Disclaimer: I do not, under any circumstances once so ever, own James Bond, or 007, or MI6, etc… Oh, and please, please, review!
Note: I made a few changes to this chapter (12/30/06)
Chapter Two
Theories
Bond approached the Aston Martin carefully; the top was down even in this mild weather. The girl had the silver car in park and she was too busy reading a large paperback novel to notice Bond approaching. She was a nice looking girl; she had dark brown hair that was longer then Anastasia's, it hung loosely down past her shoulders. In the mirror, Bond could see her eyes were a clear blue, and her face was dotted with a few freckles.
She was wearing a denim jacket which was buttoned to the top and a pair of jeans. Bond spotted her eye flicker towards the window, and then go straight back to the book. But bond was sure she had seen him. Bond stepped closer to the car, and as he did so the girl spoke for the first time.
"Hello there sir, are you new to Florida? Have you noticed anything in the sky today?"
Bond stared at the girl, "Why yes, I have actually. I've noticed that birds are awfully chatty today."
The girl smiled and placed her book on her lap, instantly recognizing the code, "Well that's good, your average tourist would not have noticed that. Do you need a lift?"
The girl turned towards him and her lips formed a thin smiled. From the front angle Bond could tell that she was quite attractive, her eyes were small and cute and her body was thin and small, she was a little bit shorter then the average woman.
Bond nodded, "Yes I do actually thank you." Bond walked to the back of the car and the CIA agent popped open the trunk. Bond placed his bag inside neatly. Then he approached the drivers seat, Bond opened the door and gestured for the girl to get out.
The girl seemed astounded, "What ever are you implying? That you should drive? Heavens no Mr. Bond, this is my turf, and Mr. Bond you have quite the reputation as a hazardous driver, and quite the reputation period."
Bond snickered, "Listen girl this car was sent for me, and for me to drive," Bond was growing angry, no one stood in the way of him and his car.
The girl smiled and closed the girl defiantly, she instantly locked it and smirked, "Mr. Bond, I'll let you drive as soon as you earn it," the girl was enjoying teasing Bond.
Bond growled, "Fine, but let me warn you, never toy with a man and his car again Ms…"
"Alexa, Alexa Hannis," the girl replied as Bond got into the passenger seat.
"Ok Ms. Hannis, I'll let you drive for now, but the car will stay with me at the hotel."
Alexa smiled as she started the ignition, "You mean us, while in America Mr. Bond I will not leave your sight."
Bond muttered and Alexa smiled, and sped off. She took the highway a few exits in silence and then took the streets, winding through Florida.
She finally spoke after five minutes of driving, "Why were you so surprised to see me?"
Bond spoke carefully and truthfully, "Well you see, I was informed it was going to be a man assisting me on this case."
The girl snickered, "Oh I see, you think I'm not good enough, because I'm not a man."
Bond groaned he had wanted to avoid this since he saw the girl sitting outside of the airport; "No, I was just surprised," Alexa snickered but was silent.
It was then that Bond heard the sudden roar of the engine; the argument had caused Bond to not notice a black Sedan following them for the past few miles.
Alexa noticed them too and spend up violently, moving past eighty. The car behind did as well, as both cars wound around the deserted road.
As Alexa sped up to one hundred miles per hour two gunmen poked their heads out of the backseat. They began firing machine guns, Alexa frantically tried to dodge them as the bumper flew off.
Bond groaned, really wishing he was driving. Bond pushed up the panel between him and Alex and hit the switch which raised a bullet proof pane of glass, protecting Bond and Alexa. As the bullets were repelled and Alex drove wildly down the road Bond activated the spikes, a trail of spikes were suddenly unleashed form the back of the car.
The black Sedan spotted the spikes too late, and began to swerve out of the way right as the first tire exploded. In an instant all four tires were blown and the car was soaring through the air, it landed on the dirt lining the road and exploded into a massive fire ball.
Alexa stomped on the breaks and Bond almost lost his breakfast as the car lurched to a stop.
Both agents looked back as the car was completely consumed by the fire, Bond smiled, "Wow, I never knew Miami was this hot."
Alexa looked sternly at Bond, "You drive," was all she could mutter, and she ran to the side of the road to vomit.
They entered the city of Miami fifteen minutes later; they pulled up to their hotel The Grand Ocean, a twenty five story high hotel and resort. With a beach and pool in the back, it was the best hotel in Miami and it was still busy, even in winter.
