The Santa Gabriela: Challenging the Drug Cartel

By Xlibris US

Emilys expensive beach properties are an attractive intermediate drop point for the drug cartels smuggling operations. The modified luxury yacht, the Santa Gabriela, becomes the focus of both the problem and eventually the rescue boat that brings Emily and her cohorts back safely from their adventures into the den of a drug lord. Young Susan is threatened and later is instrumental in identifying the pirates bringing the contraband onto her beach. Emilys mother continues her supportive and competitive relationship with her daughter and the raising of Susan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499066333

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Clifford Lueck.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014915537

ISBN:      Hardcover       978-1-4990-6631-9

               Softcover           978-1-4990-6632-6

                eBook               978-1-4990-6633-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 09/05/2014

Xlibris LLC

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www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER ONE

Emily sat upright in her beach chair stretching her neck to see where her six-year-old was headed. Susan was chasing the seabirds that had alighted nearby and were chattering over a morsel one of the gulls had captured. The beach had few walkers on this early morning so Susan’s scattering of the gulls was less disruptive.

Naomi called to Emily from the veranda that she was leaving for work. Is Mother up yet? Emily called back.

Not yet. I’ll be home by six, Naomi answered.

Emily Robinson returned to her laptop booted to her ledger of her real-estate properties. The spontaneous purchase of the six foreclosed beachfront homes turned into a gold mine. These multimillion-dollar homes were showing a positive cash flow from lease agreements with the former owners. The market had firmed since her purchases and if she elected to sell, she would reap a significant profit.

She nestled in her beach chair closing her eyes. The early morning sun caressed her face illuminating her golden hair cascading over the faded canvas on the chair back. The distant chirping faded. She listened to the rhythmic slurp of the surf, slumping further as she relaxed in the warmth of the day. The discordant sounds of the beach hushed as she dozed off.

She scrunched up her face frowning at the intrusive dream. Again it was Jack interrupting her pleasant memories. Why can’t I get him out of my system she thought? It’s not fair to Naomi. Why do I keep dreaming of him?

Susan touched her arm arousing her with a start. What do you want, Honey? she asked, squinting in the bright sun.

Nothing, Susan answered. Just checking.

Where she came up with this ‘just checking’ thing is beyond me. We need to go in and see if Grandma is up and made breakfast.

I don’t want to go in.

It’s time. We have to get ready for school.

The aroma of brewing coffee welcomed them as they entered the kitchen. Margaret Robinson greeted her granddaughter warmly motioning her to sit at the table. I don’t want Cheerios, Susan declared, looking in the bowl in front of her.

That’s what we’re having today, Grandma answered, pouring milk into the bowl.

Can we have something else tomorrow? Susan asked.

"What would you like?

Donuts. White ones.

Mommy needs to shop today. Maybe she’ll buy donuts, Grandma suggested.

Mommy doesn’t like you to have so much sweet stuff, Honey, Emily corrected.

One donut won’t hurt her, Grandma said to get in the last word catering to her granddaughter’s wishes.

Turning to her mother, Emily asked about her plans for the day and whether she would call Detective Dorcet. I haven’t returned his phone call. Would see what he wants, Mom?

What is it about? Mrs. Robinson asked. Does he want to arrest me?

I doubt it. Just call him, please. I need to check in with Charles after his trip to DC on the fund-raising.

Did Charles have a problem with the appropriations?

I don’t think so, but Mr. Schroeder called looking for new GSA contracts. He doesn’t feel Fullerton is getting enough for their political contributions.

Is he upset about Brandon Hammond going to jail? Mrs. Robinson asked.

I suppose. Brandon was technically a Fullerton employee. That whole thing with the CIA first firing him to keep their skirts clean, then hiring him back as a consultant was very transparent. Typical CIA. We know what they do.

Order people killed, Mrs. Robinson said emphatically.

I don’t think it was intentional.

He’s still dead. Your father was killed because he tried to do the right thing and crossed the CIA.

I know, Mom. I’m still angry over the whole mess.

We need to get this behind us. It’s been eight years for God’s sake.

You said God, Susan interjected. You said we shouldn’t say that unless we’re praying.

I’m sorry, Honey. I shouldn’t have said that," Grandma replied.

Are you talking about Grandpa?

