"Hey excuse me, is anybody here? Can I borrow this one?" Professor Mackey searches the corners of the library to find the librarian. It's almost nine o'clock in the evening and he was about to go home but he remembered the book he wanted to read. He prefers to spend his Friday night reading a horror story rather than going out and spending the rest of the night on bars or somewhere else.

"Ah, I know it's almost closing time but I want to read this book so I may-

He stopped as he feels something strange inside. No one was at the library counter when he entered and he has seen no one around.

"Would you mind if I come in?"

This time, he slipped inside the counter and look around the corners and behind the dividers. He's alone and there's no single student or teacher apart from him.

" Hello! Mrs. Refort? Where are you? It's Macky! Yahoo!" he took a step back and forth.

He was sure that he was the last person there but the librarians are nowhere to be found. The place is not as huge as the libraries in the universities and there are no secret rooms for hiding.

"Okay, no one is here. I'll just wait for someone."

He sat down on the sofa near the counter then started opening the pages of the book. He spent about ten minutes reading the first chapter when he smelled something stinky.

"What's that? it's---its ahh!" he pinched his nose and stood up. He then heard steps fading as if leaving the place.

"Wait! Is that you Mrs. Refort? Could you please fill the borrower's card for me? I'd be treating you with fries and burgers next Monday!" He ran as fast as he could to the exit door to take a look at who's coming or leaving the place.

"No one was here?" Macky was confused.

"But I heard someone walking!"

He scratched the back of his head and went back inside but to his surprised, someone was standing on the counter.

A woman in his late 20's wearing a black gown. She has fair skin and disheveled black hair. She was wearing thick red lipstick.

"Yes? What can I do for you?" she asked Macky.

"Ah, well, I would like to borrow this book." He was a little bit puzzled as he put down the book on the table and took a glimpse at the mysterious woman.

"You're late Mr. Snither. It's almost closing time. But anyway, I supposed you are the last one to borrow books here at this hour, are you?"

The new librarian filled in the borrower's card and signed it. She turned to Macky with a smile and with a mysterious look.

"Yeah, well wait? Do you know me? I don't know you! Are you the new librarian? Where are the others? Where is Mrs. Refort? I was here a while ago and nobody was around. Where were you hiding?"

"Okay, slow down a little bit professor. I'm Desiree. I am the new librarian and I started working here Monday 'cause Mrs. Refort had just turned in her resignation last week. By the way, I was here when before you came in. I just waited for you to finish shopping for the books."

"B-but I'm sure no one was here. I checked all the corners."

"I heard you calling Mrs. Refort but I got a little busy with something. Anyway, you can now take this book. Enjoy reading professor Macky."

Macky could hardly believe what she heard. He finds her statement a little bit confusing. Moreover, he could feel a different vibe from the aura of the new librarian.

"O-okay, thanks for this. I would be returning this on Monday. I gotta go. Good evening and Goodnight!" he hurriedly grabs the book and turns his back on the said woman who just waved her right hand and smiled.

This was not his first time visiting the library but this time, he sensed something creepy sending the chills down his spine.

It's been two days since he borrowed the book from the library but he was not able to finish reading it. He barely started reading the first two chapters and yet his curiosity is killing him as he could not forget about the strange things he experienced at the library the previous day. He keeps thinking about the smell, the stench which seems familiar to him in any way, and the new librarian. He's the type of person who does not take an interest in trivial matters but when it comes to things that trigger his curiosity, he would surely find ways to answer the questions rather than playing them on his head.

It was Monday and he has his first class at nine o'clock in the morning. He thought he could re-visit first the library and asked why Mrs. Refort resigned.

However, to his surprised, Mrs. Refort was standing at the library counter and she greeted him with a bright smile.

"Professor Macky! Good morning! Have you brought me a coffee?" the older woman reached out her both hands expecting a sort of breakfast from him.

"What the hell is going on here? Mrs. Refort! You're back? I thought you have resigned last week?"

"Resigned? Who told you? I was here last Friday night. Oh boy! Where is my coffee?" The woman frowned upon seeing the empty-handed professor.

