Echoes of Yesterday

Part 14 - The Missing Link

The next day, the café buzzed with energy as the four of us gathered around a small table, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wrapping around us like a warm embrace. 

I glanced at Eric, Theo, and Maya, feeling a strange mix of comfort and tension in the air.

"So, what do you think happened to Tristan?" Maya asked, stirring her coffee absentmindedly.

Theo leaned back in his chair, his brows furrowed in thought. "It's hard to say. Do you think the note has anything to do with it?" he posed, his voice serious.

"That's what I'm wondering," I replied, my stomach tightening. 

"Where did it come from? Did someone stick it there, or was it always there? It looked like ink, but it seemed too light. Almost like it was meant for someone else."

Eric nodded, his expression contemplative. "Or maybe it's a threat. What if someone's trying to intimidate him?"

The idea sent a shiver down my spine, and I exchanged worried glances with Theo. 

"It's unsettling," Theo admitted. "But we can't jump to conclusions. We need to consider all possibilities."

As the conversation continued, I felt a swell of anxiety rise within me. "And there's something else," I said, my voice dropping slightly as I tried to gather the courage to share. 

"I found his girlfriend's bracelet in the woods."

Theo perked up, his attention shifting to me. "Bracelet? What are you talking about?"

I exchanged a glance with Maya and Eric, deciding to confide in them while keeping Theo in the dark for now. 

"I saw it there, near the waterfall. I didn't tell you because I wanted to check it out on my own, but I'm sorry for not mentioning it before."

"What kind of bracelet?" Eric asked, leaning forward, his interest piqued.

"It was a delicate marble bracelet, stained with both Tristan's and his girlfriend's blood."

It seemed out of place, like it didn't belong there, I explained, feeling a knot of anxiety twist in my stomach.

"Did you show it to Mia?" Maya asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

"I didn't want to upset her further, especially if it has something to do with Tristan," I admitted, glancing away, feeling guilty for keeping this from her.

"That makes sense," Eric said, his voice reassuring. "But we need to figure out if it's connected to what's going on."

Theo looked from me to Maya and Eric, his expression becoming serious. "This is starting to sound more dangerous than we thought. If someone's involved with Tristan's disappearance, we need to be careful."

"We will," I promised, determination hardening in my voice. "We just need to keep our eyes open and gather as much information as we can."