condensed master
Will Bonner the rear of the building. The ceramic tiled floor was old, cracked and so dirty, it was difficult to distinguish the pattern. "Who's there?" An old man appeared through the first door on the left. He was wearing a soiled waistcoat over a creased striped shirt. The collar was pulled high over a paisley patterned cravat. Walking with a slight stoop his head was cocked to one side in an attempt to raise his line of sight. Will attempted to put on his best Australian accent. "My name's Will Brenner and I'm looking for Billy Boyd. Who are you?" "I look after the tenants for the owner." "You're the Superintendent then?" The old man obviously liked the title, his face momentarily lighting up. "Yes." "Is Billy in?" "No, but he gets off work early on Fridays." He paused and took a two inch diameter gold watch from his waistcoat pocket flipping open the lid to read the time. "He should be here within the hour. Do you want to wait?" "Yes, if that's okay." "His room is the last one along the passage, make yourself at home until he arrives." The old man turned and went back into his room closing the door. Will was finding it difficult to come to terms with the fact that he was being allowed to enter Billy's domain without question. The dark passage twisted and turned like a rabbit warren with doors to the left and right. Billy's door was slightly ajar, he pushed it open and called out. "Is anyone there?" He was only confronted with silence and a single room apartment that resembled the city dump. Quickly looking through all the drawers he eventually found what he was looking for. A thirty-eight calibre revolver. He removed the bullets and put it in the inside pocket of his coat. There was a rickety old chair positioned about three feet from the door. Will closed the door to its original position and sat down on the chair surveying the debris and wondering how long it would be before Billy arrived. It seemed only minutes before his presence became obvious in the passageway. Pushing the door open he walked straight across the room to the dirty pot laden sink, and started removing items from a brown paper bag, totally unaware that there was another person in the room. Will remained silent. The longer he stayed undetected, the bigger the shock would be. 376
The Reluctant Agent A Compelling Story of Espionage Billy turned, he had some canned food in his hand. His whole body jumped with fright and the can dropped to the floor rolling under the curtain that covered the shelves beneath the kitchen sink. He then dived towards the drawer, yanking it open. Will stood up with his back to the door and drew the gun, pointing it at arm's length at Billy's back. "Is this what you're looking for, Billy Boyd?" Billy whirled around, this time with a look of despair on his face, it looked as though the end of his world had arrived. He stood with his hands raised and Will gestured with the revolver for him to sit on the bed. "How did you find out where I lived so soon?" Will didn't answer. "You must be from Central Intelligence, an experienced operator." Will lowered the revolver, walked over to the drawer and dropped it inside. Billy watched as he emptied his pocket of bullets. He still had his hands in the air, a look of amazement on his face. "No, I'm not from Central Intelligence, you can drop your hands now Billy." Billy stuttered. "The gun wasn't loaded." "I didn't want to make a mistake and shoot you. You wouldn't have liked it." "No! What do you want?" "I've visited you to demonstrate that I can get to you anytime I want. You're a courier with the Australian Embassy." Billy nodded. "I know all about you and I can use the information against you if I want, but that should not be necessary, should it?" A painful look appeared on Billy's face. "What are you trying to say?" "You'll get no phone calls from me to deliver information. The organization will keep the tapes to blackmail me. I won't do it." "But those are my instructions, I can't change them. I only pass on information, what do you want from me?" "It's simple. I can't refuse to spy for the organization but I can refuse to do things that jeopardize my future, so when I have information to pass on, no matter how small, it will be to you personally by word of mouth. Nothing written down or delivered by phone, the number you've given me will only be used to say that I want to see you. You will then get in touch to arrange a meeting." Billy's face took on the pained look again. "They won't go for it. It's not the way they wanted it." 377
- Page 326 and 327: Will Bonner is a chance meeting. If
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Will Bonner<br />
the rear of the building. The ceramic tiled floor was old, cracked and so dirty, it<br />
was difficult to distinguish the pattern.<br />
"Who's there?" An old man appeared through the first door on the left. He was<br />
wearing a soiled waistcoat over a creased striped shirt. The collar was pulled high<br />
over a paisley patterned cravat. Walking with a slight stoop his head was cocked<br />
to one side in an attempt to raise his line of sight.<br />
Will attempted to put on his best Australian accent. "My name's Will Brenner<br />
and I'm looking for Billy Boyd. Who are you?"<br />
"I look after the tenants for the owner."<br />
"You're the Superintendent then?"<br />
The old man obviously liked the title, his face momentarily lighting up. "Yes."<br />
"Is Billy in?"<br />
"No, but he gets off work early on Fridays." He paused and took a two inch<br />
diameter gold watch from his waistcoat pocket flipping open the lid to read the<br />
time. "He should be here within the hour. Do you want to wait?"<br />
"Yes, if that's okay."<br />
"His room is the last one along the passage, make yourself at home until he<br />
arrives." The old man turned and went back into his room closing the door.<br />
Will was finding it difficult to come to terms with the fact that he was being<br />
allowed to enter Billy's domain without question. The dark passage twisted and<br />
turned like a rabbit warren with doors to the left and right. Billy's door was slightly<br />
ajar, he pushed it open and called out. "Is anyone there?" He was only confronted<br />
with silence and a single room apartment that resembled the city dump.<br />
Quickly looking through all the drawers he eventually found what he was<br />
looking for. A thirty-eight calibre revolver. He removed the bullets and put it in the<br />
inside pocket of his coat. There was a rickety old chair positioned about three feet<br />
from the door. Will closed the door to its original position and sat down on the<br />
chair surveying the debris and wondering how long it would be before Billy<br />
arrived. It seemed only minutes before his presence became obvious in the<br />
passageway.<br />
Pushing the door open he walked straight across the room to the dirty pot<br />
laden sink, and started removing items from a brown paper bag, totally unaware<br />
that there was another person in the room. Will remained silent. The longer he<br />
stayed undetected, the bigger the shock would be.<br />
376
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