Show: NCIS - 22x14
Hey, Dad.
Hey, sweetheart, how are you?
Fine.
Just...
wrapping up at the library.
Ah, you girls must be having a blast with the science fair prep, huh?
Yeah, it's, uh, kind of hard to get excited over plant microbials.
Said no one ever.
A-Anyway, I'll...
see you when I get home.
Yeah, well, bring your appetite.
I am ordering a Tito's Supreme.
double pepperoni, double cheese.
Oh!
Sounds good.
Yeah, I figure we can stuff our faces and maybe watch a scary movie, you know, unless you're busy with your friends or homework or something.
Yeah.
Okay, I'm taking that as a soft yes.
Maybe.
I got to go.
Careful walking...
home.
Love you.
Did you bring it?
It's right here.
Synced & corrected by -robtor- www.addic7ed.com Could be from a drug deal.
Maybe extortion?
Or maybe it was a librarian fight club.
Ooh.
Clearly, I picked the wrong day to be late.
Who is in a librarian fight club?
Torres.
In his dreams.
Jimmy's daughter found $35,000 behind a Navy library dumpster.
Oh, wow.
All my kids ever bring home are germs.
Except she didn't bring home the cash.
Instead she called Uncle Nick and had him pick it up.
Not sure I would've turned in found money when I was 14.
Actually, I know I wouldn't have.
Only thing I don't get is why she ended up calling Uncle Nick and not me.
Maybe because you and Jimmy aren't a couple anymore.
Well, Victoria and I are still tight.
We have our weekly matcha date.
Mm, I think she just wanted to call the coolest cop she knew.
Well, real question is why didn't she call Jimmy?
He's her dad.
Jimmy doesn't know?
Of course he knows.
Victoria said she was gonna tell him when she got home.
She didn't tell him.
What makes you say that?
Because if Jimmy knew that his daughter found $35,000 behind a library, we all would have gotten 17 texts before breakfast and he'd be standing here right now asking for an update.
Wow, she didn't tell him.
No.
Jimmy ain't gonna like this.
You think?
Oh, that's Kasie.
She got a hit on the mystery cash.
What about Jimmy?
Probably best I see what Kasie has to say before I tell him.
Unless Ms.
Matcha wants to tell him for me.
Oh, no, no, no.
See, I've hit my yearly quota of awkward conversations with Jimmy, so...
Guess Uncle Nick will handle the case of, uh, the mystery dumpster money all by himself.
So, what you got, Kase?
Well, there is no mystery about this dumpster money.
And by that, I mean there is a ton of mystery.
So, I ran the serial numbers through BCS.
And it turns out that this cash came from an unsolved bank heist in upstate New York.
So, what's it doing here?
Well, to answer that, you'd have to ask the Saratoga Specter.
That is, if you can find him.
The Saratoga...
Specter.
As in ghost.
So, 15 years ago, some guy slipped through the back door of the Saratoga Springs Bank, single-handedly stole five million dollars and then disappeared without a trace.
No one even knows what he looks like.
I mean, but the cops must have some ideas.
Suspects.
Evidence.
Nothing.
That is why they call him the Saratoga...
Uh, Specter.
Yeah, I got it.
And the Specter hasn't even attempted another robbery since.
He's, like, right up there with the legends, you know, like D.B.
Cooper.
Ooh, the Barefoot Bandit.
And little Victoria Palmer found his stash.
Well, some of it, at least.
That's not all she found.
Oh, my gosh, this is huge.
I was able to pull a partial off one of the bank bands and we got a match.
Carson Marcone, a local HVAC repair person out of McLean.
Oh, but look at where he's registered to vote.
Saratoga Springs.
Oh, my gosh, this is...
the first break in this case in 15 years.
Looks like we're going to McLean.
Oh, uh, hey.
You might want to stop at Autopsy before you do.
Uh, I talked to Jimmy this morning.
I'm no mind reader, but it really seemed like he did not know about the Victoria thing.
Okay.
Hey, Kase.
What Victoria thing?
Hmm?
Uh...
208.
This is it.
Lock is busted.
That's never a good sign.
Ready?
NCIS.
Carson Marcone?
Looks like somebody was searching for something.
Yeah, like the rest of the stolen five million dollars.
Our bank robber?
Guess somebody else figured out he was the Specter.
Hey, Jimmy.
We should talk.
My hands are full with the body of the most elusive bank robber of the last generation.
But, uh, what do you want to talk about?
Victoria.
Oh, you want to talk about Victoria now instead of last night or this morning?
Look, man, I should have double-checked, okay, that Victoria told you about the money.
So, that's on me.
Okay?
And I'm sorry.
Thanks, Nick.
I'm glad that you two are so close.
It's just...
Don't understand why she didn't tell me.
I get it, Jimmy.
I absolutely get it.
But, look, it could have been worse, right?
She could have found a Glock.
She could have been pushing kilos of heroin in the streets, right?
Like...
That's not helping.
No, you know what?
Let's focus on the Specter.
All right, good plan.
Okay, the victim appears to have died from asphyxiation caused by, you know, the plastic bag around his head.
He also has a cluster of bruising on his face, which suggests that he was beaten beforehand.
Maybe they were, uh, trying to get information from him.
Yeah, like where his stolen millions are.
Well, Carson was, uh, definitely a big fan of himself.
Got Specter newspaper clippings, got some crime scene photos, found a pen from the Saratoga Springs Bank.
No sign of the rest of the money, though.
Maybe the killer got it.
Or Specter spent it all.
I mean, it's been 15 years.
On what?
Look at this place.
Well, there's another problem with that theory.
Carson's not the Specter.
Carson Marcone.
He was on an oil rig in Alaska during the Saratoga Springs heist.
Then how did his fingerprints get on some of the Specter's cash?
Mm, maybe Carson was the one who figured out who the Specter was.
I mean, he was a fan.
He frequented multiple chat rooms dedicated to the Specter.
This guy has his own chat rooms now?
Oh, yeah.
Fugitive robber enthusiasts are a small but vocal subcategory of the true crime fan base.
Though the D.B.
Cooperists take up most of the oxygen.
You seem to know a lot about this.
Well, I've done a few, uh, convention panels in my time.
Yours truly may have had a hand in catching Iggy Proctor.
Iggy who?
The Philly Phantom?
Third biggest jewel thief in Philadelphia history?
Anyway.
So, uh, tracking the Specter, clearly, is a hobby of our victim.
Well, he did what the cops couldn't do.
Found him.
And it got him killed.
Well, if that's the case, then we just need to follow Carson's trail and that could lead us back to the killer.
Start at the library, where Victoria found the money.
I just came from there.
Combed through weeks of security footage.
Victoria wasn't anywhere near the library.
Then how did she find the cash there?
She didn't.
Oh.
She lied to us.
Yeah.
Jimmy's definitely not gonna like that.
Why are we questioning Victoria in our interrogation room instead of literally anywhere else?
Because this is where the liars go.
Jimmy, she is a 14-year-old girl.
She is not a hardened criminal.
She lied to federal agents about where she found stolen money.
Fine.
Let's just get this over with.
Victoria.
I'm...
guessing that you know why you're here.
