Chapter 7
May had woken Bond about eight-thirty, telling him Mr. Tanner had called and can he call him
back. Bond mumbled an answer and when May left the room he climbed out of bed. Following his
usual slow twenty pushups and leg lifts, Bond climbed into a cold shower to rid his body of
sleep and sweat. A hot shower followed this, making Bond feel more awake now. Dressing in a
dark blue suit and a crisp white shirt, that May had lain out for him. Making his way into
the kitchen Bond saw May putting out his breakfast.
When in London, Bond was a creature of habit when it came to his personal life. The way his
life was and the dangers of the job he was in made Bond appriciate a bit of routine in his life.
As long as it wasn't too much routine. Boredom was as dangerous as an assassin to a man in
Bond's line of work.
Bond tucked into his breakfast which consisted of a single hard-boiled egg, followed by two
pieces of wholemeal toast with some preserves. All this was washed down with the special blend
of coffee that Bond ordered from De Bry in Oxford Street, black with no sugar. This meal had been
the cornerstone of Bond's days in London. The egg was always done to perfection, the preserves
were brought in specially for him. Even the egg was brought from a little farm in the country,
May's friend owned a farm which Bond had threatened buy for years now. Despite the platitude
of it, to Bond breakfast was the most important meal of the day.
After breakfast Bond picked up his paper and he started to read the news. As May cleared the
dishes from breakfast she held Bond in a cool gaze. From over the top of the paper, Bond saw
May looking at him. Steeling himself for whatever came next Bond put down the paper, turning
to his little housekeeper.
' So what's the problem, May?' he asked.
' Well I don't like to tell you your buisness, Mr James,' May said in her soft, Scottish voice.
' But?' interuptted Bond, hiding his smirk with his coffee cup.
' But Mr Tanner did ring nearly an hour ago.'
Bond grinned briefly, putting his cup down. Getting up from the table he went over to the phone,
dialling the number for his office. A female voice answered the phone, a light bouncy voice to
suit the woman who owned it.
' Transworld Consortium. Mr Bond's office.'
' Good morning, Goodnight.'
' James. All hell has broken loose here.' said Mary Goodnight. ' Bill Tanner is waiting for you
to contact him.'
Bond pulled on his suit jacket, straightning his tie. ' Contact Bill for me, Goodnight, not anyone
else. Tell him I'll be in in an hour.'
***
Bond pulled away from outside his Chelsea flat in his pride and joy, his Mark II Continental Bentley.
Driving the car through the streets of London Bond enjoyed the way men, and women, watched as he drove
past them in his car. The engine hummed as Bond cruised along Oxford Street on his way to the new
headquaters of MI6.
Pulling into the private car park, Bond entered MI6 and made his way towards his office. Sat her desk
outside the office Bond shared with 008 and 0011 was Mary Goodnight. She looked up from her desk and
gave Bond a quick smile. ' Bill has asked you to meet him in his office, James.'
Blowing Goodnight a quick kiss Bond was out of the door on his way to M's Chief of Staff's office when
he saw Bill Tanner coming towards him. Tanner grabbed Bond's arm, steering him towards the lift at
the end of the corridor. Both men stood in the lift as Tanner pressed the button for the floor on
which M's office was located.
' Sorry I'm late, Bill.' said Bond, breaking the silence between both men.
' You can be a bastard sometimes, 007. Just because you percieve some wrong has been done to you, you
make the rest of us suffer. Goodnight has take some flak over you, James.' hissed Tanner in reply.
'I'll make it up to her,' Bond said, kerbing his rising anger. He knew he'd been put out because of his
recent assignments, and he had been taking it out on others. The problem was that boredom that had crept
into his life. That was why he'd gone after Mendez if truth be known but he'd never admit it, except to
himself.
' So what is all the fuss about?' Bond asked Tanner, changing the tone of the conversation.
Tanner shrugged his shoulders. ' She's been playing this one pretty close to her chest. All I know is that
Cairo Station has been in contact pretty much all night.'
The lift doors opened and Tanner and Bond stepped out into the outer office of M, head of the British Secret
Service. Sat at her desk as usual, the right hand of the former and present M was Miss Moneypenny. She pressed
a button on her desk to open the two doors which led to M's office. Bond gave a slight smile to Moneypenny who
waved him in, her look telling him that he would be wise to get into the office. With a nod of the head Bond
entered the office after Tanner.
Sat at the large wooden desk in the middle of the room was M. Her face looked up from a folder in her hands,
the cool grey-green eyes regarded Bond coldly. She put the folder down on the desk, her hand picking up a
glass tumbler probably containing her favourite tipple, bourbon, Bond mused to himself. M's attitude to Bond
had undergone a few changes during the brief time she'd taken over from Sir Miles Messervy. It started out cool
but after the Goldeneye and Elliot Carver affairs she'd gained a respect for the way Bond worked and the job
he performed. This had changed last year when he was forced to kill Elecktra King in front of M. She knew it was
necessary, but M's whole attitude towards Bond was different. He was held at arms length and given training assignments.
