Falling

Gone Girlfriend

Frida opened the door to Anna's side, the went off. The bakery was small and smelled of fresh raspberry scones. The air was misty and as the seated, the window beside their table had been fogged. 

"Why are we going out? So casual as well? Shouldn't we be hiding, flee the country even?" She fiddled around with the jam packets. 

"How poorly have I done by not making it clear that this man is stupid? He is not smart! For heavens sake, he attempted to murder someone on an empty gun! We will not let him drive us out of the country. I assume he'll come after us quick, he was never the patient type anyways. We'll be on high alert as of now." She sighed, resting her elbow on the table. "I won't let him hurt you. Besides, not you he really wants."

Anna desperately wanted to combat her response but sadly was cut off by the waiter. She was a preppy woman, hair fluffed and bright blue eager eyes. 

"Hello ladies! I'm Mara, I'll be your server, are you ready?" 

"Two black coffees, perhaps a scone? Yes, two strawberry. That okay, Anna?" Anna nodded, strawberry delighted her. 

"Alright, I'll be right back!" 

"Maybe this is a stretch, but what if it wasn't your not dead husband? I think we need to consider other options."

"Oh, what? How many people out in this town are out to hurt sweet, harmless Anna? What have you done? Though maybe you're right. Even though Steph was such a charmer perhaps someone else had an issue with that. I suppose we wait it out." 

"I-"

"Hello, here is your coffee and scones. Anything else?" Mara stood wide eyed. 

"No, thank you."

Mara's feet tried carrying her back to the kitchen, but she couldn't;t resist. "I'm so sorry to be such a bother but I am sorry to hear about your husband. I saw you on the news."

Anna nearly spit out her coffee, "What?! News?! I was on the news?! Why was this broadcasted!" 

Frida whipped out her phone, sure enough with a quick search videos had rolled in. A very small clip of when Anna was broken down crying on the floor had been shown, others interviewing neighbors and police. 

"Christ! I look horrible! Forget that, why didn't they interview me, the wife!"

"Don't freak out, look at you! You weren't able to communicate in that moment." She slouched, hand over mouth with concern. "This is not good. He knew it would get out attention and now... now he'll know we were there."

"I'm sorry... what? Did you say you know who did this?" Mara put down her pen to the table. 

"Shit... No. Yes, but no. We have no idea what he looks like nor where he is. He was just my old husband that is all."

"Oh... that's... really bad. Stay safe..." She left soundlessly. Mara's nature seemed to change, at first seeming anxious or jittery while slowly falling into an eerie state. Anna tried hard to get a read on her, but she was like a black and white newspaper. 

"Finish your scone, we gotta get out of here. We're not safe. I'm not safe but now you're bait. Let's go." They got up, leaving no traces. The rushed out the door, the temperature seemed to drop. "Anna, you're gonna be okay, okay? Whatever happened I won't let him get to you." Anna nodded with a pool of doubt in her mind.

 It was like finally getting the new phone you've wanted for so long and then it seeming to have a glitch. Everything about Frida was magical, it was no fair. She couldn't win. 

Anna was shivering, Frida handed her the jacket on her own shoulders. "It's cold, let's get in the car." 

Anna's hand gripped the handle. Sirens whirring from the distant background grew loud and near, three pulling up to their car. 

"Put your arms in the air, show your hands! Do not move, I repeat, do not move." A cop shouted from his loud speaker. 

"What!? Frida?! What did you do?!"

"Nothing! Shit! I did nothing!" She raised her hands as a cop pushed her against her car. 

"You have the right to remain silent... Anything you say will be used..." 

"Yeah, yeah I get it! What did I do! Fuck, what did I do?!" 

"You think you're so smart, huh? You didn't think before killing him? Didn't care to wear gloves? Your finger prints were all over the gun, feel smart?" He tightly locked handcuffs around her wrists and dragged her to the backseat.

"Frida! You- I can't believe-"

"I did NOT do this! Anna, go to my house! Maybe you can find evidence on a phone, don't mess anything up! I did not do this, I was with you all night! That's my alibi!" The cop shoved her head into the seat and slammed the door. They collected themselves and went off on their way.

She stood in shock with no breath. Everything was suddenly so silent. She squeezed the arms of Frida's jacket, heartache stepped in. 

"Fuck."