Jonathan Carnahan leaned on the bar, sipping from his glass of scotch with a look of pure joy on his face.  He and his family had ridden in from the desert only a few hours before, and the first thing he'd done was head to the bar.  There was no sense in wasting time waiting for a bath when there were two women in the household who were bound to tie it up, was there?  So he'd left his sisters to it, and come out for a bit of liquid refreshment.

Even covered in travel dust, his clothes rumpled from riding, he was a nice man to look at.  His face held a look of perpetual humor, giving one the impression that he was never serious, which couldn't be further from the truth.  Those who were close to him knew you could count on him when the chips were down. 

He finished his drink, and reached into his jacket pocket for his wallet.  He removed a few crumpled bills and laid them on the bar, turning for the door.  As he stepped outside he saw something that made his eyes go wide with disbelief.  The man he looked upon ducked into the throng of people that filled the marketplace, disappearing from view.  Jonathan wasn't sure if he'd seen what he'd thought he'd seen.  But he wasn't going to linger, he prepared to rush straight to Ardeth's to tell the others.  As he turned to go he bumped into a lad, stumbling back from the impact.

"Watch where you're going, chap."  Jonathan sputtered, furious. 

The kid ducked in an apologetic bow.  His face was covered by a hat, and Jonathan could not make out who it was as the lad sped off.  Something made him pat his pocket and he cursed, realizing the Key that Rebecca had entrusted into his care was gone.  He spun quickly, just catching a glimpse of the kid rounding a corner.  Jonathan gave chase, vowing that no kid was going to get the best of someone as skilled at picking pockets as he was.

It was a short chase.  The kid didn't realize that Jonathan had caught on to him, and had slowed after only going a short distance.  Jonathan grabbed the kid by his arm, slamming him up against the wall as he reached into the kid's pockets.

"The first rule of thievery."  Jonathan growled, his arm against the kid's throat.  "Don't stop running.  Even if you're sure you got away with it, run some more.  It pays to be sure."

"Let go of me!"

Jonathan closed his fingers around the Key with a grin of triumph, pulling it out and tucking it back where it belonged.  His eyes narrowed, he proceeded to pull the kid in the direction of the house, lecturing the entire time.

"You shouldn't attempt to steal from a master, boy.  What gave you the idea to steal from me?  You should have gone for the wallet, I wouldn't have noticed as quickly.  Why didn't you take the wallet?"

"I was told to take the box."  The kid said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, really?  Who told you to take it?"  Jonathan demanded.

"I don't know, some man, he talked funny.  He told me if I didn't do it he'd make sure I suffered."

By this point they had reached the door to Ardeth's home in Cairo.  He didn't like the idea of bringing this urchin into Ardeth's home so soon after the man's wedding, but he didn't feel this attempt to steal the all-important Key should go unreported.  He pushed the door open with one shoulder, dragging the struggling kid in after him.

"What is this?"  Rebecca asked with alarm.

Jonathan stopped before his sister, shoving the kid before him. 

"This kid tried to steal the Key.  I was faster."

"Oh dear."  Evy, also his sister, said with a sigh.  "I thought we'd have a little more time."

"Well, we don't."  Rick said with a scowl.  "Let's see the boy's face."

Jonathan pulled the hat from the kid's head, releasing a waterfall of glossy brown curls that fell clear down the back.  He stood, stunned. 

"You're a girl!"

"That should be glaringly obvious by now."  She pointed out, straightening to her full height and staring at him with disdain.

She was stunning.  If he'd had an unobstructed view of her face there would have been no way he would have mistaken her for a boy.  Her skin was pale, like cream.  Her eyes were a deep blue, fringed by lashes the same color as her hair.  She was not overly tall; standing straight she came to his chin.  She wore a shapeless robe that hid the rest of her from view. 

"Who are you?"  Ardeth demanded with his arms folded across his chest.  "What do you want with the Key?"

"I don't want it.  I was told to retrieve it or suffer the consequences."

"Yeah, sure."  Jonathan snorted, earning a cool look from the woman his still held by the arm.  "Who told you to retrieve it?"

'I didn't see his face."  She said, jerking her arm free.

"What were the consequences?"  Evy asked gently, for she had seen the lines of stress about the woman's eyes.

"I teach."  She said simply, crossing her arms across her chest defensively.  "He threatened my babies."

