Palfrey's new boss – known only as The Co-Ordinator – wants him to nail a misfit diplomat everyone suspects is spying for the Soviets. But Palfrey believes someone is making the man a scapegoat, and he decides to find out why.

A tell-all book alleges that the British government assassinated an Iranian general in the 1950s and helped topple a regime. Ordered to prevent its publication, Palfrey suspects a cover-up.

A disgruntled former government official believes that double agents still work in the intelligence service—and threatens to tip off the press unless something is done. The Co-Ordinator assigns Palfrey to head him off.