With A Prominent Role For Liam Neeson

Who can forget the intensity of Irish actor Liam Neeson as he delivered a threat to the thugs who had kidnapped his fictional daughter in Paris?

Put that sense of tension in your head and consider this story line as you ponder your next plot for that novel you'd like to write.

An Irish girl who'd gone to Ibiza for work was reported missing by her family when they could not contact her. Taken, perhaps?

Within days, the Peruvian government announced that they had Michaella McCollum Connolly under arrest for drug smuggling.

How did she get to Peru from Ibiza, and how did she get arrested with a woman from Scotland whom she did not know?

Awaiting trial, Ms. Connolly has claimed that she and fellow victim Melissa Reid were duped by some stranger in Ibiza who then essentially kidnapped them. He instilled a certain fear in the two women, who came to believe that they would be killed if they did not do exactly as their kidnapper commanded. Over the course of several days, they were held against their will and that gave their kidnapper plenty of time to terrorize them into submisison.

Michaella McCollum Connolly and Melissa Reid

Ms. McCollum Connolly was moved around Spain by the gang, her passport and phone confiscated to prevent her from escaping. Ms. Reid was held separately until the pair were united in Mallorca before being made to carry packets of cocaine in their luggage.

All the time, they thought they were being watched by the criminals who had taken them captive. They did not know who in the crowd at the airport might be the gunman. They did not know if a passenger on the plane was there to kill them if they sought help from authorities, or if some agent of the drug runners was waiting in Ireland to gun down Mr. and Mrs. Connolly if their daughter stepped out of line.

The pair were, according to their statements, used as drug mules by a vicious gang and they went along with the plan because they felt they had no other options. Not only were they afraid for themselves, but the kidnapper voiced threats against their families.

As you'd imagine, they were nervous going through customs and no doubt attracted plenty of attention from the officials examining bags. The drugs were easily found, and the two were promptly arrested. They are now awaiting a court hearing while sitting in a Lima jail, where conditions are said to be harsh.

The family of Ms. McCollum Connolly is trying to make their way to Peru while arranging legal representation for their daughter. Their best hope, barring an appearance by Liam Neeson to rescue the girl, is a change in Peruvian law that would allow the women to be immediately paroled and booted out of the country.

The story is there for your version of its telling. All you need do is sit down and write.