THE PEPPER TREE Origins, by Dave Freedland
The Pepper Tree was my second book
that followed Lincoln 9, which introduced the main character, Lieutenant
Scott Hunter. I debated writing The Pepper Tree first, because it
was such a great story, but opted to first write Lincoln 9, to determine
whether or not I could compose a novel, and develop fictional characters.
With the success of my
first book, I marched forward with a haunting story that followed my law
enforcement career for several years. As a rookie cop, I was made aware of a
landmark tree, along a dusty road through the Irvine Ranch, where three
separate serial killers had left at least one of their victims. It was
difficult to believe that the press had not picked up on the location, which
was clearly visible from the San Diego freeway. What made it unique was the
fact that the tree provided sufficient foliage to cover the dumping of bodies.
In addition, the adjacent two-lane road provided a flat, unobstructed view for
½ mile in both directions, which prevented the perpetrators from being
surprised by law enforcement or witnesses to their crimes.
Looking through my notes
and day timer calendars, I discovered that several violent crimes had been perpetrated
within a 3-mile radius of that tree. This made the location a target rich
environment for the creation of a captivating murder mystery.
The use of a command
officer, Lieutenant Scott Hunter, for a main character in a homicide story is
controversial. Normally, those possessing the rank of lieutenant or higher are
managers who handle more of the administrative, or strategic responsibilities,
and are seldom involved in the “nuts and bolts” of investigating murders.
However, during my career I was fortunate to have had a couple of mentors who
were lieutenants who finished their managerial duties, then ventured into the
field, or took a more hands-on role in the investigation of the ultimate crime.
Lt. Hunter became a character who was a composite of my two mentors, along with
the leadership style I chose for my own career.
Having been raised in
Long Beach, California, the Long Beach Police Department detectives were
frequent visitors to my father’s pharmacy, following the burglaries committed
by drug addicts. A body dump that was possibly linked to the famous Black
Dahlia murder case occurred in an oil field approximately a mile from my home.
These two factors were instrumental in my including an additional crime scene
in this beautiful city.
Book Blurb:
A Southern California
landmark primarily known only to law enforcement earned a reputation for crime
scenes of the most unspeakably vicious homicides. Infamous serial killers had
chosen this location to discard and display their victims as trophies of their
horrific deeds. Lieutenant Scott Hunter must lead a team of detectives to
identify and capture a perpetrator who’s targeting young women, and has chosen
this landmark to showcase his victims.
This story is a work of
fiction, but the Orange County location is real. So notorious, in fact, that
those officers working the graveyard shift need only radio their activity at a
site bearing two words, and they are immediately dispatched a back-up officer
to the “pepper tree.”
As a young patrol
officer, Hunter had been introduced to the “terror at the tree” on an evening
when he turned his police cruiser down that dusty road separating asparagus
fields, and discovered a corpse hanging from a low-hanging limb. But now as the
leader of the Robbery/Homicide team, he received that most dreaded call
interrupting the stillness of the night, a body dump.
Bio: Dave Freedland is a
34-year decorated law enforcement professional having served with the Irvine
Police, and the Orange County (California) Sheriff’s Departments. Following a
competitive athletic career culminating with the award of “UCLA’s Most Valuable
Gymnast,” he graduated first in his Sheriff’s academy class. While serving with
the Irvine Police Department he worked in a variety of assignments including
Detectives, Patrol, Training, Internal Affairs, SWAT, and retired at the rank
of Deputy Chief of Police.
As a SWAT team leader, he
supervised operations for numerous barricade and hostage incidents, and was the
recipient of several awards including “Police Officer of the Year” and the
“Meritorious Service Award.”
He currently trains and teaches martial arts in
Orange County, having attained a 6th degree black belt in Japanese
Shotokan karate.
Dave’s first book, Lincoln 9, was Oak Tree Press’
best-selling Amazon novel in 2015.
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