The friend
2524 Words
The text came at 2:14am.
`I see you have a friend now.
That’s good.
He can watch you for me.
- T`
Bell read it three times in the dark.
The blue light made her hands look dead.
Tony was asleep on the couch.
She could hear him breathing.
Steady.
Safe.
She didn’t wake him.
Not yet.
She got up.
Went to the bathroom.
Splashed water on her face.
Stared at herself in the cracked mirror.
She looked 17 again.
Scared.
Small.
"Not this time," she whispered to the mirror.
Her voice sounded foreign.
Back in the room she sat on the floor.
Back against the bed.
Duffel bag still under it.
Just in case.
At 6am Tony stirred.
"Morning," he mumbled, sitting up.
Hair everywhere.
"Did you sleep?"
Bell shook her head.
He saw it immediately.
The phone in her hand.
The way she was holding it like it might bite.
"What happened?"
She handed him the phone.
Tony read the text.
His jaw did that thing.
Tight.
Angry.
"He’s watching us," Tony said.
"At the park."
Bell nodded.
"We need to go to the police again," Tony said.
"Today. With this."
Bell laughed.
It came out wrong.
Bitter.
"The police didn’t do anything last time.
They said 'block the number.'
Like it’s that easy."
Tony set the phone down carefully.
Like it was evidence.
"Then we figure out who he is," he said.
"Before he figures out more about us."
Bell pulled her knees up.
"I don’t even know his name."
Her voice cracked.
"I never knew his name.
He was just... him."
Tony sat on the floor next to her.
Not touching.
Just close.
"I’m sorry," he said.
"For whatever he did to you."
Bell didn’t answer.
Because saying it out loud would break her.
---
They went to the cafe anyway.
Routine was armor.
If she stopped working, she’d start disappearing again.
Marla gave her a look when she walked in.
"You look like hell."
"Thanks," Bell said.
"Just tired."
Tony sat at the window.
Same seat.
Two coffees.
He didn’t open his laptop.
He just watched the door.
Every time the bell jingled, Bell’s heart stopped.
10am.
11am.
Noon.
Nothing.
At 12:30 a man walked in.
Tall.
Dark jacket.
Baseball cap pulled low.
Sunglasses inside.
Bell’s hands went numb.
He ordered at the counter.
Didn’t look at her.
"Large black coffee. To go."
Tony went rigid in his seat.
The man paid with cash.
Took the coffee.
Walked out.
Bell didn’t breathe until the door closed.
"Was that him?" Tony whispered.
Bell shook her head.
"I don’t know.
I never saw his face.
Not really."
But her body knew.
Her body remembered.
She had to go to the back.
To breathe.
To not throw up.
Tony followed her.
"Hey. Hey. Look at me."
He took her shoulders. Gentle.
"You’re okay. He’s gone."
Bell nodded.
But she wasn’t okay.
---
That night they didn’t go home.
Tony rented a motel room 20 minutes away.
Cash.
No name.
"Just for tonight," he said.
"Until we know more."
It was small.
Two beds.
Smelled like bleach.
Bell sat on one bed.
Tony sat on the other.
Neither of them slept.
At 3am Tony said, "Tell me one thing."
Bell looked at him.
"His first name.
Or anything.
Anything I can look for."
Bell stared at the ceiling.
The water stain looked like a hand.
"He called me kid," she said finally.
Voice barely there.
"That’s all.
He said 'good girl' and 'kid.'"
Tony wrote it down in his phone.
"Okay. Kid.
We can work with that."
Another hour passed.
"Did he hurt you?" Tony asked.
Bell closed her eyes.
"Yes."
"Do you want to tell me how?"
Bell shook her head.
Not yet.
Maybe never.
Tony nodded.
"Okay.
When you’re ready."
---
Day 3.
They went back to the cafe.
Tony had a plan.
"We’re going to make him show himself," he said.
"By being predictable."
"Same time. Same place. Every day.
If he’s watching, he’ll get bored.
He’ll slip."
Bell hated the plan.
But she didn’t have a better one.
So they did it.
7:15am.
Coffee.
Window seat.
Tony watching.
Bell pretending not to shake.
Day 4.
Nothing.
Day 5.
Nothing.
Day 6.
The bell jingled at 7:20.
Bell looked up.
A man walked in.
Mid 30s.
Clean shaven.
Nice coat.
Jeans.
Nothing memorable.
He ordered coffee.
Sat two tables away.
Opened a newspaper.
The police lights were still flashing when Tony pulled her away from the bridge.
Into the car.
Doors locked.
Bell couldn’t stop shaking.
Her teeth were chattering.
It wasn’t cold.
It was shock.
"He jumped," she whispered.
Over and over.
"He jumped."
Tony reached over.
Turned the heater on full blast.
"Ruiz will find him," he said.
Even though neither of them believed it.
They sat in the parking lot for 20 minutes.
Watching divers.
Watching boats.
Watching the river swallow everything.
Nothing.
Ruiz came to the window.
Tapped.
Tony rolled it down.
