NCIS (2003–…): Season 15, Episode 15 - Keep Your Enemies Closer - full transcript

We've decided
to take a second look

at the O'Connell case.

Gabriel Hicks is convicted
of robbery, kidnapping

and first-degree murder.

The victim's license
was discovered

hidden at each
of the crime scenes

and always with a smear
of blood over the face.

Whoever murdered
Lieutenant O'Connell

was a serial killer.

You said yourself
there's reasonable doubt.

Guy takes one lefty swing
and you want to throw

the whole investigation
out the window?

We got an eyewitness
saying it wasn't him.

HICKS:
To my lawyer, Jessica Shaeffer,

I can't thank her enough
for believing in me

and seeing justice
through to the end. Thank you.

You were right.

Hicks is guilty.

He should've been locked up
all along.

I'm not his lawyer anymore,

but everything I know
is still privileged.

Don't stop digging.

TORRES: Man, that is one way
I do not want to go out.

BISHOP:
Yeah.

I doubt Jessica wanted
it this way, either.

Hey, McGee.

How'd it go with the witnesses?

No, no one saw anything
before the explosion.

Checked for surveillance
footage.

There's no traffic cameras
in the immediate area.

Well, a car doesn't just explode
for no reason.

Hopefully Abby
can work her magic

and figure out
what happened.

Well, I can tell you that.

Someone was
targeting Jessica.

The blast didn't originate
from a fuel line

or, uh, the engine.

Happened underneath
the driver's seat.

It's a sure sign
of a car bomb.

When did you become such
an expert on car bombs?

I made them when
I was undercover.

Well, Sloane got very lucky.

I mean, if she was a
couple inches closer,

would've been a
different story.

And Jessica Shaeffer
wasn't so lucky.

Will you both quit
looking at me like that?

Please.

I'm fine.

I'd rather hear
that from a doctor.

This is exactly where
I need to be

and if no one else is gonna
state the obvious, allow me.

This has Hicks written
all over it.

But why kill his lawyer?

She's the only one
that was on his side.

Not as of this afternoon.

Jessica resigned

as Hicks' counsel.
Did she say why?

She couldn't because
of client confidentiality,

but she said

we needed to keep digging.

So why the sudden change
of heart?

Jessica must have
uncovered something

that proved Hicks' guilt.

Something worth killing over.

*

Hi, can I get a...

Small triple shot latte

with coconut milk?

How did you know?

You ordered the same
thing yesterday.

Do you remember all
of your customers' orders?

No, just the pretty ones.

I'm Danielle.

(chuckles) I'm...

Gabriel Hicks.

Born February 7, 1983, from
Wheeling, West Virginia.

Do I know you?

No, but we know you.

NCIS.

We have a couple questions

about Jessica Shaeffer's murder.

Did you say murder?

I have to go.

Oops.

I say that too loud?

She scares easy.
That's a bummer.

I'm not sure what's going on,
but ask me whatever you want.

I've got nothing to hide.

All right.

We'll see about that.

Let's take a drive.

Thank you.

You're not making any sense.

Why would I kill Jessica?

She made me a free man.

I owed her.

You had a strange way
of showing it.

I had nothing to do with that.

I'm telling you
the truth.

I doubt that.
How could I have?

I was working
at the coffee shop all day.

Check with my manager.
McGEE: We did.

Your shift didn't start
till 3:00.

That gave you plenty of time
to plant the bomb

in Jessica's car beforehand.

This is absurd.

How would I even know how
to make an explosive?

Oh, I bet you learned
a lot of new tricks

during your time in prison.

For a crime I didn't commit.

I'm a victim, too.

You're breaking my heart.

Jessica was the only friend

I had.

I'm torn up over this.

Really? 'Cause when Agents
Bishop and Torres told you

about Jessica's death,
you barely flinched.

I thought
they were lying.

I'm not too trusting of cops
since that FBI agent

buried evidence to convict me.

I lost ten years
of my life

because of him, so, yeah, I'm
wary of law enforcement types.

Wouldn't you be?

