The Honest Truth

The driver—Wesley, a park service biologist—insists that Mark gets in the car, and Mark reluctantly concedes. Mark is guarded, but Wesley’s demeanor eventually calms him enough to doze off. When Mark wakes again, Wesley offers him a ham and cheese sandwich, which Mark shares with Beau. Wesley starts a conversation, and Mark quickly realizes that Wesley suspects his identity. Instead of confronting Mark outright, Wesley tells his own son’s story. Wesley’s son joined the army to earn free college, but he died in Iraq before he could attend school. Wesley, visibly grieved, remarks, “A daddy is supposed to keep his kids safe. He’s supposed to protect them. That’s all there is to it. That’s the truth. And I couldn’t help my boy” (148). Wesley empathizes with the missing boy’s parents, but Mark’s decision is already set. Mark explains his perspective (speaking in the third person to avoid self-incrimination) and insists that the missing boy probably just wants people to leave him alone. By the conversation’s end, Wesley is more sympathetic to Mark’s wishes and considers helping him along his journey.