condensed master

The Reluctant Agent
A Compelling Story of Espionage
reinserted. Twice it nearly slipped out of his hands which would have caused
a major problem.
Slamming and locking the door Will picked up his instrument case and
prepared to leave. He was drawn like a magnet however, back to the spillway
railing. Dan's body had not emerged. The lake beyond the spillway looked as
placid as before.
His brain was numb registering nothing as he made the long walk back
through the empty building to the entrance door. But with each step the
hypnotic effect of the rushing water down the spillway receded into the
background and his mind gradually started to clear.
Approaching the door he changed the instrument case over to his left hand
but the loud bang of a car door closing, stopped him in his stride. Quickly
moving to one of the windows alongside the door he peered down on to the
small car-park. A black Mercedes car was parked on the opposite side to his
own vehicle and a man dressed in dark clothing was walking briskly towards
the building. It must be Dan's accomplice!
His heart stopped and he trembled at the thought of another skirmish. He
may not be so lucky this time! There was virtually no place to hide except on
the other side of the cabinets, with the hope that the man would not choose
that side to walk. With his back pressed against the rear of the cabinets he
waited, his heart beating like a drum.
The door opened but didn't close and he listened with relief as he
registered the sound of footsteps on the other side. Then they stopped. "Are
you there Dan?" then excruciating silence followed by more footsteps.
The voice got louder and more urgent. "Answer me Dan!" The footsteps
got softer and softer as they were dampened by rushing water. He must be
getting close to the far end of the building. It was time to move.
Trying to control his exit through the partially open door failed as the catch
on his instrument case caught on the edge of the door, pulling it closed with a
bang. It was a scramble to get back to his vehicle and he prayed as he inserted
the ignition key. The big six litre engine sprang into life "thanks Paddy!" he said
out loud, the Irish chief mechanic always kept his vehicle in tiptop condition.
He reversed to turn but as he looked back towards the building Dan's
associate was running down the stairway. He had a gun in his hand.
Will hit the accelerator spinning his wheels and the gravel stones flew into
the air. His mind was racing and he was finding it impossible to formulate a
plan. He was driving like a madman trying to get as much distance between
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