Ghost Behind You

1.09. The Bathroom Mystery

After sending the text to Mary, Rose sat on the bed, her mind racing. She felt uneasy. If Mary and Gary's parents took Gary's hand back this afternoon, they'd likely leave soon after. Even though the case seemed to be closing, Rose had a strong sense that things were only just beginning. She wanted to ask Mary to stay for a few more days, but she didn't have a good reason. How could she explain staying because of vague "feelings" or "instincts," let alone potential hallucinations? Plus, they needed to return to Beijing to hold the funeral on the seventh day. Mary would stay if Rose insisted, but Rose didn't want to push her without concrete evidence.

A short reply from Mary appeared on her phone: Got it.

Feeling slightly relieved, Rose began planning her afternoon. She needed to visit the police station to investigate Zach's background and have the talisman analyzed. If things went smoothly, she might get a report on Zach right away. If he'd used a fake name, however, the trail could run cold. As for the fingerprints on the talisman, even under the best circumstances, results wouldn't be ready until tomorrow. To match them, she needed Zach's fingerprints, which would be hard to obtain without arousing suspicion.

Why didn't I think of this earlier? Rose fumed. How am I supposed to get his fingerprints now?

Her inexperience in criminal investigations was becoming glaringly apparent. She felt as though she was making little progress, and her frustration boiled over. Grabbing a pillow, she angrily threw it across the room. I can't leave it at this, she thought. There has to be another way.

Deciding to call a police friend in Beijing for help, Rose requested that they look into Zach's background immediately. If Zach had used a fake identity, they could involve the local police to arrest him and fingerprint him later. That's the plan.

Her contact in Beijing was more than willing to help and promised results within an hour. It was now 10:40 AM, giving Rose some time to kill. But she wasn't going to sit around and wait. She decided to revisit room 104—where Gary had died—and see if she could recapture the strange sensation she'd experienced there earlier. This time, she would approach things scientifically, without letting her imagination take over.

Using her credentials, Rose easily obtained the key from the front desk, but the receptionist's words caught her off guard.

"A police officer already took the key this morning. Aren't you with them?"

Rose froze. "A police officer? There shouldn't be any officers here. The investigation is supposed to wrap up today."

The receptionist furrowed her brow. "Yes, a man named Zackary Zheng. He's staying in room 401. He said he was from Beijing, here for the case."

Zach! What is he doing with the key to room 104? Rose thought, a deep sense of unease settling over her. Is he really a cop? If he were investigating, why wait until now?

"Oh, right, he's from a different department," Rose said quickly, masking her confusion. "Do you have a spare key? I'll need to take a look inside."

The receptionist nodded. "There's one last key, but please return it soon."

"Of course." Rose signed the logbook and, trying to seem casual, added, "Do you keep the hallway lights on at night?"

"No, not unless someone's returning late. We guide guests to their rooms with flashlights if needed."

"Thanks," Rose said, now realizing that the light she'd seen last night couldn't have come from the hotel's lighting system. Another mystery to solve later.

With the key in hand, Rose's heart raced. She was about to confront Zach, and she had no idea what she might find. The hallway leading to room 104 was quiet. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting soft light over the worn carpet, but the atmosphere felt thick with tension. Since Gary's death, the first floor had been eerily empty.

Rose approached the door cautiously, pressing her ear to the wood. Silence. She inserted the key and turned the lock, her heart pounding. What if Zach is inside? What if he's dangerous? But she steeled herself. If I sense any danger, I can always run. He won't be able to catch me.

The door opened quietly.

As she stepped inside, Rose heard a faint scratching sound coming from the bathroom. She froze, listening intently. It was a soft, irregular noise, like nails on wood. Her gaze drifted toward the closed bathroom door.

Rose's pulse quickened. She slipped off her shoes to avoid making noise and moved closer to the door. The scratching grew louder. Someone was definitely inside.

She reached for the door handle, her breath shallow. Be ready for anything, she told herself, and then, with a surge of courage, she flung the door open.

A high-pitched shriek pierced the air, only to vanish as sunlight flooded the bathroom. There, sitting on the floor with a small spade in hand, was Zach. He looked up at her, utterly calm.

"Do you make a habit of barging in on men in the bathroom?" Zach asked, irritation flickering across his face.

"What the hell are you doing?" Rose demanded, her voice sharp with confusion and anger. "Why are you digging?"

"Shh!" Zach raised a finger to his lips, making a gesture for silence. "I'll explain in a minute. Let me finish this."

"No way!" Rose snapped. "The police are on their way here. You'd better cooperate. Get out of that bathroom right now!" She was bluffing, but she hoped it would scare him.

Zach raised an eyebrow. "The police? I haven't broken any laws."

"Then show me your police ID. Is Zach even your real name?"

With a sigh, Zach set the spade down. "That again? Fine. I'll explain everything soon, but I need to finish this first. Just give me a minute." He reached for the spade to continue digging.

"Put the shovel down!" Rose demanded. The spade was sharp enough to do serious harm, and her nerves were on edge. "Step away. Now."

Zach's expression darkened. "I'm not going to attack you with this, Li. If you knew what I was doing, you wouldn't be so eager to stop me."

"Then explain!" Rose barked. "Who are you really? Does Gary's death have anything to do with this?"

Zach looked genuinely surprised. "What? What does Gary's death have to do with me? I didn't even know him."

"Then why are you digging?" Rose's patience was wearing thin. His refusal to give a straight answer only made her more suspicious. If you're not up to something shady, why all the secrecy?

"I'm digging up a body," Zach said calmly.

Rose blinked. "A body? Whose body? Who buried it here? And why is the hole so small?"

"I don't know whose body it is," Zach replied, brushing the dirt from his hands. "But I know there's something buried here. I'm trying to find out what. It might explain why Gary died."

"Who are you?" Rose asked again, her frustration mounting.

Zach hesitated, his lips pressing into a tight line. "I'm... a religious scholar, for lack of a better term."

"Enough!" Rose had had it. "You need to leave the bathroom now. This is a crime scene."

Zach stood, brushing the dirt from his clothes. His face was unreadable as he glanced at the small hole in the floor. "Fine," he muttered. "But if you stop me, Gary's soul will never rest. You'll condemn him to eternal unrest."

"Gary is dead!" Rose shouted, her voice trembling with frustration. "He doesn't feel anything anymore. I don't believe in ghosts!"

Zach simply shrugged, then raised his hands in mock surrender. "Have it your way."

Rose followed him out of the bathroom, her heart still racing. As he stepped into the bedroom, Zach shot her a knowing look, his faint smile lingering as if he held a secret she could never understand.