13x18 - Hard For the Money

[bunniefuu]

Previously on "NCIS Los Angeles..."

KENSI: We need to prep our
house for the foster inspection.

That means baby-lock the cabinets

and get rid of excess clutter.

CALLEN: She is never gonna stop.

You've been obsessed.

KILBRIDE: The director is
worried about the damage

that Katya has already done,

and he has asked me

to remove you from the field until

these deepfakes stop.

["DO YOU GET THE MOTION"
BY GOLDBERG PLAYING]

WOMAN: Time to move along, Angus.

You know the drill.

All right.

All right. [GRUNTS]

I'm moving.

New day, new choices.

Just got word of a couple vacancies

at the pallet houses in Redondo.

I'm already on that list.

Plus, wouldn't want to lose this view.

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

♪ I'm seeing things
more clearly than before ♪

♪ It's only right ♪

♪ I've opened up the door ♪

♪ For you ♪

♪ Do you get the motion? ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Do you get the motion? ♪

♪ Oh. ♪

Ma'am? Ma'am?

Oh, my God.

- [LOUD ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]
- Okay. Oh!

Max, I'm home!

Oh. Oh, this is my jam!

Oh!

Holy cow!

- [MUSIC STOPS]
- How in the names

of Santa's elves did you
get this done in an hour?

I'm a licensed contractor, Deeks.

Yeah, well, thank God, 'cause I
never could've done this alone.

Yeah, well, what are surf buddies for?

Thank you.

But, um, this is definitely
a two-burrito job.

Burrito Hut delivers.

Oh, don't hate me. I have a new spot.

They're on Postmates.

Prepare to have your mind blown

- in minutes.
- [PHONE BUZZING]

Sorry. Phone. Kens.

It's Kensilina. Hey.

How's the deposition going?

Yeah, that's because you love
torturing defense attorneys.

Yeah, closet's, uh...
closet's coming along great.

Yes, that is thanks to Max.

Kensi says you're a lifesaver,
and she loves you.

Hey, Kens. My pleasure.

Um, yes, Ms., uh,
"Don't Call Me Janice" King

is coming over later this
afternoon to grab her sweater.

No, I'll look for it later.

Relax, all right?

It's not another
thousand-point inspection.

She's just coming in, grabbing
the sweater and leaving.

Trust me, it's gonna be great.
I promise you.

Okay. Love you, too. Okay, bye.

All right. So I know
I only have you till noon,

so put me to work. What do I do?

Some-some hacking,
some tacking, some spackling?

- That's a thing, right?
- Sure.

- Uh, you're gonna grab a hammer...
- [DOORBELL RINGS]

Ooh. That's Postmates,
and they're early.

Prepare to have your mind blown.

As long as it's not my appetite.

[SIGHS] Oh, Ms. King.

- Hi.
- You have my sweater.

Sorry. I left it here last time.

- It's not a problem.
- Okay.

I have it right h-here.

What did I...? I just had it. Just,

I literally just had it.

- I-I see you haven't changed much.
- [HAMMERING]

Oh. Uh, I mean, yet.

We're-we're still... we're still
working on it. We just...

- Uh-huh.
- We're actually finishing the, uh...

the-the closet in the bedroom right now.
It's gonna be...

It's gonna be fantastic. Look. Oh!

There it is. I found your sweater.

It's such a pretty lavender.
You want to go now?

Oh, actually, can I take
a few more quick measurements?

Dotting I's, crossing T's kind of thing.

Yeah, no. Of-of course.

Whatever-whatever
you need to... to-to do.

- Thank you!
- Yup!

What is all this stuff?

Rountree said you left it on my desk.

That, G, is all the stuff
you left on my boat.

What?

I would never buy this.

Stakeout in Burbank last year.

You bought it
so you could see it in the dark.

You left it on the boat.

Wait. This...

This was a Father's Day gift.

Do I look like the kind of guy
that would drink out of a cup

that says "Who's Your Daddy?"

No, and that's why it's a great gift.

Wha...? What's with this purge?

A couple of brokers
are gonna show the boat.

So you're really gonna sell it, huh?

You love that boat.

It's settled, G.

First offer I get... Finito, bye-bye.