You lied.
Jimmy.
No, I didn't.
There was no money at the library.
There was no you, either.
That's not true.
We have video of you not there.
Hey, guys.
Don't mind me, just dropping off some snacks here.
Victoria, we got some string cheese.
We've got some almonds.
Got these little, uh, chocolate bear snacks.
My kids love these guys, so...
Tim.
We're kind of in the middle of a confession here.
All right, I'll put the juice boxes down and then I'll go, okay?
I can see you want those snacks.
That's guilty hunger you're feeling.
Sit with it.
Actually...
Honey, you are looking a little pale.
Your blood sugar's probably low.
Why don't you just have some of the almonds.
But don't enjoy them.
Victoria.
I'm not here to judge you.
But I really need to know where you found that money.
It's important, sweetie.
I wasn't at the library.
I was...
hanging out in the woods with Violet and Ella.
All right.
You-you...
Ooh, ooh, no...
You can tell me.
So, you weren't prepping for the science fair?
I'm not doing the science fair.
Of course you are. "
A Day in the Life of the Compost Bin."
I-I signed the permission slip.
Okay, guys, if we could get back to the But I never turned it in.
active...
What are you talking about?
You love science fairs.
murder investigation at hand.
Th...
Uh, it's, like, our thing.
And that's why I didn't tell you.
He could strike again.
I mean, I knew you'd be disappointed.
I am not disappointed.
I'm...
Look at me, I'm not disappointed.
I'm not disappointed.
I'm...
Okay, I'm a little disappointed.
I knew it.
Palmers!
Where in the woods did you find the money?
I found it over by the...
Snack break.
Who wants Portuguese pastel d...
Okay.
I'll just, uh, set these right here and back out.
You were saying?
I found the money at Hunter's Point.
Outside the campground, near some...
kind of burrow.
Thank you, Victoria.
That is a really big help.
Okay.
So, I am going to leave you alone with your dad now.
Good luck with that.
I was going to tell you...
...Dad.
Eventually.
I know.
I know, sweetie, I...
I just wish that you could be honest with me.
We shouldn't lie to each other.
I know.
I'm sorry.
I'm gonna ask you one more question.
All right?
Now, when you found the money...
...why did you call Nick and not me?
Well, 'cause he's a federal agent.
And you're just...
you know, the M.E.
Okay.
Right, yeah, yeah.
I see.
That makes perfect sense.
So, this is where Victoria actually found the Specter's money.
McGee and Torres searched the area.
They didn't find any more cash, but they did find a fox's den.
Please don't tell me that Fantastic Mr.
Fox is our main suspect now.
Uh, no, not a suspect, but, uh, a fox of interest who probably found the money somewhere else and dragged it back to his den.
So, we're back to square one.
No Specter, no killer.
No, actually, we're probably at square two with this new location.
Uh, I found a trace of a bactericide on the cash.
Didn't know what it meant.
It is used to combat extreme outbreaks of root rot.
As it turns out, an outbreak was recently reported at a gated community nearby where Victoria found that cash, which means...
Carson Marcone must have spent some time there.
And according to his work van's GPS, he spent a lot of time there, probably servicing HVAC units.
Wait a minute.
Briarwood?
That's where Jimmy and Victoria live.
Yeah.
It also might also be where the Saratoga Specter lives.
There are 135 residents in Jimmy's town house community.
Which means 135 potential suspects.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Muriel Whitehaven can be taken off the list.
She was 80 when the heist occurred.
Well, if we whittle it down by age, still leaves us with about 70.
New York State Police are sending over the case file from the original heist.
Spoiler alert: there's not much.
Doesn't take much.
I caught the Philly Phantom off a hundred-dollar tip he left at a bar.
Mm, I'm sure you kill with that story at CrimeCon.
I do indeed, Nick.
The people love it.
Anyway.
We should, uh, we should go to Briarwood, see whose HVAC systems Carson serviced.
One of those people could be our Specter.
Well, you got to be careful.
If the Specter is actually there, he might get spooked by feds coming around.
Not if you send me.
Over at Briarwood, I'm known as Jimmy's ex-girlfriend.
Uh, yeah, Jimmy's ex-girlfriend who is a fed.
They love me over there.
Even after you broke their neighbor's heart?
Uh...
Just in case, take Jimmy along, too.
Well, Vic is all set up in the conference room at NCIS doing homework.
Now we can focus on catching a killer.
So, uh...
what is our cover?
You...
Do we have, like, a code word in case things get dicey or...
Uh, well, our cover is that we are us, and I am helping you because Victoria's bike was stolen.
Right.
Guess I'm, uh, a little excited.
The thought of catching a legendary bank robber and potential murderer, you know, it might boost my image with Victoria.
Is this because of that "just the M.E."
comment?
Okay, I'm not gonna lie, that stung a little.
I'm sure she didn't mean "just the M.E.," like-like that's all you are.
Yeah?
What did she mean?
Well, you know, "just-just...
just the M.E.!"
Like...
like, that's the perfect thing to be.
You're bad at pep talks.
Yeah.
No, I...
Jess, this isn't about my ego, okay?
Uh, Victoria and I used to be inseparable.
You know?
She used to tell me everything.
Now...
she hardly says anything at all.
Girls that age are tricky.
Mm.
I mean, trust me, I used to be one.
Half the time, they want to push you away and the other half, they don't want you out of their sight.
I don't know, that's how they love.
You're a great father, Jimmy.
But you're still not taking anyone down today.
We're just gonna talk to security and get the footage.
Hey, Jimmy!
You know, if people see us walking around here like this, the app is gonna be hopping.
The app?
That's a place where Briarwood residents go to, uh, communicate.
I.
E., gossip about each other?
Yeah.
Exactly.
Oh...
Hmm.
Dr.
Palmer?
Oh.
You are a miracle worker.
Been using that skin tip you gave me.
Look.
Cheeks as smooth as a spinner dolphin.
Little petroleum jelly right underneath the eye, it's all you need.
Seriously.
Ronnie, you remember Jess?
Hi.
How could I forget?
God, I missed you around these parts, sister.
Ah.
What can I, uh, do for you two?
Uh, well, Victoria's bike is missing, and we think it was stolen.
Mm-hmm.
Wow.
I was hoping this day would come.
You were?
You two, working as a team for Victoria.
Clearly, you're back together.
Thank the Lord!
Oh, no...
Have you updated your relationship status in the app?
Because I can take care of that for you.
No, no, no, we, uh...
Uh...
uh...
You know, we were...
we were hoping that we could get some security footage from the past few days.
Yeah, that's gonna be a problem.
Monitoring system's been glitchy for weeks.
Most of the cameras are offline.
Called to have it fixed, like, a hundred times.
Ah, so much for state-of- the-art security, huh?
Eh.
We got the front fountain, though.
It's beautiful, right?
It's like I'm guarding Versailles.
One day I'll get there, and maybe even have a croissant.
So, Rhonda, how are you still on the market?
I mean, there has to be some lucky guy out there.
Aw...
They're either too short, too broke or too married.
Not like Dr.
Palmer, though.
When was the moment you knew you couldn't live without him?
Oh, you know, I d...
I wouldn't...
