Page 51 of Obscurity

The implications settled over them like a cold blanket.

They weren’t just dealing with festival fraud. They were dealing with something that required military-grade operational security. There had to be more to this.

“There’s one more thing,” Tevin continued. “About Becca Morrison.”

“What about her?”

“She’s not just researching festivals for school. The missing girl from Tennessee—Jessica Houser—was her roommate and best friend.”

Olive’s stomach dropped as she processed Tevin’s words. “So Becca’s here to?—”

“To investigate what happened to her friend. And she has no idea how dangerous this situation really is.” Tevin’s expression was grave. “She’s walking into the same trap that may havegotten Jessica either abducted or killed, and she doesn’t even know it.”

Olive thought about the young journalism student, limping around on her injured ankle, asking innocent questions about the festival’s impact on rural communities. If Brad and his associates realize why she’s really here . . .

“We have to protect her,” Olive said.

“Agreed. But we also can’t blow our own cover.” Jason ran a hand through his hair. “This is getting more complicated by the hour.”

“And more dangerous,” Tevin added. “Whatever happened to Chloe, Jessica, and the others, it’s about to happen again. We just don’t know when or who the target is.”

Outside their tent, the festival grounds remained deceptively quiet. But Olive could feel the weight of hidden watchers and unknown threats pressing in from all sides.

They were running out of time to figure out what was really happening in Grayfall.

Chloe was missing, and every second counted.

She couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer.

It was time to get her hands dirty.

Just as that thought crossed her mind, gunfire split the air outside.

CHAPTER 31

Olive, Jason, and Tevin all darted from the tent, anxious to see what was happening. A quick check of her watch told her it was 2:30 a.m.

Others had also climbed from their tents, curious—and scared.

Everyone seemed to gravitate toward the Main Street area, questions murmuring through the air.

Olive tried to pick up on what had happened. Tried to listen to the conversations around her in case somebody knew something.

But everyone seemed clueless.

However, that gunfire had come from somewhere close.

And she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t worried.

“It’s okay, everyone.” Max appeared in front of them, waving his hands in the air to get their attention.

“What’s going on?” Jason yelled. “Was someone hurt?”

“A few festivalgoers decided that they didn’t want to stay any longer,” Max explained. “So they ventured up the mountain, trying to get back to the lodge. Along the way they encountered a bear on the trail.”

Gasps sounded around them.

“What happened then?” someone called.