Crime in Paradise

By William Bopf

We are all aware of the human frailties that lead to crime and grief for others. Some of these frailties include greed, lust, theft, and even murder. With respect to paradise, it is often defined as a state of happiness rather than a specific place. Tom Wall, former sheriff of Napa County, has just been elected as a state senator. His wife, Carol Simmons Wall, is the new elected sheriff of nearby Solano County. They are living in paradise physically and mentally on a twenty-eight-acre ranch in the Stags Leap region of Napa County.

While living this dream, forces arise that threaten their careers, fortune, and their lives. These forces will stop at nothing to achieve their evil goals. There is a plan to dominate an entire industry, and it starts out slowly but increases its unyielding influence to sweep away all opposition to their goal. What and who those forces are that wield their strength yet remain a mystery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503584440

William Bopf

The author has published two other books, Blood on the Vine and Golf and Poker. The second book, Golf and Poker, is written for the lighter side of companionship of friends enjoying games together. The first book, Blood on the Vine, is a fictional novel that takes place in the premium Northern California wine-producing regions. The first book draws on the experience, as does this one, of a retired city manager of five cities in two wine-growing states. While the characters are fictional, the experiences described are possible in these environments. Considerable wealth and power are present in the popular consumption of wine and the romance associated with this product. The author brings these factors together in an exciting and entertaining mystery, Crime in Paradise.

Book preview

Prologue

Napa Valley is still the beautiful region with soil and a Mediterranean climate that produces some of the finest wines in the world. These benefits are not only given to Napa County but also to most of Northern California. As this story unfolds, just three years earlier, Napa Valley and the Northern California region were threatened by Pierce’s disease. Through the successful development of an effective insecticide, proper vineyard hygiene care, and the removal of infected vines, this major disaster was avoided.

In the agricultural industry, there are many factors that threaten the economics of raising food crops and delivering them to market. In the past three years preceding this story, not only was disease a threat but a sinister group of investors also conspired to control the Northern California wine industry. These unscrupulous people spread their tentacles from as far away as Europe to accomplish their plan of developing a worldwide cartel. They intended to control wine prices through most world markets. It was through the efforts of Napa county sheriff Tom Wall, Solano county sheriff Jim Blane, and his undersheriff Carol Simmons that their evil plot failed. Their conspiracy was started by plotters in Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. Considerable money was invested to bring about their plan to start in Napa Valley and spread throughout the other northern counties. They formed a large cooperative corporation to vertically control the entire wine-producing cycle from the vineyard to the final distribution of the product. Not only did they spend a great deal of money, but they also would not be stopped by normal business hurdles. When there were obstacles in the way, they would be overcome. If the hurdle was a human being, that person would suffer an unfortunate fatal accident. As they implemented their plot, six people were killed and at least six more were seriously injured.

This story now begins when peace has been restored to the wine industry. The growers, vintners, and the distributors have all returned to their normal operations. All those responsible for the crimes in the United States have been sent to prison and those in Europe have lost over $20 million each. The prime mover, Hans Von Berger, perished in an Austrian river during a high-speed chase.

The Northern California wine industry now continues to face the normal agricultural challenges, but now without the evil meddling of outside forces. With renewed spirit, there is no better place to practice this craft than the Napa Valley and Northern California.

Chapter 1

Tom Wall and Carol were living a normal married life on their twenty-eight-acre ranch in the prized Stag’s Leap Region of Napa Valley. Tom had completed three successful terms as the sheriff of Napa County. With his fame and respect growing from his successful destruction of a vast wine conspiracy, he was easily elected to the position of state senator. In this capacity, he represented his beloved region.

His wife, Carol Simmons Wall, had served two years as undersheriff to Jim Blane of Solano County until Jim decided to retire. Tom and Carol always discussed their various career moves before taking action. Tom enthusiastically stated he was all for her running. After more considerable thought on the part of Carol, she decided to run. Due partially to Carol’s own involvement in the destruction of the vast wine conspiracy and the strong endorsement of Sheriff Blane, Carol won by a significant margin. This decision to run had not come easily since both Tom and Carol wanted to start their own family.

With these two recent political victories, life got even better for Tom and Carol. These successes and their pleasant ranch made things seem like they were almost perfect. From time to time, Tom and Carol did continue to talk about starting a family. They both agreed that it seemed selfish of them not to share their good fortune with their own children; Carol would return to the subject of a family at least once a month. Tom would listen carefully, but Carol would opt out for their careers.

