This is a spot behind a group of restaurants at Victoria Point, Queensland.
But it could be anywhere, like a spot we saw on a boat trip on a river in the Daintree, in far north Queensland
So, this could be a spot, not far inland from the ocean where smugglers, or drug runners come ashore, in a place so remote they would never get caught.
Unless an enterprising federal agent comes up with a plan to track them from the ocean side using satellite images, or reported sightings of suspicious activity.
My money is on a random sighting, a vague report files in a small town police station, and a body washed up in shore, apparently the victim of a crocodile attack. Or not a crocodile.
It cold be a fishing trip gone wrong in a backwater stream, a weekend away by a dialled group of friends, who are not really friends, which all comes to a head when one of the friends go missing.
Or, I’d you like the idea of historical drama, a story about the first expedition from the bottom of Australia to the very top, for the first time, with all the hazards of rivers to cross, paths to create though the bush, the heat, the animals, the local inhabitants who have yet to see Europeans.
To be honest, I would not want to be one of those early explorers, especially those who went inland and struck desert, or died just short of their goal.
Just as an aside, we did learn about these people, Hume and Hovell, Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson, Burke and Wills, and others.
It seems, after a lot of trial and error, trying this that and the other, I’ve discovered that you only get out of social media what you put into it.
And it means that unless you are on it 24 hours a day, every day, spruiking, or whatever it is we writers are supposed to do promoting ourselves and our work, nothing happens.
Don’t get me wrong, there are those who are raging successes, and I am happy for them.
But for us living on the fringe, and there is quite a lot of us, trying valiantly to reach the public eyes, the battle is just that, a battle.
When do you get time to write?
Is it a choice between writing, or trying to garner support and a following?
The authors who are published by the large publishers will tell you that it is the only way to become an author, where all of the marketing is done by the publisher and all they have to do is put in an appearance and pocket the royalties.
I don’t think that’s necessarily true.
But when I find that happy medium between marketing and writing, I’ll let you know.
Until then, I guess there will be more days like today, and that battle going on in your head that is telling you to give up, it’s never going to get any better.
Maybe not.
But give up? Not today, nor tomorrow.
After all, we live in a world where anything is possible.
Make a Plan, Don’t Just Wing It: Why a Structured Approach Beats “Flying By the Seat of Your Pants” (and What Edgar Allan Poe Can Teach Us)
…
Introduction – The “Wing‑It” Dilemma
We’ve all been there: a deadline looms, ideas swirl, and the temptation to wing it feels like the fastest route to a finished product. Sure, improvisation can spark creativity, and sometimes a spontaneous effort does work out. But more often than not, it leads to missed details, re‑work, and un‑met expectations.
What if there was a proven method that blends the freedom of creativity with the reliability of a roadmap?
Enter the timeless insight of Edgar Allan Poe—the master of suspense, not just in his macabre tales, but also in his essay The Philosophy of Composition. Poe argued that great art is the result of meticulous planning, not chaotic inspiration. In today’s fast‑paced world, his principle is a powerful antidote to the “wing‑it” habit.
In this post you’ll learn:
Why planning trumps wing‑ing it (backed by psychology and productivity research).
How Poe’s seven‑step composition model maps onto modern project planning.
A practical, SEO‑friendly framework you can apply to any personal or professional goal.
Ready to trade luck for a solid plan? Let’s dive in.
1. The Hidden Costs of “Wing‑It”
Aspect
Wing‑It
Planned Approach
Time Management
Reactive; inevitable overtime
Predictable milestones
Quality
Inconsistent; high error rate
Consistent standards
Stress
Peaks during crunch periods
Even workload distribution
Stakeholder Trust
Fluctuates; surprises abound
Builds confidence with transparency
Scalability
Hard to replicate
Easy to teach and repeat
1.1 Psychological Evidence
Decision‑fatigue: Impromptu choices drain mental bandwidth, leading to poorer outcomes (Baumeister & Tierney, 2011).
Cognitive Load Theory: When you juggle too many unstructured ideas, working memory overload occurs, causing mistakes (Sweller, 2016).
