Horatio is approached by a parolee he helped put away several years ago, who begs for the lawman's assistance in finding his missing teenage son. As the investigation gets underway, Horatio discovers that the boy may be planning a deadly assault. Elsewhere, Speedle becomes attracted to a sexy model who may be involved in her boyfriend's death.

Speedle and Delko are present when a trendy nightclub catches fire, apparently from a DJ's pyrotechnics display, killing 16 people and injuring dozens of others. But the ensuing investigation reveals it may have been arson to cover up a murder. Also: Horatio probes the death of a prostitute who is found dead in a judge's bathroom in his home.