Yes. The howling that M's dad said wasn't him, that his brother wasn't sure was him, that only his mother has a 100% record of thinking was him.
But that Z's mother, father, uncle, friends and eyewitnesses all say was Z.
Why? Because he was being beaten up.
M's response to Z wasn't howling. It was beating.
When the beating stopped, the howling stopped. Surprise!!