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 'Ask
Ernie'
Private Eyes
By Ernesto Patino - Mystery Author, Lecturer &
Private Eye
As readers we are fascinated with private eyes
who, at least in fiction, appear to lead
exciting lives. They solve murders, find missing
witnesses, uncover deadly plots and secrets,
have steamy one-night stands… Well you get the
picture. But are they realistic? How glamorous
is the life of a real private eye? If you are a
mystery writer should you even care whether or
not the private eye in your novel is portrayed
in a realistic manner? Good questions. Because
of my background as a former FBI agent turned
private investigator, I’ve had many writers ask
me questions about my work and about law
enforcement in general.
I would like to share my responses to some
frequently
asked questions:
1. In my novel a private eye is hired by the
family of an elderly man who was bludgeoned to
death in his home in Tucson. The man’s son is
convinced that the killer was an old business
partner who lives in a small town in Texas. Can
the P.I. travel to Texas to pursue new leads
regarding the business partner?
Answer:
The P.I. would not be allowed to conduct an
investigation in Texas because he is not
licensed in that state. However, he could travel
to the small town and request assistance from
the local sheriff. The sheriff could allow him
to accompany him on interviews, etc. The more
likely scenario would be for the Tucson P.I. to
contact a licensed P.I. in Texas and have him
conduct the necessary investigation.
2. One of the minor characters in my novel is
an FBI agent who is investigating the kidnapping
of a twelve-year-old girl. He carries a tape
recorder to record interviews of witnesses and
possible suspects. Do FBI agents routinely carry
a tape recorder to record their interviews?
Answer:
FBI agents would not use a tape recorder while
conducting routine interviews. They take a lot
of detailed notes which they use in the
preparation of legal or administrative reports.
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3.
In novels we often read about private eyes doling out twenty-dollar
bills to various people, from doormen to bartenders. Is this a common
practice?
Answer:
You have to remember that when a P.I. conducts an investigation, be it
in a bar, hotel, etc. people are not obligated to talk to him. Giving
someone a ten or twenty-dollar bill is not a common practice, but it is
useful when working a difficult case where a good tip is all that you
need.
In my
next column I will answer the question of whether or not a P.I. is
obligated to report to the police every violation of law to which he is
privy: he has just interviewed a parole violator who spoke to him on
the condition that he not turn him in.
Part 1 of Private Eyes
To Part 3
To Part 4
To Part 5
To Part 6 |
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 Ernie
Patino grew up in El Paso, Texas
and worked for 23 years as an FBI agent. He currently lives in Tucson,
Arizona, where he divides his time between writing and working as a
private investigator. In addition, he is a ballroom dancer and gourmet
cook. His previous novel, In the Shadow of a Stranger, was published in
England. His upcoming novel is set in South Florida where lived for 22
years prior to moving to Arizona.
Learn more at
www.ErniePatino.com
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