condensed master

The Reluctant Agent
A Compelling Story of Espionage
I'll need to know more about him in order to feel secure before getting involved.
These thoughts continued to haunt him until the meeting next day.
Gerald was there as arranged. Will could see him nervously pacing up and
down between the palm trees. The look of relief on his face when he saw Will
approaching was easy to read, but to feel sympathy towards him could be a big
mistake. "Let's walk along the beach and talk," Will suggested.
"I have a better idea. My car is parked outside and I know of a small inlet
where we won't be disturbed. It's only a few minutes drive away."
"Is the car hired?" Will asked, thinking that Gerald was probably from one of
the other ships in the harbour.
"No, I own it."
"You live here then?"
"Yes, I've been here about a year."
Will asked no more questions as they approached the car, a massive two-door
white coupe with the top down, exposing it's vast comfortable interior. He's got
to be working permanently for the organization, Will guessed.
They drove off along the beach road and in the relaxed comfort of the car Will
began to feel the tensions slipping away, as the exotic scenery once again began
demanding his attention. Looking across at Gerald he seemed to sense that he
was also beginning to relax, no doubt he was feeling that the initial contact had
been made, and everything was still on-going.
The car pulled off the beach road into a small picnic area. It had been less than
ten minutes since leaving the Royal Hawaiian Hotel so Will estimated that they
were no more than two or three miles farther along the beach. The area was
certainly secluded and elevated from the road. There were just a few picnic tables
scattered indiscriminately amongst the palm trees, and Gerald made his way over
to one and sat down. Joining him, Will looked below into a small cove with a
sandy beach, a scene that could have come from a tropical island film.
"Would you like a coke Will?" he offered, reaching into the bag he had carried
from the car. They both sat sipping their drinks in silence, but Will knew that very
soon the conversation would get serious again. Taking the initiative, Will asked a
direct and searching question.
"You've been blackmailed into doing this type of work as I have, haven't you?"
Gerald remained silent but the signs of nervousness were beginning to
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