[PHONE BUZZES]

Ah. Looks like we got a case.

Not for me. I'm still
in detention, remember?

[CHUCKLES]

Good morning, gentlemen.

Shyla. Looks like

the admiral's doing everything
he can to keep you here.

Hey, as far as I'm concerned,
you can stay

- as long as you want.
- [CHUCKLES]

Well, what do you have for us?

Petty Officer Third Class Nikki Lee,

junior intelligence specialist
stationed at Seal Beach,

was found at the Long Beach Pier
this morning.

Pier cameras came up empty,

but Long Beach PD
is canvassing for witnesses.

She still had her jewelry on.

Doesn't look like a robbery gone bad.

SHYLA: Coroner found marks
around her neck.

Preliminary determination is,
she was strangled.

TOD was around midnight last night.

Okay, well,
the k*ller could have disposed

of her body in the ocean.

So, check with Harbor Patrol

and see if there was
any unusual activity.

And what area of intelligence
was she involved in?

Ballistic missiles.
Her team is working with DARPA

to develop a highly-classified
Next-Gen m*ssile defense system.

Why don't you reach out
to the Seal Beach NCIS Office

and see if they've had
any security breaches?

You got it.

She's so young.

She had her whole life ahead of her.

Is it possible
there are any other motives?

Maybe something in her personal life?

SHYLA: I'm still looking, but

I did find a recent court document

giving her full custody to
her two-year-old daughter Lily.

Custody battles bring out
the worst in people.

See what you can dig up on the father.

Copy that.

CALLEN: Yeah, and, Fatima, why don't you

and Rountree go talk to Petty
Officer Lee's department head?

Let's find out if there's been
any suspicious threats recently,

or if he knows why
she was in Long Beach.

Sam and I'll go...

Nowhere, for the moment. I need
to speak with both of you.

On our way.

[SAM LAUGHS]

Well, look who it is... The dynamic duo.

Bet you weren't expecting to see
this handsome face today, huh?

CIA finally kicked you out, huh?

Eh, not exactly.

Allow me
to introduce the newly-appointed

Special Deputy U.S. Marshal
Vostanik Sabatino.

Now I can work on U.S. soil
and carry a g*n

without all the logistical hoops.

I can tell you're excited.

Mm-hmm. Does this mean

we actually have to pay
attention when he speaks?

Uh, more than that.
Now you have to care.

Why are you here?

I'm working with a multiagency
task force

that's tracking down
Libya's recent covert attempts

at procuring stolen Navy tech.

In particular, m*ssile technology.

Libyans are under
an international arms embargo.

This could be signs that they're looking

into replenishing their m*llitary forces.

And you think this is connected
to Petty Officer Lee's m*rder?

Too soon to say.

Our intel suggests the Libyans
found vulnerabilities

within the Navy ranks.

Petty Officer Lee's access

and m*rder felt a little
too coinky-dinky to ignore.

Sam, Sabatino will be
joining you in the field today.

Oh. Copy that.

I always wanted a partner.

Maybe one day you'll get one.

Agent Callen, a word, please?

[CALLEN CLEARS THROAT]

SHYLA: Check this out.

The father
of Petty Officer Lee's daughter

is a man named Martin Thomas.

He's had four arrests
in the last four years.

The arrests were mostly alcohol-related

until the last one,
which was for domestic battery.

Let me guess. This was during
his relationship with Nikki.

And during her pregnancy.

Also, he just moved from Orange County

to an apartment in Carson.

That's only a couple miles from
Long Beach. Maybe they met up.

Maybe he took the domestic v*olence

one step further this time.

Yeah, and Nikki's
not much older than Kam.

If anybody ever laid hands on her,

I'd make him wish he never had hands.

Ah, knowing Kam,
she'd take care of him herself.

You know, I went to a lot of
trouble picking out a sick ride

from the Marshals Service motor pool.

Now, I'll be the first to admit,
the pickings were slim,

but what it lacks in style,
it makes up for in speed.

No.

Don't you want to at least see it?

No.

Does he ever let you drive?

Let's not open old wounds.

Director clear you?

No.

Ah, geez, what did you do?

BOTH: None of your business.

