"I don't like it!" snapped James as he paced around the office
"You don't have to like it!" replied M as she tidied up her desk "You just have to do it, and for the record, it is not a suggestion, it is an order!"
"You cannot seriously think for one second that THIS is a good plan!"
"Well unless you have an epic epiphany in the next ten minutes, this is what we are doing, so I suggest you work on the next part of the plan while I finish here"
"I don't like the idea of us being separated, what if something happens? What if I am wrong and they do want to physically harm you?"
"I will have Eve, and in case you have forgotten, SHE is a trained agent, more than capable of protecting me..."
"Unless she shoots you by mistake!" he snapped
"James, do stop worrying. It will be fine and in a few hours we will be together again"
"I think I like you better when you stay behind the safety of your desk...," he said as he stood behind her and encircled her in a protective embrace
"I beg your pardon! I was an agent myself you know. It is not as if this is my first time at the circus..."
"It's rodeo, the phrase is first time at the rodeo, and Yes, I know that you were an agent, WERE being the operative word, but things have changed since you were out in the field..."
"If you are referring to my age then may I remind you that YOU are no spring chicken either?"
"Look all I am saying is that..."
"I know what you are getting at, but we stand a better chance of getting out of the building unnoticed if we are not together," she said in a much calmer tone as she turned to face him "I trust Eve. She is a good agent; I have faith that she will be able to protect me for a few hours..."
"Yeah, well you trusted Mitchell and look where that got you. He nearly shot you at point blank range" he replied as he pulled her closer to him
"It will be different this time. I will also have a gun"
"No you won't! A sling shot maybe but not a gun!"
"And why not?"
"Because it is the worst kept secret in Britain that you couldn't hit the broad side of a barn if it were right in front of you," he said with a wink
"Would you just go and make the call to Lady Velvet and tell her to be expecting us," she said as she swatted his arm
"Fine!" he grumbled "But, for the record, I still don't like it!"
M smiled as she watched James dial the phone, but her smile was only half-hearted because she knew that James was right. They were taking an enormous risk by separating, but at the moment, they really did not have any other viable options.
Tanner and Eve returned a short time later with food and a few supplies. As soon as they entered the room, M pulled Tanner aside and whispered something in his ear. Tanner nodded and disappeared, returning a few moments later, nodding to M as he went to join James.
"Ma'am, are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Eve
"Not entirely, but we really do not have any other options at the moment" said M as she took a bite of her sandwich while Tanner and James meticulously went over the two routes to the final destination.
"Tanner, you are absolutely sure we will not be seen on any of the cameras?" asked James with a worried tone
"007, I am surprised at you" he said, "You aren't usually this cautious when you are on a mission"
"Yes well, I am not usually protecting the boss on a mission now am I?" he snapped
"Point taken. Everything has been arranged. A water taxi will take Eve and M further down the river where they will be met by a car that will take them to...that place, while you and I will go out thru the loading dock and take my car..."
"Good" interrupted James as he glanced over at M "Who will be driving the car?"
"Ross"
"ROSS? Can we trust him?"
"He has been her driver for years. He would give his life to protect her so, yes he can be trusted," replied Tanner, slightly irritated that James would even entertain the idea that he would assign someone he did not trust to protect M.
After they had finished eating and going over the plan for the last time, the four of them prepared to leave.
"M, may I have a word?" asked Tanner quietly
"Mr. Tanner, whatever you have to say, you may say in front of James" she replied as she picked up her jacket
"Please?" he replied as he motioned toward the window
"Fine. Would you two give us a moment?" she said as she moved to join Tanner by the window "What is it Tanner?"
"Ma'am" he said hesitantly
"Well what is it?"
"Has it entered your mind that 007 may be...could be... might possibly be the one behind this in an attempt to get you to retire?" he asked sheepishly
M was at a loss for words. The very idea that James could be behind this had crossed her mind, but her instincts told her that it simply was not true. If he had been behind this, he certainly would not have allowed himself to be drugged and beaten, that was not his style. If James really wanted her to retire, he would tell her and argue the point endlessly, he would not go to such bizarre lengths to drive his point home.
"Thank you for your concern Bill, but you and I both know that he is not behind this," she said quietly as she squeezed his hand
"I just thought it was worth mentioning"
"Duly noted, and dismissed on the grounds that it is an absurd idea"
Tanner smiled weakly as he escorted her back to the door
"Everything alright?" asked James curiously
"Fine. Shall we go?" replied M as she stood in front of the door apprehensively
"We still have time to change our minds," said James in an almost hopeful tone
"Nice try" she said patting his cheek "See you in a few hours"
Eve and M headed down the emergency stairs, that led to the river while James and Tanner took the service elevator to the loading dock.
As M stepped into the water taxi, she leaned over and whispered something to the driver before taking her seat.
"What was that all about?" asked Eve as she joined her
"We will be taking a little detour" replied M as she looked over at the younger woman
"But that was not part of the plan"
"Maybe not, but I would be remiss if I did not inform my superior of the most recent attempts on my life."
"I thought James said they weren't trying to physically harm you?"
"Maybe not, but I consider an attempt on one of my people as an attempt on me personally, therefore we ARE taking a slight detour" snapped M
"Yes Ma'am"
James and Tanner made it to the loading dock with little trouble. Once they had reached his car, James let out a long and frustrated sigh.
"Something wrong?" asked Tanner
"I still do not like this"
"You know that once she gets an idea in her head, there is not persuading her to..."
"I know. What did she whisper to you when you and Eve returned?"
"She just wanted me to check on something for her?"
"And that would be?"
