NCIS: Hawai'i (2021) s02e12 Episode Script
Shields Up
Yeah, honey, it's so beautiful here.
And I was thinking, when I get back,
maybe we should do that trip
you're always talking about.
Yeah, winery.
Yeah. You go ahead and book it.
Ask your mom to watch the dogs.
I love you, too.
Well, did HPD give you any more info?
Okay. All right, well, you
and Kai head to the beach.
I'll meet you there.
Yeah.
Mm.
Negative. That's good.
Can't be right. I feel
like I got hit by a truck.
It's probably just the flu.
Flu?
Yeah, it was all the rage
back in the olden days.
So, does that mean I can take
two Tylenol and go to school?
Definitely not.
I would actually rather
take my AP Physics exam
than feel this achy.
Is that a sign of maturity?
Maybe you just like physics.
All right, drink lots of fluids.
Don't just sip it, okay?
I got to go, but when I come
back, I will make you soup.
- Arroz caldo?
- You remember.
It's the best thing ever.
That's the fever talking.
- All right.
- Mm!
- You might not want to do that.
- Oh, come on, now.
I love you.
Love you.
Don't forget. Fluids.
Yeah, yeah.
Victim is Captain Willem Dennison.
Member of the Marine Force Recon
and part of the Black Diamonds.
Well, what's Dennison doing out here?
There are plenty of nice
beaches closer to K-Bay.
We don't know.
Robbery gone wrong maybe?
Doesn't look like it.
HPD found his rental car nearby.
Wallet, watch, and wedding
ring were on the passenger seat.
Cell phone and 9mm were on the body.
Sounds like a suicide.
I'd agree
except the gun was
still in his waistband.
And these are some
serious blows to the head.
- Oh.
- I suppose the idea that he came out here
to kill himself and was unlucky enough
to run into a psychopath
beforehand seems unlikely.
Any witnesses?
- No.
- Just the fishermen who found him this morning.
You guys go to K-Bay,
talk to his platoon.
I'll have Casualty
Assistance notify his wife.
I'll follow up with her afterwards.
Let's find out who
wanted this Marine dead.
Don't move!
Clear!
Clear!
PTL.
Looks like you got 'em all.
This is a closed exercise.
Master Sergeant Justin Baxter?
We're with NCIS. We
need to speak with you.
Why?
- We have news.
- All right.
Everybody, listen up.
NCIS has got something to say.
Might be best if we,
uh, talk to you alone.
Oh, no, we're a team.
Good news, bad news, we
deal with it together.
We regret to inform you
Captain Dennison was
found dead this morning.
Damn.
We're gonna need to ask
you all some questions.
Whatever you need, sir.
Water break. Everybody out.
Yes, sir.
What exactly happened to the captain?
He was beaten to death
on a leeward beach.
Any idea why he would be way out there?
No.
No, any of you guys know?
Okay.
Was Dennison having
trouble with anyone on base?
Not that I'm aware of.
Did Dennison mention having
problems with anybody off base?
Uh
I can't imagine.
I mean, Captain
Dennison was a great guy.
Everybody loved him.
I was actually talking
to your Marine here.
I agree with the Master Sergeant, sir.
Somebody killed him.
Any information you have
may help us figure out who.
So we're gonna need to speak
to each one of you separately.
Absolutely, sir,
uh, as soon as you get
permission from Command.
We're on a schedule. Everybody fall in.
You know what's happening here.
Yeah, they're being really
uncooperative but in a nice way.
They're going shields up.
I saw it all the time
when I was with CID.
They're refusing to answer
questions to protect their own.
To protect who? Not their
captain, that's for sure.
Corporal Grange?
- Yes, sir.
- Did you notice
Captain Dennison's
behavior change recently?
Not that I saw.
He was always upbeat.
A really
Great guy?
Yes, sir.
Hey.
- Yeah.
- Listen.
I was in the Marine
Corps before joining NCIS,
so I get where you're coming from.
You want to protect your
unit, but, look, don't you want
to help us figure out what
happened to your captain?
Of course we do.
If we knew something, we'd do something.
Whoa.
Nice swing, Doc.
We could use you on the NCIS team.
"Hitting is an art but
not an exact science."
Rod Carew.
Uh, Minnesota Twins, second base, right?
- Yes, 1991 Hall of Fame.
- Wow.
I-I wouldn't have expected
you to be a baseball fan.
Well, just the Twins.
Only way to connect with my
family growing up in Red Wing.
I spent a summer memorizing
the stats of every player,
major and minor, from 1977 to 1983.
I was hoping it would make me
feel like less of the odd child.
Did it help?
Only freaked them out more.
Wow.
Captain Dennison had severe
blunt force trauma to the head.
Wound pattern suggests the murder weapon
was rounded, like a bat.
"Like a bat," so you aren't sure?
Oh, no, I'm sure.
I found traces of wood
particles in the wound.
Grains of Northern White Ash,
popular in forests in the northeast.
Narrows it down to about 150 models.
Well, whatever bat was used,
it was no match for a gun,
which our Marine had but never used.
He didn't have a chance.
The first blow was likely
to the back of the head.
Causing nerve damage that
would incapacitate him.
- So, a surprise attack.
- Yes.
And the second blow came
from a different direction.
Made direct contact
with the frontal lobe.
It's possible you're
looking for two attackers.
Or one elite switch hitter.
This team of Black Diamonds
has been working together since 2017.
After a successful
mission in Afghanistan,
their reputation was only heightened
by their next assignment in Niger.
- What happened?
- They saved a bunch of civilians
from a fire started by insurgents.
And they got a lot of press.
They've been the jewel of
the Marine Corps ever since.
Huh.
When I spoke to Dennison's wife,
she told me that he was
looking to transfer out.
Why do that if they were so successful?
Seems like the mood
changed after that mission.
Yeah, records indicate there
was discord amongst the ranks.
Several members were written
up for insubordination.
Nothing too serious on the surface,
except for this guy.
Former Black Diamond
Sergeant Ellis Kane.
Once on the fast track,
but after the fire in Niger,
Kane barely avoided court-martial
for assaulting Captain Dennison.
What was the fight about?
Neither would say.
Kane took a general discharge
to avoid court-martial.
Okay, where's he now?
No idea.
Fell off the map since
leaving the Marine Corps.
Maps?
Who needs maps? I got maps.
What?
You started without
me. Makes me insecure.
What'd you get off Dennison's cell?
Geolocations on Dennison's phone,
placing him at an unusual
spot the day before his murder.
In North Shore?
Not just the North Shore,
a rando locale in the middle
of Mokuleia Forest Reserve.
Were there any training
exercises happening out there?
No. In fact, the rest of his
unit was playing volleyball
on the beach while he was gone.
Okay. Kai, Ernie, you
guys do some digging.
See what you can get
on Sergeant Kane. Jesse?
You and I are going to Mokuleia Forest.