"What? Wait? Are you kidding me? I was here last Friday night before closing time and somebody was here, a woman in her late 20s. She was wearing a black gown. Her name was.....ahh her name was.." Macky closed his eyes and after a few seconds, he snapped his fingers.

"Yeah, it's Desiree. She told me, she was the new librarian since you resigned last week!"

Mrs. Refort then whispered something in his left ear.

"Ah, you must have seen the dead librarian here. Her name was Desiree and she wears a black gown," and she giggled as if she was excited by what she heard.

"Oh yeah and I don't believe in ghosts, okay? But I was serious, who was she? Did you resigned and get back to this work 'cause you realized it was quite difficult and frustrating being unemployed?"

"Nope. Why would I resign? I have kids you know? Don't worry prof, do not die yet of curiosity. Hang in there, I got you. I would be looking into that mysterious woman, Desiree!" and she chuckled.

"I will be counting on you. I would be coming this evening to return the book I borrowed last Friday and tell me something about that new librarian."

"Copy that! Now go. You're disturbing me." She waved her hands fast forward as if she was shooing him.

From a criminology professor at the age of 31, he only believes in what he sees, otherwise, without physical evidence and real objects to represent and prove the occurrence of something, it would be difficult to convince him.

As he entered the office, he was met at the door by one of his fellow professors. He was the youngest among them and he was the guy who always hangs with him.

"Professor Macky! Have you heard about the news last night?" the young professor asked.

"Nope. What news? You're getting married? I'm sorry to tell you in advance, I will not come. I'm broke. I could barely buy a pair of socks and underwear, I've got nothing to buy a gift for you."

"Oh yeah, and I hate you for that but that's not what I'm about to tell you! You know, one of the librarians here went missing last Friday!"

Macky froze. He could not move another step further. He swallowed and took a deep breath before asking, who was the missing librarian.

"Who?"

******next episode****""

Professor Macky could not help himself from interrogating Jimmy, his fellow professor after he broke the news.

"Who was the missing librarian?" his eyes almost popped out from her small face

"The new librarian, Miss Desiree Williams. She was reported missing to the police!" Jimmy blurted.

Macky raised both his hands above his head. He looked straight into the eyes of his officemate.

"Okay, so..when was that? What was the time she was reported missing? Who reported her missing? Why was she reported missing?"

"I know your curiosity would be killing you so I've got the exclusive news this morning. She clocked out last Friday at 7:30 in the evening. According to the janitors, she was seen carrying her bag in front of the elevator on the third floor. What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means she's going home!" he answered.

"Bingo! However, the big news was that she never came home that day, the next day, yesterday, and today. According to the report, her family and friends keep calling her but no avail, her phone was off and her possible location is off the map."

The professor paused for a moment before asking the question that came across his brilliant mind.

"If she went home at 7:30 that day, then who was that woman? She told me her name was Desiree and she was the new librarian?"

"What woman?"

"There's this woman who said she was the new librarian and her name was the same as that of the missing librarian. She signed my borrowed card last Friday night before the closing time."

"Professor, have you heard of the wailing ghost of the dead librarian. I guess you have finally met her," Jimmy exclaimed and he covered his mouth with his hand and he stepped further away from Macky.

"Well, maybe, but I've never heard of a talking ghost, did you?" Macky stood up from his desk and took a glimpse on his watch.

"No need to ask that. You have already found the answer yourself! Is she charming, like what they say?" There's something with Jimmy's voice. It's the expression of admiration.

"I would be having my class Sir Jimmy but if you would not mind, you could join me. I've got one vacant seat," Macky said as he hurriedly took his laptop and books.

"Okay, so if I would be coming, you're gonna tell me about that woman? Deal! So where would I be sitting?".

"Outside the door of my classroom."

"Yeah, and I hate you for that."

**

"In crime scene processing, you must remember that it is the basic job of the forensic experts but in some cases, the investigator could take the job in some circumstances just like when-

" Knock! knock! knock!"

Macky was not able to finish his lecture about crime scene protection and processing.

"Yeah, this is your new classmate, Jimmy Bellruz," he told the class as he opened the door but the two policemen in uniform standing there proves him wrong of his expectation of who might be knocking on the door near dismissal period.

