Wait a minute! Hold up! Time out! Flag on the field! Foul! Freeze!
I just figured out how to save my novel, now I have a new save-this-issue-or-lose-the-novel problem! *screams*
(Edit: never mind; I think I have a way to fix this without it seeming too odd or not plausible. But I think my question is still one that would benefit from an answer.)
How likely would it be that if a murder happened in a hospital, and the story got put in the newspaper the next morning, that the clue left behind (a necklace) would be put into the newspaper. How likely would it be that they would add a picture of it?
I need that picture.
Would the cops tend to keep their clues under wraps until they investigate for weeks, or would they post pictures, in hopes that someone might recognize it and tell them about the killer. (Bassically, there are no other clues besides the necklace. It's all they've got, and no one knows where to start looking with it.)
Bottom line: if the cops had a clue (belonging of some sort, jewelry, anything) and they had no lead for it or for the crime, would they post a picture of it in the papers / news / something?
I'll appreciate any and all answers. Thanks! : )
*~*Laura*~*
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Writers are dreamers with good grammar skills.
Psalm 55:22a "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you."
Right now I'm mostly worried about surviving November! (It's my first year!)
23,200 / 50,000
Mär 20, 2008 - 07 19
The newspaper probably would not mention it simply because if the body of the female was in the bed everyone, including the cops would think the necklace belonged to the victim. You would have to have someone see the necklace, perhaps lift it up and exclaim: Who owns this? or something to that effect. If a newspaper reporter was present at the time, he/she may snap a picture of the necklace and ask questions later, the cop who hears the exclamation may ask a few questions and during all this the necklace will become a clue, the newspaper repporter will include it in his/her article, and you'll have a picture of it if you ask the reporter for a copy or he/she puts it in the newspaper.
If you want your PI or other MC to be investigating this murder, he/she can always obtain a copy of the pic from the reporter by promising him/her the rest of the story.
I really didn't come up with this on my own because I can't think of a new way of doing it. However, these suggestions are usually what I read in most of the crime/suspense/PI novels I've read so far.
Lucille
23,200 / 50,000
Mär 20, 2008 - 07 25
I forgot to answer this:
As for the cops keeping the clue from the public to investigate further--
It would depend upon whether a reporter was present when it was found, when it was decided the necklace was a clue, or if a source told it to the reporter.
Otherwise, I've seen instances in other novels where the cops tried to keep the clue hidden in order to decrease number of false confessions or tips. I've seen just as many instances where the cops took pictures and not only showed them to witnesses they interrogated, but also had them printed in the newspapers and shown on tv.
This would have to depend up what your intent is, where you want the story to go. I suggest play out different scenarios, something I'm sure you've done many times before, and decide which road you want to take with it.
Lucille
67,584 / 50,000
Mär 22, 2008 - 11 10
Thank you! This helps a lot. : )
*~*Laura*~*