← The Writers Precinct

Case Files

Real questions from crime fiction writers, answered by Detective Dale Hawthorne. No guessing, no generic Google answers — just what a 20-year homicide detective actually knows.

Can a villain hack parking meters to steal credit card data?
It's been done — San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago. The real story isn't the hack, it's the six-month gap before anyone notices.
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Do banks cooperate with a financial investigation, or do you need a warrant?
Subpoenas, SARs, and the informal ask — how detectives actually build a financial case before they have solid proof.
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How long does it take to identify a body with no ID?
Fingerprints, tattoos, dental records, DNA — and why documented people get found faster than those living off-grid.
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What does a gunshot wound actually smell like at a scene?
Burnt powder, iron and salt, and how the smell itself becomes a timeline your detective can read.
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Can police search a suspect's car without a warrant?
The automobile exception, probable cause, and what actually holds up in court versus what happens on the street.
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