The Vanishing

by Jayne Ann Krentz

  Tony convulsed, wheezing as he tried to take a breath. But his lungs were locked up by the sudden cold. He collapsed and toppled forward. He squeezed off a shot but it was a reflexive move. The round went into the water. Unfortunately, his gun did, too.

  Okay, so not everything was going according to plan, Slater thought. But the plan, such as it was, had been shaky from the start. Sometimes you had to improvise.

  He flattened his back against the stone wall beside the doorway. Sooner or later someone would venture outside to see what had delayed Tony. Odds were good that it would be Jared who stuck his head through the doorway.

  Catalina and Olivia were screaming now. Their anguish sounded genuine. Their fury and despair reverberated off the stone walls of the lab.

  “Shut up,” Nyla shouted. “Shut up, both of you, or Olivia will be next.”

  Both women went suddenly quiet.

  Finally, finally, Jared realized something had gone wrong outside.

  He yelled through the doorway. “Tony? What’s happening?”

  When he got no response, he did the smart thing and got nervous.

  “Something’s wrong,” he announced to Nyla.

  “The boat,” Nyla said, alarmed. “If Arganbright gets into it, he’ll get away. Stop him.”

  Jared hesitated and then fired several shots randomly through the doorway. Evidently satisfied that he had provided sufficient cover for himself, he stuck his head and the gun through the opening to survey the scene.

  Slater grabbed the arm holding the gun and hauled the triplet through the doorway. Jared grunted and pulled the trigger a couple more times. The shots thudded into the wooden boards of the dock.

  Inside the lab the screaming started up again. Nyla this time. Howling in rage and panic and pain. Glass shattered.

  “You’re crazy,” Nyla screeched. “What have you done?”

  Another surge of adrenaline gave Slater the energy he needed to send currents of ice into Jared. The triplet landed heavily on the boards. He looked up at Slater, his face twisted in horror and disbelief.

  “What are you?” he gasped.

  “Really pissed off,” Slater said.

  The triplet collapsed, unconscious.

  Slater grabbed the gun and lunged through the doorway. He slammed to a halt when he saw that Nyla was clinging to the end of one of the old workbenches. As he watched, she lost her grip and sagged to her knees. Her mouth opened and closed. Her eyes rolled back in her head.

  “Not like this,” she whispered. “Can’t end like this.”

  She crumpled to the floor and did not move.

  Catalina looked at Slater.

  “Finally found a use for that auto-injector you gave me,” she said.

  CHAPTER 34

  I understand that the Foundation authorities are not popular here in Fogg Lake,” Slater said.

  “Damn right,” Euclid Oaks muttered. “Nothing but trouble.”

  A chorus of affirming responses rippled across the crowded room. Unlike the informal gathering that had taken place in the restaurant, this was an official town hall meeting. The venue was the library. It was still early morning, but the place was packed. Catalina was sure the entire population of Fogg Lake had turned out for the event. The future of the community was at stake.

  Catalina and Olivia sat in the front row. All eyes were on Slater, who was standing at the front of the room. Euclid, in his role as mayor, stood nearby.

  “Your opinion of the Foundation was formed when the Rancourts were in charge,” Slater continued. “It was another time. I’m asking you to give Victor Arganbright and his people a chance to prove to you that things have changed.”

  A lot of snorting and murmurs of disbelief greeted that statement.

  “Tough crowd,” Catalina whispered to Olivia.

  “Small towns,” Olivia observed in equally low tones. “They don’t change easily. One of the reasons we left, remember?”

  At the front of the room, Slater continued. “My uncles are working to bring attitudes and policies into the modern era, but the legacy of the Bluestone Project is complicated. There are those in high places who are willing to do whatever they think is required to keep the past buried.”

  Jake Crabtree, a thin, intense man of about forty, shot to his feet. “Why is anyone worried about having the truth come out? Everyone who was affiliated with the project is either dead or too old to care.”

  “The people who want the program hushed up aren’t concerned with the embarrassment factor,” Slater said. “You’re right. These days no one really gives a damn that, back in the day, the government spent a fortune on paranormal research. Certain clandestine agencies have a long history of investigating psychic phenomena. Most people know that. But the Bluestone Project was different because it produced some results. Everyone in this room is proof of that.”

  “Damn it, man, are you talking about us?” Jake said. “The folks here in Fogg Lake?”

  Slater looked at him. “I’m talking about all of us who have some genetic connection to the Bluestone Project. That includes my family, the Arganbrights, as well as Lucas Pine’s people. It’s true the Arganbrights and the Pines don’t hail from Fogg Lake. None of our relatives were here on the night of the Incident in the caves. But we do have a connection to Bluestone and we were affected by some of the experiments that were carried out in other Bluestone facilities.”

  Euclid’s eyes narrowed. “Are you saying there were accidents in some of the other labs?”

  “Trust me when I tell you that we have plenty of evidence to indicate the other labs were engaged in equally dangerous research,” Slater said. “Some of the experiments were conducted on volunteers. Others resulted in serious accidents. In every case there was a cover-up. That means that today we don’t have the information we need to locate everyone who was affected. My point is that, one way or another, we are all dealing with the fallout from the Bluestone Project.”

