Page 68 of Obscurity

Panic shot through her system like ice water.

Someone was back.

She ducked under the desk, knowing the files were still out.

If this was Elias or Brad, they would know things hadn’t been left this way.

Someone stepped inside.

She heard breathing, sensed a presence filling the doorway.

The footsteps paused.

Had this person seen her? Was he or she reaching for a weapon? Calling for security?

The footsteps moved closer.

And she realized this was the moment of truth.

Time was up.

CHAPTER 45

Olive’s heart thundered so violently she was certain it would give her away.

The space beneath the desk was cramped and uncomfortable, forcing her to curl into a tight ball. At least the desk chair provided some concealment.

Footsteps crossed the hardwood floor with familiar precision.

They paused near the desk.

Her heart pounded even harder.

Whoever was in the room moved with the quick efficiency of someone retrieving something specific. Above her, papers rustled, and she heard the soft sound of a folder being lifted from the desk surface.

Olive pressed herself farther into the shadows under the desk, hardly daring to breathe.

After what felt like an eternity, the footsteps moved toward the door. It opened and closed, followed by the receding sound of someone heading back downstairs.

Olive remained frozen for several more minutes, waiting to make sure this person wasn’t coming back.

When the house seemed quiet again, she carefully emerged from her hiding spot, her muscles protesting from the cramped position.

The folder she’d been photographing was gone, but she’d managed to document all but the last page. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d missed something crucial—something that might have been on that final page.

She quickly scanned the remaining materials on the desk, looking for anything else that might be useful. She saw nothing.

Now she needed to plan her exit strategy.

She needed to get out of the house without being detected.

As she rose, she glanced out the window.

Her breath caught.

What was that?

From this angle, she could see the other side of the mountain.