NCIS s19e06 Episode Script
False Start
[PANTING.]
He's gonna kill me.
He's gonna kill me.
6:03, Felix.
Coach is gonna kill you.
[PANTING.]
I'm sorry, Coach.
My alarm didn't go off.
Coach? Commander? Sir? [PHONE LINE RINGING.]
["THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER" RING TONE PLAYING.]
[RING TONE CONTINUES TO PLAY.]
[RING TONE STOPS.]
This is weird, right? That's one word for it.
I think it's kind of nice.
MCGEE: Well, looks like the, uh, new guy is trying to score some brownie points.
Or in this case, pastry points.
I think Parker said these are Polish kolaczki.
Wait, wait, wait.
What if this is a test? To see who prefers plain over powdered sugar? Well, maybe.
What does taking plain over powdered sugar say about you? It says I'm hungry.
Hey, I'm serious, guys.
We barely know this guy.
What if he's playing mind games? Or he's just trying to be nice his first week on the job.
- I'm not that easy.
- Me, neither.
[GROANS SOFTLY.]
Well, now I feel like I should put it back.
Morning.
- Morning.
- On it.
Whoa.
What's the rush? You didn't come in to tell us we have a body, or? No.
How was everybody's weekend? Good.
Uneventful.
Same.
Anybody catch that Nats game last night? [PHONE RINGING.]
Special Agent McGee.
Yeah.
Uh, one sec.
Uh, dispatch has a body.
You want to talk to them? [GRUNTS SOFTLY.]
[MOUTHS.]
Um, yeah.
MCGEE: Okay, got it.
Thanks.
Guess they don't have your number yet.
We got a dead sailor at the Navy Athletic Complex in Norfolk.
Well, in that case, my delicious mind games will have to wait.
Let's roll.
How did he hear us? Victim is Navy Commander Henry Davis, head of the All-Navy Sports program.
Worked with some of the best athletes in the world.
I had a buddy who played basketball in the Army.
Serious work.
Even more so in this case.
The other military branches, your sport is your primary mission.
Navy athletes are expected to compete at an international level while maintaining their active-duty assignments.
Dual threats.
One of the athletes found him early this morning.
Yeah, I would say rigor suggests the time of death was between 4:00 and 6:00 a.
m.
You got a cause of death, Doc? The only visible wound here is a blunt force trauma to the temple.
Whoever, uh, killed him definitely had their pick of murder weapons.
You got shot puts, hammers, javelins.
Headwind and tailwind versions.
Wow.
I didn't have you pegged as the track-and-field type, McGee.
I contain multitudes, Agent Parker.
Just curious, what, uh, type did you have me pegged as? Uh, maybe "pegged" was the wrong word.
JIMMY: Well, in any case, I don't think that the murder weapon came from this room.
This wound here appears to be a burn.
From what? I'm not sure.
I've never seen dermal stippling quite like this before.
So what are we looking for? I don't know.
Then I guess we keep looking.
Commander's office is right next door.
FELIX: No, you-you don't understand.
I'm never late.
KNIGHT: Why were you this morning? Coach and I have been doing two-a-days to get ready for the Military World Games.
Time trials are next week.
Practice, plus my regular-duty assignment.
It caught up with me.
I overslept.
It's hard enough to handle one career.
You handle two.
I c I couldn't do it without Coach.
So the two of you were close? I was heading down a bad path as a kid.
Drinking, fighting.
Joined the Navy 'cause my guidance counselor thought it'd straighten me out.
Well? Did it? Not really.
I was looking at a dishonorable discharge until Coach Davis heard I was all-state in high school, asked me to try out for the Navy team.
Running turned things around for you.
No.
Coach Davis did that.
He gave me a place to belong.
Gave me something else to do other than drink.
You any idea who might want him dead? That's just it.
[SCOFFS.]
No one would.
I mean, Coach is the Coach was the best, on and off the track.
MCGEE: Well, he was the best on the track, that's for sure.
Commander Davis has quite the hardware collection.
Ah, must be the awards that didn't fit [CHUCKLES.]
: In the trophy case outside.
Hmm.
This guy's a regular John Wooden.
The basketball coach.
I loved his book on leadership.
Pyramid of Success.
Good stuff.
Mm.
MCGEE: I wonder if the commander read it, too.
Sure seems like he knew the winning secret.
Speaking of secrets You got something? Hidden compartment.
MCGEE: Drugs.
Yeah.
The performance-enhancing kind.
Testosterone, metenolone.
Wonder what our coach was doing with steroids? KNIGHT: Commander Henry Davis, decorated officer and former world-class runner himself.
He worked his way up to become head of the All-Navy Sports program.
These athletes compete in everything from the Military World Games to the Olympics.
I'd hate to find out that the drugs in the commander's desk had something to do with that.
- Could be why he was killed.
- Yeah.
Maybe somebody found out the coach was doping his athletes, got upset.
Not athletes.
In addition to his administrative duties, Davis coached one person at a time.
Someone who was stationed locally and who he saw extra potential in.
That narrows down the list.
Davis was currently training Petty Officer Felix Cross.
KNIGHT: We questioned him this morning, but that was before we knew about the drugs.
Let's see what Felix has to say now, and have him pee in a cup while you're at it.
Yeah.
Who did the coach work with before Felix? KNIGHT: Petty Officer First Class Jamie Anderson.
Now let's talk to him, too.
Let's start working our way back.
Actually, Petty Officer Anderson was killed last year, not in combat.
Some sort of car accident.
That makes two dead.
That's a small world.
- You got details? - No, but Anderson's parents still live in D.
C.
Bring them in.
Let's have a chat.
- Hi, Jimmy.
- Oh, McGee.
Great timing.
I was just about to call Parker down for an update.
Well, I like updates.
Would you like an update? I would love an update.
Let's do an update.
I finally figured out what our mystery stippling was here.
Commander Davis was killed by a gunshot.
No entry wound.
That's because there was no bullet.
This man was killed by a blank round.
Not the most effective choice of murder weapon.
No, but it works.
Even blank rounds aren't entirely blank.
Right, they use a wadding to hold in the propellant.
Which, in this case, was gunpowder.
Hence the burn on the temple.
- So he was shot point-blank? - Yeah.
The paper wadding was ejected from the barrel and shattered his temporal bone.
The bone fragments pierced the brain.
Death was instantaneous.
Think this could have been a suicide, maybe? I didn't find any GSR on the victim's hands, so that means someone else pulled the trigger.
Why try and kill someone with a blank round? Eh, starter pistols could use blank rounds.
At least they used to before everything went digital.
A track coach murdered with a starter pistol.
Pretty symbolic.
Maybe the killer is trying to send a message.
Yeah, but what's the message? This was taken after the Armed Forces Championship, when Jamie broke the Navy record.
[CHUCKLES.]
: We were so proud of him.
Yeah.
So was Coach.
You were close with Commander Davis? We considered him family.
He was just as devastated as we were when Jamie was killed.
Drunk driver.
We're sorry for your loss.
From what we understand, training under Coach Davis was something of, uh, of an honor in itself.
Yeah.
Coach only took the best under his wing.
He had the record to prove it.
Did he ever [SIGHS.]
use performance enhancers as part of his training regimen? [SCOFFS, CHUCKLES.]
You mean, like, steroids.
That's quite an accusation.
We're not accusing anyone.
CINDY: Well, you'd better have some proof before you do.
Just the accusation could disgrace the entire program.
That's hundreds of dedicated athletes.
Not to mention our Jamie.
Jamie would never dope.
