collapsed.” Hicks began hitting a few keys on the computer’s keyboard, and suddenly the screen transformed from black and white text to a colourful three-dimensional illustration. “This is the skeletal system. Look inside this bone. See how it works?”
Karl studied the screen, the open bone and the traffic of colours mixing with coded lineage references.
“What exactly am I looking
at
, Tom?”
Hicks sighed impatiently. “Bones are composed of tissue that may take one of two forms. Compact or dense bone; and spongy or cancellous bone. Most bones contain both types. Compact bone is dense, hard, and forms the protective exterior portion of all bones. Spongy bone is inside the compact bone and is very porous. Spongy bone occurs in most bones. The bone tissue is composed of several types of bone cells embedded in a web of inorganic salts, mostly calcium and phosphorus, to give the bone strength, and collagenous fibres and ground substanceto give the bone flexibility.”
“And …?”
“It takes time for bone build-up. Nature is very patient, knowing calcium can only accommodate precise weight-values through longevity. However, the bones of the young girl were fooled into believing they were strong enough to withstand this sudden impact of alien matter suddenly thrust upon them. What should have taken years was accomplished in days, possibly weeks.”
“She was thin, then suddenly became fat?”
“That’s not very PC, and it’s certainly not how
I
would phrase it, but yes.”
“How is that possible?”
“I don’t exactly know. I’ve sent some of the bone and skin tissues to Queen’s. Professor Ashley Kelly at the science lab is looking at them as we speak. Hopefully, she’ll have an answer soon.”
“If that is how she died, why the horrendous blow to the head?”
“Possibly a hate-induced frenzy. The killer wasn’t satisfied with simply murdering the victim, he wanted –
or needed
– mutilation as well, probably thinking that if –”
Hicks suddenly stopped speaking, tilting his head slightly.
“What? What is it?” asked Karl.
“The lift. Someone’s coming down. I think you’d better leave now, in case it’s Wilson’s new man looking for a report on the young girl.”
“You think I’m frightened of Wilson?”
“You? No! Not
you
. Everyone knows how tough you are.”
“No need to be so sarcastic.”
“In case it’s slipped your mind, I’ve got to work here.”
“Will you keep me informed of any developments concerning the body in Black Mountain?”
“Yes! But go –
now
. Use the back entrance.”
The lift door opened just as Karl walked by. A fresh-faced young man stepped from the lift, staring.
Karl stared back.
“How’s it going?” asked the young man, smiling.
Karl glanced at the anxious face of Hicks before answering.
“Not too bad. Haven’t seen you about before. You must be new, Detective …?” said Karl, extending his hand.
“How did you know I was a detective?”
“I didn’t, but I do now,” smiled Karl.
“Detective Chambers. Malcolm Chambers.” The young detective’s smile broadened as he shook Karl’s hand. “Only been on the job for a week, but already I feel like a veteran. I’m working for Detective Inspector Mark Wilson. Do you know him?”
Karl nodded. “I’ve heard of him. A bit of a legend, apparently. They say he’s one of the best detectives in town.”
“You got that right,” beamed Chambers. “You part of the pathologist team?”
“Not really. I’m from … the private sector.”
“I didn’t catch your name?”
“I didn’t throw it,” replied Karl. “No doubt I’ll be bumping into you in the future, Detective Chambers. Take care.”
Outside, Karl was about to climb into his car when a voice asked, “Still driving that old piece of shit, Kane? Thought I recognised it.”
Karl turned to see Edward Phillips, one of Wilson’s ex-detectives, walking towards him.
For a second, Karl thought about getting
Karl studied the screen, the open bone and the traffic of colours mixing with coded lineage references.
“What exactly am I looking
at
, Tom?”
Hicks sighed impatiently. “Bones are composed of tissue that may take one of two forms. Compact or dense bone; and spongy or cancellous bone. Most bones contain both types. Compact bone is dense, hard, and forms the protective exterior portion of all bones. Spongy bone is inside the compact bone and is very porous. Spongy bone occurs in most bones. The bone tissue is composed of several types of bone cells embedded in a web of inorganic salts, mostly calcium and phosphorus, to give the bone strength, and collagenous fibres and ground substanceto give the bone flexibility.”
“And …?”
“It takes time for bone build-up. Nature is very patient, knowing calcium can only accommodate precise weight-values through longevity. However, the bones of the young girl were fooled into believing they were strong enough to withstand this sudden impact of alien matter suddenly thrust upon them. What should have taken years was accomplished in days, possibly weeks.”
“She was thin, then suddenly became fat?”
“That’s not very PC, and it’s certainly not how
I
would phrase it, but yes.”
“How is that possible?”
“I don’t exactly know. I’ve sent some of the bone and skin tissues to Queen’s. Professor Ashley Kelly at the science lab is looking at them as we speak. Hopefully, she’ll have an answer soon.”
“If that is how she died, why the horrendous blow to the head?”
“Possibly a hate-induced frenzy. The killer wasn’t satisfied with simply murdering the victim, he wanted –
or needed
– mutilation as well, probably thinking that if –”
Hicks suddenly stopped speaking, tilting his head slightly.
“What? What is it?” asked Karl.
“The lift. Someone’s coming down. I think you’d better leave now, in case it’s Wilson’s new man looking for a report on the young girl.”
“You think I’m frightened of Wilson?”
“You? No! Not
you
. Everyone knows how tough you are.”
“No need to be so sarcastic.”
“In case it’s slipped your mind, I’ve got to work here.”
“Will you keep me informed of any developments concerning the body in Black Mountain?”
“Yes! But go –
now
. Use the back entrance.”
The lift door opened just as Karl walked by. A fresh-faced young man stepped from the lift, staring.
Karl stared back.
“How’s it going?” asked the young man, smiling.
Karl glanced at the anxious face of Hicks before answering.
“Not too bad. Haven’t seen you about before. You must be new, Detective …?” said Karl, extending his hand.
“How did you know I was a detective?”
“I didn’t, but I do now,” smiled Karl.
“Detective Chambers. Malcolm Chambers.” The young detective’s smile broadened as he shook Karl’s hand. “Only been on the job for a week, but already I feel like a veteran. I’m working for Detective Inspector Mark Wilson. Do you know him?”
Karl nodded. “I’ve heard of him. A bit of a legend, apparently. They say he’s one of the best detectives in town.”
“You got that right,” beamed Chambers. “You part of the pathologist team?”
“Not really. I’m from … the private sector.”
“I didn’t catch your name?”
“I didn’t throw it,” replied Karl. “No doubt I’ll be bumping into you in the future, Detective Chambers. Take care.”
Outside, Karl was about to climb into his car when a voice asked, “Still driving that old piece of shit, Kane? Thought I recognised it.”
Karl turned to see Edward Phillips, one of Wilson’s ex-detectives, walking towards him.
For a second, Karl thought about getting
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