{"id":3718,"date":"2016-10-14T00:08:42","date_gmt":"2016-10-14T04:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.167.168.176\/~phillips\/kerriansnotebook\/kerriansnotebook\/?p=3718"},"modified":"2025-02-26T20:27:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T01:27:47","slug":"kn-p-154-murder-at-the-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/2016\/10\/kn-p-154-murder-at-the-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"KN, p. 154  &#8220;Murder at the Conference&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Kerriansnotebook_FINAL-copy.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2339\" src=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Kerriansnotebook_FINAL-copy-171x300.jpg\" alt=\"Kerriansnotebook_FINAL copy\" width=\"171\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Kerriansnotebook_FINAL-copy-171x300.jpg 171w, https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Kerriansnotebook_FINAL-copy.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 171px) 100vw, 171px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><em>Kerrian\u2019s Notebook<\/em> has been around for a couple of years and because it\u2019s mostly about law enforcement and crime, Sheila and I got invited to a mystery writers\u2019 convention. We had no idea what to expect, but we were promised a good time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Lots of professionals go to conferences every year. Even cops. Why do we go?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">1) to catch up on the latest investigative gadgets available.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">2) to debate the pros and cons of emerging trends that need addressing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">3) to network.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">In between the sessions, we rub elbows with colleagues we haven\u2019t seen for a while, meet new people who have done interesting things in their departments, and share our most outrageous cases with a few pals at the bar.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">We knew the mystery writers wouldn\u2019t be dull and boring, but what could they possibly talk about for four whole days?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/SinC-logo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3720\" src=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/SinC-logo.jpg\" alt=\"SinC logo\" width=\"107\" height=\"107\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Murder, that\u2019s what. The who, what, where, why, and how of murder(s) on the printed page.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">A few of the writers found out that I was a cop and bought us drinks and dinners \u2013 ok lots of drinks \u2013 while we chatted about crime, the problems with the CSI Effect, and the smartest criminals we had ever met. Best of all were the brainstorming sessions. They proposed scenarios for future books and I either shot them down because of the realities of available manpower and equipment or told them about similar cases where their ideas copied actual situations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Just for fun, think of the possibilities at the conference itself. Soooo many chances to do someone in. Consider\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><strong>Scenario 1:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Your roommate snores like a buzz saw on steroids, so you are driven to:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Suffocate\/strangle her in the hotel room and then distract the cops from you and your sleep deprived motive by stealing her cell phone, laptop, and wallet. You have been in the bar talking with colleagues at the general time of death in order to establish your alibi. You get sloshed enough to establish that you didn\u2019t notice the non-breathing when you returned to the room. You \u2018discover\u2019 that she is dead in the morning when she doesn\u2019t get up for breakfast. The hotel switches rooms for you while the investigation continues and you can finally get some sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">If for some reason, you can\u2019t dispose of the electronics right away, at least turn them off and check out the hallway swap table for a temporary stashing spot. Doesn\u2019t that black table skirt just beg to be used as a hiding place?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/BlackTableclothIMG_4475.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3722\" src=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/BlackTableclothIMG_4475-300x176.jpg\" alt=\"BlackTableclothIMG_4475\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/BlackTableclothIMG_4475-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/BlackTableclothIMG_4475-1024x600.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><strong>Scenario 2:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Your agent schedules a meeting to tell you that the royalty checks are delayed again, the publisher may not renew, but you can\u2019t write for anyone else for a year AND everyone else except you will still get a piece of your hard earned pie. Since you have a binding contract with the agent for another five years, you go bonkers and:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Inject a poison into her neck in the elevator or put poison in her drinks at lunch. Neither scenario requires disposal of the body because you just walk away from the scene. Premeditation might come into play if you\u2019re caught, since you probably have to bring the poison with you to the conference. Disposal of the syringe or eyedropper requires stealth, and a public garbage can.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/WBeerWineIMG_4513_2-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3729\" src=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/WBeerWineIMG_4513_2-2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"WBeerWineIMG_4513_2-2\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/WBeerWineIMG_4513_2-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pattiphillipsbooks.com\/kerriansnotebook\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/WBeerWineIMG_4513_2-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Note the colors of the liquids and the types. All are opaque. The glass reflects the images nearby, making it even harder to see what\u2019s really inside. If the intended target sticks to water or white wine, you\u2019ll need to use a different method.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Left to right: Extra stout, Cabernet Sauvignon, alcoholic mocha cappuccino, draught beer. All have strong flavors; the better to hide the poison. Brand names missing to avoid being sued.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\"><strong>Scenario 3:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">The Keystone family reunion is being held in the same hotel as the mystery conference. Uncle Harry has cut his children out of the will. The kids see that the banquet for the writers is next door to the family banquet room. They enlist the help of a hungry writer for a hefty fee. The writer sets up the how and where, the kids do the deed and the writer finally has a paycheck in his pocket without having to share a dime.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Gotta say, writers\u2019 conferences are a blast. \ud83d\ude09<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;\">Photos 1, 3 &amp; 4 taken by Patti Phillips.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"border-radius: 2px; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; font: bold 11px\/20px 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #ffffff; background: #bd081c no-repeat scroll 3px 50% \/ 14px 14px; position: absolute; opacity: 1; z-index: 8675309; display: none; cursor: pointer;\">Save<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Murder most deadly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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