All language subtitles for NCIS.S22E17.Killer.Instinct.720p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-FLUX

This symbol is associated
with the Nexus drug cartel.

Torres was undercover in one
of those D.C. operations.

What? What happened?

I got made.

Well, outside of this
room, the only person

that knew we had an agent
undercover is at DOJ.

Are you saying that...

Laroche is a mole?

The Secretary of the
Navy felt it important

to hire someone from
outside our walls.

Can you say who it is?

Newly appointed NCIS
Deputy Director Laroche.

I look forward to
working with you.

Are you stalking him?

No, I'm just keeping tabs.

How was everything, Flo?

Well, it was delicious, dear.

As always.

Again, I am sorry
I couldn't get you

your regular table.

That guy has been
here half the morning.

Oh, that's all right.

But he seemed to give
you some trouble.

He sent his omelet back twice.

Said it looked funny

and refused to pay for it.

Oh, thank God, he
is finally leaving.

Thank you so much for coming.

I'm sorry everything

wasn't to your liking.

Uh, excuse me?!

Hey!

Are you serious?

You hog the table
for three hours,

you abuse the free
coffee refills,

and now you stiff me on the tip?

If there was any
justice in this world,

they'd lock up guys like you.

Let me see your hands!

Federal Agents! Get
your hands in the air!

On your knees! Get down!

Get down!

Oh, my God. Get down now!

Get down now!

Hands behind your head.

Get him in. Get him in.

Code Four, 10-15 in custody.

Let's go!

I tipped 30%, dear.

I don't want any trouble.

Thanks.

Director.

Is he our guy?

He's our guy.

His name is Paul Morton.

REACT found a suppressed
handgun in his backpack.

Kasie ran ballistics.
It's a match.

So Morton

killed Lieutenant
Commander Ryan Willis.

Why? That's where
it gets interesting.

When we searched
Morton's motel room,

we found a sniper rifle,

cash, multiple passports.

Sounds like a hit man.

Not just any hit man.

We also found this.

It's full of poems.

Some with the pages torn out.

Hold on, are you saying that...?

We caught The Poet, Leon.

Well, I'll be damned.

FBI suspects he's behind

dozens of contract kills.

Yeah, well, he got his
name because he always left

a poem at the crime scene.

And Kasie confirmed
that they were

torn out of that book.

But there was no
poem on Willis. Why?

Well, I'll add that to
the list of questions

for Morton's interrogation.

Well, I hope the anonymous tip

is also on that list.

A week with no leads?

Then, out of the
blue, we get an email

ID'ing Morton as the killer.

That's convenient.

And suspicious.

Whoever sent that tip may know

the name of the client
that hired Morton.

Cyber's working on
tracing the tip,

but they're up against
some heavy encryption.

Fortunately...

McGee knows someone.

For real, you stayed in E-Tower?

Freshman and sophomore years.

And then I pledged
Alpha Delta Phi.

Oh, you were bad boys.

I was Delta Gamma.

Oh, that figures,
Delta Gammas were all

the smart girls. Yeah, well.

Tim, did you know the
deputy director went to CMU?

Uh, I did not.

I was, uh, a few
years ahead of her,

so, sadly, we never
crossed paths.

That's a shame.

Well, I would love to keep

talking Tartans, but I'm late.

Delilah, lovely to meet you.

I am glad to see NCIS

opening themselves
to outside help.

If you need anything at all,
you know where to find me.

Thank you, Gabe.

I'm sorry, "Gabe"?

What?

That's his name.

Oh.

Do you want me to
call him "Laroche"?

I've got a few other
names you can call him.

Okay, well, I just
came to say hi

before heading down to Cyber to
help track the anonymous tip.

Okay, hon, look,
I'm-I'm sorry, okay?

I apologize, it's just...

the guy gets under my skin.

Oh, well, with as much
as you talk about him,

I'm starting to think
he lives under there.

Tim.

Come on, he's, he's nice.

Honey, it's an act.

You don't believe me?
Look at what I found

under my desk last week.

What am I looking
at? That is a mint.

Okay, that is a Cool
Beans brand mint.

It's Laroche's brand.

So?

He was at my desk.

Okay? He's spying on me.

Smell this, okay? Smell it!

Okay, no.

Tim, it's been, what, six
months since you lost out

on the deputy
director job to Gabe?