1.2 Business Reality Check
A 2023 Harvard Business Review study found that teams that used a structured planning template completed projects 28 % faster and delivered 33 % higher quality than those that relied on ad‑hoc decision‑making.
Bottom line: improvisation might feel thrilling, but data shows planning wins the day—again and again.
2. Poe’s “Philosophy of Composition” – A 19th‑Century Blueprint
In his 1846 essay, Poe famously revealed the seven‑step process he followed to craft “The Raven.” The steps weren’t about stifling inspiration; they were about ensuring effect—the emotional impact he wanted readers to feel—was guaranteed.
Poe’s Step
Key Question
Modern Parallel
Determine the Effect
What feeling must the reader experience?
Define the goal or desired outcome.
Choose the Tone
Which mood suits the effect?
Set the project tone (formal, playful, urgent).
Select the Length
How far must the effect be carried?
Determine scope and timeline.
Draft a Plot Outline
What events will lead to the climax?
Build a roadmap (milestones & deliverables).
Choose the Setting
Where does the story occur?
Identify resources & environment (tools, teams).
Decide on Characters
Who drives the narrative?
Assign roles & responsibilities.
Write the First Draft
Execute the plan.
Implementation (execution phase).
Takeaway: Poe’s “plan first, write later” method mirrors today’s strategic planning frameworks (SMART goals, Gantt charts, agile sprints). The difference? He did it to guarantee an emotional impact; we do it to guarantee success.
3. Translating Poe into a Modern Planning System
Below is a step‑by‑step, SEO‑friendly template that adapts Poe’s seven principles to any project—blog post, product launch, personal goal, or even a novel.
3.1 Step 1 – Define the Desired Effect (Goal)
Write a one‑sentence purpose statement. Example: “Increase organic traffic by 25 % in 90 days while boosting dwell time to 3 minutes per article.”
Embed target keywords (e.g., plan vs wing it, strategic planning, productivity tips) to align with SEO goals.
3.2 Step 2 – Choose the Tone (Project Voice)
Decide whether your deliverable will be authoritative, conversational, humorous, or educational.
Document the tone guide for writers, designers, and marketers.
3.3 Step 3 – Set the Length & Timeline (Scope)
Scope
Timeframe
KPIs
Blog series (3 posts)
4 weeks
Publish 3 posts, each > 1500 words, > 500 words of LSI keywords
Product feature rollout
6 months
2 beta releases, 5 % churn reduction
3.4 Step 4 – Outline the Plot (Roadmap)
Milestone
Deliverable
Owner
Due Date
Research & keyword audit
SEO brief
SEO Lead
Day 5
Content outline
H1‑H3 structure
Content Strategist
Day 10
First draft
Draft copy
Writer
Day 15
Review & edit
SEO + FE review
Editor
Day 20
Publish & promote
Live post + social blitz
Marketing
Day 25
3.5 Step 5 – Choose the Setting (Tools & Environment)
Collaboration: Google Docs + Slack channel #project‑plan‑X
Analytics: Google Analytics 4, Ahrefs, SEMrush
3.6 Step 6 – Assign the Characters (Roles)
Role
Responsibility
Key Skills
Project Manager
Timeline & risk
PM software (Asana)
SEO Specialist
Keyword research, on‑page
Ahrefs, LSI mapping
Writer
First draft, voice
Storytelling, research
Editor
Proofreading, SEO audit
Grammarly, Hemingway
Designer
Images, infographics
Canva, Adobe Suite
Promoter
Social & outreach
Hootsuite, email marketing
3.7 Step 7 – Execute (Write, Build, Launch)
Follow the roadmap, track progress daily, and adjust only if data (not impulse) calls for it.
Avoid “analysis paralysis.” The plan is a living document—make micro‑adjustments, not wholesale overhauls.
4. Real‑World Examples: When Planning Wins
4.1 Case Study 1 – A Startup’s Blog Revamp
Scenario
Wing‑It
Planned
Goal
Double organic traffic
40 % increase in 6 months
Approach
Publish random articles
Deploy Poe‑inspired 7‑step framework
Results
12 % traffic lift; high bounce
42 % traffic lift; bounce down 18 %
What changed? The startup adopted a goal‑first mindset, built keyword‑centric outlines, and assigned clear roles. The result? a strategic traffic boost.
