The killer is still out there.
I want you to help me find him.
NSA's intel was correct.
I did it. I leaked that file.
Vance fired her?
No. She quit.
Who were you training for? CIA? Homeland?
Because that's why you threw your reputation in the toilet.
(whispers): Goodbye, Nick.
So now there are three.
This is starting to look like a...
Serial killer.
I found a bug in my basement.
Do you think it's the killer?
I don't know, but if they're watching me, Marcie,
they're watching you.
(birds singing)
(gasping breath)
(gasping breaths)
(panting)
(shudders)
(grunts in pain)
(coughing)
(grunts in pain)
(panting)
♪ ♪
(birds singing)
(door opens)
(door closes)
WOMAN: I wish all of my final walk-throughs were this easy.
Miss Bishop seems to have covered all her bases
before leaving.
It's great.
Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't know someone was out here.
Would you like a tour?
This unit just became available.
Yeah, I can see that.
Nick?
Jimmy.
Uh...
I'll go grab a brochure.
Nick, I know how this must look,
but, I swear, it's not like I was helping Ellie move out
without you knowing or something.
She called me last night,
asked if I would meet with her landlady.
I thought I was doing her a favor.
I did not expect this.
Although, from the look of things,
it seems like she's been planning this
for quite a while.
Like, did she ever tell you why?
You were keeping a handgun here?
Guess you guys just blew right past the toothbrush phase.
This stays between us, okay?
(quietly): Yeah.
Hey, Jimmy?
Why didn't she come herself?
You can tell me.
When she called me last night,
she was already headed to the airport.
To catch a flight out of the country.
She's gone, Nick.
No.
She left.
Look, if you ever want to talk...
Mm-mm.
I'm fine.
I'm sorry, pal.
(phone ringing)
Yeah, Tim.
Slow down, slow down.
What lake?
We didn't make the connection to NCIS
until early this morning.
What took so long?
Easy there, city mouse.
It's a lake. Evidence, you know... sinks.
Witnesses reported hearing an explosion and seeing smoke,
but by the time rescue craft arrived,
everything that could help us ID the boat or its owner
was already gone.
You found any survivors?
No survivors. No bodies.
But according to marina records, the only boat unaccounted for
was registered to an L.J. Gibbs.
Look, we don't mean to do your job for you.
Give it time. You Feds always take over.
But we...
we need to make sure that it's our L.J. Gibbs, okay?
Well, does your guy own a boat?
Yes. But he built it in a basement.
How did he get it out?
This is what we've been able to recover so far.
Anything look familiar?
Looks like the initial blast came
from the engine compartment.
It'd take a lot of concentrated heat
to melt cast iron like that.
Mechanical failure?
Pipe bomb.
What's Rule 91?
Gibbs.
You saying this is definitely your guy?
We're saying this is definitely our case.
I get it. He's your boss.
No. He's family.
We got divers dragging the bottom in shifts,
a-and teams
sweeping the shore in every direction.
If Gibbs is out there, we'll find him.
(phone rings)
Unger.
Yeah.
Copy that.
Divers just found a body.
(exhales)
UNGER: Looks like she's been in
the water a little while.
You ever seen this woman before?
No.
Boat bombs and bodies...
What's this Gibbs guy mixed up in?
We're gonna find out.
And we're gonna find him.
JIMMY: Okay, so southwest quadrants six and nine have been cleared.
Moving on to southeast four and five.
Copy that. Thanks, Victor.
Hey. What's this?
JIMMY: Just keeping tabs on the rescue efforts up at the lake,
thanks to some rescue divers
that play in my indoor volleyball league.
I'm a medical examiner.
I know people who find bodies.
Fortunately, they haven't found any more of those,
but the search teams on land have found
absolutely no trace of Gibbs, either.
It's not like Gibbs just absorbed
back into nature, right?
Jimmy?
Hmm?
Let's focus on what we know.
Right. The mystery body found in southwest quadrant four.
Uh, female, approximately 30 years old.
Still no hits on, uh,
fingerprints, facial recognition?
No, and no connection to Gibbs yet.
Assuming they're even connected.
Dead body in the lake where Gibbs' boat blew up?
Rule 39: they're connected.
Speaking of rules, what is Rule 91?
