Chapter 7

Bond drove towards the hotel he was staying at. It was just about dark and he was a bit roughed up. His sleeves were torn and bloodied and there was at least one cut on his forearm as a result of the knife fight he had just survived.

Tanner knew that the mission was over and told Bond pointedly to take a few days to "recover". Bond had Q book him a flight to Monte Carlo but he would have to wait until morning. He had just missed any chance of catching the last flight out tonight.

Bond stopped outside the entrance, tossing his keys to the valet. "I'll need the car by 8 am." He slipped the man several Euros and walked into the hotel. He made his way across the lobby to the front desk.

"Any messages for room 238?"

"No sir." The man said looking at his rough appearance with mistrust and confusion.

"Rough day in the market." Bond said with a smile as he headed to the hallway. He jogged quickly up the one set of stairs and made it to his room.

Bond tossed his bag on the bed and hit the shower. After cleaning up he found his first aid kit and dealt with the more severe of the scratches. His mobile rang, it was Q.

"What have you got for me old man."

For that I shouldn't give you anything 007.

"I apologize Q. What has happened?"

I just heard that you finished your mission in record time and that is fortuitous 007...because we have a problem.

Bond sat up a little straighter getting concerned. Dread filled him as well as frustration. "I'm stuck here until tomorrow unless you have a private plane nearby that I can use."

I don't unfortunately and you using one would get back to London very quickly. And we don't want that do we 007.

"Tell me."

M has ordered her daughter home. You know what that means.

"Someone has taken the bait."

Yes. I have been told to get her a passage on a cruise of the Mediterranean without her daughter but in a suite. Now I know that part of her cover makes her a woman of means but there could be more to it than that.

"Why? What's happened." Bond asked with an intensely serious tone.

From what Tanner has told me she has made a gentleman friend.

"What!?"

Clean out your ears lad! Stop being obtuse I said she found a gentleman friend. Why is that so shocking? She's a stunning woman.

"Q...that is not what I meant and yes, I know that she is. I'm acutely aware of that fact and I suspect that you already knew that."

I had my suspicions….for what it's worth I admire your personal growth 007 and that would be the reason I'm letting you know this even though Tanner and I were told to keep quiet about all aspects of M's mission. I know that the gentleman friend is safe I did research on him myself. He is a wealthy Scotsman who...well he has no ill intent towards M.

"No ill intent...but…"

Yes, well we don't know how much if it is an act on her part 007...Bond...are you still there?

Bond swallowed deeply, "What is his name?"

I don't know if I should tell you that...you should just try to get there before the ship leaves tomorrow at 3 pm. I have a room for you onboard. Stick to the shadows my boy. Watch her carefully and don't interfere. She will not thank you for it.

"She will if I save her life."

Let's hope that incidents that threaten her life like that will never come and you can just observe.

"I'm never that lucky Q."

Huhhh….I understand 007. Good luck tomorrow and use your comm sparingly as I will only be able to check a few times an hour.

"I will only use in case of extreme emergencies. I promise."

LONDON

Call disconnected Q sighed. Poor Bond, he was far more deeply involved with M than they had guessed. Tanner came into the room and greeted the elder scientist.

"Judith is to leave for the airport after M leaves for her ship. Can you make sure we have cameras at the hotel, the airport, and the pier?"

"I will see to it. We have a different problem."

Tanner frowned and tensed. "What problem?"

"James. He is further gone than you or I ever imagined."

"He...well it was all to rile her up...the innuendo and teasing. A crush on a mother figure is surely understandable and she exudes...it can't be more serious than that."

"I believe that it is."

"For how long?"

"I don't know...likely since she went to collect him in Russia after the girl…"

"The woman...Vesper."

"Yes well she seemed a stupid girl in my book."

"I bloody well hope that you are wrong."

"Why? Do you not think that he's sincere?"

Tanner stammered. "Well...I...it's just that she is...well M and Bond...is a womanizer."

"Do you not understand that is all just the persona that Bond puts on for the job?"

"Well I...I never expected him to desire M."

"Desire would be more understandable Mr. Tanner. Bond has gone further than that."

"You mean."

"Love. I think he has fallen in love with her and he doesn't know what to do about it but to protect her. Teaching her how to seduce someone else has pushed him from...what did you call it...a fleeting infatuation to love."

"We can do nothing about it but help him make sure that she stays safe. I hope whatever is working it's way out of the shadows will not be difficult for M to deal with should Bond not make it to her in time."

"I will listen in as much as possible but I don't want to draw too much attention."

"I don't think Mallory would mind but I understand being cautious."