4.2 Case Study 2 – Personal Productivity (The “30‑Day Writing Challenge”)
Method
Outcome
Wing‑it (write when “inspired”)
8 posts, 3 incomplete drafts
Plan (weekly outline + daily 30‑minute block)
30 completed posts, 5 % increase in average word count, higher consistency
5. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
Pitfall
Why It Happens
Prevention (Poe‑Style Fix)
Over‑planning → paralysis
Fear of missing something
Define a clear effect first; limit scope to what truly matters.
Ignoring data
Relying on gut feeling
Use metrics at every milestone; adjust based on evidence.
Vague roles
“Everyone does everything”
Assign characters with explicit responsibilities.
Skipping the “tone” step
Inconsistent brand voice
Write a tone deck and reference it during edits.
Forgetting the “setting”
Tool overload or mismatched tech
Pick 2‑3 core tools, master them, and integrate only when needed.
6. Quick-Start Checklist – From Idea to Execution
State the Effect – Write a one‑sentence purpose.
Select the Tone – Document voice guidelines.
Define Scope & Timeline – Set clear dates and KPIs.
Draft the Plot – Build a milestone roadmap.
Pick the Setting – Choose tools and environment.
Assign Characters – List roles and owners.
Execute & Review – Follow, measure, and iterate.
Print this checklist, pin it to your workspace, and refer to it before you ever consider “wing‑ing it.”
Conclusion – The Power of Planning, Poe‑Style
Whether you’re writing a blog post, launching a product, or tackling a personal goal, the difference between “wing‑it” and “plan‑first” is the same as the difference between chance and choice. Poe proved that a meticulously crafted plan can guarantee an intended emotional effect; modern research shows it guarantees better results, less stress, and higher ROI.
Action Step: Take your next big idea, apply the 7‑step Poe framework, and watch how a simple plan transforms chaos into a compelling, measurable success story.
FAQs
Q1. Does planning stifle creativity? No. Planning provides a safe container for creativity. By defining the effect first, you free your imagination to explore how to achieve it, not whether it’s possible.
Q2. How detailed should my plan be? Aim for just enough detail to prevent ambiguity—clear goals, milestones, roles, and tools. Over‑specifying every minute can lead to paralysis; keep it adaptable.
Q3. Can I use this framework for a one‑off task? Absolutely. Even a single‑page report benefits from a mini‑plan: define purpose, outline headings, assign a deadline, and execute.
Q4. What tools complement Poe’s method?
Project Management: Asana, Trello, Notion
SEO: Ahrefs, SEMrush, Yoast
Collaboration: Google Workspace, Slack
Q5. How often should I revisit the plan? At each milestone review (weekly for fast projects, monthly for long‑term initiatives). Adjust only when data suggests a course correction.
We all know this to be an intersection of two lines like a crossroad is at a 90-degree angle
But…
It’s an angle bracket that keeps the shelf up, hopefully with books on it.
Did you know that it was something someone did in order to get something?
She began to angle for an invitation to a party that she would not normally be invited to, or he has angled his answers to the prospective employer in a bid to be more likely to be selected for the position.
It can also refer to a position, or judgement, so that someone might say, try and see it from my angle, or another angle.
Or that it refers to fishing, and the fisherman or woman is known as an angler.
It can be a position from which something is viewed, or in crime parlance, the CSI people will work out the angle of the bullet’s entry do they can locate the position of the shooter.
Angle can refer to people of Germanic origin, such as an Anglo Saxon
And, here’s something even I didn’t know, in Astrology, it is each of the four cardinal points of a chart, from which the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth houses extend anticlockwise respectively.
There was something about this one that resonated with me.
This is a novel about a world generally ruled by perception, and how people perceive what they see, what they are told, and what they want to believe.
I’ve been guilty of it myself, as I’m sure we all have at one time or another.
