Mark Zimmerman hunched over the other side. He was looking down while he talked, but I could tell it was an intense conversation. Normally, I wouldn’t interrupt Dad, and even now I reconsidered it, but all I could think of was shaking this place. I jerked Dad’s arm hard. “Hey!” He smiled up at me. “Mark, I want you to meet my boy. This is Joshua.” “How’re you doing?” Mark said. He looked younger up close. I gave him a quick nod. “Dad, come on. Let’s go.” “In a few minutes. I’m talking right now.” I groaned. I could see him trying to figure me out, but I didn’t feel like explaining right then. I just wanted him to get up. “Let me have a few minutes with Mark.” I threw my head down. “I’ll be by the car.” I had plenty of time to think while waiting for Dad. Like, why didn’t I stick up better for Jack? Why didn’t I tell them about the coyote? I hadn’t heard it since that night, and my cassette player hadn’t picked up anything, but I knew this like I knew Jack’s bark—a coyote roamed somewhere on that mountain and he was coming down to hunt.
