In the Light of Madness by In The Light Of Madness Page A

the church. They didn’t realise who it was they’d seen until this morning. We’re off there now.”
His exhilaration was palpable, and Wednesday wished she was going with him instead of into the burrows of death with Lennox.
“I always think the labs are aptly located in the bowels of the building, don’t you?” she asked Lennox as they descended.
“Never given it a second thought.”
They found Edmond and Alex deep in conversation whilst periodically looking down a microscope.
“I wondered when we’d be seeing you again. Come and look at this, Wednesday.” Alex beckoned her to look down the microscope.
“I’m not quite sure what I’m looking at.”
“You’re looking at green and blue fibres, but not just any fibres,” interjected an animated Charlie. “We have now identified them as being manufactured in a Scottish wool mill. It’s expensive and fairly exclusive.” His face glowed with pride.
“So all we need to do now is search every car in the local vicinity for the matching blanket, do we?” Lennox’s voice was flat with a tinge of exasperation.
“I don’t tell you how to go about your job, Detective. Mine is to find the manner of death and the tools of the nasty trade; yours is to find the perpetrator.”
Edmond rolled his eyes. “This is team work, gentlemen. Perhaps I should give you my recent findings. No damage was found on the larynx which isn’t surprising, as the thyroid cartilage is pliable, not brittle in the young.”
Edmond put on the latex gloves and opened the mouth to display more findings.
“It’s obvious the poor lad took a while to die, as there are characteristic marks of congestion and petechiae on the face and on the inside of the mouth. There’s also an imprint of his teeth on the inside of his lips.”
He closed the mouth and drew back the green sheet to expose the boy’s chest area.
“We noted these marks earlier when they were only faint. However, now I can tell you that they look like signs of over-zealous CPR; someone tried to resuscitate him.”
A hush fell over the room as each person assimilated the words.
“Perhaps this was an accident?” said Wednesday.
“Possibly,” replied Edmond. “But quite frankly, until you find the perpetrator, you won’t know for sure.”
“Any updates on the girl, Claudia Edwards?”
“Hair has been sent off for analysis, but fair hair holds less drug elements than dark hair, so don’t hold your breath.”
Wednesday and Lennox thanked them before returning upstairs and heading off to the Dolby’s.

Chapter Ten
 
James Dolby let them in and led them to the lounge, where the wood burning stove was already lit. It provided a welcoming hue, in contrast to the chilled aura surrounding the bereaved couple. No drinks were offered although none would have been accepted.
Emily Dolby sat in the fireside armchair like a lifeless ragdoll with dead button eyes; she barely acknowledged their presence. James looked at her coldly.
The detectives sat on the over-stuffed sofa whilst Wednesday explained the recent forensic findings. Emily Dolby visibly shuddered on hearing how her son died.
“Will his body be released soon?” asked James.
“All the forensic tests need to be completed before going to the corona, so I’m sorry, I can’t give you an exact time,” replied Wednesday as she deliberately turned towards Emily. “Will you be attending the church service tomorrow, Mrs Dolby?”
“My wife wants to, but I don’t,” interjected James rather briskly.
Wednesday continued looking at Emily. “Do you feel it will help you emotionally?”
Emily nodded, although her mouth remained grimly shut.
“I can’t see how,” James said. “How she can still believe in God after this. No God I know would allow this to happen, it’s abhorrent.”
He stood up swiftly and stormed out of the room. The next thing they heard was the kettle being switched on. Wednesday surreptitiously moved her eyes in the direction of the kitchen, so Lennox