Chapter 1

Sarah Barkley was sitting at her dresser putting the finishing touches on her hair for the evening. She and Jarrod had been invited to Jim and Sharon Scanlon's house for dinner. Jim and Jarrod had been in law school together and were still very good friends.

Jarrod walked into their bedroom and noticed his wife had put her hair up in an attractive style. He usually preferred her hair down but thought that maybe there were benefits to this style as well. It gave him a clear view of his wife's long neck and he took advantage of it.

Sarah watched her husband in the mirror as he began kissing the back of her neck softly. She smiled in pleasure, but knew if they started anything now, they would never make it to the Scanlon's.

"Jarrod, darling, if we don't go now we are going to be late."

Jarrod ignored his wife's admonition and continued placing tiny kisses on her soft skin. Sarah was closing her eyes now, wishing they hadn't made plans for the evening. She finally stood, turning to look at her husband sternly but he looked back with feigned innocence.

"What?" he asked, his eyes wide and a mischievous gleam in his eye.

"We're going to be late if we don't go," Sarah said, trying not to smile as that would only encourage him.

Jarrod sighed and drew his wife to himself, placing a kiss on her lips.

"All right, Mrs. Barkley. But let's not stay too late and when we get home..."

Sarah smiled sweetly as she said, "When we get home, Counselor, I expect you to take up where you left off."

Dinner was wonderful, the food delicious and the company even better. Jarrod was glad that Sarah and Sharon got along well. Jarrod knew that Jim's position as Stockton's District Attorney made him keep long hours, leaving Sharon with a lot of time on her hands. Sarah and Sharon went to lunch quite often or got together for tea.

The men had gone on into the living room while the ladies went to the kitchen to make some coffee. Sarah heard her husband mention something about an upcoming case and smiled to herself. Ever the lawyer, her husband loved to talk about his profession.

"Really, Sarah. Your husband is a charmer! I do wish Jim would take lessons from him!" Sarah knew that Sharon was joking, but she wondered if her friend didn't feel a bit neglected at times.

"The meal was wonderful, Sharon."

"Thank you, Sarah," Sharon was putting the cups and saucers onto the tray while Sarah was pouring hot coffee into the carafe. They were silent for a few minutes, each focusing on their task. Finally, Sharon spoke.

"Sarah, if I tell you something, will you promise not to say anything?"

Sarah looked up at her friend and noticed she seemed very happy. Almost giddy.

"Of course, Sharon. You know you can trust me."

Sharon turned to the other woman, her smile wide.

"Jim said that once he is finished with this Cunningham case, that we can start trying to have a baby!"

Sarah reached for Sharon and gave her a hug. She knew that Sharon had been wanting children for a while, but Jim had been hesitant, trying to get his career established. This was wonderful news.

"May I tell Jarrod? I know he won't say anything to anyone if I ask him not to."

"Oh, that's fine. Well, we should get this coffee out to the men. They are probably wondering what is taking so long!"

The ladies joined their husbands in the living room and began pouring coffee. There was a knock at the door and Jim excused himself to answer it.

A gun shot was heard, and Jim was sent flying across the entryway. Jarrod, Sarah, and Sharon all dropped their cups and ran to the fallen attorney. Because of Sarah's training as a nurse, she knew instantly Jim was dead from the bullet wound to his chest. She looked up at her husband who was standing over her, staring out at the dark night, a look of shock on his face.

Much later that night, Jarrod and Sarah had finally gotten to bed, but their plans of intimacy were forgotten. Just down the hall was Sharon Scanlon, now a widow. Jarrod and Sheriff Madden had searched for several hours for any clues that would tell them who the killer was but couldn't find anything. Jarrod was sure he knew who was behind the killing of his best friend but had no proof.

Sarah stayed with Sharon until the men returned. Sharon wept off and on and as Sarah sat with her, holding her hand, and crying with her. The table that had been damaged under the weight of Jim's body, still lay broken on the floor, the flowers placed on it earlier, wilting for lack of water. Pieces of the vase that had held them, were scattered all around. Mr. Beckett, the town undertaker, came for Jim's body. Sharon couldn't stand the thought of her husband lying in a cold icehouse until the arrangement were made for his burial. She wept bitterly and retreated to the kitchen. She asked Sarah to retrieve her husband's blue suit from their room so Mr. Beckett could dress Jim for his funeral.

Jarrod finally returned and took his wife and Sharon home. Victoria welcomed Sharon with opened arms and took her to a guest room, seeing to her every comfort. Jarrod knew his mother could help Sharon, she too having lost her husband, Jarrod's father, to the violent act of a coward.

Jarrod held his wife closely, grieving for his friend, yet angry that it had to happen at all. Jim was a good, honest man who wanted justice served. He didn't deserve to die as he had. Jarrod wondered what would happen now to the case against Joshua Cunningham. Would he be acquitted? He thought of all the information he had seen on Jim's desk at home. Jim had said he could prove that Cunningham was guilty. Jarrod had no doubts his friend could have and would have succeeded. He finally fell into a fitful sleep, his memories of the evening with Jim haunting his dreams.