Familiar Mirage. Caroline Burnes

the city?” Beth asked. This seemed to be a theme with Omar.

      “‘Outsiders’ is a harsh term. I do know that the followers of Con were a very secretive bunch.” He smiled to take the sting out of his words. “I think that for them, everyone who wasn’t absolutely bound to the group was considered an outsider.”

      “They lived a long time ago. Perhaps they’ll look kindly on another woman who simply wants to understand them.”

      He stared deeply into her eyes. “Is that really what you want, Beth?”

      It was the first time he’d used her name, and she knew that his question was loaded with meaning. “It’s my job, Omar. It’s what I do because I love doing it. I think by learning about the past, we can prevent mistakes now. We can learn from those who came before us.”

      “And is all this learning for yourself or for the glory that will come with it?”

      She hesitated. “I would be lying if I didn’t say both. I want to be recognized and acknowledged as a top professional in my field, but I could have gone in search of any number of other sites of archaeological importance.”

      “So what is it about the City of Con that drew you to it?”

      “It’s not the city. It’s Con.” Beth wondered if a man could ever understand her motives. She suddenly decided to try to make Omar see. “I dream about her,” she said softly. “I see her, and I want to know what role she played in history. I want her to have the credit she deserves.”

      “Perhaps she didn’t want credit.”

      Beth smiled. “I can’t know for certain, but neither can you.”

      Omar leaned closer, sending a shudder of pleasure through Beth as his whisper lightly touched her ear. “What if I told you that I, too, dream of Con? And in my dreams, she tells me that the past is best left shrouded in mystery.”