Bond knew that she knew his feelings on this, and she was dealing with the deaths of Elecktra and her father
in her own way, keeping him at arms length. Whatever this crisis was it must be big for M to have summoned
Bond.
' Drink, gentlemen?' M's cool voice interrupted Bond's thoughts. M came from behind her desk, walking over to the
drinks tray. Tanner shook his head, mumbling something about the hour. Bond asked for a scotch, single malt,
which was served 'on the rocks'. Taking her seat again M turned to Bond.
' We have a little 'problem' in Cairo, Commander.'
Bond raised his eyebrows at the use of his formal, military title. He took a sip from his drink before looking
directly at M. ' What sort of 'problem'?' Bond asked.
M threw the folder in front of her across the desk to Bond. ' At four o'clock, local time, the body was found of
Station Cairo operative Marcus Lloyd, it was murder, gentlemen. He had been brutely beaten and left there. We have no
suspects or clues. His apartment had been ransacked but again, no clues or suspects.'
Bond creased his forehead, taking in all the information M was giving him, digesting it. He listened then interrupted
with a question. ' What department was Lloyd assigned to?'
' Surveillance.' answered M.
' So what, James. You think it was tied into his job?' asked Tanner, leaning slightly forwards in his chair.
' He may have seen someone or something he wasn't supposed to.' added Bond.
M considered this before nodding her approval. ' Tanner set up a ticket to Cairo and all the necessary documantation.'
Tanner got to his feet and left the office. Bond stayed in his seat, taking another sip from his scotch. M turned
back to Bond. ' I'm sending you on this mission not because I want to, 007. Or because I have to.'
Bond set his glass down. ' Then with all due respect why am I going, Ma'am?' Bond asked coldly.
M looked Bond straight in the eye, Bond not sure if a slight smile played on her lips. ' Because, Commander Bond,
your the best man for the job.'
A sly smile came to Bond's lips, he got to his feet heading for the door. ' I'll be on my way in an hour.'
M nodded her approval. ' Pick up your equipment from stores.'
Bond opened the door of the inner office, the door which led to another door that wouldn't open unless the other
door was closed. He stopped turning back to M. ' You said Lloyd was beaten. Is that what killed him?'
M looked up at bond. ' No. It seemes he was strangled to death by what seems to be a garrote.'
May had woken Bond about eight-thirty, telling him Mr. Tanner had called and can he call him
back. Bond mumbled an answer and when May left the room he climbed out of bed. Following his
usual slow twenty pushups and leg lifts, Bond climbed into a cold shower to rid his body of
sleep and sweat. A hot shower followed this, making Bond feel more awake now. Dressing in a
dark blue suit and a crisp white shirt, that May had lain out for him. Making his way into
the kitchen Bond saw May putting out his breakfast.
When in London, Bond was a creature of habit when it came to his personal life. The way his
life was and the dangers of the job he was in made Bond appriciate a bit of routine in his life.
As long as it wasn't too much routine. Boredom was as dangerous as an assassin to a man in
Bond's line of work.
Bond tucked into his breakfast which consisted of a single hard-boiled egg, followed by two
pieces of wholemeal toast with some preserves. All this was washed down with the special blend
of coffee that Bond ordered from De Bry in Oxford Street, black with no sugar. This meal had been
the cornerstone of Bond's days in London. The egg was always done to perfection, the preserves
were brought in specially for him. Even the egg was brought from a little farm in the country,
May's friend owned a farm which Bond had threatened buy for years now. Despite the platitude
of it, to Bond breakfast was the most important meal of the day.
After breakfast Bond picked up his paper and he started to read the news. As May cleared the
dishes from breakfast she held Bond in a cool gaze. From over the top of the paper, Bond saw
May looking at him. Steeling himself for whatever came next Bond put down the paper, turning
to his little housekeeper.
' So what's the problem, May?' he asked.
' Well I don't like to tell you your buisness, Mr James,' May said in her soft, Scottish voice.
' But?' interuptted Bond, hiding his smirk with his coffee cup.
' But Mr Tanner did ring nearly an hour ago.'
Bond grinned briefly, putting his cup down. Getting up from the table he went over to the phone,
dialling the number for his office. A female voice answered the phone, a light bouncy voice to
suit the woman who owned it.
' Transworld Consortium. Mr Bond's office.'
' Good morning, Goodnight.'
' James. All hell has broken loose here.' said Mary Goodnight. ' Bill Tanner is waiting for you
to contact him.'
Bond pulled on his suit jacket, straightning his tie. ' Contact Bill for me, Goodnight, not anyone
else. Tell him I'll be in in an hour.'
***
Bond pulled away from outside his Chelsea flat in his pride and joy, his Mark II Continental Bentley.