And Coach Davis wasn't one to cut corners.
According to phone records, Commander Davis called your house two days ago? Yeah, that's right.
I talked to him.
Ever since Jamie died, Hank would call us every once in a while.
You know, to check in, make sure we were still doing okay.
Did he mention anything unusual the other day? Uh, the same old small talk.
We're trying to get justice for Hank.
Anything he might have said could help us.
Well, I mean, it's nothing specific, but I could tell that he seemed a little distracted.
But when I asked what was wrong, he said he didn't want to burden us with his problems.
Any idea what that problem might be? FELIX: Coach wasn't giving us drugs, and this will prove it.
You guys are way off base.
Look, we're just trying to find out why he got killed.
Well, maybe the steroids weren't even his.
Ever think of that? Yes, but they were hidden in his desk, and we couldn't find anyone else's fingerprints.
Whatever.
You should be out there - trying to catch the killer.
- [THUDDING.]
Not wasting time in here.
Hey.
Hey.
Breathe.
Breathe.
I get what you're going through.
Doubt that.
Coach was family, right? Well, I just lost some family, too.
Yeah? What did you do? Well, I didn't pick a fight with a towel dispenser.
I channeled my emotions into something positive.
Something positive like, what, finding Coach's killer? Like the time trials you have coming up.
You run your race, and you let us run ours.
Running isn't gonna help me forget.
Do you have a sponsor? Navy athletes can't sign endorsement deals.
No, not that kind of sponsor.
The one that you call on when, uh, you feel like you're falling back into old habits.
Like drinking? It's not like that, man.
Something else on your mind? Coach.
You asked me who had problems with him, right? Well, I wasn't totally honest earlier.
I saw Coach get into this argument the other day.
I have never seen him lose his temper like that.
Who was he arguing with? Petty Officer Third Class Kyle Seward.
Also stationed at Norfolk.
And also an All-Navy athlete in wrestling.
- Flyweight? - Actually, this is an old photo.
He's moved up a few classes.
He went from a skipping stone to the Rock.
All in less than a year.
Think he had a little help? Take a look at his social media profile.
Notice anything? I notice good form.
[SCOFFS.]
Outside of the gym selfies.
PARKER: Vintage 'vette.
Eh, nice car.
Yeah, too nice.
$100,000 car on an E-4 salary? Kyle's got a side business.
Maybe that's what the argument with Coach was about.
He got caught selling? Or maybe Coach was the customer.
Wouldn't be the first time someone got into a fight with their drug dealer.
Well, I say we bring Kyle in and ask.
We could, but this is just theory right now.
If we really want him to talk, we got to come up with something concrete.
If this guy is dealing, let's catch him in the act.
I can go to the gym.
Make him, uh, sell me steroids and take him down.
I mean, what is he working on today? Biceps, triceps? Legs? According to his most recent post, it is "recovery day in the tub.
" Even better.
I could use some time in the Jacuzzi.
Great.
Mm-hmm.
Thanks.
Don't worry, man.
You'll get used to it.
Then you'll crave it, bro.
Seriously.
Yeah.
Okay, yeah.
Yeah, anything to get rid of this, uh, back injury, right? Oh, you use the cold to cut down on the inflammation? - Smart.
- Yeah, doctor's orders.
- [WATER SLOSHES.]
- [GRUNTS.]
[GROANS.]
[GRUNTS, LAUGHS.]
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
You're Kyle Seward, right? Yeah, I've seen you on your social.
You bulked up pretty quick.
Why do I feel like you don't have a back injury? You're here for free advice.
I'm here for something else.
Something, uh Something I'm willing to pay for.
I hear you're the man, uh, you know, who can find, uh, things.
Don't know what you're talking about.
Wait, what's the problem? You, actually.
Approaching me in public.
Wait, I have needs.
I bet you do, but I guess you didn't hear: Shop's closed.
Hey, I got I got cash, man.
I got money.
I got money.
You name the price.
Here.
We do this, I never want to see your face again.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I can Yeah.
Uh, yeah, I can live with that.
Meet me out back in ten minutes.
[GRUNTS.]
All right, um, I'm not sure what you're into, but, uh, I got some options.
I got some old shoes.
Huh? Uh Oh.
I got some old boxer shorts.
- I was actually looking for, uh - I know.
Something a little more used.
Okay, uh Oh.
Huh? An Olympic bronze medalist wore this for two weeks.
Never washed.
I could let it go for, uh $400.
- Dude, are you messing with me? - Okay, fine.
$350.
Final offer.
Oh, come on, man.
Get that away from me.
I told you, I had nothing to do with Commander Davis's death.
We have an eyewitness who saw you arguing two days before the murder.
That doesn't mean that I killed him.
Then what were you arguing about? [SIGHS.]
And why were you selling me dirty laundry? I thought that's what you wanted.
I was talking about steroids.
What steroids? I don't know anything about those.
Then why were you and Davis arguing? Wh And did I mention that we are going to charge you with murder? Okay, Coach caught me sneaking into the locker room and removing some property.
You mean, women's sports bras? You sure you wouldn't, maybe, just rather confess to murder? Okay, look, there's a whole market out there for people who are really into, like, unwashed stuff.
Why? I don't ask questions.
All right? I'm just an enlisted sailor and an athlete trying to make ends meet, so I sell the sweaty items that the athletes leave behind.
Right, but Davis caught you.
And then you killed him.
No.
After we argued, all right, he said if I stopped selling, he wouldn't turn me over to the master-at-arms.
Commander Davis gave me a second chance, all right, and I took it.
I closed up shop.
Well, your trunk looked open to me.
Those were just some leftovers.
All right? I do most of my sales online.
But I shut all of that down.
MCGEE: Jerseys, tank tops, socks.
According to these listings, they've all been worn by minor celebrities, musicians or athletes.
And in Kyle's case, elite Navy athletes.
According to his transaction history, he made almost a thousand dollars a month on these things he was stealing from the locker room.
We are in the wrong business.
You think they have a law enforcement section? What? You would really sell your stuff? Not everything.
I'm sure I have a few things lying around.
Wow, I'm really learning a lot about you.
PARKER: So am I.
A little too much.
Why don't we focus on the case? Is Kyle Seward our killer or not? We don't think so.
As of two days ago, he closed his seller account.
He was telling the truth.
And we don't have any hard evidence connecting him to the murder.
So this was a wild-goose chase.
Well, not exactly.
See, when Kyle closed his account, he left behind some, uh, pretty angry customers.
- How angry? - Well, most of them were one-offs, but there were definitely some that were a bit more obsessed.
Meet NavyFan92.
After Kyle announced he was no longer in business, NavyFan92 started sending hostile messages.
TORRES: They threatened to break into the locker room and steal the old socks themselves.
Maybe they followed through with that threat and ran into Coach? NavyFan92 got a real name? Working on it.
Then don't let me stop you.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Torres.
Hey.
Is this a bad time? Felix? Uh, what's going on? Are you okay? [SCOFFS.]
Y-Yeah.
I was just thinking about Coach.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
Sounds like you're doing more than thinking.
Where are you? Have you cleared Coach's name yet? We're working on it.
[SNIFFLES.]
What's taking so long? You don't focus on that.
You just tell me where you are and I'll come and pick you up.
[SNIFFLES.]
Hello? MCGEE: Hey, Kase.
Is that one of Parker's pastries? It sure is.
I was wondering who all was gonna go into that box.
Nice of you to take pity.
Oh, this is not a pity pastry.
This is a motivation pastry.
