Chapter 1- MI-6 Headquarters, London
M's Secretarial Office – 09:00 hrs.
A red-haired woman stood with her back to the door, opening and closing filing cabinets in a frenzied search for a file. She turned around as the door opened, and saw Bond walking into the room.
"Why Moneypenny!" Bond exclaimed, "You look just as ravishing as when I last saw you."
"James!" Moneypenny's voice filled with delight. But, not one to be distracted while there was a task at hand, she turned back around and continued her frantic search for the elusive file.
Bond ambled over to the filing cabinet and pulled down a sealed manila folder with the red star of confidentiality stamped on it. "Looking for this?"
Moneypenny looked up, annoyed, at Bond, and seeing the folder in his hand grabbed it, but Bond held tight. She stood up and faced Bond.
"Please?" Bond teased.
Moneypenny smiled slightly as she gently tugged at the folder. "So what did you bring me from the Orient, James? Silks, Spices, Jewelry?"
The corners of Bonds mouth turned up slightly, "Well," he said, "Now that you mention it." He let go of the folder and reached into his coat pocket. Moneypenny's breath caught in her throat. Her eyes grew wide with anticipation.
Bond pulled out the ratty dark green cord with the metallic clasp and let it slide into Moneypenny's waiting hand. "I seem to have forgotten to drop this off during security debriefing. See what you can get off it will you?"
Moneypenny looked exasperatedly at Bond and walked to the door connecting Moneypenny to M's innermost office. She unlocked the first door and held it open for Bond. "M will see you directly," She said as she handed him the sealed folder.
Bond suddenly serious took the folder and with a slight smile to Moneypenny opened the second padded door and entered M's lair.
Moneypenny made her way wearily back to her desk and pulled out a small white envelope with the words Q Branch printed neatly on it, and in one fluid motion dumped the cord in to the envelope, sealed it with on lick, and tossed it into the "out" basket.
She collapsed onto her chair her chin resting on her hand, she sighed at her impracticality and leaned over and switched on the two-way intercom between her and M's Office.
