condensed master

The Reluctant Agent
A Compelling Story of Espionage
"Do people call you Margaret or Maggie?"
"Margaret."
Reaching over Will shook her hand. "I'm pleased to meet you Margaret. Just
call me Will."
The man on the bed showed no reaction whatsoever, but the look on Tony's
face was one of relief during that brief moment without tension.
"You're to assist her as you did with Ed Blake, but on a full time basis. There's
a lot of work to be done."
"I've just told you that I never worked with Ed. Everything I've been engaged
in was the result of a threat that was held over me, that's not assisting, that's being
forced. I don't like your attitude, I can't trust you so I won't do anything for you."
The man's head turned and then in one second returned to it's original position.
It was the first reaction Will had seen from him since arriving. "If you don't do as
I ask I'll have no other option but to make your file on Gourock available to the
authorities when I get back to the U.K."
Will turned his attention to Tony and then to Margaret. "Is he your superior?"
She nodded.
"Take a good look at him and remember that you could be here where I'm
standing. Anyone that resorts to blackmail to get what they want is the lowest form
of life." Will pointed at the man on the bed, "and that's a prime example!" The
mixture of fear and anger had surged up into his throat forcing him to stop speaking
until he had it partially under control again. "If it's your intention to blackmail me
I have to warn you that within the week I can finish your organization here in
Australia for years to come. You surely must know that I've been gathering hard
information of my own. I have no concerns about what might happen to me, but
the slightest thought that you might bring harm down on my family will provoke me
into launching the biggest vendetta against you, the like's of which you could not
even comprehend!"
Tony was beside himself, the smallest excuse would have seen him out of that
room like a shot. The man on the bed was now looking directly at Will, and Will's
first look at his full face only made him feel more contemptuous. "Let's get one
thing straight. I didn't say I wouldn't do anything, I could probably help Margaret
and I've already helped Tony, it's just you I won't do anything for. You're a
blackmailer and it would be against my principals."
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