I don't know that I'd put it that way, uh...
No, go ahead, Jess.
Be honest.
Tell her everything.
Everything.
Okay.
I think it was when he surprised me...
...in an RV in the woods.
Oh...
How romantic.
Yeah.
So romantic.
It was like, uh, Prince Charming just waking me up from a deep slumber of utter contentment.
Okay.
So nice talking to you.
Thank you for all of this.
Thank you.
Uh, I-I could order a pizza.
I've got some time.
You know, when I heard you guys had a break in the Specter case, I grabbed our file and I hightailed it over here.
We appreciate it.
Little did I know that I would be having coffee with a living legend.
I'm sorry.
Who's this?
Man, that's Alden Parker.
He single-handedly took down the Philly Phantom, kid.
Oh, I'm aware.
Please don't call me kid.
Son, we are amongst law enforcement royalty here.
And it's my honor to give this case over to NCIS.
You paid him to say that.
I did not.
But I'm not complaining.
Now, I've been chasing the Specter for 15 years.
And if you want to catch him, you can't think like a cop.
'Cause he's a mastermind.
All these years and this is it?
A single hair?
Yeah, came from the bank vault.
That's the only reason why we know that the Specter isn't actually a ghost.
You get a follicle?
Could we use it for a DNA match?
Yeah, but a match against who?
I mean, you need a suspect first.
Wait a minute.
You guys got a suspect?
Seventy of 'em.
Seventy?
But...
we're about to narrow it down.
Anyway, thanks, Detective.
H-Hey, sport.
You mind, uh, taking a picture of me and the living legend?
All right.
On three. "
Living legend."
One, two, three.
Thank you.
According to the Briarwood visitors' log, Carson Marcone serviced six town homes in the past few months.
Which makes these residents our most likely suspects.
So, what now?
It's not like we can just knock on their door and ask for a cheek swab.
Well, that would definitely spook the Specter.
All right, we need to think outside the box here, find a way to get their DNA without them knowing, and do it fast.
How about my spicy sangria?
Care to elaborate?
Well, I used the app to invite all the Briarwood residents to the inaugural community happy hour.
So far, I have an 80% RSVP rate, including all six of our suspects.
Well, that's got to be some good sangria.
And, um, what exactly is the plan here?
I-I, uh, pass out free drinks, you know?
I bag and tag each one of our six suspects' cups.
You guys run the DNA.
I...
What could go wrong?
I could think of a few things.
One, this is an intricate undercover operation and you're not a trained agent.
And two, it's dangerous.
I mean, if the Specter figures out what you're doing, he could disappear.
I...
he could stuff you into a closet with a bag over your head.
I actually think it's a good idea.
I do.
I mean, collecting DNA is kind of in Jimmy's wheelhouse.
Thank you, Jess.
And he's so harmless that nobody would suspect him of being this crafty.
Could have stopped at "wheelhouse."
And you said it yourself: we need something outside the box.
You'll need to be stealthy about it.
Oh, he was stealthy when he snuck those photographs of that visitors' log.
He can do it.
You think you're up for this?
Agent Parker, this is my community.
This is where my family lives.
If ever there was a time for me to step outside my comfort zone, this is it.
Put me in, coach.
Spy glasses.
Super cool.
Wow, this is really happening.
You wanted in the game.
This is it.
Let's go over the plan.
Cool, cool, cool.
Right, yes.
Um, I serve my spicy sangria and then I collect, bag and tag all six of our suspects' cups without ever letting on this entire party's an elaborate ruse to catch the most elusive bank robber of the last 15 years and...
It's gonna be great.
That is the gist.
You're not gonna throw up, are you?
Probably not.
I'm a little concerned about the undercover part.
'Cause you're a terrible liar?
What are you talking about?
I am an excellent liar.
Oh.
Well, what about my special birthday dinner that I made you?
Jess, that was delicious.
Okay, the halibut was a little dry.
Halibut is always dry.
That is why I made a sauce.
The sauce was dry, too.
I...
Golly, I can't lie.
She's right.
All right, okay.
Jimmy, remember, you're just going undercover as yourself.
Mm-hmm.
You got this.
You are everybody's favorite neighbor and they are all coming to the party because they want to hang with you.
And the free booze.
Just being honest.
Yeah.
All you have to do is collect the six cups.
And that's just cleaning.
And who is a better cleaner than you?
You're right.
Thank you.
I mean, I've got this.
I am not just an M.E.
I'm not just the doctor with the good calves.
Uh, what was that?
It's something the ladies around here say about me.
Huh.
I've been running a lot since we broke up.
All right, Good Calves.
It's go time.
It is go time.
Oh, wait.
Almost forgot my party shoes.
Yeah.
Who wants some more sangria?
You're looking a little empty there, Mrs.
Applebaum.
Can I tempt you with a fresh one?
Jimmy, will you take a look at Lady Marmalade's sciatica?
Now, M...
Lady Marmalade is a cat, Mrs.
Applebaum.
Remember, I am not a veterinarian.
Oh, that's right.
Then will you take a look at my sciatica?
O-Okay, maybe later.
One down.
I never trusted her.
Always sitting by her window, judging me.
You talking about, uh, Mrs.
Applebaum or the cat?
Elvin.
They're listening to everything.
The homeowners association?
The government.
Oh.
Right, yeah.
Shh!
Close your eyes.
Mm-hmm.
You hear the buzzing?
Oh, I think I do.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I think I do.
Mm-hmm.
Stay vigilant, Elvin.
I will.
Two to go, four to go.
My money's on Crazy Elvin being the Saratoga Specter.
You're doing great, Jimmy.
Oh...
Oh, I am so sorry.
It's my fault, it's my fault.
I'm clumsy.
Hi.
Hi.
Are you new here?
Yeah.
Hi, uh, Wendy Hill.
I moved in two weeks ago.
Uh, hello, Wendy Hill, I am...
Jimmy.
I know.
You do?
How?
I've been watching you for a week.
Oh.
Not in a creepy way.
No, sorry.
I'm a runner, too.
I've seen you doing laps around the neighborhood.
Yeah, I really admire your nice...
shoes.
Thank you, yeah.
You know, I'd actually love to get a running club started here at Briarwood.
Just hoping to enlist some like-minded folks.
Well, don't let me stop you.
Okay.
Whoa, that was a close one.
No kidding.
That woman wanted to eat you.
I-I was talking about the cups.
I-I almost lost them.
What are you talking about?
Well, I mean, she was flirting with you.
Really?
You think so?
Only one way to find out, Dr.
Good Calves.
Oh.
I see suspect number three.
Mr.
Chu.
You, my friend, are looking thirsty.
All right, all six of our suspects' prints and DNA, bagged and tagged inside.
Well done, Agent Palmer.
Your shift is officially over.
And, uh, you're cool with Victoria staying at your place?
You know, at least until we catch the killer?
Of course.
For as long as she wants.
Great.
All right.
Well, I better get back to the party.
Don't want anyone wondering where I disappeared to.
What do you mean "anyone"?
Like, uh, the woman that was flirting with you?
What?
I did promise her that I would show her a ten-minute post-running stretching routine.
That's all.
Good night.
