NCIS (2003–…): Season 2, Episode 20 - Red Cell - full transcript
An NROTC midshipman stumbles over the body of another middy at 02:00 on the campus of their university; a third mid has disappeared, and McGee finds his body. Abby helps. Gibbs finds the killer, then Kate and Tony cuff him.
You have entered the circle.
You have felt the flames.
You have suffered the seven trials.
You have reached the moment
of your final test.
-Are you prepared?
-Yes, sir.
Then let's do it.
Go!
Last one to the house
drinks the keg dregs.
I love Hell Week.
Did you see their faces?
Strike Force Command, this is
Red Leader. Alpha Team is in play.
Roger that, Red Leader. I have visual.
You've got hostiles on both the north
and east quadrants of the building.
All teams prepare for entry.
Our target is located on the...
Say again, Strike Force Command.
Did not copy your last.
Wait one, Red Leader.
Copy that.
Red Unit, hold your positions.
Hi, probie.
David, I have to call you back.
Copy that, McGee.
Told you he was a boxers guy.
Damn, McGee. I thought for sure
you were a tighty whitey man.
Come on, let's get dressed.
Don't want to keep Gibbs waiting.
You said 0900. It's only 7:30.
We thought we'd observe you
in your natural environment.
It's kind of like watching
National Geographic.
We watch as the McGee moves
slowly from the watering hole
trailed by hyenas.
Is this the History Channel room?
This is where you do
your writing thing, huh?
Look at this. "The Continuing
Adventures of L.J. Tibbs."
It's personal.
I wonder who L.J. Tibbs could be.
Check it out. He eats dinosaur cereal.
Okay, would you both please just wait
by the door? By the door, please.
Got any Macy Gray in here?
Wait, Tony, don't touch those.
Those are collectibles.
They're very valuable.
Oh, gosh! Sorry.
| just thought they were
musty, old records.
It's bad enough having to work
on Sundays
without you guys ransacking
my apartment.
Yes, it was very inconsiderate
of that Marine sergeant
to die on a weekend.
I'm getting my weapon.
Don't touch anything else.
George Clooney could not get laid
in this place.
Your place needs a lot of help, McGee.
At least you're not building a boat
in your basement.
Come on.
(TOILET FLUSHING)
Tim?
Strike Force Command,
this is Red Leader.
McGee, are you there?
This is Strike Force Command.
Do you copy?
Based on the rigor resolving itself,
I'd say our sergeant's been dead
for at least 36 hours.
I'm more concerned
with how it happened, Duck.
Well, apart from the obvious,
he took a tumble down the hill.
Neck's probably broken.
Yeah, but then we never do put
too much emphasis on the obvious.
Do we, Sergeant?
It's remarkable how these
college hangouts all smell the same.
Stale beer, tobacco, vomit.
It's from the kid that found him.
Any idea why the young man
is half-naked?
Must be a college thing.
-Hey, where you been?
-Stopped for coffee.
Got you... You're welcome.
Marine Sergeant Joseph Aaron Turner.
Found dead at 0200
by a drunk college student.
-Sounds like Hell Week.
-"He|| Week"?
Yeah, the fraternal rite of passage.
Worst week of my life,
followed by the best four years.
Yeah, you were running around
in your skivvies, DiNozzo?
Technically.
But back then, they made us wear them
on our heads.
I think it was a sort of
a character-building thing.
It certainly explains a lot.
-Hey, McGee.
-Yeah.
Find out what Turner was doing
on campus.
On it.
Excuse me, Special Agent Gibbs?
I wonder if we could let Mr Pippin
go home and dress more appropriately.
Sure. After one of my agents
interviews him.
DiNozzo.
You know,
I think that's really more up Kate's alley.
Well, maybe, but you two have
so much in common.
Go.
GIBBS: This area popular with students?
SHERIFF: For all sorts of
extracurricular activities.
Bonfires, fraternity pranks.
-KATE: Hazing?
-We've had our share of incidents.
Broken bones, alcohol poisoning.
And this isn't the first
accidental death we've seen.
Who said anything about an accident?
-You think this is a homicide?
-Until I find out it wasn't.
Boss, I had Turner's SRB pulled.
He's an NROTC student attached
to the Waverly University campus.
Lives in the dorms.
Do you have an address?
Just getting on that.
I'm gonna radio his unit.
I thought college students
were supposed to be poor.
Most of my midshipmen
wouldn't know how to survive
without at least 200 channels
and a DSL hook-up, Agent Gibbs.
How long have you been Turner's
Marine Officer Instructor,
Captain Lemay?
Since he enrolled last year.
You expect to lose men in combat,
not on a college campus.
-What the hell happened to my Marine?
-We're working on it, Captain.
-What can I do to help?
-You can start by telling us about him.
He was one of my best midshipmen.
Came to us straight from Fleet
after two combat tours
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
How was he taking to college life?
There was a fair amount
of culture shock.
But like any good Marine, he adapted.
Any personal problems or issues?
We had a few incidents
with student activists on campus.
-Protesting the war?
-Protesting anything military.
Our unit was vandalised,
rallies outside our offices.
When word got out that Turner
was a vet, he took some heat.
-What kind of heat?
-Name-calling, mostly.
-Turner handled it like most Marines.
-Not well.
He lost five Marines in his squad in Iraq.
He handled it as best he could,
Agent Gibbs.
-He was a damn fine Marine.
-And intelligent, too, boss.
This is graduate-level mathematics.
Theoretical calculus.
He was on the advanced track
in math and physics.
He was a real asset to the Corps.
-You're blowing in my ear, Mr Palmer.
-Sorry, Doctor.
Something piqued your interest?
It seems this break is too clean
to be the result of a fall.
Correct. If he landed on his neck,
this would be jagged here.
But this, this is too precise.
-You notice anything else?
-Well, he took a beating.
Yes, bruises around the eyes,
knuckles grazed.
But what captured my attention most
were these.
This colouration suggests
they were recent.
Inflicted on our poor Marine
just before his death.
-Do we know what caused them?
-We do not, yet.
Yes, but it reminds me
of an English earl,
who was abducted and asphyxiated.
-Every bone in his body was broken.
-What happened to him?
-We|l, it was on a moonlit night...
-Do we know what killed him yet?
Sergeant Turner was involved
in a nasty fight
that resulted in a broken neck.
-He was murdered?
-Yeah.
-What about these welts?
-Certainly painful,
but they didn't do any internal damage.
Mostly surface.
Are you thinking
what I'm thinking, Duck?
I'm afraid so, Jethro.
Call me when you find out.
Wait. Find out what, Doctor?
Sergeant Turner may have been
tortured before his death.
Yeah.
So, that's what happened
to the English earl.
What English earl?
You said Turner was smart, McGee,
when in fact, you should have said
he was brilliant.
These equations rock. It's homology.
-Close. Cohomology.
-I think it's homology.
No, it's cohomology.
I did my independent study
on advanced string theory,
so I think I would know.
| see you are playing
the MIT card again.
No, ljust happened
to go to school there.
And you just happen to talk about it
a lot.
I'm so glad to see you two don't need
adult supervision.
-McGee was annoying me again.
-Don't.
What do we have
from the crime scene?
I got Turner's toxicology report back.
His blood alcohol level was .07.
Not drunk.
Not sober either. What else?
There were foreign blood samples
found on his face and his knuckles.
-Yeah, and?
-And a Chinese menu
of chemicals found on his skin.
It's dried paint, turpentine, bleach.
It's like he was partying
in a janitor's closet.
What about Turner's laptop?
Well, I completely underestimated
the depth of his mathematics ability.
I thought that he was concentrating
on numerical analysis
but it turns out he was also working
on fibre bundles.
I mean, the work's a little rough.
Anything connected
to his death, McGee?
Not yet.
I didn't go to MIT,
but I think I found something.
Turner had a private container.
It's like a vault inside the hard drive
where you can hide files.
-Very sophisticated.
-Can you open it?
They don't call me
"Five Fingers Sciuto" for nothing.
