Disclaimer – I own nothing of Ian Fleming

Service and Duty.

Chapter One – The open road.

It was dark on the roads thought light with traffic as the trio drove steadily towards London. Laughter could be heard from the back seat where a boy of twelve sat holding his sides tightly trying to remember to breathe as his dad continued with his story.

"So then Mr Heron covered in cream from the cake spins round in confusion and knocks himself as he banged right into the door!"

All three burst out laughing. The woman had tears rolling down her face. "Poor Mr Heron, he is such a nice man."

"Aww, mum", the boy clucked at, "it's still funny!"

Helena Brown, turned in her front seat to stare at her beautiful growing son and smiled with pride. "Of course it is but it is at the misfortune of another."

"Your mother's right", echoed Dr. Jeffery Brown, glancing back throw the mirror and winked at Peter, "but it's still funny!"

Helena shook her head of brown curls and faced the correct way. "I'm out numbered, we'll have to wait and tell Jane. She'll back me up!"

"No! Aunty Jane will agree with me!" Peter beamed from the back.

A peaceful silence fell over the car as the family continued their journey towards the capital. It was early November morning, still dark as they had left at half past six in the morning to beat the Christmas holiday rush in the shops and dinner with Aunty Jane.

Peter settled back into his seat and watched the scenery of the odd car passing by the window and thought about his maths homework that needed to be finished tomorrow. It would be a whiz and even easier if he could wrangle his dad into helping him to long division.

Crunch!

"What the hell!" yelled Jeffery staring in his rear view mirror to be blinded by bright beam lights. "What is that maniac about?"

Helena glanced over her shoulder. "That driver must be drunk! Why on earth would he bump us…"

The vehicle hit the old family rover again, causing Dr.Brown to grab hold of the wheel tighter to prevent skidding to the embankment. There was only one way he could think of and that was to out run them. Breaking the speed limit, he put his foot down on the accelerater and hoped that they would lose the driver. A dreading feeling filled inside the doctor's stomach. This couldn't be a coincidence. His family was in danger and it was his entire fault!

"Peter put your belt on now!" His mother was in a pain, fear flashed through her blue eyes as she shared a stare with his father. She knew what he was thinking – trouble. It was only last weekend that he finally confided in his wife of his misgiving at work. After a month of bizarre behaviour she has cornered him in the kitchen, one night when he was back from work late and plied him with alcohol. He told her everything and it was a relief for both of them. Together they had pieced a plan of action but it looked like it was too late.

"It's on mum", he called back trying to reassure her and himself. A large car engine revving behind them filled the quietness. He had never seen his parents so pale and worried before in his life. He twisted his head to look at the car – it was a land rover, black and a private licence plate.

"They're catching up with us!" cried Helena.

"I know", growled Jeffery, as he hunched himself further over the wheel, wishing that the car could sprout wings and fly away. His wife's hand rested on his left and squeezed for support. He looked back at her with all the love in his eyes and the guilt.

"I don't blame you", she whispered.

Another hit from behind and this time, they did skid.