All language subtitles for NCIS - S15E03 - Exit Strategy.en

HIGGINS:
Torres.

Torres. Torres.

Torres.
Yeah.

Check it out.

Looks like a normal belt.

It's actually a knife.

How about this comb?

Looks like a regular comb.

It's actually a knife.

I never go
anywhere without it.

So, if there's trouble,

I got your back.

I got an ink pen.

Huh? Looks like
a normal ink pen.

Is it a knife?

It's... it's a hidden camera.

Why?
I'm a gadget guy.

No. Why are you still talking?

I'm an anxious talker.

Oh, okay, so you were
anxious all night?

'Cause you talked all night.

Clearly, you are not willing to
participate in this partnership.

(chuckles)

We're not partners.

(exhales)

Okay, this is Metro Detective
Miles Higgins

on a joint stakeout

with NCIS Special Agent
Nick Torres.

We are here to arrest
a Vernon Douglas

on a dual count
of drug trafficking.

So far he's a no-show,

but we are going to wait
as long as it takes.

Because we're partners.

Right, Nick?

Yeah. I'm sorry.

Yeah. Can I, can I borrow this?

(clears throat)

HIGGINS: Hey!
TORRES: Ha. It's not just a pen.

Look at that: it's a Frisbee.
(laughs)

I got to make a phone call.

(car door closes)

Hey, McGee? You got
to take over for me, man.

This guy's driving me crazy.

McGEE: So, why would I
want to take over?
But you'd love him.

Uh, Nick,
I really think you two

should try and work things out.
(vehicle approaching)

(loud rock music plays on radio)
TORRES: Hold on, McGee.

Got to go.

Higgins?

Our boy just pulled
into the south side alley.

Meet me around the back.

(loud music continues playing)

* Every night

* Street light

* I drink my booze

* Some run

* Some fight

* But I win, they lose

* What I need, I like

* What I don't, I fight

* And I don't like you

* Say bye-bye
while you're still alive *

* Your time is through

(grunts)
* 'Cause I'm a problem child

* 'Cause I'm a problem child

* Yeah,
I'm a problem child *

* Yeah, problem child

(gasps)

* Problem child

* I'm a problem child

* Problem child...

Higgins, where the hell are you?

Higgins!

TORRES (over radio): Higgins.
Hey, I thought you had my back.

*

(Bishop yawns)

Morning, Bishop.
Morning, McGee.

What do you got there?
Did I miss a new case?

Uh, nope. Old case.

Ducky's been e-mailing
all morning.

Ducky is in Scotland.

Yeah. By morning,
I mean his morning,

my night.

All night.
Why?

'Cause in addition to receiving
an honorary degree,

Ducky was also asked
to give a guest lecture.

Oh, I didn't know that.

Well, neither did Ducky,
so he asked me

to dig into NCIS archives

and scan some case files.

Ooh. There's a lot
to choose from.

Let me guess, The Meat Puzzle?

That was a thing?
Before your time.

Or he could talk
about Jack in the Box.

That was a good one.

Chimney Mummy?

Shower Blood? Pommel Horse?

Okay. Now you're just
saying words.

These are all real cases.

This one is even
before your time.

Death of
Colonel Metzger?

Oh. Body-in-a-Body.

I heard about that one.
Hey, Jimmy.

Did I miss
Bring Your Pallet to Work Day?

No, the, uh, medical
supply driver

went to the wrong
department. He's new.

Hey, have you guys

heard from Dr. Mallard?
I haven't spoken to him

since he left.
No. Just e-mail.
But hold on,

can we go back
to Body-in-a-Body?

How did that work?

GIBBS:
It wasn't pretty.

Grab your gear.

Great Nick Torres called.

Is the joint stakeout over?

That's a good question.

(Jimmy grunts)

Hey.

I cuffed Vernon,
dragged him to the car.

That's when I noticed
that Higgins was gone.

At first, I thought he was
trying to teach me a lesson.

About what?

Partnerships.

Eh, it's a long story.

When backup arrived,
still Higgins didn't show,

I-I got worried.
I hate joint investigations.

Detective Sportelli.
It's been a while.

Agent Gibbs. It's been so long

it's actually
Detective-Sergeant Sportelli.

Congratulations.

Same pay, more
responsibility.

