04x12 - Paper Soldiers

[bunniefuu]

(car engine starting)

♪

Okay, let's see what we got.

(gasping)

(gurgling)

♪ NCIS: LA 4x12 ♪

Paper Soldiers
Original air date on January 15, 2013

♪

All right, Kensi just pulled in behind me, blaring My Chemical Romance, which means she is not her cheery, chipper self, so I think we should probably just play it cool.

SAM: Deeks, I always play it cool.

I'm actually playing aloof, which is the antisocial version of cool.

SAM: Okay, so, if I'm cool, and you're aloof, what does that make you?

Enigmatic?

No, no, Hetty is enigmatic.

You are...

Charming... handsome...

Puerile.

Otiose.

It means pointless.

(clearing his throat)

What?

What? Nothing. We were just...

Nothing.

He thinks you're in a bad mood.

And we're supposed to play it cool.

I'm actually playing it aloof.

Thanks, guys.

Good looking out.

Well, if you must know, I've k*lled another house plant.

That is 14 since July.

Wait. That's it?

That's the source of your sourness?

It was a cactus.

You k*lled something that thrives in Death Valley?

I went back to get another one, but, oh, the guy cut me off.

He actually took my picture to put it behind the register.

(laughs)

You have a mug sh*t at the nursery?

For crimes committed against cacti?

She is a serial plant k*ller.

Ignore them.

It's not your fault.

No, I'm pretty sure it's her fault.

Well, not unless it was su1c1de.

Did you photograph the crime scene?

Why would you guys make me feel this way?

It's the job.

If you worked behind a desk and had normal hours, all of those plants would be alive.

Probably.

(scoffs)

Yeah, it's the job.

(scoffs)

Yeah, we have to give up certain things to do what we do, you know.

Right.

Like my dream of home-grown oregano.

You don't even cook.

I would if I had homegrown oregano.

CALLEN: Yeah, I suppose if I worked 9:00 to 5:00, my evenings would open up...

(Eric stomps)

(laughs)

Are you okay?

KENSI: Eric, do you need help?

No, no, no. I think this is like a Harry Potter deal.

DEEKS: No, no.

I'm all over this. I know what you're doing.

You're doing charades.

And I'm awesome at this.

You're pulling up by your hands 'cause you're getting ready to milk a cow.

But it's just one udder of a cow, and it's sideways.

You're milking a sideways cow.

You're really milking the...

No, we got a case.

This is a lasso.

I'm throwing it, and I'm roping y'all up to Ops.

KENSI: That was a lasso?

I'm trying to figure out what a cow has to do with it.

DEEKS: I mean, 'cause used both hands--

I'm taking a mime class.

Well, actually, I'm watching a lot of YouTube videos about miming.

Look, check this out. Look.

I got a wall. (laughs)

I'm in a box.

Whoa, the box is closing in on me! Aah!

I can be a leaf.

I can be in a windstorm.

I can do a kite.

I can do a kite in a windstorm.

Aah! Ooh! I can do an escalator.

I can do a spiral stair...

SAM: Stop.

Mimes don't talk.

Stay in character.

Go Method.

Nice work.

Thank you.

Okay, uh, these are the photos taken outside the L. A. County Morgue's Office last night.

The man k*lled was Stuart Westridge, a private investigator.

Do we have eyes on what happened?

Uh, no cameras on the street.

And the morgue hasn't released its closed circuit video feed to us yet.

Private investigator's going to rack up a lot of enemies.

The Navy has expressed interest in one of his cases, commissioned by the widow of a Marine.

Lieutenant Edwin Prietto.

He was k*lled in Afghanistan two weeks ago.

His wife Antonia requested an autopsy report through the L. A. County Morgue's Office, and hired Stuart Westridge to investigate her husband's death.

What does the operations report say about Lieutenant Prietto's death?

Um, not much.

Just that he was k*lled on the Pakistani border during a routine security sweep.

It's like the Wild West out there.

Constant thr*at of mortars, RPGs-- last thing anyone's thinking about is writing a detailed operations report.

That, or a convenient cover, if you want to hide the truth.

Mrs. Prietto, we are deeply sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

I'm fine.

I don't know why I just said that.

