TV-Serie: NCIS - 22x2
Delegates from the Venezuelan Navy are in D.C.
today to begin diplomatic talks with the U.S.
Navy.
The aim is to form a joint task force to battle the growing problem of piracy in the Caribbean.
Leading the talks is NCIS Director Leon Vance, who will be making a statement soon.
Now, I've been told...
Okay, I just got the director's updated schedule.
He's having dinner with the Venezuelans tonight at some place called Mancini's.
On it.
I'll send an advance team out there to sweep the place.
Where are we at with the location for the talks?
Torres is still clearing the, uh, embassy with DSS, but I ran background on all the staff and they checked out.
Good.
Sorry I'm late.
You see the reporters in the front?
I could barely get in the building.
How'd it go at the embassy?
Good.
Good.
Place is clean.
What are you wearing?
What?
My suit?
We're Vance's security detail.
We're supposed to blend in with the crowd.
Oh, yeah, but I look so good.
He's right.
He does.
At least put on a tie.
A tie?
Nobody looks cool in a tie.
I mean, with the exception of the two of you, of course.
Just put one on, okay?
These talks are a big deal for Vance.
SECNAV put him in charge specifically, so I want everything to go like clockwork.
Yes, Director.
I'm on my way.
The sacrifices I make.
I think it's the two open buttons.
No, no.
I will be right down.
Hey, Olivia.
Bad day?
Well, our press conference is running late and the reporters are getting restless.
Guess who has to smooth things over?
They don't pay you enough.
Can I help you with something?
The boss man called for me.
Oh, okay.
Just go right in.
Director?
It's me.
Come in.
What's up?
What?
My God.
Wh-- are...
Are you hurt?
Are you okay?
No.
I-It's not my blood.
Come here.
It's his.
What happened?
We were in the middle of a meeting.
H-He started to feel dizzy and-and complained of chest pain.
Heart attack?
I think so.
I-I mean, before I could help him, he-he fainted, he cracked his head open.
I tried to give him CPR but he-he, he died instantly.
What are you doing?
Calling an ambulance.
No.
No.
No one can know that this man was here.
Why?
Who is he?
His name is Diego Barreto.
He's with the Venezuelan diplomats, he's part of their security detail.
So?
He's also an undercover agent working for me.
You had a man on the inside in Venezuela?
For how long?
For over a year.
Barreto's intel was key in getting the diplomacy talks off the ground.
But if the Venezuelans find out that he's working for me?
The talks will fall apart, and U.S.
and Venezuelan relations will be thrown right into the toilet.
Exactly.
We could be looking at an international crisis here.
When I woke up this morning, I was feeling so good.
Tell me about it.
All right.
We have to protect Barreto's cover, dead or alive.
There's too much riding on this.
We need to get this body out of here now.
Necesito lavarme las manos.
Necesito lavarme los manos.
Las manos.
Las manos.
That's what I said.
Hey, what's up, Jimmy?
Hey, man, do you have a tie I could borrow?
Nicolas.
Hola, mi amigo.
¿Cómo estás esta mañana?
Okay.
Look at you.
Going all bilingual on me.
Sí.
With the Venezuelans in town, uh, it inspired me to learn a little bit of Spanish.
I even got this app here.
Check it out.
Um...
Necesito lavarme las manos.
Wow, "I need to wash my hands."
Not bad.
What else do you know?
No, that's it.
That's it?
Yeah, it's a free app.
It's not very good.
There's a lot of ads here.
Hey, maybe you could teach me?
Yeah.
Maybe.
What about the tie?
Parker, uh, insisted I wear one.
What?
Why?
You look good.
I know, that's what I said, man, but the man don't know fashion.
Oh, sorry, no tie.
Oh.
Agent Parker.
Hey, what's going on?
¿Necesitas lavarte las manos?
Grab a body bag and come with me, and tell Knight and McGee to meet us in Vance's office.
Did he just say to grab a-a...
Yeah.
This is bad.
Who else knows about this?
Just the people in this room, and we're gonna keep it that way.
What do we do?
Get him out of here before the Venezuelans notice he's missing.
But this is so, so bad.
Thank you, Mr.
Palmer, we're aware.
I'm still hung up on something.
You said this guy was undercover?
That is correct.
But he came here to your office to meet?
Said he had learned that someone was actively trying to sabotage the talks with Venezuela.
Did he say who it was?
Or how?
He-he died before he could tell me.
Well, that's suspicious.
It would be, except the guy died of a heart attack.
I wouldn't be so sure about that.
See the discoloration here?
Dilated pupils.
This is not natural causes.
Barreto was poisoned.
That's great.
That's-- this day, I swear.
Okay, minor setback, but nothing changes.
Nothing cha-- Agent Parker, this is a crime scene now.
Trust me, this is the only play.
We drop the body off at his hotel, we wait for a maid to find him and report it, then, we go in and conduct a formal investigation.
None of which is protocol.
Now, moving a body?
That's...
It's the only way to protect Barreto's cover and the talks.
And as director, I have the authority to sanction almost any activity to maintain an operative's cover.
I know this is very unusual, so if any of you want to bow out, bow out now, I-I understand.
Thank you.
Okay.
Jimmy, you help Torres and McGee drop off the body.
Knight, start processing the scene and take a blood sample down to Kasie.
Director, we need to get you cleaned up.
Is everybody clear?
Let's move.
Mm-hmm.
Yo, give me the keys.
I'll pull up the truck and get it ready.
Follow me.
This way, please.
All right, uh, so I think we're gonna set up right here in front of the windows...
Hey, Olivia?
Hi, Agent Torres.
Hi.
Come here.
What are they doing here?
Who?
The reporters?
Yes, the reporters.
Aren't they supposed to be outside?
Well, it started to drizzle, so I thought it might be nicer to do the presser in here, right in front of the windows.
I was just going to tell the director.
Oh, hey.
Don't worry, I'll tell the director.
You, uh, you wait here.
Okay.
So, it's just gonna be a few more minutes.
Ready to go.
Okay.
We're gonna need a plan B.
Water?
Water?
This is ridiculous.
How long do they expect us to wait?
Uh, hello, everyone.
Uh, I apologize for the delay, and, um, for the...
the crappy weather outside, but it's D.C., right?
One minute, it rains, one...
one time it-- one day, it's sunny, so what are you gonna...
Excuse me, who are you?
And where's Director Vance?
Oh, I'm sorry, uh, my name is Special Agent Alden Parker, and the director, uh, will be down, uh, shortly.
Uh, he's just, just finishing up, uh, some last-minute business.
Is there a problem with the upcoming talks?
Is that why he won't speak to us?
No, no, no.
Uh, no problem.
Everything is, uh, is...
moving along, uh, as scheduled.
And as I said, he'll, uh, he'll be down directly.
Uh, he's the director, so there you go.
Uh, while we're waiting, uh, I thought it might be interesting, you know, given the, uh, historical nature of the talks, uh, to show you a display out in the hallway that commemorates some of the other work that, um, NCIS has done abroad.
If, uh, everyone will just follow me?
You want to show us a display case?
Oh, you're gonna love it, believe me.
This way, everyone.
Clear, clear.
Come on.
Careful not to drop him.
I know what I'm doing.
All right.
Hey, Kase, you got anything on that blood yet?
Mm, still working on it, but you know, it would help me if I knew whose blood it was or where it came from or, you know, anything about the case?
I would love to tell you, but trust me, it's better you don't know.
It's okay.