One of them being the safety
of my fellow detectives.

It true you abandoned
your partner?

What?

No, no, no. He abandoned me.

We must have
a hostage situation.

We got no evidence
to support that.

It's the only explanation
for one of my detectives

leaving an active stakeout.

He must've
been taken.

BISHOP:
Well,

I searched the area.

No blood,
no sign of a struggle.

See?
See?

No. It means he walked away.

Or it means he was knocked out.

GIBBS: We don't
know what it means.

Knock it off.
McGEE:
Hey, boss.

Look what I found
on the ground.

Check this out.
Looks like an ink pen, right?

Yeah, but it's actually
a spy camera.

Yeah, I told you
Higgins was a gadget guy.

Yeah, well,
I think it's been recording.

I'm sorry. Yeah.
Can I, can I borrow this?

(clears throat)

HIGGINS:
Hey.

It was a joke.

Mm. Lucky you're hilarious.

GIBBS:
Run it forward.

BISHOP:
Look. Is that a woman?

Turn it up.

Camera was too far away.

BISHOP: Was this
a booty call?

TORRES:
You know,

I could almost forgive that.

SPORTELLI:
Who is she?

Where'd they go?

Run it back.

Right there.

She left a print.

I'll be damned.

Don't worry about it.
We'll run it.

You know, I could, um,

text you if I
get a match, or...
SPORTELLI:
I'll wait.

There was a good reason
Higgins left that stakeout.

I like a boss that sticks up
for his people.

(light chuckle)

That was quick.
Yeah.

Print was in the system.

Courtesy of Metro
Police Department.

Why?

Who's our mystery woman?

ABBY: Metro Police Detective
Michelle Lane.

No.

That's impossible.

Well, seems like a pretty
good reason to walk away.

Higgins met another cop.

Michelle Lane is dead.

What?

She was killed
ten years ago.

(computer keys click)

Detective Higgins
met a ghost.

BISHOP: Metro Detective
Michelle Lane,

single, with no family,
was killed in 2007

while working undercover.

She was part of
an operation to take down

arms dealer
Benjamin Sitano.

That guy sold more than guns.

Drugs, money, people.

Sitano's criminal empire
was diverse,

but Metro could never
make a case.

Yeah. Lane had been undercover
for three months

before tracking a gun deal
to Pershing Marina.

Worth $2 million
in bearer bonds.

But the bust never happened.

Lane was on board.

BISHOP: Yeah, a
witness at the marina

saw Lane on deck
minutes before the explosion.

You got a cause?
McGEE: Bomb.

Metro investigation
confirmed it was the work

of a rival gunrunner.

Lane was just in
the wrong place

at the wrong time.

Body was never recovered

and Lane was eventually
declared dead.

SPORTELLI:
Because she is dead.

I just got my ass handed to me
from Metro Command.

Somebody's messing with us,
Gibbs.

Whoa. What do you mean, "us"?

Joint investigation.

My captain and your director

signed off on it.

Not my first choice,

but they want extra resources.

Higgins is being treated
as an officer in distress.

His cell phone?

Turned off or destroyed.

And I have detectives
waiting at his apartment.

So far, the only one to show up
has been Agent Torres.

Higgins was his partner.
Yeah.

And my responsibility.

We got this.

I lost Lane ten years ago;
I'm not losing another cop.

BISHOP:
According to your files,

the bearer bonds
were never found.

Look, I know where
you're going with this.

Missing money, missing body.

And now we get
a complete fingerprint match

on three fingers?

Maybe Lane survived the blast,
stole the bonds, skipped town.

Agent Bishop, do you know
the people you work with?

Agent Gibbs,

McGee, Torres?

I'd like to think so.
Would they steal

two million bucks and let you
think they were dead?

No.

Well, I knew
Michelle Lane.

She wasn't a crook.

And she's not the woman
with Detective Higgins.

TORRES:
Sportelli has a point.

You don't think Lane could
have faked her own death?

You know, undercover work is
usually a solo assignment,

but you can only do it if people
on the outside have your back.

They don't desert you,
you don't desert them. Period.

Even for $2 million in
untraceable bearer bonds?

No.

Hmm. Well, did you
find anything

at Higgins' apartment?

I heard Metro
kicked you out.

