NCIS Los Angeles s05e22 Episode Script

Everybody down on the floor! Drop it! Don't move.
The safe! What safe? Go! Go! No panic code.
Open it clean.
LAPD! Stop! What the hell? "A little madness in the spring, is wholesome even for the king"" Deeks speaks Dickinson.
Deeks doesn't speak Dickinson.
No.
Deeks is full of the Dickinson.
That I believe.
Well, I would like to know why.
Because springtime is fully upon us, my friends, and with it, the age-old opportunity to enrich one's life.
Yeah, spring break? Aren't you maybe a little old for that? Mm-mm.
Not spring break.
Spring cleaning.
Every year, I disinfect my entire electronic world.
So, Instagram Twitter, DVR, iPod, Facebook, the whole shebang.
You're on Facebook? Yeah.
I mean, we use aliases and don't post any pictures that would compromise us.
"Us"? Yeah.
I'm on, too.
But unlike Deeks, my page doesn't need to be sanitized.
Wait a minute, so, you Special Agent Ninjas don't dust off your digitals? I dust my digitals daily.
Smell that? That, my friend, is Downy fresh Facebook; so fresh and so clean.
You're deleting friends, aren't you? Yeah.
The first casualties to go are people that post, uh, pictures of their entrées.
I've got zero tolerance for FoodBookers.
Eric.
He's talking about Eric.
Okay.
You know what? You need to climb off your Seabiscuit there, Kensi, 'cause you are dangling there by a thermionic thread.
Uh, why? Because you post like, these obtuse and vague photos that illicit a response.
You know what you are, Kensilina? You're a Vaguebooker.
A "Vaguebooker"? I mean, there are worse things, but, I really can't think of any.
How about the dude that dedicates 11 albums to his dog? Mm.
Caught a case.
Granger's up in Ops.
Uh, hey, so, um Do I seem like the type of person who would Vaguebook? Mr.
Hanna.
A moment please.
Come on.
I Mm Last Tuesday.
Olive Garden.
I posted my Tortellini al Forno.
You hit "like.
" Did I? Take a good look, Mr.
Hanna.
This is a blast from your task force past.
It's the XD-8.
It's the finest unmanned aerial vehicle the Navy could buy.
Valor Avionics puts a bow on the project later this week.
Better late than never.
Red tape had XD-8 in near dissolution, but, it was willed to completion by Valor's chief engineer Jessica Peyton.
I was on her protection detail in Saudi Arabia.
She had total control of everything on this project, but, not her ten-year-old daughter.
Riley.
Whom, as I recall, made quite the impression on you, yes? Yeah.
She was like this little pint-sized ball of energy and fun.
She's missing, Sam.
Since when? It's been several weeks.
Investigators believe she was taken by her own father.
This morning, four armed men boosted a copy of XD-8 software from Valor Avionics headquarters.
This is sensitive intel that SECNAV doesn't want listed on eBay.
And you think Riley's disappearance and the robbery are related? I think you know how I feel about coincidences.
LAPD found the getaway van at LAX, but it was wiped clean of prints.
Interestingly enough, they left behind one single Dorito and this CD booklet for a rock band.
robbers entered until they left.
LAPD had several cars in the vicinity, saw them as they slipped out.
And they couldn't catch them? They lost them in the crowd.
They thought they were there to participate in a flare mob; some kind of spontaneous dance thing.
Flash mob.
Potato, potahto.
There was an anonymous ad for the flash mob posted on Craigslist.
When the performers arrived, there was a box of chrome masks waiting.
They all put one on.
And became the perfect decoys.
XD-8's the Navy's new UAV.
The project has attracted the attention a number of militant and terrorist groups.
Including the Tehrik-e Taliban.
Wire chatter revealed they were planning to attack the XD-8's development team.
A task force was created to protect them.
I remember that.
Sam, weren't you assigned to the chief engineer, Jessica Peyton? And her ten-year-old daughter, Riley.
Nell just sent a video.
Bring it up, Eric.
We were holed up in the house all day, every day.
She wanted to learn to play the drums her dad bought her.
So, I took some time to teach her the basics.
Believe it or not, she only wanted to play one song, by one group; Together Pangea.