I already figured it out.
So, who died in Vance's office?
Oh, I found Vance's unique carpet fibers mixed in with the blood.
You know Vance's carpet fibers?
Hi.
Kasie Hines.
Have we met?
Girl, please.
I know all of your fibers.
Okay, so, who was he?
Someone working for the Venezuelan delegates.
Ouch.
Bad timing for Vance.
Yeah, we're trying to do damage control.
The boys are moving his body to his hotel room.
Wait, for real?
Mm-hmm.
Whoa.
Yeah, I've only been gone for six months, but I got to tell you, I kind of forgot how crazy things can get here.
Admit it, you missed it.
Oh, either my muffins are done or that's your blood analysis.
And?
Uh, definitely poison.
Nasty one, too.
Tetrodotoxin.
It's extremely rare and extracted from the puffer fish.
Is there any chance our victim was poisoned in Venezuela before arriving here?
Eh, not likely.
Tetrodotoxin is a fast-acting poison.
It kills hours after being administered.
So our killer is in D.C.
No, that shouldn't be a problem.
Uh, yes, don't you worry, I'll get it done.
Thank you, Madam Secretary.
Oh, boy.
Problem?
Well, apparently the talks are the hottest ticket in town.
SECNAV just informed me that NATO wants a seat at the table now.
They're gonna send a representative over.
So?
It's one little representative.
You'll eat him for lunch.
So how are we doing on your end?
The guys successfully moved Barreto's body to his room without being detected.
They used the service elevator.
So now we just sit tight and...
wait for the call to come in.
So we might've dodged a bullet?
Looks like.
Oh, good.
And not a moment too soon.
I'm supposed to be meeting with the Venezuelans for dinner in about two hours.
About that, with your permission, I thought I should pull, uh, my team off your security detail so we can focus on the investigation.
All right, well, do whatever you need to do, but please do it quietly.
The less the Venezuelans know, the better.
Hey, discretion's my middle name.
Yeah, right.
Director, a Lena Paulsen is here to see you.
Your Lena?
Were you expecting her?
No.
Please send her in.
Leon.
I hope I'm not disturbing you.
No, not at all.
Uh, Lena...
you remember Agent Parker?
We met in Berlin a couple years ago.
Yes, of course, how could I forget?
Are you still, uh, working for German intelligence?
No, I left the BND a while ago.
I work as an independent contractor now.
Which, in fact, is the reason why I'm here.
My new client has business in D.C.
Oh, really?
Who's your client?
So Vance's girlfriend is sitting in on the talks?
That's what Parker said.
She's the NATO representative.
Isn't she, like, his casual girlfriend though?
I hear they meet up at world conferences once a year and hook up.
Wow, booty call de internacionales.
I don't think they're that close to be honest with you.
Because Vance didn't even know she was coming to D.C.
It's bad enough that he has to lie to the Venezuelans.
Now he has to do it in front of his girlfriend who knows all of his tells.
Yeah, working alongside your romantic partner can get tricky.
Mm, preaching to the converted.
So what's the story between you and, uh, Jimmy now?
Uh, no story.
We're friends.
I think.
We're good.
We haven't really talked about it yet, so...
Okay, where we at with the case?
What?
You want us to do an update here out in the open?
On a case we haven't technically been called out for?
The body hasn't been found.
Agent Diego Rojas, aka Diego Barreto.
While undercover, he worked security detail for this man.
Admiral Carlos Mendoza.
He's currently leading the talks on the Venezuelan side.
According to Barreto, someone's trying to sabotage the talks.
We're thinking that that saboteur killed Barreto before he had a chance to reveal their identity.
Any idea who might want to stop these talks from happening?
Mm, it's a long list.
Russia, Iran, China.
They all consider themselves allies to Venezuela.
None of them would benefit from a strong U.S.-Venezuelan relationship.
Okay, so maybe we're asking the wrong question.
We know that Barreto died of a fast-acting poison here in D.C., so...
who had access to him?
I doubt it's any of the hotel staff.
I ran background checks on all of them, they cleared.
Maybe we're looking at an inside job now.
The saboteur could be a part of the Venezuelan delegate party.
Mendoza's entourage consists of these five men.
Most of them die-hard loyalists, but...
this one looks interesting.
The admiral's aide, Fernando Vega.
He's new, only been on the job for a year.
Not only did Agent Barreto report directly to Vega...
Would've given him access.
I checked Vega's socials, and he's posted some very strong anti-American views.
So I'm guessing he's not a fan of these talks.
All right, let's dig more into Vega's background.
I also want to trace Agent Barreto's movements the week leading up to his death.
Well, they found Barreto's body.
Finally.
All right, take Torres to the hotel and pick him up.
Shouldn't be hard.
He'll be right where you left him.
Do you know who I am?
Let me see what's going on in there.
Sir...
I'm with the delegates and one of my men is staying in that room.
Vega sure got here fast.
I demand to know what's going on.
All right, what do we got?
Maid came upon the scene and called it in.
Body's on the other side of the bed.
Got it.
Thanks.
And the other one's in the bathroom.
Other one?
Yeah.
There.
This is bad.
Dude, would you stop saying that?
Are you sure that this body wasn't here before?
Could you have missed it somehow?
Jess, it's kind of hard to miss.
Believe me, when we left, there was only one dead body in this hotel room.
Keep it down, will ya?
His neck appears to be broken, but rigor hasn't set in, which means he was killed sometime in the last two hours.
After we dropped off Barreto.
Guy comes in, sees one body, leaves another?
I'm never staying in this hotel.
Ma'am.
Ma'am.
Stop.
What do you think you're doing?!
Don't touch me!
What now?
Get your hands off of me.
I am a member of the press.
Officer, it's okay, it's okay.
It's okay.
Uh, listen, Ms....?
Robyn Kael, D.C.
Chronicle.
Is it true you have a double homicide in there?
And one of them is Admiral Mendoza's men?
Walk this way.
Ms.
Kael, this is an active investigation.
And you know I am not at liberty to comment.
Will this derail the upcoming talks?
What does Director Vance have to say about this?
Director Vance will answer all of your questions soon enough.
Okay?
What's going on, Agent Parker?
What's NCIS hiding?
Officer, you want to deal with this?
I got to get back in there.
I-I can walk myself out.
Don't touch me.
Don't touch me.
All right, thank you very much.
Getting friendly with the press?
She may be onto us.
We might have to be more careful moving forward.
Well, I think you've got a bigger problem.
Who's gonna tell Vance about the second body?
Two?!
You're kidding!
But how d--?
This is a nightmare.
Okay.
Um, I'm about to sit down with the Venezuelans.
Uh, y-- yes.
Keep me posted.
I'm sorry.
Is everything all right?
Uh, yeah, no, it's, uh, it's fine.
I, um...
I just got a lot on my plate right now.
These talks are putting a lot of pressure on you, aren't they?
That is an understatement.
Maybe after dinner we can go back to my hotel room?
Very tempting.
But not tonight.
Oh.
Still upset I didn't tell you about joining the talks?
No.
No, I'm not upset.
I mean, I would-- it would've been nice to have a heads-up but, uh...
I to-- I told you, it was last minute.
I've been busy shuttling between Berlin and Brussels, and closing escrow on the apartment in New York.
I've had not time whatsoever to...
I'm sorry.
You bought an apartment in New York?
I was gonna tell you.
I didn't want you to feel weird, like I was...
invading your space moving closer to you.
It-- It's okay.
