NCIS Los Angeles s10e05 Episode Script
Pro Se
1 ERIC: Tiffany Williams, multiple arrests for prostitution and she was Deeks' LAPD informant.
She was a good person who got stuck in a bad spot and I helped her out.
I was a 17-year-old hooker with a criminal record.
He helped me get back on my feet.
Detective Ellen Whiting, Internal Affairs.
DEEKS: Have I told you how much I missed you? Sokolov! (gunshots) CALLEN: Anna, where's his gun? He was already dead when you came through that door.
And I was holding my gun; that's all you saw.
GOMEZ: Special Agent Callen, did you see Mr.
Sokolov reaching for a weapon before he was shot by Agent Kolcheck? Never too young Never too old (keys rattle in door lock) (door closes) Mmm, smells good.
What is that? It's cold.
You were supposed to be back by 10:00.
You made meatloaf.
You do love me.
Tiffany, I'm serious.
You got a big day tomorrow.
Don't give me that look.
It's not a look, it's my face.
What are you, 12? I didn't come up with this curfew idea, the judge did.
I know.
Then why are you playing so fast and loose with it? Why are you dressed like that? - And the makeup.
- (sighs) Mom, I've been good, I promise.
Some might even call me an angel.
(crying) Now I know you're lying.
This is not like it was before.
Well, you could have fooled me.
I didn't do it.
I was never into that stuff.
You know that.
You have to believe me.
I love you, Mom.
Get over here.
(sniffs) (door slams opens) Tiffany Williams, you're under arrest.
No.
No, no, no, no, no! - You have the right to remain silent.
- Stop it! Look at what you're doing to her! You're hurting her! OFFICER: Anything you do or say can and will be used against you.
(sobbing) NCIS: LA 10x05 Pro Se Callen.
It's so good to see you.
It's good to see you.
I was so glad you called.
Uh, sit.
(sighs) I ordered you a coffee.
And, uh, I thought maybe we could split a croissant? Sounds good.
I've missed you.
How have you been? What are you doing? What do you mean? Why are you acting like this? Oh, I'm sorry.
I thought this was clear.
We're playing make-believe.
You see, this is a magical restaurant run by elves where they sprinkle fairy dust all over your food, and we pretend that the real world doesn't exist.
- I'm gonna go.
- Or stay-- Do whatever you want.
Just I'm gonna have that croissant.
Is this about what I said at the ATF hearing? No, it's because you forgot Valentine's Day.
- (chuckles) All I told them Was whatever helped you sleep at night.
That's not fair.
It was bad enough the ATF suspended me for doing what we both know was the right thing.
Now, thanks to you, it's just a matter of time before my lawyer calls me for an arraignment.
Oh, does anyone really think it's gonna go that far? You know, I-I think about you and I wonder.
If the tables had been reversed - Anna - would you have pulled that trigger? If someone as deranged as Sokolov kidnapped your father, and you had the chance to end him, would you have taken the shot? Anna I am really sorry that you're going through this.
I mean that.
And you sound very convincing.
Did you practice that before coming over? Okay, you know what? This was fun.
- Yeah, no, I enjoyed myself.
- So is that it for us, eh? I don't know.
(sighs) I'm obviously working through some stuff.
Enjoy your croissant.
Callen, wait.
Wait.
Just wait.
Just Look, I'm I'm sorry.
I'm-I'm frustrated and I'm scared.
(exhales sharply) I don't mean to take it out on you.
Just don't change your number.
I won't.
(sighs) Your Honor, ADA Sofia Lopez for the state.
And Joel Simoni for the defense.
Good morning.
Not exactly.
I was hoping to hear pre-trial motions today, but I understand those will have to wait.
LOPEZ: As I'm sure you're aware, the defendant violated the terms of her bail and was brought back into custody last night.
JUDGE LEE: Of course I'm aware.
- What did you think I was referring to? LOPEZ: Right.
According to LAPD, the defendant engaged in solicitation What? Of which I am also aware.
LOPEZ: Given the defendant's high risk of flight, her not insignificant criminal history, and the danger and harm she poses to others, not to mention her prior charges of possession with intent to distribute narcotics JUDGE LEE: ADA Lopez.
I read your motion.
Right.
Of course.
SIMONI: Your Honor, these new prostitution charges are completely baseless.
There's no way to prove that my client did anything remotely close to - Well, that's lucky.
- Excuse me? The state doesn't need to prove your client did anything.
- I'm sorry? - Mr.
Simoni, we're not living in the world of reasonable doubt yet.
The state believes your client committed a misdemeanor while she was out on bail.
Is it likely she did it? - Your Honor, my client would Nev JUDGE LEE: Uh-uh-uh.
You already had your turn.
I read both your motions-- and ADA Lopez, you need to learn when to use "who" and when to use "whom," but yours was the more compelling of the two.
Bail is vacated, defendant is remanded to jail, and pre-trial motions are scheduled for three weeks from today.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
- What just happened? - Nothing.
- Everything will be fine.
- Fine? I don't get to go home? Are you serious? (exhales sharply) (crying) (Elizabeth sobbing) Ugh.
(sighs) This can't be happening.
We got to call Callen and Sam.
No, we don't have to call Callen and Sam, we need to do something.
- Hey, Simoni.
- Yes.
KENSI: No, no, no.
Deeks, don't do this.
Please, don't Hey, so you're Tiffany's only lifeline in there, and you can't get the burden of proof right? I'm sorry, do I know you? from her friends, She's got no support she's got no love from her family, she can't hold down her job, so even if by some miracle you do get her off, she's got to rebuild her life from scratch after she gets out.
- This is me walking away.
- No, this is you listening, 'cause now it's gonna be incredibly hard for you to meet with her, and incredibly easy for the ADA to force a plea while she's miserable, stuck in county because you're an idiot and can't get the burden of proof right.
And this is good-bye.
Good work, counselor.
Deeks, let it Just let it go.
- Just let it go.
- Really wish he could.
Oh, my God.
But that's not your forte is it, Deeks? - (groans) Oh, my God.
Well, especially not with this chick.
Hello, Kensi.
Detective Whiting.
There is so much more to this that you don't understand.
There's always more to the story.
Yeah, there actually is.
What is it about Tiffany Williams, I wonder? 'Cause no matter how many wrong turns that girl takes, you just can't help yourself around her.
And you're okay with that.
Let's go, Deeks.
Huh.
Still rockin' that pantsuit, I see.
TTYL, Deeks.
TTYL.
Hey.
You speak to Kensi? I just hung up with her.
It's not good.
I know.
Not good at all.
Thank you, Captain Obvious.
Well, it's good to see you're in a good mood.
That'll make the day go by easier.
So what are we gonna do about this? - Depends.
- Is Kilbride around? That's what it depends on.
(both laughing) No.
But I'm telling you ERIC: Oh.
You two definitely woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
- What gave it away? Let me guess.
Um, no, Eric.
No, but it'll be good.
It'll, like, lighten the mood.
Super fun.
It's not your job, so not your job.
- Is Kilbride around? - He's not.
He's still in D.
C.
The deputy director just joined him there.
What about Special Prosecutor Rogers and his people? He moved off campus.
Our accommodations were not accommodate-y enough.
But he left parting gifts before taking off.
CALLEN: Yeah.
- I'm sorry, parting gifts? CALLEN: They served all of us with subpoenas.
- Whoa.
- Where's Mosley? - She's off the grid.
Well, administrative leave will do that to you, won't it? Or a cartel putting a price on your head.
Yeah.
How about Hetty? I don't know where Hetty is or what she's up to.
We can work with that.
I agree.
I'm sorry.
So what's going on here? Do you remember Tiffany Williams? The woman Deeks was helping out? Wasn't she somehow involved with Detective Boyle, Deeks' old partner at LAPD? Right.
"Involved" would be a slight understatement.
Why? Is she in trouble? Four months ago she was picked up at a drug bust.
She was released on bail, and then last night, LAPD picked her up on new charges of prostitution.
- Oh, boy.
- Wait.
