Some of you will have noticed that the last blog post, Last Chapter of Flame is unfinished or maybe it’s one of those writers artifices where they make you complete the story yourself by leaving it hanging.

It’s actually unfinished, I think, because I needed to do some more research about the actual legalities of what I’m thinking of doing here.  The reason for my caution is that I have two lawyers in my family and they will happily tell me if I get it wrong.

I need to be able to get James off with no conviction but still leave the police thinking they have the right person in the role of arsonist.  If they think that James is totally innocent then they will have to keep looking and re-open the case.  Flame needs them to keep it firmly shut but she knows that James is innocent and can easily prove that in court be proving to be the arsonist herself.

She isn’t likely to do that unless James is found guilty and about to go to gaol.  However, if she can manage to cast just enough doubt in the mind of the Judge and jury for an acquittal by showing that the police haven’t proved their case that may just do it.  It’s a very fine line she is now walking, just enough to get him off, not enough to convince the police they have the wrong person.

As you can probably see, the legal aspects of this need to be very certain as it pertains to South Australian law or any reader with a legal background will be rolling on the floor laughing.  What fun, I’m looking forward to writing the last bit of the chapter, I just need to get it right.

Is there anyone who is writing their own version of this story?  Would you like me to put this in the Books section so you can have a go at writing sections for all of us to see?  Remember, this is about getting to the finished work, not starting there.  You’ll need to write something and put it up so we can help you get it better, if it needs it.