After another year of second thoughts about the family, Tom finally sat down with Carol and said, We shouldn’t wait any longer. We have sufficient money to hire any help we’d need. I’m sure you can take a leave of absence the critical months leading up to the delivery and recovery. Carol would always agree with Tom, but she would never quite commit to proceeding with the decision.

After another full year of discussion on the subject of kids, Carol finally agreed that they should start their family. She agreed with Tom that they could get started. She did, however, say to Tom that she was now forty years old and felt that her best childbearing years were drawing to a close. She asked Tom if he would object to adopting a needy child. Tom recalled that they had previously discussed this, and they both felt it would it would be good to provide a child a safe loving home that otherwise would not have one. Tom then spoke and said his male ego would probably cause him to sire his own children. Finally however, Tom said that he would give the matter serious consideration and probably have a decision the next month. With that final statement, they both agreed to give the matter that much time before they considered it again.

Chapter 2

Jamel Williams and Sabrina Wright lived together in Oakland, California. Sabrina had just recently delivered Robert Williams, now a six-month-old baby boy. Jamel and Sabrina were not legally married, but they were very much in love. Jamel, a twenty-two-year-old African American, had completed a three-year sentence for car theft and minor assault. He is strong and healthy with a slender, well-shaped body. He had gotten into trouble as a member of an African American gang. He had served his sentence and was determined to make a new life for himself.

Sabrina is a good-looking twenty-one-year-old African American. She had met Jamel about a year before he went to prison. During that time, she fell in love with him. She felt he was much more capable than living a life crime stealing cars. He had started to turn his life around when he and several gang brothers were caught in the process of committing a crime. He and his gang friends did not go down easily. One of them received a gunshot wound, and Jamel fought with two police officers until they tased him.

Sabrina remained faithful to Jamel while he was in prison. She visited him every time it was allowed. During those visits, she persuaded him to conduct himself well in prison. After serving two years with good conduct, he was paroled for his third year. It was during his parole that he met Terry Williams. Terry was a former felon who had formed a rescue group for young parolees.

Terry is built like an NFL linebacker at six foot five, weighing over 240 pounds. If it was not for his early involvement in crime, he could have played for almost any professional team. During his gang days, he was nicknamed the Bolt since he struck fast and no one knew where he was going to strike. Terry took Jamel under his wing personally and found him a job at a local supermarket. The gangs tried to recruit Jamel back into their groups, but Terry quickly put a stop to that. When the gangs learned that Terry was personally involved with Jamal, they quickly dropped their efforts. They didn’t want to get in the crosshairs of the Bolt.

Jamel and Sabrina would sit each night after dinner and talk about their future plans and their family. They would review each day and assess how those activities moved them closer to their goals. They would dream about Jamel’s financial potential and the new house they would own with Robert and perhaps a baby sister. Jamel told Sabrina that as soon as he felt he could provide for his family, they would get legally married. He said his entry-level job would do for the present, but he wanted to work hard and achieve a management position. He told her he had talked to his boss and learned that he agreed with him that he had good potential. The boss also told him that after one year with the company, he would be eligible for a college reimbursement program as long as it related to the retail food business. Under this program, his entire college expense would be paid by the company as long as he worked for them two years after graduation. Sabrina was thrilled when he told her this, and she shed tears of joy as the excitement cheered them both.

Chapter 3

One Friday night as Jamel finished dinner, Sabrina told him that they had to go to the store to buy baby food, diapers, and their food for the next week. Jamel responded that was fine because that day had been payday, and they were flushed again. He felt really good about having worked now for the store for nine months and providing for his family. Jamel and Sabrina climbed into the car that had been lent to them by Terry’s organization. It was a small car that had been donated to Terry’s group but was adequate for the limited trips needed to run around town. Sabrina fastened Robert into his backseat car seat, and they left for the store. They were the perfect picture of a young happy family.

The Williams family arrived at Jamel’s store and drove to the middle of the back parking lot. This lot was narrow, only two parking lanes wide with an entrance at both ends. The employees used this lot and enter the store through the back door. This entrance was also approved for their use when they wanted to purchase their own food.

Jamel was about to open the car door when he noticed a car parked at the far end of the lot. He stayed in the car and looked behind him. As he looked in that direction, he noticed another car at the other entrance. Instinctively, he told Sabrina to duck down, and he moved over to cover her with his body. Almost immediately, he felt and heard a noise as bullets tore into their little car. Jamel did not believe that anyone was after them, but they were in the line of fire between two rival gangs. The next thing they noticed was the sound of their car erupting with flashes as more bullets hit the front and back of their car. Jamel reacted by covering Sabrina completely with his body. He also worried about Robert, but there was no way he could rise up without being hit. He tried to calm Sabrina, but she cried out for Robert. Jamel held her down and prayed for their safety. As he covered her amid the danger, he reviewed their plans for the future and hoped that this was not the end. He had come too far to have everything evaporate like this.