Does Deeks know? He and Kensi were at her hearing this morning.
Things did not go Tiffany's way, and now it is on us to help her.
Okay.
So are-are you thinking that she may be innocent of the narcotics charges from four months ago? And the prostitution charges from last night? Yeah, we are pretty sure of that.
Mm, what makes you think so? Because when she was allegedly selling and soliciting on a street corner, Tiffany Williams was actually working as an informant.
For who? For us.
Oh.
So she has an alibi.
Yeah.
Only problem is she can't use it.
So, about six months ago, a guy named Phillip Robbins stole proprietary naval security software and sold it to Iran.
SAM: Or so we think.
NCIS still doesn't have enough to move on him.
KENSI: Case originated at the D.
C.
office, but they brought it to us when they realized that Robbins spends most of the year in Los Angeles.
DEEKS: And most of his time and money on petite, blonde prostitutes.
And that brings us to Tiffany Williams.
Back in the day, he was one of her most loyal johns.
And by loyal, I mean he was completely obsessed with her.
So NCIS recruited her to help us get to him.
CALLEN: And it worked.
We've been tracking him for six months, building a very solid case until Tiffany got arrested for a bogus drug charge.
So now that she's out of the picture? KENSI: We're back to zero.
As soon as Tiffany got arrested, Robbins vanished and the case completely stalled.
Right.
Sam? What? Might not be a bogus drug charge.
Just saying.
Come on, man.
Let's not do this.
No one wants to talk about it, but four months ago, when she was arrested, there was an hour that we don't know about.
We don't know where she was or what she was doing.
Well, that's easy.
I'll just-- CALLEN: No, you can't.
Cell phone was turned off.
We couldn't find anything through traffic or security cameras or by stitching together social media.
And she won't give us a straight answer.
Well, that complicates things, doesn't it? Yeah, but I don't trust the officers that arrested her.
Maybe Detective Whiting doesn't either.
I mean, she showed up at Tiffany's hearing this morning.
Wow, that sounds like a party.
Yeah, I don't know, Deeks.
I mean, Whiting is Internal Affairs.
She might be our best shot.
Well, if that's the case, then she's in even more trouble than we feared.
Uh, was that code for "he'll do it even though he doesn't want to"? KENSI: Yeah.
Basically, yeah.
WHITING: Well, this is festive.
Can you stop the tough guy act for, like, a second? What makes you think it's an act? Baby, I was born this way.
Before Tiffany Williams was arrested, she was working undercover for NCIS.
She was helping us get close to someone we believe stole proprietary technology and sold it to a hostile foreign government.
I stopped listening after you said "undercover.
" - Of course you did.
- And what, may I ask, was Tiffany's super secret persona? She was working undercover as a prostitute.
So, a real stretch.
Oh, my God.
You are unbelievable.
And you need to grow up and stop believing in fairy tales.
Listen, the drug bust wasn't real.
You know that.
Eight ounces of cocaine says otherwise.
No.
It wasn't worth it.
She wouldn't go back.
That is the only thing that surprises me about this case.
What's that? Nobody knows Tiffany better than you.
And yet you somehow thought it was a good idea to deliver her back to the world that she's worked so hard to leave behind? Wasn't-- it wasn't like that.
Pretty sure it was.
And then temptation got too great and she fell back on bad habits.
But I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, am I, Deeks? That's not fair.
Tiffany was innocent.
You keep telling yourself that.
She doesn't belong in prison.
Can't help you, Deeks.
Well, that's a shocker.
(seagulls calling) (grunts) ELIZABETH: Sorry, so you two aren't cops? Uh, different agency.
We-We're NCIS.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
The Navy? Oh, geez.
(exhales) What did Tiffany do this time? It's not like that.
We just want to ask you a few questions.
So, has your daughter been acting different over the last few months? Any new friends? New places she's hanging out? I don't know if it was anywhere new, but she was definitely hanging out again.
Hadn't done that for a long time.
- How so? - Well, once Tiffany got her act together, she became a homebody.
She'd go to work at the nursery every day, and then it was her, me (chuckles) Chip and Jo every night.
What about friends? No, I can't help you there.
She never told me anything about anyone.
Except CALLEN: What? Her lawyer.
Apparently, this friend of hers found the guy and is even paying for him.
The lawyer's supposed to be from some fancy firm, but you wouldn't know it by how things went down this morning.
(phone buzzing) E-Excuse me.
Hello? One of Tiffany's friends is covering her legal fees.
We know it's not Deeks.
We know the rest of her circle.
At least, we thought we did.
Could be Phillip Robbins.
We follow the money, we may find him.
I'll call Eric.
There you are.
Hey.
How did it go with Detective Whiting? At least I can say I checked the box.
I'm sorry.
- We'll figure something else out.
- I really thought that Tiffany could handle this.
I-I never Sweetie, I know.
I know you did.
You know, you do this job long enough, you forget there's a reason NCIS has a psychologist on staff.
Sweetie, whatever happens, this is absolutely not your fault.
Don't do that.
We both know this is on me.
Deeks, it is not No, come on.
I was so focused on the case, I lost sight of the position I was putting Tiffany into.
I mean, I never should've asked her to help us.
And you know that.
The truth is is Sam's right.
We have no idea where she was for that hour she was missing.
I mean, think about it.
She left the boatshed at 8:00.
It should've taken her, what, 20 minutes to get to the bar? That's being generous with it.
- She shows up an hour after that.
- Stop.
Do not do this to yourself.
I think I should just stop believing in fairy tales.
(sighs) And that breaks my heart a little bit.
Callen, Sam, you were right.
I figured out which bank account was being used to pay for Joel Simoni, Tiffany's lawyer.
And? And not only is the account located in the Cayman Islands-- which, let's be honest, is already super sketch-- but Simoni's fees were the only activity on the account-- wait for it-- until today.
What happened today? Someone rented a car at LAX.
If Phillip Robbins is back in town, he's definitely up to something.
Yeah, he could be making another move.
He could also be coming after Tiffany, especially if he figured out that she's been helping us.
The kind of people he knows, he can get to her in jail.
She's not safe in there.
So what are you guys gonna do? Bust her out of jail? (chuckles) That's not a bad idea.
I've heard of worse.
G Guys, I'm-I'm kidding.
I was kidding.
Guys.
I'm kidding.
(engine shuts off) - Callen, Sam.
- Just a couple of guys getting their daily dose of vitamin D? - We have a plan.
- Okay.
- There's a very real possibility that Phillip Robbins is back in L.
A.
Tiffany Williams isn't safe in jail.
Wow, you couldn't have led with the good news? Well, like I said, we have a plan.
Yeah, so you've mentioned.
We're gonna take over Tiffany's legal case.
Wow, I don't know how to tell you this, but I think that your plan needs a little more planning.
- Her lawyer's a hack.
- And you're You're less of a hack.
You could argue circles around that guy.
(chuckles) Okay, your big plan to get Tiffany out of jail, it No, guys, he can't defend her.
- He's LAPD.
- Guys, I've testified in front of Judge Lee as a cop.
I've argued cases to her as a public defender.
Which is why you won't be her lawyer.
Well, strictly speaking.
I will be.
With you in my ear.
KENSI: No, he can't.
Is that even legal? Uh, it's definitely not legal.
- It's legal-adjacent.
- Does that count? - 'Cause I'm pretty sure that doesn't count.
- Mm-hmm.
It's never stopped us before.
- We weren't being subpoenaed before.
DEEKS: What does Kilbride say about all this? SAM: Well, that's the best part.
Kilbride's not around.
Which means we have no protection.
Well, I know that Hetty would bless this op.
Even if she does, what about Mosley? Don't have to worry about Mosley.
- She's loyal.
- Maybe.
What do you think? What do I think? I think I'll be in the boatshed.
Prepping for court.
There you are.
Nell, I need a favor.
Mm.
You're good.
Everything's been arranged.
For what? Your cover.
But I never told you what it was.
I know.
I figured it out.
The way I see it, there's only one legal-adjacent play to get Tiffany out of jail.
