Free Dark Hearts by Sharon Sala Page A

think you’re hiding by staying silent, the truth is going to come out, and when it does, whoever has been hiding what they know is likely to be charged with aiding and abetting. So when you go home today, ask yourself if keeping a secret is worth losing your freedom.”
    There was a gasp from the back of the room, and then everyone went silent.
    Trey guessed they’d stirred up all the ghosts he could stir today, and he wanted them to leave here as unsettled as they could possibly be.
    â€œJust so you know, I’m pretty disgusted by the lack of compassion you’re all showing. Dick Phillips wouldn’t have stayed quiet. Paul Jackson would have told. Betsy Jakes was trying to remember. It haunted her sleep until the day she died. They would have done anything they had to do in the name of justice for you. Someone hanged Dick from the rafters of his own barn. He wasn’t dead when they strung him up. They broke his neck by yanking down on his legs.”
    A woman in the front of the room moaned, and then began to cry.
    Trey kept pushing them.
    â€œPaul Jackson was working late doing someone a favor. The killer, being the coward he is, used the familiarity of his face to catch Paul off guard. Paul died from a crushed skull. My mother knew she was a target. She didn’t want to die, but she also wasn’t going to hide.” Trey’s voice started to shake. “The son of a bitch shot half her face off, and I was the one who found her. My sister is hanging on to life by a thread right now because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and one of you knows something you’re not telling.”
    Everyone in the room was visibly moved.
    Sam jumped in before Trey lost his composure.
    â€œIf anyone knows anything, you better tell it now, because if I find out who did it and learn that any of you knew and kept quiet, I will make it my personal business to see you behind bars.” Then he waved his hand. “We’re done here.”
    Not one word was spoken as the old classmates got up and walked out of the meeting, and when they exited City Hall and came face-to-face with half the town watching them exit—waiting for news—they started trying to get away.
    People began crowding around them, talking, pushing, trying to get the lowdown.
    Glen Sherman was asking everyone who walked past him if they would give him an interview, but no one was talking.
    Trey and Sam were the last to exit, and Trey saw Sherman heading straight for him just as his phone rang. He spoke briefly to the caller. “I’m on my way,” he said, and then grabbed Sam’s arm. “I’ve got an emergency. I’ll talk to you later.”
    Sam nodded.
    Glen Sherman frowned. “Is there anything either one of you would like to say?” he asked.
    Sam paused. “I guess there’s one thing that was said in the meeting that needs to be repeated.”
    Sherman pressed a button on his cell phone to record the statement, and then held it close to Sam. “Go ahead,” he said.
    â€œWe’ll find out the truth whether someone helps us or not, and when we do, whoever is keeping secrets to protect the killer is going to wind up in prison for aiding and abetting a murderer.”
    â€œThank you,” Glen said, and then he added, “You know, Betsy was real proud of you. She talked about all her kids all the time, but she had a special place in her heart for you, I think.”
    Sam was shocked, listening in disbelief as Glen continued.
    â€œShe always said you were most like Justin, and you know how much she loved your daddy. She said you took on more burdens than you needed to in an effort to protect everyone you loved. Anyway...thanks for the statement.” With that, he hurried back toward the newspaper office.
    Sam watched him go, trying to find the impetus to move.
    * * *
    Lainey drove home in a daze, barely aware of the tiny snowflakes that were beginning to