“We’re aware of only one true oracle,” Victor said. “Harmony, the librarian in Fogg Lake. She doesn’t have any connection to Vortex. She’s been predicting storms and destruction for months now. We think the prophecies are Vortex-related, but she hasn’t been able to come up with anything concrete that we can use to find the old lab.”

Harlan brushed that aside. “I’m not talking about the Fogg Lake oracle. I need the one in Seattle. Olivia LeClair.”

Lucas and Victor exchanged bewildered glances.

Lucas shook his head. “Olivia isn’t an oracle. She’s an aura reader—a very good one, but that’s her only talent. She’s co-owner of a private investigation agency, Lark and LeClair.”

“Let’s hope for everyone’s sake you’re wrong,” Harlan said. “Because if she doesn’t have her grandmother’s talent, we don’t stand a chance of finding the Vortex lab in time.”

“In time for what?” Lucas asked.

“That’s the bad news,” Harlan said. “I don’t know exactly what will happen if we don’t find Vortex. Whatever it is, it will not be good.”

Victor’s eyes burned. “You’re in a rush because you think someone else has picked up the trail.”

“And is closing in fast,” Harlan said. “The chatter among the collectors, raiders and dealers who work the paranormal artifacts trade has been increasing for a year, but in the past month it has become so intense that something must have changed.”

Victor sat quietly, not speaking.

Lucas glanced at the warning written on the painting. “If even some of the stories about what went on inside the Vortex lab are accurate, we have a problem.”

“They were playing with forces they did not understand in that damn lab,” Victor said. “Forces they could not control.”

“My grandfather and my father were convinced they were trying to create enhanced talents—super soldiers and spies—that could be used for military purposes,” Harlan said.

Victor sighed. “They got monsters instead.”

“That’s not the worst part,” Harlan said. “After all, you can kill monsters.”

Lucas raised silver brows. “You should know.”

Harlan looked at him.

“We’re getting off track here,” Victor said. “All right, Rancourt, I’ll bite. What’s worse than having to hunt down monsters?”

“That’s the rest of the bad news,” Harlan said. “I don’t know. You were right, the Vortex team was playing with forces they did not understand. We’ve learned a few things about paranormal physics since Bluestone was shut down, one of which is that paranormal energy tends to hang around for a long time. Decades. Centuries. That old lab must be very hot.”

“Like the Fogg Lake lab,” Lucas said.