Free In the Light of Madness by In The Light Of Madness

it?” Lennox said as he arrived next to her.
“It appears that way at the moment, but it’s early days. The bodies, and lack of, seem to be mounting rapidly.”
“Have you finished seeing the body in situ? ” an officer asked.
“Most definitely,” replied Lennox, rubbing his hand over the bristles on his head.
Wednesday turned her attention to Alex Green who was scrutinizing the ground.
“We’ve got some partial footprints in this mossy earth, but so far no evidence of tyre tracks. The victim either walked here or she was carried,” he said, preparing to take a plaster cast of the various partial footprints.
A reflective and intense atmosphere shrouded the macabre scene, as two officers brought the dead girl down and placed her in a body bag. It began drizzling, so the team moved fast to preserve the scene as much as possible by bagging and tagging findings. The body bag was placed in the black van and driven away, leaving the shadow of a ghost hanging from the tree.
“Door to door enquiries are being organised; and I suppose this means another visit to that bloody school,” Lennox said, rubbing his hands together to fight the cold.
Wednesday called the station to advise them that they were heading to Markham Hall. With a sinking feeling, she knew it was going to be another long day trying to piece together the story unfolding before them.
As Lennox pulled up outside the school, they were aware of a frisson of excitement coursing through the students who were hanging around the entrance. Their identity was no longer a secret so the students knew something else was going on.
The receptionist looked resigned and picked up the receiver as they approached.
“This really is bad timing, Detectives. I have a meeting in fifteen minutes,” said Cleveland, looking rather unkempt.
“We apologise, sir, but this is important.”
“Isn’t it always,” he mumbled as he led them to his office.
His desk was littered with papers, and peeking out from under a file was an electric shaver. Cleveland caught them looking at it.
“I got up a bit late this morning,” he said, shoving the shaver into his top drawer.
“Another one of your students has been found dead this morning. Her name is Claudia Edwards,” said Lennox.
Cleveland visibly shook and dropped into his leather chair, his sweaty palms gripping the arms.
“Now sir, we have two dead students and one missing, all from your school. There seems to be a disturbing pattern immerging, which all leads back to here. Do you have anything to say?”
He sat muted by his state of confusion and shock, his eyes focused on his hands. After a few minutes he replied. “This is a most unfortunate string of events. Any teenagers living locally will naturally attend this establishment. So it’s no coincidence, it’s just fact.”
He pushed himself upright in his chair, suddenly pumped up by defiance. “I can assure you that there is nothing sinister going on at this school.”
“Where were you last night?” asked Wednesday, undeterred.
“Me? I was at home all evening,” he replied as his gaze drifted towards the window.
“Can anyone corroborate that?”
“No, I live alone. You can’t possibly think I have anything to do with all this?”
“We have to keep an open mind. Nothing is ruled out during an investigation.”
Cleveland ran his hand over his bristly chin, making a rasping noise.
Lennox spoke again. “Was Claudia in the same form as Tom and Darren?”
Cleveland checked his computer and nodded.
“So that would be Mr Pollock,” said Wednesday, checking her notebook.
“I suppose you’ll want to see him now?”
“That would be useful. It will also give you time to shave before your meeting,” replied Lennox with an ill-hidden smirk on his face.
Walking out of the office, Wednesday dug her elbow into Lennox’s ribs. “No need to antagonize him. I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be spending quite a bit of time here.”
“Well, I don’t think he’s as innocent