Besides, we don't tell each other everything.
We agreed, no strings.
You're right.
No strings.
I mean, you didn't even tell me when you got shot last year.
I had to read about it in the papers.
I didn't want to worry you.
Ah.
Well, for a casual relationship, we sure seem to care a lot what each other thinks.
They're here.
Admiral Mendoza.
It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person.
Likewise, Director Vance.
The hostility between our two countries has gone on long enough.
I believe we will do great things together.
And may I introduce our representative from NATO.
This is Lena Paulsen.
Cunning move, bringing her along.
Beautiful women are my weakness.
Just ask my third wife.
Shall we eat?
Is there a problem?
One of my men was found dead in his hotel room.
Were you aware of this?
This is the first I've heard of this.
Your people have his body.
I would like it returned to us immediately.
I-I will make some calls.
But of course, we will have to conduct an investigation first.
If he died on U.S.
soil, it's in our jurisdiction.
You will keep me up to date with your findings.
Of course.
I hope so, Director.
Because there can be no diplomacy between us without transparency.
Jimmy.
Hey, what's, uh, going on?
Hello.
This guy a friend of yours, or...?
He's Venezuelan security.
Admiral Mendoza insisted that one of his guys be down here at all times in exchange for letting us have the bodies.
Careful.
The walls have ears.
Mm.
All right, you find anything on the bodies?
Necesito lavarme las manos.
So the guy that we found in the bathtub had a broken neck as a result of a struggle.
I found fingerprints on his arms and upper torso.
Were they in our system?
No, but the victim's were.
Kasie ran them and sent down that report.
Don't.
Don't want to draw attention to ourselves here.
I took the liberty of memorizing it all for you.
Mis manos...
Muy, muy sucias.
The victim's name is Dimitri Yorgi.
He's got a rap sheet and is rumored to be a local gun-for-hire.
Guess what his favorite M.O.
is?
Poison?
Specifically, tetrodotoxin from a puffer fish.
He even owns a tropical fish store, if you can believe it.
All right, so someone must've hired Yorgi to poison Barreto and killed him afterwards to tie up loose ends.
Seems like.
But why kill him in the same hotel room?
It doesn't make sense.
I don't know, but are we done here?
My hands are getting rather pruney.
Thanks, Jimmy.
¿Cómo se dice... "
pruney" en español?
We've got less than 24 hours until the talks officially begin.
What do we know?
I traced Agent Barreto's final movements leading up to his death.
While in Caracas, he had several off-the-books meetings with someone in an unlisted apartment.
Well, he was undercover.
I mean, secret meetings kind of go with the territory.
Yeah, but he never reported any of them to Vance.
That's sketchy.
I only know about this because I traced his GPS cell history.
Any idea who he was meeting with?
No.
Could be our killer.
All right.
Keep digging.
What about our suspect?
I dug further into Vega's background.
Turns out he had a brother die in 2002 during a failed coup attempt trying to oust President Chavez.
Explains why Vega is anti-American.
It's believed the CIA was involved in that coup.
Also explains why Vega would want to sabotage the talks.
For him, this is personal.
Can we tie either of the two bodies to Vega?
McGEE: Not yet.
Maybe I can help.
The prints we found on the hitman's neck?
I think I traced them to Fernando Vega.
How?
I thought they weren't in our system.
They're not.
But knowing Vega is a suspect, Vance had Vega's prints lifted from a glass he used at dinner last night.
They were a perfect match.
We have probable cause.
Let's pick him up.
Okay, well, we better hurry.
This was one of our agents stationed outside of Vega's room.
Vega just left the hotel and went to a parking structure across the street.
Thank you, Kase.
Are you in place?
We're at the lower levels now, Parker.
We'll make our way up, meet you at the top.
Okay.
I got Vega!
Stop!
NCIS!
What the hell?
Stop!
You done, bro?
Lena?
What are you doing here?
My job.
So, Vega is working for you?
Yes, and hopefully, you didn't blow his cover with that little ambush of yours in the parking lot.
His cover?
Vega's an agent.
The BND has had a man inside the Venezuelan government for over a year now.
You told me that you left the BND.
I did, technically.
They asked me to come in on this op since I was Vega's original handler.
So this NATO thing was your cover.
My, you're just full of surprises, aren't you?
You're one to talk.
When were you gonna tell me about your man on the inside?
Diego Barreto was working for you, wasn't he?
I saw your face in the restaurant.
I know you lied to the admiral.
I was protecting my agent's cover.
And I was protecting mine.
So don't stand there and act like I'm the only one with secrets, Leon.
Uh, maybe we should leave you two alone.
Yeah.
Sit.
Sit.
Okay, so if Vega's undercover, why were his prints all over the dead hitman we found in the hotel room?
Because I killed him.
I'm gonna need a little more than that.
Barreto and I shared an adjoining room.
I heard noises, went in, and saw the hitman taking photos of Barreto's body.
Proof-of-death photos, probably, so he could get paid by the employer.
When the guy saw me, we got into a fight and I broke his neck in self-defense.
Okay, so that explains what you were doing in the room, but it doesn't explain why you were in D.C.
in the first place.
What is BND's interest in the diplomacy talks?
Over the last few years, BND has been monitoring the growing presence of Hezbollah in South America.
We believe they have an extreme interest in seeing the talks fail.
Why?
Diamonds.
Hezbollah has been smuggling them in the Caribbean.
Your anti-piracy task force will bring too many eyes to the region and expose what they're doing.
We've intercepted some chatter that suggests Hezbollah is planning an assassination attempt in D.C.
tomorrow to stop the talks.
So, were you planning on telling me this?
Or was this another one of your surprises?
Uh, we just learned of it today.
That's what our meeting in the parking lot was about.
Agent Barreto must've learned about it, too.
But he was killed before he could warn us.
Leon, you must cancel the talks.
Too many have already died and you could be next.
We've worked too hard to get here.
Besides, the talks aren't until tomorrow.
We have plenty of time to stop any attempt.
How many?
All right, add another five agents to that.
And, uh, tell Torres that I want him to do another sweep of the embassy.
I got to go.
I'll see you soon.
Leon.
Hey, come in.
Hey, I'm sorry to drop in like this.
Am I, am I disturbing you?
No, no, I was, uh, I was just leaving to go back to the office.
I just stopped in to get a quick shower and a change.
You want a beer?
Yeah, that sounds good.
All right.
So, you making any headway?
No, we're still tracing those emails the BND intercepted, trying to figure out who Hezbollah was talking to in D.C.
Are you getting any help from BND?
Well, some but not enough.
Lena pulled herself out of the talks today so she can make some calls.
Here you go.
Thank you.
In the meantime, we're beefing up security at the embassy, notifying officials.
I'm even thinking about looping in the press, have them report how we're ramping up security.
Maybe...
It'll scare off our assassin from trying to make a move.
That's, uh, that's smart.
You okay?
When you were stuck on that ship last year, bleeding out, did anything go through your mind?
Wow.
That came out of nowhere.
No, seriously.
We both had near-death, knocking-on-Heaven's-door moments last year and we never really talked about it.
So I'm curious.
Come on, man, what was, what was going on in your mind?
Yeah, I had some thoughts.
About what?
Alden.
Not sure.
Still unpacking it.
What about you?
What'd you think about?
Time.
How much I got left.
How do I want to spend it.
Who do I want to spend it with.
Lena.
You thinking about making more of a commitment?
I was.
And I...
You know, but now she...