I am anything but fine.

I'm hurt, I'm upset, I'm looking for answers.

And I'm alone.

I keep waiting for Edwin to call.

Do you have any friends or family that can help you through this?

I joined a grief support group for the families of fallen soldiers.

(sighs)

I knew he was in harm's way, but I was still convinced that Edwin would come home to me.

Well, it's normal what you're feeling.

Look, I have to ask, Mrs. Prietto.

Why are you suspicious about the events surrounding your husband's death?

The man from the Marines told me...

What man?

The Casualty Assistance something.

Casualty Assistance Calls Officer.

Him.

He kept saying that Edwin d*ed near the Pakistani border, but I that know he was stationed in Kandahar.

He called me from there the day before he d*ed.

I tried to talk to somebody else at the office to confirm, but it felt like they were stonewalling me.

So you hired Stuart Westridge to investigate it.

And now he's dead, too.

The worst part of all this is that...

I haven't seen my husband's body.

I don't even know the results of the autopsy yet.

We can help you with that, ma'am.

Thank you.

Thank you, Tony.

You want to, uh...?

What are you squinting at?

Time for some granny glasses?

No, I'm trying to visualize what you'd look like behind a desk, as a public defender.

Okay.

Clean-shaven, short hair.

I looked exactly like this.

Like this?!

Yup.

Clients actually put their lives in the hands of... this?

Okay, first off, I was very good at my job.

Says you.

Secondly, my clients were assigned to me, so they didn't really have a choice.

Oh, I know the feeling.

And thirdly...

Third.

Thirdly, everyone knows that public defenders are the rebel of the legal profession.

Rebel without a due process clause? Ha!

Kensi just made a legal funny?

Is that what that was?

How you feeling right now?

Pretty proud of yourself?

You know what?

I'll give it to you.

Touché.

Touché!

Yeah.

(laughs)

Wow.

Whoever k*lled Stuart Westridge hit his jugular and both carotid arteries.

Either they got lucky, or they knew exactly what they were doing.

Yeah, he bled out immediately.

Didn't even have a chance to call for help.

Yeah, certainly not with a severed windpipe.

LAPD tested.

No fibers, no fingerprints.

Car came up clean.

Which means the person who did this came prepared.

Police did find his g*n and his wallet.

So robbery wasn't a motive.

k*ller was a pro.

Motivation is somehow connected to Lieutenant Prietto.

Deeks, what if the Marine Corps is trying to cover something up?

Rose.

Thanks for meeting with us.

Of course.

But Mrs. Prietto, this won't be easy for you to see.

I understand.

Is that him?

(Antonia gasps)

(sobbing)

ANTONIA: Did you perform the autopsy?

No, but I can tell you...

I would like to speak to the person that performed the autopsy.

Of course.

It... doesn't weigh anything.

Oh, yes.

Bone and tissue account for much of our body weight.

Once they've been removed, we become significantly lighter.

Antonia, do you need to sit down?

What do you mean, "Once they've been removed?"

For the tissue donation.

My husband wasn't a tissue donor.

He must have been.

Is this something you two discussed?

Yes. He would never have done that.

May I?

Bone's been replaced.

With PVC pipe probably.

Yeah.

SAM: So it looks like nothing happened to him.

CALLEN: Then they removed the skin, but only underneath the arm.

SAM: Rose, was there anything else removed?

Uh, I don't have his file...

Stop.

Just... stop.

Now do you understand why I know the Marine Corps is lying to me about where he d*ed?

Mrs. Prietto, we don't know what this means yet.

Well, I do.

The Marines had the morgue strip my husband's body, so that they could hide what happened to him in Afghanistan.

Rose, explain to me how this could have happened.

How could a morgue remove tissue from someone who didn't consent?

I have no idea.

We wouldn't have done it without it.

Tissue doesn't have the same time frame as organs, and that's why it's performed in a morgue, but only when the deceased is a donor.

(door opens)

Ian.

These NCIS agents have some questions about the prep you did on Lieutenant Edwin Prietto.

The Marine from a few days ago?

Walk us through what you did to Lieutenant Prietto's body.

Um... I performed an autopsy, I extracted his tissue, and then...

