CSI: Miami

Season 2 - Episode 5 - The Best Defence

Teleplay by Shane Brennan
Directed by Scott Lautanen

Horatio and Yelina respond to an early morning call, arriving at Tropos, a hip Miami bar just off the beaten path. They find the bodies of two young men shot to death in an apparent robbery – and one survivor shot twice in the chest. Just before he blacks out from the shock, the victim, Ricky Murdoch, says that he only remembers the robber shooting him once.

The CSIs arrive on the scene, quickly finding traces of cocaine, as well as signs that the shooter took a shot of expensive ouzo to steady his nerves – leaving behind a perfectly preserved print. Outside they uncover a void – a car length impression – of scum residue where the morning street cleaning was unable to reach.

As Alexx examines the bodies, nothing matches up to their survivor’s story. One of the dead men has skin under his fingernails – evidence of a struggle – whereas in Ricky’s story the shooter just walked in and opened fire.

Amidst the investigation, Calleigh continues to keep a tight lid on her relationship with Detective John Hagen – especially when her father, Duke Duquesne shows up to solicit her advice. By maintaining his sobriety, he has regained his place on the public defender’s roster – drawing a case with inconclusive physical evidence. Calleigh pleads with him to reexamine it – as it always leads to the truth of the crime.

Horatio and Yelina confront Ricky in his private hospital room, but before they can question him in depth, Murdoch’s attorney Aaron Schecter steps in – informing them that Ricky is the heir to an immense sugar fortune, and every effort will be made to keep the family name out of the papers.

With the help of fingerprint technician, Joseph Kayle, Delko is able to use photometric stereo imaging to reconstruct the partial fingerprint found on the curved bottle of ouzo. When the print is fed through the system it turns up Angelo Sedaris – owner of Silenus, a nightclub less than a block from the crime scene.

When Horatio and Yelina question Sedaris, he comes clean about what brought him to Tropos. Justin and Brad, the owners had visited his club and made off with his cocaine. When he stopped by to reclaim it, there was a scuffle, ending with him sampling some of their most expensive liquor - then he took the rest of his drugs and went home. The CSIs ask to see his car – knowing that if they find traces of street scum that match their void, they can finger him as the shooter. In the process of the investigation, they find a hidden gun that matches the caliber of the rounds found in Brad and Justin’s bodies.

Calleigh returns to the ballistics lab, where she finds that the bullets don’t match. If Sedaris is the shooter, he didn’t use this gun. Before she can report to Horatio, her Father drops by to thank her for her advice, letting her know that it led to his client changing her plea. No sooner is he out the door than Hagen stops by – angrily informing her that he is the primary on the case – and that he may now lose a conviction because of her. Calleigh realizes that she has unwittingly been placed between the two most important men in her life.

When the ballistics come back to Horatio he is forced to the logical conclusion. All roads lead back to Ricky Murdoch. And no matter what his lawyer says, it’s time they had a little talk.