Page 93 of Artifice

Olive balanced herself on the ledge near the cave.

She feared if she climbed fully inside, she’d never get out.

Instead, she stretched her arm toward the red bag.

Her fingertips grazed the smooth canvas.

But her reach wasn’t enough. She would have to commit fully—to lean into the storm with nothing but the strength of one hand keeping her from joining the churning Atlantic below.

Drawing in a deep breath, Olive tightened her grip on a protruding rock with her left hand and extended her body outward.

The world narrowed to just her straining fingers and that glinting canvas bag. Everything else—the storm, the sea, the danger—faded to background noise.

Her shoulder protested as she reached farther than seemed possible.

Her fingertips touched the edge of the bag. She nudged it, nearly pushing it from the ledge. She held her breath, praying it didn’t fall into the roiling sea.

Finally, her fingers wrapped around the strap of the bag.

As she pulled it toward her, a massive wave crashed against the cliff base. Water sprayed so high she felt it mingle with the rain on her face.

But she had it. The phone.

The evidence she needed.

The reason she’d put herself in this situation.

She prayed it wasn’t broken. That Tevin could get the information they needed from it.

She secured her position on the cliff and opened the bag just to make sure.

Her heart skipped a beat. The phone was inside!

She shoved the device into her back pocket, allowing herself a moment of triumph.

But her troubles weren’t over.

Because now she needed to get back to safety.

As she glanced up, she saw a shadow standing at the top.

Without a doubt, she knew the person there wasn’t a friend but a foe.

The climb had been even more treacherous than Abe’s warnings had suggested.

Even with the figure leering at her, she had no choice but to climb back to the top.

Staying on this cliff any longer would be a death wish.

Olive’s muscles trembled with fatigue as she hauled herself over the final ledge, the weight of Colin’s phone heavy in her back pocket.

If Abe was correct, this had everything she needed to bring Lighthouse Harbor down.

Olive rolled onto solid ground, allowing herself five seconds of relief before scanning her surroundings.

Where was the shadow she’d seen?

She wasn’t sure. Had she been imagining things?