"Amanda."  Rick said slowly.  "You teach at the orphanage."

"How did you know that?"  She demanded suspiciously.

"I've seen you, when I've met with the nuns."  He replied, facing her fully.   "My name's Rick O'Connell."

"Oh.  You and your wife donated the books."  Amanda said, embarrassment tinting her cheeks red. 

"Yes, we did."  Evy said, looking at Amanda with sympathy.  "You didn't see who it was?"

"No.  The first time he grabbed me from behind, held a knife to my throat.  After that he only sent letters."

She pulled a wad of papers out of her pocket, thrusting them forward as if she could not wait to get rid of them.  Rebecca handed them to Jonathan, taking the trembling hands of the girl in her own.

"You're safe now."  Rebecca assured her, hating the look of panic in the girl's eyes.  "I can promise you that no harm will come to the children."

She looked back over her shoulder at Ardeth, who nodded.  He already had men on their way to the orphanage.  Not only would they keep an eye out, they'd check into the background of this woman as well.  It did not hurt to be careful.  Even though Rick seemed to know her, there was no way her would just take her at her word.  Not when the fate of the world was at stake.

"How do we know she's telling the truth?"  Jonathan demanded, unknowingly stating what Ardeth had been thinking.  "She could be trying to save her own neck."

Evy frowned at her brother; while Amanda sent him a glance so cold it could have frozen him even in the heat of the desert.  He met her stare, one eyebrow raised as he waited for her response.

"Why would I lie?"  Amanda asked.

"You steal."  Jonathan pointed out. 

"Jonathan, that's enough."  Evy said sharply, appalled at his lack of manners.

"No, old Mum.  I don't think it is."  He replied, sending his sister a small smile.  "You feel sorry for her, which makes sense with you feeling all maternal right now.  But when someone tries to steal the Key, I think we should be sure to get to the bottom of it, and quickly."

"He is right."  Ardeth said, stepping forward to lay a hand on Evy's shoulder.  "Until we know she is telling the truth, she is not to leave this house."

"You can't keep me here!"  Amanda protested, clenching her fists at her sides as two Medjai warriors flanked her on either side. 

"We can call the authorities, if you prefer."  Ardeth offered.

"Yeah, I think you'd rather stay here than in prison."  Jonathan said with warning, his voice tinged with triumph.

So it came to be that Amanda was ensconced in a room in Ardeth's house with a guard at the door.  She sat on the bed, frowning as her mind tried to come up with a way out of this.  She had lied.  While it was true she taught at the orphanage, she had not been forced to steal the box from Jonathan Carnahan.  She taught at the orphanage in her spare time.  When she was not there she worked at the Museum.  It was there she had heard of the O'Connell family, and of their adventures at Hamunaptra.  Hamunaptra was not spoken of directly to her.  Being a woman had given her the advantage at the museum.  They did not think she understood the whispered conversations they exchanged in Arabic, that she could not read ancient Egyptian.  She'd kept her knowledge of both languages a secret, knowing she could learn more that way.

She paced the room, unable to sit.  She'd gone for the box because she wanted gold, and she'd heard that the box was the way to Hamunaptra.  She did not understand why the people downstairs had called it the Key, unless it unlocked the door to the treasure room?

She began to search the room, knowing she had to find a way out before anyone downstairs actually read the papers she'd thrust out at them.  They were her written notes about Jonathan Carnahan's usual hangouts, mainly a list of drinking establishments.  She smiled derisively.  She'd expected him to be drunk, an easier mark.  He'd surprised her, though.  He'd also thrilled her, just a bit, when he'd had her up against the wall, and glowered down at her like an avenging god.  She pulled the curtains open, her eyes widening when she realized they covered a balcony door.   She opened the doors, stepping out onto the narrow balcony.  Her eyes narrowed as she gauged the distance between the balcony and the ground, and she nodded with satisfaction.  She could do it. 

Downstairs:

"I told you she was lying."  Jonathan said smugly as Evy looked up from the papers with an appalled expression.  "The little chit's been tracking me!"

"She told a convincing tale."  Evy said defensively, shaking her head at her own gullibility. 

"Indeed she did."  Ardeth said with a scowl as he stepped into the room.  "Part of her story checked out, she does teach at the orphanage, but only in her spare time.  The rest of the time she spends working at the Museum."