Actually, nobody calls me that.
My nickname is actually Vamperstein,
-but I never really liked the sound of it.
-Abby.
Right. Too much caffeine. Sorry.
Okay, just a second.
And we are
in.
It's an encrypted e-mail.
He received it on Friday.
The same day he was killed.
-One. Two. Three.
-That's it.
Maybe I should give you a break,
you know, because you're college girls.
-What do you think, Simmons?
-No, Gunnery Sergeant?
Damn straight!
To me you're midshipmen!
-Barelyl Understood?
-Yes, Gunnery Sergeant.
You pull a stunt like that again with me
and you can both kiss
your scholarships goodbye.
Go! Away!
Gunnery Sergeant Leeka?
Special Agents Gibbs and Todd, NCIS.
-Sorry you had to hear all that.
-What did they do?
-Notice the hair, ma'am?
-Not regulation?
-No.
-Purple and orange?
Sometimes I feel like
I'm a kindergarten teacher.
Yeah, I'm familiar with the sentiment.
80, Captain Lemay said you wanted to
talk to me about Sergeant Turner?
What kind of midshipman
was he, Gunny?
He put most of those kids to shame, sir.
He would have made one hell
of a Marine officer.
The Captain said that he had problems
with war protesters.
You could say that, ma'am.
One of them spit on his uniform.
Turner cleaned his clock.
Well, do you think this protester
was the type to look for revenge?
-Are you saying Turner was murdered?
-We are.
And I want to know why.
-Simmons!
-Sir?
Get me Midshipman Blake!
Double time!
-Yes, Gunny.
-B|ake's a petty officer.
He was tight with Turner.
He was also the one
that pulled him off the protester
before the campus cops arrived.
-Who else was Turner tight with?
-Well, Blake will know.
They're the only two enlisted men
in the unit.
-Excuse me, Gunnery Sergeant.
-What, Simmons?
Midshipman Blake didn't report
to formation this morning.
Blake's never been UA.
Not since I started here.
Are you telling me Petty Officer Blake
is missing?
No, I'm telling you that he is,
Agent Gibbs.
No one's seen Blake since Friday night.
Hi, ladies. Oh, God, I miss college.
-Find the room yet, probie?
-Right here.
Yeah, Blake's not there.
You never told me you had a brother.
-Any idea when he's coming back?
-I haven't seen him for a couple days.
You guys are definitely not
campus cops. | make you for FBI.
Wrong. NCIS.
-That stands for...
-Yeah, I know what it stands for.
You're here because of Turner, right?
-Do you know him?
-I was in his NROTC unit.
Wow, these are the new
docking stations for...
Yeah, yeah. Hejust got that. It's for
the new Axim X5 handheld computer.
-It's sweet, right?
-Yeah.
Sweet!
Shouldn't you guys
be wearing rubber gloves?
You're completely compromising
the integrity of the crime scene.
It's not a crime scene. It's a dorm room.
You totally think Finnegan had
something to do with Turner's death.
-Why else would you be here?
-You got us, Sherlock.
Maybe they were partners
in some kind of illicit business.
Like they dealt drugs on campus.
-Well now, did they?
-No. l was being hypothetical.
Do you guys have a warrant?
Because if you don't,
then nothing you find here
will be admissible in court.
Unless, of course,
you have probable cause.
-That is exactly what we have.
-I don't know.
-Just because he wasn't home?
-Little girl, what's your name?
-Simon Frankel.
-Okay, listen, Urkel.
We're here on official business,
so why don't you go back
to your dorm room
and play Dungeon Master
and let professionals
do their work, okay?
-l'm just trying to help.
-Do you want to be a big help?
-Yeah, definitely.
-Okay, put your hands in the air.
Nothing to be worried about.
Spread your legs.
Okay, stick out your tongue.
You're the gargoyle
that guards this door.
That was nice.
Well, they don't pay us
to be nice, McGee.
Hey, put on some gloves.
There is definitely something wrong
with this guy.
-What?
-He listens to folk music.
There's something else
wrong with this guy, too, Tony.
A bloody rag. Nice work, McGee.
That's a lot of blood loss. Injured?
Or dead?
TONY: The message on the left
was on Turner's laptop.
The message on the right
was found on Blake's.
He received it on Saturday, boss.
-Who sent them?
-McGee's working on it.
-What else do we know?
-No one on campus
has heard from Blake since Friday.
And Abby says that the blood on the rag
and bed matches Blake's type.
Two enlisted men.
One missing. One dead.
What do they have in common?
The resentment of the Coalition
Alliance Team for Peace, Gibbs.
CAT-P. Not a very attractive acronym.
Their leader's a Waverly senior,
Hunter Huxley.
He's been arrested five times
for disturbing the peace.
He's majoring in political science.
Minoring in anti-government subversion
and sticking it to the man.
| dated a girl like that
in college once, boss.
It wasn't bad until she stopped shaving
her armpits and her...
She owns a car dealership now,
in case you're looking for a good deal.
Huxley's been leading
the anti-war protests on campus.
And last month
at a peace demonstration
in front of the ROTC building, we know
that he started spitting on midshipmen.
And Sergeant Turner dropped him.
After that, Huxley made Turner
his personal target.
Harassed him regularly.
You think he could have taken this
to the next level?
I think you and Kate are gonna go
find out.
Hey, turn that frown
upside down, sweetie.
-We're going back to college.
-Tony, your problem is you've never left.
This is what I'm talking about. It's like
I'm having flashbacks or something.
I'm surprised you even
remember college.
You spent most of it throwing up
in a urinal.
Well, I'm pretty sure you spent your
Saturday nights alone in your PJs
-watching Julia Roberts videos.
-You don't know what I did in college.
But I do know what you did
on your spring break.
I knew it. You still have
that wet T-shirt photo, don't you?
-I don't.
-You swear?
Well, I don't have it on me.
Hey, Chi! Way to go!
God, you're pathetic.
Gotta move on, DiNozzo.
-They're over.
-What's over?
Your glory years.
They've passed you by.
-|t's time to retire the beer bong.
-Ouch, Kate. Ouch.
Oh, there's our budding anarchist.
This president is the puppet
of Corporate America!
This is an immoral act! No more war!
-No more war!
-No more war!
Learn the truth about this war.
Your government doesn't trust you,
don 't trust your government.
-Hey, man, help us defeat Big Brother.
-Well, we kind of work for him.
-Agents Todd and DiNozzo, NCIS.
-I got a permit to be here.
I'm sure you do. That's not
the reason we're here, Mr Huxley.
Sergeant Joseph Turner.
If he's pressing charges on me
then I'm pressing charges on him.
That fascist nearly broke my jaw.
-|'d hold off on the charges.
-He's dead.
What?
His body was found on campus
Saturday night.
You hadn't heard about that?
I've been out of town.
I just got back today.
-Well, that's convenient.
-Hold on a second. You think I did it?
Well, you two didn't exactly get along.
Yeah, because he tried
to beat the crap out of me.
After you spit on him.
You do realise
I'm a peace activist, right?
Anti-violence?
Maybe you knew his friend, too.
Petty Officer Finnegan Blake?
He was a midshipman.
Been missing since Friday.
| get it. So this is how it happens, huh?
They send their gestapo goons
to try and quiet the movement.
-You planning on arresting me?
-|t's crossed our minds.
Do it. I'm not afraid of you.
I'm not afraid of your tactics.
You should really meet our boss.
He'd like you.
And you should really meet my lawyers.
They'd love you.
The student organisations alone
are mind-blowing.
Did you know that there are seven
online mystery-writer workshops
-on campus?
-No, I didn't.
But I'm sure you're gonna tell me what
this has to do with our dead Marine.
I thought that whoever was involved
in Turner's death
might have a campus web account.
80 | hacked into the servers
looking for any mention
of Turner or Blake.
-Okay. Any hits?
-No, the servers have been pretty quiet.
-What is that?
-Someone's lMing Sergeant Turner.
-|t's an instant message, Gibbs.
