templar is abducted by one of the remaining crime lords and two corrupt, high-ranking new york city officials offer him $200,000 to reveal who is backing him. templar claims to be working on his own, and the crime lord orders templar to be taken for the proverbial "ride". templar is taken to a remote location in new jersey but manages to escape his fate thanks to the intervention of fay edwards, a beautiful young woman who happens to be a cold-blooded killer, and who claims to be working for the big fellow. simon templar and fay edwards fall in love with each other, in a completely platonic way (they exchange only two kisses and exchange only a few words) which seems nevertheless very deep and poignantly emotional. (on his return to london, in the last page of the book, templar would refuse to tell patricia holm about his american experiences.)