Chapter 4

Mexico City

Jack and Gabby check into the posh hotel, as a couple from Texas on vacation. They made their fortune in energy years ago according to their bios. They're to be quite open that this is a last ditch effort to save their marriage.

The hotel is not far from the El castillo de Zona Rosa and they have a very nice suite. They are eating dinner when a familiar Blond man walks past the restaurant through the lobby.

"You know that man?" Gabriella asks.

"I think I do, and he's MI6. I wonder what James is doing here?"

"Leave it alone Jack. We have an act to keep up and I for one need to get back home soon, or I will be having another husband and wife fight, but for real."

"Fine. I will wait until you leave, and then if Jimmy boy is still around I may just drown my sorrows with an old friend."

"Drown them in the cat house then cowboy, because you have a mission that needs attending to. This may be the last one at your age."

"Hey! Enough cracks about my age dear besides you knew what you were getting when you married me!"

"Oh so we are starting so soon. Alright, you miserable old fool! You wouldn't know a good woman if she slapped you in the face!"

"You have slapped me in the face and I am still here! Taking all your abuse! I thought we were here to work on this! Your lame let's talk about our feelings therapy sessions are a waste of my good cash!"

They are not screaming but tables around them and the restaurant employees can hear them easily.

"Bastard! You said you would at least try!"

"I am or I wouldn't be here! I could have gone to my meeting in New York instead, but no, we need to work on things. What things? All the bad habits you already beat out of me!"

"As if!"

"Come on woman, let's go back to the room. You always get this way when we fly."

"Fine but we are getting dessert to go."

"Fine, whatever. I want a bottle to take back with me."

"Fine Jack, but my pick and I want champagne."

"Alright...alright...anything to numb this headache."

"See, I'm not the only one who hates flying."

They pay for their meal and the bartender says he will send up desert and a bottle of their best champagne to their suite.

Jack and Gabby head to the elevators still looking angry at each other. The foundation of their little play act has now been introduced to anyone who cares to see. Jack will soon be the dumped and depressed husband who needs a sympathetic ear.

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Within twenty-four hours, the Diaz duplicates are headed to London.

M was prepared and had her bags ready to go to Mexico City. All the arrangements are made at the safe house that is substituting as M's real flat. The two men will likely break in looking for jewel.

Tanner drives with M going over any last minute details for work. "I will send you the report from the expected break in at your flat."

"I left details of the trip open on a laptop and desk in the flat. They will not need to be geniuses to guess my destination."

"I'm still concerned M. I don't like this and nor does Q. What if James takes off? He doesn't know you are coming."

"Relax Tanner. I am not M. I am Evelyn Connery and as long as Q does his usual excellent work that cover will hold true."

M leaves Tanner in the car to return to base. This is the beginning of a large adventure. M was never an operative in the field, but it feels exhilarating to become one now.

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James wanders around the El Castillo de Zona Rosa area shops. Inquiring about jobs. Eventually a lovely woman from the establishment sees him and he puts on his act.

"Hola...I am Cassy. What do you need a job for? Mister?"

"Bond, James Bond and it's very embarrassing." Bond looks her up and down. Cassy has light brown curly hair and a button nose. She is very petite about the same height as M. She is very attractive and very young looking.

"What? Surely a man as handsome and well dressed as you."

"I lost all my money gambling and my mother bloody well cut me off. I need to earn enough to fly back to England and it would be great to earn enough to rub it in her aristocratic face too. She doesn't think I can manage on my own."

"Well can you?"

"I think I can. I had better or she will be right about me, now won't she."

"You need to be willing to do...sexual things...then come with me."

Bond faines shock, and then grudging interest. "Nothing illegal? I cannot besmirch the family name."

Cassy smirks at his remark. "Oh there is some wiggle room if Ruby accepts you. If anything she may even help you blackmail that rich mother of yours for money."

Bond gladly takes her small hand as she takes him across the road into El castillo de Zona Rosa.

