In the assassination game, the term Dead Man's Handle means a contract on a person that only become valid when the issuer is dead or incapacitated. As long as the issuer remains free to periodically make contact, the victim is untouched. When the evil Doctor Thaddeus Pilgrim, leader of a bizarre 'religious sect' dedicated to answering that strangest of prayers, mistakenly feels that Modesty Blaise is after him, he knows he has to destroy her to survive. This will prove difficult, even when Willie is brainwashed against her.