There's so much baggage between us.
Too many secrets, dishonesty.
It'll never get boring, I'll tell you that.
Yeah, maybe.
To tell you the truth, Parker, I'm...
...I don't know what I really want.
I think you do, Leon.
If you need more honesty, maybe you should start by being honest with yourself.
All eyes are on the Venezuelan Embassy here in D.C.
as the diplomacy talks between Venezuela and the U.S.
are set to begin.
Director Vance.
Today will be a great day for our countries.
I agree, Admiral.
Shall we get to work?
Good morning, everyone.
Welcome.
Straighten up that tie.
Kase, any luck tracing those emails to Hezbollah?
Still working on it, but I hope to have it sometime soon.
Hey, guys.
McGEE: Jess, what's going on?
So, I just had a strange call with the editor of the D.C.
Chronicle.
The one that kept bugging Parker?
Yeah, what about her?
So, last night, I gave her Parker's statement about us beefing up security and I asked her to run it, but then, this morning, when I checked the paper, it wasn't there.
Maybe she forgot.
That's what I thought, so I called the editor, but he told me that Kael hadn't worked for the Chronicle in months.
She'd been let go.
Uh-oh.
The emails to Hezbollah?
Whoever's been communicating with them has been doing so from a domain address associated to the D.C.
Chronicle.
Kael was in the hotel soon after those bodies were found.
And she was here after Barreto died.
So, she is either one very informed reporter...
Or an assassin keeping tabs on her kills.
We need an address, Kase.
Yeah, way ahead of you.
No last home address, but a week ago, she checked into the same hotel where the delegates are staying.
Thanks.
Yeah.
All right, ready?
Bathroom's clear.
Clear.
There's no luggage.
Think maybe she checked out?
Hello?
I believe that we can accommodate you, but we need to agree on a joint base of operations.
My idea is...
I'm sorry to interrupt, Director.
May I have a word?
It's important.
Yes.
Admiral, you'll excuse me.
What is it?
McGee called.
He just got off the phone with the assassin.
She's got Lena.
The assassin is threatening to kill her unless you stop the talks.
Give them nothing, Leon.
Don't do it.
This came in about five minutes ago.
Don't do it.
Shut up.
There are reporters stationed outside the embassy.
If Vance does not get in front of cameras and announce he's ending the talks, Lena Paulsen dies.
You have one hour.
Who is she?
Robyn Kael.
Former reporter, now radicalized, working with Hezbollah.
Can we trace the call or video?
It was sent from a burner.
We tried pinging Lena's cell, but it's disconnected.
Is everything all right, Director?
Yes, Admiral, everything's fine.
I'll be right with you.
Look, I know how important this is to you, but Kael means business.
If you don't go out there and end these talks, Leon, she's gonna kill her.
But even if he goes out there, there's no guarantee that Kael won't kill her anyways.
We're dealing with a terrorist here.
It all comes down to what you're willing to lose.
Are you willing to risk Lena's life for this?
Thankfully, I don't have to make that choice just yet.
We still have an hour.
I suggest, gentlemen, you use that time to find Lena.
Fast.
Call in a BOLO.
I'll get ahold of the state police.
Curtis, I get it.
Just keep pinging her cell.
Lena's phone is out there somewhere.
Anything?
We got the FBI and the MPD searching all of Kael's last known addresses.
So far, nothing.
I spoke with some of her old coworkers to see if they knew where she might've gone.
It was a dead end.
I'm sorry.
I got the CCTV footage from Lena's hotel.
You need to see this.
Where is that?
Behind the hotel.
A worker found her purse and phone.
What's she doing with her hand?
McGEE: Pause it.
She's telling us how to find her.
Okay, rewind it.
Pause again.
Now, zoom in.
That's a fitness watch.
Those watches send location information to the cloud.
That means that...
It can be traced.
I need to hack into her account.
This is the situation that we have here.
I must have some reserves.
Director, are you listening?
Yes, um...
Admiral, I'm sorry.
Please excuse me.
We tracked Lena's location.
She's being held in an abandoned industrial building ten miles away.
Knight and McGee are on their way now.
Yeah, but we got a problem.
We've only got five minutes left till the deadline, and McGee and Knight are too far away.
They're never gonna make it in time.
If you don't show up in front of those cameras now, Lena dies.
We need to stall.
Hello, again.
Um...
Go ahead and roll.
Nice to see everyone.
You again.
Yeah.
Uh, Director Vance will-- he'll be...
he'll be out in just a few minutes.
Um, but I...
I thought that it might be interesting, um, to hear a brief history of U.S.
and Venezuelan relations, uh, and-and see how we got to this historic point.
Are you kidding me?
Hmm.
Venezuela first established diplomatic relations with the U.S.
in 1853.
Do they think this is some kind of joke?
Obviously, your sweetheart doesn't care about you as much as you thought.
Get up.
Get up!
It's over, Kael.
Let her go.
Stay back.
I'll splatter her brains all over this hallway.
I mean it!
McGEE: Not gonna happen.
Hands up.
Hands up.
On the wall.
Come on.
You're gonna regret this.
Some would say that Miguel Cabrera, uh, was the greatest Venezuelan player in the Major Leagues, but I don't know.
I don't know.
Have you seen Félix Hernández?
Thanks, I'll let him know.
Sir, Lena's safe and Kael's in custody.
Thank God.
Now, please, get him off the air before he ruins both of our careers.
Yes, sir.
Hey, Kasie.
What?
Hold on, hold on.
Slow down.
Well, Admiral, I guess it's finally time for us to say goodbye.
Thank you, Director, for hosting me in your beautiful country.
I am happy I can return home with news of our successful collaboration.
Well, hopefully, with the task force in place, the Caribbean will be a safer place and allow for more aid to come to those who need it.
May I also say how grateful I am to NCIS for catching the murderer of Diego Barreto.
Thanks to you, this woman, uh...
What is her name?
Robyn Kael.
Kael...
is in custody and justice will be served.
Until we meet again, Director.
Just one problem, Admiral.
Robyn Kael didn't kill anyone.
Excuse me?
But you said...
She kidnapped Lena Paulsen to stop the talks, but Robyn Kael didn't kill Barreto.
You did.
This is absurd.
While investigating Barreto's death, we learned that he was having, um, secret meetings with an unknown person.
We didn't know who this person was until yesterday.
This was snagged off a traffic cam in Caracas.
That's your wife, isn't it, Admiral?
Barreto was having an affair with her.
But of course, you already knew that.
That's why you hired a hitman to poison him.
We traced the payment you made to one of your offshore accounts.
You were right, Admiral.
Beautiful women are your weakness.
So, you confronted him in your office?
Yeah.
Oh, I would've loved to have seen that.
Yeah, it was something, all right.
So, what happens now?
Well, I spoke to the Venezuelan president.
Neither of us want this to distract from the success of the talks, so we both agreed: Mendoza will quietly resign and then be extradited back home to face trial.
He'll just get a slap on the wrist.
Politicians down there like to protect their own.
I wish we could've done more.
But it was the right play.
The things we do for diplomacy.
Listen, Leon.
Hmm?
I am sorry I've been keeping things from you.
I should've been more honest with you.
As a matter of fact, I'm gonna start right now.
I don't want to be in a casual relationship with you anymore.
You don't?
I want more.
I want to spend more time with you.
At your apartment in New York, or at my house in D.C., when you're here.
Make a real schedule.
Unless that's too much for you and I just made a complete ass of myself.