Yeah, they kicked me out,

but not before
I got a few pictures.

And here's what I think.

There was definitely

somebody there
this morning.
Fresh cat food.

Yeah. I started talking
to the neighbors,

and I caught up with one
that was coming back

from a hot yoga class.

Ah, was she cute?

He was wearing leggings

and was very sweaty.
Hmm.

But he did see Higgins get
into a tan SUV with a woman.

Our mystery woman.
Yeah. He didn't see
the license plate,

but he saw a
bumper sticker.

Is that a flower?

Of course it's a flower.

I'm just saying.

TORRES:
Come on, man.

DUCKY: Does anyone know
the average amount

of cargo space
in the human torso?

(Scottish accent):
Uh, 45 liters.

Give or take.
Very good.

Just big enough
to fit the identifiable parts

of a second body.
(crowd gasping)

Barely leaving enough room

for the killer to re-stitch
the Y-incision,

but effectively disposing
of his female murder victim.

The old Body-in-a-Body gag?
(laughs)

(chuckles):
Yes.

It was the, uh,
teal nail varnish

that gave me quite a start.

But I'm-I'm glad
you bring that up,

because this case
should not be known

as the actions
of a deranged killer,

but rather a simple lesson
in forensic pathology.

Know who is on your table
and talk to them.

While they're
on the slab, Doctor?

Oh, that's where
they reveal their secrets.

Yes, it's a subtle way
of discovering any foul play.

Marine Colonel Stanley Metzger.

50s. Suffered
a fatal heart attack.

Yeah, this was soon after he
had made considerable effort

to lose weight.

His arms, legs and face,

everywhere was covered
with loose skin--

except his abdomen.

Now, this was odd.

So I weighed him.

Despite major fat loss since
his last physical examination,

he had gained 17 pounds.

"How is this possible, Colonel?"

I asked him.
(laughter)

"Hmm?"

He suggested I perform
a second autopsy,

which I did.

And...

the female victim was found.

If you listen...

the dead will speak.

(chuckles):
Oh.

I seem to have gone

well over my allotted time,
but if there are

any questions...

(crowd murmuring)

Oh, my goodness.
Uh...

(Scottish accent): Yeah,
well, who's going to be first?

McGEE:
Do you know that this month
is the 500-year anniversary

of the Protestant Reformation?

Congratulations.
But I'm a Catholic.

No. Talking about
the bumper sticker.

The flower and heart--
it's a Luther rose.

I'm thinking our mystery woman
may be a Lutheran.

Sportelli sent over
Higgins' file,

including his user name
and password

for Metro's
internal file system.

So we'll know if he logs in.
Well, hard to do
if this mystery woman

tied him up in a trunk or a...

sex dungeon.

Well, then how do you
explain this?

McGEE:
Higgins is logged in right now.

From where?
BISHOP: If he's connected

to Wi-Fi...
We can get a location.

(computer beeping)

(computer ringing)

(exhales)

Mom, you're online.

Your phone keeps going
to voice mail.

(groans) I'm sorry, buddy.
I've been...

It's been a long morning.
(chuckles)

Are you okay?

Yeah. I'm fine.

Everything okay
with you and Dad?

No.
Why? What's wrong?

My history project is due
in two days, and you went

to some conference
in Washington, D.C.
I'm sorry.

I'll finish sewing your Mark
Twain costume when I get back.

I got to go, baby.

Thanks.

I love you.

Love you, too.

(exhales)

McGEE: All right,
the I.P. address was assigned

by a Wi-Fi router
on the lower level.

Yeah, how do you want
to handle this, McGee?

Well, I think that we...
Sounds good.

Torres, you're with me.
Let's move.

You had to call Metro,
didn't you?

*

(barking, snarling)

Didn't even crack a window.

Heads up. Tan SUV.

That's got to be
our Lutheran.

Metro Police!

No, Federal agents!

Let me see your hands!

TORRES:
Guys, we got a body.

It's Higgins.

You change your mind
about joint investigations?

Hell no.

And I'm still not convinced
Michelle Lane is the killer.

Or our mystery woman.

(elevator bell dings)

Let's just
find her, okay?

(elevator bell dings)

(sighs):
Yeah.

Ever wish you weren't
the boss, Gibbs?