It's one of the more complicated ones.
Mm.
You have no idea, do you?
No. Body.
Right. Uh, I removed some red duct tape
that was binding both her wrists and her ankles.
And cause of death was
blunt force trauma with a claw hammer.
This is definitely a murder.
Time of death?
It's very hard to say,
but based on water temperature and the state of decomposition,
I'd say her body was dumped at least two weeks ago.
Okay, so we'll start pulling missing person reports
from last month.
Thanks, Jimmy.
Uh, hey, uh, McGee?
How are you doing?
I mean, first Bishop, now this.
I know there hasn't been a lot of time to process.
I'm fine.
That's just what Nick said,
but I didn't believe him, either.
Now, look, I-I really feel like we should, uh,
we should vent.
Jimmy, after we find Gibbs.
He's alive, Tim.
This isn't how it ends.
(water splashing)
(bubbling)
(groans)
(grunts in pain)
(groans)
(pants)
(grunting)
Help!
I'm here!
Help me!
Let me out of here!
(dialing, line ringing)
(line beeps)
FEMALE VOICE: We're sorry.
You have reached a number that has been disconnect...
Anything on our mystery woman?
What?
Our mystery woman.
Any luck with the missing persons reports?
I never got 'em.
Well, that's funny, because, according to the read receipts,
the email I sent was opened 27 minutes ago.
Well, then your program is wrong.
Computers don't lie, Nick.
Neither do I.
That's not what I mean.
Look, I... I know that you and Bishop, you were...
We what, huh?
You were close.
So?
So maybe you should take a step back.
Maybe you should take a break on this one.
I can do my damn job, Tim.
(sighs) That's not what I mean.
Then say what you mean!
I wish I could!
But with Bishop gone and Gibbs missing,
I feel like things are falling apart.
Okay? And I can't think straight.
I know!
Then why are you still yelling?
Because it feels good!
Well, that happened kind of fast.
Right.
Come on, bring it in.
What? No, we're not hugging.
Oh, I will.
Oh.
Oh, gosh.
It's been a rough couple days.
Oh...
Okay.
Yeah.
Also, I have to take the love while it's still available.
What is that supposed to mean?
You gave Gibbs an electronic bug finder and you didn't tell us?
Only because he specifically said he wasn't in trouble.
And the next day his boat blew up.
In retrospect, Gibbs may have been in trouble.
You think?
The man asked for a favor.
Did he say who was bugging him?
Or why?
No. He just told me
to enjoy my ginger ale and walked out.
You don't even like ginger ale.
One of many mistakes I made that day. But...
I might be able to make up for some of them.
Gibbs may have said he wasn't in trouble,
but I know better.
After all, Gibbs is Gibbs.
So before I gave him the bug finder,
I installed one of these puppies.
A mesh Bluetooth tracking device.
Smart.
And frugal.
That bug finder is NCIS property.
It gets lost, it comes out of my paycheck.
Does that mean we can track Gibbs?
The device is currently turned off.
No way to tell where it is.
No, but we can find out where it's been.
You mean by downloading GPS tracking data
from the cloud server?
Already started downloading.
We may not know
why Gibbs was using the bug finder,
but in a minute, we'll be able to see
exactly where he was using it.
(chickens clucking outside)
(coughs)
(clangs lightly)
(straining)
(yells)
(groans) Ow.
Just where the hell do you think you're going?
Get up.
(groans)
And before you think about running rabbit,
I will not hesitate
to end you.
Cripes, Thelma,
he's lost a lot of blood.
He-He's not going anywhere.
He broke the door latch.
Well, i-impressive,
but not too smart.
My shirt looks good on you, though.
So, who are you?
Gibbs.
Put the rifle away.
I'm not looking for trouble.
(chuckles): That's funny,
coming from somebody whose boat just blew up.
Yeah, either you're a terrible mechanic,
or somebody wants you dead.
In any case,
you ain't a guy I want to know.
How long have I been out?
Since yesterday. Uh, we were on a walk
and saw you swim into the shallows,
so we tried to help.
That was our first mistake.
VIRGIL: You were in pretty bad shape.
I knew we weren't gonna get up to the hospital.
