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

I need to do here!”

      “Can you tell us about it?” Olivia asked. “We’d like to help you, if we could. Tell us what it is you’re running to. What is it your parents will ‘understand’?”

      Forrest shook his head. He kept his eyes on his napkin, rubbing his fingertips against its folded surface.

      Steven sighed. “All right then, we’ll go with the plan as it is. We’ll call your parents and get instructions from them. Jack, we’ll go snorkeling later. Got it?”

      “Sure,” Jack muttered. He sipped his orange juice, surprised at how bitter it tasted. Ashley didn’t seem to mind the intrusion—in fact, she kept smiling at Forrest as if he were a rock star. For some reason, that got under Jack’s skin worse than the change of plans.

      After breakfast they walked to Park Headquarters, down uneven streets that wound lazily toward the sea as if they couldn’t be troubled to get there in a straight line. Trees hung over cracked sidewalks, providing pools of shade that already felt good at nine in the morning. Old cars rattled by, kids ambled toward their elementary school, and young men moved along the street in packs, while middle-aged ladies walked past in dresses the color of jewels. The buildings in the city of Cruz Bay were small and painted in pastels, but tired-looking, as if they’d stayed out too late at a party.