Three hours later, Jamie and Della ran to the rendezvous point. James and Octopussy were already there. They sat in chairs outside of a restaurant, casually sipping tea. Jamie and Della could barely breathe when they reached them. James and Octopussy filled with concern.
"What happened?" Octopussy asked.
"A security guard almost caught us," Jamie explained. "Thanks to Della's incredible technical skills, we were able to retrieve the information needed."
"Credit Uncle Felix. He taught me all I know about computers," Della commented.
"He'll love to hear you said that. What did you find?" James asked.
"We went through the shipping receipts. A great deal of rice was flown in, and then it was sent by truck to an unofficial address to the west. They only had coordinates. We found supplies are sent by truck on a regular basis to the same coordinates. I'm thinking it has to be a warehouse. They'd never have the rice delivered directly to them," Jamie shared.
James lifted his teacup to his lips. "That confirms it."
"We talked to a few truck drivers today. One told us about moving a ton of rice from here to a place in the middle of nowhere. He didn't know what happens there. No one ever greeted him either. He piled the bags of rice by the door and left," Octopussy explained.
"Great. Let's get a truck and go out there. Instead of supplies, we'll be the cargo," Jamie decided.
"Makes sense to me," Della seconded.
"Let's go make a special delivery," James said.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The warehouse was enormous, yet it didn't seem like anyone was there. James wore the uniform of a truck driver and manned the wheel. The women stayed in the back. They had their guns ready. James had a radio and acted as their eyes.
"No one is outside. Everything appears to be locked down. There must be men inside or defenses that are camouflaged well," he reported.
"Do you think everyone is waiting in the back?" Octopussy asked.
"It is possible. We can't know. I'm going to stop the truck and get out. I'll see if I can get a response. I'll crack the door so you know what's happening. Stay out of sight until the time is right. I mean that, Jamie. Wait."
Jamie grumbled. "Has he met me?"
When the truck stopped directly beside the warehouse, James got out. He opened the truck door for the women in the back. Then, he went to the building to look for a window or door. So far, he hadn't seen anything. He began to knock on the building itself.
"Hello? Hello, anybody? I have your supplies. Where am I supposed to put them? The bloody building isn't open!"
Five minutes of banging and shouting later, a man finally appeared from the back of the building. He held a handgun at his side. "What the hell are you on about? You leave the stuff by the doors on the ground. Didn't they tell you that?"
"I'm new. They don't tell the new workers anything," James replied.
The man tilted his head. "What are they doing, putting some crippled old dumbass in a truck? You should be dead by now. Not trying to work."
"I'm not crippled. I'm not a dumbass either. Old, well. You have me there."
He held his gun in James' face. "We can't let anybody see who works here."
"I promise I'll forget you in five minutes. My memory isn't reliable these days."
"We aren't supposed to take chances," the man answered as he cocked the hammer.
Unexpectedly, a bullet went through the man's head. Jamie hung around the corner of the truck. She leapt down and called to her father. "You actually thought I'd stay in there?"
"Well, no. I'm glad you're you."
Gunfire permeated the air. An entire group of Hekate's crew emerged from the back of the building as well. Della and Octopussy left the truck to join the fight. The men were no match for James, Jamie, Della, and Octopussy. They fell as quickly as they came. James was happy they gave up their secret entrance.
Jamie insisted on leading the way. She had a feeling more people were waiting for them inside. Once they found the door, they were rushed by a few more workers. James noticed a particular worker wore a special uniform. It belonged to a pilot. He hauled the pilot indoors while the women finished the others off.
"Helicopter," Jamie announced when entered.
Supplies and bags of rice were in the single room, and the tiny helicopter was in the center of it all. James had the pilot by the shirt. "Where do you take that helicopter?"
"You don't know what she'd do to me if I told you," the pilot squeaked.
"Do you know what we might do if you don't tell us?" James returned. "Where do you take that helicopter? Is it her laboratory?"
"Okay, all right. I just fly the helicopter to a helipad and give cargo to some people. That's all."
Della found a map under the seat in the helicopter. It didn't have any noticeable markings to Jamie, but Della saw a shadow. It was in the shape of a circle. "James, I have a map. Someone circled a location in pencil and then tried to erase it. This must be where Hekate is."
James let the pilot go. He patted him on the shoulder. "Thank you. You've been very helpful. I'm sorry I have to inconvenience you."
Octopussy handed James a nearby lamp. James knocked the pilot out. He joined Jamie and Della by the helicopter. Octopussy was right behind him. They both looked at the map.
"We aren't far," Jamie commented.
"Let's take her out, shall we? We could get an aerial view. That would let us know what we're up against before we move forward," James said.
Della looked inside. "It's going to be a tight fit."
"No problem. You can sit on my lap," Jamie responded.
Due to lack of space, Della did sit on Jamie's lap, much to the amusement of Jamie's parents. The flight was short. They had a perfect view of the circular building from above. Guards moved on all sides and levels. It wouldn't be easy to walk in. Even the helicopter pad had security. Jamie saw a flat section of the mountain just out of view.
"Father, can we set down over there?" Jamie shouted over the helicopter noise.
He looked where she was pointing. "Yes. That's the spot."
They landed the helicopter in the safety of the mountains. A narrow pass would lead to one of the entrances to Hekate's laboratory. They could hit the guards from behind. That is exactly what they did. They went through the pass, handled the guards, and headed for the door. It required a handprint from one of the guards. Jamie and Della dragged one over and put his hand down.
The door opened. Jamie took only two steps. She immediately shouted. "Get out! They're coming!"
It was too late. They were surrounded. Hekate's voice came from a nearby speaker. "Did you think it'd be so simple, Jamie Bond?"