Hard rock.
My kind of girl.
- She's MIA.
- She's with her father, who'd been threatening to leave his wife for months.
There's no reason to assume Riley's in imminent danger, Agent Hanna.
Eric, bring up the evidence photos.
Here's the reason.
This was found under the rear floor mat of the getaway van.
Together Pangea.
Then what is this, if it isn't just some rock CD? It's a little girl's SOS.
I didn't even know what had happened until after the shots were fired.
TEC-9 is quite a wake-up call.
Well, fortunately, they only got the software.
The physical XD-8 was assembled here in our main hangar and then it was shipped down to San Diego last week.
Camp Pendleton? Yeah.
Secured by Bravo Company in area 31.
There she is, Sam.
Just as flawless as when we delivered her.
Your software is missing, Jessica.
Yeah.
Only a beta version.
We've already rewritten most of the code, rendering it obsolete.
Plus, they don't have the hardware.
And even if they did, the XD-8 has a built-in fail-safe.
It only launches after a retina scan or verifies that the user is a principal engineer with our development team.
So, as you can see, guys, in reality, they have nothing.
Maybe not.
But we believe that your daughter's disappearance may be related to the robbery.
Agent Callen, Riley's with her father, Ben, back East.
Safe and sound.
Believe me.
Jessica, you filed a police report saying your husband took her without your consent.
I was angry.
But, then, Ben explained himself.
She's in good hands.
He's a great father.
We just weren't meant to be a couple.
And you haven't spoken to Ben or Riley since he took her back East? No.
For Riley's protection.
I don't even have a phone number.
This project's put our lives in danger, so, I knew deep down, she'd be safer with Ben.
He's homeschooling her, they're living under aliases far away from here.
It's just temporary, Sam.
Ben sends Jess a letter every week to check in.
Just, no return address.
Unfortunately, the project's had a few setbacks, but we're finally wrapping up, and they'll be coming home soon.
So all the radio station presets in my Caddy? They're changed.
Decontaminated.
A man can only stomach so much Michael Bublé.
This, coming from the guy who has the Josh Groban Christmas album.
Easy, tiger.
Yeah.
Eric said 200 chrome masks were delivered here.
Edgar Ramirez.
Probably cost more than his whole mortgage.
Mr.
Ramirez.
Federal agents.
Mr.
Ramirez? There's one on the floor.
One, two, three.
Clear.
Kens! Go, go, go! You okay? Yeah.
Looks like Kid Rock's throwing a very disorganized yard sale.
Kid Rock? Really? Okay, rule número uno: when a hero saves your life, you can't make fun of the said hero.
Um, I'm not sure you saved my life, per se.
Okay, well, let's just do the math then, per se.
One triggered I.
E.
D.
, one clueless person equals two people still breathing.
Okay, fine, maybe you did, but I think we both know that you owe me about a dozen already.
Guys, I got a laptop.
Well, kind of got a laptop.
The whole place was wired.
They used a plastic-coated, multi-strand stainless steel.
It's really popular with people who like to blow other people up.
Sam? RDX.
Like a cheaper, more accessible C4.
Well, this thing's best days are behind it.
So is this right arm.
Actually it's only missing a left.
What the hell is? Holy S'mores, Batman.
This gives new meaning to "fried hard drive.
" Well, I did a swift hard-wire to discover a cloaked short key.
for user access.
That's some pretty high-level security for a personal laptop.
That it is.
And now I've begun what will be a monumental restoration.
Stella is going to get her groove back.
Did you say "Stella"? Yeah, that's what I named her.
Wow.
This could end up as quite the notch on your bedpost.
I'm gonna go now.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yame Gyokuro.
Your tea, right? Gyo-kuro.
It took me eons to grasp the proper diction.
All the more reason to drink coffee.
So one unidentified fingerprint was lifted from the CD booklet.
It could belong to Riley Peyton.
Or seven billion other people.
You feel Agent Hanna may be reaching a bit on this one? What do you think? I think his track record gives him a little leeway.
Until it adversely affects the course of the investigation.
I mean, even for the greatest agents, emotion proves to be the enemy of truth.
Are you reading Dostoyevsky again, Owen? John le Carré.
