Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Bond. I do own all new characters and situations, so please don't use those without my permission.

Author's Notes: So, we know that James is aware Moneypenny was at his flat at 7pm. What was she doing there? This chapter attempts to answer some of the questions from the previous 2 chapters ;-)


3. MIA

Taking the glass of whiskey offered to him, James sat back in the comfortable leather chair and tried to organise his scattered thoughts. Moneypenny was missing, possibly hurt in the blast that had occurred at his flat. But there was more to the situation than that. For starters, he was going to have to explain to M and Charles how he knew Moneypenny had been at his flat. That was going to take some seriously smooth talking, unless he just told them the truth. No, he couldn't risk ruining her reputation so casually; he'd have to make up an excuse about why she was there, and it had better be a damn good one. Watering the plants, that was why she was there. At least, that is what he would make everyone believe. He pulled his attention back to the present as he heard Charles clear his throat.

"So, exactly what happened?"

"Well, we know there was an explosion at your flat. From the spread and type of damage, we know it was C4 that was used. However, given the recent attacks, and Moneypenny's condition at the time of the blast, we have come to the conclusion that you weren't the target," Charles told him, his voice tinged with worry.

"You think she was the target, and the bomb was just a diversion?" He waited for the nod of affirmation from Charles before he continued. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because she had a phone call just before the blast, and something was wrong," came the reply from the quiet Head of Security.

"A phone call? From whom? And how do we know something was wrong?"

"Because I was the one calling her, 007." The words were spoken in a firm voice, but James could see the strain in her eyes as M imparted this piece of information.

"So what was wrong?"

"Her words were slurred, and she was complaining of dizziness. As we all know, Angela doesn't drink, so it is my belief she was under the influence of a drug of some kind. What substance, and who administered it, are still unknown."

"Was there anything else on the recording of the call?" James hid a smile at the sharp look M shot him. She obviously believed him unaware that all calls into, and out of, MI6 headquarters were recorded.

"There was a male voice, just before the explosion. The connection was severed at the point. However, the remains of the phone were recovered several feet outside the debris radius, and it appears to have been crushed," M admitted, her gaze meeting James' for a moment.

"And the voice analysis guys have run the voice pattern against all known threats we have on file?"

"They have, and they came up with a possible match. But," She held up her hand to stop James as he went to speak. "But, 007, the man they came back with has been dead for several years."

"Who was it they came back with?"

"Jordan Yorlovic," replied Charles, his voice tight with controlled anger. James looked at him for a moment, his gaze steady as he processed this information. He and Charles had been friends for a very long time, since the head of security was a young boy. Charles' parents had both been MI6 agents; his mother had once held the same position her son now held, and his father had held 00 status. Both had been hard working and loyal agents, who were murdered by Jordan when Charles was fifteen years old. James' former best friend, Alex, had been sent to eliminate Yorlovic, and had returned with the ring Jordan wore, as proof of his death.

"Yet another of Alex's mistakes," sighed James, taking a sip from his glass.


As he swallowed the bitter tasting liquid, his mind summoned an image of Moneypenny, and what would happen to her at Jordan's hands. He recalled enough of the Russian to remember how he treated people, especially women.

"So it would seem. Now, would you mind telling me exactly why Angela was outside your flat at the time?" M's voice was laced with curiosity, and a hint of disapproval.

"She was watering my plants." The reply came a little too quickly. "Now, should we start the search at Jordan's old haunts?" Before M could answer, there came a timid knock at the door and a moment later, a fresh faced young woman entered the room. She too seemed to have been crying recently, and she wordlessly handed M an envelope. She turned and left the room, not saying a word to anyone, yet her gaze flickered to James for a moment and he saw the hope in her eyes. Hope that he would find Angela, and bring her home safely. He turned his attention back to M, watching closely as she opened the small envelope and removed its contents. A single sheet of note paper, containing a few words scrawled in black ink, was folded around a silver necklace. It was the necklace James had given to Moneypenny, on his return from Russia after the Goldeneye mission. And now, here it was in the MI6 headquarters, covered in blood. Angela Moneypenny's blood...

Just a short one :) Next chapter sees Moneypenny in some serious trouble...