Their vast empire was legendary-land holdings, film interests, untold wealth and the clout of Los Angeles' mightiest newspaper. But it wasn't enough for the Collingsworths. Now, the same restless passion for power that conquered California threatens to tear the family apart Thomas Collingsworth, the patriarch, stopped at nothing to build an empire from his humble origins until a specter from the past nearly destroyed it all. Hollis, his son, learned early that every man had his price and no price was too great if it would expand the family's power and crush its enemies. Deborah, the ravishing international star, shared Hollis' darkest secret and plotted her own revenge. Andrew, the grandson, was carefully groomed to lead the dynasty to the throne of national politics until an unknown assailant brought him down. And Peter Russell. His relentless search for the parents he never knew threatened to topple even the magnificent Collingsworths.Arelo Sederberg, a veteran newspaper writer and editor, is the author of six novels. He also spent six years as a public relations executive for Howard Hughes, and was sole spokesman for the reclusive billionaire at the time of Hughes death in 1976.Sederberg was a commentator and interviewer for the cable tv network FNN (now C-NBC). He lives near San Diego, and is working on another novel.