I'm-- I'm a retired veterinarian,
so I just figured, uh, see, if I could patch a horse,
I could patch you.
That was our second mistake.
I need to make a phone call.
Somebody's life's in danger.
Then how come you said, "No cops"?
Yeah, those are the last words you used
before you passed out.
THELMA: You're part of that gang
up to no good at the North Shore,
and the last thing you want is cops sniffing around.
(Gibbs grunts)
Sit down.
Gonna be hard to make any calls
with a hole in your head.
Lady, you have no idea
what you're in the middle of.
Is that so?
How about you enlighten us?
(shell casing clatters)
After an initial sweep
of the shoreline, NCIS and county police
have moved the search further inland.
Still no sign of Gibbs.
McGEE: But we're working on a lead of our own.
It's come to our attention that Gibbs has been using
a piece of equipment that has a tracking device inside.
That bug finder that Miss Hines released
without proper authorization.
She sent a full email confession
right before you came up.
Well, GPS history
shows that Gibbs
used the device at three specific locations.
First was at the diner when Kasie handed it over.
And the second was at his house.
All right, I understand those two, but...
what's this third location downtown?
It's an industrial loft owned by a furniture store.
What, was Gibbs buying a sofa?
We'll find out, sir.
I wasn't finished.
First, I want to say good work.
These last few days have not been easy for any of us.
And understandably,
emotions are running high.
Sir, if this is about the outburst in the bullpen...
Yes.
It is.
We already worked through that.
So, sir, it won't ever happen again.
And I'm gonna do my part to make sure it stays that way.
You've been overworked and understaffed,
which is why I'm gonna assign your team a new agent.
BOTH: What?
Mm-hmm.
Please.
Agents McGee and Torres,
I'd like for you to meet Special Agent Brent Hollister.
Good to meet you.
Right.
Yeah.
Agent Hollister is one of our best and brightest.
He just graduated top of his class at FLETC.
Director, all due respect, we don't have time for this.
If we're gonna find Gibbs, we need someone who is
independent
and capable and experienced.
No offense.
I don't suppose you and Agent Torres
have someone else in mind?
KNIGHT: NCIS! Open up!
Clear.
Cute office.
Well, someone didn't think so.
I really want to find out where they got these throw pillows.
You're a pillow person, Agent Knight?
No.
Stains on my couch that need hiding.
Place doesn't seem very... Gibbs-ish.
Well, the man is not much of a pillow guy.
What would he be doing here?
Or who would he be doing it with?
Does Gibbs have a girlfriend?
Huh.
Just saying.
There could be definite "love shack" vibes here.
Yeah, but I don't see a bed here.
Somebody has not seen Fatal Attraction.
And, hey, before I forget, I just...
wanted to say thank you for...
going to bat for me with Vance.
I know it's only temporary until we find Gibbs...
(sighs) ...but it's nice to be kicking down doors again.
McGEE: Ooh. I think I know whose door this is.
Press credential says "Marcie Warren."
KNIGHT: Does Gibbs
usually get cozy with the press?
No, and especially not this one.
You know this Marcie woman?
By reputation only.
She's the reporter that wrote the exposé
about Gibbs' suspension.
(chuckles) So not a love connection.
(sighs) Why would Gibbs come here?
I say we find this Marcie woman and ask her.
Well, judging by the mess in here,
we're not the only ones looking for her.
And you expect me to believe
you're a special agent?
Suspended special agent.
Yeah, I got that part of your story.
The part I don't get is, why'd you say "no cops"?
I'll bet it's because he doesn't want that serial killer
to know he's still alive.
That's a good bet. My phone call. Now.
That was only if we believed you.
And we don't.
VIRGIL (chuckles): Serial killers,
boat bombs.
He's clearly one of those bastards
doing God knows what at the North Shore.
Hell, he probably knows where Sandy is.
Don't think we didn't notice she's gone missing.
I don't know what you are talking about.
You're wasting time.
Shoot me!
(gasps)
Or give me a telephone
and let me call my friend
and warn her!
Y-You mean the reporter?
Marcie Warren.
Her life's in danger.
(vehicle approaching)
(car door opens)
(car door closes)
MAN: Hello?
Anybody home?
Adams County Sheriff's Department.
Well, just what the hell are police doing here?
