A phobic con artist and his protege are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the con artist’s teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly.

Count Contini masterminds the theft of $1 billion in U.S. gold being transported in Europe. This will cause gyrations in the world’s financial markets, and Contini will profit from it. ICE chief MacDonald summons Matt Helm, “busy” photographing women models. MacDonald, in effect, makes Matt a Judas Goat, exposing his cover and encouraging Contini to make a move against Matt. The ICE agent will deal with Contini’s former lover, current lover, a British woman agent, and Contini’s lovely Asian operative before the final showdown with the Count.