Forensics Squad Unleashed Read Free

used to solve a crime.”
    Lloyd whistles.
    “Tabitha has memorized the Junior Encyclopedia of Forensic Science ,” Mason says. “She asked for it for her birthday when she was in fifth grade.”
    “Actually, it was fourth grade,” I say.
    Lloyd leans in closer to us. “One of the things we want to do this week is dispel some of the myths that surround forensic science. I’ll bet most of you have watched TV shows like CSI and Criminal Minds .”
    “Nico and I watched all seven seasons of Criminal Minds ,” Muriel says. “Twice.”
    “I really wish they hadn’t canceled CSI: Miami ,” Mason adds.
    I don’t say anything. Even the music on crime shows upsets my mom, so I never get to watch that stuff.
    “The problem with most of those shows,” Lloyd says, “is that they don’t portray forensic science very accurately. Can you think of any examples of what I’m talking about?”
    Lloyd looks around, but none of us can answer his question. “Well, on TV ,” Lloyd says, “forensic scientists behave like detectives—meaning they actually solve crimes. In real life, forensic scientists stick to science. They transmit their findings to detectives who try to solve the case.”
    “Another difference,” Samantha adds, “is that on TV , you often see one forensic scientist analyzing everything: documents, fingerprints, bones, teeth, blood splatter.” Nathaniel looks up at the mention of blood splatter. “In reality,” Samantha continues, “there are many different branches of forensic science, and forensic scientists work together as a team. Just like you guys will be working together this week.”
    Samantha points to a chart on the wall behind her and reads off some of the branches of forensic science. Forensic anthropology studies the human skeleton; forensic biology focuses on bodily fluids and DNA ; forensic toxicology uses chemistry to identify substances; and fingerprint analysis looks at visible, invisible and three-dimensional prints and tries to identify whom they belong to. Forensic accounting analyzes data to assess if there has been financial fraud. I have to remember to tell my dad about that one.
    Samantha turns back to us. “We want to start by emphasizing that forensic scientists need to pay close attention to details. Sometimes things that seem unimportant turn out to be extremely important. On your way in just now, you passed a simulated crime scene.”
    I look at Mason and raise my eyebrows. See , I wish I could say, I was right. They set the whole thing up .
    I have a hunch we’re going to investigate that simulation.
    My hunch is confirmed when Lloyd says, “Before we can go down there, we’ve got to talk about what to do at a crime scene.”

THREE
    We each get to borrow a point-and-shoot camera. The cameras are for the university’s forensic-science students, so we need to be careful not to drop them or smudge the lenses.
    Stacey sighs. “Look at all this unnecessary packaging,” she says as we unpack the cameras from the boxes they are stored in.
    Samantha and Lloyd are going to give us a lesson in forensic photography so we can go back outside and document the crime scene.
    Muriel raises her hand. “Samantha, are we also supposed to take notes?” she asks. I can tell Muriel wants to be Samantha’s favorite.
    “Absolutely,” Samantha says. “Always have your notebook ready.”
    Muriel glows.
    Nathaniel slouches lower in his chair and sighs loudly. “I thought this was camp. Not school.”
    If Samantha thinks Nathaniel is being rude, she does not let it show. “Forensic scientists don’t go anywhere without their notebooks. Taking detailed notes at a crime scene is super important. Besides, this is just going to be a mini-lesson,” she tells Nathaniel. “And there’s no test at the end of the week…though you guys will be using forensic science to solve a case. If that’s okay with you, of course.” Even though Samantha’s face is serious, I know she’s teasing