  “Go on,” Euclid said. He was paying close attention now.

  “You know as well as I do that most people on the outside assume that anyone claiming to have a little talent is either an entertainer or a con artist,” Slater continued. “But there are those who do take the paranormal seriously, and they can be dangerous. Catalina, for example, had to deal with a stalker after the media announced that she had helped solve a murder in Seattle.”

  A round of uneasy muttering followed that statement.

  “The Foundation’s mission is to protect the descendants of Fogg Lake, as well as the others who were affected by the experiments carried out in the course of the Bluestone Project.” Slater paused a beat. “It is also our job to take care of the bad guys. As Uncle Victor likes to say, it takes a psychic to catch a psychic.”

  A sturdily built woman with a short mop of gray hair leaped to her feet.

  “The Foundation cleaners are nothing more than a bunch of private security cops who think they’ve got the right to arrest people like us and lock us up in that so-called asylum they operate,” she declared.

  “All right, Tabitha, we know where you’re coming from,” Euclid said, his tone soothing. He turned to Slater. “Tabitha has a son who is being treated at some private clinic run by the Foundation.”

  “Imprisoned, you mean,” Tabitha shouted. “Those damn cleaners came to his apartment in Portland one night and took him away.”

  “In fairness to the Foundation,” Euclid said, “there’s a bit more to the story. Tabitha’s son got ahold of some bad street drugs. The shit did things to his head and had a real destabilizing effect on his aura. He became a danger to himself and, uh, probably others as well.”

  “I understand,” Slater said. He looked at Tabitha. “Sounds like your son is at Halcyon Manor. You are not the only mother dealing with the damage that is done every day by drugs in this country. But I have to ask you
if you would rather have had your son end up in the prison population, where he wouldn’t have gotten any medical treatment? Or maybe in a rehab center, where the so-called experts would have concluded that he really was crazy because he claimed to see auras?”

  Tabitha sniffed and started to cry quietly. She blotted her eyes with the hem of her shirt and sank back into her seat. The people sitting next to her patted her on the shoulder.

  Euclid nodded at Slater. “Go on, Arganbright.”

  “Just a couple more points I’d like to make,” Slater said. “One is that, although we have every right to be concerned with how the rest of the population would deal with us if they realized what happened to us because of the Bluestone Project, we also have a responsibility to protect outsiders from the bad guys in our community.”

  “Yeah, we’ve all heard that argument,” Euclid announced. “Regular law enforcement isn’t well equipped to handle bad dudes who have a lot of talent. If we don’t police ourselves, who will? Blah, blah, blah. Rancourt used that excuse whenever he wanted to get rid of someone who was standing in his way.”

  “My uncles are aware of that,” Slater said. “They have put some safeguards in place to prevent abuse of the system. There’s something else I want you to consider. There’s a fortune in hot artifacts in the Fogg Lake lab. We all know that now that it’s been found, there’s no putting the toothpaste back in the tube. Too many people are aware of the discovery. The rumors will soon start to circulate throughout the hot artifacts market. You can barricade the road into Fogg Lake, but you won’t be able to stop the raiders. Once they get wind of this lab, your town is going to be crawling with a lot of ruthless people, some of whom will be willing to kill to get their hands on just a single valuable artifact.”

  Euclid gripped his suspenders and rocked on his heels. “You’re going to tell us that we’d be better off if the Foundation folks set up an on-site operation here in town than we would be if those damn raider crews came around looking for the lab.”

  “I believe so,” Slater said. “But this is your community. You will have to make that decision. I will give you my word that the Foundation authorities will make every effort to keep the work as low profile as possible. I would suggest you make the decision quickly, though. Fogg Lake is good at keeping its secrets, but no community can keep this kind of secret for long.”

  Euclid grunted and turned to the audience. “You’ve all heard what he has to say. I think it’s time for Harmony to speak.”

  Harmony rose from behind the desk. Although the library was warm, she was wearing her long black cloak and knee-high boots. Her mane of silver hair was brushed back behind her ears. An expectant, respectful hush fell over the crowd.

  For a few seconds she was silent. Her eyes got an otherworldly look. Then she blinked a couple of times, gave a small sigh and looked out over the crowd.

  “Sorry,” she said. “I’ve got nothing.”

  There was a gasp of dismay.

  “But if you will recall, I am a librarian and the keeper of this town’s archives,” Harmony continued in brisk tones. “I am well acquainted with the history of this place. I will give you my professional and personal opinion. I am convinced that we will be better off inviting the Foundation into town. If we try to keep them out we’re going to end up dealing with a bunch of low-rent raider crews. We all know those guys are dangerous. It’s not like we have our own police force to handle that kind of trouble. The Foundation can provide some security.”

  Harmony sat down behind the desk.

  Euclid looked out at the throng. “All right, people, talk amongst yourselves for a while. When you’re ready, we’ll take a vote.”

  Conversations started up immediately. Neighbor turned to neighbor and launched into earnest discussions.