How the hell does he know
I'm in here?

He can probably hear you

grinding your teeth
through the wall.

Can't help it. I hate
being sidelined.

Smug son of a bitch.

He's enjoying this.
Look at him.

Not even breaking a sweat
in there.

Hicks knows we got nothing
on him.

He's playing with us.

HICKS:
It's obvious I'm being set up

to take the fall like before.

I think it's best
if I get a lawyer.

Mm. Do that.

And don't leave out how
your last one ended up dead

after she dropped you.

That's not what happened.

I was the one that let go
of Jessica

so she could focus
on her other clients.

And we can't ask her now,
can we?

It's funny

how that worked out.

I thought you were on
my side, Agent Gibbs.

After all, it was your testimony
that got me freed from prison.

(knock at door)

GIBBS:
Rule number 51.

Sometimes you're wrong.

Hicks give you anything?

No. Not yet. We're
just getting started.

No, you're done.

With all the bad press
surrounding NCIS

after Hicks' wrongful
conviction,

we need to tread carefully.

Leon, he's guilty.

So you've said.

But your gut won't hold up
in court, Gibbs.

If there's nothing
connecting Hicks

to Jessica Shaeffer's death,
you need to cut him loose.

He will kill again.

Then bring me
something concrete.

Until you do that,
my hands are tied.

Hey. You're free to go.

You're kidding.

I'm sorry I
couldn't help.

I do hope you catch
Jessica's killer soon.

Who knows who could be next?

I would advise you
to leave this building

while you can still
walk, Mr. Hicks.

Are you threatening me,
Director Vance?

Was I not clear?
Let me say it again.

Leave now.

Strike one, Agent Gibbs.

Agent Fornell.

Or should I say
former agent?

I heard the FBI sacked ya.

Tough break.
I don't have to be an agent

to put your ass behind bars.

And trust me,

you'll be back there
soon enough.

(chuckles)
I wouldn't count on it.

(loud rock music playing)

Abby?

Down here.

My favorite thing.

Lawyer's car give you anything?

Enough to confirm Torres'
suspicion about a car bomb.

I found remnants
of a metallic disc

under the driver's
side carriage.

Any prints left behind?

No, but that is
positive thinking.

I like it. Keep it up.

I'm positive
because I know

you got something
else, Abby.

You always do.

You're like a
forensics magician.

I like the sound of that.

Did my positivity pay off?

See for yourself.

I give you...

Jessica Shaeffer's
cell phone.

Wasn't destroyed in the blast?
Partially.

But the battery compartment
was intact,

which is where
I found this.

REEVES:
An electronic bug.

Somebody planted it
in her phone

so they could listen in
on all of her phone calls.

That has to be Hicks.

What is he so
paranoid about

that he has to keep close tabs
on his own lawyer?

McGEE:
Jessica Shaeffer,

38, a graduate
of Georgetown Law.

She worked in the public
defenders office since 2010,

which is how she got involved
with Gabriel Hicks.

Until late yesterday afternoon.

She resigned as his counsel.

Now, we don't know how long
the bug was planted

in Jessica's phone,

so we pulled her call logs

from the past
couple weeks.
Any connect to Hicks?

Nothing yet.
Thank you.
Uh, scratch that, McGee.

Yesterday morning,

Jessica called
the Department of Corrections

to schedule a visitation

with an inmate she interviewed

hours before she was killed.

What's the connection?

Inmate in question
served time with Hicks

when he was first convicted
ten years ago.

Who is it?
Uh, McGee,

you're gonna want
to sit down for this.

Me? What? Why?

BISHOP: The inmate
Jessica Shaeffer met with

was...

Paul Triff.

TORRES: What? Hold on.
As in the guy

who carved up three bodies

with an electric knife
in McGee's apartment

and buried a mummified body
under the floor?

That Paul Triff?

BISHOP:
I am afraid so.

It turns out he and Hicks

were cellmates for six months.

That must be why
Jessica went to see him.

If Hicks was the one
that bugged her phone,

then he knew she was
digging into his past.

