Continental Op Stories · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Continental Op Stories by Dashiell Hammett.
Chapter 1
Arson Plus
The Continental Op investigates a suspicious house fire that killed Thornburgh, uncovering evidence that the fire was deliberately set with gasoline. Through interviews and detective work, he discovers that the supposed victim Thornburgh is actually alive and conspired with the Coonses to fake his death for insurance fraud.
Chapter 2
Crooked Souls
Harvey Gatewood hires the Continental Op to find his kidnapped daughter Audrey. The Op investigates the Gatewood residence, gathers evidence, and traces a suspect to an apartment where a violent confrontation occurs.
Chapter 3
Slippery Fingers
Joseph Clane confesses to the murder of Henry Grover, explaining how he killed Grover in self-defense during a confrontation over blackmail. With the help of Farr, a fingerprint expert, Clane faked his fingerprints to evade detection. The Continental Op uncovers the deception and arrests Clane and Farr.
Chapter 4
It
The Op investigates the disappearance of Daniel Rathbone, who vanished after withdrawing bonds from a safe deposit box. The trail leads to a buried body and a confession from partner Lester Zumwalt, who claims self-defense. The chapter concludes with a court verdict and the unraveling of Rathbone's planned elopement with Mrs. Earnshaw.
Chapter 5
Bodies Piled Up
The Continental Op, temporarily working as a hotel detective at the Montgomery Hotel, discovers three dead men piled out of a clothespress in room 906. The victims are identified as Tudor Ingraham, Vincent Develyn, and an unknown man. The Op investigates the murders, tracing a suspect named Ross Orrett, who is hunting for the dangerous criminal Guy Cudner. Orrett, wounded, later explains a convoluted plot involving a 'Master Mind' who manipulated two lieutenants into killing each other, with Cudner mistakenly entering the wrong room.
Chapter 6
The Tenth Clue
The Continental Op continues his investigation, piecing together clues and navigating a web of deception and violence in the urban underworld.
Chapter 7
I: “Do You Know… Emil Bonfils?”
The Continental Op arrives at Leopold Gantvoort's home for an appointment, but Gantvoort is absent. After waiting two hours, his son Charles receives a phone call informing him that his father has been killed. The Op is hired by Charles to investigate. At the police station, Detective Sergeant O'Gar presents the victim's personal effects, including a bloodied typewriter, and Charles identifies his father's belongings. The investigation reveals that Gantvoort had been seeing a young woman named Creda Dexter, whom Charles suspected of being a fortune hunter, and that Gantvoort had received threats, leading him to contact the detective agency.
Chapter 8
II: “That’s Something!”
The Continental Op and Detective Sergeant O'Gar investigate the murder of Leopold Gantvoort, found dead in a stolen car with his skull crushed by a typewriter. Evidence includes a threatening letter signed 'E. B.', a list of names, a jewel case, modified bullets, a tuft of blond hair, and missing collar buttons and a shoe. The Op reveals Gantvoort had reported threats from an Emil Bonfils, linked to a Paris incident in 1902. They interview the butler Whipple and plan to trace the list and clippings.
Chapter 9
III: “A Sleek Kitten That Dame!”
The Continental Op and Detective Sergeant O'Gar investigate the Gantvoort murder. A porter finds Gantvoort's missing shoe, collar buttons, and a key wrapped in a newspaper. They interview lawyer Murray Abernathy, who reveals Gantvoort planned to secretly marry Creda Dexter, leaving half his estate to her, but the new will was unsigned. They then visit Creda Dexter, a feline woman whose pupils betray fear when asked about her brother Madden. The Op suspects Creda may know more, but her motive is weak since the old will disinherits her. Telegrams reveal the names on Gantvoort's list are untraceable.
Chapter 10
IV: “Maybe That Ain’t So Foolish!”
The Continental Op and Detective Sergeant O'Gar exhaust conventional leads in the Gantvoort murder case, interviewing residents along possible routes and finding no witnesses. A telegram reveals Madden Dexter is in New York with power of attorney, denying knowledge of the murder. The Op re-evaluates the nine clues, concluding they are deliberate misdirections, and decides to pursue a new angle: a rival suitor for Creda Dexter's affections.
Chapter 11
V: “Meet Mr. Smith”
The Continental Op and O'Gar investigate Creda Dexter's past for a male suitor who might have killed Gantvoort, but find no leads. The Op intercepts Madden Dexter on a train from Sacramento, pressing him about his sister's relationships. Dexter denies knowing any other suitor, but the Op suspects he is lying. On the ferry to San Francisco, Dexter introduces a burly man as 'Mr. Smith' and warns him of the Op's identity. Smith pulls a gun and forces the Op onto the foggy deck, where he is attacked.
Chapter 12
VI: “Those Damned Horns!”
