Page 93

Neither answered.

Dad resumed walking. Slower now.

Riot moved slightly ahead and to his left.

Chief followed them.

Clayton stayed closer to me.

No one had told him to. He simply did.

The other brothers fanned out as though in planned formation.

Preparedness was like that with us.

Nobody needed a committee meeting. Damn cops’ kids.

Sunshine disappeared inside long enough to come back with shoes and another flashlight.

She handed the flashlight to Clayton. “Stay with her.”

“I am.”

Chief looked back at that. Only once. Then he followed our fathers.

The alert became louder. They passed the pool.

Crossed the grass. Every step closer to the woods tightened something inside me.

I wanted them to stop. Especially Chief.

My body was screaming at me to keep him away from there.

I didn’t know why. “Dad.”

He lifted one hand without turning.

Wait. I shut my mouth.

The sound abruptly stopped.

I gasped.

Dad had found it. His flashlight angled down.

Riot’s joined it.

Chief stood several feet behind them, staring into the trees instead of at the ground.

Dad bent. Picked something up. My phone. Relief hit first. Then the rest.

It had been lying inside the tree line.

Dad turned it over in his hand. Checked the screen. Checked the case. Then looked down at the grass around him. Riot swept his flashlight slowly over the ground.

“What are they looking for?” I whispered.

Clayton answered quietly. “Tracks.”