A YOUNG OFFICER WHO KNEW THE GHOST PART II

"You knew Rita Holt?" asked Ryner.

"Yes, somewhat, but we weren't that close," said the young officer. "Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself—my name is Charlotte Buchanan. Around here, they call me Officer Char Buchanan."

"My name is Ryner Stones. I'm a second-year student at Martin's Technical High," said Ryner.

"I used to attend that school too. In fact, I graduated three years ago," said Charlotte.

"I see," Ryner replied. "So… do you know what happened five years ago? To Rita?"

Charlotte hesitated. "Yes. I don't know much about how it happened, but… it's a day I've tried hard to forget."

She looked away, her voice softer now. "I was in my first year of high school when I met Rita. My cousin Charley introduced me to her—he said they were friends. I didn't get the chance to know her well, but whenever I saw her, she'd greet me with a gentle smile and a warm hug. She was well known on campus—beautiful, well-mannered, and one of the top students. Every guy had a crush on her. Maybe Charley did too… but I don't know for sure."

Charlotte's brows furrowed slightly. "Later that year, Rita started acting strangely around Charley. Always watching him from a distance. Avoiding him. At first, I thought they were just fighting, so I asked Charley—but he brushed it off, said it was nothing. Eventually, I realized they must've liked each other. Her avoidance drove him crazy, and when he ignored her, something about her changed, too."

She took a shaky breath. "The day Rita died... it was so sudden. I was at a loss for words. Horrifying. Her body was never found. But her uniform, undergarments, and her blood were all at the scene. Alongside the body of a young man."

"No way..." Rita whispered behind Ryner, trembling, tears in her eyes. "I… I was stripped down and my body was taken away…?"

"So, wait," Ryner said, turning back to Charlotte. "That young man who died… what was his name?"

"I never found out," Charlotte replied. "But I can look into the case files back at the office and get back to you."

"Okay. Please do that."

Ryner paused, then asked with a more serious tone, "What was your cousin Charley's reaction to all this? Rita's disappearance?"

Charlotte frowned. "Shockingly... he seemed unbothered. He never brought it up. Never cried. Never even mentioned her again."

"Okay," Ryner said flatly.

"You sure were clingy to guys who were jerks, huh?" Thomas teased gently, trying to lighten the mood.

Rita didn't respond—still floating beside Ryner, eyes wide and brimming with pain.

"I'll give you my number," Ryner said, handing Charlotte a slip of paper. "Please call me when you find anything—about Rita Holt, or the boy who died."

"Yeah… I will," said Charlotte, a little dazed. Then her expression changed. "Wait! What am I doing?! Why did I just give so much information to a kid? I'm so dumb…" she muttered to herself.

"Hey, Ryner," she called after him. "What does this case have to do with you? And why do you want to contact my cousin?"

Ryner stopped. "Honestly, I didn't want to get involved in this. But I had no choice."

He turned slightly over his shoulder. "Say, Charlotte… do you believe in ghosts?"

She scoffed. "No. Ghosts are just made-up stories. We claim to see them because we're paranoid or superstitious."

Ryner's voice lowered. "I sure wish I was just superstitious..."

"If I told you the real reason I'm here—what I know about Rita—you wouldn't believe me," he said. "As for your cousin… I have a strong feeling he's connected to all of this. I just don't have proof."

"You think Charley was involved in Rita's death?" Charlotte asked, shocked.

"Yes, I do," Ryner said simply. "We'll talk more later. I'll come back another day to speak with him. Please let him know I'm coming."

Without waiting for a reply, Ryner turned and walked away.

"Let's go, Rita," he said softly.

Still shaking, Rita floated behind him, silent tears falling. Thomas followed them both, his usual grin gone.