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There were worse places to be stuck staking out a possible bomb maker than Corfu. Playing a tourist in Hawaiian shirts, sipping martinis and swimming in the ocean, catching the eye of beautiful women while discreetly tailing Lukas Östergaard, owner of the luxury yacht, “The Claw”, and a supplier of explosives to various cartels, it took James Bond a week to finally find a way in. Östergaard had a daughter, Elin, and apparently she was none too happy with her fathers restrictive attitude when it came to wanting to enjoy the beautiful island she was shored up against.
He had seen her on the yacht, a young woman with long blonde hair, staring out towards the land as other holiday makers turned their eyes towards the ocean. He watched as she waited until she was alone, and dove into the crystal clear water, swimming her way to shore. He followed as she made to disappear into the crowd of families enjoying the sand and sun, and saw his chance as she caught sight of one of her father’s men and started trying to duck out of sight.
“Ex-boyfriend?” he asked, stepping up next to her and looking pointedly in the direction of the man she was trying to evade.
“Something like that.”
“Here,” he handed her his hat and sunglasses. “Maybe not your style, but it’ll make it harder to notice you.”
She looked up at him with startled hazel eyes for a moment before taking them and putting them on. “Thank you.” She glanced back at the man, then to James again, a contemplative look on her face. “I am not normally asking strangers like this, but would you walk with me for a bit?”
“We can walk into the town, if you’d like. There are some cafes, lots of people, so you don’t need to worry.”
She smiled. “That would be nice, Mr.”
“James.”
“Well, Mr. James. I am Elin.”
***
They found a café and James offered to pay for lunch and a drink, which Elin gratefully accepted. “I have no money,” she had said sullenly, and James imagined it was unlikely Östergaard gave her money as it seemed he had no intention of letting her on land, at least not alone.
For the time, Elin seemed content to have company, and was surprisingly unsuspicious of him. So he decided to ask.
“Is that your yacht, then?”
Maybe that was a mistake, as she stiffened and straightened, fixing him with a wary gaze.
“It’s just, I saw you on it, you swam to the beach. I was curious.”
“Are you watching me?”
“No. I had no intention of speaking to you until I saw you trying to hide. I thought you might be in trouble.”
She bit her lip nervously, but seemed to relax a bit. “That is my fathers boat.”
“And that man.”
“One of his men.”
James nodded, and leaned in a bit, lowering his voice. “Do you need help?”
She looked at him for a moment, seeming to think her answer through carefully. “I appreciate that you want to help. But there is really nothing for you to worry about.”
“I know people.” She tensed again. “I don’t want to frighten you. But if you’re in trouble, it’s not just me. I know people that can ensure your safety.”
She stood suddenly. “I must thank you James for your company, but I should not worry my father any longer.”
He hastily followed her, holding a hand up, not quite touching her. “Elin. Please. I know Lukas, I know what he does.”
She backed away. “Who are you?”
“I’m someone that wants to stop anymore people getting hurt.” He took a breath and lowered his hand. “And I think you want that too.”
***
It was gamble, but he had quickly got the impression that she wasn’t happy with her situation, and maybe the offer of safety, of a way out, would be enough for her not to say anything about him to Östergaard, for long enough for James to convince her to help.
He was stood on the veranda of the villa he was staying at when he heard movement behind him.
“You know, I’m not like my father.”
“If you say so.”
“I know he’s not a good person. I don’t condone the things he does, but what can I do about it?”
He turned to her.
“If you really wanted, there are things you can do.”
She looked at him sadly. “You don’t know what he is capable of.”
“You’re afraid of him.”
“And the people he knows.” She moved closer to him, raising her hands to rest on his chest. “Should I be afraid of you?”
He leaned in, lips brushing hers as he whispered, “I can keep you safe.”
“I have been told that before.”
“I know people too,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist. “They can take you somewhere safe, give you a new identity. Leave all this behind.”
“But he is my father.”
“We don’t get to choose our parents.”
“Take me away from this.” She closed the distance, pressing their lips together, and she kissed him with a desperation, a pleading.
They stumbled over to the bed, leaving a trail of clothing along the way. Her soft curves turned to lean lines, and when she lay back on the bed, and he climbed on top he found himself looking into a different face, green eyes looking up at him, a shock of dark hair that he reached to run his hands through.
“Q?” he murmured, pushing back a creeping confusion at the back of his mind.
“James,” the distinct British accent sent a shiver through him as dropped his head to start kissing at the man’s neck. He felt the dance of clever fingers on his back, and groaned, tugging on the hair, running the other down Q’s chest, followed by tongue and the nipping of teeth. He leaned back up to recapture eager lips, pressing their bodies together with giddy excitement as he drew soft gasps and moans from the smaller man.
“Bond.”
He felt heat pooling in his groin, Q’s nails dragging lines down his back, driving him into pulsing, frantic need, kissing, claiming. “Q,” he moaned, reaching a hand down between their bodies.
“Bond!”
“Fuck…”
“BOND!!”
“What?” James jerked awake, eyes quickly surveying the room. It was empty, and he grabbed his gun, getting up to check the rest of the villa.
“Bond are you there?”
“Q.” James elongated the letter, finishing his survey and brushing a finger to his ear, finding the earpiece.
“I’ve been trying to get your attention for a while.”
“I was asleep.”
“Oh. Sorry. I hope I didn’t interrupt a good dream.” Q sounded amused.
James paused, and shook his head, closing his eyes for a moment. “Q…”
“Yes?”
“Yeah, the thing is Q. When I’m having a good dream, and you start talking to me in the middle of it, you end up getting a starring role.”
There is silence on the other end.
“Q?”
He can hear Q clear his throat and then, “So, have you found a way to get on The Claw. It would be helpful if you could acquire Östergaard’s laptop.”
“I may have met someone that could help with that. I need a little time to see if she’ll agree, though.”
“That would be the daughter?”
“Elin. I get the feeling she feels trapped in a life she has no say in.”
“And you believe she will turn on her father?”
“With a little convincing. If she agrees…”
“I can set her up with new documents and identification.”
“Thank you, Q.”
“If you could update me as soon as you have an answer, I’d appreciate it.”
“Hm…” James let amusement colour his voice. “And how appreciative would you be?”
“Not that appreciative.”
“Shame.”
“Good night, 007.”
He heard the line disconnect, and picked up the binoculars, making his way out through the veranda and further down to the coast line. He could see the yacht from here, could count the people who appeared on the deck, could start forming a plan to get onboard. Hopefully with Elin's help, but if not he would try and keep her out the way. Hopefully she would not be another casualty, and she could get another chance at life.