In Long Beach a local bar-girl, Dolores Chapman, has been murdered and the investigation centers around the crew of the submarine USS Moray. Part of the evidence is a crushed lens found next to the body and by accident in the shoe of Seaman Robert Chapman. Cmdr. James Page, previous captain of the Moray, is involved in testing new equipment from Alpha Electronics. He meets with Alpha spokesmen Gordon Russell and Lou Hansford to set up the test, and finds that his father-in-law, Anthony Beldon, has bought into the company. Beldon consults Perry Mason about suing the U. S. Navy and relieving Page of his command, which Perry ultimately declines after Page is found dead. Cmdr. Page is found stabbed to death with a screwdriver owned by Chapman. Robert Chapman, Delores' husband and member of the Moray's crew, becomes a prime suspect in both murders. He admits to Perry he was married to Dolores. Perry is retained anonymously with $5,000 in crisp new $100 bills to defend Chapman.
—richardann