Chapter Fourteen
"Bar None".
Goodhead had not come back for two hours since she left. Felix showed up as well as Gonzalez and Morales, the initial idea was that perhaps she had got caught into the festival, but Bond wasn't a firm believe in things going the right way. Bond had decided not to tell anyone but M about what had happened earlier, and at the time he hadn't had the chance to tell M yet.
"She didn't tell anyone where she was going?" Bond asked, Felix shook his head and sighed.
"This isn't like her I have a bad feeling." Gonzales said, the small man did look extremely worried and Morales seemed deep in thought.
"Reckless…" he muttered. "…what she's doing is reckless, this whole island is crawling with Acosta's men, what if she got caught and is being interrogated?" Morales fussed.
"If they are interrogating her they won't find out any more than they already know from that mole." Bond spat. Felix nodded.
"I wonder what could have happened." Felix added. A long pause issued.
"We can't wait for her any longer…" Bond concluded. "…it's time we contacted M." Bond got up and put his communicator into his ear.
"She's too dangerous." Morales muttered.
"M we're ready for some direction." Bond angrily called, Bond heard M shuffle some papers.
"Fine, what did Goodhead found out at that bar she investigated?" M asked, Bond paused and put the jacket on.
"Goodhead told you where she was going?" Bond asked.
"She mentioned that she was looking into a bar." M relayed with a hint of grumpiness.
"What Bar?" Bond asked, M seemed to be annoyed that Bond was asking so many questions.
"'Bar None' is what she mentioned." M explained.
"Did she mention anything else?" Bond asked.
"Yes…" M sighed. "…the bar is owned by Acosta."
Bond didn't say anything he just started towards the door.
"M we're going to 'Bar None' to find Goodhead, she must have been caught." Bond reported, Felix Morales and Gonzalez got up to follow but Bond turned around quickly.
"I don't want to draw too much attention…" Bond started. "Gonzales, Morales stay here we'll be in touch." Bond was slowly starting the separation process if the mole was watching them he would know for sure.
007
Bond walked into 'Bar None' and looked around slowly; every person in the bar had the potential to be an enemy, his first glance was to see if he could find Goodhead even though he knew the possibility of her actually being out in the open was slim. His second glance was to see if there was any muscle standing around guarding anything. This proved to be more successful than the last glance; there were a few guys who looked a bit out of place in the bar. They stood near the bathroom and the stage Bond took note of that and continued inside. The mood was excited, more so than Bond assumed, bars like these usually stayed quiet, live music and a couple of rowdy patrons were all they came up. This afternoon was loud a live act was playing and the patrons were up in full force enjoying them, the entire mood was chaotic which was perfect for Bond to get a good look around. Bond pretended to scratch, so he could get a feel on his gun, this probably wasn't the best thing for someone to find on him, so he had to get rid of it for the time being. Bond walked around; Felix was waiting outside for ten minutes so that their entrance wasn't suspicious. Bond trusted Felix a good part of that trust was that Felix carried his gun everywhere and he never abandoned it. It was true that Leiter had gotten more eccentric, he was now a shoot now ask questions later kind of guy, and Bond knew that if he had ever gotten himself in a bind Felix wouldn't be too far behind to shoot him out of it.
Bond wasn't upset about Goodhead, she was a C.I.A. agent she was doing a good her job and Bond knew why she had picked here, it was the best spot to look into and he admired that she was so covert about it. He doubted she had gotten herself in more trouble than she could deal with. This also opened a door for something else, had she gotten herself into some kind of danger it was just another angle for Bond to investigate into and pin on Acosta.
As Bond walked through the crowd he noticed a door that was marked "Do Not Enter" in front of the door was a large man who was guarding it. Chances were that Goodhead had somehow gotten herself on the other side of that door, whether intentionally or not, it was up to Bond to do the same thing. Despite the fact Goodhead was missing Bond knew it would be pointless to go find her and then leave, he had to finish whatever investigation she had felt she needed to start. There was no doubt in Bond's mind that Goodhead had been captured, the question was why had she been captured, there was something someone didn't want her to know and she had been taken away for it, so now it was up to Bond to figure out exactly what she had come across. Another thing Bond was positive about was that Goodhead wasn't dead, that was the last thing anyone would want, another dead C.I.A. agent dead. If anything they would try to take her off the island and get rid of her that way to avoid any of the other investigators getting immediately involved. If Acosta was behind all of this, as Bond thought, he wouldn't be hotheaded enough to just kill her off, especially not now.