Bond took a large gulp of the amber liquid in his glass as he leaned back in the chair staring at his phone. Running over the discussion he just had with the old man.

Gentleman friend…

Cruise alone with a gentleman friend…

Bond put the glass on the table, leaned forward in his chair and palmed his face in his hands. Looking down between his feet he ran his hands up through his short cropped hair groaning.

Sleep would be hard to come to him tonight. Thoughts swirled in his head about what she was doing and with whom.

Bond doesn't really have a say and would she even believe…

Judith might?

If Judith believed him sincere could M?

"FUCK!"

How did his life devolve into that of a lovesick teen. He was never like this when he was an actual teen. He needed to run. He was suddenly full of pent up energy that needed to be released.

James quickly changed into shorts and t-shirt and left his room. He hit the gym and the treadmill. He put earbuds in and some upbeat music on low. It was never good to lose focus on his surroundings. The gym was reasonable size and two women were finishing up but smiled when they saw him. He noticed that their eyes followed him as he entered the room to get on the treadmill.

Bond had just smiled and nodded but that seemed to be enough to inspire them to linger. He could have either of them and for a second...he considered it. Then his stomach rolled and he thought of the way they looked at him and juxtaposed that with an older gentleman looking at M like that. Like a piece of…

Bond ran faster and ignored the women trying to make eyes at him. His heart rate was up and he was sweating profusely and they may have thought he was running to impress them but in the recess of his mind he was willing propelling his body towards M.

He growled as he finished running and got off the machine, grabbing his towel, ignoring the fawning 20 something women who may have been pleasurable but would never give him half of what he needed.

"Hey...would you like to meet us later for a drink?"

"You are far too young for me ladies and I'm spoken for."

"She's a lucky woman."

Bond smirked. "Good evening ladies." He walked out of the gym and to the stairs, still wishing he hadn't missed that last flight to Monte Carlo.

Monte Carlo

Bond drove towards the hotel Judith and M were staying at. He hoped that he would catch them in time. Judith was to fly back to London and M was to go to meet the ship.

As he waited in line for the valet he caught a glimpse of auburn hair at the entrance waiting for a car.

It was Judith.

James was about to get out of the car as he watched to men dressed in suits approach M's daughter and each take one of her arms.

Judith was shocked and attempted to pull away from her captors as they moved her towards a large SUV at the front of the line.

Bond jumped from his car and rushed the men from behind. He took out, one dropping his elbow hard across the back of his neck. Then he swung madly at the other punching him hard in the face. He would not let Judith be taken.

Judith screamed and security came out of the hotel, looking towards the disturbance. Bond saw two other men getting out of either side of the large Mercedes and moved towards them. One on the side further away was a massive man with garish blonde hair. He locked eyes with Bond as he fought off the other man who had emerged from the right side of the SUV.

The blonde man looked from Bond to Judith with what could only be considered raw desire to have her.

"NO! Judith!" Bond screamed as the man moved towards Judith.

The hotel security now upon him the man looked suddenly hesitant. The sounds of sirens in the distance may have had equal effect on the man. Judith ducked out of the reach of the large man and ran towards Bond. The blonde giant fumed silently as he pushed off the security and climbed in the car and took off.

Judith made it to Bond with a panicked look on her face. "What's happening?"

"Not here...come on." Bond had her firmly by the arm and opened the door to his car for her. He got in as fast as possible and hit the accelerator as he spun out and around all the waiting cars with shocked inhabitants who were frantically snapping pictures or calling for the police.

Bond spun away from the hotel and hit his comm as he drove hell bent after the Mercedes.

Yes 007?

"Look Q I just stopped a blonde man from trying to take Judith! Driving in a white Mercedes GLS track it! FAST! Judith what can you tell us about that man?"

"Nothing….I've never seen any of them before! Is mum alright"

"I don't know where is she?"

"She left over an hour ago to catch the cruise."

Bond took his eyes off the road to look at her for a moment. "Alone?"

It was a question but had far deeper meaning to Bond in it's urgency.

"No. She went with Ian, the man she met here"

"Is he...compromised? Why did she go with him?"

"Mum had Q and Tanner check him out but she was really just enjoying time with him. And as she said; it worked well to keep her out and about to be seen."

"Did she say who she was luring out? Why send you back now?"

"M didn't think it was working at first so she thought it was better I returned home. There were men watching us. Mum was certain the bait was set but that it may take time to lure him out from wherever he was. She wanted me home safe. I guess that her timing was just a bit off on that."

Bond weaved around cars dangerously looking for any sign of the white vehicle. "Q; anything on cctv?"

Believe it or not Bond there are a lot of white Mercedes driving around Monte Carlo. I see the ship the M is on at the Pier. I think it better you head there.

