Chapter 10
"Olivia is..."
Bond frowns. "Focus people...Olivia Mansfield is M...the head of MI6 and I believe that she's been kidnapped by whomever drugged the wedding. I do not think someone spiked it just to lower our inhibitions and get each other into bed."
Bond levels his gaze at Marshall.
"I always suspected that she was...but I certainly didn't do this! I may have finally managed to get her into bed, but I for one would want to remember that."
Ryan and Judi both look at their uncle in disgust.
Judi blurts out, "uncle Marshall...please...don't. It is just wrong on so many levels."
Marshall frowns. "Listen you two...I have been in love with that woman for years...so there it is...out in the open...you two are far old enough to deal with natural adult situations, and your mother's unattached. Nigel is gone and your aunt and I are getting divorced. There is nothing standing between Olivia and I."
Ryan smirks pointing at James, "oh really? What about him?"
"He is her guard... Just because he has to be close and available to her on occasion does not mean they're actually in a relationship...they're not sleeping together."
Bond growls. "Enough...I am not just her bloody guard I am her...her...agent and her plus bloody one to this wedding. How the hell did you know we have not...had relations?"
"She told me...I think...I know she said something about not caring if people thought she was warming her bed with you but that she hadn't had anyone since Nigel."
Judi perks up. "You're starting to remember?"
Bond gets a text from Tanner from his inquiry into when M left the party.
"Apparently Marshall and your mother had far less to drink last night than the rest of us. Tanner says that Marshall took your mother from the reception at 9 and the rest of us partied until half twelve."
Ryan frowns. "What do you remember...please leave any x-rated images out of our minds please...we don't need to know."
"We came to the room...we did have a drink. We had conversations about everything, our marriages, Nigel, infidelity, we fought and argued...discussed more things...our pasts. We had more to drink. We sat back on the bed...I held her close...she cried. I kissed her…and...she kissed me back..."
Marshall looks up at the three pairs of eyes staring at him and reconsiders saying anything else.
Bond is visibly tense. Jealousy coursing through his veins and heightening with each beat of his heart.
Bond sighs, "Ryan you and Judi go and get cleaned up and ready...Judi see if you think your mother is missing any clothing because if not she is only in her undergarments lost somewhere in France."
Olivia's children leave the room and Bond turns back to Marshall.
"You and she?"
Marshall concentrates through the haze trying to recall. He closes his eyes and then smiles broadly.
"Yes...finally. I just wish I could remember it better but my memory is coming in and out. I wish was not just the result of the emotional confusion and lowered inhibitions because of that bloody punch."
"I agree with you there. What I want to know without her children present between us...did you force her?"
Bond feels a tightness in his chest and a desire to end this man but he is her family...
"WHAT! No I would never do that! I told her how I felt...how I have always felt about her. She was emotional after our discussion about Nigel but she did enjoy the experience. I swear it. I just wish it meant as much for her as it did for me."
The stress that Bond's holding eases a bit with Marshall's admission. He is hanging back from hitting the man for touching M but can completely understand how badly Marshall wanted her and for many more years than Bond.
"What's done, is done. We need to find her that is all that matters to me now Marshall. Until she tells me details I am giving you the benefit of the doubt."
"I agree and I swear on the heads of my own children that I would never...ever hurt that woman. She was with me...snuggled right up beside me when I fell asleep. I have no idea what happened but as you see the patio door is open and I don't think it was when we were...enjoying ourselves. Look...Bond...I can see that you feel strongly for her but I'm not sorry I had my moment with her after all this time. I guess I cannot expect to get another chance like that if she feels the same way about you."
Bond's jealousy bubbles fully to the surface as he says in a near snarl.
"No...no you won't."
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Within the hour, they converge on their shared suite. Judi and Izzy are eating some room service at the table with Joe.
Marshall enters the room with Bond. Bond goes to the trays of food and helps himself to some while they wait for the others to return and report.
Josephine gets up and moves towards her former husband. She looks Marshall up and down in disgust, crossing her arms.
"So...you finally got what you wanted...the Queen let the Duke replace the King did she?"
"Joe...jealousy has never become you."
"Bastard!"
"Mum! Dad! Timeout!"
Izzy steps between them.
"Mum go pack and we will get uncle David to take you home. We will follow later."
"Fine! I will pack your things at the house...the pretence of even living with you is too much to even consider now."
Izzy guides her mother to the door and out to her room to get packed.