Look, if we're gonna be partners...

- BOTH: We're not partners.
- Agree to disagree.

What are you gonna do?

Kilbride suggested
I take a few days off.

I don't know. Alex and Jake
are going to the mountains.

May join them if that's good with you.

Sure thing. We got you covered, partner.

I was talking to Sam.

- Mountain air'll do you good.
- It would.

Ocean air would do me good, too.

I was thinking maybe
I'd spend the day on your boat.

Nice try, G, but I-I have
a showing this afternoon.

Wait? You're-you're selling
the Michelle?

Yeah. Know anyone in the market

for a vintage, -foot motor-yacht?

Yeah, I might know a guy.

Good luck today.

Oh, thank you.

She's been back there a while.

This is nothing. You should've
been here last time.

I swear, nobody tells you

how difficult this whole
foster parent process is.

- Come on. It can't be that bad.
- Ugh.

Okay. I'm glad I rechecked
the stairs in your backyard.

That definitely needs to be replaced

before next week's home study.

The stair...

You have a permit for this, right?

Um, did I give you your sweater back?

I can be so forgetful.

I put it in the... Here. Come.

It's in the... it's in the
front house of the house.

KING: Good luck with the stairs.

Remember, the devil's
in the details, okay?

- I'll see you next week.
- Yeah, okay, we'll see you.

- See you next week. Thank you.
- Bye-bye. You're welcome.

Stairs? I don't know the first thing

about how to fix stairs.

- I've got nothing to do this weekend.
- No.

I-I can't. I can't.
That is very kind of you,

but I just... I can't ask you to...

You're not asking. I'm offering.

If we get Burrito Hut?

Right. Thank you.

[SIGHS]

Thanks.

It's been a rough morning.

I bet.

How are, uh, Petty Officer Lee's
coworkers taking her death?

Not well.

We brought in counselors
to talk with the team.

Was there anyone in particular
she was close with?

Someone who might have known
where she was last night?

Well, Petty Officer Lee was
friendly with everyone.

Kind, generous, hardworking.

She was part of our R&D team,
and proved integral

to the development of this
Next-Gen m*ssile defense system.

It's a shame she'll never get
to see the fruits of her labor.

How close are you to completing it?

Start testing next week.

Everyone's excited.

This will be the most
sophisticated anti-m*ssile

defense system in the world.

Have there been any threats

or attempts at stealing the technology?

Threats? Constantly.

Our security is top-notch.

Though you know how it is.

You got to keep on it to stay
one step ahead of the enemy.

ROUNTREE: And what would happen

if it fell into enemy hands?

It could be used against us.

Then, instead of the enemy's
missiles being sh*t down,

it'll be ours.

SABATINO: All right.

Another "no"? Yeah, what can I say?

Everybody bought a pandemic boat.

Plus, according to my cousin Damien,

yours isn't exactly
competitively priced.

One might wonder whether
you're really trying to sell it.

It is for sale.

Uh-oh. Did I strike a nerve?

- Martin Thomas?
- [ENGINE STARTS]

Federal agents.

We got to ask you some questions
about your ex-girlfriend

Nikki Lee.

Hey, if this is about child support,

I already sent in the paperwork,
all right? She'll get her money.

- Now, move. You're blocking me.
- Whoa. Whoa.

Nikki got k*lled last night.

You mind shutting off the bike?

Oh, my God.

[TURNS ENGINE OFF]

What happened?

That's what we're trying to find out.

When was the last time you saw her?

[SIGHS]

I don't know. Uh, two months ago maybe?

Wait. Hold on.
Do you think I k*lled her?

I would never hurt Nikki.

Well, the domestic battery charge

on your rap sheet begs to differ.

Look, I never touched her, all right?

We were broken up. I went over
to her place to talk.

Found some dude there.
He and I got into it,

and-and then
she stepped in to break it up.

When the police came,
they blamed it on me.

Sounds like you two had
a rocky relationship.

[SIGHS] Look, we were good

until she got pregnant
and started tripping.

Told me to clean up and get a job.

I mean, I-I can't even
take care of myself.

You know, how am I gonna
take care of a kid?

Yeah, and that's why
she sought full custody.

