Chapter 5

A Surprise Evening

            Bond arrived at Ms. Leggs' apartment around 7 o'clock dressed in his tuxedo.  He rang Ms. Leggs' bell and answered it, "Yes?"

            "It's me Penny," Bond replied, "Your 7 o'clock appointment."

            The security door buzzed as Penny suggested, "James, why don't you come up?"

            Bond opened the door and headed up some flights of stairs until he got to her apartment door.  Just before he knocked, the door opened.  Ms. Leggs was beautiful, she had a black flare dress with a sweetheart neckline and with her hair down she was even more beautiful.

            "Would you like to come in?" she asked.

            "Thank you," Bond replied as he walked in.

            "I'll be just be a moment," Penny said as he went in a room.  She came back out carrying a brown fur coat.  Bond helped her put it on and asked, "Where are we going for dinner?"

            "It'll be a surprise," Bond said opening the door for her and followed.  They headed down to Bond's car, Bond helped her in first and he got in. 

            Bond started the Bentley, drove to the corner and turned right.  Once he got into traffic they drove for a couple lights when he noticed they were being followed.  Bond looked in the rear view mirror and saw their pursuer.   It was the same car that he ran into yesterday.  Bond drove a bit faster until Penny got concerned.

            "What's wrong?" she inquired.

            "We're being followed," Bond replied.

            "By who?"

            "Someone I ran into recently."

            Bond turned left thinking he would lose him, but unfortunately they followed.  He made another right and again they were there.  Bond looked again and saw their headlights went out, that made Bond a bit on the uneasy side.  Just then the headlights disappeared and two machine guns became visible. 

            "Hold on," Bond ordered as he stepped on the gas petal to the limit.  The other Bentley fired its machine guns as the bullets bounces off.  Bond made a quick turn and soared into a tunnel.  He then uncovered the control panel and pressed the oil slick button.  Oil pored out of the exhausts pipe, but their stalkers' wheels quickly became skies and slid towards them firing.  Bond then hastily pressed the rear rocket launcher button and his taillights flipped up and fired a rocket.  Bond raced towards the end of the tunnel as the other Bentley exploded when it came out.  Bond took a last relieved look at the blast and then to Penny.

            "Now this what I call a surprise!" Penny remarked as Bond smiled.

            When they got to the restaurant, a valet greeted them as they went inside.  Bond knew the matrade and he seated them to a table in the corner because Bond didn't like windows or other openings.

            The waiter arrived and asked, "What would you like to drink misure?"

            "Vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred," Bond replied.

            "And for mad' dam?" he questioned.

            "I'll have the same," Ms. Leggs replied as the waiter complied.

            Bond looked into Penny's eyes and grinned.

            "What?" she inquired.

            "Your eyes, it bring out the color in you," Bond complimented.

            Penny said nothing, but blushed then questioned,  "How was your golf game with Dr. Hyde?"

            "Well, you could say it was a exploding match," Bond replied.

            "Did you find out anything you needed to know?" she wondered.

            "Not really," Bond responded, "He seems what he is, and he even told me about Arthur's old war wound."

            "What old war wound?" Penny inquired.

            "His leg, it was injured in the war."

            "James, Arthur was never in a war."

            Bond got discouraged as some familiar faces passed by and stopped.

            "James," it was Michael and Samantha all dressed up.

            "Michael, Sam," Bond got up and shook his hand, "What are you doing here?"

            "I thought it might be nice if I took Samantha out for dinner," Michael replied, "I see you got company."

            "Yes," Bond said looking at Penny, "Michael, Sam, this is Penny Leggs."

            Once they were greeted, Michael didn't want to disturb them, so they went to their table and got comfortable.  Bond sat down as the waiter arrived with the their drinks in hand.

            On the other side of the room Michael stared at Bond for a moment.  Samantha got concerned and asked, "What is it Michael?"

            Michael turned back to his sister-in-law and replied, "I don't believe how he can go out with her while you're still in danger."

            "Come on," Samantha said setting her napkin down on her lap, "James deserves it after what he's been through."

            "I guess your right Samantha," Michael retorted, setting his napkin down.

            As the waiter brought Bond and Penny's drinks, they both toasted to the new fame and fortune of Samantha.  They then clinked their glassed and sipped their cocktails.

            "So," Bond started as he placed his Vodka Martini down, "How long were you a secretary for Arthur?"

            "About 5 years," Penny answered.

            "5 years, that's extraordinary," Bond remarked.

            After Bond brought Penny home she invited him in for a nightcap.  How can Bond say no to a pretty women like that?

            "Champagne?" Penny asked, while she went in the kitchen.

            "Yes, that would be refreshing," Bond, replied as he looked around some, you really do have a nice apartment."

            Penny came out with two champagne glassed filled with white bubbling champagne.  She handed one glass to Bond while she had the other.

            "I really had a nice time tonight," She commented.

            "I'm glad you liked it," Bond responded, "So, now what are you going to do, now that Arthur is gone?"

            "I don't know," Penny answered, "Try to get another job I guess."

            "There might be an opening at the secret service that suites you perfectly," Bond announced.

            Penny's smile got bigger.  She put her glass down as Bond did the same and hugged him, "Thank you James, you're so kind."  She looked in Bond's eyes passionately and kissed him gently on the lips.

            "I should have night caps more often," Bond remarked as he kissed her back.

            Later Penny showed Bond out as he headed for his car.  Bond then examined the Bentley making sure it had no alterations.  He opened the door and got in.  Bond took a last look at Penny's apartment, then started up the engine and drove back home.