Judi joins Bond and her uncle. "I packed all mum's things and my own. I found that the navy outfit that she was wearing at the bar is missing but I don't know how much she packed other things could be missing. You don't think she ran half-naked across the hall to collect it do you?"
"No...that would be very unusual. Ryan and David will bring news soon...there was a sheet missing from Marshall's bed so I am going to assume it's wrapped around her. None of her undergarments were found in Marshall's room."
David and Ryan return. David hands a sample of the punch to Bond.
"I don't know what you plan to do with that now but here it is. The hotel is pleading innocence yet not charging me for any of the wedding after this fiasco."
"I will leave it here and someone will be coming from home to collect the sample."
Ryan looks at the group. "Most of the guests are fine...the bride and groom are good but his parents are fighting….as can be expected with his dad ending the evening in bed with aunt Joe."
Through the haze of earlier Marshall remembers a comment about his wife being in the suite. Marshall looks at his nephew in shock.
"She what! What did you say?"
"I don't think you have a right to be indignant about who your wife was in bed with last night uncle Marshall."
Izzy comes back into the room after taking her mum to the room. "Well dad...that is that. She still has feelings for you...beyond just the negative ones. I think she is really horribly hurt by all of this."
"I know darling. This is years of marital problems coalescing into a single night. All the triggers of past longings surfacing with the aid of whomever drugged us. I guess I can hardly blame her for bedding someone else now can I."
David put a hand on his father's shoulder. "No you can't dad. My ex-wife is none too thrilled about many of the repercussions. Turns out her new boyfriend slept with her sister last night."
Izzy, Judi and Ryan began to giggle. "Wow...how did we manage to resist jumping Olivia's boyfriend with all this hooking up going on around us?"
Judi blushes. "IZZY!"
Marshall frowns. "What is this young lady?"
Ryan puts a calming arm on his uncle. "Jude and Izzy were in bed with Bond this morning. They were still clothed …David and I passed out in the suite. I remember the 5 of us continued drinking here after the reception. I guess the party continued."
Bond swipes his hand over his face desperate to escape all this family drama and out on the road finding M. Damn it Tanner...call!
"Enough of the family drama! Whatever happened between adults last night, will just have to be accepted because no one was in complete control of their faculties. Bitter feelings will subside when confronted with the facts of the investigation. I am assuming it is a variety of rohypnol or ketamine regardless no one is to blame for any sexual misadventures had under the influence."
David looks around. "I think there were others here for a while...I kind of remember mum showing up with...well and there was uncle David and a friend of his."
"Yes! I remember a tall white-haired man...he kept looking at me strangely...he asked me...said to me...you look so like your mother."
"David, Ryan...did the hotel give all the security tapes from inside and out to that number I gave you?"
"Yes...they said that they contacted the number you gave me. The hotel is in serious damage control now. The staff knows nothing of anyone spiking that punch but it is what must have happened. We all drank it and the one woman who didn't was fine but left early because she was ill to begin with."
"We have to check out...our stuff is all packed Bond, what do you want to do?" Ryan asks.
"Everyone check out...Ryan here is a card get another night for this suite...has anyone been in for cleaning?"
"Yes, the maid came in to do the baths and change the linens nothing else."
"Well, this is our base of operations. Marshall you David and Izzy can go home now if you like. In fact all of you can."
Ryan and Judi frown. "Our mother's missing, maybe kidnapped and we should just go home? Screw that….I'm staying here."
"Judi's right...I already called home and said I would be late."
"I am staying until we can find her lad. I will help in any way I can. Olivia and I need to have a conversation about what happened."
Bond and the children nod in understanding.
"This is the biggest mystery I have ever been a part of and I want to make sure aunt Olivia is OK. I know that there is something bigger going on here than everyone is letting on but I am here to help."
Judi smiles at David. "Thank you David. Izzy you don't need to stay. You should go home with your mother...she needs you right now."
"I will go...even though I want to stay and help." Izzy gives a quick hug to her brother and cousins and then Marshall wraps her in a big hug.
"That's a good girl...go look after your mother. We will call you when we find Olivia."
"I will see you all when you get back home."
Good...one less civilian on the impromptu task force Bond has assembled to find M.
Tanner texts and Bond briefs his team.
"Ok we have our first lead. That white-haired man is a Mr. Kenneth Johnson he is a member of the government and he has worked with Olivia before and has even taken her on a date within the last 10 months. We have a location for his property south of here in Boulogne-ser-Mer. Ryan you Marshall and I will go. Judi you stay here in the suite incase your mother returns.