The Continental Op, having been attacked and thrown into San Francisco Bay, struggles to stay afloat in the fog. Disoriented and in pain, he tries to attract the attention of passing ferries but is repeatedly ignored. As the cold water numbs him, he fights the urge to give in to exhaustion, tormented by the relentless sound of foghorns. A momentary surge of survival instinct drives him to scream and swim toward a boat, but the outcome remains uncertain.
Chapter 13
VII: “You Have a Lot of Fun, Don’t You?”
After being thrown into the bay by Smith, the Continental Op survives, recovers at his flat, and enlists Detective Sergeant O'Gar and Charles Gantvoort to confront Madden Dexter. They go to the Dexters' apartment, where the Op punches and knocks out Smith, who Gantvoort identifies as Madden Dexter himself.
Chapter 14
VIII: “I Hope You Swing!”
The Continental Op and his team interrogate Madden Dexter after knocking him out. Creda Dexter reveals she is not Madden's sister but his former partner in a con scheme targeting Leopold Gantvoort. She confesses that Madden murdered Gantvoort out of jealousy and greed, and she vows to help convict him. The chapter ends with her securing her inheritance and freedom.
Chapter 15
Night Shots
The Continental Op investigates a series of events involving arson, a shooting, and a mysterious woman, navigating a web of deception and violence in the urban underworld.
Chapter 16
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 17
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 18
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 19
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 20
Zigzags of Treachery
The Continental Op navigates a complex web of deceit and double-crosses as he investigates a series of interconnected crimes, facing threats from multiple criminal factions and uncovering layers of betrayal.
Chapter 21
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 22
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 23
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 24
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 25
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 26
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 27
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 28
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 29
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 30
The Bungalow Shootout
The Continental Op stakes out a bungalow in Farewell, observing Mrs. Ringgo and Sherry. He later witnesses Dolph Ringgo enter, followed by a violent gunfight. Breaking in, he finds Sherry wounded, Ringgo with a knife in his back and an empty gun, and Black Marcus advancing with a knife. The Op knocks out Marcus and manipulates Sherry's head to imply Ringgo killed Kavalov, then confronts Ringgo.
Chapter 31
XI
The Op reflects on the case against Ringgo, explaining how he deduced Ringgo's guilt and the partnership with Sherry. Ringgo confesses to killing Kavalov, detailing the scheme and Sherry's attempt to blackmail him. The chapter ends with Ringgo's execution.
Chapter 32
XII
The Continental Op returns to the agency and reports to the Old Man that the case is resolved. He explains that Papadopoulos knew Nancy Regan was Taylor Newhall's heiress and used her for a hiding place after bank jobs. Papadopoulos arranged the murder of Newhall via Barrows, which led to Tom-Tom Carey's investigation and a chain of violence. In the end, Papadopoulos, Carey, and Jack Counihan are dead, and the Op implies he manipulated events to protect the agency's reputation.
Chapter 33
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 34
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 35
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 36
The House in Turk Street
The Continental Op, canvassing a Turk Street block for a suspect, is invited into the home of the elderly Quarres, who seem kindly but are later revealed to be part of a criminal mob. The chapter details the badger game scheme run by Tai Choon, Hook, and the red-haired girl Elvira, culminating in a tense standoff where the Op refuses to trade bonds for the girl. The Quarres burst in with revolvers, exposing their true vicious nature and accusing Tai of a frame-up.
Chapter 37
The Girl with the Silver Eyes
The Continental Op investigates a complex case involving a mysterious woman with silver eyes, navigating a web of deception, crime, and danger in the urban underworld.
Chapter 38
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 39
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 40
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 41
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 42
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 43
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 44
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 45
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 46
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 47
The Bungalow Shootout
The Continental Op stakes out a bungalow in Farewell, observing Mrs. Ringgo and Sherry. He later witnesses Dolph Ringgo enter, followed by a violent gunfight. Breaking in, he finds Sherry wounded, Ringgo with a knife in his back and an empty gun, and Black Marcus advancing with a knife. The Op knocks out Marcus and manipulates Sherry's head to imply Ringgo killed Kavalov, then confronts Ringgo.
Chapter 48
XI
The Op reflects on the case against Ringgo, explaining how he deduced Ringgo's guilt and the partnership with Sherry. Ringgo confesses to killing Kavalov, detailing the scheme and Sherry's attempt to blackmail him. The chapter ends with Ringgo's execution.
Chapter 49
XII
The Continental Op returns to the agency and reports to the Old Man that the case is resolved. He explains that Papadopoulos knew Nancy Regan was Taylor Newhall's heiress and used her for a hiding place after bank jobs. Papadopoulos arranged the murder of Newhall via Barrows, which led to Tom-Tom Carey's investigation and a chain of violence. In the end, Papadopoulos, Carey, and Jack Counihan are dead, and the Op implies he manipulated events to protect the agency's reputation.