Don't you think that
it's time to move on?

This isn't about the job, okay?

It's about the fact that he
hides things from the team.

He plays politics
with our cases.

Well, then talk
to him about that.

Confront him.

Or...

let it go.

'Cause this, this
is not helpful.

McGee? Hey...

Oh, hey, Delilah.

I am so glad that you are here.

Yeah, no problem.
What's going on?

I just got into
The Poet's phone.

You find out who hired him?

No, but I figured out

why he was sitting at that café.

And it was not for the coffee.

Poets use words, don't they?

Maybe he's not much of a poet.

But you know what he does
have in common with poets?

He's broke.

Oh, that's right.

Because the money
you were paid to kill

Lieutenant Commander Willis...

it's no good to you now.

You got only one
chip to play now.

Tell us who paid
you to kill him.

Come on, Paul, make
the smart choice.

The only choice. Tell
us who your client is.

Chief Warrant Officer Ian Garza

lives across the street from the
café where we arrested Morton.

Morton's phone was
full of these photos.

It's a waste of time.

Garza was Morton's next target.

We found Garza at NSF Dahlgren.

Base police are escorting
him up here as we speak.

Good. Only problem is,

we're doing all the talking.

Morton won't give up his client.

Why are you protecting them?

Huh?

You want to know
how we found you?

An anonymous tip.

Because someone sold you out...

"I have a rendezvous
with Death."

Excuse me?

"I have a rendezvous with Death

"at some disputed barricade

"when Spring comes
back and rustling shade

"and apple-blossoms
fill the air.

I have a rendezvous with Death."

Is that a poem?

Yeah.

Alan Seeger.

He wrote it just before he died.

"It may be he shall
take my hand."

What the hell?

"And lead me into his dark land

"And close my eyes

and quench my breath..."

All right, he did something
to himself. Call 911!

I'll get Jimmy.
What did you do?

What did you do?!

"It may be I shall
pass him still.

I have a rendezvous with Death."

♪ Mix the pancake,
stir the pancake ♪

♪ Pop it in the pan ♪

♪ Fry the pancake,
toss the pancake ♪

♪ Catch it if you can. ♪

Am I interrupting?

Uh, no, Agent Parker, I-I just
figured since I had The Poet

here on my table today, I might
as well recite some poetry.

But I can only seem to
remember a nursery rhyme

that I used to sing with
Victoria while we made pancakes.

He was no poet, Jimmy.

Poetry's supposed to
connect us to humanity.

Yeah, and Morton here was
paid to sever that connection.

Take my advice: don't waste
any words on this guy.

Mm.

Except...

you know, to tell
me how he died.

Oh, right, you're
gonna love this.

You see this bruising here?

That's where Morton
dug his fingers

deep into his own forearm.

Why would he do that?

Because he wanted
to break these.

Glass capsules
underneath his skin.

I found the old scars here
indicating where they'd been

implanted. Probably did it
years ago as a precaution.

Break glass in
case of emergency?

What was in them, cyanide?

No, that's the genius of it.

The capsule in this arm
contained pancuronium bromide,

which is a paralytic
used in executions.

But it was complexed with
an unnecessary protein,

rendering it inactive.

So in case the capsule
accidentally broke...

No, it wouldn't have
killed him, unless...

he broke the capsule

in this arm, which
contained an enzyme

that activated the paralytic.

So when these two compounds
mixed in his blood...

"Rendezvous with Death."

We never had a
chance to save him.

A hit man to the end.

He was willing to die
to protect his client.

Hey, has Chief Warrant
Officer Garza arrived?

Yeah, and he didn't have

any idea who would hire
a hit man to kill him.

But he did know
the first target,

Lieutenant Commander Willis.

Turns out they served together.

Why wasn't that in their file?

Because they served
on the Atlas.

I don't think there's
a ship called Atlas.

There is not.

But there is a train.

Wait, for real, the
Navy has a train now?

Well, technically, the Atlas is
a Department of Energy railcar.

Yeah, but Navy provides security
from the escort vehicle.

Security for what?

Uh, for what's in there.

Several tons of
spent nuclear fuel.

Ah, top secret.

Explains why it
wasn't in their files.

Twice a year,

spent fuel from
nuclear-powered ships

is transported
across the country

to a storage facility in Idaho.