"Excuse me, professor. Can we disturb you for a bit?" the taller policeman asked.

"Oh yeah. I was already disturbed so better start talking now or regret it later."

"Oops sorry but we can't discuss this matter here prof. Can we see you in a bit there outside?"

"Yeah. Just a little bit."

After his dismissal, Macky went to the consultation room of the office where the two officers are waiting.

"Good Morning professor. I'm officer Reagan and this is officer Jenkins. Sorry for taking your precious time but we need to ask you some important questions regarding the case of the missing librarian. You were the last person who saw Miss Desiree last Friday. Could you tell us where and what did you talk about?"

Macky did not leave a single detail.

"Okay. Sir, what time did you took off from the library that day?" the young officer asked as he continues to scribble something on his notes.

"It's about closing time so maybe about nine o'clock in the evening."

The officers ask him a lot of questions until they finally ask the time when he last saw the librarian.

"I just want to clarify that on that evening, it was close to nine o'clock on the evening when you were assisted by Miss Desiree who signed your borrower's card. This was something in conflict with the janitor's statement. Miss Desiree did not go home at 7:30 but it's nine o'clock."

"I wasn't sure about the janitor's statement but yeah, the new librarian was there until nine o'clock of Friday evening," he reassured the officers.

**

After the interview, there was something that was bothering Macky but it's something he wasn't sure about. His curiosity was triggering his natural human instinct to find the answers.

That evening, after his dismissal for the afternoon class, he visited the library in search of Mrs. Renfort.

"Hey, prof. You've got to be kidding me about that new librarian who went missing last Friday evening. You've just told me this morning that she was here and yet she was missing this time? What do you think happened?" the librarian whispered as soon as he arrived at the library counter.

"That's what I'm supposed to ask you, ma'am. How in the world did the janitors testify she was seen clocking out at 7:30 in the evening and yet she was here near nine o'clock that same evening I borrowed books here. What the hell did just happened?"

The librarian stopped him from talking about the case.

"Let's not talk about that here. The kids are listening. I mean you could treat me to fries and burgers later." she smiled.

"I'm broke. I've got 10 dollars only in my pocket and I have to take a bus going home. I'm also hungry but fries and burgers do not satisfy me."

Mrs. Refort stares at Macky with a sarcastic look.

"Oh well, I know you. You might be frustrated with the low sales on the stock market but don't get me wrong. Sacrifice your ten dollars or let your curiosity kick the hell out of you during your sleep."

She knew Mrs. Refort even during his college days. She was the most kind and understanding among the librarians in the school and until now. He feels too comfortable with her that he keeps forgetting, she was the librarian and he was a professor. He's got an ally, a sister, and a friend in the school and that matters.

He was waiting around six o'clock in the afternoon when Mrs. Refort enters the cafe where they agreed to meet.

"I have already made the order. Now tell me what you know about the new librarian," he asked as he could not wait any longer.

"I've got nothing to tell you. Let the police do their job. Let's just hope Miss Desiree is alive and well somewhere. I came here for the burger and fries," Mrs. Refort leans backward to avoid any physical retaliation from him.

"But I'm smarter than you. I did not yet put the order. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go before I'll miss the bus." Macky stood up but the woman held his arm.

"Hey! Hey! Easy man! Okay, I lost. Now, call the waiter for the order and I'll tell you something interesting."

"Tell me. I've done ordering the food a few minutes ago."

"Thank you. I heard rumors that Miss Desiree has a criminal record for fraud way back in 2015."

"What? Seriously? So what's the use of the background check of personnel? We're in trouble!"

"I agree but I know, the police are looking into that if it is true. By the way prof, have you notice something in the library?"

"What?"

"These days, the library has this distinctive smell. I mean, it's stinky. If I exaggerate, it's the smell of a corpse."

"Corpse? Do you mean a dead body? Oh, wait! Yeah! It's the smell of a corpse! I knew it!" Macky exclaimed and he rose from his seat.

"What do you mean?" The old woman raised her eyebrows as she looked at him.

"Someone's dead!"

*****next episode***