Bond's hit immediately by the similarity in the style of this place to the one in Barcelona.

It's busy even though only 2 in the afternoon. Scantily clad women and men are moving about and swaying to the gentle Spanish guitar music. The clients appear more mature but that may be the result of the earlier hour. Bond stands at the bar as Cassy speaks to the bartender.

The bartender makes a call and within minutes a woman is walking out from what Bond assumes in her office. The main difference is that the office is behind the bar and down the back half must only have enough room for the kitchen.

The room is rounded with a sunken lounge area with loveseats chaise and tables for entertaining guests. Wait staff and bartenders are in black and white all others are in a variety of colour.

The woman, Ruby looks like her older sister but shorter and more rounded. The similarities are obvious but Bond will not let her know about his dalliance with her sister Esmeralda.

"What are you bringing me Cassy?"

"Madame Ruby this is James Bond and he has lost all his money gambling and his mother has cut him off."

"Is this true? You rely on your mother still? You must be in your forties, you have not made your own way yet?"

Bond forces himself to look chastised and embarrassed. "I made mistakes and all was forgiven until now. Mother has been a bit, how shall I say busy with her new younger husband."

"Oh I see. British?"

"Yes. Her new husband is American."

"Oh, that is a shame. If it weren't for their lovely dollar bills I would ban them from my establishment. I don't want to let my personal feelings get in the way of my business."

Bond plays the role of arrogant Englishman to ingratiate himself with Ruby. "I understand completely. Is there a job...or opening I can fill for you?"

Ruby walks around James looking him up and down like a prized animal. She pulls off his suit jacket and runs her hands along his chest muscles. She then reaches around him and grabs his ass in both hands pulling him against her suddenly.

Bond goes along with it with a smirk on his face. "Please feel free. I will give you an example of what I am capable of. Any opening you will allow me to fill," James continues flirtatiously.

Ruby releases him and smiles, "come to my office and we will work out terms."

Bond follows her in wondering if she will be as accepting as her sister was. He looks around at any pertinent details he may need later, while passing it off as a casual inspection of the decor. He can guess the framed painting that hides the safe but the most striking feature in the room is a portrait of Queen Victoria.

Ruby sees that Bond's attention is on one of his people's historic Queens. "Yes, Victoria. My grandfather was English and my grandmother French."

"I see, and you inherited the picture?"

"No. Victoria is a reminder of the power of family. Her family married into the echelons of power all over Europe. Cities, rivers, lakes, mountains, ships to cross the seas, much was named for that one woman. Victoria was not to rule, yet beyond all odds ended up Queen. A Queen whose Empire grew and spread across the globe. She inspires me."

"I could never get over how she always looks so miserable in all her photos. I guess they never did smile having to hold their pose for 10 minutes just to get one shot."

"Yes. That too developed during her reign. Just think of the changes she witnessed. In her childhood only drawings and portraits. The beginnings of rail expansion. So much, and she died in the next century just on the cusp of more rapid change and the decay of her empire. It is always best to die before all you built is destroyed."

"Two world wars did push us down, but we are still there, trudging along on our little Island."

"Yes. Tenacious as always. So you are from old money? I can tell...however, you now need money to go back to your distant little Island. I can provide you a room perhaps, and you may say no to any client that approaches you. However, you must entertain at least one per day. The more you entertain the more you earn. One per day covers your room and board."

"That is acceptable. So, should I not like the individual who pursues me? If they become belligerent, what are my recourses?"

"My policies are that it must all be consensual. You are more than entitled to defend yourself should a drunk aggressive person come at you. I have security for those who cannot defend themselves, but do not take anyone you do not agree to pleasure back to your room. All flirtations are done here in the lounge. I do not have camera's in any of the rooms, privacy is very important to many of our clients."

"Yes, and I would not like my mother getting images of my involvement here."