No.
I was hoping you would say that.
Because...
today to begin diplomatic talks with the U.S.
Navy.
The aim is to form a joint task force to battle the growing problem of piracy in the Caribbean.
Leading the talks is NCIS Director Leon Vance, who will be making a statement soon.
Now, I've been told...
Okay, I just got the director's updated schedule.
He's having dinner with the Venezuelans tonight at some place called Mancini's.
On it.
I'll send an advance team out there to sweep the place.
Where are we at with the location for the talks?
Torres is still clearing the, uh, embassy with DSS, but I ran background on all the staff and they checked out.
Good.
Sorry I'm late.
You see the reporters in the front?
I could barely get in the building.
How'd it go at the embassy?
Good.
Good.
Place is clean.
What are you wearing?
What?
My suit?
We're Vance's security detail.
We're supposed to blend in with the crowd.
Oh, yeah, but I look so good.
He's right.
He does.
At least put on a tie.
A tie?
Nobody looks cool in a tie.
I mean, with the exception of the two of you, of course.
Just put one on, okay?
These talks are a big deal for Vance.
SECNAV put him in charge specifically, so I want everything to go like clockwork.
Yes, Director.
I'm on my way.
The sacrifices I make.
I think it's the two open buttons.
No, no.
I will be right down.
Hey, Olivia.
Bad day?
Well, our press conference is running late and the reporters are getting restless.
Guess who has to smooth things over?
They don't pay you enough.
Can I help you with something?
The boss man called for me.
Oh, okay.
Just go right in.
Director?
It's me.
Come in.
What's up?
What?
My God.
Wh-- are...
Are you hurt?
Are you okay?
No.
I-It's not my blood.
Come here.
It's his.
What happened?
We were in the middle of a meeting.
H-He started to feel dizzy and-and complained of chest pain.
Heart attack?
I think so.
I-I mean, before I could help him, he-he fainted, he cracked his head open.
I tried to give him CPR but he-he, he died instantly.
What are you doing?
Calling an ambulance.
No.
No.
No one can know that this man was here.
Why?
Who is he?
His name is Diego Barreto.
He's with the Venezuelan diplomats, he's part of their security detail.
So?
He's also an undercover agent working for me.
You had a man on the inside in Venezuela?
For how long?
For over a year.
Barreto's intel was key in getting the diplomacy talks off the ground.
But if the Venezuelans find out that he's working for me?
The talks will fall apart, and U.S.
and Venezuelan relations will be thrown right into the toilet.
Exactly.
We could be looking at an international crisis here.
When I woke up this morning, I was feeling so good.
Tell me about it.
All right.
We have to protect Barreto's cover, dead or alive.
There's too much riding on this.
We need to get this body out of here now.
Necesito lavarme las manos.
Necesito lavarme los manos.
Las manos.
Las manos.
That's what I said.
Hey, what's up, Jimmy?
Hey, man, do you have a tie I could borrow?
Nicolas.
Hola, mi amigo.
¿Cómo estás esta mañana?
Okay.
Look at you.
Going all bilingual on me.
Sí.
With the Venezuelans in town, uh, it inspired me to learn a little bit of Spanish.
I even got this app here.
Check it out.
Um...
Necesito lavarme las manos.
Wow, "I need to wash my hands."
Not bad.
What else do you know?
No, that's it.
That's it?
Yeah, it's a free app.
It's not very good.
There's a lot of ads here.
Hey, maybe you could teach me?
Yeah.
Maybe.
What about the tie?
Parker, uh, insisted I wear one.
What?
Why?
You look good.
I know, that's what I said, man, but the man don't know fashion.
Oh, sorry, no tie.
Oh.
Agent Parker.
Hey, what's going on?
¿Necesitas lavarte las manos?
Grab a body bag and come with me, and tell Knight and McGee to meet us in Vance's office.
Did he just say to grab a-a...
Yeah.
This is bad.
Who else knows about this?
Just the people in this room, and we're gonna keep it that way.
What do we do?
Get him out of here before the Venezuelans notice he's missing.
But this is so, so bad.
Thank you, Mr.
Palmer, we're aware.
I'm still hung up on something.
You said this guy was undercover?
That is correct.
But he came here to your office to meet?
Said he had learned that someone was actively trying to sabotage the talks with Venezuela.
Did he say who it was?
Or how?
He-he died before he could tell me.
Well, that's suspicious.
It would be, except the guy died of a heart attack.
I wouldn't be so sure about that.
See the discoloration here?
Dilated pupils.
This is not natural causes.
Barreto was poisoned.
That's great.
That's-- this day, I swear.
Okay, minor setback, but nothing changes.
Nothing cha-- Agent Parker, this is a crime scene now.
Trust me, this is the only play.
We drop the body off at his hotel, we wait for a maid to find him and report it, then, we go in and conduct a formal investigation.
None of which is protocol.
Now, moving a body?
That's...
It's the only way to protect Barreto's cover and the talks.
And as director, I have the authority to sanction almost any activity to maintain an operative's cover.
I know this is very unusual, so if any of you want to bow out, bow out now, I-I understand.
Thank you.
Okay.
Jimmy, you help Torres and McGee drop off the body.
Knight, start processing the scene and take a blood sample down to Kasie.
Director, we need to get you cleaned up.
Is everybody clear?
Let's move.
Mm-hmm.
Yo, give me the keys.
I'll pull up the truck and get it ready.
Follow me.
This way, please.
All right, uh, so I think we're gonna set up right here in front of the windows...
Hey, Olivia?
Hi, Agent Torres.
Hi.
Come here.
What are they doing here?
Who?
The reporters?
Yes, the reporters.
Aren't they supposed to be outside?
Well, it started to drizzle, so I thought it might be nicer to do the presser in here, right in front of the windows.
I was just going to tell the director.
Oh, hey.
Don't worry, I'll tell the director.
You, uh, you wait here.
Okay.
So, it's just gonna be a few more minutes.
Ready to go.
Okay.
We're gonna need a plan B.
Water?
Water?
This is ridiculous.
How long do they expect us to wait?
Uh, hello, everyone.
Uh, I apologize for the delay, and, um, for the...
the crappy weather outside, but it's D.C., right?
One minute, it rains, one...
one time it-- one day, it's sunny, so what are you gonna...
Excuse me, who are you?
And where's Director Vance?
Oh, I'm sorry, uh, my name is Special Agent Alden Parker, and the director, uh, will be down, uh, shortly.
Uh, he's just, just finishing up, uh, some last-minute business.
Is there a problem with the upcoming talks?
Is that why he won't speak to us?
No, no, no.
Uh, no problem.
Everything is, uh, is...
moving along, uh, as scheduled.
And as I said, he'll, uh, he'll be down directly.
Uh, he's the director, so there you go.
Uh, while we're waiting, uh, I thought it might be interesting, you know, given the, uh, historical nature of the talks, uh, to show you a display out in the hallway that commemorates some of the other work that, um, NCIS has done abroad.
If, uh, everyone will just follow me?
You want to show us a display case?
Oh, you're gonna love it, believe me.
This way, everyone.
Clear, clear.
Come on.
Careful not to drop him.
I know what I'm doing.
All right.
Hey, Kase, you got anything on that blood yet?
Mm, still working on it, but you know, it would help me if I knew whose blood it was or where it came from or, you know, anything about the case?
I would love to tell you, but trust me, it's better you don't know.
It's okay.
I already figured it out.
So, who died in Vance's office?