Both Lieutenant Commander
Willis and Warrant Garza were

assigned to the train's
security detail.

And both were
targeted by a hit man.

Ah, this could be a
precursor to an attack

on the train or an
attempt to derail it.

Or even worse,

someone's trying
to steal its cargo.

Either way, we have to find
out when this train runs again

and whether these two
targets were assigned to it.

I couldn't agree more.

I'll call SECNAV
and the D.O.E.

Your team's sole focus should be

ID'ing the client who
hired this hit man.

We need to find out
who's behind this.

You heard the deputy director.

Torres, Knight, keep
digging into Morton.

McGee, let's check
in with Kasie.

Oh!

Agent McGee.

Before you go...

dietary restrictions.

Excuse me? For tomorrow night.

I'm thinking of
making a Coq au Vin.

How are you and
Delilah with mushrooms?

I'm sorry, what is
happening tomorrow night?

Oh.

Did your wife not tell you?

No.

Laroche invites us to dinner

at his place, and you say yes?

Well, it would've been
awkward to say no.

Who cares? Make an excuse.

I mean it would've been awkward
because dinner was my idea.

Gabe came down to Cyber
to check on my progress,

and we got to talking,
and, you know, one thing

led to another, and... Okay,
Delilah, you realize that Laroche

is the last person I want
to have dinner with, right?

Well, good news: it's
not just with him.

It's also with his wife.

He told me all about her.

She's a neurosurgeon.

Tim, she sounds brilliant.

She married Laroche.

Tim.

This dinner will
be good for you.

We're going.

Hey. Oh, Agent Parker,
it's so lovely to see you.

Ah, been too long, Delilah.

How's it coming with
the anonymous tip?

I'm running it through several

of my custom-built
decryption programs,

but they'll take some time.

And I need to get
home to the kids.

Ooh, we can't go tomorrow if
we don't have a babysitter.

Oh, well, I already
got that covered.

Don't stay too late.

It was a valiant effort.

Hey, Kase.

Perfect timing.

I think I got a lead
on The Poet's broker.

He had a broker?

Looks like he wanted a
buffer between himself

and the clients that hired him.

Any hit man worth his salt's

gonna protect his anonymity.

Exactly. And The Poet
was extra careful.

Even his dealings
with his broker,

they were all done
remotely via the dark web.

Is that where you
found the lead?

Uh, no, I followed the money.

I flagged all of the deposits
to The Poet's account

in the days following
his recorded kills.

One name stood out.

Gemma Wood.

She is a jeweler in
the Diamond District.

That's our broker.

She may know who our client is.

Well done, Kase.

Problem is, if we
move to arrest her,

what's to stop her from doing

what The Poet did?

Yeah, and even if we
do take her alive,

there's no guaranteeing
she's gonna talk to us.

But she might talk to The Poet.

Kase, The Poet's dead.

But the broker
doesn't know that.

Oh, my God!

Gemma!

You always got the best drip.

How much?

25...

but for you, 20.

Always a pleasure, Miss Sharpe.

Ooh, samezies.

Bye.

Have a good day,
miss. You, too, baby.

Can I help you?

I'm here to see your boss.

Sorry, we're by
appointment only.

I'm sure she'll make
an exception for me.

And who the hell are you?

I'm The Poet.

I don't like this.

He's like a sitting
duck in that airlock.

He'll be fine. Nick's
played killers before.

Just give him a minute.

No wire, no weapons.

We need to talk.

Sir, I don't know
who you think I am.

Cut the crap!

Somebody burned me.

I had him in my sights and
then the Feds showed up.

Now the target is on lockdown.

Yes, you do seem to have me
confused with someone else.

It's not just my problem.

This is yours, too.

I'm afraid I'm gonna
have to ask you to leave.

Make me.

Go ahead and call the cops.

I don't need the police.

Yann.

Back up!

Get rid of him.

You ready to talk now?

Let's take this into my office.

Shall we?

Don't let anyone in.

Think you can manage that?

The Poet.

I must say, I wish you'd
shown your face earlier.

Along with the rest of you.

The client. Who is it?

Not so fast.

Anonymity works both ways.

I protect my contractors,

and I also protect my clients.

Well, you won't be able
to protect this one.

Not if they sold me out.

The client paid cash
upfront for this job.

Why would they sabotage it?

I don't know.

But you better hope it was them.

