All language subtitles for ncis_s18e11

Previously on NCIS.

He hurt? Been shot.

Is that a kennel?

Good Lord!

Your neighbor wasn't fishing with his
dogs. He was drowning them!

Who the hell are you?

Tell me you regret what you did.

Can't do that. In that case, I have no
choice but to suspend you.

Indefinitely.

I believe in America.

I believe in the working man, the tired
single parent and part -time volleyball

coach.

And I believe in his right to take a
break from all of that and drive 300

with his favorite musician, Boss, who we
both know is about to play an acoustic

set to a very small group of VIPs.

And I deserve to be one of them.

Please.

Let me in.

No, I don't want to play the guard, but
I have his face tattooed on mine.

Sir, if you drop trial, I will use my
stun gun.

Well, the joke's on you, pal.

After the third time, it didn't even
hurt.

claim for you?

On what line, Pamela?

He's not on the phone, sir.

Director Vance.

Mr. Secretary.

Welcome. My apologies for the surprise.

I'm squeezing in fake time with agency
heads when and where I can.

Lieutenant, give us a minute, please.

Boss, I just wanted to see if what they
tell me is true.

that Leon Vance has gained 10 pounds and
lost his right hook.

You son of a bitch.

I'll show you.

It's more like 20 pounds. Good to see
you, man. Good to see you, too.

Surprised? What, did Congress approve
your waiver or did the Senate actually

confirm you to be the secretary?

Seriously, congratulations, Walter.
Thanks, Leon. You also have my sympathy.

That job is one tough hill to climb. Oh,
well, I like those.

That's why the Marine Corps gave me four
stars.

And why my doctor just gave me new
stress meds. You always go for the

Oh, you better believe it.

Starting with?

Hosting the Yemeni foreign affairs
minister at my house later this week.

Forget the knockout, Moe. You're going
for the title bill.

The Yemenis agreed to sit down.

Which brings me to why I'm really here,
Leon.

I understand one of your agents was
recently suspended for, shall we say,

conduct unbecoming?

Gibbs.

I didn't realize that that incident made
its way so far up the ladder. Well,

normally it wouldn't. But a reporter's
been calling asking for DOD comment.

And the timing isn't ideal.

And any negative press could spook the
Yemenis.

Which is exactly why I'm not returning
those calls. And why I'm asking NCIS not

to comment.

I appreciate the reporter's position.

We don't need the court of public
opinion to re -adjudicate that case.

The matter has been handled, Mr.
Secretary.

But I understand.

Huh.

And what about Agent Gibbs?

Gibbs doesn't talk to reporters, and
neither will his team.

They are skating on thin ice as it is.

Thanks, Leon.

Listen, politics aside, Yemen is in
crisis.

The summit has humanitarian
implications.

Is there anything else NCIS can do for
you? Well, now that you mention it,

is one small thing.

Oh, thanks, Todd.

Todd seemed weird to you?

Todd is not judging us, Bishop.

But you saw him, right? I mean, he
clearly knows.

Everyone in NCAA knows.

That Gibbs got suspended indefinitely or
that we got caught trying to protect

him.

All of it.

Someone we can help you with, Sawyer?

Justice, McGee.

That is our job as special agents,
right?

To make sure those who break the rules
face the consequences of their actions.

Even the cool kids.

Look, Sawyer, we messed up, and we know
it, and we will face the consequences of

our actions.

Except there haven't been any
consequences.

I mean, Gibbs took it on the chin, but
his disciples barely got a reprimand.

Why?

Hey, Sawyer, go home.

The night shift is over.

Oh! I think it's just beginning.

What are you talking about?

Okay, forget it, Nicholas. Just keep our
heads down and follow the next case

that comes along.

Well, not mine.

NCIS Special Agent Veronica Tyler.

Yep.

On our way.

Let's go. We got a body.

Hey, Ronnie, you guys are working the
day shift now?

Told you.

A new day is dawning.