-|t's like an e-mail, but live.
Just put it up on the plasma.
Hello, NCIS.
He's not on Turner's buddy list.
He's probably using an alias.
-Can you trace it, McGee?
-If we can keep him online.
-Abby, talk to him.
-Okay.
Hello, Creepy Voice.
You’re looking in the wrong places.
He's diverting his connection
through half a dozen servers.
We've got the Baltimore Public Library
by way of a public server in Buffalo.
That's it. Get him. Get him, McGee.
Where should we be looking?
Deeper.
Oh, come on.
How's that going to help us?
I've back-traced him
to the Waverly University campus.
-Where on campus?
-|'m almost there.
Look beyond the surface.
Oh, that's a really sucky clue.
When you say "beyond the surface"
are you being literal or metaphorical?
I'm just trying to clarify.
They’re everywhere.
Okay, I've got it down to one
city block right off of campus.
Just one more second.
Goodbye.
-Got him, boss.
-Yeah.
You are sure about this, right?
l was able to triangulate
the connection to the campus servers.
-And then reran the back-trace...
-Just answer the question, McGee.
Yes, I'm sure, boss.
Let's do this.
Kate, cover the back.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
GIRL: No! No! Stop!
Federal Agents! Don't move!
I am going to kill McGee.
We've got it covered, Kate.
-So, is Gibbs still mad at me?
-About what, probie?
Dead Marine on campus?
Missing petty officer?
Computer hacker who might be part
of a radical peace movement?
None of these things
are your fault, really.
-But sending Gibbs on a panty raid?
-He's going to kill you.
Hey! I want answers.
Where is Abby?
She's on a run
to the evidence garage, boss.
She's on a run
to the evidence garage, boss.
Anything on the hacker?
He was on a wireless connection.
The house you hit was set up for Wi-Fi.
He was probably sitting
somewhere outside on the street.
-l'm working on tracing it right now.
-You tell Abby I want her.
Oh, Gibbs, I never knew.
Ducky asked me to help him figure out
where the welts came from.
I think I'm gonna start with the
ball-peen hammer. I don't know why.
| just like the way it sounds. Ball-peen,
ball-peen, ball-peen, ball-peen.
What else?
Probably go with the stun gun
and then the Garden-Weasel.
And someone is in a really bad mood.
Spending the night in a room full
of crying women tends to do that to me.
Well this will cheer you up.
I got the analysis back from the blood
found on Turner's body.
-It belongs to your missing petty officer.
-Blake? You're kidding.
I also ran the bloody rag
from Blake's house.
Most of it's his and some of it is not.
-Sergeant Turner's?
-Bingo.
Was his name-o.
Blake and Turner were in a fight.
And one turns up dead
and the other hits the road.
Or they were killed together
at the same location, Kate.
It's the hacker. He's sending us
another instant message.
NCIS,
if you want the truth, be at Unity Quad,
1000 hours today.
-He's somewhere on campus right now.
-Tony, Kate, you're with me.
And you get me an exact location
this time.
-Are you sure you can do it?
-Positive. I think.
Excuse me. How can we be sure
Creepy Voice is even here, McGee?
Because, Tony, the campus
Wi-Fi system is broken down
into nodes. And our hacker's signal
is coming from Node 5.
-Yeah? And what does that mean? Hi.
-/t means he's somewhere
in the quad right now,
so look for somebody with a laptop
-or a wireless device.
-Not real helpful, probie.
Less chatter. Keep your eyes open.
Find him or her.
Boss, your 1:00. Red hat, sunglasses.
Looking real suspicious.
-That's what I'm talking about.
-Don't you get enough of that at home?
-My Internet connection's down.
-Yeah.
It's 10:45.
The hacker is playing with us again.
No, Kate. I'm telling you, he's here.
Look for something abnormal.
You're going to have to be more
specific, McGee.
-Look out! Move! Out of the way!
-Hey, watch it!
KYLE: Move it!
I'd say that's abnormal.
TONY: We've got two suspects,
one in a black ski mask.
Moving to intercept.
They're coming out of the tunnel.
Okay. Get out of the way!
Get out of the way!
-Hey!
-Hey, look!
Clear the way! Get out of my way!
You're dead!
-He's got a gun!
-NC|S Federal Agents!
-Drop the weapon!
-Put down your weapon!
-Drop the weapon!
-Hold your fire!
What's going on?
Shut up, dumb-ass.
-Does that hurt?
-Yeah.
-Does that hurt right there?
-Yeah.
Kyle Zolin. He's a midshipman.
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
-Yeah, Gibbs.
-Gibbs! Gibbs, Ifigured it out.
I know what caused the welts
on Turner's body.
We know. A paintball gun.
I really, really hate it when he does that.
Oops.
You retreads think you deserve
to be officers? Do you?
Playing illegal games on campus!
You're lucky I don't rip your heads off
and stomp on them!
Agent Gibbs will take it
from here, Gunny.
Yes, sir.
I expect you gentlemen to answer
his questions truthfully.
Sit down.
-Where's Finnegan Blake?
-We don't know, sir.
How many midshipmen in this
little paintball club of yours?
Yeah, that's right.
If you turn them in, they'll probably
be kicked out of school just like you.
It's admirable, protecting your friends.
Turner does not need protection.
He's lying dead on a slab
with a broken neck.
I think Blake is the one
who put him there.
No. No, not possible, sir.
-They were best friends.
-Yeah?
Then why were they beating the crap
out of each other Friday night?
-You were there!
-Yes, sir, but it's not what you think.
They tossed a couple punches.
We broke it up.
An hour later, they were drinking beer
and laughing about it.
Does that look like a couple of punches
to you, midshipmen?
His neck is snapped in half.
He didn't look like that when he left.
What was the fight about?
Turner never lost a paintball game,
so Blake decided to change the rules.
-By killing him?
-No, sir.
We play one on one.
But Friday morning we all got
Turner's target photo in our e-mail
and we ambushed him.
It was supposed to be funny.
I want the names
of everyone in your club.
You do that
and we can talk about your futures.
And if we don't?
Son, you trust me.
You will not do well in prison.
KATE: They called themselves
The Red Cell.
They all claim the last time
they saw Blake was on Friday night,
right after the fight.
-We think they were protecting him.
-Who else knew about the group?
According to them, no one.
Only the Red Cell members.
"First rule of Fight Club:
Never talk about Fight Club."
God, it's a great movie.
Brad Pitt, Edward Norton.
It's like the greatest guy movie ever.
I'm going to rent that for you.
They're either lying or one of them
is the hacker that led us to the group.
-Find him.
-Boss!
-You find my hacker yet?
-No, but...
-Poor probie.
-You think he needs a group hug?
I found Blake.
I've been monitoring the campus Wi-Fi
and I was waiting for the hacker
to come back online
and that's when I thought of it.
When we searched Blake's room,
he had the docking station
for an Axim X5 handheld computer.
But the unit itself was not in his room.
And they're, like, 2,000 bucks.
He probably took it with him
-when he pulled his disappearing act.
-Why does this matter?
Because it has wireless built in.
It automatically connects
to the nearest network.
-He is online right now.
-Where?
Waverly University, Node 3.
And according to the network logs,
he's been hiding out there
since Saturday morning.
Not bad, McGee. Let's roll!
See, I told you he likes you.
-Are you sure about this, Tim?
-|'m sure.
He's here, or at least his computer is.
Well, I hope for your sake
that you're right.
I'm right, okay?
(BEEPING)
Wait.
He's in the building
right behind this one.
I've got some bad news for you, probie.
I don't understand. He should be here.
Maybe he disappeared with the building.
I'm telling you, it's here.
Signal is getting stronger.
-|t's here.
-Where?
It's right below me.
He must have buried it.
-We're being screwed with again.
-lt's the hacker, McGee.
I found something.
It's a body.
It's lying face down.
This is where the head should be.
He's wearing a hood.
This is now a crime scene.
It's Blake.
He's not lying face down.
