MURDER KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES - Part 2

Continued from yesterday, in Part 1...

Frustration builds and egos get in the way, causing tempers to flare as Sheriff Pickens and his small band of deputies must deal with the death of one of their own, his killer and catching a serial killer.

            I knew very little about weapons except those I used in the military decades ago, so I had to do research. Google was helpful, but it wasn’t enough. I visited the local sporting goods store and spoke with the manager of the weapons section. He taught me about the different classes of pistols, rifles, and assault weapons. I needed to know which weapons didn’t leave behind shells. He was accommodating, and I learned a lot, but I’m still not a gun enthusiast.

            I also needed to research the effects of getting shot, witnessing a death, and the impact of losing a partner or member of a team. Google was helpful, but I also talked to a couple of law enforcement officers about it and got some insight. They also helped with call signs.

The research was helpful, but when it came to emotions, I was on my own. I delved into my past and remembered what it felt like when a bullet hit the ground three feet from me and what it was like waking up in a hospital room with needles in your hands attached to a monitor. And that feeling when you realize you’re not invincible and rendered to the sidelines.

But one of the most challenging scenes I had to write for Sheriff Pickens, was when he had to address the pregnant wife of his deputy in the hospital. That I had no experience in doing, nor did I have the knowledge or any place to research dealing with the wife when her husband dies, and she goes into labor. The best I could do was watch crime shows to see how scriptwriters did it and read many mystery novels to see how other authors did it. It wasn’t easy, and it was emotional for me.

Writing fictional mysteries is something I enjoy doing. Murder Knows No Boundaries has challenged me to continue the series, and I am now working on the next JD Pickens mystery. It will delve even deeper into the characters’ egos, fears, and emotions.

 George Encizo is an award-winning author and has written seven novels. Murder Knows No Boundaries is his latest. Encizo is a retired banker and lives in Tallahassee, Florida. When not writing, he enjoys a cup of coffee on the back porch with his wife surveying their gardens.