It'll be my reward after we figure out who killed Commander Davis.
- Nice.
- Mm-hmm.
You find anything to help us I.
D.
NavyFan92? Still working on it.
In the meantime, I ran the urine samples for Felix and Kyle, but both came back negative.
They weren't using.
And we still don't know where those PEDs came from.
I wish I could help, but testosterone, metenolone and methylprednisolone are all easy to come by, - which makes them impossible to trace.
- Mm.
And the only other item in the dopp kit was this old ribbon.
"Outstanding participation.
" I got one of these in a Fourth of July sack race when I was nine.
No way to tell who it belongs to.
And the only prints on it were the commander's.
I hope you like Stale Kolaczki.
[COMPUTER CHIRPS.]
- Maybe not so stale.
- You get a lead? Yeah.
On NavyFan92.
Still no name, but I have an address.
Seems our obsessed fan had their purchases delivered to a mail forwarding service.
Warrant come through on the shipping records? Uh-huh.
The packages' final destination was a warehouse in Anacostia.
All right, send me the address.
Thanks, Kase.
- Nice work.
- Uh-huh.
Mmm.
- PARKER: Anything? - MCGEE: Mm, no lights.
No movement.
Those doors are fully motorized with biometric locks.
Not to mention I'm seeing security cameras about every ten feet.
You know, this place is a fortress.
[SIGHS.]
: Oh, maybe our obsessed sports fan is into something worse than used jerseys.
All right, well, I guess we have first watch.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
So, you tap-dance, huh? Excuse me? Well, my earlier comments about your "type" seemed to hit a nerve.
Made me think that maybe I should look at more than your NCIS file.
So you found my high school yearbook.
Didn't realize you were an all-state champion.
Two-time all-state champion.
You do contain multitudes, Agent McGee.
[LAUGHS SOFTLY.]
You look up Torres and Knight, too? I'm working on it.
Might be helpful to know everybody's hidden talent.
Never know when, uh when they'll come in handy.
Looks like someone's home.
Yep.
- [SIGHS.]
- [PAD BEEPS.]
[DOOR WHIRRING.]
PARKER: Excuse us.
NCIS.
- [PAD BEEPS.]
- MCGEE: Hey, stop! - [CRUNCHING.]
- [MCGEE GRUNTS.]
- You okay? - Yeah.
Nice save.
You are light on your feet.
PARKER: Federal agents! The hell are we looking at? Nothing that makes me feel good.
Don't come any closer! This lab is positively pressurized with concentrated oxygen.
One spark and we all go up in flames.
ASTRID: I'm serious.
Back off.
Take it easy.
Easy.
I, uh, I don't know what's going on here, but I'm pretty sure no one has to die.
I would rather die and destroy my work than give it to your bosses.
Your work? Our bosses? Oh, don't play games.
I have two advanced degrees and a brain.
You were sent by the Chinese government.
Credentials say "NCIS.
" And my fake I.
D.
in high school said I was 35.
You need to get out of here.
Otherwise my finger might slip.
Look, I can see that you're, uh you're some kind of a scientist.
- And I can see you're not.
- Well, all I'm saying is, instead of making, uh, premature conclusions, you should do what scientists do best: Research.
What are you talking about? Look, a simple Internet search would show that we are legit agents.
I'm not stupid.
Any mercenary worth their salt would have a backstopped identity.
Yeah, that's very true, but would a mercenary have a personal home page dedicated to the Spotted Wood Thrush? What? You're a bird-watcher? Hidden talent.
I'll give you one search.
Okay.
Just type in, uh, "Alden Parker, bird man.
" PARKER: Find it yet? - [MOUTHS.]
- Nothing is coming up.
Type "Alden" with That's Alden with an "E.
" ASTRID: Yes, I got that, but there's nothing here.
Except a famous ornithologist Theodore Parker, but it says here he died 30 years ago.
- [WHOOSHING.]
- [ALARM BEEPING.]
Oh, no.
What did you do? Put it down, put it down.
Please don't kill me.
[HANDCUFFS CLICKING.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
We've confirmed that our warehouse scientist is NavyFan92.
Got an I.
D.
? Her real name is Dr.
Astrid Fellowes.
Started up her own biomedical research company with Silicon Valley seed money but whatever she's working on is being kept under wraps.
That explains the secret lab.
KNIGHT: She doesn't have a criminal record, just a PhD in molecular biology.
And a master's in paranoia.
Okay.
The whole "Chinese mercenary" thing was a big misunderstanding.
I'm just gonna apologize for that and be on my way.
Sit down.
There was no misunderstanding.
Look familiar? Hmm.
I've seen those.
You bought those.
A lot of them.
Along with these winning-game knee pads, and these running jerseys.
All from the best Navy athletes.
And you seemed pretty upset when your supply suddenly got cut off.
You threatened to break into the locker room? [SCOFFS.]
So? So maybe you did.
And Commander Davis caught you, so you took care of him.
Took care of him? Wait, is that what this is all about? You think I actually killed someone? Why not? You tried to kill me.
No, that-that was a mistake.
I I'm not a killer.
Or an obsessed fan.
I hate sports.
So, all of this is for a friend? [SCOFFS.]
They were for science.
Weird science.
I am a geneticist studying DNA.
I'm using elite athlete genomes as a baseline, so, naturally, I need samples.
Worn clothing has lots of DNA.
Can't you join a medical study or something? No, it is not as easy as that.
Genetic research involves a lot of red tape, regulation, not to mention the cost.
I found a cheaper shortcut.
Someone was already selling exactly what I needed.
What exactly are you working on? [LAUGHS.]
: Oh.
[WHISTLES, TITTERS.]
[CHUCKLES.]
You won't be working on anything in prison.
Fine.
I'm working on a way to detect genetic manipulation.
Uh, that ship has sailed.
We've been modifying crop genes for decades now.
I mean, in people.
Go on.
The same gene-editing technology used to increase plant strength is now being used on humans, to increase their strength.
Gene doping.
It's banned in sports and highly regulated by governments, but the trouble is, there's no way to reliably detect that it is even happening.
U-Until now.
I'm developing the first universal CRISPR test.
That's what you were willing to blow us up for? It would be a scientific breakthrough worth millions.
And you think China wants to steal it.
I.
P.
theft is their national pastime.
They have been after my research for years.
I-I have to protect it.
Well, it explains a lot.
Thank you.
Like why you'd be willing to kill.
[SCOFFS.]
I didn't kill anybody.
You know, for a scientist, you're not giving us a lot of proof.
Well, I'm not handing over my research, if that's what you're asking.
We're asking for an alibi.
TORRES: Morning, Kasie.
Hey, Nick.
I thought McGee was coming, too.
Yeah, he, uh, had to take the elevator.
Hey, Kase.
- What you got? - What do you got? I mean, besides a new pimp walk.
I got a hairline fracture on my fifth metatarsal.
Killing me all night.
I had Jimmy take an X-ray.
Oh.
You want something for the pain? I got a nighttime cold-and-flu tablet if you want to feel good.
I appreciate it, but no, I'd rather just hear about our paranoid geneticist.
Well, I got plenty of that.
As soon as Fellowes realized her choice was between an alibi or the big house, she gave us access to her entire research lab.
So, was she telling us the truth? Mostly.
I can't say whether foreign governments were coming after her, but she was studying the DNA of elite Navy athletes.
The science is real.
What about her alibi? Was that real? Unfortunately, Fellowes was in her research lab at the time of the murder.
So, not our killer.
Uh, a dead end.
[PHONE RINGING.]