All right, Alex, but however
much water you think you need,
just double it.
I love you.
Remember when our kids
were little and they would
come home with all these
weird-sounding sicknesses?
The croup?
Oh, remember that hand,
foot and mouth one?
Oh, gross.
- I kind of miss it.
- Hmm?
Not Alex being sick, but
him needing me and wanting
me to take care of him.
Trust me, he's always going to
want you to take care of him,
just in different ways.
Like "Can I get 20 bucks
for a date" kind of ways?
Exactly.
Except these days what date costs $20?
Nothing but birds and trees.
Yeah, but there's got to be some reason
that Dennison drove an hour
and 15 minutes from K-Bay.
You hear that?
Hello?
- Where'd he go?
- I don't know.
Drop your weapon.
Hands in the air.
Sergeant Ellis Kane?
No.
Brother Ellis Kane.
I serve the Lord now.
You don't seem surprised to hear
about Captain Dennison's murder.
None of us know when our time will come.
Only that it will come.
Did you know his time was about to come?
Because we have reason to believe
that Dennison paid you
a visit two nights ago.
He did.
And what'd you two talk about?
Old times.
We were part of the same unit.
We did two tours together, but
clearly you already know that.
We also know that when you
left the Black Diamonds,
it wasn't exactly on good terms.
Thankfully, I made peace with my past.
I found a higher calling.
Before or after you assaulted
Captain Dennison in Niger?
Look, can you explain why
Dennison came to see you
and then 24 hours later
was found beaten to death
on a beach six miles from here?
No. I cannot.
Cannot or will not?
Because I'm getting a
strong "shields up" vibe
from you, Brother. And for the
life of me, I can't think why.
Okay, where were you
last night at 8:00 p.m.?
I was in my cell. Reading.
I was in bed by 9:00.
Can someone confirm
that? No, I was alone.
So you won't tell us why
you met with Dennison the
night before he was murdered
and you have no alibi
for his actual murder.
That's my call to worship.
May I go?
The abbot doesn't like it if we're late.
Sure.
Just don't plan on leaving
the island without calling us.
Okay, Brother?
Yeah.
Well, what do you think?
I think we should be taking him with us.
He's gonna be a tough nut to
crack without more information.
- Like?
- Like what happened
between Kane and Dennison in Niger.
And did it follow them here to Oahu.
Are you ready to talk Kane?
Yeah, absolutely, but first
who's that?
Uh, the Marine turned monk,
person of interest in our homicide.
No, I mean who's that?
I have no idea.
Is she unpacking?
Who's that?
I was hoping you knew.
No idea.
Is she unpacking?
Maybe she's lost.
Or moving in.
What are you doing?
I'm gonna act like the professional
interrogator I am and ask.
Can I help you?
Oh, gosh, no.
I'm so sorry about the mess.
I was just looking for
my comfier combat boots.
Just got off the plane.
Oh, from?
Guantanamo Bay. They
didn't tell you guys?
They should've told you that.
- Left at 0300, had to refuel in Mexico City.
- Oh.
Hot. So hot.
But doesn't matter 'cause I'm here now.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. All
that, all that way.
Sorry, you are
Sergeant Summer Westmore.
Marine CID coming in
from Guantanamo Bay.
Chief of CID sent her to us.
I, um, I found the 1039 form online.
In the place where we keep forms.
Nice boots, by the way.
Um why did your chief send you to us?
I'm here about Captain Dennison.
Because ?
I know why he was murdered.
On May 21, 2019, the Black Diamonds
were doing a routine
house-to-house search
for insurgents in Niamey, Niger.
A fire broke out in a civilian
dwelling, killing two people.
Yeah, we're aware.
They were heroes, saved almost
a dozen others from that fire.
Master Sergeant Justin
Baxter was even awarded
the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.
I have reason to believe
that's not the whole story.
Are you saying they didn't
save these civilians?
No, that part's true.
Shortly after the incident,
I received a tip from
a member of their unit.
He claimed he witnessed
Justin Baxter start the fire.
Okay, this witness offer up a motive?
Earlier in the day, a
local gave Baxter lip.
That young man and his
mother both died in the fire.
Baxter murdered them?
For giving him attitude?
According to my witness.
Was your witness Sergeant Ellis Kane?
Yes.
How'd you know?
He lives on the island.
He joined a Benedictine monastery
after leaving the Marine Corps.
Is this what led to the altercation
between Kane and Dennison back in Niger?
No one corroborated Kane's
claim against Baxter.
And Captain Dennison wasn't willing
to investigate the incident further.
So, it could be that Kane was
pushed out for making a complaint.
Which would explain the
bad blood between them.
Yeah, but not why Dennison
came to see him two nights ago.
Look, if Kane was trying to
do the right thing in Niger,
why wouldn't he just tell us?
Maybe he started the fire,
blamed it on Baxter,
and Dennison realized it
and came to confront him.
Which means we have two solid
suspects in Dennison's murder.
Let's get Ernie on Kane
and Baxter's movements
over the last few
days. Sergeant Westmore?
- Down to stay, give us a hand?
- Sure.
Guys, Niger is the key to
what happened to Dennison.
Let's get to the bottom of it.
A sunny September 8th morning,
Kristen and Robbie Jacobs drove
Alex, I'm home.
Hey.
Soup will be ready in
like 45 minutes, okay?
Oh, no need, Jane.
Soup is covered for our little patient.
Cassandra. How sweet.
How you feeling, buddy?
- Still not great.
- Yeah.
Probably stress from
everything he has going on.
You know it wreaks havoc
on the immune system.
Or he's just sick.
My mom. Always something, am I right?
We've been watching a
Crime Trail marathon.
- Know what I've learned?
- That it's always the husband?
Mm-hmm.
Still warm but a little better.
Oh, one sec.
Hey, Ernie, what's up?
Trying to do everything I can
to track down Brother
Kane's whereabouts.
He doesn't have a cell phone
- and there are no cameras at the monastery.
- But ?
On a lark, I looked at the
closest CCTV footage I could find.
A gas station a mile from
the monastery where I found
Brother Kane using a pay phone
an hour before Dennison's murder.
He said he was alone
in his cell at 8:00 p.m.
Well, that's definitely not true.
I'm working on getting a record
from the pay phone company,
but it's gonna take a beat.
Okay. Jesse and I will talk to him.
Let me know if you
find anything else. Bye.
I got to go back to work.
No worries, Mom. Cass has it.
Hmm.
Sure she does.
See you.
But they were no match
for a bloodthirsty killer.
Of course I'm all packed,
but I don't think we'll need much.
Baby, I already told you.
I'll stop by later. Okay.
Okay, bye, I got to go now.
Brother Kane.
Are you here to arrest me?
Look, we know that you lied to us
about your alibi the
night of Dennison's murder.
I didn't murder Captain Dennison.
Then why didn't you tell us the truth?