Driving the car through the streets of London Bond enjoyed the way men, and women, watched as he drove
past them in his car. The engine hummed as Bond cruised along Oxford Street on his way to the new
headquaters of MI6.
Pulling into the private car park, Bond entered MI6 and made his way towards his office. Sat her desk
outside the office Bond shared with 008 and 0011 was Mary Goodnight. She looked up from her desk and
gave Bond a quick smile. ' Bill has asked you to meet him in his office, James.'
Blowing Goodnight a quick kiss Bond was out of the door on his way to M's Chief of Staff's office when
he saw Bill Tanner coming towards him. Tanner grabbed Bond's arm, steering him towards the lift at
the end of the corridor. Both men stood in the lift as Tanner pressed the button for the floor on
which M's office was located.
' Sorry I'm late, Bill.' said Bond, breaking the silence between both men.
' You can be a bastard sometimes, 007. Just because you percieve some wrong has been done to you, you
make the rest of us suffer. Goodnight has take some flak over you, James.' hissed Tanner in reply.
'I'll make it up to her,' Bond said, kerbing his rising anger. He knew he'd been put out because of his
recent assignments, and he had been taking it out on others. The problem was that boredom that had crept
into his life. That was why he'd gone after Mendez if truth be known but he'd never admit it, except to
himself.
' So what is all the fuss about?' Bond asked Tanner, changing the tone of the conversation.
Tanner shrugged his shoulders. ' She's been playing this one pretty close to her chest. All I know is that
Cairo Station has been in contact pretty much all night.'
The lift doors opened and Tanner and Bond stepped out into the outer office of M, head of the British Secret
Service. Sat at her desk as usual, the right hand of the former and present M was Miss Moneypenny. She pressed
a button on her desk to open the two doors which led to M's office. Bond gave a slight smile to Moneypenny who
waved him in, her look telling him that he would be wise to get into the office. With a nod of the head Bond
entered the office after Tanner.
Sat at the large wooden desk in the middle of the room was M. Her face looked up from a folder in her hands,
the cool grey-green eyes regarded Bond coldly. She put the folder down on the desk, her hand picking up a
glass tumbler probably containing her favourite tipple, bourbon, Bond mused to himself. M's attitude to Bond
had undergone a few changes during the brief time she'd taken over from Sir Miles Messervy. It started out cool
but after the Goldeneye and Elliot Carver affairs she'd gained a respect for the way Bond worked and the job
he performed. This had changed last year when he was forced to kill Elecktra King in front of M. She knew it was
necessary, but M's whole attitude towards Bond was different. He was held at arms length and given training assignments.
Bond knew that she knew his feelings on this, and she was dealing with the deaths of Elecktra and her father
in her own way, keeping him at arms length. Whatever this crisis was it must be big for M to have summoned
Bond.
' Drink, gentlemen?' M's cool voice interrupted Bond's thoughts. M came from behind her desk, walking over to the
drinks tray. Tanner shook his head, mumbling something about the hour. Bond asked for a scotch, single malt,
which was served 'on the rocks'. Taking her seat again M turned to Bond.
' We have a little 'problem' in Cairo, Commander.'
Bond raised his eyebrows at the use of his formal, military title. He took a sip from his drink before looking
directly at M. ' What sort of 'problem'?' Bond asked.
M threw the folder in front of her across the desk to Bond. ' At four o'clock, local time, the body was found of
Station Cairo operative Marcus Lloyd, it was murder, gentlemen. He had been brutely beaten and left there. We have no
suspects or clues. His apartment had been ransacked but again, no clues or suspects.'
Bond creased his forehead, taking in all the information M was giving him, digesting it. He listened then interrupted
with a question. ' What department was Lloyd assigned to?'
' Surveillance.' answered M.
' So what, James. You think it was tied into his job?' asked Tanner, leaning slightly forwards in his chair.
' He may have seen someone or something he wasn't supposed to.' added Bond.
M considered this before nodding her approval. ' Tanner set up a ticket to Cairo and all the necessary documantation.'
Tanner got to his feet and left the office. Bond stayed in his seat, taking another sip from his scotch. M turned
back to Bond. ' I'm sending you on this mission not because I want to, 007. Or because I have to.'
Bond set his glass down. ' Then with all due respect why am I going, Ma'am?' Bond asked coldly.
M looked Bond straight in the eye, Bond not sure if a slight smile played on her lips. ' Because, Commander Bond,
your the best man for the job.'
A sly smile came to Bond's lips, he got to his feet heading for the door. ' I'll be on my way in an hour.'
M nodded her approval. ' Pick up your equipment from stores.'
Bond opened the door of the inner office, the door which led to another door that wouldn't open unless the other
door was closed. He stopped turning back to M. ' You said Lloyd was beaten. Is that what killed him?'
M looked up at bond. ' No. It seemes he was strangled to death by what seems to be a garrote.'