Petty Officer Blake was killed
early Saturday morning,
just hours after
Sergeant Turner's death.
Now, we're dealing with a killer
who is not only extremely powerful,
but methodical.
Each of these young men
had their necks broken
in a violent and identical fashion.
I think with someone
using their bare hands.
Well, how's that?
Well, it's a very specific technique.
-May | demonstrate, Mr Palmer?
-Of course, Doctor.
Yes, well, one hand is placed firmly
on the jaw here, and the other hand...
-|'|| do it, Duck.
-Thank you, Jethro.
-This ought to be good.
-No, on you.
-Do you think that's really necessary?
-Yeah, it'll be fun.
You can either lie on the floor
or I'll drop you to the floor.
We used it to silence enemy sentries.
One hand on the jaw,
the other behind the head
of the individual.
66 pounds of torque and, snap!
Your eyes are on the back of your head.
DiNozzo, any questions?
No, I think I got it, boss.
You missed your calling, boss.
You could have been a chiropractor.
We're looking for someone
who knows how to kill.
Yes, what troubles me
is our midshipmen,
in order to receive such a killing blow,
would have to have been
face-to-face with their assailants.
Which means either
they were ambushed or...
-Or they knew him.
-Hey, another midshipman?
They teach combat courses
at the NROTC unit?
Maybe. You find my hacker yet?
-McGee's upstairs working on it.
-I didn't ask McGee.
| asked my Senior Field Agent.
I want that damn hacker!
Did you hear that, Palmer?
-He sounded pretty upset.
-No.
He called me his
Senior Field Agent. Finally.
This guy is good, Abby. He's too good.
Yeah, but we are better.
I thought you went to MIT.
Abby, I don't think I can track this guy.
Don't let Gibbs hear you
talking like that, probie.
Kap Tau, baby.
You guys are just in time
for McGee's crisis of faith.
He's starting to realise
that there may be someone
on the planet that's smarter than him.
Oh, I'm looking at one right now.
Well, Kate, in all fairness,
I am the Senior Field Agent,
-but I think it's an experience thing.
-I was talking about Abby, dodo-head.
Thank you, Kate.
Okay, the only chance we have
of finding this guy
is if he contacts us again.
I can embed a virus in the IM software
and use it to tag his computer
-and hope that it leads...
-Viruses, tracking software?
You guys are going about this
the wrong way.
What is the first rule
of Fight Club, probie?
Okay, Tony, you can barely
turn your computer on. So, no offence.
You do not talk about Fight Club!
And what is the second rule
of Fight Club?
-Abs?
-Do not talk about Fight Club!
-Sir!
-Exactly.
And Creepy Voice is the guy
who led us to Red Cell.
So he's either a member
or he knows a member.
And they're all midshipmen.
Of course, if the guy's giving McGeek
a run for his money,
he's got to be pretty smart.
-McGee, what was your GPA in college?
-3.9.
I failed a fencing class
in sophomore year.
So, I'm sure you already checked
the NROTC records to make sure
there's no computer genius in the unit.
I hate to say it,
but that was actually smart, Tony.
What was, Kate?
Tony might have figured out
how to find the hacker.
It's his job.
You think I keep him around
for his personality?
There are 22 midshipmen in the unit
with computer science majors.
Only one of them has a 4.0.
Look familiar?
You want to bring him in with me?
Considering he embarrassed me,
almost got me fired
and ruined my weekend,
what do you think?
Hello, NCIS.
You might be smart,
but my geek carries a gun.
Hello, you twisted piece of...
Howdy, Urkel.
Man, you're hurting me.
-You hear something, Tony?
-No.
Me neither.
No need to worry. Federal Agents.
Have a nice day.
Hey, so what do they call it?
The box, coffin, sweatshop?
We just call it interrogation.
What's the deal? You lean on me first.
Then bring your partner in?
Get me blabbering?
-Are you the good cop or the bad cop?
-Sit.
Okay.
I'm going to be honest with you.
This is a major waste of time.
You clearly didn't do this.
Reverse psychology.
But my boss,
he needs to close the case.
Brass wants answers.
And there is this other agent, Kate.
Severe-looking thing.
No sense of humour.
She built the profile on you.
What kind of interrogation technique
is that?
The DiNozzo method. Not pretty,
but it's effective.
It turns out you're the geek's geek.
-The last one to be picked for the team.
-That's not true.
This isn't me, Urkel, okay?
I think you're great.
Sure you broke a few federal laws,
interfering with an ongoing
murder investigation.
I was trying to help you.
Right.
-lt's the way you did it that's suspicious.
-Look at me.
The last thing I need is to be pegged
as a rat in the unit.
-Those guys would have killed me.
-Maybe you were looking for payback?
They wouldn't let you into
their little club?
-That's crazy.
-Yeah.
You know what's crazy?
Me almost putting a bullet in a kid's
head 'cause he's playing paintball.
-That's a little crazy.
-I didn't. ..
I didn't want anyone to get hurt.
I was just trying to help.
Turner was a friend.
So you thought sending cryptic e-mails
was going to help us find his killer?
-I think I know who killed him.
-Who?
-Petty Officer Blake.
-Yeah? Why'd he do it?
There's this girl in the unit.
Ashley Simmons.
She used to date Blake
but they broke up.
-She started dating Turner?
-|'m not sure. I know he liked her.
He liked her. Not a real strong motive
for murder, Urkel.
Well, last week I saw all three of them
together in the quad.
Ashley was crying,
and Turner and Blake
started arguing with each other.
About what?
I couldn't hear,
but I saw Blake push him.
-So they fought?
-No.
Turnerjust left with Ashley.
When I asked him about it later,
he said it was personal.
Something between the three of them.
Well, that's a real
interesting theory, Matlock.
One problem.
-What?
-B|ake's dead.
He was murdered a few hours
after Turner.
But by who?
Someone who wanted to frame him
for the murder of his best friend.
Find Midshipman Ashley Simmons now.
Why is your hair still purple, Simmons?
It takes a few days to wash out, Gunny.
I hope the time you've spent field-daying
is starting to sink in.
-I own you until the day you graduate.
-Yes, Gunny. It won't happen again.
You want to give people
orders some day?
You need to learn how to follow them.
-Sounds like pretty good advice, Gunny.
-Good evening, sir.
-Any luck finding Blake?
-That's why we're here.
We can talk about this in my office.
You missed a spot
over there, Simmons.
-Actually, we're here for her, Gunny.
-Simmons? For what?
-We found Blake.
-Where?
-He's dead.
-We think she knows why.
I don't know anything about it.
Then you won't mind answering
a few questions.
Take her out to the sedan.
I'll be right out.
But I don't know anything.
Tell me everything you know
about her, Gunny.
Simmons?
Kind of a screw-up, but not a bad kid.
You think she's involved in this?
I don't understand.
Blake didn't kill Turner?
No, they were both murdered.
Not pretty.
Almost twisted his head clean off.
Oh, my God.
He did it.
I'm getting too old for this crap.
ROTC was supposed to be
an easy tour. You want a cup?
No. No, thanks, I'll pass.
Good call.
80 just how was Blake murdered?
I went to them for help last week.
He wouldn't leave me alone.
Wow, two identical neck-breaks.
Yeah. We think the killer
has military training.
He was forcing me to sleep with him.
Blake and Turner were going to go
talk to him, make him stop.
-And he killed them.
-Who, Midshipman?
I'll have everyone in this unit
standing by, tomorrow.
You can question them all
at the same time.
Thanks, Gunny. I appreciate it.
Just one thing.
What, sir?
I said that Blake had been found dead.
You said murdered.
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
-Are you gonna answer that?
-No.
No, I'm pretty sure I know
what it is they want to tell me.
Put your hands up!
Not bad, Agent Gibbs.
I'd give up now.
It's only going to get worse.
-I think he knows.
-You think?
You should have stayed out of this,
old man.
Okay, stand back.
-Cuff him.
-Sure thing, boss.
Somehow I don't remember
college being quite like this.
