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Joel had never had much time for his children, but Zack had always been the favorite. Sam had spent a few years as a kid trying to get his father’s attention before realizing it was hopeless. The funny thing was, Zack wasn’t thrilled at all about being the favorite. He’d rather be one of the forgotten.
Afterward, they retreated to the waiting area, silent until Kim started murmuring about travel plans, about how Joel would need something to look forward to. No one bothered to contradict her, even though they doubted their father would be doing much traveling when he was out of the hospital.
“You didn’t tell Dad you were in charge,” Tate said.
“That’s not something he needs to know,” Sam replied. “Eventually, we’ll tell him, of course, but right now it’s probably better that he thinks Zack is in charge.”
“Are Rick and Henry giving you trouble?” Zack asked. “It would be just like them to try and stage a coup while Dad’s laid up.”
“They’re not a problem. Just loud. I can handle them,” Sam said with a shrug.
“You could take this opportunity to get rid of them,” Zack suggested. “Replace them with anyone competent. Or no one. I doubt they do much work.”
“I told them if they stay out of my way, they can keep their jobs and lavish salaries. If they cause trouble…”
Sam let his voice drift off, but his implication was clear. Joel Winslow was no longer there to protect them.
“Do what you need to do.”
Zack’s face was carved in stone, every word delivered with perfect clarity.
Piper rounded on him, properly scandalized.
“You sound like Dad.”
“Not at all,” Zack disagreed. “He’s babied those two for decades. It’s time the real world slaps them across the face and wakes them up. It sounds like Sam has offered them a sweetheart deal. Don’t make any trouble, and he’ll ignore that they exist. If I were them, I’d take it.”
Piper rolled her eyes, then fished in her woven purse and produced a small, smooth crystal, nearly translucent. She crossed to Sam and pressed it into his palm, curling his fingers around it.
“It’s fluorite,” she whispered. “For clarity. I brought it for you.”
Sam looked down at the crystal, then back at her. It was cool in his palm and lighter than he’d expected.
“You think it’ll help?”
“Couldn’t hurt,” Piper said. “You need all the help you can get. With this family, especially.”
He couldn’t disagree.
“I’ll take any edge I can get. Thanks.”
Sam stood a minute longer by the window that looked out over the parking lot and thought about the morning, hoping he could harness some of that clarity Piper had promised him. He thought about Leigh, the blood, the shock, the way the world didn’t even pause. He thought about his father, diminished and mortal for the first time in Sam’s life. He thought about the job he’d always hoped for, but he hadn’t wanted to get it this way.
But it didn’t matter how it had all happened. This was the way it was going to be, and he’d better be ready for whatever came next.
Chapter
Eight
When Alli arrived at the office the next morning, Tracy sat at the reception with her earbuds in and gave her a friendly wave.
“They’ve released the desk,” Tracy said. “The sheriff was here about fifteen minutes ago.”
“Thanks,” Alli said. “I guess I’d better get to work.”
“Trust me, Sam will have plenty for you to do. I don’t think he ever slows down.”
Alli believed the other woman’s words. Sam did, indeed, appear to be a font of unending energy. He was passionate about his work, and that made her a little jealous. At one time in the past, she’d been passionate about her job, too. She wanted to feel that way again, but her time at the last station had changed her vision of journalism forever. She’d been a wide-eyed optimist who had wanted to change the world, and at the end she’d been cynical and jaded, always expecting the worst from people.
