Raymond Benson - Doubleshot

“Very well.”

“I may have evidence that Domingo Espada is linked to the Union.”

That got her attention. “Go on.”

“I disobeyed your orders, ma’am; I freely admit that,” he said. It was one of the most difficult things he had ever confessed in his life. “But I had to go after the Union. If not for Britain, then I had to do it for myself. I swear to you that I’m not responsible for Dr. Feare’s murder, or the terrorist attack on the ferry. I identified and traced Helena Marksbury’s recruiter and killer to Casablanca and almost got into the Union’s main headquarters. The CIA here was on to them, too. The Union must have suspected discovery, so they left. Vanished.”

“What’s this about Espada?”

“The man I followed here had a map on his person with the location of Espada’s home marked on it. He also had a ticket to a political rally and bullfight at which Espada is speaking.”

“When is that?”

“The day after tomorrow.”

“Interesting,” M said. “The summit meeting in Gibraltar has been scheduled for the day after that.”

“Who’s going to this summit meeting?” Bond asked.

“The PM. Spain’s PM. Espada …” Tanner answered.

“Ma’am, all this is connected somehow,” Bond said. “I’m sure of it.”

“But you have nothing, Double-O Seven. What does a ticket tell you? Perhaps this man simply likes bullfighting.”

“ Liked, ma’am,” Bond said. “He’s, uhm, no longer with us.”

“I see.”

“Why would he have a road map to Espada’s house? This man was Union! It either means that the Union is involved somehow with Espada, or that they are interested in him for some reason. Maybe someone has paid the Union to kill him! I think I should try to meet Domingo Espada before the summit meeting and see what I can determine.” He then presented M the same argument that he had given the twins—that he believed he was a cog in the Union’s plan. If he were taken out of it, something awful might happen.

“Agent Taunt … and I … would like your permission to pursue this,” he said.

M was silent. After a moment, she said, “Hold the line, Double-O Seven.”

Bond heard a click. She was conferring with Tanner, and probably the Minister of Defence.

She was back in three minutes. “Double-O Seven.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ve just spoken to my opposite number in the CIA. I should probably have cleared this with the PM, but I’m not going to. You are to stay in Agent Taunt’s company at all times. You are under house arrest, although you’ll be mobile. You are not to attempt to escape, do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You can go to Spain. I realize that you’re interested in this because you think it will bring you closer to the Union. Be that as it may, I think you might be on to something with regard to Espada. Providing you can get close to the man, you are to gather any information that you can that might link him to something as reprehensible as the Union. He’s already a controversial figure in Spain, but I think that would all but destroy the people’s confidence in him. It would give us more bargaining power. At the same time, we wouldn’t want any harm to come to him before the meeting in Gibraltar. It’s the most important thing on the government’s plate right now. We can’t have it jeopardized, but we can certainly have it slanted in our favor. Do we understand each other, Double-O Seven?”

“Clearly, ma’am.”

“Very well.”

“One more thing. One of the Union recruiters I tracked to Morocco—Michael Clayton—has a cousin in London who is connected to the Union. You might want to investigate that.”

“Noted. Now let me talk with Agent Taunt. Good luck.”

Bond thanked her and held the phone up for one of the twins to take. Hedy grabbed it and listened, occasionally replying, “Yes, ma’am.” Then she said, “I’ll call him right now. Thank you.”

She rang off and said, “I have to call my chief in the States.” She received the same instructions, and then she hung up and looked at Bond.

“Well. Looks like we’ll be spending more time together after all. Heidi, I think we should use the yacht to get up to Spain, what do you think?”

Heidi nodded. “That’s the safest. We can’t risk bringing him through Immigration anywhere.”

Hedy explained. “The Company has a boat in a hidden marina on the coast not far from Tangier. We can use it, but we’ll have to drive to Tangier.”

“Let’s go, then,” Bond said, standing.

“Oh boy!” Heidi cried, jumping up. “This is going to be fun!”

“Just watch it, pal,” Hedy told Bond. She patted the Browning 9mm at her side. “I’m pretty good with this. And we also carry extrastrength, high-powered OC pepper spray that will stun an elephant. So don’t try anything that would be considered conduct unbecoming of a gentleman.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Bond replied.

“Now go shower and get dressed,” Hedy ordered.

“Wow,” Heidi said. “I just thought of something.”

“What?” Hedy asked.

“That for the next couple of days we get to baby-sit a British Double-O agent who’s suspected of being a terrorist!”

“So?”

“It doesn’t get much cooler than that!”

SEVENTEEN

MOUNTING EVIDENCE

MARGARETA PIEL TOOK A SIP OF WHITE WINE, AND THEN STRETCHED LAZILY, providing the men on the dock a spectacular view of a superbly built, beautiful woman in a skimpy bikini.

“You have an audience,” Espada said, lighting a Havana cigar. He, too, was wearing swimming attire. Agustin was asleep on a recliner behind them, dressed in bathing shorts and a T-shirt.

“I always have an audience.” Margareta sighed. “They just won’t leave me alone.”

They were on the deck of Espada’s yacht at Puerto Banús, the chic Marbella harbor where the rich and famous liked to be seen. He owned an American-made 70-foot Cheoy Lee MY, a high-tech luxury boat with extensive extras. Like many of the other boats in the harbor, it was registered in the tax-free paradise of the Cayman Islands. Espada had rarely used the yacht for sailing. Mostly, he simply liked to lounge about on the deck half-naked with half-naked females waiting on him. It was the one public place where he didn’t mind being a bit of an exhibitionist, and that was simply because he liked to show the other millionaires that docked at Puerto Banús who was on top. The area had become quite fashionable with Marbella’s rise in tourism. Consisting of long stretches of beach clubs, shops, restaurants, and bars, the harbor was always alive with people. Even now, at noon, a group of male tourists were standing at a bar on the other side of the dock, gawking at Margareta. By nightfall, Puerto Banús would be packed.

“Roberto Rojo’s death is causing quite a stir,” Margareta said casually. “Have you seen this morning’s paper?”

“No.”

“At least three prominent matadors have announced defection, claiming that you are mad.”

“Who are they?” Espada demanded.

She told him. Espada threw his drink at the edge of the dock, shattering the glass.

“They will turn public opinion against you,” she said. “You can’t afford that right now.”

“Would you shut up?” he snarled. “Who made you my spiritual adviser?”

Margareta laughed. “Oh relax, Domingo. I’m teasing you. We all know you’re unstoppable.”

“I will have those three taken care of,” he said. “Tomorrow night’s corrida in Málaga will solidify my position with the matadors. When the people see me in the ring with men like Javier Rojo, they will follow me to Gibraltar.”