condensed master

Will Bonner
"The two devices on the safe will have to be disarmed before Alec can do his
job. I'll attempt to get some up-to-date information about them which may or may
not help. We need to meet, say a week from today with Alec present. Can you
arrange that?"
"Yes. What about these devices? They could make or break the venture
couldn't they?"
Will nodded. "With whatever information is available, no matter how small, it
will have to be coped with on the night."
Maxwell Scrieber's combined workshop and electronics laboratory was
situated on the beach road in Beaumaris, a bayside suburb. It was actually a
converted shop with no signs to indicate it's use, not even a number. For some
unknown reason the windows were completely blacked out, stopping all natural
light from entering. Hanging florescent lights, the only source of illumination in the
large room, with a small sink and cupboard in the corner behind a partition, where
one could make a cup of tea.
Will parked the car opposite as he had done on previous occasions, pulling off
the road on to a small dusty area. There were no railings and only a few feet from
the vehicle the land dropped away suddenly, down to the water some fifty or sixty
feet below. Will always had misgivings parking there, and he gave the handbrake
an extra pull to make sure that it was fully on before making his way across the
road to knock on the door.
Maxwell greeted him wearing the same old brown dustcoat partly covering an
open neck shirt that badly needed to be introduced to the laundry. His thinning
tousled hair, fell about his ears. A short man who walked with a crouching stance,
an appearance that gave one the impression that he was constantly preparing to
sit down. His quiet demeanour masked his brilliance with designing items for the
security field, keeping his expertise constantly in demand.
"Hello Will Brenner!" What are you doing in these neck of the woods?"
Will knew that Maxwell was never one for small talk, always eager to get
down to the technicalities and he would instinctively know that Will would not be
paying him a social visit. Not being there to work it was best to come directly to
the point and his stay would be a short one.
"I've been asked by an organization to make up some copies of your magnetic
safe clamp devices. I told them no, so they've managed to get a couple from a safe
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