SERIES: CRIME FILE INVESTIGATIONS

. Intro & Preamble Note: ‘Body of Evidence’ – includes cast and personnel list/glossary of terms

A series of crime scenes that will require the reader to apply their forensic skills in solving the mysteries.

Burton read the print-out from the gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer and nodded. The two samples he had submitted to the machine for analysis were from the steering wheel and driver’s seat of Charlotte Haney’s car. What was left it, anyway. A 250-foot fall into a ravine full of boulders tends to do more than scuff the bumper.

As he expected, the samples were identical, with high amounts of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Burton made his way back to the interview room and entered to find Detective Frank Gibson questioning Ted Haney, Charlotte’s husband and the only witness to the accident. Gibson was a bully and had a reputation for getting confessions before the crime lab could even sweep the scene. He claimed it saved him paperwork. Burton didn’t particularly like his methods, but he saw their usefulness in some situations. Burton had a bit of a reputation himself; something to do with not liking bullies and lazy detectives.

“I already told you,” Ted spluttered. “She got into the car to get the camera, and it started rolling. She was leaning in through the door of the backseat, so she couldn’t tell the car was moving, and – ”

“At what point did you start to push the car?” Detective Gibson interrupted. “Or did you just knock her unconscious and take your time rolling it over the cliff?”

“Hold on there, Detective,” Burton said. “Mr Haney is a witness, not a suspect. If he becomes a suspect, we have to bring in the really bright light and crank the thermostat up to 110 degrees. You know that. Look at him, he’s already sweating.”

“What’s your problem, Burton? Did you run out of pink outline chalk or something?” Gibson said with a sneer.

“Don’t worry,” Burton said as he sat down. “I finished your hopscotch squares first.”

Before Gibson could think of a retort, Burton handed Haney a paper towel, then took it back when the man had finished wiping his face and hands. He leaned back and put it in the rubbish bin, but not in the rubbish bag. Instead, he placed it in an evidence bag he had taped to the inside rim before Haney had entered the room. He closed the evidence bag, and handed them to Gibson.

“Here, Frank. You always talk about how you want to clean up this town. Start with this room.” Gibson looked as though he’d rather put the bag over Burton’s head, but he snatched it away and slammed the door.

“Mr Haney, you said that you and your wife spent the morning and early afternoon at the beach, then stopped on the way home to take some pictures from the lookout. Charlotte drove the entire time?”

“That’s right,” Haney said. His reddish face indicated to Burton that Haney wasn’t too concerned about getting sunburned. He recounted the entire story, obviously shaken by the event and needing to talk it through.

As he listened, Burton peered into his file at the accident photographs, careful to keep them out of Haney’s view. Charlotte’s body, also tanned and sunburned, was damaged beyond recognition. However, with Ted at the scene as the accident occurred, no body identification was necessary. After 15 minutes, Gibson returned and stood behind Haney. He had a print-out in his hand, the results of the crime lab analysis of the paper towels. Gibson gave Burton a slight shake of his head. There was no zinc oxide or titanium dioxide on the paper towel Haney used.

Burton closed the file folder. “OK, Mr Haney, I just have one more question. Where is Charlotte now, and why does she want us to think she’s dead?”

How did Burton know?