Chapter 7 - The Mountain Guide’s StandMaya didn't hesitate. She grabbed her camera bag, pushed past the disoriented guard in the doorway, and burst out of the trailer into the bright afternoon sunlight.
“Stop her!” Julian’s voice echoed from inside the trailer.
Maya sprinted down the gravel path toward the main pavilion where dozens of donors, local officials, and reporters were gathered around the podium for the keynote speech.
Behind her, Daniel burst out of the trailer, keeping the two security guards occupied as he used his superior knowledge of the rough terrain to maneuver through the crowd.
Jake from 2A and Sarah from 3B saw Maya running toward them, her camera bag held tightly against her chest.
“Jake! Sarah!” Maya called out, breathless. “Help me get to the AV booth!”
“What’s happening?” Jake gasped, seeing the security team pursuing her through the crowd.
“Caldwell is a fraud! He’s trying to destroy the evidence!” Maya shouted.
Without asking another question, Jake and three neighbors from their apartment building immediately formed a human wall, stepping in front of the pursuing guards and causing a chaotic collision of shouting people and spilled drinks.
Maya reached the technician’s audiovisual booth behind the main seating area. A young technician sat behind a massive LED presentation screen and a laptop connected to the pavilion’s main projection system.
“Plug this in! Right now!” Maya demanded, pulling a high-speed wireless card reader from her pocket and slamming it onto the console.
“Hey, lady, I can’t just—” the technician started.
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“Do it!” Daniel’s voice boomed as he reached the booth, standing guard at the entrance, his broad chest heaving, his face fierce and protective. “Plug it in or watch this mountain get destroyed!”
The technician, terrified by Daniel’s imposing presence, frantically plugged the card reader into the master feed controller.
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