“Wanna bet?”
For a moment, Boris seemed to actually consider this, glancing between Jack and the depths of the woods. The ocean air crashed over them. With it came the scent of salt and pine. “Nah. Let’s see this body of yours.”
“It’s not my body,” Jack grumbled.
“You found it. It’s yours.”
“I don’t think that’s how it works.” Jack took a deep breath and stepped off the trail.
If he’d disliked going off the path during the day, he liked it even less at night. Crickets chirped. Woodland creatures rustled high in the branches. Something crashed through the underbrush, and Boris startled. Jack raised the shovel, poised to strike, but nothing charged at them, so he quickly lowered it, feeling foolish.
Boris stayed close. “Should’ve brought a gun,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Do you have a gun?”
“No. But I’d feel better if we did.”
“Well, I don’t have one either,” said Jack, pausing to examine the broken branches. Were they part of the trail he’d been following? Or had the spooked animal done this? Beckoning to Boris, he said, “Can I see the flashlight?”
“Only if you trade me for the shovel,” said Boris. “I’m not standing here without a weapon.”
“Fine,” said Jack, offering him the handle. Boris passed him the flashlight.
After a moment’s assessment, Jack concluded that they wereprobablyon the right track and resumed following the brokenbranches.
“There aren’t, like, bears or anything around here, are there?”
“Cougars,” said Boris, swinging the shovel over his shoulder. “Bats. Raccoons. Sharks. There’s not supposed to be any bears, but you never know.”
“Bats? They aren’t so bad.”
“Bats have rabies,” said Boris, rolling his eyes. “You don’t want to fuck with that.”
“Right, fuck. I forgot about rabies.” Even stuck in a time loop, Jack didn’t want to risk that.
“No shit,” said Boris, nearly crashing into Jack as he drew to a halt.
“It’s right here,” he said, shining the light on the trunk of the oak, then down to the earth, where the mound rested.
“Shit,” said Boris, stepping right up to the mound like it was of no more significance than a carnival ride. “Yeah, um.” His voice was thick with shock. “I think you might be right. Fuck.” He scrubbed a hand down his face and looked from the mound to Jack. “I honestly thought you were crazy.”
Scowling, Jack said, “Yeah, everyone thinks that.”
With a snort, Boris said, “You got the crazy eyes, man. And you never shut up once you get started.” At Jack’s expression, he shrugged his shoulders. “What? It’s true.”
“You’re one to judge.”
“Hey, I got nothing else to do.”
“Guess not,” said Jack, holding out a hand for the shovel.
Boris stared at him, eyes wide, mouth open in a combination of awe and disgust. “You’re really gonna do it?”
“I thought that was why we were here,” said Jack slowly. Was Boris about to chicken out? Maybe it was crazier to dig up a body than he thought. But he had to know what was buried here. Had to find out if it would end this loop, or not.
If it was a body, there was surely more he could do. Some way he could track down the killer. Or convince the police to. There had to besomething.
Boris shuddered. “You’re right. Here,” he said, handing the shovel to Jack in exchange for the light.