Sawyer, stop being a dick and grab your
gear.

Didn't we just get passed over?

You're being reassigned.

Uh, director?

Are we being punished, sir? Well, it
depends on what you consider punishment.

The new secretary of defense is hosting
an event at his home in three days.

And I'm assigning your team to the
details.

Oh, well, then we're on it.

Fancy event can't be that bad. Yeah, I
dressed up a little bit.

I'm sorry, I didn't make myself clear.
I'm not assigning your team to a

detail. You won't be attending the
event.

What kind of detail is this, sir?

COVID detail.

The three of you are going to be our new
health compliance officers.

I trust you can handle this assignment
without further embarrassing me, the

agency, or yourselves in any way?

Your jobs depend on it.

Okay, yeah, we're on it. Yes, sir,
absolutely.

Good.

Yeah, we're being punched.

You usually take your coffee to go.

How come you've been drinking at the
counter lately?

You kicking me out, Elaine? No, no, no.
Just wondering if maybe you retired.

Hi. What can I get for you?

Well, according to your online reviews,
I understand your specialties are the

chicken fried steak and the fresh baked
apple pie.

Oh, you did your homework.

I always do.

But that being said, you know we can't
always trust what's on the Internet, so

prefer to ask regular real people.

You look like real people.

So what should I do?

The steak or the pie?

Coffee.

Coffee. And a piece of pie, please.
Okay.

I'm Marcy, by the way.

Gib.

So, you're in a funky little place here,
Gibbs.

I bet there's lots of stories that go
along with those plates of bacon and

You would know.

How's that?

So what, you don't like my picture?

Oh, you don't like my writing.

I don't like being ambushed.

Look, your bosses are refusing to return
my call, so I thought I'd go straight

to the source.

Everything okay?

Should've ordered a steak.

75 % alcohol.

Wow, this is the good stuff.

Do you hear yourself, McGee? We are
trained federal agents.

Trained federal agents who are lucky
enough to still have a job.

You don't put peacocks in cages, all
right? They need to show their feathers

to fly away.

Peacocks don't really fly. They take,
like, several small leaps and a final

Okay, the point is that we messed up.

But we don't give up.

This is where we prove ourselves.

That's where it was right.

We are the cool kids.

We're the cool kids. Past tense.

Could be worse. So let's do what Van
says and stick to these assignments.

Right. Which is why I've taken the
liberty of dividing up our pre -event

and safety duties, including site
evaluation, sanitizer placement.

And test and vaccine verification for
everyone on the guest list.

Team Gibbs is down with PPE.

Sexy.

Although, not quite as sexy as being
down with... Springsteen? What?

Bruce? And Gaga.

And Bono.

You did not meet those people.

I had to rule them out as suspects.

Don't worry.

Tyler and I have plenty of other leads.

What's up, Chad?

Sorry.

That info is for the A -Team only.

Enjoy your stickers.

My dad.

Hey, Jimmy.

Hey, Nick. I'm still working.

Oh, no problem. But I can give you what
I have so far.

Oh, okay.

The victim is ID'd as Marine Lance
Corporal Jesse Flint. You already knew

Duh. Duh.

Time of death was 10 .30 last night, so
just before he was found in the

dumpster. And I confirmed that the cause
of death was, in fact, three gunshot

wounds, including the one to the head.

Overkill. Funny. It's actually what
Agent Sawyer said at the crime... Wait a

minute. This isn't your case. And you're
not here for an update.

What is this on his hand and arm?

Nick, you... Purple paint. That's weird.

Okay, Jimmy, I'm here for a rapid test.

Couldn't help yourself, could you?

I get it. I do.

A murder case is way more interesting.

Yeah, than a lame COVID assignment?

Hell yeah.

Nick, health and safety protocols might
not be fun, but the consequences of not

enforcing them can be tragic.

Right now, of course.

You're right, Jimmy.

I'm sorry.

Honestly, Team Gibb should know better.
They made their bed.

