The body of a self-made millionaire is found floating in his swimming pool two days after he was arrested by the Serious Fraud Office, having been siphoning funds to fund a lavish lifestyle with a wife and two mistresses. Commissioner Branton asks Blake to oversee the investigation into the death. DCI James soon discovers that the women knew all about about each other, and believes that each had a motive for murder.

A post mortem examination shows that Donald Griffith died from a blow to the neck, and not by drowning, supporting DCI James's theory that one or other of the women in his life had decided to profit from his death. Dutch detective Van Hauten arrives with a possible solution, and designs on Commander Blake.