Cleaned and prepped him for the funeral home.

He's as meticulous as they come.

He would have never removed tissue unless the paperwork ordered it.

I thought I was following his wishes.

Show us Lieutenant Prietto's paperwork.

His file was just here yesterday.

I-It listed him as a donor, I swear.

(sighs)

Look...

No, you have to believe him.

IAN: Someone must have taken it.

We got access to the morgue's security footage?

Yep. This is Westridge breaking in.

And then, two minutes later...

Must be Lieutenant Prietto's missing file.

LAPD didn't find it in Stuart Westridge's car.

CALLEN: Which means the k*ller took it.

But why?

Ah, the million dollar question.

Nate.

(chuckles)

How are you?

Good.

Good to see you, man.

You, too.

Give me a hug. Hey.

Hi, Nate.

So... how are you guys?

We're great.

What brings you to town?

I'm actually here Hetty's request.

For what case?

Nothing specific.

Oh, no.

Come on.

What? What?

SAM: Semiannual psych evaluation.

DEEKS: For him or for us?

For him. I'm fine.

Me, too. Never better.

I'm glad to hear it.

How about you, Kensi?

Really good.

Well, I promise it will be painless.

Sorry, Nate. G and I have to go, uh, interview a CACO officer.

Right now.

Yeah, we have to go search this place-- the dead investigator's house... yeah.

See ya.

I'm not the enemy, you know!

They're a special bunch.

Kind of tough to get through, but...

Oh, well... (clears throat)

One of these days.

What's going on with you two?

What's-what's up?

Nell and I kissed.

This is... not happening.

ERIC: I'm, uh, just pretty sure that it was just to get me in a pair of tights.

Just want to put it out there, let you know.

Right.

DEEKS: Preliminary report on Mr. Westridge said that LAPD didn't find anything here.

Well, maybe they overlooked something.

Why? What do you got?

Holy Dewey Decimal System.

Looks like every case Westridge ever worked on.

That's a lot of secrets for one man to keep.

Mm.

And it looked like he used to have even more.

Antonia Prietto's file-- empty.

Okay, so, there's no signs of a forced entry, which means whoever k*lled Stuart stole his keys, made his way over to his house, and took the Prietto file before LAPD showed up.

Along with his computer.

Well, maybe he was using one of those cloud storage drives or a-a backup thumb drive, which means, if we find that, we can figure out what he was working on.

You know what this calls for?

KENSI: What?

(loud rhythmic footsteps)

KENSI: What are you doing?

Last time I did this, I almost found a nuclear b*mb.

Are you kidding me?

(clears throat)

You know what this is, Kensalina?

Wireless hard drive, hidden... in plain sight.

Mr. Getz.

Hetty.

Thank you for inviting me back.

Oh, pish.

You know you're more than welcome whenever you're in this time zone.

Mm-hmm.

So, what's the real reason I'm here?

I mean, we both know it's not to conduct mental health checkups on the team.

Hmm. I thought that was plausible.

Okay.

So I'm just a pawn in your game.

Well, I'm gonna figure out exactly what that game is.

Oh, don't you underestimate the value of a pawn.

He's a soldier.

That was Mikhail's...

Achilles' heel.

M-Mikhail?

Gorbachev.

We had a standing game in Moscow, whenever I was there.

Sometimes I let him win.

That was to help the Cold w*r...

Stay cold.

Can't I at least be a rook?

Maybe like a... knight?

Something cool?

Someday.

But today...

You're my very tall pawn, Mr. Getz.

Maybe a bishop?

You presented Lieutenant Prietto's initial death notification to his widow?

Yes, sir.

You told her he was k*lled somewhere on the Pakistani border?

That's what was in the report.

Do you have a copy of the paperwork that was sent to the morgue?

You notice anything unusual about Lieutenant Prietto's case?

No, sir.

Says here he was a tissue donor.

Do you know when he filled this out?

Not for sure, but we recently changed that form.

So he must have filled it out a few months ago.

Maybe Prietto had a change of heart.

Yeah, but why not tell his wife if he know how important it was to her?

Thank you, Captain.

We'll let you know if we need anything else.

Yes, sir.

Thanks.