Anyone need a hug in here?
Please.
He can stretch with whoever he wants to stretch with.
So, you're a doctor and you solve crimes?
Well, I'm a medical examiner, so I don't solve crimes, per se, but I-I do act as a voice.
Oftentimes, the body is the only story the victim leaves behind.
That's fascinating.
Well, I...
You're fascinating.
Gosh, I feel like I've been talking about myself for ages.
No...
Uh, thank you for helping me clean up.
Who knew Briarwood could throw such a rager?
Uh...
I got a cheese plate here if you're feeling peckish.
Only if it comes with another round of that sangria of yours.
Yeah, looks like you're in luck.
Okay.
She seems fun.
Totally fun.
Maybe a little too sporty.
Says the woman who vacations in an RV.
You know, cyberstalking the woman who was flirting with Jimmy...
That's kind of a weird activity for you guys.
Uh, we are not cyberstalking.
We're not?
No, we're not.
We are researching.
And besides, it is ladies' matcha night and we can do whatever we want, McGee.
That is, of course, until Kasie finishes running the DNA.
Well, you could help me comb through the Briarwood town house deeds.
You know, help us catch the Specter.
Mm.
You know what?
That seems like a one-man job.
Dads, am I right?
Yep.
I'm living with a 24/7 helicopter dad these days.
Oh, I remember that.
I always felt like my dad wouldn't leave me alone.
He's just always there.
I mean, constantly checking in.
Wondering if I'm okay, offering me grilled cheese.
You know, that sounds awful.
Actually, it sounds pretty good.
A-And I know he's great, but...
That can put a lot of pressure on you.
And I'm not a kid anymore.
I-I mean, in four years, I'll be off to college and...
on my own.
Whew.
Sorry.
Allergies.
Listen, Victoria, I understand everything that you're saying, but lying to your dad is not the answer.
Yeah.
Really messed that up.
Then just talk to him.
I mean, Jimmy is...
Best dad.
He really is.
Ooh.
Uh, Jess?
You're a great dad, too, McGee.
Thank you, but that's not what this is about.
You really need to see this.
I'm assuming I'm not down here to play flip cup.
Well, how about we play a game of good news, bad news: DNA edition?
Not as fun, but okay.
Let's start with the bad news.
Ran rapid DNA tests on all six of our suspects.
None of them match the Specter.
Oof.
All right, what about the good news?
On a lark, I decided to test all of the unlabeled party cups from the recycling that Jimmy gave us, and...
I got a partial match.
Good news.
Who's the match?
No idea.
It was unlabeled.
So...
Bad news.
Think I know who the Specter is.
Wendy Hill.
The girl that was flirting with Jimmy?
Yes.
How do you know about that?
Oh, Jimmy and I text.
Wendy told Jimmy that she moved into Briarwood two weeks ago, but McGee was digging into the land deeds and discovered that Wendy purchased her house 15 years ago.
Right after the Saratoga Springs robbery.
And she paid in cash.
Where's Wendy now?
Last I heard, she was with Jimmy.
But he's not answering his phone.
What if Wendy knows that Victoria's the one that found her money?
Or that NCIS is onto her?
Either way, I don't think Jimmy's getting lucky tonight.
I was reading Victoria her favorite bedtime story, just praying she'd go to sleep.
And then she looks up at me with tears in her eyes and she says, "I can't sleep, Daddy.
My eyelids are broken."
Oh.
Victoria sounds amazing.
Yeah.
Well, it's clear you're a wonderful dad.
She's lucky to have you.
So, uh, one more for the road?
For sure.
Thank you.
Yeah.
So...
_ where's Victoria tonight?
Uh, she's at a friend's house.
Uh, my ex-girlfriend, actually.
Well, good.
That means I have you all to myself.
Hey, it's Jimmy Palmer.
Please leave a...
Jimmy's still not answering.
I'm going to the back entrance.
Jimmy's not at his home.
Wendy's place is empty, too.
All right, Kasie says his phone's definitely pinging from the rec room.
It's locked.
Bolted from the inside.
Go, go, go!
NCIS!
Hands in the air.
What?!
What the hell is happening?
Oh, my God.
You remember the ex-girlfriend I mentioned?
You doing okay, Jimmy?
Yeah, I'm just disappointed.
I thought she was into me for real.
Yeah, that's the life of an undercover agent.
Mm.
Sometimes you get played.
You know why you're here, Wendy?
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's because I was making out with her ex-boyfriend.
What?
No.
Okay.
Then why did you bust in on us in the rec room?
Because Jimmy Palmer was in danger.
You see what I mean?
She's crazy.
She just wanted to make sure that what happened to Carson Marcone didn't happen to Jimmy, too.
I'm sorry, the-the HVAC guy?
What happened to him?
He's dead.
What?
Oh, my God.
When was the last time you were in Saratoga Springs, Wendy?
Uh, what makes you think I've ever been to Saratoga Springs?
Because you were born and raised two hours from there.
Until 15 years later, when you came to Virginia to buy a town home in Briarwood for cash.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
That's a lot of money for a 20-something year old.
Yeah.
Unless, of course, she robbed a bank.
You think I'm the Saratoga Specter.
And I'm sorry, based off of what...
uh, a real estate deal?
And a hair found at the scene of the bank robbery that we're running your DNA against as we speak.
Well, I'll save you the trouble.
It's going to come back positive.
For a familial match.
Look, I did not rob any banks.
But my father did.
He told me when he was in hospice a month ago.
Your father confessed to being the Specter?
He was hours away from dying when he told me.
I...
Look, we weren't close.
I mean, I didn't even believe him until now, like...
right now.
And the town house in your name?
Yeah, my father told me he bought it in my name.
Wanted me to have something of his when he passed.
Look, it's, uh, easy enough to confirm.
If her father did die last month, then he couldn't have killed Carson.
Oh, poor Carson.
He seemed nice.
You knew him?
N-No, not really.
I mean, he's been coming to my unit for a few weeks.
The heat's been on the fritz.
Wow.
She wasn't playing you.
She just, uh, liked you.
It's been known to happen.
But I have a question.
Uh, Wendy said that Carson came to her place multiple times over the last few weeks?
Yeah.
Why wasn't that in the visitor log?
Rhonda is the reason Carson isn't in the visitors' log.
Well, no surprise.
She's not exactly security guard of the year.
Well, I can understand if she forgot to write it down once or twice, but Carson went to go visit Wendy four times.
And according to Kasie's analysis...
...all four were erased.
Rhonda's hiding something.
Oh, a lot of things, actually.
For one, she's no tech dummy.
Graduated top of her class from Virginia Institute of Technology.
So, those, uh, glitchy Briarwood cameras?
My guess is she was shutting them on and off herself.
Made it look like a malfunction.
That's not all, either.
I was looking into the Briarwood resident app.
Rhonda is the administrator.
Would that give her access to everyone's personal information?
She can spy on all of them from the comfort of her security room.
Yeah, she might have got hip to the fact that Carson found the Specter's cash?
I mean, you said Rhonda's up in everybody's business, right?
So, Rhonda confronts Carson, demands to know where he found the money, he won't talk...
She kills him.
And that means Rhonda's still looking for the cash.
