condensed master
Will Bonner risk." Margaret moved towards the door ready to return to the back room. It was a sign that could only be interpreted one way. She must feel that what she was about to say would be acceptable. "If you give your device to Alec, and go over the details with him, he can leave. Then I'll tell you as much as you'll need to know at this stage to feel safe in going ahead." "It's a deal." Margaret, as she always did, reached forward and they shook hands, before leading the way back up the corridor. Alec jumped to his feet as they both entered. He looked more relieved than anything else, so Will wasted no time in getting started. He produced a small flat box capable of fitting inside a pocket, into which plugged two hearing-aid type ear pieces and an acoustical probe, designed to be magnetically attached adjacent to the combination dial. As Will talked Alec through the operation of the device his eyes began to widen and a look of childish excitement came over his face. "Can we do a demonstration?" Will looked across at Margaret. "You must have a safe here." An agitated look came over her face. "No way, you're not touching my safe!" "Have it your way. We'll come back when you're not in, if you prefer." Alec smiled and nodding his head turned to Will. "We don't have to go very far, it's in this room," at the same time pointing to the back of a large settee pushed against the wall. "We'll have to get down on our knees, it's close to floor level." The demonstration took but a few minutes and Alec left to play with his new found toy. Margaret now seemed more relaxed. The proceedings had been in jeopardy a short time ago. She was probably thankful that her plan was developing the way she intended. "I'd better change the safe combination!" "I don't think that would hamper Alec, but he would be crazy to burgle your safe." Margaret nodded in agreement and for a moment seemed reluctant to speak. Her eyes had glazed over and Will was beginning to think that she was about to go back on her promise. Her eyes blinked and she moved forward on her seat. "We've been asked to look into something that's going on in government." Will swallowed hard. The very sound of the word 'government' spelt the worst. "There 322
The Reluctant Agent A Compelling Story of Espionage are two or three high ranking ministers that have taken to information gathering. We think that they are just gathering dirt against their opponents, but we're not sure. The ramifications are explosive. The people that they sporadically employ have organized crime connections, which could lead to complications." She paused to allow Will's mind to assimilate the content of the conversation. "It's not difficult to keep tabs on them. As you can imagine they are only amateurs. What we don't know is the depth and quality of the information they are stashing away." "Can't you indirectly put the frighteners on them to put a stop to it?" "That's more or less what we will be attempting to do, but in a profound way, to make sure that it stops for good." The conversation ceased abruptly and seemed to be waiting for a kick-start. Will remained silent, he had already heard enough to give him plenty to think about and that gut feeling had started, reminding him that he had experienced this moment before on several occasions. It always appeared prior to the delivery of something resembling a knock-out punch. The lull before the storm. "Your old boss is one of them." Will felt a shiver go down his spine. He knew that the conversation would now begin to bear down on him directly, and the adrenalin created by the gut feeling began to sink as he became uneasy, not knowing what was coming next. "That doesn't mean much to me." "I think it does. You had a connection with him and his family whilst you were working in the factory." Pictures started flashing into Will's mind and he vividly remembered the very day that he met Mr. Garner, the Chairman of the Company. He had not long taken his post as a Federal Cabinet Minister. Working amongst the hubbub of the production floor, Will became conscious of someone standing immediately behind him. Turning, he was confronted by Mr. Garner accompanied by his two sons, Gregory and Paul. The father was a short man of thickset build, emanating an air of rigidity which closely resembled the captain of the "Wiltshire." He was dressed in a dark business suit and trilby hat. His shoulders seemed to be permanently raised, making it appear that his head was placed solidly on his body, with very little, if any, neck showing. 323
- Page 272 and 273: Will Bonner a call to Margaret but
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The Reluctant Agent<br />
A Compelling Story of Espionage<br />
are two or three high ranking ministers that have taken to information gathering.<br />
We think that they are just gathering dirt against their opponents, but we're not<br />
sure. The ramifications are explosive. The people that they sporadically employ<br />
have organized crime connections, which could lead to complications." She paused<br />
to allow Will's mind to assimilate the content of the conversation.<br />
"It's not difficult to keep tabs on them. As you can imagine they are only<br />
amateurs. What we don't know is the depth and quality of the information they are<br />
stashing away."<br />
"Can't you indirectly put the frighteners on them to put a stop to it?"<br />
"That's more or less what we will be attempting to do, but in a profound way,<br />
to make sure that it stops for good."<br />
The conversation ceased abruptly and seemed to be waiting for a kick-start.<br />
Will remained silent, he had already heard enough to give him plenty to think about<br />
and that gut feeling had started, reminding him that he had experienced this<br />
moment before on several occasions. It always appeared prior to the delivery of<br />
something resembling a knock-out punch. The lull before the storm.<br />
"Your old boss is one of them."<br />
Will felt a shiver go down his spine. He knew that the conversation would now<br />
begin to bear down on him directly, and the adrenalin created by the gut feeling<br />
began to sink as he became uneasy, not knowing what was coming next. "That<br />
doesn't mean much to me."<br />
"I think it does. You had a connection with him and his family whilst you were<br />
working in the factory."<br />
Pictures started flashing into Will's mind and he vividly remembered the very<br />
day that he met Mr. Garner, the Chairman of the Company. He had not long taken<br />
his post as a Federal Cabinet Minister. Working amongst the hubbub of the<br />
production floor, Will became conscious of someone standing immediately behind<br />
him. Turning, he was confronted by Mr. Garner accompanied by his two sons,<br />
Gregory and Paul.<br />
The father was a short man of thickset build, emanating an air of rigidity which<br />
closely resembled the captain of the "Wiltshire." He was dressed in a dark<br />
business suit and trilby hat. His shoulders seemed to be permanently raised,<br />
making it appear that his head was placed solidly on his body, with very little, if<br />
any, neck showing.<br />
323
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