Directed by Rob Bailey
Written by Anthony E. Zuiker, Ann Donahue, Carol Mendelsohn & John Dove
"The Cost of Living" is the 5th episode of Season 5 and the 97th overall. It originally aired October 29, 2008.
An archaeologist is found dead in an alley. Later, a homeless man is found dead as well. Stella is drawn into a mystery involving Greek coins and her life is threatened.
Tropes for the episode:
- Adventure Archaeologist: The first victim makes his living hunting artifacts around the world.
- Foreign Cuss Word / Foreign-Language Tirade: When Stella is threatened, she startles the man and he angrily lapses from English into Greek. She tells Mac later that he was cursing at her.
- Neck Snap: The second victim is killed by someone breaking his neck.
- Personalized Pledge: Stella doesn't believe a suspect who insists he had nothing to do with the first victim's murder.Wolford Bessie: I swear on my sister's eyes!
Stella: Your sister's blind, Wolford.
Wolford Bessie: My other sister. Chantell. - Reduced To Rat Burgers: Stella and Danny question a homeless man known as the "Rat Fisherman." He's a catch-and-release type of guy, but tells them he might be tempted to eat them if he were hungry enough.
- Scaramanga Special: The first victim is killed with a gun made from various items, including the barrel of an ink pen.
- Sinister Subway: Stella is attacked and pushed down the stairs in a subway entrance.
- Useless Spleen: Zig-zagged. While a deceased victim's medical records show that his spleen had been removed, Sid finds a perfectly healthy one in his body. The discovery of the organ leads the team to the man's true identity... and eventually to his killer.