Yeah, or else she'd be in Versailles by now.
We have to find that money first, before she does and disappears.
And I know one person who can help us.
Hey, Dad.
Hey, sweetie.
Do I get to come home today?
Uh, no.
No.
I don't think so.
We still haven't caught the bad guy.
That's actually why I'm calling.
What's up?
Hey, we really appreciate all your help with this case.
Finding that stolen money...
that was a really big deal.
Yeah, well, I was just trying to do the right thing.
And it was very mature of you to be honest about where you found it, you know?
Even though you lied about it the first time.
Dad, I already apologized.
I-I mean, to you and Uncle Nick and Jess.
Uh, right, right, right
Hey, sweetheart, how are you?
Fine.
Just...
wrapping up at the library.
Ah, you girls must be having a blast with the science fair prep, huh?
Yeah, it's, uh, kind of hard to get excited over plant microbials.
Said no one ever.
A-Anyway, I'll...
see you when I get home.
Yeah, well, bring your appetite.
I am ordering a Tito's Supreme.
double pepperoni, double cheese.
Oh!
Sounds good.
Yeah, I figure we can stuff our faces and maybe watch a scary movie, you know, unless you're busy with your friends or homework or something.
Yeah.
Okay, I'm taking that as a soft yes.
Maybe.
I got to go.
Careful walking...
home.
Love you.
Did you bring it?
It's right here.
Synced & corrected by -robtor- www.addic7ed.com Could be from a drug deal.
Maybe extortion?
Or maybe it was a librarian fight club.
Ooh.
Clearly, I picked the wrong day to be late.
Who is in a librarian fight club?
Torres.
In his dreams.
Jimmy's daughter found $35,000 behind a Navy library dumpster.
Oh, wow.
All my kids ever bring home are germs.
Except she didn't bring home the cash.
Instead she called Uncle Nick and had him pick it up.
Not sure I would've turned in found money when I was 14.
Actually, I know I wouldn't have.
Only thing I don't get is why she ended up calling Uncle Nick and not me.
Maybe because you and Jimmy aren't a couple anymore.
Well, Victoria and I are still tight.
We have our weekly matcha date.
Mm, I think she just wanted to call the coolest cop she knew.
Well, real question is why didn't she call Jimmy?
He's her dad.
Jimmy doesn't know?
Of course he knows.
Victoria said she was gonna tell him when she got home.
She didn't tell him.
What makes you say that?
Because if Jimmy knew that his daughter found $35,000 behind a library, we all would have gotten 17 texts before breakfast and he'd be standing here right now asking for an update.
Wow, she didn't tell him.
No.
Jimmy ain't gonna like this.
You think?
Oh, that's Kasie.
She got a hit on the mystery cash.
What about Jimmy?
Probably best I see what Kasie has to say before I tell him.
Unless Ms.
Matcha wants to tell him for me.
Oh, no, no, no.
See, I've hit my yearly quota of awkward conversations with Jimmy, so...
Guess Uncle Nick will handle the case of, uh, the mystery dumpster money all by himself.
So, what you got, Kase?
Well, there is no mystery about this dumpster money.
And by that, I mean there is a ton of mystery.
So, I ran the serial numbers through BCS.
And it turns out that this cash came from an unsolved bank heist in upstate New York.
So, what's it doing here?
Well, to answer that, you'd have to ask the Saratoga Specter.
That is, if you can find him.
The Saratoga...
Specter.
As in ghost.
So, 15 years ago, some guy slipped through the back door of the Saratoga Springs Bank, single-handedly stole five million dollars and then disappeared without a trace.
No one even knows what he looks like.
I mean, but the cops must have some ideas.
Suspects.
Evidence.
Nothing.
That is why they call him the Saratoga...
Uh, Specter.
Yeah, I got it.
And the Specter hasn't even attempted another robbery since.
He's, like, right up there with the legends, you know, like D.B.
Cooper.
Ooh, the Barefoot Bandit.
And little Victoria Palmer found his stash.
Well, some of it, at least.
That's not all she found.
Oh, my gosh, this is huge.
I was able to pull a partial off one of the bank bands and we got a match.
Carson Marcone, a local HVAC repair person out of McLean.
Oh, but look at where he's registered to vote.
Saratoga Springs.
Oh, my gosh, this is...
the first break in this case in 15 years.
Looks like we're going to McLean.
Oh, uh, hey.
You might want to stop at Autopsy before you do.
Uh, I talked to Jimmy this morning.
I'm no mind reader, but it really seemed like he did not know about the Victoria thing.
Okay.
Hey, Kase.
What Victoria thing?
Hmm?
Uh...
208.
This is it.
Lock is busted.
That's never a good sign.
Ready?
NCIS.
Carson Marcone?
Looks like somebody was searching for something.
Yeah, like the rest of the stolen five million dollars.
Our bank robber?
Guess somebody else figured out he was the Specter.
Hey, Jimmy.
We should talk.
My hands are full with the body of the most elusive bank robber of the last generation.
But, uh, what do you want to talk about?
Victoria.
Oh, you want to talk about Victoria now instead of last night or this morning?
Look, man, I should have double-checked, okay, that Victoria told you about the money.
So, that's on me.
Okay?
And I'm sorry.
Thanks, Nick.
I'm glad that you two are so close.
It's just...
Don't understand why she didn't tell me.
I get it, Jimmy.
I absolutely get it.
But, look, it could have been worse, right?
She could have found a Glock.
She could have been pushing kilos of heroin in the streets, right?
Like...
That's not helping.
No, you know what?
Let's focus on the Specter.
All right, good plan.
Okay, the victim appears to have died from asphyxiation caused by, you know, the plastic bag around his head.
He also has a cluster of bruising on his face, which suggests that he was beaten beforehand.
Maybe they were, uh, trying to get information from him.
Yeah, like where his stolen millions are.
Well, Carson was, uh, definitely a big fan of himself.
Got Specter newspaper clippings, got some crime scene photos, found a pen from the Saratoga Springs Bank.
No sign of the rest of the money, though.
Maybe the killer got it.
Or Specter spent it all.
I mean, it's been 15 years.
On what?
Look at this place.
Well, there's another problem with that theory.
Carson's not the Specter.
Carson Marcone.
He was on an oil rig in Alaska during the Saratoga Springs heist.
Then how did his fingerprints get on some of the Specter's cash?
Mm, maybe Carson was the one who figured out who the Specter was.
I mean, he was a fan.
He frequented multiple chat rooms dedicated to the Specter.
This guy has his own chat rooms now?
Oh, yeah.
Fugitive robber enthusiasts are a small but vocal subcategory of the true crime fan base.
Though the D.B.
Cooperists take up most of the oxygen.
You seem to know a lot about this.
Well, I've done a few, uh, convention panels in my time.
Yours truly may have had a hand in catching Iggy Proctor.
Iggy who?
The Philly Phantom?
Third biggest jewel thief in Philadelphia history?
Anyway.
So, uh, tracking the Specter, clearly, is a hobby of our victim.
Well, he did what the cops couldn't do.
Found him.
And it got him killed.
Well, if that's the case, then we just need to follow Carson's trail and that could lead us back to the killer.
