Forensic Science In The Failing Wind

Forensic Science in Hillerman’s The Wailing Wind
The Wailing Wind is a novel written by Tony Hillerman. The story begins with Officer Bernadette finding Thomas Doherty deceased in his truck. While at the crime scene, she collects seeds from the victim and around the vehicle, unaware she is contaminating a murder scene. When it is discovered that Doherty was murdered the FBI takes over the case and Officer Bernadette gives the tobacco can and seeds to her boss, Jim Chee, since they are evidence. Chee asks an old friend, Officer Leaphorn for help returning the can. Leaphorn becomes re-interested in an old case involving a man named Denton who shot and killed a man named McKay. The murder occurred after McKay brought Denton the location of an

Leaphorn takes the challenge of finding her. Meanwhile upset that she mishandled the crime scene, Bernadette uses the seeds she collected to find the location of the murder. While there, she is shot at. Bernadette researches the land and learns that Denton has the option to buy it. As this is going on Leaphorn looks for Mrs. Denton and finds out that the story of self defense does not match the evidence collected. He follows McKay’s steps to a bunker at Fort Wingate, and after searching the car McKay was driving finds a strand of blond hair. Reports of a screaming woman were heard in that area on the day McKay was murdered. Angry that Denton lied to him, Leaphorn tells him he will no longer search for his wife. Denton convinces Leaphorn to meet with him only to kidnap him. Denton intended to kill Leaphorn, but the retired officer convinces him to investigate the abandoned bunker. There they find the body of his wife, who had been kidnapped my McKay as leverage. Denton had not believed his threat and had killed McKay before he could tell him where his wife was held. Officer Chee and Bernadette find out that Denton is behind the Doherty murder. He was trying to keep Doherty from telling that the land he wanted to buy was rich in gold. Knowing this and where Leaphorn was