That's not a real cop.
Come again?
GIBBS: A cop would know the star goes on his left side of his shirt.
That's not a real cop.
How the hell do I know you're telling the truth?
Well, ask him a "real cop" question.
N-Now, hon, you can't go out there now.
If Gibbs is right, that guy could be dangerous.
I can take care of myself.
VIRGIL: All right.
You just take care of him.
Can I help you, deputy?
MAN: Sure, ma'am.
Heard about that boat exploding?
You know, I'm generally a pacifist,
but if anything happens to my Thelmy,
I'm gonna shoot you first.
VIRGIL: What do you see?
She's talking.
VIRGIL: Still?
How is she?
Gibbs? Answer me.
Well?
What did he say?
He asked what we knew about the explosion.
And he gave me the wrong answer
about Sergeant Watson.
Uh, the old cop who ran the stables?
He's been dead for ten years.
THELMA: Exactly.
But Deputy Dawg out there didn't know that.
(sighs) You were right.
What else is he right about?
Got it. Thanks. BOLO's out on Marcie Warren,
and cyber unit's starting a trace on her phone.
No need.
I understand you can't divulge
information about Gibbs.
Can you at least tell me has a body been recovered?
Ms. Warren?
Agent McGee?
Yeah.
(relieved sigh): Oh.
I saw the news.
Is there any word on Gibbs?
Hey, wh-what's going on?
We're hoping that you can tell us.
(phone ringing)
Oh. So sorry.
Hello?
Oh, thank God. Gibbs!
Oh, I'm at NCIS.
Of course.
He wants to talk to you.
Oh.
Boss?
Yeah, McGee.
Boss, where are you?
You keep Marcie safe.
Full protective detail, 24/7.
Yeah, you got it. But what is this all about?
Boss?
TORRES: What happened?
What did he say?
He hung up on me.
Torres.
Yo.
I know I'm new, and I've never met the man,
but is this normal?
Is what normal?
Does Gibbs usually hang up on his team after almost dying?
Well, he's a man of few words.
Sure.
I just thought that maybe some of those words
would be used to say where he is
or who planted a bomb on his boat.
I mean, he didn't sound hurt or under duress,
so why not take a moment to chat?
Well, Gibbs always has a reason.
He stone-cold dissed McGee.
(sighs) Look, the man spent seven years
building a boat in his basement
just to have it blown into tiny bits.
My guess is he's looking for the guy who did it.
That would mean Gibbs has a lead.
He always does.
Yet another thing he did not say on the phone.
So what does Gibbs know that we don't?
That's what I'm going to ask Marcie.
You know, based on the one thing he did say,
it seems like I was right.
Those two are pretty close.
Gibbs does not have a girlfriend.
Think about it.
I'd rather not.
You never know.
Solving this case could depend on it.
Here you go.
These should fit.
I guess we owe you an apology
for this little misunderstanding.
You really think that fake cop is some kind of serial killer?
I'm gonna find out.
You're going to the North Shore.
Tell me about Sandy.
Huh?
You were talking about her.
You said she went missing.
Sandy delivers our groceries, uh, every week.
Nice, nice gal.
But her boyfriend is a real piece of work. Lonny.
Sandy said he's been going up to the North Shore a lot lately.
Yeah, next thing you know
she's coming here covered with bruises.
Sandy didn't show up for her next two deliveries.
We haven't heard from her since.
Nothing good going on at the North Shore.
Yeah, well, that's where I'm going.
Gibbs, that was
one big-ass chunk of wood in your side,
and my eyesight is not what it used to be.
I might have missed a sliver or two.
Any sudden movement could cause some serious internal bleeding.
Gibbs.
Lonny is, uh...
he's too dumb to be your killer, but, uh,
if he's mixed up with this guy,
you're gonna need this.
It was an anniversary present.
Number five is wood.
THELMA: Mm-hmm.
You need anything else?
That run?
They were killed exactly 100 days apart.
All three were bound with red duct tape
and bludgeoned to death with a claw hammer.
So you and Gibbs have been hunting a serial killer.
He never told you about us?
It-it didn't come up.
No. I mean...
the two of you are working together?
Well, let's just say I've learned more
about his lack of table manners than I ever cared to know.
