A morally compromised rescue scheme exposes hidden greed, criminal power, and the consequences of betrayal.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Lisbon's Criminal Chessboard
Fonseca investigates Lisbon's underworld while Mavros emerges as a wealthy criminal power. Sylvia is introduced as a woman desperate to resolve her husband's imprisonment.
Key Events
Lisbon Underworld — Fonseca investigates the criminal world of Lisbon, focusing on Mavros and an American smuggler. Characters: Fonseca, Aristides MavrosLocation: Lisbon
Mavros Identified — Mavros is established as a wealthy and notorious Greek criminal operating in Lisbon. Characters: Aristides Mavros, FonsecaLocation: Lisbon
Smuggler Under Suspicion — Fonseca takes interest in an American suspected of smuggling who operates a fast boat. Characters: FonsecaLocation: Lisbon
Sylvia Seeks A Solution — Sylvia grows tired of waiting for officials to rescue her husband from behind the Iron Curtain. Characters: Sylvia MerrillLocation: Lisbon
Inheritance Motive — Sylvia's possible inheritance depends on whether her husband dies without a will. Characters: Sylvia MerrillLocation: Lisbon
A Costly Proposal — Sylvia offers Mavros a large sum to arrange her husband's rescue. Characters: Sylvia Merrill, Aristides MavrosLocation: Mavros's office
The Price Of Rescue
Sylvia offers Mavros money to arrange a rescue, but Mavros recognizes that her request conceals a financial motive. The operation begins under a cloud of mutual calculation.
Key Events
A Costly Proposal — Sylvia offers Mavros a large sum to arrange her husband's rescue. Characters: Sylvia Merrill, Aristides MavrosLocation: Mavros's office
Mavros Reads Her Motive — Mavros correctly suspects that Sylvia wants more than a straightforward rescue. Characters: Sylvia Merrill, Aristides MavrosLocation: Mavros's office
Criminal Operation Begins — Mavros uses his criminal network to prepare an operation involving the fast boat. Characters: Aristides MavrosLocation: Lisbon harbor
Rescue Mission Assigned — Mavros hires the American smuggler to go after Sylvia's imprisoned husband. Characters: Aristides MavrosLocation: Lisbon harbor
Rescue Has A Hidden Cost — The rescue arrangement increasingly appears compatible with Sylvia's wish for her husband not to return alive. Characters: Sylvia Merrill, Aristides MavrosLocation: Mavros's office
Mavros Orders A Killing — Mavros gives permission for his man to kill the American during the rescue. Characters: Aristides MavrosLocation: Lisbon
A Rescue Turned Trap
Mavros assigns the mission and authorizes the American's death during the operation. Sylvia becomes willing to accept that her husband will not return alive.
Key Events
Mavros Orders A Killing — Mavros gives permission for his man to kill the American during the rescue. Characters: Aristides MavrosLocation: Lisbon
Sylvia Accepts Betrayal — Sylvia becomes willing to accept that her husband will not come back alive. Characters: Sylvia MerrillLocation: Lisbon
Boat Operation Advances — The criminally arranged boat operation proceeds toward the imprisoned husband. Characters: Aristides MavrosLocation: At sea
Attempted Murder — Mavros's authorized killer attempts to eliminate the American during the rescue mission. Characters: Aristides MavrosLocation: At sea
The Attack Is Foiled — The American defeats the attempt against his life during the boat operation. Characters: Aristides MavrosLocation: At sea
A Fall To Death — The attacker falls to his death after the American foils the plan. Characters: Aristides MavrosLocation: At sea
The Mastermind Revealed
The attempted killing fails and the attacker falls to his death. Fonseca's investigation then turns unexpectedly toward Mavros instead of the suspected smuggler.
Key Events
A Fall To Death — The attacker falls to his death after the American foils the plan. Characters: Aristides MavrosLocation: At sea
Police Receive A Tip — Fonseca receives information that enables an informer to identify the suspected smuggler. Characters: FonsecaLocation: Lisbon
The Wrong Man Named — The informer unexpectedly points to Mavros rather than the American smuggler. Characters: Fonseca, Aristides MavrosLocation: Police inquiry
Mavros Exposed — Fonseca's investigation identifies Mavros as the responsible criminal mastermind. Characters: Fonseca, Aristides MavrosLocation: Lisbon
Sylvia's Empty Victory — Sylvia is left with only the husband she betrayed, while the criminal scheme reaches its conclusion. Characters: Sylvia MerrillLocation: Lisbon
Story Breakdown
Criminal Lisbon — The story establishes the criminal environment and the police investigation surrounding it.
Underworld Investigation — Fonseca investigates criminal activity in Lisbon.
Mavros's Power — Mavros is presented as a wealthy and notorious criminal.
Sylvia's Desperation — Sylvia seeks an alternative to waiting for an official rescue.
Imprisoned Husband — Her husband remains a prisoner behind the Iron Curtain.
Inheritance Pressure — Sylvia's financial future depends on her husband's fate.
The Costly Proposal — Sylvia brings her request and money to Mavros.
Large Payment — Sylvia offers Mavros a substantial sum.
Hidden Motive — Mavros realizes that the request conceals another purpose.
The Rescue Scheme — Mavros converts Sylvia's request into a criminal operation.
Boat Mission — An American smuggler is hired to pursue the rescue.
Secret Authorization — Mavros permits the American's killing during the mission.
Betrayal Deepens — The rescue becomes entangled with Sylvia's willingness to sacrifice her husband's life.
Death Accepted — Sylvia becomes willing to accept that her husband will not return.
Criminal Double-Cross — Mavros uses the rescue mission to remove another participant.
Fatal Resistance — The planned killing fails during the boat operation.
Attack Foiled — The American defeats the attempt against his life.
Deadly Fall — The attacker falls to his death.
Police Reversal — The investigation produces an unexpected identification.
Informer Activated — Fonseca prepares an informer to identify the suspected smuggler.
Mavros Named — The informer identifies Mavros instead of the expected suspect.
Bitter Resolution — The criminal mastermind is exposed while Sylvia is left with the consequences of betrayal.
Mastermind Exposed — Fonseca's inquiry identifies Mavros as the culprit.
Empty Victory — Sylvia is left with only the husband she betrayed.
For Capt. Robert John Evans, smuggling black-market goods is nothing out of the ordinary. But one day he's hired by Aristides Mavros for a more involved assignment -- sneaking an imprisoned American out of communist-controlled territory. The job seems challenging enough, but when he meets the prisoner's sultry wife, Sylvia, he realizes his mission comes with a startling catch: Not only must he rescue this man, he must bring him back from the dead.
