Chapter 14 Family Issues
"What the hell was that all about! How could you just wander away with the bloody doctor?"
"I was trying to find out if they had any information about Malcolm's killer yet. I'm working on feeling him out to see if his loyalties are still with the crown over the Americans."
"Well you bloody well made me look the fool in the process!"
"Despite all that." Bond says interrupting as he drives the car through traffic. "What are we doing now? Going back to the hotel?"
M sits in the back of the large car with her livid pretend husband, but she remains completely calm and unfazed as she sends out messages on her mobile.
"I planted a listening device on Ducky's overcoat and in the morgue. I hope you managed to plant some also Bond."
"Yes M. Q should be listening in as we speak."
"Merlin is also, I managed one in the boardroom." Harry says.
"So did I, for Q branch. Also one on the tech specialist with the elaborate hairband, when I told her how nice it was."
"Yes, you flirted with her a little too hard Bond, but I managed to stick one on the goth girl's clipboard." Harry says as he texts Merlin. "Arthur and I will go to the Shady Pines retirement facility, we need to speak with Mr. Owens." Harry adds.
"But he has dementia?" Bond states. "I doubt you will get much from him."
"Well, I think that Arthur may look enough like his cousin to fool the man and perhaps some information will come out."
"M, where do you want go?" Bond locks eyes on her through the rear view mirror. She has been lost in her own thoughts staring out the window, as King does the same out his side.
They're no longer speaking to each other. Bond feels it's about time MI6 and the Kingsmen part ways for the rest of the day.
"Tomorrow, as planned we will leave early and go to the spot Malcolm died to look around. For now, take us back to the hotel Bond and let Harry drive Arthur to where he needs to go. Frankly, I need a drink and some rest from this jet lag. I will get reservations for the four us for this evening at the hotel restaurant."
"Yes we have to keep up appearances, don't we my love." King says sarcastically.
"You see; right there! I knew this would never work! What makes you more angry Chester? That I refuse to play the doting silent wife or that I have the audacity to conduct my own quiet interview?"
"You could have been hurt!" King whirls on her with a sudden glare. Bond adjusts the mirror to watch them more closely while he drives. His hands suddenly grip tightly to the steering wheel ready to pull over the second she needs him.
"Chester, don't be absurd! I was in no danger from Ducky."
"Ducky is it now? How fast and familiar are you with the good doctor! Is that why you're so tired? Jetlag...really." King says rolling his eyes.
"Come on Chester, you've no right to be jealous. It's no business of yours, even if I slept with him!"
"Why the hell not! Because you deem it so? I was always jealous of Malcolm for being so close to you. And Robert for having the arrogance to take you out all those years ago. I can also assure you that I was bloody well pissed drunk, having to sit through that travesty of a wedding. You had to go and marry my bloody former best friend, of all people. You have no right to tell me how I should, or should not feel about you!"
Arthur's outburst effectively of silences the entire car. The silence is deafening as Bond pulls up to the hotel. He jumps out and opens the back door, helping M out.
Harry comes around the car to get in the driver's seat, as Arthur continues to sit in the back staring at anything other than M and Bond. Harry gives them both a wane smile before he drives away.
Bond guides a silent M into the hotel and waits for her to make reservations for 18:00 at the restaurant. He observes the area to make sure no one is watching them specifically.
The two of them move to the lifts and finally to M's suit. Once they reach the suite M goes directly to the bar. She pours herself a double and drinks it before Bond even has a chance to join her beside the bar.
Bond stands by the door looking through the peephole to make sure they were not followed from the lobby.
"007 no one is looking for us; yet. Just relax."
"Yet? So you expect someone to be watching us soon? After that display with the Americans, no doubt. At least we know that their Doctor will be watching your every move. Or are you expecting others?
M frowns. "Mind you don't demonstrate your proclivity for melodrama like your step father James. It will make me angry."
"Yes, well speaking of dear old dad, he has a point. What the hell were you thinking leaving us?"
"Bond! Mind yourself!" M glares at him as he crosses the room towards her with an angry expression.
