csi: miami
no man’s land (14/24)

The forensics drama series continues tonight. In this episode, a hijacked government weapons truck sparks a CSI manhunt for an escaped convict – who just happens to be an old nemesis of Horatio’s.

The CSIs are called to the scene after a government truck taking weapons to be incinerated is hijacked and two police officers are killed. Alexx discovers a fistful of hair clutched in the hand of one of the dead cops – this man went down fighting. While the follicles are analysed back at the lab, Calleigh and Delko examine the crime scene and figure out how the truck was hijacked. It appears that an explosive device went off underneath a manhole cover, which then acted as a high-velocity missile and threw the truck into the air. When the truck landed, says Delko, “the doors broke open – it’s Christmas in Miami.”

Analysis of the hair found at the scene gives the CSIs a name: Pedro Cruz, who has several gun charges under his belt. He is also the cousin of convicted felon Clavo Cruz, who Horatio put away a few years ago. Horatio is convinced that Clavo recruited Pedro to pull off the hijack, especially when records show that the latter had recently paid his cousin an unusually high number of visits. Pedro admits shooting the policeman, but refuses to implicate Clavo.

Horatio visits Clavo in prison and accuses him of masterminding the hijack. Clavo smugly taunts Horatio, refusing to give him any information while berating him for ruining his life. “Clavo,” says Horatio steadily, “this isn’t over yet.” “Lieutenant Caine,” retorts Clavo sarcastically. “Master of the obvious.” He then calls for the guard to take him back to his cell – but whips round and stabs the man in the neck with a home-made weapon.

Meanwhile, Calleigh and Wolfe have been called to a homicide. An 11-year-old boy has been shot with one of the guns that were stolen from the weapons truck, and it looks as if his recently released ex-convict father may have something to do with it. While the CSIs try to unravel the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, Horatio finds out that a rocket-launcher was also stolen from the truck, courtesy of an arsonist named Richard Williams.

“Williams wants that kind of firepower, it’s to break into something,” surmises Delko. “Or to break someone out...” replies Horatio, suddenly realising why Clavo stabbed the guard. He calls Alexx and tells her to get out of the courthouse where Clavo’s arraignment is taking place, but he is too late: a huge explosion suddenly rocks the building, leaving a gaping hole in the wall. Horatio rushes to the courthouse, where he is relieved to find Alexx unhurt, and discovers that Clavo is now missing – along with a hostage, court stenographer Cathy Gibson.

When Horatio calls Cathy’s mobile phone, Clavo answers and demands to be met at the bank, where he has transferred $1 million into Horatio’s name from an off-shore account. Faced without a choice, Horatio meets Clavo and withdraws the money for him. Clavo then informs Horatio that Cathy is locked in the boot of a car – one of hundreds in a huge multi-storey car park – and only has five minutes’ worth of air left.

Horatio and Delko begin the desperate search for the missing woman, but soon come under fire from Clavo’s henchmen. When Delko is hit in the leg, Horatio tries to drag him to safety – but is stunned when Delko is suddenly hit again in the head and slumps to one side with his eyes glazed over. Is Horatio about to relive the horror of watching one of his own die in front of his eyes?