A/N: Some chapters will not accurately follow the missions of either game.

A city that was once on the verge of greatness… a new type of city that had been based not on the man, but on the automobile.

The car, the symbol of freedom and vitality.

Where everyone can own their own home and have room to breathe and not be overlooked by their neighbors.

The city where a family's home is their castle. A quarter acre of the dream made possible by victory.

The city of opportunists. The city of dreams where it had shaped and will continue to shape the thoughts and desires of the entire planet.

The city of pioneers.

The city of dreamers.

A city of undercurrents where not everything is as it seems.

A now 21st century city that had become a model for the world.

The city that has no boundaries that will stretch as far as the eye can see.

'A city of lies…' Carly thought, having been driving around… but she didn't recognise this part of Los Santos.

To her from what she had once read in History class, it almost looked like it hadn't aged since the 1940s.

But Carly continued to drive… and for a second, she thought she heard something.

In the Marine Corps you deal with the chain of command. Mistakes get made but you deal with them.

You know what you're fighting for, and that you're on the same team. But dealing with corruption is like chasing shadows.

You never know whether the guy you're talking to is on the pad or whether it's your partner or maybe even the Watch Commander.

So who do you trust, Cole? I made up my mind a long time ago.

'That's just odd.' Carly thought as she heard people talking.

"KGPL calling 14 Adam. 14 Adam, come in."

"Go ahead, KGPL."

"14 Adam, see the detective, an ambulance shooting at Sixth and Industrial street. Unit 16 William requests uniformed assistance for an evidence search. 14 Adam, Code Two."

"Roger, 14 Adam en route."

"Here we go again. They don't request uniforms for an evidence search unless there's some kind of catch."

"Ever the optimist."

"From the beam of sunshine himself."

Carly followed the talking in the direction she hoped it was coming from, now curious… she got out of her brick red Coquette and looked down the alleyway, seeing a few men she knew were cops.

But only two were in uniform as they continued talking to the ones in the suits, who were seemingly unaware of her being there.

"Floyd Rose, Homicide. You my backup?"

"Yes, sir. Phelps and Dunn, Wilshire Division."

"We had a shooting take place down this alleyway. We have the vic, Scooter Peyton, a negro male, bagged up and on his way to Central Morgue. Witness says a tall white guy-our shooter-put two in the vic's head and then threw his piece. I need you guys to try and recover the gat."

"You want us to look anywhere in particular?"

"Give it your best shot, guys. The dead guy is a lowlife. I'm not expecting any miracles here."

"And if we recover the weapon?"

"Bag it and return it to Technical Services."

"Can you hurry it up, Floyd? We've got places to be."

"I'm out of here. Happy hunting."

Carly watched them drive off and them followed the uniformed cops.

"This is a fist hump… just going through the motions."

"You're probably right. Let's just get it over and done."

"Alright, have it your way. We'll search right up to the back wall. If you still don't come up with anything, come and find me and we'll talk it out. Two heads are always better than one."

"It's not my job to pick through other people's trash."

'Been there before, officer.' Carly thought as Cole shined his flashlight up at the door.

"Shooter put him up against the wall and blew his brains out."

"Hell of a way to go."

"Damn right it is." Carly whispered.

"Doesn't really matter how you go once you're gone."

"Don't get all deep on me, Phelps."

And then Carly saw the light illuminate the gun.

"Ralph, there's something on the rooftop."

"How the hell did you see that?"

"The reflection in the window. Looks like it might be our weapon. I'm gonna see if I can find a way up there."

"Alright. Don't hurt yourself. The gun's up on the roof, right? So we need to find a way up."

Now overtaken by curiosity, Carly scaled up the drainpipe… she kept as quiet as she could as she followed Cole.

"Chasing after a bunch of ghosts…" Carly whispered to herself as Cole found the weapon… and Carly hid.

"Smith and Wesson, serial S71893. Two rounds fired. And instead of dropping it down a drain, out shooter hoists it up here. Interesting guy."

"We should follow up on this now, before the perp tries to leave town."

Once again being careful, Carly followed Cole down the drainpipe.

"We have the gun, Cole. Let's take it back to Central, we could get a commendation."

"We could show some initiative, Ralph, and see if we can come up with an owner."

"That's a long shot, Cole."

