Hilton Cubitt and his wife, Elsie, are devloping a way to grow plants at subzero temperatures. But someone wants their research, and he is willing to kill them for it. Someone breaks in and a struggle ensues, ending with Hilton falling into a cryogenic tank and Elsie out cold beside it. Holmes and the gang arrive to help. Not only must they solve the case, but they must also deal with a nosy cousin, Abe Slaney. They end up finding out quite a bit, involving a strange email with a series of dancing stick figure men and Mrs. Cubitt's past.