“The oracle appears only in the pictures that Olivia’s grandmother did,” Harlan said. “It’s not in the one Olivia’s mother painted. Grace Goodwin probably used that particular iconic figure because she knew it would get the attention of anyone connected to Bluestone and the Foundation. The oracle talent has been embedded in the mythology of the lost labs since the beginning.”

Lucas looked at Olivia. “I understand you did a very good job of convincing Spode and his students that you were a genuine oracle.”

Olivia touched the camera.

“In real life I’m a private investigator,” she said. “A talent for acting is a job requirement.”

CHAPTER 51

You’re telling us Stenson Rancourt died because he got involved in a love triangle?” Victor said. He looked and sounded dumbfounded.

The bar was lightly crowded, because the happy hour crowd was fading and the evening dinner hour was not yet in full swing. Olivia had chosen the location because it was an easy walk from her apartment building. Victor and Lucas were staying at a nearby hotel. They had arrived on foot, too.

Lucas was the one who had requested the meeting, but now that the four of them were gathered in the booth it was clear Victor intended to interrogate Harlan. His determined expression would have been amusing if not for the energy in the atmosphere. He wanted answers.

Harlan appeared unfazed. He was back in camouflage mode, once again playing the role of Average Guy, Seattle Tech Engineer Edition. Olivia had been aware that some people had glanced at her when she had walked into the bar. She could tell that several had taken a second look at Victor and Lucas, too, even though they didn’t realize they were intuitively reacting to the presence of a couple of strong talents.

But, as usual, no one looked twice at Harlan.

Olivia took a sip of her wine and picked up the bar menu. The steamed edamame sounded interesting. So did the antipasto platter. And the cheese and olive plate. Did you need both an antipasto platter and a cheese plate? What about the artisanal thin crust pizza? You could never go wrong with pizza when you were feeding men.

She circled her choices and handed the menu to the waiter as he went past.

“Victor and I have had two theories about the explosion,” Lucas said. “The first was that your father caused it with the intention of killing us but something went wrong with the timing. Stenson died instead.”

“I assume theory number two was that I had planned the lab disaster intending to take out both of you but that things went wrong and I accidentally killed my father,” Harlan said.

Olivia glanced at him. His voice sounded a little too even. Nothing to see here. Just speculating.