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Quote for the week:
"Mystery spread its cloak across the sky.
We lost our way.
Shadows fell from trees.
They knew why."
~From "House of Four Doors" by the Moody Blues
In mystery stories, sometimes both villains and protagonists need to go on the run. Villains need to escape the police and protagonists need to escape the villains. Occasionally a protagonist might be falsely accused, and the authorities track them as if they are the villain.
Unless your character has lots of ready cash at their disposal, surviving on the run will be difficult. Debit and credit card usage can be tracked easily. Serial killer Ted Bundy survived on the run by stealing cash and credit cards and using the cards until they were reported stolen. He often obtained cash and cards by stealing women's purses, because women often leave them in a shopping cart while looking at items. Ironically, he said he was never challenged by store clerks when he used a card with a traditionally female name.
Internet and 24 hour news cycles mean that photos of a wanted individual can be circulated worldwide in a short time. Convicted killer Kyle Bell escaped when he was being transported to a more secure prison and was on the run for several months. He was finally caught when an employee of the apartment complex where he had been living under an assumed name recognized his photo on "America's Most Wanted."
A person who is on the run will probably not be able to evade notice or capture for long without help. Individuals in witness protection will be given a new identity complete with new names, ID, and passport. It isn't easy maintaining a new identity, especially if it requires breaking contact with friends or family.
Something to try: Write a mystery story that involves someone who is on the run.
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Mystery: February 05, 2025 Issue [#12967]