Yeah, and I would've
been cool with that,

but then she wanted child support, too.

I mean, why-why would I have
to pay if I don't want the kid?

Because that's the law.

And the state cares for the child,

whether you want
to be there for her or not.

Yeah, well, I... I said my piece
in court, all right?

The judge wasn't hearing me.

Just listened to whatever
her fancy lawyer had to say.

Where were you last night?

I was volunteering at a rehab center.

Part of my community service.

Do you want to ask my PO?

He was with me the whole time. Go ahead.

Thanks, Shyla.

Log-in records show
Petty Officer Lee left

at : p.m. and then came back at : ,

stayed for half an hour,
and then left for good.

Were you aware?

No, but it doesn't surprise me.

She always worked late.

Mostly because she had
to make up the hours.

Why is that?

Well, Petty Officer Lee

had a tough time finding child care

and often left work early.

I tried to be supportive,

but at the same time,
we work off of deadlines.

Got to the point where I had
to tell her, if she didn't find

some solution,
I would have to reassign her.

Then, a few days ago, she came in,

said she'd found a solution
to her problems.

Well, what did she mean by that?

Wasn't my place to ask.

Now I wish I did.

Maybe she'd still be alive.

Martin's alibi cleared.

We got no leads, no crime scene.

We don't even know
where she was last night.

I'm telling you, it's the Libyans.

We don't even know if they're
involved yet, all right?

We don't know if her m*rder's
related to the m*ssile tech.

I'm just trying to solve
a major international case here.

They didn't make me Special
Deputy U.S. Marshal for nothing.

Yeah, you're special, all right.

You heard, uh, what he said
about the lawyer?

Yeah, guy schooled him
on child support .

Right. Because he's a lawyer.

Right.

I'm not following.

Lawyers cost money, especially
if you want a good one.

With her Navy pay,

she could barely pay
for her living expenses.

How's she gonna afford a lawyer?

- Maybe he was pro bono.
- Maybe.

Or maybe she has other means
to pay him. Hmm?

Shyla, what's the status
on Nikki's financials?

Still working on it, but I have
an update from Seal Beach.

Cyber Operations Field Office
analysis shows

the m*ssile technology was downloaded

from Petty Officer Lee's work terminal.

So, if she did steal it,

she probably already has
a buyer lined up.

You know who'd pay a pretty penny?

- Who?
- Libyans.

Admiral Kilbride, I was on my way...

I'll save you the trip.

I just got off the phone with
the supervisory special agent

at the Cyber Operations Field Office.

She confirmed that the download

from Petty Officer Lee's terminal was

the only security breach
that they identified.

That's good news. I'll add to it.

I found Petty Officer Lee's car

at a parking lot in Hermosa Beach,

miles from where her body was found.

- Hmm.
- There's also a marina nearby.

Agents Namazi and Rountree
are checking it out now.

If she had the stolen technology,

she'd want to sell it
as quickly as possible.

Have you been through her phone records?

Yes. Didn't find anything there,

but I did find something interesting

in her phone's e-calendar.

For the past three months, she's
earned money as a gig worker.

Moonlighting.

Each of those jobs
presented a security risk.

We need to know every person
she's been in contact with.

That could take days.

Yeah. A luxury we do not have.

But if she was that desperate for money,

then one can assume

that anything she spent it on
was important.

Go through her expenses.

Maybe we can learn
what we need to that way.

[SIGHS]

Pizza shop, sushi bar

and a vintage clothing store.

But none of their cameras have
a clear view of the lot.

What about you? You find anything?

Uh, just this parking ticket.

Shows when she got here... : p.m.

Man, all these places were open late.

- She could've gone anywhere.
- Yeah.

Or met anyone.

Hey, hey, check it out.

Ah.

Doormat, lawn chairs.

Look like she been
posted up for a minute.

Let's hope so.

SHYLA: I think I figured out

what Petty Officer Lee
was doing last night.

Her credit card shows
two transactions made

at the SkyWest Beach Club.

It's a private social club
in Hermosa Beach

owned by a man named Wesley Roberts.

Apparently he goes by...

SAM: Big Wes.