It reminds me of this time
at Ohio State. We had this frat guy...
The next person
who mentions a spring break,
or a frat party or college, is fired.
Are we clear?
-Yes.
-Yes.
That's good.
You have felt the flames.
You have suffered the seven trials.
You have reached the moment
of your final test.
-Are you prepared?
-Yes, sir.
Then let's do it.
Go!
Last one to the house
drinks the keg dregs.
I love Hell Week.
Did you see their faces?
Strike Force Command, this is
Red Leader. Alpha Team is in play.
Roger that, Red Leader. I have visual.
You've got hostiles on both the north
and east quadrants of the building.
All teams prepare for entry.
Our target is located on the...
Say again, Strike Force Command.
Did not copy your last.
Wait one, Red Leader.
Copy that.
Red Unit, hold your positions.
Hi, probie.
David, I have to call you back.
Copy that, McGee.
Told you he was a boxers guy.
Damn, McGee. I thought for sure
you were a tighty whitey man.
Come on, let's get dressed.
Don't want to keep Gibbs waiting.
You said 0900. It's only 7:30.
We thought we'd observe you
in your natural environment.
It's kind of like watching
National Geographic.
We watch as the McGee moves
slowly from the watering hole
trailed by hyenas.
Is this the History Channel room?
This is where you do
your writing thing, huh?
Look at this. "The Continuing
Adventures of L.J. Tibbs."
It's personal.
I wonder who L.J. Tibbs could be.
Check it out. He eats dinosaur cereal.
Okay, would you both please just wait
by the door? By the door, please.
Got any Macy Gray in here?
Wait, Tony, don't touch those.
Those are collectibles.
They're very valuable.
Oh, gosh! Sorry.
| just thought they were
musty, old records.
It's bad enough having to work
on Sundays
without you guys ransacking
my apartment.
Yes, it was very inconsiderate
of that Marine sergeant
to die on a weekend.
I'm getting my weapon.
Don't touch anything else.
George Clooney could not get laid
in this place.
Your place needs a lot of help, McGee.
At least you're not building a boat
in your basement.
Come on.
(TOILET FLUSHING)
Tim?
Strike Force Command,
this is Red Leader.
McGee, are you there?
This is Strike Force Command.
Do you copy?
Based on the rigor resolving itself,
I'd say our sergeant's been dead
for at least 36 hours.
I'm more concerned
with how it happened, Duck.
Well, apart from the obvious,
he took a tumble down the hill.
Neck's probably broken.
Yeah, but then we never do put
too much emphasis on the obvious.
Do we, Sergeant?
It's remarkable how these
college hangouts all smell the same.
Stale beer, tobacco, vomit.
It's from the kid that found him.
Any idea why the young man
is half-naked?
Must be a college thing.
-Hey, where you been?
-Stopped for coffee.
Got you... You're welcome.
Marine Sergeant Joseph Aaron Turner.
Found dead at 0200
by a drunk college student.
-Sounds like Hell Week.
-"He|| Week"?
Yeah, the fraternal rite of passage.
Worst week of my life,
followed by the best four years.
Yeah, you were running around
in your skivvies, DiNozzo?
Technically.
But back then, they made us wear them
on our heads.
I think it was a sort of
a character-building thing.
It certainly explains a lot.
-Hey, McGee.
-Yeah.
Find out what Turner was doing
on campus.
On it.
Excuse me, Special Agent Gibbs?
I wonder if we could let Mr Pippin
go home and dress more appropriately.
Sure. After one of my agents
interviews him.
DiNozzo.
You know,
I think that's really more up Kate's alley.
Well, maybe, but you two have
so much in common.
Go.
GIBBS: This area popular with students?
SHERIFF: For all sorts of
extracurricular activities.
Bonfires, fraternity pranks.
-KATE: Hazing?
-We've had our share of incidents.
Broken bones, alcohol poisoning.
And this isn't the first
accidental death we've seen.
Who said anything about an accident?
-You think this is a homicide?
-Until I find out it wasn't.
Boss, I had Turner's SRB pulled.
He's an NROTC student attached
to the Waverly University campus.
Lives in the dorms.
Do you have an address?
Just getting on that.
I'm gonna radio his unit.
I thought college students
were supposed to be poor.
Most of my midshipmen
wouldn't know how to survive
without at least 200 channels
and a DSL hook-up, Agent Gibbs.
How long have you been Turner's
Marine Officer Instructor,
Captain Lemay?
Since he enrolled last year.
You expect to lose men in combat,
not on a college campus.
-What the hell happened to my Marine?
-We're working on it, Captain.
-What can I do to help?
-You can start by telling us about him.
He was one of my best midshipmen.
Came to us straight from Fleet
after two combat tours
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
How was he taking to college life?
There was a fair amount
of culture shock.
But like any good Marine, he adapted.
Any personal problems or issues?
We had a few incidents
with student activists on campus.
-Protesting the war?
-Protesting anything military.
Our unit was vandalised,
rallies outside our offices.
When word got out that Turner
was a vet, he took some heat.
-What kind of heat?
-Name-calling, mostly.
-Turner handled it like most Marines.
-Not well.
He lost five Marines in his squad in Iraq.
He handled it as best he could,
Agent Gibbs.
-He was a damn fine Marine.
-And intelligent, too, boss.
This is graduate-level mathematics.
Theoretical calculus.
He was on the advanced track
in math and physics.
He was a real asset to the Corps.
-You're blowing in my ear, Mr Palmer.
-Sorry, Doctor.
Something piqued your interest?
It seems this break is too clean
to be the result of a fall.
Correct. If he landed on his neck,
this would be jagged here.
But this, this is too precise.
-You notice anything else?
-Well, he took a beating.
Yes, bruises around the eyes,
knuckles grazed.
But what captured my attention most
were these.
This colouration suggests
they were recent.
Inflicted on our poor Marine
just before his death.
-Do we know what caused them?
-We do not, yet.
Yes, but it reminds me
of an English earl,
who was abducted and asphyxiated.
-Every bone in his body was broken.
-What happened to him?
-We|l, it was on a moonlit night...
-Do we know what killed him yet?
Sergeant Turner was involved
in a nasty fight
that resulted in a broken neck.
-He was murdered?
-Yeah.
-What about these welts?
-Certainly painful,
but they didn't do any internal damage.
Mostly surface.
Are you thinking
what I'm thinking, Duck?
I'm afraid so, Jethro.
Call me when you find out.
Wait. Find out what, Doctor?
Sergeant Turner may have been
tortured before his death.
Yeah.
So, that's what happened
to the English earl.
What English earl?
You said Turner was smart, McGee,
when in fact, you should have said
he was brilliant.
These equations rock. It's homology.
-Close. Cohomology.
-I think it's homology.
No, it's cohomology.
I did my independent study
on advanced string theory,
so I think I would know.
| see you are playing
the MIT card again.
No, ljust happened
to go to school there.
And you just happen to talk about it
a lot.
I'm so glad to see you two don't need
adult supervision.
-McGee was annoying me again.
-Don't.
What do we have
from the crime scene?
I got Turner's toxicology report back.
His blood alcohol level was .07.
Not drunk.
Not sober either. What else?
There were foreign blood samples
found on his face and his knuckles.
-Yeah, and?
-And a Chinese menu
of chemicals found on his skin.
It's dried paint, turpentine, bleach.
It's like he was partying
in a janitor's closet.
What about Turner's laptop?
Well, I completely underestimated
the depth of his mathematics ability.
I thought that he was concentrating
on numerical analysis
but it turns out he was also working
on fibre bundles.
I mean, the work's a little rough.
Anything connected
to his death, McGee?
Not yet.
I didn't go to MIT,
but I think I found something.
Turner had a private container.
It's like a vault inside the hard drive
where you can hide files.
-Very sophisticated.
-Can you open it?
They don't call me
"Five Fingers Sciuto" for nothing.
Actually, nobody calls me that.
My nickname is actually Vamperstein,
-but I never really liked the sound of it.
-Abby.
Right. Too much caffeine. Sorry.