So much for sweet rewards.
Torres.
Wait, what? NCIS.
Great.
You can remove the cuffs.
I think they've cooled down enough.
So, who wants to go first? Okay, I was just coming out here to clear my head and get some cardio, the next thing I know, he's all in my face trying to start something.
I did start something.
- Finished it, too.
- [BLOWS RASPBERRY.]
Why? He fought with Coach, so I fought with him.
Okay, I told you I had nothing to do with what happened to him! - Yo, man, get out of my face.
- Okay, okay.
Hey! Hey! That's enough, from both of you! - He's lucky I don't press charges, man! - Stand down.
What's the matter with you? You told me to channel my emotions.
Into running.
Why do you even care what I do? Because I've been where you are, man, and I know how hard it is to ask for help.
I don't want your help.
I want you to clear Coach's name.
I need to know he was the man I thought he was, because if I was wrong about him, then maybe he was wrong about me.
Maybe I don't deserve to be out here.
Maybe I don't belong out here.
Don't say that, okay? Don't-don't go there.
You got talent.
Doesn't matter.
I'm done.
Done with-with you, with Coach, with all of it.
- I quit.
I quit! - Come here.
Come here.
You want to talk? - About? - Felix.
He is gonna come around, you know.
Why do you say that? Well, because you're a good coach.
- Said who? - Me.
And Parker.
He, uh, seems to think it's your hidden talent.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS.]
- My what? [ELEVATOR DOORS OPEN.]
Have you seen Parker recently? McGee has.
Yeah, about an hour ago.
Why? Well, he hasn't been at his desk in a while, so I'm thinking he's about to walk in here at any minute looking for answers.
Well, we don't have any.
We still don't know where the PEDs came from and the scientist's alibi checked out.
No suspects, no leads.
Which is not what a team leader like to hear.
Even the, uh, type of team leader that makes small talk and offers pastries? I contain multitudes, Agent McGee.
Pastry, anyone? Nobody seemed to like the, uh, kolaczkis, so today, we have concha from the best Mexican bakery in D.
C.
, which is in a gas station.
It's not a bribe, or a test.
It's just a a hidden talent.
I can find the best international pastry in any town.
That's your hidden talent? I didn't say it had to be useful.
Would you rather I only come in here to get upset and bark orders? A little.
It's what we're used to.
And I get that, but that's not who I am, so let's work with what we got.
Except we've got nothing.
Case is at a dead end.
So we fix that.
Let's take a breath, take a concha and start from the beginning.
Who wants to go first? KASIE: I will.
Ooh, I may not have found our killer, but I earned this.
Mmm.
Mm.
I have a lead.
So we're trying to figure out who was using the PEDs, right? But the only way to figure out who was doping would be to test every Navy athlete.
Yeah, that's a whole lot of samples to collect.
Then I realized we don't have to collect anything.
We already have everything we need.
PARKER: Hmm.
Fellowes's DNA research.
Our paranoid geneticist was analyzing shed skin cells.
That means she already tested every Navy athlete that's been through that locker room in the last two years.
We should send her a thank-you card.
It's already in the mail.
Because I was able to look through her reports for signs of doping.
- You found some.
- Yes.
One.
So I ran the sample through the military database and got a hit.
The only athlete to show signs of PED use was Petty Officer Jamie Anderson.
The runner who was killed in a car accident last year.
Well, before then, Jamie was using testosterone, metenolone and methylprednisolone.
The same drugs we found in Coach Davis's office.
We now have hard evidence that one of his athletes was cheating.
This doesn't look good for Coach.
KASIE: Oh, and the Navy's gonna be pretty pissed when they find out.
Yeah, not to mention Jamie's parents.
Or maybe they already knew.
Parker, you got something? Hey, I recognize that look.
That's the same look Gibbs used to get when he figured out something.
Well, I guess some things never change.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Your son had talent.
Jamie still holds the Navy record for two events, right? Yeah, he left a legacy.
Thanks, uh, for meeting me here on short notice.
But like I said on the phone, I think we found something that belongs to you.
Sorry.
I don't recognize this.
Hmm, that's odd.
I thought it was Jamie's for sure.
I mean, uh, we found it in the same bag as his drugs.
Excuse me? Jamie was doping.
[SCOFFS.]
Must be some mistake.
Like I said before, Jamie would never do that.
Well, you also said that you didn't recognize this ribbon.
That's two lies.
I'm not lying.
I've never seen that before in my life.
That's not what your wife said.
We have agents with her right now, and she showed them another picture of your son.
She said Jamie won this in his first race ever, and always kept it for good luck.
That seems like something a father should know.
How dare you talk about my son like this? I'm talking about you now.
You found out Jamie was doping, and you blamed Coach Davis.
No.
He was a trusted mentor, a father figure.
But instead of helping Jamie realize his potential, he [EXHALES.]
he was addicting him to drugs.
That's that's why you killed him.
Hey.
Look.
It's a parent's duty to protect their child.
Right? [CRYING.]
: Yeah.
Yeah, but I didn't.
I didn't protect him.
Coach didn't give Jamie the drugs.
I did.
You doped your own son? So Coach was the one who found out? A maintenance crew found Jamie's bag stuck behind an old locker a few days ago.
Coach saw the ribbon and the steroids, and he put it together.
Realized what I was making Jamie do.
That's why he called you that day.
Said he was gonna report the PED use, that it was only fair to inform the other athletes who competed against Jamie.
Coach was gonna let them take away all I have left of my son.
So I showed up early to the locker room and I begged him, I begged him to keep quiet.
And when he still refused, I pulled out the gun.
And I threatened him.
It was loaded with blanks.
I only wanted to scare Coach, but things got heated and I swear to you, I did not mean to kill him.
[CRYING.]
[HANDCUFFS CLINKING.]
KNIGHT: I thought sports stories were supposed to be uplifting.
MCGEE: Well, apparently, not this one.
A promising young athlete pushed to cheat by an overbearing parent, a beloved coach dead.
Yeah, and my foot is broken.
How is that sports-related? Well, I may never tap-dance again.
You said it was a hairline fracture.
You'll be fine by the weekend.
Yeah, well, it's still gonna hurt.
That was Felix's CO.
The kid is being busted down a rank for fighting.
That's harsh.
How'd he handle it? I'm worried about him.
Then we still got work to do.
KNIGHT: Is this the part of the sports movie where the coach gives the rousing speech to rally the team? I'm not one for speeches, but I do have another idea to keep everybody in the game.
Does it involve baked goods? It involves you, Agent Torres.
Thank you for coming.
What are we doing here? Well, I wanted to let you know that, uh, we cleared Commander Davis's name.
I heard.
Thanks, I guess.
You were right about him.
He's still gone.
And you're still here.
Right where you belong.
Nah, I can't race without Coach.
Well, he believed in you.
Not many people do.
That's where you're wrong.
Wait, What's going on? What are they doing here? Well, they're here to watch a race.
You and me, right here, right now.
Are you being serious? Oh, yeah.
You know you'd lose, right? Oh, for sure.
But win or lose, you got to finish strong, baby.
[LAUGHS SOFTLY.]
Coach could be cheesy.
You're on.
Sure you don't want to join them? Give them a few pointers? Maybe next time.
What am I missing? Agent Knight here was a college track star.
Division I.
Really? You never told us, this whole time.
Humility is one of my hidden talents.
TORRES: All right, I need someone to count us off.
You want the honors, McGee? Nah.
You go.
PARKER: All right.
On your mark, get set go!
