“It’s just that, historically speaking, oracles have had a reputation for being . . . fragile.”

“Let’s get something straight. In real life I’m a private investigator who happens to be a very good aura reader. I came into possession of a camera that has paranormal properties and I am learning how to use it. I’m working this case with you because I’m hoping it will help me find the person who murdered my mother. I’m doing my job. Stop fretting.”

“I’m not fretting.”

“You’re fretting.”

“I just wanted to say that if you feel a little upset it would be a natural reaction.”

“Yes, it would.” She gave him a wintry smile. “What about you? How are you doing? You’ve been under a lot of stress, not just recently but for the past five years. This afternoon you nearly got fried by hot mirrors. That sort of thing takes a heavy toll on the psychic senses. Do you need to talk about what just happened?”

“All right, you’ve made your point. Moving along, we seem to have what looks like a plan. We’re going to Fogg Lake. But first we’ve got to find a place with a good cell signal. I want to get the photos I took of those fake security dudes and their vehicles to Las Vegas as soon as possible so that Arganbright and Pine can analyze them. I need data.”

“What about the Sefton house? It’s a smoking ruin, but there will be plenty of paranormal energy left. The artifacts in the vault are buried under the rubble but they may have survived. Some of them are probably dangerous. They’re all priceless.”

“We’ll let Arganbright handle that problem. He can send some of the Seattle team up here or have the Fogg Lake security people take charge.”

“At least we made it out with a logbook,” Olivia said. She reached into her handbag, removed the leather-bound volume and opened it. “Harlan, listen to this. ‘A Record of Paranormal Experiments Conducted at the Vortex Laboratory under the Direction of Dr. Alexander Winston.’ ”

A rush of knowing hit Harlan. “I remember that name. It’s in the Rancourt files. My grandfather was certain Winston was the head of the lab for a while.”

“Do you think Blake Sefton was really Dr. Winston?”

“No. According to the file, Winston died in a lab accident before Vortex was shut down. Someone else took over as director.”

“Who?”

“His wife, Aurora Winston. She was evidently the one in charge at the time Bluestone was terminated. She would have overseen the destruction of Vortex.”

“Did she make it out?”

“There’s a note that says she disappeared immediately after the labs were closed and is believed to be dead, but who knows?”

“Any children?”

“Good question. There’s no information on offspring in the file.”