Only one way to find out.

McGee, go see Triff.

Find out what he knows.

Me?

Boss, you sure you don't want
to talk to him instead?

You know him
better than I do.

Anyone want to trade?

Um, I have to look at my screen
and stuff.

I got a thing.

Oh.

Hope you made
an appointment.

I've got
a very busy schedule.

That why you no-showed
this morning?

You got a lot of eyes
on this case now.

Everything's got to be done
aboveboard.

I let this happen.

I got to fix it.

Not your fault, Tobias.

Hell it isn't.

If I'd done my job right
the first time,

Hicks would still be in prison.

If it weren't for my testimony,

Hicks would never be released.

And I wouldn't
have been fired

by the FBI.

What?

I'm just saying.

We both played a part

in Hicks being
back on the street,

which is why it's on us
to stop him...

...the right way.

Got to say,

reading Triff's file,
he sounds fascinating.

Unhinged is more like it.

Well, that goes without saying.

Well-adjusted individuals
don't butcher people

in their living rooms.

Or stare at people like
they want to eat their face.

Triff's not a cannibal.

Yet. Okay,
but if he branches out,

I don't want to be his
guinea pig.

GUARD: Open up!
(lock buzzes, latch clicks)

Mm.

Agent McGee.

Well, I must have been
a very good boy.

My birthday wish
came true.

And you are?

Hiya.
Agent Jack Sloane.

Raw-cut,
nappa leather trench.

Unlined,
double-breasted.

Spectacular.

May I touch it?

Not if you want
your hand back.

Oh, pity.

(chuckles)

Well...
three visitors

in two days.

Aren't I the popular one?

No, no, no, no, no, no.
Don't be jealous.

You're still my favorite.
That's why we're here.

We wanted to ask you
about your meeting

with Jessica Shaeffer.
The lawyer.

Yeah? Why?

She was killed
in a car bomb last night,

hours after visiting you.

Don't look at me.
I've been locked up in here.

And besides,
my methods are

far more, uh... hands-on.
We're aware.

You know, I even tried
to warn her

that it was a mistake
to come see me.

So... how did Hicks find out?

We think that
he bugged her phone.

(chuckles)
Well, it was clever for him.

What did Jessica want from you?

She was so insistent
on finding out the truth

about Hicks.

But when I finally
told her,

wow.

I don't think that
she was fully prepared.

You're saying Hicks admitted
to killing Lieutenant O'Connell?

Well, among others.
Yes,

he was very talkative,
back when he was a fish.

He wanted so badly
to impress me

that he ended up telling me,

well... everything.

Convenient.
You know, the lawyer

didn't believe me, either,

at first.

Not until I told her

that I had proof
about Hicks' guilt.

What proof?
You think I'm going to give you

that information for free?

No.

No, no. Tsk-tsk.

You are going to need

to wine and dine me.

It's a small price to pay
for catching Hicks, though.

I mean, don't you think?

We're done here.

Eh, da, da, da, da.

Just to show you
how serious I am...

I'll give you a freebie.

Hicks always said
that there was a loose end

that he needed to tie up.

Something about a witness

that he should
have killed.

Some old lady.
Mary Smith?

Uh, uh... I mean,
it sounds familiar.

Mary was only a witness
in the O'Connell case,

which Hicks can't be
re-tried for.

There would be
no reason to kill her.

Reason.

Who needs a reason?

Is it lunchtime
already, Agnes?

It's been a long time, Mary.

You and I have a lot
to talk about.

BISHOP:
Excuse me.

So, the nurse on duty
reported seeing Mary

during her noon rounds,
but when she went

to check on her
an hour later,

Mary was missing.
Any security camera?

No, the security on the premises
is pretty lax,

so anyone could have
come and gone.

Boss, one of the residents
saw Mary forced

into a silver sedan by a man
matching Hicks' description.

Ran the plate number
on the car.

It was reported stolen
this morning.

BOLO's already out.

So, first Jessica Shaeffer,

and now Mary Smith.

It looks like Hicks is
tying up loose ends.

