Melinda stopped the car in order to talk to the man. She knew him but she couldn't tell who he was. So she yelled after him but he just disappeared like he didn't hear her. She couldn't forget his face. Many questions were in her head. Because she didn't remember the guy's name she drove further to Professor Payne's office at Rockland U. She parked the car and walked into the building. On her way to the elevator she thought of what Payne would have for her. She decided to wait because she didn't have any ideas of what it could be. Then she arrived and walked into Rockland U.
"Professor Payne?? Hello??"
"Yeah, hi. I'm here…" He showed up from his table.
"What did you do there under your table??"
"Well, I thought I heard something but there was nothing… do you see anything??"
"Nope… This room is clean. You've called me… What happened??"
"Erm. Look at this." Payne showed Melinda a report about a man dying while he was building a kennel out of iron.
"And what do you want to tell me with that??"
"Actually I don't know. I just wanted to be with you. Wow you're looking fabulous in this red neck less dress…"
"You're kidding, aren't you?"
"Nope. The dress is fabulous. But, yeah, I was kidding when I said that I just wanted to be with you. I thought that a person like this guy would probably stay earthbound cause I could bet that he'd want someone to finish his kennel, wouldn't he?"
"Maybe. But what has this to do with me? I don't even see him and this picture is so helpful that this could be anyone…"
"I thought that he might have found you and hit Jim with an iron bar!?"
"Jim? How could you know? I didn't tell you that."
"Well… Erm… Gabriel was here and told me!!!"
"GABRIEL WAS HERE???? Why didn't you tell me earlier?!" yelled Melinda.
"Hey, calm down. I didn't know how to tell cause I didn't know how you'd react. And yes, he was here. Actually I don't know what he wanted. He said something of a Jack with an iron bar and that he'd hit Jim with this. That's all I know."
"Did you say Jack???"
"Yeah, I think he called someone Jack. Jack Marley, I guess."
"Jack Marley?? I know the name but I don't have a face."
Melinda's cell rang.
"Yes?"
"Hi. This is Mercy Hospital. Could you please come to us as fast as you can? It is important."
"Hey, sure I'll be there in 10 minutes. What happened??"
But Melinda didn't get an answer. So she turned around and said goodbye to Professor Payne. Then she ran to her car and drove to the hospital. On her way she called Ned.
"Hey Ned, are you still at the hospital?"
"Hey Mel, sure I am. That's what we've said, haven't we?"
"Yeah. Did anything happen?? I just got a call from the hospital!"
"No, not that I know of… What did they say to you?"
"Nothing. Just that I should come as fast as I can. Okay… I'll be there in a few minutes anyway."
Melinda was lost in thought. Suddenly she saw Jim sitting next to her in the car.
"JIM?! NOOOOO… THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANTED TO TELL ME, IS IT?" Melinda shouted.
"What's wrong honey?"
"I'm on my way to the hospital cause they called me. You were in a coma in Mercy Hospital the hole time and now you are a ghost!!"
"Mel, I'm not dead… Really I'm not dead!!!"
"I don't understand. What does that mean?" But Jim disappeared.
This couldn't be true. Jim, the love of her life, as a ghost?! She was so confused that she couldn't concentrate on the traffic. So she didn't see a track driving in front of her coming nearer. Melinda couldn't pass it at any side and drove into the track.