I thought I was getting
a promotion.

Instead, I got
everyone else's problems.

Our job's to fix 'em.

Exactly.

But what if we can't?

Retirement?

Guys like us can't retire.

Dude, just tell me
what you know.

I want to help you, Nick,
but you know the rules

about waiting for
final autopsy results.

Palmer. Go.

He won't tell us anything.

That is not what I said.

I said Dr. Mallard has rules,
and I can't break them.

Unless you...

order me to
break them.
Doctor, go.

The bullet entered the neck
and appears to have severed

the spinal cord,
making death instant.

From the angle of entry, I
would say that the shooter was

above the body.
Distance?

I'll need to complete
the autopsy first.

Distance.
Actually,
on this point,

I'm not just deferring
to Dr. Mallard's instructions.

I need more information
for that answer.

Time of death.

About two hours before the body
was discovered in the garage.

Just after the neighbor saw the
woman and Higgins drive away.

Also, while there was
no gunshot residue on the body,

there was glass
from the passenger window

found in the wound.
Shot came while
they were driving.

We're looking
for a third party.

I'll report
to my captain.

A-Again, this is all

under the guise
of supposition...

GIBBS: Get these supplies
put away!

Dr. Mallard wouldn't like that!
(supplies clattering)

(sighs)

Yo. What's the big deal, man?

Nick, I can fill out reports,
I can autopsy bodies,

I am certified in all areas
of medical examination,

but no one other than Dr.
Mallard restocks that closet.

Did you ever find the rest
of the second body, the woman?

Uh, what did the family say?
Must've been quite the scandal.

These are not medical questions.

My job as a pathologist is only

to report
the medical findings.

Well, who was responsible for
the broken chain of evidence?

Yes. When did the killer
have a chance

to remove the bag of guts
and add the poor lass?

I mean, how long

do you think that took?

Was the killer
working alone?

Excuse me, Doctor.

I hate to interrupt.

But you have an
urgent phone call.

Uh, excuse me.

Dr. Darwin.

Yeah, I don't see

a phone in here.
(chuckles)

Gullstrand '25 calling.

It's a single malt.
(chuckles)

(laughs)
You looked thirsty.

It's good to see you, Cadence.

And you, Donald.

When I heard you
were being honored,

I knew I just
couldn't miss it.

I mean, all the way from
New York just for me.

Oh, and the whiskey.

And why not?

For the fifth--
or is it the sixth time?--

(chuckles)
I have a job.

Can't a girl support
a fellow alumnus

without accusations
of being a headhunter?

Ah, speaking of headhunters...

Dr. Mallard?
(doorknob rattles)

Are you in there?
(knocking)

Well, it's your own fault for
presenting such a unique case.

Well...
FIONA: Dr. Mallard?

Has there ever been
another Body-in-a-Body?

Yeah, well, now's
not the time to find out.

FIONA:
Dr. Mallard? You promised you'd
let me take a selfie with you.

(knocking)

Anything on Lane's SUV?

Nothing to I.D. our cop killer.

No, but the car itself is
registered to a Jessica Pottorf

of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Well, and her laptop was hidden
underneath the seat.

Abby just cracked
the hard drive and sent a link.

That mother looks familiar.

Michelle Lane
and Jessica Pottorf

are the same person.

BISHOP:
Living under an alias.

And she married Craig Pottorf
in '08; they have a son,

Landon, who's nine years old.

She started a whole new life.

What's she doing back in D.C.?

Yeah, with her old
partner's dead body.

Thinking it has something to do
with the 2007 case.

She used Higgins' log-in
to look at old police files,

specifically the arms dealer
she was trying to bust,

Benjamin Sitano.

Except he died
two years ago.

Well, somebody had to inherit
the family business.

McGEE: Well, they did.
His son, Benny Jr.

He's supposedly gone legit
by starting

a check-cashing franchise
called Check 'N Cash 4U.

Super legit.

The last Web page
Lane visited was

the address of
Benny's corporate office.

Bishop, Torres, let's go.

Boss, you want me
to update Sportelli?

About what?

BENNY: So you think this woman's
coming here to hurt me?

Oh, we don't
know that yet.
Well, I appreciate the concern,

but that's why I have Nitro--
who also makes a mean espresso,

by the way,
if either of you are interested.

