The Bond He Never Knew

"Two hundred thousand."

Murmurs and gasps echoed from the flock of spectators. It was rare to see a table with such high stakes. It was nothing new to the older gentleman in the white tuxedo. Confidently, he flashed a charming smile at the beautiful woman to his left. His steel blue eyes then shifted to the face of his opponent. The tubby businessman oozed arrogance.

"Two hundred thousand dollars," the portly tycoon, Mr. Murphy, repeated. "Are you interested, old man?"

"Hmm? Two hundred thousand? Well, that sounds fair. Banco," he agreed.

While Mr. Murphy prepared the cards, a young woman appeared in the curious crowd. The man in the tuxedo briefly glanced at the new arrival. There was something familiar about her. He wondered if it were her eyes. He recognized them, though he wasn't sure how.

She did not linger. The woman brushed by the group at a hurried pace. She left him with a feeling. That woman wasn't there to gamble. She was there for another reason.

"Well? Are you ready to play or what?" Mr. Murphy asked.

"Oh, yes. Please continue."

Smugly, Mr. Murphy showed his cards. "Try beating that, old man."

"I don't have to try," he casually showed his. "And, don't call me old man."

Before he walked off with his winnings, Mr. Murphy stopped him with his voice. "Who are you?"

"My name is Bond. James Bond. Have a good night. Oh, and thank you for the two hundred thousand dollars."

Smoothly, James Bond parted the sea of onlookers. Shortly after, the cashier saw James approaching with a stack of chips. The man's shoulders slumped. Like the rest of the casino staff, he wasn't fond James Bond. They always had to find extra bills for his payout, as he preferred cash. He either had great luck or great skill. Either way, he was a constant pain.

"Good evening, Tim," James greeted.

Tim awkwardly balanced the chips in his hand. "Stay here, Mr. Bond. I have to talk to my manager about how I'm supposed to find enough cash for you."

"Take your time. I don't mind the wait."

Tim grumbled as he vanished into the back room. James leaned on the counter, sweeping the casino with his sharp gaze. He noticed people gathered around a blackjack table. When one person left the group, James was given a clear view. It was a private table for certain person, and chips were stacked like massive towers. At first, he only saw a white tuxedo and short light brown hair. Then, the gambler looked towards him.

It was the young woman from earlier.

"Mr. Bond," Tim called. "We can't give you that much cash right now. Can we give you a check instead?"

"I suppose," James sighed.

Tim had the check ready in the hopes he'd agree. He handed it over. "Have a good night."

"Thank you, Tim. I'll see you next week."

"Don't feel obligated to keep us company."

"I'd feel terrible if I didn't visit you every week. Someone has to keep things interesting around here. Goodnight."

James started the long walk through the hotel casino. On the way, he studied the woman at the blackjack table once again. He was sure she resided somewhere in his memory. It was still excellent for a man of his age, but it occasionally took a bit of a nudge to get things rolling.

Outside, Mr. Murphy waited for James with several of his men. He wasn't about to let two hundred thousand dollars walk off with an elderly Englishman. His pride simply wouldn't allow it. He felt there was only one way to handle the situation: Murder. It could make anything better.

However, he had no idea who he targeted. James never let his guard down. With each step, he could sense he wasn't alone. He noticed shadows weren't far behind him. He counted three. They wouldn't strike until they were farther from the hotel. James knew this. He calmly walked towards his Aston Martin with one hand beneath his jacket. Retired or not, he never left home without his gun.

Just as he pulled his weapon, it was shot from his hand. Mr. Murphy had a cruel chuckle. "Turn around and look at me. I want you to know who has cornered you, Mr. Bond. I'd like my money back."

"If I refuse?"

"We'll take it from your dead body. You're probably on your way out the door anyway."

"Kids these days," James sighed to himself. "You need to learn how to share, or at least how to lose with grace."

"I never lose."

"There's a first time for everything," a female voice responded.

Mr. Murphy heard the fatal noise. Gradually, a red puddle formed on his crisp shirt. Without a trace of hesitation, the woman easily shot the other two through the head. She nonchalantly removed the silencer from her gun. Discreetly, James retrieved his weapon. He wasn't sure if she had a bullet with his name on it too.

"I saw them slip out when you were about to leave. I've seen this one before. His name was William Murphy. He said he was a legitimate businessman, but his main gig was moving drugs to Miami," she explained. Her accent sounded American tinted with an exotic drawl. He knew the sound.

"Well, thank you for having such perfect timing."

"No problem."

"I saw you playing blackjack on my way out," he commented. "It looked like you were doing rather well for yourself."

She smirked at the comment. "Not too bad. They closed it down after I got a quarter of a million ahead."

"You must be quite a card player to make so much in a short amount of time."

"I'm not a cheat, if that's what you're thinking. It's funny how much you can win if you put everything on the line."

"Is that why you're here tonight? High risks and high rewards?" he asked.

Her stare intensified. "Actually, I'm looking for something."

"Or, perhaps someone?" he countered.

"Yes, Commander Bond. I'm looking for someone."

"Have you just found him?"

"As a matter of a fact, I have."

His curiosity was unbearable. "Why are you looking for me if you don't want to kill me? It seems my only visitors are assassins or old men with a grudge these days."

"I have to talk to you."

"Really? Have we met before?"

"You knew my mother," she explained.

"I thought that you seemed familiar. You must look a great deal like her."

"So they tell me," she lifted a foot from a puddle of blood. It wouldn't be long until someone discovered what happened. The last thing they needed was to be found with three corpses and guns in their hands. "I think that we should talk somewhere else."

"That is good thinking," he paused. "Before we leave, I'd like to know who just saved my life."

"My name is Bond. Jamie Bond."