The Iron Maiden
By
Sherrill L Homes
This is a story of personal triumph over inner demons, and public evil. The best and the worst that can be found in a woman; selflessness and selfishness as it is manifested in the “fairest sex “ and exposed and depicted in it’s rawest form, without a veneer, for the world to see.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Synopsis
2. Marketing
3. Promotion
4. About the Author
5. List of Chapters, chapter-by-chapter Summaries
6. Sample Chapters
SYNOPSIS
Dr. Catalina Steel has always been an overachiever; she is a graduate of the University of Miami US delegation in Cuba US
It was an emotional departure, her mother and relatives were all there crying and whishing her well. When she arrived at the Kendall Camp for refugees in Florida on August 31, 1961, she arrived alone and, frighten shortly after arrival she was sent along with five other girls to an orphanage in -Wilmington , Del. and remained there for two years, her mother-Carolina Steel arrived in the USA Miami Wichita , Kansas Wichita where she finished my grade school in St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Madonna/Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita Miami
This would be a case of intrigue, suspense, scandal, and unresolved crimes of kidnapping and murder, that would challenge Catalina Steel’s skills.
It starts in Miami and then follows a twisting route through the Caribbean, South America as well as the small town in Kansas
Other friends assist her-- carefree , a former police officer and a doctor, the chief medical examiner of the city of Miami as well as friends from her youth.
Although not a doorstopper, its 300 pages are full of fun, facts, and forensics.
I like Mark like a thick book too.
"I like a thick book because it will steady a table, a leather volume to strop a razor and a heavy book to throw at the cat."
PLOT
Caty Steel takes on the case of the Spanish consul’s daughter. Caty had found her badly beaten and lying in front of her office steps. Her daughter had been abducted by a couple while she pushed her daughter in a stroller through her Coral Gable neighborhood. At first appearance, it is a case of kidnapping, but as she delves into the case, Caty learns that there is a great deal more behind the adduction. International intrigue, mysterious murders, and global financial crimes are all interwoven in the plot. The setting is Miami
SUB PLOTS
Love interests of Caty disrupt her professional life, and she then has to very all aspects of her life in order to achieve balance, an equilibrium that will help her maintain her sanity. Her strained relations with her mother aggravate the situation. She struggles with a debilitating ailment that she must constantly monitor so it those not debilitate her when she least expects it.
Catalina Steel, Sally Stone, Margarita Smart, were all school chums at ---- there last names had thrown them together in the same aisle at school, the relationships had started off on a rocky road, but as they began to know each other their friend ship and respect for each other grew. The alliance would help them solve some of the most obscure and old cold cases in Dade County
Side stories add to the main story and propel the action while revealing and unfolding details of each character’s personality. They are entertaining stand-alone stories that help develop the plot and give depth to the characters.
BOOK DETAILS
- The story has been completed.
- The book has 30 chapters; detailed descriptions are in the attached pages.
- 300 single spaced pages double spaced pages
- 4 table of contents pages,
- There are three major protagonists, four major antagonists
- Over 20 minor characters
- Many locations provide the setting backdrop for the scenes, mainly
Miami andSouth Florida , but there also trips to exotic foreign places. - There are 90,000 words of text.
- This is a copyrighted manuscript. filed on ---3/--/11
- The first 50 + pages are attached
- The entire manuscript is on disk it can be accessed through a password. If an interest is developed
Detail of main characters and plot description
The protagonist is a crime investigator, an immigrant from a foreign land. She is attorney and d a doctor.
Catalina Steel
Conchita Castillo-her assistant
Sally Stone- Assistant district attorney
Margarita Smart- Attorney at a large Miami
Shawna Martinez- Reporter at the Herald
Beatrice de Baptist –Physiologist
Othello de Baptist – Coroner and forensics expert of Miami Dade county
Ignacio Montoya –Deceive with the Pen brook Pines Fl. police department
Eddie Montoya- Ignacio’s brother, bounty hunter, and bon vivant.
Musico Atanas –S. Florida developer and broker for terrorists, smugglers, and lowlifes of all sorts.
Esmeralda Gutierrez – International consultant and associate of Atanas.
Alejandro Fortuna-Consular general for the Spanish government in Miami Florida
Alejandra Fortuna -The counsel’s daughter
Manuel De La Pena –Alejandra’s husband
Mei Ling Cho - Member of the S Florida Tong, “The Association of Professional Chinese Women, and suspected head of the all female Chinese Triad. The Red Dragon Madams.