"I am here to watch YOU, which I cannot do when you flitter off with another man! And to say that King has a thing for you is a bloody understatement!"
"I did not flitter away and Chester is...an absentee former suitor, nothing more. He and I never..." M waves it off dismissively as she pours another drink for herself and one for Bond.
Hopefully, it will calm the beast she senses rising within him. She honestly doesn't like the way he's staring at her.
Bond downs the drink and pours another. "Never what M? That man has more than a bloody crush on you. He's in love with you."
M's shoulders rise as she chuckles. "He's a talented showman nothing more. Much like you in that regard."
"That's the second time you've compared him to me and I cannot say it's a flattering position to be in."
"Chester always plays the poor me...pity card, he has for as long as I've known him. He's trying to guilt me into the bedroom and that's all this is. Pull on the heart strings to give him what he wants."
"You...he wants you!" Bond says in frustration, at her stubborn refusal to acknowledge what's clearly evident to anyone with eyes in their heads.
M takes her drink and tries to move away but Bond grabs her arm to stop her. It drives him to distraction that she casually dismisses a person that obviously has feelings for her.
"That man's in love and he has been a long time. A man like him would not make such a display if he were not. I don't know what kind of game you are playing at today M; but as it stands, King's wearing his heart on his sleeve and you are playing femme fatale with it. This is not how I envision you acting towards a lover."
M looks up at him, shocked to see a flash of desire in his so very blue eyes. Just for a moment, but it's there and then gone. She's seen that look before. Yet; M certainly would never expect to see it on the face of her best agent.
Bond's eyes widen as he realizes just what he's done.
M suddenly becomes uncomfortably aware of Bond as a man, and a dangerous one at that. Has she been wrong about him? She thought she knew and could trust Bond the way she always does. What a precarious position she's in, with a man she considers her best agent.
Why does everything about this bloody man have to be so damn alluring and primal? Best that such ideas never come to the surface. But here he is; in all his glory and apparently with the same misguided thoughts about her.
M suddenly fears alone with him in the suite. The only thing she can do to seize control of the situation, is basically play the bitchy, evil boss card.
"What's wrong with you 007? Jealous?" M says flippantly as she pulls her arm away from his grasp and moves into the lounge area. M laughs as if the idea is utterly absurd. Forced levity will hopefully divert him from anything untoward.
Frankly, after the past few days she doesn't think she can handle another profession of admiration from anyone. It's all too much coming at her at once. All in an emotionally strenuous time. It's as if they're sharks instinctively going for her in a weak state. It's never good to have an employee with a crush as it is. Let alone one who could kill everyone in the blink of an eye.
"Leave my private life out of this! I am a professional, here for a job only 007." She has to keep saying this, not only to him, but to convince herself to get through this grief ridden mission.
Somehow, M finds it's easier to fight with Chester, than it is to look into the eyes of her most frustrating agent. She needs him at arm's length, she cannot...will not...how could he ever be more? Focus damn it! Bond needs to understand his place and she needs to trust him to do exactly as she says.
Bond mutters under his breath. "Fuck." He pours another drink, while he brings the bottle over to the lounge and places it between them on the table.
There is no way she didn't see his slip up, both verbally and in physical body language. This is not the time or place for this. All she needs from him, is to be her blunt instrument. However, there is no way in hell, that this is just him playing bodyguard and she now knows it. M wants and needs him to find someone before the Americans do. That, and to do what he does best as her blunt instrument.
"Chester King's desire for you aside M, you need to tell me what is really going on here...all of it."
"Bond." M sighs, "I will tell you some of what I know and what I don't know. Q's working on many variables for me as we speak. When all is said and done, I may need to take care of at least two men...quietly. The operative word being quietly Bond. Do you understand?"
"That's what I'm here for?" Now it all makes sense.
Bond understands why she never put up much of a fuss in London before he officially became her bodyguard. He does hope that the two men to be taken care of are not Harry Hart and Chester King.
Finally, Bond's going to find out what this bloody trip is really all about.