Chapter 4

70 1 0
                                    

James was sitting at the bar. His meeting with Dr. Swann had not gone as planned, she refused to help him, and threatened to have him thrown out.

"Vodka martini, shaken not stirred." He said to the barman.

"I'm so sorry sir, we don't serve alcohol." The bartender said.

"I'm really starting to like it here." James said under his breath.

"He'll have the prolytic digestive enzyme shake." Q said, setting his bag down on the bar and sitting next to James.

"If you've come for the car, it's sitting in a parking lot in Rome." James said, not looking at Q.

"Well, not to worry, 007. It was only a three million pound prototype." He said.

"Why are you here, Q?" James said, irritated.

"Oh, I just fancied a break, to be honest. I've been a tad stress at work recently. What with C's people crawling all over us and the fact that M wants my balls for Christmas decorations." Q said, still looking straight ahead.

"Get to the point." James said roughly.

"The point, 007, is that Franz Oberhauser and Vesper Lynd are dead. Dead and buried. As you very well know. And unless you come back with me right now, my career and Moneypenny's will go the same way. Do you understand? All hell is breaking loose out there and-"
"I saw him. I saw Oberhauser." James said, cutting Q off.

"You thought you saw him. We've been through the records. He died in an avalanche with his father twenty years ago. And Lynd drowned in Venice, nine years ago. As you very well know."

"Yes. I know that. But I saw Oberhauser." He said, intentionally not talking about Vesper. "He's not someone I'll ever forget. Neither of them are." James said.

"And Lynd?"

"I just..." He trailed off, trying not to reveal anything.

"Missed her? You are allowed to miss people, Bond. Especially her. The two of you were -" Q started sympathetically.

"She was a lying bitch and got what she deserved." James cut him off, knowing the end of that sentence and feeling the rage he felt bubble up.

"Hmm." He said, not weighing in. "So you have a lead?"

"I have a name, L'American." James said.
Q scoffed and started to gather his things, saying, "Well, that narrows it down. Look, I'm sorry, 007, but time's up. My whole career is on the line here. Either you come back in and do this through proper channels, or go directly to M."

"Do two more things for me. Then you're out. First, look up, 0014. Second, find out what you can from this." He said placing the ring he'd gotten from Sciarra in Q's open palm.

"I really, really hate you right now."

"Thank you, Q." James said with a smile.

"Monsieur? Now, please." The security guard behind him said, approaching James.

"Where are you staying?" James asked Q, so he knew where to tell Vesper to meet him.

"The Pevsner. Room 12." Q said in response.

"One hour."

"Here you are, sir. One prolytic digestive enzyme shake." The barman said, bringing out a sludgy green drink.

"Do me a favor, will you?" James said to the barman. "Throw that down the toilet. Cut out the middleman." He said, whispering the last sentence.

Even Death Can't Keep Us ApartWhere stories live. Discover now