I'm sorry I'm unable to give
you the answers that you want.
Unable or unwilling?
Look, you need to tell
us everything you know
about Captain Dennison
and what happened in Niger,
or we have no choice but to
Someone's there.
Hey, stop!
Stay here.
Over there.
You go left.
We lost 'em.
You think Kane's safe here?
'Cause, based on the two guys I saw
in the kitchen earlier making bread,
it's not a, uh, "make a circle,
protect your dude" kind of place.
Make a circle, protect your dude?
It's not really biblical, is it?
Sure. It's from the, uh,
first Book of Ass Whupping.
Well, someone should probably stay.
Considering it's a men-only
place, I'm guessing that's me.
That's too bad.
Cassandra's seeing someone
else and Alex doesn't know.
- Oof.
- Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I think I'd rather sleep in the woods
and guard Brother Kane
than go home tonight.
You stay here, work on Kane.
He knows something or
he wouldn't be a target.
Oh, good, you're back.
Alex is sleeping. I'm heading out.
Why don't you stay for a minute?
Did Alex ever tell you
what I did before NCIS?
Like, he may have mentioned it.
It sounds like it was
pretty intense stuff.
It was.
You know, we used to have a
word for that feeling we had
in our gut when something wasn't right.
Like a situation, a person,
or just a shady building.
We called it
spoozy.
Okay.
Now, the name came from
my very first asset.
Amad Spoozy.
Amad was somebody that I relied on.
He would tell me information
about the bad guys.
But the problem was,
he was telling the bad
guys information about me.
Oh, wow. Not cool.
That is spoozy.
Totally spoozy.
Now, the problem with playing
both sides is that eventually
someone finds out.
Who found out?
Oh, everyone.
My asset called me, he was scared.
And I tried to help,
but it was too late.
Someone threw a grenade
through his bedroom window.
That phone call you had with your mom?
That was spoozy.
It's not what you think.
So, you're not
going on a trip with
a guy, abandoning Alex?
Okay, yes, it's what you think.
But I'm not abandoning
Alex, he's abandoning me.
He's going to college with
no gap year, no Europe.
He thinks we'll stay together,
but I know how this goes.
And he'll move on.
So you're moving on first.
Are you gonna tell him?
Mm-mm.
Because I have to tell him.
Otherwise you'll throw a
grenade through my window?
Okay, that wasn't the
point of the story.
Hey. You and Alex had a
really nice relationship.
Maybe it needs to come to an end.
But it is always better
when things end well.
Jesse in a monastery?
Please tell me they're
making him wear the robes.
Yeah, well, he hadn't
packed a bag, so maybe.
I mean, look, I think he
would look good in the robes.
- Jedi-esque.
- Please.
More like "Sun City walk to the bottom
of the driveway for the paper"-esque.
I don't understand
any of your references,
but I like 'em.
You'll get there, friend.
Okay, so
it does seem like your theory
that Captain Dennison's murder
was about the fire in Niger is spot-on.
The question is whether you're right
about Baxter, or if other members
of the Black Diamonds are involved.
We need to separate them,
see if anyone's conscience
is stronger than their Marine fidelity.
That's a good idea.
Hey, Ernie?
Photoshop a picture
of Jesse in the robes?
No.
See if I can find any secrets
the unit might be keeping?
Yes.
The abbot said it was
okay if you stayed.
Thanks.
What did he say about the intruder?
I may or may not have been
as forthright about that.
Lying to the abbot.
I don't know my bylaws, but
I'm pretty sure that
goes against monk code.
I follow the rituals, I try
hard to keep my focus on God.
But I am a work in progress.
Why'd you end up here?
The outside world was, uh
too loud for me.
Are you hoping to shut it out?
Yeah, something like that.
You know, Brother
some things refuse to be shut out.
Whatever happened in Niger
you can ritual and pray
all you want, but
it's not gonna make it go away.
You're right.
And some of the things that
I've seen can't be unseen.
Can't be undone.
Like what Master Sergeant Baxter
did to those people in Niger.
I should go to chapel.
"If we confess
our sins
He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins
and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness."
You still remember the scriptures
you memorized in Catholic school.
Well, mostly I remember that the nuns,
they didn't like me very much.
If the nuns liked you too much,
you might've rebelled
against God and not them.
You saying that was strategy?
I'm saying it worked.
You still remember verses.
Many drift away and they forget it all.
Nah.
I think it's more just habit
than belief at this point.
I think that's the
story you tell yourself.
Yeah. Maybe.
What story do you tell yourself
to make what happened to
Captain Dennison seem okay?
Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant.
You've met Agent Holman.
Heard you were making the rounds.
May we come in?
Military quarters. Do
you even have to ask?
No, just
being polite.
We're talking to everybody in the unit.
And, uh, we heard you stayed home sick.
Oh, yeah, I'm fine.
Last night was a little rocky, though.
Bad fish maybe.
You mind putting that down?
Master Sergeant Baxter.
Put the knife down
or we will consider it
an overt threat against us.
You're wound pretty tight,
aren't you, Jane Tennant?
On this island,
I think you'll find that people
know I am wound just right.
Some of the guys
they mentioned a dispute
about the fire in Niger that got you
that Navy and Marine Corps medal.
You mean Kane?
Why would you think that?
Dennison told me he
was going up to see him.
Someplace up north.
He was acting all holy.
Wonder why he didn't
mention that before.
Kane isn't what he seems.
You didn't answer
Agent Holman's question.
They made it look like
he left voluntarily.
All right? But he was
a danger to the unit.
He couldn't handle being in country.
And I didn't tell you because
Dennison decided a long time ago
that he was gonna cover for the guy.
It was his choice.
Now it seems like you guys are
looking for somebody else to blame.
No. No, just the truth.
Is that yours?
Yeah.
Mind if we take it?
Do you really think
that I'd keep the bat
if I beat someone to death with it?
Not sure.
But I'm gonna take it anyway.
Okay.
- Hey. You were looking for me?
- Yeah.
Half hour ago. What took you so long?
This is both far from the
office and underground.
And the couple people
I asked for directions
were confused about where you were.
Or who you were.
That's the way I like it.
Anyway
I took all the information
you had in your files
and created a schematic of the fire.
This is obviously the house.
That looks right.
I did a hand-drawn version
when I visited the scene.
Yep, it was excellent.
Thank you.
Except for the complete lack of detail.
Took me forever to find this photo.
An aid worker posted it
to a social media account
a year before the building burned down.
That's it there.
What do you see?
Well, the street's on the other side,
so the door's over there.
This is the back and
Kane would've been here.
He wasn't near a window.
He couldn't have seen
Baxter start the fire.
Who's that?
Corporal Nadiya Grange.
Part of the Cultural Support Team.
She's your witness.
Brother Kane is covering for her.
Hey, Ernie.
Hey. We need to talk about Niger.