Oh, I found Vance's unique carpet fibers mixed in with the blood.
You know Vance's carpet fibers?
Hi.
Kasie Hines.
Have we met?
Girl, please.
I know all of your fibers.
Okay, so, who was he?
Someone working for the Venezuelan delegates.
Ouch.
Bad timing for Vance.
Yeah, we're trying to do damage control.
The boys are moving his body to his hotel room.
Wait, for real?
Mm-hmm.
Whoa.
Yeah, I've only been gone for six months, but I got to tell you, I kind of forgot how crazy things can get here.
Admit it, you missed it.
Oh, either my muffins are done or that's your blood analysis.
And?
Uh, definitely poison.
Nasty one, too.
Tetrodotoxin.
It's extremely rare and extracted from the puffer fish.
Is there any chance our victim was poisoned in Venezuela before arriving here?
Eh, not likely.
Tetrodotoxin is a fast-acting poison.
It kills hours after being administered.
So our killer is in D.C.
No, that shouldn't be a problem.
Uh, yes, don't you worry, I'll get it done.
Thank you, Madam Secretary.
Oh, boy.
Problem?
Well, apparently the talks are the hottest ticket in town.
SECNAV just informed me that NATO wants a seat at the table now.
They're gonna send a representative over.
So?
It's one little representative.
You'll eat him for lunch.
So how are we doing on your end?
The guys successfully moved Barreto's body to his room without being detected.
They used the service elevator.
So now we just sit tight and...
wait for the call to come in.
So we might've dodged a bullet?
Looks like.
Oh, good.
And not a moment too soon.
I'm supposed to be meeting with the Venezuelans for dinner in about two hours.
About that, with your permission, I thought I should pull, uh, my team off your security detail so we can focus on the investigation.
All right, well, do whatever you need to do, but please do it quietly.
The less the Venezuelans know, the better.
Hey, discretion's my middle name.
Yeah, right.
Director, a Lena Paulsen is here to see you.
Your Lena?
Were you expecting her?
No.
Please send her in.
Leon.
I hope I'm not disturbing you.
No, not at all.
Uh, Lena...
you remember Agent Parker?
We met in Berlin a couple years ago.
Yes, of course, how could I forget?
Are you still, uh, working for German intelligence?
No, I left the BND a while ago.
I work as an independent contractor now.
Which, in fact, is the reason why I'm here.
My new client has business in D.C.
Oh, really?
Who's your client?
So Vance's girlfriend is sitting in on the talks?
That's what Parker said.
She's the NATO representative.
Isn't she, like, his casual girlfriend though?
I hear they meet up at world conferences once a year and hook up.
Wow, booty call de internacionales.
I don't think they're that close to be honest with you.
Because Vance didn't even know she was coming to D.C.
It's bad enough that he has to lie to the Venezuelans.
Now he has to do it in front of his girlfriend who knows all of his tells.
Yeah, working alongside your romantic partner can get tricky.
Mm, preaching to the converted.
So what's the story between you and, uh, Jimmy now?
Uh, no story.
We're friends.
I think.
We're good.
We haven't really talked about it yet, so...
Okay, where we at with the case?
What?
You want us to do an update here out in the open?
On a case we haven't technically been called out for?
The body hasn't been found.
Agent Diego Rojas, aka Diego Barreto.
While undercover, he worked security detail for this man.
Admiral Carlos Mendoza.
He's currently leading the talks on the Venezuelan side.
According to Barreto, someone's trying to sabotage the talks.
We're thinking that that saboteur killed Barreto before he had a chance to reveal their identity.
Any idea who might want to stop these talks from happening?
Mm, it's a long list.
Russia, Iran, China.
They all consider themselves allies to Venezuela.
None of them would benefit from a strong U.S.-Venezuelan relationship.
Okay, so maybe we're asking the wrong question.
We know that Barreto died of a fast-acting poison here in D.C., so...
who had access to him?
I doubt it's any of the hotel staff.
I ran background checks on all of them, they cleared.
Maybe we're looking at an inside job now.
The saboteur could be a part of the Venezuelan delegate party.
Mendoza's entourage consists of these five men.
Most of them die-hard loyalists, but...
this one looks interesting.
The admiral's aide, Fernando Vega.
He's new, only been on the job for a year.
Not only did Agent Barreto report directly to Vega...
Would've given him access.
I checked Vega's socials, and he's posted some very strong anti-American views.
So I'm guessing he's not a fan of these talks.
All right, let's dig more into Vega's background.
I also want to trace Agent Barreto's movements the week leading up to his death.
Well, they found Barreto's body.
Finally.
All right, take Torres to the hotel and pick him up.
Shouldn't be hard.
He'll be right where you left him.
Do you know who I am?
Let me see what's going on in there.
Sir...
I'm with the delegates and one of my men is staying in that room.
Vega sure got here fast.
I demand to know what's going on.
All right, what do we got?
Maid came upon the scene and called it in.
Body's on the other side of the bed.
Got it.
Thanks.
And the other one's in the bathroom.
Other one?
Yeah.
There.
This is bad.
Dude, would you stop saying that?
Are you sure that this body wasn't here before?
Could you have missed it somehow?
Jess, it's kind of hard to miss.
Believe me, when we left, there was only one dead body in this hotel room.
Keep it down, will ya?
His neck appears to be broken, but rigor hasn't set in, which means he was killed sometime in the last two hours.
After we dropped off Barreto.
Guy comes in, sees one body, leaves another?
I'm never staying in this hotel.
Ma'am.
Ma'am.
Stop.
What do you think you're doing?!
Don't touch me!
What now?
Get your hands off of me.
I am a member of the press.
Officer, it's okay, it's okay.
It's okay.
Uh, listen, Ms....?
Robyn Kael, D.C.
Chronicle.
Is it true you have a double homicide in there?
And one of them is Admiral Mendoza's men?
Walk this way.
Ms.
Kael, this is an active investigation.
And you know I am not at liberty to comment.
Will this derail the upcoming talks?
What does Director Vance have to say about this?
Director Vance will answer all of your questions soon enough.
Okay?
What's going on, Agent Parker?
What's NCIS hiding?
Officer, you want to deal with this?
I got to get back in there.
I-I can walk myself out.
Don't touch me.
Don't touch me.
All right, thank you very much.
Getting friendly with the press?
She may be onto us.
We might have to be more careful moving forward.
Well, I think you've got a bigger problem.
Who's gonna tell Vance about the second body?
Two?!
You're kidding!
But how d--?
This is a nightmare.
Okay.
Um, I'm about to sit down with the Venezuelans.
Uh, y-- yes.
Keep me posted.
I'm sorry.
Is everything all right?
Uh, yeah, no, it's, uh, it's fine.
I, um...
I just got a lot on my plate right now.
These talks are putting a lot of pressure on you, aren't they?
That is an understatement.
Maybe after dinner we can go back to my hotel room?
Very tempting.
But not tonight.
Oh.
Still upset I didn't tell you about joining the talks?
No.
No, I'm not upset.
I mean, I would-- it would've been nice to have a heads-up but, uh...
I to-- I told you, it was last minute.
I've been busy shuttling between Berlin and Brussels, and closing escrow on the apartment in New York.
I've had not time whatsoever to...
I'm sorry.
You bought an apartment in New York?
I was gonna tell you.
I didn't want you to feel weird, like I was...
invading your space moving closer to you.
It-- It's okay.
Besides, we don't tell each other everything.
