SAL
Ezra didn’t mention his medicine business again after Sal’s first day at the Prentiss ranch, and by summer’s end Sal hoped he’d changed his mind. But the first Thursday after school started Ezra came to Sal’s bedroom and explained how it would work. Every Friday, Sal was to sneak out of school during lunch, walk two blocks to the park behind the Lovelock courthouse, and sit on the concrete bench next to the pagoda for thirty minutes. Ezra’s people would meet him there, and Sal would give them what they needed.
The cramped darkness of Sal’s bedroom held no room for resistance, so Sal sat with his knees drawn up as Ezra zipped open his backpack and stuffed several small brown bags inside. Then he patted Sal on the shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, nephew. It’ll be fine.’ His smile was the same o
