Dark Hearts Read Free Page A

friends because they were dating the Jakes brothers, but that had all gone by the wayside with her dreams. The urge to hang up was strong, but curiosity won out.
    â€œWell, it’s been a while,” Lainey said.
    Dallas heard the chill in Lainey’s voice but didn’t take it personally. She knew Sam had left her high and dry, which was why she was calling.
    â€œI know, and the reason I’m calling isn’t pretty, but I wanted you to know. From one woman to another, you need to be forewarned that Sam is coming home.”
    Pain shot through Lainey so fast she could barely focus.
    â€œWell, hell must have finally frozen over,” she snapped.
    Dallas winced. Lainey was still angry, and she couldn’t really blame her. Sam had abandoned all of them.
    â€œNo, it’s worse. Betsy and Trina were shot on their way home from Paul Jackson’s memorial service. Betsy is dead, and Trina’s condition is critical.”
    Lainey gasped. “Dear Lord! What happened? Why?”
    Dallas frowned. “Surely you know about the recent murders of my father and Paul Jackson?”
    Lainey was shocked. “No! I had no idea, and I’m so sorry. I rarely go to Mystic. I do most of my business in Summerton. What happened?”
    â€œMy dad was the first. The killer tried to make it look like a suicide, but they figured out pretty quickly it was a homicide. Then Mack Jackson’s dad, Paul, was killed. Same thing. The killer tried to make it look like an accident, but it was determined to be a homicide.”
    Lainey couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
    â€œI am so sorry. I didn’t know. I just didn’t know, but...why Betsy?”
    Dallas quickly explained about the connection to the night of their graduation.
    â€œNow all of them are dead,” she added. “Trey has been working day and night trying to run down leads, but to no avail, and now this. That’s why Sam is coming home. No one’s seen him in ages. I don’t know what to expect, but I thought it was only fair that you should know.”
    Lainey’s voice was shaking. “I am so sorry for...for all of you. And, Dallas, thank you.”
    â€œYou’re welcome,” Dallas said, then hesitated. “Uh...when I asked Trey if I should call you, he said yes. He’s sorry about how Sam treated you...how he treated all his friends and family. The war did something to him. He’s not the same Sam anymore.”
    Lainey’s eyes welled, but the tone of her voice was angry.
    â€œYes, life does that. None of us are the same as we once were. Thank you for calling.”
    She hung up the phone and burst into tears.

Two
    S am drove I-75 northbound for almost two hours without remembering a single mile of the trip. It wasn’t until his gas gauge began to signal a need to refuel that he finally had to stop. His head was throbbing and his belly was growling as he went inside the station. He knew he should eat but wasn’t sure if anything would stay down.
    The woman behind the register was reading something on her cell phone and didn’t bother to look up as he walked in.
    â€œHow’s it goin’?” she mumbled.
    Since he guessed that was her standard greeting, he didn’t bother answering.
    One quick scan of the fried food inside the deli case was all it took to send him on the hunt for something with a longer shelf life, which turned into sweets. He chose a box of doughnuts and a honey bun, and then got a large coffee to go before going to the register to pay.
    â€œWill that be all?” the clerk asked, still focused on her phone.
    Sam reached across the register and laid his hand over the phone.
    â€œRing me up, please,” he said softly.
    There was a frown on her face as she looked up. The look in his eyes startled her, and she quickly totaled his purchases.
    He paid her with cash, waited for his change and then walked out, drinking the coffee as he went. It