"Not that this isn't interesting," Alan said as Billy spun, "But isn't the point of Life to have two players?"
Billy snickered as he counted out the spaces for his car, "We are playing two player; you just can't see the board."
They had been playing The Game of Life for the past forty-five minutes. And all Alan had done was sit there and listen to Billy move the cars around and tell Alan what his car landed on. Alan figured that Billy was telling him what he actually landed on, just because he wasn't bankrupt or had a million kids…but he really had no idea. The board could be for Monopoly for all he could tell.
"Besides," Billy continued, spinning for Alan, "What else could we be doing for the next two hours or so?"
Alan sighed and let his head fall back, "I could be sitting in a shirt for starters," he was still ticked about being shirtless, "Or better yet, sleeping!"
"And what do you suggest I do whilst you sleep the time away?" Billy inquired moving Alan's car, "By the way, you just went to night school."
Great, even in a game I have to go to school! Alan thought sardonically, "You didn't have to make it five hours for the blind bid," he quipped in response to Billy's question.
"True," Billy shrugged, "Guess I like to get to know people that are interesting. And you, Alan, are interesting. And I find you learn a lot about a person, spending time with them; board games can really help too."
"Great," Alan said lifting his head, "And what have you found that makes me so interesting?"
"For starters you have a very witting and quick mind," Billy said, taking a life chip, "That is something that is rare to find, and I never saw in the other kids; fear kept in down if they did have it. You used it to hide your fear."
"So glad I could change things up for you."
Billy smiled, "Second, I found you have a vast array of emotions, some controlled, others, not so much. Third," Billy ticked off, while spinning for Alan again, "In the last hour of playing this game, I have found you hate sitting still. You are more an active doer, than a quite sitter. Even now, whether you realize it or not, you are fidgeting and playing with the bandage around your right wrist, while avoiding the one on the same hand. Your leg also bounces and taps."
As his nervous habits were pointed out, Alan stopped what he was doing, trying to still himself. Guess you can learn a lot from a board game, Alan thought, a little intrigued. "And now that you know those things about me, what do I get to know about you. It is only fair, and seeing as I can't see for myself, you should tell me."
"How about I'm about to win this game," Billy said nonchalantly, moving his car into the Countryside Acres finish.
"Not really what I meant," Alan said dryly, "I was thinking something more personal, like you knowing my nervous habits or that I can't sit still."
Billy began quietly picking up the board game, and ruminated on how to answer, I could just say 'no' and leave it at that. But Alan will probably push the matter…annoyingly so. I could lie, fake name means fake personality. And if I told him the truth, he really would know for sure, because again, he doesn't know if anything I tell him is true…decisions, decisions…A soft chime from the computer drew Billy from his thoughts. "Hold on to that question, Alan, got to check on something."
Alan turned his head, following Billy's movements as he went to the computer. Frowning slightly he asked, "Something wrong?"
Billy checked the computer, it was an update on the police search, they're getting closer to the dummy site…which means there is more to the Tracy's than I thought, 'cause I know the cops and the FBI wouldn't have gotten that close. Looking at Alan's confused face, Billy narrowed his eyes, could just be that owning Tracy Enterprises they would have better equipment…course that's what the dummy site was for, decoy any searches there…shouldn't interfere with the my escape and Alan being found early. That figured out, Billy walked back to Alan and answered him, "No, nothing is wrong, just an e-mail."
Alan nodded, still unsure, not like I expected him to tell me…but something came up, and has him worried, at least a little...Alan didn't pursue it though, instead brought Billy back to his earlier question, "So you going to tell me something about yourself?"
Billy snorted, "I figured you wouldn't let that go. Guess it wouldn't hurt telling you one thing," he put emphasis on 'one' so Alan knew that there was no leeway after, "Let me think…" Billy paused, "Got it! Bet you would never had figured out that I like to fish on weekends."
Alan tilted his head, thinking about the answer, "May not have been my first guess, but I would have guessed it eventually."
"Oh," Billy smiled, "And what would have brought you to that conclusion."
"You like quiet," Alan stated, "Fishing is a very quiet sport. You also have patience, another must for fishing; which is why I don't like it."
"And what tells you I like quiet?"
"You gagged me when there was no way I could tell anyone watching anything or that they would have understood what I said. You also said you gagged the screaming kids," Alan explained.
"And how'd you get patient?"
"You don't act without thinking," Alan reasoned, "Everything is planned, and there are back up plans."
"And I just learned you are very perceptive for you age," Billy laughed.
"I have to be," Alan shrugged, "Four brothers doesn't only mean having escape routes, it also means knowing when to use them."
Tracy Island
"Dad, let's just leave," Virgil tried.
"No, Virgil," Jeff said firmly, "I promised Scott we would wait. We have half an hour until that time is up."
"Why are we waiting though?" John asked, "We are ready to go. The hour we have waited already leaves two hours till the bid, which we will be in the air for. Then another hour to be told where Alan is. We could be touching down by that time!"
Jeff groaned inwardly, why did I agree to wait? I am even the one that suggested an hour and a half! "Boys, I want to be going as much as you," he held up a hand to forestall comments, "But Scott also had a point, we could spook the guy that has Alan, and lose any chance of getting him; winning bid or not. I can't risk that."
Gordon had been silent since calling Scott. He just wanted Alan back, and agreed that waiting was a good idea so as not to lose Alan; but he couldn't voice his opinion, feeling that he was betraying Alan by not rushing to him. Alan, please don't hold it against me! I want get you back right now! But we can't risk scaring this guy off and him taking you with him. Hang in there baby brother, we're coming!
"Gordo?" Virgil called; Gordon snapped back to the conversation, John, Virgil and Jeff were all looking at him, "You alright, brother? I've been trying to get your attention for a while now."
"Uh, yeah," Gordon cleared his throat, "I'm fine, just a lot on my mind."
"Need to talk about it, Fish?" John asked worried, putting a hand on his younger brother's shoulder.
"Nah," Gordon waved his hand indifferently, "I'm okay, nothing to worry your blonde head over, promise."
John cracked a smile, while Virgil snorted, "Yeah, he's good."
Jeff just chuckled and boarded the plane to do his preflight checks.