Following the largest drug seizure in city history, Mac, Stella and Hawkes are forced to save the lab when, in an elaborate heist, a drug lord and his crew descend upon the CSI's vault to retrieve their merchandise.

At the site of the drug seizure, two police officer are held hostage along with CSI Messer and CSI tech Adam. Slowly the captors break Messer's hand and demand that the NYPD show up to try to save the day.