5 All of that was sort of true But the real reason he didn’t want a ride was that he wanted to bypass the CCTV cameras scattered around the park He didn’t want to be found Asia Wilde heard Boo’s hamburger yell but ignored it She hadn’t slept well and was in no hurry to get out of bed This wasn’t unusual She had struggled with insomnia her whole life because she couldn’t shut down her busy mind Closing her eyes seemed to accelerate her worries and thoughts She lay in bed thinking about what she would do after tutoring Professor Bob had told them to prepare for a long day of hard work because he would be at the house bright and early to resume their studies Ring would no doubt try to squirm out of it using his familiar excuse Sorry it slipped my mind She needed to get out of bed and grab him before he disappeared into the Wilds Her little brother was having a hard time accepting the fact that they were back in captivity Professor Bob meanwhile had reverted to his professorial strict tutoring captive self He hadn’t been back at the Wilds more than a day before he shaved the bushy black beard he had grown in the Amazon and got rid of the frayed shorts ratty T-shirts and battered sandals he had worn in San Felipe Mexico He no longer looked like a pirate or beach bum He had transformed back into The WILDES
6 Dr Robert Philby PhD wearing crisp long-sleeved button-down shirts sports coats creased Polyester gray slacks and sensible black polished shoes The sunburn he had gotten in San Felipe had faded His complexion was pallid again the color of an egg salad sandwich Asia threw off her blankets got dressed and walked down the hall to Ring’s bedroom to roust him Waking Ring was like resurrecting a corpse Unfortunately the corpse wasn’t in bed nor was it in the bathroom Asia hurried down to the kitchen which was the only other place Ring would be if he was still in the house Greta Krouse was there making a pot of coffee but there was no sign of her brother Have you seen Ring And a guten morgen to you Greta said in her heavy German accent She was always a bit rigid and formal Sorry Greta Good morning I didn’t mean to be rude Is okay I have not seen the brother I have seen no one Greta opened the refrigerator and peered at the shelves for a moment But the Ring he has been here I can see that by what is missing Bologna cheese bread slice of the apple pie three pops the chicken drumsticks and the disgusting box of the worms he calls the night crawlers Which meant that Ring had jumped off the deck and Asia had a pretty good idea of where he had gone the little sneak and how long he intended to be off-grid By the CAPTIVITY
7 amount of food he had taken he wouldn’t be returning home until nightfall And of course he hadn’t taken his phone She had seen it lying on his bedside table unplugged as usual He was the only person she knew who didn’t carry a phone if he could get away with it Greta pulled a handwritten list off the refrigerator door in Ring’s familiar scrawl She started reading the list aloud The Pringles the Cheetos the Pepsi Asia tuned Greta out and looked through the picture window the Jiffy peanut butter the Reece’s Pieces The bright morning sun shined on The Wilds far below It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day the Graham crackers the marshmallows the Hershey chocolate bars For s’mores Asia thought the butter pecan ice cream All the Wildes left shopping lists on the fridge so Greta would know what to pick up at the grocery store She got most of the things Asia and her parents requested but ignored almost everything on Ring’s list per Dr Jack and Dr Jane’s instructions for him The rest I will not the two pounds of the cheddar cheese I will get that Greta crumpled up Ring’s list and tossed it into the trash That will do no good Asia said He’ll make out the same list next week The WILDES
8 This I know A strange boy He will never learn Greta took Asia’s and her parents lists off the fridge and put them into her large handbag without looking at them She slung the bag over her shoulder I must go to market now You come with me It wasn’t exactly a question Asia often accompanied Greta grocery shopping She didn’t mind because Greta was the fastest shopper on earth She could fill two shopping carts to the brim in a matter of minutes I’ll go Asia said She hadn’t been to the sleepy town of Glen Rose Texas since they arrived back at the Wilds She started scribbling a note to Professor Bob telling him where she was going and that Ring was missing in action What is this Greta asked I’m just writing a note to Professor Bob Asia answered He’s coming by soon for a tutoring session Not the note Greta said This She picked up a small white feather marring her immaculate black marble countertop Boo Asia said Greta gave her a look of disgust Not that messy loud bird Please do not tell me the Boomerang is back in my house It was not Greta’s house but Asia did not mention it One of mom’s research assistants must have brought him up from the Amazon last night CAPTIVITY