Chapter 50
XIII
The Continental Op is captured by Big Flora and Pogy in the kitchen of the house on Turk Street. After being disarmed and choked, he awakens to find himself guarded by a terrified little old man and Nancy Regan. Gunfire erupts upstairs as police close in, and the old man frantically offers to betray the others in exchange for escape.
Chapter 51
XIV
The Continental Op is manipulated by an old man into ambushing and subduing Red O'Leary, Pogy, and Big Flora in a cellar, only to realize the old man's scheme is a trap. He ultimately turns the tables, locking the old man and a girl in a room, and regains control of the situation.
Chapter 52
Chapter XV
The Continental Op frees himself and the police from the barricaded house, turning over Big Flora, Pogy, and Red O'Leary. He releases Nancy Regan and the old man. Bluepoint Vance is shot while trying to escape and reveals that Papadopoulos was the true mastermind behind the operation, having manipulated everyone including the Op.
Chapter 53
XVI
The Op wakes to find Gyp Rainey in a state of hysterical confession, admitting he killed Nisbet on Bardell's orders. The Op confronts Bardell, who is killed in a shootout. Later, Milk River, driven by suspicion, challenges the Op to a gunfight, but the Op's gun misfires due to a broken firing-pin. Clio Landes confesses to tampering with the gun, and Milk River strikes her before collapsing in remorse.
Chapter 54
Chapter XVII
The Continental Op awakens in bed recovering from his wound, with Dr. Haley treating him. He instructs Milk River to arrest the Jew for killing Slim Vogel, suggesting a self-defense story to elicit a confession. Clio Landes visits, tearfully apologizing for tricking him with his gun, but the Op forgives her repeatedly. Milk River eventually reconciles with Clio after the Op's advice. The Jew confesses to killing Slim over a $1.10 debt, and the Op explains his deductive reasoning: the Jew's excessive cleaning of his floor indicated he had scrubbed bloodstains, leading to the conclusion that Slim was killed in the shack.
Chapter 55
XVIII
The narrator drives the unnamed woman to jail, wrestling with his own conflicted emotions after she confesses her feelings for him. He recalls how she manipulated Porky Grout into sacrificing himself, reinforcing his resolve to remain detached despite her allure.
Chapter 56
XIX
The Continental Op confronts Cara Kenbrook, accusing her of forging a check, manipulating Burke Pangburn, and orchestrating his murder. After a tense car ride, she is booked under a false name and whispers a vile epithet to him before being led to her cell.
Chapter 57
Women, Politics & Murder
The Continental Op interviews Mrs. Gilmore, the widow of a murdered building contractor, who suspects her husband's mistress Cara Kenbrook of the killing. After visiting the crime scene, the Op returns to find the maid offers to sell information about the murder. The maid reveals that Mrs. Gilmore followed her husband the night he was killed. Later, the Op confronts Cara Kenbrook and Stanley Tennant, who frame the Op for assaulting Cara.
Chapter 58
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 59
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 60
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 61
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 62
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 63
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 64
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 65
The Golden Horseshoe
The Continental Op investigates a series of connected crimes involving arson, forgery, and murder, navigating a web of deception and violence in the urban underworld.
Chapter 66
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 67
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 68
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 69
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 70
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 71
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 72
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 73
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 74
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 75
Who Killed Bob Teal?
The Continental Op learns that his protégé Bob Teal has been murdered while shadowing Herbert Whitacre, a partner in a land development firm suspected of embezzlement. The investigation reveals that Whitacre's partner Ogburn is the actual killer, having framed Whitacre for the murder to cover up his own thefts. The chapter details the setup, the murder, and the eventual unraveling of Ogburn's scheme.
Chapter 76
Mike or Alec or Rufus
The Continental Op investigates the Coplin jewelry robbery, interviewing the victim Jacob Coplin, his family, the maid, and the janitor. The robber, a small, light-complected young man, shot Coplin in the leg, forced the family into a closet, and escaped after assaulting neighbor Blanche Eveleth. The Op gathers descriptions and begins checking tenants and building staff.
Chapter 77
The Whosis Kid
The Continental Op is hired by a mysterious woman, Mrs. Inés Almad, to protect her from a man named Papadopoulos. The Op soon finds himself entangled in a web of deception involving a stolen car, a dead man named Gilmore, and a series of double-crosses. He is drugged, kidnapped, and eventually confronts the Whosis Kid, a ruthless gunman, leading to a violent showdown in the desert.
Chapter 78
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 79
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 80
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 81
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 82
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 83
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 84
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 85
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 86
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 87
The Bungalow Shootout
The Continental Op stakes out a bungalow in Farewell, observing Mrs. Ringgo and Sherry. He later witnesses Dolph Ringgo enter, followed by a violent gunfight. Breaking in, he finds Sherry wounded, Ringgo with a knife in his back and an empty gun, and Black Marcus advancing with a knife. The Op knocks out Marcus and manipulates Sherry's head to imply Ringgo killed Kavalov, then confronts Ringgo.