And now they have to lie in it. Yeah, I
know. Still, I feel kind of guilty.

I mean, they just look so bad.

Uh, hello.

Sitting right here.

Oh, we know. But this lab is a
designated NPZ.

No pity zone. I'm not here for pity. I'm
here because you have the only working

labeler in the building.

Looks like the paint on your victim's
body was number 7863. Blushing eggplant.

I hear that color is very in.

Sorry, not my case.

Be quiet.

Well, I doubt our Marine was up on the
latest color trends. He was more of the

black and blue type.

Lance Corporal Flint was in the middle
of a dishonorable discharge for fighting

and domestic abuse against his
girlfriend.

Interesting. You know, when you talk to
her, you should, um...

Can't put that there.

Oh, no, no, no. I measured.

This is optimum distance between wet bar
and the restrooms.

It's also where the Secretary of Defense
is going to toast the Yemeni Foreign

Affairs Minister and the cheap plastic
clashes with the party decor.

And, uh, you are?

Miles Thatcher.

One effect at personal aid. I was also
aid to a civilian predecessor.

He would have noticed my design choices.

Where? Well, the whole patio.

We...

I'm redecorating everything for this
event. No, no, no. Where do you want me

put the hand sanitizer?

Figure it out.

I'm sure it doesn't take an advanced
degree.

I actually have two of those.

Huh.

Funny guy.

NCIS was not on the security list.

I'm actually here as a COVID officer,
Mr. Al -Kamal, and I hate to bother you,

but your embassy has yet to hand over
test data and vaccine certifications.

Yes? All guests need to file paperwork
with us before the event.

Forgive me, but you understand our
reluctance to trust sensitive medical

the American health care system.

I do.

I do. It is not perfect.

My co -pays are a fortune.

Universal health care is promised in our
constitution.

Yes, and I imagine it's hard to deliver
on that promise in the middle of a

deadly civil war.

I lost my parents two years ago and my
brother last month.

This summit is important.

My apologies, Agent Bishop.

I'll get you whatever you need.

Come on means perfection, right?

Sorry, old habits from boarding school.
You should hear what happened to kids

who left wrinkles in their bed sheet.

You speak Arabic.

Not bad for a COVID officer.

And peacocks can fly.

I mean, according to this, they don't
fly far, but they can reach 10 miles per

hour.

If you say so.

See, you're an artist.

You feel my pain. You can't just turn
off talent.

Hey, I'd much rather be at a jazz club
playing some Art Tatum, but here I am

practicing John Tesh covers for the man.

Sometimes peacocks get put in cages.

You're telling me.

And after having spent the last year out
of work, I'm just happy for a paying

gig, brother.

Thanks for listening.

Oh, appreciate that, man.

Hey, you know what? Take a demo CD.

What? Yeah, the first track is called
Locked in a Cage, Let Me Out.

No. It's about taking mushrooms on an
airplane.

But it works for your thing, too.

Yeah.

3 .9 GPA from Johns Hopkins and MIT, all
to put down stickers.

Well, at least you didn't insult the
foreign minister's attaché. And all I

was a bad jazz trip.

You know, I know I said this assignment
could be worse, but I don't see how.

You got something in your jacket.

Oh, man.

Look at the paint.

What is that, purple?

No, that's not purple. That's blocking
eggplant.

Wait, that was the same color paint as
the one that was on the body in autopsy.

Same as our murder victim?

That's quite the coincidence.

Yeah. It's probably nothing.

Unless he was at Sector's house before
he was killed.

Right. Because then we'd have to assume
it was connected to his death.

Right. And we'd have to investigate.

This is not our case. We can't do that.

Right?

Our victim is Lance Corporal Jesse
Flint, and was soon to be a former Lance

Corporal thanks to his history of
violence.

Bad Marine, bad dude.

Yeah. So what was he doing in SecDef's
house?

Look, we don't know if he was there for
sure.

He's not our victim because it's not our
case.