Yes … your Grandpa. He had an accident before you were born.

He died?

Yes, he died. Now finish your breakfast.

Steven Adkinson et al owned the beachfront property coming on the market. The broker expected Emily to be interested because it abutted one of Emily’s rental homes. Emily recoiled at the asking price of $3.4 million, well above what she thought her adjacent property was worth. She toured the home and was favorably impressed, except for the price. She estimated the potential rental/lease value and concluded it was overpriced by at least a million to be rental property. Seeing the sale slip away, the broker made his pitch for other properties he carried. Emily excused herself declining interest then phoned her regular broker asking him to evaluate the listing and determine the fair market price.

She drove to the Nassau Bank and asked Naomi to check the records to see if the bank held a mortgage on the Adkinson property. Yes, we have the mortgage, Naomi answered. The balance is $820,000. The original loan was $890,000. Payments are current. There is an escrow account for property tax."

Thanks, Sweetie, Emily said, stretching toward Naomi planting a kiss on her lips. I’ll see you tonight.

Emily’s meeting with Charles Bolden was interrupted by a call from her mother in Detective Dorset’s office. Former CIA agent Brandon Hammond was to be released from prison in ten days, well short of his minimum sentence of ten years. Dorcet said he did not understand the early release date and felt we should know what was happening. Miguel Jundoella, the hired thug that administered the beating to her husband was also released in exchange for testimony against Mr. Hammond on the murder charge. He was deported to his native country, Haiti, after the trial. Detective Dorcet is concerned about our safety and the potential retaliation from Mr. Hammond. Emily was dismayed over the information thinking they had ten years to live without fear, not less than two years.

Emily shared the information of the pending release with Charles who was also concerned about his security having worked with Mr. Robinson. The meeting refocused around Fullerton’s contributions and subsequent appropriations’ contract awards. He thought, if they could keep Fullerton happy, it would temper problems with Hammond – assuming he would return to the CIA as a contract employee. The CIA’s current practice of outsourcing agents, to circumvent budget restrictions dictated by congressional appropriations, was on going. The devious manning process was inflating costs as long term agents were taking early retirement, drawing their pensions, and then were rehired as consultants at a significantly higher salary.

Emily’s appointments precluded her grocery shopping prior to picking up Susan. On the way home from school they stopped at the local bakery for Susan to select her donuts. Unable to narrow her selection to the single jelly-filled-powder-sugar donut, she selected eight different variations to fill out the order of a dozen. Susan planned to share these as a special treat with Grandma, Naomi and Mommy.

The evening meal ended with the celebration orchestrated by Susan as she presented each with a donut. She emphasized they could have just one and no more until tomorrow.

After Susan was down for the night, the group of women adjourned to the veranda to discuss the release of Mr. Hammond. Although the women enjoyed a significant amount of wine at dinner, Naomi brought glasses and a newly opened bottle. Emily could not reach consensus on what to do about Mr. Hammond’s release, if anything. Mrs. Robinson was her usual non-verbal non-participatory self while Naomi was more interested in the wine than contributing to the discussion. Naomi criticized Mrs. Robinson for creating this crisis, emphasizing the inappropriateness of her hiring the beating of Mr. Hammond in retaliation for the beating of her husband that led to his accidental death. Margaret reacted to the term accident pointing out that Hammond was convicted of murder and it was no accident. Their mutual dislike resurfaced in bitter personal attacks.

Mrs. Robinson found woman’s clothes, thought to belong to Naomi, in her husband’s beach home on Margaret’s first visit years ago. She assumed Naomi was her husband’s lover and in revenge seduced Charles leading to his break up with Naomi. Emily’s current living arrangement with Naomi compounded the ill will between the two women.

That type of foolishness does not go on in my family, she scolded both Emily and Naomi. Mrs. Robinson abruptly left the veranda mumbling that it was time for Naomi to move out.

Emily and Naomi sat in silence neither seeking eye contact. Finally Emily said, Mother is the guest here, not you. If anyone needs to move out it’s her.

You can’t kick out your own mother, Emily.

Nobody is being kicked out.

Mrs. Robinson emerged from her room in a show of emphasis with a packed bag asking to be driven to the airport. Emily insisted she at least stay until morning and book a reservation first. Emily was ambivalent over her mother leaving. Margaret again reiterated her objection to the living arrangement with Naomi. Emily felt her mother was harboring guilt for the way she broke up Naomi and Charles and in her convoluted logic, was doing the same thing with Naomi and Emily.