Yeah, well, we just got back, so
I know. We're looking right at you.
Then why are we talking on the phone?
- One, two, three.
- Ah.
Nadiya Grange is your real witness.
Brother Kane is just her mouthpiece.
Heading back to K-Bay to pick her up.
Don't bother. I already called.
Nadiya hasn't been seen since yesterday.
So maybe getting rid of the real witness
is why Baxter called in sick.
According to the Black Diamonds,
Nadiya headed off base alone.
Said she needed to go to the
drugstore for some personal items.
Bet that shut down follow-up questions.
How'd she travel?
Got a car out of the motor
pool, it's still missing.
The motor pool.
Dennison rented a car to go
to the monastery and the beach,
but we came up empty on ride services
and rental cars for our killer.
Maybe
- Baxter took a car from base.
- Yes.
Go see if you can find out which one
and if there are any forensics
that tie to our dead captain.
Okay.
Kane.
Where's Nadiya?
- Excuse me?
- You're hiding her.
She was the one that took
off into the woods last night.
- How did ?
- We don't have time for this.
We know you didn't see Master
Sergeant Baxter set the fire,
Nadiya did.
I can't talk
She's not on base.
I set her up at an outbuilding
on the edge of the property.
Show me.
Corporal?
Yes, sir?
I'm with NCIS.
Sergeant Westmore, CID.
We need you to get us some motor logs.
Yes, Sergeant.
What do you need?
Two days ago, looking for any car
Master Sergeant Baxter signed out.
- I'll need to talk to my CO.
- No, you don't.
We're investigating a murder
and we are requesting
evidence related to it.
We don't need anyone's permission.
I just think it would be a
You will not go shields
up on me, Marine.
I'm not an outsider.
I'm a Marine CID with a job to do.
Just like you.
- Master Sergeant Baxter
- Is an ass, Corporal. We know.
Look, there is not gonna
be any blowback to you.
Or your CO, not if we all do our jobs.
I'll be right back.
Double-time it, Corporal.
I love being a Marine.
I get why you and Nadiya would
be targets, but why Dennison?
Nadiya was too afraid
of Baxter to come forward
with what she saw in Niger.
So I said that I would.
But when Dennison looked into it,
no one would corroborate my story.
Because they didn't know or
because they were afraid of him?
Maybe both.
So I called CID and I resigned.
A few months later, I came here.
Why wasn't that the end of the story?
Me saying that Baxter was dirty
created a new prism for Dennison.
Everything that Baxter said or did
seemed wrong, so Dennison
started to believe my story.
Nadiya's story was true.
Ah, so he was gonna reopen
the CID investigation.
Yeah.
But he wanted to talk to Baxter first.
Give him a chance to come clean.
I told Dennison about Nadiya.
And as soon as his car drove away,
I realized that I put her in danger.
So I called her and I
told her to come hide.
I should've stopped Dennison
from confronting him.
All right, well, let's get
Nadiya safely back to Pearl.
After that
Baxter will get what's coming to him.
We processed the car Baxter signed out,
we found trace evidence.
Blood and wood consistent
with the baseball bat.
Forensics says the bat
we gave them was clean.
No way to prove it
was the murder weapon.
The chain of evidence to the motor
pool vehicle is a problem, too.
Other people used it after Baxter.
Still, if the blood in the car
is a DNA match to Captain Dennison,
that, along with Nadiya's testimony,
is a strong circumstantial case.
Solid enough for JAG.
I'm headed to the
monastery to help out Jesse.
You two go pick up Baxter.
Copy.
Nadiya.
Get down!
Is there a window in that shack?
Yeah, on the other side.
All right, I'll cover you.
Get in the door, get Nadiya
back to the monastery.
You'll run out of
bullets, I promise you.
Baxter won't.
He will kill you.
I'll give you as much time as I can.
- Let me cover you.
- No.
This is my job. Go.
But this is my fault.
I ran away. I cannot run away again.
Okay.
Let's try something else then.
Drop your weapon!
Get her back to the monastery.
- I'll get the bastard.
- I'm going with you.
Let's go, Brother.
Man's got a job to do.
God watch over you, Jesse.
Damn it.
Nope.
Double nope.
Ah
I was scared.
I saw how he treated people in country
and I had no expectation he
would treat me differently.
What Brother Kane told me.
- Is that what you saw?
- Yes.
Through the window, I
saw Master Sergeant Baxter
pour cooking fuel over the furniture
and fabric in the house
and set it on fire.
Was anyone from the unit with him?
No.
He told us to cover the exits.
And keep the other
villagers from approaching.
Soon as I realized what was
happening, I yelled "Fire."
But when I got to the door,
he was coming out with two children.
And directing other Marines
to come back to get the others.
They got everyone, except
The young man who had given him
a hard time and his mother.
Baxter claimed the kid set the blaze
as soon as he stepped in the house.
I'm so sorry, Kane.
I put you in a terrible position.
And now Captain Dennison
is dead because of me.
People are dead because
of Sergeant Baxter.
Thanks to the three of you,
he's gonna go to trial and be put
in prison for the rest of his life.
That doesn't do any of them any good.
No. But it's what we can do now.
Did your hearing check out okay?
- After that grenade?
- What's that?
I'm kidding, it's fine.
I just wanted to say thank you.
If it wasn't for you and your team,
I might've spent the rest of my life
trying to make penance
for for running away.
And it never would have been enough.
I'm not so sure. I think eventually,
like those honeybees of yours,
you would have found your way home.
Yeah, maybe.
And I'm gonna pray for you, Jesse.
That you find the peace
that you crave as well.
Thanks.
But, uh, I'm fine.
Mm-mm.
There's a darkness behind your smile.
I see it.
And I'm pretty sure
others see it as well.
I don't know why it's there, but
I bet you do.
Take care.
St. Benedict.
You got to go with your mascot.
May I?
Grant Jesse, Lord God,
a vision of the world
where peace is built on
justice, and justice on love.
Give Jesse the courage to work
toward this vision for himself
and all of Your creation.
Amen.
Amen.
So
where you off to next?
Back to Gitmo, then who knows?
Okay.
Well, we would be happy to have you
back at Pearl anytime.
Hey.
Wait.
You almost forgot these.
That's okay.
I always like to leave
a pair of combat boots
wherever I solve a case.
Really?
No.
Hey. You're vertical.
Feeling better. Sort of.
No Cassandra?
We broke up.
Do you want to talk about it?
- Not really.
- Okay.
You've had a rough couple days.
She said we're on different journeys.
- "Journeys."
- I don't want to harvest pineapples in Thailand.
You know? A-and once I'm in college,
the time difference alone
Yeah. Just doesn't make sense.
Or make it easier.
So, college, huh?
- Don't make it weird, Mom.
- Okay.
The investigators pressed Truman
for information about
Darla's disappearance.
But to this day Truman maintains
his innocence in Darla's disappearance.
