The City of Lost Secrets: A Mara Beltane Mystery by Katie McVay Page A

asked.
    “Yes, of course,” I said, straightening my shoulders in Uri’s grasp, attempting to hide my physical and emotional discomfort. “It’s my whole reason for being here.”
    “Then we must hurry before it’s too late.”
    “Too late for what?”
    Uri waved off my question. “Meet me tomorrow morning at Lev’s shop. If you want to see the Talpiot tomb, then it must be soon.”
    “Why the sudden hurry?”
    “Talk to Lev,” Uri said, holding up a hand to stave off further questions. “He has the answers. And he is the only one who can get us inside.”
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER TWELVE
     
    “Hello again, Miss Mara,” the boy said to me, smiling.
    He was arranging items on one of the glass display cases in the middle of his small store when I returned, a day after visiting the Mount of Olives with Uri.
    “Hello, Lev,” I said.
    “What brings you back to my store? Looking for another olive wood trinket?” He pushed his glasses further up on his nose.
    When we’d met for the first time several days before, Lev wore jeans and a pull-over collared shirt, a casual look that almost pegged him as a traveler, not a proprietor-in-training. Today, however, he fit the bill, wearing a white dress shirt tucked into a pair of dark blue slacks.
    “Well, I--” I started.
    Just then the chime above the door sounded. Lev turned towards the door to see who had entered and was surprised to see Uri standing in the threshold. His mouth fell in shock.
    “Professor Nevon,” he said, quickly replacing the items he held back on the shelf. “What are you doing here?”
    “Well, it’s nice to see you, too, Lev,” Uri said mockingly.
    “I’m sorry,” Lev said. “Where are my manners? How have you been?” He walked closer to where Uri and I stood.
    “I’ve been well.” Uri looked around the store, at the white walls painted with intricate patterns in blue and green, at the service counter in the back of the room, and finally to the glass display cases in the middle of the store near where Lev stood. The two men’s eyes met once again.
    “I like what you’ve done with the store,” Uri said. “You’ve painted since I’ve seen it last.”
    “Yes,” Lev said. “It was long overdue.”
    There was a moment of silence before Uri finally said, “It has been too long, my old friend.”
    Lev looked uneasy. His eyes darted between me and Uri. “So…what brings you both here?”
    “Lev, I’m sorry,” I said, feeling the need to apologize for our unexpected visit. “I want you to know that--”
    “Mara, it’s okay,” Uri said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Let me explain.”
    Lev’s shoulders hunched slightly and he glared at Uri. “You want my help getting inside the Talpiot tomb, don’t you?” He slid his accusing eyes to me. “That’s why you’re both here.”
    “Yes, my dear friend,” Uri confirmed.
    “Professor, I referred Miss Mara to you because I thought you would help her,” Lev said, clearly agitated. “Please don’t involve me! I got in so much trouble last time!”
    Uri stepped forward and reached his hand out, as if to comfort Lev with a friendly squeeze on the arm. “I know, Lev. I understand. Just listen…”
    “You don’t need my help,” Lev said, shrugging away from Uri’s touch.
    “Yes, we do,” Uri said. “You are the only one with influence.”
    “Professor, I have shamed my family! And I have police watching my every move!”
    All I could do was stand there in stunned silence as the two Israelis carried on with their own private conversation.  
    “We were foolish last time,” Uri said. “We won’t be this time. We’ll better prepare, have a back-up plan.”
    Lev threw his hands in the air. “Hasn’t this tomb cost you enough?” Uri lowered his head, as if to give himself a private moment to think. He sighed, then looked at Lev. “I don’t regret what we did. Do you?”
    “I…I don’t know,” Lev said.
    “Wasn’t it worth it in the end, to see what