Chapter 6: Pursuit

The aftermath of the shooting spree is fast and furious. James rushes out after Mitchell who is running for a car. James follows...grabs the nearest vehicle and disappears at speed after M's bodyguard.

White stumbles out of the house on his mobile screaming commands he turns and sees us.

"You two...here now!" He waves a gun at us and we move forward cautiously.

"M is upstairs with her chief of staff hiding. I want her brought to me in Venice...I want that money and I don't care how you do it just bring her and that knowledge in her head or else I will have the two of you killed!"

Mathis nods, "What about Tanner?"

"Kill him or render him unconscious I don't bloody well care."

I stand straight and say with far more bravery that I have. "I will stay and wait for James."

White snarls at me, "no you will not! I need the two of you with M...keep her away from any computer and pray that she has not yet transferred that money to another account. Your lives depend on it!"

A large Mercedes SUV arrives and White climbs in the back gingerly. His leg is wrapped and blood is soaking through his torn trousers.

"Go get a car...I will go get M."

I do as Mathis instructs and grab the bags and toss them in an available car. I only wait for 15 painfully slow minutes to see Mathis dragging an irate M towards the car.

I climb out and open the back door. Mathis forces M in the back and tells me to climb in after her. Mathis starts the car and we drive away.

I have no idea what has happened to Tanner, Mitchell and James Bond.

"How long?" M asks looking at Mathis and then to me.

"Since the beginning my dear...I am sorry. At least Vesper did it for love...me I was enticed by the money."

"At least you didn't kill Tanner...for that I am thankful but James will be after us soon and then you will have him to contend with."

"I hold both his lovely queens, that is until I deliver you to White in Venice M. You will give him the money and he will let you go...and Vesper's true love."

M turns to glare at me. "So you were playing Bond all along weren't you?"

"No...I didn't...I was but I had my doubts Yusef was alive."

"And that makes everything alright? You betrayed your job, your country, and James Bond!"

"He never could love me anyway...no matter how hard or long I spent devoting myself to him."

"Bond loves you...you conniving bitch!"

"James can hardly be in love with me when he has stronger feelings for...for someone else."

I look into her eyes to see them widen in shock and disbelief as M realizes who I am talking about.

"AS IF! That is hardly an excuse...he is trained to withhold his true self and with you...he was raw after that attack...you saved his life! Which is the only reason I will spare yours when this is all over."

"You know...you bloody well know how he feels about you, and you're not even willing to say it are you?"

"Don't be absurd...these delusions are all in your head."

"So your refusal to acknowledge him...how does that make him a better agent? You just string him along...make him do whatever you want...give him a pat on the head and a cookie for a treat and go back to your husband. Do you think of James when you sleep with him?"

M slaps me across the face. "How dare you! Do not think to know me in anyway you conniving whore!"

"Whore is better than an oedipal, manipulative tease! At least I let myself enjoy him and what he has to offer...you...you will pine away in your loyalty to crown and husband. These antiquated notions will not appease your desire for him any."

"Antiquated notions? You are one to talk. You are a child that knows nothing of love and loyalty...it is all just make believe to you...a princess out of a fairy tale. Your parents did you a disservice filling your head with such nonsense. You truly believe that because of your beauty you should be worshipped...but the reality is that men just take...it is what they do."

"Ladies...ladies please it is a long drive to Venice...some silence after the chaos of this morning would be nice."

"Men take? What about you M...you take your orphans and train them to kill for you. You take as much as these men and you make them love you for the privilege."

"How do I make them love me? Don't be absurd!"

"Mathis...you see it don't you?"

"Vesper don't involve me in this cat fight. I am trying to figure out how to keep the three of us alive and breathing so that James can rescue the lot of us."

"So...so you are playing both sides against the middle are you Mathis? I didn't think your heart was in this abduction."

"I am getting paid but I know also that I trust you and Bond far more than White and Quantum. Do you have a tracer M?"

"Yes...why?"

"If you get them the money...have the tracer in the briefcase."

"It will lead us to members of their organization."

"Yes, the high level bankers, businessmen, politicians."

"You will have to assist me in cutting it out and I need a mobile...I need Q to back up this plan."

To my surprise Mathis gives M a mobile. M types in the keys to connect her to London.

I look at Mathis through the rear view mirror with a questioning look. Mathis just shrugs.

