Book excerpt: Emily’s expensive beach properties are an attractive intermediate drop point for the drug cartel’s 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. Emily’s mother continues her supportive and competitive relationship with her daughter and the raising of Susan.