Igor Yevgenyevich Pobortsev, a former employee of the Criminal Investigation Department, who afterwards worked as chief of the security service at one of the most prestigious Moscow banks, since the collapse of this establishment and the mysterious disappearance of its leadership has been an unemployed. The involuntary idleness and the total absence of money make him feel rather depressed. Quite unexpectedly, one day he receives a letter with a tempting but much too vague offer, which, as it appears, means both an interesting job and a fortune. Although Pobortsev''s life experience keeps telling him that something must be wrong here (too great is the promised award and too unclear are his would-be duties), the man does not think twice to agree with all the clauses of the contract. In order to receive further directions of his client, who has expressed a wish to remain incognito, he takes a plane to the city denoted in the letter…