Corruption in Paradise

By Sandi Circle

In book 2 of The Beach Mystery series, Sophia and Luke continue their mission to dismantle the entire crime organization on Paradise Island. Can they end the human trafficking, extortion, and drug ring? It may come with a price if they do. Luke is ready to do whatever it takes to end the business his father started all those years ago, but will he be the one who sacrifices?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandi Circle
• Release date: Apr 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310132971

Book preview

Corruption In Paradise

By Sandi Circle

For more information on Sandi Circle Books

Or to read other titles,

Go to

My Web-site

Sandicirclebooks.wix.com/beach

Danger at the Beach-Book 1

Corruption in Paradise-Book 2

Stalker on the Sand- Book 3

Corruption in Paradise (Beach Mystery Series- Book 2)

Copyright 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without prior written approval by the publisher.

Dedication

To my Family

You are my whole life and I love you all very much.

Love, Your Wife, Mom, MawMaw, Daughter, Sister, or Aunt

… you know who you are!

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Epilogue

Prologue

Accepting a challenge is an empowering feeling. It instantly sets your future in a way that is irrefutable. It puts your life on a path that vindicates all the injustices that overwhelm this world both personally and for all humanity.

A powerful society has grown to unbelievable heights and also down into the depths of depravity. Some of the ones responsible for this wickedness have departed this world, but others have risen to take up the task. The extent of this group is far reaching and influential. It will not be an easy assignment, but the gauntlet had been thrown down and accepted, so the future is set. Luke just has to decide how he is going to attack this beast and take it down for good.

To destroy a criminal organization of this size will take determination, strength, and perseverance. This will not be a task for the weak at heart or the squeamish. This will be a journey that will save the lives of thousands, but destroy many in the process. Which side of the battle will be victorious…?

Chapter 1

Sophia walked along the beautiful white beach with the crystal blue water in this tropical paradise she was now calling home. She had on her typical beachwear as of late, with a colorful sarong tied around her hips. She was literally on Paradise Island. She came here with Luke and the rest of the team to investigate the disappearance of five women from this area. They were successful in locating them and safely executing a rescue with the help of a local police detective and her colleagues.

The problem now was how to take down the organized crime syndicate responsible for that incident along with all the illegal activities going on in this tropical paradise. That is why they decided to stay. After Luke learned the truth about his father being the head of that organization he felt it was his responsibility to destroy it. He just had to figure out how.

Until then, Sophia had a few days to relax and re-group. She gave her kids a call and told them of her plans to stay on the island and offered an open ended invitation for them to visit. They were all grown and had families of their own, so Sophia knew it would be difficult for them to get away, but she would still love to see her grandchildren. Until then, they could call and video chat to keep in touch.

Deciding to take a break, Sophia sat down on a comfortable lounge chair under a magnificent palm tree and stretched her arms above her head. The nearby tiki bar had a soft island beat playing which sounded like a steel drum and a guitar. The flowered palms swayed in the breeze seemingly along with the music. It was soothing and relaxing and Sophia drifted off into a nice peaceful nap. She really was in her happy place.

Sophia awoke to the sounds of girls giggling and chatting. ‘Hey you guys!" she said smiling, instantly recognizing them as a couple of the girls they had rescued from the yacht, in the last investigation. They had become close over the last several days and it was nice to see them laughing. Christina was still visiting her mother in Texas and Bella had left with her Dad to go back to France, but Lea and Susanna were still working at the resort.

Hey, Sophia! Lea said as she plopped down on a lounge chair next to Sophia. Did you have a good nap?

Always, answered Sophia yawning. It’s a beautiful day for the beach. What are you guys doing? You both off work?

Yes, thank goodness! replied Susanna amused. In the hospital after the rescue Susanna named Sophia her un-official ‘Aunt’, so Sophia felt pretty protective of her. She was only 18 and Sophia wanted to make sure she had someone she could count on since all her family was in Sweden.

We’re just out for a day of sun and cocktails, Leah said with a smile as she waved over a waiter.

Well, be careful and don’t stay out on the beach too late, ok? Sophia told them caringly.

We won’t, we learned our lesson about being on the beach at the wrong time. Lea declared.

Good, I’m glad to hear it, Sophia replied then smiled. Hey, order me a strawberry margarita will ya?

Make that two! Susanna spoke up. Let’s grab some towels and head out into the sun. It’s just delightful, isn’t it? There are some chairs over there. Care to swim with me Aunt Sophia?

