Californian food tycoon Melville Horning dies, apparently drowned accidentally on a yacht cruise with his firm's four executive directors, actually murdered. The prime suspect, his security chief Jim Monroe, implores his former CSA colleagues to investigate, claiming jurisdiction as the recent machinations in the firm, probably inside trading, not only affected stock prices but also US export. Frank and Jane work out what's with a recent TV interview, allegedly live, the yacht cruise, each director's possible motives and the fifth executive who actually succeeded as CEO. Meanwhile good son Nick gets into trouble by trying to help his foolish brat sister cover up her reckless college fund speculation.