Yeah? She'll take
one of those.

Sure.
Nitro?

NITRO:
Sure thing, Benny.

Please.

Yeah, Nitro and I go way back.

People come to hurt you a lot?
Not exactly,

but fearing
for your personal safety

is the sad reality
of being born with my name.

And your father's
criminal empire.

Alleged.

But yes.

After he passed,
I got us out of that life.

With shady payroll advances.

So we're not giving puppies
to orphans.

You were arrested last month
for money laundering.

Dad had long tentacles

that keep growing back.

And if it's not the FBI,
it's the ATF or DEA,

and I'm pretty sure the IRS
is about to arrest me!

(chuckles):
Huh?

I have no knowledge

or involvement.

But somehow
the buck always seems

to stop here.
I was ecstatic

when this meeting
wasn't about the past.

Oh, yeah, it is.

You recognize her.

She used to work for my father.

That had to be
ten years ago.

Did you know she was a cop?

Not till I read about it
in the papers.

She died in that
boat explosion.
Nope.

She was the woman
in that first photo,

the one who was
coming here for you.

What? Why?

Well, you tell us.

BENNY: I have no idea.
Thanks, Nitro.

Fresh cinnamon?

Uh, no, thank you.

Benny, where were you
yesterday morning?

Now, I know I said
I'm used to questions,

but I think this one's
gonna require a lawyer.

(phone rings)

Yeah, go, Torres.

Our ghost just walked in.

Stay with her.

On it.

(elevator bell dings)

NCIS.

(door closes)

You're supposed to be dead.

But you ran away.

From your job.

Your sworn duty.

Why?

I mean, besides the $2 million.

I'm not here about the past.

I came back
because I'm in trouble.

Oh, what gave it away,
your handcuffs?

Whoever killed Higgins
is after me.

Why?

Someone found out who I am.

I got a call three days ago
from an unknown number.

A voice threatened my family

unless I handed over
the bearer bonds.

The hazards
of stealing dirty money.

Guess you're gonna
have to give it back, huh?

I don't have the money.
That's the problem.

And this is my family
we're talking about.

This voice call back?
They said they would.

So I called the only cop
I could trust: my old partner.

Yeah.

Quite a shock for him.
He was on stakeout

and said he'd meet me
the next day.

I couldn't wait that long,
so I went there.

That's why he was
so anxious.

I told him about the blackmail.

It must be connected
to the undercover case.

So we went back to his apartment
to pull the files.

As we were leaving,
someone shot at us.

Mm-hmm. Get a look?

A good... man
got killed trying to help me.

But if I'd stopped,
I'd be just as dead.

I had to find out
who was behind this.

You think it was Benny.
I was going there
to explain

that I never had
his bearer bonds, and to beg

for the safety of my family.

What other choice did I have?

The same choice you had
ten years ago.

Come clean.

Go to the cops.

(knock on door)

McGEE:
Boss, sorry to interrupt.

We turned on
Lane's cell phone

to process it--
hasn't stopped ringing.
("Charge" ringtone playing)

That's Landon's ringtone.

Please let me answer it.

Let me tell my son
everything's okay.

("Charge" ringtone
continues playing)

(phone beeps)

Hey, bud.

Landon?

Landon, are you there?

(muffled screaming)

Landon!

DISTORTED VOICE: Turn over the
bonds, you get your kid back.

(muffled screams)
Landon!

(gasping)
Oh, my God.

McGee.

Metro sent detectives
to Lane's house in Harrisburg.

Yeah? And?
Well, it appears
a lone intruder

broke into the house
and knocked out the husband.

He's in the hospital,

but he'll be okay.
Landon.

Phone's turned off,
but nothing at the scene

suggests that he was hurt.

Gibbs.

Why the hell
didn't you call me

as soon as you had
Lane in custody?

There's people with questions,
including me.

Questions about the case?

Eventually.

Don't make this personal.

It's hard not to.

We got a missing kid.

Priority is getting him back.

I'm not sitting
on my hands, Gibbs.

We're taking this.

You got questions...

write 'em down.

He has every right
to be angry,

but it doesn't help
get my son back.

I didn't leave
for the money.

Then why?

All I care about
is finding my son.

Then why the hell aren't you
telling us everything?

