LITMIR.BIZ

       ONE

      She’d stopped here on a whim. Tired from a lengthy deposition in Philadelphia, Alisha Braxton planned to find a strong cup of coffee. She needed to stay awake to drive the two hours from the city to the small community of Campton Creek in Lancaster County to celebrate Christmas with her grandmother Bettye Willis.

      This quaint Christmas market on the outskirts of Philadelphia beckoned her with the promise of something warm to drink and maybe something wonderful to nibble on while she traveled. Too busy to shop for gifts before now, she decided she’d do a quick browse and buy her grandmother something special. And maybe Mrs. Campton, too.

      The two elderly women lived together in the carriage house at the Campton estate, now called the Campton Center. Alisha did several hours a week of pro bono work at the center. It was a good chance to visit with her grandmother and help out the community.

      But this week she wouldn’t be working as much. A whole week with Granny—a gift from her firm. Five days before Christmas. Her boss had insisted and, as much as she loved her career as an associate with the law firm of Henderson and Perry, Alisha needed a break.

      She looked forward to spending the upcoming holidays there with her grandmother, who’d been Judy Campton’s assistant for years and now her companion since they were both widowed. A week off and then she’d get back to her paying hours at the small law firm near Reading where she’d worked since law school. The firm was a satellite branch connected to the main firm in Philadelphia. Alisha hoped to work at the big firm one day, but for now she was paying her dues and working her way up the firm’s ladder.

      Taking in the bright lights lining the marketplace that had once been a town square on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Alisha pulled her small blue sedan into what looked like the last available parking place. A couple strolled by together, holding hands and laughing, packages hanging from their arms. The man smiled down at the woman then tugged at her long dark hair.

      A surge of longing hit Alisha, causing her to sit there in the dark while the couple kissed by a stark white sports car parked directly across from Alisha. After putting their packages in the tiny trunk, the man helped the woman into her seat and hurried around to get inside.

      They looked so happy, so in love.

      Would she ever have that? Probably not. She’d sealed away her heart and focused on work. No time for romance or anything that followed. Once, she’d fallen in love. Once. Putting her memories away, Alisha took in her surroundings.

      Dusk moved over the sparkling Christmas trees decorating the tiny square, causing the whole scene to shimmer and glisten. People bundled in scarves and jackets strolled along the busy open market, sipping hot drinks as they laughed and took in the lovely holiday displays. Beautiful but so deceptive. She’d seen the underbelly of life too often lately to appreciate the forced facade of a commercial Christmas. And she sure didn’t need to sit here longing for something she’d never have.

      “When did I become so jaded?” she said out loud before opening her car door. She needed caffeine and maybe something with pumpkin spice.

      She lifted one booted foot out onto the asphalt parking lot, the chilly air hitting her in a burst of December wind. Hoping the snowstorm headed this way would hold off, Alisha watched a vehicle approaching at high speed. The black SUV came to a skidding halt behind the white sports car now trying to back out of the parking space across from where Alisha had just pulled in.

      Before she could exit her car, a window came down on the SUV. Then the air shattered with the sound of several rapid-fire gunshots, aimed at the sportscar.

      Alisha screamed and sank down in her seat. When the shots kept coming, she crouched low and watched in horror as the couple

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