The Third Day Read Online Free Page B

but seated at one end of the long table were two other visitors.  The man was dressed in jeans, old boots and a work shirt that would have fit in on any of the city’s burgeoning construction sites.  Though not rugged, he clearly spent a fair amount of time outside. 
    I pegged his companion to be in her late 30s; a natural blonde who, a decade earlier, probably caused traffic accidents.  Her face still retained its youthful luster, and from her fit, toned arms, I surmised that she didn’t sit on the couch all day gorging on potato chips and watching talk shows. 
    Juliet introduced the four of us.  Our new acquaintances were Sharon Bergfeld and Dr. Robert Lavon – what type of doctor, she didn’t say. 
    Markowitz hadn’t expected company, either.  Though polite, he was clearly unhappy. 
    “Dr. Bryson, I’ve always assumed that the work of this facility would remain confidential.  Our contract specifies – ”
    “I’m aware of the contract, Ray, but I also understood that you were interested in the whereabouts of my husband.” 
    “We are,” he replied. 
    “My guests found him.  They arrived a couple of days ago.  Since I knew you were coming, I asked them to stay.” 
    This was a surprising turn of events. 
    “OK,” I said.  “Where is he?” 
    “Israel,” said Lavon.  “I’m afraid Dr. Bryson is dead.” 
    I glanced over to Juliet, but I couldn’t think of anything to say except that I was very sorry.  I found the news so unexpected that I failed to notice that her demeanor didn’t exactly match that of a woman suddenly bereaved. 
    Lavon unfolded a map of Israel and turned it so that Markowitz and I could read it easily.  He had drawn an X where they had located the body – just off the freeway bisecting Jerusalem’s outer western suburbs. 
    “We found him at this site, about three weeks ago,” he said. 
    “What on earth was he doing there ?” asked Markowitz. 
    I could think of a number of reasons.  Veterans of the Israeli army had turned the country into one of the world’s burgeoning tech centers.  Perhaps someone had offered him a better deal. 
    I glanced again toward Juliet, but she didn’t volunteer an answer. 
    “Have the police released their initial report?” I asked.  “If not, one of their investigators owes me a favor.  I’d be happy to make a few calls to speed things along.” 
    “Thank you,” she replied, “but I doubt that would help.” 
    “Why not?” I asked. 
    In my dealings with them, the Israeli police had exhibited the highest levels of competence and professionalism. 
    “Because, um.” 
    She gave Lavon a fleeting look.  Go ahead . 
    “The police wouldn’t be interested because the tests we ran on his skeleton indicated that Dr. Bryson died approximately two thousand years ago,” he said. 
    Markowitz nodded, just as he had when Juliet explained the source of their great wealth.  A few seconds later, though, Lavon’s words registered. 
    “Two thousand what ?” he blurted.  “Did you say two thousand years ?” 
    Lavon handed him a computer printout.  The younger man quickly scanned it before tossing it back. 
    “Radiometric Labs, Tel Aviv.  What are you people trying to pull?  What kind of doctor are you, anyway?” 
    “My Ph.D is in archaeology – University of Michigan, with honors.  Go check if you’d like.” 
    I made a note to do that, but he didn’t seem like the type of person who would lie about something so easily verified. 
    He held up another printout. 
    “We found the initial results to be as incongruous as you do now, so we headed back home to retest our findings with two independent labs here in the States.  None of the three facilities had access to the work of the others.” 
    “I assume they reached the same conclusion?” I asked. 
    “They did,” said the woman.  “We also found some fragments of cloth near the bones.  These dated to the same period as the