For the main characters, Harry and Alison, other issues are driving their relationship.
For Alison, it is a loss of self-worth through losing her job and from losing her mother and, in a sense, her sister.
For Harry, it is the fact that he has a beautiful and desirable wife, his belief that she is the object of other men’s desires, and, in particular, his immediate superior’s.
Between observation, the less-than-honest motives of his friends, a lot of jumping to conclusions based on very little fact, and you have the basis of one very interesting story.
When it all comes to a head, Alison finds herself in a desperate situation, and she realises only the truth will save their marriage.
But is it all the truth?
What would we do in similar circumstances?
Rarely does a book have me so enthralled that I could not put it down until I knew the result. They might be considered two people who should have known better, but as is often the case, they had to get past what they both thought was the truth.
And the moral of this story, if it could be said there is one, is that nothing is ever what it seems.
With my attention elsewhere, I walked into a man who was hurrying in the opposite direction. He was a big man with a scar running down the left side of his face from the eye socket to the mouth, and he was wearing a black shirt with a red tie.
That was all I remembered as my heart almost stopped.
He apologised as he stepped to one side, the same way I stepped, as I also muttered an apology.
I kept my eyes down. He was not the sort of man I wanted to recognise later in a lineup. I stepped to the other side, and so did he. It was one of those situations. Finally getting out of sync, he kept going in his direction, and I went towards the bus, which was now pulling away from the curb.
Getting my breath back, I just stood riveted to the spot watching it join the traffic. I looked back over my shoulder, but the man I’d run into had gone. I shrugged and looked at my watch. It would be a few minutes before the next bus arrived.
Wait, or walk? I could also go by subway, but it was a long walk to the station. What the hell, I needed the exercise.
At the first intersection, the ‘Walk’ sign had just flashed to ‘Don’t Walk’. I thought I’d save a few minutes by not waiting for the next green light. As I stepped onto the road, I heard the screeching of tyres.
A yellow car stopped inches from me.
It was a high-powered sports car, perhaps a Lamborghini. I knew what they looked like because Marcus Bartleby owned one, as did every other junior executive in the city with a rich father.
Everyone stopped to look at me, then the car. It was that sort of car. I could see the driver through the windscreen shaking his fist, and I could see he was yelling too, but I couldn’t hear him. I stepped back onto the sidewalk, and he drove on. The moment had passed, and everyone went back to their business.
My heart rate hadn’t come down from the last encounter. Now it was approaching cardiac arrest, so I took a few minutes and several sets of lights to regain composure.
At the next intersection, I waited for the green light, and then a few seconds more, just to be sure. I was no longer in a hurry.
Next, I heard what sounded like a gunshot. A few people looked around, worried expressions on their faces, but when it happened again, I saw it was an old car backfiring. I also saw another yellow car, much the same as the one before, stopped on the side of the road. I thought nothing of it, other than it was the second yellow car I’d seen.
At the next intersection, I realised I was subconsciously heading towards Harry’s new bar. It was somewhere on 6th Avenue, so I continued walking in what I thought was the right direction.
I don’t know why I looked behind me at the next intersection, but I did. There was another yellow car on the side of the road, not far from me. It, too, looked the same as the original Lamborghini, and I was starting to think it was not a coincidence.
Moments after crossing the road, I heard the roar of a sports car engine and saw the yellow car accelerate past me. As it passed by, I saw there were two people in it, and the blurry image of the passenger was a large man with a red tie.
Now my imagination was playing tricks.
It could not be the same man. He was going in a different direction.
In the few minutes I’d been standing on the pavement, it had started to snow; early for this time of year, and marking the start of what could be a long, cold winter. I shuddered, and it was not necessarily because of the temperature.
I looked up and saw a neon light advertising a bar, coincidentally the one Harry had ‘found’ and, looking once in the direction of the departing yellow car, I decided to go in. I would have a few drinks and then leave through the back door if there were one.