Bond walked up to the stage a woman was singing and ruining some song as she screeched along the higher notes and bellowed the lower ones, Bond was in the midst of the greatest of chaos in the bar everyone who was interested in the noise this woman was making was crowded in this area, Bond used these people as cover as he walked onto the stage. He recognized the song, and he walked over to a secondary microphone and mocked the song out as bad as she was and when he was about to be ordered off stage he left with the microphone.
Bond's little debut on stage had caused him to gain a few onlookers, he ignored them. The pace in the bar was still quick, but there was something that seemed out of place. Despite the fact that everyone was having a good time there was a group of men who were having a loud conversation that was frequently punctured by a long outburst of laughter. Bond didn't really find this suspicious but they were loud, louder than the music and Bond didn't find this bar to be one were out of control people stayed, not if Acosta owned it. Unless the out of control people were on Acosta's payroll, Bond suddenly took a liking to these men, they were all drunk and if he was right they worked for Acosta and getting information out of drunken men was easier than getting information out of sober women for Bond. Another thing that sparked interest in Bond was that despite the fact that they were all drunk they all seemed to gravitate around a specific man. Bond got closer without getting too close and heard some of the conversation and Acosta's name came up twice. So all Bond had to do was cut into the conversation, but he needed a catalyst something that could get him into the conversation without too much trouble.
"Tell us about that one again Petrovski!" One of the men blurted. Bond couldn't believe what he had heard, and at first he put it out of his mind, but then someone else said the name, Bond couldn't believe the remarkable luck he had been bestowed and in his mind he silently thanked Goodhead, she had picked out the one bar on this entire island where Petrovski had decided to attend.
Petrovski was one of the best and had been named in the bombing of a train a month back, no one had seen him since then and it was a surprise he had been able to get all the way to the Caribbean without being caught, but then again Acosta was rich and Bond didn't doubt that Petrovski was under Acosta's protection. Petrovski was careful enough t hire big people like Acosta to protect him but he did have a weakness.
Flattery.
Bond walked over tot the table and brought a seat with him and sat down between to men on the opposite side of Petrovski the two men looked uncomfortable and as if they were about to attack him but Petrovski gave a small gesture of disapproval.
"Yes?" Petrovski asked Bond with a loud sneer, Bond smiled and he knew that is smile was vacant, and that was bound to confuse Petrovski.
"My name is Wellington…" Bond said continuing with the smile. "…I'm a big fan of your work." Petrovski glared and then his whole face was overcome with a huge smile.
"So is my mother!" Petrovski exploded into laughter and the rest of the men followed suit, Bond also laughed to keep up, but he made his laugh dumb and without cause.
"I wanted to know if I could employ you for a job." Bond asked, Petrovski seemed to scoff at Bond's offer.
"With what credentials…" Petrovski sneered. "…I only submit my services to people with credentials worthy enough." Petrovski continued.
"I have credentials, very good ones…" Bond countered; it was obvious that flattery wasn't going to work on this man at the time so he had to try something else. "…Julio Acosta." The mere mention of the name seemed to sober everyone up at the table, Petrovski tense up immensely, he leaned over the table and his breath pounded Bond in face as it reeked with the smell of countless drinks.
"What did you say?" Petrovski growled, despite his attitude the man wasn't the least bit intimidating.
"Julio Acosta is a reference of mine…" Bond lied. "…he sent me here to find you." Petrovski bit his top lip and let it roll out.
"Julio Acosta sent you to find me…?" Petrovski repeated. "…here?"
"Yes sir." Bond replied, with a slight move from Petrovski the men next to Bond grabbed him.
"You've got a lot of guts throwing that name around." Petrovski spat.
"He told me to mention him and that you'd accept my offer." Bond went on.