McGEE: Who's next
on the list?

Not waiting around
to find out.

Your shift started
20 minutes ago.

You get held up
somewhere?

You know traffic in D.C.

Can be murder.
Where is she?

Where's who?
Mary Smith.

Witness saw you take her
from her nursing home.

They must be mistaken.
Oh.

Witnesses can be
so unreliable.

You should know that
better than anyone.

Do you mind?

I'm late for work.

Some of us have jobs to get to.

See, I got this thing
against psychopathic scumbags

who target old ladies.

What's the matter?

You too scared to pick on
someone your own size?

Sorry, you're not
exactly my taste.

But give my best
to your daughter.

Oh!
(chuckling)

Did I hit a nerve?

Tobias...

Tobias!
Stay out of this, Gibbs.

It's between him and me.

You're doing exactly
what he wants.

I don't care!

I know he's guilty.

Enough!
(grunts)

GIBBS:
Go on, take a walk.

Get out of here.

Your friend is
a seriously disturbed man.

If he comes near me again,
I'll have to press charges.

We don't find Mary Smith alive,

I'll be the one
paying you a visit.

Strike two, Agent Gibbs.

Ticktock.

(chuckling)

How did that feel?

Did you have to pull him
off me so soon?

I was just getting into it.

Where'd you plant
the tracker?

Under his coat collar.

And it is up and running.

Now we'll know
everywhere Hicks goes,

which will, hopefully,
lead us to Mary Smith,

if she's alive.
She is.

Your gut tell you that?

It's all part
of Hicks' game.

Even so, he's not gonna
keep her that way much longer.

His previous victims
were all killed

within 48 hours
of their abductions.

Which is why we're not putting
all our eggs in one basket.

You got a wild card
I don't know about?

Eh, yeah, something like that.

Has Gibbs lost
his damn mind?

He wants NCIS to cut
a deal with Paul Triff?

Yes. And I agree with him.

I knew I should have
called in sick today.

I am aware of Triff's...
colorful history, okay?

Three life sentences for murder.

Illegal possession
of a firearm.

And multiple counts
of unlawful mutilation

of a corpse.

I would say that we are

a few shades past "colorful."

You and I both know that
inmates brag to each other.

Triff spent six months
as Hicks' cellmate.

His insight could be invaluable.

And you think that
we can trust Paul Triff?

No. Are you kidding me?
Not trust him.

Use him. From what I've deduced,

Triff has a massive ego.

The attention Hicks has gotten

only fuels Triff's desire
to see him caught.

Better to deal with
the devil we know

than the devil we don't.

Precisely.

If we can save Mary Smith,

and catch Hicks
in the process,

wouldn't that be
worth it?

What are Triff's demands?

Well, they are...

not unreasonable,

though a tad bit
unorthodox.

And the other shoe drops.

Triff wants a "48-hour
work furlough

outside the prison while
he assists with the case"?

With two non-negotiables.
"Agent McGee

"must be assigned to
supervise inmate Triff

for the duration
of the investigation."

Keep reading.

"Triff will only reside

"at his last place
of residence

during the furlough."

(snaps papers)
What residence?

BISHOP:
How long has he been like this?

REEVES:
Since he got a call from Vance.

He just found out he's gonna
bunk with a serial killer.

There is just no
sympathy card for that.

McGee?

BISHOP:
McGee...

Hey, you okay?

Is this really happening?

Seriously, is this happening,
or is this just

a really bad nightmare?

It's actually both.

Hey, anything I can do?

Want me to talk
to Delilah?

No, no, no, I have sent
Delilah and the twins

to stay with her mother
for the course of the case.

I left out all specifics.
Smart thinking.

Well, that is the last of it.

Consider your place
successfully de-babyfied, McGee.

Just saying that bums me out.

Hearing it does, too.
But it's safer this way.

I don't want Triff to know
anything about me or my family.

Right. I'm just gonna do
one more little once-over here

just to make sure.

Uh, you might want to
remove all cutlery, too.

Hey, good call.