Start at the library, where Victoria found the money.
I just came from there.
Combed through weeks of security footage.
Victoria wasn't anywhere near the library.
Then how did she find the cash there?
She didn't.
Oh.
She lied to us.
Yeah.
Jimmy's definitely not gonna like that.
Why are we questioning Victoria in our interrogation room instead of literally anywhere else?
Because this is where the liars go.
Jimmy, she is a 14-year-old girl.
She is not a hardened criminal.
She lied to federal agents about where she found stolen money.
Fine.
Let's just get this over with.
Victoria.
I'm...
guessing that you know why you're here.
You lied.
Jimmy.
No, I didn't.
There was no money at the library.
There was no you, either.
That's not true.
We have video of you not there.
Hey, guys.
Don't mind me, just dropping off some snacks here.
Victoria, we got some string cheese.
We've got some almonds.
Got these little, uh, chocolate bear snacks.
My kids love these guys, so...
Tim.
We're kind of in the middle of a confession here.
All right, I'll put the juice boxes down and then I'll go, okay?
I can see you want those snacks.
That's guilty hunger you're feeling.
Sit with it.
Actually...
Honey, you are looking a little pale.
Your blood sugar's probably low.
Why don't you just have some of the almonds.
But don't enjoy them.
Victoria.
I'm not here to judge you.
But I really need to know where you found that money.
It's important, sweetie.
I wasn't at the library.
I was...
hanging out in the woods with Violet and Ella.
All right.
You-you...
Ooh, ooh, no...
You can tell me.
So, you weren't prepping for the science fair?
I'm not doing the science fair.
Of course you are. "
A Day in the Life of the Compost Bin."
I-I signed the permission slip.
Okay, guys, if we could get back to the But I never turned it in.
active...
What are you talking about?
You love science fairs.
murder investigation at hand.
Th...
Uh, it's, like, our thing.
And that's why I didn't tell you.
He could strike again.
I mean, I knew you'd be disappointed.
I am not disappointed.
I'm...
Look at me, I'm not disappointed.
I'm not disappointed.
I'm...
Okay, I'm a little disappointed.
I knew it.
Palmers!
Where in the woods did you find the money?
I found it over by the...
Snack break.
Who wants Portuguese pastel d...
Okay.
I'll just, uh, set these right here and back out.
You were saying?
I found the money at Hunter's Point.
Outside the campground, near some...
kind of burrow.
Thank you, Victoria.
That is a really big help.
Okay.
So, I am going to leave you alone with your dad now.
Good luck with that.
I was going to tell you...
...Dad.
Eventually.
I know.
I know, sweetie, I...
I just wish that you could be honest with me.
We shouldn't lie to each other.
I know.
I'm sorry.
I'm gonna ask you one more question.
All right?
Now, when you found the money...
...why did you call Nick and not me?
Well, 'cause he's a federal agent.
And you're just...
you know, the M.E.
Okay.
Right, yeah, yeah.
I see.
That makes perfect sense.
So, this is where Victoria actually found the Specter's money.
McGee and Torres searched the area.
They didn't find any more cash, but they did find a fox's den.
Please don't tell me that Fantastic Mr.
Fox is our main suspect now.
Uh, no, not a suspect, but, uh, a fox of interest who probably found the money somewhere else and dragged it back to his den.
So, we're back to square one.
No Specter, no killer.
No, actually, we're probably at square two with this new location.
Uh, I found a trace of a bactericide on the cash.
Didn't know what it meant.
It is used to combat extreme outbreaks of root rot.
As it turns out, an outbreak was recently reported at a gated community nearby where Victoria found that cash, which means...
Carson Marcone must have spent some time there.
And according to his work van's GPS, he spent a lot of time there, probably servicing HVAC units.
Wait a minute.
Briarwood?
That's where Jimmy and Victoria live.
Yeah.
It also might also be where the Saratoga Specter lives.
There are 135 residents in Jimmy's town house community.
Which means 135 potential suspects.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Muriel Whitehaven can be taken off the list.
She was 80 when the heist occurred.
Well, if we whittle it down by age, still leaves us with about 70.
New York State Police are sending over the case file from the original heist.
Spoiler alert: there's not much.
Doesn't take much.
I caught the Philly Phantom off a hundred-dollar tip he left at a bar.
Mm, I'm sure you kill with that story at CrimeCon.
I do indeed, Nick.
The people love it.
Anyway.
We should, uh, we should go to Briarwood, see whose HVAC systems Carson serviced.
One of those people could be our Specter.
Well, you got to be careful.
If the Specter is actually there, he might get spooked by feds coming around.
Not if you send me.
Over at Briarwood, I'm known as Jimmy's ex-girlfriend.
Uh, yeah, Jimmy's ex-girlfriend who is a fed.
They love me over there.
Even after you broke their neighbor's heart?
Uh...
Just in case, take Jimmy along, too.
Well, Vic is all set up in the conference room at NCIS doing homework.
Now we can focus on catching a killer.
So, uh...
what is our cover?
You...
Do we have, like, a code word in case things get dicey or...
Uh, well, our cover is that we are us, and I am helping you because Victoria's bike was stolen.
Right.
Guess I'm, uh, a little excited.
The thought of catching a legendary bank robber and potential murderer, you know, it might boost my image with Victoria.
Is this because of that "just the M.E."
comment?
Okay, I'm not gonna lie, that stung a little.
I'm sure she didn't mean "just the M.E.," like-like that's all you are.
Yeah?
What did she mean?
Well, you know, "just-just...
just the M.E.!"
Like...
like, that's the perfect thing to be.
You're bad at pep talks.
Yeah.
No, I...
Jess, this isn't about my ego, okay?
Uh, Victoria and I used to be inseparable.
You know?
She used to tell me everything.
Now...
she hardly says anything at all.
Girls that age are tricky.
Mm.
I mean, trust me, I used to be one.
Half the time, they want to push you away and the other half, they don't want you out of their sight.
I don't know, that's how they love.
You're a great father, Jimmy.
But you're still not taking anyone down today.
We're just gonna talk to security and get the footage.
Hey, Jimmy!
You know, if people see us walking around here like this, the app is gonna be hopping.
The app?
That's a place where Briarwood residents go to, uh, communicate.
I.
E., gossip about each other?
Yeah.
Exactly.
Oh...
Hmm.
Dr.
Palmer?
Oh.
You are a miracle worker.
Been using that skin tip you gave me.
Look.
Cheeks as smooth as a spinner dolphin.
Little petroleum jelly right underneath the eye, it's all you need.
Seriously.
Ronnie, you remember Jess?
Hi.
How could I forget?
God, I missed you around these parts, sister.
Ah.
What can I, uh, do for you two?
Uh, well, Victoria's bike is missing, and we think it was stolen.
Mm-hmm.
Wow.
I was hoping this day would come.
You were?
You two, working as a team for Victoria.
Clearly, you're back together.
Thank the Lord!
Oh, no...
Have you updated your relationship status in the app?
Because I can take care of that for you.
No, no, no, we, uh...
Uh...
uh...
You know, we were...
we were hoping that we could get some security footage from the past few days.
