The CSIs face a difficult challenge when the hand-less corpse of Carl Adams is found in a drainage basin near a state forest reserve. Carl's friend, Derrick Trigg, informs the team that he let Carl borrow some camping equipment, and that he was likely killed while camping. As Nick and Morgan canvass the area with Sam, Nick's retired police dog, they stumble upon a hatch leading to an underground bunker. Inside, they find evidence linking the bunker dweller, Tommy Barnes, to the murder. The case takes a surprising turn when Finlay and Sara discover that Tommy lives in the bunker with his daughter, Miranda, and that the two have lived a relatively sheltered life for most of Miranda's life. Russell begins to suspect that the victim might have been involved in a love triangle with Miranda and another man after the team finds evidence of sexual activity in her bed. However, after tracking down the suspected 'other man,' the CSIs learn that Carl was not romantically involved with Miranda, but he was secrectly seeing Derrick. Eventually, Russell is able to get Derrick to give a testimoney against the real killer, Derrick's father, Edward Trigg. Edward blamed Carl for turning his son into a homosexual, so he killed Carl and tried to cover it it up.