Old Dogs - Recap

The episode opens at Jack Bailey’s apartment at 9:14 PM with a Code 11 in progress (a break-in). The scene flash backs to 14 hours earlier and at the station, Jack and Dan get new desks. Dan is not happy that his desk was replaced. He says that he made love on his old desk and that there were memories, but when he sees that he got a new coffee mug, all is forgiven. They go to the break room to test out their new mugs and meet Samantha. She has been hired as a lab assistant for the CSI unit and can’t wait to get started with fieldwork. Later that night, Jack gets home and finds his Uncle Nate there. Jack is not thrilled by the reunion that has been 15 years in the making. Nate thinks that Jack is upset about the “dog issue” but Jack reminds him that Nate scammed his dad into a deal and they lost everything including the dog. Nate tells Jack that he witnessed a crime. The scene flashes back to one day earlier and a man is walking out of a burning house. Nate says that he didn’t report it because of some “possible” warrants out for his arrest. He admits to insurance fraud and says that the others ran off with the money. Jack doesn’t care and arrests him.



The next morning, Liz wants to know why Jack arrested his uncle. He tells her his uncle is a con artist and that he swindled his parents and forced them to move into an apartment complex that didn’t allow dogs. Liz is sympathetic, but says that she would rather use Nate as bait to solve a serious arson case instead of a petty insurance fraud case. Later Jack discovers Dan and Nate laughing together with Nate sharing family stories about Jack. Jack breaks up the frivolity and starts interrogating his uncle. Nate reveals he witnessed a conversation that involved an arrangement to set a fire on Cedar Hill Lane, which is the same burning house that Nate saw. Dan takes a liking to Nate and says that Nate has some good news. Nate bought Jack a dog to replace the one he lost so many years ago. However, this one is an ankle-biter, and if he doesn't take it, they are going to put it down. Later, Jack and Dan arrive at the crime scene with the dog and meet Samantha there. She claims that it is unquestionably arson. They look around the neighborhood and realize that it is deserted. Samantha says she only saw one person, a blonde woman who had a shotgun.

Jack and Dan arrive at the house of the blonde lady and realize that the television is on and that someone indeed is living there. Suddenly, a car veers off the street and drives right at them. A blonde woman steps out of car and shoots a shotgun into the air. Jack identifies he and Dan as police officers, but says he dropped his badge in the excitement. After Dan finds it, they find out the woman’s name is Ms. McAllister and that people have been trying to force her out of her home. Jack wants to know who is responsible. The scene flashes back to one day earlier at the Kettleman Corporation, who have development plans for the neighborhood. A man named Kenny Griffin, who has the tendency to throw lit matches at people, says that everything will go smoothly. Back at Ms. McAllister’s home, Jack promises that a patrol officer will watch the house and Dan flirts with her and promises that he will protect her body. Back at the station, Samantha goes over the evidence she collected with Liz and Jack, but Liz declares that it will be inadmissible because Sam is not technically a CSI Lab tech. Jack says that it should at least be usable as probable cause. Liz then asks where Dan is and Jack says that he thinks he knows. Jack returns to Ms. McAllister’s and finds Dan inside “protecting” her. He sees a man pouring gasoline around the outside of the house and when Jack confronts him, Dan emerges from the house, dressed only in a robe. The man throws a burning torch at the gasoline, but Jack catches it in midair while Dan tackles the man. Jack then asks Dan to close his robe.



They take the arsonist to the station and find out that he was paid $50 and a bottle of Schnapps to set the fire. Jack finds out that the buildings were sold to the Kettleman Corporation and Ms. McAllister says that she saw two men around and that one was Black and the other they were calling Newt or something similar. Jack realizes it was Nate and confronts him. Nate confesses and says that he didn't know what he was getting into. Liz and Dan feel it would be a good idea to use Nate to gather evidence against Kettleman Corp, but Jack doesn’t want to get involved. Liz shows up at Jack’s house with a bottle of booze and says that they are going to drink about it. Meanwhile, Dan and Nate talk about doing the sting and Nate says that they can do it. Back in Jack’s apartment, Jack divulges the whole story about what happened to his dog, how it died on a farm from having a cow sit on him. Liz gets a big laugh out of this and Jack says that they are going to need more alcohol. At the bar, Dan and Nate are still talking and drinking when Julius Grant, who is working there, overhears the name Kenny Griffin. Julius tells Dan to never speak his name again, because of Julius's experience with Griffin. Dan and Nate agree on the sting.

The next morning, Jack arrives at the station to see Dan dressed as a developer with Nate. They get $10,000 and a luxury car from Hodges and Jack changes his mind and agrees to go along, principally to keep an eye on his uncle. They meet with Griffin and he refuses the $10,000, saying that he wants to talk to the owner to persuade him. When he asks for the name, Dan panics and gives him Julius’ name. As Griffin leaves, Nate quietly picks up the $10,000 and disappears. Jack thinks that Nate stole the money and the car, but Nate turns up with Dan. Jack, Dan, and Nate ask Julian to play along with their sting, but he refuses. However, when Griffin shows up, Julius tries to play his part, but Dan says that Julius is playing mind games. Griffin gets upset and says that Julius better watch it. Julius tries to apologize but Dan says that he is lying. Outside the bar, Griffin says that he’ll do it, but it will cost $100,000. They agree and want to pay, but he says that he is holding a fundraiser at his place, so they can give him the money there instead of outside the bar. They arrive at the station to discuss their plan and Hodges comes out dressed in what looks like a waiter’s outfit. Jack tells him it doesn't matter since he will be in a truck listening to the wire anyway.



They arrive at the party and Jack works surveillance. Dan and Nate meet up with Griffin and the deal is in process. Jack checks to see where Nate went and finds a note that says that he took the money. When Griffin discovers that the money is not there, Dan points his gun on him, but Griffin punches him and runs off. Dan chases him but is taken down again. Jack arrives on the scene and sneaks up on Griffin, but he is prepared and punches Jack and handcuffs him. Dan catches up and Griffin says that he will kill Jack and then take Dan hostage. Dan tells Jack to remember his dog in this time of stress and Jack bites Griffin's ankle. This allows Dan to grab the gun and arrest Griffin. Later, Jack is mad that Nate got away with the money and that he will probably lose his job. However, in a flashback, Dan reveals that he switched the money. When Nate opens the envelope, he discovers he switch and a note from Dan stating that Jack is his family now and for Nate to stay away. Later, Jack gives Ms. McAllister the ankle-biting dog and tells her that it will be a good guard dog. Of course Dan is already there making sure that Ms. McAllister is safe and protected.

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