Detective Story

1. Choose a time period and locale: My story would take place in upstate New York in the Catskill Mountains in a little town called Phoenicia, about 30 miles from Kingston. It was May of 1999. The story would take place in a beautifully serene campsite called Sleepy Hollow (a little creepy, I know). With the campsite located right on the water's bank, you could hear the flow of the creek day and night. You can see the deer and rabbits if you woke up early enough in the morning. Sometimes you could even make out bear prints on the dumpsters when you went to through out your trash. At night, it would get so dark that you could barely make out your hand in front of your face. Anywhere you wanted to go besides the campsite, you would have to take route 110 to get there. If you looked left, there would be mountains, if you looked right, there would be mountains. If you looked up, you would be faced with a beautiful blue sky with fluffy white clouds. At night, the sky would look like a never ending ocean of stars. The camping season was just beginning so only a few other people were near. At night you could see the embers in long off fireplaces burning out in the distance. It was one o'clock, late for the campers in upstate NY. Seems relaxing, and it is, until a short getaway turns into a murder case.

2. Develop a detective: Susan King is a 24 year old high school teacher. She has long, brown hair, honey brown eyes, and a slim figure. She may appear fragile to the eye, but underneath she was strong, smart, and could think on her feet. Barely two years out of college and teaching in New York City, Susan had been coming to Sleepy Hollow Campsite since she was three years old. Even to this day, she was often in awe of the quiet and silence that her campsite provided her. Her boyfriend of five years was left at home working a weekend shift so this left Susan alone on her three day weekend. Being a high school teacher, and a well liked one at that, she had a knack for figuring out teenagers. Besides, it hadn't been too long since she was a teen herself. Being an English teacher, she accepted nothing without questioning and analyzing. Being born and raised in Queens, she could handle herself in tense situations. Plainly put, she doesn't take any ones shit. Never really resorting to using force or her fists, it has always been her specialty to use her knowledge and words to solve problems. This weekend was for her to feel stress free and relaxed, but when the opportunity to help out comes along, Susan cannot resist.

3. Outline the crime: The beginning of my story would start with Susan strolling along alone with her thoughts. Susan was taking her familiar route through the campsite. Every night just after dusk she had walked the same walk since she could remember, whether alone or accompanied by a family member or friend who joined her for the weekends. The full moon provided more light than Susan would see on a normal nights stroll. The sudden gust of wind made the bushes rustle as she shivered and zipped up her jacket. The trail was still damp from the rain the morning before and Susan found herself stepping in muddy tracks that were almost five times the size of her feet. She was getting cold and dirty so she decided to head back to the trailer. That's when she heard the rustling of bushes again, except this time is wasn't from the wind. Her heart pounded as she hoped she hadn't come across a bear. She stood very still. She started to slowly back up and at that moment a glistening reflected off the moon from inside the bushes caught her eye. In a split second, a shape ran out of the bushes in the other direction. Susan was confused and startled and decided to return to her trailer until the morning when she would investigate with the help of the sun.
This would be the start of the crime story. The plot would continue to reveal that the local high school (well, local as in the only one around for 20 miles) was planning to have their homecoming parade tomorrow. Susan was familiar with homecoming, but not so much with parades. You can't really shut down NYC streets considering more than the same 30 cars drove through them during the day. The problem was that the truck used for providing the King and Queens float was missing, but more importantly, so was the 18 year old Queen of the Senior class.

