condensed master

The Reluctant Agent
A Compelling Story of Espionage
gesticulated for him to sit down.
"I was going to call at the workshops tomorrow to see you, but we might as
well talk now, if you've got the time."
"I've taken the day off, but I must get back by late afternoon. What do you
want to talk about?"
"You're doing telephone electronics now and I want to use the wire recorder
in conjunction with the telephone."
Will sucked in his breath. "Are you talking about wire tapping?"
"Yes, can you do something for me?"
"Did you know that it's a Federal offence to record from the telephone without
telling the other party first, and you have to inject a signal periodically, to remind
the person on the other end that the recording is still in progress." Ed did an
imaginary yawn, his hand in front of his mouth. Will got the message. "What I'm
trying to tell you is that I won't wire tap. I know we've just come to an agreement,
but this is asking too much."
Ed's face fell. "Is it difficult then to record off the phone lines?"
"No, quite the contrary, it's easy, and that's the problem. If the person at the
other end has any technical ability he can monitor the line and detect when you put
the tap on."
Ed was confused. "Is there anything that can be done?"
"Sure there is, and you could start as early as next week if you want. I can tell
you how to do it and make up the bits and pieces. But you have to do the line
tapping, not me."
Ed's face started to light up at the thought of achieving something. "You said
next week?"
"Yes, for a crude listening device, but next month for a more elaborate
listening, and recording apparatus. But as soon as you're underway I'm off the
hook, okay?" Will got up to leave.
"When will I hear from you?"
"Probably in about a month, that's if you're looking for complex equipment. I'll
phone here and leave a message for you, but I'll never come here again unless
things are desperate. I don't want to get my head blown off."
Will could still hear Ed chuckling as he closed the door behind him and walked
outside into a beautiful sunny Australian day. He had gone there to try and
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