Because if it wasn't...

...then it had to be you.

If I wanted you dead,

I wouldn't hand you to the Feds.

I'm not that stupid.

But Swole Patrol outside seems

like he has a couple
of brain cells missing.

Which is precisely why I
don't tell him anything.

Are you sure you were careful?

Somebody made a mistake.

And it wasn't me.

I need the client's name.

Hey, boss? Turning
away a sale...

Uh, sorry to bother you.

Uh, there's a lady out here.

Get rid of her.

I'm trying, but
she won't go away!

I swear, I'm gonna
kill him someday.

Well, I'll do it for a discount.

I'll be right back.

Knight.

Your sign says
you're still open...

What are you doing here?

I have a ring to sell
before my ex-husband,

that's what he's gonna be...

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Because he doesn't deserve it!

Hey, I am not leaving until
I sell this ring, okay?

Please! Oh, come on, Knight.

Grow up.

...my sister! Ma'am.

He already told
you we're closed.

Take your cheap ring and your
lazy sob story somewhere else.

I beg your pardon! Leave!

Or I will make you leave.

This is going on
your Yelp review.

Apologies.

Where were we?

Tell your client
that I want to meet.

You can reach me at this number.

It's secure.

And if I can't
convince the client?

Well...

You're gonna need
some thicker glass.

Got it.

Thanks.

Ooh, thank you.

Okay, just got off the
phone with the agent

who's watching the jewelers,
and so far, no movement.

Tell me something good, McGee.

I wish I could.

I've been watching this bug
for six hours, still nothing.

I'm telling you, Wood bought it.

She believed I was The Poet.

Then why hasn't she
contacted her client?

I don't know, maybe
somebody spooked her.

Me? I was just doing my job.

And watching out for my partner.

Oh, I don't need
watching out for.

Okay, but you did need
help planting that bug,

so you're welcome.

So what would be
the plan if you,

uh, if you were to be let in?

I mean, it's not like
you still have the, uh,

the engagement ring.

Aw.

You still have the ring
from our fake wedding?

Okay, calm down, okay,
it doesn't mean anything.

I just like it.

Hate to say it, but that is

technically NCIS property.

Don't let Laroche
catch you wearing that.

'Cause when he's not munching
mints, he's pinching pennies.

Well, speaking of
Laroche, you still

having dinner with him tonight?

Barring some unforeseen miracle.

Well, it's not a miracle, but
it's certainly unforeseen.

Well, I'll take it.

I've been doing a deep dive

into Gemma Wood's
business accounts,

seeing as it's a front for
hiring contact killers.

I found a customer who spends

a suspicious amount of
money buying diamonds.

So maybe not just
buying diamonds?

You think that's the
client we're looking for?

Well, I can't prove it yet,

but given this customer's
history with Parker...

Me? Who are we talking about?

Your nemesis from your FBI days.

Carla Marino.

So you're saying the Kansas
City mob ordered hits

on two U.S. Naval officers?

I'm saying it's possible.

It's also possible that Carla

was really just buying diamonds.

From a jeweler 1,000
miles from Kansas City

who just happens to work
with contract killers?

That's a hell of a coincidence.

I agree. The problem is,
it's all circumstantial.

It's also not her style.

Carla Marino deals
in drugs and weapons,

not nuclear fuel.

Why would she be interested
in the Atlas train?

I don't know.

It runs right
through her backyard.

Another coincidence.

One too many for me.

As soon as we get the evidence,

I'm on the first
flight to Kansas City.

Yeah, come in.

Sorry to interrupt.

You got something?

Uh, nothing good.

Gemma Wood left the
store 15 minutes ago.

The agent lost her.

And that's not all.

The bug that Nick planted,
it stopped transmitting.

We think that Wood
might've found it.

Go kick down that door.

Agent McGee.

Don't you have a dinner with
Deputy Director Laroche?

Oh, yeah, but I, I
can postpone that.

No, no, Laroche has
been coordinating

with the D.O.E. about
the Atlas train.

You two can trade updates
over the amuse-bouche.

Director.

Um...

I'm on it.

NCIS!

Clear.

Security guard's dead.

I got the alarm.

Clear.

All clear!

Her computer's gone.

Well, that explains why
the bug stopped working.

I don't get it, man.

I'm telling you
she bought the act.

Well, it doesn't look like it.

