Page 64 of Obscurity (Pros and Cons Mysteries #5)

A s Jason helped Carl to his feet, the group gathered in the hallway.

“We need to move,” Olive murmured. “There’s no time to waste.”

Two young women, one barely able to walk. An older couple, one of whom could hardly stand. And they still had to navigate the camp area while avoiding security patrols.

As they helped the four rescued captives toward the nearest exit, the sound of voices erupted from the front. Multiple people were entering with the confident stride of those who belonged there.

“We need to prep them for transport within the hour,” a deep voice said.

Jason immediately reversed direction, guiding their group away from the approaching voices and toward the offices.

But their progress was agonizingly slow—Becca could barely put weight on her swollen ankle, Chloe swayed dangerously with each step as her malnourished body struggled to function, and Margaret was practically carrying Carl, whose legs seemed to give out every few feet.

“This way,” Olive whispered, heading toward the exit where she and Jason had entered.

But the voices came closer, and footsteps headed directly toward the area where they’d found the prisoners.

“Discovery in three, two . . .” Jason counted under his breath, knowing that whoever had entered would realize the cells were empty within seconds.

The emergency exit was still twenty feet away when shouts erupted behind them.

“They’re gone! All of them! Search the building! Now!”

Olive grabbed Chloe around the waist, half-carrying the younger woman as they stumbled toward the exit. Jason did the same with Carl, while Margaret pushed herself to move faster despite her own exhaustion. Becca hopped desperately on her good foot, using the wall for support.

They shoved the door open and rushed outside.

“Go, go, go,” Olive urged, helping Chloe outside while Jason practically carried Carl to ground level.

They’d made it fifty yards into the forest when the emergency door burst open behind them. Armed figures spilled outside and began sweeping the area.

“Keep moving,” Jason whispered, though Olive could see the impossibility of their situation written on his face.

They were in dense forest with four people who could barely walk, pursued by armed guards who knew the terrain better than they did. Carl had collapsed against a tree trunk, breathing heavily, while Chloe seemed to be losing consciousness despite Olive’s efforts to keep her upright.

“I can’t,” Becca gasped, her injured ankle finally giving out completely. “I can’t go any farther.”

Margaret sank to the ground beside her husband, her own strength finally exhausted. “We’re slowing you down. You need to go get help.”

“We’re not leaving anyone behind,” Olive said firmly.

But even as she said the words, she had no idea how they were going to get four injured people through miles of mountain forest while being hunted by people with million-dollar secrets to hide.