NaNo Prep 2024

All new "What If's" - all together Page One

"What If's Together Old and New

1. What if...


Assignment # 1 Plot: What If ▼

Plot - What Ifs


1. Who is(are) the main character(s)?

1. Protagonist # 1: (In Montana) Lisa Hinkley (In San Francisco) Kelly Bass
2. Protagonist # 2: Michael Banks - Grandson of Cecilia Banks (owner of Seagate)
3. Antagonist # 1: Jaden Teasdale - husband
4. Antagonist # 2: Charlie T. Private Investigator Jaden’s sister

Open story with a scene on a cliff, beach, and weather flowing into a characteristic moment…
Or…before the investigator gets there
Or…father’s murder
Or…with the hiring of the caregiver
Or…robbery
Lisa and are attending a church social, lisa is talking and laughing with a group of friends. Jaden notices a young man in the group and gets jealous. He goes over and grabs Lisa by the waist squeezing a recent knife wound going from her left hip and curling upward to her right breast. Holding a smile, she quenches with pain.

1. An investigator is investigating the death of a successful vinter.

Expected:
Unexpected:

2. The wife of the investigator is killed while visiting her friend, the daughter of the vinter.(?)
Expected:
Unexpected:

2a. The daughter-in-law, the son’s wife, was killed in the boat accident

Expected:
Unexpected:

3. The investigator isn’t married.

Expected:
Unexpected:

4. Bootlegging liquor and jewels is illegal. It peaked during the prohibition but is still done today, especially diamonds. Sex tracking, money laundering, and drugs still take place.

Expected:
Unexpected:

5. November 2019 (6 years ago) The Dresden Vault, located in Dresden, Germany, on the first and second floors of the Dresden Castle.

Expected:
Unexpected:

6. Four men broke into the vault and stole a forty-one-carat diamond valued at 7 million dollars and several jewels.

Expected:
Unexpected:

7. Most of the jewels were recovered however the Dresden (Charelle) was never seen again.

Expected:
Unexpected:

8. The Dresden or Green Vault is known as one of the richest treasure chambers in the world.

Expected:
Unexpected:

9. Of the 4 men, one was arrested, police gunned down one, and 2 escaped.

Expected:
Unexpected:

10. The two escaped robbers agreed to split up and lay low for a while and reunite at a later time, fence the diamond, and split the money in two years.

Expected:
Unexpected:

11. One robber gets greedy, contacts the other, and begins to argue about fencing the diamond and splitting the money.

Expected:
Unexpected:

12 The other refuses and relocates and hides the diamond in Seagate.

Expected:
Unexpected:

13. Before the robber could disclose the diamond’s whereabouts and his plans to sell it to Agard
Bataille, his trafficking contact in France to his wife, he is murdered, the house is broken into and the grandmother is attacked. She suffers a broken right hip, a broken right arm, and a bruised face. She insists on recovering at home and hires a housekeeper/caregiver, but after dislocating her hip from falling asleep in her wheelchair and falling out of it, she is sent to live with the granddaughter in San Jose. 1 hour drive south of Ocean Beach (Sarti’s Reef).

Expected:
Unexpected:

13a. Great-grandmother knew of the robbery.

14. The detective’s wife gets a phone call from her friend regarding the death of her father (another sister) and wants her to come to the funeral. (?)

15. The detective doesn't like the family, they seem weird to him, and doesn’t trust the grandson and the grandson doesn’t trust the detective. Why?

16. Detective co-worker and friend of PI Charlie T she gets info from him

17. Charlie T, the girlfriend of the greedy robber - knows about the diamond but wants the diamond for herself.

18. (Background of Seagate located on Khiloi Point north-northwest of SF)The great-grandfather, Marcus Banks, worked as an American Sea Dog (seafarer) for Stephenson Clarke Shipping Limited in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. He was known as Cooks. He was the ship’s cook. Growing up without a mother, his aunt taught him how to cook and he could make a feast out of anything. — (1900)At age 25 he was up all night playing poker in the Port of Sydney, Australia, and threw all his money together for his last hand and won Seagate on Khiloi Point. Came home, moved in, and set up in1901. (Great-grandfather did not do robbery - Michael’s father did in 2019) The house included 20 head of thoroughbred Mustangs, a wine vineyard and the winery, The Château de Talon Russo.


