CSI: Miami

Season 5 - Episode 14 - No Man's Land

Written by Dominic Abeyta
Directed by Scott Lautanen

Horatio stands amongst the wreckage of an overturned weapons delivery truck while two police officers lie nearby, dead.  Alexx discovers a fist full of hair in slain Police Officer Chris Ryder’s hand, their first clue to solving the murder.

 Calleigh and Delko examine the crime scene and find arsonist Richard Williams’ fingerprints at a nearby site, from which some sort of explosive device was launched.  Richard admits to selling explosives to a couple of guys from Baracas.  Natalia identifies the hair follicles as belonging to Pedro Cruz.  Pedro is the cousin of ex-Baracan prince – and incarcerated convicted felon -- Clavo Cruz.  Horatio thinks that Clavo is involved in the weapons heist.  Pedro admits to shooting Officer Ryder, but he won’t implicate his cousin Clavo.  Pedro is arrested.  Wolfe and Natalia link one of the stolen guns to eleven year-old shooting victim Jesse Tavez, whose fourteen year-old brother Ben found the gun and accidentally shot him. 

 Horatio visits a smug Clavo in prison, accusing him of masterminding the weapons truck hijacking.  Clavo taunts Horatio while blaming him for ruining his life.  Clavo calls for the guard, turns away from Horatio and stabs the guard in the neck with a toothbrush shank.  Horatio lunges for Clavo as the guard sinks to the floor holding his bloody throat.  Clavo escapes.

 Delko tells Horatio that arsonist Richard Williams stole an M72 rocket from the weapons truck.  Horatio calls Alexx and tells her to get out of the courthouse where Clavo is being arraigned, but before she can exit an explosive bullet slams into the courthouse wall, leaving a gaping hole.  Horatio rushes to Alexx as she holds the bloody head of the dead bailiff in her hands, helpless to save her.  Clavo and court stenographer Cathy Gibson are missing.  Horatio speaks to Clavo on Cathy’s cell phone.  Clavo tells Horatio to meet him at the bank.  Horatio withdraws one million dollars out of his bank account and gives it to Clavo.  Clavo tells Horatio that Cathy is in the trunk of her Mercedes with about an hour of air left.  Delko and Horatio search the parking lot for Cathy as Clavo disappears.