‘Stop this,’ he told himself. Buddy wasn’t a criminal, never had been. He was a good guy and there was no way he'd turn Carson over to anyone before hearing his side of the story. At least the old Buddy would have heard him out first.
Carson looked at his watch, Buddy was late. Was he always late? He couldn’t recall. It was a terrible night with rain, perhaps the traffic was bad where he was coming from? The tension of waiting was magnified by a thousand times and with each passing moment, Carson had to resist the urge to get up and flee. He would come, he told himself, he would come.
But he didn’t come. Not in five minutes and not in ten. Fifteen minutes late was as much of Carson could take. He paid his coffee bill and went out into the driving rain. Perhaps if he stood across the street he could keep an eye on the coffee shop for a while to see if Buddy arrived.
Carson stationed himself in the doorway to a derelict building where he could be sheltered a little from the elements. An alleyway cut down from the side of this building at that would be his escape route should he need one. He’d come through that way already and saw only dumpsters and a few homeless lean to’s.
“I wondered how long you’d sit in there,” Buddy’s voice suddenly came from the alley and Carson jumped,
“Jesus man, you scared the shit out of me!” Buddy stepped out of the alley and smiled at him.
“You always did scare easy,” he said, before adding, “It’s good to see you.” He was moving out from the alley and Carson came down the steps to greet him and shake hands.
Buddy’s grip was as firm as ever and he pumped Carson’s hand and clasped his forearm with his other hand. “You look like shit,” he said laughing and Carson was sure this was the same old Buddy he’d known for all these years. It warmed his heart and it was with great relief Carson felt he still had a friend in the world.
“I feel a hundred times worse than that,” he replied, holding back the unexpected emotion that almost brought tears to his eyes. Buddy looked at him sympathetically.
“You want to go over and get that coffee?” he asked nodding back towards the coffee shop.
“I need help man,” Carson blurted out, his voice sounding pathetic in his own ears; he couldn't hold it in any longer.
“Just tell me one thing, Carson,” Buddy said. Carson looked into his eyes and said,
“I didn’t do it, any of it.” Buddy nodded,
“That’s good enough for me,” he replied. “What do you need from me?”
“I don’t even know, I need to get out of the country but I have no idea how,” Carson said, getting some control of himself. Buddy looked like he was thinking and then looked back to Carson.
“Can you give me a day or two to sort something out?” he asked. For all the world Carson wanted to shout no, it had to be tonight, but he knew that was unreasonable. It would be rough going another day but he could do it.
“Whatever you need,” he found himself saying and then added, “Thanks, man.”
“I’m sorry I can’t do more,” Buddy said, “You got a place to stay tonight?”
“Yeah, don’t worry about that,” Carson said, the idea of staying with Buddy and getting him in serious trouble was not something he was willing to contemplate. He was already doing more than enough even talking to him, let alone being willing to help.
“You need money?” Buddy asked, and Carson saw how awkward his friend was in asking such a thing.
“Too much,” Carson smiled and Buddy grinned back.
“Okay, call me again tomorrow about this time, at work,” Buddy said, “I should have been able to sort out something for you by then. I imagine it will be a Canada run, that alright with you?” Carson nodded,
“Anywhere but here is fine with me,” he replied.
“What will you do when you get away?” Buddy asked.
“Whatever I can to prove I didn’t do this.”
“Well I certainly wish you luck in that. It’s a shitty thing. You know who really did it?” Buddy looked at him with interest.
“I saw him, but I don’t know who he is. Big guy, beard, but it was only for a moment and then he was gone.”
“Wrong place at the wrong time?”
“I don’t know,” Carson answered honestly. He’d been thinking some on this already and he didn’t think it could have been a complete coincidence. What he didn’t understand was what this bearded stranger could have against him. That was what made the least sense of all. “But I don't think so,” he finished. Buddy could see the thoughts processing in him and he asked no more on it.
“Sure you won’t have that coffee?” he asked instead.
“Nothing I’d like more, but my mind is not where it should be right now, I wouldn't be much company,” the grin was sheepish as Carson spoke.
“You never were,” Buddy joked and they both smiled. It seemed like a good way to leave things and they shook hands.
“Thanks Buddy, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry you’re going through all of this,” Buddy said.
“Me too,” Carson forced a wry smile.
Carson walked off down the alley feeling better than he had in recent days. He wasn’t out of the woods yet, but there was hope now. Buddy would come through for him. He turned back to where Buddy had been but his friend was gone now. It had been good to see him. Perhaps if he’d stayed closer to Buddy things wouldn’t have gotten so bad in the first place.
Suddenly Carson felt a huge force against his shoulder and he turned to see
