Chapter Six: That Was Us
"Where did you go last night?" Nick woke up feeling lousy. He confronted Jenny the moment she opened the bedroom curtains, letting a flood of golden sunlight into the room.
"I didn't go anywhere, darling. I only stepped out for a breath of fresh air." Jenny was already dressed to go out. She leaned over to kiss sleepy, unshaven Nick, who was still naked in bed. "Now, darling, I hate to rush you, but we must catch the train. Remember, you promised to help find the stolen amulet!"
"It's got to be somewhere close by." Nick had felt the presence of Ahmanet all night long, even when he was making love to Jenny. He wanted to make love to her again, right here and now.
"Oh, no you don't! We're late enough as it is." Jenny laughed at the greedy way Nick groped for her with clumsy, fumbling hands. "What you need is a shave, Mr. Morton. And a quick cold shower to wake you up properly. It'll do wonders to clear your head!"
Nick wanted a hot shower, and he wanted Jenny to join him. They could make love under the pulsing jets of water, with clouds of steam rising from their naked bodies. Last night Ahmanet had made love to him for hours, draining him right down to the last drop. Had that been real, or had it just been a dream?
"We need to talk about last night." Nick felt as though Jenny Halsey was taking control of the hunt for Ahmanet. Lately she'd begun calling the shots for both of them. It was bad enough she'd reserved seats for the two of them on the nine o'clock train to Boston. Now she was calmly ordering breakfast for both of them!
"Do you take sugar in your tea, darling? Or do you prefer milk?"
"Both! I mean, neither. I'll take coffee, black. And some toast and a couple of fried eggs, over easy."
The golden-haired lady scientist pouted her perfect red lips as though puckering up for a breakfast kiss. But she didn't kiss him. She scolded him gently instead. "You need a healthier diet, Nick. Why not try some fresh fruit?"
"Damn it, Jenny! Something happened last night." Nick didn't like raising his voice, not in the crowded train compartment. The other passengers were all fat and wealthy businessmen, commuting to big money jobs. They didn't have an ancient Egyptian goddess haunting their dreams, stalking and tormenting them. "I think Ahmanet still wants to get inside my head. I think she's close by."
"I think Ahmanet is powerless against the two of us, Nick. She's utterly powerless to prevent us from finding the sun amulet and using it to destroy her. We can do it, but only if we work together." Jenny gave Nick a very firm and direct and searching sort of look. "Last night something did happen. Something happened between the two of us. We made love. That was us, Nick. Wasn't it?"
Nick couldn't help it. He nodded his head, giving in to the idea that last night had just been about true love and the two of them. He tried to remember fighting back, struggling against Ahmanet. He tried to remember when she had taken over. But he couldn't really remember anything but the sex, having it and then wanting it, more and more. And so instead of arguing he gave in to Jenny. He nodded yes. Yes, it was just the two of them. And he gazed into Jenny's eyes, wishing they weren't so amazingly blue.