"What about me?" David asks.
"You make sure all the guests are fine and leave the hotel...in fact you inspect all their rooms with the staff of the hotel and let us know if anything belonging to Olivia turns up."
David goes to deal with the guests from his daughter's wedding.
"Good, now the real reports, without those who are not privy to M's position in SIS."
Bond opens the phone and hits speaker.
"Tanner and Q what have you got?"
Bond I decided to investigate the other two men that took M out after her husband passed. Rys and Winston are both currently on vacation in France. Winston is in Paris at his apartment and Rys is north in Dunkirk.
"We will look for Johnson first because we know he was here. The Mansfield men with be joining me and Judi will hold the suite with her cousin David incase M returns."
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Oh Christ her head feels like lead. The rocking of the vehicle is making her dizzy. M feels too weak to sit up on the back seat. She experiments by trying to move her legs but they're twisted in a bed sheet.
What the hell? M manages to peek under the sheet. she is in her bra, panties only. M decides to call out for Bond to stop the car.
Why is she travelling without any proper clothes on? Where are her bloody shoes for that matter?
The wedding...what...why can she not remember...the sheet...it smells like perfume and cologne...not Bond's cologne...Marshall's.
On no...no...no...no...they didn't!
Oh my god...they did!
Shit! Shit! Bloody shit! It is seeping into her consciousness as bile is rises from her stomach. How could she have...oh god no. M pinches her eyes closed again and tries to keep the contents of her stomach in her stomach.
How could she...what was she thinking...she wasn't bloody well thinking. M remembers discussing many things with Marshall...some things were said...they drank as he told her about Nigel's mistresses and how he admitted them to his brother over pints at the pub.
Marshall confessed all his deepest desires...how much he wanted her...how badly he felt keeping Nigel's infidelity secret all those years when all he wanted to do was lay the confession at her feet and pull her into his arms and make love to her.
M was angry...so angry...when Marshall kissed her as she wept, she allowed it. She kissed him back and it felt good and for a while it was as if Nigel was with her again. How could she have been so confused?
Was it all just revenge...lustful revenge on her dead husband? There is nothing deeper...is there? Marshall and Joe were never good...she knew that but Marshall and her?"
Marshall...damn it! He is desperately in love with her. What is she going to tell James if he doesn't know already? James...Christ you would think she was an uncontrolled teen...Bond must be furious...no wonder Bond flipped out and tossed her half-naked into a car.
"Bond...stop the bloody car!" M manages to croak out from her prone position in the back.
The car turns into a garage at that moment and Bond comes to the back door it opens...but it's not Bond. M's eyes flash in anger at the man smirking in front of her. He reaches for her and pulls her up and out of the car.
"JOHNSON! YOU! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING HERE!"
"I think I am stealing you from your lover. I can't believe you went from that idiot Blake's bed to your brother-in-law's."
"I...what the hell are you talking about?"
M looks furious and confused at the same time.
"I knew Blake was lying...you never slept with him did you?"
The look of disgust on M's face must have been a suitable answer to his question as his face turned to a smile. Johnson pulls M into the door of the house and into the kitchen.
"I had it all planned lower your inhibitions and take you to my room...spend the evening making love to you. But then you disappeared when I was making my final preparations. It took me time to find you...you were not in your suite...I checked your bedroom and gathered some clothing for you."
Johnson grabs a paper bag from the car.
"Move please...I don't mind if you drop the sheet M...I've seen a lot of you already. Accidental voyeurism I can assure you. I didn't want to see you make love to Mansfield but it did teach me what makes you make those charming little mewing noises when you're stimulated."
"What?"
"Once you let your guard down you are assertive in bed and that is very pleasing to me, for our future together. Your brother-in-law, the lucky bastard was just as impressed. He seemed exhausted too, by the end of the third round...and at his age. I was very impressed Mansfield managed it. The drug has that effect, but then you may just have needed someone after so long without your husband. Marshall looks a lot like your late husband and I'm impressed that you never cried out the wrong man's name...you called out Marshall. So tell me Olivia Mansfield...how deeply was the desire for your husband's brother buried in your subconscious?"
"Are you insane?"
"No...I am in love though, and watching you in the throes of passion...well it cemented my plans for you. Sex is not nearly enough my dear. You and I will be getting married as soon as I can arrange it."
