剧情

Charlie Clay runs a ship building business owned by his father-in-law, Commodore Otis Swanson, who is not happy with the wastrel's shady dealings. Nor is he pleased with any of the people closest to him, including his alcoholic daughter Joanna Clay, his elderly nephew Swanny Swanson or his lawyer Kittering. Soon the Commodore is murdered; and Charlie Clay covers it up by impersonating the Commodore, taking the corpse out on the man's yawl at night and throwing the body overboard. Lt. Columbo investigates this case with the help of a veteran sergeant and a 29-year-old novice. The rumpled, redoubtable detective knows Clay covered up the crime. But his assumption that Clay committed the crime may prove premature. c89 Written by J. Spurlin Commodore Otis Swanson is tired of seeing his once-upstanding shipbuilding business turned into a faceless behemoth by his greedy son-in-law, Charles Clay. At a celebration of the Commodore's birthday, the crusty old sailor tells Clay, his drunken daughter Joanna, his nephew Swanny, and employees Kittering and Wayne Taylor that he intends to sell the company. The Commodore vanishes at sea that night, and Lieutenant Columbo thinks Clay as something to do with it. But the road to the truth is filled with surprises that even Columbo won't expect. Written by Leaper