Familiar Mirage. Caroline Burnes

with her dark hair sparkling in the sun.

      He was watching her when he noticed the black cat sit down at her feet. There were thousands of black cats in Alexandria, but this one was…unique. He felt the cat’s golden gaze on him, and he examined the feline. To his amusement the cat stood up and walked right to him. It jumped up on the seat beside him and with a deliberate action, hooked both front claws into the flesh of his thigh.

      “Hey!” He was more startled than injured.

      Everyone around stopped what they were doing and stared at him as he gently tried to disengage the cat. Unfortunately the animal only hooked his claws in farther and gave a low, warning growl.

      Beth saw what was happening and hurried over. She carefully picked up the cat, unhooking the claws. The black devil began to purr in her arms and licked her chin.

      “My goodness,” Beth said, cradling the cat. “Are you okay?” she asked Omar.

      “Fine,” he said, rubbing his leg. He eyed the cat. “Is he yours?”

      “He’s been following me.” Beth laughed when she realized how sinister that sounded. “Really, he has.”

      Omar found that he was smiling in amusement at her. There were many things about Beth Bradshaw that surprised and delighted him. She was supposed to be a cool, calm scientist, and here she was claiming that a stray cat was following her. “Since when?” he asked.

      “Since the airport, and you can drop the condescension. It’s the same cat, and he’s been stuck to me like glue ever since I got into this country.”

      Omar studied the animal more closely. There had been a black cat in the airport, one that had given him the once-over. And there had been a black cat in the lobby of the hotel the evening before, hiding under some furniture. As he thought about it, the cat had seemed incredibly interested in the conversation he was having with John Gilmore.

      “In my country,” he said, “cats are worshiped. They roam wherever they like, but they hardly ever stalk tourists.” He couldn’t suppress the smile that teased the corners of his mouth.

      “In my country, some people believe that black cats are the familiars—” She didn’t get a chance to finish.

      “Me-ow!” The cat leaped from her arms and landed on the seat beside Omar, who instinctively put his hands on his thighs to protect them from the cat’s sharp claws.

      “Me-ow!”

      “Familiar?” Omar said carefully, though he could hardly believe the cat was trying to tell his name.

      “Me-ow!” The cat nuzzled his leg, rubbing his head against the white robe with great relish.

      Omar looked up at Beth. “I think that’s his name.”

      “But that would be an American—”

      “Me-ow!” Familiar lifted a paw and held it up. Tentatively Beth met his paw with her own hand. “Me-ow!” the cat proclaimed, swatting her palm with his claws sheathed.

      “Incredible. He just gave me a high-five,” Beth said.

      “Incredible indeed,” Omar said. He watched the cat intently. There was something odd about this one. He’d known and loved cats all his life, but he’d never seen a cat who could so clearly communicate with humans.

      John Gilmore sauntered up to Beth and Omar. “So the two of you are adopting a stray cat,” he said with one corner of his mouth twisted. “How cute. I’m just wondering if we’re here for an archaeological expedition or as emissaries of the Humane Society.”

      Omar’s fist clenched, though he made sure that no other part of his body registered his anger. Beside him, Beth, too, tensed.

      “If you’re so overly worried about our expedition, why aren’t you suited up for the dive?” Beth asked with a measure of calm that Omar could only admire. She was a woman who’d learned to govern her emotions and to sharpen her tongue for use as a weapon. What she lacked in physical size, she made up for in spirit and intelligence.

      “I could ask you the same,” John countered. “Him, too.”

      “You could, but you aren’t in charge of this expedition. I am,” Beth said evenly. “You don’t have to worry your pretty little head about any of the decisions that need to be made. That’s my job.” Her tone suddenly hardened. “Now suit up and prepare to dive.”

      Omar watched as John’s face suffused with blood. Beth had angered him deliberately. He felt a tiny smile tug at the corners of his mouth. Sometimes words were far more effective than fists.

      John abruptly wheeled around and went to put on his diving gear. Mauve sauntered up to Beth. “That wasn’t particularly smart. You’re going down in the sea with him.”

      “John is annoying, but once we get to work, he’s a professional,” Beth said.

      “I hope you’re right,” Mauve said. “I’d feel better if I were going down there with you.”

      Beth shook her head. “I need you on top here. You can run the equipment better than anyone.”

      “I’ll be there with you,” Omar said, and both women turned to him. “As your guide, I’ll be at your back at all times.”

      He saw the slight tremor pass through Beth, and he couldn’t help but wonder if the reaction was to the hint of a threat his words induced, or the image of him standing behind her, protecting her from anyone who dared threaten. He wasn’t sure exactly which he preferred.

      Chapter Four

      “Now, we all know what we’re looking for?” Beth asked as she stood on the deck of the boat with the four members of the crew who were diving with her. Omar stood slightly behind her, but she was more than aware of his presence. She shot a glance at Mauve, who was staring blatantly at Omar’s sculpted chest and stomach, the lean and sinewy legs that emerged from the bottom of his conservative swim trunks. She’d always disliked the small briefs-style suits some men favored, much preferring the boxer-shorts style.

      And in Omar’s case, she was more than a little interested in the man who wore them.

      At the sound of Mauve clearing her throat, loudly, Beth brought her attention back to the group who stood in the hot Egyptian sun waiting for her to continue. Mauve’s wicked grin almost made her choke. She flushed but got a grip on her thoughts.

      “If my hypothesis is correct, we should find a temple built to Con in Herakleion. In the temple there should be hieroglyphics that will reveal the exact location of the lost city.

      “If it exists,” John said.

      Anger made Beth whirl to look at him, but before she spoke she’d already governed her temper. “John, we all know that we’re here to explore my personal hypothesis. You knew that when you signed on. Creating doubt in the project isn’t helpful, and if it continues, I will send you back to the States.”

      “A professional always doubts.” He lifted his chin and glanced at the other members of the dive team.

      Beth noticed that only two of them met John’s glance—Ray and Judy—the two who doubted her the most. John was always a pain in the butt, but he was sometimes helpful. She made a note to question Ray and Judy closely after they made the dive. Their doubt could prevent them from seeing a clue.

      “Doubt can be effective, but not nearly as much as belief,” Beth countered. “I believe in the lost City of Con. I believe in the woman who became a goddess. And I believe she had the ability of second sight. Those of you who don’t believe the same, just keep an open mind and we’ll gather our facts and let the evidence prove or disprove my theory.”

      She nodded and began to adjust her diving mask and regulate her oxygen. She felt a tug on her tanks and turned to see that Omar was checking her harness.

      “Thanks,”