CHAPEL HILL, NC - After leaving word at various local establishments, including the local occult bookstore, high end custom computer installers and of course, the various "hobby" shops, I was contacted by someone who referred to himself as Charles Dexter Ward, although I think this is not his real name. We met in my preferred location, a bar.

Ward, an amiable if somewhat furtive man, was sitting at bar, chatting to the bartender. I suggested moving to a table so we could talk in peace. As we moved, Ward addressed the bartender in what I thought was a louder than necessary voice. "He's a writer, Pete." Wants to talk to me about the group." When we got to the table, seeing my expression of alarm Ward said "Nothin' to be afraid of. People around here know we aren't any harm. We're just a group of friends with shared interests." Yeah. Right.

Cutting to the chase, Ward said "I hear you're asking around town about Kevin Cosby. I know him. Haven't seen him for a while, though. Odd, cuz he usually comes back after the summer. Come to think of it, I haven't seen him since a year ago last spring. He used to ask a lot of questions about...our group. We let him come and visit once or twice." I pushed, but Ward refused to use the word "cult," and refused to admit Cosby was a member but I refused to yield. Evil takes many guises, my friends and an amiable local carpenter would not be out of its reach!

So, tell me about the Chorazos cult. I was getting impatient and decided to force the issue a bit. Besides, I could tell he was hiding something. Upon hearing me use the word Chorazos, Ward seized up almost imperceptibly and shrugged it off. "Aw, that's just some old group of nuts from Europe, ain't it? Used to run around, worshiping trees and such, right? No, that's the Druids. "Well, big rocks, then. I know it's something silly." Playing the innocent, I asked what his "group" did on a regular basis. "Hell, drink beers and tell tall tales, mostly. But I guess you could say we do it in a modern way. Most of us are real interested in computers and how the world is getting faster and how communication is becoming instant And global. Don't you wonder where things are going?"

There it was. I had what I needed. Ward tried to throw me off the trail, but combined with the information I had compiled on the modern incarnation of the Chorazos Cult, I was certain...well fairly certain, that Ward's "friendly group" was indeed a cell of this cult and that Kevin was who I was looking for. See my profile of the killer, if you're still suspect. Knowing that I am up against a group of cultists, any one of which could be another serial killer (or maybe they all were and the threads have not yet been connected) makes this whole enterprise much more dangerous. I have your backs my friends, but be vigilant! With your help, Eddie Pope shall drive the Chorazos Cult back to the gates of hell from which they emerged, 500 years ago!