The File of the Golden Goose

A trail of counterfeit hundred-dollar bills surfaces in multiple locations around the world, drawing the attention of the U.S. Secret Service. They assign their top operative, Pete Novak, to uncover who is producing and distributing the fakes. The case is treated as a high-priority threat requiring swift, coordinated action worldwide.

Pete Novak realises the assignment demands his full attention, so he breaks up with his girlfriend to devote himself to the investigation. He resolves that personal sacrifices are necessary to uncover the network behind the counterfeits. The decision marks a turning point in his personal life as well as his professional mission.

Before he can begin his search, a gang of hoodlums drives by and fires at him from outside his home. He fights back, killing the attackers in self-defense, but the act reveals the danger is closer than he thought. The attackers' involvement suggests someone inside the service tipped them off about the assignment, making the case personal and dangerous.

The girlfriend's death deepens Pete's determination to crack the counterfeit network. He travels across the Atlantic to London to consult with Scotland Yard, which is leading the European counterfeit investigation. The trip marks a shift from America-based investigation to international coordination.

In London, Pete meets Superintendent Sloane, who arranges for him to be partnered with Arthur Thompson. The partnership combines Pete's intensity with Arthur's steady, experienced approach. Together, they begin the undercover mission against the counterfeit operation.

Arthur Thompson, a happily married, jovial detective, helps keep Pete grounded and focused. He navigates the cultural and professional tensions between Pete's single-minded pursuit and his own domestic commitments. Their dynamic becomes central to the undercover plan.

Pete and Arthur begin infiltrating the counterfeit organization by posing as members of the Golden Goose gang. Their undercover identities are carefully maintained to hide their true purpose from the gang's leadership. The ruse allows them to observe operations from within and gather critical intelligence.

The head of the illegal operation, The Owl Harrison, remains unaware of the true identities of Pete and Arthur. They maneuver to avoid exposure while continuing to gather evidence. Their deceptive cover is essential to staying inside the operation long enough to stop it.

Through their undercover roles, Pete and Arthur uncover the inner workings of the counterfeit network. They observe how the network conducts distribution and identify key players and vulnerabilities. Their efforts build toward a decisive action to shut the operation down.

Pete and Arthur enable authorities to disrupt and halt the counterfeit operation. The evidence gathered from within the Golden Goose gang leads to arrests or shutdown of the distribution network. The operation's collapse marks a major breakthrough in the case.

With the undercover exposure and gathered evidence, The Owl Harrison's leadership and the broader network are dismantled. The gang's grip on counterfeit production weakens as law enforcement closes in. The mission achieves its objective: the operation is stopped.

Pete and Arthur reflect on the mission's success, noting how their partnership managed to prevail overseas. The case vindicates their risky undercover work and leads to a clear victory over the criminals. The story closes with a sense of justice served and the threat neutralized.