Good thing I was watching
your back earlier today.

This one over here.

All right, let's start
looking for anything

that might tie her
to Carla Marino.

Yo, yo, yo, yo,
hold on, hold on.

What?

What's behind safe number two?

We've made incredible
advances recently

with bio-compatible devices.

I was reading about that! So you

can actually...
thank you... use AI

to decode the brain's messages?

And bypass the
spinal compression

using a wireless implant.

That's incredible.

I just, I admire
what you do so much.

It's still early, but...

the results have been
very encouraging.

Tammy is being

modest.

The way she's going, she's
going to have her patients

tap-dancing by 2030.

The only question is...

does the world need
more tap dancers?

Honey, he's joking.

Oh.

I didn't realize. Do you...?

Yeah, I tap-dance.

So do I. Gabe.

Oh, okay, okay, I know
it's not the same thing.

I'm, um, talking about

the political tap dance.

Sorry, the what?

It's what I call what I do.

To get what you
want in this town,

sometimes you have
to equivocate.

Tell someone one thing

while telling someone
else the opposite.

It's...

how I get things done.

Sounds a lot like lying to me.

Well...

the job isn't for everyone.

How about I open
another bottle? Yes.

Um, I got to get this.

One second. Sorry. Mm-hmm.

This is so good...

Ladies! Parker, hey.

You still at Laroche's?

Uh, yeah, but I can
leave if you need me to.

No, stay there.

We found evidence the hit
man had another target.

Who?

Deputy Director Laroche.

And voilà.

Oh, I understand, Agent McGee.

You think someone wants me dead.

Yes, which is why we need to get
you back to NCIS for protection.

From what?

Thought the hit
man killed himself

in the interrogation room.

Yeah... Then who exactly

are you protecting me from?

It's a precaution. Mm.

Exactly.

A precaution that can
wait until after dinner.

Dinner is not important
right now, sir.

You're right.

But what is important

is not scaring my
wife unnecessarily.

Your team found some
photos in a safe.

But the truth is, you can't say
for sure what those photos are.

We are still investigating.

So until we know more,

there's no sense in panicking.

Besides, I have
all the protection

I need right here.

You.

Listen, Deputy Director...

That's right.

I am the deputy
director, Agent McGee.

Understood?

Shall we?

Le Coq au Vin est prêt.

Diamonds may be a
girl's best friend,

but for this guy, they were
definitely his worst enemy.

This wasn't a robbery, Jimmy.

He wasn't killed over diamonds.

No, he was killed by them.

Not only was this saw
blade the murder weapon,

it was also diamond-tipped.

Jewelers use it
to cut gemstones.

I guess Wood found
another use for it?

Bad news.

Security cameras
have been wiped.

And we haven't found anything
connecting Wood to Carla Marino.

It doesn't make any sense.

Why would Carla
want Laroche dead?

Well, the two other targets had
connections to the Atlas train.

Maybe Laroche has one, too.

Why do I get the feeling he
wouldn't tell us if he did?

You think that McGee was
right about Laroche all along?

Maybe Laroche is
hiding something.

Start digging. Find it.

Who's ready for dessert?

Definitely.

I made lemon soufflé.

Pairs great with raspberry
sauce. Yes, it does.

We'll just clear these
plates. Excuse me.

Thank you. Thank you.

Yes, of course.

What is going on with you?

Nothing.

Timothy Farragut McGee,

we do not keep secrets
in this family.

Okay.

Laroche may have been the
hit man's next target.

Oh, my God!

Good thing he's dead.

Yeah, but I think
Laroche is lying

about knowing why
he's the target.

Oh, here we go.

No, look, this... Delilah,
this is different.

Okay? Listen to me.

Laroche, he took special
interest in this case.

And now that he's a target,

I'm starting to understand why.

Now, he's got an
office over there

right across from the bathroom.

If I could get in there,
take a look around...

That's crazy.

He's your boss.

And we're his dinner guests.

I know, I understand.

I know I could get
caught, I could get fired.

Exactly.

Which is why you're
going to need

a really good excuse.

Ow! What are you doing?

Oh!

You better go clean up.

I love you.

I know.

Ooh.

Tell me you got something.

Oh, we got two somethings.

Especially after 16 phone calls.

17 if you count the
last one from Vance.

- He was angry.
- Mm-hmm.