He's gonna kill me.
He's gonna kill me.
6:03, Felix.
Coach is gonna kill you.
[PANTING.]
I'm sorry, Coach.
My alarm didn't go off.
Coach? Commander? Sir? [PHONE LINE RINGING.]
["THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER" RING TONE PLAYING.]
[RING TONE CONTINUES TO PLAY.]
[RING TONE STOPS.]
This is weird, right? That's one word for it.
I think it's kind of nice.
MCGEE: Well, looks like the, uh, new guy is trying to score some brownie points.
Or in this case, pastry points.
I think Parker said these are Polish kolaczki.
Wait, wait, wait.
What if this is a test? To see who prefers plain over powdered sugar? Well, maybe.
What does taking plain over powdered sugar say about you? It says I'm hungry.
Hey, I'm serious, guys.
We barely know this guy.
What if he's playing mind games? Or he's just trying to be nice his first week on the job.
- I'm not that easy.
- Me, neither.
[GROANS SOFTLY.]
Well, now I feel like I should put it back.
Morning.
- Morning.
- On it.
Whoa.
What's the rush? You didn't come in to tell us we have a body, or? No.
How was everybody's weekend? Good.
Uneventful.
Same.
Anybody catch that Nats game last night? [PHONE RINGING.]
Special Agent McGee.
Yeah.
Uh, one sec.
Uh, dispatch has a body.
You want to talk to them? [GRUNTS SOFTLY.]
[MOUTHS.]
Um, yeah.
MCGEE: Okay, got it.
Thanks.
Guess they don't have your number yet.
We got a dead sailor at the Navy Athletic Complex in Norfolk.
Well, in that case, my delicious mind games will have to wait.
Let's roll.
How did he hear us? Victim is Navy Commander Henry Davis, head of the All-Navy Sports program.
Worked with some of the best athletes in the world.
I had a buddy who played basketball in the Army.
Serious work.
Even more so in this case.
The other military branches, your sport is your primary mission.
Navy athletes are expected to compete at an international level while maintaining their active-duty assignments.
Dual threats.
One of the athletes found him early this morning.
Yeah, I would say rigor suggests the time of death was between 4:00 and 6:00 a.
m.
You got a cause of death, Doc? The only visible wound here is a blunt force trauma to the temple.
Whoever, uh, killed him definitely had their pick of murder weapons.
You got shot puts, hammers, javelins.
Headwind and tailwind versions.
Wow.
I didn't have you pegged as the track-and-field type, McGee.
I contain multitudes, Agent Parker.
Just curious, what, uh, type did you have me pegged as? Uh, maybe "pegged" was the wrong word.
JIMMY: Well, in any case, I don't think that the murder weapon came from this room.
This wound here appears to be a burn.
From what? I'm not sure.
I've never seen dermal stippling quite like this before.
So what are we looking for? I don't know.
Then I guess we keep looking.
Commander's office is right next door.
FELIX: No, you-you don't understand.
I'm never late.
KNIGHT: Why were you this morning? Coach and I have been doing two-a-days to get ready for the Military World Games.
Time trials are next week.
Practice, plus my regular-duty assignment.
It caught up with me.
I overslept.
It's hard enough to handle one career.
You handle two.
I c I couldn't do it without Coach.
So the two of you were close? I was heading down a bad path as a kid.
Drinking, fighting.
Joined the Navy 'cause my guidance counselor thought it'd straighten me out.
Well? Did it? Not really.
I was looking at a dishonorable discharge until Coach Davis heard I was all-state in high school, asked me to try out for the Navy team.
Running turned things around for you.
No.
Coach Davis did that.
He gave me a place to belong.
Gave me something else to do other than drink.
You any idea who might want him dead? That's just it.
[SCOFFS.]
No one would.
I mean, Coach is the Coach was the best, on and off the track.
MCGEE: Well, he was the best on the track, that's for sure.
Commander Davis has quite the hardware collection.
Ah, must be the awards that didn't fit [CHUCKLES.]
: In the trophy case outside.
Hmm.
This guy's a regular John Wooden.
The basketball coach.
I loved his book on leadership.
Pyramid of Success.
Good stuff.
Mm.
MCGEE: I wonder if the commander read it, too.
Sure seems like he knew the winning secret.
Speaking of secrets You got something? Hidden compartment.
MCGEE: Drugs.
Yeah.
The performance-enhancing kind.
Testosterone, metenolone.
Wonder what our coach was doing with steroids? KNIGHT: Commander Henry Davis, decorated officer and former world-class runner himself.
He worked his way up to become head of the All-Navy Sports program.
These athletes compete in everything from the Military World Games to the Olympics.
I'd hate to find out that the drugs in the commander's desk had something to do with that.
- Could be why he was killed.
- Yeah.
Maybe somebody found out the coach was doping his athletes, got upset.
Not athletes.
In addition to his administrative duties, Davis coached one person at a time.
Someone who was stationed locally and who he saw extra potential in.
That narrows down the list.
Davis was currently training Petty Officer Felix Cross.
KNIGHT: We questioned him this morning, but that was before we knew about the drugs.
Let's see what Felix has to say now, and have him pee in a cup while you're at it.
Yeah.
Who did the coach work with before Felix? KNIGHT: Petty Officer First Class Jamie Anderson.
Now let's talk to him, too.
Let's start working our way back.
Actually, Petty Officer Anderson was killed last year, not in combat.
Some sort of car accident.
That makes two dead.
That's a small world.
- You got details? - No, but Anderson's parents still live in D.
C.
Bring them in.
Let's have a chat.
- Hi, Jimmy.
- Oh, McGee.
Great timing.
I was just about to call Parker down for an update.
Well, I like updates.
Would you like an update? I would love an update.
Let's do an update.
I finally figured out what our mystery stippling was here.
Commander Davis was killed by a gunshot.
No entry wound.
That's because there was no bullet.
This man was killed by a blank round.
Not the most effective choice of murder weapon.
No, but it works.
Even blank rounds aren't entirely blank.
Right, they use a wadding to hold in the propellant.
Which, in this case, was gunpowder.
Hence the burn on the temple.
- So he was shot point-blank? - Yeah.
The paper wadding was ejected from the barrel and shattered his temporal bone.
The bone fragments pierced the brain.
Death was instantaneous.
Think this could have been a suicide, maybe? I didn't find any GSR on the victim's hands, so that means someone else pulled the trigger.
Why try and kill someone with a blank round? Eh, starter pistols could use blank rounds.
At least they used to before everything went digital.
A track coach murdered with a starter pistol.
Pretty symbolic.
Maybe the killer is trying to send a message.
Yeah, but what's the message? This was taken after the Armed Forces Championship, when Jamie broke the Navy record.
[CHUCKLES.]
: We were so proud of him.
Yeah.
So was Coach.
You were close with Commander Davis? We considered him family.
He was just as devastated as we were when Jamie was killed.
Drunk driver.
We're sorry for your loss.
From what we understand, training under Coach Davis was something of, uh, of an honor in itself.
Yeah.
Coach only took the best under his wing.
He had the record to prove it.
Did he ever [SIGHS.]
use performance enhancers as part of his training regimen? [SCOFFS, CHUCKLES.]
You mean, like, steroids.
That's quite an accusation.
We're not accusing anyone.
CINDY: Well, you'd better have some proof before you do.
Just the accusation could disgrace the entire program.
That's hundreds of dedicated athletes.
Not to mention our Jamie.
Jamie would never dope.
And Coach Davis wasn't one to cut corners.