"It's a pretty fancy gun. You know a local gun store?"

"Sure. There's a place a couple of blocks from here. Are you sure about this? It's not really our gig."

"No harm in doing some digging. The suits didn't seem to much of a damn."

"Such a little boy scout, Cole. You can't wait to get out of that uniform, can you?"

"You'd rather round up drunks and help old ladies across the road?"

"I'd rather get through the day without the Captain's foot up my ass."

"It'll be fine, Ralph. You worry too much."

Carly continued following them, discreetly tailing them to the gun store.

"Damn it, what the hell is going on here?!" Carly asked herself as she stopped just a few feet behind the police car when it parked outside of a place called Central Guns… and followed them into it.

"Officers Phelps and Dunn. Can you tell us anything about this gun?"

"Smith and Wesson. Model 27. Registered Magnum, chambered for .357, nickel plated with pearl grips. Same gun used by General Patton."

"You're not suggesting he's the owner?"

"No, I'm not."

"You seem to know a lot about the weapon."

"I ought to. I sold it. You know, this piece will stop a rhino. These babies are only available special order. Here's my Smith and Wesson order book."

"You mind if I take a look?"

"Be my guest. This is about something bad, right?"

Cole looked through the book after opening it… and for a second, he saw a flash of Carly's violet eyes.

"Cole, you okay?" Ralph asked, Cole nodding after brushing it off and finding the name. "Model with pearl grips, Cole. You see it on there?"

"We're in luck, Errol Schroder. 203 South Gless Street. Ordered the gun in February '46." Cole replied, brushing off what he saw and closing the book. "Thanks, you've been a big help."

"Anytime. Always happy to help out the LAPD." The gun store owner responded before Cole and Ralph left and Carly followed them.

'LA? He meant LS, right?' Carly thought.

"Do we call it in?" Ralph asked.

"Let's see if he's at home. Owning the gun doesn't mean he pulled the trigger." Cole responded before they left.

"Okay. In for a penny, in for a pound. Lead away, Gunga Din." Ralph replied.

He couldn't see Carly… and Cole had only seen her for a second.

But he brushed it off as they kept on driving.

"Now that wasn't so hard, was it? Just because we're in uniform, doesn't mean we can't use our initiative." Cole responded.

"I guess so. Seems a little too good to be true. One of a kind weapon bought locally using a real name. If Schroder's our shooter, he's no criminal mastermind." Ralph replied.

"Most of them aren't, that's why they get caught. And two out of every three crimes are done on impulse." Cole said in response.

"Another fact from the Phelps Encyclopedia of Thin Air. You really are full of it." Ralph replied in a half joking tone as they reached the place.

"Okay, Carly Jade, be careful this time." Carly whispered as she once again parked her own car and followed them into the apartment building… and saw a man open the door.

"What do you guys want?"

"I'm Officer Cole Phelps, this is Officer Dunn, Wilshire Division. You're the owner of a Smith and Wesson Model 27 with nickel plated with pearl grips?" Cole responded.

"I might be. What of it?" Errol replied, obviously impatient.

"Then you'll be surprised to know that Scooter Peyton was murdered tonight, with your gun." Cole explained.

"You're out of your mind. Scooter? He works for me. I have that gun here in my drawer." Errol replied before they followed him into the apartment.

Only for the drawer to be empty when opened.

"What the fuck is going on here?!" Errol yelled out, Carly running into the apartment.

"You're under arrest, Schroder! Cuff him, Ralph!" Cole responded.

"No way! You're not taking me down for this." Errol replied angrily before punching punching Ralph and a fight ensuing before Cole cuffed Errol.

"Ralph, are you alright?" Cole asked as Ralph pulled himself up.

"I'm fine, I hardly felt it. He's lucky he caught me off guard." Ralph answered as Cole searched the apartment.

Carly's eyes widened as she saw Cole grab the little book and open it… and Cole's entire demeanour changed.

"A list of names and series of numbers. Floyd Rose's name is in this book." Cole responded, catching Ralph's attention.

"Phelps, we can come out of this all bright and shiny with a commendation, or stick our schlongs in a hornet's nest. Call it in, partner, and leave the book where you found it."

Cole did so… and once again, his eyes locked with Carly's.

And neither had no idea of what was happening.