Okay, just a second.
And we are
in.
It's an encrypted e-mail.
He received it on Friday.
The same day he was killed.
-One. Two. Three.
-That's it.
Maybe I should give you a break,
you know, because you're college girls.
-What do you think, Simmons?
-No, Gunnery Sergeant?
Damn straight!
To me you're midshipmen!
-Barelyl Understood?
-Yes, Gunnery Sergeant.
You pull a stunt like that again with me
and you can both kiss
your scholarships goodbye.
Go! Away!
Gunnery Sergeant Leeka?
Special Agents Gibbs and Todd, NCIS.
-Sorry you had to hear all that.
-What did they do?
-Notice the hair, ma'am?
-Not regulation?
-No.
-Purple and orange?
Sometimes I feel like
I'm a kindergarten teacher.
Yeah, I'm familiar with the sentiment.
80, Captain Lemay said you wanted to
talk to me about Sergeant Turner?
What kind of midshipman
was he, Gunny?
He put most of those kids to shame, sir.
He would have made one hell
of a Marine officer.
The Captain said that he had problems
with war protesters.
You could say that, ma'am.
One of them spit on his uniform.
Turner cleaned his clock.
Well, do you think this protester
was the type to look for revenge?
-Are you saying Turner was murdered?
-We are.
And I want to know why.
-Simmons!
-Sir?
Get me Midshipman Blake!
Double time!
-Yes, Gunny.
-B|ake's a petty officer.
He was tight with Turner.
He was also the one
that pulled him off the protester
before the campus cops arrived.
-Who else was Turner tight with?
-Well, Blake will know.
They're the only two enlisted men
in the unit.
-Excuse me, Gunnery Sergeant.
-What, Simmons?
Midshipman Blake didn't report
to formation this morning.
Blake's never been UA.
Not since I started here.
Are you telling me Petty Officer Blake
is missing?
No, I'm telling you that he is,
Agent Gibbs.
No one's seen Blake since Friday night.
Hi, ladies. Oh, God, I miss college.
-Find the room yet, probie?
-Right here.
Yeah, Blake's not there.
You never told me you had a brother.
-Any idea when he's coming back?
-I haven't seen him for a couple days.
You guys are definitely not
campus cops. | make you for FBI.
Wrong. NCIS.
-That stands for...
-Yeah, I know what it stands for.
You're here because of Turner, right?
-Do you know him?
-I was in his NROTC unit.
Wow, these are the new
docking stations for...
Yeah, yeah. Hejust got that. It's for
the new Axim X5 handheld computer.
-It's sweet, right?
-Yeah.
Sweet!
Shouldn't you guys
be wearing rubber gloves?
You're completely compromising
the integrity of the crime scene.
It's not a crime scene. It's a dorm room.
You totally think Finnegan had
something to do with Turner's death.
-Why else would you be here?
-You got us, Sherlock.
Maybe they were partners
in some kind of illicit business.
Like they dealt drugs on campus.
-Well now, did they?
-No. l was being hypothetical.
Do you guys have a warrant?
Because if you don't,
then nothing you find here
will be admissible in court.
Unless, of course,
you have probable cause.
-That is exactly what we have.
-I don't know.
-Just because he wasn't home?
-Little girl, what's your name?
-Simon Frankel.
-Okay, listen, Urkel.
We're here on official business,
so why don't you go back
to your dorm room
and play Dungeon Master
and let professionals
do their work, okay?
-l'm just trying to help.
-Do you want to be a big help?
-Yeah, definitely.
-Okay, put your hands in the air.
Nothing to be worried about.
Spread your legs.
Okay, stick out your tongue.
You're the gargoyle
that guards this door.
That was nice.
Well, they don't pay us
to be nice, McGee.
Hey, put on some gloves.
There is definitely something wrong
with this guy.
-What?
-He listens to folk music.
There's something else
wrong with this guy, too, Tony.
A bloody rag. Nice work, McGee.
That's a lot of blood loss. Injured?
Or dead?
TONY: The message on the left
was on Turner's laptop.
The message on the right
was found on Blake's.
He received it on Saturday, boss.
-Who sent them?
-McGee's working on it.
-What else do we know?
-No one on campus
has heard from Blake since Friday.
And Abby says that the blood on the rag
and bed matches Blake's type.
Two enlisted men.
One missing. One dead.
What do they have in common?
The resentment of the Coalition
Alliance Team for Peace, Gibbs.
CAT-P. Not a very attractive acronym.
Their leader's a Waverly senior,
Hunter Huxley.
He's been arrested five times
for disturbing the peace.
He's majoring in political science.
Minoring in anti-government subversion
and sticking it to the man.
| dated a girl like that
in college once, boss.
It wasn't bad until she stopped shaving
her armpits and her...
She owns a car dealership now,
in case you're looking for a good deal.
Huxley's been leading
the anti-war protests on campus.
And last month
at a peace demonstration
in front of the ROTC building, we know
that he started spitting on midshipmen.
And Sergeant Turner dropped him.
After that, Huxley made Turner
his personal target.
Harassed him regularly.
You think he could have taken this
to the next level?
I think you and Kate are gonna go
find out.
Hey, turn that frown
upside down, sweetie.
-We're going back to college.
-Tony, your problem is you've never left.
This is what I'm talking about. It's like
I'm having flashbacks or something.
I'm surprised you even
remember college.
You spent most of it throwing up
in a urinal.
Well, I'm pretty sure you spent your
Saturday nights alone in your PJs
-watching Julia Roberts videos.
-You don't know what I did in college.
But I do know what you did
on your spring break.
I knew it. You still have
that wet T-shirt photo, don't you?
-I don't.
-You swear?
Well, I don't have it on me.
Hey, Chi! Way to go!
God, you're pathetic.
Gotta move on, DiNozzo.
-They're over.
-What's over?
Your glory years.
They've passed you by.
-|t's time to retire the beer bong.
-Ouch, Kate. Ouch.
Oh, there's our budding anarchist.
This president is the puppet
of Corporate America!
This is an immoral act! No more war!
-No more war!
-No more war!
Learn the truth about this war.
Your government doesn't trust you,
don 't trust your government.
-Hey, man, help us defeat Big Brother.
-Well, we kind of work for him.
-Agents Todd and DiNozzo, NCIS.
-I got a permit to be here.
I'm sure you do. That's not
the reason we're here, Mr Huxley.
Sergeant Joseph Turner.
If he's pressing charges on me
then I'm pressing charges on him.
That fascist nearly broke my jaw.
-|'d hold off on the charges.
-He's dead.
What?
His body was found on campus
Saturday night.
You hadn't heard about that?
I've been out of town.
I just got back today.
-Well, that's convenient.
-Hold on a second. You think I did it?
Well, you two didn't exactly get along.
Yeah, because he tried
to beat the crap out of me.
After you spit on him.
You do realise
I'm a peace activist, right?
Anti-violence?
Maybe you knew his friend, too.
Petty Officer Finnegan Blake?
He was a midshipman.
Been missing since Friday.
| get it. So this is how it happens, huh?
They send their gestapo goons
to try and quiet the movement.
-You planning on arresting me?
-|t's crossed our minds.
Do it. I'm not afraid of you.
I'm not afraid of your tactics.
You should really meet our boss.
He'd like you.
And you should really meet my lawyers.
They'd love you.
The student organisations alone
are mind-blowing.
Did you know that there are seven
online mystery-writer workshops
-on campus?
-No, I didn't.
But I'm sure you're gonna tell me what
this has to do with our dead Marine.
I thought that whoever was involved
in Turner's death
might have a campus web account.
80 | hacked into the servers
looking for any mention
of Turner or Blake.
-Okay. Any hits?
-No, the servers have been pretty quiet.
-What is that?
-Someone's lMing Sergeant Turner.
-|t's an instant message, Gibbs.
-|t's like an e-mail, but live.
Just put it up on the plasma.
Hello, NCIS.
He's not on Turner's buddy list.
He's probably using an alias.
