PHANTOM SEPILOGUE

CHAPTER 19

Authors note: THE MOMENT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN *PATIENTLY* WAITING FOR!! chapter 19!!! enjoy! Don't forget to vote and comment what you think! Happy reading!!

WHITMORE'S POV

"Beep.......beep........beep"

I'm jolted awake at the sound of my alarm, as I look over at the clock I quickly realize I'm late. I practically fall out of bed and try to get ready as fast as possible to get to the police station.

Just as I get into the car my coffee mug tips over, covering my entire lap with the hot beveridge.

"Shit," I curse as I reach over to the glove box to grab a handful of napkins. As I open the compartment, I notice the two case files sitting on the seat next to me. In bold letters, the two files read HARRY STYLES and JANE MARX.

I slouch back into my seat, the two files staring back at me. The two cases that have kept me awake at night more times than I can count.

I've been an investigator for years, but never have I had cases that seem to coincide the way these two do. Since Max came to me with concern about Jane I cannot help but feel like there's a piece of the puzzle missing. When the autopsy report came back confirming suicide I couldnt't help but think about why someone would choose to take their own life in the middle of a cemetary. Even weirder, in front of the grave of a murder victim.

My usually long drive to work seemed to fly by as I pulled into my usual spot and headed into the station.

"Good morning officer Whitmore!" I'm greeted by the receptionist.

"Hey Karen," I say, passing her to head back to my office.

As I make my way back, I pass by two of my officers discussing something with concerned looks on their faces.

"Good morning, gentlemen. What's with the faces? Don't tell me you've already got another case for me," I say jokingly, still thinking about Harry and Jane.

They both go stiff, looking back at me.

"...We got a call this morning, a car accident off highway 285 right near Mel's diner," the first officer says. He looks to the second officer, nudging him to finish the story.

"They say there's a body...", he stutters out.

So much for a normal Monday morning at work.

MAX'S POV

I open my eyes to the bright sun shining on me.

I take in my surroundings and notice I'm in the same place I was when I crashed last night but something is different. I look around and notice that the area is clear and the excruciating pain I remember being in is gone.

Did I die? There's no way. Absolutely no way.

I quickly get up from the ground to see if anyone is near that I can talk to. I spot a little boy who is walking alone in the distance, he has light blonde hair and a small smile on his face as he walks along the empty freeway.

"Hey!" I shout towards him hoping he will hear me and I can finally get some clarity as to where I am and how I got here.

He looks around to find where my voice was coming from and finally lands his eyes on me, "Yes?"

As I frantically jogged towards the boy, I stumbled out the words, "D- Do you think you could explain to me where I am?", hoping he could give me an answer.

"Where you are?" he starts with confusion in his voice, "We're in Castle Hill right off the 285 highway sir."

"Yes I can see that," I say smacking my head with my hands beginning to feel frustrated at this little boy who seems to be messing with me.d

"Look kid, the last thing I remember was being in a car accident and now I'm here. I'm extremely confused because there is no sign of my car or anyone except you really..."

"Ohhh, I see what you meant," he says apologetically. "You're dead." he ends his sentence with a proud smile of realization taunting me.

So I did die? I don't feel dead.

I start to back up from him anxiously in panic and realize I need to get out of here. I run away from the kid without turning back. Hoping this nightmare will be over soon and I'll be back to my shitty job at Mel's in no time.

"WAIT! WHAT IS YOUR NAME?" I hear the boy yell to me but I'm running too fast to stop or turn around.

"MAX" I shouted back, still turned away from him.

"WELL I'M WESTLEY IT WAS NICE MEETING YOU!"

I shake my head as I keep running, None of this can be real. Westley, the accident, this sick and twisted version of castle hill, none of it can be true and all I know is I need to find a way out.

WHITMORE'S POV

"You've got to be kidding me." I say as my whole body slouches at the news I was just told. "Meet me in my office once you got the file."

I turn away from the two officers, shaking my head in disbelief. My life is starting to feel like something straight out of a movie.

I make my way behind my desk and grab the tin of mints in my drawer popping one in my mouth. Taking a deep breath in I let out a big sigh, hoping for some sort of relief. These teenagers are dropping like flies and it's my job to get to the bottom of it.

I started doing some paperwork and before I knew it, I looked up to see the same two officers from before walking in. I was shocked to see them, thinking no time has passed since I first got here. But when I move my eyes from them to the clock, I see it's already been two hours. Nothing feels real.

Shaking it off, I notice the first officer carrying the case file and the other carrying a small box, which peaks my curiosity. "Thanks boys. I'll get back to you." I immediately start to search through the items in the box.

Keys, wallet, a jacket, some books, a Mel's apron, and a folded up piece of paper that looks like it's been to hell and back. I grab the note and begin to unfold it, realizing it's a letter with the words "Dear Jane" scribbled at the top.

"This should be interesting," I mumble to myself before reading it.

Dear Jane,

I'm lost. I have never felt this lost before and I don't know what to do. Forgiving myself was the worst thing I could have ever done. Thinking that you could be here if it weren't for me keeps me up at night and I miss you. Days are slower at mels and time has seemed to come to a halt without you here. Where did you go? The last time I saw you you were mad at me. You were mad that I couldn't forgive myself and let you go. The things you said that night rush through my head constantly and I don't know what to do anymore. I don't think I have ever felt this way about anyone else. I love you. And I'm dying without you. I wish there was more I could have said or done to make you feel the way you felt about Harry about me. You were so consumed by him and getting back to him and it made me feel like I was in a competition, but with the dead. You told me all these things about this place you were in and how Harry was there too. What did all that mean? I wish you explained more and let me ask questions, but it always felt like you were pushing me away. I wish I could tell you that you need to let go of him and whatever you two had last school year wasn't real. I know I should have said all this sooner, but with you gone now it feels easier to say now. I am about to go to work but I am leaving you this letter at the graveyard. Wherever you are, I hope you find this and change your mind about Harry and finally give me the chance I deserve with you. I love you Jane Marx.

Reading this letter had led me to believe that there is a missing piece to this puzzle between Harry Styles, Jane Marx, and Max Williams.

I knew from the moment I was given Harry Styles' case something was fishy, these kids are hiding something from me and the only thing left for me to do is get it out of them.