It is now.

Why? Because we found a little paint on
him? Shh!

You know what sound carries in here?

But don't worry. The paint is not a
priority.

The victim worked as a handyman on the
side.

How did you get a clicker?

By following Vance's orders.

Like I was saying, Lance Corporal Flint
painted houses all over town.

It's a coincidence.

Agent Tyler and I already have a lead on
the killer.

Seems the victim's girlfriend skipped
town.

Seems suspicious, right?

So stay the hell out of our case, or I'm
going to Vance.

All right, I know we want to get
involved, but we got to drop it.

You don't drop a gut feeling, McGee.

Last time, our gut got us in trouble.

Then we make sure we get it right.

Was this man one of the painters?

Did you hire him?

What does this have to do with health
protocol?

Look, you needed to sign off on the
safety of these events, so we need

Yes.

He was handing out leaflets in front of
the PX, and he begged me for a job. But,

like everybody who steps foot on the
property, I verified that he was

vaccinated.

I only wish I had verified his
references.

So there was a problem?

No. But painting requires an eye for
detail.

This guy might as well be blind.

You fired him. I didn't have to.

Two hours into the job, he took a cell
phone call and walked away.

I never heard from him again.

Damn piano player.

Excuse me.

You still think we should drop it?

Yeah. No, I did.

Painter may have been acting.

Strange, but it still doesn't prove
anything.

I say we go check out his work van and
see what he was up to.

This is not our job.

Not yet.

Hey, guys.

How's it going?

Got an update, Palmer?

No, no, no, no.

So what are you doing here?

Oh, that's right. Yes, I have a few
questions for you.

Did you find the victim's girlfriend?

Did you find anything unusual in his
apartment or vehicle?

And did you find a computer or a cell
phone?

You're not even trying to hide it, are
you?

Team Gibbs sent you.

Of course I did.

I'm trying to confirm the victim's COVID
contact tracing. Did the body test

positive? No, no, but as you said, he
was painting houses all over town.

Yes.

Why? Well, then, despite a negative
COVID test, his close relations and or

possessions could have been exposed.

What? How?

That's for the compliance officer to
determine. But in my medical opinion, we

should just test... All the evidence,
you know, just the case.

This is absurd.

Team Gibbs is using you to nose into
this case.

Agent Sawyer, our job is to help the
team.

Now, do your job.

Gibbs.

Yeah, I'm glad to get your call. I spoke
with the IG.

I think it's time we talk next steps.

I'm not calling about that, Director.

The reporter came to see me.

I heard someone's been asking questions.

I hear someone's not answering them.

NCIS has been asked not to comment on
the story, Gibbs.

There's no story.

Just truth.

I agree.

But the matter's already been handled.

Internally and appropriately.

Then tell them that.

I refuse to publicly throw one of my
agents under the bus.

I don't want protection.

Yeah, you've made that perfectly clear.

Between beating a man half to death and
refusing to apologize, I seem to be the

only one saving you from yourself.

And quite frankly, Gibbs, I'm getting
tired of it.

Yeah? Then stop.

Hey, Luz!

Come on!

Lunch!

That's everything.

No evidence in the murder case.

And no damn COVID.

Happy now?

Yeah,

Tyler.

On my way.

We found the missing girlfriend.

I'll make sure to get her contact
tracing history.

You didn't answer his question.

Are you happy now? No.

And why not? For starters, what was our
handyman doing with hypodermic needles

in his work van?

Don't know.

Mixing paint colors.

You know, that was Sawyer's theory, but
our dead guy was not a paint wizard, so

can you please run the needles case?

Of course.

I have the results to you by the end of
the week.

Not long.

My plate is full.

When you aren't the lead agent, your
stuff goes to the bottom of the pile.

There are other agents in this building.

And as annoying as some of those agents
may be, routine.

Which is why you should look at this.

Somebody wrote down a paint code.

9949 Jade Garden.

It's not in any of these paint catalogs.
Custom color? Or a street address?

