condensed master

Will Bonner
his face now passive. He was rapidly composing himself but non committal.
"Where do we go from here?"
Will positioned a chair on the opposite side of the desk facing Ed, and sat
down. "I need to get one or two things straightened out with you."
Ed nodded and relaxed back into his swivel chair. "Carry on."
"With the experience I've had over the last few years concerning the
organization, I know that wherever I decide to live they will always find me, if I
can be of use to them. I intend to live here in Melbourne and have no intention of
moving, consequently, I'm stuck with you and whoever your associates are." Ed's
face remained expressionless.
"I want three things from you. My family must be completely left alone, no
contact whatsoever with them. No more tricks to get something out of me. If you
want something done you have to give me at least as much information as you
would give to your agents, so that I can assess the risks. Finally, I want all the
information you have about me kept from the others. As far as they are concerned,
I'm helping you out technically, on the odd occasion. I'll never be one of your
agents, so I'll always have the privilege of resisting something that I feel might
backfire on me, or is out of the scope of my ability. To reinforce what I said in the
restaurant in Spring Street. You have to accept the fact that there will be things
that I simply cannot do, and I don't want you pressurizing me to get involved in
unnecessary risks."
Will stopped talking to await some response. Ed's mind was probably working
overtime, and the silence continued. Eventually Ed leaned forward in his chair.
"You realize I don't have to consider anything you are asking?" Will could feel his
temper rising after hearing Ed's negative comment.
"You can please yourself, but I'll resist you all the way, and make your life a
misery!"
Ed smiled. "I didn't say I wouldn't, I said I didn't have to. I see no reason why
we can't accommodate what you have asked for, but what do we get in return?"
"As you just said a moment ago, I don't have to give anything either, but I will.
You'll only get resistance from me if the nature of the work warrants it and
obviously, if things could directly affect my family."
An agreement had been reached and the two men shook hands across the
desk, Will got up to leave. What he had come for had been achieved, but Ed
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