(sighs)

While I was undercover,
I found out I was pregnant.

With Landon?

It was unexpected,

and the father
wasn't in the picture.

Talk about
reevaluating your life

on the fly.

The bust at the marina
was supposed to happen

the next day.

A witness saw you on that boat.
Until I realized

that my wire had
run out of battery.

Metro needed the deal on tape,

so I snuck back to my car,
when boom.

That explosion
was meant for me,

and I got the hell out.

It was a rival gun dealer.

News didn't report that
for months.

At the time,

I thought maybe
there was a mole.

Who would you trust,
Agent Torres?

Where did you go?

I checked in to
a crappy motel in Delaware

to lay low and reflect
on my future,

as a cop...

(voice breaks):
and as a mother.

I hoped that by the time
I had my answer,

I'd know what to do.

Then, a week later,
a new option was handed to me.

I saw on the news that I died.

I took it as a sign.

Did you also take the bonds?

For all I know,
they drifted out to sea.

This wasn't
about money.

This was about
a good life for my son.

That really require being dead?

I knew I was lying
to my friends, teammates.

We trusted each other.

Then why not go back to them?

He...

It was complicated.

The biological father?

I never told him he had a child.

The Pottorfs own a modest house,
a modest car.

They saved their money to go
to Epcot Center in January.

Low season-- it's
a good time to go.

Their cable package
has no premium channels.

I mean, if they had
the bearer bonds,

there is no evidence of it.

I guess Lane was
telling the truth.

ABBY: With the help
of a fake I.D.,

she started taking
night classes,

she got a job as a teacher

at a Lutheran preschool,
and she got married.

It's like she built
an entire new life

from scratch.

Well, blackmailer
thinks otherwise.

Anything to help us find them?

No. But I think I know
how they found her.

Guess what else the Pottorfs
spent their money on.

They had season tickets

to the Lancaster Barnstormers.

McGEE:
Doesn't ring a bell.

Didn't you see
the famous viral video

from last month?
No.

Okay, watch this.

Okay, so this guy
catches it, right?

And then he proposes
with a foul ball.

Did he have this planned?
ABBY: No.

That's what makes it
so romantic.

It got 44 million hits.

It was on every news
broadcast in the country.

Mostly because
the girlfriend said no.

Uh, maybe if he'd caught
a home run.

Okay, but here's why
I took another look.

Her season tickets
were in the same section.

That's Lane and her son.

You think
the kidnapper saw this?

Yeah.
And check out her T-shirt.

It's got the name
of where she works.

BISHOP:
Hey.

Uh, where's Gibbs?
Why? What's going on?

I think Lane just
cracked the case.

Well, some things
never change--

my nursing a hangover
while you study.

You were right,
last night.

Yeah, Body-in-a-Body.

Apparently, it never
happened before or since.

You checked.

Yeah, online
and in these books.

The only recorded reference
of such a case

appears to be in my notes.

Hmm. Isn't that a shame?

So, save for your lecture,
the world would never have

such a valuable resource?

Ah...
(chuckles)

The other shoe drops.

I knew it.

You a here to sell me
on a teaching position.

John Jay is the world's premier
college of criminal justice.

Spoken while standing in
the halls of our alma mater.

You have quite a nerve.

Besides, you're wrong.

It's not a
full-time position.

Just a residency for a semester.

Which I must refuse.

While you write
your book.

Everything you've seen and done,
medical and otherwise.

We both know your personal
experiences are invariably

tied to your medical knowledge.

It's the Ducky charm.

(chuckles)
Flattery will get you nowhere.

I haven't even started.

Because I think

it wouldn't just be your book.

It could be the book.

A definitive reference
for the entire field.

Your story will inspire and
empower generations to come.

I have responsibilities at NCIS.

It's a semester in New York.

And you can even stay
with me, if you like.

I do live alone.

It would be a frightful burden
on Dr. Palmer.

How many times have you talked
to him since you've been away?

I always call him
once a day when I travel.

Sometimes more.

Have you?

On this trip?

Ah. Touché.

You've been here,

and yet the world of NCIS turns.

Without me.

Because of you.

Because of the legacy
you've put in place.

It's time to spread the wealth.

BENNY: I'm busting my ass
to get away from that life.

Why would I kill a cop?