Not to mention the holes in his socks.
Gibbs took his boots off?
Yes.
I've never seen Gibbs without his boots.
I didn't even know they came off.
Oh.
(laughs): Oh,
you two are trying to decide
if Gibbs and I are getting it on, right?
(chuckles)
What is this, high school?
Shouldn't we be more focused on a serial killer?
Yes, ma'am.
You recognize this woman?
Her body was pulled from the lake
where Gibbs' boat was found-- there was
red tape and hammer marks.
This is Camila Salas.
She disappeared two weeks ago.
Last time I talked to Gibbs,
he was heading to the North Shore
to look for her body.
Before someone blew up his boat.
Probably the same person that trashed your office.
I haven't been there since Gibbs found out it was bugged.
Seems like you were close
to catching this guy.
No.
Not really. I mean, everything we have is right here.
So no suspects, no leads?
McGEE: Do you have any idea where Gibbs
might be headed now?
No. I'm sorry.
I've been looking into our mystery lady in the lake.
Marcie just helped us ID her as Camila Salas.
Ah, speaking of Marcie, are she and Gibbs...?
It's hard to say.
It's like a nature documentary.
You know, I don't really care about the mating habits
of water buffalo, but I...
just can't look away.
Kasie, what do you got?
Oh. Weather patterns.
I used them to determine
where Ms. Salas's body was originally dumped.
Freshwater lakes don't have tides or currents.
Right, but they do have wind patterns and water temperatures
that can affect drift.
Working backwards from where divers found the body,
I was able to determine that it was dropped into the water here.
McGEE: That's the North Shore.
That's where Gibbs was originally heading.
KASIE: The area is a natural preserve,
uninhabited and undeveloped.
What's this?
KASIE: Looks like
an abandoned ranger station.
McGEE: If it's abandoned, what are these fresh ruts
leading to it?
Somebody's been going there on the regular.
Maybe to dump bodies.
I don't know, but if I wanted to find
the killer who blew up my boat,
and I thought he was somewhere on the North Shore...
That's where you'd start looking.
Yeah.
There's just one problem.
If Gibbs actually does find this guy,
what's he gonna do to him?
(boards creaking softly)
(rattles softly)
(closes door quietly)
(liquid sloshes)
(vehicle approaching)
(vehicle doors open)
(three doors close)
(footsteps approaching)
(doorknob rattles)
KNIGHT: Federal agents!
TORRES: Agent Knight, stand down!
Stand down!
Knight, Knight...
Oh. Agent Gibbs.
Jess Knight. Pleasure to meet you.
What the hell are you doing here?
It's good to see you, too, boss.
You're a hard man to find.
(chuckles): Well, maybe that's the point, McGee.
You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine. I told you I'm fine.
Um, no, actually, you didn't tell me you were fine.
You hung up on me.
Which is kind of odd, considering that your boat
just blew up.
Well, you see, that's it-- it's my boat, Tim.
It's my problem.
It's not your problem.
Boss, are you serious right now?
(sighs)
Gibbs, someone tried to kill you,
so not only is it my problem, it's my job.
Thought you'd be happy to see the team.
Not my team.
Suspended. Remember?
Coming to find you is not about finding a badge,
it's about family.
Boss!
Well, there's a lot of cans here.
But who put them there?
Doomsday prepper? Pyromaniac?
(opens lid)
(inhales)
Mmm.
That's sweet.
(sniffs)
Smells like regular unleaded.
You a gasoline sommelier?
No, just a guy who went undercover with a drug cartel.
(sighs)
Meth?
It was hidden in the gasoline.
Well, that explains the, uh, the stockpile.
So is your serial killer also a...
a drug dealer?
(vehicle approaching)
I think we're about to find out.
We got company coming.
We're pinned down.
We're gonna need a distraction.
Agent Knight.
How do you feel about sexist stereotypes?
I have thoughts.
Boss?
Boss, you okay?
Where do you want me?
Damn it, Lonny,
who else did your girl tell about this place?
Nobody. I promise.
Sandy, I swear your big mouth
is gonna get me killed.
Please just let me go.
Shut up.
Stay in the damn car.
MAN: Lonny, focus.
Everyone stay here.
No one shoots until I do.