"You and I both know that I am not at liberty to discuss what she said," replied Tanner
"Tanner, I am going to give you five seconds to tell me what she said before I fold you up like a piece of paper, shove you in the boot and go after her!" snapped James
"Alright, calm down. She just wanted to know if Mr. Mallory was in his office"
"And why would she want to know that?"
"Because she felt it was time to add a new "Player" to this little game." snapped Tanner "Unless you have a reason to believe that it is not necessary"
James sat in his seat and pondered the question.
"You think I have something to do with all of this don't you?"
"I have to admit, the thought did cross my mind"
"Well, I don't. I am the last person who would want M to retire. I do not like change. I like having her on the other end of the oh so irritating earpiece when I am on a mission, and I am NOT looking forward to the day when she is no longer there" he said quietly "I love her and I would never put her through this"
Tanner sat and stared at James with a crooked grin.
"What is so funny?" asked James
"That it took you this long to figure out that you love her?" he said as he started the car "Looks as if I won the bet"
"What bet?"
"Oh Please, there isn't a person in that entire building that isn't aware that you are in love with M. We've all been placing bets as to how long it would take the two of you to finally admit it to each other...You have admitted it haven't you?"
"Yes...well, that is beside the point. Love has nothing to do with my concern for her safety at the moment!"
"On the contrary, it has everything to do with her safety," quipped Tanner "You want to know how I can tell?"
"Oh yes, please enlighten me"
"You are not usually this cautious. You believe in the no-plan plan, but today it's all about the details..."
"Tanner, has anyone ever told you how incredibly annoying you are?" replied James
"It's my job to be annoying"
Meanwhile, as Eve and M's water taxi approached the boat launch near Whitehall, the figure of a tall man dressed in a dark trench coat appeared. The taxi stopped long enough for the man to board before continuing down the river.
"M"
"Mr. Mallory, thank you for agreeing to meet with me under such unusual circumstances" replied M as she moved over to make room for him to sit
"So what seems to be the problem?"
"There has been an attempt made against me, though indirectly, it is definitely aimed at me and I thought you should be made aware should certain alarms start sounding" she replied flatly
"What sort of attempt? What sort of alarms? And shouldn't you have more guards if that is the case?"
"007 was attacked and drugged in an attempt to gain information, personal information about me"
"For what purpose?"
"I assume it is in an attempt to discredit me and persuade me to step down as head of MI6"
"Where is 007 now? And how seriously was he injured?"
"He escaped relatively unscathed and is with my assistant Mr. Tanner heading to an undisclosed location to await my arrival"
"I see" he replied
"You will also be informed that my flat has been broken into and that I am apparently missing"
"I see" he replied with a slightly puzzled look
"I thought it best to inform you so that you are aware that when accusations are made that I am missing, you will know the truth, and possibly be able to help determine who is behind all of this nonsense"
"How may I be of assistance?"
"Mr. Tanner will fill you in on the details once I have reached my destination and will keep you informed of any new developments"
"If it is protection you need, I am sure we can find a suitable place for you to..."
"Garreth, I do not think you fully understand. We believe that someone within our own community made this attempt. Someone with an intimate knowledge of the workings of MI6 and its operatives..."
"You mean one of us?"
"Not an agent, but someone close enough to know who I am and where I live. Someone who has the connections to have successfully infiltrated our own medical department..."
"Are you sure Bond is not involved? He is, as you say, your best agent and it would seem unlikely that he would be taken in by such a simple plan?"
"Yes, well, the ruse that was used to get him to the medical department was quite convincing" replied M quietly
"I can only assume that it had something to do with you" he replied with a smirk
"Why would you think that?"
"Because there is only one thing that could knock Bond off his game, and that would be you"
"Are you implying that Bond and I..."
"Just making an observation."
M shifted uncomfortably in her seat as the boat approached the landing area.
"Is anyone else aware of what has happened?
"Just Tanner, Eve, 007, Me and Q. He has been skulking about in the bowels of the computer searching for anything that could help "connect the dots" so to speak"
"If I come up with anything that I believe could help, I will let Q know immediately. Good luck M and do be careful. I will be waiting for an update from your man Tanner and I will be as surprised as everyone else when it is announced that you are missing," he said as he stepped off the boat
"Thank you Garreth" replied M
"And you young lady, keep her safe. The last thing we need is for her to actually go missing!"
"Yes sir," replied Eve as she nervously glanced at M
"Something wrong?" M asked as the taxi pulled away
"No Ma'am" replied Eve nervously "I will just feel better once you are not out in the open"
"Ms. Moneypenny, I am on a water taxi, in the middle of the Themes at midnight, I would hardly call that out in the open" said M as she reached over and patted the younger women's hand
Eve smiled as she glanced at her watch
"We're late" she said anxiously
"Only a few minutes"
"James is not going to like this"
"I will deal with James. Why don't you phone him and tell him when they can expect us"
Eve took out her phone and dialed Tanner, hoping and praying that it would be Tanner answering the phone rather than the sure to be irate 007.
"Eve?" replied Tanner "Where..." was all he managed to say before James snatched the phone
"Moneypenny! Where the hell are you?" snapped James
The expression on Eve's face was all M needed to know that James was on the phone so she reached over and took the phone from the her bewildered secretary
"James! Calm down, we are on our way" snapped M
"You were supposed to be here an hour ago!"
"Slight change in plans. We will be there in ten minutes so stop moaning!"
"That was NOT the plan!"
"Who is in charge of this mission?" she asked sharply "We will discuss what is and what is not part of the plan when I arrive!" she said as she disconnected the phone
"He isn't very happy is he?" asked M as more of a statement than a question
"Sometimes, on rare occasions, he is too cautious for his own good"
TO BE CONTINUED...