REEVES:
Aren't we all going

a little overboard here?

Triff's one man.

I mean, how bad
can he be?

He expertly dismembered

three human bodies
with a carving knife

in this very room while
eating Chinese takeout.

Um, I'll give you a hand.

Everything is gonna
be fine, McGee.

Triff is gonna be

locked up in chains in
this cell the entire time.

And Reeves is here for backup.

We got all the bases
covered.

Right.
(knock at door)

(leg chains clattering
against floor)

Home, sweet home.

Gotta go.
I gotta go.

Something I said?

McGEE:
You sure the lock is secure?

Unless he has a blowtorch
in his trousers,

Triff ain't going anywhere.
Well, I wouldn't
put it past him.

I'll handle the paperwork.

All right.

TRIFF: I don't recall this cage
being a part of my deal.

It's not.
It's part of mine.

If you don't like it,
we can send you back

to Maryland Correctional.

No need.
I'm amenable.

You're the one
in charge, roomie.

I've missed this place.

You know, it looks the same,

but the smells,
they're different.

Well, that's because there's
no dead bodies

decaying under the floor.

You dug up old Joe
from under the tub. Hmm?

I'm kidding.

I wouldn't destroy
a hundred-year-old subway tile

on that Neanderthal. Mm-mm.

I dumped him in the river,
let the fish do the work.

Another joke?
See?

You really do get me,
don't you, huh?

REEVES:
Thank you, Officer.

(door closes)

We're gonna have
a blast together.

You're not here for fun, Triff.

You're here to do some work.

You ever hear of "manners
maketh man," Officer Reeves?

I skipped class that day.

We met your
demands. Now talk.

Start with what Hicks has done
with Mary Smith.

Well, I don't know
anything about that.

But if you were to track down

Hicks's old van
from ten years ago...

FBI seized it
when they arrested him.

Didn't find anything.

Stop thinking
like a cop.

They searched the van.

I'm telling you
to search inside the van.

You mind telling me exactly
what we're looking for?

We'll know it when we find it.

FORNELL:
That's helpful.

Ever occur to you Triff sent us
on a wild goose chase?

FBI scoured this vehicle,
found nothing

to tie Hicks to Lieutenant
O'Connell's murder.

TORRES: I should get hazard
pay. That's for sure.

You know what ten years of dust
will do to my sinuses? Ugh!

You know, my body's a...

My body's a machine, baby.

I can't get it exposed
to the elements.

My machine's gonna be
violently ill

if you keeping talking
about your machine.

Hey, Tobias?

TORRES: Is that an
allergen hallucination,

or is that dry blood?

Please let that be
what I think it is.

ABBY: Hicks's fingerprints
were all over

the pipe that Gibbs found
in the van.

Was the dry blood a match
to Lieutenant O'Connell's?

Uh, yep.

That was one
of five blood profiles I found.

The other four

match the unsolved murder cases

in the D.C.-Virgina area.

Gibbs found the mother
of all murder weapons.

There is no way Hicks can
talk himself out of this.

We got him.

Anything, Bishop?

(sighing):
Uh...

No signal from Hicks's phone.

He was a no-show for his shift
at the coffee shop.

Have any word from Torres?

The tracking device
was signaling

from Hicks's apartment,

but he was
long gone.

He left this behind, though.

"Strike three."

He's always one step ahead.

How does he know we're onto him?

BISHOP:
Gibbs?

Hicks's cell
phone is back on.

You got a location?

It's pinging

at Mary Smith's nursing home.

When I saw that man standing
in my doorway,

I was certain
he was gonna kill me.

It was Gabriel Hicks?

He threatened my nephew.

Said he was gonna kill him,

if I didn't go with him.

So I did.
What happened

after Hicks took you
from the home?

He drove to a
wooded area,

tied me up and forced me
into the trunk.

And then?
He left me there.

I don't know for how long.

Then he just
let me go.

How'd you get
Hicks's cell phone?

He gave it to me.

Said to turn it on as soon
as he dropped me off here.

Did Hicks say anything else?