Sir.

You think the wife knows something she's not telling us?

The body of an American Marine was desecrated on our own soil.

Then a man was k*lled investigating it.

Somebody's definitely hiding something.

(electronic blipping)

NELL: Guys, you need to see this.

ERIC: This hit the air five minutes ago.

REPORTER: This is Kent Shocknek, live in Los Angeles, where a veterans support group has informed us that the body of Lieutenant Edwin Prietto, k*lled in Afghanistan, was harvested for tissue at the Los Angeles County Morgue.

His widow claims the Marines ordered the extraction to hide the true cause of her husband's death.

A Navy spokesperson commented, only to say they are looking into the matter.

Now, back to you.

Antonia went public with her story.

So much for keeping a lid on this.

This is bad, G.

We're either dealing with a distraught widow who's looking for answers or a woman with a whole other agenda.

HETTY: Yes.

Yes, of course, Owen.

Granger?

You're absolutely right.

And Hetty's being nice?

HETTY: Bye for now.

Hetty's always nice.

Granger, on the other hand, is having a conniption.

Evidently this news of Lieutenant Prietto is rapidly turning into a public relations nightmare.

So what do you want to do now?

Well, I think we have to find out what the hell happened.

NELL: We found something.

Well, technically, Nate suggested it, I researched it, and Eric hacked the database but...

Lieutenant Prietto's unit is still in combat in Afghanistan, but another Marine was injured the day he d*ed.

He's recuperating at the V. A. hospital here in Westwood.

He may be able to shed light on what really happened over there.

Let's have Kensi and Deeks pay him a visit.

We should go back and talk to Ian Bruckhurst, find the results of that autopsy.

Why don't you two work with Eric?

See if this has ever happened before.

Ticktock.

Ticktock.

HETTY: Time to put a little pressure on Ian.

Hey, Callen, wait up.

You got a minute to check in?

How are things?

Good. Good.

How are...

Things with you, Nate?

Great.

It's really good being back.

But, well, now that I'm not around so much anymore, I just wanted to make sure you had someone to... talk to.

You and me both.

So you do want someone to talk to.

You know what I really want?

I want to meet somebody.

How did you do it?

How...?

Well, it's not really my area of expertise, but, um...

I like to lay a foundation first, you know?

Get to know them as a friend.

That's exactly what I told him.

But how long, you know, before you ask her out?

Oh, well, that depends.

Well, this time, for instance.

This one was tricky-- it was, like...

Three years.

Mm-hmm.

Wow.

I don't think I'd really have the patience for that.

He really doesn't. Three years?

When she's the right one...

You will.

That's great.

Nate, thanks for the talk.

All right.

Thanks, guys.

And the psychologist becomes the patient.

He never knew what hit him until it was already over.

I hate it when he does that.

KENSI: Sergeant Charles, thank you so much for talking with us.

If you need a break, just let us know.

Oh, trust me, I enjoy the company.

All I wanted in Afghanistan was some privacy, but...

Now that I'm here, I'll talk to anybody.

Nurses all think I got crushes on 'em.

Nothing wrong with that.

No.

So, what can you tell us about the day you were wounded?

Not much.

My memory's spotty.

Doc says, uh, it's 'cause of the head injury and that it'll come back, but...

I wouldn't mind if I blocked the whole thing out for good.

Do you remember how Lieutenant Prietto d*ed?

(sighs)

Sergeant, you okay?

Yeah, uh...

I didn't realize Lieutenant Prietto didn't make it.

He was a good guy.

I'm sorry.

Do you remember anything about your mission?

What you guys were doing on the Pakistani border?

Pakistan?

Look, uh, I don't remember much, but if the Marine Corps said we were there, that's where we were.

I think I'll take that break now.

I hit a nerve there.

Ian, a few more questions for you.

Can it wait? I'm a little busy right now.

Only take a second.

All right.

Hi.

Does he have to stand behind me like that?

I do.

He does.

So, were you able to determine the cause of Lieutenant Prietto's death from your autopsy?

Yes. It was a single b*llet wound.

Entered under the left axilla, traversed through the pericardium, severed his spinal cord.

What can you tell us about the b*llet?

Not much.

