condensed master

Will Bonner
"What do you mean, an accident?"
"Their favourite weapon is the motor car. They held him down and ran over
him to make it look like a genuine hit and run, there's a good chance he won't
survive."
Will's mind painted the terrible picture and he felt sick. "What do the police
say?"
Ivan smiled and reiterated a statement he had heard from Ed. "They can't do
anything, we have to handle these things ourselves. I must get to work now, Bart
will be wondering where I've got to. There's nothing you or I can do. Look
forward to seeing you on Sunday."
Will's mind was now in top gear, if only Ivan knew that there was something
he could do! Waiting his opportunity during the course of the day when Ivan was
out of the way, he approached Bart, Will knew from his past that he would be
somehow involved. It would have to be quick before Ivan returned.
"Ivan has told me about your recent trouble, you've saved my skin in the past
and now I think I can help you." Bart looked at Will, a quizzical smile on his face
as if to say "no way, you haven't got a clue."
"Believe me, I can help you." The look on Bart's face changed. "I need to see
you alone, and you mustn't tell Ivan about our conversation."
"Okay, I'll listen to what you have to say. I'm using my car today and I'll be
dropping Ivan off at his home, if you come with us I can take you home and we
can talk."
Will hurried to leave the scene before Ivan returned. Later, the three men were
squeezed in Bart's tiny European station wagon, there was hardly enough room left
to deposit their sandwich boxes. It's tiny motor must do a 100 miles per gallon,
Will was thinking. After dropping Ivan off, Will remained in the rear seat to give
Bart more room for driving and they proceeded to head east on Canterbury Road
towards Vermont. Bart turned his head briefly to look at Will in the back. "Well,
what's this all about?"
"You don't know who kidnapped your youngster do you? And unless you get
the right person, a mere retaliation won't get the results you want, will it?"
"How do you know what I do, and don't know?"
"Ivan would have told me if things were being taken care of but he didn't, so
naturally I gathered that you can't find out, can you?" There was a long silence.
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