Ep 16. Protest

In Numb3rs season 2 episode 16, titled "Protest," the FBI's Violent Crimes Squad faces a tough case when a peaceful anti-war rally turns violent and results in a bombing. The team is led by Special Agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow) along with his mathematical genius brother, Charlie (David Krumholtz), who uses math to solve the toughest of cases.

The episode begins with a protest against the Iraq war being held in the city. The protest is being led by a group of peace activists who want the US government to withdraw their troops from Iraq. However, the peaceful rally turns violent when a bomb explodes in the middle of the crowd, killing several people and injuring many more. Chaos ensues as the protestors flee for their lives.

The FBI is called in to investigate the bombing and the team begins its work by tracking down the person responsible for the attack. They gather evidence from the blast site, including a video recording of the incident which helps them identify the person who planted the bomb. However, the investigation becomes complicated when they realize that the person they have identified is a known peace activist and has no previous criminal record.

Charlie is brought in to help with the case and he begins to work on a mathematical model to help the team understand the motives of the attacker. He uses variables such as the type of explosive used, the location of the bomb and the time of the attack to try and identify patterns and predict the attacker's next move. His model leads the team to a suspect but they soon realize that there is more to the case than meets the eye.

The team is further challenged when they discover that the bombing may have been politically motivated and tied to a broader terrorist organization. They are forced to work under high-pressure circumstances and against the clock to prevent any further attacks from taking place.

The episode's tension is further heightened as the team tries to juggle their personal lives with their work. Don's romantic life is in turmoil as his girlfriend, Agent Warner (Monique Curnen), is transferred to a different department. Meanwhile, Charlie struggles to find the time to work on the case while also trying to make time for his girlfriend, Amita (Navi Rawat).

As the investigation progresses, the team faces numerous obstacles and challenges. However, with Charlie's mathematical expertise, they are able to stay one step ahead of the perpetrator and ultimately solve the case. The episode ends with the team reflecting on the case and with Don realizing that he needs to make some tough decisions in his personal life.

Overall, Numb3rs season 2 episode 16, "Protest," is a thrilling and intense episode that explores the complex issues of terrorism and political motivation. The use of mathematics as a tool for solving the case adds a unique and interesting element to the story and further cements the show's reputation as a clever and innovative crime drama.