King's Curse

After a congressman is found with his heart removed, Smith sends Remo and Chiun to identify the killer and secure a public conviction while CURE is nearly shut down by congressional investigations. A second heart-removal victim, Ramona Delpheen, and a photocopy demanding Joey 172 direct Remo to the Museum of Natural History and graffiti writer Joey. Director James Willingham leads a group devoted to the carved Uctut stone; he says the Actatl killed the congressman and Delpheen after they refused his request for guards and intends to sacrifice Joey. Remo kills the attackers, but Willingham dies by his own knife. Jean Louis deJuin accepts leadership from his uncle Carl and shifts toward taking the power of Remo and Chiun’s organization.

Justice Department official William Reddington admits he killed the congressman and is killed by Remo. Actatl followers kidnap Bobbi Delpheen and try to sacrifice her; Chiun interrupts them. Joey is found dead with a “Maine next” message, and Remo interprets it as a threat against Smith. At Smith’s Maine cabin, twelve Actatl attack; Remo and Chiun kill them, while Smith fatally shoots Bobbi when she aims at the pair. Bobbi reveals she is Actatl and dies. Remo disposes of thirteen bodies. Valerie stages a public Uctut theft and broadcasts its secret name; believers see no divine response and begin doubting the stone. Remo and Chiun find deJuin; Chiun throws him onto Uctut and kills him, while Remo plants a false confession note. Smith returns to Folcroft. Character accounts of Actatl history, motives, and Uctut’s power remain attributed rather than independently verified.