In the last episode, following the bomb blast at Hotel Duhau, our key players met together at a restaurant in Monserrat, Buenos Aires, no doubt to sort out any fall-out from the event.
As they chat, Xiomara acting as interpreter, it becomes clear that President Javier Milei is as confused about it as are Bond, Xiomara and the British Foreign Secretary. Milei pulls out his iphone and makes a call.
‘Can you get here now, Diana, I’ve got David Cameron, Bond and Xiomara Smith-Cumming here at Gogy’s. We need your help.’
It seems almost surreal- and you, dear reader, may wonder how the Argentine President, his deputy, a British Foreign Secretary and key members of the British Secret Intelligence Service come to share an asado and three bottles of high-altitude Catena Malbec in a back street café in Buenos Aires.
The fact is that, unlike in the USA or Europe, this is precisely how things are done in South America. Just as they love ubiquitous hugs in the street or the subte, Portenos prefer the informality of the kitchen to the pomp of a palace. A small cheer goes up from a group of workmen in one corner as Boca score for the third time, and Diana Mondino arrives.
When speaking of senior beauty we often imagine those that have artificially staved off from their faces, arms and necks the rigours of age, battling the inevitable onslaught of time. Mondino represents an entirely different presence. Her figure is trim, her face flawless with natural quality. Think: clever lawyer Alejandra Rodriguez, at 60 years the oldest contestant in the 2024 Miss Argentina contest, and you may understand!
Behind her walks Eugenio Pendas, Prince Philip to his Queen Elizabeth. He smiles graciously as he passes to join Cameron’s security contingent, knowing that it is not he that we need to see. Javier rises, an unusual twist by a President for his VP. But his response shows the real value of glamour at any age, and almost certainly her value to his presidency.
Once settled with a Fernet-Branca, Diana Mondino tells us precisely what we need to know. She explains how the impending arrival of MI6 agents was leaked by a junior member of staff at Casa Rosada. She speaks of ‘the dark forces’, by which she means supporters of Argentine presidents past, and their determination to stop the rapprochement between the Argentine and UK governments. She mentions the Malvinas as a Peronista guise to maintain dissent.
Looking directly into my eyes she informs me that she is aware that a bullet from my gun killed the bogus paramedic.
‘Don’t worry, Mr Bond, we have already replaced your FN FNX-45 Tactical with one of ours.’
My hand immediately moves to my shoulder holster, only to remember that on entering Parilla Nuevo Gogy I was asked by Cameron’s security posse to leave my firearm at the door.
At least now we know that our adversary is not the Argentine government. But beyond that, who are the forces of darkness? When may they strike again?
River Plate team score, but too late in the game against Boca Juniors and their efforts meet with but a groan from the workmen. Our group goes silent for a moment. Then Xiomara speaks.
‘I have a plan, but I don’t know whether you will like it,’ she says.
‘Go on anyway,’ Diana presses.
‘My dad, Mansfield - who you all know as Q - used to take me fishing. With the right bait we always caught our supper. I fancy a spot of fishing,’ she continued with a grin.
I looked across at her; Javier stopped chewing; David put down his glass; and it was left to Diana to ask the important question, ‘who have you in mind?’
‘The waitress from Duhau - Giannina. They want her out of the way and we currently control both the hook and the bait,’ she added without a moment of hesitation or a breath of emotion.
Milei looks up. ‘Then it is settled,’ he says. ‘Now pass me some riñón. Espionage always makes me hungry!’
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