CSI: Miami

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Shock

Written by Corey Miller & Brian Davidson
Directed by Karen Gaviola

Nikki Beck, a young and exceedingly glamorous heiress (cast in the Paris Hilton “mold”) is found dead in the bathtub of her ritzy oceanfront house while a party is in full swing downstairs.  The cause of death is electrocution caused by a tanning lamp found in the tub.   There is no shortage of suspects, including: her supposed arch-rival, socialite April Goodwin; Brandon Hess, former boy band member and Nikki’s current boyfriend; Melinda Carson, Nikki’s young assistant, and Chad Moore, Nikki’s watchful manager.

 Horatio is certain that Nikki’s death was no accident, and the team focuses on the tanning lamp for clues.  A pill that Alexx finds in Nikki’s throat is tested and found to be a new “party drug.”  Chad Moore admits to finding Nikki’s body and putting her robe back on her to avoid a scandal.  Horatio tells Delko that he and Marisol are to be married that afternoon, and invites Delko to attend.  Delko’s doesn’t want Horatio to give Marisol false hope and a slight uneasiness settles between Horatio and Delko.

 The recovered pill leads the team to Colin Danville, a research scientist who created the formula and, subsequently, to a crystal meth lab.  Ryan “tests” Alexx to see if she is the department mole.  April Goodwin claims that she and Nikki were really friends, and that she helped Nikki through rehab.  Nikki’s assistant is revealed to have a criminal past and Calleigh questions her.  Delko confronts his sister about the impending marriage; she claims it is a chance for happiness and she is taking it.

 In raiding the crystal meth lab, Horatio discovers a cache of women who claim to have been held as prisoners and forced to “cook” up the drug for their boss.  One of the women, tells Horatio that she came to this country from El Salvador in search of her sister, Lucia, who was taken against her will.  Sick from cooking the meth, Lucia was “sold” to another meth maker.  Horatio promises Isabella he will find her sister.

 Tracing particles from the tanning lamp to Melinda’s shirt, she finally admits to the murder, in response to learning that she would not be included in Nikki’s upcoming reality series.  Horatio tracks down Lucia, finding her locked away in Colin Danville’s garage.  As Horatio and Marisol enter the courthouse for their wedding, Eric Delko arrives with a bouquet for his sister.