The valet took the car and Bond and Alexa entered the hotel, Alexa approached the font desk and spoke clearly, "We have a reservation, Mr. and Mrs. Belington."
The receptionist nodded and handed them two keys, "Room 2500, top floor penthouse suite."
Bond nodded, "Thank you." The bellboy took their bags up with Bond and Alexa, and the entered the penthouse suite. It had two dining rooms, a kitchen, three living rooms, three bathrooms, and two bedrooms equipped with a king size bed each.
Alexa squealed with delight and instantly unpacked. Bond examined every room for intruder and possible hiding spot before he settled into his room, next to Alexa's.
Bond took a cold shower, and was out by three-fifteen. A few minutes later Alexa returned from a bath in the other bathroom, and came into Bond's room.
"We having a meeting with the Don Shelder in forty-five minutes Sea Speed Headquarters is about a ten minute drive from here, so we'll leave at a quarter to, casual wear.
Bond nodded; he went through his closet and picked out a breezy shirt with palm trees on it, the perfect Miami tourist. He put on a pair of khaki shorts and a straw hat, ready for his evening with Don. Bond then went around his room, placing little booby traps, like little hairs on the doorway, around his room and the rest of the suite.
Alexa came out wearing caprices and a pink blouse. Bond added a grey sweatshirt to his ensemble.
They left promptly at a quarter to, retrieving the car form the parking garage and making their way through the cool Miami night air.
Sea Speed Headquarters was a large grey building, much taller then the Grand Ocean Hotel. It reminded Bond of Osato Headquarters in Japan. They parked their car outside and entered the building; it was quiet in there, only two guards stood in the yellow lobby.
Behind the guard was a large picture of the Queen herself, Sea Speeds' claim to fame.
"Hello there, I'm Mr. Bond and this is Ms. Hannis we here to see Don Shelder."
The guards stared suspiciously at the pair, but upon checking their records they waved Bond and Alexis through and into the elevator, the only words they muttered was "Forty-fifth floor."
Bond and Alexa entered the elevator, it was surrounded by wood paneling, and the plastic buttons ran all the way up to fifty.
As the elevator approached the tenth floor Bond choose to engage in conversation with his partner. "So Alexa, what are the CIA's suspicions on this case?"
Alex turned and spoke seriously, "We, and I, believe, for now, that the plans were simply stolen while at the engineer's home. It would not have been hard to figure out when the sub was leaving for England, and then the enemies sabotaged the radar and communications on board, took the nuclear missiles, and are probably planning to auction the ship off, while using the missiles for their own needs."
Bond considered her ideas thoughtfully, as they approached the twenty-second floor Bond replied. "Very interesting, but what I'm more concerned about is when and where the nuclear missiles will be used. Five nuclear missiles can cause a hell of damage and I feel that the sub is of no importance, and like you said, might be auctioned off, or just destroyed."
Alexa nodded, "It is possible Mr. Bond," the elevator came to an abrupt halt and the doors sprang open silently.
A tall Chinese man wearing a black suit stood outside the elevator doors. He had a thin mustache; he was about six foot tall and smiled as the two secret agents stepped forward.
"Welcome to Sea Speed Headquarters Mr. Bond and Ms. Hannis, I am Taky, Mr. Shelder's personal assistant; Mr. Shelder will receive you now, if you will kindly follow me."
The walls of the head quarters were made of seamless wood panels, smooth and clean. The occasional picture hung on the wall; all of them were of different submarines that Sea Speed had created over the years.
They were lead to the other side of the building, and stopped at a black metallic door. Taky pressed his hand against a small black button to the right of the door. The door smoothly slid to the side, and Taky gestured for them to enter.
Bond and Alexa stepped into a large room covered on all sides with wood. A large, black, desk stood off to the right, it was covered in papers and phones were ringing frantically. A neat bookshelf rested behind it.
Then, too the right was a mini bar and small kitchen, and in the center of the office was a seating area, equipped with a couch, three arm chairs, and a small coffee table in the center.
Don Shelder, the owner of Sea Speed, sat comfortably on the plush couch, a glass of vodka in his hand.
Don Shelder was a slender man, of average height. He looked to be in his late forties, he had a brown beard and mustache, his eyes were kind and blue, and he was wearing a brown suit. Don smiled when he saw his guest they smiled back.
"Mr. Shelder, it's so very nice to meet you," Bond said, and Alexa agreed.
