A Tangled Truth (Stonewall Investigations Book 3)

  A Tangled Truth

  Stonewall Investigations - Book 3

  Max Walker

  Edited By: ONE LOVE EDITING

  Proofread By: Tanja Ongkiehong

  Copyright © 2018 by Max Walker

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Also by Max Walker

  The Stonewall Investigation Series

  A Hard Call

  A Lethal Love

  The Sierra View Series

  Code Silver

  Code Red

  Code Blue

  Code White

  The Guardian Series

  Books 1-4 Box Set

  Audiobooks:

  Code Silver

  A Hard Call

  Christmas Stories:

  Daddy Kissing Santa Claus

  Daddy, It’s Cold Outside

  Synopsis

  Liam Wolfe isn’t having the best of days. He’s being falsely accused of things he’d never even think of doing and is now facing the loss of his career because of it. He has an idea of who’s behind the attempt at assassinating his character but can’t put the pieces together by himself.

  Mark Masters isn’t having any better of a time. He’s sitting in his office at Stonewall Investigations, getting work done, when his boyfriend of a year walks in with the sole goal of breaking up with him. He’s blindsided by the development and thinks not much else can surprise him.

  He was very wrong.

  Moments after the breakup, Liam walks into Mark’s office looking for help and a connection that had been lost for years suddenly reignites. As childhood best friends, Mark and Liam were inseparable. As adults, they’ll come to learn not much has changed.

  With a second chance on the horizon, Mark and Liam explore something that fear had cut them off from as kids. They’ll do it while working together to unravel the truth behind Liam’s case, risking everything they’ve regained in the process.

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. Liam Wolfe

  2. Mark Masters

  3. Liam Wolfe

  4. Mark Masters

  5. Liam Wolfe

  6. Mark Masters

  7. Liam Wolfe

  8. Mark Masters

  9. Liam Wolfe

  10. Mark Masters

  11. Liam Wolfe

  12. Mark Masters

  13. Liam Wolfe

  14. Mark Masters

  15. Liam Wolfe

  16. Mark Masters

  17. Liam Wolfe

  18. Mark Masters

  19. Liam Wolfe

  20. Mark Masters

  21. Liam Wolfe

  22. Mark Masters

  23. Liam Wolfe

  24. Mark Masters

  25. Liam Wolfe

  26. Mark Masters

  27. Liam Wolfe

  28. Mark Masters

  29. Liam Wolfe

  30. Mark Masters

  31. Liam Wolfe

  Epilogue

  Thank You

  Prologue

  2001

  Liam Wolfe

  The Starlight Theatre was packed, which, duh, it was a Friday night and we were a few blocks away from Times Square. But that was fine, Mark really wanted to see the new Jurassic Park movie, and I was down because I was a good friend like that. Also, raptors were pretty badass, and I was interested in seeing them on the big screen. So I stood in line with my best friend, who I noticed was wearing the shirt I’d gotten him for his birthday.

  “You like the shirt, huh?” I motioned with my chin.

  It was a black T-shirt with a slogan on it printed in bold white print that said “Feels Like Summer.” It wasn’t the only thing I got him, don’t worry. Nah, it was my mom who’d seen it in the store and thought of him. She bought it and told me he’d love it for his birthday. Guess she was right.

  “Yeah, dude, it’s awesome.” Mark looked down at his shirt before looking back up at me. His eyes were reflecting the light from the flashing theatre signs above us. They were different colors, one a really light blue and the other was half-brown half-blue, and they never failed to throw me off. I looked away.

  “Good. Looks good on you.”

  “Thanks, dude.”

  We made it up to the ticket stand. We each bought our tickets and followed the line of people into the theatre. It was an old place, grand I guess would be the word. They kept it looking like it was something out of our history textbooks. It was really cool. Mark and I came here like every weekend, and we never got bored. Not that we could ever get bored hanging out with each other. It was always an adventure with him, and I loved it.

  “Want something to eat?” Mark asked.

  I looked at the long line of people waiting at the concession stand. “No, I don’t want to wait.”

  “Go sit down. I’ll wait,” Mark said, already moving to grab a place in line. “What do you want?”

  I shook my head. “Nah, nah, I won’t make you wait here alone.” I got into line next to him. And, as time usually did when we were together, it flew. The line disappeared and we were up front and ordering in what felt like seconds. Maybe it was because we were getting into a heated argument on which starter Pokémon was truly the best.

  “Charmander,” I was still saying strongly as we grabbed the big bag of popcorn and our sodas.

  “Squirtle, man,” Mark argued. “He’s the strongest, and the cutest, and just the better one overall. Plus, he turns into Blastoise. Bad ass.”

  “Charmander evolves into a dragon. Done deal.” I was pouring butter on the freshly popped popcorn.

  “More,” Mark said before I put the butter down. I listened as Mark grabbed the salt and added it to the mix.

