Read Wilmington, NC 03 - Murder On The Ghost Walk for Free Online

boxes, and I overheard someone say Dr. Banks was driving them to a forensic anthropologist in Durham, some professor at Duke who does consulting work for the State Bureau of Investigation. ”
    Our food arrived and I didn’t want to be talking about skeletons while eating. I’d had enough of that that at lunch.
    “Exactly how are you related to Reggie and Shelby Campbell?” I asked.
    " Oh, v ery, very distantly ,” Jon replied, cutting his grouper with his fork and groaning with pleasure. “I’m starved. I was wondering what I was going to eat when you called.” He gave me one of those smiles again. “So glad you did. ”
    I sliced into the beef tenderloin with little enthusiasm.
    Jon went on, “The Reginald Campbell line is from one branch of the Campbell clan, I'm from another. But we're all descended from Duncan Campbell who led 350 settlers from Argyll to the Upper Cape Fear in 1737.
    "The Highland Scots were fierce fighters who sided with the Loyalists. They marched to Moore's Creek Bridge but the Patriots were expecting them, removed the bridge's planks and greased the girders."
    Jon chuckled. "My ancestors were defeated by greased logs. Some were taken captive, a few escaped and mingled with the citizenry here. My ancestors were on the wrong side of the War of Independence . How's that for irony?"
    "So you were never close to Reggie and Shelby?" I asked.
    "Oh, we knew each other in high school. Called each other 'Cuz' just to be cute . But Reggie was from money and I am not . Makes a difference. Then later his lifestyle was totally different from mine. We had nothing in common."
    "What kind of lifestyle?" I asked.
    "Exotic. A berrant."
    "Aberrant?"
    "They ran with a fast crowd. Orgies. Mate swapping. Kinky sex. Stuff like that." He frowned his disapproval . "They were bored, Ashley."
    "Hmmm," I said thoughtfully. "Melanie told me she bought the house at for e closure. "
    "Yeah, I heard about that. If she hadn't snapped it up someone else would have."
    " But someone paid the taxes for several years. So if it wasn’t the Campbells paying the taxes, then who was it? "
    Jon wagged his eyebrows and did a perfect Humphrey Bogart impersonation. " Why, t he murderer, sweetheart."

    When I let myself into my bungalow, the telephone was ringing. Detective Yost said irritably, "I've been calling your house for hours, Ms. Wilkes. Are you all right?"
    "Yes, I'm fine." I took offense at his tone. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
    "Do I have to remind you that you discovered two murder victims this morning? There's a murderer on the loose."
    "No, you don’t have to remind me. That’s not something I’d ever forget. "
    "Good. OK then , you called me. What can I do for you?"
    Yost sounded grumpy and tired. This wasn't going as I had planned. Still, I pressed on. "It's more a matter of what I can do for you, Detective . I might be able to help you with the investigation." I held my breath.
    "Oh? Are you holding back information? Because if you are . . . "
    " No, no. That’s not it. I thought I could keep my ears open, maybe pick up a clue."
    Yost barked out a derisive laugh. "Sorry , I d o n't mean to be rude. It's just that it’s been a rough day . N o reason for me to take out my frustration on you."
    "No, it isn't," I said firmly. " OK , then you tell me something . H ow were those people killed?"
    The detective took his time answering. "I guess it can't hurt to tell you, it'll be public knowledge soon. Two .38 caliber slugs were found with the bones. So, it looks like they were shot."
    "I don't understand. Did the murderer hide the slugs with the bodies? Why not just put them in his pocket to throw away later?"
    Yost cleared his throat. "For the slugs to be found with the bones indicates they were lodged inside the bodies at the time of death."
    "Oh , s ure," I mumbled , feeling like an idiot. W hat do I know about slugs? "How do you go about identifying old skeletons?"
    "We'll x-ray the bones and teeth . Start with the