"Those who talk
get what's coming to them."

Yep. All's quiet
over here, Abby.

Nothing to report.

Yeah, McGee's fine.

What's Triff up to?

He's, um, standing by.

What's the latest

on Hicks?
Psst!

Hang on, Abbs.

Hello, Governor.

Can I borrow your phone?

It's my friend's birthday,
and, mm,

I don't want to be rude.

You're doing a pretty good job
of that right now.

Your turn to play psychositter.

REEVES:
Sorry, Abby, I'm back...

He's a sensitive one.

What's that?

Turkey on rye.

I'm a vegetarian.

Are you kidding me?
You used to be a furrier.

Well, wearing animals
is different from eating them.

No, it's not. Wait-- it...
no, if you're a furrier,

then you don't have a...
okay, you know what?

Never mind. Just eat it,
don't eat it, I don't care.

You know,
I'm sensing some frustration,

Agent McGee,
but perhaps,

you might feel
more relaxed around me

if we got to know each other.

You might be surprised
at how much we have in common.

Yeah, like, what?

Well, deep-seated daddy
issues, for example.

My father
was an emotionless workaholic

who never had
time for me.

How about yours?

No comment.

Don't worry.
(sighs)

I'm sure that you're a much
better parent than he ever was.

Excuse me?
You tried to hide
the evidence,

but the pungent scent of spit up
was a dead giveaway.

(sniffs)

A boy and a girl.

Mazel tov.

And judging from the bags
beneath your eyes,

I'm assuming that they're
on different sleep schedules?

Must be difficult.

Yeah. You have no idea.

Well.

I'm all ears.

When Johnny is awake, Morgan
is asleep, and vice versa.

I mean, it's like
they're conspiring

to keep Delilah and I
from getting any sleep at all.

And we're doing the bonding
thing as much as possible,

you know, we're-we're doing
the babywearing,

and singing to them
for hours every single day,

but... just doesn't feel
like enough.

Well, it never will.

All you need to do is love them.

Everything else
will work itself out.

You'll see.

Thanks.

Plus, my parents
never bonded with me,

and I turned out just fine.

REEVES:
Thanks, Abbs. Right.

Time to start making yourself
useful, Triff.

Haven't I already helped you
locate Hicks's murder weapon?

You're welcome, by the way.

Hicks is to the wind.

Any ideas where he's headed?

No, but if he should send
a postcard from Zihuatanejo,

I will be sure to let you know.

You mentored Hicks
when you were cellmates.

Did you ever mention
where you'd go if you'd lay low?

Let's see.

By all means,

take your time.
I mean, it's not like

we got a crazed serial killer

on the streets.
You know, nothing comes to mind.

Triff, tell us the truth.

You think
that I would lie to you,

after all
we just shared together?

I wouldn't do that
to my best friend.

Say again?

We're besties, you dolt.

And we don't need
another musketeer,

so why don't you go
get me something to eat?

(door opens)

SLOANE:
Yikes. I know that face.

What's on your mind?
Hicks.

Things aren't adding up.

I thought the same thing.

That's why I called in a favor
and got a copy

of his juvenile records.

A psych eval done
when he was a kid suggests

that he suffered from abuse
at the hands of his father.

Yeah? Meaning what?

It explains why all of his
victims fit the same profile.

They're all males,
in their 30s,

strong builds,
in positions of authority.

Men who remind him
of his father.

Killing them
was Hicks's way of gaining

the control
he desperately craves.

Yeah, except Jessica Shaeffer
doesn't fit that mold.

Precisely what worries me.

Gibbs, his entire profile
has-has completely shifted.

He's killing
with an agenda now,

which makes him
even more dangerous.

Then why not kill Mary Smith?

It's not like
he's suddenly grown

a-a conscience.

Hicks is smart.

There is a reason
for everything he does.

Hicks knew we were tracking him.

(folder thuds)

Right.

That's why he ditched his coat.

It's why he gave his cell phone
to Mary Smith.

He wanted us to go there
and question her.

But for what purpose?

