“We have to follow her,” Sam said.
The four of us slowly moved away from the main group. Soon after Ranger Chavez ran into the jungle-like island, everyone started talking excitedly. Even the grown-ups were pretty distracted.
“I agree,” I said. “Gunshots, and the creepiest park ranger ever? Something’s up.”
“I don’t know,” Egg said. Now that we were safely on land, he was snapping loads of pictures in every direction. “Go into that crazy jungle? That doesn’t sound safe.”
“Egg might be right, guys,” Cat said. She stood in front of me and looked right in my eyes. “Panthers,” she said.
And there went the chills again, up and down my spine. I turned to Sam and said, “She makes a good point.”
Sam sighed. “Three against one, huh?” she said, and we nodded. “Then I guess I’m on my own.”
“What?” Egg said. He grabbed her wrist. “You can’t follow her alone.”
“Why not?” Sam asked.
“You don’t know anything about this place,” Cat pointed out. “What if you get a snakebite? Or even a bug bite!”
Sam tipped her hat back with one finger, just like Ranger Chavez had.
I rolled my eyes.
“If the ranger can do it,” Sam said in a low, tough voice, “then I can do it.”
“You can’t go alone,” Egg said. He took a step forward and added, “I’ll go with you.”
Cat and I must have looked surprised. In his glasses, V-neck sweater, and shiny brown shoes, Egg looked like the last guy who’d go gallivanting off into the jungle. Even in the right gear, he’d have a hard time keeping up with Sam. She’s the fastest kid in sixth grade!
“I have the camera,” Egg said. “And I know the most about the local animal population.”
Cat shot him a look.
“Well, I scored the best on the test before the trip,” Egg pointed out.
“By one point,” Cat said. She crossed her arms. “I couldn’t tell the difference between the Atlantic loggerhead and Atlantic hawksbill turtles.”
Egg smiled. “See?” he said. “Let’s go, Sam.”
“Finally,” Sam said with a huff. Then she took off into the woods. Egg hurried after her.
“This is crazy,” Cat said. “What if they run into a panther . . . or an alligator?”
“I’m sure they’ll be careful,” I said.
I don’t think Cat was really listening. She went on. “Besides,” she said, “they’ll never catch up to her.”
“Maybe we can do some investigating from here,” I said, glancing at the canoe we had arrived on. “Come on.”
Cat and I walked over to the canoe. I could see the hidden bundle as we walked up. I tried to act natural.
“Aha!” Anton Gutman shouted. “What are you up to, troublemaker?” He ran over to me and Cat.
“Hello, Anton,” I said.
“That’s Deputy Gutman to you, Gummy Brain,” Anton said. Then he shoved me to the side. “Now what are you two up to over here?”
Then Anton saw the bundle, too. “Did you put this here?” he asked. “Is it some kind of prank for the ranger?”
He got right in my face. His two goons, I noticed, had crept up behind me and Cat.
“We didn’t put that there,” I said. “It’s Ranger Chavez’s.”
“Is that so?” Anton said. He started to lift up the cloth. I leaned forward to try to get a peek.
“Wait a minute,” Anton said, letting go of the cloth. He looked at me and smiled. “Nice try, Gummy,” he said. “You’re trying to get me in trouble with the ranger. But it won’t work.”
He started to walk off. “Come on, guys,” he said. His goons followed him, after grunting at me and Cat.
“That was lucky,” Cat whispered.
I nodded. Then I knelt down next to the canoe. I reached out for the heavy cloth. “Let’s see what the ranger is hiding,” I said.
The moment my fingers touched the cloth, a shout came from behind me.
“Run!” Egg yelled.
I jumped up and faced the jungle. Egg and Sam came diving out of the undergrowth. Their eyes were wide with panic.