Arm's on the way to the lab to be ID'd.
Good.
Granger doesn't seem convinced Riley Peyton's disappearance is related to any of this.
Wouldn't be the first time Granger's been wrong.
Probably thinks that since it's an old van, rental, lot of people cycling through it, that CD booklet could've ended up there for any number of reasons.
Granger's really thought all this through, huh? He has.
Well, I would start by reminding Granger that the van was wiped clean.
And they missed the booklet because it was wedged under a mat.
I'd also tell Granger that I can feel it in my gut that Riley needs our help.
What do you think Granger would say to that? I don't know.
But I say we go find her.
If Sam's right, Jessica Peyton's job has put her daughter at risk.
I just I can't imagine.
Seriously.
Kind of makes you wonder if it's even worth it, you know? The having kids.
I thought you liked kids.
No, I do.
I love kids.
Just, you know, other people's kids.
You don't want your own someday? I mean, I thought that I did.
You know, and then there's you know, there's things like this, so What? Things like what? What's this? You know, things like this case, this situation.
That's the whole thing 'cause when I was undercover, I was fearless.
You know why that was? Because you didn't have to worry about anybody? Yeah, because I was on my own, you know? Nobody has any control over you when you're on your own.
That's true, but then again you don't have anybody looking after you, either.
No one's got your back.
Oh, my God.
What? I just realized you're the yin in my yang.
So to speak.
Uh, explain to me how you have this capability of making everything sound so wrong.
It's a gift, isn't it? I'm just saying, like, you're the right to my wrong.
I'm like the good to your evil.
The beast to my beauty? That's hurtful.
Guys, I got something.
I just finished the post-mortem resuscitation on the laptop you guys found at the trailer Does it belong to an Edgar Ramirez? I don't know yet.
So, what did you resuscitate? This.
I am Riley Peyton.
I am ten years old.
My father is Ben Peyton.
We are kidnapped.
Oh, my God.
Sam was right.
The men say they'll kill us if you don't give them what they want.
Do we have a time stamp on this? Nine days ago.
Location? No.
Sorry.
Please.
Do exactly as they say.
Or we'll die.
We need help.
Please.
Do exactly as they say.
We need help.
Or we'll die.
I-I am Riley Peyton.
If there's anything in there, Eric and Nell will find it.
I am ten years old.
My father is Ben Peyton.
We are kidnapped.
You ever meet Ben Peyton? Yeah.
Once.
And? He was nice.
He was odd.
I don't know if I trust him.
And the mom? Work-obsessed.
She's no Mother of the Year candidate, but I don't think she knew Riley was in danger.
So much for a mother's intuition.
Yeah.
Listen, you got to stop Watching the tape.
I know.
Good.
Well, let's head up to Go up to Ops.
See what the others have.
Partner's intuition? Something like that.
Come on.
The meat puzzle you recovered was positively identified as Edgar Ramirez.
Cause of death is still unknown.
Aggravated battery last May, several priors-- violation of a restraining order, possession - of narcotics, resisting arrest - He's a bad guy.
We get it, Nell.
- What else? - We ran a full-scale trace on, uh, Ramirez's cell phone and credit cards.
Turns out he was a creature of routine.
Every afternoon for the last two weeks, he's been going to a high-end outdoor mall right across from Valor Avionics.
Convenient.
Right.
And every day at the same time, he met with these three men in the food court.
We're not able to ID them.
The security cameras are too far way.
Think they know Ramirez is dead? They do if they killed him.
About 40 minutes until their daily powwow.
A little less, actually, if you want to mic 'em.
That spiffy dresser over there on the left, he gets his shoes shined every day at the mall before they meet.
I know that look, and I don't like it.
Just saying.
Just for the record, there is such thing as a shoe shine girl.
Come on.
Be positive.
- At least you get to keep the tips.
- No chance Hetty's gonna let you keep that.
Yeah, it's not gonna be a problem, considering I've only earned $11 so far.
You're not getting any tips because your shirt sleeves are all stained with shoe polish.
You're a mess.
Callen has a point, Deeks.
If you can't keep your sleeves clean, why would you be able to keep your customers' socks clean? Mm-hmm.
