Olivia LeClair's experiment with speed dating is not going well. First there was the nasty encounter with the date from hell who tried to murder her and now the mysterious Harlan Rancourt—long believed dead—sits down at her table and tells her she's the only one who can help him locate the legendary Vortex lab.
This is not what Olivia had in mind when she signed up for the Four Event Success Guaranteed package offered by the dating agency. She doesn't have much choice, though, because her psychic investigation firm works for the mysterious Foundation and Victor Arganbright, the director, is adamant that she assist Harlan. There's just one problem—no one knows Harlan's real agenda. His father once ran the Foundation like a mob organization, and Harlan was destined to be his heir. There's a real possibility Harlan has returned to claim his inheritance.
For now, however, it's a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend because others are after the secrets of the long-lost lab. Unfortunately for Olivia, the one thing friend and foe have in common is that everyone is convinced she is the key. Her unique psychic talent is required to defuse the ticking time bomb that is Vortex.
Neither trusts the other but Olivia and Harlan soon realize they must work together to survive and unlock the Bluestone Project's most dangerous secrets before more innocent people die.
Excerpt
Lightning in a Mirror
“If I disappeared tomorrow would you walk into hell to
find me?” Olivia asked.
She did not look up from her phone. She wasn’t supposed to
be on it. The rules of the speed dating event were quite specific about that.
All phones, watches and assorted tech were to be powered down for the evening.
But she had concluded the event was a waste of time, so she had palmed her
phone from her handbag. She was now holding it under the edge of the cocktail
table, where the event coordinator could not see it.
The knee-length burnt orange wool coat she was examining
was stunning, but, sadly, the color was over-the-top for Seattle. Most of the
outerwear on the city’s streets came in shades of gray, black, navy and forest
green. If she were to stroll down Pine Street in a burnt orange coat, she might
as well carry a sign that shouted tourist.
The man who had just sat down on the other side of the
small, round table did not respond to the question. With a sigh, she looked up.
It was obvious from his uncertain expression that he thought she was texting.
“I said, if I disappeared tomorrow would you walk into hell
to find me?” she said.
“Excuse me?” He looked around and then leaned forward. He
lowered his voice. “I think they said that we should turn off our phones.”
“Sorry.” She dropped the phone into her large handbag,
wedging it between her turmeric-yellow wallet and the vintage camera. She took
a closer look at her new date. The name tag stuck on his shirt identified him
as Nathan.
“Hi, Nathan. I’m Olivia,” she said, going for bright and
sparkly. “I’ll repeat my question. If I disappeared tomorrow would you walk
into hell to find me?”
“Uh.” Nathan got a deer-in-the-headlights look.
She recognized the expression. Nathan was rapidly coming to
the conclusion that she was weird. Within the next thirty seconds he would do
what the previous dates had done—excuse himself and take off to find the
restroom, where he would hide out until the bell rang.
It was not Nathan’s fault she had signed up for the Four
Event Success Guaranteed package offered by the speed dating agency. So far
most of the people she had met had been nice. A bit boring—but nice. The
experiment had been a disaster for her, however.
She had purchased the package because it was 20 percent
off. The first event had been a washout, but she had told herself to be
optimistic. You couldn’t expect immediate success. But now she was midway
through the second event and the prospects were looking even more dismal.
“I’m not sure exactly what you mean,” Nathan said.
He did a quick, furtive glance around the room. It didn’t
take any psychic talent to know he was searching for the restrooms
She gave him another shiny smile. “The matchmaker said we
are supposed to ask each other questions. That’s my question.”
“Oh.” Nathan cleared his throat. “Well, uh, I guess it
would, you know, depend.”
At least Nathan was considering his answer, not running for
the restroom. That was promising.
“What would it depend on?” she asked.
“How well I knew you. Whether or not you and I were, you
know, close.”
“And if we were close?” she pressed. “Then would you walk
into hell to find me?”
Panic sparked in Nathan’s eyes. He glanced at the table
where the event coordinator sat. When he realized there was no salvation coming
from that direction, he made a heroic effort to move forward.
“My turn,” he said, bubbling with artificial enthusiasm.
“My question is, where do you like to go on vacation?”
“Hawaii. My turn. If I went missing would you walk into—”
“I guess I’d call your friends first,” Nathan said. He sat
back in the booth, putting a little more distance between them. “See if they
knew where you were. Then, uh, maybe call the cops. Hey, I like Hawaii, too. Do
you snorkel?”
“No.” She leaned forward, closing the space he had just
made. “How hard would you look for me?”
“Well, uh, I’m not an expert when it comes to search and
rescue work. Don’t you need a dog for that?” Nathan shot to his feet. “Excuse
me. Gotta hit the restroom. Be right back.”
And another one bites the dust. No,
that wasn’t right, Olivia thought. I’m the one who just bit
the dust. Again. She realized she didn’t care.
The speed dating experiment was a failure. If she hadn’t bought the Four Event
Success Guaranteed package she would leave right now. But she had made an investment,
and the fine print was firm—no refunds.
Have you read any Jayne Ann Krentz books?
Are you reading the Fogg Lake Trilogy?
Have you ever had any psychic experiences?
I have read and enjoyed her stories but not this series. No, no psychic abilities or experiences but I love reading about them.
ReplyDeleteJayne Ann Krentz writes suspenseful novels which I enjoy. I have never read this series but look forward to enjoying it. I do have premonitions but not psychic abilities.
ReplyDeleteThis trilogy interests me greatly. I have read this author's books which were always riveting. I wouldn't mind possessing psychic abilities. An amazing talent.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy this authors books but have not read any of the Fogg Lake Trilogy. Have not had any psychic experiences.
ReplyDeleteIt's been years since I've read any of her books. I've had very strange things happen to me that could be interpreted as psychic -- or just really odd happenstance.
ReplyDeleteI am reading this trilogy! I Love, love her books. Can't wait to read this one. I have practically read everything she has written. She is a one of my favorite authors. No physic ability or strange things happening.
ReplyDeleteHer books are so addictive. I don't have any physic abilities that I know of, but it might be fun. Would love to win a copy of this book to finish the trilogy.
ReplyDeleteHer books are addictive. I haven't read this trilogy yet. I don't have any psychic experiences.
ReplyDeleteYes I have read her books, but I haven't read any lately.
ReplyDeleteI have never read her before, but this sounds both intriguing and funny.
ReplyDeleteJust put The Vanishing on my library queue, and I can't wait to start the series!
ReplyDeleteI have read several of her books under all three of her pen names over the years, but it has been a while since reading any. I enjoy her books, but it took a bit to get into her dust bunny future set books. I haven't read any of the Fogg Lake series yet, but after reading the blurbs for all three of the books, it sounds like one I will enjoy. I will look for them next time I go out.
ReplyDeletePsychic experiences are not strangers to me, but not something I pursue. The eve of my 5th birthday I dreamt of my uncle who was in action in the Korean War. I "saw" him get killed. I told my parents of the dream next morning and was punished for upsetting my parents and grandparents. My grandparents got the telegram that afternoon notifying them of my uncle's death. When they got the details, it happened just when and the way I saw it. There have been times since, actually many, when I know when things have happened and what is going to happen (like someone getting bad news, who is calling or on their way over, etc.). I knew the moment my husband got the news he had cancer when we had no doctor's appointment scheduled and no idea there was a problem or that a biopsy had been done.