Three weeks earlier
She had no country. She spent her childhood going from place to place, especially throughout Europe and Asia. Lately, she went where the work took her. It helped she co-owned a chain of hotels all over the world. It was a free place to stay and a perfect cover.
Still, the floating palace would always be home.
The boat indolently traveled to the palace while the city grew smaller in the background. She rocked on her feet on the bow. Ahead, she saw the women on the palace peering through windows and over walls. A certain girl rushed down a flight of stairs and ran to the dock the second she knew it was Jamie. Jamie almost fell into the water when the woman leapt into her arms.
"Easy, Maggie," Jamie laughed. "We'll both fall overboard at this rate."
"I don't care. I'm too happy to see you. I didn't know you were coming," Maggie grinned.
"I didn't either. Mother called me yesterday and told me to get here as soon as possible. Where is she?"
"By the pool, I think. Will we have time to catch up later, or was the trip too much?"
"I am feeling sore from the plane ride, but I've found that plenty of exercise makes me relax," Jamie commented.
"I do enjoy a good workout myself," Maggie winked.
"In that case, we'll have to work up a sweat later."
Briskly, Jamie pecked her cheek and scaled the palace steps. Her mother was relaxing by the pool. One of the girls lightly fanned her. She sat up straight when she saw Jamie.
"Lady Octopi!" the girl with the fan exclaimed.
How Jamie loathed that title. "Hello, Alanis."
"Just on time," Octopussy said.
Jamie rushed to embrace her. "Hello, Mother. What kind of action do you have for me this time?"
She had to chuckle at her daughter's eagerness. "Do you remember Captain Marigold?"
"The seven-foot-tall man from Delhi with a beard that reaches his belly button? How could anyone forget?"
"We've come to an agreement about a shipment of blue diamonds. Marigold is going to take the diamonds down the river on his boat. He'll meet with a few of the girls at Chidiya to transport the diamonds onto a plane. We'll fly them out of there.
"The operation is supposed to happen tomorrow night, but he hasn't confirmed the date and time. He's always good to stay in touch, and now no one has seen him. I need to find out what's happened. I thought a woman of your talents could be of assistance."
Jamie certainly was a woman of many talents. She was the head of security the age of sixteen. She was a perfect shot by the age of ten, she excelled in martial arts, and she was extremely dangerous with a blade. Jamie credited her kills to Octopussy's training, but Octopussy refused to take full credit. Jamie was a Bond. Strength pulsed through her veins naturally.
Jamie's current assignment was to oversee the high-risk smuggling operations. Those missions often became nasty, and Jamie was the perfect person to take control. She wasn't only a fighter. She was as intelligent and cunning as her mother. She was also as stubborn and resourceful as her father.
The Captain Marigold assignment was right up her alley.
"Might be dangerous," Jamie enthusiastically hummed. "You've called the right woman. Details?"
"I need you to go to the docks tomorrow night with a few of our guards. Have a look around. Maybe visit his boat. Destroy anything that could lead to us while you're there."
"Perfect. Consider it done."
"Good. Why don't you get some rest? I know you had a long flight."
"I'd rather spend some time with you."
"We'll have plenty of time tomorrow. I'm sure that Maggie wants some time alone with you."
Her ears burned. "Mother."
"Go on," she laughed. "Welcome home, Jamie."
"Thank you. I'll see you in the morning," she paused when Maggie appeared. Maggie pointed towards Jamie's old room with a suggestive smile. Jamie cleared her throat. "Maybe closer to noon…"
After Jamie disappeared with Maggie, Octopussy sighed. "So much like her father."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Before Jamie knew it, a day had passed. With night falling, it was time to visit the docks. She prepared her gun and excitedly hopped onto the boat. They planned to stop at a dock farther down to avoid being seen. A car would take them from there.
Two guards were at her disposal. She didn't want more than that. It would be harder to stay concealed. However, Maggie flew into the boat as it cast off. Jamie firmly shook her head. "No, Maggie. Go back."
"I'm coming with you whether you like it or not."
Jamie didn't feel like arguing, and she knew she wouldn't win anyway. "Fine. Just stay back until I call you."
"Not likely."
She huffed at the persistent woman, yet she would've done the same if she saw Maggie floating into a fight. Jamie figured that's exactly what they were doing. There would be a struggle. It was a feeling in her gut. The feeling lasted even after they climbed into a generic car. She was ready for anything.
After a time, they reached their target. They safely parked in the shadow of wooden boxes. Jamie never feared the unknown. She lived for it. "Let the game begin. You two stay behind me. Maggie, stay close."
Once they left the safety of their vehicle, Jamie had a solid view of her surroundings. The boat was still there, and the lights were on. She didn't see Marigold. It was too quiet. People could practically hear his full voice in Mumbai.
Jamie considered stepping into the open for a closer look, but faint voices approached. They spoke softly in a foreign tongue. At a sluggish pace, the group of men arrived with a pile of shipping crates.
"Get your guns ready, girls. We have company," Jamie said.
Another figure appeared at the other end of the dock. He studied a map and placed a cigarette between his crooked teeth. The lighter gave Jamie brief glimpse of his face. He was mostly hidden behind a bushy beard, but she could see scars on his cheeks. He slapped his workers with his map between discontented yells. The words were too garbled for Jamie to decipher. She only knew it sounded like a language found in Asia.