"We’re calling it for tonight," Ruiz said.
"Current’s too strong.
We’ll start again at dawn."
"What if he’s already downstream?" Tony asked.
Ruiz looked tired.
"Then we’ll find him there."
She handed Bell a card.
"New number.
Call me if you see anything.
Anything at all."
Bell took it.
Her hands were numb.
Drive home was silent.
Except for the radio.
Soft jazz.
Like that could fix anything.
---
Back at the motel, Tony didn’t let go of her hand.
Not in the elevator.
Not in the hall.
Not until the door was locked and bolted.
Bell went straight to the bathroom.
Slammed the door.
And threw up.
Everything.
The coffee.
The fear.
Five years.
Tony knocked.
"Can I come in?"
Bell nodded through the door.
Even though he couldn’t see her.
He came in.
Sat on the floor.
Rubbed circles on her back while she heaved.
When it was over, he wet a towel.
Wiped her face.
Carried her to bed.
Like she weighed nothing.
"You’re safe," he said.
"I promise."
Bell curled into his side.
"I saw his face," she whispered.
"I forgot how young he looked.
He was only 24 when...
When I was 16."
Tony didn’t say anything.
He just held her tighter.
---
She didn’t sleep.
Not really.
Every time she closed her eyes she saw him.
Standing on the bridge.
Smiling.
Jumping.
At 4am she gave up.
Got up.
Made coffee.
Stared out the window.
Tony joined her at 5.
Hair messy.
Eyes red.
"Anything?" he asked.
Bell shook her head.
"No calls.
No texts.
Nothing."
The silence was worse than the text.
---
Day 1 after.
They didn’t go to the cafe.
Marla called.
"Are you okay?
You weren’t here."
Bell almost told her.
Almost.
"I’m sick," she said instead.
"Food poisoning."
Marla believed her.
Tony spent the day on his laptop.
Searching Eli Carter.
Arrest records.
Social media.
Missing persons.
Found nothing.
Like the man didn’t exist.
"He’s good at hiding," Tony said.
"Which means he’s done this before."
Bell sat on the bed.
Hugging her knees.
"Do you think he has other girls?"
Tony stopped typing.
Looked at her.
"I don’t know.
But I’m going to find out."
---
Day 2.
Boredom turned to panic.
Bell started seeing him everywhere.
The guy at the gas station.
The delivery driver.
The man jogging.
All of them had his walk.
His shoulders.
"Stop," Tony said gently.
"That’s not him.
He’s in the water.
Or he’s running."
Bell nodded.
But her body didn’t believe it.
That night Tony insisted they eat.
Real food.
Takeout.
He fed her with a fork when her hands shook too bad.
"Remember when we were in high school?" he said suddenly.
"Trying to change the subject."
Bell blinked.
"What?"
"You.
Library.
Back table.
I used to bring you those terrible muffins from the cafeteria."
Bell frowned.
"I hated those muffins."
Tony grinned.
"I know.
But you ate them anyway.
So I kept bringing them."
Bell felt something warm in her chest.
For 2 seconds she forgot to be scared.
"Why?" she asked.
"Why what?"
"Why did you keep bringing them?"
Tony shrugged.
Looked embarrassed.
"Because you looked hungry.
And sad.
And I didn’t know what else to do."
Bell stared at him.
"That’s the dumbest reason I’ve ever heard."
Tony laughed.
"I know."
---
Day 3.
The text came at 11:47pm.
Unknown number.
`Nice try with the police.
But I’m a good swimmer.
See you soon.
- E`
Bell showed Tony.
He threw the phone across the room.
"That’s it," he said.
"We’re done hiding."
Bell flinched.
"I’m not running anymore," she said.
Voice steady.
"I’m done."
Tony crossed the room in 2 steps.
Pulled her up.
"Then we fight," he said.
"But we fight smart."
He grabbed the notebook.
Started writing.
1. New phones. Tomorrow.
2. New motel. Tomorrow.
3. Talk to Ruiz about protective detail.
4. Find out who "T" is.
Bell watched him.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Tony looked up.
"For what?"
"For not leaving.
When it got bad."
Tony set the pen down.
Walked to her.
Kneeled in front of her.
"I’m not going anywhere, Bell," he said.
"Not this time.
Not ever."
Bell believed him.
For the first time in 5 years,
she believed someone.
---
Day 4.
They moved again.
New motel.
New phones.
New routine.
Tony started teaching her things.
How to check a room.
How to hold pepper spray.
How to run.
"You’re not a victim," he said.
"Not anymore.
You’re a survivor."
Bell practiced every day.
Until her legs hurt.
Until her hands stopped shaking.
At night they talked.
Really talked.
Bell told him about her mom.
How she chose Eli over her.
How she called Bell a liar.
Tony told her about his sister.
How someone hurt her.
How he wasn’t there.
How he’s been trying to make up for it ever since.
"I see you," Tony said one night.
"You’re so strong.
Even when you think you’re not."
Bell didn’t know what to say.
So she leaned her head on his shoulder.