The main antagonists are:
Musico Atanas –S. Florida developer and broker for terrorists, smugglers, and lowlifes of all sorts.
Esmeralda Gutierrez – International consultant and associate of Atanas
It is a contemporary story addressing some of todays
The book is perfect for a long plane ride or while waiting at the terminal.
Readers will want to read on, there is a short guided tour of some of Miami ’s and South Florida comfort food restaurants, some good Cuban menu items, for when you visit. Good food is savored, good beer is drunk. The background is there without it being intrusive of the plot. And without it being a non scheduled and unwanted trip, that distracts from the adventure, and the true reason a reader would buy this book, and that is because it is a pleasurable entertaining experience and a true mystery, with little fluff, focused on the plot and the characters while laughing through it.
The story is full of interesting facts about forensic science, the nature of poisons, (toxins and venoms, and there is a difference) and many other surprising and interesting areas. It tries to be informative but most importantly entertaining. It tries to provide a plot that is of interest to those wishing to solve a mystery while it breaks up the quest for the answers with humor.
There are stories within stories not to add pages but so the reader can understand the characters attitude towards life and to help them see the past histories of these characters and why they are as they are.
The ending with Castillo’s deductions as to who the killer or killers are and how he was able to determine this, is detailed for the reader to evaluate and enjoy. You will find this part surprising, with a hint of the Sherlock Holmes’s element of surprise that all readers of mysteries love.
MARKETING AND TARGET AUDIENCE
This book is aimed at fans who relish a good criminal mystery about current events and true stories about strong professional women, and the perils of does that remain weak in our society Fans that enjoy a story of intrigue, rising suspense, and occasional humor to lighten the very serious situations they find themselves in
It is also aimed at those who whish to learn about the recent history of Miami and the international crimes that only occurred and this modern “Casablanca ” of the Caribbean .
The story is an adventure where friend’s help each other thru trying times, there combined strength helps them overcome any obstacle. It is original, current, funny, different, and educational with a surprise, well developed ending it has detailed examination of the crimes with verifiable support to all the assumptions the protagonist makes. The personal interactions are real and emotional the story is a virtual “party favor” for the mind.
PROMOTION
The book has been promoted through blogs,
Facebook, Twitter, and the author’s associations
Web Page “Writers-Blocks5000” (under construction)
Attached are chapter descriptions followed by the introductory first chapter with the first 50 pages, if you find you would like to hear more please let me know.
Next, you will find brief Author bio.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Catalina resides in South Florida . Her experience as a
Certified Fraud Examiner has spanned over 20 years.
His profession requires her to investigate crimes economic crimes that invariable lead to other crimes.
CHAPTER TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter description
PREFACE
Author’s foreword
PROLOGUE
Brief description and history of the protagonist, her origins, and some of life’s situations that influenced her.
CHAPTER 1 THE CONSULS’ DAUGHTER
A young woman appears on Catalina’s door; she has been badly beaten and is barely coherent.
CHAPTER 2 KIDNAPPING AND RANSOM
Catalina explores the crime of kidnapping from its earliest history to the current case.
CHAPTER 3 THE PROFESSIONAL
Background on her professional experiences and the case that is unfolding before her.
CHAPTER 4 RELATIONSHIPS
Catalina’s relationship with men, her mother and childhood friends is explored.