According to phone records, Commander Davis called your house two days ago? Yeah, that's right.
I talked to him.
Ever since Jamie died, Hank would call us every once in a while.
You know, to check in, make sure we were still doing okay.
Did he mention anything unusual the other day? Uh, the same old small talk.
We're trying to get justice for Hank.
Anything he might have said could help us.
Well, I mean, it's nothing specific, but I could tell that he seemed a little distracted.
But when I asked what was wrong, he said he didn't want to burden us with his problems.
Any idea what that problem might be? FELIX: Coach wasn't giving us drugs, and this will prove it.
You guys are way off base.
Look, we're just trying to find out why he got killed.
Well, maybe the steroids weren't even his.
Ever think of that? Yes, but they were hidden in his desk, and we couldn't find anyone else's fingerprints.
Whatever.
You should be out there - trying to catch the killer.
- [THUDDING.]
Not wasting time in here.
Hey.
Hey.
Breathe.
Breathe.
I get what you're going through.
Doubt that.
Coach was family, right? Well, I just lost some family, too.
Yeah? What did you do? Well, I didn't pick a fight with a towel dispenser.
I channeled my emotions into something positive.
Something positive like, what, finding Coach's killer? Like the time trials you have coming up.
You run your race, and you let us run ours.
Running isn't gonna help me forget.
Do you have a sponsor? Navy athletes can't sign endorsement deals.
No, not that kind of sponsor.
The one that you call on when, uh, you feel like you're falling back into old habits.
Like drinking? It's not like that, man.
Something else on your mind? Coach.
You asked me who had problems with him, right? Well, I wasn't totally honest earlier.
I saw Coach get into this argument the other day.
I have never seen him lose his temper like that.
Who was he arguing with? Petty Officer Third Class Kyle Seward.
Also stationed at Norfolk.
And also an All-Navy athlete in wrestling.
- Flyweight? - Actually, this is an old photo.
He's moved up a few classes.
He went from a skipping stone to the Rock.
All in less than a year.
Think he had a little help? Take a look at his social media profile.
Notice anything? I notice good form.
[SCOFFS.]
Outside of the gym selfies.
PARKER: Vintage 'vette.
Eh, nice car.
Yeah, too nice.
$100,000 car on an E-4 salary? Kyle's got a side business.
Maybe that's what the argument with Coach was about.
He got caught selling? Or maybe Coach was the customer.
Wouldn't be the first time someone got into a fight with their drug dealer.
Well, I say we bring Kyle in and ask.
We could, but this is just theory right now.
If we really want him to talk, we got to come up with something concrete.
If this guy is dealing, let's catch him in the act.
I can go to the gym.
Make him, uh, sell me steroids and take him down.
I mean, what is he working on today? Biceps, triceps? Legs? According to his most recent post, it is "recovery day in the tub.
" Even better.
I could use some time in the Jacuzzi.
Great.
Mm-hmm.
Thanks.
Don't worry, man.
You'll get used to it.
Then you'll crave it, bro.
Seriously.
Yeah.
Okay, yeah.
Yeah, anything to get rid of this, uh, back injury, right? Oh, you use the cold to cut down on the inflammation? - Smart.
- Yeah, doctor's orders.
- [WATER SLOSHES.]
- [GRUNTS.]
[GROANS.]
[GRUNTS, LAUGHS.]
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
You're Kyle Seward, right? Yeah, I've seen you on your social.
You bulked up pretty quick.
Why do I feel like you don't have a back injury? You're here for free advice.
I'm here for something else.
Something, uh Something I'm willing to pay for.
I hear you're the man, uh, you know, who can find, uh, things.
Don't know what you're talking about.
Wait, what's the problem? You, actually.
Approaching me in public.
Wait, I have needs.
I bet you do, but I guess you didn't hear: Shop's closed.
Hey, I got I got cash, man.
I got money.
I got money.
You name the price.
Here.
We do this, I never want to see your face again.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I can Yeah.
Uh, yeah, I can live with that.
Meet me out back in ten minutes.
[GRUNTS.]
All right, um, I'm not sure what you're into, but, uh, I got some options.
I got some old shoes.
Huh? Uh Oh.
I got some old boxer shorts.
- I was actually looking for, uh - I know.
Something a little more used.
Okay, uh Oh.
Huh? An Olympic bronze medalist wore this for two weeks.
Never washed.
I could let it go for, uh $400.
- Dude, are you messing with me? - Okay, fine.
$350.
Final offer.
Oh, come on, man.
Get that away from me.
I told you, I had nothing to do with Commander Davis's death.
We have an eyewitness who saw you arguing two days before the murder.
That doesn't mean that I killed him.
Then what were you arguing about? [SIGHS.]
And why were you selling me dirty laundry? I thought that's what you wanted.
I was talking about steroids.
What steroids? I don't know anything about those.
Then why were you and Davis arguing? Wh And did I mention that we are going to charge you with murder? Okay, Coach caught me sneaking into the locker room and removing some property.
You mean, women's sports bras? You sure you wouldn't, maybe, just rather confess to murder? Okay, look, there's a whole market out there for people who are really into, like, unwashed stuff.
Why? I don't ask questions.
All right? I'm just an enlisted sailor and an athlete trying to make ends meet, so I sell the sweaty items that the athletes leave behind.
Right, but Davis caught you.
And then you killed him.
No.
After we argued, all right, he said if I stopped selling, he wouldn't turn me over to the master-at-arms.
Commander Davis gave me a second chance, all right, and I took it.
I closed up shop.
Well, your trunk looked open to me.
Those were just some leftovers.
All right? I do most of my sales online.
But I shut all of that down.
MCGEE: Jerseys, tank tops, socks.
According to these listings, they've all been worn by minor celebrities, musicians or athletes.
And in Kyle's case, elite Navy athletes.
According to his transaction history, he made almost a thousand dollars a month on these things he was stealing from the locker room.
We are in the wrong business.
You think they have a law enforcement section? What? You would really sell your stuff? Not everything.
I'm sure I have a few things lying around.
Wow, I'm really learning a lot about you.
PARKER: So am I.
A little too much.
Why don't we focus on the case? Is Kyle Seward our killer or not? We don't think so.
As of two days ago, he closed his seller account.
He was telling the truth.
And we don't have any hard evidence connecting him to the murder.
So this was a wild-goose chase.
Well, not exactly.
See, when Kyle closed his account, he left behind some, uh, pretty angry customers.
- How angry? - Well, most of them were one-offs, but there were definitely some that were a bit more obsessed.
Meet NavyFan92.
After Kyle announced he was no longer in business, NavyFan92 started sending hostile messages.
TORRES: They threatened to break into the locker room and steal the old socks themselves.
Maybe they followed through with that threat and ran into Coach? NavyFan92 got a real name? Working on it.
Then don't let me stop you.
[PHONE RINGS.]
Torres.
Hey.
Is this a bad time? Felix? Uh, what's going on? Are you okay? [SCOFFS.]
Y-Yeah.
I was just thinking about Coach.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
Sounds like you're doing more than thinking.
Where are you? Have you cleared Coach's name yet? We're working on it.
[SNIFFLES.]
What's taking so long? You don't focus on that.
You just tell me where you are and I'll come and pick you up.
[SNIFFLES.]
Hello? MCGEE: Hey, Kase.
Is that one of Parker's pastries? It sure is.
I was wondering who all was gonna go into that box.
Nice of you to take pity.
Oh, this is not a pity pastry.
This is a motivation pastry.
It'll be my reward after we figure out who killed Commander Davis.
