, check; camera lenses and filters, check; sunscreen, check. Without that, Jack—unlike Forrest whose skin was naturally dark—would broil like a lobster. Forrest, the guy with the big mystery. What could he be running to?
The question dimmed in Jack’s mind as he drifted back to sleep, dreaming of Forrest IV being chased into the Caribbean Sea by an enormous, crowing rooster.
Knocking reverberated through the room. Jack heard the door open and close, and then his father’s voice said, “Time to get up. Your mother has a meeting at Park Headquarters. Forrest, good for you.”
Forrest, good for you—what did that mean? Jack struggled to open his eyes. The clock next to him read 8:00. Forrest stood there, already dressed, looking as pressed and as perfect as he had on the plane, his shampooed hair still damp and curling in tight ringlets. “Good morning, Mr. Landon,” he said. “Were you able to get in touch with my parents this morning?”
“I tried to contact the embassy again, but I’m having a lot of trouble getting an international line on that pay phone down in the courtyard.”
Since Steven had left the door wide open, the sounds and smells of St. John tumbled inside: The low rumble of trucks, the chattering of birds, the air tinged with lemon. As Jack swung his legs over the side of the bed, he rubbed his belly sleepily.
“Forrest and I will meet you in the courtyard. Move it, son. We need to plan our day.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Steven and Olivia, Ashley and Forrest were seated at a white plastic table. Ashley waved when she saw Jack and then took a bite out of a slice of cantaloupe. A fountain bubbled nearby, its surface littered with brown flower petals. From behind a counter a waitress emerged. Carrying a large tray laden with fruit and coffee mugs, she wove her way between the eight other tables. Jack slipped into a plastic chair and said, “Hey, Forrest, thanks for leaving me a towel.”
“Weren’t there any more? I’ll need to tell the maid to bring an extra set for this afternoon. I always like to take a second shower when it’s hot like this.”
“I can go to the front desk and get extras, Forrest,” Ashley volunteered.
“Forrest can get his own towels,” Jack grumbled.
Setting down a piece of lemon bread, Steven stared at Jack. “Did you sleep all right, son?” he asked. Jack knew what the question really meant. It translated into, ‘Why are you so cranky?’
“Uh—I’m kind of tired. Forrest woke me up when it was still dark, and then we started talking.”
“Talking?” Olivia looked at Forrest expectantly.
Forrest shot Jack a look, which Jack returned straight on. No, he wouldn’t say anything about their conversation—what was there to tell, anyway? Now that the sun was beating down on the top of his head, warming a spot on his scalp, everything Forrest had said about dangerous secrets seemed nothing more than a dreamlike, middle-of-the-night fantasy.
“He just woke up because of that stupid rooster, that’s all,” Jack told them.
Relieved, Forrest slid some butter on his poppy-seed muffin and took a careful bite, making sure no crumbs fell on his Tommy Hilfiger knit shirt.
“Well, he’s remaining mysterious with us, too,” Olivia said. “We can’t seem to get a straight answer out of him. I was hoping he’d explain everything this morning, but he’s not cooperating. Are you, Forrest?”
“I already told you, I have my reasons.”
“Mmm.” Olivia didn’t sound convinced. “Well, the first and biggest problem we’ve got right now is contacting his parents. We can’t seem to get through to the embassy on that pay phone—it keeps disconnecting us. So here’s the plan. I’ve already called Park Headquarters and explained what’s happened, and they offered the use of their phones. Your dad needs to stay with me at headquarters so he can track down Forrest’s parents while I’m in my meeting.”
“Wait a minute—Dad’s taking us snorkeling!” Jack protested, but Olivia held up her hand, cutting him off.
“I know, I know, but things have changed. Luckily for you, the park has an interpretative ranger named Denise Georges who volunteered to help us out. She said she’d take you kids around the island while I’m in my meeting and your dad is making arrangements for Forrest. We’ll reconvene at two o’clock.”
“But, Mom, I’ve already got everything packed for snorkeling! So does Ashley!”
“I realize that, but right now we have to compromise.” She looked directly at Jack. “Understand?”
“I’m sorry to put you out like this,” Forrest apologized. “Another option would be for you to let me leave now. You were right last night—I really was unprepared for some of the—” he seemed to choose his word carefully—“details in spending the night here. But surely there’s one room on the island that I can