Garden could be a street suffix, like
court or lane.

Which would mean the lead agent's missed
a clue.

That's what I'm saying.

Okay, but your stuff still goes to the
bottom of the pile.

Are you sure this is 9949 Jade Garden?

Yep.

Federal agents, hello?

No power.

Yes, there is.

I am completely flashing back to my days
doing musical theater. Ooh.

Goddess fell.

What do you think?

You got the words?

Yeah.

I wonder what our handyman is in the
address of this place.

Maybe another side job?

What did Agent Tyler think?

Are you meeting us here?

Are you really?

You didn't call him? Mickey, we were
waiting to find something more relevant.

Yeah.

I think we just did.

When is all this?

I recognize this place.

Homie's photos are from PsychDepth's
house. Yeah, the handyman wasn't

the house. He was caving the joint.

For what?

Something he wanted to keep secret.

Nobody move.

This place is wired as well.

Director. Gentlemen.

Well, you've been busy.

How'd the COVID officers end up defusing
bombs?

Well, sir, during the course of our
assignment, we discovered that the

McLean's house had recently been painted
by a murder victim. A bad color to

match a bad guy.

Yes, I read the file.

Lance Corporal Flint had a history of
violence.

We wanted to make sure his murder didn't
pose a security threat to the summit.

So we investigated.

And? Does it pose a threat?

Oh, more than we know. We found weapons,
phony IDs, even an offshore bank

account with $100 ,000 in it. We also
found surveillance photos, all of SecDef

McLean. We believe the murder victim was
also a hitman.

SecDef. What did they target?

Thankfully, they were never at the house
at the same time. So who hired this

hitman? And is the hit still active?

Well, we don't know yet.

But we are on it, director.

No, you're not.

As much as I appreciate your carefully
worded explanation, this team has once

again overstepped bounds.

Where are agents Tyler and Sawyer? We
were planning on sharing everything that

we found with them, sir. Yes.

You're also going to follow their orders
from here on out. They still have lead.

Understood.

We found the victim's girlfriend.

Turns out she has an alibi, so not our
killer.

We did get into Flint's encrypted email
account.

He exchanged messages with whoever hired
him to kill Thick Death. Still nothing

to identify that person, but the emails
show Flint was blackmailing his

employer. If you want to stay anonymous,
I want more money.

Could be motive for murder.

Do you think whoever hired the hitman
also killed him? That makes sense.

What we really need is a list of who
wants SecDef dead.

You know, background stuff, computer
stuff.

Nerd stuff.

You got a problem with that?

Yes, SecDef's life's in danger and
you're playing petty games. Well, I'm

playing games.

I simply don't trust you.

What the hell do you want from us? I
want you to stop screwing up.

NCIS is a team.

And when you screw up, it makes us all
look bad.

Lucy, stay.

I come bearing gifts, a peace offering.

It's fake.

Maybe.

No, it's not.

I was never given the opportunity to
explain myself at the diner the other

First, that was not an act, and it
certainly was not an ambush. That's not

am. I was merely trying to work my way
up into a very nice introduction

by use of a little small talk.

But by then it was too late, so here I
am.

Why? Because I want to give you
something more than just this steak.

Ignore the loquacious patron from the
diner and just read my work.

There are newspaper articles and
magazine columns, but what I am most

is my investigative work.

Which is about exposing the truth.

And I know you know something about the
truth. And I want to be the one to write

about it.

Because that's who I am.

In that case, I thank you for your time.

Enjoy the whatever that is.

And good luck on your boat engine.

Wait, wait.

My what?

Your boat.

That's a carburetor for a gray marine
phantom, right?

I hear they're a pain in the ass.

Are you waiting to see Secretary
McClain? Yes, he's inside, meeting with

security details.

My embassy was informed of the threat on
his life.

I'm afraid the summit must be canceled.

Maybe it can happen another time.