Oh. Isn't that the same guy

who threw that fake
island music festival?

Among other scams.

All of which involved one thing:

separating rich people from their money.

What if Nikki went there last night

with the stolen m*ssile tech
to meet someone?

There's only one way to find out.

Federal agents.

WOMAN: Coming! Hold on.

[GROANS] Hey!

You kids ready to see
how the sausage gets made, huh?

The contest? Grand prize?

You're not here for the tour, are you?

We're NCIS. We're actually
investigating the m*rder

of a woman, a Navy petty officer.

- Hmm.
- Yeah. She, uh,

parked her blue sedan here

last night around : p.m.

Hoping you might have seen something.

No, I'm sorry. I was working all night.

- Working?
- Yeah.

I'm a content creator. Uh,
some might say an influencer.

I really think of myself more
as an entertainer.

I have a website.

Roving Rosie's Roaming RV Adventures.

[LAUGHS]

I'm Roving Rosie.

Yeah. Is that the camera you use

to, uh, record your content?

Yeah. Streaming / .

Unlimited access for only $ . .

But I like you two.
You're very attractive.

I'm gonna give you a discount.
I'm gonna throw...

You know what? [LAUGHS]

It's okay. We were just hoping

we could see the footage
from last night.

No can do. I'd have to shut it down.

Oh, it won't take long.
We'll just hop in...

Uh, let me tell you the difference

between me and everybody else.

I don't crash ever.

Did you just quote The Social Network?

Maybe there's a way we can both win.

BIG WES: Sorry. Drawing a blank.

Look closer.

Petty Officer Lee was
at SkyWest last night

before she was k*lled
and dumped in the ocean.

And you think one
of my members was involved?

Well, she drove to your club,
went inside,

never made it back to her car.

Sure looks that way.

So I'm asking again.

Did you see Petty Officer Lee
last night?

You know, I'm so busy running around,

talking to members,
making the magic happen.

I mean, it ain't easy being
Big Wes. You know what I mean?

I'm still waiting for an answer.

No, no, I did not see her.

Look, I feel terrible
about what happened.

I mean, a young lady lost her life.

Even worse, she was m*llitary. My people.

You're m*llitary?

No,

but I respect those who are

and I show my appreciation
any way I can.

Like a... a big thank-you from Big Wes.

And cops, too, so if you guys
need anything, just ask.

- Anything?
- Anything.

Want to buy a boat?

Don't you own a boat?

Sold it during the pandemic.
Anything else?

Yeah, I'd like the guest list
from last night

and the security footage from the club.

[LAUGHING]: Hmm. Oh, yeah, yeah.

Why don't I just give you the location

of my offshore accounts, too?

Look, I mean,
if you're feeling generous.

Sorry, fellas. Bad for business.

What happened to "anything"?

[WHISPERING]: Anything that
won't piss off my members.

Hmm.

Well, I'm glad I could help,
but, uh, I got to get back.

This money don't earn itself, right?

So soon? Uh, we-we were just, you know,

beginning to like you,
like, a little bit.

[LAUGHS] Look, fellas,
why don't you come by the club tomorrow,

let Big Wes take care of you? All right?

You'll see I'm not such a bad guy.

Gonna be an amazing Japanese
whiskey distiller there

for a promo event. Free sh*ts all night.

Yeah, we'll think about it.

- Good.
- Agent Castor,

- make sure he gets back safe.
- You got it, Sam.

Oh, and, uh, Big Wes.

Yeah. Stick around town

in case we have any more... questions.

Just hit me, baby.

SABATINO: Yeah, yeah, we'll...
we'll hit you.

My God, I can't wait to hit him.

You do know he had something to
do with Nikki's m*rder, right?

Problem is, we got
to figure out how to prove it.

We got to find out
who was at that club last night.

Shyla,

keep tabs on Big Wes.

Send us over everything you have on him.

On it, Sam.

ROSIE: I've got oatmeal on my face...

Man, Rosie's a strange woman.

I can't believe
anybody would pay to watch this.

[SCOFFS] We just did.

Okay, well, let me rephrase.

I can't believe anyone

that's not investigating a m*rder

would pay to watch this.

There's Nikki.

Oh.