"Oh did he…?" Petrovski picked out some kind of communicator he spoke into it. "…well let's just see about that." He gestured again and the men brought Bond up to his feet and began to take him to the "Do Not Enter" marked door. As they led him away Bond saw Felix walk in, he didn't make anything but eye contact with Felix and that moment passed, Bond was led to the door and the man guarding it waiting for Petrovski.
"Search him." Petrovski sneered. The man grabbed Bond and frisked him roughly and when he got to where Bond had held his gun he found something, the man pulled it out. He held the microphone up to the light.
"I do seminars I like to be prepared." Bond said, the man seemed disgusted and pushed Bond away. The men who held bond backed off and Petrovski alone too Bond inside, he lead him down a long hallway, it was clear to Bond that this bar was a front for some type of operation. Petrovski stopped outside a door.
"We'll ask him together." Petrovski knocked on the door and a voice answer and then he opened it. Sitting behind a white desk was Julio Acosta. Bond smiled as he stepped inside and Acosta looked up and smiled as well.
"This guy said you referred him to me." Petrovski said. Acosta sat up and laughed loudly.
"Did he…?" Acosta asked, Petrovski nodded and Acosta gestured languidly to Bond. "…you mean Mr. James Bond told you that I referred him to you." Acosta clarified with humor, but Petrovski seemed to shrink back in fear from Bond.
"James Bond…" He mumbled.
"That's right…"Acosta went on. "…he's been following me ever since the race in New Mexico, the race he won might I add." Acosta said. Bond smiled.
"It was my first time." Bond said. Acosta nodded and gestured for Bond to sit.
"Than you Petrovski that will be all…" Acosta dismissed him and he left. "…I would be lying if I said it was a pleasure to see you." Acosta said calmly.
"That's too bad, because I've been looking al over for you." Bond said, Acosta smiled, he seemed genuinely unaffected by Bond's presence.
"Your Gun…" Acosta said extending a hand; Bond smiled and nodded taking out the gun he had hidden and laying it on the desk. "…the other one too Mr. Bond." Acosta calmly added. Bond nodded and began to unfasten the one he had recently put on his leg.
"I must be getting predictable." Bond said, Acosta nodded and took the revolver personally and inspected it.
"A revolver on your leg…?" Acosta asked. "…You're braver than I thought." Acosta remarked.
"Well when you live by my rule it isn't brave." Bond answered.
"What rule is that?" Acosta asked curiously.
"No safety is the best safety." Bond answered confidently, Acosta smiled happily.
"Mr. Bond I don't know why you've decided to interest yourself in my affairs but I assure you this will be the end of it." Acosta said, he didn't sound as if he was threatening him but rather as if he was going to convince Bond out of investigating it.
"Where's Goodhead?" Bond asked tersely, Acosta nodded around anticipating the question.
"She's fine; you'll be joining her in a moment as soon as I found something out." Acosta said.
"That is?" Bond asked.
"Paris." Acosta said simply, for a moment Bond did flinch.
"What about her?" Bond asked, again Acosta smiled.
"I already got my answer…" Acosta did something that eerily reminded Bond of M he went back to looking over his papers. "…You can see yourself out Mr. Bond." Acosta said not looking up from his papers, Bond stood up and walked outside.
Bond was led from the outside down a few more large corridors and down a flight of stairs, after going through another door he was lead into a docking bay for boats. Bond was surprised at the size of the port. All of bar had been able to keep this a secret, there were about ten speedboats docked in the bay. A huge iron chain hung over the water and on the chain was Goodhead. Bond gave a salute to her and she rolled her eyes. The men took Bond to a large step ladder and hooked him up next to Goodhead.
"It's good to see you again." Bond said cheerfully, Goodhead jiggled around in the chain.
"Too bad our feet aren't on the ground." She muttered. Bond didn't say anything, they hung there for a long while and it was clear that they planned on lowering Bond and Goodhead into the water, the chain was too heavy to swim with and they would drown.
A moment later Acosta appeared with a flanking of Security behind him and walked through the docking bay, he smiled at Bond and Goodhead and prepared a speedboat. Bond and Goodhead hung as Acosta fixed the boat for its leave.