I'm gonna go ahead and classify that under "Good to Know.
" Focus.
Six o'clock, Deeks.
Target's headed your way.
I got him.
Make sure your button camera lands a clean shot of his face.
Hey, boss.
Where's Rod? Rod? Eh, Rod's out sick.
But don't worry, he taught me everything he knows.
I'm in a hurry.
Make it quick.
His name is John Stikler.
He's got a lengthy rap sheet-- mostly low-level misdemeanors.
Eric, I think I got eyes on our other two suspects.
Coming in the west entrance.
Come on.
You really can't ID these guys? Sorry, cameras are just too wide.
So, uh, where you from, pal? Here and there.
Oh, yeah? That's outside of Albuquerque, right? Eh, it wasn't that funny.
Deeks, how we doing? Looking good and looking shiny.
Look at that, huh? You can see yourself, like a mirror.
All right, you're ready for the world.
Not bad.
Get yourself a haircut.
Right.
Thanks, boss.
Punk didn't even tip me.
What about the mic, Deeks? It's secure.
I said 1:00.
Relax.
Hey, what's the rush? Keep your phone on.
That's it? I shined boots all day for that? No mention of Ramirez's absence.
Must know he's dead.
Kensi, Deeks, take him out quietly.
Copy that.
We got a runner.
He must've made me.
What the Hey! Should've left a tip, John.
I want to file a complaint.
Hmm.
We'll let you fill out a comment card when you go home.
What am I being charged with? Treason.
Treason? Yeah.
Been following your crew for weeks.
Listen, man.
I'm just the driver.
I make it a point not to ask questions.
So, what, you're like Uber for criminals? Hmm? Hey You know this guy? Nope.
Who is he? According to your cell phone records and his dental records, his name was Edward Ramirez.
Dental records? Oh, geez.
That's Eddie? That's most of him.
Our guess is that you're next.
Hey, man, like I said, I'm just the driver.
I don't ask questions.
Eddie got me involved with these dudes.
They were looking to hire some guys for a job, so Who are they? I-I don't know.
I-I don't ask Questions.
Yeah.
Well, you better start answering some.
When did you first meet them? I-I gave 'em a ride back from Redondo Beach.
What kind of car did they have you drive? It was a van.
Anybody else with them? No.
What were they talking about? Nothing! Come on.
Redondo's an hour plus in traffic.
Somebody was talking.
Not to me.
But I heard them mention this wall, some project they were making.
They were creepy.
I didn't want them to think I was listening, so I tuned them out.
I I don't need any trouble.
That's too bad, 'cause right about now, that's all you got.
Do you think whoever stole the XD-8 software is going to try and build their own drone? They stole the software for a reason.
Cartels are building million-dollar narco-subs.
What's to stop them from building an unmanned drone? We know Hezbollah's been partnering up with Mexican cartels, financing their terrorist activities through drugs, counterfeiting.
Joint operation to get their hands on a UAV like the XD-8 is not out of the question.
It's a pretty sophisticated technology to build one from scratch.
What if you knew where to get parts? I assure you there's only been one XD-8 built.
Yeah, but multiple replacement parts were fabricated for it.
Yes.
Many of which are unaccounted for.
Well, inventory goes missing, Agent Callen.
It's a fact of any manufacturing operation.
Even for a top-secret weapon? Anything unaccounted for was probably sent to Camp Pendleton for spares.
Yeah, well, keep looking.
Let me know what you find.
We will keep you apprised.
Thank you, Major.
Camp Pendleton received less than half of the listed inventory.
Oh, and I bet the parts they did receive are probably the easiest ones to duplicate.
And by letting those pieces slip through, they delay rousing suspicion about the rest.
I would really suggest a security upgrade, Doc.
We'll do that, Agent Callen.
You have my card, gentlemen.
They have the software, several pieces of hardware.
But they know they still can't launch without a retinal scan from one of the development engineers.
That's where Riley and her dad come in.
They're to leverage Jessica Peyton.
Emilio, how many times do I have to tell you, no mask, no painting? Sorry.
Nice work, Sal.
Thanks, Mrs.
P.
Someone has the Navy's latest drone prototype.
All they need is one of its engineers to launch it.