"Q...this M. Mathis, Vesper Lynd and I are on our way to Venice. Listen closely...There is a leak...Mitchell tried to shoot me...part of an organization calling themselves Quantum...Bond is in pursuit...I need this kept between us...I will be at the Hotel Danieli but have back up ready...with a safe house...My tracer will be placed in the case with the money that they are extorting from me for safe passage...Tanner will be in touch if he hasn't already...Get him back to base ASAP with medical attention...do not let him work without being cleared medically first...his well being is more important...Yes...Good you will need to work quietly on this one...if Bond calls...tell him where we will be."

"If Bond calls? You don't think he will be alright?"

M sighs, "Ms. Lynd it is hardly a question of his abilities...I must make plans for any outcome. That is the way it works. My personal feelings about any lack of ability because of his injuries, have no bearing on circumstances beyond my control. 007 will succeed or he will fail. Agents like him work alone and without much back up all the time and that is why they are my best."

"You are incredibly cold."

"And you are incredibly naive."

"I have lived long enough, and seen enough, to know a cold hearted bitch when I see one."

"Good for you then. A+ for your astute observational skills. I get the necessary shit accomplished so you have the freedom to call me that."

"Part of what you get done, kills people."

The look she gives me sends shivers up my spine.

"Yes it does."

"Vesper dear...could you please…" Mathis obviously does not want us to come to blows in the back seat while he is driving.

I am so mad at her, that I do want to punch that superior smug look off her face. M reminds me of every evil headmistress or teacher I ever had growing up.

I cannot resist tossing one more dagger her way. "I pity your husband and god forbid you have any children."

Surprisingly M begins to laugh. It shocks me to see her begin to chuckle as she looks out the window to watch the countryside. She reminds me of the Wicked Witch of the West when she laughs.

"Your scathing indictment into my parenting abilities aside Vesper, what were your plans for my agent? How long were you going to string him along before making off with as much money as you were able, and right into the arms of your other love. Or are you actually capable of that much emotional empathy that you love the other one at all? Love one...sleep with another...betray the government...betray your boss. A man who attested to your competence only to be duped by your charms. If this were not so bloody messy I would have considered you for a position, but you have no forethought beyond your own immediate desires."

"M do you have any thought towards the mess you create with your killer agents who inexplicably fall in love with you? Because, they are so damn damaged that they need you to fill the empty places left behind by their dead parents."

"They do not fall in love with me!"

"Lying bitch! You know he loves you! You talk of me stringing him along...what about you?"

"I am his boss. Nothing more and nothing less."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

"His duty to me is defined by my duty to Queen and country. If I do not flounder then nor should any of my agents. If I was lackadaisical and willing to throw everything away for a million pounds and a tumble beneath the sheet then they would too. I am the example...I lead by it and just because you don't understand it does not make it untrue."

"So do you want him? Will you make James go to the ends of the earth for you...to win your acceptance...your love?"

"I crave neither from him and he should crave nothing from me beyond the desire to serve Queen and country."

"What Queen? You or Elizabeth the second?"

"Vesper...I tire of trying to make you understand loyalty...it is beyond your comprehension it seems."

"I just can't understand how a woman like you can sit in your office...move men around the globe...often to their deaths and when one tells you in every conceivable way that he loves you...you dismiss him."

"What are you talking about?"

"Last night...he pulled you into an embrace and whispered something to you...he told you he loved you didn't he?"

M actually looks shocked. I can tell that Mathis is absorbing every piece of this information and storing it for future use.

"The look of panic on your face as you ran into the house, was telling M. Is this one getting a little too close for comfort? Has it happened before? Another agent...perhaps you were younger...sexier then...I can picture you with strawberry blonde hair."

"Ms. Lynd...instead of grilling me for personal information you should take what guile you have left and figure out how you are going to live the next 24 hours. That is what I have been doing...regardless of your attempts to goad me into a fight over a man...or should I say one of your men. I will be the scapegoat if you need me to fill that role. Tell him that I am the reason that you cannot be with James...and break his heart. Just make it quick and as painless as possible. If I survive this mess I will pick up that pieces that I am able...to fix him."

"Ah but M...did I ever really have his heart? After all, don't you cut them out of your agents. Perhaps you keep all their hearts in a cabinet as a reward for their loyalty. If they survive the missions you send them on...on their return can you give them back their hearts?"

"So I am M the keeper of hearts? Fine, if this is the villainous role that you need me to play to justify your hatred of me and your betrayal of a good man. I will live up to it. I will keep Britain safe...broken damaged hearts and all."

To be continued...