Publisher's Synopsis
This novel is an amalgam of truth and fiction. All of the events described are based on actual occurrences, some of which have been slightly altered for the sake of dramatic unity. Some of the characters are a combination of several people; this allows a consolidation for literary efficiency. Nevertheless, Plato has the best elements of the real Jose Gomez, driving what the character should be. The real people know who they are, and without them, this story would not have been possible. The names of living policemen and others have been changed to protect the privacy of those who were there. This book is set in St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands. It reflects certain realities about the criminal-justice system in the Islands. The system is not unique to St. Croix, it works much the same way in all large American cities. The Virgin Islands courts system is the largest in the entire Caribbean. As a result, the unified office of the Attorney General is also the largest prosecutor's office in the Caribbean. The Attorney Generals (at that time) is appointed to his position; all ranks below him in the office are a matter of appointment. The First Assistant is second in command followed by the divided commands of the Civil Division and the Criminal Though there is no permanent Special Squad in the Virgin Islands Police Department's Homicide/Robbery Division, such special squads have been set up from time to time to deal with those cases that have excited unusual public interest or special interests on the parts of powerful groups in the Government. In some jurisdictions, it might be called the MCU or Major Crimes Unit> It is also true that no policeman in the Virgin Islands has been discovered to have hidden a previous felony record. The Virgin Islands political organization has influenced the VIPD at all levels since 1917, despite the use of civil service rules to protect the job security of all ranks. The situation remains unchanged to this day. Thus, certain police actions are dictated in part by political reality. So When a Priest is shot-in church, while distributing Holy Communion, by a man in a police uniform-the heat naturally comes down on the Special Squad. The Brass-commissioner, the press, the Governor, and the Archbishop-want to see someone behind bars. The assignment falls on Inspector Jose "Plato" Gomez, a tough Puerto Rican American Detective and Gary Arlaud his partner of 18 years. As they plow their way through the political, religious, and social mine fields they take an eye-opening journey through the power structure of the Island.
