A Year in the Life of Dr. Fox
Frederick L Malphurs
Genre: Thriller/Action/Adventure
Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media
Date of Publication: November 2017
ISBN: 978-1948304023
ASIN: B077KGMZGD
Number of pages: 338
Word Count: 101,400 words
Cover Artist: PageTurner Press
and Media Illustrations Department
Tagline: A legendary family is forced to fight against the most dangerous Pacific Drug Cartel. Will the de la Vega family succeed or will they die trying?
Book Description:
During the years of Mexican President Calderone, drug cartels fought pitched battles against other cartels, the police, the army, and the good citizens of Mexico. Kidnappings, murder, threats, and intimidation by drug cartels impinged on every facet of Mexican life.
This story of the de la Vega family in Culiacan, the state capital of the Mexican state of Sinaloa, tells of their struggles with the death of their beloved sister and the courageous brothers who become a force exacting revenge on the Pacific cartel.
The family ancestors moved away from Southern California during the 1840's as the influx of white settlers changed the culture and created certain discriminations against Mexican-Americans. The family legend is the de la Vegas sold out and relocated to Culiacan, Mexico where they quickly established prominence socially and financially. In Culiacan, the whispers are frequently heard of their great wealth and of being descendents of the great Zorro. Eduardo de la Vega, known for his dedication to his community and his patients as a noted benefactor and surgeon, and Teodoro de la Vega, a Jesuit priest, beloved by all who know him, vow to protect their city from the cartel. The de la Vegas act with extraordinary stealth, boldly striking at the cartel. Eduardo de la Vega leads a secret life of retribution abetted by his adopted brother, the business wizard, 'Flaco' Salas.
This is a tale of adventure, action love, honor, and strength of family despite constant danger and threat.
Book Trailer 1 https://youtu.be/peBjMCgjK8Q
Book Trailer 2 https://youtu.be/rULlmrCjVhc
Excerpt:
An Untimely Arrest, January 5
Father Teodoro
de la Vega was sitting in an ancient wooden swivel chair, working on revisions
to his doctoral thesis Methodism in America, when he heard the soft buzzing of
his cell phone. He picked up the phone, swiveling his chair around before he
spoke to look out the high tiny window in his cramped office at the far end of
the Culiacan Cathedral. “This is Father De La Vega.”
“This is
Lieutenant Flores of the federal police. We are trying to notify the family of
Diego Sanchez. He has you listed as the family contact.”
Father Teodoro’s
eyes stayed fixed on the fronds of the tall palm tree growing in the
cathedral’s backyard. “Yes, I am Diego’s brother-in-law. How can I help?”
“I am sorry to
inform you that your sister’s husband, Diego Sanchez, was arrested this morning
and is currently being held in custody in Culiacan prison.” The lieutenant
sounded subdued, deferential to the Catholic priest, sympathetic.
Father Teo was
silent for several moments. “Oh my God, this is a shock. My sister was
kidnapped three days ago, on January 2. She and Diego have three young
children, and now this.” Father Teo sighed deeply and made the sign of the
cross.
“I know about
the kidnapping. I am so sorry. It seems your family is suddenly confronting
great adversity. I can assure you that all the police agencies are working
diligently to find your sister.”
Father Teo took
several deep breaths before responding. “Would it be possible for me to go see
Diego now?”
Lieutenant
Flores was silent a moment. “Yes, under the circumstances, I’m sure there must
be many arrangements to be made for the children. I will contact the prison and
get your visit authorized.”
Father Teo stood
up, suddenly feeling dazed; his jaw clenched as his eyes riveted on the small statue
of Jesus he kept on his desk. “I am on my way to the prison now.” He next
forced himself to call his brother, Eduardo, and their father, Alfonso. He
quickly concluded each call with “I’ll call you back as soon as I learn
anything.”
Father Teo
quickly jogged down the hall and across the cathedral campus to his car.
Outside, he stood beside his car and gazed upward for several moments, praying
for his sister, Diego, and their children. Then he got into his battered Toyota
and headed to the prison.
Father Teo sat
in the visitors’ waiting room for thirty minutes before the guards escorting
Diego burst through the door on the prisoners’ side.