So, how much of a time
difference are we talking?
And I was thinking, when I get back,
maybe we should do that trip
you're always talking about.
Yeah, winery.
Yeah. You go ahead and book it.
Ask your mom to watch the dogs.
I love you, too.
Well, did HPD give you any more info?
Okay. All right, well, you
and Kai head to the beach.
I'll meet you there.
Yeah.
Mm.
Negative. That's good.
Can't be right. I feel
like I got hit by a truck.
It's probably just the flu.
Flu?
Yeah, it was all the rage
back in the olden days.
So, does that mean I can take
two Tylenol and go to school?
Definitely not.
I would actually rather
take my AP Physics exam
than feel this achy.
Is that a sign of maturity?
Maybe you just like physics.
All right, drink lots of fluids.
Don't just sip it, okay?
I got to go, but when I come
back, I will make you soup.
- Arroz caldo?
- You remember.
It's the best thing ever.
That's the fever talking.
- All right.
- Mm!
- You might not want to do that.
- Oh, come on, now.
I love you.
Love you.
Don't forget. Fluids.
Yeah, yeah.
Victim is Captain Willem Dennison.
Member of the Marine Force Recon
and part of the Black Diamonds.
Well, what's Dennison doing out here?
There are plenty of nice
beaches closer to K-Bay.
We don't know.
Robbery gone wrong maybe?
Doesn't look like it.
HPD found his rental car nearby.
Wallet, watch, and wedding
ring were on the passenger seat.
Cell phone and 9mm were on the body.
Sounds like a suicide.
I'd agree
except the gun was
still in his waistband.
And these are some
serious blows to the head.
- Oh.
- I suppose the idea that he came out here
to kill himself and was unlucky enough
to run into a psychopath
beforehand seems unlikely.
Any witnesses?
- No.
- Just the fishermen who found him this morning.
You guys go to K-Bay,
talk to his platoon.
I'll have Casualty
Assistance notify his wife.
I'll follow up with her afterwards.
Let's find out who
wanted this Marine dead.
Don't move!
Clear!
Clear!
PTL.
Looks like you got 'em all.
This is a closed exercise.
Master Sergeant Justin Baxter?
We're with NCIS. We
need to speak with you.
Why?
- We have news.
- All right.
Everybody, listen up.
NCIS has got something to say.
Might be best if we,
uh, talk to you alone.
Oh, no, we're a team.
Good news, bad news, we
deal with it together.
We regret to inform you
Captain Dennison was
found dead this morning.
Damn.
We're gonna need to ask
you all some questions.
Whatever you need, sir.
Water break. Everybody out.
Yes, sir.
What exactly happened to the captain?
He was beaten to death
on a leeward beach.
Any idea why he would be way out there?
No.
No, any of you guys know?
Okay.
Was Dennison having
trouble with anyone on base?
Not that I'm aware of.
Did Dennison mention having
problems with anybody off base?
Uh
I can't imagine.
I mean, Captain
Dennison was a great guy.
Everybody loved him.
I was actually talking
to your Marine here.
I agree with the Master Sergeant, sir.
Somebody killed him.
Any information you have
may help us figure out who.
So we're gonna need to speak
to each one of you separately.
Absolutely, sir,
uh, as soon as you get
permission from Command.
We're on a schedule. Everybody fall in.
You know what's happening here.
Yeah, they're being really
uncooperative but in a nice way.
They're going shields up.
I saw it all the time
when I was with CID.
They're refusing to answer
questions to protect their own.
To protect who? Not their
captain, that's for sure.
Corporal Grange?
- Yes, sir.
- Did you notice
Captain Dennison's
behavior change recently?
Not that I saw.
He was always upbeat.
A really
Great guy?
Yes, sir.
Hey.
- Yeah.
- Listen.
I was in the Marine
Corps before joining NCIS,
so I get where you're coming from.
You want to protect your
unit, but, look, don't you want
to help us figure out what
happened to your captain?
Of course we do.
If we knew something, we'd do something.
Whoa.
Nice swing, Doc.
We could use you on the NCIS team.
"Hitting is an art but
not an exact science."
Rod Carew.
Uh, Minnesota Twins, second base, right?
- Yes, 1991 Hall of Fame.
- Wow.
I-I wouldn't have expected
you to be a baseball fan.
Well, just the Twins.
Only way to connect with my
family growing up in Red Wing.
I spent a summer memorizing
the stats of every player,
major and minor, from 1977 to 1983.
I was hoping it would make me
feel like less of the odd child.
Did it help?
Only freaked them out more.
Wow.
Captain Dennison had severe
blunt force trauma to the head.
Wound pattern suggests the murder weapon
was rounded, like a bat.
"Like a bat," so you aren't sure?
Oh, no, I'm sure.
I found traces of wood
particles in the wound.
Grains of Northern White Ash,
popular in forests in the northeast.
Narrows it down to about 150 models.
Well, whatever bat was used,
it was no match for a gun,
which our Marine had but never used.
He didn't have a chance.
The first blow was likely
to the back of the head.
Causing nerve damage that
would incapacitate him.
- So, a surprise attack.
- Yes.
And the second blow came
from a different direction.
Made direct contact
with the frontal lobe.
It's possible you're
looking for two attackers.
Or one elite switch hitter.
This team of Black Diamonds
has been working together since 2017.
After a successful
mission in Afghanistan,
their reputation was only heightened
by their next assignment in Niger.
- What happened?
- They saved a bunch of civilians
from a fire started by insurgents.
And they got a lot of press.
They've been the jewel of
the Marine Corps ever since.
Huh.
When I spoke to Dennison's wife,
she told me that he was
looking to transfer out.
Why do that if they were so successful?
Seems like the mood
changed after that mission.
Yeah, records indicate there
was discord amongst the ranks.
Several members were written
up for insubordination.
Nothing too serious on the surface,
except for this guy.
Former Black Diamond
Sergeant Ellis Kane.
Once on the fast track,
but after the fire in Niger,
Kane barely avoided court-martial
for assaulting Captain Dennison.
What was the fight about?
Neither would say.
Kane took a general discharge
to avoid court-martial.
Okay, where's he now?
No idea.
Fell off the map since
leaving the Marine Corps.
Maps?
Who needs maps? I got maps.
What?
You started without
me. Makes me insecure.
What'd you get off Dennison's cell?
Geolocations on Dennison's phone,
placing him at an unusual
spot the day before his murder.
In North Shore?
Not just the North Shore,
a rando locale in the middle
of Mokuleia Forest Reserve.
Were there any training
exercises happening out there?
No. In fact, the rest of his
unit was playing volleyball
on the beach while he was gone.
Okay. Kai, Ernie, you
guys do some digging.
See what you can get
on Sergeant Kane. Jesse?
You and I are going to Mokuleia Forest.
All right, Alex, but however
much water you think you need,
just double it.