Chapter 88
XI
The Op reflects on the case against Ringgo, explaining how he deduced Ringgo's guilt and the partnership with Sherry. Ringgo confesses to killing Kavalov, detailing the scheme and Sherry's attempt to blackmail him. The chapter ends with Ringgo's execution.
Chapter 89
XII
The Continental Op returns to the agency and reports to the Old Man that the case is resolved. He explains that Papadopoulos knew Nancy Regan was Taylor Newhall's heiress and used her for a hiding place after bank jobs. Papadopoulos arranged the murder of Newhall via Barrows, which led to Tom-Tom Carey's investigation and a chain of violence. In the end, Papadopoulos, Carey, and Jack Counihan are dead, and the Op implies he manipulated events to protect the agency's reputation.
Chapter 90
XIII
The Continental Op is captured by Big Flora and Pogy in the kitchen of the house on Turk Street. After being disarmed and choked, he awakens to find himself guarded by a terrified little old man and Nancy Regan. Gunfire erupts upstairs as police close in, and the old man frantically offers to betray the others in exchange for escape.
Chapter 91
The Scorched Face
The Continental Op investigates a series of connected crimes involving arson, forgery, and murder, navigating a web of deception and violence in the urban underworld.
Chapter 92
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 93
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 94
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 95
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 96
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 97
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 98
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 99
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 100
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 101
The Bungalow Shootout
The Continental Op stakes out a bungalow in Farewell, observing Mrs. Ringgo and Sherry. He later witnesses Dolph Ringgo enter, followed by a violent gunfight. Breaking in, he finds Sherry wounded, Ringgo with a knife in his back and an empty gun, and Black Marcus advancing with a knife. The Op knocks out Marcus and manipulates Sherry's head to imply Ringgo killed Kavalov, then confronts Ringgo.
Chapter 102
XI
The Op reflects on the case against Ringgo, explaining how he deduced Ringgo's guilt and the partnership with Sherry. Ringgo confesses to killing Kavalov, detailing the scheme and Sherry's attempt to blackmail him. The chapter ends with Ringgo's execution.
Chapter 103
Corkscrew
The Continental Op arrives in the desolate mining town of Corkscrew to investigate the murder of Slim Vogel. He navigates a web of suspects including the volatile Babe McCloor, the mysterious Whosis Kid, and the local lawman Bluepoint Vance, uncovering tensions tied to a stolen car and a hidden woman.
Chapter 104
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 105
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 106
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 107
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 108
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 109
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 110
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 111
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 112
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 113
The Bungalow Shootout
The Continental Op stakes out a bungalow in Farewell, observing Mrs. Ringgo and Sherry. He later witnesses Dolph Ringgo enter, followed by a violent gunfight. Breaking in, he finds Sherry wounded, Ringgo with a knife in his back and an empty gun, and Black Marcus advancing with a knife. The Op knocks out Marcus and manipulates Sherry's head to imply Ringgo killed Kavalov, then confronts Ringgo.
Chapter 114
XI
The Op reflects on the case against Ringgo, explaining how he deduced Ringgo's guilt and the partnership with Sherry. Ringgo confesses to killing Kavalov, detailing the scheme and Sherry's attempt to blackmail him. The chapter ends with Ringgo's execution.
Chapter 115
XII
The Continental Op returns to the agency and reports to the Old Man that the case is resolved. He explains that Papadopoulos knew Nancy Regan was Taylor Newhall's heiress and used her for a hiding place after bank jobs. Papadopoulos arranged the murder of Newhall via Barrows, which led to Tom-Tom Carey's investigation and a chain of violence. In the end, Papadopoulos, Carey, and Jack Counihan are dead, and the Op implies he manipulated events to protect the agency's reputation.
Chapter 116
XIII
The Continental Op is captured by Big Flora and Pogy in the kitchen of the house on Turk Street. After being disarmed and choked, he awakens to find himself guarded by a terrified little old man and Nancy Regan. Gunfire erupts upstairs as police close in, and the old man frantically offers to betray the others in exchange for escape.
Chapter 117
XIV
The Continental Op is manipulated by an old man into ambushing and subduing Red O'Leary, Pogy, and Big Flora in a cellar, only to realize the old man's scheme is a trap. He ultimately turns the tables, locking the old man and a girl in a room, and regains control of the situation.
Chapter 118
Chapter XV
The Continental Op frees himself and the police from the barricaded house, turning over Big Flora, Pogy, and Red O'Leary. He releases Nancy Regan and the old man. Bluepoint Vance is shot while trying to escape and reveals that Papadopoulos was the true mastermind behind the operation, having manipulated everyone including the Op.