And for that, they need Jessica Peyton.
Think she's telling us everything? Jessica's a good lady, G.
Her and her husband started this gang outreach program over six years ago.
They've helped hundreds of kids.
It was a simple yes or no question.
I'm not a simple person.
Nell's monitoring Peyton's cell.
So far, no calls or texts.
And Eric's got eyes on the neighborhood.
What are we waiting for? What's going on? Why are you guys here? It's about your husband and your daughter.
What about them? They're in serious trouble.
How? My husband took every precaution.
He took Riley far away.
Well, unfortunately, not far enough.
Two blocked calls.
Hopefully, it's them trying to contact you.
I didn't pick up, but you'll be able to trace them if they call again? We're gonna try.
And what if they know I'm with you? We made sure that we weren't followed.
Our tech team is gonna make it look like your cell phone is still in your office.
Just agree to what they want.
We need you to act like you believe they're in total and complete control.
Can I ask to speak to Riley? Answer it.
You can do it.
Hello.
Miss Peyton, I have your daughter.
But you already know that, don't you? Are you alone? Yes.
You're lying.
No, I'm not.
I'm in my office, and the door is locked.
That's strange, because I'm looking in your office right now, and it appears to be empty.
They could have someone in the office.
They could be bluffing.
Are you with the two men who came to see you at your outreach center? No.
They just stopped by to ask me about some missing equipment.
Hello?! Hello? Are you still there? I want to see my daughter.
Then I suggest you do exactly as I say.
This is your last chance.
Nell, what do you got? No luck tracing the call, but we expected that.
What about the meeting place? Outdoor cafe, no real surveillance cameras to speak of.
And we're running out of time.
Which means we're running out of options.
They're gonna grab Peyton.
It's their only play.
Is it? Is she the only engineer whose retina scan can launch this thing? No.
But she's the only one whose family is missing.
Maybe it's misdirection.
While you guys are chasing after Peyton's family, the terrorists grab Dr.
Milhouse or one of the principal engineers from Valor and launch the UAV.
Sam's been right so far.
Be a hell of a time to be wrong.
Where's Hetty? She's on the phone trying to explain why the Navy's newest UAV might make its debut flight at the hands of terrorists.
Shouldn't you be doing that? Seniority has its privileges.
Besides, I figured you could use the help in the field.
Nell, you're with me.
Beale, hold down the fort.
Let's go bring this little girl home.
Her daughter and husband could be killed at any moment.
All she can do is sit here and wait.
That fifth cup of coffee can't be helping.
Oh, I'm just saying, the last thing we need is for her to be wired and suddenly have to go find a bathroom.
Your brain really doesn't work like everybody else's, does it? No.
No, it doesn't.
Like Steve Jobs said, I think different.
Don't think he was talking about you.
Or was he? No, he wasn't.
Still no activity on Peyton's cell.
Hey, Dad.
Dad? Yeah.
It's already been an hour.
So, what, you think we spooked 'em? He may just be trying to sweat her and us.
They'll call her.
They have to.
I'm beginning to think Deeks is right about her caffeine intake.
She's getting awfully fidgety, and she keeps looking over at us.
We told her, like, ten times never to look in any of our directions.
Hi.
Ow, wow.
What are? What? What are we doing here? What's that? I'm giving her a reason to look over here.
And it's either that, or I throw my coffee at you.
Oh, well, thank you so much for not scalding me in the face instead of giving me kisses.
Here we go, guys.
Peyton just got text message.
"Unknown sender.
" Los Angeles.
Oh, that's pretty close.
Yeah.
It's an abandoned store.
All right.
Peyton's en route.
Stick with her.
Sam and I'll try and beat her there.
I have a suspicion we're not the only ones - with eyes on her right now.
- Maintain a two-car buffer, Deeks.
Don't want to spook them now.
Copy that.
Do your best to keep eyes on her, Beale.
I got her.
What the hell is she doing? I have no idea.
Eric, she pulled into some garage.
- That's not the address.
- I know, but we've still got eyes on her.
I can't access any cameras in the garage.
She's stopped.
Jessica.
Jessica.
She ditched her car.
And us.
Mr.
Callen? What's your status? We're screwed.