  “Fine, whatever,” Mark said, grabbing the sodas while I grabbed the popcorn. “I’m not saying he’s a bad pick; I’m just saying Squirtle is better.”

  Neither of us wanted to ruin the friendship over Pokémon, so we moved on to other subjects. We were just about to go back into our sophomore year of high school after a summer break that wasn’t long enough, at all. We started talking about our class schedules and who we thought we’d be taking classes with as we went to go find our seats. There were already a few people neither of us wanted to be around, and some others that were actually cool, down-to-earth people. But mostly, it didn’t matter because it was me and Mark for the majority of it all. We stuck together through thick and thin, and neither of us needed a ton of friends. We just hung out together, and that was pretty much it.

  Honestly, at fifteen, I guess that’s all that really mattered in life. Just having a good person to talk with and have a good time with and get through things with. That was Mark to me. He’d helped me through a lot, and I’d helped him, too.

  We sat down. The seats were good, too, like right in the center—even though the theatre was packed, somehow there were two empty seats and we grabbed them.

  I put the popcorn in my lap and went for some. “Oh shit, sorry, here,” I said as my hand rubbed up against Mark’s, who I didn’t realize was already going for the popcorn. I tilted the bag his way, avoiding any eye contact.

  I knew that if there was eye contact, then he’d know something had just happened to me, that I felt electrocuted by that random touch. Which, no, I mean, I didn’t really feel anything. Nothing real, at least. It was just a reaction to the surprise of being touched, obviously. It had nothing to do with Mark and the way he smiled or how he always
seemed to know exactly what to say or how he somehow always made me laugh without even doing anything.

  Nope, none of that. It was just some random reaction.

  Except I couldn’t look him in the eye.

  The previews came on then and the audience quieted, and I couldn’t have been happier.

  Mark Masters

  Wow. Okay, that was weird.

  Liam’s hand just rubbed against mine, and he completely changed. He was sitting all straight in his chair now, and his eyes were pinned to some commercial on the screen about a local investigative service. I was usually good with noticing little things, and I was definitely noticing the change in Liam. Which was also kind of good because then that meant he wouldn’t notice the quick shiver that made my shoulders dance the second our hands had touched. It wasn’t like it meant anything, but still, I was kind of happy he missed it.

  I was also pretty happy he couldn’t hear my heart, which was beating way faster than it had been a few minutes earlier. Oh, and my stomach—it was doing this weird twisty thing, and not to mention the damn butterflies, which I was sure was probably just indigestion, but still, it was a weird feeling that spread from my belly and up and out. It was warm and light and made me smile as I took a big gulp of my Coke. But then I quickly smothered the smile. It was just me being happy at getting a chance to hang out with my best friend, nothing more. It didn’t mean anything else. I couldn’t possibly like him. He was a boy, my best friend. That didn’t happen. At least, I was told it wasn’t supposed to. So whatever dumb, silly feelings I was feeling, I had to pretty much ignore them. I knew I loved Liam as my best friend, but that was it. Nothing else.

  So then why by the middle of the movie was I wishing I could put my arm around his shoulders, just like all the other couples were doing around us?

  By the end of the movie, I was sniffling. Liam knew that sound.

  “Really touched you, huh?” he said as the lights came up.

  “Hmm?” I asked, playing dumb, looking down so he didn’t spot any rogue tears.

  “The ending. I heard you sniffling. I didn’t think a bunch of dinosaurs could get you going like that.”

  I laughed, thankfully able to control my weird outburst of emotion. “Right, yeah, it was just everyone finally being happy and safe I guess. I don’t know, man. I probably just need sleep.”

  Liam laughed, grabbing the trash around us. He was wearing a gray T-shirt with our high school's logo on it and a pair of black gym shorts.

  “Oh shit, it’s the dynamic duo!”

  I recognized that voice, and I went right into defense mode. It was Sean Huntsman, the resident bully and someone who’d had it out for the two of us since freshman year. I was pretty sure it was because the head cheerleader had a massive crush on Liam, and everyone knew Sean had a thing for her.

  “You two on a cute little date?” The tone turned mocking.

  I stood up and faced the craphead. He was wearing a shirt with his football number on it, his blond hair buzzed short, and his green eyes looking like they belonged to a snake.

  “No,” I said simply. “Come on,” I told Liam, already moving down the aisle as the crowd started leaving the theatre. Sean followed, his gang of rock-brained sidekicks right on his tail. We heard his jeers as we walked out through the big lobby, practically swimming through the crowd. I couldn’t really make out what he was saying, but I didn’t want to. I just wanted to get out of there with Liam. Maybe we could head to his place where I was sure there’d be some killer brownies waiting for us on the counter.

  “What an asshole,” Liam said, coming up next to me as we walked out onto the New York City street. The subway station was only a few blocks away. I looked at my watch and realized it was nine o’clock. “Aw, dude, I should probably get home. I told my mom I’d be back before nine thirty.”

  “Same,” Liam said. “All right, man, see you tomorrow, then. You’re coming over, right?”