A foreign minister meeting on U .S. soil
has already caused outcry back home.

Chances of it happening again are very
small.

I'm sorry.

So am I, Agent Bishop.

With my would -be assassin dead, I was
hoping that the threat had been

neutralized. We still have to find
whoever hired him, sir. That's why I'm

What, to ask me about my enemies?

That could take a while.

Would you excuse us, please? I
understand.

Mr. Secretary.

Thank you.

Please. Ah, thank you.

Well, there goes any chance of real
progress.

They're kidney meds, Agent Bishop.

Damn stress will probably kill me long
before any assassin.

Vital foreign policy decisions should
not be determined by a bunch of damn

internet crazies.

Sounds like you know who's behind that.

No, no.

I'll just forget I said anything.

Even if it means a chance at saving your
summit?

I made a bad call ten years ago.

It was a mistake that I deeply regret.

FakeDev wasn't kidding. This was a bad
call.

There was an al -Qaeda standoff near an
Iraqi oil refinery.

And rather than try and negotiate,
General McClain took a different

All hell broke loose and the refinery
burned to the ground.

Do people want him dead for this?

There's this online community that
thinks the incident is some kind of

conspiracy. The snake that purposely
destroyed the refinery to cover up his

secret ties to oil barons.

Radical user groups have been posting
death threats.

There's just a lot of suspects.

Oh, I think I can help with that.

You listened to the piano player's demo
CD?

I did more than listen.

Check your email.

Security records for the summit. You re
-ran the entire guest list.

I was looking for Red Flag.

Did you find any?

Yeah. The last name on this CD doesn't
match the one on the lift.

Kendall Spotnitz is actually Kendall
Radcliffe. Why would he use a phony ID?

Because the piano player has a rap sheet
for drug possession.

You would have failed the background
check. Nice catch.

You did this all on your own? Oh, hell
no. I practically bagged the, uh...

Cyber crime unit.

Damn, you nerd it hard.

I nerd it real hard.

Okay, hang on. Check this out.

Piano players talk to our internet
crazies.

Anything to hate the men.

I think that's motive.

Well, let's ask him.

Okay, okay. Now we can't go anywhere
until we talk to Tyler and Sawyer. Hold

hold on.

I'm a loser.

We should call Agent Tyler again, just
in case. Don't bother. We can handle the

jazz decision.

Okay.

Federal agents!

NCIS!

Whoa! Easy.

It's just us.

Didn't you see the cop outside?

There was no cop outside.

We heard a crash.

I dropped a dish.

Where's Kendall?

Relax. He's not going anywhere.

He was dead when we found him.

What happened?

I have a better question.

What the hell are you two even doing
here?

We traced the earlier email to an IP
address at the piano player's apartment.

That's how we beat you there.

Sorry. When we arrived, we found Kendall
Radcliffe dead in his bathtub, single

intraoral gunshot wound.

GSR in his hand says suicide.

We then found a laptop containing the
same blackmail messages from our hitman.

So the piano player hired the hitman,
killed the hitman, and then killed

himself. The Glock used in the suicide
was a match to the murder weapon.

Which means the dead piano player is our
killer.

Case closed.

SecDef's event is back on for tonight.

This is the part where you congratulate
us.

What do you think the piano player had
the money to hire a hitman?

He hasn't worked for a year.

And why kill himself?

You said he used a fake ID to get the
gig at SecDef's.

He knew it was only a matter of time
until we found out.

And what about the money? We suspect he
crowdsourced it from his fellow internet

crazies.

I don't know. Seems kind of convenient.

Yeah, a little too convenient.

I don't believe this. There is no
evidence that the hit is still active

everyone involved is dead.

What more do you want?

It just feels like we're missing
something.

Do you have anything to prove that?

Other than some gut feeling?

Then it's over.

Unless...

Unless you're feeling strong enough to
call Vance.

No.

Congrats on the win.

Guys, we did the right thing.

Why does it feel so wrong?

