“He took my place,” Vinnie said. “Don’t you see what I’m saying? Tommy was up there pretending to be me.”

I didn’t get it at first. Then it hit me.

“Wait a minute,” I said. “Are you telling me he was up there on a hunt?”

“Yes.”

“And he was pretending to be you.”

Vinnie looked down at his hands. “Yes.”

“Because you couldn’t go. On account of you helping me with the cabin.”

“No, that’s not it, Alex.”

“Vinnie-”

“It was his job, not mine. They called him.”

“So why did he have to pretend to be you?”

“It’s kind of a long story,” Vinnie said. “Bottom line, I’m the one who let him do this. It’s all on me.”

“When was he due back?”

“Couple of days ago.”

“Who else went?” I said. “Did anyone else get back yet?”

“No, not yet.”

“Who was it, Vinnie? Who did he go with?”

“Look, can we talk about this on the way? I’ve got to get over to the rez.”

“We’re both going?”

“Yeah, I need you to go with me,” he said. “If you don’t mind.”

“You gonna tell me why?”

“I need you for protection.”

“Protection?” Jackie looked at me and then threw his towel in the sink.

“It’s my mother,” Vinnie said. “I figure if you’re there, she’ll be less likely to kill me.”

I knew that was just a line, but I went with him anyway. I figured I owed him that much. We took my truck, and he sat there on the passenger’s side, looking out at the trees. After a few minutes of silence, he gave me the rest of the story.

“This man called him,” he said. “From Detroit. He said he had heard he was a good guide, that he knew how to turn a hunt into a real party. You know, not just the usual slog through the woods. Tom told him that he wasn’t really doing too many hunts anymore. He recommended me, instead. He told them I was the real deal.”