19. Only two people knew of the diamond’s first hidden location, The Old Well behind the stables.
If used, The Old Well will be the site of another murder after the murder of grandfather.

20. What if the great-grandfather pulled the robbery, and the house had been broken into twice before over the last 100 years.(?)

21. Locals claim the house is cursed because of the 2 murders.

22. Curse resurfaces after granny’s attack.

23. The owner of Seagate (great-grandfather, grandfather) had removed and placed it in a secret Blue Vault under the floor in the wine room on the second floor of Seagate.

24. What if granny knew nothing of The Blue Vault.

25. Serge Battaili has offered 10 million for the Diamond - owner agrees and they agree to exchange both the diamond and a load of girls on the next scheduled docking off Baitaille’s ship at Seagate’s hidden Sarti’s cove.

26. Charlie T. Gets an anonymous tip of Baitaille’s ship and docking date.

27. The Seagate owner (great-grandfather or grandfather presumed killed in a boating accident - before the diamond can leave the country - the body is never found.

28. The son’s wife was killed with him - her body found - she heard from her friend, Charlie T, about the diamond and wanted a cut to keep her mouth shut.

29 the grandmother still lives in Seagate and knows about the diamond but does not know of its location.

30. Grandson agrees to return to Seagate (2024- he left 2022 after charges dropped- had alibi- went to Paris, France ) from Paris, France where he got a job working for Airline France - and house-sit for his grandmother while she recovers at his sister’s house. He is a fiction crime writer.

31. Grandson comes in contact with Agard Baitaille while in Paris and an upscale restaurant.
32. Charlie T begins dogging grandson in Paris. She believes he is guilty, knows where the diamond is, and plans to complete its sale to Agard.

33. What if: Girl is a Special Agent and works for the FBI in the BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit).(?) Due to the nature of the past murders and the current information, she is sent undercover, to assist the investigator unknown to him. She was sent in 2022 to investigate the father’s murder - came up with a dead end and is now being sent back to investigate rumors of the diamond resurfacing through an anonymous tip.

33a What if: Girl is whining about not wanting to go. Whining about not having a boyfriend, not having a vacation in over a year and wanting a child. - Boss orders her to go.

33b. Girl sent undercover as a housekeeper, set up in Khiloi Village (Ocean Beach), opens a self-defense class held in her small apartment on the beach 2 days per week to find out who she trust and who likes to talk and stay in shape - she is still fighting demons of her own. , and spends three days full time looking after granny, cooking and cleaning which puts her there 7 days a week. She also takes a night job at The Trouble Pit Bar and Grill on Khiloi Beach. All this to try and gain information.

34. The 2022 murder of the father and his daughter-in-law is what sparks the diamond rumors and attracts the FBI.

35. Father, grandfather, and Great-grandfather have a history in bootlegging, Girls, liquor, french champagne, jewels, and primarily diamonds.

36. Before her 2024 attack, the grandmother advertised for a housekeeper/cook/secretary. The FBI picks up the ad and the girl is hired.

37. The girl establishes herself during the grandson’s absence.

38. First Meet - The girl has been well-briefed about the grandson from the grandmother, however, neither one of them knows when he will be arriving. Grandson kept mum on his arrival to not alert the town of his plans. They meet by accident at the local coffee and donut shop_______. Grandson clumsily bumps into her, spilling her Cream of Pumpkin Spice coffee all down the front of her, soaking her black Hell’s Angels T-shirt and black jeans. She complains about being late for work because she has to change. Grandson does not know who she is, laughs and tells her not to worry about it in a place like Khiloi - it all laid back and offers to buy her another coffee. Angrily she storms off and goes to work figuring she change later since Granny is gone. Make note of slight attraction

39. Granny has to leave before he gets there and she notifies grandson so he goes to his sister’s house to visit her there before going on to Seagate.

