Creative Writing: The Perfect Murder

The Perfect Murder

The wind was strong, but in the sheltered clearing, all that could be felt was a slight breeze. The green leaves rustled, the birds sang, and the bees buzzed around, collecting pollen from the lilacs. It was the perfect place for Shannon to enjoy the warm sun and plot out her next murder.

Feelings of hatred and deceit ran deep some days. Getting her vengeance was the only way she could go on. Setting the plan in motion was the easy part; getting the details correct, however, took more thought and time.

There was the research to be done, which had to be carefully executed, so as not to raise suspicion. The supplies would need to be purchased (so she could get a feel for how well they would work), and the timing had to be

She needed the weapon, the location, and, most of all, a solid alibi.

There would be questions, investigations, fingerprints, photos of the crime scene, evidence collected, DNA testing, and more questions. There would be several visits to the police station, a polygraph, lawyers, and no stone would go unturned.

What would work best: a gun, rope, an explosion? Perhaps she could make it look like an accident, but would anyone fall for that? And she didn’t want innocent bystanders to be hurt in the process. No matter what she chose, it had to work. There would not be a second chance; no do-over. It was a one-time shot, and it had to be perfect.

The repercussions of failure would be far worse than the crime. People remember details, and if she were to get any of them wrong, then she would lose it all. She had to get every aspect right. Each possible scenario would have to be examined carefully, just to be sure nothing could go wrong. All of the variables had to be considered, including what would happen if a left turn were made instead of a

Taking a bottle of water from her cooler, she drank half without setting the bottle down. She realized over two hours had passed since she started plotting.

As she reviewed her notes, she saw holes in the plan. They would have to be fixed before she got in any deeper. The details were sketchy in some areas, which had to be rectified. She needed to know distance, speed, and weather conditions. A rainy night would be riskier than a clear night, as tire tracks and footprints showed up much better in mud than on a dry surface. Plus, the rain would make the chance of a clear shot more difficult. That was, provided the weapon of choice was going to be a gun.

So many decisions to make, but they would all be worth it in the end. She was, after all, planning the perfect crime. If it went according to plan, there would be nothing to tie her to the murder, and she could go on living her life. No one would put two and two together, because there was no way she could ever be the mastermind behind it all. Those who knew her would insist she was incapable of such horrors. She alone would plot and execute, without anyone knowing her true