Another round of bullets came even closer, and as he gripped Sabrina, he felt her shake and then go still. He reached for her back to push her even farther down and felt her warm blood escaping her body. He panicked and held her tightly, only to feel a very warm and sharp pain in his upper chest. As he started to weep for his loss, he realized that he had also been hit. He collapsed across her, and everything went dark.

It seemed like the gunfight lasted a long time, but in truth, it took only ten minutes. The Oakland police arrived fifteen minutes after the first shots were heard. By that time, both cars involved were gone. All that remained were nearly one hundred bullet casings and the badly ravaged little car that contained two apparently dead young people.

The first officer on the scene was horrified by the sight, but he went into his emergency-response mode when he noticed a small baby crying in the backseat. He immediately reached for his mike and called for the paramedics and someone from Child Protective Services. While he waited, he held and comforted the crying baby. This was the best he could do, having a baby about the same age himself.

Chapter 4

Tom Wall was sitting at his desk at home on his ranch. He was on a three-day legislative holiday and was using some of this time to call his favorite constituents. It was his custom to make these calls after he finished his ranch chores. After he had made ten calls, he sat at his desk thinking of other close friends he should call. As he did this, he remembered that he had not talked with his friend from his Oakland days, Terry Bolt Williams. He dialed Terry’s private number and was rewarded immediately by hearing Terry’s husky but warm voice.

Tom said hello to Terry and, as usual, asked him, What’s happ’ing? Terry responded, but sounded somewhat distracted.

Tom was not used to this type of reaction from the usually upbeat Terry, so he spoke back quickly and asked, What’s wrong? Terry told him what had happened to Jamel and Sabrina. Terry said he was heartbroken over their deaths since he had such high hopes for their future. He went on to say that he had taken a real personal interest in them and it was bearing fruit. He really felt that their progress was one of those rare times that their success was a justification of his reformed work.

Tom asked if there was anything he could do to help. Terry answered that the police were investigating, but so far, they had no solid leads. He also said he appreciated Tom’s offer and said he would keep him posted of any progress that was made. Tom told Terry he was so very sorry for the loss and would use all of his influence and contacts when Terry gave the word. Terry thanked his old friend and assured him that he was going to find the responsible parties since they knew they should not mess with any of his people.

Terry closed the call by informing Tom that there was a six-month baby boy survivor. He was doubly sorry for this tragedy since the baby was under the supervision of Child Protective Services. He lamented to Tom that it looked like this baby would grow up as another ward of the social service system. He was not pleased with this prospect since too often, it just continued the cycle of crime or poverty or both. On that unhappy prospect, they both said good bye and repeated that they’d stay in touch.

Chapter 5

Tom and Carol were finishing dinner that same Saturday night when Tom talked with Terry. Tom told Carol about the unfortunate death of the young couple. He explained that they left a six-month-old baby who was unharmed in the shooting. He relayed how Terry had sadly noted that the baby would probably be raised in foster homes and would not likely turn out to be a productive adult. Tom explained how Terry had almost been in tears over what had happened to the young parents and what would become of the child. Terry had been personally involved with them and felt their success would greatly justify his life’s work. He could refer to them as they progressed and use them as people who beat the odds of their environment. Both Tom and Carol agreed that Terry and his thirty-five other dedicated brothers were performing miracles by saving lives with their work.

Tom and Carol took their desserts out on their porch to finish dinner, watching the sunset. After they sat for a while, Carol looked at Tom and asked what was going to happen to the little boy. Tom replied that both he and Terry did not have much confidence in the social service system. They had seen too many of these kids, especially from minority races, fail badly as adults. The lack of real family life is hard enough in a normal minority family, but very difficult with crowded foster homes with children being moved from one to another every several years. Carol reminded Tom that more than once, they had discussed the possibility of adopting a child that otherwise might not have a chance at a real loving family.

Tom replied, We have discussed this more than once. Maybe we should call Terry and see if they might adopt this small baby. Tom said he’d call Terry in the morning and see if this would work for everyone. They gathered their dishes and went inside, ready to start their new challenge.

The next morning, even though it was Sunday, Tom called Terry. When Terry answered, Tom told about him and Carol’s discussion. As he explained their plans, he asked Terry to be honest with how he felt about their adoption of an African American boy.