"What do we do?" the first guard whispered to Jamie.
Jamie considered their options. "I need to go inside that boat. You two stay by these boxes. Maggie, get across the dock and hide behind one of the posts. Do not shoot or move unless I give the signal."
"And leave you out there? Not happening," Maggie snapped.
"Darling, it's safer for one person to sneak around, and you can help me by covering me. Trust me."
Jamie moved like a ghost towards the boat while the others got into position. The workers continued to enter and exit the boat, which made it impossible for her to find the perfect opportunity. Meanwhile, she observed the truck used to transport the crates. The plates were fake, and she recognized the symbol on the side of the door.
The crates were still coming. It felt like the men had a thousand more. Then, the workers started to argue over the best way to carry the crates. With everyone watching the fight, Jamie could make her move. She only needed a minute.
She glided aboard the ship and rushed to the nearest crate. It took a few seconds, but she found something to use as a crowbar. When she opened the crate, she found brown bags labeled: Rice. When she lightly squeezed the bag, she could confirm it. Why would they kill over rice? she asked herself.
Jamie wasn't going to leave it there. There had to be something else in the crate. Delicately, she rooted through the collection of bags. One of them felt different. Something was hidden inside that seemed lengthy and thin, though she had no idea what it could be.
She heard footsteps and quickly hid the bag under her belt and the tail of her shirt. She stayed out of sight until the workers passed her. That's when she saw blood on a lengthy box across from her. It was the same size as Marigold. They had killed him, as Jamie suspected.
Finally, the coast soon looked clear. She slithered out of the boat. For a second, she felt proud of herself. She escaped no problem.
She hadn't.
Harshly, Jamie fell onto her stomach on the slick dock. A boot pressed into her back to keep her down, and the bag was taken from her. The man with the beard laughed. "You have heart, little girl."
"You have a serious rice addiction, big man. I enjoy a bowl of rice myself, but I can't say that I've killed for it. Or, is whatever is in that bag what you're after?"
"Is that why you've come? What do you know?"
"I know you killed Marigold for his boat, but I'm not sure why. Would you like to tell me?"
He lifted her by the shirt and snatched her weapon. "Curiosity may be the death of you."
"Do you expect me to die?"
"No. I expect you to talk. I'll decide if I want to kill you later."
Just as he began to lug her onto the boat, a gunshot pierced the night air. The bullet barely missed his ear. He barked orders in the mysterious language, and one by one his men drew their weapons. Jamie fought his grasp and watched as the other women broke cover.
That wasn't the signal, but Jamie wasn't complaining.
The man was much larger than Jamie. Even with her training, she was having difficulty breaking free. She felt helpless as her friends fought back. For a time, the women seemed to be winning.
"I will not let you and your friends ruin this for us!" he shouted.
Powerfully, he threw Jamie into a small rowboat far below the dock. After, he pulled his gun. She could see through holes in the wood above, but not very well. Her focus was on trying to find a way up. She realized the boat was tied to a post. She used the rope to climb.
Just as her nose was level with the dock's surface, the scarred man noticed her return. He aimed his gun at the top of her head. She ducked under the dock when he fired. A bullet shot by her neck.
Abruptly, the man was hit in the shoulder. Jamie popped up to see Maggie broke cover. Maggie growled. "Get away from her."
Using the shot as a distraction, Jamie lifted herself up and ran. She still needed to get across the dock to rejoin the others. With a little help from the women, Jamie made it to the other side. She dragged Maggie into a safe corner with her.
"Thanks for that," Jamie smiled. "We've outstayed our welcome. I saw all I need to see. Get to the car and—"
The men set the car on fire. It blocked their only exit.
"Well, this is a blistering turn of events. Time for a new approach," Jamie said.
"What are you thinking?" Maggie asked.
"I'm thinking we need to commandeer that little boat over there. It'll take a few minutes to get it moving. Go to the boat with the girls. I'll hold them off until we're good to go."
Maggie's eyes narrowed at the idea. "You'll get killed."
"Your confidence in me is inspiring."
"Don't be stupid, Jamie. We run over there together. I'll drag you by the ear if I have to."
"Fine. I don't have time to disagree with you. Now."
They ran across the dock while bullets flew. Jamie shouted at the girls to get in the boat. They jumped into the small craft and struggled to warm the engine. When Jamie heard the successful rumble, she snagged Maggie by the shoulder and sprinted.
In transit, Jamie saw a cigarette butt. It belonged to the man in the beard. His DNA had to be on it. Something told her to take it. She reached down to retrieve it. The extra seconds cost her. A bullet was fired at her chest.
Before she could react, Maggie jumped in front of her. Jamie killed the gunman and lugged Maggie to the boat. The engine sputtered and wheezed. They were able to escape by the skin of their teeth.
"Maggie?" Jamie murmured. She cradled Maggie in her arms. Her fingertips tenderly brushed hair from Maggie's forehead. It was too late, and Jamie knew it. Her voice crackled. "Maggie, you…"
Jamie held Maggie's body snugly against her chest. She wasn't going to let her assignment end there. There was something on that boat that was more important than jewels or drugs. It was something so sinister everyone could be in danger. Just like her father, she could sense these things.
Yet, it was bigger than her. They didn't have the resources they'd need. Most of their contacts would have no interest in helping them. She would have to find another way to get information. At that point, she had an idea.
Bond. James Bond.