40 in past break-ins the basement and the attic were ransacked but the diamond was never found. In the old well until after the 1st break-in. Then moved to The Blue Vault.

41. The girl is also a fiction crime writer who uses real-life scenarios for her books. She is also working on one about a woman who kills her ex-boyfriend to escape an abusive life. She changes her looks, name, and profession and relocates—her own story?

42. The villain is Charlie T’s brother - the ex-boyfriend of the girl who she thought she killed - 2 years earlier - the other greedy robber. He got into trouble and spent one year in jail and just got out.

43. Girl and ex-boyfriend got into a fight over dinner not being ready because she was late getting home from work. He hits her with his fist, and she whirls around, hitting against the kitchen counter. She grabs a butcher knife from the knife holder, whirls back around, and stabs him in the shoulder. He falls, and she thinks he is dead. She runs next door to her friend Mable and she cuts her hair and dyes it. Makes herself look pregnant and Mable helps her with some money and she gets on the bus to San Francisco. Ends up in Khiloi Village.

44. Ex-boyfriend seeking revenge on the girl and the diamond.

45. The Sheriff or his close detective is injured, missing, or killed and blame points to the grandson or the girl.

46. The girl gets shot but does not die.

47, the girl coaxes her best friend Martin Goldston to join her in researching the rumors of the diamond and Seagate. Margo Bernstein, a member of her self-defense class told her. The girl knew Martin bar-tending at Pica-Pau’s Bar. She would go there to be alone and she knew that her ex-boyfriend would never look for her there. Never in a gay bar. She knew she would pay for it when she got home and always did. She became good friends with (he) Martin, and the owners, Dannie and Sherie. Besides owning the bar, she was into fashion design and Sherie was into cooking and owned a small restaurant. (Both are he’s) Martin was a whiz at sewing, cooking, and hair.

48. The girl tells Martin over the phone what she had heard from Mable and she begins getting strange packages and letters. A knife is one of the packages. A dead rat, and a black rose.

49. The girl discovers Sarti’s Cove. The bootlegging of diamonds, liquor, money, drugs, and girls are all connected to Charlie T and her brother.

5o. Grandfather - father murdered because he was going to cut Charlie T and her brother out.

51. The girl gets captured and lined to be sold and shipped to France.

52. The deputy gets too close to Sarti’s Cove and gets killed. Body was taken and dumped so that it would wash up on Khiloi Beach. (both deputy and the girl caught, Charlie T has the deputy killed and the girl to be sold into prostitution. The deputy has to be killed before the girl is caught.

53. The girl and the grandson are both searched and questioned about the murder of the deputy by Charlie T and the sheriff.

54. The girl uses her self-defense to get away.

55, Martin comes up with a way to help the girl get free. Maybe uses his sexual appeal.

56. Grandfather - Arthur had a brother- both brothers took up where Marcus left off and kept the winery successful and popular. The older locals had nothing but respect and admiration for the Banks.

57. Arthur had a son and a daughter,

58. What if Kelly was a gangster’s wife of the Montana mafia???

59. What if both families are after the diamond?

60. What if the family found out Kelly and they are after her for trying to kill hubby and learned about the diamond?

What if’s for investigator

1. Son's old school friend. They attended the same high school and were best friends on the football team.

What if:

