Page 85 of Obscurity

The first computer she accessed was logged into a system showing production schedules, shipping manifests, and extraction quotas that represented millions of dollars.

More pieces fell into place as Olive discovered a folder marked “Festival Integration Protocols.” The documents inside confirmed what they suspected: They were using this music festival as a cover for illegal mining operations.

The heavy equipment brought in for “stage construction” was actually extraction machinery. The helicopters that supposedly transported musicians were carrying mining equipment.

But now they knew the truth.

The question was whether they could survive long enough to expose it.

CHAPTER 63

“We need to check the rest of the building,” Olive murmured.

“I agree,” Jason said. “And we don’t know how long we have before anyone comes back here.”

“Then let’s move fast.”

They opened an interior door and scanned the hallway.

Again, it was empty. Everyone must be in the mines right now.

But they didn’t know how much longer that would be the case.

As Olive hurried down the hall, she peered through a window in another door.

Her breath caught.

It was Chloe Kingston.

She sat on a narrow cot with her back against the wall in what appeared to be an old executive office.

She was alive!

Relief swept through Olive.

The young woman looked nothing like the vibrant person from the promotional videos. Her designer clothes were tornand stained, her blonde hair hung limp and unwashed, and dark circles under her eyes suggested days without proper sleep.

“Chloe,” Olive called softly through the door.

The young woman’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with a mixture of hope and disbelief. She struggled to her feet, moving carefully as if every motion caused pain.

“Who’s there?” Chloe rushed toward the door, her voice hoarse.

Jason examined the door’s lock. “We’re here to get you out. Your father hired us to find you.”

“My father?” Tears began streaming down Chloe’s face. “They told me he didn’t know I was missing. They said nobody was looking for me.”

“It was another lie,” Olive told her.

The lock was a simple deadbolt rather than electronic. Jason had it open in five seconds flat.

As soon as the door opened, Chloe practically collapsed into Olive’s arms.

“I thought I was going to die in there.” She let out a sob. “They kept asking me what I’d told people, what evidence I’d gathered, who else knew about . . . about what I found.”

“What did you find?” Olive supported Chloe’s weight as they moved toward the next room.

“The mining operation. During the promotional shoot, I was supposed to film ‘behind the scenes’ content around the mine entrance for authenticity. But then I found this site and realized what was happening.” Chloe’s voice strengthened as she talked. “I confronted Brad about it, and that’s when everything changed.”