The Vanishing Stair (Truly Devious #2)(60)

“Catalina, dear,” she said. She smiled her warm, gentle smile. “I heard you were in town. So good to see you again. It’s been too long.”

It seemed to Catalina that Nyla had scarcely aged in the past fifteen years. True, there were a few more lines in her face, but she had been gifted with the kind of good bones that guaranteed an elegant beauty that would last through the years. Her long hair was shot with silver now, but she wore it the same way she always had, secured at the back of her neck so it fell in a long ponytail to her waist. There was a delicate, fragile quality about her that some said was due to her long-standing heart condition.

By the time she reached the booth her coat was open, revealing the flannel shirt and jeans underneath, the same uniform that she had worn for as long as Catalina could remember.

“Hi, Nyla.” Catalina slipped out of the booth, exchanged a quick hug with the older woman, and then stepped back to introduce Slater, who was on his feet. “This is Slater Arganbright. He’s with the Foundation.”

“Yes, I know,” Nyla said. “Word gets around fast here in Fogg Lake.” Her tone was dry but her smile was genuine and her eyes were shadowed with concern. “I would say welcome to town, but I understand that you are here because you’re investigating the disappearance of Olivia LeClair. Is that true?”

“Olivia LeClair did not disappear,” Slater said. “She was kidnapped the day before yesterday.”

Nyla’s smile gave way to an expression of shock and dismay. “This is almost unbelievable. Why would anyone kidnap Olivia? It’s not as if the family has any money.”

“We don’t think this is about a ransom payment,” Slater said. “It seems to be connected to the murder that took place in the caves fifteen years ago.”

Nyla turned to Catalina. “So it’s true? You really did witness a murder?”

“Yes,” Catalina said. “We think someone grabbed Olivia because she was also a witness.”

Nyla turned back to Slater. “But why now? After all this time?”

“We don’t know,” Slater said. “All we know for sure is that Olivia has been taken. I’ve got a photo of one of the two kidnappers. He’s in the custody of the Foundation. Last we heard he was in a coma, but he’s expected to recover soon. Meanwhile we’re looking for his partner, who happens to be his twin.”

Someone handed Nyla the photo. She examined it closely, frowning a little.

“He’s injured,” she said. “Was he in an accident?”

“Sort of,” Catalina said.

“No wonder he’s in a coma.” Nyla shook her head. “I don’t recognize him. Are you here because you think these twins have a Fogg Lake connection?”

“What we know,” Slater said, “is that they have a connection to the hot artifacts trade. We think they murdered a collector named Royston in Seattle. They ambushed Catalina and me in Royston’s gallery. They were armed with some sort of gas that affected our senses. A heavy hallucinogen.”

Alarmed, Nyla looked at Catalina. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” Catalina said.

“Thank goodness.” Nyla glanced at the photo again. “I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful. You say he’s in a coma?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Slater said.

Euclid frowned. “How the hell did that happen?”

“He was probably affected by the same gas he and his twin used on us,” Catalina said. “Hallucinogens can be very problematic.”

Slater’s brows rose in acknowledgment of her smooth response to the question, but he kept quiet.

The door of the café opened again. Catalina and the others turned to look at the newcomer. Harmony—as far as anyone knew she had no last name—did not go out of her way to make dramatic entrances. The ability came naturally to her. She was almost six feet tall with a mane of white hair, a statuesque body and the eyes of an Old Soul.

She strode into the restaurant with the long wings of a full-length black wool cloak swirling around her knee-high leather boots.

She halted just inside the door and went very still. An expectant hush fell over the crowd.

“The energy of the past has been disturbed,” she declared in the rich voice of a Shakespearean actor. “A great darkness is gathering deep in the fog. Lock your doors and stay close to your hearths tonight.”

There was a stark silence. No one snickered. There was no eye-rolling. If you grew up in Fogg Lake, you knew that when Harmony spoke in that particular voice it was a good idea to pay attention.

“Got anything more specific for us, Harmony?” Euclid asked.

“No.” Harmony’s voice was normal now. It was still a strong voice befitting her size and build, but the drama was gone. “Sorry. That’s all I’ve got. There’s just a vibe in the fog tonight that reminds me—Never mind. I heard Catalina was in town.”

Catalina got to her feet again. “Right here, Harmony.”

Harmony brightened and started forward. Once again the crowd parted.

“There you are,” she said. She enveloped Catalina in a warm hug. “So good to see you again. What’s this I hear about Olivia being kidnapped and you bringing a Foundation cleaner here to investigate?”