The Vanishing Stair (Truly Devious #2)(28)

“So that Lark and LeClair won’t get any credit for solving your cases and so that your firm won’t be embarrassed by having the media find out that you sometimes ask a psychic investigation agency to consult for you.”

“We’re talking a lot of money, Cat. Many of my clients are lawyers. When it comes to defending one of their wealthy clients, cash is no object.”

“That does it.” Catalina unfolded her arms and yanked open the door. “Leave. Now. Or I’ll call the police and have you thrown out. There must be some legal grounds I could use.”

“Loitering,” Daniel said. “Trespassing.”

He reached for the phone.

Roger looked as if he was going to make a stand, but he must have realized it was pointless.

“You’re making a mistake, Cat,” he said. He went toward the door. “I’ll be in touch when you’ve had a chance to cool down.”

Catalina did not deign to respond to that. She simply closed the door very firmly behind him and turned to Daniel.

“Anything else about the arrest of Angus Hopper that you can tell me?” she said.

Daniel glanced at his notes. “The detective who called said they’ll want another statement from you. Evidently there are a few questions regarding your weapon of choice—”

“That is not amusing.”

“Just kidding,” Daniel said quickly. “The detective told me he thinks they’ve got more than enough to keep Hopper off the streets. Your turn. Did you get any leads on Olivia?”

“One very tiny lead,” Catalina said. “According to Marge, the two men who grabbed Olivia may be twins.”

Daniel frowned. “Weird. When do we call the police?”

Slater decided it was finally time to insert himself into the conversation.

“I don’t think there’s any point bringing in the cops,” he said. “Not at this stage. For one thing, we haven’t got much to go on. I’m sure that Marge was telling the truth, at least the truth as she sees it, but I doubt if the police will take it seriously. They’re more likely to focus initially on the man Olivia was supposed to meet last night.”

“Emerson Ferris,” Daniel said.

“I’m convinced now that Ferris had nothing to do with grabbing Olivia,” Catalina said. “The problem with concentrating on him is that we’ll lose valuable time looking for the kidnappers.”

“It does seem unlikely that this Emerson Ferris is behind the kidnapping, but we can’t overlook the possibility that he’s involved,” Slater said. “We need someone to keep an eye on him while you and I chase other leads.”

“That would be me,” Daniel said. “Stakeouts are my specialty. I’m on my way.”

He punched a key to send the phones to voice mail, pulled a small black backpack from a drawer, grabbed his jacket and went out the door.

Catalina looked at Slater.

“Before we go off to see that gallery owner, I want some more answers,” she said. She swung around and went briskly down the hall. “My office, Mr. Arganbright.”

It was not a request.





CHAPTER 11


Catalina dropped into the chair behind her desk and watched Slater set his backpack on the floor. He cast a longing glance at the pot of coffee sitting on the burner.

“Mind if I have a cup?” he asked. “I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Help yourself,” she said. “It’s not exactly fresh. Daniel made it first thing this morning. Pour a cup for me, please, while you’re at it. I could do with a stiff jolt of caffeine myself.”

Slater nodded. He picked up the pot and poured two mugs. He put one of the mugs on her desk.

She wrapped both hands around the large mug, taking comfort from the warmth. “Tell me why you think Olivia and I are involved in the murders of those two collectors. And then explain how this relates to what we saw fifteen years ago.”

“I don’t have all the answers,” Slater said. He sank down into the client chair, took a healthy swallow of the coffee and slowly lowered the mug. His eyes got very intent. “But I agree that you need some background. I came here today to ask you to assist me in what was supposed to be an unrelated inquiry. Obviously the situation has changed.”

“Obviously.”

“What do you know about the Bluestone Project and the lost labs?” Slater asked.

“Not much. The project and the labs associated with it are more or less an urban legend in the paranormal community. Conspiracy theory might be a more accurate term. Supposedly, back in the late nineteen fifties, the government established a highly classified program to explore the possibilities of various forms of psychic energy.”

“Bluestone was not a legend or a conspiracy theory. It was very real. It was designed to be a paranormal version of the Manhattan Project.”

“The research and development program that produced the first nuclear weapons during World War Two?”

“Right,” Slater said. “During the Cold War that followed World War Two, certain government agencies were concerned because it appeared that what was then the Soviet Union was engaging in serious paranormal research.”

Catalina wrinkled her nose. “Imagine that. Someone in the government actually took the woo-woo thing seriously.”