"Really."  Rick said, his eyes narrowing. 

"Her full name is Amanda Tarrington."

"My goodness."  Evy said with surprise.  "She took over my position when I returned to England with Rick!"

"Then she probably has access to the same information you did."  Rebecca said as she rested her chin in her hand as she read the papers handed to her. 

"But many of those texts are in Arabic, or Ancient Egyptian.  From what I understand, she cannot read either."  Evy said with confusion.

"I bet she knows more than she lets on."  Jonathan said as he walked to the stairwell.  "Why don't I bring her down and we can find out what she really knows."

Rick looked at Ardeth, his expression troubled. 

"Do you think Jonathan saw who he thought he saw?"  He asked, his voice low so as not to catch the attention of Rebecca and Evy, who were poring over the papers.

"I would not be surprised if it were.  Hamunaptra has powers, he could have been spared."

"I'd like to know how."  Rick said, his expression fierce.  "He was locked in that chamber, I couldn't get to him.  When the city sank beneath the sand, I knew he was a goner."

His voice had risen, though he did not realize it.  He looked up to see Evy and Rebecca staring at him.  Evy's expression showed he knew exactly who his was speaking of.

"You're talking about Beni, aren't you?"  She asked.  "Rick, I've told you that wasn't your fault.  You tried to get him out."

"That's not what I meant."  Rick said.

"Jonathan thinks that he saw him."  Ardeth stated.

"But he's dead."  Evy said dumbly, her expression blank.

"So was Imhotep, and Anck-su-namun."  Rebecca pointed out, looking up as Jonathan came rushing down the stairs.

"She's gone.  She went out over the balcony, used one of the sheets to climb down."  He said, his breath coming in gasps as he relayed the story.

"She can't go far."  Rick said with a grin.  "We know where she works.  Petty soon we'll know where she lives."

"I'm going to the museum."  Evy said with a scowl.  "I'm going to speak with the curator, find out what he knows about her."

Evy and Rick left.  Jonathan followed, muttering about checking the orphanage.  Rebecca leaned back in her chair, meeting her husband's gaze with a grin.

"Now that we've got the place to ourselves…"  She suggested, holding out her arms.

Ardeth bent and scooped her up in his arms, covering her lips with his as he carried her into the study, where he kicked the door shut behind them, shutting out the world.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Amanda entered the apartment, then stepped back in shock, dropping the bags she held.

"How did you get in here?"  She demanded, looking around her flat wildly.

"Quite easily, my dear."  Jonathan said, leaning back in the chair he sat on with a grin, his arms behind his head.  "Almost as easily as one picks a pocket."

"How did you find me?" 

He watched her pick up her things, setting them inside the doorway before shutting it behind her.  He had to say, he approved of this outfit much more than when she had attempted to disguise herself in a shapeless robe.  He'd seen his sister wear similar outfits; an ankle length skirt, plain white blouse and a vest over that.  But he didn't recall his sister ever looking quite as fetching.

"Once we determined your source of employment…"

"Damn."  Amanda sighed, leaning back against the closed door and closing her eyes in disgust.  "I suppose I've lost that job now."

"Not necessarily, luv."  Jonathan said, smiling inwardly when her eyes flew open to shoot him a glare.  "It all depends on what you can tell me about your motives."

"And if I choose to tell you nothing?"  She asked defiantly, knowing that she was grasping at straws.

Jonathan rose, walking towards her casually as if he were in no hurry to reach her.  He stopped before her, leaning against the wall with one arm on either side of her, trapping her effectively.  He looked down on her with a serious expression that let her know he would accept nothing but the truth. 

"You don't have a choice, luv."  He said quietly, bringing up his hand to toy with a strand of her hair.  "If you don't, my brother-in-law is going to ensure that the orphanage will not take you back.  My sister will talk to the curator at the museum.  My new brother-in-law will ensure that you never have access to any dig site in Egypt.  And I will walk you out the door and take you straight to the authorities."

Most of what he said was true, he thought to himself.  If they chose to, they could make her life a living hell.

"Alright."  She said, her voice heavy with defeat.  "I'll tell you why I wanted your little box."

"That's a girl."  Jonathan smiled.  "I knew you'd see things my way.  What is it you are looking for?"

"Gold."  She said, looking up at him with a gleam in her eye.  "I want gold."