And you figured it out? I've been backstopping you as a criminal defense lawyer all morning.
Mm.
Well, that is some Jedi-level playbook stuff you got there, Nell.
- You know what they say.
Big bangs, big brain.
Yeah.
- Like that.
- Check it out.
Logan O'Neill, huh? So I am now officially a member of the California Bar? At least your alias is.
What? You're not the only one Hetty's been grooming.
Promise, you're good.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Oh, and, uh, good luck out there.
I hear the judge is a real tough cookie.
Good to know.
Guys, that Cayman account that paid for Tiffany's lawyer and the rented car from LAX just popped up again at a spin studio in Hollywood.
You and me.
You and me, baby.
We a team.
Think Phillips is in there? I don't know.
He's been off the grid for months.
Just got back to town, the first thing he does is sign up for a hard-core exercise class? - Yeah.
Yeah.
- Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
- This is L.
A.
, right? - When in Rome.
(laughs) CASSIDY: You guys, welcome to Cyclehaus! Are you signed up for the next class, or do you want to join the wait list? - Oh, there's a wait list? - Oh, yeah.
Big-time.
I mean, Janet's teaching.
- Of course.
Janet.
Janet, yeah.
- Janet's teaching.
Yeah, no, sorry.
We were here this morning, and - Oh, you're back for a double? - Well - What?! Oh, you guys, they're back for a double! - Oh, whoa.
SAM: No, please.
(cyclists cheering) Double! Can you put that down, please? Just put down the bell.
Please.
Please put the bell down.
No, I just left my water bottle in the studio, and I was wondering if I could go grab it.
Yeah.
I'll let you know when the studio's open.
Thank you.
- Let me know if you change your mind.
- We won't.
We won't.
KENSI: Thanks.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
This place counts as a two-a-day, huh? Yeah, this place will kick your butt.
Really? (Kensi clears throat) Is that Phillip standing right up there? That's him, all right.
(camera clicks) Who's he with? Have we seen her before? No.
I don't think she's involved with the case.
You guys, the studio's open! (cyclists cheering) - At least not yet.
- Federal agents.
- Move! - I'm-a go around back.
KENSI: Move.
Get out of the way.
Move.
Get out of the way.
- Sam.
- Any luck? They're gone.
(panting) At least we know he's really back.
And we have a picture of her.
ERIC: Our mystery woman from the spin studio is Vanessa Brown, former LAPD.
Now works at Vivid Locke Security.
- New security outfit down in Playa.
ERIC: Exactly.
They won a huge government contract earlier this year to develop the next generation of antiballistic missile software.
Vivid Locke could be Phillip Robbins' next target.
NELL: The company's run by former Mossad.
It's financed by former MI6.
It's staffed by former Rangers, SEALs Apparently LAPD.
You know her, Deeks? DEEKS: Never seen her before in my life.
NELL: That's because Brown joined the force after you had already started working here.
How long did she last at LAPD? Less than five years.
I bet there's a story there.
Probably a good one.
All right, I'm on it.
Thank you.
(whistles) We have to stop running into each other like this.
No kidding.
Chin up, Deeks.
I got you a snow cone.
That's incredibly thoughtful of you.
You mind, uh, holding that for me? - So, you recognize her? Where did you get that? Go ahead and take that as a yes.
So, why did Vanessa Brown leave LAPD? That's not public information.
Well, the guy that we're going after and the guy that we think set up Tiffany Williams and the reason she's in prison again is in that picture with her.
And who is he? Phillip Robbins.
He has the amazing tendency of taking things from our country and selling it to our enemies.
So, why did Vanessa Brown leave LAPD? Do you want me to repeat what I already told you? That's okay.
Let me just take a stab in the dark, then.
Was she stealing drugs from the evidence locker? Drugs she could plant on Tiffany Williams the night that she was arrested? And let me ask another question while we're on the subject.
How close was Vanessa Brown with Young, Lopez, and Demblowski, the three officers that arrested Tiffany last night on that phony solicitation charge? Just eat your damn snow cone.
That's so funny.
That's the same thing I said when I started using my brain.
(sighs) WOMAN: Williams! (lock buzzes, latch clicks) Gate.
(gate buzzes) Move.
It's okay.
It's me.
Kensi.
Geez, that was dramatic.
How you doing? You okay? It's all relative, right? But let's be serious.
I mean, this is this is pretty bad.
Yeah, I know.
That's why we're trying to get you out of here as soon as possible.
How? This is literally a prison.
For one, we're getting you new counsel.
Kensi, that is not a good idea.
We know Phillip is paying for your current lawyer.
(sighs) It's complicated.
Tiffany, why is it so complicated? Because he planted the cocaine and set you up, or because he hired a guy that's throwing the case? Or is there something else you're not telling us? Four months ago, when you got arrested, where did you go the night before the bar? I wish I could tell you.
But I didn't do anything wrong, I swear, okay? You just have to trust me.
Okay.
I believe you.
Thank you.
So, uh, who's my new lawyer? Deeks will be taking over the case.
- Deeks? - Mm-hmm.
Is that even legal? Legal-adjacent, apparently.
It's more of a Callen-Deeks joint task force.
Oh, Phillip is not going to be happy.
Good.
Something we can use.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Dude, I got to be in court in ten minutes.
This won't take long.
You're fired.
- What? - You heard me.
Get out of my way, man.
Tiffany Williams is no longer your client.
She signed the release papers this morning.
- And you're calling the shots now? - I am.
And I'm gonna strongly suggest that you walk away without a fight.
Or else? I'll have you disbarred.
Probably sue you for malpractice.
Now, that would be my pleasure.
Oh, and if you have any other problems, why don't you just have whoever's paying your bills give me a call? Have a good day.
It's not enough.
Either that or it's too much.
It's not enough of what we need.
If we're gonna infiltrate Vivid Locke Security and secure the software before Phillip Robbins gets to it, we're gonna need to outthink, outcode, outmaneuver the equivalent of three intelligence agencies.
ERIC: Their security system is the most sophisticated I've ever seen.
KENSI: Yeah.
Look at that building.
It's like a block-wide panic room.
We can't compete with that man power.
And we're running out of time.
Now, remind me again how Phillip Robbins is gonna steal their software? SAM: Vanessa Brown.
He's got a corrupt cop on the inside.
That old chestnut.
Wait.
So, then, why don't we just Because we don't know who we can trust.
Vanessa Brown might have a whole team of people working with her; we don't want to tip any of them off.
ERIC: Besides, this is the kind of place where, if the HVAC goes down, they fix it themselves.
If the power goes down, they fix it themselves.
- It's like Survivor in an office building.
NELL: God.
- That would be a terrible show.
- Unwatchable.
SAM: Hmm.
- What do you see? There.
Our own thermal exhaust port.
You think you can pull it off? It'd be complicated.
KENSI: And dangerous.
- Extremely expensive.
SAM: But it would work.
And there's no one here to tell us we can't do it.
All rise.
An emergency motion? Really? Don't look at me.
CALLEN: Your Honor Who are you? Logan O'Neill for the defense.
What happened to the other guy? When did this happen? Did you know about the switch? No matter.
We're here, and either way, I'm missing lunch.
Defendant, do you consent to new counsel? - Yes, Your Honor.
- Well? - Right.
Your Honor, I'm here to ask that my client be allowed to post bail for the duration of trial.
That's the emergency? I'm confused.
Am I having déjà vu? Didn't I already rule on this? Your Honor, it has come to light that my client's life may be in danger were she to remain in jail.
And? And? And? And, more important, the motion that my client's previous counsel submitted to the clerk in regards to the new solicitation charges was inadequate.
Scratch that.
It was egregiously inadequate.
You got to be kidding me.
Your Honor, you said so yourself.
You already ruled on the motion.
And I'm not allowed to change my mind? I have eyewitness accounts, security camera footage as well as credit card receipts that prove that my client on the night and the hour of the alleged solicitation was, in fact, having dinner with friends in North Hollywood.
