An old friend of Hammer's has her wallet stolen and he is mystified why she doesn't want to see the police. It turns that there are escorts, diplomats, blackmail and military intelligence all involved.
Hammer catches up with an old friend, Kate. As she is leaving him a pickpocket steals her wallet but Hammer is mystified when she doesn't want to speak to the police. Later he has a meeting with her but they are run over by a car but Hammer still doesn't know why. Further investigation shows that Kate is an escort and her clients are diplomats that are being blackmailed - but why?. As the bodies mount up Hammer finds that international subterfuge is involved.—jem