Braxton Campus Mysteries Collection - Books 5-8

Chapter 4-3

Few changes had occurred until the great fire destroyed the original wing in 1968. The Grey family had become the most prominent board members by that period. They were insistent on immediately leveling out the land, building an ugly modern addition, and renaming it Memorial Library. Maggie had complained about the mismatch of styles in Memorial Library"s history, citing the architectural design flaws that kept them from becoming a top-notch facility. Among the three wings and original structure, they"d suffered with hallways that ended nowhere and multiple sets of staircases to transition between sections. The prior librarian, Minnie O"Malley, had found the quirky and unique style of the library and its courtyard fascinating, always acting disinterested when the college discussed major overhauls. It"d taken my father five years to secure the proper funding for the renovation, and even then, Ursula Power had been the one to push the project over the finish line.

“I"m so glad to see you, Kellan. I hardly slept last night.” Dark circles and worry lines accompanied Maggie"s eyes as she embraced me, wearing cute knee-high, orange pumpkin socks embellished with Halloween sayings. “There have been many engineers and inspectors on-site in the last sixteen hours, arguing over the best way to handle the situation.”

“What"s the current plan?” I handed Maggie a sandwich, as we settled into her office at the opposite end of the yellow police tape and caution signs surrounding the construction site.

Maggie explained that she would meet with the primary architect, the county"s building inspector, and April at two o"clock to decide on next steps. “It is horrible, Kellan. We were the ones who saw the skeleton. Now, I understand how you felt all those times it happened previously. This is the second body we"ve found in the library. The place must be haunted.”

“It"s difficult, I know. At least your dead body is decades old. It"s a lot worse when you arrive a few minutes too late to stop the crime from happening.” I pushed away the memories of all five murders I"d been involved with since returning to Braxton. It would qualify as a Guinness Book of World Records entry; Nana D was regrettably correct, as the dashing and dramatic diva always was.

Guinness Book of World Records“I doubt this was murder. Have you heard the rumor that it"s Prudence Grey?” Maggie nibbled on her bottom lip, then slapped her cheeks to startle herself from the recollection of the skeleton.

“I"ve heard it a few times. Any details on how long the body"s been there?”

“Everyone agrees at least forty years.”

“I"m sorry you"re stuck with this catastrophe. Has Connor been around?” Connor, who"d once run security at the college, usually handled any crimes or investigations concerning Braxton.

“Yes, he"s meeting with Ursula right now.” Maggie finished her sandwich and threw away our detritus. When she walked with me back to the reception area, she gasped and clutched her stomach.

I traced the path of her sightline to a life-size skeleton sitting on a bale of straw near the check-out desk. It held a witch"s cauldron stocked with candy treats and a sign that read: Died from reading too much. I"ve got a spine to pick with you.

Died from reading too much. I"ve got a spine to pick with you.“Get it? Bone to pick with you. A spine is part of a book and a bone.” She exhaled loudly.

“Too funny.” As I hugged Maggie goodbye, she handed me an envelope. “What"s this?”

“A photo of Prudence I dug up in a yearbook. There might be more, I"ll keep checking.”

“You"re awesome, thank you.” Once she left, I exited through the main doors, eager to tear open the envelope. Crisp, chilled autumn air tickled my face and sent a few shivers down my back. Was I about to see a picture of the beauty with two different colored eyes who"d been haunting my house, also the former embodiment of the skeleton we"d found the prior day?

By the time I reached the end of the pathway, my cell rang. I tossed the unopened envelope into my satchel. A group of students wearing hilarious matching socks and hats smirked when I passed them, as the new tone was a creepy wicked witch voice cackling, I"ll get you my pretty.

I"ll get you my pretty.“This is Kellan.” A crow in a nearby tree croaked a terrible, foul death caw.

“Hello. It"s Belinda Grey returning your call. Is this a convenient time?” Her haughty voice immediately penetrated my calm exterior and eliminated my laugh about the book and bone message.

“Certainly. Is this about the Memorial Library construction or the Fall Festival project? If it"s the library, your problem might be solved, as I doubt there will be any more noise until—”

“Although it"s exorbitantly obvious that I should assume control over the Fall Festival, the purpose of my call is about neither topic. Did you receive my letter?”

I recalled no mail from her but could"ve missed it in the last few days. Managing two residences was getting increasingly tough. “I don"t think so. What was it about?”

“Hasn"t Ulan shared anything with you?” A strident, accusatory tone accompanied her words.

That began to worry me. “No, he hasn"t. What"s going on?”

“Perhaps you ought to interrogate him before our meeting tomorrow in my office. If this is how you organize and care for Wharton County"s historic autumn spectacular, I can only imagine the imminent disaster.” After repeating the date and time she summoned me to appear, Belinda angrily slammed the receiver onto its cradle. What had Ulan done? Why didn"t I receive the letter?

I thought back to the conversation I"d overheard between Augie and Ulan. Was Ulan acting out at school besides painting threatening messages in our new house? I would need to discuss it with him as soon as we got home. I drafted a text, demanding he call me as soon as class ended, but stopped myself. If I gave him a heads-up, he"d have time to prepare excuses. I preferred to catch him with the added element of surprise—just as the phone buzzing in my pocket shocked me at that very moment. Halloween would no longer be my favorite holiday if this constant anxiety kept up.

April: Discovered something interesting about the skeleton and how the victim died. I"ll call you tonight.

AprilDiscovered something interesting about the skeleton and how the victim died. I"ll call you tonight.Kellan: Don"t make me wait. I might explode from the suspense. So not cool!

KellanDon"t make me wait. I might explode from the suspense. So not cool!April: Patience is a virtue. It seems I have much to teach you.

AprilPatience is a virtue. It seems I have much to teach you.Kellan: Now that"s a promise I"ll make you keep.

KellanNow that"s a promise I"ll make you keep.