"I don't suppose you have a plan?" Goodhead asked, Bond looked around and saw a hook near the chain if he could swing the chain over to the hook it could cut through it.
"I'll swing it." Bond said, Bond began to swayback and forward and after a moment Goodhead got the idea and started too, however the move was subtle and Acosta saw them.
"Please Mr. Bond…" Acosta called. "…you look disparate." As soon as Acosta finished what he was saying the door he and Bond had came in from slammed open and Felix Leiter burst through the door, he pointed his gun and instantly started shooting Bond and Goodhead continued swinging as explosions erupted all over the docking bay.
"James!" Leiter yelled.
"Get us down Felix!" Goodhead demanded as she continued to swing, Felix made a slight nod of acknowledgement and continued shooting he made his way through a path of men firing at him. Leiter shot wildly and with reckless abandoned and at some points it even looked like he was enjoying himself, some how Leiter made his way to the controls to the chain, he pressed a button and Goodhead and Bond began to careen towards the water. Felix pressed another button and they stopped.
"No Leiter get us on the ground!" Bond yelled, more gunshots exploded from around the place and Felix returned the fire. Leiter pressed more buttons and the chain swung over to over the ground.
"How the hell do you work this thing?" Leiter yelled, he pressed more buttons and the chain fell to the ground hard, Goodhead yelped but Bond caught his footing and instantly grabbed a gun and tossed it to Goodhead.
"Get some cover!" he yelled, she obeyed and started firing at the men who shot at Felix, meanwhile Bond did the same making his way to Felix.
Acosta watched the chaos with an uninterested eye; he didn't duck or move he just continued to prepare the boat calmly.
Bond yelled at Felix when he took a shot next to Bond's ear, Felix cursed back as a flurry of bullets came their way.
"We need to get Acosta!" Bond yelled, Felix shook his head.
"We need to get ourselves out of here we're out numbered." A bullet exploded behind them just missing them, Bond and Leiter spun around and were faced with ten men carrying guns. A quick flurry of explosions came from their side and each of the ten men hit the ground dead before they touched it. Standing at the side was Goodhead holding an automatic, she frowned.
"This is hopeless we need to get on a boat!" Goodhead demanded. Bond looked around and saw a boat leaving inside it was Acosta. Something came over Bond and he jumped up and ran towards the boat as it departed. Bond shot wildly trying to hit him but couldn't.
"James stop!" Felix yelled his warning but it was too late Bond was still going just narrowly escaping the death that flew around him. Felix stood up and took to shots in Bond's direction to give him cover, and then he felt Goodhead roughly push him over, took her automatic and fire straight ahead hitting an array of attackers. Before the last of the men hit the ground Goodhead was charging towards another group of men, reloading her gun. She dove forward and shot and landed in the middle of the men. Goodhead spun her gun around smacking some of the men to the ground and took precise shots dealing with the rest; she went through one of the men's jackets and pulled out a handgun. Leiter started towards her and her through her automatic to him.
"Use this and cover me!" She ordered, Leiter didn't have a chance to respond when Goodhead was back into the battle shooting and dodging as she made her way closer and closer to a boat. A man came up behind her and tried to pistol whip her but she grabbed his arm and took a shot into his knee and kicked him in the throat and he fell into the water, just as she finished that a man appeared in front of her and she took three quick shots that landed in two in his chest and one in his throat. She dove forward behind a crate and picked up an automatic at her side. Bond's not the only one who can use a gun she thought. She shot again and hit someone else just to see Bond rush in front of her and shoot someone else, all hell had broken loose.
Acosta was already out of the docking bay and Bond had thrown himself onto a boat and was fighting off the crew one by one, from what he could tell Felix and Goodhead were doing a good job in covering him, the speed boat was small and threatened to tip over as more and more people threw themselves onto the boat, Bond fought them off as effectively as he could. He made his way to the ignition and shot the man standing in his way, turned the key and steered the boat heinously out of the docking bay.
