Sentence:  I've got a <WSD>backfriend</WSD> to meet.'” “A <WSD>'backfriend</WSD>'?” “Yes. Evidently he had a late-night appointment with someone at Wabash. That was the way he liked to do it.” 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A friend at one's back; a backer; one who does his best for another; a supporter.