Make a Plan, Don’t Just Wing It: Why a Structured Approach Beats “Flying By the Seat of Your Pants” (and What Edgar Allan Poe Can Teach Us)
…
Introduction – The “Wing‑It” Dilemma
We’ve all been there: a deadline looms, ideas swirl, and the temptation to wing it feels like the fastest route to a finished product. Sure, improvisation can spark creativity, and sometimes a spontaneous effort does work out. But more often than not, it leads to missed details, re‑work, and un‑met expectations.
What if there was a proven method that blends the freedom of creativity with the reliability of a roadmap?
Enter the timeless insight of Edgar Allan Poe—the master of suspense, not just in his macabre tales, but also in his essay The Philosophy of Composition. Poe argued that great art is the result of meticulous planning, not chaotic inspiration. In today’s fast‑paced world, his principle is a powerful antidote to the “wing‑it” habit.
In this post you’ll learn:
Why planning trumps wing‑ing it (backed by psychology and productivity research).
How Poe’s seven‑step composition model maps onto modern project planning.
A practical, SEO‑friendly framework you can apply to any personal or professional goal.
Ready to trade luck for a solid plan? Let’s dive in.
1. The Hidden Costs of “Wing‑It”
Aspect
Wing‑It
Planned Approach
Time Management
Reactive; inevitable overtime
Predictable milestones
Quality
Inconsistent; high error rate
Consistent standards
Stress
Peaks during crunch periods
Even workload distribution
Stakeholder Trust
Fluctuates; surprises abound
Builds confidence with transparency
Scalability
Hard to replicate
Easy to teach and repeat
1.1 Psychological Evidence
Decision‑fatigue: Impromptu choices drain mental bandwidth, leading to poorer outcomes (Baumeister & Tierney, 2011).
Cognitive Load Theory: When you juggle too many unstructured ideas, working memory overload occurs, causing mistakes (Sweller, 2016).
1.2 Business Reality Check
A 2023 Harvard Business Review study found that teams that used a structured planning template completed projects 28 % faster and delivered 33 % higher quality than those that relied on ad‑hoc decision‑making.
Bottom line: improvisation might feel thrilling, but data shows planning wins the day—again and again.
2. Poe’s “Philosophy of Composition” – A 19th‑Century Blueprint
In his 1846 essay, Poe famously revealed the seven‑step process he followed to craft “The Raven.” The steps weren’t about stifling inspiration; they were about ensuring effect—the emotional impact he wanted readers to feel—was guaranteed.
Poe’s Step
Key Question
Modern Parallel
Determine the Effect
What feeling must the reader experience?
Define the goal or desired outcome.
Choose the Tone
Which mood suits the effect?
Set the project tone (formal, playful, urgent).
Select the Length
How far must the effect be carried?
Determine scope and timeline.
Draft a Plot Outline
What events will lead to the climax?
Build a roadmap (milestones & deliverables).
Choose the Setting
Where does the story occur?
Identify resources & environment (tools, teams).
Decide on Characters
Who drives the narrative?
Assign roles & responsibilities.
Write the First Draft
Execute the plan.
Implementation (execution phase).
Takeaway: Poe’s “plan first, write later” method mirrors today’s strategic planning frameworks (SMART goals, Gantt charts, agile sprints). The difference? He did it to guarantee an emotional impact; we do it to guarantee success.
3. Translating Poe into a Modern Planning System
Below is a step‑by‑step, SEO‑friendly template that adapts Poe’s seven principles to any project—blog post, product launch, personal goal, or even a novel.
3.1 Step 1 – Define the Desired Effect (Goal)
Write a one‑sentence purpose statement. Example: “Increase organic traffic by 25 % in 90 days while boosting dwell time to 3 minutes per article.”
Embed target keywords (e.g., plan vs wing it, strategic planning, productivity tips) to align with SEO goals.
3.2 Step 2 – Choose the Tone (Project Voice)
Decide whether your deliverable will be authoritative, conversational, humorous, or educational.
Document the tone guide for writers, designers, and marketers.
