Gumshoe Ned here. 👞
This week I wandered into the crime lab again. Is it me, or is it hard to make friends? Thought I was dropping in to chat with Bob about a possible trip across the state to Daytona. We both want to tour the Daytona International Speedway. Our hearts get to racing nearly every day in this job, why not watch other things race for a change?
Instead I got an unsolicited TED Talk on shattered glass. Funny how shattered glass comes up this week.
There’s a rumor going around. And by street, I mean the voice in my head that types these Notes. Tremor in the Hills is coming out soon.
I’m not in that one. I’ve got mixed feelings. There’s murder, earthquakes, and a girl who can’t stay away from danger. Brave. Reckless. Not me.
Shattered glass plays a part in that story too.
You should read it when it comes out. 👀 The author needs the validation.
And coffee! ☕️
🧪 Bob and the Case of the Shattered Glass Headlight
Apparently, someone found broken headlight glass in the parking lot behind The Florida Aquarium. The Aquarium. Where the case of the Pairs profiles took place.Nothing to do with poor Susan’s murder. But Bob got all excited. Said they collected the headlamp bits and the reflector lenses.
He told me that fragments can be individualized to a specific source.
I asked him if the glass could’ve come from that mystery vial I definitely didn’t drop last week. He stared at me for a long time.
“Different type of glass,” he said.
I knew that. I was hinting. It was taking way too long to clear my name from the case up in Chicago.
You know the one? No? Well… get reading!
💡 Lights Out, Mystery On
“Did you know?” Bob asked. He held tweezers way too close to my face. “You can tell if a car’s headlights were on before a crash?”
I did not know that. Turns out, the filament inside a bulb can stretch when it’s hot. It can even melt if the lights were on during impact. If the filament is cold and broken, the lights were off. Science. Who knew. Did you? Comment below and let me know what you think.
I left Bob. He loves being a crime scene tech. The jury is still out on whether I love my job or not.
Funny thing… the jury will be in soon on Susan’s killer. We are waiting for you to tell us who that is.
As for that Daytona trip?
Guess I’ll bring it up another time.
Bob’s too busy racing to reconstruct the shattered headlight to notice anything else.
Ironic, really—Daytona’s all about speed and avoiding collisions.
Bob’s got the opposite problem here.
Leaving no shard unturned,
Ned
🔍 Crime Scene Tech Tip: Glass fragments from headlights and reflector lenses can sometimes be matched to a specific vehicle. And don’t overlook the tiny bulb filament—its condition may tell you whether headlights were on or off before impact.
p.s. For those who got the reference… you’re welcome:
🎵 I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash
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