condensed master

The Reluctant Agent
A Compelling Story of Espionage
As Ed's car turned and sped down to Toorak Road. Will's mind was now torn
between all the good things that were happening in their lives, and now this, which
would be hanging over his head like a cloud.
He told Dorothy that he was going to check out somebody's audio amplifier,
which in essence was the truth, that he was going to Donvale, also the truth. He
just didn't give her any other information. Technical people talking technicalities
spell out a pretty boring scenario and Dorothy, like most people, wanted to be
spared the details - thank heavens!
The offices at Donvale were closed and the old man at the switchboard had
gone home. Ed and Will had the place to themselves as the agent from New South
Wales had not yet arrived. Ed produced the phone tap device and pointing to the
junction box just inside the door, he handed Will a screwdriver. Opening the box
revealed not two, but several wires, indicating that it served to supply Ed's phone
and also provide a junction point for the other lines. An engineer would have no
difficulty identifying Ed's individual line, but to an untrained eye it just looked a
jumbled mess.
Will looked up at Ed. "You were probably across the wrong lines."
"How was I to know that?" he said, as he hunched his shoulders. Will clipped
the jumpers across the line and the Red light came on. Reversing the clips showed
the Green light. Passing the earpiece to Ed he went over to the desk and lifted the
phone. Ed's eyes lit up. "It's working, how can we test it on an incoming call?"
"Is it possible to use a phone on one of the other lines?"
"Yes, pick up the one next to the console in the front office and dial my office
number, you'll see it listed there."
"Okay. Just remember when you hear the phone ring, start the recorder, then
answer."
Will left the room to go to the front office and when he returned the look on
Ed's face was one of excitement. "Wonderful! Wonderful!" he kept saying, but he
was interrupted by a loud knock on the front door. Will removed the jumper wires
from the box and was replacing the cover when Ed and his visitor entered the
room. The agent from Sydney came over and shook Will's hand firmly and
decisively.
He was about Ed's age, but in stark contrast his suit was immaculate, and
combined with a cream shirt and green tie, his attire appeared to have just left the
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