condensed master
Will Bonner shedding weight by the minute and his mind was constantly tormented day and night by a concoction of the many ways that he could eventually be prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act which was a legal term for accusing someone of spying. Dorothy knew of his problems with the company, but not the severity of the situation. He would only involve her if things got so bad that he could not extradite himself from the situation, and that would certainly not happen overnight. Getting all his papers in order on the evening prior to the meeting at the lawyers office, Will reluctantly answered the telephone. "Is that Mr. Brenner?" "Yes, who's speaking?" "It's the Independent Television Association." "I think you must have the wrong Mr. Brenner." "Mr. William Brenner?" "Yes, I'm William Brenner. What do you want?" "This is the investigative programme. We believe that there's some trouble looming and we would like to interview you to get your side of the story." Will's whole body became paralysed, his mind numb. If this was allowed to go forward and ultimately broadcast he would be in deep trouble. Someone from the company had been on to them spinning a yarn, and he knew who that would be. Anger replaced his paralysis and he felt the sudden urge to sort the person out and do murder. "There's no trouble looming, I have nothing to hide. You can have my written permission to access my bank accounts for the last ten years if you want and you can come to my house right now and go through all my belongings. Whatever you feel the need to do, you will have my permission. When you've investigated every avenue you'll come to the conclusion that an interview will be unnecessary." The person on the other end placed his hand over the receiver and muffled voices exchanged conversation. "It's okay Mr. Brenner, perhaps an interview won't be necessary after all." The phone went dead and Will collapsed into the nearest chair. They had been expecting a devious response and when they got the opposite, it had nullified whatever they had been told. How far would the company go to get him? These latest dirty tricks had created a spark and he was beginning to feel like fighting back. By the time he arrived at the lawyer's office however on the following day, he was full of anxiety wondering what the meeting would unearth. 382
The Reluctant Agent A Compelling Story of Espionage The lawyer examined the letter from the company's lawyer. He looked up and his eyes seemed to be boring into Will's soul. "Do you have these documents they claim to be missing?" "No." "There won't be a problem then, will there?" Will's nervous system was wound up tight and he was having difficulty understanding the reasoning. "Why, what do you mean?" "Well, I'll write to them and tell them that you haven't got them and that will be the end of it." Will still couldn't understand the basic simplicity of what was being suggested. It seemed naive so he questioned it again. "You haven't got any skeletons in your cupboard have you Mr. Brenner?" Will felt the question pierce his very insides. If he revealed his extra curricular activities the problem would get so complicated he would lose control completely. "No." "Then if you sign an affidavit that you don't have the documents, and that you know nothing of their whereabouts, they can't take the matter further without the risk of being sued for everything they've got." Will steered his car through the country lanes towards home. The tension in his brain had reached a peak, the noises around him seemed to be reaching his ears from the confines of a hollow tube, the reverberations adding to the confusion. Everything seemed to be coming unglued and falling into fragments around him. He pulled into the open gate of a field and stopped but the noises in his head continued. Resting his head on the steering wheel he tried to inject some reasoning into the bedlam, but failed. Becoming aware of a single sensation wafting through the open window he raised his head and took a deep breath. It was the warm pungent smell of new mown hay. Stepping out of the car and into the field the smell intensified, driving what was left of the turmoil out of his head. Walking over to a bale of hay he thrust his hand into the moist warmth and it's familiar feel transported him back in time to his boyhood days in the countryside outside the village. The quietness and tranquility around him was so powerful that he thought for one minute he had died and gone to heaven. In reality, he realized that the life he had led would not have made him a candidate. By the time he had reseated himself 383
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- Page 398 and 399: Chapter 11 The Female Connection. M
The Reluctant Agent<br />
A Compelling Story of Espionage<br />
The lawyer examined the letter from the company's lawyer. He looked up and<br />
his eyes seemed to be boring into Will's soul. "Do you have these documents they<br />
claim to be missing?"<br />
"No."<br />
"There won't be a problem then, will there?"<br />
Will's nervous system was wound up tight and he was having difficulty<br />
understanding the reasoning. "Why, what do you mean?"<br />
"Well, I'll write to them and tell them that you haven't got them and that will be<br />
the end of it."<br />
Will still couldn't understand the basic simplicity of what was being suggested.<br />
It seemed naive so he questioned it again.<br />
"You haven't got any skeletons in your cupboard have you Mr. Brenner?" Will<br />
felt the question pierce his very insides. If he revealed his extra curricular activities<br />
the problem would get so complicated he would lose control completely.<br />
"No."<br />
"Then if you sign an affidavit that you don't have the documents, and that you<br />
know nothing of their whereabouts, they can't take the matter further without the<br />
risk of being sued for everything they've got."<br />
Will steered his car through the country lanes towards home. The tension in his<br />
brain had reached a peak, the noises around him seemed to be reaching his ears<br />
from the confines of a hollow tube, the reverberations adding to the confusion.<br />
Everything seemed to be coming unglued and falling into fragments around him.<br />
He pulled into the open gate of a field and stopped but the noises in his head<br />
continued. Resting his head on the steering wheel he tried to inject some reasoning<br />
into the bedlam, but failed. Becoming aware of a single sensation wafting through<br />
the open window he raised his head and took a deep breath. It was the warm<br />
pungent smell of new mown hay.<br />
Stepping out of the car and into the field the smell intensified, driving what was<br />
left of the turmoil out of his head. Walking over to a bale of hay he thrust his hand<br />
into the moist warmth and it's familiar feel transported him back in time to his<br />
boyhood days in the countryside outside the village.<br />
The quietness and tranquility around him was so powerful that he thought for<br />
one minute he had died and gone to heaven. In reality, he realized that the life he<br />
had led would not have made him a candidate. By the time he had reseated himself<br />
383
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