Yeah, that's gonna be a problem.
Monitoring system's been glitchy for weeks.
Most of the cameras are offline.
Called to have it fixed, like, a hundred times.
Ah, so much for state-of- the-art security, huh?
Eh.
We got the front fountain, though.
It's beautiful, right?
It's like I'm guarding Versailles.
One day I'll get there, and maybe even have a croissant.
So, Rhonda, how are you still on the market?
I mean, there has to be some lucky guy out there.
Aw...
They're either too short, too broke or too married.
Not like Dr.
Palmer, though.
When was the moment you knew you couldn't live without him?
Oh, you know, I d...
I wouldn't...
I don't know that I'd put it that way, uh...
No, go ahead, Jess.
Be honest.
Tell her everything.
Everything.
Okay.
I think it was when he surprised me...
...in an RV in the woods.
Oh...
How romantic.
Yeah.
So romantic.
It was like, uh, Prince Charming just waking me up from a deep slumber of utter contentment.
Okay.
So nice talking to you.
Thank you for all of this.
Thank you.
Uh, I-I could order a pizza.
I've got some time.
You know, when I heard you guys had a break in the Specter case, I grabbed our file and I hightailed it over here.
We appreciate it.
Little did I know that I would be having coffee with a living legend.
I'm sorry.
Who's this?
Man, that's Alden Parker.
He single-handedly took down the Philly Phantom, kid.
Oh, I'm aware.
Please don't call me kid.
Son, we are amongst law enforcement royalty here.
And it's my honor to give this case over to NCIS.
You paid him to say that.
I did not.
But I'm not complaining.
Now, I've been chasing the Specter for 15 years.
And if you want to catch him, you can't think like a cop.
'Cause he's a mastermind.
All these years and this is it?
A single hair?
Yeah, came from the bank vault.
That's the only reason why we know that the Specter isn't actually a ghost.
You get a follicle?
Could we use it for a DNA match?
Yeah, but a match against who?
I mean, you need a suspect first.
Wait a minute.
You guys got a suspect?
Seventy of 'em.
Seventy?
But...
we're about to narrow it down.
Anyway, thanks, Detective.
H-Hey, sport.
You mind, uh, taking a picture of me and the living legend?
All right.
On three. "
Living legend."
One, two, three.
Thank you.
According to the Briarwood visitors' log, Carson Marcone serviced six town homes in the past few months.
Which makes these residents our most likely suspects.
So, what now?
It's not like we can just knock on their door and ask for a cheek swab.
Well, that would definitely spook the Specter.
All right, we need to think outside the box here, find a way to get their DNA without them knowing, and do it fast.
How about my spicy sangria?
Care to elaborate?
Well, I used the app to invite all the Briarwood residents to the inaugural community happy hour.
So far, I have an 80% RSVP rate, including all six of our suspects.
Well, that's got to be some good sangria.
And, um, what exactly is the plan here?
I-I, uh, pass out free drinks, you know?
I bag and tag each one of our six suspects' cups.
You guys run the DNA.
I...
What could go wrong?
I could think of a few things.
One, this is an intricate undercover operation and you're not a trained agent.
And two, it's dangerous.
I mean, if the Specter figures out what you're doing, he could disappear.
I...
he could stuff you into a closet with a bag over your head.
I actually think it's a good idea.
I do.
I mean, collecting DNA is kind of in Jimmy's wheelhouse.
Thank you, Jess.
And he's so harmless that nobody would suspect him of being this crafty.
Could have stopped at "wheelhouse."
And you said it yourself: we need something outside the box.
You'll need to be stealthy about it.
Oh, he was stealthy when he snuck those photographs of that visitors' log.
He can do it.
You think you're up for this?
Agent Parker, this is my community.
This is where my family lives.
If ever there was a time for me to step outside my comfort zone, this is it.
Put me in, coach.
Spy glasses.
Super cool.
Wow, this is really happening.
You wanted in the game.
This is it.
Let's go over the plan.
Cool, cool, cool.
Right, yes.
Um, I serve my spicy sangria and then I collect, bag and tag all six of our suspects' cups without ever letting on this entire party's an elaborate ruse to catch the most elusive bank robber of the last 15 years and...
It's gonna be great.
That is the gist.
You're not gonna throw up, are you?
Probably not.
I'm a little concerned about the undercover part.
'Cause you're a terrible liar?
What are you talking about?
I am an excellent liar.
Oh.
Well, what about my special birthday dinner that I made you?
Jess, that was delicious.
Okay, the halibut was a little dry.
Halibut is always dry.
That is why I made a sauce.
The sauce was dry, too.
I...
Golly, I can't lie.
She's right.
All right, okay.
Jimmy, remember, you're just going undercover as yourself.
Mm-hmm.
You got this.
You are everybody's favorite neighbor and they are all coming to the party because they want to hang with you.
And the free booze.
Just being honest.
Yeah.
All you have to do is collect the six cups.
And that's just cleaning.
And who is a better cleaner than you?
You're right.
Thank you.
I mean, I've got this.
I am not just an M.E.
I'm not just the doctor with the good calves.
Uh, what was that?
It's something the ladies around here say about me.
Huh.
I've been running a lot since we broke up.
All right, Good Calves.
It's go time.
It is go time.
Oh, wait.
Almost forgot my party shoes.
Yeah.
Who wants some more sangria?
You're looking a little empty there, Mrs.
Applebaum.
Can I tempt you with a fresh one?
Jimmy, will you take a look at Lady Marmalade's sciatica?
Now, M...
Lady Marmalade is a cat, Mrs.
Applebaum.
Remember, I am not a veterinarian.
Oh, that's right.
Then will you take a look at my sciatica?
O-Okay, maybe later.
One down.
I never trusted her.
Always sitting by her window, judging me.
You talking about, uh, Mrs.
Applebaum or the cat?
Elvin.
They're listening to everything.
The homeowners association?
The government.
Oh.
Right, yeah.
Shh!
Close your eyes.
Mm-hmm.
You hear the buzzing?
Oh, I think I do.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I think I do.
Mm-hmm.
Stay vigilant, Elvin.
I will.
Two to go, four to go.
My money's on Crazy Elvin being the Saratoga Specter.
You're doing great, Jimmy.
Oh...
Oh, I am so sorry.
It's my fault, it's my fault.
I'm clumsy.
Hi.
Hi.
Are you new here?
Yeah.
Hi, uh, Wendy Hill.
I moved in two weeks ago.
Uh, hello, Wendy Hill, I am...
Jimmy.
I know.
You do?
How?
I've been watching you for a week.
Oh.
Not in a creepy way.
No, sorry.
I'm a runner, too.
I've seen you doing laps around the neighborhood.
Yeah, I really admire your nice...
shoes.
Thank you, yeah.
You know, I'd actually love to get a running club started here at Briarwood.
Just hoping to enlist some like-minded folks.
Well, don't let me stop you.
Okay.
Whoa, that was a close one.
No kidding.
That woman wanted to eat you.
I-I was talking about the cups.
I-I almost lost them.
What are you talking about?
Well, I mean, she was flirting with you.
Really?
You think so?
Only one way to find out, Dr.
Good Calves.
Oh.