So I ask, is it likely that Tiffany Williams was in violation of her bail? Unless she discovered the fifth dimension in the space-time continuum, I would argue not.
I'd argue not.
All right, then.
Looks like you've got yourself a fair fight.
DEEKS: Boom! Good work, Callen.
That a boy.
(chuckles) Do you want to go over the op one more time? Okay, look, my only concern are the blades on the exhaust fan.
The timing has to be perfect, or we're dead.
Or you're dead.
Kensi.
- You good? - Yeah.
Sorry, I'm just I'm just thinking about Tiffany.
She's definitely not telling us something.
Yeah, I just wish I knew why.
Callen and Deeks are taking care of her.
Me and you? Our only job is to stay ahead of Phillip Robbins and make sure Vivid Locke Security technology doesn't end up in the wrong hands.
ADA Lopez.
- Mr.
O'Neill.
- You see how easy that was? - This is gonna be so much fun.
- Oh.
You mean that performance art back there? - Mm.
- That was the definition of beginner's luck.
You sure you want to risk that? I mean, it might dilute your conviction record.
Not gonna look good when you run for office.
(laughs) That has nothing to do with why I'm prepared to offer your client a deal.
Not interested.
Shouldn't we hear what it is first? I think you should listen to your client on this one.
It won't be on the table for long.
My client is not gonna plead guilty for a crime she did not commit.
Then get ready for round two.
I won't be pulling punches.
(whispering): What did you just do? I can't go back to jail.
You are gonna have to trust me.
(stammers) Just like we are all trusting you.
Huh.
(types) (line ringing) Detective Whiting.
Whiting, hey This better be good.
I'm on my lunch.
Who is this? Yeah, it's Deeks.
Listen, I need your help to make something right.
(alarm blaring) KENSI: Eric, we're pulling up to Vivid Locke Security.
Something's going down.
ERIC: Yeah, their in-house alarm went off.
There was an armed robbery.
Looks like Phillip Robbins beat you to it.
Sorry, folks, but you have to go.
We may be too late.
OFFICER: Go, let's move, everybody to this side.
(alarm blaring) Now what? DEEKS: Yeah, great.
Thanks.
How we doing? Phillip Robbins got away with Vivid Locke's antiballistic missile technology before Kensi and Sam even got there.
It looks like Vanessa Brown was helping him, but on the bright side, it appears our instincts were spot-on.
Eric and Nell? - They're working on it.
- Okay.
All we have to do is recover the stolen technology before Robbins has a chance to sell it to our enemies.
Well, yeah, that and convince the ADA to drop charges against Tiffany.
That would help, too.
It's official.
It's Manic Monday.
KENSI: This does not look like a fortress to me.
SAM: That's by design.
But it does have an Achilles' heel, and Phillip Robbins found it.
The people that work here.
We may start off pure and innocent, but all humans are corruptible.
Are you talking about Tiffany? No, but it applies to her, too.
(phone rings) What's up, Eric? I just got a hit on Phillip Robbins' rental car.
He's heading west on Santa Monica Boulevard, just past Bundy.
SAM: That's a mile from the courthouse.
I'll call Callen.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Detective Whiting.
- We good? - I'm here, aren't I? That's about as warm and fuzzy as she gets.
We're good.
Tiffany, stay here.
(phone buzzes) It's okay.
Is that Eric? I'll call him back.
Sorry, not sorry.
The offer's no long on the table, Mr.
O'Neill.
You should have listened to your client.
Well, I'm still not interested in a deal, but I would like you to drop the charges against Tiffany Williams.
(laughs) Why? Because you seem like such a stand-up guy? ADA Lopez, trust me.
You don't want to be anywhere near this.
And you are? LAPD Detective Ellen Whiting, Internal Affairs.
Someone's been naughty, it's true, but you're going after the wrong girl.
I see.
Well, I'll have to speak with the district attorney We both know that's not true.
And who are you? Somebody who knows what they're talking about.
Listen, let's break this down together.
You have a detective from Internal Affairs that says this case is rotten.
Therefore, there is no scenario in which this goes to trial.
So you have a pretty easy decision in front of you.
Do you continue to play God with an innocent woman's life for a few more days, or do you act like a decent human being and drop the charges? I'll go speak to the clerk.
- Thank you.
- You don't have to thank me.
I didn't do squat for you.
Guys, we got company.
Phillip Robbins and Vanessa Brown.
Oh, God.
Tiffany? I got 'em.
Go, go, go.
Phillip Robbins.
Where is she? Where is the missile software? You trade her for that? Well, I really like that software.
How much do you care about the girl? (scoffs) Go, go, go.
No, ho-ho-ho-ho Hold on.
Hold on.
It's okay.
Hold on.
I dare you.
Let's go.
Move it.
Good work.
You okay? Okay, let's go.
Come on.
So, why do you care so much about Tiffany? Who is she? - Someone I trusted.
- Ah.
She lied to you, huh? Isn't that what you pay her for? She betrayed me.
Well, now, that would be upsetting to me as well.
Where is she? - All right, it's okay.
- Who are those guys?! (shrieks) It's probably the team Robbins had working with him inside of Vivid Locke Security.
- Vivid Locke Security? - That's the case you helped us solve.
- (yelps) Aah! Oh, my God, Deeks, I can't do this, I can't do it.
- I can't do it.
I can't do it.
- Look at me.
Look at me.
Look at me, Tiffany.
Look at me.
You can do this.
Look at me.
You're fine.
You're okay.
I'm gonna get you through this.
(engine revs) (tires screech) Behind us! Stay down.
(groans) (men grunting) - (whimpering) - It's okay.
Hey, you're okay.
Look at me.
It's over.
All right? It's over.
You did good.
Federal agent! Federal agent! OFFICER: Move, move.
- Seriously? What took you so long? - You're hilarious.
- It's okay.
You can say it.
You missed me, Sam.
Let's move it.
So, Phillip framed Tiffany when he suspected she'd betrayed him.
KENSI: Well, he also killed two birds with one stone with Vanessa Brown.
Not only did she help him arrest Tiffany, but he also got his hands on that antiballistic software.
- Which we still haven't recovered.
CALLEN: We'll pit Phillip against Vanessa, see which one of them caves first.
And inevitably one of them will.
Mm-hmm.
Excuse me for a second, gentlemen.
DEEKS: Hey.
Hey.
(sighs) You doing okay? Yeah.
I'm just waiting for my mom.
We could have dropped you off.
No, that's okay.
Kind of just wanted to spend some time with her, but thank you, Deeks, for everything.
Well, I owe you an apology.
I never should have put you in that position.
I'm the one who said yes.
Doesn't matter.
I shouldn't have asked, and I'm sorry.
Well, thank you for believing me.
Even when I couldn't totally be honest with you.
Listen, I get it, you know? Phillip's a scary guy, especially when he's got one of your friends in his teeth.
You knew? Not until today.
And I could never figure out why, when you showed up at the bar, you were crying, and then I realized it's just 'cause you were protecting somebody.
Right? Somebody that wasn't able to get out.
So I tracked down your crew, and they told me what happened to Lorraine.
Back then, Lorraine was like a sister to me.
Phillip went after her to hurt me, and she needed my help that night.
Really, she needed a hospital, but I promised her that I wouldn't tell anyone.
We thought that Phillip was gonna come back to kill her.
Kill us both.
Well, the great news is, he can never touch her again.
He's not gonna hurt anybody again.
And that's because of you.
Yeah? You did good.
- Hi, honey.
- Hey.
- Ready? - Yeah.
Good-bye, Deeks.
- Be safe, okay? - Mm-hmm.
Hi, Mama.
(Elizabeth sighs) You did good.
(Kensi clears throat) - Oi.
- Oi.
Oi.
You okay? I'm good.
I'm actually really good.
Really good? Yeah.
Today just reminded me what a truly exceptional lawyer I am.
(laughs) Are you, now? And I think there's something to be said You know, I think it's incredibly appealing to do something to help people, you know, get a decent paycheck, and not get shot at every single day.
I'm sorry to break it to you, but, um, you did get shot at today.
Touché.