Fragmented on impact with his vertebrae.

Probably impossible to trace to a specific w*apon.

Or to know if that's what actually k*lled him.

Did you notice anything unusual about the way Lieutenant Prietto d*ed?

Exposure to chemicals, substances in his bloodstream, anything like that?

No.

His-his cause of death was consistent with the Marine Corps'

casualty report.

Okay.

Make sure Mrs. Prietto gets a copy of your autopsy results.

I will.

And I'll also apologize for whatever mistake was made.

Okay.

Good morning...

And welcome to the Fairfield Manor Funeral Home, where we acknowledge a life and cherish a memory.

How can I help you?

We would like to speak to your director about Lieutenant Edwin Prietto.

Please come with me.

You can wait in here.

Um, but don't touch anything, for obvious reasons.

I'll go get him now.

Nothing creepy about this place at all.

I think it's got character.

Yeah. Pretty sure I saw that fountain in the Serial K*llers Digest.

(clears throat)

David Lerner?

Yes.

I'm happy to discuss Lieutenant Prietto, but we're still waiting on his body.

The Marines delivered him directly to the morgue.

But didn't Mrs. Prietto hire you to arrange the burial?

We have a relationship with the CACO office because we offer at-cost funerals for fallen servicemen coming home to Los Angeles.

Were you aware that Lieutenant Prietto was a tissue donor?

No, I was not.

Hmm. We may have to do some additional cosmetic work before the viewing.

Well, apparently, Mrs. Prietto wasn't aware of that, either.

Ah. I see.

It-It's entirely possible he decided to become a donor after seeing his fellow servicemen wounded in combat.

Regardless, we will do whatever we can to help Mrs. Prietto through the grieving process.

Thank you.

We will contact you if we have any further questions.

DEEKS: Thank you so much.

Eric, what's up?

You've had the investigator's hard drive for almost an hour.

I'm sorry.

Someone had some really pungent sauerkraut for lunch, and it's throwing me off my game.

(computer beeps)

Okay, we're in.

Good.

All right, open the last folder Stuart accessed.

Let's see what he was working on.

He just updated this one yesterday.

Hours before he was k*lled.

Those look like surveillance photos.

Eric, can you enlarge those?

(blipping)

NELL: That's Rose.

No, that-that can't be right.

I mean, we know Rose, right?

She's... she's a friend.

Who just became a person of interest.

Hetty, we don't know what these photos mean.

Oh, except that a private investigator, who's dead, was looking into Rose.

He was hired to investigate what happened to Lieutenant Prietto in Afghanistan.

Why would he be interested in Rose?

Maybe he thought that she was responsible for harvesting Lieutenant Prietto's tissue.

The only one way to be sure is to ask her.

Slow down, Mr. Callen.

I think I'd like Mr. Getz to take the lead in this.

You want me to question Rose?

But... I know her.

Is-Isn't that a conflict?

An NCIS agent will question a person of interest.

Nothing more.

I don't know how comfortable I am interrogating Rose.

Now, that's your word, Mr. Getz, not mine.

CALLEN: Nate, the only way to clear her name is to get answers.

Just talk to her like a friend.

It's your move, Mr. Getz.

I guess it's time to play the pawn.

You have your assignment.

Is this the real reason you brought in Nate?

Mr. Hanna, you know I don't kiss and tell.

Hmm.

(laughing): Oh.

So this is where the magic happens.

(laughs)

Something like that.

Oh... Is anyone else here, or is it just us?

Ah.

Or are we on camera?

Wait, am I gonna meet Hetty?

I-I doubt you'll meet Hetty today.

She's off...

Playing chess.

Oh. Cool.

Come here.

ROSE: Okay. Hmm.

Oh, this is stark.

Yeah.

Oh... (laughs)

It's our interrogation room.

So we're definitely on camera now.

Hi, Mom.

(laughs)

Rose, could you please take a seat for a minute?

You're acting so formal.

I need to ask you a few questions.

Questions like, what's my favorite movie?

Or questions like...

"Where were you the evening of November fourth?"

(laughs)

Somewhere in between, but...

A little closer to the second one.

What?!

You...

You're interrogating me?