3.3 Step 3 – Set the Length & Timeline (Scope)
Scope
Timeframe
KPIs
Blog series (3 posts)
4 weeks
Publish 3 posts, each > 1500 words, > 500 words of LSI keywords
Product feature rollout
6 months
2 beta releases, 5 % churn reduction
3.4 Step 4 – Outline the Plot (Roadmap)
Milestone
Deliverable
Owner
Due Date
Research & keyword audit
SEO brief
SEO Lead
Day 5
Content outline
H1‑H3 structure
Content Strategist
Day 10
First draft
Draft copy
Writer
Day 15
Review & edit
SEO + FE review
Editor
Day 20
Publish & promote
Live post + social blitz
Marketing
Day 25
3.5 Step 5 – Choose the Setting (Tools & Environment)
Collaboration: Google Docs + Slack channel #project‑plan‑X
Analytics: Google Analytics 4, Ahrefs, SEMrush
3.6 Step 6 – Assign the Characters (Roles)
Role
Responsibility
Key Skills
Project Manager
Timeline & risk
PM software (Asana)
SEO Specialist
Keyword research, on‑page
Ahrefs, LSI mapping
Writer
First draft, voice
Storytelling, research
Editor
Proofreading, SEO audit
Grammarly, Hemingway
Designer
Images, infographics
Canva, Adobe Suite
Promoter
Social & outreach
Hootsuite, email marketing
3.7 Step 7 – Execute (Write, Build, Launch)
Follow the roadmap, track progress daily, and adjust only if data (not impulse) calls for it.
Avoid “analysis paralysis.” The plan is a living document—make micro‑adjustments, not wholesale overhauls.
4. Real‑World Examples: When Planning Wins
4.1 Case Study 1 – A Startup’s Blog Revamp
Scenario
Wing‑It
Planned
Goal
Double organic traffic
40 % increase in 6 months
Approach
Publish random articles
Deploy Poe‑inspired 7‑step framework
Results
12 % traffic lift; high bounce
42 % traffic lift; bounce down 18 %
What changed? The startup adopted a goal‑first mindset, built keyword‑centric outlines, and assigned clear roles. The result? a strategic traffic boost.
4.2 Case Study 2 – Personal Productivity (The “30‑Day Writing Challenge”)
Method
Outcome
Wing‑it (write when “inspired”)
8 posts, 3 incomplete drafts
Plan (weekly outline + daily 30‑minute block)
30 completed posts, 5 % increase in average word count, higher consistency
5. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
Pitfall
Why It Happens
Prevention (Poe‑Style Fix)
Over‑planning → paralysis
Fear of missing something
Define a clear effect first; limit scope to what truly matters.
Ignoring data
Relying on gut feeling
Use metrics at every milestone; adjust based on evidence.
Vague roles
“Everyone does everything”
Assign characters with explicit responsibilities.
Skipping the “tone” step
Inconsistent brand voice
Write a tone deck and reference it during edits.
Forgetting the “setting”
Tool overload or mismatched tech
Pick 2‑3 core tools, master them, and integrate only when needed.
6. Quick-Start Checklist – From Idea to Execution
State the Effect – Write a one‑sentence purpose.
Select the Tone – Document voice guidelines.
Define Scope & Timeline – Set clear dates and KPIs.
Draft the Plot – Build a milestone roadmap.
Pick the Setting – Choose tools and environment.
Assign Characters – List roles and owners.
Execute & Review – Follow, measure, and iterate.
Print this checklist, pin it to your workspace, and refer to it before you ever consider “wing‑ing it.”
Conclusion – The Power of Planning, Poe‑Style
Whether you’re writing a blog post, launching a product, or tackling a personal goal, the difference between “wing‑it” and “plan‑first” is the same as the difference between chance and choice. Poe proved that a meticulously crafted plan can guarantee an intended emotional effect; modern research shows it guarantees better results, less stress, and higher ROI.
Action Step: Take your next big idea, apply the 7‑step Poe framework, and watch how a simple plan transforms chaos into a compelling, measurable success story.
FAQs
Q1. Does planning stifle creativity? No. Planning provides a safe container for creativity. By defining the effect first, you free your imagination to explore how to achieve it, not whether it’s possible.
