condensed master

Will Bonner
"Well! Well! Well! We're going to stoop to threats now, are we? I was
beginning to wonder when you would lower yourself to the level of the others."
Ed's face went blank and Will could not read what his next reaction would be.
Things could get ugly from now on, he thought, and he began to feel sick in the
stomach. If he got up and walked away it would be in the lap of the Gods what
would happen next. He would be completely in the dark. Will had experienced
these awkward moments on occasions in the past, and he knew that it would be
best to go along, without rocking the boat.
Ed looked up again, his face seemed more relaxed this time. "I did promise
that you wouldn't be threatened and when we went on that surveillance you could
have shot through like Gerry and left me to it, but you didn't. I'm thankful for that."
He paused to take a drink. "All I can tell you is that the organization is only in it's
infancy here. I've got plenty of contacts on the outside that I can use, but I have
to get what I want from them without their knowing what I do. If they found out,
it could expose the organization's activities and I wouldn't be able to carry on.
You've already been involved, which makes you different."
Will's instinct was to treat everything that was said with suspicion, but it did
seem odd that Ed didn't have anyone to cover even the simplest electrical task.
Perhaps what he was saying, was the truth. It would be an advantage to know
that the organization here was not yet completely up and running as a network. Ed
was waiting for him to respond.
"I get very uptight if I think my family is threatened, and things can only get
worse for me as the family grows. Just leave them alone and I'll do what I can, but
remember, I won't always be able to satisfy the requirement. I do have limitations,
but to have people around you like Gerry will be your downfall. They are dumb,
can be manipulated, and are inherently dangerous."
"Yes I know, that's why I thought it would be best all-round, if you joined the
group. The organization pays well and you would have more time for your family."
"I'm also aware of the dangerous downside to the job. Remember, I have
already experienced it, and there are other reasons why I will never join."
"What about my recorder?"
"I'll think about it. Where can I get in touch?"
"Here's a number where you can leave a message. The person on the other
end is not part of the organization, so just pass the word along for me to get in
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