I wish we could see that guy's face.

It's obvious they knew each other.

Yeah, it's obvious she wants
nothing to do with him.

Why do you think that is?

The arguing or the cowboy hat?

Whoa. Check it out.

Something tells me that
wasn't part of the plan.

SAM: Okay. All right, keep me posted.

All right.

Rountree and Fatima...

They got a hit on the van
that took Nikki.

They're tracking it down now.

SABATINO: Oh, the k*ller
had to have been inside the club

and followed her out.
What's taking so long

on the warrant for the security footage?

Director's being extra careful.

This guy Big Wes has b*at
everything from fraud to RICO.

Nothing sticks.

Oh, he should change his name
to Teflon Wes.

- Yeah.
- By the way, he had three boats.

Three. Sold 'em all.

Uh, maybe you ought to...

maybe you ought
to ask him for some tips.

What is it with you?

I don't believe you want to sell.

Have you seen
the housing prices in L.A.?

You're saying you need the money?

Maybe.

There's a lot you need.

Better taste in music,
a shirt that fits, a soft side.

- Callen back?
- Money for a house?

I don't think so.

I've known you a long time.

You're a saver, and you invest.

You don't need to sell the boat.

There's some other reason.

If I tell you, will you drop it?

[SIGHS]

Okay.

When Michelle d*ed,

I needed to find some time
and figure things out.

The boat gave me that.

Gave me peace.

Now I need to look after my father,

and he can't live on the boat.
It's not safe.

So I'm gonna look out for him
and do what's best for him

the way he always did for me.

Well,

I think we may have left partner land

and are rapidly approaching
the friend zone.

Bring it in. Come on.

Come on. Bring it in, big guy.

- You're staying in friend zone.
- There you go.

- [CHUCKLES]
- I'll take that. I'll take that.

You know what we should do? We
should celebrate with Big Wes.

You know, I do love me
some good Japanese whiskey.

Those promo events.

- How often do they happen?
- All the time.

You really need to get out more.

So a liquor company may have
been there last night.

Yeah, with free sh*ts and models and...

And photos.

Huh.

Phew. Bleach.

- Lots of it.
- Yeah.

K*llers must have wiped it down.

No blood, no prints, no way
to find out where they went.

Maybe we can find out
where they've been.

Just got off the phone with
the tequila company's owner.

She said she gave us everything
from the photographer

who was there last night.

Thank God. I don't know how much more

"This is amazing" I can handle.

I'm starting to think there's a
whole segment of the population

whose whole function is just to YOLO.

I mean, don't these people have jobs?

Oh, all right. Here we go.

You ready for this?

What is it?

I mean, who's that look like to you?

Someone who woke up

with a bad hangover
and a slew of regrets?

Bingo. But I was actually referring

to the person behind her.

Lieutenant Commander Hudson.

Wearing a cowboy hat
in a club in Los Angeles

even though it's not
Country Western Night.

What is happening here?

The photo's time-stamped : p.m.

Petty Officer Lee was there.

Mm-hmm. It's a small club,
two bars, which means

he definitely saw her.

And she saw him.

Yeah, 'cause he's wearing
a freakin' cowboy hat.

He never said anything to Fatima
and Rountree about being there.

- [SPUTTERS]
- CSU's on the way.

- Find any cameras?
- Two in this entire old structure.

And they were dummy cams just for looks.

Please tell me you're having
better luck with this GPS.

Yeah, well, define "luck." I mean,

we have the van's location history,

but I'm not sure how much it helps.

This van's been all over L.A...

Commercial properties, airports,
hotels, I mean, even a Costco.

Think we can narrow it down?

I don't know. Unless we can
find a way and soon,

all this info is meaningless.

Commander Hudson.

How can I help you?

You can start by coming with us.

SAM: There's nowhere to run, Commander.

Don't even think about it, all right?

Oh, he's thinking about it.
I say he's going left.

SAM: Look,
don't make this any harder than...

SABATINO: Uh-oh. Uh-oh.

- [GRUNTS]
- Forgot your bag.

Told you he was going left.

Yeah, except he went right.

Well, his left.

I don't know why I lied to your agents.

I just... I panicked.

