Ghosts of Karnak by George Mann Read Free Book Online Page A

Commissioner.” He took a long draw from his cigarette and let the smoke spill out slowly from the corner of his mouth. “We found your man, by the way. His body had been dumped in the Hudson. Washed up this afternoon. All the equipment had gone, but it was obviously the man you told me about. Someone had drilled holes in his arms, legs, and chest. Vettel said she could see where the metal rods had been removed from the bones.”
    “I had to throw him off a building,” said the Ghost, “and he almost survived that, too. Did you manage to identify him yet?”
    Donovan shook his head. “He certainly wasn’t local. We’re thinking maybe he was an immigrant, brought in by the Reaper. It seems he has a line in sneaking people over the border.”
    “Larceny, murder, bribery and people trafficking—and still we can’t touch him.”
    “He’s a wily bastard,” said Donovan. “Always does enough to keep his own hands clean. That’s why we need you, digging in ways we can’t.”
    “For what it’s worth,” said the Ghost. “Tell me about this dead woman.”
    “Her name was Autumn Allen. Her body was discovered on the sidewalk two nights ago. She’d been throttled to death, but not before her killers had held her down and carved a series of icons into her face, arms, and chest.” Donovan reached into his jacket and produced a roll of photographs, which he unfurled and held out to the Ghost. “They carved another one on her back after she was dead, too.”
    He took them, studying them for a moment, then rolled them up again, slipping them inside his own coat. “Egyptian,” he said. “Although I don’t recognize the one on her arm.” He frowned. “You think they have something to do with Ginny and the
Centurion
?”
    “The thought hadn’t even occurred to me,” said Donovan, “but now you come to mention it, isn’t there some big exhibition coming to the Met?”
    The Ghost nodded. “They were unloading the exhibits when I was down at the docks yesterday. But the ship didn’t come in until
after
the woman was found dead. The timing doesn’t add up.”
    “Still, I don’t like coincidences,” said Donovan. “It seems a little unlikely that we’d turn up a body scored with Ancient Egyptian symbols the night before a new exhibition arrives in the city, and they
not
be connected.”
    “Perhaps,” said the Ghost. “So that’s what you wanted to tell me?”
    “No,” said Donovan. “I wanted you to see if you could find out what the symbols mean. You have… connections. We’ve already sent copies to the museum, but I was thinking there might be some significance the historians are likely to miss, if you see what I mean?”
    The Ghost nodded. “I’ll do what I can do.”
    “There’s another thing,” said Donovan. “In her handbag she was carrying this.” He took a small black card from his pocket. “It’s a business card for a jazz club we believe to be connected to the Reaper, Café Deluxe.”
    “A mob girl?” said the Ghost. That would be a turn-up.
    Donovan shrugged. “We’re looking into it. But someone had spent a lot of money buying her diamonds. She was still wearing them when we found her.”
    “The killer didn’t take them?”
    “Interesting, isn’t it? That’s what made me think there was something more to the symbols, some religious or occult significance.”
    “Or the mark of a rival gang,” said the Ghost, “striking back at the Reaper. He’s made a lot of enemies.”
    “That too,” said Donovan. He dropped the butt of his cigarette and ground it beneath his heel.
    “And Ginny,” said the Ghost. “Did you manage to get a look at the passenger manifest?”
    “Not exactly,” said Donovan, “but the Second Mate was very helpful on the holotube. He did a little digging around and called me back. She was definitely on the ship, Gabriel. Cabin thirty-five. You must have missed her somehow.”
    “You’re sure?” said the Ghost. “It couldn’t be a