Black Friday - By Alex Kava Page 0,3

and she didn't understand why he kept going back for more. Maybe another semester away at college, away from them, would help.

One thing about Dixon, he was there for his friends. Rebecca could account for that. In the early days of her mom and dad's divorce Dixon was always there for her, just a phone call away, telling her it had absolutely nothing to do with her, reassuring her, making her laugh when it was the last thing she thought she'd ever do again.

Dixon's iPhone started playing the theme song from Batman and she slid it back over.

"It hasn't even been five minutes—" she started.

"Hey, I can't help it, I'm a popular guy."

But within seconds of answering Dixon's face went from cocky and confident to panic.

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

"What's wrong?" Rebecca sat forward. The mall noise had amplified. Somewhere behind them a PA system was announcing Santa's arrival.

"That was my granddad." Dixon's face had gone white. "They just took Nanna to the hospital. She may have had a heart attack."

"Oh my God, Dixon."

"You want us to go with you?" Patrick was already pulling on his jacket.

"Yeah, I guess," Dixon said, trying to stand but stumbling over the backpack at his feet. "Oh crap." He pivoted around trying to look beyond the crowd. "I promised Chad and Tyler." He picked up the backpack with a pained look and dropped it on the table as if the weight of it was suddenly too much.

"Don't worry about it," Rebecca said, grabbing the pack, surprised at how heavy it was but sliding it up over her shoulder as if it were no problem. "I just need to walk around with it, right?"

"I can't ask you to do that."

"You're not asking. I'm offering. Now go."

"How will you get home?"

"Patrick and I will figure it out." She gave Dixon a one-armed hug, all she could manage with the awkward weight of the backpack.

He handed her the iPhone and she tried to wave him off, but he insisted, "No, a deal is a deal."

They watched him disappear into the crowd as a family of four took over their bistro table. She and Patrick made plans to meet by the Gap in an hour. Rebecca's mind was on Dixon's grandmother while she stopped at the restroom. She had known Mrs. Lee since she was a little girl. She always treated Rebecca as though she were a member of the family, this time even giving Rebecca their daughter's old bedroom.

"I know it's a bit outdated, but I couldn't bear to change out the wallpaper," Mrs. Lee had told Rebecca as she showed her around the room, explaining that daisies had been her daughter's favorite.

Rebecca was clear across the food court by the time she realized she had forgotten Dixon's backpack hanging on the restroom door. She swore under her breath as she turned around, hurrying back to retrieve it.

She saw Chad and hoped he didn't notice her. He was headed in the opposite direction. She was watching him when the explosion happened. Everything moved in slow motion. She was paralyzed by a flash of red-and-white light engulfing Chad's body. The sound of the blast reached her ears just as glass shattered and fire erupted.

An invisible force knocked her completely off her feet. She felt hot air lift her. Pressure crushed against her chest. She slammed back down to the floor with a rain of metal and glass and wet debris showering over her, stinging her skin and scorching her lungs. She couldn't move. Something heavy lay on top of her. Pinning her down. It hurt to breathe. She could smell singed hair.

When she opened her eyes the first thing she saw was an arm ripped apart and lying within a foot of her. For a panicked second she thought it was her own until she saw the green dragon tattoo splattered with blood.

It looked like it was snowing, glittery pieces floating down. Rebecca closed her eyes again. Through the moans she recognized Doris Day's voice, singing, "Let it snow "

And then the screams began.

CHAPTER

2

Newburgh Heights, Virginia

Maggie O'Dell slid a pan of stuffed mushroom caps into the oven then stopped to watch out her kitchen window. In the backyard Harvey entertained their guests, leaping into the air to catch his Frisbee. The white Labrador retriever was showing off. And her guests were humoring the big dog, laughing and chasing him through the fallen leaves. Three adult professionals acting like kids. Maggie smiled. Nothing like a dog