A few of the men were catapulted off the boat when Bond recklessly exited the port. Two of them however managed to stay on and attacked Bond as he tried to catch up with Acosta's boat, Bond was too quick though he made short work of one by abruptly stopping the boat and sending him over Bond's head into the water and shooting the other square in the chest. Now all he had to do was catch Acosta that was the simplest job of all.
007
Goodhead and Leiter fought off as many of the thugs as they could, but when Bond left there was a sudden shift in attention, few of the men decided to stay when Bond made his exit and threw themselves onto boats to chase after him, some of them weren't successful and managed to overload their boats sending them swimming quicker than they could get out of the port. They recognized the issue and suddenly found themselves alone.
"We've got to get to the authorities ask quickly as possible!" Leiter ordered as he threw himself over a railing and ran up the stairs to get back through the bar.
"We don't even know were they're going!" Goodhead yelled, Leiter shook his head.
"Something tells me we'll find out soon enough!" He yelled back and continued on, having no doubt that in the next ten minutes Bond would make his whereabouts, with no doubts, known.
007
The speedboat roughly crashed on a small wave almost sending Bond into the water, but he kept his footing and his calm as he followed the small speck that had become Acosta's boat. He had no idea where he was leading him, but it really didn't matter all he had to do was catch him and stop him. To his left a large rock blocked his vision to the rest of the island but Bond didn't think much of it, he was approaching it quickly and eventually it'd be out of his sight and he'd have an idea of here he was headed.
It was entirely possible that Acosta was leading Bond to Paris, he had mentioned her, he must have had her somewhere and hopefully that's where he was going. The rock was still blocking his vision, he leaned over trying to see pass it when something caught his eye. If Bond wasn't as quick as he was, he would have been dead. Another speedboat careened towards him, but Bond veered the boat to the left and the water that the other boat splashed hit Bond like a brick but he stayed up, and in the midst of the watery chaos Bond pushed the boat in a small circle as more boats started to obscure his view. Bullets started raining around him again and he found a small spot and steered the boat right through it.
The rock wasn't just a rock it was an entire structure, another docking bay for boats. There were too many boats to continue chasing Acosta; he'd have to lose some of them. Bond steered the boat towards the other docking bay straight into it, the boats behind him followed as he careened forward without any hesitation. Inside the docking bay was just like the one he had just left. Guns fired all around him all pointed at him. He didn't slow down as he came to the dock; instead he just continued to go at the quick speed. When Bond came close enough to the dock he made an abrupt turn and two of the boats that followed him failed to stop quickly enough, crashing into the dock, and one in a fiery explosion. Bond turned out of the docking bay but one of the bullets managed to hit the boat. He wasn't sure where but the boat instantly began to shiver. Bond ignored the violent move and continued to maneuver his boat from the paths of the others. The boat he had wasn't fast enough and he had lost where Acosta was heading, but he knew that if he followed some of the boats that went off to escort him he would find him in no time. Bond turned the boat crazily and two of the boats on his tail misread his direction and crossed into one another. The crash wasn't bad and left the boaters a bit stunned which was all Bond needed he pushed the throttle in his boat forward and jumped off into the others boat and threw the boater out unto his boat and the man was wildly going forward. Bond could see that the fuel tank had been hit, Bond shot at the leak and the boat exploded in a hellish fury. Bond used the new sleeker faster boat to catch up with the boats escorting Acosta, ahead there was another docking bay but he couldn't get into this one, there were just too many boats, to barge in there would be suicide. So he pulled off to the left and kept going forward.
007
Julio Acosta hated messes, they were unnecessary; he believed that anything absolutely anything could be done without anyone noticing and if they did it could be easily forgotten with the right kind of convincing. James Bond was someone who did all he could to make it hard for Acosta. His operation here on Jamaica had gone relatively unseen for six years now and in one half hour everything was brought to light, all because of James Bond. That was what he was good at however, that was his job and Acosta could not be terribly angry at Bond. All Bond was was an obstacle that was put in front of him so he could over come it. Nothing more than a policeman who couldn't help but be in the wrong place at the wrong time, there was nothing that gave Acosta the impression that James Bond was going to able to stop him. It wasn't his money that assured him, it was Paris.