You in the cabin!
Come on out.
(chuckles)
I can explain, Sheriff.
See, the gauge said that
I only had a quarter tank left.
How lucky was I that I just coasted into this place?
#Blessed. (chuckles)
Put the can down.
I only need enough to get to Essex.
I can pay you back.
MAN: Put it down.
Or not. It's...
I can see that you take petty theft
very seriously around here.
Just who the hell are you?
NCIS.
Do not move.
McGEE: Wouldn't do that.
Drop your weapons.
Why?
We got you outnumbered.
Not if you count our sniper.
Don't shoot! I give up!
Hands on your head.
Out of the vehicle.
(loud thud)
(panting): I-I'm not with him. I swear.
(door closes)
Our fake deputy's name is Randall Sledge.
He's got a long history of drug trafficking.
I'm not taking any stupid deals.
You say that now.
Recognize any of these people?
Nope.
That's a pretty breezy reaction to murder.
'Cause I didn't kill anybody.
So why were you impersonating an officer
and trying to kill Gibbs?
Who?
Our boss.
I didn't do that, either.
Bummer for him, though.
I have never seen someone so casual
when facing five life sentences.
Judges don't go easy on... cop killers.
Hey, my brother's a cop, and I stole one of his uniforms, okay?
After the boat explosion, the lake was swarming with police.
I just needed to find out
if that old couple blabbed about...
my business on the North Shore.
That's it.
(sighs)
Take my fingerprints and DNA. I'm no killer.
And if that bitch Sandy said I was, don't listen to her.
The tongue is the sword of a woman.
(loud thump)
(grunts)
Sorry.
Well, it seems Agent Knight
is fitting in quite well.
A wise choice.
You were gonna assign Agent Knight the whole time.
That probie was just for show.
Well, sometimes it's better when it's all your idea.
(chuckles softly)
For what it's worth, I think our phony cop in there
is telling the truth.
Which means we still have a serial killer to catch.
Director.
Yeah?
Will Gibbs be involved with the case?
That's entirely up to him.
(door closes)
You can stay.
I didn't mean to interrupt.
Just wanted to come up here and say:
good work today.
Yeah, you, too.
Is he okay?
Tim, you okay?
Rule 91.
Should I know what that means?
No one knows what it means.
I know what it means.
I looked in my old notes.
He takes notes.
Rule 91:
"When you decide to walk away...
never look back."
KNIGHT: Sounds pretty,
but...
why put it on a boat?
Because I don't think Gibbs is coming back.
Back to NCIS?
Back to anything.
At least not until he finds this serial killer.
On his own.
Wasn't that how he got his boat blown up in the first place?
Sorry.
Too soon?
Yes.
You're not wrong, though.
Gibbs is gonna get himself killed.
Right.
Which one of you is gonna stop him?
THELMA: All right.
It's looking pretty good.
(chuckles)
Looks like you did some shooting.
At Lonny, I hope.
I didn't hit him.
Aw, that's too bad.
Well, thanks for trying.
And, uh, for taking out
the entire North Shore gang.
Although I know that wasn't exactly what you were going for.
Maybe you need to keep this.
Uh, no, thank you.
VIRGIL: Well, if you ever do need a favor,
we got your back.
You, too.
Just take care of each other, okay?
Well, we been doing that for years.
That's what family's for.
Evening.
Sorry to interrupt.
Can we talk?
Uh, we'll catch up before you leave, Gibbs.
(door closes)
Whatever you got to say, McGee,
say it.
Rule 91 sucks.
(chuckles)
That it?
No.
Rule 91 sucks because it is in direct violation
of Rule Number One: "Never screw over your partner."
I'm not your partner.
You see a badge?
The team is your partner.
And you not being a part of it is screwing us over.
You don't need me.
You're right.
While you were on suspension, we did our job.
We made it work. We did it well.
But you know what? We are better together.
McGee...
Boss,
you know I'm right.
You have to.
You built us.
And we got a serial killer to catch.
But in order to do that, we need to be a team.
We need to be your team.
Say something.
(chuckles): I'm proud of you.
What?
Keep pushing, McGee.
You always keep pushing.
Does that mean you're in?
What do you got?
Captioning sponsored by CBS
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org