Page 39 of Black Waters

At Constance’s gravesite, I got the call that would change everything again. A number I didn’t recognize made my cell phone ring. I answered with much reservation. “Hello?”

“Link.”

His voice was weak and shaky, but it was definitely Crash’s. I sat up in a hurry. “Crash! Where have you been?”

Jokingly, condescendingly, he replied, “Oh, you know, Hawaii, catching some rays.”

His tone was older and sounded as if he were in familiar surroundings—or situation. I realized he was with someone with a criminal background. That’s all Crash really knew. Our talks and growing friendship was foreign and not comfortable for him. They made him sound awkward, not what I was hearing now.

“How bad, Crash?”

“Uh, all things considered, pretty shitty, and they’re only giving me two minutes.”

“Who?”

“You know who.”

“How? Your dad had you covered!”

“How slow are you? I mean, really. Haven’t you learned how inventive I am?”

“Y-You escaped Dad to be captured?”

“Now he’s catching on.”

He stole my idea, my sacrifice…“But I was going to get caught!”

“Sorry to have ruined your plans.”

“Where. Are. You? I will come—”

“Not this time, brother.”

“Crash, please—”

“Do you want to save her?”

That shut me up.

“Now that I have your attention, maybe you’ll listen to me.”

In the background, I heard a heavily accented voice say, “One minute left.”

“I know, you asshole,” Crash smarted off. I heard a scuffle and then a grunt from Crash before he said to me, “Link, they’re going to use me to get Franky to cooperate.”

My hands balled into fists. I was one hundred percent ready to battle for him and for her. That was until Crash finished with, “And I need you to let them.”

“WHAT? NO!”

“Let me do this for her, Link.” His sad tone rocked my innards.

“Don’t,” I begged. “Don’t ask me to do this.”

“Have to… friend.”

Friend. He was so much more than that, and I needed the time to tell him. With deep-rooted hope, I asked, “Then they will set you free?”

“Something like that.”