Chapter 119
XVI
The Op wakes to find Gyp Rainey in a state of hysterical confession, admitting he killed Nisbet on Bardell's orders. The Op confronts Bardell, who is killed in a shootout. Later, Milk River, driven by suspicion, challenges the Op to a gunfight, but the Op's gun misfires due to a broken firing-pin. Clio Landes confesses to tampering with the gun, and Milk River strikes her before collapsing in remorse.
Chapter 120
Chapter XVII
The Continental Op awakens in bed recovering from his wound, with Dr. Haley treating him. He instructs Milk River to arrest the Jew for killing Slim Vogel, suggesting a self-defense story to elicit a confession. Clio Landes visits, tearfully apologizing for tricking him with his gun, but the Op forgives her repeatedly. Milk River eventually reconciles with Clio after the Op's advice. The Jew confesses to killing Slim over a $1.10 debt, and the Op explains his deductive reasoning: the Jew's excessive cleaning of his floor indicated he had scrubbed bloodstains, leading to the conclusion that Slim was killed in the shack.
Chapter 121
Dead Yellow Women
The Continental Op investigates a complex case involving a dead woman found in a Chinatown alley, leading him through a web of deception, violence, and shifting identities among the criminal underworld.
Chapter 122
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 123
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 124
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 125
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 126
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 127
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 128
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 129
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 130
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 131
The Bungalow Shootout
The Continental Op stakes out a bungalow in Farewell, observing Mrs. Ringgo and Sherry. He later witnesses Dolph Ringgo enter, followed by a violent gunfight. Breaking in, he finds Sherry wounded, Ringgo with a knife in his back and an empty gun, and Black Marcus advancing with a knife. The Op knocks out Marcus and manipulates Sherry's head to imply Ringgo killed Kavalov, then confronts Ringgo.
Chapter 132
XI
The Op reflects on the case against Ringgo, explaining how he deduced Ringgo's guilt and the partnership with Sherry. Ringgo confesses to killing Kavalov, detailing the scheme and Sherry's attempt to blackmail him. The chapter ends with Ringgo's execution.
Chapter 133
The Gutting of Couffignal
The Continental Op is hired to protect the wealthy residents of Couffignal during a wedding celebration, but a coordinated gang of thieves led by a mysterious mastermind stages a massive heist, looting the island's mansions and engaging in a violent shootout. The Op must navigate betrayal, deception, and a complex web of criminal alliances to uncover the truth and stop the rampage.
Chapter 134
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 135
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 136
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 137
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 138
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 139
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 140
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 141
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 142
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 143
Creeping Siamese
The Continental Op investigates a series of connected crimes involving arson, forgery, and murder, navigating a web of deception and violence in the urban underworld.
Chapter 144
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 145
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 146
The Big Knock-Over
The Continental Op visits a dive in San Francisco, encountering a host of criminals including Paddy the Mex, Angel Grace Cardigan, Bluepoint Vance, Red O'Leary, and others. After leaving, he is tipped off by a newsie named Beno about a planned heist on the Seaman's National Bank. Moments later, Beno is shot dead. The Op returns to the dive to find the criminals gone, and the police investigation yields nothing.
Chapter 147
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 148
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 149
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 150
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 151
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 152
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 153
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 154
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 155
The Bungalow Shootout
The Continental Op stakes out a bungalow in Farewell, observing Mrs. Ringgo and Sherry. He later witnesses Dolph Ringgo enter, followed by a violent gunfight. Breaking in, he finds Sherry wounded, Ringgo with a knife in his back and an empty gun, and Black Marcus advancing with a knife. The Op knocks out Marcus and manipulates Sherry's head to imply Ringgo killed Kavalov, then confronts Ringgo.
Chapter 156
XI
The Op reflects on the case against Ringgo, explaining how he deduced Ringgo's guilt and the partnership with Sherry. Ringgo confesses to killing Kavalov, detailing the scheme and Sherry's attempt to blackmail him. The chapter ends with Ringgo's execution.
Chapter 157
XII
The Continental Op returns to the agency and reports to the Old Man that the case is resolved. He explains that Papadopoulos knew Nancy Regan was Taylor Newhall's heiress and used her for a hiding place after bank jobs. Papadopoulos arranged the murder of Newhall via Barrows, which led to Tom-Tom Carey's investigation and a chain of violence. In the end, Papadopoulos, Carey, and Jack Counihan are dead, and the Op implies he manipulated events to protect the agency's reputation.
Chapter 158
XIII
The Continental Op is captured by Big Flora and Pogy in the kitchen of the house on Turk Street. After being disarmed and choked, he awakens to find himself guarded by a terrified little old man and Nancy Regan. Gunfire erupts upstairs as police close in, and the old man frantically offers to betray the others in exchange for escape.