-Can you trace it, McGee?
-If we can keep him online.
-Abby, talk to him.
-Okay.
Hello, Creepy Voice.
You’re looking in the wrong places.
He's diverting his connection
through half a dozen servers.
We've got the Baltimore Public Library
by way of a public server in Buffalo.
That's it. Get him. Get him, McGee.
Where should we be looking?
Deeper.
Oh, come on.
How's that going to help us?
I've back-traced him
to the Waverly University campus.
-Where on campus?
-|'m almost there.
Look beyond the surface.
Oh, that's a really sucky clue.
When you say "beyond the surface"
are you being literal or metaphorical?
I'm just trying to clarify.
They’re everywhere.
Okay, I've got it down to one
city block right off of campus.
Just one more second.
Goodbye.
-Got him, boss.
-Yeah.
You are sure about this, right?
l was able to triangulate
the connection to the campus servers.
-And then reran the back-trace...
-Just answer the question, McGee.
Yes, I'm sure, boss.
Let's do this.
Kate, cover the back.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
GIRL: No! No! Stop!
Federal Agents! Don't move!
I am going to kill McGee.
We've got it covered, Kate.
-So, is Gibbs still mad at me?
-About what, probie?
Dead Marine on campus?
Missing petty officer?
Computer hacker who might be part
of a radical peace movement?
None of these things
are your fault, really.
-But sending Gibbs on a panty raid?
-He's going to kill you.
Hey! I want answers.
Where is Abby?
She's on a run
to the evidence garage, boss.
She's on a run
to the evidence garage, boss.
Anything on the hacker?
He was on a wireless connection.
The house you hit was set up for Wi-Fi.
He was probably sitting
somewhere outside on the street.
-l'm working on tracing it right now.
-You tell Abby I want her.
Oh, Gibbs, I never knew.
Ducky asked me to help him figure out
where the welts came from.
I think I'm gonna start with the
ball-peen hammer. I don't know why.
| just like the way it sounds. Ball-peen,
ball-peen, ball-peen, ball-peen.
What else?
Probably go with the stun gun
and then the Garden-Weasel.
And someone is in a really bad mood.
Spending the night in a room full
of crying women tends to do that to me.
Well this will cheer you up.
I got the analysis back from the blood
found on Turner's body.
-It belongs to your missing petty officer.
-Blake? You're kidding.
I also ran the bloody rag
from Blake's house.
Most of it's his and some of it is not.
-Sergeant Turner's?
-Bingo.
Was his name-o.
Blake and Turner were in a fight.
And one turns up dead
and the other hits the road.
Or they were killed together
at the same location, Kate.
It's the hacker. He's sending us
another instant message.
NCIS,
if you want the truth, be at Unity Quad,
1000 hours today.
-He's somewhere on campus right now.
-Tony, Kate, you're with me.
And you get me an exact location
this time.
-Are you sure you can do it?
-Positive. I think.
Excuse me. How can we be sure
Creepy Voice is even here, McGee?
Because, Tony, the campus
Wi-Fi system is broken down
into nodes. And our hacker's signal
is coming from Node 5.
-Yeah? And what does that mean? Hi.
-/t means he's somewhere
in the quad right now,
so look for somebody with a laptop
-or a wireless device.
-Not real helpful, probie.
Less chatter. Keep your eyes open.
Find him or her.
Boss, your 1:00. Red hat, sunglasses.
Looking real suspicious.
-That's what I'm talking about.
-Don't you get enough of that at home?
-My Internet connection's down.
-Yeah.
It's 10:45.
The hacker is playing with us again.
No, Kate. I'm telling you, he's here.
Look for something abnormal.
You're going to have to be more
specific, McGee.
-Look out! Move! Out of the way!
-Hey, watch it!
KYLE: Move it!
I'd say that's abnormal.
TONY: We've got two suspects,
one in a black ski mask.
Moving to intercept.
They're coming out of the tunnel.
Okay. Get out of the way!
Get out of the way!
-Hey!
-Hey, look!
Clear the way! Get out of my way!
You're dead!
-He's got a gun!
-NC|S Federal Agents!
-Drop the weapon!
-Put down your weapon!
-Drop the weapon!
-Hold your fire!
What's going on?
Shut up, dumb-ass.
-Does that hurt?
-Yeah.
-Does that hurt right there?
-Yeah.
Kyle Zolin. He's a midshipman.
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
-Yeah, Gibbs.
-Gibbs! Gibbs, Ifigured it out.
I know what caused the welts
on Turner's body.
We know. A paintball gun.
I really, really hate it when he does that.
Oops.
You retreads think you deserve
to be officers? Do you?
Playing illegal games on campus!
You're lucky I don't rip your heads off
and stomp on them!
Agent Gibbs will take it
from here, Gunny.
Yes, sir.
I expect you gentlemen to answer
his questions truthfully.
Sit down.
-Where's Finnegan Blake?
-We don't know, sir.
How many midshipmen in this
little paintball club of yours?
Yeah, that's right.
If you turn them in, they'll probably
be kicked out of school just like you.
It's admirable, protecting your friends.
Turner does not need protection.
He's lying dead on a slab
with a broken neck.
I think Blake is the one
who put him there.
No. No, not possible, sir.
-They were best friends.
-Yeah?
Then why were they beating the crap
out of each other Friday night?
-You were there!
-Yes, sir, but it's not what you think.
They tossed a couple punches.
We broke it up.
An hour later, they were drinking beer
and laughing about it.
Does that look like a couple of punches
to you, midshipmen?
His neck is snapped in half.
He didn't look like that when he left.
What was the fight about?
Turner never lost a paintball game,
so Blake decided to change the rules.
-By killing him?
-No, sir.
We play one on one.
But Friday morning we all got
Turner's target photo in our e-mail
and we ambushed him.
It was supposed to be funny.
I want the names
of everyone in your club.
You do that
and we can talk about your futures.
And if we don't?
Son, you trust me.
You will not do well in prison.
KATE: They called themselves
The Red Cell.
They all claim the last time
they saw Blake was on Friday night,
right after the fight.
-We think they were protecting him.
-Who else knew about the group?
According to them, no one.
Only the Red Cell members.
"First rule of Fight Club:
Never talk about Fight Club."
God, it's a great movie.
Brad Pitt, Edward Norton.
It's like the greatest guy movie ever.
I'm going to rent that for you.
They're either lying or one of them
is the hacker that led us to the group.
-Find him.
-Boss!
-You find my hacker yet?
-No, but...
-Poor probie.
-You think he needs a group hug?
I found Blake.
I've been monitoring the campus Wi-Fi
and I was waiting for the hacker
to come back online
and that's when I thought of it.
When we searched Blake's room,
he had the docking station
for an Axim X5 handheld computer.
But the unit itself was not in his room.
And they're, like, 2,000 bucks.
He probably took it with him
-when he pulled his disappearing act.
-Why does this matter?
Because it has wireless built in.
It automatically connects
to the nearest network.
-He is online right now.
-Where?
Waverly University, Node 3.
And according to the network logs,
he's been hiding out there
since Saturday morning.
Not bad, McGee. Let's roll!
See, I told you he likes you.
-Are you sure about this, Tim?
-|'m sure.
He's here, or at least his computer is.
Well, I hope for your sake
that you're right.
I'm right, okay?
(BEEPING)
Wait.
He's in the building
right behind this one.
I've got some bad news for you, probie.
I don't understand. He should be here.
Maybe he disappeared with the building.
I'm telling you, it's here.
Signal is getting stronger.
-|t's here.
-Where?
It's right below me.
He must have buried it.
-We're being screwed with again.
-lt's the hacker, McGee.
I found something.
It's a body.
It's lying face down.
This is where the head should be.
He's wearing a hood.
This is now a crime scene.
It's Blake.
He's not lying face down.
Petty Officer Blake was killed
early Saturday morning,
just hours after
Sergeant Turner's death.
Now, we're dealing with a killer
who is not only extremely powerful,
but methodical.