Terry responded, Thank goodness! This type of mixed adoption is becoming quite common. Terry said he would be pleased to help them start the process. In fact, he told he would arrange a meeting with Child Protective Services the very next day. During that meeting, they could see the cute little boy and initiate the rather involved paperwork. Terry also advised that with his contacts, he could arrange for temporary custody of the child in two weeks. Terry went on to caution that the whole process could take from six months to one year to complete. During that time, they might become quite attached to the baby and may have to give him up.

Tom answered that concern by saying that if they wanted the child, that was a risk they were willing to take. They felt that even if it didn’t work out, the child would be better off during that time. Tom concluded his call by thanking Terry and saying that they would come to Oakland anytime Terry could arrange their first meeting.

Chapter 6

By eleven thirty Monday morning, Tom and Carol were in the Oakland office of Child Protective Services. Terry introduced them to a matronly looking African American woman that could have been anyone’s grandmother. Mary Rego was probably nearing retirement at around fifty years old. Her hair was cut stylishly short. She weighed about 190 pounds and radiated a serious, but pleasant demeanor. Whenever she was referred to or addressed, her facial expression warmed considerably.

Mary greeted them but in a somewhat bureaucratic manner. She said there would have not been such a rapidly established meeting if it weren’t for her sweetheart Terry who requested a favor. She confirmed that Terry and his band of brothers were accomplishing great things. Their service to the African American Oakland community was outstanding, and his opinion was held in high regard. Mary rose from her desk and said, Let’s not waste time on any paperwork until we see if little Robert likes you. With that said, all three of them proceeded with Mary in the lead.

After riding in the elevator up two floors, they arrived at a very antiseptic room. The room contained about twenty cribs. There were two attendants working with some of the children at the end of the room. They smiled at Mary and her group. Mary waved back and took her group to crib number 15. The name under the crib number was written in marker pen letters and announced Robert Williams, six months. The crib contained the typical playthings you would expect to find. It also contained a happy little baby lying on his back waving his arms and legs. He was cleanly dressed and had the fragrance of a clean little boy.

Mary reached in and picked up little Robert. He immediately clung to Mary and seemed very content. Mary then held him up and showed him to her three visitors. Almost immediately, the visitors melted. He was a very cute baby. He had big brown eyes and a well-shaped head with the beginning of a fluffy top. Then Mary, without saying a word, handed the baby to Carol. Since Carol had been raised among cousins and her siblings, holding a baby came naturally to her. Little Robert reacted immediately by clinging closely to Carol. He put his little hands on her face and seemed to bond strongly. Tom then took his turn with Robert, and that closed the deal. Both Carol and Tom looked at each other and said they wanted Robert!

The initial meeting with Robert took about fifteen minutes. Mary placed him back in the crib and gave him a pacifier. He was a happy little camper. They all waved goodbye to the attendants and returned to Mary’s office.

After they sat down, she asked, What do you think of little Robert Williams?

Carol and Tom tripped all over each other’s answer, but it soon became clear to Mary that they enthusiastically wanted Robert. Mary sighed. Well, your enthusiasm counts, you seem sincere. If we all agree, the four of us, we’ll initiate the process. Terry told me that you would be very interested in temporary custody within two weeks. That is a pretty big order, but since both of you have been in law enforcement, the background checks will be expedited. We do require a home visit, and we can set that up for next Monday at 3:00 p.m. Terry and I will conduct the home visit. Mary shook Tom’s and Carol’s hands, hugged Terry, and said, We’ll see each other next Monday at 3:00 p.m.

Tom and Carol were almost in a daze as they drove back to Napa. They were already in love with little Robert. They really wanted him now, and they would do everything in their power to see this process through successfully. Tom then mentioned that he had a very busy four days left in Sacramento, but he’d be home by the weekend and make sure the ranch was in top shape. Carol replied that it would be a labor of love for her and it would help make the week fly by more quickly.

Chapter 7

Tom opened his office on Tuesday morning before his staff even arrived. He read his mail and then checked his e-mail. Among the e-mails were several contacts from Senator Bob Powers. Tom was somewhat surprised to see these messages from the senator since he was a Democrat who was chairman of the agricultural affairs committee. Tom was just a junior member of the senate and a member of the opposite party. Bob Powers was a very formidable figure around the capitol with over twenty years of service in the legislature. Bob had beaten the term-limit laws because twelve years of his service predated the effective date of the new limits. Undoubtedly, he would even be appointed to a plush commission position after his current term expired and then run again when sufficient time had elapsed for a new set of terms. Bob Powers is a career politician. Tom was impressed that this man wanted to talk to him.

By the time Tom had finished the mail, his chief of staff, Jim Cummings, came through the door to his office. Jim greeted Tom cheerfully and said, "It