Coming together...

A Simple Misdemeanor is the new working title for this next book. A story of how a small incident escalates to the point of murder and destruction. I've been going over an outline I wrote, back in December, and making notes. Adding details. All in red pen.

I've also worked up a basic idea of how the convenience store is set up, where things get started. A rough sketch but it's just for my visualization, since it plays an important part in the story.

Of course, I'm getting into something I know very little about--the true legal processes involved in escalating a simple misdemeanor into a full-scale legal war. Simon doesn't need to know much about it, but Brian does...well enough to manipulate the law to benefit himself.

I guess I can write it out using what little knowledge I have...from watching LA Law and Law and Order...not to mention Perry Mason, once upon a time. Then go over it with an attorney who handles defense, in court.

There's also the issue of the judge and what standards he or she has to have. What is considered misconduct in criminal court? I know they're usually handled by the issuance of a citation instead of a full-scale arrest...

But the cop needs to actually arrest Simon, making this a bigger deal. Could his claim Simon exposed himself within 600 feet of a school be sufficient cause? Even though it's around midnight?

Oh, man...I have a lot of research to do. See what I can get away with and what I can't.