condensed master

The Reluctant Agent
A Compelling Story of Espionage
brushed the contents on the top of the desk and they clattered to the floor. Fearing
to let go Will followed him down into the corner of the room.
The Aussie was visibly shaken, a puzzled look on his face. He was sitting on
the floor his back resting in the corner, Will was kneeling on his legs. "What the
hell are you doing Brenner?"
"You were going to pull a gun on me."
"I don't carry a gun."
Will moved his hand across to the area of the pocket but could feel nothing.
He had over-reacted. The Aussie removed his hand revealing a handkerchief, and
proceeded to mop his brow as both men got up. He moved towards the door and
picking up his hat and coat prepared to leave.
"You can tell them what you want. They have my history and are perfectly
capable of drawing their own conclusions. As far as I'm concerned you've
delivered the message." The Aussie left without a word.
Will went over to the window and lifting a slat in the venetian blind watched
as the dark figure ran back to the car through the rain, and listened as the noise
from the car's punctured muffler receded, as it proceeded through the industrial
estate towards the highway, which would take the Aussie back to London.
Will stood shaking in the centre of the room. It had been a disturbing
encounter and things had been left unresolved. He was already beginning to feel
the full effect of the uncertainty and he couldn't subdue it. He was in no mood to
continue the report so gathering up the papers he locked up the office and with his
head bent against the rain made his way over the footbridge that spanned the
highway. Stopping momentarily as he reached the top, he looked across the field
towards the house and could just make out the dim light of the sitting-room
window that looked out over the back garden, indicating that Dorothy had not
gone to bed.
He felt sick and troubled at the thought of hiding things from her, an act which
he had perfected over the years. He knew that it was all going to start again and
he would have to be constantly on his guard.
After an uneasy sleep he arrived at the office the next morning knowing exactly
what he had to do. At precisely 9 a.m. he picked up the phone and rang Scotland
Yard to get in touch with his contact at the meeting he had attended the previous
day. It was only seconds before he was on the line. "What can I do for you Will,
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