"Fine! Get a ticket for Judith because I'm not about to leave her alone after someone just tried to take her."

I will. Tanner has a taxi with her things headed to the pier also but you must hurry they are leaving in less than an hour.

Bond pushed the accelerator, taking a glance back to see a black car following them. He took the next right quickly as possible and the other car missed. Bond took another quick right and drove through an alleyway speeding down it to burst out on a busy avenue.

"Q we may be a bit delayed reaching the pier, we have a tail. "There is a black Audi sedan following us. Track it if you can and send a team wherever they end up.""

I have them 007 and I will put my best trainee on watching it as I monitor you and the lass. Try to lose them first then head to the ship and I will try to reach the captain

Cars were honking, tires squealing and pedestrians scurrying. As Bond tried to lose their unwanted followers. The chase continued through the streets as the black car seemed to find them wherever they headed, or there were two.

"Q they either have a tracer on my rental car or there are two identical black Audi following us."

It appears you are correct on both counts. I have managed to block the trace but you need to lose both now. I don't need to remind you that time is of the essence.

"I understand that." Bond answered sarcastically as he began to lead the chase away from the city on the winding mountain roads. Bond silently thanked the fact he always requested Aston Martin's wherever he went. The extra horsepower was greatly needed in this case.

Judith hung on for all the close corners and rapid acceleration. She was a brave woman and said nothing that would distract Bond from the driving. He found a dirt road that led to a farm outside the city and pulled in and around behind the barn. He waited patiently to see if they would pass him on the main road and that the old man or his protégé had disabled any tracker on the car.

"Q we've pulled off. Have they passed yet?"

Yes 007. Head for the ship as fast as you can. I am having difficulty reaching the captain.

Bond hit the accelerator and headed back to the city. He travelled as quickly as possible to not draw unwanted police attention to them as they reached the city streets.

Bond gradually made it down to the waterfront.

"James the ship is leaving!" Judith exclaimed.

"Q were coming up on the ship. They are pulling up the mooring lines! Stop that ship Q!"

Bond drove past the secured area with the port authority screaming at them they rushed towards the ship that was about to move away early. "Why are they leaving early?"

I made your reservation yes but if not there the desired amount of time before departure the ship leaves. I've triggered a security alert onboard they are pausing. Unfortunately you may have to use your real credentials to secure access to the ship as that was the only way I could get them to pause.

Bond halted the Austin by the gangplank that is extending back to the docking area. A taxi was already there waiting with some bags for Judith.

Bond and Judith hopped out of the car and Judith goes to get her bags while Bond pulls his from the boot of the car. Hoping that most passengers will not notice the delay.

"Q I hope no unwanted eyes sense the delay."

I spoke to the captain myself and they are keeping this as quiet as possible and handing out drinks to the guests.

Bond threw his bag over his shoulder and picked up Judith's with a smile as she picked up on the signal and looped her arm through his and climbed the gangplank.

"We will play this as lovers." Bond whispered to M's daughter.

"I guessed that." She smiled and followed him up to the first mate waiting for them.

"Good day mister Bond. May we now depart?"

"Yes."

The mate radioed the bridge as the gangplank was pulled in and the last line pulled up.

"Follow me and I will take you to your cabin."

"Thank you very much." Bond added charmingly as they did as instructed.

There was no need for further conversation but Judith provided remarks of how lovely and how exciting provided ample normalcy to their late arrival as a romantic couple on a cruise.

Once in their inside ship's cabin the porters who had been following placed their bags in the room and left. The first mate came with them.

"Is there anything you need to report agent Bond?"

"Not yet. We will be normal tourists but may I have your number should I need to notify you of any changes."

"That is fine." He handed Bond a card and left them in their small cabin.

Bond activated his comm on speaker through his mobile. "Q you couldn't have gotten us a nicer cabin? I mean a view would be nice."

Funny 007, I thought it best to keep you away from M and besides that was all that was left. I apologize to Judith for making her share her space.

"Don't worry about me Q. I'm just happy that James arrived when he did."

"Q there was a tall blonde man in that car we were after, that tried to take Judith, did you find it?"

Unfortunately...no. We will keep trying however as well as tracking your followers.

"We will lay low here until we are well away from port. What is M's suite number?"

2103 but keep yourself out of her sight as much as possible 007. She will have my head for getting you onboard as it is.

"I will check in daily unless there is an emergency. For now I believe I need a drink. Bond said as he winked at Judith. She nodded her head in agreement and took her bag to the bathroom to change.

Behave yourself 007. We don't need one of your typical disasters on this mission.

To be continued...