A Family's Deception
A JAKE OLIVER MYSTERY
by
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The paneled van traveled along the dusty road, its headlights piercing the darkness in front of it. The night was exceptionally cool for that time of year and the moon was hidden by the overcast clouds making it darker than normal. The short stubby ice plants that lined the hillside road were coated in dust. Rain had not graced this high desert area for over a month.
If the sky was clear, the occupants of the van would have been dazzled by the brilliant display of stars, particularly visible in this area of Southern California. But the two men in the front seat were not interested in the stars or the weather. Their interest was only with the individual they had abducted earlier that evening from the resort, now 30 miles away. A man, bound, blindfolded and gagged, was laying on the floor in the back of the vehicle and continued to strain against the rope lashed around his hands and feet. Although the struggle seemed futile, the man’s strong will and determination remained constant, which appeared to amuse his captors.
Marco’s mind raced with questions. What could these men possibly want with me? Who was behind this action? Will I be alive in the next hour? His thoughts were interrupted when the van came to sudden stop. He then heard his abductors walk to the back of the van and open the rear doors. The dust from the dry dirt outside the van quickly engulfed Marco, causing him to cough violently as his eyes watered behind the blindfold. He was harshly grabbed and pulled from the vehicle, carried a short distance and then thrown to the ground. Then his blindfold and gag were removed. The bright glare of the van’s headlights blinded him and he turned his head away until his eyes adjusted and he quickly looked around to get some bearing on his location. He surmised that he was somewhere east of La Murata in the foothills, given the drought resistance scrubs he recognized from frequent hikes with his father when he was a boy. What concerned him was that there were no lights in sight in any direction and, with the cloud cover he could not even use the stars to determine what direction he was facing. These men obviously wanted privacy and the purpose of this privacy was what concerned him most!
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About the Book
A FAMILY’S DECEPTION is set at an 80 year old resort in Southern California where Jake Oliver and his family encounter organized crime, unexplained supernatural phenomenon, and murder linked to events that started with two immigrant brothers, the founders of the resort, whose wealth, power and corruption led to anger, hostility and murder that carried on from generation to generation splitting the Palermo dynasty in two.
About the Author
To assure a true sense of realism, the character of Jake Oliver nearly parallels that of Stanton Jacobs’ own career with over 34 years working in the lodging and hospitality industry in the United States and internationally. Throughout his career he has encountered many unique challenges and unexpected mysteries at each of the hotels and resorts that he has managed. He published his first novel Voyage of Deception in 2003, and just like this novel, the reader will identify with the main character, Jake Oliver, and the colorful characters that will keep you guessing throughout.
Jacobs began his career in hospitality while obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Indiana University School of Business. Jacobs career has included operating hotels and resorts across the country including large convention hotels, exclusive resorts, health spas and, of course, historic grand hotels full of rich heritage, each with a special story to tell. Later as a senior manager of a large international hotel brand, he supervised a team of directors providing support to hotels globally and now operates his own company providing marketing and operational support to the hospitality industry globally.
Awarded the designation of Certified Hotel Administrator, CHA, through the American Hotel & Lodging Association, recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who, and Strathmore’s Who’s Who for his professional leadership, Jacobs has served as past president of multiple industry related organizations and provides support in educating others interested in the hospitality industry. He resides in Indiana with his wife and two daughters.