Harmony set the pot down and took a seat on the other side of the scarred wooden table. She was a formidable presence—nearly six feet tall with a long sweep of silver hair and the eyes of an Old Soul. She favored knee-high leather boots; long, dramatic cloaks; and metal accessories. Olivia would not have been surprised to see her buckle on a sword belt. She made the outfit look good.

Nobody knew much about Harmony. She had arrived in Fogg Lake one day a few years earlier. The librarian-oracle who had been in charge of the library at the time had announced that she was turning the job over to Harmony. She had packed her bags and left that day.

No one had disputed the change of librarians. Ever since the explosion in the nearby caves had released the paranormal gases that had changed the town forever, the librarian of Fogg Lake had always been an oracle. Each outgoing librarian had named their replacement.

“Victor and Lucas and Harlan Rancourt may be trying to manipulate each other,” Harmony said. “But all of them are using you, Olivia.”

“You’ve got it backward.” Olivia drank some tea and lowered the mug. “I’m using them.”

“Really?” Harmony looked intrigued. “Don’t try to tell me it’s the money, although the Foundation does pay its bills.”

“Harlan has convinced me that if we find Vortex I might discover the identity of the man who murdered my mother. I believe him. He doesn’t always tell me the whole truth, but he hasn’t lied to me.”

“Ah.” Harmony sat back in the chair on the opposite side of the table. “That certainly explains a few things.”

A short silence descended. Agnes the cat rose, stretched and bounded down to the floor from the window seat. She padded across the kitchen, sat down close to Olivia’s chair and looked up with enigmatic cat eyes.

“I didn’t know there was a cat living here in the library,” Olivia said.

“Agnes wandered in a few weeks ago and made it clear she was taking up residence,” Harmony said.

Olivia smiled, reached down and stroked the cat. “Hey, Agnes. Nice to meet you. I’ve been thinking about getting a cat. His name is Joe.”

Agnes stared at her for a moment longer and then, apparently satisfied, butted her head against Olivia’s leg. Finished with the conversation, she went back to the window seat and leaped lightly up onto the cushion.

Olivia turned back to Harmony. “I’ve got something to show you.” She reached into her handbag and took out the camera. She set the artifact on the table.

Harmony’s eyes heated a little. “That’s lost lab energy, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Olivia said. “And if Harlan and I are right, it has a Vortex vibe.”