Same reason
you'd kidnap Landon.

What? I didn't kidnap anyone!

He's not just anyone.

Your son.

Michelle told us.
Michelle?

She's here?

She didn't just find out
she was pregnant.

You two had an affair
while she was undercover.

That's why she ran away.

BISHOP:
You couldn't return to Metro.

Everyone can count backward
nine months.

Word would have spread
to the Sitano family.

McGEE: You found out
that she was still alive,

so you blackmailed her,

and you took her son--
your son.

Heir to the family.

That's exactly why
I let them go.

So you did find out.
Yes!

But that was nine years ago.
All right?

Right after she had the baby.

Whoa, whoa. Wait. Back up.

Michelle and I had
a relationship.

After the explosion,
I was devastated.

But, in my father's
line of work,

until you see a body,
nobody's dead.

So I hired a P.I.

You were angry.

I was in love.

The P.I. found Michelle

maybe 18 months later,
with a new name, a new man

and a new baby-- a son.

My son.

You wanted them back.

Till I realized
the truth.

A new life was the best thing
that could happen to my kid.

'Cause whether it's the cops
looking to arrest me

or scumbags looking for money,

my life will always
be tied to crime.

That's no way to live.

So I decided to let them be.

Tried to forget about it.

Is he telling the truth?

Who else knew
about the missing bonds?

Who else would
take Landon?

(sighs):
Oh, God.

Someone has my little boy.

We'll find him.

Trust us.

You don't have to do this.

It's not my call anymore.

Michelle.

Danny.

I'm sorry about your son.
Thank you.

And I'm sorry about this.

Does Gibbs know?

He knows it's the law.

Letting people think you're dead
isn't illegal.

Technically.

It requires breaking laws
along the way,

and she has to answer for it.

(handcuffs clicking)

Michelle Lane...

you're under arrest
for conspiracy and fraud.

Do I need to read your rights?

No. You need
to find my son.

I have sins to atone for--
fine-- but he's innocent.

Stop wasting time.

Let's go.

MICHELLE: This is doing
everything you can?

This is trusting you?!

You said you'd find him!

Ah, Gibbs. Hold on.

I know we're
running out of time

and we've got no leads
on Landon...

Bishop, I'm waiting
for some good news.

Well, we all agree that Benny
has the clearest motive.

Yeah. Son and money.

But we've got
nothing on him.

Benny's got a record--

he doesn't want to get
his hands dirty.

So what if he paid someone,
someone he goes way back with?

Bodyguard?

Omar Nitro.
I asked the IRS agents

from Benny's office to send over
the payroll records.

Nitro's salary just tripled.

Lot of money for a bodyguard.
Let's bring him in.

He's just gonna call Benny
and lawyer up.

Maybe we set up
a friendly meeting.

Catch flies with honey.

I was gonna say French fries.

Omar. Hey.

Uh, Agent Bishop
and Torres.

Thanks for meeting us
on such short notice.

Mm-hmm.
Ah, you're eating
plain chicken

at a place that serves
fried Twinkies?

(chuckles)
You got to set a good example.

(chuckles): For the...
the Tuesday lunch crowd?

No. Potential clients.

Ah.

I'm also a personal trainer.

I just finished my classes
and got my diploma.

Which is why my salary tripled.

That is why you're
really here, right?

To get me to confess?

I used to be a cop.

We know.

With Metro.

Before you were fired.

So, were you crooked...

or just bad at your job?

Past is the past.

I am now Mr. Sitano's guard,

personal trainer
and licensed masseur.

He did not pay me
to take the kid. Are we done?

No.

I'm gonna call Metro.

Do they know you have a
concealed carry license, Omar?

I mean, those are pretty easy
to have revoked.

Yeah, it's gonna be
really hard

to guard someone
without a weapon.

That's really gonna hurt
that paycheck.

You guys are way off base here.

Then enlighten us.

I was pressured to
skim evidence, but I refused.

They thought
I would turn snitch,

so they railroaded me out, okay?

When I went looking
for another job,

Benny related.

I was a good guy
trying to beat a bad rap.

I am not crooked.

So, then why didn't you tell
your boss about the dirty cops?

'Cause my boss was one of them.

And Sportelli is way too smart
to get caught.

Did we find anything yet?

