While Harry Orwell meets with a potential client out on the pier near his beach house, a man impersonating Harry is at his house. The impersonator kills a man in Harry's house then using Harry's car dumps the body about a mile from Harry's house. Lt. Trench and Sgt. Roberts know it's a frame but they have to arrest him based on the evidence. Harry is arrested, charged, and bound for trial but Trench continues to investigate. Harry breaks out of jail to find the woman who met him on the pier and figure out who she was working with to frame him. Trench, Roberts, and Harry's friend/neighbor Sue all try to help Harry in different ways. It all ties back to a case that Harry worked on when he was working for the San Diego police force.