  “Yeah, for sure,” I said, smiling. We clapped hands in the air and shared a quick hug before we turned to walk in separate directions.

  “Aww, you fairies aren’t going to kiss goodbye? Come on, look at Liam. He’s practically pissing glitter.”

  It was Sean, and he had me getting really angry. He could call me whatever he wanted to—I didn’t care too much—but I knew Liam was different. He would tell me how the names bothered him. How he would think about it all the time. And that made me so damn mad.

  “Sean, stop it.” I stood on the corner of the busy street. Sean was surrounded on both sides by his two goons. One’s nose was bent from a fight he’d gotten in during the beginning of the year; the other one looked like a sentient hyena. For a second I wondered if I had made a mistake, but then Liam showed up at my side.

  “Why? Do you want to see us kiss, Sean? Is that it? Is that what you’re into?” Liam was surprising me.

  Sean seemed flustered at that thought. “No, fuck that, I’m not gay!” His hyena pet cackled at his side.

  “Sure sounds like you might be,” I said, jumping in, crossing my arms across my chest.

  “I… the two… man, you two fucking butt munchers, if you say one more word, I’m going to knock out all of your teeth.” He was balling up his hands in a fist. I believed him, and honestly, I was getting a little scared. But I couldn’t let him know that. I stood my ground, even stepping a little in front of Liam. He wasn’t going to take a hit if I had anything to do with it.

  “Go ahead,” I said, “It’ll be easier to blo—”

  “Sean Nancy Hunstman! Let’s go! I’ve got a turkey in the oven!”

  Sean’s cheeks immediately went cherry red. His eyes bulged open as he turned to look directly at his mother, who was holding her hands in the air and giving him the universal “hurry the hell up” look. He didn’t say another word. Him and his sad boy band retreated with their tails between their legs as his mother shuffled them into a parked van.

  “Wow, what an asshole.”

  “For real,” Liam said. “Thanks for sticking by me.”

  “Of course,” I said, my smile matching his. “I’ll always be by your side.”

  “Good,” he said. “Good.” We hugged again. Not something we normally did so many times, but it felt right in that moment.

  “Hey, what were you about to say to him?” Liam asked before we said goodbyes.

  “To who? Nancy? Oh, don’t worry about it,” I said, waving it off and laughing.

  It was a damn good comeback, though.

  “All right, I should really get going now,” Liam said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “See ya, Liam.” We said our goodbyes, and this time we weren’t interrupted. It felt like any other night, really, aside from the shitty Sean situation. There was no way I could have known it would have been one of the last few days we would spend together for a very long time.

  I wish I had known. Maybe then I would have put my arm around his shoulder.

  1 Liam Wolfe

  2017

  It was cloudy with a soft haze hanging in the New York City air. I had the corner office in one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city, but all I could see out the window was heavy, pregnant gray clouds. Normally I’d be able to see the entire concrete jungle, stretching out toward the Hudson River, where it would stop, only for a smaller jungle to pick up on the other side.

  That didn’t mean I lacked a view today, though. No. I had a really great fucking view that consisted of a beautiful hunk getting down on the floor and crawling toward my open legs.

  But before I could truly enjoy myself, I had to deal with the bitch of a phone call I’d just gotten from Jean Hill, a producer who never really got along with me.

  No idea why. Couldn’t have been because I’d called her out for the terrible treatment she’d give to the background actors on one of her set visits. Nope. She wasn’t a vindictive, grudge-holding bitch like that. Not at all.

  “Liam Wolfe, the one man I’d like to talk to least in this world
. I’ve got news for you, and it’s bad.”

  In case that didn’t translate, I was being sarcastic as fuck. Jean held on to a grudge harder than Jack Sparrow holds on to rum and whores.

  “What is it?

  “Sarah Hyland is dropping out of the film.”

  I almost jumped out of my chair. The only thing holding me down was the man with his hands on my knees. “No. We can’t lose Sarah as the lead on this—you don’t deliver a major summer blockbuster without the one girl everyone wants to see in it,” I said, holding the phone between my head and shoulder, looking down at the man currently on his knees, his hands rubbing up and down my thighs. I could feel his warmth through my slacks. It helped soothe the rising tide of pissed-off energy I was beginning to feel.

  “Yeah, you think I didn’t think about that? I’ve got skin in this game, too,” Jean said over the phone, her voice as grating as her attitude. “But there’s nothing else we can do. She’s pulling out.”

  “Why? What the hell happened? She was a day away from signing the contract.”

  The man, a handsome guy with green eyes and a jawline that screamed “corn-fed football player from Kansas turned Calvin Klein model,” looked down at my crotch, rubbing his face over the growing bulge. My light-gray slacks and lack of any underwear left exactly nothing to the imagination. I throbbed through the thin fabric. A flame started up in my gut and spread outward. I pushed my hips up, rubbing his face harder into my bulge. He started to mouth on the outline.