Emily called the airline and confirmed the earliest flight back to the U. S. would be in the morning and booked her a flight. Naomi was relieved to see her go.

The tropical storm came ashore during the night rattling the storm-shutters and shaking the house as the howling wind pounded the building. The sea attacked the beach breaking waves well beyond the high tide line. Emily held Susan thanking the Lord they were safe more to reassure Susan than her own belief.

The storm hit landfall at rising tide pushing debris well above the normal high water line. On their morning walk, Emily cautioned Susan to stay close as they walked down the beach toward Emily’s rental properties. The first home showed water marking and flotsam around the building. Emily unconsciously released Susan’s hand to inspect the property meeting her tenant who was outside checking for damage.

Susan continued down the beach probing the seaweed snarls as she walked. She stopped to inspect various objects. Most were of little interest. She came upon a cylindrical object partially exposed in the sand. Stooping to inspect and identify it, she pushed sand away with her sneaker exposing a barnacled metallic item that was far too big to uncover. She moved on. A number of large packages were scattered within the large deposit of seaweed. Her attention was drawn to the shipwreck at the water’s edge. She thought sure it was an old pirate ship with the sails broken off.

Emily caught up with her foraging daughter as she returned cradling the head of an old ceramic doll and a decoratively lacquered jewelry box. The latter, whose hinge creaked when opened, exposed red velvet lining. Susan insisted it was a treasure chest from the pirate ship and the jewels had fallen out and should be on the beach. She asked for help to locate the treasure. Later, Emily said as she urged Susan along to check on another of her properties.

On the return trip, Susan steered her mother toward the buried object she found earlier and Emily called to her neighbor to come and look. It looks like a torpedo, he exclaimed, circling the half buried object. These are usually duds, practice torpedoes, but you can’t be too careful. Emily backed away pulling Susan with her.

We’ve had them wash up before. There was a submarine practice range off shore during World War II. None of these were armed but there was German U-boat activity on the East Coast during the war so you can’t assume they are all duds. We need to call someone to take care of it. Emily stood watch over the object while her neighbor returned to his house to report the finding.

Emily talked to her insurance agent to initiate claims on her properties that suffered water damage. The buried torpedo gave the agent pause then reassured Emily that it was not an insurance issue unless it blew up and damaged the house. The beach is not insured and the torpedo was not a problem.

The Adkinson property received water damage similar to other homes. The real estate agent called again urging Emily to reconsider as the owner was willing to discuss the price. She said she would reconsider only after the owner has an insurance quote and a commitment that his claim will be paid. The broker would not quote a price. Emily called Charles and asked him to look at the property again and if he was satisfied suggest a low-ball price to see if he could get a counter offer. Charles questioned Emily getting involved with another property with an open insurance claim.

The Adkinson property owner was willing to sell out and leave the new owner to deal with the insurance claim. Emily told Charles to offer exactly half the previous asking price plus the insurance proceeds. Charles was skeptical but made a verbal offer to Mr. Adkinson and before he could draw up a contract, Mr. Adkinson accepted. Emily acquired another expensive property on the prestigious beach front along with her six other homes. She called the bank to initiate financing.

That evening Bandon Hammond appeared at Emily’s door looking for Mrs. Robinson. His assurance that he was only interested in discussing a business arrangement rang hollow with Emily. She assured Mr. Hammond that her mother had no interest in any sort of arrangement with him. She refused to reveal the whereabouts of Mrs. Robinson – emphasizing she was not privy to her mother’s plans or activities. Mr. Hammond complemented Susan on her pretty dress and then asked about her grandmother. Susan said she didn’t know, Grandma went home. Brandon caught Emily’s gasp as Susan inadvertently divulged the information. He suggested they meet in his office tomorrow. Emily refused. She had nothing to discuss with Mr. Hammond.

Emily reassured Naomi that any vengeance would be aimed at her mother not them because they were not responsible for the beating her mother hired and inflicted on Brandon Hammond. Naomi disagreed since Emily was instrumental in locating the assailant that beat her father, who testified that Mr. Hammond hired him resulting in the murder conviction. Emily phoned her mother and told her what happened and that Susan inadvertently revealed her return home. After a restless night, Emily phoned Detective Dorcet expressing their collective fears over Brandon Hammond’s presence and interests. Dorcet, though sympathetic, said there was little he could do unless a crime was committed. So far, there was none.

