It's 1970s Washington, DC The Cold War is still on. Benedicta Flynn, an editor and human rights activist, falls in love with a US intelligence agent. Months after he has abruptly broken off with her, there are signs of intruders in her house. A Czech razor blade, marked 'TIGER," is dropped in her handbag; her car is followed She thinks that these and other sinister incidents have occurred because she was involved with an American spy, and mingled with East European dissidents. No one, in or out of government, seems able to help her. The story moves to Australia, Brazil, England, and ends where it all began, in Washington, DC Or does it?