CHAPTER 5 TRADING IN HUMAN CARGO
She explores Miami
CHAPTER 6 LEGALLY DEAD
Catalina looks into the status of missing persons
CHAPTER 7 TACT AND DIPLOMACY
A visit to the Spanish counsel’s office for a talk with the father
CHAPTER 8 INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE
Catalina discovers a possible connection to the Spanish government and other international entities that relate to her case
CHAPTER 9 MIAMI
Catalina pursues leads that take her to the mobs head quartets in Miami
CHAPTER 10 FORENSICS
The discovery of children’s bodies, provides additional leads to Catalina
CHAPTER 11 BODY BROKER
Unusual goings on at a mortuary and private hospital provide further leads
CHAPTER 12 A HARVEST OF EVIL
A shocking discovery is made
CHAPTER 13 ENTOMOLOGY
Leads are provided by the smallest of allies
CHAPTER 14 SMUGGLING OF PARTS
An international connection is made
CHAPTER 15 GENERAL TAO’S CHICKENS
The Chinese head of the military proves to be a major participant
CHAPTER 16 PREDATORS
A sinister alliance among various groups is unearthed
CHAPTER 17 THE SISTERHOOD
Friends come to the rescue
CHAPTER 18 THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS
The coordinator of these insalubrious associations is revealed
CHAPTER 19 THE TRIADS
Local Miami Chinese gangs play a part
CHAPTER 20 A VISIT OF OLD MEMORIES
Travel to childhood places provide comfort and revelations
CHAPTER 21 ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Catalina turns the tables and pursues her now prey
CHAPTER 22 THE TRAIL IS LIT
More and more the events preceding the abduction are integrated and a clearer picture is developed
CHAPTER 23 THE MAN IN HER LIFE RETURNS
A man she knew and had been in love with returns to her life after a long absence
CHAPTER 24 Complications abound
The evil doers strike back
CHAPTER 25 BETRAYAL
Someone within her close circle of confidants betrays her trust
CHAPTER 26 TH LABYRINTH
The action heightens as she enters the lair of her enemies
CHAPTER 27 SURVIVAL
Catalina fights for her friends and the chills and for her own survival
CHAPTER 28 PETIMENTO
The pealing back of layers
CHAPTER 29 REVELATIONS
An epiphany and surprising facts disclose
CHAPTER 30 THE UNTHINKABLE
Man’s inhumanity to man reaches a new low
EPILOGUE
Resolution and conclusion of the case
THE IRON MAIDEN
The Iron Maiden is a work of fiction.
Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of
the authors fertile imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
Registration No. TXu 1-683-571
Copyright © 2010 by E R C a
WritersBlocks company
WritersBlocks company
All rights reserved
ISBN –NOT YET ASSIGNED
LCCN --NYA
Original author
Sherrill L Homes
A WRITERS’ BLOCKS WORK
PREFACE
AUTHOR'S FOREWORD
Catalina Steel takes on the case of the Spanish counselor’s daughter. Caty had found her badly beaten and lying in front of her office steps. Her daughter had been abducted by an American couple while she pushed her daughter in a stroller through her Coral Gable neighborhood. At first appearance, it is a case of kidnapping, but as she delves into the case, Caty learns that there is a great deal more behind the adduction. International intrigue, mysterious murders, and global financial crimes are all interwoven in the plot. The setting is Miami
Love interests of Caty disrupt her professional life, and she then has to way all aspects of her life in order to achieve balance, an equilibrium that will help her maintain her sanity. Her strained relations with her mother aggravate the situation. She struggles with a debilitating ailment that she must constantly monitor so it those not debilitate her when she least expects it.
This would be a case of intrigue, suspense, scandal, and unresolved crimes of kidnapping and murder, that would challenge Catalina Steel’s skills.
It starts in Miami and then follows a twisting route through the Caribbean, South America as well as a small city in Kansas
PROLOGUE
Dr. Catalina Steel has always been an overachiever; she is a graduate of the University of Miami US delegation in Cuba US
It was an emotional departure, her mother and relatives were all there crying and whishing her well. When she arrived at the Kendall Camp for refugees in Florida on August 31, 1961, she arrived alone and, frighten shortly after arrival she was sent along with five other girls to an orphanage in -Wilmington , Del. and remained there for two year her mother-Carolina Steele arrived in the USA Her sister Alicia Hernandez arrived in Miami Wichita , Kansas Wichita where she finished my grade school in St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Madonna/Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita Miami
She was a beautiful woman with raven black shinning hair and large piercing almond shaped green eyes; her body had flowing lines and curves with pleasing proportions. She had a clear identity, with a strong sense of character. Her total being was an accumulation of exquisite details; a combination of them along with their synergy comprised her beauty. Of course, a true assessment of beauty ultimately remains in the eye of the beholder, yet its truest manifestations always seem to elicit unanimous praise and approval, which her beauty most surely did. You can look far and wide to choose among the most beautiful women, and you will find that Catalina fell in that category. The fact that classical beauty is held most highly is no great surprise and she was indeed a standout of classical beauty. She is the type of woman that when she walked into a room, would immediately elicited attention and raise eyebrows. Men adored her, they agonized to possess her, they lusted for her, while women admired and envied her.