Sure, sounds great. Sophia answered while picking up her things and walking toward the other chairs. Lea came up behind them with their drinks and some delicious shrimp appetizers. They all settled in to a relaxing afternoon. Sophia better take advantage of the beach while she could.

Chapter 2

It has been a week since Luke and his investigative team found the missing women from Paradise Island. The excitement of the operation was finally dying down and they could start processing their next mission.

They were set up back in the conference room at The Paradise Resort with a cleared off table and a clean dry erase board. All of the evidence from the last investigation was packed up and given to Laura Hart, the police detective in charge of that case. They would have enough proof to put some people in jail for quite a while. Unfortunately that didn’t apply to Kyle Kaloni, the leader of the organization. He was killed during the raid on his yacht where the five women in the trafficking case were being held. The problem is that Kyle’s organization is a much bigger operation than just the human trafficking side of the business. It would be a great accomplishment to bring down the entire crime ring.

Luke, Sophia, Ava, and David were all assembled once again and ready to begin. They knew they had a long road ahead of them, but were prepared for whatever came their way.

OK, gang, Luke began. He was the organizer of the team, and also signed all the paychecks. Where do we start?

Am I to understand that the goal is to take down the entire organized crime syndicate on this island? asked David, a longtime friend and colleague of Luke.

Well, actually David, Luke clarified. The goal is to take down the entire syndicate on this island along with any supporting operations around the world.

Oh, well if that’s all, David said sarcastically then laughed.

Look, I know it’s a big undertaking, Luke responded. But we can do this, and we have the New Providence Police task force that Laura set up that can help us in any way we need. Since Laura issued me a PI license we will have more authority to research and investigate anyone we want. I want to shut this whole thing down. Just knowing that my father was instrumental in developing this business makes me sick and I want it destroyed from the ground up. If it takes me the rest of my life I will see this through. My father made me a very wealthy man when he died a few years ago, and knowing that money came from this business is revolting. I want to use his money to dismantle his entire network. That would be a fitting retribution I think. Don’t you?

Hey, I agree one hundred percent, Luke, David told him. As I’m sure Sophia and Ava do as well.

Of course. We support whatever you want to do, Sophia exclaimed as Ava whole-heartedly agreed.

Ok, then I ask again, where do we start? Luke repeated.

As always, let’s start at the beginning and list what we already know, David suggested as he got up and picked up a dry erase marker to write on the board. According to Kyle Kaloni, your Dad, Lawrence Dalton, was the founder of this organization, correct?

That’s right, answered Luke.

Right, and he is deceased, David replied as he was writing that information at the top of the board and putting an ‘X’ through his name. I’m sorry, Luke, he said after realizing how that might have looked.

No, it’s ok David, Luke replied. I’ve come to terms with how this will involve my Dad and I’m ok with whatever we need to do. So, Kyle took over when my Dad passed away," Luke said as David wrote that name under Lawrence’s.

Correct, and he is also deceased, said Sophia and David drew an ‘X’ through his name as well.

Under Kyle was Luther Black on the trafficking side of the business, Ava spoke up, and he is in prison.

David wrote Luther’s name off to the side under Kyle to leave room for anyone else they might find. Should I ‘X’ him out? He’s basically out of commission, right?

Yes, I think that’s safe to say he won’t be involved in this anytime soon. Luke replied, so David crossed him out too.

What about Michael Clayton and Clark Allen? asked David. They were employees of Luther’s that were paid to help.

They are in jail also, said Luke. I don’t think we need them listed, but put a question mark under Luther. We need to go back through every employee in that security building and make sure there isn’t anyone still loyal to that group.

Good idea, Sophia said with a smile at Luke. Sophia was Luke’s girlfriend, even though he was her boss. She’s had a crush on him ever since he first hired her years ago at a newspaper they both worked at. It took a trip to paradise, and Sophia being in great danger, for Luke to realize he couldn’t live without her.

Girlfriend is such a juvenile word for what they share. That word suggests a female companion or platonic friend, not the romantic bond that holds them together. They have been through a lot lately and even though the ‘L’ word hasn’t been used, they have affirmed to a committed relationship.

Thanks, Luke smiled back.

Ok lovebirds! David laughed. Get back in the game. He said as they all giggled. Is there anyone else we can add to the board?

Unfortunately, other than the guards on the boat who are in jail, we never met anyone else from the organization, Luke answered. Start a new heading for the Ocean Club, though. We know they have one account that paid for financing a building at this resort and also for plane tickets to get two witnesses out of the way.

Ok, said David who made that notation on the board. They are a pretty big corporation; it may take a while for us to crack that nut.

"Yeah,