To split us up.

How long has
Fornell been gone?

He went back to his office when
you left for the nursing home.

He said he wanted to look
through his files on Hicks.

(line ringing)

It looks like
they finally caught on.

After all the chances
I gave you,

you still couldn't catch me.

You know what comes after
strike three, don't you?

Strike four?

Sorry, I'm not really
a sports guy.

(inhales)

Oh, I've been looking forward
to this for the last ten years.

And here we finally are.

Is there anything
you want to say?

Yeah.

You're weaker than I expected.

(chuckles softly)
I give you credit

for not falling for the act
like everyone else did.

It's too bad
you couldn't do your job,

keep me locked up.

Well, you'll be back there soon.

Or six feet under,
I'm not picky.

It's a shame
no one listened to you.

Jessica might
still be alive,

and countless others
yet to come.

Including you.

Don't get emotional on me.

Let me guess, right now,
you're trying to stall

so you can think
of a way out of this.

I was wondering how much longer

I'd have to listen
to you babble.

You're worse than my ex-wife,
and she was good-looking.

Do me a favor,
swing the damn bat.

Did you think
you were getting off that easy?

No, I'm not killing you
just yet.

Two birds,

one stone.

(grunting)
(laughs)

NCIS!

Clear house.

No Fornell.
BISHOP:
Well,

he left his Taser and what's
left of his cell phone.

It might not be that bad.

Maybe he went out to dinner.

After he tied himself up?

Just trying to stay positive.

Um... Gibbs?

It's Fornell's license,

with the same calling card

Hicks used on his
previous victims.

All right. Less positive now.

(muffled panting)

Hey, I do not
feel right about this.

What? Just go. I'll be fine.

Fornell needs your
help more than I do.

Besides, Triff's been
surprisingly cooperative.

Right. That's what
makes me nervous.

Hurry back.

Right.

(door opens, closes)

Finally. I thought
he'd never leave.

Three's a crowd, as they say.

They also say
"safety in numbers."

Well, you still don't trust me,
Agent McGee,

and that hurts my feelings.

Your deal with NCIS was
to help us arrest Hicks.

No.

I said that I would
help you stop him.

It's the same thing.
Did you really think

that a wild animal
would willingly return

to his cage
after tasting freedom?

You have no idea
what you're up against.

We talking about Hicks or you?

Now you're catching on.
(cage rattles)

Hey, anything on Fornell?

No, not yet. Gibbs and
Torres are hitting up

every place Hicks has ties to.

What can I do?
You can help me
sift through

the city's traffic cams
for any sign

of Hicks'
stolen sedan.

On it.
(phone ringing)

Bishop.

Where?

Yeah, on our way.

BOLO hit on the sedan.
Where?

Parked outside
McGee's apartment.
Triff.

I don't mean to interrupt,
but I adhere to a very rigid

meal schedule, and if
I don't eat soon, well,

I might just get
a little agitated.

(doorbell rings)

If that's James Bond,

tell him to get me
some tofu ramen

from the shop around the corner.

I got to get out
of this apartment.

You're not going anywhere.

You should know better.

Don't do anything stupid.

Turn around.

Move.

Still don't think
three's a crowd?

Been a long time, Triff.
You surprised to see me?

I mean, I figured
you'd show up eventually.

Although, it took way
longer than I expected.

I guess you're still
not as smart as me.

Yet I'm not the one
trapped in a cell.

You see, this is
only temporary.

But while you're here,

why not help out your mentor
for old times' sake?

You want me to help you
when you've been

running your mouth to NCIS?

Think of it as me teaching you
a valuable life lesson.

And now you know never
to confide in a fellow convict.

Of course, someone
with some common sense

would've known
that already.

Lesson learned.

You want to die? Stop talking.

Truth is, you should be
on your knees thanking me

for taking you under my wing
all those years ago.

Even then I could see
how weak you were.

That's why I took pity on you.

Yeah, we're gonna die.

I now realize what
a waste of time that was.

You are disappointingly
inadequate,

as usual.

Is that right?