The two agents sat in two of the armchairs facing the owner of Sea Speed.
"Welcome to America Mr. Bond, and welcome to Florida Ms. Hannis. Now I'm dying to know what your theories are concerning the missing sub."
Bond spoke first, then Alexa, each one retelling what they had said on the way up here. Don sat silently, nodding as they concluded.
"Very interesting, the only problem is, the communications were almost impossible to jam. It was the most high tech system in the world, nothing could jam it!"
Suddenly though, they were interrupted, as Taky stepped onto the room holding a black telephone.
"Mr. Shelder, I am so sorry to disturb you, but you wanted me to notify you when we have received any more information…"
Mr. Shelder jumped up and snatched the telephone from his assistant.
"Hello, this is Shelder speaking." Shelder paused before continuing, "Oh hello Mr. M sir…yes he's here now…ahuh…o really?"
There was a long pause, and Don looked gravely at the floor, "Alright, thank you, I'll tell them immediately."
Mr. Shelder hung up the phone and handed it roughly back to Taky.
"God damn it," Don cursed as he sat back down. "Your scuba team Bond, has been searching for the past seven hours, at the last spot the Queen was known to be in, and not a trace of her is left. They are now beginning to search the outlying areas for any trace of that beautiful sub."
This didn't seem to phase Alexa, "Of course there would be no trace of it, the ship has been stolen. I say we go undercover on the black market, to detect if it is being sold on the black market."
All three members of the meeting sat in silent and then Bond spoke. "That is one possibility Alexa, but we still need to figure out how it disappeared in the first place. Mr. Shelder, is it possible that it was an inside job?"
Don Shelder leaned back and placed his hands on his laps, "I wouldn't think so Mr. Bond, the few people who could control the communications and radar were trusted people."
But Bond wasn't willing to give up that easily, "But could it have been a fake, a man posing as a member of the crew, someone who knew how to control the radar system, after seeing the plans when they went missing in September?"
Don pondered this even further, and Alexa stopped to think it over. After a long period of silence Don shook his head, "I don't think so Mr. Bond. We did a thorough personal check before the sub left the harbor and we inspected it thoroughly for stowaways. There wasn't a single slow in pace throughout the journey, well at least not one that was recorded by the tracker," Don added.
Alexa spoke up again, asking Mr. Shelder a question. "What would happen, if the sub was attacked?"
Shelder needed no time to think of the answer, "If the hull was so much as scratched by a piece of rock, a distress signal would be sent out to headquarters, and nothing was sent out until the sub disappeared completely."
Alexa quickly retaliated, "It seems then, that there was either a flaw in the tracking system, or the ship was completely destroyed, which is highly unlikely, but so is a flaw in the radar system. But those are the only two possible options, if you are so sure it is not an inside job or that the radar, tracking, and communicating system could not be jammed."
Shelder nodded as did Bond, "Well I think that's just about as much information as we are going to learn this evening, thank you for your time Mr. Shelder, just two things before we concluded our business here. May we investigate the harbor and tracking station through which the sub was launched? And, we would like to set up an interview with your ex-engineer."
"I have already set up for an interview with Arnold, be here at noon tomorrow, I'll accompany you, the man lives about a half an hour drive from here. As for the harbor station if we have time tomorrow or the day after that I will bring you there. Thank you two again for trying to discover what happened to the Queen, she really was beautiful."
With that the three shook hands one final time, and Bond and Alexa left the office and entered the elevator.
They descended to the ground silently; all that was needed to be said about the mission had been said on the forty-fifth floor, now it was time for a little fun.
Bond turned to Alexa, "How about a night on the town huh, Mrs. Belington."
Alexa smiled, "I would love that, but then dinner and straight to bed, no funny stuff on a mission," she added. "Like I said earlier today, you have quite the reputation."
Bond snickered, "But you seem to have grown more accustom to me since then, and more trusting, since your horrible attempt to escape those gunman…"
Alexa laughed and punched Bond's arm playfully. As they approached the ground floor Bond moved closer to her, but she held up her hand, "What, do you think I changed my mind about fooling around in five second Mr. Bond?"
The doors flew open and Alexa stepped out, "Trust me Mr. Bond, it will take a whole lot more to seduce me."
And from that point on, Bond felt extremely drawn to this woman; she was smart, good looking, self confident, Bond knew, it would be a blast to work with her.