Department of Spooks: Stories of Suspense and Mystery

When a high-ranking diplomat is being blackmailed, government agent Mike Hammond is given his orders: "Find this blackmailer, and he's all yours. You're judge and jury and...executioner." This gripping mystery short novel is just one of five thrilling tales in this collection in the tradition of the pulp magazines: "Mask of Blackmail," "Two Floors Up, in Chinatown," "Chinatown Cowboy," "Cat Thief," and the original weird mystery thriller, "The Beetle," featuring Edgar Allan Poe's great detective, Auguste Dupin. A high-level diplomat, about to assume a vital posting at the United Nations, is being blackmailed. But if he goes to the police and prosecutes, his career will be finished. Even though the press can only report him as Mr. X, his well-known face will be clearly revealed to everyone in court. So Government special agent Mike Hammond is given his orders: 'Winkle this blackmailer out, and he's all yours. You're judge, jury - and executioner.'