M looks panicked. "Why? You cannot be serious...you were plotting with Blake."
"And how did you know that M? Oh...I see...or should I ask...where is his body? Honestly the man was a braggart always taunting me about you. I have wanted you for years...my marriage failed...she found out I'm obsessed with you...my dear M...Olivia...Johnson."
Johnson grabs her chin in his hand tilting her face up to his. M is barely breathing in nervousness. He kisses her hard...forcing his tongue into her mouth and holding her close. His hand squeezes her breast as he pushes her up against the counter...the sheet falls to the kitchen floor.
M's pushing at him, her panic rising...standing helpless and nearly naked in his arms in his kitchen. M manages to force him away from her.
Johnson grabs her roughly by the arms and forces her up stairs pushing her into a bedroom. He tosses the bag on the bed and points to the door.
M is in panic mode thinking that he is about to assault her further.
"Go...clean yourself up. I don't want to smell or taste another man on you. You and I are going to get married."
"I will not marry you!"
"I think you will. I have a man watching the hotel and that lovely daughter of yours. I can only imagine that is what you looked like that 25 years ago. For a second...just a moment I thought about taking her...having her in her drugged out state. I was there to find you and get your clothes and things to make yourself presentable for our wedding."
"You are threatening my children?"
"Yes."
"I will have you killed for this."
"How...your trained dog spent the night in bed with your daughter and niece...tiring I would imagine...servicing two women at once. Your agent is likely sporting a massive hangover this morning. MI6 may be able to track down my home here but we are leaving as soon as you get cleaned up. I put that lovely blue outfit you wore the evening of the rehearsal party in the bag along with a dress for the wedding...we can go shopping if you would rather have something new?"
"This is ridiculous...you cannot force me to marry you. This is not the bloody middle ages and I will never consent. Bond will look after my children...your men will be dead before they even see it coming."
"Your faith in your agent aside, you nor he noticed us watching you all day yesterday...agent Bond is it? He was far too distracted by you and Marshall Mansfield to notice us. Bond is the loose cannon that you should have fired for insubordination long ago...or is there more than that? Is he another lover of yours?"
Bond was supposed to be but now? Did he really take Judi and Izzy to bed?
"He is the best 00 agent we have and you should hand me a mobile now and it may just save your life."
Johnson smirks at her. "Go into the bath or I will bathe you myself."
If looks to kill he would be dead...M is furious and Johnson finds it a massive turn on. No he promised himself that he would do it right and marry her first...then the honeymoon.
M walks into the bath and begins to run the water. Once in the tub she soaks and tries to remember the night before. The warm water soothes her aching muscles as she washes. What was she thinking...having sex with Marshall...three bloody times!
Bits of the events seep through the haze leaving her confused and dismayed. She enjoyed sleeping with Marshall and that disturbs her in itself.
Now what is she going to do? Regret is unprofessional...she needs to escape and survive that is all that matters now.
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"Bond! Are you trying to kill us...slow down a bit."
"Ryan there is an obsessed man who has your mother in a barely dressed state at his home...I will not slow down."
"I think he's right young man...in fact, drive faster. I don't want that man..."
Ryan pales in the seat beside Bond. "Christ...you don't think he will...do you?"
Bond just grips the wheel tighter and floors the accelerator.
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Tanner and Q have gone over all the security footage. Johnson makes his way into the suite for a while...then he leaves with a paper bag filled with something. David Grimes stumbles out after him and Johnson takes the drunk and drugged man back to his own room.
Then he meets with two other men...
"I have to let Bond know."
Yes Tanner...update.
"Yes and you are not going to like it. There are two men that Johnson had with him and they are still back at the hotel. They are watching the room still. Please tell me that you didn't leave M's daughter alone with no protection when the enemy is someone who knows the family somehow."
Damn it Tanner...get that team I ordered to that hotel ASAP and take them out. David is there still we will call him and have him stay with Judi.
"Bond...good luck and let us know when you find her."
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"You get that Ryan?"
"I already texted David and he and Judi are now locked in the suite but I do not know how long they will stay there."
"Your troops better get those men Bond...I don't want to lose my son and niece. Speaking of that David was not briefed about his aunt's job...he may not listen."
Bond hits redial. "Tanner you may have to read in David Mansfield also...or he may not follow orders."
Damn it Bond! Why don't we just place an announcement in the bloody papers!