  Catalina and Olivia got to their feet and joined Slater. The three of them stood quietly. Catalina knew they were exhausted. Following the violent scene in Nyla Trevelyan’s lab, they had left the two triplets and Nyla, all three of whom were still unconscious, in the chamber while they used the boat to return to Fogg Lake.

  Slater had roused Euclid, who, in turn, woke up a few more people who had boats and guns. They had made their way back into the flooded caves and retrieved the two triplets and Nyla. The three were now secured in the basement of the library. Euclid had sent out a team to get the old landline telephone system up and running. The two repair people had reported that the line had been cut, presumably by Nyla and her clones. The problem had been fixed but Slater had not yet contacted Las Vegas. He was waiting for the community to make its decision.

  A short time later the crowd became quiet. Euclid picked up the wooden gavel and banged it on a desk.

  “Ready to vote?” he asked.

  Murmurs of agreement went around the room.

  “All in favor of letting the Foundation take charge of cleaning out the Fogg Lake lab say aye,” Euclid intoned.

  There was a loud chorus of ayes.

  “All opposed?” Euclid said.

  There were a handful of sullen nays.

  “The ayes have it,” Euclid declared. “Looks like there will be a few changes here in town.”

  There was a short pause. Harmony got to her feet. Once again the room fell silent. Everyone looked at her. Catalina felt energy shift in the atmosphere. A hush gripped the room for the second time.

  “We have made the right decision,” Harmony said. She did not raise her voice, but now her words reverberated throughout the library with the power of a great bell. “A storm is brewing. Past and present will collide. A vortex of evil will threaten this town and all who are connected to it. We must protect our own. To do that we will need allies. The Foundation has the resources that will be required.”

  Everyone in the room held their breath.

  Harmony blinked a couple of times and then sat down.

  “That’s it,” she said. “That’s all I’ve got.”

  CHAPTER 35

  Catalina was with Olivia and Slater at the bar of the Lake View Café when the three big SUVs rumbled into Fogg Lake. She and Olivia each had a glass of wine. Slater was drinking a beer. There were a couple dozen other people seated at tables and on nearby stools. It was early evening. There was still a little light left in the sky, but the fog was starting to pool in the streets.

  Everyone put down their drinks and turned to get a look at the newcomers. Several people got up and moved to the windows for a better look.

  “Guess who’s here,” Catalina said. She took a sip of wine. “Not exactly a subtle, low-profile arrival.”

  “There is no subtle, low-profile way to arrive in Fogg Lake,” Olivia said. “As soon as you cross the bridge over the river, half the town knows you’re coming. The rest figure it out when you drive past the general store.”

  Outside on the main street people emerged from houses, cabins and small shops to get a better view.

  The caravan of SUVs halted. The doors of the lead vehicle opened. Catalina nearly fell off her bar stool when she saw Victor Arganbright climb out from the passenger side.

  “Will you look at that,” she said. “Victor himself decided to honor our fair town with his gracious presence.”

  Olivia chuckled. “Now, play nice, Cat. You heard what the Oracle said. We need the Foundation’s resources to help us deal with whatever is coming down the pike.”

  Slater put down his beer and got to his feet. “Besides, you can bet Uncle Victor is damn curious. The Fogg Lake lab is the biggest, most important discovery the Foundation has made to date.”

  Catalina sniffed. “The Foundation did not make the discovery. Olivia and I did.”

  Slater inclined his head. “I stand corrected.”

  A handsome, elegant-looking man got out from behind the wheel of the lead SUV.

  “Your other uncle?” Catalina asked.

  “Lucas
Pine.” Slater got to his feet. “And I will just say that we can all be grateful he accompanied Victor here today.”

  “Why?” Catalina asked.

  “Uncle Lucas is the diplomat in the family,” Slater said. “If you ladies will excuse me, I’d better go take charge of things out there before Victor accidentally says something to offend the locals.”

  Catalina waved him off. “Good luck.”

  Slater walked through the restaurant and went outside to greet his uncles. He was joined by Euclid Oaks and the members of the town council. They all went forward to meet Victor and Lucas.

  Olivia smiled when the handshaking began.

  “Maybe this new alliance between the Fogg Lake community and the Foundation will actually work out,” she said.

  “Don’t be too sure of that,” Catalina said. She watched Slater and Euclid lead Victor and Lucas toward the library. “Could be one of those the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend things.”

  Olivia raised her brows. “Why am I getting the feeling that this situation is personal?”

  “Because it is.”

  Olivia watched Slater and the others disappear through the front door of the library. “How personal is it?”

  Catalina glanced at her watch and did the calculation. “Slater and I have known each other for less than three days.”

  “So?”

  Catalina drank some wine and lowered the glass. “It’s been a very intense few days.”

  “Well, damn. This is serious.”

  “Who knows? Three days is not a long time. I think the odds are that Slater will go back to Foundation headquarters and good old Uncle Victor will send him out on another case. Slater will forget about me and whatever we have—whatever we had—together.”

  Olivia got a thoughtful expression. “For what it’s worth, I’ve only known Slater Arganbright for a few hours, but I can tell you one thing.”

  Catalina tried to suppress the little spark of hope that kept refusing to be extinguished.

  “What’s that?” she asked.