I didn't know what
I was gonna do when I saw you,

but you've swayed my decision.

How does it
feel to know

that you've just
signed your own...

(grunts)

TRIFF: Get down!
(gunshot)

(groans) He got me.

I'm hit. Man down.

(groans) Ow.
You're okay, you're okay.

You'll be fine.
How long was that door unlocked?

Go get a towel before the blood
stains my hardwoods.

Is that really important
right now?

It's 200-year-old French oak.
Just do it.

Oh!

You shot up my wall!

Hicks. Freeze!

TORRES:
Gun!

Everybody move! Get down!

Get out of our way! Move!
Everybody get down!

(muffled screaming)

Check on McGee.

Copy.

(tires screech, horn blares)

(grunts)

(choking)

(car horn honking)

(groans, coughs)

(grunting)

(choking)

Who's the weak one now, huh?

(Taser buzzing)

(electricity crackles)

You sure took your sweet time.

I kind of like this thing.

(grunts) It's the newest model.

Somebody broke my old one.

(laughs)

Honey, I promise,
it's safe to come home.

The case is over
and Triff is gone.

What?

No, there's nothing else
I need to tell you.

All right.

Okay, see you tomorrow.
Love you, too. Bye.

How'd I do?

Totally believable.

You're getting so much better
at lying. I'm so proud.

I don't know,
it feels weird, though.

Maybe I should just
tell Delilah what happened.

About almost getting shot

and owing your life to Triff?

Yeah, I'd keep that
to myself, buddy.

Me, too.

Me, three.

The prison van is here
to take him back

to Maryland Correctional.

Oh, I was so hoping to meet
the missus and the little ones.

Oh, well.

Next time.

This may sound strange,
but, uh...

...we appreciate your
helping out on the case.

I knew I could get
something out of it.

You got Hicks,

and I got two days
out of prison.

And boy, am I feeling
reinvigorated.

You got shot.

It's still not the worst
vacation I've ever had.

Triff, why'd you take
that bullet for me?
Please.

What are best friends for?
BISHOP: I'm sorry.

Wh-Wh-What's that now?

Plus, if you die,
someone new

would move into
my apartment.

I can't risk some
gauche millennial

hanging movie posters
on my Venetian plaster.

Oh, no, not after
all the blood, sweat,

and tears that I put
into our place.

Look, seriously,
you saved my life.

So I-I feel like
I just want to say...

I'm gonna stop
you right there.

I know what you're going
to ask, and the answer is yes.

I would love to be
godfather to the twins.

What? No.
No, that's not at all...

We're family now,
Timothy.

And no one goes against
the family.

(clears throat) Uh...

As heartwarming as this is,
it's time to go, Triff.

Bye-bye.

Until next time.

What just happened?

Brah, please
let me be there

when you tell Delilah
the good news.

(Torres laughs)

You know, I could help you
spruce this place up,

like I did my garage.

4K TV on that wall
would look great.

Already got a TV.

I'll alert the Smithsonian.

Returning the Hicks files.

That the only reason
you're here?

Maybe I wanted
to see my friend.

(chuckles)

Fine.

I wanted to thank you.

Not just for catching Hicks,

but for correcting the mistake
I made ten years ago.

Tobias, I made
plenty of them myself.

That is true.

I'm just glad Hicks
is back where he belongs.

I hear the Bureau's
considering reinstating you.

Yeah.

I told them,
"Thanks, but no thanks."

Kind of like
being my own boss.

You think I'm crazy, don't you?

I didn't say that.
You didn't say anything.

I know what that means
in Gibbs-speak.

Your life.

Do what makes you happy.

Got room for a partner
if you're interested.

Tobias Fornell and Associate
Private Investigations

has a nice ring to it.

Associate?

Oh, I almost forgot.

There you go.

What the hell's this?

It's an itemized bill
for services rendered.

I'm a small businessman.
Money doesn't grow on trees.

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

I gave you the friends
and family discount.

Dry cleaning?

It's a pleasure doing
business with you.

Let's do it again soon.

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