Miriam Cordell would do anything to protect those closest to her, especially her family, if put in a position to do so. Many years would pass before she would be put in such a position. Her thinking of protection would include doing things above the law. She had no qualms of doing what she had to do. Her marriage to Jack Cordell provided her and their children a very comfortable and happy life. This fairy-tale existence would abruptly come to an end. After visiting her sister, she started that long drive down a dark road in their Hollywood Hills home. Miriam picking up a hitchhiker started the chain of events that would affect the lives of the Cordell family for the next three decades—a child ignored by a father, bribery, sibling rivalry, a mother’s mistrust, and secrets kept. Even when the Cordell sons grew into men, Jack continued his animosity toward the younger son, Trace, while twins Jack Jr. and Al were doted on by their father. Miriam was aware her husband’s treatment of their youngest son was because of that night she was attacked. Jack Jr. and Al had blond hair and blue eyes like their father, while Trace had dark-brown hair and brown eyes like his mother. It just added into Jack Sr.’s belief that Trace was not his son. Miriam would bide her time for the right time and place to make Jack believe differently. The end of WWII bought espionage, infiltration, and bribery to the forefront to prove Jack’s true paternity to Trace and to free Miriam from explaining her deceptions.