Case #2: The
Whenever Lucille needed a glass of
“Fallen” Scientist
Doctor Madori, the “Biochemist of the
Century” (according to Time Magazine)
often spent fourteen hour days at the lab.
In just two weeks, Madori’s prized
discovery would be revealed to the AMA:
an aspirin-size capsule that would virtually
eradicate Diabetes. In its current
composition, the drug was highly
hallucinogenic, needing a few minor
tweaks to the chemical makeup. The
Doctor had put Lucille LaBoux, winner of
this year’s “Young Scientist” internship, in
charge of the task.
Just like all “Young Scientists” before her,
Lucille lived in the run-down cottage just
behind the Madoris’ home. There was no
running water to the cottage, but at least it
was rent-free. After all, interns received
minimal compensation.
At first, living in such close quarters with
her boss made Lucille very nervous. She
became an unwilling witness to Doctor
Madori’s dysfunctional marriage to Chris,
a local elementary school Librarian. In
Lucille’s opinion, this marriage was based
more on dependency than love.
Shortly after Lucille’s arrival, the Madoris’
marriage began to fall apart. Lucille’s
carefree, flirtatious personality invaded
their home, turning it into a circus side
show.
water, or wanted to take a bath, she’d
glide from the cottage through the house,
wearing a scanty piece of lingerie. Madori
was certain that Lucille was not the
innocent young woman she pretended to
be at the lab.
A few weeks later, Lucille began dating a
mechanic named Rupert. Rupert was very
taken with the striking woman, and
tolerated her incessant criticisms of the
Madoris’ marriage, which bordered on
obsession. Lucille often said that Doctor
Madori was going to make a lot of money
from some Diabetes cure. She lamented
how Chris and the Doctor didn’t belong
together.
One evening, Rupert went into the kitchen
to get Lucille her nightly tea. As he placed
the last tea bag in the cup, and was
pouring hot water from the kettle, he
glanced outside the kitchen window. Chris
was trimming roses in the back yard,
although it was well after nightfall. Rupert
noticed Lucille at her cottage window,
watching Chris’ every move. Finally fed
up, he returned to the cottage and placed
the tea on the desk. He told Lucille to drop
dead, and stormed out.
The next morning, when Doctor Madori
did lab rounds, a technician noted that six
of the Diabetes capsules were missing.
Madori went searching for Lucille to see if
she had noticed anyone suspicious in the
building last night. But Lucille could not be
found. The Doctor telephoned Chris,
demanding to know of Lucille’s
whereabouts.
“How should I know?” Chris retorted.
“Maybe she’s at the beach.”
Madori tried again, “Seriously, Chris, I’m
worried. Just check the cottage.”
“Fine, but I’ve got a library lesson to teach
in thirty minutes. I can’t be late.” Chris
hung up. Madori waited a minute for the
return call. When it didn’t come, the
Doctor hopped into the car, and sped
home.
When Madori pulled up to the house, an
ambulance blocked the driveway. Madori
ran to Chris who was being questioned by
a police officer. Lucille’s broken body lay
heaped on the cement walkway.
“It appears as if Miss LaBoux jumped from
the roof of the cottage,” the officer
explained. “There are no bruises. No
signs of coercion.”
“They’ve taken Rupert in for questioning.
He was the last one to see her yesterday,”
Chris added, wiping away a tear that was
welling up.
“It’s possible,” said Doctor Madori
thoughtfully, “that Lucille might have been
experimenting with drugs. Some capsules
with hallucinogenic properties were
missing from the lab. Lucille was there
last night.”
“We did a search of the cottage and the
house for any drugs she may have been
using,” said the Officer, “And we found a
broken capsule at the bottom of some
women’s vitamins.” The officer walked up
to examine the corpse and inquired,
“When did you last see Miss LaBoux?”
“Last night.” Madori answered. “Lucille
and I were working late when the guard
called to say that Rupert was waiting to
take Lucille home. Lucille was irritated by
his dropping in unexpectedly. I left at that
point.”
“Did Rupert enter the lab?” Inquired the
officer.
“Well, yes, I saw him head in as I was
leaving. But Officer, theft has never been
an issue at the lab. Lots of people have
been inside. Chris has, and so have all
the Significant Others of every lab
technician in the entire company!”
“Rupert was a jerk,” spouted Chris angrily.
“It hurts me to say this, but the girl was
always looking for trouble –and she got it.”
“The pathologist should be here soon, and
we’ll have the lab results by one,” said the
Officer. “Don’t worry, we’ll get to the
bottom of this!”

Can you solve the mystery?

Who is responsible for Lucille LaBoux’s

demise?

 Doctor Madori
 Miss LaBoux
 Rupert

How did she die?

What was the motive?