CHAPEL HILL, NC - I spent the early part of day at a coffee shop in the vicinity of the Chapel Hill murder and was lucky enough to have a few conversations with locals including Pippa Hardigan, a young, rather quiet yet nubile part-time phrenologist who, not surprisingly, had no idea that a serial killer was on the loose, terrorizing the country and was of the opinion that the events of the 29th were a prank. A deadly and evil prank, perhaps.

Ms. Hardigan was a font of information. It's rather amazing how much information one can get with a kind word, even more with a kind word, a double caramel latte triple shot and a biscotti. Upon further questioning, Ms. Hardigan mentioned that there was a local young man with a rather developed sense of humor (albeit a sick one, apparently) who used to pull rather macabre "pranks" of this sort. This man, a Kevin Cosby, fancied himself something of a performance artist. He was also apparently somewhat of an itinerant with very little direction and would disappear each summer. To where, one wonders....

After a few minutes, I moved the interview to the bar next door, as I've found that double whiskeys loosen lips even faster than frothy coffee. When describing Cosby, Hardigan blushed a bit, "He was nice and cute enough, I guess." It turns out that Cosby had taken an instant shine to the seductive pseudo-scientist and was, for lack of a better phrase, sniffing around pretty heavily. "Kevin didn't like it when you said no," revealed the sexy skull doc (maybe less whiskey for me, next time). "He was all about instant gratification. It's not that I didn't like him, it's just that well," she paused, chewing at her lower lip, "I don't hop into bed with every artist or journalist that I meet." At this point professional responsibilities required me to end the interview as I feared I was about to be sidetracked and there was quite a bit of work to do. I'd spied a man at the bar who'd been eavesdropping and I sensed he had some information to impart.

I feel like I am catching up to the fiend, so hop on board the Eddie Pope express and help me catch a murderer!