"Agreed. Here is the contract and you may leave at any time. Within 6 months you could live very well here in Mexico. London you will have to work longer if you wish for your independance from your cruel mother."

"How much per client?"

"You get $500 per client and the house gets the same. I only cater to the wealthy and they know I am run a discrete establishment. This is why the average age of the clients here is around 50 years old. I do not usually hire men or women of your age but something tells me that you will be an excellent earner and a draw to our clients. You must be careful you do not anger my other younger stallions."

Bond signs the form and hands it back to Ruby while nodding, acknowledging her warning. "What about you Madame? Are you ever on the menu?" He looks at her deeply, waiting for her response.

Ruby smiles. "I'm married."

"I happen to love married women." James says flirtatiously.

"I would aim those charms on others James. We do not use last names here so you will just be James unless you want an alias?"

"James is perfect and I love the way it slides past your lips Madame."

"You are very good James. Are you sure you haven't done this before?"

"I have always had a knack for seduction."

"I will keep that in mind. I often get self conscious older women who need reassurance and you may be very good at that."

"I have always had an affinity with older women." Bond wishes that it held true with one who really mattered.

"I bet you have." Ruby implies seductively as she says it, but all James can think about is M.

M's the challenge, not yet managed by his abundant charms. "Does that mean you would like to inspect me further in private?"

Ruby frowns a moment. "No. It would not be wise. My husband is expected back in the city soon."

"Too bad. Perhaps we could share tea and talk about old Queen Vic again."

Ruby smiles at him. "Yes I would like that. Go collect your belonging and move in. I will tell Cassy to find you a room. Oh and we do not like the employees tiring themselves out with each other. No one profits from your coupling, so don't bed her and think you have paid your daily charge. Once you complete what the client wishes, you take a red card from your room and have the client fill it out and drop it at the bar. This is how you get paid and I get to read comments on your performance. You are required to use protection at all times and if you do not, you are gone."

Bond stands. "I will do as instructed. Thank you for assisting me in my time of need."

"Thank you for being so gentlemanly and extremely handsome James. I believe we will both make a great deal of money together."

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Bond leaves El castillo de Zona Rosa and call Tanner. He relays all that went on and goes to collect some of his things from his room at the hotel.

Bond, there is someone coming to assist in this mission. Check out of your room but leave whatever you need to in suite 2103. That will be the base of operations once she arrives.

"She? Who is coming Tanner?"

That is need to know information 007 and M does not think you need to know yet.

"This mission has no rhyme or reason Tanner. What the hell am I looking for? I tried to seduce the Madame but that will take far longer than her sister...she's married and by the body language I will say that she's more than a little afraid of him, should he ever find out. Have Q look into it will you."

Q will get back to you later. He has been trying to find the connexion between those two thieves and the Madames you have encountered.

"They are sisters that is certain, but other than that I do not see why M is interested in them."

Patient Bond and don't strain anything becoming a male prostitute.

"I will try not to. I have to service at least one a day, but I will play the shy card and work the bare minimum. All the action is in the large main lounge anyway. I will observe the clients and the mystery husband once he surfaces. I have a good idea where the safe is in her office. I am heading back to get the tour now."

Please check in twice a day Bond.

"I will. Why? Is M worried about me being loose in a brothel?"

No she's not. I don't think. I haven't seen her since this morning.

"M had a late night. I called her, she was out on a date."

I know Bond. I was that date.

"Tanner? What are you up too?"

Work related function Bond, don't get yourself in a dander.

"Good to hear. I will call her later."

Don't bother she's gone for a while. Off for personal reasons.

"What? Ok what's going on? She sends me on some wild goose chase, goes out to a party with you, and takes time off. Something doesn't add up. When will she be in contact?"

She has her mobile you can contact her by text.

"Fine! Tell Q I am using the broke rich boy whose mother cut him off persona and bring up a file, just incase Ruby gets suspicious."

I will Bond and keep your eyes open.

To be continued...