You're a good man, Martin Deeks.
A very good one.
- As always.
- Yup.
G.
She was a good person who got stuck in a bad spot and I helped her out.
I was a 17-year-old hooker with a criminal record.
He helped me get back on my feet.
Detective Ellen Whiting, Internal Affairs.
DEEKS: Have I told you how much I missed you? Sokolov! (gunshots) CALLEN: Anna, where's his gun? He was already dead when you came through that door.
And I was holding my gun; that's all you saw.
GOMEZ: Special Agent Callen, did you see Mr.
Sokolov reaching for a weapon before he was shot by Agent Kolcheck? Never too young Never too old (keys rattle in door lock) (door closes) Mmm, smells good.
What is that? It's cold.
You were supposed to be back by 10:00.
You made meatloaf.
You do love me.
Tiffany, I'm serious.
You got a big day tomorrow.
Don't give me that look.
It's not a look, it's my face.
What are you, 12? I didn't come up with this curfew idea, the judge did.
I know.
Then why are you playing so fast and loose with it? Why are you dressed like that? - And the makeup.
- (sighs) Mom, I've been good, I promise.
Some might even call me an angel.
(crying) Now I know you're lying.
This is not like it was before.
Well, you could have fooled me.
I didn't do it.
I was never into that stuff.
You know that.
You have to believe me.
I love you, Mom.
Get over here.
(sniffs) (door slams opens) Tiffany Williams, you're under arrest.
No.
No, no, no, no, no! - You have the right to remain silent.
- Stop it! Look at what you're doing to her! You're hurting her! OFFICER: Anything you do or say can and will be used against you.
(sobbing) NCIS: LA 10x05 Pro Se Callen.
It's so good to see you.
It's good to see you.
I was so glad you called.
Uh, sit.
(sighs) I ordered you a coffee.
And, uh, I thought maybe we could split a croissant? Sounds good.
I've missed you.
How have you been? What are you doing? What do you mean? Why are you acting like this? Oh, I'm sorry.
I thought this was clear.
We're playing make-believe.
You see, this is a magical restaurant run by elves where they sprinkle fairy dust all over your food, and we pretend that the real world doesn't exist.
- I'm gonna go.
- Or stay-- Do whatever you want.
Just I'm gonna have that croissant.
Is this about what I said at the ATF hearing? No, it's because you forgot Valentine's Day.
- (chuckles) All I told them Was whatever helped you sleep at night.
That's not fair.
It was bad enough the ATF suspended me for doing what we both know was the right thing.
Now, thanks to you, it's just a matter of time before my lawyer calls me for an arraignment.
Oh, does anyone really think it's gonna go that far? You know, I-I think about you and I wonder.
If the tables had been reversed - Anna - would you have pulled that trigger? If someone as deranged as Sokolov kidnapped your father, and you had the chance to end him, would you have taken the shot? Anna I am really sorry that you're going through this.
I mean that.
And you sound very convincing.
Did you practice that before coming over? Okay, you know what? This was fun.
- Yeah, no, I enjoyed myself.
- So is that it for us, eh? I don't know.
(sighs) I'm obviously working through some stuff.
Enjoy your croissant.
Callen, wait.
Wait.
Just wait.
Just Look, I'm I'm sorry.
I'm-I'm frustrated and I'm scared.
(exhales sharply) I don't mean to take it out on you.
Just don't change your number.
I won't.
(sighs) Your Honor, ADA Sofia Lopez for the state.
And Joel Simoni for the defense.
Good morning.
Not exactly.
I was hoping to hear pre-trial motions today, but I understand those will have to wait.
LOPEZ: As I'm sure you're aware, the defendant violated the terms of her bail and was brought back into custody last night.
JUDGE LEE: Of course I'm aware.
- What did you think I was referring to? LOPEZ: Right.
According to LAPD, the defendant engaged in solicitation What? Of which I am also aware.
LOPEZ: Given the defendant's high risk of flight, her not insignificant criminal history, and the danger and harm she poses to others, not to mention her prior charges of possession with intent to distribute narcotics JUDGE LEE: ADA Lopez.
I read your motion.
Right.
Of course.
SIMONI: Your Honor, these new prostitution charges are completely baseless.
There's no way to prove that my client did anything remotely close to - Well, that's lucky.
- Excuse me? The state doesn't need to prove your client did anything.
- I'm sorry? - Mr.
Simoni, we're not living in the world of reasonable doubt yet.
The state believes your client committed a misdemeanor while she was out on bail.
Is it likely she did it? - Your Honor, my client would Nev JUDGE LEE: Uh-uh-uh.
You already had your turn.
I read both your motions-- and ADA Lopez, you need to learn when to use "who" and when to use "whom," but yours was the more compelling of the two.
Bail is vacated, defendant is remanded to jail, and pre-trial motions are scheduled for three weeks from today.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
- What just happened? - Nothing.
- Everything will be fine.
- Fine? I don't get to go home? Are you serious? (exhales sharply) (crying) (Elizabeth sobbing) Ugh.
(sighs) This can't be happening.
We got to call Callen and Sam.
No, we don't have to call Callen and Sam, we need to do something.
- Hey, Simoni.
- Yes.
KENSI: No, no, no.
Deeks, don't do this.
Please, don't Hey, so you're Tiffany's only lifeline in there, and you can't get the burden of proof right? I'm sorry, do I know you? from her friends, She's got no support she's got no love from her family, she can't hold down her job, so even if by some miracle you do get her off, she's got to rebuild her life from scratch after she gets out.
- This is me walking away.
- No, this is you listening, 'cause now it's gonna be incredibly hard for you to meet with her, and incredibly easy for the ADA to force a plea while she's miserable, stuck in county because you're an idiot and can't get the burden of proof right.
And this is good-bye.
Good work, counselor.
Deeks, let it Just let it go.
- Just let it go.
- Really wish he could.
Oh, my God.
But that's not your forte is it, Deeks? - (groans) Oh, my God.
Well, especially not with this chick.
Hello, Kensi.
Detective Whiting.
There is so much more to this that you don't understand.
There's always more to the story.
Yeah, there actually is.
What is it about Tiffany Williams, I wonder? 'Cause no matter how many wrong turns that girl takes, you just can't help yourself around her.
And you're okay with that.
Let's go, Deeks.
Huh.
Still rockin' that pantsuit, I see.
TTYL, Deeks.
TTYL.
Hey.
You speak to Kensi? I just hung up with her.
It's not good.
I know.
Not good at all.
Thank you, Captain Obvious.
Well, it's good to see you're in a good mood.
That'll make the day go by easier.
So what are we gonna do about this? - Depends.
- Is Kilbride around? That's what it depends on.
(both laughing) No.
But I'm telling you ERIC: Oh.
You two definitely woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
- What gave it away? Let me guess.
Um, no, Eric.
No, but it'll be good.
It'll, like, lighten the mood.
Super fun.
It's not your job, so not your job.
- Is Kilbride around? - He's not.
He's still in D.
C.
The deputy director just joined him there.
What about Special Prosecutor Rogers and his people? He moved off campus.
Our accommodations were not accommodate-y enough.
But he left parting gifts before taking off.
CALLEN: Yeah.
- I'm sorry, parting gifts? CALLEN: They served all of us with subpoenas.
- Whoa.
- Where's Mosley? - She's off the grid.
Well, administrative leave will do that to you, won't it? Or a cartel putting a price on your head.
Yeah.
How about Hetty? I don't know where Hetty is or what she's up to.
We can work with that.
I agree.
I'm sorry.
So what's going on here? Do you remember Tiffany Williams? The woman Deeks was helping out? Wasn't she somehow involved with Detective Boyle, Deeks' old partner at LAPD? Right.
"Involved" would be a slight understatement.
Why? Is she in trouble? Four months ago she was picked up at a drug bust.
She was released on bail, and then last night, LAPD picked her up on new charges of prostitution.
- Oh, boy.
- Wait.
Does Deeks know? He and Kensi were at her hearing this morning.
Things did not go Tiffany's way, and now it is on us to help her.
