While Meres interrogates a man calling himself Ross (Roger Bizley), who is also a Russian agent - real name Roscovitch - Hunter manages to gain Callan’s interest by mentioning Belukov (Frederick Jaeger). Belukov killed a girl Callan was involved with some years before, though he is now no longer active in the field, but remains in the Russian Embassy in London where he works as a spymaster.

The Marshalls are due to return to Russia very soon, and Roscovitch has been sent to replace them. With him in the hands of the Section, Callan is sent to the pet shop, posing as Roscovitch, where he soon becomes friendly with the Marshalls. Callan goes to his room above a pub opposite the pet shop, where Hunter is waiting with him, with orders to get a message to Belukov, saying that the Marshalls are about to defect. This should bring Belukov out of the embassy to kill them.

Nadia shows Callan the first dead letter box, which is in a London Underground lift. As they enter the lift, they pass a man, Chelenko (Jonathan Burn), who has left a drawing pin containing a microdot under the bench inside. Chelenko does not recognise Callan, and reports back to Belukov, who decides to check this stranger out. He sends Chelenko to the pet shop, but Callan remembers him from the lift, and suggests to Nadia that he may be a British agent, and that she should get rid of him.

Slipping out the back way, Callan makes his way back to his room over the pub, where Meres is waiting to tell him Belukov’s codename: Oliver Cromwell. Meanwhile, Marshall arrives back at the shop carrying food sacks, showing obvious signs of exhaustion, which worries Nadia greatly.

In his room, Callan prepares a microdot for Belukov, carrying the message of the Marshalls’ apparent defection, and calls Lonely to the room, instructing him to deposit the drawing pin under the bench of the same Underground lift. At that moment, Nadia phones from across the road saying her father has collapsed and is very ill.

With this news, Callan tells Lonely to forget it. A doctor (Kenneth Benda) examines Marshall, and warns Nadia that traveling will only worsen his condition. Callan makes known his fury to Hunter for using a man who has only a couple of months to live, and reveals that he has not sent the message to Belukov.

Hunter tells Callan that it no longer matters, as he has set Roscovitch free to run back to the embassy to tell Belukov that the Marshalls are working with Callan. Belukov will come out to kill them anyway. As planned, Roscovitch reports all he knows to Belukov, who decides to take matters into his own hands and leaves for the shop.

While Meres trains a rifle on the shop entrance from the position of Callan’s room - just in case Callan fails to kill Belukov - Callan prepares for Belukov’s arrival at the shop.

Lonely is summoned by Hunter to go to the shop with a message for Callan to phone him when Belukov is dead. The message is delivered, but it becomes clear to Nadia that Callan isn’t Roscovitch, and she draws a gun on him and Lonely. Callan disarms her, and tells Lonely to keep her covered with the gun.

An RSPCA van pulls up outside, and the uniformed driver enters the shop. It is Belukov. Callan is caught unawares and unarmed. As he goes for his gun, a shot rings out, but it is Belukov who falls, as Nadia fires with her gun. After a phone call from Lonely, Hunter and Meres descend to the shop, while Callan smuggles the injured Belukov out to the RSPCA van, and back up to the room.

From there he bargains with Hunter: either the Marshalls are allowed to reach the airport, or Belukov will be returned to the embassy. In time, Callan receives a call from Lonely saying the Marshalls are on the plane, but Callan is saved from having to kill Belukov, who dies from his injuries.

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