Background to Danger

Nazi Germany schemes to drag neutral Turkey into the war by staging an assassination attempt on Franz von Papen, the Turkish ambassador. The plan is pushed by Colonel Robinson, but von Papen survives and the Russians’ supposed alibis unsettle the Nazis’ narrative. Frustrated, Robinson pivots to a new tactic aimed at inflaming Turkey’s rivalry with Russia.

American machinery salesman Joe Barton boards the Baghdad–Istanbul Express at Aleppo and is drawn to Ana Remzi. Ana entrusts him with an envelope containing securities, asking him to hold onto it for her. He agrees, unaware that the envelope conceals maps and annotated documents crucial to both sides.

In Ankara, Joe returns the envelope to Ana’s hotel room but finds she has been fatally wounded. He hides as Soviet agent Nikolai Zaleshoff searches Ana’s luggage, and Tamara Zaleshoff spots Joe fleeing the scene. This encounter marks the first direct clash of the competing espionage sides.

Turkish police detain Joe for questioning and assign him to a German-influenced interrogation led by Mailler, who is after the maps. Before the Nazis can squeeze out more, Nikolai rescues Joe, revealing the Zaleshoffs’ true Soviet allegiance. The rescue shifts Joe’s loyalties and options.

Nikolai and Tamara reveal they are Soviet agents, and Joe agrees to fetch them the documents in exchange for cooperation. He discovers that his hotel room has been ransacked and the documents stolen, complicating their mission. The theft raises the stakes for the upcoming pursuit toward Istanbul.

Joe informs his U.S. boss, McNamara, that he is an American spy and is assigned Hassan as his assistant. The operation now focuses on moving toward Istanbul to recover or reveal the documents. The new partnership sets up the next leg of the tense chase.

In Istanbul, Robinson bribes a newspaper publisher to publish an article claiming the documents reveal secret Russian invasion plans for Turkey. The stunt is designed to derail Allied pressure and manufacture political turmoil intended to push Turkey toward the Nazis. The lie tests the resolve of all involved.

Joe barges in to confront the ringleaders, but is quickly captured, and the Zaleshoffs are taken as well. The group makes a desperate escape, during which Nikolai is killed, deepening the personal stakes for Joe and Tamara. The action highlights the fragility of every ally in wartime espionage.

Joe kidnaps a German embassy official to learn where Robinson has gone and what he is planning next. The move buys time and provides a clumsy but effective window into the Nazi operation’s logistics. The information gathered sharpens the sense of impending confrontation.

Joe reaches the newspaper and forces the Nazi ringleader to burn the maps, destroying the crucial documents. Robinson is handed over to the Turkish police and then to his superior, facing an uncertain future as he boards a plane in defeat. The act closes the immediate threat to Turkey and the mission’s primary objective is achieved.

With the maps burned, Robinson’s Nazi operation collapses. He is effectively sidelined by Turkish authorities and retreats by air, unable to salvage the plan. Joe and Tamara watch the fallout and prepare for what comes next.

Having tidied up the Istanbul chapter, Joe and Tamara head toward Cairo for their next espionage assignment, continuing their collaboration across borders. The journey underscores the ongoing, globe-spanning nature of their work. The narrative closes with the mission continuing beyond Turkey.