Is this even possible?

Sportelli and Lane
never showed up to booking.

It's a 20-minute drive,
and they left hours ago.
There's no answer.

Technically,
it doesn't prove anything.

Yeah, but it doesn't
look good, either.

Find him!

We still have access
to Metro's files?

You're right--
Higgins' log-in details.

Where is he?
TORRES:
Well, he has to be close,

because he's been playing us
this whole time.

All right, listen to this.
Sportelli rents

a one-bedroom in Chinatown.

Apparently, he and a few buddies

bought a local bar
and fell into debt.

Sportelli used up
his entire 401(k).
Retirement.

$2 million would be a fresh
start anywhere he wanted.

What's the name of the bar?
McGEE:
It's called Flankman's.

In Anacostia? That place
closed two years ago.

Well, Sportelli
still pays property taxes.

Means he's still got a key.
Let's go.

Time is precious, Michelle.

For all three of us.

I told you,
I don't have the bonds.

I never did!

(panting)
What happened to you, Danny?

Me? What happened to me?

I'm the same.

Same job, same life--

just trying to make ends meet.

You, on the other hand...

I made a choice.
Yeah.

Well, here's
another one.

You went to Higgins
and forced my hand.

And now I'm gonna
force yours.

The money or your son!

Just tell me where

you stashed the bearer bonds,
and I'll disappear

just like you.

Please!

Offshore account!

Cayman Islands!

Account number?

457-9153-9...

Slow down!
(whispers): Sorry, sorry.

9153...?

947-371.
947-37...

That's 13 digits.

Banks don't use 13 digits!

No! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

It's from memory!
Please don't!

Don't hurt my son!

(sobbing): Please!
(dog barking outside)

Damn it!

(crying)

McGEE:
Federal agents!

GIBBS:
Sportelli!

It's over.
SPORTELLI:
Yeah.

Now what?

BISHOP: Hang on.
Here we go.

Landon, baby.

Come on, sweetie.
Let's get them out of here.

Good. Good.
(Michelle sobbing)

It's up to you how this goes.

You always were
a fair guy, Gibbs.

TORRES:
I'd say more than fair.

You killed a cop.

One of your own.

Our job to fix it.

SPORTELLI:
I can't.

Then take responsibility.

(gun racks)

(gunshot, body thuds)

He made his choice.

(sirens approaching)

(elevator bell dings)

Wait, so it was a lie?

Lane didn't have
an offshore account?

No, she was stalling.

So where's the $2 million?

Well, no idea.

Could still be
at the bottom of that marina.

Hey, McGee?
Huh?

You know
how to scuba dive?

No. You?

No, but for $2 million,
I could learn.

(doorbells jingle)

Mm. Hey, Michelle.

Hey, Landon.
Hey, Agent Bishop.

Thank you, again,

for everything.

Metro says I still have

a few things to answer for,
but that's okay.

Uh, why did you want
to meet us here?

Uh, well, I, uh,
I made that call for you.

Hello, Benny.

(sighs)
Michelle.

Oh, this is unexpected.

I... wanted to thank you
in person for understanding.

Landon,

this is Mr. Sitano.
Hello.

BENNY:
Hey. It's, uh, Benny.

It's nice to meet you, Landon.

How do you know my mom?

We're, uh...

old friends.
BISHOP:
Why don't you guys

have a seat?

Thank you.

*

(door opens, closes)

Hey, Duck.

Welcome back.

There a problem?

Oh, the quarterly supplies
have been restocked.

Mm-hmm.

Just the way
I would have done it.

Yeah. So, there a problem?

(chuckles)
Well, that's the point.

There is no problem.

(laughs)

Took you long enough
to figure that out.

Cadence.

Yeah?

She already spoke with you.

Last week.

It seems everybody is
planning my life without me.

No.

Your choice all the way.

It is just one semester.

Yeah, you bet.

New York is but a
three-hour train ride.

I can visit.

Yeah, you bet.

Dr. Palmer...

will make a wonderful
medical examiner.

We'll see.

I...
Stop, Duck.

Is this what you want to do?

Yes.

Okay. Then it's not me
you need to talk to.

Oh. My apologies.

Am I interrupting?

Nah, you're right on time, Doc.

Really?

That's unusual.

*

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