She had remarkably long legs, she was tall and voluptuous, her body combined all the alluring traits a man longs for in a woman, and women long to embody. Her mind was powered by a keen intellect that solved problems at lightning speed, her kind eyes, and kind personality made her endearing. She dressed with impeccable taste; indeed, she was refined yet approachable. She was bodacious and uninhibited; she deserved to be included in Miami
Her introduction to society at the governor’s ball, when she was twenty-one, created a sensation, propelling her into the public’s eye. Ever since then her career has had a meteoric rise. But even with all the adulation she feels empty and decides to venture on her own and open her own firm to help women that have not been as fortunate._______________
sample chapter
ACT 1 A crime occurs, the process is set in motion while the trail is followed, and the chaise ensues.
CHAPTER 1 THE CONSUL’S DAUGHTER
SCENE 1 Welcome to America
On her first day at the new office she finds a woman laying on the floor in front of her office door, the woman has been badly beaten, her face is battered and blood flows from a deep gash on her forehead, she is moaning and murmuring some words that Catalina can’t make out. Caty leans closer but the words are just mumbles , she bends down and places her ear near the woman’s mouth…”They took her… they took my baby “
“Who? Asks Caty.”
“Gringos, the gringos took my baby!”
Caty took the woman in and asked her name “Alejandra …Alejandra Fortuna.
She helps her unto the couch, brings her a glass of water and a towel, badge to swab, and dress her wound.
Alejandra was a pretty, twenty five year old with dark brown hair and brown eyes; she had been educated in America and Switzerland
She went on to describe that mornings events that had lead her to Catalina’s doorstep. “I was pushing my daughter stroller down a path, when suddenly I felt someone rushing from behind, as I turned some one hit me, I fell and looked up and saw a man and a woman, they hit me and kicked me repeatedly, and then I passed out. When I woke up I remembered a a friend of mine had mentioned your name, she said you had an agency that helped women in need and that you had an office nearby so I walked over when I was feeling better, but then I must have collapsed again.”
Caty examined her and noting a lump on the back of her head, she then treated her as though she had a concoction, as she probably did. “I think when your feeling a little better we better go to the nearest hospital and have you examined more thoroughly. “
“Did you get a look at either one, can you describe them?”
“Yes, the woman, she was dressed as in a nanny’s uniform, that I could tell… her eyes ….they were “felinos”
“You mean feline.”
“Yes, cat like, golden yellow, her pupils…their shape… they were even thin and vertically oval like those of a cat. A stern evil look I so in them, she had dark red hair and a strong chin, high cheeks. That’s all that I could distinguish, and is all I remember, I think I could recognize her again if I saw her because she made such a strong impression.” The man, I can’t describe … I only saw his face briefly, he was average looking …wait yes, he had a scar on his right cheek, down from his right eye to the edge of his mouth that I can recall.
“What about height, or weight?”
“No I’m sorry but did have time it all happened so fast.”
“Ms. Fortuna, tell me do you know of anyone that would want to hurt you?”
“No, no one.” ….call me Alejandra please.
“Tell me a little about yourself, and where have you been the last few hours?’
“I am the daughter of Alejandro Fortuna chief Consul at the Spanish Consulate in Miami Miami only a few months, after finishing school I married and my father had asked that my husband and I come visit him in Miami
“It’s possible that this is a kidnapping for money, if it is they will be sending a ransom note wit their demands. After we make our visit to the hospital we’ll take a ride over to my friend’s office Enrique, hi’s an FBI inspector.”
“But what if that puts my daughter in danger!”
“Enrique is the best, an expert in his field, and he’ll make sure nothing happens to your daughter, that’s always his main concern the safety of the child. “
“I may have to talk to my father and husband first, you know that there may be diplomatic issues that will affect me speaking to the local and national authorities of your country. I tried contacting them first but could not reach them, they are always in meetings and turn of there cell phones.”
“Well you can try again before we go to the hospital”.
“So tell me where have you been the past few hours, does your father have any enemies? What does your husband do, where does he work, do you work? I’d like to get an over view of your relationships, and resent places you have visited, later when you feel better we can go more in depth. I don’t want to keep you long; we should be heading to the hospital.”
“Well, I went for a stroll as I always do in the morning went it’s cool, but first stopped to get some coffee at a little Cuban coffee shop near the park, then I walked across the street straight to the park as I always do, and got on the little path. I always walk the entire park in a circle returning to the spot were I started I could almost sense someone following me but when I looked back there was no one.”
Do you have a picture of your daughter?
Yes, it’s in my wallet, they did not rob me, they only took Adriana.
