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But it only happened twice. And it came from north. Which was the wrong direction considering we were on the southern side of the island.
    “Cars,” I said.
    “I know,” Alik said.
    We stayed in the field until we reached the brush. It was too thick to walk through, so we took the dirt road and stayed close to the side until we reached the main road. It was pitch black. We took turns looking back in hopes that we could spot a car coming before they saw us. The thickets might hurt going in, but it was better than being caught by the guys who had taken Isadora.
    I couldn’t help but think allowing that to happen might be the best option, considering we had no idea where they had gone.
    Take me to her. Please. I’ll make you pay.
    The car remained where we had left it. My window was cranked down an inch. Alik’s up all the way. We got in and eased our doors closed. They weren’t latched, but we’d do that while moving to reduce the effects of the sound in the still night.
    Alik turned the key in the ignition. The little engine revved high then settled in. He eased off the clutch and pressed the gas and we pulled away. But the movement was jerky, and it sounded like a herd of horses galloped behind us.
    “Shit,” he said, stopping on the side of the road.
    I opened my door and had a foot on the ground before we’d halted. I directed my light toward the rear of the car. Got out, checked the front. Walked around the bumper and checked the driver’s side. The front was OK.
    But the back driver’s side tire not so much.
    Alik had rolled down his window and hung his head out the opening.
    “Flat?”
    “Yeah.” I walked past him and knelt by the tire and worked my hand around it. “I could be wrong, but feels like someone slashed it.”
    Alik got out. He slammed his door shut and then kicked it. “Think it was them?”
    “Maybe.”
    “They drove by, saw a car out there, maybe knew it was Esau’s?”
    “I think if they knew it was Esau’s, we’d have been paid a visit.”
    “Kids, then?”
    “Maybe.”
    “We heard a couple cars passing when we left the house, right?”
    “I preferred to think of them as waves, but, yeah, we heard them.”
    “Think they could have done it?”
    “Maybe.”
    “Can’t you think of anything else to say, Jack?”
    “What’s to say, man? Someone slashed the tire. We didn’t see them. As far as I can tell, they’re gone. If it had been someone with mal intent, they’d have slapped us while we were standing here bitching at each other.”
    “Shit.” Alik kicked the side of the car again, then reached inside and pulled out the keys. He popped the trunk and pulled out a small donut wheel and a tool bag.
    By the time we finished changing the tire, sweat was dripping down my face. My mouth felt parched. Didn’t matter the air had a cool bite to it. The humidity overpowered it.  
    “What now?” Alik said.
    “Guess we return the car.” I rolled down my window and leaned into the wind rush as Alik whipped the car around and accelerated. “And give Esau the bad news.”

Chapter 14
    ESAU HADN’T TAKEN THE NEWS well. He had opened the door and saw the two of us standing there. He rose on his tiptoes and craned his head side to side. Then he settled back and his eyes went wet and his shoulders slumped. He looked down at the floor.
    “Sorry, Esau,” I had said.
    He was shaking his head when he’d closed the door on us.
    We took the car back into town and left it on the street near the cafe. Then we slept.
    I woke up after sunrise, wearing the same clothes from the night before. My body was stiff and full of aches. My ribs were visibly bruised. So was my hip. Black and blue and painful to the touch. I stretched it out and after a few minutes lumbered from my room to the living room. The window was open, but the air was still. Alik stood at the counter, drinking coffee and turning eggs over in a pan.
    “Felt like cooking this morning?” I asked.
    “Cafe’s closed