Chapter 16

"Come on!" I grabbed James's hand and pulled him outside. We'd got so
many weird looks from people as we walked through the library,
seemingly just appearing from nowhere at 3 in the afternoon. We sped
outside of the library and the rain was plummeting down. That's
British weather for you.
I shrieked as the water hit my head hard and trickled down my
shoulders. James laughed at my reaction and pulled me to him by my
waist, kissing me. So we were just standing there, whenever a
doubledecker bus (those famous red London buses? Yeah those) drove
past, it drove through a puddle at the side of the street and sent
water flying straight up, straight towards me and James. We broke
apart, James facepalmed, I jumped up and down as the water seeped into
my shoes, it soaked through my shirt and my hair was dripping.
Now, you know what happens whenever your white shirt gets wet? It
decides to become see through. I saw James's eyes widen and he took
off his jacket quickly and handed it to me. This meant that his shirt
was soon wet from the rain and did the same thing mine did. This was
pretty entertaining.
We eventually reached my car, piling in and turning on the heating. I
was very grateful I was wearing waterproof mascara, especially as I
saw a girl sprint past, black mascara trickling down her cheeks from
her eyes. I cringed on her behalf and turned on the radio.
James looked out of the window but started dancing instantly when a
song came on. I glanced at him, then did a double take.
"Oh baby baby. How was I supposed to know that something wasn't right
here!" James sang.
"What the hell are you doing?!" I said as we pulled up to my house.
"Dancing." He said.
Then, exactly in unison we both sang, "Give me a sign! Hit me baby one
more time!"
"I don't really know what to think about this." I said, laughing.

"Hey, let's go to my place." James said after we'd finally stopped laughing.
"Your place?" I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Why not?" James said, "You haven't seen Nemo in ages."
I shrugged and started the car again, "All right then, your place it is."

James pushed open the door and I walked in, dropping my bag down on
the floor as I usually did.
I always forgot how small his apartment was. Like, really, it was
tiny. His cat, Nemo was curled up on a chair.
James stroked him.
"Manly," I said laughing.
James rolled his eyes, "Cats are totally manly."
I sat down on the tiny sofa and stretched out my legs in front of me
and they reached the wall. I looked up and saw James looking at me. I
held out my hand to him and pulled him down beside me. The sofa was so
small that we were pushed together so I was practically sitting on his
lap. James didn't seem to object much to this though, he pulled me
forward to kiss him and I was just about to when my phone rang.
I pulled a face, "One second."
I stood up and walked over to my bag, pulling out my phone and answering it.
Nick's voice sounded, I sighed to myself. God damn it, I'm busy, I
can't be bothered with work!
Stop judging me, I'm pretty lazy most of the time when I'm not on
missions and stuff. Just because I'm a spy doesn't mean I can't be a
normal lazy girl sometimes, James too. Except he's a man, obviously.

"Amy, I've got some news."

I tucked my hair behind my ear, "Okay, hit me with it." I said wearily.

"Well first of all, y'know that guy who kidnapped you in Istanbul,
Eric Pontifex?"

"Yeah?"

"Well we've been tracking him since you came back from the mission..."
"Obviously."

It was pretty obvious that Eric was being tracked, in case he tried
anything else but they wouldn't bother going after him if he didn't do
anything else and I hadn't heard of anything since the mission, which
was odd I'll admit.

"I thought you should know he's travelled to Texas."

"Right."
I raised an eyebrow, glancing over at James who casually cleaning and
reloading his gun. He always does that whenever he's worried about
something. But only I can tell because he always looks cool, calm and
sharp, I've known him for so long, that's the only reason. I'm not
special, in my opinion. I'm just me. Everything that people say is
special about me seems so weird to me.

"And the other news..." Nick hesitated.
He works in the technology department, with Q and all of those other
people. He comes on missions sometimes as technical support, to
replace our guns and other weapons if they get lost or broken.

"Your mother..." Nick said, bursting in on my thoughts.
I stiffened, a lump rising in my throat.

"W-what about her?" I said quietly, my voice cracking.

"Amy..." Nick said seriously. "She didn't die in a hospital like we
were told, she was murdered. There was no funeral because she is
missing. Last seen ten days ago in Dallas, Texas."

I stood, frozen to the spot.

"I'll be right there." I said, somehow finding my voice and hanging up
the phone.

James looked over at me. I picked up my bag, turning to him.

"I have to go." I said.

"Why?" James stood up, striding over to me.

I took a deep, shaky breath. And told him.