She started crying uncontrollably as she reached for her purse.
“She is beautiful” Catalina said, “How old is she?”
“She’s six months old.”
I’m going to make a copy if you don’t mind, tell me how id you know they were American.
Well they had no discernable accent, and they looked American, so I just assumed.
Did they say anything?
“Yes, she seemed to be giving the orders, she said ‘take the carriage to the car, I’ll deal with her,’ or something like that.”
“How about possible enemies of your father, husband or the royal family?”
“My father has no personal enemies, but his job may attract some, like Basque separatists for instance, perhaps my mother has some for the same reasons, but not my husband.”
As they spoke Conchita Castillo Caty’s assistant was walking in. She was a short affable woman, around twenty two , a fun loving quick witted spitfire that was Caty’s right hand gal, after introductions and agreeing that it would be best go to the hospital first and then meet with Alejandra’s father, they would decide on a strategic plan on how to get her daughter back safe and sound.
After a short visit at the hospital where a cat scan was performed, Alejandra was released._____________
ACT 1 A crime occurs, the process is set in motion while the trail is followed, and the chaise ensues.
CHAPTER 1 THE CONSUL’S DAUGHTER
SCENE 2 The Spanish Consulate
Alejandro Fortuna, or Alex as he liked to be called, had telephoned to discuss the investigation of his granddaughter’s disappearance. and mentioned that he wanted to discuss the investigation with Catalina. Catalina decided to accompany Alejandra and visit the Consul General's residency, Alejandro Fortuna was at his office at the corselet, which was also his home. Alejandra’s husband had been informed but could not be present as he was on a business trip, he cut it short the trip and was on his way back to the U.S.
Alex was a lawyer and successful businessman back in Spain before he was made counselor of Spain to the U.S.A. Miami
The mansion had Carrara
Next on the tour were the sculptures and statues, Picasso drawings and Wilfredo Lam oil painting. Catalina recognized it because her grandfather, a Basque immigrant back in Cuba had one of the San Sebastian coastline and the Bay of Biscay hung by the bar. This was a realistic painting, before Lam started painting modern abstractions. Catalina had discussed the painting’s dimensions and detail with a dealer at a Miami art show and found out that it was probably worth more than half a million dollars, even more if sold through an auction house, some place like Sotheby’s. If the Castro government had discovered it, it now surely hung in one of the bastard’s many homes. Catalina was going to mention it to Alejandro , but since she didn’t have it, it was not something she could gloat about. It wasn’t just the wealth and the good taste of his family he wanted to convey, but more importantly their power and influence. In the study’s library there were several collectible and valuable first editions. While on the walls hung photographs of Alejandro with his father, Jimmy Carter, Reagan, the Bushes, the Clintons, and the Obamas. There were many photos of himself, his wife Carmen, Alejandra and her husband with king Juan Carlos and this wife the queen Sofia of Spain ( Princess Sophia Margaret Victoria Frederica of Greece and Denmark
Alex showed her a priceless Pre-Columbian urn, for a moment he thought about asking how much it was worth, but thought it would be impolite, and besides as the saying goes …If you have to ask …
Conchita Asked, what’s a pre-Columbian urn?
Alex: About one bushel of corn an hour… just a little pre –Columbian joke.
Alex pointed to the sixty-foot plus high palms that encircled the patio; they made the backyard look like some palace from the Middle East . “You know what kind they are,” Alex asked; Catalina said, “I am not sure but they could be Canary or Sylvester,” Alex—“That’s right, they are Canary island date palms or Phoenix canariensis, you can tell because of the pineapple bulblike top, the Sylvester is more slender and shorter with a blue green hue.
These palms, if you were to buy them at retail would run you about $30,000.00 or more each, if you can find them in this size.” There were twenty planted semi-circularly around the patio, another twenty lined the driveway. “. It was a great capital investment as the value increased annually, faster than the consumer price index, better returns than Wall Street.” The palms were a living growing piggy bank. These were over sixty feet, they take from ten to twenty years to mature and sell for about five-hundred dollars per foot.
“Did you know there are no canaries in the Canary Islands , well the name really was meant to be the “Dog islands.” When the Romans first landed there, the islands were full of dogs, and Canare means dog in Latin.”
Catalina then said “did not know that.”
“Now to the matter at hand, what are your plans to find and recover my granddaughter?” señor Fortuna stated._____________
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