Unmasking the Dark Power: A Liam Novak Thriller

By Alexander Steele

Dive into the shadowy depths of "Unmasking the Dark Power," a riveting investigative thriller where truth is more dangerous than fiction. When Liam Novak, a tenacious journalist, receives a late-night call from a whistleblower within the formidable Blackwell Industries, he's thrust into a world of corruption, surveillance, and peril. With the help of a determined team, including the brilliant Amy Sinclair, Liam peels back layers of deceit to reveal a conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of society. As they edge closer to the truth, the team must navigate a maze of danger and betrayal, where trust is scarce, and the stakes are life or death. Can they expose the dark power before it consumes them? Open the pages to uncover a story of courage, resilience, and the unyielding pursuit of justice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alinda
• Release date: Mar 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224858101

Book preview

Unmasking The Dark Power

A Liam Novak Thriller

Alexander Steele

Copyright © 2024 by Alexander Steele

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

1.The Whistleblower

2.The Nonprofit

3.The Investigation Begins

4.The Pressure Mounts

5.The Past Unveiled

6.The Conspiracy Unravels

7.The Confrontation

8.The Fallout

9.The Redemption

10.The New Normal

Chapter one

The Whistleblower

The shrill ring of the phone pierced the stagnant, late night air of the newsroom. Liam Novak glanced up from his computer screen, his bloodshot eyes taking a moment to adjust after hours of staring at dense lines of text. His desk was an island of light in the sea of darkness, illuminated by the sickly glow of his desk lamp. The rest of the bullpen lay silent and empty, his colleagues long since gone home to their families and warm beds.

But sleep was a luxury Liam couldn’t afford, not when he was chasing the story of his career. His investigation into corruption at city hall had consumed his waking hours for months now, ever since an anonymous tip had sent him down this rabbit hole. He had sacrificed relationships, his health, and any semblance of a social life in pursuit of the truth. Because Liam knew from bitter experience, that all too often, the truth had a habit of being buried under layers of money, power and influence.

Just like what had happened to his father.

Liam’s dad had been an honest cop, one of the few in a police department rife with corruption. He had refused to look the other way, refused to accept the bribes that would have allowed him to live a cushier life. And it had cost him everything - his job, his reputation, and ultimately, his life. They had called it a heart attack, but Liam knew it was a broken heart that had really killed his father.

Since then, Liam had vowed to carry on his father’s fight in his own way, shining the bright light of truth into the darkest corners of their city. No matter the cost.

Liam sighed and reached for the still-ringing phone, bracing himself for the irate voice of his editor demanding to know why he had missed yet another deadline.

Novak, he answered gruffly.

Liam Novak, the investigative reporter? asked a shaky male voice on the other end.

Liam sat up straighter, instantly alert. He didn’t recognize the voice. A call this late from an unknown number usually meant one of two things - either a break in a case or a dead end.

Who’s asking? Liam responded warily.

I...I have information. About Blackwell Industries, the man said nervously. But I can’t talk over the phone. Meet me at Willow Creek Park, by the old oak tree, in 30 minutes. Come alone.

Before Liam could ask any more questions, he heard a click as the mysterious caller hung up. Liam frowned at the handset for a moment before placing it back in the cradle.

Blackwell Industries. The name sent a tingle of anticipation and trepidation down his spine. The multinational conglomerate had been on the periphery of his investigation for weeks now, their name whispered in backroom deals and buried in redacted documents. But so far, he had nothing concrete tying the powerful corporation to any wrongdoing. They were a behemoth, with armies of lawyers and billions in revenue. Taking them on would be like David facing Goliath.

Liam glanced at the time glowing on his computer screen. 11:42 pm. He knew he should probably ignore the cloak-and-dagger summons and try to grab a few hours of sleep. But the reporter in him, the part that never stopped chasing the story, was already shrugging on his jacket.

Fifteen minutes later, Liam carefully navigated his beat-up Honda Civic down the winding roads of Willow Creek Park. The thick canopy of trees blocked out the city lights, plunging him into a darkness that felt primordial. Liam turned off the radio, the silence broken only by the crunch of gravel under his tires and the thump of his own heart in his ears.

He parked in the deserted lot and scanned the area. No other vehicles in sight, not even the gleam of headlights in the distance. Just the black silhouettes of trees crowding in on all sides, their leaves whispering secrets in the night breeze. A tendril of unease snaked down Liam’s spine as he stepped out of the car, his hand unconsciously checking for the reassuring weight of his phone in his pocket. He hadn’t told anyone where he was going.

Stop being paranoid, Novak, he chided himself. You’ve met anonymous sources in the middle of the night plenty of times before. This is what you do. This is who you are.

Liam walked briskly down the dirt path, his footfalls sounding too loud in the stillness. Shadows twisted in the corners of his vision, and more than once he spun around, convinced someone was following him. But there was never anyone there.

After a few minutes, the enormous silhouette of an ancient oak tree loomed ahead of him, its gnarled branches reaching for the stars. Liam slowed his pace, his senses straining. He could just