Nate, do you think I had something to do with what happened at the morgue?

Please sit.

(sighs)

(sighs)

What is this? Wha...?

Where did you get these?

These photographs were taken by the investigator Antonia Prietto hired...

Who's now dead.

Well, um...

Why am I in these pictures?

I was hoping you could tell me that.

(door opens)

Huh. So...

This is Rose's place.

I would've thought it would be more flowery.

I feel icky just being here.

She's our friend.

How do you think Nate feels?

Have you ever had to interrogate someone you're close to?

Oh, yeah.

One time, there was this, uh...

This banker-- she was wearing this sweet pantsuit.

Very repressed, but I got her to, uh...

Not talking about role playing.

Oh.

Oh.

(laughs)

Kens?

Yeah.

It's gonna be fine. It's Rose.

I know.

And the investigator was probably going to tail everybody that works at the morgue anyway.

Exactly. This is just a formality.

Deeks?

Yeah?

I found Lieutenant Prietto's morgue file.

Hello, Rose.

You found it!

Yeah.

On your dining room table.

What?!

Well, I don't know how it got there.

Please tell me you can give us something better than that.

Callen, I had nothing to do with preparing Lieutenant Prietto's body.

There's no reason his file would be in my house.

Wait-- you went through my house?!

(huffs)

You brought me here so they could go through my stuff?

Rose, it's not like that.

It's just...

What?

It's my job.

SAM: If you had nothing to do with Lieutenant Prietto, why'd you sign his paperwork?

I didn't process this, and-and that is not my signature.

Look, Nate...

(sighs)

Here's the receipt for Sprinkles.

Sprinkles?

It's a cupcake place.

Nate took me to dinner last night, so I treated for dessert.

Can I see your driver's license?

(sighs)

She's telling the truth.

It-It's pretty close, but...

That is not her signature on this file.

Eric and Nell found something.

Eric, you want to tell 'em what you found?

Nell and I combed through the County Morgue files, like you asked.

In the last 18 months, there's been a spike in the number of tissue donors.

They weren't all m*llitary, but each one was disease-free when they d*ed, and buried by the Fairfield Manor Funeral Home.

And Ian Bruckhurst's name is on all their morgue transfer orders.

So Ian and the funeral home were working together.

Yeah, stealing tissue from dead bodies, and then turning around and selling them on the black market.

And Lieutenant Prietto wasn't the only one.

Eric, I need you to trace Ian Bruckhurst's cell for me.

Way ahead of you.

He's at 4372 Santa Monica Boulevard.

NELL: That's the Fairfield Manor Funeral Home.

How do you want to play this?

With a little help.

Okay.

(clears throat)

Good afternoon and welcome to the Fairfield Manor Funeral Home, where we acknowledge a life and cherish a memory.

How may I help you?

Uh, my name is...

Beatrice Fitzpatrick.

A-And this is my son Chester.

NATE: We need to make arrangements for...

Daddy.

Is the director available?

I'm sorry for your loss.

Please wait here while I fetch him.

You remember Felix, don't you, sweetheart?

I skinned him myself.

Please tell me you're in character.

Hello. I'm David Lerner.

Uh, Mrs. Fitzpatrick?

Oh, yes, yes.

Uh, and this is my son Chester.

Your... son. Well.

Your father must've been a very tall man.

Don't pretend like you knew Daddy.

Oh, no, of course not.

Um, please follow me.

I would love to show you the facility.

CALLEN: Hetty, Nate, keep him busy until we find Ian.

A-And this is Felix.

He's... almost like a second child to me.

I think we're good.

Kens, Deeks, you're good to move in.

DEEKS: Okay, that's a big oven.

And it's on.

I think someone's in there.

Quick, check to see if it's Ian before the face melts off.

You check to see if it's Ian before the face melts off.

I don't want to.

I don't want to either.

Do it.

Not it!

Oh, son of a...

(breathes rapidly)

(shouting)

(clears throat)

Mm, that is not him.

Are you sure?

Yeah, no, I'm absolutely positively sure.

It's a woman who hopefully d*ed very peacefully in her sleep-- yeah.

(sighs)

Okay.

Are you doing?

(grunts)

He could be hiding.

