RECAP
....Quinn took a long pull from his cigarette. He was a small man, five feet five, from Londonderry, with closely cropped fair hair and bright green eyes that were hard, touched with a very dangerous and cruel streak.
‘For a man with your experience Bond?’ he said finally, blowing out a cool stream of smoke. ‘I find that bleedin’ hard to swallow.’
‘What are you getting at?’
‘Well, me old son, let’s just find out when dear Jane gets here shall we? I’d love to know what you two are actually up to you see, apart from sharing that double bed in there and acting like two love birds on heat.’
Bond said nothing to that.
‘Now get down on yer knees with yer hands behind the head.’
Bond did nothing, just stood there calmly.
‘Now!’ Quinn shouted and the madness showed in his face. ‘Or I shoot the bitch as soon as she opens up that feckin’ door!’
A few more moments of stoic defiance, then Bond did as he was told – thinking of Penny more than anything now.
‘So, Quinn, how did you find me?’ he asked.
‘Let’s just say, in this day and age anything is possible thanks to satellite and computers, James, you know that. It’s a new world and old dogs like you are past you’re best before date. Is all we had to do is log on to one of our EU Satellites and trace yer steps. We followed you after you left that farmhouse back in Sardegna. Amazing what modern technology can do in the world of espionage. Not like the old days, eh?’
It was then that Moneypenny reached the door, produced her key and opened up which is when she received the shock of her life.
‘Moneypenny darlin’,’ Quinn said quickly, enjoying every moment of it. ‘Come in, come in. Speak of the devil.’
She looked down at Bond and was white as a sheet.
‘Come on, move that sexy ass of yours girl and close the door behind you please.’
Penny did as she was told.
‘Hello Quinn.’ She said. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Just about to do what I was ordered to do, dear.’ he told her. ‘Double O Seven here is a wanted man, as you know very well, and I’ve been ordered to put a bullet between those eyes of his. But before I do, I’d really like to know what the hell both of you are up to here. Weren’t you supposed to be taking care of yer sick aunt or somethin’?’
Moneypenny tried hard to look as calm as possible considering the situation – however she was certainly not used to having a gun pointed threateningly at her.
‘First and foremost Lieutenant Quinn, put that bloody gun away now. I certainly do not have to remind you that as far as you’re concerned I am a senior officer within the Intelligence Service and your direct superior. As for your question as to what I’m supposed to be doing, that is absolutely none of your business. Now then, Commander Bond has agreed to come in for questioning on the sole condition that I’m the one who brings him in. That’s what I’m doing here. He called me yesterday from Sardegna and we agreed I’d fly out and talk things over.’
‘Why Malta?’
‘He knew you lot were onto him of course. He needed to get out of there fast and this is where he chose.’
‘And you informed who exactly about all this?’ Quinn asked and he still had that devil of a smile on his face, which obviously meant that he wasn’t swallowing Penny’s story one bit.
‘Bill Tanner. He sanctioned my involvement considering James contacted me.’
Quinn burst out laughing.
‘Bloody hell Moneypenny,’ he said. ‘Now that’s what I call an act worthy of an Oscar and no less. Brava indeed.’
Moneypenny stood her ground, looking Quinn straight in the eye. Very impressive, Bond thought, the girl was good. But knowing Quinn he wasn’t buying it.
Penny sighed and told him,
‘Look Quinn, I’m ordering you to put that blasted gun away and get on the phone to Tanner. Call him and confirm what I just told you.’
She made to move across the room and Quinn calmly fired once, just above her head, hitting the wall behind her. Shocked, Moneypenny froze on the spot.
‘Don’t move another inch or I’ll put the next one between those lovely eyes of yours instead of his.’
‘Quinn, let her go.’ Bond shouted. ‘You’ve got what you came for.’
‘No deals Double O Seven,’ he said seriously. ‘No deals, pal. You of all people should know that in this game. I wish I could but I can’t. After I kill you, old man, I’m going to have to pump this bitch for some straight answers. Something’s going on here and I have no idea what the hell it is. Anyway, I know I’m not going to get anything out of you – ex-SAS and all that. Nah, men like you don’t talk under torture. The girly here on the other hand, well she’s another thing completely. She’ll talk, after I’ve had her ass mind. So, to conclude, Jimmy boy, as much as I’ve enjoyed our conversation and company here, I’m afraid yer time in this world is finally up. Time to pay the devil his humble due.’
William Quinn raised his gun and pointed it at Bond, his eyes dark and evil, a cold brutal smile on his lips.
‘I sincerely hope you get to heaven half an hour before the devil knows yer dead fella.’
Bond’s own eyes widened and he held his breath as Quinn finally squeezed the trigger…
COO7MING SOO7N
PART 3