I love you.
Remember when our kids
were little and they would
come home with all these
weird-sounding sicknesses?
The croup?
Oh, remember that hand,
foot and mouth one?
Oh, gross.
- I kind of miss it.
- Hmm?
Not Alex being sick, but
him needing me and wanting
me to take care of him.
Trust me, he's always going to
want you to take care of him,
just in different ways.
Like "Can I get 20 bucks
for a date" kind of ways?
Exactly.
Except these days what date costs $20?
Nothing but birds and trees.
Yeah, but there's got to be some reason
that Dennison drove an hour
and 15 minutes from K-Bay.
You hear that?
Hello?
- Where'd he go?
- I don't know.
Drop your weapon.
Hands in the air.
Sergeant Ellis Kane?
No.
Brother Ellis Kane.
I serve the Lord now.
You don't seem surprised to hear
about Captain Dennison's murder.
None of us know when our time will come.
Only that it will come.
Did you know his time was about to come?
Because we have reason to believe
that Dennison paid you
a visit two nights ago.
He did.
And what'd you two talk about?
Old times.
We were part of the same unit.
We did two tours together, but
clearly you already know that.
We also know that when you
left the Black Diamonds,
it wasn't exactly on good terms.
Thankfully, I made peace with my past.
I found a higher calling.
Before or after you assaulted
Captain Dennison in Niger?
Look, can you explain why
Dennison came to see you
and then 24 hours later
was found beaten to death
on a beach six miles from here?
No. I cannot.
Cannot or will not?
Because I'm getting a
strong "shields up" vibe
from you, Brother. And for the
life of me, I can't think why.
Okay, where were you
last night at 8:00 p.m.?
I was in my cell. Reading.
I was in bed by 9:00.
Can someone confirm
that? No, I was alone.
So you won't tell us why
you met with Dennison the
night before he was murdered
and you have no alibi
for his actual murder.
That's my call to worship.
May I go?
The abbot doesn't like it if we're late.
Sure.
Just don't plan on leaving
the island without calling us.
Okay, Brother?
Yeah.
Well, what do you think?
I think we should be taking him with us.
He's gonna be a tough nut to
crack without more information.
- Like?
- Like what happened
between Kane and Dennison in Niger.
And did it follow them here to Oahu.
Are you ready to talk Kane?
Yeah, absolutely, but first
who's that?
Uh, the Marine turned monk,
person of interest in our homicide.
No, I mean who's that?
I have no idea.
Is she unpacking?
Who's that?
I was hoping you knew.
No idea.
Is she unpacking?
Maybe she's lost.
Or moving in.
What are you doing?
I'm gonna act like the professional
interrogator I am and ask.
Can I help you?
Oh, gosh, no.
I'm so sorry about the mess.
I was just looking for
my comfier combat boots.
Just got off the plane.
Oh, from?
Guantanamo Bay. They
didn't tell you guys?
They should've told you that.
- Left at 0300, had to refuel in Mexico City.
- Oh.
Hot. So hot.
But doesn't matter 'cause I'm here now.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. All
that, all that way.
Sorry, you are
Sergeant Summer Westmore.
Marine CID coming in
from Guantanamo Bay.
Chief of CID sent her to us.
I, um, I found the 1039 form online.
In the place where we keep forms.
Nice boots, by the way.
Um why did your chief send you to us?
I'm here about Captain Dennison.
Because ?
I know why he was murdered.
On May 21, 2019, the Black Diamonds
were doing a routine
house-to-house search
for insurgents in Niamey, Niger.
A fire broke out in a civilian
dwelling, killing two people.
Yeah, we're aware.
They were heroes, saved almost
a dozen others from that fire.
Master Sergeant Justin
Baxter was even awarded
the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.
I have reason to believe
that's not the whole story.
Are you saying they didn't
save these civilians?
No, that part's true.
Shortly after the incident,
I received a tip from
a member of their unit.
He claimed he witnessed
Justin Baxter start the fire.
Okay, this witness offer up a motive?
Earlier in the day, a
local gave Baxter lip.
That young man and his
mother both died in the fire.
Baxter murdered them?
For giving him attitude?
According to my witness.
Was your witness Sergeant Ellis Kane?
Yes.
How'd you know?
He lives on the island.
He joined a Benedictine monastery
after leaving the Marine Corps.
Is this what led to the altercation
between Kane and Dennison back in Niger?
No one corroborated Kane's
claim against Baxter.
And Captain Dennison wasn't willing
to investigate the incident further.
So, it could be that Kane was
pushed out for making a complaint.
Which would explain the
bad blood between them.
Yeah, but not why Dennison
came to see him two nights ago.
Look, if Kane was trying to
do the right thing in Niger,
why wouldn't he just tell us?
Maybe he started the fire,
blamed it on Baxter,
and Dennison realized it
and came to confront him.
Which means we have two solid
suspects in Dennison's murder.
Let's get Ernie on Kane
and Baxter's movements
over the last few
days. Sergeant Westmore?
- Down to stay, give us a hand?
- Sure.
Guys, Niger is the key to
what happened to Dennison.
Let's get to the bottom of it.
A sunny September 8th morning,
Kristen and Robbie Jacobs drove
Alex, I'm home.
Hey.
Soup will be ready in
like 45 minutes, okay?
Oh, no need, Jane.
Soup is covered for our little patient.
Cassandra. How sweet.
How you feeling, buddy?
- Still not great.
- Yeah.
Probably stress from
everything he has going on.
You know it wreaks havoc
on the immune system.
Or he's just sick.
My mom. Always something, am I right?
We've been watching a
Crime Trail marathon.
- Know what I've learned?
- That it's always the husband?
Mm-hmm.
Still warm but a little better.
Oh, one sec.
Hey, Ernie, what's up?
Trying to do everything I can
to track down Brother
Kane's whereabouts.
He doesn't have a cell phone
- and there are no cameras at the monastery.
- But ?
On a lark, I looked at the
closest CCTV footage I could find.
A gas station a mile from
the monastery where I found
Brother Kane using a pay phone
an hour before Dennison's murder.
He said he was alone
in his cell at 8:00 p.m.
Well, that's definitely not true.
I'm working on getting a record
from the pay phone company,
but it's gonna take a beat.
Okay. Jesse and I will talk to him.
Let me know if you
find anything else. Bye.
I got to go back to work.
No worries, Mom. Cass has it.
Hmm.
Sure she does.
See you.
But they were no match
for a bloodthirsty killer.
Of course I'm all packed,
but I don't think we'll need much.
Baby, I already told you.
I'll stop by later. Okay.
Okay, bye, I got to go now.
Brother Kane.
Are you here to arrest me?
Look, we know that you lied to us
about your alibi the
night of Dennison's murder.
I didn't murder Captain Dennison.
Then why didn't you tell us the truth?
I'm sorry I'm unable to give
you the answers that you want.