1. Lisa/Kelly is an Investigative Reporter and a successful author with a book published Murder Come Sundown, and working on her second book and a children's story.
2. Lisa/Kelly is late getting home from work and stops and buys some KFC, Jayden's favorite.
3. Jayden attacks her and she stabs him.
4. Kelly/Lisa runs to her close friends, Sheryl-Ray, Danny and Martin at the Pica-Paus Gay Club.
5. She has known Martin ever since she was 7 and he was 9. He lived next door to her Aunt Jessica.
6. He came out of the closet when she was 15 and he was 17.
7. Sheryl-Ray, Dannie, and Martin grab her from outside in the rain, soaked, and bring her inside and change her into dry clothes.
8. Lisa/Kelly is still in shock and can't speak, the 3 notice her bloody clothes.
8a. Kelly finally mutters..."I...I...Kill...I killed him."
9.Sheryl-Ray tells Danny to go to the house and check it out.
10. Danny leaves and checks out the house
11. Here, describe the eeriness of the dark house - weather has turned to storm- lighting etc. Dannie finds no body, just blood.
12. Dannie goes back and reports this.
13. Martin says he is either in the morgue or the hospital.
14.The diamond is found in the blue room, by Kelly.
15. Charlie T knows Kelly has the diamond.
16. Kelly is a successful author working on her second novel. First is Murder Come Sundown." She is a crime fiction writer who likes to use real-life scenarios
for inspiration.
17. She is an abused wife, who has been in an abusive relationship for the past 3 years.
18. She is afraid to leave because she knows that he will track her down and kill her.
19. Her husband, Jayden (age 32) is a Deputy of Lockwood Montana. He spent 10 years in the Army, the last 8 he was a Delta Operator in the Delta Force Unit. He was last deployed to Syria in October of 2019. He enlisted at the age of 17 with his father's blessing. He was honorably discharged in 2021.
20. Kelly is an investigative reporter for the Billings Gazette. She met Jayden while investigating a local murder case in 2022 and married in 2023.
21. Sheryl-Ray tells Dannie and Martin to take her mustang up to Sacrifice cliff and run it off into the rocks below and The Yellowstone River."
22. Sheryl-Ray contacts Jacko, one of the members of "the Club," and explains the situation. Jacko asks for 3 days and he'll have SS#, DL, ID, Birth Certificate.
23. No license is required for Investigative Reporters. Be prepared for background checks.
24. Jacko checks obituaries and finds a detective that was killed 15 years ago - Kelly Bass.
25. Lisa/Kelly assumes the identity of the dead detective, Kelly Bass. With the help of Sheryl-Ray, Martin, and Danny. Friends of Sheryl-Ray supply her with an ss card, Dl, birth certificate, and ID to support her new identity. Martin calls a friend and gets a moonbump and they dress her up as a 6 month pregnant woman.
26. Danny and Martin drive Lisa's Mustang up to the Rimrocks and run it off the cliff above the Yellowstone River, crashing it into the rocks below. figuring it will take a couple of days for the authorities to figure out there isn't a body to be found or assume it was carried down the river.
27. Martin, Shery-Ray, and Dannie figure they are going to have to hide her for about 1-2 wks.
28. They buy her a one-way ticket to Half Moon Bay, CA.
29. No news ever surfaced about about Jayden.
1f. Charlie T. found him and the family nursed, vowing to take care of family matters themselves.


More What-ifs - Plot -


What If -

Jayden is stalking Kelly, he finally shows himself along with Charlie T.

2. Jayden is the youngest of the four robbers of the Charelle Diamond. He escaped along with Sinclair. He met Sinclair in prison back in Lockwood, Mt. Sinclair was arrested for theft. -Sinclair's arrest needs more development.

3. The diamond is found in the blue room, by Kelly.
4. Charlie T knows Kelly has the diamond.

What ifs - Kelly
What ifs - Michael
What ifs - Jayden -4th robber in diamond
What ifs Charlie
Does Charlie have hidden motives?
How does Michael know Charlie
How does Serge come in - who met who

Kelly

What if:

1. Kelly is a successful author working on her second novel. First is Murder Come Sundown." She is a crime fiction writer who likes to use real-life scenarios
for inspiration.

2. She is an abused wife, who has been in an abusive relationship for the past 3 years.
3. She is afraid to leave because she knows that he will track her down and kill her.

4. Her husband, Jayden (age 32) is a Deputy of Lockwood Montana. He spent 10 years in the Army, the last 8 he was a Delta Operator in the Delta Force Unit. He was last deployed to Syria in October of 2019. He enlisted at the age of 17 with his father's blessing. He was honorably discharged in 2021.

5. Kelly is an Investigative Reporter for the Billings Gazette. She met Jayden while investigating a local murder case in 2022 and married in 2023.