- After shore-leave in Lisbon for the crew of HMS Diana, Master-at-Arms 'Toby' Toberman makes an official complaint to the ship's Captain about the behaviour of an officer he saw in a casino. Following the ship's 'Sod's Opera' party, Toby is reported missing from the deck - presumed lost overboard. Was it an accident or suicide - or was he given the proverbial push?—stevecann2003
- HMS Diana is making a courtesy call at Estoril in Portugal. During time ashore, the Master-at-Arms, Toberman, sees an officer from the ship losing heavily at the casino, and his losses being paid for by a woman with a British passport, by the name of Z Summers. Back at sea, the Master is pushed overboard and drowns. Toberman has told his friend, Chief Petty Officer White, about the matters and reports to the Captain, who tells him he is mistaken and contradicts the facts as well as the interpretation. White assumes a cover-up, and at the court of enquiry the death is dealt with so superficially that his suspicions are confirmed in his mind.
He tries to find out more information about the officer at the casino, but draws a blank - and soon discovers that the naval police are trying to detain him. He goes on the run, determined to get to the truth. Aided by his girlfriend he tracks down Summers, who is a WRNS officer, but after an attempt to run him down by a car, Summers is murdered in her flat.
By this time Naval Intelligence have found White - and he agrees to co-operate with them, on being told that the mysterious train of events are due to their attempt to expose an espionage plot by the Russian state. The officer at the casino was a Russian exchange officer, Kobahl, and it is now realised that he is making for White's flat at Portsmouth. Toberman had written a letter exposing the truth, and posted it in Portugal. Kobahl now knows about the letter and finds it. He now makes for Toberman's widow and holds her hostage, and White is instructed by the Naval Intelligence officers to go to Mrs Toberman and Kobahl to try to get him to the window so that marksmen can eliminate him.
Kobahl sees through the ruse and demands free passage to a Russian ship berthed at Portsmouth, using the threat of killing Mrs Toberman. He is allowed to go to the Russian ship, but in fact the Russians do not want the public relations damage of receiving him, and they hand him over to the UK authorities as part of a prisoner exchange.
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