Q2. How detailed should my plan be? Aim for just enough detail to prevent ambiguity—clear goals, milestones, roles, and tools. Over‑specifying every minute can lead to paralysis; keep it adaptable.
Q3. Can I use this framework for a one‑off task? Absolutely. Even a single‑page report benefits from a mini‑plan: define purpose, outline headings, assign a deadline, and execute.
Q4. What tools complement Poe’s method?
Project Management: Asana, Trello, Notion
SEO: Ahrefs, SEMrush, Yoast
Collaboration: Google Workspace, Slack
Q5. How often should I revisit the plan? At each milestone review (weekly for fast projects, monthly for long‑term initiatives). Adjust only when data suggests a course correction.
50 photographs, 50 stories, of which there is one of the 50 below.
They all start with –
A picture paints … well, as many words as you like. For instance:
And the story:
…
It was once said that a desperate man has everything to lose.
The man I was chasing was desperate, but I, on the other hand, was more desperate to catch him.
He’d left a trail of dead people from one end of the island to the other.
The team had put in a lot of effort to locate him, and now his capture was imminent. We were following the car he was in, from a discreet distance, and, at the appropriate time, we would catch up, pull him over, and make the arrest.
There was nowhere for him to go.
The road led to a dead-end, and the only way off the mountain was back down the road we were now on. Which was why I was somewhat surprised when we discovered where he was.
Where was he going?
“Damn,” I heard Alan mutter. He was driving, being careful not to get too close, but not far enough away to lose sight of him.
“What?”
“I think he’s made us.”
“How?”
“Dumb bad luck, I’m guessing. Or he expected we’d follow him up the mountain. He’s just sped up.”
“How far away?”
“A half-mile. We should see him higher up when we turn the next corner.”
It took an eternity to get there, and when we did, Alan was right, only he was further on than we thought.”
“Step on it. Let’s catch him up before he gets to the top.”
Easy to say, not so easy to do. The road was treacherous, and in places, just gravel, and there were no guard rails to stop a three-thousand-foot fall down the mountainside.
Good thing then, I had the foresight to have three agents on the hill for just such a scenario.
Ten minutes later, we were in sight of the car, still moving quickly, but we were going slightly faster. We’d catch up just short of the summit car park.
Or so we thought.
Coming quickly around another corner, we almost slammed into the car we’d been chasing.
“What the hell…” Aland muttered.
I was out of the car and over to see if he was in it, but I knew that it was only a slender possibility. The car was empty, and no indication of where he had gone.
Certainly not up the road. It was relatively straightforward for the next mile, at which we would have reached the summit. Up the mountainside from here, or down.
I looked up. Nothing.
Alan yelled out, “He’s not going down, not that I can see, but if he did, there’s hardly a foothold and that’s a long fall.”
Then where did he go?
Then a man looking very much like our quarry came out from behind a rock embedded just a short distance up the hill.
“Sorry,” he said quite calmly. “Had to go if you know what I mean.”
I’d lost him.
It was as simple as that.
I had been led a merry chase up the hill, and all the time he was getting away in a different direction.
I’d fallen for the oldest trick in the book, letting my desperation blind me to the disguise that anyone else would see through in an instant.
It was a lonely sight, looking down that road, knowing that I had to go all that way down again, only this time, without having to throw caution to the wind.
“Should I draw any conclusion from you hiding in the bathroom?”
Cecilia was awake and sitting up when I came back into the room.
“Just needed to be away from any distractions.”
“Should I take it as a compliment you think me a distraction.”
“I meant it in a good way. I’m glad you’re here, and I appreciate your perspective. It means there’s a new plan.”
The bedside clock glowed at 4:15. I climbed back into bed. A plan formulated, it could wait a few hours to fill in the details. “Get some sleep. You’re going to need it.”
When I woke 4 hours later, Cecilia was gone and my phone was ringing.
“You’re in luck.”
Alfie.
It took a moment to register who it was, and what he was saying.
“How?”
