Read In the Light of Madness for Free Online

evidence that he’s done anything wrong, sir. And besides, Darren fits the profile of a runaway.” Lennox’s voice sounded composed as he spoke.
Wednesday fidgeted in her chair which caught Hunter’s attention.
“Did you have something to add?” he asked her.
“Only that Reverend Olong seems to be keen on setting up a club for the local youths. And he apparently had a special interest in Tom.”
Hunter’s brow furrowed. “You’re not pointing down the route of child abuse and the clergy are you?”
“Not particularly, especially with no signs of sexual assault. I was just highlighting facts. Also, there may be a case of domestic violence at the Wright’s, but I need to see whether previous reports have been logged.” Wednesday sat back in her chair and began tapping her hand on her knee.
“So the only thing linking these two boys together is some semblance of friendship, the same school, and an interest in joining a rambling group. That’s not much to go on.”
The room fell silent until Hunter slapped his palm on the table and announced he wanted them to dig deeper at the school. The detectives rose and left Hunter as he began to make a phone call. Lennox followed Wednesday to her cluttered office, which he found visually uncomfortable.
“Are you always that nervous in front of Hunter?” he asked.
Wednesday brushed back strands of hair that had worked their way loose from the bun. “I didn’t know that I was.”
“Oh come on; blushing, red neck, foot tapping. Need I go on?”
“That won’t be necessary thanks. I’ll phone the school and let them know we’re coming.” She picked up the receiver and dialled, ignoring Lennox and hoping he would leave the room. As he reached the door, he turned.
“He’s married, but not happily according to rumours.” He grinned and ducked as she threw a pencil at him.
After speaking to the belligerent school secretary, Wednesday wondered whether she was going to like working alongside Lennox. “Only time will tell,” she muttered to herself as she grabbed a chocolate bar from her desk drawer and went off in search of him.
“He’s having a cigarette break in the courtyard,” Simmons said as she saw Wednesday scanning the room. With a nod of acknowledgement, she descended the stairs and exited through the rear door that led onto a very uninspiring courtyard, enclosed by the brick walls of the station. A few scattered pots filled with last year’s dead summer plants were no cause for celebration, and a tiny over-head piece of plastic sheeting protruding from the wall provided minimum shelter.
She retrieved a cigarette from the packet, lit it, and then sauntered towards Lennox who was perched on the only bench. He was gazing up at the thick cloud that had formed a mantle above his head.
“You’ve calmed down I see,” he said, looking at her with an unmistakeable twinkle in his hazel eyes.
“Just because I’m single, doesn’t mean I fancy every man I come into contact with,” she snapped—more than she intended to—before inhaling deeply on the cigarette.
Lennox made a humming sound and flicked some ash onto the ground. “So no light banter between us then?”
“You don’t do light banter. You like to embarrass a colleague you hardly know. We’re also on a case that’s depressing and going nowhere.”
Lennox sucked in air through his teeth but remained mute, which piqued Wednesday more.
“Anyway, I don’t think you’d like it if I assumed that just because you’re divorced means you see every woman as a potential date.”
“Actually, I wouldn’t mind that. And potentially they are, don’t you think?”
Wednesday got up sharply and stubbed her cigarette out into the wall mounted ashtray. “We should be going. I’m driving.”
She did not see Lennox smiling behind her as she marched to the car park.
“Nice car. Very you,” he said as he climbed into the passenger seat of her cream VW Beetle convertible.
“Thanks, I think,” she replied,