Dark Hearts by Sharon Sala Page B

the hometown boy who had gone away to war and never come home.
    Many of them spoke. A few of them just stared and passed him by. He felt their judgment and knew it was fair. He should have come when Betsy was still alive, not waited until it was time to bury her. There was nothing he could do to change what was, except to help his brother find who killed her.
    He’d just received a text from Dallas telling him they were on the way when a family walked in. The man nodded cordially but without recognition before looking at him again.
    â€œSam Jakes?”
    Sam stood and shook the banker’s hand. “Evening, Mr. Standish.”
    â€œIt’s been a long time. Our condolences on the loss of your mother. It’s a tragedy. A true tragedy,” Standish said.
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œAnd how is your sister?” Mrs. Standish asked.
    Sam remembered the wife’s face but not her name, and assumed the young girl with them was their daughter. “She’s holding her own.”
    â€œThat’s wonderful news. I’ll make it a point to visit her soon.”
    â€œThank you for the thought, but Trey has her under guard, with a no-visitation order. I’m sure you understand.”
    Gloria sputtered a bit, as if shocked that she’d been refused in any way.
    â€œOf course we do,” Standish said. “Her survival has put the killer on notice.”
    Carly Standish had been politely quiet while the adults spoke, but she hadn’t missed a thing about Sam Jakes’ appearance. She thought he was good-looking for an older guy, except for the scars she could see on the back of his neck.
    Sam caught her staring, which made her flush.
    â€œI think our table is ready,” Standish said. “Ladies...”
    They had no sooner walked away than the door opened again, and Marcus and T. J. Silver walked in.
    Marcus Silver was about to walk past Sam when T.J. saw him and stopped.
    â€œSam Jakes, right?”
    Sam nodded.
    â€œDad. It’s Trey’s older brother.”
    Marcus’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize you.”
    â€œNo problem,” Sam said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been home.”
    T.J. frowned. “I’m so sorry about what happened to your mother and sister.”
    â€œThank you,” Sam said.
    â€œYes, our sympathies are with all the family,” Marcus added.
    The door opened again, and this time it was finally Trey and Dallas who arrived.
    â€œSorry we’re late,” Trey said, and nodded toward the Silvers. “Marcus, T.J., it appears we all had the same idea tonight.”
    â€œYes, it does. Enjoy your meal,” Marcus said, and then headed for the hostess desk with his son.
    â€œEverything okay?” Sam asked.
    Trey shook his head. “The digital version of the newspaper is already up, and I’ve been getting phone calls like crazy. Everyone in town wants to come to the meeting day after tomorrow,” Trey said.
    â€œWhat did you tell them?” Sam asked.
    â€œI told them unless they had specific knowledge and information to share, it was only for the members of that class.”
    â€œGood call,” Sam said.
    â€œLet’s go eat, guys,” Dallas said. “Tomorrow is going to be crazy, but tonight we can just be family.”
    There was a knot in Sam’s throat as they were being seated. Dallas’s innocent remark about just being family had gone straight to his heart. All these years while he was living on the edge of life, they had been completely immersed in it—joys, heartaches, rejections, accomplishments. Now, thinking about what he’d lost, Lainey Pickett was at the top of the list.
    As they ordered their food, talking about what they had yet to face and what they hoped to uncover during the meeting, Sam was wondering what would happen if he tried to fit back in—if he should even try to fit back in—wondering if they