Were you involved with the
of m*rder Petty Officer Lee?

Of course not.

Oh, I think he's panicking again.

I had some drinks, that's it.

The-the Navy's got me

under a lot of pressure.
Sometimes I-I go out,

have-have a few. Takes the edge off.

This is my credit card statement.

It's also great
marketing material for AA.

How to obliterate your credit
score in a breezy months.

A lot of those charges were made
in clubs owned by Big Wes.

Any reason why you prefer those places?

Not really. I just know him.

Know him? The way you've
been lining his pockets,

I'd say you two are as thick as thieves.

Yes, I have a problem.

And because of it, I owe a lot
of money, but that doesn't mean

I had anything to do
with Petty Officer Lee's m*rder.

But it does mean
you wanted to pay off the debt

before the Navy came in
and started asking questions.

Hmm, let me think.

A few decades of OT

versus stealing something
highly valuable

like the Navy's m*ssile technology.

That's a toughie.

It was you who downloaded it
from her terminal, wasn't it?

Then you took it and sold it to Big Wes?

[CRYING]

I just thought he was a guy
who loved the m*llitary.

He kept inviting me to his clubs.

Booze, dr*gs, women.

I couldn't stop.

But that kind of fun came at a price.

Yeah. Like, bucks

for a bottle of tequila,
the cheap stuff.

The ladies don't like the cheap stuff.

Ran up your tab,
then Big Wes called in the debt.

You couldn't pay.

He threatened to report me.

I would have lost everything.

So I told him about the project.

He said he could sell the technology

to cover what I owed, even give
me a few bucks on-on the side.

I ga... I gave it to him last night.

What was Petty Officer Lee doing there?

When she came back to the office,

she must have found out what I did,

followed me to the club.

She confronted me.

I didn't know what to say.

But she already knew.

I tried to stop her from
leaving, but before I could...

Big Wes grabbed her

and had her k*lled,
a Navy petty officer,

your subordinate... m*rder*d.

You said nothing,
you did nothing, like a coward.

Who's he selling it to?

SAM: Look at you.

Scared of him.

You know who else is scared?

That little girl that she left behind.

Wondering where her mom is right now.

That was all that little girl had,

and you took that from her.

[CRYING]

I don't know any names.

I just know the people

he's selling it to are really dangerous.

Oh, yeah? How do you know that?

The way he talked about them.

I've never seen him so nervous
to meet anyone.

[SIGHS] We got to find out
where this deal is going down.

Shyla, we need a location on Big Wes.

That may be a problem.

I've been tracking
his cell phone all afternoon.

Then, about minutes ago,
the signal went dead.

Uh-oh. If he's shutting his phone off...

It means he could already be
on his way to meet the buyer.

Where was his last location?

Heading north on the
Freeway, just past Imperial.

This guy owns clubs all over L.A.

They could be meeting
at any one of them.

Private club, private security,
it's as safe as it gets.

Except we know
where all those clubs are.

More importantly, he knows that.

This guy would only meet somewhere safe

that we don't know about.

So I looked into his ties to companies

that own or lease real estate.

He severed 'em all last year.

What about his lawyers?

One of his lawyers is
the registered owner

of an LLC that leases
multiple properties around L.A.

Most of them are in the area

where Big Wes was before we lost him.

So, we got a couple of,
uh, apartments in Downey,

two offices downtown,
we got a warehouse in Commerce.

FATIMA: The warehouse.

The van that kidnapped Nikki
made several trips

to a warehouse just off
Washington and Garfield.

DEEKS: Yeah, that's the one.

We'll send you the coordinates.

All right, Fatima, Rountree,
meet us there. Let's go.

We're on our way.

In position.

Copy. Front entrance is clear.

Copy that. Shyla, how we looking?

SHYLA: All clear, Sam.

No vehicles in or out.

Guys, we got a blueprint
for the warehouse.

Looks like the main office is in back,

which is probably where they are.

I'll guide you once we're inside.

Okay. On me.

One, two, three.

Take cover!

Elvis has left the building
with the m*ssile tech.

Fatima, Rountree,
they're headed your way!

Hey, yeah, we're a bit tied up
right now.

Cover me!

