Ghost Behind You

1.02. Entrusted

It was late at night when Mary called. Rose Li had just finished washing up and was getting ready for bed. The moment the phone rang, she had a strange feeling—this call was different. She hesitated for a second before picking up.

Mary was calling from a city hundreds of miles away, her voice almost unrecognizable through her sobs. Rose did her best to calm her down, trying to piece together what had happened. After a long and fragmented conversation, the truth finally became clear. Mary's husband, Gary, had died under bizarre circumstances that very afternoon, shortly after they arrived at their vacation destination. The police's official conclusion was spontaneous human combustion. Only Gary's right hand remained intact, confirmed by the fingerprints. The rest of his body had been completely reduced to ash. Oddly, none of the nearby flammable items—like towels—had caught fire. In other words, in the 15 minutes Gary had spent in the bathroom, his body somehow spontaneously combusted, leaving only his right hand behind.

Mary refused to accept such an absurd explanation. Desperate for answers, she turned to Rose—her best friend and a forensic expert—begging her to find out what really happened to Gary during those 15 minutes in the bathroom.

After hanging up the phone, Rose realized her heart was pounding, her skin cold and clammy as if she'd just stepped out of a freezing shower. Though she hadn't been in forensics long, she had seen her fair share of crime scenes. But nothing like this.

Mary had been Rose's closest friend in high school—the kind of friend with whom you could share anything. As for Gary, Rose barely knew him. She only remembered him as the short, chubby guy who worked in computer sales. She had attended their wedding, but they had hardly been in contact since. Hearing of his death in such a strange and unsettling way left her in shock. Mary's broken, sob-filled recounting made it difficult for Rose to grasp the full picture of what had happened. But if she was going to uncover the truth, she needed to see the scene for herself.

That night, sleep did not come easily for Rose. Early the next morning, she took a leave of absence from the university, packed a bag, and set out. By the afternoon, she had arrived at the scene.

The hotel where Gary's company had arranged the stay was a four-story building, surrounded by a small lake. Two bridges spanned the lake, connecting to gravel paths on either side. The lake was fed by a natural spring, and though not deep, the water was clear and inviting. The hotel itself, however, had seen better days. The bridges were old and worn, and one of the wooden ones looked like it might collapse at any moment. Walking the unlit paths and crossing the creaky bridges at night would be enough to unsettle anyone.

The main building's exterior was in slightly better condition. The white walls had been recently repainted, giving it a somewhat polished look. The lobby was large and also served as a dining area. Guest rooms lined either side of the lobby, all identical from the outside. Gary and Mary had been staying in room 104, just two doors down from the entrance.

Mary's eyes were swollen from crying, her face pale and exhausted after a sleepless night. The moment she saw Rose, she burst into tears again, unable to speak. She simply pointed toward the half-open door of their room. Rose felt her own tears well up, but she held them back. She gave Mary a brief hug before turning her attention to the crime scene.

The scene of the incident was the bathroom of room 104. The bedroom had already been sealed off by the police. After showing her credentials and explaining her relationship to the victim, Rose was allowed access to the bathroom. She also requested to speak with the first forensic investigator on the scene. The officer on duty agreed to contact them for her.

Rose gently pushed open the bathroom door, revealing the scene inside.