William Thomas Cochrane is an agent with the F.B.I.
The first time we meet Special Agent Cochrane, the year is 1939. America in general seems to be determined to maintain neutrality in the fights against Germany in Europe and Japan in Asia, at least Congress it; the President is very much for aiding England and France. Germany for its part knows how dangerous America can be with its shipments of vital war materials so it has secretly invaded the country with its agents acting both as saboteurs and as intelligence gatherers.
It had been a string of highly suspect incidents which slowed or even stopped vital shipments to England that caused the President to want a special investigator to find whoever was spearheading the attacks. Because of a successful case handled by the Bureau which involved infiltrating a man into Germany who returned with valuable intelligence, Roosevelt had an idea who should be that lead detective and forced Hoover to agree. That agent was Cochrane.
Cochrane is, in 1939, 33 years old with sandy, blondish hair. "His eyes were sharp and his complexion slightly ruddy and sun-beaten, the result of long weekend hikes through the Maryland countryside. He looked younger than his years, however."
He had been an agent with the Bureau since writing directly to Director Hoover applying for a job and explaining how he was been for several years "a banker and an investigator for the international division" of a bank in Atlanta. He went on to explain he was fluent in both French and German and felt, with Europe starting down the road to war, he had traits that would be needed by the F.B.I. It has been the rise to chancellorship of Hitler that prompted the move.
Now with a call from the Director himself, Cochrane will begin a series of dangerous assignments which will greatly affect his life and future.