The Roommate

Greg’s name on the manifest felt like a physical blow. February 20th. Friday. The exact day Mark had insisted I spend at the "serenity" of the Spa at Oak Creek. It wasn't a gift; it was a window. He needed me off the grid, my phone in a locker, while Greg cleared the final hurdles and Mark executed the last transfer.

I looked at the burner phone sitting on the library desk. I had the number for greg’s "surf school" from the LifeChoice LLC filing.

I took a deep breath, tasted the stale library air, and dialed.

The phone rang three times before a familiar, lazy drawl picked up. "Pura Vida, Gregory speaking."

I pitched my voice up, letting it breath through my teeth, rounding my vowels into the flighty, breathless cadence that Bella used when she wanted something. It was a performance I had mocked for years; now it was my only weapon.

"Greggy? It’s me," I whispered, injecting a note of frantic urgency.

"Bella?" Greg’s tone shifted instantly. The surfer-bro persona evaporated, replaced by a sharp, jittery focus. "God, why are you calling this line? Mark said no contact until the gate."

"I know, I know," I said, my hand trembling so hard I had to press the phone against my cheek to keep it still. "But Mark is... he’s being weird. He’s second-guessing the timing. I’m panicked, Greg. Tell me you have the items. Tell me everything is ready."

There was a long pause on the other end. I could hear the faint sound of a television in the background—a news report in Spanish. Greg let out a long, ragged breath.

"Bella, relax. Everything is in the unit. The equipment, the files, the cash. I’m just waiting for the final sweep tomorrow morning. We’re gold."

"And the passports?" I pressed, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Did you get the passports?"

I heard the rustle of paper, the sound of a zipper.

"Yeah, I got them," Greg said. "They arrived this morning. I’ve got Mark, you, and the two little ones. They look perfect. No one is going to flag these at customs in San José."

He let out a dry, nervous laugh.

"You did it, Bell. You actually got him to leave her. I didn't think he had the stones to walk away from that much stability, but I guess you’re a better motivator than a 401k."

"I try," I said, my voice nearly failing me.

"Just stay calm," Greg said. "Mark said you were bringing them on Friday."