We agreed, no strings.
You're right.
No strings.
I mean, you didn't even tell me when you got shot last year.
I had to read about it in the papers.
I didn't want to worry you.
Ah.
Well, for a casual relationship, we sure seem to care a lot what each other thinks.
They're here.
Admiral Mendoza.
It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person.
Likewise, Director Vance.
The hostility between our two countries has gone on long enough.
I believe we will do great things together.
And may I introduce our representative from NATO.
This is Lena Paulsen.
Cunning move, bringing her along.
Beautiful women are my weakness.
Just ask my third wife.
Shall we eat?
Is there a problem?
One of my men was found dead in his hotel room.
Were you aware of this?
This is the first I've heard of this.
Your people have his body.
I would like it returned to us immediately.
I-I will make some calls.
But of course, we will have to conduct an investigation first.
If he died on U.S.
soil, it's in our jurisdiction.
You will keep me up to date with your findings.
Of course.
I hope so, Director.
Because there can be no diplomacy between us without transparency.
Jimmy.
Hey, what's, uh, going on?
Hello.
This guy a friend of yours, or...?
He's Venezuelan security.
Admiral Mendoza insisted that one of his guys be down here at all times in exchange for letting us have the bodies.
Careful.
The walls have ears.
Mm.
All right, you find anything on the bodies?
Necesito lavarme las manos.
So the guy that we found in the bathtub had a broken neck as a result of a struggle.
I found fingerprints on his arms and upper torso.
Were they in our system?
No, but the victim's were.
Kasie ran them and sent down that report.
Don't.
Don't want to draw attention to ourselves here.
I took the liberty of memorizing it all for you.
Mis manos...
Muy, muy sucias.
The victim's name is Dimitri Yorgi.
He's got a rap sheet and is rumored to be a local gun-for-hire.
Guess what his favorite M.O.
is?
Poison?
Specifically, tetrodotoxin from a puffer fish.
He even owns a tropical fish store, if you can believe it.
All right, so someone must've hired Yorgi to poison Barreto and killed him afterwards to tie up loose ends.
Seems like.
But why kill him in the same hotel room?
It doesn't make sense.
I don't know, but are we done here?
My hands are getting rather pruney.
Thanks, Jimmy.
¿Cómo se dice... "
pruney" en español?
We've got less than 24 hours until the talks officially begin.
What do we know?
I traced Agent Barreto's final movements leading up to his death.
While in Caracas, he had several off-the-books meetings with someone in an unlisted apartment.
Well, he was undercover.
I mean, secret meetings kind of go with the territory.
Yeah, but he never reported any of them to Vance.
That's sketchy.
I only know about this because I traced his GPS cell history.
Any idea who he was meeting with?
No.
Could be our killer.
All right.
Keep digging.
What about our suspect?
I dug further into Vega's background.
Turns out he had a brother die in 2002 during a failed coup attempt trying to oust President Chavez.
Explains why Vega is anti-American.
It's believed the CIA was involved in that coup.
Also explains why Vega would want to sabotage the talks.
For him, this is personal.
Can we tie either of the two bodies to Vega?
McGEE: Not yet.
Maybe I can help.
The prints we found on the hitman's neck?
I think I traced them to Fernando Vega.
How?
I thought they weren't in our system.
They're not.
But knowing Vega is a suspect, Vance had Vega's prints lifted from a glass he used at dinner last night.
They were a perfect match.
We have probable cause.
Let's pick him up.
Okay, well, we better hurry.
This was one of our agents stationed outside of Vega's room.
Vega just left the hotel and went to a parking structure across the street.
Thank you, Kase.
Are you in place?
We're at the lower levels now, Parker.
We'll make our way up, meet you at the top.
Okay.
I got Vega!
Stop!
NCIS!
What the hell?
Stop!
You done, bro?
Lena?
What are you doing here?
My job.
So, Vega is working for you?
Yes, and hopefully, you didn't blow his cover with that little ambush of yours in the parking lot.
His cover?
Vega's an agent.
The BND has had a man inside the Venezuelan government for over a year now.
You told me that you left the BND.
I did, technically.
They asked me to come in on this op since I was Vega's original handler.
So this NATO thing was your cover.
My, you're just full of surprises, aren't you?
You're one to talk.
When were you gonna tell me about your man on the inside?
Diego Barreto was working for you, wasn't he?
I saw your face in the restaurant.
I know you lied to the admiral.
I was protecting my agent's cover.
And I was protecting mine.
So don't stand there and act like I'm the only one with secrets, Leon.
Uh, maybe we should leave you two alone.
Yeah.
Sit.
Sit.
Okay, so if Vega's undercover, why were his prints all over the dead hitman we found in the hotel room?
Because I killed him.
I'm gonna need a little more than that.
Barreto and I shared an adjoining room.
I heard noises, went in, and saw the hitman taking photos of Barreto's body.
Proof-of-death photos, probably, so he could get paid by the employer.
When the guy saw me, we got into a fight and I broke his neck in self-defense.
Okay, so that explains what you were doing in the room, but it doesn't explain why you were in D.C.
in the first place.
What is BND's interest in the diplomacy talks?
Over the last few years, BND has been monitoring the growing presence of Hezbollah in South America.
We believe they have an extreme interest in seeing the talks fail.
Why?
Diamonds.
Hezbollah has been smuggling them in the Caribbean.
Your anti-piracy task force will bring too many eyes to the region and expose what they're doing.
We've intercepted some chatter that suggests Hezbollah is planning an assassination attempt in D.C.
tomorrow to stop the talks.
So, were you planning on telling me this?
Or was this another one of your surprises?
Uh, we just learned of it today.
That's what our meeting in the parking lot was about.
Agent Barreto must've learned about it, too.
But he was killed before he could warn us.
Leon, you must cancel the talks.
Too many have already died and you could be next.
We've worked too hard to get here.
Besides, the talks aren't until tomorrow.
We have plenty of time to stop any attempt.
How many?
All right, add another five agents to that.
And, uh, tell Torres that I want him to do another sweep of the embassy.
I got to go.
I'll see you soon.
Leon.
Hey, come in.
Hey, I'm sorry to drop in like this.
Am I, am I disturbing you?
No, no, I was, uh, I was just leaving to go back to the office.
I just stopped in to get a quick shower and a change.
You want a beer?
Yeah, that sounds good.
All right.
So, you making any headway?
No, we're still tracing those emails the BND intercepted, trying to figure out who Hezbollah was talking to in D.C.
Are you getting any help from BND?
Well, some but not enough.
Lena pulled herself out of the talks today so she can make some calls.
Here you go.
Thank you.
In the meantime, we're beefing up security at the embassy, notifying officials.
I'm even thinking about looping in the press, have them report how we're ramping up security.
Maybe...
It'll scare off our assassin from trying to make a move.
That's, uh, that's smart.
You okay?
When you were stuck on that ship last year, bleeding out, did anything go through your mind?
Wow.
That came out of nowhere.
No, seriously.
We both had near-death, knocking-on-Heaven's-door moments last year and we never really talked about it.
So I'm curious.
Come on, man, what was, what was going on in your mind?
Yeah, I had some thoughts.
About what?
Alden.
Not sure.
Still unpacking it.
What about you?
What'd you think about?
Time.
How much I got left.
How do I want to spend it.
Who do I want to spend it with.
Lena.
You thinking about making more of a commitment?
I was.
And I...
You know, but now she...
There's so much baggage between us.
Too many secrets, dishonesty.
