I haven't forgotten about Jane Doe's story just like I didn't quite forget that I was supposed to blog today. I'm just a little late. I'm not the best at writing synopses, but I'll give it a go. Actually this will probably look like something from my notebook. So, it's not going to be complete and it's not going to be in proper format.

First, let's find a working title. Speed-dating Serial Killer? Too long for my taste. To Catch a Killer? No. Jane Doe's Catch? Hmmm, maybe. The Detective's Killer Date? Still not working for me. (I know, I know. Find the title later, right? Well, there is something in my brain that refuses me access to the story until I come up with a decent working title.) A Date to Die For? Okay, so nothing is working for me so, I'm going for Jane Doe.

Jane Doe opens with Detective Jane Doe in a speed-dating scene, a world she never knew existed until four women, all with ties to a particular dating organization, disappear. The only real clue she has about her perp is that he likes women short in stature, straight brown hair and green eyes. Women just like her.

1-Her first date puts her on edge. The guy is a obvious creep. Is it enough to make him suspect? Second, date only wants to discuss the missing girls and she pretends cluelessness but keeps her ears open for incriminating words and keeping her eyes on the first date. Third date she relaxes a little as he's her partner. The fourth looks like her dream guy and has the manners of her dream guy, but her attention is drawn by a local newspaper reporter (cliche?)

At this point, even I have no idea which man will be her hero and which is the serial killer, but since I intend it being a romantic suspense it is something I'd like to find out before I begin writing, but more than likely I won't discover the identity of the hero until after the first scene is written. But since I don't know write now I can only write scene ideas for my heroine. As for the villain, who knows, but it'll be a character introduced in the first scene.

2-Briefing at department. Interaction with co-workers. A strange call on her cell-phone puts her on edge.

3-Followed home, frantic scene tries to lose the car. Makes it home removes her jacket, her revolver and badge, feeds the cat (dont' all female det. have a cat?) There's a knock on the door.

4-It's the reporter. (Still don't know if he's the hero or the villain) He asks her to the coffee shop on the corner. She's hesitant, but knows he might have useful information. Asks him to wait out in the hall as she grabs her stuff. They talk. Share coffee. He's about to tell her something imperative to the case when the glass breaks and he's shot. (cliche? maybe)

5-At hospital, lead detective and her partner grill her about her connection with the reporter. Reporter flesh wound but refuses to divulge information to her and the others. Threaten to arrest him for withholding evidence. A woman shows up to take the reporter home. She looks similar to the women who have disappeared. Her partner makes note of it and makes Jane wonder.

6-As she's returning home there is a cryptic, threatening message. She's sure the reporter couldn't have done this since he was with her the whole time. She's scared to be alone but won't admit it to herself and she goes to the station under the guise of looking over the case.

7-A body shows up, first missing female. Her partner says something that makes her not trust him.

8-She contacts the reporter and meets with him. At this point I'm beginning to believe the reporter is my hero. Still not sure who the villain is. He still won't tell her the information he'd been about to reveal but does mention the woman who picked him up is his sister. She tells him about the message. She receives another strange phone call.

9- Now, I'm quite positive reporter is hero. He offers to take her and his sister to a safe place, since she feels she's being stalked and a little scared she wants to take him up on his offer, but knows she needs to go back to the speed-dating.

10-another speed-dating scene much like the first. This time she has reason to suspect a different man and decides to further her acquaintance with him. They agree to a date the next night.

11-reporter is furious that she's taking a risk (I'm realizing that they have known each other in a working relationship for a few years so there is camaraderie and this case has made him care for her and her for him knowing that he's protective) They argue he tries to get her to agree she'll let him stand by, but before she can his sister calls. Jane tells him to go and not to worry about her she can take care of herself.

12-date is uneventful have her watchful sees scratches on his wrists, but not enough evidence to bring him in at the end her car won't start. She knows her partner is close by but doesn't want to risk blowing cover. Her date offers her a ride, she'll call a cab, but he insists and she sees the scratches again and knows her partner will follow.  (is she acting stupid? careless? Will she do whatever it takes to capture the guy now that a body has been found?) She receives an urgent call from the reporter and has her date drop her off at the coffee shop and gives him a good explanation.

13-She waits for the reporter, he shows up and slips her a thumb drive in the guise of holding her hand. They talk apologize and then his sister calls frantic. Jane offers to go with but he tells her to go home and trust no one. She watches his car as it peels away.

14-Jane walks next door to her apartment building and is confronted by her date. He looks crazed and grabs a hold of her wrist for ending their date for another guy. Confronts her on playing games etc she tries to pull from him but he drags her to his car. Undercover detectives pull up and rescue her, (was she wired, watched?) They arrest the man for attempting to kidnap her.

15-After filling out report she goes home removes her gear and feeds the cat, she's relieved that it's over. She plugs in the thumb drive and goes to make coffee. A knock at the door. and her phone rings at the same time She's expecting the reporter with news of his sister and opens the door without looking and answers the phone at the same time. Her partner's at the door, reporter is on the phone. He looks haggard like he's been in a fight. His eyes are red and irritated. (pepper spray?) At that moment she hears her partner's voice coming from her laptop she glances toward her computer and back to him, a sinister smile on his face. (You knew it'd be him all along, didn't you?) She drops the phone.

16.-He takes her to a remote place and chains her up with a few other women. he talks to her like he's working a case, like his mind is all there and how she should have known all along especially since he'd had a thing for her type (find good motive behind his mental break) He tells her how no one will find her or the other women, explains he didn't kill the first, how was he to have known she'd die on him. She'd just be another victim of the speed-dating.

17-Reporter calls police and tells them where they can find the women. Tells them he also has evidence that Jane's partner is the perp and he believes he has Jane. He races to the location, ends up helping rescue Jane (not sure how, though) tells her how his sister had been attacked and she was too scared to involve the police because she'd seen a badge and didn't know who to trust and how the perp had harassed her. Jane's partner is arrested and they all live happily ever after.

Now, all I need to do is flesh it out a bit, add in the romance, and since I'm an inspirational writer, the faith part. Since I'd most likely write this targeting Love Inspired Suspense and the lower side of their wordcount is 55,000, which is 3300 words give or take a chapter I could feasibly have a book completed in one month with NaNoWriMo. All I'd have to do is use my numbers as guidelines for scenes and/or chapters.

Next week will I'll give you some snack ideas and clues on how to reach your 50,000 wordcount.

Happy Tuesday,

Christina Renee