Wednesday’s own chest feel tight. Her deep sigh did not go unnoticed by Lennox, but Edmond was in full throttle and was busy focusing on the evidence before him.
“There are other obvious signs that go with asphyxia. His face is swollen, and you may notice how his head, neck, lips, and fingers are visibly blue, due to cyanosis.”
Wednesday watched Edmond’s hands as they lay on the dead flesh, rather like a butcher’s hand ready to carve up a carcass.
“And if you look closely, you can observe tiny petechiae in the whites of his eyes, on the outer eye-lids, and around the lips.”
“Petechiae?” queried Lennox.
“Ruptured blood vessels due to applied pressure to the area.”
Edmond then moved Tom’s arm and lifted it up.
“Now, we thought the lad didn’t resist. However, we found fibres under his fingernails and inside his nasal passages. I’ve sent them to be analysed. In his struggle, his front teeth made an imprinted contusion on the inside of his lips.”
“This is all fascinating, Edmond. But are there any clues as to the identity of the assailant. You said sexual assault wasn’t the motive?” interrupted Lennox, as he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet.
“No signs. If there had been we may have retrieved some DNA to give us a lead.”
Edmond covered Tom’s body up again and signalled for the assistant to take him away.
Wednesday thanked him before they left the room. “Let’s go and see if Alex Green can offer us anything.”
They walked further down the corridor towards the room where forensic scientist Alex Green was hunched over a microscope. Wednesday tapped on the door and smiled as Alex looked towards them.
“I didn’t think it would take you long to be beating down the door.”
“Alex, I’d like to introduce Jacob Lennox, my new DS.”
Alex gave Lennox a guarded look before summarising his findings, which revolved mainly around the fibres and some fine splinters found on the back of Tom’s jumper and jeans.
“You’re looking for a wool blanket in a green and red colour-way, possibly a travel blanket. We’re putting it through the system to find the make.”
“And what about the splinters?”
“Again, we’re trying to identify the type of wood. However, it all takes time as you well know.”
“Unfortunately the DCI and press don’t agree. Not with a child murderer on the loose.”
Alex shrugged his shoulders and intimated he was going as fast as he could. “I’ll call you as soon as I have anything else.” He let his eyes linger on Wednesday as she left with Lennox.
“A bloody green and red travel blanket. Is that all we’ve got to go on?”
“It’s still early days, Lennox. Anyway, we’ve got to get the Wrights ready for their TV appeal, which means keeping the mother away from alcohol for a few hours. God help us.”
“What about an appeal from the Dolbys?”
“Too soon. The mother is medicated to the eyeballs. Their turn will come. Mr Dolby has written a statement for the press to be going on with,” she replied as they entered the Incident Room.
She approached DS Maria Jones who headed up the Incident Room, to inform her of the latest from forensics and that they were heading for the Wright’s home.
“Des Wright has been released, but he’s still a bit agitated, so be careful,” she warned.
“I’ll drive,” Wednesday said, grabbing her jacket.
“Okay, but can we forego the classical music.”
“Heathen,” she replied as she closed her office door.
They arrived to discover that Des Wright had already gone out. As Judith was the main parent they wanted to work with, Wednesday thought it made their life easier. She inhaled deeply on noticing Judith’s glassy eyes.
“Mrs Wright, the appeal is going out at six thirty tonight, have you had any thoughts about what you want to say?” Wednesday used her gentle coaxing voice to appeal to Judith’s softer side.
“I’ll tell the silly bugger to get his arse straight back home. He’s causing big
“There are other obvious signs that go with asphyxia. His face is swollen, and you may notice how his head, neck, lips, and fingers are visibly blue, due to cyanosis.”
Wednesday watched Edmond’s hands as they lay on the dead flesh, rather like a butcher’s hand ready to carve up a carcass.
“And if you look closely, you can observe tiny petechiae in the whites of his eyes, on the outer eye-lids, and around the lips.”
“Petechiae?” queried Lennox.
“Ruptured blood vessels due to applied pressure to the area.”
Edmond then moved Tom’s arm and lifted it up.
“Now, we thought the lad didn’t resist. However, we found fibres under his fingernails and inside his nasal passages. I’ve sent them to be analysed. In his struggle, his front teeth made an imprinted contusion on the inside of his lips.”
“This is all fascinating, Edmond. But are there any clues as to the identity of the assailant. You said sexual assault wasn’t the motive?” interrupted Lennox, as he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet.
“No signs. If there had been we may have retrieved some DNA to give us a lead.”
Edmond covered Tom’s body up again and signalled for the assistant to take him away.
Wednesday thanked him before they left the room. “Let’s go and see if Alex Green can offer us anything.”
They walked further down the corridor towards the room where forensic scientist Alex Green was hunched over a microscope. Wednesday tapped on the door and smiled as Alex looked towards them.
“I didn’t think it would take you long to be beating down the door.”
“Alex, I’d like to introduce Jacob Lennox, my new DS.”
Alex gave Lennox a guarded look before summarising his findings, which revolved mainly around the fibres and some fine splinters found on the back of Tom’s jumper and jeans.
“You’re looking for a wool blanket in a green and red colour-way, possibly a travel blanket. We’re putting it through the system to find the make.”
“And what about the splinters?”
“Again, we’re trying to identify the type of wood. However, it all takes time as you well know.”
“Unfortunately the DCI and press don’t agree. Not with a child murderer on the loose.”
Alex shrugged his shoulders and intimated he was going as fast as he could. “I’ll call you as soon as I have anything else.” He let his eyes linger on Wednesday as she left with Lennox.
“A bloody green and red travel blanket. Is that all we’ve got to go on?”
“It’s still early days, Lennox. Anyway, we’ve got to get the Wrights ready for their TV appeal, which means keeping the mother away from alcohol for a few hours. God help us.”
“What about an appeal from the Dolbys?”
“Too soon. The mother is medicated to the eyeballs. Their turn will come. Mr Dolby has written a statement for the press to be going on with,” she replied as they entered the Incident Room.
She approached DS Maria Jones who headed up the Incident Room, to inform her of the latest from forensics and that they were heading for the Wright’s home.
“Des Wright has been released, but he’s still a bit agitated, so be careful,” she warned.
“I’ll drive,” Wednesday said, grabbing her jacket.
“Okay, but can we forego the classical music.”
“Heathen,” she replied as she closed her office door.
They arrived to discover that Des Wright had already gone out. As Judith was the main parent they wanted to work with, Wednesday thought it made their life easier. She inhaled deeply on noticing Judith’s glassy eyes.
“Mrs Wright, the appeal is going out at six thirty tonight, have you had any thoughts about what you want to say?” Wednesday used her gentle coaxing voice to appeal to Judith’s softer side.
“I’ll tell the silly bugger to get his arse straight back home. He’s causing big
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