In the Shadow of the Wolf 3 - Splintered Lies Read Online Free PDF

this morning was the jewel in the crown, where the magic happened. The impression Nick had of Susan Young, his wife, was that she had a grip of iron on what happened inside the secure doors. There were the usual reports of profits both big and small and a huge, flashy initiative for providing funding into research for combating tropical diseases. They couldn't find a connection between Ardenvale and Mara—not even through her OB's office, the most obvious place to look. From the outside, Ardenvale appeared to toe every ethical line, even donating hundreds of thousands to charity each year.
    Mark appeared from the second bedroom looking adorably rumpled post sleep. He had improved to the point where he was able to stay alone in the apartment for longer and longer periods of time, but really Nick felt he should be arranging something for the younger man.
    "Hey," Mark said. He crossed to hug Nick around the neck and didn't seem perturbed when Joe stared at him pointedly. They were never going to get along. Joe wanted Mark to go and live with Sam and Doug. Nick wasn't ready to force Mark to go anywhere.
    "Did you just get up?" Joe asked. There was irritation in the question. Mark tilted his head.
"I was back late from a run." He wasn't apologizing but there was an edge to his words.
Joe narrowed his gaze and Nick sighed inwardly.
"You're running on your own now?" Joe asked.
"Have been for weeks."
Joe cast an accusing look at Nick. Hell, when was he supposed to tell Joe that Mark was healing and more able to live an independent life? It was nothing to do with Joe. Except… it probably was. Joe hated the fact that the younger wolf was all over Nick. Telling Joe over and over that Mark just needed security and comfort was not something Joe ever seemed to fully understand. If anything, Joe was irrationally jealous of Mark, the first glimpse of real emotion Nick had seen in his friend in a while that wasn't shaded with his grief.
Mark crossed his arms over his chest. "Sam called, said he has a spare room and needs help with the rest of the pack," he said.
"Are you going—"
"You should go—"
Both Nick and Joe spoke at once and then just as suddenly stopped. Mark simply stood there and smiled a wolfish grin. Dropping a deliberate kiss on Nick's head, he straightened.
"I'm packed. Doug said he'd come over and pick me up this afternoon."
"Stay safe," Nick said. He couldn't help himself. As much of a pain in the ass as Mark was, Nick still felt responsible for the guy that had clung so hard to him.
"I'm going out for breakfast." He yawned widely and stretched, revealing skin where his T-shirt rode up. Nick tried to hold in the laugh at Joe's scowling expression but he couldn't. All Joe did was scowl even more.
Turning his concentration back to the screen and following his instincts, Nick scrolled through the list of beneficiaries, and then stopped when a name jumped out at him.
"Look, December last year, a financial donation for the Vitamins in Schools project with fund manager Chase Vaughn-Hyland."
"As in the senator?" Joe asked. "Senator Chase Vaughn-Hyland?"
Nick frowned. "Could be a coincidence."
"Yeah," Joe said drily, "I bet there are a hundred Chase Vaughn-Hylands."
"Says here"—Nick traced the words on the screen— "as part of the VIS initiative the senator held several meetings to encourage Ardenvale to donate money and vitamins to those he labeled as 'the needy'."
"Senator Vaughn-Hyland and Ardenvale in the same sentence? A senator?" Joe wasn't stopping to think about the link and Nick didn't disagree. It was a coincidence that he was willing to investigate further. The fact that Sam had uncovered a link to a senator in this whole mess was just one coincidence too many.
Logging in to his account at the station, Nick soon had an address, a phone number, and details of the senator's family. As well as pictures. Lots of picture of Mr and Mrs Perfect-white-non-wolf with their picture-perfect three kids.
Nick's cell buzzed and he