Chapter 11: Chapter 12

As they crossed the hunting preserve whitetail deer often leaped from behind trees or shrubs, squirrels skittered along the ground and coveys of quail waddled and fluttered. Once a feral hog darted close to them, snorting, its red eyes reflecting the sun. Neil lifted the handgun he had lying next to him on the seat, ready to use it if necessary, but the animal apparently wasn't after human prey today.

They reached an area with sparsely scattered trees and tall shrubs where a large rectangle had been marked off by orange tape, and Neil stopped the mule.

"Well, here it is." He climbed out "Although I don't know what you think you'll see after all this time."

Jonah fished a small camera from his pocket and turned it on. "I asked Dakota why one hunter wouldn't have shot whatever animal it was while his friend was being attacked."