Enredo

Cabot Cove's townspeople are concerned about a proposed massive coastline development. It's more complicated for Jessica as the development company in question employs her nephew, Grady. Soon, malfeasance and murder are ushered in.

There's commotion in Cabot Cove about a rumored plan to build a car plant. Dr. Seth Hazlitt allegedly called it a health risk. Jessica Fletcher's nephew, Grady Fletcher, is phoned by his boss J. Peter Carmody. Grady tells Carmody everything is all right. He reports later that Seth is campaigning to save the lighthouse, but nobody knows yet about their bay development project. Everett Buffum is pulled from Carmody's party by his wife Lorna, but refuses to reconsider leaving her, then is told by the boss to get rid of her, now. Denver Martin sneaks into and searches Carmody's hotel room during the development presentation and steals a letter. He's in time to stop Lorna pulling a gun, overseen silently by Jessica who turns both over to the sheriff, who must release Lorna as Everett refuses to press charges but orders her out of town. Seth has a hard time turning his tail, having raved against Carmody, after Grady tells him the project includes a lighthouse restoration. Jessica learns the bank refused Grady's loan application because Carmody's company Colombus Ventures has no credit history at all, but the sheriff accepts Grady's word and some evidence the company is legit. The estate agent was refusing to do business until Carmody assures her that local businesses will get first crack at leases and her firm becomes their exclusive agent, which change of plans startles Grady. Lorna threatens to have her husband and his mistress, Toni Shaw, thrown in jail by telling the truth about Colombus Ventures. Lorna is killed, her body in her car which is found floating in the ocean, after failing to show up for an appointment with the sheriff. Evidence of an unexplained detour is enough for Jessica to start snooping and, indeed, her seat belt wasn't defective. It was murder staged as an accident. Grady is depressed after Everett pulls the plug and convinces Carmody to start selling shares to small investors instead. Toni and Carmody chuckle after he leaves and promptly disappear with the money.—KGF Vissers

In Cabot Cove, Jessica Fletcher's nephew Grady has a new job with Columbus Ventures, a company that is planning a major housing and commercial complex in the area. The company's backers - Peter Carmody, Everett Buffum and Toni Shaw - obviously have big plans and host a reception for the Cabot cove community to present their ideas. Sheriff Metzger has checked them out and all seems on the up and up. Buffum's wife Lorna, however, a gin-swilling alcoholic, doesn't appear to be a happy camper and even pulls a gun on her husband at the reception, only to be stopped by Denver Martin, who has his own ax to grind with the principals behind Columbus Ventures. When Lorna is killed and Everett withdraws from the consortium, it's Grady who suggests that they seek small local investors for the scheme - which turns out to be a scam. For Jessic,a however, solving the murder becomes the priority.—garykmcd