The blast from the torpedo shook the northeast end the Island. Property damage in the immediate area was extensive with three homes suffering major damage. The local bomb specialist that attempted to dislodge the detonator from its encrusted barnacled position was killed in the blast. His assistant was standing a short distance away and was critically injured. Four local residents were injured as well, two seriously. Windows were shattered within a hundred yards of the blast area.

The communities out-cry demanding action was carried before the local government. To do what? In the more than 50 years since World War II, this was the first German torpedo that washed up on these beaches. Until now, only practice torpedoes scattered in the ocean by the U.S. Navy were beached. The council concluded it was the U.S. government’s liability, not a local issue. No one on the island was happy with the lack of commitment of neither protecting the citizens nor dealing with the property damage and personal injuries. The council committed to inform the U.S. government that they were responsible and a formal letter would be presented at the U.S. Embassy.

Before the meeting could close, Brandon Hammond asked to speak on behalf of the United States. I cannot speak as a formal representative of the United States government, he started, But I should point out the short comings of your conclusions. The United States will not assume responsibility for injuries and damages relating to an enemy it fought more than fifty years ago. In an act of war, there is no third party liability. Your protest may comfort you having expressed yourself over an incident but will not result in any action, other than sympathy. I suggest that a more positive approach would be to handle the situation yourselves. A committee to deal with the potential claims for example could be more productive. If you’re concerned about the liability to the community, hold the adjacent property owners responsible. Legislate mandatory liability insurance on the property owners and force the insurance companies to participate. I think it’s time for this council to lead in protecting the citizens from this outrageous disaster. Why should the insurance companies walk away every time there is a claim?

The selectmen huddled and after a short pause thanked Mr. Hammond for his suggestions. They then stated they would appoint a commission to look into various options and ask for a preliminary recommendation at the next scheduled meeting. When the Chairman proposed adjourning the meeting, a woman stood seeking compensation for the death of her husband – who was willing to diffuse the bomb for the good of the community. The crowd, shouting its agreement – and how about the last hurricane. We’re still fighting over those claims. The audience grew more hostile and the Chairman tried to close the meeting when Mr. Hammond rose again to be heard. Isn’t there a finder’s right that may come into play here? Isn’t it true that if you find something washed up on the beach it belongs to the finder? With the exception of historical artifacts, isn’t that a right of ownership? he asked. The crowd agreed. Mr. Hammond was smiling as he left the hearing.

Emily owned one of the homes damaged by the blast. The insurance company rejected her claim citing the exception of coverage as a result of war, riot or civil unrest. The destruction of her property was not Emily’s primary concern. She was haunted by the image of her daughter foraging around the washed up torpedo. Susan’s safety was foremost in her thoughts as she carried out her daily responsibilities. She now owned seven major pieces of real estate and a verbal commitment on another on this prime beach area. Her success in generating the income off these properties and the major gain in value seemed insignificant compared to the hidden dangers lurking in the expanse of ocean at her door step.

Susan’s demands for Emily’s time increased significantly in the absence of Mrs. Robinson. Emily’s fear of the beach and Susan’s safety eliminated the daily walks, compounding the struggle between parent and child. Naomi helped with Susan as well as assisting Emily with her rental property, collecting rents, handling insurance and managing the escrow accounts. Emily continued to slide into a depression and her relationship with Naomi became indifferent. What had been a very intimate personal friendship was degenerating into a platonic business association. Naomi felt rejected by her companion and suffered similarly in the loss.

The damaged properties from the storm and the torpedo detonation were denied coverage by all the insurance companies. Individual lawsuits were filed but the process was painfully slow. Although the zoning board petitioned the court to expedite the suits, the wheels of justice turned slowly with the insurance lawyers generating delay after delay. Repeated requests to dismiss the suits were filed and rejected. The zoning board’s restriction on many of the homes again was forcing the owners to rebuild above the mean-high-tide line.

Emily’s renters were defaulting on their leases and she could not cover the mortgage payments and property tax bills. Foreclosure on the mortgages was not