The Case of the Scorpion’s Tail

In London, Lisa Baumer continues her affair with George Barnet. She learns that Kurt has died in a plane explosion en route to Tokyo, leaving her a one-million-dollar life insurance payout in Athens. Lisa is pressed by her ex-lover Philip, who warns he will expose an incriminating letter unless she pays him off. Just before Lisa can act, a man with a facial scar murders Philip and steals the letter, as she arrives at his apartment.

Lisa travels to Athens to claim the million-dollar payout. Peter Lynch, an investigator for the insurance company, shadows her to uncover the truth behind Kurt's death and the missing letter.

In a hotel restaurant in Athens, Lisa tells Peter that she did not kill Kurt and that she knows his true identity. She asserts her innocence and denies any involvement in Kurt's death.

Lisa goes to meet Kurt's mistress Lara and her hitman Sharif. Lara accuses Lisa of planning Kurt's death and threatens to reveal the incriminating letter unless Lisa signs over half the payout. The confrontation raises the stakes and adds a potential motive for murder.

Lisa escapes with Peter's help. The next day she cashes the insurance check and plans to catch an evening flight to Tokyo to rendezvous with Barnet.

While investigating Kurt's villa, Sharif nearly runs Peter over. Soon after, Peter and hotel staff discover that Lisa has been murdered and that the payout money has been stolen.

Police inspector Stavros and Interpol agent Stanley begin the case. Stavros informs Peter that he is a suspect and confiscates his passport.

Peter tails Stanley to Lara's apartment. Lara insists to Stanley that she did not kill Lisa.

Peter meets Cléo, a journalist assigned to the case, and the two begin an affair. They decide to investigate together, pooling their resources.

Sharif ransacks Peter's hotel room but finds nothing to implicate him. Later, Lara and Sharif are murdered, removing two major suspects from the case.

Stanley tips Cléo about the murders. Peter acquires a photograph of Kurt wearing a scorpion cufflink and, with Cléo, theorizes that Kurt faked his own death, possibly with Barnet's help, to murder Lisa, Lara, Sharif, and Barnet to claim the payout while framing Peter.

They arrange for Peter to take a vacation with Cléo in the Saronic Gulf, pretending that he is a fugitive to lull Kurt into a false sense of security. During the getaway, Cléo discovers a sack containing one million dollars, and Peter reveals his plan to murder Kurt, Lisa, Lara, Sharif, and Barnet to claim the payout.

Cléo attempts to escape by signaling for help; she stabs Peter with a harpoon and flees ashore with Peter in pursuit. Peter then attacks her, but the police arrive and shoot him dead.

The authorities deduce Peter's scheme from Barnet's mistress's mermaid brooch matching the cufflink. Cléo recovers in hospital, and Stavros sends her off in a taxi with Stanley.

Stanley escorts Cléo home and hints at a date for later, effectively closing the case with a personal touch. Cléo leaves with mixed feelings about the men involved.