Disclaimer: When anything that belongs to the creators of The Mummy or The Mummy Returns falls into my hands, I will shout it from the rooftops.
Join Us
"You've got to be kidding me." Evy sputtered. "Gold? That's what she wants?"
"So she has no clue what
dangers Hamunaptra truly holds." Rick said, his expression thoughtful.
"She only knows what she's
overheard the curator discuss with Evy. She doesn't know the whole story." Jonathan added.
"So she's willing to
completely ignore the possibility of danger just for gold?" Evy asked.
"Is that so hard to
comprehend?" Jonathan replied in
defense. "You've ignored the
threat of danger for knowledge. Some
people have different objectives, that's all."
"He has a point." Rick agreed, earning a look of disbelief
from his wife. "You have risked your
life for knowledge before. I remember
someone trying to go back for the Book of Amon-Ra once."
"That's different!"
"Greed takes many forms." Ardeth said, laughing at the disgruntled
expression on Evelyn's face. "It takes
a strong man to admit to it."
"So, what are we going to do
about her?" Rebecca asked, her gaze
taking in the sudden change in Jonathan's expression. "Did you have an idea Jonathan?"
"Yes." He said, clearing his throat. "I say we bring her into the fold."
"What?" Evy said, stunned. "How can you even suggest that?"
"Well, old Mum, I was thinking
we could keep a better eye on her if we keep her close. If we let her go off on her own, there's no
telling what she could stir up."
"She'd stir up trouble." Rick said with a sigh. "We all know what a woman can do when she
chooses to go off on her own."
"Rick." Rebecca said mildly, watching Evy's face
redden alarmingly. "You may want to
curb your tongue."
Jonathan watched his sister
stomp out of the room. He did not envy
Rick. He remembered when Evy was
pregnant with Alex. The slightest thing
could set off her temper. He turned his
attention back to the discussion at hand.
"Can we trust her?" Rebecca asked, raising her gaze to Ardeth's.
"Probably not." Ardeth replied, pacing the room. "We would have to keep her in our sight at
all times."
"It won't be as bad as all
that." Jonathan said optimistically. "Rick learned to trust me after I took the
Key from him, didn't he?"
Rick looked at his
brother-in-law with amusement. The
bastard had a point.
"I didn't have a choice." Rick said as he stood, knowing he had to
appease his wife. "You became
family. You wouldn't steal from your
brother, right brother?"
"Exactly. If we make Amanda part of our
team, she will be less likely to steal from us." Jonathan said with a glance at Rebecca.
"Alright." Ardeth said, laying his hand on his wife's
shoulder. "Go talk to her."
"Why would you be willing to
trust me after I tried to steal from you?" Amanda asked.
She was trying to maintain her calm. She'd arrived home once again to find Jonathan stretched out comfortably on her sofa. She'd changed the locks, and he'd still found a way in. She didn't know whether to be furious or afraid. She wandered about her kitchen, using the task of brewing tea to settle her nerves. It didn't help that he was so bloody handsome. By normal standards his khaki pants and shirt would be considered casual, but he made them look elegant. Especially when he was draped across her sofa like he was prepared to set up camp.
"I didn't say we were going to
trust you." Jonathan corrected, his
eyebrow lifted. "I said you could join
us."
"Why would you want someone you
can't trust on your team?" She asked,
setting everything on a tray and carrying it into the living room.
"To keep an eye on you, of
course."
Amusement lit his face when she
set the tray down with a thud. That one
had irritated her, though she was hiding it well. She sat in the chair opposite
him and poured tea, the mundane action calming her nerves. She handed him a cup, jerking slightly when
his fingers brushed over hers in the process. She raised her eyes to find his staring over the rim of his cup at
her. She flushed because she could see
he knew exactly what had made her jump.
"Touchy, luv?" He asked as she raised her cup to her lips
for a sip.
"So what exactly am I
getting into if I join up with you and your friends?" Amanda asked, deliberately ignoring his
question.
"Well, now." Jonathan said with a grin that lit up his
entire face, leaning forward. "I hope
you have all night. It's quite a story."
Three hours later:
"You expect me to believe all
that?" Amanda asked, her eyes wide with
amazement.
The funny thing was, she did
believe all of it. He'd told the tale
with just enough seriousness to make it real, but enough humor to keep it from
being terrifying. She was
terrified. The thought of supernatural
battles being waged in modern times astounded her. But she was intrigued as well.
"It doesn't matter if you
believe it or not. It happened." Jonathan said simply. "So, what do you say Amanda. Are you in?"