It'll never get boring, I'll tell you that.
Yeah, maybe.
To tell you the truth, Parker, I'm...
...I don't know what I really want.
I think you do, Leon.
If you need more honesty, maybe you should start by being honest with yourself.
All eyes are on the Venezuelan Embassy here in D.C.
as the diplomacy talks between Venezuela and the U.S.
are set to begin.
Director Vance.
Today will be a great day for our countries.
I agree, Admiral.
Shall we get to work?
Good morning, everyone.
Welcome.
Straighten up that tie.
Kase, any luck tracing those emails to Hezbollah?
Still working on it, but I hope to have it sometime soon.
Hey, guys.
McGEE: Jess, what's going on?
So, I just had a strange call with the editor of the D.C.
Chronicle.
The one that kept bugging Parker?
Yeah, what about her?
So, last night, I gave her Parker's statement about us beefing up security and I asked her to run it, but then, this morning, when I checked the paper, it wasn't there.
Maybe she forgot.
That's what I thought, so I called the editor, but he told me that Kael hadn't worked for the Chronicle in months.
She'd been let go.
Uh-oh.
The emails to Hezbollah?
Whoever's been communicating with them has been doing so from a domain address associated to the D.C.
Chronicle.
Kael was in the hotel soon after those bodies were found.
And she was here after Barreto died.
So, she is either one very informed reporter...
Or an assassin keeping tabs on her kills.
We need an address, Kase.
Yeah, way ahead of you.
No last home address, but a week ago, she checked into the same hotel where the delegates are staying.
Thanks.
Yeah.
All right, ready?
Bathroom's clear.
Clear.
There's no luggage.
Think maybe she checked out?
Hello?
I believe that we can accommodate you, but we need to agree on a joint base of operations.
My idea is...
I'm sorry to interrupt, Director.
May I have a word?
It's important.
Yes.
Admiral, you'll excuse me.
What is it?
McGee called.
He just got off the phone with the assassin.
She's got Lena.
The assassin is threatening to kill her unless you stop the talks.
Give them nothing, Leon.
Don't do it.
This came in about five minutes ago.
Don't do it.
Shut up.
There are reporters stationed outside the embassy.
If Vance does not get in front of cameras and announce he's ending the talks, Lena Paulsen dies.
You have one hour.
Who is she?
Robyn Kael.
Former reporter, now radicalized, working with Hezbollah.
Can we trace the call or video?
It was sent from a burner.
We tried pinging Lena's cell, but it's disconnected.
Is everything all right, Director?
Yes, Admiral, everything's fine.
I'll be right with you.
Look, I know how important this is to you, but Kael means business.
If you don't go out there and end these talks, Leon, she's gonna kill her.
But even if he goes out there, there's no guarantee that Kael won't kill her anyways.
We're dealing with a terrorist here.
It all comes down to what you're willing to lose.
Are you willing to risk Lena's life for this?
Thankfully, I don't have to make that choice just yet.
We still have an hour.
I suggest, gentlemen, you use that time to find Lena.
Fast.
Call in a BOLO.
I'll get ahold of the state police.
Curtis, I get it.
Just keep pinging her cell.
Lena's phone is out there somewhere.
Anything?
We got the FBI and the MPD searching all of Kael's last known addresses.
So far, nothing.
I spoke with some of her old coworkers to see if they knew where she might've gone.
It was a dead end.
I'm sorry.
I got the CCTV footage from Lena's hotel.
You need to see this.
Where is that?
Behind the hotel.
A worker found her purse and phone.
What's she doing with her hand?
McGEE: Pause it.
She's telling us how to find her.
Okay, rewind it.
Pause again.
Now, zoom in.
That's a fitness watch.
Those watches send location information to the cloud.
That means that...
It can be traced.
I need to hack into her account.
This is the situation that we have here.
I must have some reserves.
Director, are you listening?
Yes, um...
Admiral, I'm sorry.
Please excuse me.
We tracked Lena's location.
She's being held in an abandoned industrial building ten miles away.
Knight and McGee are on their way now.
Yeah, but we got a problem.
We've only got five minutes left till the deadline, and McGee and Knight are too far away.
They're never gonna make it in time.
If you don't show up in front of those cameras now, Lena dies.
We need to stall.
Hello, again.
Um...
Go ahead and roll.
Nice to see everyone.
You again.
Yeah.
Uh, Director Vance will-- he'll be...
he'll be out in just a few minutes.
Um, but I...
I thought that it might be interesting, um, to hear a brief history of U.S.
and Venezuelan relations, uh, and-and see how we got to this historic point.
Are you kidding me?
Hmm.
Venezuela first established diplomatic relations with the U.S.
in 1853.
Do they think this is some kind of joke?
Obviously, your sweetheart doesn't care about you as much as you thought.
Get up.
Get up!
It's over, Kael.
Let her go.
Stay back.
I'll splatter her brains all over this hallway.
I mean it!
McGEE: Not gonna happen.
Hands up.
Hands up.
On the wall.
Come on.
You're gonna regret this.
Some would say that Miguel Cabrera, uh, was the greatest Venezuelan player in the Major Leagues, but I don't know.
I don't know.
Have you seen Félix Hernández?
Thanks, I'll let him know.
Sir, Lena's safe and Kael's in custody.
Thank God.
Now, please, get him off the air before he ruins both of our careers.
Yes, sir.
Hey, Kasie.
What?
Hold on, hold on.
Slow down.
Well, Admiral, I guess it's finally time for us to say goodbye.
Thank you, Director, for hosting me in your beautiful country.
I am happy I can return home with news of our successful collaboration.
Well, hopefully, with the task force in place, the Caribbean will be a safer place and allow for more aid to come to those who need it.
May I also say how grateful I am to NCIS for catching the murderer of Diego Barreto.
Thanks to you, this woman, uh...
What is her name?
Robyn Kael.
Kael...
is in custody and justice will be served.
Until we meet again, Director.
Just one problem, Admiral.
Robyn Kael didn't kill anyone.
Excuse me?
But you said...
She kidnapped Lena Paulsen to stop the talks, but Robyn Kael didn't kill Barreto.
You did.
This is absurd.
While investigating Barreto's death, we learned that he was having, um, secret meetings with an unknown person.
We didn't know who this person was until yesterday.
This was snagged off a traffic cam in Caracas.
That's your wife, isn't it, Admiral?
Barreto was having an affair with her.
But of course, you already knew that.
That's why you hired a hitman to poison him.
We traced the payment you made to one of your offshore accounts.
You were right, Admiral.
Beautiful women are your weakness.
So, you confronted him in your office?
Yeah.
Oh, I would've loved to have seen that.
Yeah, it was something, all right.
So, what happens now?
Well, I spoke to the Venezuelan president.
Neither of us want this to distract from the success of the talks, so we both agreed: Mendoza will quietly resign and then be extradited back home to face trial.
He'll just get a slap on the wrist.
Politicians down there like to protect their own.
I wish we could've done more.
But it was the right play.
The things we do for diplomacy.
Listen, Leon.
Hmm?
I am sorry I've been keeping things from you.
I should've been more honest with you.
As a matter of fact, I'm gonna start right now.
I don't want to be in a casual relationship with you anymore.
You don't?
I want more.
I want to spend more time with you.
At your apartment in New York, or at my house in D.C., when you're here.
Make a real schedule.
Unless that's too much for you and I just made a complete ass of myself.
No.
I was hoping you would say that.
Because...