4. Include some clues: The first clue would become apparent when Susan went back to the trail the next day. She noticed the tire tracks followed into a small break in the woods. The tracks led to a huge red pickup truck, obviously the truck that was supposed to be used for the float. Susan would pickup the local news paper on her 15 minute drive into town to inquire about the truck that she saw. She didn't have to look far for her answers, being that the homecoming story was the only note worthy news in the paper. As soon as Susan saw that the girl was missing too, she felt the need to help. She couldn't imagine if one of her own students went missing. By dusk, Susan was at the school just in time for the football game. Something caught her eye as she walked up to the field, the same glistening that she had seen the night before on her walk. The image flashed back into her mind. She saw it was coming from a backpack near the players bench. When she asked a player on the bench who the backpack belonged to, he said it was Matthew Roberts', the quarterback. Susan's knowledge from reading the article would let her remember that this boy was the Homecoming King, and how appropriately, the missing girls boyfriend. The gleam was the reflectors that look like they had been bent and broken off of something...something like a truck. Next to the reflector was a high school ring with the name "Mary" engraved on it, coincidentally, the name of the missing girl.

5. Identify the MMO: The motive was that someone obviously wanted to get rid of the Homecoming Queen. It was also obvious that someone didn't want the parade to happen, so they stole the truck. The method was supposed to be a simple kidnapping and stealing of the truck to be used for the float. The kidnapping took place after school by someone Mary knew, otherwise students would have noticed a struggle. The truck was stolen at the same time and by someone who had access to the school garage. Many students would have the opportunity to kidnap Mary but not many would have access to the garage so this would narrow down the list. This list was the Homecoming Committee: Matthew, the Principal, the art teacher and one of his students, and two other girls from the Senior class, Ashley and Sarah.

6. Identify the alibis of the suspects: The alibis for all of the suspects would be solid. Matthew was at football practice 2 days ago after school at promptly 3 pm, the last time Mary was seen. The coach confirmed it. Matthew had the ring because he wore it on his pinkie and would take it off for games, other players confirmed this as well. As for the reflectors, Matthew swore he knew nothing about them. He was the prime suspect and Susan could read this teen like a book. She saw his innocence. The principal was in a meeting, confirmed by several other teachers. The art teacher and his student helper were in the art room with other students working on decorations for the float. This was verified by other students. Ashley and Sarah were both at Ashley's house which Ashley's mother confirmed.

7. Provide a climax: Susan went back to her trailer feeling upset and like she wished she could do more. She had taken her own notes during the interviews with the suspects because the sheriff wouldn't let her look at his own. It was a surprise that she was even allowed to sit in on the interviews, that would never happen in the city. She sat in her trailer and looked at her notes over and over. The suspects names, their activities, their hangout, their addresses ...addresses! Susan realized that Ashley's address was the campsite! Ashley seemed a little distracted at her interrogation. Susan realized that Ashley's last name was the same as the owner of the campsite. Susan would then go to the house and overhear Ashley and Sarah panicking about what to do with the body. Quickly Susan would call the sheriff and he would come to investigate the truck right away. Poor Mary's body would be found in the trunk.

8. Write your denouement: Ashley would breakdown in tears in front of the sheriff. She would explain the story form beginning to end, and Susan could tell it was all the truth. Ashley was the most popular girl in school until Mary came along. Ashley felt that she was supposed to win the spot of Homecoming Queen. She was filled with jealousy and hatred. She and Sarah had invited Mary over after school and had said they got permission to take the truck home to decorate. Mary accepted the invitation and halfway to the house they pulled over. Ashley said she only meant to scare Mary into giving up her spot as queen to Ashley by throwing her in the trunk, but when Sarah opened the trunk, Mary wasn't breathing. Ashley and Sarah were scared and knew they made a terrible mistake so they hid the truck and quickly went inside the house as if they had just got home from school.

9. Summarize with a short conclusion: Ashley and Sarah were put on trial in the tiny courthouse with the whole town present outside (only ten people could fit inside the courthouse). Susan had returned to Phoenicia the following weekend for their trial. The girls were charged with homicide but not sentenced with jail time until the next trial the following year. They truly were sorry and would face their guilt for the rest of their lives and until the next trial suffer through their terrible mistake for a ridiculous reason. The town was devastated and needless to say, they never had a Homecoming King and Queen again. Susan King gratefully returned home to the city, never happier to be greeted by her boyfriend. She went back to her own class and decided to cancel that years Homecoming dance for a beach party. The End.