- Nice.
- Mm-hmm.
You find anything to help us I.
D.
NavyFan92? Still working on it.
In the meantime, I ran the urine samples for Felix and Kyle, but both came back negative.
They weren't using.
And we still don't know where those PEDs came from.
I wish I could help, but testosterone, metenolone and methylprednisolone are all easy to come by, - which makes them impossible to trace.
- Mm.
And the only other item in the dopp kit was this old ribbon.
"Outstanding participation.
" I got one of these in a Fourth of July sack race when I was nine.
No way to tell who it belongs to.
And the only prints on it were the commander's.
I hope you like Stale Kolaczki.
[COMPUTER CHIRPS.]
- Maybe not so stale.
- You get a lead? Yeah.
On NavyFan92.
Still no name, but I have an address.
Seems our obsessed fan had their purchases delivered to a mail forwarding service.
Warrant come through on the shipping records? Uh-huh.
The packages' final destination was a warehouse in Anacostia.
All right, send me the address.
Thanks, Kase.
- Nice work.
- Uh-huh.
Mmm.
- PARKER: Anything? - MCGEE: Mm, no lights.
No movement.
Those doors are fully motorized with biometric locks.
Not to mention I'm seeing security cameras about every ten feet.
You know, this place is a fortress.
[SIGHS.]
: Oh, maybe our obsessed sports fan is into something worse than used jerseys.
All right, well, I guess we have first watch.
[EXHALES SHARPLY.]
So, you tap-dance, huh? Excuse me? Well, my earlier comments about your "type" seemed to hit a nerve.
Made me think that maybe I should look at more than your NCIS file.
So you found my high school yearbook.
Didn't realize you were an all-state champion.
Two-time all-state champion.
You do contain multitudes, Agent McGee.
[LAUGHS SOFTLY.]
You look up Torres and Knight, too? I'm working on it.
Might be helpful to know everybody's hidden talent.
Never know when, uh when they'll come in handy.
Looks like someone's home.
Yep.
- [SIGHS.]
- [PAD BEEPS.]
[DOOR WHIRRING.]
PARKER: Excuse us.
NCIS.
- [PAD BEEPS.]
- MCGEE: Hey, stop! - [CRUNCHING.]
- [MCGEE GRUNTS.]
- You okay? - Yeah.
Nice save.
You are light on your feet.
PARKER: Federal agents! The hell are we looking at? Nothing that makes me feel good.
Don't come any closer! This lab is positively pressurized with concentrated oxygen.
One spark and we all go up in flames.
ASTRID: I'm serious.
Back off.
Take it easy.
Easy.
I, uh, I don't know what's going on here, but I'm pretty sure no one has to die.
I would rather die and destroy my work than give it to your bosses.
Your work? Our bosses? Oh, don't play games.
I have two advanced degrees and a brain.
You were sent by the Chinese government.
Credentials say "NCIS.
" And my fake I.
D.
in high school said I was 35.
You need to get out of here.
Otherwise my finger might slip.
Look, I can see that you're, uh you're some kind of a scientist.
- And I can see you're not.
- Well, all I'm saying is, instead of making, uh, premature conclusions, you should do what scientists do best: Research.
What are you talking about? Look, a simple Internet search would show that we are legit agents.
I'm not stupid.
Any mercenary worth their salt would have a backstopped identity.
Yeah, that's very true, but would a mercenary have a personal home page dedicated to the Spotted Wood Thrush? What? You're a bird-watcher? Hidden talent.
I'll give you one search.
Okay.
Just type in, uh, "Alden Parker, bird man.
" PARKER: Find it yet? - [MOUTHS.]
- Nothing is coming up.
Type "Alden" with That's Alden with an "E.
" ASTRID: Yes, I got that, but there's nothing here.
Except a famous ornithologist Theodore Parker, but it says here he died 30 years ago.
- [WHOOSHING.]
- [ALARM BEEPING.]
Oh, no.
What did you do? Put it down, put it down.
Please don't kill me.
[HANDCUFFS CLICKING.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
We've confirmed that our warehouse scientist is NavyFan92.
Got an I.
D.
? Her real name is Dr.
Astrid Fellowes.
Started up her own biomedical research company with Silicon Valley seed money but whatever she's working on is being kept under wraps.
That explains the secret lab.
KNIGHT: She doesn't have a criminal record, just a PhD in molecular biology.
And a master's in paranoia.
Okay.
The whole "Chinese mercenary" thing was a big misunderstanding.
I'm just gonna apologize for that and be on my way.
Sit down.
There was no misunderstanding.
Look familiar? Hmm.
I've seen those.
You bought those.
A lot of them.
Along with these winning-game knee pads, and these running jerseys.
All from the best Navy athletes.
And you seemed pretty upset when your supply suddenly got cut off.
You threatened to break into the locker room? [SCOFFS.]
So? So maybe you did.
And Commander Davis caught you, so you took care of him.
Took care of him? Wait, is that what this is all about? You think I actually killed someone? Why not? You tried to kill me.
No, that-that was a mistake.
I I'm not a killer.
Or an obsessed fan.
I hate sports.
So, all of this is for a friend? [SCOFFS.]
They were for science.
Weird science.
I am a geneticist studying DNA.
I'm using elite athlete genomes as a baseline, so, naturally, I need samples.
Worn clothing has lots of DNA.
Can't you join a medical study or something? No, it is not as easy as that.
Genetic research involves a lot of red tape, regulation, not to mention the cost.
I found a cheaper shortcut.
Someone was already selling exactly what I needed.
What exactly are you working on? [LAUGHS.]
: Oh.
[WHISTLES, TITTERS.]
[CHUCKLES.]
You won't be working on anything in prison.
Fine.
I'm working on a way to detect genetic manipulation.
Uh, that ship has sailed.
We've been modifying crop genes for decades now.
I mean, in people.
Go on.
The same gene-editing technology used to increase plant strength is now being used on humans, to increase their strength.
Gene doping.
It's banned in sports and highly regulated by governments, but the trouble is, there's no way to reliably detect that it is even happening.
U-Until now.
I'm developing the first universal CRISPR test.
That's what you were willing to blow us up for? It would be a scientific breakthrough worth millions.
And you think China wants to steal it.
I.
P.
theft is their national pastime.
They have been after my research for years.
I-I have to protect it.
Well, it explains a lot.
Thank you.
Like why you'd be willing to kill.
[SCOFFS.]
I didn't kill anybody.
You know, for a scientist, you're not giving us a lot of proof.
Well, I'm not handing over my research, if that's what you're asking.
We're asking for an alibi.
TORRES: Morning, Kasie.
Hey, Nick.
I thought McGee was coming, too.
Yeah, he, uh, had to take the elevator.
Hey, Kase.
- What you got? - What do you got? I mean, besides a new pimp walk.
I got a hairline fracture on my fifth metatarsal.
Killing me all night.
I had Jimmy take an X-ray.
Oh.
You want something for the pain? I got a nighttime cold-and-flu tablet if you want to feel good.
I appreciate it, but no, I'd rather just hear about our paranoid geneticist.
Well, I got plenty of that.
As soon as Fellowes realized her choice was between an alibi or the big house, she gave us access to her entire research lab.
So, was she telling us the truth? Mostly.
I can't say whether foreign governments were coming after her, but she was studying the DNA of elite Navy athletes.
The science is real.
What about her alibi? Was that real? Unfortunately, Fellowes was in her research lab at the time of the murder.
So, not our killer.
Uh, a dead end.
[PHONE RINGING.]