Okay.
So are-are you thinking that she may be innocent of the narcotics charges from four months ago? And the prostitution charges from last night? Yeah, we are pretty sure of that.
Mm, what makes you think so? Because when she was allegedly selling and soliciting on a street corner, Tiffany Williams was actually working as an informant.
For who? For us.
Oh.
So she has an alibi.
Yeah.
Only problem is she can't use it.
So, about six months ago, a guy named Phillip Robbins stole proprietary naval security software and sold it to Iran.
SAM: Or so we think.
NCIS still doesn't have enough to move on him.
KENSI: Case originated at the D.
C.
office, but they brought it to us when they realized that Robbins spends most of the year in Los Angeles.
DEEKS: And most of his time and money on petite, blonde prostitutes.
And that brings us to Tiffany Williams.
Back in the day, he was one of her most loyal johns.
And by loyal, I mean he was completely obsessed with her.
So NCIS recruited her to help us get to him.
CALLEN: And it worked.
We've been tracking him for six months, building a very solid case until Tiffany got arrested for a bogus drug charge.
So now that she's out of the picture? KENSI: We're back to zero.
As soon as Tiffany got arrested, Robbins vanished and the case completely stalled.
Right.
Sam? What? Might not be a bogus drug charge.
Just saying.
Come on, man.
Let's not do this.
No one wants to talk about it, but four months ago, when she was arrested, there was an hour that we don't know about.
We don't know where she was or what she was doing.
Well, that's easy.
I'll just-- CALLEN: No, you can't.
Cell phone was turned off.
We couldn't find anything through traffic or security cameras or by stitching together social media.
And she won't give us a straight answer.
Well, that complicates things, doesn't it? Yeah, but I don't trust the officers that arrested her.
Maybe Detective Whiting doesn't either.
I mean, she showed up at Tiffany's hearing this morning.
Wow, that sounds like a party.
Yeah, I don't know, Deeks.
I mean, Whiting is Internal Affairs.
She might be our best shot.
Well, if that's the case, then she's in even more trouble than we feared.
Uh, was that code for "he'll do it even though he doesn't want to"? KENSI: Yeah.
Basically, yeah.
WHITING: Well, this is festive.
Can you stop the tough guy act for, like, a second? What makes you think it's an act? Baby, I was born this way.
Before Tiffany Williams was arrested, she was working undercover for NCIS.
She was helping us get close to someone we believe stole proprietary technology and sold it to a hostile foreign government.
I stopped listening after you said "undercover.
" - Of course you did.
- And what, may I ask, was Tiffany's super secret persona? She was working undercover as a prostitute.
So, a real stretch.
Oh, my God.
You are unbelievable.
And you need to grow up and stop believing in fairy tales.
Listen, the drug bust wasn't real.
You know that.
Eight ounces of cocaine says otherwise.
No.
It wasn't worth it.
She wouldn't go back.
That is the only thing that surprises me about this case.
What's that? Nobody knows Tiffany better than you.
And yet you somehow thought it was a good idea to deliver her back to the world that she's worked so hard to leave behind? Wasn't-- it wasn't like that.
Pretty sure it was.
And then temptation got too great and she fell back on bad habits.
But I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, am I, Deeks? That's not fair.
Tiffany was innocent.
You keep telling yourself that.
She doesn't belong in prison.
Can't help you, Deeks.
Well, that's a shocker.
(seagulls calling) (grunts) ELIZABETH: Sorry, so you two aren't cops? Uh, different agency.
We-We're NCIS.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
The Navy? Oh, geez.
(exhales) What did Tiffany do this time? It's not like that.
We just want to ask you a few questions.
So, has your daughter been acting different over the last few months? Any new friends? New places she's hanging out? I don't know if it was anywhere new, but she was definitely hanging out again.
Hadn't done that for a long time.
- How so? - Well, once Tiffany got her act together, she became a homebody.
She'd go to work at the nursery every day, and then it was her, me (chuckles) Chip and Jo every night.
What about friends? No, I can't help you there.
She never told me anything about anyone.
Except CALLEN: What? Her lawyer.
Apparently, this friend of hers found the guy and is even paying for him.
The lawyer's supposed to be from some fancy firm, but you wouldn't know it by how things went down this morning.
(phone buzzing) E-Excuse me.
Hello? One of Tiffany's friends is covering her legal fees.
We know it's not Deeks.
We know the rest of her circle.
At least, we thought we did.
Could be Phillip Robbins.
We follow the money, we may find him.
I'll call Eric.
There you are.
Hey.
How did it go with Detective Whiting? At least I can say I checked the box.
I'm sorry.
- We'll figure something else out.
- I really thought that Tiffany could handle this.
I-I never Sweetie, I know.
I know you did.
You know, you do this job long enough, you forget there's a reason NCIS has a psychologist on staff.
Sweetie, whatever happens, this is absolutely not your fault.
Don't do that.
We both know this is on me.
Deeks, it is not No, come on.
I was so focused on the case, I lost sight of the position I was putting Tiffany into.
I mean, I never should've asked her to help us.
And you know that.
The truth is is Sam's right.
We have no idea where she was for that hour she was missing.
I mean, think about it.
She left the boatshed at 8:00.
It should've taken her, what, 20 minutes to get to the bar? That's being generous with it.
- She shows up an hour after that.
- Stop.
Do not do this to yourself.
I think I should just stop believing in fairy tales.
(sighs) And that breaks my heart a little bit.
Callen, Sam, you were right.
I figured out which bank account was being used to pay for Joel Simoni, Tiffany's lawyer.
And? And not only is the account located in the Cayman Islands-- which, let's be honest, is already super sketch-- but Simoni's fees were the only activity on the account-- wait for it-- until today.
What happened today? Someone rented a car at LAX.
If Phillip Robbins is back in town, he's definitely up to something.
Yeah, he could be making another move.
He could also be coming after Tiffany, especially if he figured out that she's been helping us.
The kind of people he knows, he can get to her in jail.
She's not safe in there.
So what are you guys gonna do? Bust her out of jail? (chuckles) That's not a bad idea.
I've heard of worse.
G Guys, I'm-I'm kidding.
I was kidding.
Guys.
I'm kidding.
(engine shuts off) - Callen, Sam.
- Just a couple of guys getting their daily dose of vitamin D? - We have a plan.
- Okay.
- There's a very real possibility that Phillip Robbins is back in L.
A.
Tiffany Williams isn't safe in jail.
Wow, you couldn't have led with the good news? Well, like I said, we have a plan.
Yeah, so you've mentioned.
We're gonna take over Tiffany's legal case.
Wow, I don't know how to tell you this, but I think that your plan needs a little more planning.
- Her lawyer's a hack.
- And you're You're less of a hack.
You could argue circles around that guy.
(chuckles) Okay, your big plan to get Tiffany out of jail, it No, guys, he can't defend her.
- He's LAPD.
- Guys, I've testified in front of Judge Lee as a cop.
I've argued cases to her as a public defender.
Which is why you won't be her lawyer.
Well, strictly speaking.
I will be.
With you in my ear.
KENSI: No, he can't.
Is that even legal? Uh, it's definitely not legal.
- It's legal-adjacent.
- Does that count? - 'Cause I'm pretty sure that doesn't count.
- Mm-hmm.
It's never stopped us before.
- We weren't being subpoenaed before.
DEEKS: What does Kilbride say about all this? SAM: Well, that's the best part.
Kilbride's not around.
Which means we have no protection.
Well, I know that Hetty would bless this op.
Even if she does, what about Mosley? Don't have to worry about Mosley.
- She's loyal.
- Maybe.
What do you think? What do I think? I think I'll be in the boatshed.
Prepping for court.
There you are.
Nell, I need a favor.
Mm.
You're good.
Everything's been arranged.
For what? Your cover.
But I never told you what it was.
I know.
I figured it out.
The way I see it, there's only one legal-adjacent play to get Tiffany out of jail.
And you figured it out? I've been backstopping you as a criminal defense lawyer all morning.
Mm.