And he didn’t move away.
---
Day 5.
Ruiz called.
"We found a body," she said.
"2 miles downstream."
Bell’s heart stopped.
"Male," Ruiz continued.
"Mid 30s.
But it’s not him.
Dental records don’t match."
Tony hung up.
Slammed his fist on the table.
"He’s playing with us."
Bell stood up.
Walked to the window.
Pulled the curtain back.
The parking lot was empty.
"He wants me to be scared," she said.
"And I am.
But I’m also angry."
Tony came to stand behind her.
Not touching.
Just there.
"What do you want to do?" he asked.
Bell dropped the curtain.
Turned around.
"I want to end it," she said.
"For good."
Tony nodded.
"Okay.
Then let’s make a plan."
They stayed up all night.
Drawing maps.
Making lists.
Planning.
At 6am Bell wrote in her notebook:
`Chapter 9:
He came back.
He showed his face.
He jumped.
But I didn’t.
I’m still here.
And I’m not running anymore.`
The war had started.
And this time, Bell was going to win.
Didn’t look at her.
Tony noticed him too.
His whole body went still.
The man stayed for 30 minutes.
Drank his coffee.
Left.
After he was gone, Tony said, "Did you see his shoes?"
Bell frowned.
"What?"
"Clean," Tony said.
"Expensive.
No one who works around here wears shoes like that."
Bell’s stomach dropped.
---
That night, back at the motel,
Tony was on his laptop.
Searching.
"Clean shoes. Coffee at 7:20. Sits alone.
Could be anyone."
Bell was packing.
Again.
"Stop," Tony said.
"Don’t pack."
"I can’t do this," Bell said.
"I can’t wait for him."
"Then we stop waiting," Tony said.
He closed the laptop.
"We go to him."
Bell stared at him.
"What?"
"The text said 'he can watch you for me.'
That means he has a friend.
Someone local.
Someone who can be here fast."
Tony stood up.
"So we find the friend."
"How?"
Tony held up his phone.
"I’m going to text him back."
Bell grabbed his wrist.
"No.
Don’t."
Tony looked at her hand on his wrist.
Then at her face.
"If we don’t do something, he’ll keep coming," Tony said.
"He’ll keep getting closer.
I’d rather meet him on our terms."
Bell let go.
Tony typed.
`Who are you?`
They waited.
Three minutes.
`Someone who remembers you, Bell.`
Tony typed again.
`What do you want?`
`To talk.
Tomorrow.
8pm.
Riverside Park.
By the bridge.
Come alone.
Or I’ll come to you.`
Bell read the text over his shoulder.
Her hands were shaking.
"He wants us to come," she whispered.
"He wants to see if you’ll bring me."
Tony set the phone down.
"We’re not going alone," he said.
"I’m calling the police.
And we’re going.
But we’re going together."
Bell nodded.
But inside she was screaming.
Because Riverside Park was where it happened.
Five years ago.
The night everything went wrong.
He knew.
He remembered.
---
Next day.
They didn’t work.
They prepared.
Tony bought pepper spray.
Bell borrowed a knife from the motel kitchen and hid it in her boot.
They told the police everything.
Gave them the number.
Gave them the time and place.
The detective, a woman named Ruiz, said,
"We’ll have two cars nearby.
Don’t engage.
Just talk.
Let us do the rest."
Bell nodded.
But she didn’t believe them.
At 7:30pm they drove to Riverside Park.
It was dark.
Cold.
The river was loud under the bridge.
Tony parked two blocks away.
"We walk," he said.
"So they can’t box us in."
Bell got out.
Her legs felt like water.
They walked in silence.
Hand in hand.
Not romantic.
Necessary.
The bridge was empty.
Except for one man.
Leaning against the railing.
Hands in pockets.
Baseball cap.
He turned when he heard them.
And Bell saw his face.
And the world ended.
It was him.
Older.
But him.
The same eyes.
The same smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
"Hello, Bell," he said.
"Took you long enough."
Tony stepped in front of her.
"Don’t talk to her."
The man smiled.
Looked at Tony.
"And you must be the friend.
Nice to meet you."
He said "friend" the way you say "problem."
Bell couldn’t speak.
Her throat was closed.
Her vision was tunneling.
The man looked at her.
Really looked.
"God. You look good.
Different.
Strong."
He took a step forward.
Two police cars screeched into the parking lot.
Lights.
Sirens.
The man didn’t even flinch.
He just sighed.
"Guess we’ll talk later," he said to Bell.
Then to Tony: "Take care of her."
He turned and walked away.
Toward the river.
Not running.
Walking.
The police yelled for him to stop.
He didn’t.
And then he was gone.
Over the side of the bridge.
Into the dark water.
Bell heard screaming.
Didn’t know it was hers.
Tony pulled her into his arms.
"Shh. It’s okay. He’s gone.
He’s gone."
But Bell knew better.
People like him don’t drown.
People like him learn to swim.
And now he knew where she was.
Who she was with.
What she looked like.
The hiding was over.
The war had started.
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