The boat started to slow as he came up to the dock and Acosta steered it easily into the port. This port was different from the others this one had a full sized jet parked inside. Acosta stepped off the boat just as his escorts came to a stop behind him. He calmly and slowly walked to the staircase that lead to the plane. The stairs lead to a platform and that went into the luxury jet. Someone was rushing up to Acosta on his right, he looked over and rolled his eyes.
"Petrovski you're late." Acosta said, Petrovski ran his hands through his hair nervously and approached slower with a slight hunch. Acosta wasn't particularly fond of Petrovski, he was dirty, disorganized and cowardly, but he was the best and that's what he needed the best money could buy. His price was astronomical you would think he dressed a little better Acosta thought.
"I got caught up…" he muttered. "…once the bullets started flying I had to get out because the police showed up." Acosta scoffed at the word police.
"I told you I have them under control, you worry too much." Acosta said.
"Worrying has kept me alive this long." Petrovski nearly sneered; Acosta gave him a look that silence Petrovski's tongue.
"Get into the jet." Acosta ordered Petrovski gave a look to Acosta when he looked away and boarded the jet. Another man came up to Acosta and Acosta nodded as he came closer.
"Clearance is set up for ten minutes." The man said, Acosta nodded and started up the stairs. When he reached the top something started to get his attention. Acosta paused as he waited to clarify what it was, he looked around to see what the sound was, it was like a low humming, but it was getting louder. Acosta thought of what it could be one by one ideas went through his head and then one idea stood out. Acosta paused and something clicked into his mind.
The left wall of the docking bay exploded into a chaotic disaster, the entire wall imploded with a horrifying groan, and then a loud screech that seemed to last for years. Acosta ducked unsure of what had just happened, and all around him turmoil erupted. The wall continued to come down raining cement. Acosta looked at the in the direction of the ruined wall and to his surprise he saw something positively shocking.
"James Bond…" He muttered.
007
Driving the speedboat through the wall was not his initial plan but it turned out to be the best of choices. He ducked from the raining debris but that gave him a couple of seconds to get his gun out and get one up on the competition. He jumped out of the boat and started shooting madly at anyone could see, his surprise at the jet parked in the bay was masked by his intent to stay alive. He shot around and tried to get onto the staircase but it was knocked over before he could get to the top. Everywhere he turned there were people shooting at him, and everywhere he turned he shot.
Acosta went inside the jet and looked at the co-pilot.
"How long until we can go?" Acosta asked.
"Eight minutes." The man answered, Acosta nodded and went back outside.
Bond kept firing and had made his way behind some crates bullets came from ever side, he used it as cover, somehow he had to get in the jet. A bullet exploded too near to his face and he sat back, something was coming out of the crate something brownish. He moved from behind the crate and saw a ladder leading up to another level of the docking back, he ran up to it and climbed up the ladder and had a better view of the jet he could see Acosta, all he had to do was shoot.
Before Bond could shoot though Acosta did and Bond threw himself to the ground, if he hadn't Acosta shot would have hit him in the forehead that put a thought threw Bond's head but it wasn't time for that yet he had to stop Acosta.
"Go now." Acosta demanded, the man looked back at him with a unsure face.
"The authorities told us to wait for ten minutes." The man reminded, Acosta stared him down.
"Get us out of here immediately…" Acosta demanded softly. "…or I will."
Bond tasted the substance that came out of the crate and was shocked by what it was; everything was starting to make sense. Bond was suddenly thrust into a more complicated situation; this wasn't just a rich man, he was-
The engine of the jet started up and Bond knew that he was running out of time, he pushed the crate which was heavy, to the edge of the platform then walked as far back away from it as possible, then charged at it. The crate flew through the air for a moment and then crashed on to the plan and all of the substance was spilled all over the top of the jet. Bond saw another crate and did the same thing. The jet started to pull off, Bond saw another and repeated the process but that would be the last crate before the jet was taxiing off and eventually flew off into the sky, he licked what was left of the substance off his finger. Opium. This entire situation had just taken a more drastic turn.
Bond cursed loudly and fought off what was left of the men, again he had missed his chance to save Paris.