Chapter 159
XIV
The Continental Op is manipulated by an old man into ambushing and subduing Red O'Leary, Pogy, and Big Flora in a cellar, only to realize the old man's scheme is a trap. He ultimately turns the tables, locking the old man and a girl in a room, and regains control of the situation.
Chapter 160
Chapter XV
The Continental Op frees himself and the police from the barricaded house, turning over Big Flora, Pogy, and Red O'Leary. He releases Nancy Regan and the old man. Bluepoint Vance is shot while trying to escape and reveals that Papadopoulos was the true mastermind behind the operation, having manipulated everyone including the Op.
Chapter 161
$106,000 Blood Money
The Continental Op navigates a complex web of crime, corruption, and violence in the urban underworld, investigating a series of interconnected cases involving arson, murder, and forgery while confronting dangerous criminals and corrupt officials.
Chapter 162
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 163
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 164
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 165
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 166
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 167
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 168
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 169
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 170
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 171
The Bungalow Shootout
The Continental Op stakes out a bungalow in Farewell, observing Mrs. Ringgo and Sherry. He later witnesses Dolph Ringgo enter, followed by a violent gunfight. Breaking in, he finds Sherry wounded, Ringgo with a knife in his back and an empty gun, and Black Marcus advancing with a knife. The Op knocks out Marcus and manipulates Sherry's head to imply Ringgo killed Kavalov, then confronts Ringgo.
Chapter 172
XI
The Op reflects on the case against Ringgo, explaining how he deduced Ringgo's guilt and the partnership with Sherry. Ringgo confesses to killing Kavalov, detailing the scheme and Sherry's attempt to blackmail him. The chapter ends with Ringgo's execution.
Chapter 173
XII
The Continental Op returns to the agency and reports to the Old Man that the case is resolved. He explains that Papadopoulos knew Nancy Regan was Taylor Newhall's heiress and used her for a hiding place after bank jobs. Papadopoulos arranged the murder of Newhall via Barrows, which led to Tom-Tom Carey's investigation and a chain of violence. In the end, Papadopoulos, Carey, and Jack Counihan are dead, and the Op implies he manipulated events to protect the agency's reputation.
Chapter 174
The Main Death
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Jeffrey Main, who was found shot in his apartment after returning from Los Angeles with $20,000. The police initially suspect a robbery-homicide, but the Op uncovers evidence pointing to suicide. Main had been robbed earlier, and his wife fabricated the robbery story to claim insurance money. The Op recovers most of the stolen money and confronts Bruno Gungen, revealing the truth while protecting Mrs. Main.
Chapter 175
This King Business
The Continental Op investigates a complex web of crime and deception involving a forged will, a missing heir, and a mysterious figure known as 'The King.' The Op navigates through a series of dangerous encounters and moral ambiguities, uncovering layers of corruption and betrayal among the wealthy and powerful.
Chapter 176
I: “Yes”—and “No”
The Continental Op arrives in Stefania, capital of Muravia, to investigate Lionel Grantham, a young American heir who has come into a large inheritance and is suspected of being swindled. He meets with U.S. chargé d'affaires Roy Scanlan, who provides background on Grantham's family and his sudden departure, and suggests consulting the Minister of Police, Vasilije Djudakovich.
Chapter 177
II: Romaine
The Continental Op visits the Minister of Police's office to inquire about Lionel Grantham. He meets Romaine Frankl, the Minister's secretary, who is a former vaudeville performer from the United States. After waiting for the Minister, Vasilije Djudakovich, to wake from his nap, Romaine interprets for the Op, and the Minister agrees to assist, asking the Op to return the next day.
Chapter 178
III: Shadowing
The Continental Op shadows Lionel Grantham to a restaurant, where he meets two men. Later, the Op follows a swarthy man who is accosted by a soldier, leading to a tense confrontation in the rain where the Op hides in a lumber pile and eventually overpowers the soldier.
Chapter 179
IV: Introductions
The Continental Op, after a dinner stroll, encounters a soldier attempting to ambush Lionel Grantham and Colonel Einarson. He disarms the soldier, and the trio takes him to a military barracks for interrogation. Colonel Einarson, using a mix of paternal and threatening tactics, prepares to whip the soldier to extract information, while Grantham watches uneasily.
Chapter 180
V: A Flogging
The Continental Op witnesses Colonel Einarson flogging a soldier for forty minutes to extract information, revealing the brutal discipline of the Muravian army. After the flogging, Einarson explains the soldier's motive: his son was sentenced to twenty years for attacking an officer. The Op fabricates a cover story about his past as a military intelligence captain and subsequent drift through Europe, hinting at shady jobs. Einarson and Grantham consider offering him alternative employment before he commits to the Minister of Police.