You don't happen to have
a grenade on you, do you?

Maybe one better.

[COUGHING]

[GRUNTING]

[PANTING]

Federal agents!

I got him.

[GRUNTING]

That's . speed you was
up against there, my boy.

We're clear.

[SIGHS]

Nice of you guys to show up.

Oh, man, it's all here. The
entire m*ssile defense program.

I still can't believe

Lieutenant Commander Hudson
tried to frame Nikki for this.

He would've got away with it, too,

if it wasn't for her instincts.

She's the real hero here.

Good work. We'll finish up here.

- All right.
- All right.

All right, my people looked
into both Big Wes and Hudson.

- There was no connection to Libya.
- What about the buyer?

- His name is Hassan Barakat.
- Never heard of him.

He owns a shipping company that
became a government contractor

in ... for the Libyans!

- Hmm.
- Libyans!

I get it.

Even a blind squirrel, you know,

can find a nut sometimes
if he gets lucky, huh?

Seriously, though,
working with you today...

It was, uh... entertaining.

We make a good team, you know.

You know, maybe when Callen gets back,

you and I and him could partner up

on, uh, some cases. What do you think?

I'll put you down as a "maybe."

Yeah, put me down as a "maybe,"
all right?

Yeah.

You know, Michelle was one
of my closest friends.

Yeah.

And if she knew
how much this boat meant,

she'd sh**t you if you tried to sell it.

Something tells me your dad
would feel the same way.

Oh, wait. You drove. You drove!
I got to go with you!

Son of a...

You know, I've known you long enough

to know that there are
few things in this world

that you like more than your work here

and, uh...

and talking incessantly.

Yeah.

Now, that being said,

only a fool like me comes in
on his day off.

- You are not me.
- Yeah.

It's just this whole process
for being a foster parent.

They got Kensi and I jumping
through all these hoops

just to prove that
we can provide a loving home.

So every facet of our lives
has been probed

and prodded and dissected.

It's like a white-glove
inspection on steroids.

And just when you think that
you've done enough, right,

that you're good, and then this

social worker came by today
and just took a wrecking ball

to everything.

Whatever. [SIGHS HEAVILY]

I have dedicated my life to the Navy,

and I am proud of the career I've had,

but I would be remiss

if I didn't, uh,

acknowledge the other side of that coin.

My wife wanted a husband,
my son wanted a father,

and I was neither.

At least my wife knew
what she was getting into.

My son didn't have a choice.

And there is not a day goes by

that I don't question

whether it was all worth it.

Hmm.

Whew.

If only the process
for biological parents

were half as stringent as what you

and Agent Blye are going through,

then perhaps my son could have enjoyed

his teenage years instead of
spending them in rehab.

I'm sorry.

Is he okay?

I wouldn't know.

It's been ten years since we spoke.

Well, it's not too late to fix it.

No, no.

Afraid that ship has sailed.

I guarantee he doesn't hate you

half as much as I hated my father.

I mean, I sh*t the guy.

In all fairness, he was pointing a g*n

at my mother and I,
and I was years old,

but I still sh*t him.

And then I stopped talking to him.

And now he's dead.

[CHUCKLES] What's crazy about
that is that, despite all that,

if he would have asked
for a second chance,

I would have given it to him
in a heartbeat.

You know, just to see...

As hopeless as it may have been...

Just to see if there was any way
to salvage that relationship.

My point is,
I think you should call him.

Like it or not, you're still his father.

[DOOR OPENS]

Hey, how was your, uh,
day with Sabatino?

[CHUCKLES]

Team up, huh? All right.

Well, maybe I won't come back.

The trip is good, yeah. Spending, uh...

spending time with Alex and Jake
has kind of

taken my mind off Katya.

Uh, well, today...

we went on a hike.

Yeah, who knew there was smog-less air

two hours outside of Los Angeles?

[PHONE CHIMES]

Oh, you know what,
I got to, I got to run.

I'll talk to you later this week?

Great.

Hey, I'm here.

Yeah, this'll work.

I did.

Well, you were right about one thing.

Looks like she's had some
serious plastic surgery.

Well, at least now...

we know what she looks like.

Yeah.

I'll see you soon.