So the D.O.E. finally
sent over the records

for the Atlas train's
security protocols.

It turns out, those
protocols are set

by a top secret
board of directors.

Makes sense.

What doesn't make
sense is the fact

that Laroche failed to mention

that he is on that
board of directors.

He also failed to
mention that he was there

for a mishap drill
a few months ago.

During these drills,
the Navy simulates

a disaster scenario
with the train.

And check out where
the drill took place.

It doesn't directly
connect us to Carla, but...

We're getting closer.

Oh, we're also getting
closer to Gemma Wood.

TSA just flagged this passport.

She's trying to board

a plane to the Bahamas.

Let's go.

Raspberry can stain.

Maybe I should offer
him a pair of my pants.

I'm sure he's fine. Mm.

I'm gonna go check on him.

Oh. Please!

Don't trouble yourself.

Oh. You are our guest.

Okay. I'll be right back.

Agent McGee?

You okay in there?

Agent McGee?

Find anything interesting?

Oh, just these.

My phone records.

My bank records.

You keeping tabs on me?

Only because you've
been keeping tabs on me.

Pulling my files,

tracking my keycard access.

Why don't you like me,

Agent McGee?

Is it because I got
the job and you didn't?

I don't have a problem
with you getting the job.

I like my job.

Then what is it?

You clearly have
a problem with me.

Why can't you just
say it to my face?

I don't trust you.

And I think you know why.

No. I don't.

You were the only one that
knew that Torres was undercover

with the Nexus cartel last year.

Wait.

You think I burned him?

Who else?

What kind of person
do you think I am?

I think you're the kind
of person that lies

to get what you want.

Parker texted me. How
come you never told us

you were head of security
for the Atlas train?

Come on! I think you know why.

Anything...

related to the Navy's
nuclear propulsion program

is top secret.

I couldn't even
tell Director Vance.

I'm disappointed in you,
Agent McGee. I really am.

I thought you were
better than this, but...

turns out you're
just a sore loser.

You boys doing okay?

All good, babe.

Just a little shop talk.

But we're done now.

Aren't we, Agent McGee?

I should have known
you were playing me.

You're obviously not a poet.

Well, roses are red,
violets are blue,

criminals go to prison,
and that includes you.

For murder.

For conspiracy to commit murder.

And... oh, look at that...

more murder.

That wasn't me.

I left the store, and when I
came back, I found him dead.

Then you tried to
flee the country.

Damn right I did.

This was a message.

To find better help?

You don't understand
how this world works.

Fail once and you're
out of the game.

Permanently.

The Poet failed.

Which means you failed.

The client must have found out.

And now they're cleaning house.

Who is the client?

You're asking the
wrong question.

If The Poet failed

and I'm in here,

it means the client hired
someone new to clean house.

You mean another hit man?

Someone to eliminate
the middleman

and any outstandingtargets.

The hit is still active.

And failure is not an option.

Local PD's been dispatched.

Torres and Knight are
on their way to you now,

but don't wait for
'em. No, we won't.

We'll head back to
NCIS right away.

Uh, actually, Agent Parker,

I would prefer to
wait for backup.

Frankly, I'm not sure that
Agent McGee is capable

of putting aside his
personal feelings about me.

Well, given he hasn't
shot you himself,

I'd say he's shown
remarkable restraint.

This is hardly

the time for jokes,
Agent Parker.

There is an active threat.

Which is why you are going to do

exactly what Agent
McGee tells you to do

when he tells you to do it.

He's in charge now.

Gabe.

Is it true? Is somebody
trying to kill you?

She had a right to know.

It'll be fine.

Help is on the way.

I'm not gonna let anything
happen to him, okay?

I'm a federal agent.
I'm always armed.

You brought a gun into my house?

Right now, I need you
both to pack a bag.

Five minutes, we're on
the road back to NCIS.

Oh, my God, this is
really happening.

I'll help you.

Okay.

That was a gun safe I
saw in your office, yeah?

You mean when you were
snooping behind my back?

Professional killer's
gonna have body armor.

We need to gear up.

Why does Carla
Marino want to kill

the deputy director of NCIS?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

She's one of your clients.

She spent tens of thousands
of dollars at your shop.

On jewelry, not contract
kills. You expect me

to believe that?

You're afraid of her.

More than you, apparently.

