Continental Op Stories · Character

Dick Foley

A Continental operative who rents front apartments and trails whistlers through Market Street dives, then reports back with the dry precision of a man who's been rained on.

supporting

Also known as Dick, Rick, Foley

First appearance: arson plus

As a supporting figure in Continental Op Stories, Dick Foley is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Shadow specialist for the agency; shadows Orrett and reports his activities to the Op.

In the storyBodies Piled UpOpen this moment free

See Dick Foley in Bodies Piled Up Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Foley is the Op's reliable second set of eyes, the man who tails The Whistler from Big Fat Thomson's to the Glenway and back, and who gets handed the swarthy shadower when the Op needs Carey's tail turned inside out. He grumbles about jumping in and out of taxis but does the work, and his reports are the quiet machinery that keeps the Op's guesses honest. Without him the case would be all instinct and no corroboration.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Dick Foley sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Dick Foley in arson plus

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it presents the ultimate test of the Op's will and control: he mus…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

In the story

Dick Foley appears across 20 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Bodies Piled Up
Shadow specialist for the agency; shadows Orrett and reports his activities to the Op.
IV
Receives the woman from the Op.
VI
Reports on Mrs. Estep's inactivity; instructed to watch her flat instead of shadowing her.
Chapter XI
Assigned by the Op to tail Kilcourse; described as a skilled shadow.
XII
Reports losing track of a suspect but is instructed to try again with a car handy.
VI
Sent to Sacramento to investigate the abandoned Locomobile.
VII
Shadows Raymond Elwood and later surveils the yellow house with the Op; spots Myra Banbrock entering the house through a cellar window.
Chapter X
Tasked with escorting Myra Banbrock home.
III
Assigned to shadow Dummy Uhl; signals the Op after the shooting.
IV
Mentioned as having shadowed Dummy Uhl to Waverly Place.
V
Rents an apartment near the Irvington and trails The Whistler to the Glenway Apartments.
VII
Mentioned as having failed to shadow The Whistler the previous night.
I
Originally slated for the job but was unable due to a black eye.
III
Sent with Jack Counihan to North Beach to pick up leads.
VII
Assigned to shadow Angel Grace Cardigan.
IV
Calls the Op with a stammering message to come to Harbor Hospital.
V
Rescues Angel Grace from the bay; provides a description of the man she met the previous night; is tasked with tailing Carey's shadower.
Chapter VI
Reports tailing Sam Arlie, identifies him as a barber, and later reports Arlie's murder by Carey.
VII
Reports on tailing Carey and the shooting of Arlie; assigned to shadow Carey continuously.
VIII
Mentioned as riding in one of the trailing cars for backup.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Dick Foley unlock in the free preview.

See Dick Foley in arson plus

See Dick Foley in Bodies Piled Up