So much for sweet rewards.
Torres.
Wait, what? NCIS.
Great.
You can remove the cuffs.
I think they've cooled down enough.
So, who wants to go first? Okay, I was just coming out here to clear my head and get some cardio, the next thing I know, he's all in my face trying to start something.
I did start something.
- Finished it, too.
- [BLOWS RASPBERRY.]
Why? He fought with Coach, so I fought with him.
Okay, I told you I had nothing to do with what happened to him! - Yo, man, get out of my face.
- Okay, okay.
Hey! Hey! That's enough, from both of you! - He's lucky I don't press charges, man! - Stand down.
What's the matter with you? You told me to channel my emotions.
Into running.
Why do you even care what I do? Because I've been where you are, man, and I know how hard it is to ask for help.
I don't want your help.
I want you to clear Coach's name.
I need to know he was the man I thought he was, because if I was wrong about him, then maybe he was wrong about me.
Maybe I don't deserve to be out here.
Maybe I don't belong out here.
Don't say that, okay? Don't-don't go there.
You got talent.
Doesn't matter.
I'm done.
Done with-with you, with Coach, with all of it.
- I quit.
I quit! - Come here.
Come here.
You want to talk? - About? - Felix.
He is gonna come around, you know.
Why do you say that? Well, because you're a good coach.
- Said who? - Me.
And Parker.
He, uh, seems to think it's your hidden talent.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS.]
- My what? [ELEVATOR DOORS OPEN.]
Have you seen Parker recently? McGee has.
Yeah, about an hour ago.
Why? Well, he hasn't been at his desk in a while, so I'm thinking he's about to walk in here at any minute looking for answers.
Well, we don't have any.
We still don't know where the PEDs came from and the scientist's alibi checked out.
No suspects, no leads.
Which is not what a team leader like to hear.
Even the, uh, type of team leader that makes small talk and offers pastries? I contain multitudes, Agent McGee.
Pastry, anyone? Nobody seemed to like the, uh, kolaczkis, so today, we have concha from the best Mexican bakery in D.
C.
, which is in a gas station.
It's not a bribe, or a test.
It's just a a hidden talent.
I can find the best international pastry in any town.
That's your hidden talent? I didn't say it had to be useful.
Would you rather I only come in here to get upset and bark orders? A little.
It's what we're used to.
And I get that, but that's not who I am, so let's work with what we got.
Except we've got nothing.
Case is at a dead end.
So we fix that.
Let's take a breath, take a concha and start from the beginning.
Who wants to go first? KASIE: I will.
Ooh, I may not have found our killer, but I earned this.
Mmm.
Mm.
I have a lead.
So we're trying to figure out who was using the PEDs, right? But the only way to figure out who was doping would be to test every Navy athlete.
Yeah, that's a whole lot of samples to collect.
Then I realized we don't have to collect anything.
We already have everything we need.
PARKER: Hmm.
Fellowes's DNA research.
Our paranoid geneticist was analyzing shed skin cells.
That means she already tested every Navy athlete that's been through that locker room in the last two years.
We should send her a thank-you card.
It's already in the mail.
Because I was able to look through her reports for signs of doping.
- You found some.
- Yes.
One.
So I ran the sample through the military database and got a hit.
The only athlete to show signs of PED use was Petty Officer Jamie Anderson.
The runner who was killed in a car accident last year.
Well, before then, Jamie was using testosterone, metenolone and methylprednisolone.
The same drugs we found in Coach Davis's office.
We now have hard evidence that one of his athletes was cheating.
This doesn't look good for Coach.
KASIE: Oh, and the Navy's gonna be pretty pissed when they find out.
Yeah, not to mention Jamie's parents.
Or maybe they already knew.
Parker, you got something? Hey, I recognize that look.
That's the same look Gibbs used to get when he figured out something.
Well, I guess some things never change.
[DOOR OPENS.]
Your son had talent.
Jamie still holds the Navy record for two events, right? Yeah, he left a legacy.
Thanks, uh, for meeting me here on short notice.
But like I said on the phone, I think we found something that belongs to you.
Sorry.
I don't recognize this.
Hmm, that's odd.
I thought it was Jamie's for sure.
I mean, uh, we found it in the same bag as his drugs.
Excuse me? Jamie was doping.
[SCOFFS.]
Must be some mistake.
Like I said before, Jamie would never do that.
Well, you also said that you didn't recognize this ribbon.
That's two lies.
I'm not lying.
I've never seen that before in my life.
That's not what your wife said.
We have agents with her right now, and she showed them another picture of your son.
She said Jamie won this in his first race ever, and always kept it for good luck.
That seems like something a father should know.
How dare you talk about my son like this? I'm talking about you now.
You found out Jamie was doping, and you blamed Coach Davis.
No.
He was a trusted mentor, a father figure.
But instead of helping Jamie realize his potential, he [EXHALES.]
he was addicting him to drugs.
That's that's why you killed him.
Hey.
Look.
It's a parent's duty to protect their child.
Right? [CRYING.]
: Yeah.
Yeah, but I didn't.
I didn't protect him.
Coach didn't give Jamie the drugs.
I did.
You doped your own son? So Coach was the one who found out? A maintenance crew found Jamie's bag stuck behind an old locker a few days ago.
Coach saw the ribbon and the steroids, and he put it together.
Realized what I was making Jamie do.
That's why he called you that day.
Said he was gonna report the PED use, that it was only fair to inform the other athletes who competed against Jamie.
Coach was gonna let them take away all I have left of my son.
So I showed up early to the locker room and I begged him, I begged him to keep quiet.
And when he still refused, I pulled out the gun.
And I threatened him.
It was loaded with blanks.
I only wanted to scare Coach, but things got heated and I swear to you, I did not mean to kill him.
[CRYING.]
[HANDCUFFS CLINKING.]
KNIGHT: I thought sports stories were supposed to be uplifting.
MCGEE: Well, apparently, not this one.
A promising young athlete pushed to cheat by an overbearing parent, a beloved coach dead.
Yeah, and my foot is broken.
How is that sports-related? Well, I may never tap-dance again.
You said it was a hairline fracture.
You'll be fine by the weekend.
Yeah, well, it's still gonna hurt.
That was Felix's CO.
The kid is being busted down a rank for fighting.
That's harsh.
How'd he handle it? I'm worried about him.
Then we still got work to do.
KNIGHT: Is this the part of the sports movie where the coach gives the rousing speech to rally the team? I'm not one for speeches, but I do have another idea to keep everybody in the game.
Does it involve baked goods? It involves you, Agent Torres.
Thank you for coming.
What are we doing here? Well, I wanted to let you know that, uh, we cleared Commander Davis's name.
I heard.
Thanks, I guess.
You were right about him.
He's still gone.
And you're still here.
Right where you belong.
Nah, I can't race without Coach.
Well, he believed in you.
Not many people do.
That's where you're wrong.
Wait, What's going on? What are they doing here? Well, they're here to watch a race.
You and me, right here, right now.
Are you being serious? Oh, yeah.
You know you'd lose, right? Oh, for sure.
But win or lose, you got to finish strong, baby.
[LAUGHS SOFTLY.]
Coach could be cheesy.
You're on.
Sure you don't want to join them? Give them a few pointers? Maybe next time.
What am I missing? Agent Knight here was a college track star.
Division I.
Really? You never told us, this whole time.
Humility is one of my hidden talents.
TORRES: All right, I need someone to count us off.
You want the honors, McGee? Nah.
You go.
PARKER: All right.
On your mark, get set go!