Well, that is some Jedi-level playbook stuff you got there, Nell.
- You know what they say.
Big bangs, big brain.
Yeah.
- Like that.
- Check it out.
Logan O'Neill, huh? So I am now officially a member of the California Bar? At least your alias is.
What? You're not the only one Hetty's been grooming.
Promise, you're good.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Oh, and, uh, good luck out there.
I hear the judge is a real tough cookie.
Good to know.
Guys, that Cayman account that paid for Tiffany's lawyer and the rented car from LAX just popped up again at a spin studio in Hollywood.
You and me.
You and me, baby.
We a team.
Think Phillips is in there? I don't know.
He's been off the grid for months.
Just got back to town, the first thing he does is sign up for a hard-core exercise class? - Yeah.
Yeah.
- Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
- This is L.
A.
, right? - When in Rome.
(laughs) CASSIDY: You guys, welcome to Cyclehaus! Are you signed up for the next class, or do you want to join the wait list? - Oh, there's a wait list? - Oh, yeah.
Big-time.
I mean, Janet's teaching.
- Of course.
Janet.
Janet, yeah.
- Janet's teaching.
Yeah, no, sorry.
We were here this morning, and - Oh, you're back for a double? - Well - What?! Oh, you guys, they're back for a double! - Oh, whoa.
SAM: No, please.
(cyclists cheering) Double! Can you put that down, please? Just put down the bell.
Please.
Please put the bell down.
No, I just left my water bottle in the studio, and I was wondering if I could go grab it.
Yeah.
I'll let you know when the studio's open.
Thank you.
- Let me know if you change your mind.
- We won't.
We won't.
KENSI: Thanks.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
This place counts as a two-a-day, huh? Yeah, this place will kick your butt.
Really? (Kensi clears throat) Is that Phillip standing right up there? That's him, all right.
(camera clicks) Who's he with? Have we seen her before? No.
I don't think she's involved with the case.
You guys, the studio's open! (cyclists cheering) - At least not yet.
- Federal agents.
- Move! - I'm-a go around back.
KENSI: Move.
Get out of the way.
Move.
Get out of the way.
- Sam.
- Any luck? They're gone.
(panting) At least we know he's really back.
And we have a picture of her.
ERIC: Our mystery woman from the spin studio is Vanessa Brown, former LAPD.
Now works at Vivid Locke Security.
- New security outfit down in Playa.
ERIC: Exactly.
They won a huge government contract earlier this year to develop the next generation of antiballistic missile software.
Vivid Locke could be Phillip Robbins' next target.
NELL: The company's run by former Mossad.
It's financed by former MI6.
It's staffed by former Rangers, SEALs Apparently LAPD.
You know her, Deeks? DEEKS: Never seen her before in my life.
NELL: That's because Brown joined the force after you had already started working here.
How long did she last at LAPD? Less than five years.
I bet there's a story there.
Probably a good one.
All right, I'm on it.
Thank you.
(whistles) We have to stop running into each other like this.
No kidding.
Chin up, Deeks.
I got you a snow cone.
That's incredibly thoughtful of you.
You mind, uh, holding that for me? - So, you recognize her? Where did you get that? Go ahead and take that as a yes.
So, why did Vanessa Brown leave LAPD? That's not public information.
Well, the guy that we're going after and the guy that we think set up Tiffany Williams and the reason she's in prison again is in that picture with her.
And who is he? Phillip Robbins.
He has the amazing tendency of taking things from our country and selling it to our enemies.
So, why did Vanessa Brown leave LAPD? Do you want me to repeat what I already told you? That's okay.
Let me just take a stab in the dark, then.
Was she stealing drugs from the evidence locker? Drugs she could plant on Tiffany Williams the night that she was arrested? And let me ask another question while we're on the subject.
How close was Vanessa Brown with Young, Lopez, and Demblowski, the three officers that arrested Tiffany last night on that phony solicitation charge? Just eat your damn snow cone.
That's so funny.
That's the same thing I said when I started using my brain.
(sighs) WOMAN: Williams! (lock buzzes, latch clicks) Gate.
(gate buzzes) Move.
It's okay.
It's me.
Kensi.
Geez, that was dramatic.
How you doing? You okay? It's all relative, right? But let's be serious.
I mean, this is this is pretty bad.
Yeah, I know.
That's why we're trying to get you out of here as soon as possible.
How? This is literally a prison.
For one, we're getting you new counsel.
Kensi, that is not a good idea.
We know Phillip is paying for your current lawyer.
(sighs) It's complicated.
Tiffany, why is it so complicated? Because he planted the cocaine and set you up, or because he hired a guy that's throwing the case? Or is there something else you're not telling us? Four months ago, when you got arrested, where did you go the night before the bar? I wish I could tell you.
But I didn't do anything wrong, I swear, okay? You just have to trust me.
Okay.
I believe you.
Thank you.
So, uh, who's my new lawyer? Deeks will be taking over the case.
- Deeks? - Mm-hmm.
Is that even legal? Legal-adjacent, apparently.
It's more of a Callen-Deeks joint task force.
Oh, Phillip is not going to be happy.
Good.
Something we can use.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Dude, I got to be in court in ten minutes.
This won't take long.
You're fired.
- What? - You heard me.
Get out of my way, man.
Tiffany Williams is no longer your client.
She signed the release papers this morning.
- And you're calling the shots now? - I am.
And I'm gonna strongly suggest that you walk away without a fight.
Or else? I'll have you disbarred.
Probably sue you for malpractice.
Now, that would be my pleasure.
Oh, and if you have any other problems, why don't you just have whoever's paying your bills give me a call? Have a good day.
It's not enough.
Either that or it's too much.
It's not enough of what we need.
If we're gonna infiltrate Vivid Locke Security and secure the software before Phillip Robbins gets to it, we're gonna need to outthink, outcode, outmaneuver the equivalent of three intelligence agencies.
ERIC: Their security system is the most sophisticated I've ever seen.
KENSI: Yeah.
Look at that building.
It's like a block-wide panic room.
We can't compete with that man power.
And we're running out of time.
Now, remind me again how Phillip Robbins is gonna steal their software? SAM: Vanessa Brown.
He's got a corrupt cop on the inside.
That old chestnut.
Wait.
So, then, why don't we just Because we don't know who we can trust.
Vanessa Brown might have a whole team of people working with her; we don't want to tip any of them off.
ERIC: Besides, this is the kind of place where, if the HVAC goes down, they fix it themselves.
If the power goes down, they fix it themselves.
- It's like Survivor in an office building.
NELL: God.
- That would be a terrible show.
- Unwatchable.
SAM: Hmm.
- What do you see? There.
Our own thermal exhaust port.
You think you can pull it off? It'd be complicated.
KENSI: And dangerous.
- Extremely expensive.
SAM: But it would work.
And there's no one here to tell us we can't do it.
All rise.
An emergency motion? Really? Don't look at me.
CALLEN: Your Honor Who are you? Logan O'Neill for the defense.
What happened to the other guy? When did this happen? Did you know about the switch? No matter.
We're here, and either way, I'm missing lunch.
Defendant, do you consent to new counsel? - Yes, Your Honor.
- Well? - Right.
Your Honor, I'm here to ask that my client be allowed to post bail for the duration of trial.
That's the emergency? I'm confused.
Am I having déjà vu? Didn't I already rule on this? Your Honor, it has come to light that my client's life may be in danger were she to remain in jail.
And? And? And? And, more important, the motion that my client's previous counsel submitted to the clerk in regards to the new solicitation charges was inadequate.
Scratch that.
It was egregiously inadequate.
You got to be kidding me.
Your Honor, you said so yourself.
You already ruled on the motion.
And I'm not allowed to change my mind? I have eyewitness accounts, security camera footage as well as credit card receipts that prove that my client on the night and the hour of the alleged solicitation was, in fact, having dinner with friends in North Hollywood.
So I ask, is it likely that Tiffany Williams was in violation of her bail? Unless she discovered the fifth dimension in the space-time continuum, I would argue not.
I'd argue not.
