Original airdate: September 20, 2021
NCIS agents investigate an attempt on Gibbs’ life while facing the reality of losing one of their own.
Episode Recap
Immediately following the bombing of his boat Rule 91, Gibbs manages to swim to shore before finding he has been impaled by shrapnel and passes out.
Still reeling from Bishop’s departure, Torres visits her now vacant apartment. There, he meets a realtor and finds Palmer, who explains she asked him to help her move out. Torres retrieves a gun hidden in a vent and demands it stay between them.
McGee and Torres are called to the lake to investigate the bombing. Deputy Unger shows the remnants of the boat and announces it was registered to an “L.J. Gibbs.” Although McGee and Torres are initially skeptical, the boat’s nameplate confirms their suspicions. McGee observes that the boat was destroyed by a pipe bomb. Shortly after, divers discover a woman’s body in the lake. Citing Rule 39, McGee believes there is a connection between her and Gibbs. Palmer determines that the woman was bound with red tape and that she was murdered two weeks ago. Meanwhile, Gibbs finds himself locked in a barn and discovers his wound bandaged.
In the office, McGee and Torres argue over Torres’ detachment from the case and McGee feeling stressed, catching the attention of everyone else. Kasie reveals she lent Gibbs an electronic bug finder and rigged it with a tracking device, allowing them to track where he used it. In the barn, Gibbs manages to escape, but is immediately threatened by the owners. The husband, Virgil McKeever, treated Gibbs’ wounds, while the wife, Thelma, is highly suspicious after Gibbs deliriously warned them not to alert police.
At NCIS, McGee and Torres brief Director Vance over their intent to track Gibbs using the bug finder. Finding them overworked and understaffed, Vance demands they take a new partner. Unimpressed with Vance’s suggestion, McGee and Torres enlist agent Jessica Knight (from 18x15 “Blown Away”) and track the bug finder to Marcie Warren’s apartment, finding the it torn apart and clearly searched. The team is surprised to find who the apartment belongs to due to Warren writing the report that resulted in Gibbs’ suspension.
At the barn, the McKeevers refuse to believe Gibbs’ story, believing him to be associated with criminal activity on the North Shore. Gibbs challenges them to shoot him or let him leave. The argument is interrupted when a deputy appears. Prompted by Gibbs, Thelma talks with him and confirms the man is not actually a cop, convincing them both of Gibbs’ story. The two explain their suspicion that Lonny, the abusive boyfriend of their local friend Sandy, has ties to what is happening on the North Shore.
Back at NCIS, McGee, Torres and Knight find Marcie Warren has already arrived, having learned about the bombing of Gibbs’ boat on the news. Gibbs calls McGee and abruptly tells him to keep Warren safe. Warren confirms that she and Gibbs were working on a serial killer case, and the woman found in the lake fits the killer’s profile. With Kasie’s help, they identify an abandoned ranger’s station on the North Shore as a likely body dump site.
Gibbs finds the ranger station and discovers it heavily stocked with gas cans. McGee, Torres and Knight enter and are surprised to find him there. Gibbs curtly downplays McGee’s concerns over not contacting them after the bombing. Torres determines the gas cans are filled with liquid meth mixed with gasoline. Shortly after, the team is surrounded by the drug runners using the station, holding Sandy as a captive. With Gibbs finding a sniper’s nest, the team manages to arrest the dealers and rescue Sandy.
At NCIS, Knight and Torres interrogate the leader (and fake deputy) Randall Sledge. Sledge confesses to drug dealing, but takes offense to being suspected of being a serial killer. Watching the interrogation, McGee realizes that Vance intended for them to choose Knight. Vance confirms, acknowledging also their serial killer is still on the loose. Vance also admits that it will be Gibbs’ choice to return.
In the office, Knight thanks the two for being asked to help. McGee identifies Rule 91: “When you decide to walk away, never look back.” Troubled, McGee believes Gibbs’ investigation into the serial killer will get him killed. McGee later visits Gibbs at the McKeever’s farm and chastises Gibbs for abandoning the team and insisting they work better together. Gibbs admits he is proud of McGee and subtly agrees to be involved.
Cut To The Chase
TEXT Gibbs recovers in barn after his boat is bombed. McGee and Torres investigate, enlisting Agent Jessica Knight to help them. In the process, they find links to the serial killer case Gibbs was investigating. Although the team manages to dismantle a drug ring, they are no closer to finding the serial killer. McGee convinces Gibbs to work with them.