Chapter 181
VI: Cards on the Table
The Continental Op and Lionel Grantham return to the city after the night's excitement. In Grantham's room, the Op reveals that he was hired by Senator Walbourn to investigate Grantham's activities, and that the soldier who shot at them was paid by Mahmoud, not acting out of revenge. Grantham reacts with suspicion but maintains his composure, and the Op declares his job complete.
Chapter 182
VII: Lionel's Plans
Lionel Grantham confides in the Continental Op about his involvement in a revolutionary plot to become king of Muravia, revealing his motivations, fears, and the complications arising from Mahmoud's murder. The Op agrees to help him navigate the situation.
Chapter 183
VIII: An Enlightening Interview
The Continental Op visits Romaine Frankl at her home, where she explains the political history of Muravia and reveals that Lionel Grantham has been swindled by Mahmoud and Colonel Einarson into investing millions in a fake revolution.
Chapter 184
IX: Conjectures
The Continental Op questions Romaine Frankl about Vasilije Djudakovich, learning that the Minister of Police prioritizes personal comfort, which ironically makes him an effective administrator. The Op deduces that Colonel Einarson killed Mahmoud, suspecting Einarson aims to emulate the Shah of Persia by seizing power. Romaine, excited by the prospect of revolution, asks the Op to use and break Einarson for her, and the Op agrees to see what develops at a midnight meeting.
Chapter 185
Einarson in Control
The Continental Op returns to the hotel, arms himself, and joins Grantham and Colonel Einarson for a revolutionary meeting. Einarson takes command of the conspirators, quashing dissent with force and intimidation, including spitting in a country politician's face and having soldiers remove him. The revolution is set for early Thursday morning. After the meeting, the Op walks back, is tailed, knocks out his pursuer with a blackjack, and continues to Romaine Frankl's house.
Chapter 186
XI: A Romantic Interlude
The Continental Op visits Romaine Frankl in her room to report on the revolutionary meeting. They share a tense, intimate conversation about trust and love, while discussing the upcoming revolution and the need to eliminate Colonel Einarson afterward.
Chapter 187
XII: The Night Before
The Continental Op spends the evening with Einarson and Grantham, observing Einarson's leadership and revolutionary plans. He later visits Romaine, who is giddy with excitement about the upcoming revolution, before returning to his hotel to prepare for the morning's events.
Chapter 188
XIII: Progress Goes "Betune"
In the rain-soaked plaza, the Continental Op and Lionel Grantham meet with revolutionaries awaiting Colonel Einarson's arrival. A thin young man speaks rapidly in an unknown language, and a translator reports that the artillery has betrayed them, with guns being mounted to sweep the plaza at daybreak. Grantham's calm reply—'We can die'—inspires a strange warmth in the Op. Einarson's troops arrive, an officer announces 'this progress goes betune,' and the crowd cheers. Einarson escorts Grantham and the Op to the Administration Building amid a theatrical, celebratory atmosphere.
Chapter 189
XIV: Coronation
The Continental Op and Colonel Einarson oversee the revolutionary takeover of Muravia. After the President refuses to resign, the revolutionaries revoke the constitution. The Op, using a hidden automatic, forces Einarson to crown Lionel Grantham as King Lionel I. The Op then escorts Einarson to his hotel room, where he finds Romaine Frankl sewing.
Chapter 190
XV: Bargain Hunters
The Continental Op forces Colonel Einarson into a room at gunpoint, where Romaine Frankl is present. After subduing Einarson with physical force, the Op negotiates with Romaine and Vasilije Djudakovich for King Lionel Grantham's abdication in exchange for four million dollars and a safe train to Saloniki. Djudakovich agrees to handle Einarson and the army, while the Op remains wary of the fat minister's cold demeanor.
Chapter 191
XVI: Lionel Rex
The Continental Op confronts King Lionel Rex (Grantham) in the Executive Residence, forcing him to abdicate the throne of Muravia as part of a deal with Djudakovich. Grantham reluctantly signs his renunciation, and the Op returns to find his room empty and his belongings gone.
Chapter 192
Mob Law
Colonel Einarson is confronted by Djudakovich and Romaine in a tense standoff. Djudakovich reveals evidence linking Einarson to the assassination of General Radnjak, then physically throws Einarson to the mob, who tear him apart. The Op secures the abdication and leaves Muravia with Lionel Grantham and Valeska Radnjak, heading to Saloniki before returning to San Francisco.
Chapter 193
Flypaper
The Continental Op investigates a series of connected crimes involving arson, forgery, and murder, navigating a web of deception and violence in the urban underworld.
