“Let’s think about this, Harlan. You might be able to follow the strong currents of the music back to whoever is playing the recorder, but you’re talking about navigating this road in some very serious fog. You didn’t grow up in these mountains. You don’t know how dangerous this stuff can be.”

“I’m a pretty strong talent, too, remember?”

“Well, yes, but—”

“If you really think you’ll be okay on your own, I’m going to see if I can grab that damn recorder player or one of his buddies.”

“Fine.” She reached for her low boots. “But I can’t stay inside the vehicle. You need me.”

“Why?”

“Kids that grow up in the city learn how to cross streets, buy weed in dark alleys and call nine-one-one. I grew up learning how to survive in these mountains at night. I know this road and I know this fog. Trust me, you’re going to need me, and we’re both going to need these.”

She opened a gear box, took out two long, narrow tubes and slapped one into his hand.

He looked down at it. “Glow sticks?”

“The Fogg Lake version. The tubes are filled with some hot crystals from the caves. When you remove the stopper, you’ll see what I mean. Each crystal gives off a small amount of paranormal light and a vibe you can follow if you recognize it. Think of the rocks as bread crumbs. You drop them behind you as you walk through the woods and use them to find your way back.”

“Which means I won’t have to stick to the road to avoid getting lost.”

She pulled a thick wool scarf out of the gear box and wrapped it around her neck. “Right.”

“That is very good news.”

CHAPTER 26

You were right,” Harlan said. He kept his voice low, barely above a whisper. “I do need you out here.”

The serpentine notes of the recorder wafted through the glowing fog, a beacon that would be easy to follow so long as he kept his senses elevated. But the current of paranormal energy embedded in the notes did not tug at him the way he knew it was pulling Olivia. He could feel the tension in her as she walked beside him, but he knew that she was still in control.

They were wading through the eddying fog as if it were a shallow river. The air temperature was cold but nothing their jackets couldn’t handle. They did not need flashlights, because the glowing mist provided enough illumination to reveal nearby objects and the rutted, unpaved road.

The energy infused in the fog was the real problem, just as Olivia had warned. The visions, shadows and apparitions that swirled in the mist had been minor distractions when viewed from inside the vehicle. But out in the open they were stronger. It required more effort to keep them at bay.