Bond nods in frustration. How could he have been so distracted that he did not see the signs. Damn it! M should bloody well fire him for this.
"I don't think I am going to get an A on my report for my stint as bodyguard that is for sure."
Ryan and Marshall chuckle in bitter agreement with Bond's statement.
Tanner is heard over the speaker of Bond's mobile
You had one job Bond...damn it! M will kill you herself once you get to her.
At least Tanner does not doubt in any way that Bond will find M.
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Olivia exits the bath and begins dressing looking around the small room for a weapon and checking the window for an escape route. It doesn't open far enough and she is on the second floor. Thank god for clean clothing and a pair of shoes.
How in hell did an arrogant government toady like Johnson manage to get the drop on her at a family wedding?
M needs to find out how far this conspiracy goes. Are Rys and Winston involved too? Was this a plot developed by Blake should he have failed or is Kenneth Johnson really that obsessed over her that he would threaten civilians and force her into marriage and then his bed?
The door to the bedroom opens and Kenneth looks her up and down approvingly.
"Very nice Olivia...you look good enough to eat."
Johnson pulls her into another searing kiss as M struggles in his arms. She pushes away.
"Stop! How did you do it?"
"This...my dear. It was surprisingly easy once I made friends with David Grimes. Then he introduced me to his sister and she...well she loves to hear the sound of her own voice and she loves to gossip...you were mentioned and she even showed me family photos. When I saw you my heart leapt to my throat. I had your name and your family...for the last 6 months I've been working on this plan."
"How would you know where to find me...ahhh...the wedding...Joe told you all about the wedding."
"Very good my dear. Now come along we are off to meet the good judge Rys to marry us."
"Rys and Winston are involved in this too?"
"Well in so much that they will be our official witnesses."
"So do your co-conspirator know everything that you have found out about me?"
"They will soon enough and they have many things for you to carry out for them in MI6 before you give your retirement notice. Unlike your husband I will not have a wife of mine working."
"How chivalrous of you...how about forcing a woman against her will?"
Johnson smiles viciously and grabs her arm dragging her from the room and back to the garage, forcing his future wife into the car and belting her in.
"I have no qualms about taking what I want Olivia. Just accept it and everything will be nice and comfortable for you and your family in the future."
M considers all the possibility for escape...Bond must be on her trail by now...
"No...I will not!"
"Then it will be painful my dear."
At least his co-conspirators do not know how Johnson managed to get her...yet...they do not know the family connection.
M realizes that she has to find a way to kill Johnson and his men back at the hotel. M must destroy knowledge of her family at all costs. Even if it means her own life in the process.
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David looks at his mobile for the 13th time in the last-minute. There was a bizarre text from Ryan and he sits in the suite with Judi who is wringing her hands in nervousness.
"Judi...Judi what is going on here? Why do we have to hide here and not leave?"
His younger cousin looks panicked and it's worrying him. What the hell has happened to his aunt and why all this mystery.
Judi is stressed...once David arrived and told her what Ryan texted she has been in a state of anxiety that she has not known before. Her mobile rings and she answers immediately.
Judi...hello this is Tanner. Is your cousin David there? If he is please place this on speaker.
Judi places it on speaker and on the table in front of them. "Ok Mr. Tanner, go ahead."
David Mansfield?
"Yes...what is going on here?"
Your father, and cousins have been read the official secrets act and have sworn silence on the matter do you agree to do the same. If so please state your full name and I do.
"David Marshall Mansfield and I do. Now please tell me what the hell is going on?"
Your aunt Olivia has been kidnapped and there are agents of SIS on their way to collect you. You are under observation by the people responsible for drugging your daughter's wedding. This was done in order to abduct your aunt and the reason is, that she is the head of our organization.
"I knew it! There was something in that Bond's intensity...the way he watched her. Who else would need a driver, bodyguard."
Judi speaks to Tanner. "Any leads Mr. Tanner?"
Not yet and the team will be at your location within 30 minutes. Do not open the door for anyone, until I call and tell you too.
Tanner hung up and the two cousins jump suddenly from a knock at the door. They look at each other in surprise and the door suddenly flies in and three armed men enter the room.
The first man yells, "you...woman come with us now!"
David stands in front of his younger cousin blocking her from view. The man shoot his gun and hits him causing him to crumble to the floor.
Judi screams as the other two men each grab an arm of hers and pull her out into the hall. The leader follows, closing the door on David as he lies bleeding on the floor of the suite.
To be continued...