I thought I said this was a no -pity
zone.

What are y 'all doing in here?

We have a gut feeling.

You mean the feeling that something
doesn't add up and the answer is staring

in the face?

Yeah, how'd you know?

Because I have the same feeling.

I've been processing evidence from the
suicide scene.

Please tell us you got something. Like
last -minute evidence that could crack

this case wide open?

Yes, something like that. I don't.
Everything so far points to murder, then

suicide. Sorry.

What was that case, a break?

Cork and potassium.

And what is that?

I was finally able to process the
syringes from the Hitman van, but the

only show compressed cork and liquid
potassium.

Not exactly helpful. Cork is used in
everything from bulletin boards to a

bottle. Liquid potassium is harmless.

Well, it was a nice try.

Unless you have a kidney condition.

What then?

Potassium is harmless unless you have a
kidney condition, and SecDef McLean

takes kidney meds.

Then these levels of potassium would
send his system into shock, and he'd be

dead within minutes.

Did the hitman plan to inject him?

But that doesn't explain the quirk.

Unless the hitman injected something
else.

Uh, if I could have everyone's
attention, please.

Thank you.

At a time of great distancing...

both physically and politically, it's
important that we come together now more

than ever, both as friends and allies.

I know, sir.

Did you stop the toast? Hang on. Slow
down. We checked every bottle of

champagne. There were no signs of
tampering. Yeah, we told you there

be. Tiny needle prick.

This is crazy.

You're just a COVID officer. We're
federal agents.

So please join me in raising a glass to
our renewed partnership and to peace.

Everybody put your glasses down.

Please,

Minister, wait.

I assure you this is all a
misunderstanding.

Thank you.

I sure hope you have a good explanation
for this, Agent McKee. So do I, sir.

Now, if we're right, this strip should
turn bright red.

Bright about what?

Potassium.

Deadly to someone with a chronic kidney
condition.

I'll

be

damned.

How the hell does a piano player know my
medical condition?

He didn't.

Someone else was behind this.

Someone who had access to security
records.

Is this some sort of joke, Agent Bishop?

You have some explaining to do.

It's so good.

Nasser El -Kamal hired a hitman to kill
SecDef, but not for what happened in the

past. For what was about to happen.

Mm -hmm.

A U .S. alliance with this country.

As it turns out, Mr. Al -Kamal was part
of a Yemeni nationalist group online.

They have internet crazies, too.

But when the hitman threatened to expose
Kamal, Kamal killed him.

Then set up the piano player to take the
fall.

Hardly seems worth the trouble.

I mean, why not just try to kill me
himself?

Plausible deniability, sir.

Well, it's a good thing NCIS had their
top team on the case.

So, how'd you crack it?

When we found the piano player dead, his
apartment was a mess.

All except for the towel.

We learned that Mr. Alkamal is very OCD
with Wrinkle.

And you ran the towels for TouchDNA.

So you confirmed all this before you
sent the other team to crash the party?

Not exactly, Director.

It was more of a gut feeling.

Whose gut feeling?

Thanks, Todd.

I think Todd knows.

Whether we saved sex theft or that we
let Tyler and Sawyer take the credit.

of it.

But we are a team, right?

Thanks, Ronnie.

No, thank you.

And also, we're sorry.

Vance mentioned this morning's news.

We read the article.

What article?

Paper ran a story on Gibbs.

What about him?

Well, your team is not mentioned, but
everything else is. The attack, the

investigation, his confession.

How bad is it, McGee? You know, it's
really accurate.

Everything Gibbs said and did is in here
almost word for word. There's no way a

reporter would know all this.

Unless someone talked.

Don't look at me.

Director?

Want a drink?

I won't be here that long.

You talked to the reporter.

I only told the truth.

Yes.

That's not why I'm here.

I came here to tell you face to face.

Whatever comes of this story, whatever
happens next, Gibbs, I can't

save you.

I know.

Watch an all -new Clarice Thursday on
Global.