Chapter 194
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 195
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 196
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 197
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 198
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 199
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 200
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 201
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 202
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 203
The Bungalow Shootout
The Continental Op stakes out a bungalow in Farewell, observing Mrs. Ringgo and Sherry. He later witnesses Dolph Ringgo enter, followed by a violent gunfight. Breaking in, he finds Sherry wounded, Ringgo with a knife in his back and an empty gun, and Black Marcus advancing with a knife. The Op knocks out Marcus and manipulates Sherry's head to imply Ringgo killed Kavalov, then confronts Ringgo.
Chapter 204
The Farewell Murder
The Continental Op investigates a complex case involving a series of murders and deceptions in the criminal underworld, navigating through layers of betrayal and violence to uncover the truth.
Chapter 205
I
The Continental Op arrives at Farewell and is met by a flat-faced man who drives him toward Kavalov's. During the drive through a wooded tunnel, the driver screams in terror at the sight of a black man lying in the road with a knife in his chest. The Op takes control of the car and drives back to investigate, but finds no body, blood, or footprints. The flat-faced man has disappeared, confirming that Kavalov may indeed need a detective.
Chapter 206
Chapter II
The Continental Op arrives at Kavalov's isolated concrete house after being deserted by the chauffeur. He is let in by a nervous boy, greeted by a red-faced woman, and shown to his room. After freshening up, he overhears a tense conversation among three voices—a nasal whine, a cheerful baritone, and a flat feminine voice—discussing a possible killing before entering the room.
Chapter 207
III
The Continental Op dines with Theodore Kavalov, his daughter Mrs. Ringgo, and her husband Dolph Ringgo. Kavalov explains that a former British army captain, Hugh Sherry, has come to terrorize him and threatens to kill him, twelve years after Kavalov's business dealings led to Sherry's disgrace. Ringgo has already had his arm broken by Sherry. The Op is hired to prevent the murder. During dinner, a fire is reported in the upper field, and the Op goes to investigate with Ringgo.
Chapter 208
IV
The narrator and Ringgo investigate a disturbing scene in the woods: a puppy has been killed, cleaned, and spitted over a fire in a crude, theatrical display. Ringgo reveals his belief that the perpetrator is a man from his past in Cairo, now seemingly unhinged, who is staying in a nearby cottage. They extinguish the fire and return to the house.
Chapter 209
V
The Op visits Captain Sherry for breakfast, where Sherry recounts a prophetic dream of Kavalov's death and discusses the voice from an orange tree that sent him to Farewell. After breakfast, the Op finds a vantage point to surveil Sherry's bungalow, then returns to find Ringgo and Kavalov, noting Kavalov's throat is uncut.
Chapter 210
Chapter VI
The Continental Op investigates the murder of Theodore Kavalov, whose throat was cut in his bed. The sheriff and deputies find the knife discarded in shrubbery. Suspicion falls on Captain Sherry, who fled to Los Angeles with his servant Marcus. The Op examines Sherry's bungalow, finding fingerprints and a note, but no clear leads.
Chapter 211
VII
Sherry and Marcus are captured in Spokane after a two-week manhunt. Sherry denies murdering Kavalov, claiming his actions were guided by a dream. The district attorney struggles to place them near the crime scene. The Op investigates their alibi, discovering they were in San Pedro at the time of the murder, undermining the case.
Chapter 212
VIII
The district attorney is frustrated after Sherry is acquitted due to a blown alibi. The Continental Op suggests holding Sherry and Marcus, predicting they won't seek release. A new witness, Archibald Weeks, initially identifies Sherry but crumbles under cross-examination, leading to Sherry's freedom.
Chapter 213
IX
Mrs. Ringgo visits the Continental Op in distress, fearing that Sherry's associates have returned to threaten her husband Dolph's life. She hires the Op to protect him without Dolph's knowledge, and the Op agrees to travel to Farewell.
Chapter 214
The Bungalow Shootout
The Continental Op stakes out a bungalow in Farewell, observing Mrs. Ringgo and Sherry. He later witnesses Dolph Ringgo enter, followed by a violent gunfight. Breaking in, he finds Sherry wounded, Ringgo with a knife in his back and an empty gun, and Black Marcus advancing with a knife. The Op knocks out Marcus and manipulates Sherry's head to imply Ringgo killed Kavalov, then confronts Ringgo.
Chapter 215
XI
The Op reflects on the case against Ringgo, explaining how he deduced Ringgo's guilt and the partnership with Sherry. Ringgo confesses to killing Kavalov, detailing the scheme and Sherry's attempt to blackmail him. The chapter ends with Ringgo's execution.
Chapter 216
Death and Company
The Continental Op investigates the kidnapping of Mrs. Chappell, orchestrated by a group calling themselves Death & Company. The case takes a dark turn when Mrs. Chappell is found murdered, and the Op uncovers that her husband, Martin Chappell, staged the kidnapping to cover up his crime. The chapter culminates in a violent confrontation with Dick Moley, who kills Chappell before being apprehended.