Each of these young men
had their necks broken
in a violent and identical fashion.
I think with someone
using their bare hands.
Well, how's that?
Well, it's a very specific technique.
-May | demonstrate, Mr Palmer?
-Of course, Doctor.
Yes, well, one hand is placed firmly
on the jaw here, and the other hand...
-|'|| do it, Duck.
-Thank you, Jethro.
-This ought to be good.
-No, on you.
-Do you think that's really necessary?
-Yeah, it'll be fun.
You can either lie on the floor
or I'll drop you to the floor.
We used it to silence enemy sentries.
One hand on the jaw,
the other behind the head
of the individual.
66 pounds of torque and, snap!
Your eyes are on the back of your head.
DiNozzo, any questions?
No, I think I got it, boss.
You missed your calling, boss.
You could have been a chiropractor.
We're looking for someone
who knows how to kill.
Yes, what troubles me
is our midshipmen,
in order to receive such a killing blow,
would have to have been
face-to-face with their assailants.
Which means either
they were ambushed or...
-Or they knew him.
-Hey, another midshipman?
They teach combat courses
at the NROTC unit?
Maybe. You find my hacker yet?
-McGee's upstairs working on it.
-I didn't ask McGee.
| asked my Senior Field Agent.
I want that damn hacker!
Did you hear that, Palmer?
-He sounded pretty upset.
-No.
He called me his
Senior Field Agent. Finally.
This guy is good, Abby. He's too good.
Yeah, but we are better.
I thought you went to MIT.
Abby, I don't think I can track this guy.
Don't let Gibbs hear you
talking like that, probie.
Kap Tau, baby.
You guys are just in time
for McGee's crisis of faith.
He's starting to realise
that there may be someone
on the planet that's smarter than him.
Oh, I'm looking at one right now.
Well, Kate, in all fairness,
I am the Senior Field Agent,
-but I think it's an experience thing.
-I was talking about Abby, dodo-head.
Thank you, Kate.
Okay, the only chance we have
of finding this guy
is if he contacts us again.
I can embed a virus in the IM software
and use it to tag his computer
-and hope that it leads...
-Viruses, tracking software?
You guys are going about this
the wrong way.
What is the first rule
of Fight Club, probie?
Okay, Tony, you can barely
turn your computer on. So, no offence.
You do not talk about Fight Club!
And what is the second rule
of Fight Club?
-Abs?
-Do not talk about Fight Club!
-Sir!
-Exactly.
And Creepy Voice is the guy
who led us to Red Cell.
So he's either a member
or he knows a member.
And they're all midshipmen.
Of course, if the guy's giving McGeek
a run for his money,
he's got to be pretty smart.
-McGee, what was your GPA in college?
-3.9.
I failed a fencing class
in sophomore year.
So, I'm sure you already checked
the NROTC records to make sure
there's no computer genius in the unit.
I hate to say it,
but that was actually smart, Tony.
What was, Kate?
Tony might have figured out
how to find the hacker.
It's his job.
You think I keep him around
for his personality?
There are 22 midshipmen in the unit
with computer science majors.
Only one of them has a 4.0.
Look familiar?
You want to bring him in with me?
Considering he embarrassed me,
almost got me fired
and ruined my weekend,
what do you think?
Hello, NCIS.
You might be smart,
but my geek carries a gun.
Hello, you twisted piece of...
Howdy, Urkel.
Man, you're hurting me.
-You hear something, Tony?
-No.
Me neither.
No need to worry. Federal Agents.
Have a nice day.
Hey, so what do they call it?
The box, coffin, sweatshop?
We just call it interrogation.
What's the deal? You lean on me first.
Then bring your partner in?
Get me blabbering?
-Are you the good cop or the bad cop?
-Sit.
Okay.
I'm going to be honest with you.
This is a major waste of time.
You clearly didn't do this.
Reverse psychology.
But my boss,
he needs to close the case.
Brass wants answers.
And there is this other agent, Kate.
Severe-looking thing.
No sense of humour.
She built the profile on you.
What kind of interrogation technique
is that?
The DiNozzo method. Not pretty,
but it's effective.
It turns out you're the geek's geek.
-The last one to be picked for the team.
-That's not true.
This isn't me, Urkel, okay?
I think you're great.
Sure you broke a few federal laws,
interfering with an ongoing
murder investigation.
I was trying to help you.
Right.
-lt's the way you did it that's suspicious.
-Look at me.
The last thing I need is to be pegged
as a rat in the unit.
-Those guys would have killed me.
-Maybe you were looking for payback?
They wouldn't let you into
their little club?
-That's crazy.
-Yeah.
You know what's crazy?
Me almost putting a bullet in a kid's
head 'cause he's playing paintball.
-That's a little crazy.
-I didn't. ..
I didn't want anyone to get hurt.
I was just trying to help.
Turner was a friend.
So you thought sending cryptic e-mails
was going to help us find his killer?
-I think I know who killed him.
-Who?
-Petty Officer Blake.
-Yeah? Why'd he do it?
There's this girl in the unit.
Ashley Simmons.
She used to date Blake
but they broke up.
-She started dating Turner?
-|'m not sure. I know he liked her.
He liked her. Not a real strong motive
for murder, Urkel.
Well, last week I saw all three of them
together in the quad.
Ashley was crying,
and Turner and Blake
started arguing with each other.
About what?
I couldn't hear,
but I saw Blake push him.
-So they fought?
-No.
Turnerjust left with Ashley.
When I asked him about it later,
he said it was personal.
Something between the three of them.
Well, that's a real
interesting theory, Matlock.
One problem.
-What?
-B|ake's dead.
He was murdered a few hours
after Turner.
But by who?
Someone who wanted to frame him
for the murder of his best friend.
Find Midshipman Ashley Simmons now.
Why is your hair still purple, Simmons?
It takes a few days to wash out, Gunny.
I hope the time you've spent field-daying
is starting to sink in.
-I own you until the day you graduate.
-Yes, Gunny. It won't happen again.
You want to give people
orders some day?
You need to learn how to follow them.
-Sounds like pretty good advice, Gunny.
-Good evening, sir.
-Any luck finding Blake?
-That's why we're here.
We can talk about this in my office.
You missed a spot
over there, Simmons.
-Actually, we're here for her, Gunny.
-Simmons? For what?
-We found Blake.
-Where?
-He's dead.
-We think she knows why.
I don't know anything about it.
Then you won't mind answering
a few questions.
Take her out to the sedan.
I'll be right out.
But I don't know anything.
Tell me everything you know
about her, Gunny.
Simmons?
Kind of a screw-up, but not a bad kid.
You think she's involved in this?
I don't understand.
Blake didn't kill Turner?
No, they were both murdered.
Not pretty.
Almost twisted his head clean off.
Oh, my God.
He did it.
I'm getting too old for this crap.
ROTC was supposed to be
an easy tour. You want a cup?
No. No, thanks, I'll pass.
Good call.
80 just how was Blake murdered?
I went to them for help last week.
He wouldn't leave me alone.
Wow, two identical neck-breaks.
Yeah. We think the killer
has military training.
He was forcing me to sleep with him.
Blake and Turner were going to go
talk to him, make him stop.
-And he killed them.
-Who, Midshipman?
I'll have everyone in this unit
standing by, tomorrow.
You can question them all
at the same time.
Thanks, Gunny. I appreciate it.
Just one thing.
What, sir?
I said that Blake had been found dead.
You said murdered.
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
-Are you gonna answer that?
-No.
No, I'm pretty sure I know
what it is they want to tell me.
Put your hands up!
Not bad, Agent Gibbs.
I'd give up now.
It's only going to get worse.
-I think he knows.
-You think?
You should have stayed out of this,
old man.
Okay, stand back.
-Cuff him.
-Sure thing, boss.
Somehow I don't remember
college being quite like this.
It reminds me of this time
at Ohio State. We had this frat guy...
The next person
who mentions a spring break,
or a frat party or college, is fired.
Are we clear?
-Yes.
-Yes.
That's good.