Western Pennsylvania, deep in the Allegheny Mountains.
The sun was setting, its afterglow burning the sky a murky orange-red.
A massive hydraulic fracturing rig emitted a dull roar, the ground trembling slightly with the machine's rhythm.
The smell of burnt diesel exhaust filled the air, mingled with the distinctive sulfurous scent of shale gas.
After a fierce storm the previous night, the ground had turned into a dark brown bog, making a SQUELCHING sound with every step.
Members of the press had gathered here early.
They wore all-weather jackets suitable for the outdoors, their pant cuffs rolled up high. Even so, many of their shoes were still caked with thick mud.
Lens caps were off, boom mics were held high, and everyone was waiting.
This was supposed to be a fiery media ambush.
John Murphy had just dropped a bombshell on Chad Evans the day before.
Corruption, pay-to-play schemes, a shady lobbyist for an energy company.