They pushed
Diego ahead of them and roughly shoved him into a chair. One of them said, “Sit
down and shut up!” to Diego and waved a finger under Diego’s nose. Father Teo
moved quickly to the cubicle opposite Diego and sat on the hard plastic chair
in the narrow enclosure.
“Teo, tell me
about my family.” Diego was somber and seemed to have physically shrunk since
the last time Teo had seen him only three days before.
Diego’s usual
state of casual good humor had been replaced with a pallid and tense facial
expression. His eyes were tearing and moved only indirectly in the direction of
Father Teo; he could not maintain eye contact for more than a moment. His eyes,
now dark and sunken, slowly roamed the brightly lit room: floor, walls,
ceiling, Father Teo.
“We have had no
contact with Tina’s kidnappers. We are doing everything we can to find her.
Eduardo and I are moving heaven and earth to find her.
The kids miss
her and are understandably upset. How are you?”
“I am depressed
as hell. I’m scared out of my mind. I am so grateful to you and Eduardo.” Diego
dipped his head and nervously checked the position of the guards. “Please do
everything you can to get these charges dropped and get me out of here
somehow.”
“Of course you
are depressed. Anyone would be in these circumstances.
My father is
talking to lawyers right now. Your arrest has come as a complete shock to all
of us.”
“I am
embarrassed and stunned by my arrest too, Teo. Please tell my mother and the
children that I love them, but I do not want them to come here. Seeing me in
this place will only make things worse for them. Have you learned anything
about the charges against me?”
Father Teo
chewed on his lip. He hesitated while a myriad of happy family memories flooded
his thinking: Diego and Tina’s wedding, the births of their three children, and
many family gatherings. “You are accused and charged with consorting with
narco-criminals by laundering their illegal earnings, aiding the cartel’s hit
men by providing them with shelter, engaging in a criminal conspiracy, and
accepting financial assistance from the Pacific cartel. I’m still in shock,
Diego. I don’t understand this. Is any of it true?”
Diego squirmed
in his seat and dropped his head to the Formica countertop of the little booth.
“Oh my god,” he said this loudly, and the nearest prisoners on Diego’s side of
the barrier turned in his direction. When he sat back up straight, his hands
clutched his heart. Tears rolled down his cheeks.
About the Author:
Fred Malphurs spent over thirty-seven years working for the Department of veterans Affairs, almost all of which was spent in the Veterans Healthcare Administration. He is the retired CEO or Director of the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Healthcare System based in Gainesville, Florida, and is a retired Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Married to Robin, a nurse executive, between them they have six children. Having transferred thirteen times, been on three long term details, and service in the VA Central Office in Washington on three different occasions, Fred has been exposed to the inner workings of health care delivery, the political administration in the executive branch, and has testified before various House and Senate Congressional committees. His career spans from the impact of returning veterans from the VietNam War, Iraq to the current war in Afghanistan. In the course of serving in the VA, Fred received numerous awards during his career, including the two highest: Presidential Rank, at both the meritorious and distinguished levels. Medical Centers under his direction have twice received the VA's highest award for quality, the prestigious Carey Award. As a network director, the networks under Fred's leadership twice received the VA's highest award for quality, the Kizer award, in addition to being recognized many times for having the best practices in a wide variety of administrative and clinical areas. He has published in health care periodicals, given media interviews, and appeared on television in the course of his career.
In retirement, Fred turned to writing, lifelong goal. He has published his memoirs: My Life in the VA: Lessons in Leadership, and three novels: Meanie Mouse versus the Orlando Operators: The Adventure Begins, Mexia: A Novel: The Memoirs of J.C. Mulkey, and Spies and Lies: The Paradox. He is currently working on a play, The Patio Club, and is revising his next novel, A Year in the Life of Doctor Fox. Fred lives in Gainesville, Florida.
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3 comments:
Hi, this is Fred Malphurs. I really appreciate your interest in my book, A Year in the Life of Dr. Fox. Your comments and feedback would be welcome. I'm working on another novel at the moment, so any ideas that would improve the writing would be fantastic! Or, just say hi. Much appreciated.
I really find this interesting. Will love to read more
Thanks, Onyinye, the drug cartels/wars continue to be an important news story today as it has been for years. The building of a wall along the border in today's news adds to the interest in that for illegal drugs, the wall isn't much of an obstacle. Smugglers of people won't be impeded either. So, we'll see how it turns out.
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