Which makes me the smart one.

The smart move would be to
let us protect you from her.

She's not the one after me.

She's not the client?

Not the one you're looking for.

Then who wants Laroche dead?

I don't know a name.

Just a face that
came into my store.

He was new,

and he wasn't from Kansas City.

How do you know?

He had a tattoo.

One I recognized.

Draw it.

Okay, have you tried
your wife's birthday?

Yes. Forward and backward.

Do you have any
nieces or nephews?

Nine of them.

All right, we're ready to go.

Do you remember the
code to the gun safe?

Isn't it my birthday?

Well, good news is, I'm pretty
sure the police will have guns.

Thank God.

Tim! The hit man's here.

Get away from the window.

Oh, no.

I can't get a call out.

They're using a signal blocker.

Tim!

There's a room down the hall.

No windows.

All right, everyone, let's go.

Deputy Director, come
on. We got to go.

Hit man's after me.

Which means anyone that
I'm with is also in danger.

You-you should get
out of here, McGee.

It's my job to protect you.

Even if I don't deserve it?

W-We don't have time
for this right now.

You were supposed to get

the deputy director job,

not me.

And then SECNAV received
a report about NCIS.

A report I wrote.

What are you talking about?

It advocated a shake-up.

It criticized NCIS for
being too close-knit,

for acting more like a...

family

than a federal agency.

But that's not a bad thing.

I know that now.

Please.

I will, uh... I'll
get in my car.

I'll draw them away.

No. No, no, no.

They are not going to
stop until I'm dead.

I can't tap-dance my
way out of this one.

What if we could?

You don't have to
do this! Shut up.

We can work this out. I
said, keep your mouth shut!

No, please!

You're late.

This contract's been fulfilled.

So you're The Poet.

The client warned me you
might still be on the job.

Let me guess... they told
you to clean up loose ends?

Told me the same thing.

Interesting.

So how do we play this?

We have two options.

One, we both walk away.

Two, only I walk away.

Oh, I think there's
a third option.

Freeze.

Federal agents.

Do not move.

Hey, Deputy Director.

Is it over?

Being dead hurts like hell.

No, you're fine.

You're covered in
raspberry sauce,

but looks like the vest
caught the bullets.

Best gift ever.

Director Vance gave it
to me when I got the job.

Said I might need it someday.

I thought he was joking.

No. He was just looking
out for his family.

Thank you.

One of my agents shot
the deputy director.

Not sure how I'm gonna
explain this to SECNAV.

Simple...

McGee was buying time and
he saved Laroche's life.

For now.

But our hit woman
still isn't talking,

and we still don't know
who wants Laroche dead.

Until we do, I've
assigned agents

to protect him at all times.

Good idea. Because I think I
may know who's behind this.

Gemma Wood said that the
client's rep had a tattoo.

You recognize it?

It's Nexus cartel.

I thought we took
them down last year.

Looks like they're back and
they're planning something.

Well, whatever it is,

D.O.E. suspended nuclear fuel
shipments aboard the Atlas,

and they've also changed
all security protocols.

I wish I could say that
puts an end to all this.

But we still don't know
how Carla's connected.

For now. Mm.

Oh! Man!

I'm so glad that
you're still alive.

Thanks, Kase. Me, too.

You shot Laroche?

Bet that felt pretty good, huh?

I can't get him to
admit it either.

I'll admit to one thing.

Dinner was a good idea.

Laroche and I finally
cleared the air.

Good to know, but not why I
invited you down here, okay?

'Cause it turns out that
your genius of a wife's

decryption program spit
out a real whopper.

The tip that led us to The Poet.

Were you able to trace
it back to the sender?

Not exactly, but I was able
to trace the VPN exit node.

The code structure
looks unfamiliar.

Well, that's because it wasn't
sent from a typical VPN.

It was sent from a
government server.

Specifically,

a DoD-created server
called Nocturne.

This tip about the hit man came
from inside the government.

That's crazy, right?

There he is.

Uh, don't worry, boys.

I don't think Agent
McGee is gonna shoot me.

Again.

I wanted to stop by

and thank you again

for saving my life.

I hope this means
that we've, uh...

finally put our
differences behind us?

Nocturne.

I'm sorry.

I don't know what that means.

Oh, I think you do.

That sounds like a threat.

It's a warning.

I'm coming for you.

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