All right, then.
Looks like you've got yourself a fair fight.
DEEKS: Boom! Good work, Callen.
That a boy.
(chuckles) Do you want to go over the op one more time? Okay, look, my only concern are the blades on the exhaust fan.
The timing has to be perfect, or we're dead.
Or you're dead.
Kensi.
- You good? - Yeah.
Sorry, I'm just I'm just thinking about Tiffany.
She's definitely not telling us something.
Yeah, I just wish I knew why.
Callen and Deeks are taking care of her.
Me and you? Our only job is to stay ahead of Phillip Robbins and make sure Vivid Locke Security technology doesn't end up in the wrong hands.
ADA Lopez.
- Mr.
O'Neill.
- You see how easy that was? - This is gonna be so much fun.
- Oh.
You mean that performance art back there? - Mm.
- That was the definition of beginner's luck.
You sure you want to risk that? I mean, it might dilute your conviction record.
Not gonna look good when you run for office.
(laughs) That has nothing to do with why I'm prepared to offer your client a deal.
Not interested.
Shouldn't we hear what it is first? I think you should listen to your client on this one.
It won't be on the table for long.
My client is not gonna plead guilty for a crime she did not commit.
Then get ready for round two.
I won't be pulling punches.
(whispering): What did you just do? I can't go back to jail.
You are gonna have to trust me.
(stammers) Just like we are all trusting you.
Huh.
(types) (line ringing) Detective Whiting.
Whiting, hey This better be good.
I'm on my lunch.
Who is this? Yeah, it's Deeks.
Listen, I need your help to make something right.
(alarm blaring) KENSI: Eric, we're pulling up to Vivid Locke Security.
Something's going down.
ERIC: Yeah, their in-house alarm went off.
There was an armed robbery.
Looks like Phillip Robbins beat you to it.
Sorry, folks, but you have to go.
We may be too late.
OFFICER: Go, let's move, everybody to this side.
(alarm blaring) Now what? DEEKS: Yeah, great.
Thanks.
How we doing? Phillip Robbins got away with Vivid Locke's antiballistic missile technology before Kensi and Sam even got there.
It looks like Vanessa Brown was helping him, but on the bright side, it appears our instincts were spot-on.
Eric and Nell? - They're working on it.
- Okay.
All we have to do is recover the stolen technology before Robbins has a chance to sell it to our enemies.
Well, yeah, that and convince the ADA to drop charges against Tiffany.
That would help, too.
It's official.
It's Manic Monday.
KENSI: This does not look like a fortress to me.
SAM: That's by design.
But it does have an Achilles' heel, and Phillip Robbins found it.
The people that work here.
We may start off pure and innocent, but all humans are corruptible.
Are you talking about Tiffany? No, but it applies to her, too.
(phone rings) What's up, Eric? I just got a hit on Phillip Robbins' rental car.
He's heading west on Santa Monica Boulevard, just past Bundy.
SAM: That's a mile from the courthouse.
I'll call Callen.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Detective Whiting.
- We good? - I'm here, aren't I? That's about as warm and fuzzy as she gets.
We're good.
Tiffany, stay here.
(phone buzzes) It's okay.
Is that Eric? I'll call him back.
Sorry, not sorry.
The offer's no long on the table, Mr.
O'Neill.
You should have listened to your client.
Well, I'm still not interested in a deal, but I would like you to drop the charges against Tiffany Williams.
(laughs) Why? Because you seem like such a stand-up guy? ADA Lopez, trust me.
You don't want to be anywhere near this.
And you are? LAPD Detective Ellen Whiting, Internal Affairs.
Someone's been naughty, it's true, but you're going after the wrong girl.
I see.
Well, I'll have to speak with the district attorney We both know that's not true.
And who are you? Somebody who knows what they're talking about.
Listen, let's break this down together.
You have a detective from Internal Affairs that says this case is rotten.
Therefore, there is no scenario in which this goes to trial.
So you have a pretty easy decision in front of you.
Do you continue to play God with an innocent woman's life for a few more days, or do you act like a decent human being and drop the charges? I'll go speak to the clerk.
- Thank you.
- You don't have to thank me.
I didn't do squat for you.
Guys, we got company.
Phillip Robbins and Vanessa Brown.
Oh, God.
Tiffany? I got 'em.
Go, go, go.
Phillip Robbins.
Where is she? Where is the missile software? You trade her for that? Well, I really like that software.
How much do you care about the girl? (scoffs) Go, go, go.
No, ho-ho-ho-ho Hold on.
Hold on.
It's okay.
Hold on.
I dare you.
Let's go.
Move it.
Good work.
You okay? Okay, let's go.
Come on.
So, why do you care so much about Tiffany? Who is she? - Someone I trusted.
- Ah.
She lied to you, huh? Isn't that what you pay her for? She betrayed me.
Well, now, that would be upsetting to me as well.
Where is she? - All right, it's okay.
- Who are those guys?! (shrieks) It's probably the team Robbins had working with him inside of Vivid Locke Security.
- Vivid Locke Security? - That's the case you helped us solve.
- (yelps) Aah! Oh, my God, Deeks, I can't do this, I can't do it.
- I can't do it.
I can't do it.
- Look at me.
Look at me.
Look at me, Tiffany.
Look at me.
You can do this.
Look at me.
You're fine.
You're okay.
I'm gonna get you through this.
(engine revs) (tires screech) Behind us! Stay down.
(groans) (men grunting) - (whimpering) - It's okay.
Hey, you're okay.
Look at me.
It's over.
All right? It's over.
You did good.
Federal agent! Federal agent! OFFICER: Move, move.
- Seriously? What took you so long? - You're hilarious.
- It's okay.
You can say it.
You missed me, Sam.
Let's move it.
So, Phillip framed Tiffany when he suspected she'd betrayed him.
KENSI: Well, he also killed two birds with one stone with Vanessa Brown.
Not only did she help him arrest Tiffany, but he also got his hands on that antiballistic software.
- Which we still haven't recovered.
CALLEN: We'll pit Phillip against Vanessa, see which one of them caves first.
And inevitably one of them will.
Mm-hmm.
Excuse me for a second, gentlemen.
DEEKS: Hey.
Hey.
(sighs) You doing okay? Yeah.
I'm just waiting for my mom.
We could have dropped you off.
No, that's okay.
Kind of just wanted to spend some time with her, but thank you, Deeks, for everything.
Well, I owe you an apology.
I never should have put you in that position.
I'm the one who said yes.
Doesn't matter.
I shouldn't have asked, and I'm sorry.
Well, thank you for believing me.
Even when I couldn't totally be honest with you.
Listen, I get it, you know? Phillip's a scary guy, especially when he's got one of your friends in his teeth.
You knew? Not until today.
And I could never figure out why, when you showed up at the bar, you were crying, and then I realized it's just 'cause you were protecting somebody.
Right? Somebody that wasn't able to get out.
So I tracked down your crew, and they told me what happened to Lorraine.
Back then, Lorraine was like a sister to me.
Phillip went after her to hurt me, and she needed my help that night.
Really, she needed a hospital, but I promised her that I wouldn't tell anyone.
We thought that Phillip was gonna come back to kill her.
Kill us both.
Well, the great news is, he can never touch her again.
He's not gonna hurt anybody again.
And that's because of you.
Yeah? You did good.
- Hi, honey.
- Hey.
- Ready? - Yeah.
Good-bye, Deeks.
- Be safe, okay? - Mm-hmm.
Hi, Mama.
(Elizabeth sighs) You did good.
(Kensi clears throat) - Oi.
- Oi.
Oi.
You okay? I'm good.
I'm actually really good.
Really good? Yeah.
Today just reminded me what a truly exceptional lawyer I am.
(laughs) Are you, now? And I think there's something to be said You know, I think it's incredibly appealing to do something to help people, you know, get a decent paycheck, and not get shot at every single day.
I'm sorry to break it to you, but, um, you did get shot at today.
Touché.
You're a good man, Martin Deeks.
A very good one.
- As always.
- Yup.
G.