Unable or unwilling?
Look, you need to tell
us everything you know
about Captain Dennison
and what happened in Niger,
or we have no choice but to
Someone's there.
Hey, stop!
Stay here.
Over there.
You go left.
We lost 'em.
You think Kane's safe here?
'Cause, based on the two guys I saw
in the kitchen earlier making bread,
it's not a, uh, "make a circle,
protect your dude" kind of place.
Make a circle, protect your dude?
It's not really biblical, is it?
Sure. It's from the, uh,
first Book of Ass Whupping.
Well, someone should probably stay.
Considering it's a men-only
place, I'm guessing that's me.
That's too bad.
Cassandra's seeing someone
else and Alex doesn't know.
- Oof.
- Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I think I'd rather sleep in the woods
and guard Brother Kane
than go home tonight.
You stay here, work on Kane.
He knows something or
he wouldn't be a target.
Oh, good, you're back.
Alex is sleeping. I'm heading out.
Why don't you stay for a minute?
Did Alex ever tell you
what I did before NCIS?
Like, he may have mentioned it.
It sounds like it was
pretty intense stuff.
It was.
You know, we used to have a
word for that feeling we had
in our gut when something wasn't right.
Like a situation, a person,
or just a shady building.
We called it
spoozy.
Okay.
Now, the name came from
my very first asset.
Amad Spoozy.
Amad was somebody that I relied on.
He would tell me information
about the bad guys.
But the problem was,
he was telling the bad
guys information about me.
Oh, wow. Not cool.
That is spoozy.
Totally spoozy.
Now, the problem with playing
both sides is that eventually
someone finds out.
Who found out?
Oh, everyone.
My asset called me, he was scared.
And I tried to help,
but it was too late.
Someone threw a grenade
through his bedroom window.
That phone call you had with your mom?
That was spoozy.
It's not what you think.
So, you're not
going on a trip with
a guy, abandoning Alex?
Okay, yes, it's what you think.
But I'm not abandoning
Alex, he's abandoning me.
He's going to college with
no gap year, no Europe.
He thinks we'll stay together,
but I know how this goes.
And he'll move on.
So you're moving on first.
Are you gonna tell him?
Mm-mm.
Because I have to tell him.
Otherwise you'll throw a
grenade through my window?
Okay, that wasn't the
point of the story.
Hey. You and Alex had a
really nice relationship.
Maybe it needs to come to an end.
But it is always better
when things end well.
Jesse in a monastery?
Please tell me they're
making him wear the robes.
Yeah, well, he hadn't
packed a bag, so maybe.
I mean, look, I think he
would look good in the robes.
- Jedi-esque.
- Please.
More like "Sun City walk to the bottom
of the driveway for the paper"-esque.
I don't understand
any of your references,
but I like 'em.
You'll get there, friend.
Okay, so
it does seem like your theory
that Captain Dennison's murder
was about the fire in Niger is spot-on.
The question is whether you're right
about Baxter, or if other members
of the Black Diamonds are involved.
We need to separate them,
see if anyone's conscience
is stronger than their Marine fidelity.
That's a good idea.
Hey, Ernie?
Photoshop a picture
of Jesse in the robes?
No.
See if I can find any secrets
the unit might be keeping?
Yes.
The abbot said it was
okay if you stayed.
Thanks.
What did he say about the intruder?
I may or may not have been
as forthright about that.
Lying to the abbot.
I don't know my bylaws, but
I'm pretty sure that
goes against monk code.
I follow the rituals, I try
hard to keep my focus on God.
But I am a work in progress.
Why'd you end up here?
The outside world was, uh
too loud for me.
Are you hoping to shut it out?
Yeah, something like that.
You know, Brother
some things refuse to be shut out.
Whatever happened in Niger
you can ritual and pray
all you want, but
it's not gonna make it go away.
You're right.
And some of the things that
I've seen can't be unseen.
Can't be undone.
Like what Master Sergeant Baxter
did to those people in Niger.
I should go to chapel.
"If we confess
our sins
He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins
and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness."
You still remember the scriptures
you memorized in Catholic school.
Well, mostly I remember that the nuns,
they didn't like me very much.
If the nuns liked you too much,
you might've rebelled
against God and not them.
You saying that was strategy?
I'm saying it worked.
You still remember verses.
Many drift away and they forget it all.
Nah.
I think it's more just habit
than belief at this point.
I think that's the
story you tell yourself.
Yeah. Maybe.
What story do you tell yourself
to make what happened to
Captain Dennison seem okay?
Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant.
You've met Agent Holman.
Heard you were making the rounds.
May we come in?
Military quarters. Do
you even have to ask?
No, just
being polite.
We're talking to everybody in the unit.
And, uh, we heard you stayed home sick.
Oh, yeah, I'm fine.
Last night was a little rocky, though.
Bad fish maybe.
You mind putting that down?
Master Sergeant Baxter.
Put the knife down
or we will consider it
an overt threat against us.
You're wound pretty tight,
aren't you, Jane Tennant?
On this island,
I think you'll find that people
know I am wound just right.
Some of the guys
they mentioned a dispute
about the fire in Niger that got you
that Navy and Marine Corps medal.
You mean Kane?
Why would you think that?
Dennison told me he
was going up to see him.
Someplace up north.
He was acting all holy.
Wonder why he didn't
mention that before.
Kane isn't what he seems.
You didn't answer
Agent Holman's question.
They made it look like
he left voluntarily.
All right? But he was
a danger to the unit.
He couldn't handle being in country.
And I didn't tell you because
Dennison decided a long time ago
that he was gonna cover for the guy.
It was his choice.
Now it seems like you guys are
looking for somebody else to blame.
No. No, just the truth.
Is that yours?
Yeah.
Mind if we take it?
Do you really think
that I'd keep the bat
if I beat someone to death with it?
Not sure.
But I'm gonna take it anyway.
Okay.
- Hey. You were looking for me?
- Yeah.
Half hour ago. What took you so long?
This is both far from the
office and underground.
And the couple people
I asked for directions
were confused about where you were.
Or who you were.
That's the way I like it.
Anyway
I took all the information
you had in your files
and created a schematic of the fire.
This is obviously the house.
That looks right.
I did a hand-drawn version
when I visited the scene.
Yep, it was excellent.
Thank you.
Except for the complete lack of detail.
Took me forever to find this photo.
An aid worker posted it
to a social media account
a year before the building burned down.
That's it there.
What do you see?
Well, the street's on the other side,
so the door's over there.
This is the back and
Kane would've been here.
He wasn't near a window.
He couldn't have seen
Baxter start the fire.
Who's that?
Corporal Nadiya Grange.
Part of the Cultural Support Team.
She's your witness.
Brother Kane is covering for her.
Hey, Ernie.
Hey. We need to talk about Niger.
Yeah, well, we just got back, so
I know. We're looking right at you.
