Page 58 of Obscurity (Pros and Cons Mysteries #5)

F ollowing the Guardian’s hand-drawn map, Olive and Jason continued farther into the dark mine.

A few minutes later, they descended what appeared to be a newer staircase carved directly into the mountain rock.

At the bottom, they emerged into what felt like another world.

Harsh white LED arrays turned the tunnel system into what resembled a high-tech manufacturing facility rather than an abandoned mine. The tunnels had given way to some type of industrial operation. Ventilation systems pumped fresh air into the passages.

In the distance, they saw workers—probably twenty—bent over conveyor belts while guards monitored the perimeter.

Olive and Jason stayed in the shadows, careful not to be seen.

“What in the world?” Jason whispered, staring at the scene before them.

“This isn’t some small-scale illegal dig,” Olive murmured, snapping a couple of pictures. “This is a full industrial extraction facility.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Neither had Olive. But the sophisticated equipment was being used to extract . . . something.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t coal.

This was more than Olive had ever envisioned.

The stakes were higher.

And that made this situation much worse.

The sound of approaching footsteps echoed from somewhere deep in the facility—multiple sets of boots, moving with purpose toward their location.

“We need to go,” Jason whispered. “Now.”

They’d seen enough to understand the scope of what they were dealing with. The evidence on Olive’s phone could bring down the entire plan.

But only if they lived long enough to share it.

The footsteps came closer, accompanied by voices discussing shift changes and security protocols. Olive and Jason ducked behind a thick metal cart that had probably been left behind from coal-mining days.

“The next extraction cycle starts at 0200,” someone said. “And the surface operations should be completed before dawn.”

“Perfect,” another voice said. “Make sure the perimeter stays secure.”

The voices faded as the workers continued deeper into the facility.

Olive knew she and Jason couldn’t risk staying any longer. They’d pushed their luck far enough already.

They made their way back through the tunnel system, moving as quickly as they dared. The Guardian’s body still lay there. A crew hadn’t been back yet to clean up the crime.

But they’d be here soon—Olive was certain of it.

When she and Jason finally emerged from the mine entrance, the cool night air felt like freedom itself.

They hadn’t been caught.

Now they just had to keep it that way . . . unless they wanted to end up like the Guardian.