Dark Hearts Read Online Free PDF Page B

Then he saw it was from Trey and put it on speaker so he could keep both hands on the wheel.
    â€œPlease give me some good news.”
    â€œTrina made it through the surgery. She’s in ICU. I’ll give you details when you get here. Right now I’m waiting on a phone number so I can get twenty-four-hour security on her.”
    â€œThank the Lord,” Sam muttered. “I can help with security when I get there,” he added.
    â€œI know, but I’m selfish enough to want you with me. I have a couple of ideas as to where to take the investigation but I’m waiting on you to get here to implement them. Where are you?” Trey asked.
    Sam sighed.
    â€œSomewhere in Tennessee. I’m north of Knoxville, and that’s all I know for sure. It’s raining pretty hard right now. Difficult to see road signs.”
    Trey frowned. “Be careful. Stop and sleep over somewhere if you need to.”
    â€œYeah, I watched one young man die tonight. I don’t want to be next.”
    â€œWhat? Are you okay?” Trey asked.
    â€œYes. It was a wreck. I saw it, but I wasn’t in it.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Sam.”
    â€œYeah, so am I, for a whole lot of reasons. I’ll see you sometime tomorrow. That’s all I know for sure. Keep me posted on any change in her condition.”
    â€œI will. Be safe. Oh...hey, I just got a text. It’ll be the info I’ve been waiting on. I’ll talk to you later,” Trey said and hung up.
    Sam heard the click in his ear and disconnected, too, thinking to himself how his little brother had grown up while he wasn’t looking.
    He drove for a few moments more, peering past the frantic swiping of the windshield wipers while the relief of knowing his sister was still alive sank in.
    â€œThank You, God. Now please help me get home.”
    * * *
    The killer couldn’t rest. He needed to know if Trina Jakes was still breathing, but he didn’t want anyone else to know he was calling. He got out of bed, moving quietly through the house to his study as he called the hospital, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, as the phone began to ring.
    â€œWebster Memorial Hospital.”
    â€œI’m calling to check on Trina Jakes’ condition.”
    There was a pause, and then the operator said, “She’s in ICU. I’ll ring the nurses’ desk.”
    â€œThank you,” he said, and waited.
    â€œICU.”
    â€œHello. I’m checking on the condition of Trina Jakes and the visiting times.”
    â€œShe’s in critical condition and can’t have visitors.”
    â€œBut we go to church with her and we wanted to—”
    â€œNo visitors. I’m sorry.”
    He disconnected with a measure of relief. For now she wasn’t talking, but, damn it, she was still alive. He’d come so close to a perfect sweep, and now this. His first thought was to pack and run, and then it hit him.
    â€œWhat the hell’s wrong with me?” he muttered. “Even if she never wakes up, even if she dies, they’ll still be looking for a killer, and I’ll be the one who left town right after the shootings.”
    Right now he had to deal with more immediate issues, so he began to run through scenarios as to how to rectify this mess. He needed to make sure she never woke up, but how to get to her? He would bet his life there were guards on her around the clock. Trey Jakes wasn’t a fool. His sister was his star witness—if she lived.
    But even if he couldn’t get to Trina’s room, he could still get to the hospital. It could catch fire. It could blow up. There were all kinds of things that could happen in such a volatile environment. The fact that many more lives would be lost was of no consequence. They would be nothing but collateral damage.
    * * *
    It was beginning to rain as Trey left the parking lot and headed back into the hospital. Lee’s text stated ICU