From who? He doesn't know we're looking for him.

Eric...

(over phone): Yep.

Please call Ian's cell phone.

I'm on it.

(ring tone chiming)

What'd I say?

You got me?

Mm-hmm.

(ringtone continues)

Uno, dos...

(groans)

That's all kinds of dead.

(ringtone chiming)

Guess their partnership went south.

But we still don't know what they were doing with all the bone and tissue.

Then let's go find out.

So, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, now that I have a better sense of Daddy, uh, exactly what type of service did you have in mind?

Well...

I've always envisioned palominos galloping alongside the procession.

And, um, doves.

Yes. Doves.

Uh, of course.

Um, that would be our platinum package.

Wonderful choice.

It's very tasteful, yet it has that certain panache.

CALLEN: Yo!

You David Lerner?

Yes, but...

I am with a client right now.

If you wouldn't mind stepping outside for just a few minutes...

I do mind. You owe us money.

I am so sorry.

Look...

SAM: Listen.

Ian Bruckhurst owes us money, but we can't find him, He used you as collateral, ergo, you owe us money, and we're here to collect.

HETTY: Yes, but you can't hold this gentleman accountable for someone else's debts.

Mummy's right.

Well, Mummy needs to mind her own damn business.

This man owes us 45 large.

Whatever for?

You need to learn when to shut your trap.

Shut my what?

Unless you want me to choke you out with that dead dog you got around your neck.

HETTY: Excuse me!

I demand to know what this is all about.

Oh, I'm sorry, shorty.

I-I don't kiss and tell.

I think I've heard just about enough.

Chester...

We're leaving.

N-No. Mrs. Fitzpatrick, please, I...

You ready to stop playing games?

I don't know who this Ian person is, and I certainly don't have $45, 000 for you.

He told us all about your little scam there at the morgue.

From what we hear, you're rolling in it.

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

We know all about Lieutenant Prietto.

Well, who doesn't?

The guy's all over the news.

We know you stole his tissue, and you did it to about 50 other people, too.

Please, I...

All right, all right, but it was maybe half that number at best.

Then you got our money.

I don't have 45 grand.

All I've got is Ian's cut.

We'll take it.

All right, just got to go to the office and, um...

(sighs)

Now, these, I like.

This something I can reserve?

Port, arms!

Ready...

Aim...

Fire!

MAN: Aim, fire!

(r*fles f*ring)

Aim...

Fire!

MAN: Present...

Arms!

(sighs)

We wanted to pay our respects.

Thank you again.

I'm sorry for the accusations, but I knew something wasn't right.

We're happy we could help you find the truth.

I couldn't have said good-bye to him without knowing.

You helped me find closure.

Well, your country owed you and your husband that much.

I won't forget this.

Hey, Nate...

Why don't you go talk to her?

Good luck, buddy.

Rose.

Hi, Nate.

Hi.

I knew you were innocent.

I had to ask you those questions.

It's my job.

I know.

I hope you can forgive me.

Me, too.

Turns out a civilian was forging paperwork.

He was checking the tissue donor box on dead Marines returning to Los Angeles.

And the funeral parlor would reach out to the family, then make sure the casket got sent to the morgue.

At which point, Ian would forge Rose's signature and harvest the tissue.

The money must have been worth their while.

It's a booming business.

And bone and tissue from healthy bodies goes for...

$200, 000 a pop.

Mm.

Mr. Granger pulled a couple of strings, learned that Lieutenant Prietto was k*lled in an ongoing classified mission.

That's why the Marines couldn't tell Antonia the truth about how he d*ed.

Would've compromised the lives of too many Marines.

Huh.

How's Mr. Getz?

He's been better.

But he'll be fine.

Would you look in on him, Mr. Callen?

And... give him this.

Tell him he earned it.

That's a good-looking chess set.

Mm.

And Mr. Hanna...

Would you please take a seat?

I just want to commend you on your undercover performance yesterday.

Your words sounded quite genuine.

(wry laugh)

Thank you, Hetty.

Mm-hmm.

I hope you're not upset.

I'm sensing some hostility here.

Oh, Mr. Hanna...

I'm just getting started.

What do you mean by "Shorty"?