Then why are we talking on the phone?
- One, two, three.
- Ah.
Nadiya Grange is your real witness.
Brother Kane is just her mouthpiece.
Heading back to K-Bay to pick her up.
Don't bother. I already called.
Nadiya hasn't been seen since yesterday.
So maybe getting rid of the real witness
is why Baxter called in sick.
According to the Black Diamonds,
Nadiya headed off base alone.
Said she needed to go to the
drugstore for some personal items.
Bet that shut down follow-up questions.
How'd she travel?
Got a car out of the motor
pool, it's still missing.
The motor pool.
Dennison rented a car to go
to the monastery and the beach,
but we came up empty on ride services
and rental cars for our killer.
Maybe
- Baxter took a car from base.
- Yes.
Go see if you can find out which one
and if there are any forensics
that tie to our dead captain.
Okay.
Kane.
Where's Nadiya?
- Excuse me?
- You're hiding her.
She was the one that took
off into the woods last night.
- How did ?
- We don't have time for this.
We know you didn't see Master
Sergeant Baxter set the fire,
Nadiya did.
I can't talk
She's not on base.
I set her up at an outbuilding
on the edge of the property.
Show me.
Corporal?
Yes, sir?
I'm with NCIS.
Sergeant Westmore, CID.
We need you to get us some motor logs.
Yes, Sergeant.
What do you need?
Two days ago, looking for any car
Master Sergeant Baxter signed out.
- I'll need to talk to my CO.
- No, you don't.
We're investigating a murder
and we are requesting
evidence related to it.
We don't need anyone's permission.
I just think it would be a
You will not go shields
up on me, Marine.
I'm not an outsider.
I'm a Marine CID with a job to do.
Just like you.
- Master Sergeant Baxter
- Is an ass, Corporal. We know.
Look, there is not gonna
be any blowback to you.
Or your CO, not if we all do our jobs.
I'll be right back.
Double-time it, Corporal.
I love being a Marine.
I get why you and Nadiya would
be targets, but why Dennison?
Nadiya was too afraid
of Baxter to come forward
with what she saw in Niger.
So I said that I would.
But when Dennison looked into it,
no one would corroborate my story.
Because they didn't know or
because they were afraid of him?
Maybe both.
So I called CID and I resigned.
A few months later, I came here.
Why wasn't that the end of the story?
Me saying that Baxter was dirty
created a new prism for Dennison.
Everything that Baxter said or did
seemed wrong, so Dennison
started to believe my story.
Nadiya's story was true.
Ah, so he was gonna reopen
the CID investigation.
Yeah.
But he wanted to talk to Baxter first.
Give him a chance to come clean.
I told Dennison about Nadiya.
And as soon as his car drove away,
I realized that I put her in danger.
So I called her and I
told her to come hide.
I should've stopped Dennison
from confronting him.
All right, well, let's get
Nadiya safely back to Pearl.
After that
Baxter will get what's coming to him.
We processed the car Baxter signed out,
we found trace evidence.
Blood and wood consistent
with the baseball bat.
Forensics says the bat
we gave them was clean.
No way to prove it
was the murder weapon.
The chain of evidence to the motor
pool vehicle is a problem, too.
Other people used it after Baxter.
Still, if the blood in the car
is a DNA match to Captain Dennison,
that, along with Nadiya's testimony,
is a strong circumstantial case.
Solid enough for JAG.
I'm headed to the
monastery to help out Jesse.
You two go pick up Baxter.
Copy.
Nadiya.
Get down!
Is there a window in that shack?
Yeah, on the other side.
All right, I'll cover you.
Get in the door, get Nadiya
back to the monastery.
You'll run out of
bullets, I promise you.
Baxter won't.
He will kill you.
I'll give you as much time as I can.
- Let me cover you.
- No.
This is my job. Go.
But this is my fault.
I ran away. I cannot run away again.
Okay.
Let's try something else then.
Drop your weapon!
Get her back to the monastery.
- I'll get the bastard.
- I'm going with you.
Let's go, Brother.
Man's got a job to do.
God watch over you, Jesse.
Damn it.
Nope.
Double nope.
Ah
I was scared.
I saw how he treated people in country
and I had no expectation he
would treat me differently.
What Brother Kane told me.
- Is that what you saw?
- Yes.
Through the window, I
saw Master Sergeant Baxter
pour cooking fuel over the furniture
and fabric in the house
and set it on fire.
Was anyone from the unit with him?
No.
He told us to cover the exits.
And keep the other
villagers from approaching.
Soon as I realized what was
happening, I yelled "Fire."
But when I got to the door,
he was coming out with two children.
And directing other Marines
to come back to get the others.
They got everyone, except
The young man who had given him
a hard time and his mother.
Baxter claimed the kid set the blaze
as soon as he stepped in the house.
I'm so sorry, Kane.
I put you in a terrible position.
And now Captain Dennison
is dead because of me.
People are dead because
of Sergeant Baxter.
Thanks to the three of you,
he's gonna go to trial and be put
in prison for the rest of his life.
That doesn't do any of them any good.
No. But it's what we can do now.
Did your hearing check out okay?
- After that grenade?
- What's that?
I'm kidding, it's fine.
I just wanted to say thank you.
If it wasn't for you and your team,
I might've spent the rest of my life
trying to make penance
for for running away.
And it never would have been enough.
I'm not so sure. I think eventually,
like those honeybees of yours,
you would have found your way home.
Yeah, maybe.
And I'm gonna pray for you, Jesse.
That you find the peace
that you crave as well.
Thanks.
But, uh, I'm fine.
Mm-mm.
There's a darkness behind your smile.
I see it.
And I'm pretty sure
others see it as well.
I don't know why it's there, but
I bet you do.
Take care.
St. Benedict.
You got to go with your mascot.
May I?
Grant Jesse, Lord God,
a vision of the world
where peace is built on
justice, and justice on love.
Give Jesse the courage to work
toward this vision for himself
and all of Your creation.
Amen.
Amen.
So
where you off to next?
Back to Gitmo, then who knows?
Okay.
Well, we would be happy to have you
back at Pearl anytime.
Hey.
Wait.
You almost forgot these.
That's okay.
I always like to leave
a pair of combat boots
wherever I solve a case.
Really?
No.
Hey. You're vertical.
Feeling better. Sort of.
No Cassandra?
We broke up.
Do you want to talk about it?
- Not really.
- Okay.
You've had a rough couple days.
She said we're on different journeys.
- "Journeys."
- I don't want to harvest pineapples in Thailand.
You know? A-and once I'm in college,
the time difference alone
Yeah. Just doesn't make sense.
Or make it easier.
So, college, huh?
- Don't make it weird, Mom.
- Okay.
The investigators pressed Truman
for information about
Darla's disappearance.
But to this day Truman maintains
his innocence in Darla's disappearance.
So, how much of a time
difference are we talking?