Ep 5. Abra Cadaver

In season 3, episode 5 of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, titled "Abra Cadaver," the CSI team investigates a mysterious death at a magic show. The episode starts with the death of a magician named Zephyr, who was performing a trick called the "catch and release" in front of an audience. During the trick, he was supposed to catch a bullet shot by his assistant and then return it to the gun. However, something went wrong, and Zephyr died on the spot.

The CSI team arrives on the scene and starts analyzing the evidence. They find a bullet with Zephyr's DNA on it, suggesting that he fired the gun himself. However, there are also signs of a struggle, and the assistant's bag is missing, leading the team to believe that there might be more to the story.

As the investigation progresses, the team discovers that there were several people who had a motive to kill Zephyr. One of them is his ex-wife, Saffron, who was still bitter about their divorce settlement and was struggling to make ends meet. Another suspect is a magic enthusiast named Max, who had a falling out with Zephyr after accusing him of stealing his act.

The team also talks to the assistant, Scarlett, who reveals that Zephyr was abusive towards her and that she was planning to leave him. Scarlett's bag contains a note from Zephyr, in which he threatens to ruin her if she leaves him. This leads the team to believe that Zephyr might have staged his own death to frame Scarlett.

As the investigation continues, the team finds out that Saffron had an alibi for the night of the murder and had no motive to kill Zephyr. However, Max was seen arguing with Zephyr before the show, and his fingerprints were found on Scarlett's bag. Max claims that he only wanted to talk to Zephyr, but the team is not convinced.

Meanwhile, the team also examines Zephyr's body and finds strange markings on his hand. The markings are later identified as a symbol from an ancient Egyptian curse that is believed to bring bad luck. This leads the team to speculate that the curse might have played a role in Zephyr's death.

In the end, the team uncovers the truth behind Zephyr's death, and it is revealed to be a complex scheme involving several people. The episode ends with the CSI team bringing the culprit to justice, but not before showcasing some magic tricks of their own.

Overall, "Abra Cadaver" is a thrilling episode of CSI that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. It features a unique setting, interesting characters, and a complex storyline that will keep viewers hooked.