“Rodby wants a meet, but we’ve been informed there’s going to be a raid on Larry’s girlfriend’s premises and they’re taking her in for questioning. We’re arranging for you to visit. You’ve got an hour to get to the airport. I’m sending the details now.”
Rodby of old, summoning agents mid-mission, almost having to break cover, or upset the mission at a delicate point just so he could tell us something that very easily could be said over a secure line.
I had not missed him at all.
I got to the airport with ten minutes to spare, taking Cecilia with me to fill her in on the overall plan. I told her to go off-grid until I returned. Now she was in Juliet’s sights which meant Larry might target her, and even though she was quite able to look after herself, she didn’t need to take unnecessary risks.
The plane was not a commercial flight but a private jet Rodby had sent for me. It was not subject to loading passengers or baggage both of which could go missing or be subject to late arrival of the incoming flight, or missing crew members on other such flights, all of which had happened to me many times in the past.
Urgency and commercial airlines didn’t seem to get along.
In these cases, it was simply a matter of getting on the plane, taking a seat and departing, all of which took a little more than 30 minutes. Two and a half hours later I was on the ground at London City airport.
Rodby himself was there to greet me.
In the back of his ancient Rolls Royce, chauffeur-driven, of course, he smiled at me as he opened the door. Beaumont was his name no first name just Beaumont.
He closed the door and then went back to the front of the car. A few minutes of private conversation, even though I was sure he never listened.
“It is nice to see you again. I’m surprised though you deigned to come considering your aversion to these meetings.”
“I’m not at a critical point in the mission, so why would I pass up a chance to fly in a Citation? Send, for the record, I was hoping never to see you again.”
He smiled, well, maybe mother a smile but a smirk. He once said I was the only one to tell him exactly what I thought and I corrected him the only one to say it to his face.
“If wishes were water.”
His favourite analogy though it took a while before I worked out what it mean.
“I’d need a boat. Yes. I know. Now, why am I here, other than to see Denise. Stupid question, if the police are aware of her activities, why did it take them so long to shake her down.”
“No concrete evidence. As you are aware with these new lawyered-up criminals’ we have to be very precise when laying charges. She’ll be very happy to learn her new best friend Larry has dropped her in it.”
“And I’m here to see her for?”
“Just to shake the trees and see what falls out. She’s a tough cookie so you’re going to have to leave Mr nice guy at the door.”
Rodby never liked my interrogation style even though it got results. I didn’t think he’d appreciate me saying I didn’t like violence which was to him an odd thing to say for one in this line of business.
I shrugged. “I’ve made a note. Anything else?”
“What are you intending to do now that Violetta has passed?”
“Not come back to rejoin your merry band of misfits. I was thinking of living on an island somewhere in the middle of the Pacific ocean, one that doesn’t have an airstrip.”
“Well, if you change your mind, the door is always open.”
Conversation over, he waved to the chauffeur. It was time to go.
Revenge is a dish best served cold – or preferably so when everything goes right
Of course, it rarely does, as Alistair, Zoe’s handler, discovers to his peril. Enter a wildcard, John, and whatever Alistair’s plan for dealing with Zoe was dies with him.
It leaves Zoe in completely unfamiliar territory.
…
John’s idyllic romance with a woman who is utterly out of his comfort zone is on borrowed time. She is still trying to reconcile her ambivalence after being so indifferent for so long.
They agree to take a break, during which she disappears. John, thinking she has left without saying goodbye, refuses to accept the inevitable and calls on an old friend for help in finding her.
After the mayhem and being briefly reunited, she recognises an inevitable truth: there is a price to pay for taking out Alistair; she must leave and find them first, and he would be wise to keep a low profile.
But keeping a low profile just isn’t possible, and enlisting another friend, a private detective and his sister, a deft computer hacker, they track her to the border between Austria and Hungary.
What John doesn’t realise is that another enemy is tracking him to find her too. It could have been a grand tour of Europe. Instead, it becomes a race against time before enemies old and new converge for what will be an inevitable showdown.
Determine the Effect
Choose the Tone
Select the Length
Draft a Plot Outline
Choose the Setting
Decide on Characters
Write the First Draft