What about her cell phone, Eric? It's still in the parking garage.
She must have left it in her car.
Do you have eyes on her yet? No.
We're gonna sweep the garage now.
Up or down? Up.
Did you locate her? No.
She must have switched cars.
Think she's in on it? No way.
How'd she know to lose us? How'd she know where the switch was gonna take place? They must have contacted her.
How? She's been in our custody since we picked her up.
We were there when they called We're on her phone.
Sam, look I know you want to trust her.
You feel like you owe it to the kid.
But maybe they're not the same thing.
Somebody must have got to her at the cafe.
All right? She-She went right to the garage from there.
We need to backtrack.
Sam.
What? I thought you trusted me.
I do.
I'm I am trying to, but you need to look at the facts.
A little girl is in trouble.
That's the only fact that matters.
Okay, got it.
Anything? None of the workers here - have records.
- We could run credit card transactions, see if we get a hit on anybody.
We had eyes on her the whole time.
Nobody spoke with her.
What's with your partner? He's focused.
Got any ideas? Maybe someone wrote on her coffee cup? The employees are clean.
Listen, nobody got to her, Sam.
I mean, the only person she was looking at was us, and we were right there.
Damn.
What? The wall.
The damn wall.
What are you talking about? The graffiti.
It's done by the same guys that were tagging at Peyton's outreach center.
She wasn't looking at Kensi and Deeks, she was looking at the wall.
Cell must have had some kids in the outreach program keep an eye on her.
Sign says 1227 Ivar, ground floor.
That's the address of the parking garage.
Peyton didn't switch cars.
They were waiting for her.
And now they're taking her to the UAV to launch it.
They beat us.
Not yet.
No? They have the software, the hardware, Jessica Peyton and her family.
What do we got? We've got their driver.
What was the money for? What? The money you were paid at the mall? You already asked me that question.
I told you, to rent a truck.
Come on, guys, I'm just the driver.
Where? What kind of truck? When? Transport.
I don't know when or where.
They're gonna call me.
Three missed calls.
Call them back.
Tell them you got the truck.
What if they don't believe me? Then you'll wish you'd blown up with your buddy Eddie.
He wasn't my buddy.
But he is dead.
You alone? Of course.
Check it.
It's empty.
So what are we hauling? None of your concern.
Open it.
Check it.
It's the kid from the skate park.
This one, too.
All right, boys, let's, uh, load it up.
Federal agents.
Hands where we can see them.
Drop it.
Down.
All the way down.
On the ground.
Turn around.
Hands behind your back.
Down.
Hey.
Where's the little girl and her father? In the back.
All the way down.
Stay down.
All the way down.
Stay down.
Put your hands behind your back.
- Down.
- Stay down.
Sam! You guys okay? Oh, thank God.
Yeah, we're okay.
- What about my wife? - Ben? Riley? Jess? Jess.
Mom! I am so sorry, Riley.
I love you so much, sweetie.
I know.
I love you, too.
I knew you would find us, Sam.
I think this belongs to you.
Keep it.
For good luck.
It worked for me.
You made your own luck.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
You have time for a little jam session this weekend? You bet.
You still playing rock? I'm a one-trick pony.
Work on that foot.
Marine Corps recovered the stolen XD-8 software and hardware.
Yes, I've already informed the SECNAV.
You did? I figured it was the least I could do.
Considering the bad news I had to give them earlier.
Why? Would you prefer to have done it? No.
That's fine.
Mm.
I figured as much.
Good night, Owen.
Buy you a drink, Sam? Ah.
Not tonight, Kensilino.
Going home to the family.
All right.
Callen? I've actually got a date.
You? Mm-hmm.
All right, I'll get a beer with you, partner.
To drink or post on Facebook? Ooh.
Brewbooker.
That was one time.
And how dare you, sir? I'm buying.
Yeah.
Hey.
Thanks for trusting me, Mr.
Callen.
Thank you for being right.
Here.
I can't take that.
She gave it to you.
Now I'm giving it to you.
Little birdy told me it's good luck.
What am I supposed to do with it? I don't know.
Put it under your pillow.
Pass it on.
You'll figure it out.
Thanks, partner.