I see suspect number three.
Mr.
Chu.
You, my friend, are looking thirsty.
All right, all six of our suspects' prints and DNA, bagged and tagged inside.
Well done, Agent Palmer.
Your shift is officially over.
And, uh, you're cool with Victoria staying at your place?
You know, at least until we catch the killer?
Of course.
For as long as she wants.
Great.
All right.
Well, I better get back to the party.
Don't want anyone wondering where I disappeared to.
What do you mean "anyone"?
Like, uh, the woman that was flirting with you?
What?
I did promise her that I would show her a ten-minute post-running stretching routine.
That's all.
Good night.
Anyone need a hug in here?
Please.
He can stretch with whoever he wants to stretch with.
So, you're a doctor and you solve crimes?
Well, I'm a medical examiner, so I don't solve crimes, per se, but I-I do act as a voice.
Oftentimes, the body is the only story the victim leaves behind.
That's fascinating.
Well, I...
You're fascinating.
Gosh, I feel like I've been talking about myself for ages.
No...
Uh, thank you for helping me clean up.
Who knew Briarwood could throw such a rager?
Uh...
I got a cheese plate here if you're feeling peckish.
Only if it comes with another round of that sangria of yours.
Yeah, looks like you're in luck.
Okay.
She seems fun.
Totally fun.
Maybe a little too sporty.
Says the woman who vacations in an RV.
You know, cyberstalking the woman who was flirting with Jimmy...
That's kind of a weird activity for you guys.
Uh, we are not cyberstalking.
We're not?
No, we're not.
We are researching.
And besides, it is ladies' matcha night and we can do whatever we want, McGee.
That is, of course, until Kasie finishes running the DNA.
Well, you could help me comb through the Briarwood town house deeds.
You know, help us catch the Specter.
Mm.
You know what?
That seems like a one-man job.
Dads, am I right?
Yep.
I'm living with a 24/7 helicopter dad these days.
Oh, I remember that.
I always felt like my dad wouldn't leave me alone.
He's just always there.
I mean, constantly checking in.
Wondering if I'm okay, offering me grilled cheese.
You know, that sounds awful.
Actually, it sounds pretty good.
A-And I know he's great, but...
That can put a lot of pressure on you.
And I'm not a kid anymore.
I-I mean, in four years, I'll be off to college and...
on my own.
Whew.
Sorry.
Allergies.
Listen, Victoria, I understand everything that you're saying, but lying to your dad is not the answer.
Yeah.
Really messed that up.
Then just talk to him.
I mean, Jimmy is...
Best dad.
He really is.
Ooh.
Uh, Jess?
You're a great dad, too, McGee.
Thank you, but that's not what this is about.
You really need to see this.
I'm assuming I'm not down here to play flip cup.
Well, how about we play a game of good news, bad news: DNA edition?
Not as fun, but okay.
Let's start with the bad news.
Ran rapid DNA tests on all six of our suspects.
None of them match the Specter.
Oof.
All right, what about the good news?
On a lark, I decided to test all of the unlabeled party cups from the recycling that Jimmy gave us, and...
I got a partial match.
Good news.
Who's the match?
No idea.
It was unlabeled.
So...
Bad news.
Think I know who the Specter is.
Wendy Hill.
The girl that was flirting with Jimmy?
Yes.
How do you know about that?
Oh, Jimmy and I text.
Wendy told Jimmy that she moved into Briarwood two weeks ago, but McGee was digging into the land deeds and discovered that Wendy purchased her house 15 years ago.
Right after the Saratoga Springs robbery.
And she paid in cash.
Where's Wendy now?
Last I heard, she was with Jimmy.
But he's not answering his phone.
What if Wendy knows that Victoria's the one that found her money?
Or that NCIS is onto her?
Either way, I don't think Jimmy's getting lucky tonight.
I was reading Victoria her favorite bedtime story, just praying she'd go to sleep.
And then she looks up at me with tears in her eyes and she says, "I can't sleep, Daddy.
My eyelids are broken."
Oh.
Victoria sounds amazing.
Yeah.
Well, it's clear you're a wonderful dad.
She's lucky to have you.
So, uh, one more for the road?
For sure.
Thank you.
Yeah.
So...
_ where's Victoria tonight?
Uh, she's at a friend's house.
Uh, my ex-girlfriend, actually.
Well, good.
That means I have you all to myself.
Hey, it's Jimmy Palmer.
Please leave a...
Jimmy's still not answering.
I'm going to the back entrance.
Jimmy's not at his home.
Wendy's place is empty, too.
All right, Kasie says his phone's definitely pinging from the rec room.
It's locked.
Bolted from the inside.
Go, go, go!
NCIS!
Hands in the air.
What?!
What the hell is happening?
Oh, my God.
You remember the ex-girlfriend I mentioned?
You doing okay, Jimmy?
Yeah, I'm just disappointed.
I thought she was into me for real.
Yeah, that's the life of an undercover agent.
Mm.
Sometimes you get played.
You know why you're here, Wendy?
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's because I was making out with her ex-boyfriend.
What?
No.
Okay.
Then why did you bust in on us in the rec room?
Because Jimmy Palmer was in danger.
You see what I mean?
She's crazy.
She just wanted to make sure that what happened to Carson Marcone didn't happen to Jimmy, too.
I'm sorry, the-the HVAC guy?
What happened to him?
He's dead.
What?
Oh, my God.
When was the last time you were in Saratoga Springs, Wendy?
Uh, what makes you think I've ever been to Saratoga Springs?
Because you were born and raised two hours from there.
Until 15 years later, when you came to Virginia to buy a town home in Briarwood for cash.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
That's a lot of money for a 20-something year old.
Yeah.
Unless, of course, she robbed a bank.
You think I'm the Saratoga Specter.
And I'm sorry, based off of what...
uh, a real estate deal?
And a hair found at the scene of the bank robbery that we're running your DNA against as we speak.
Well, I'll save you the trouble.
It's going to come back positive.
For a familial match.
Look, I did not rob any banks.
But my father did.
He told me when he was in hospice a month ago.
Your father confessed to being the Specter?
He was hours away from dying when he told me.
I...
Look, we weren't close.
I mean, I didn't even believe him until now, like...
right now.
And the town house in your name?
Yeah, my father told me he bought it in my name.
Wanted me to have something of his when he passed.
Look, it's, uh, easy enough to confirm.
If her father did die last month, then he couldn't have killed Carson.
Oh, poor Carson.
He seemed nice.
You knew him?
N-No, not really.
I mean, he's been coming to my unit for a few weeks.
The heat's been on the fritz.
Wow.
She wasn't playing you.
She just, uh, liked you.
It's been known to happen.
But I have a question.
Uh, Wendy said that Carson came to her place multiple times over the last few weeks?
Yeah.
Why wasn't that in the visitor log?
Rhonda is the reason Carson isn't in the visitors' log.
Well, no surprise.
She's not exactly security guard of the year.
Well, I can understand if she forgot to write it down once or twice, but Carson went to go visit Wendy four times.
And according to Kasie's analysis...
...all four were erased.
Rhonda's hiding something.
Oh, a lot of things, actually.
For one, she's no tech dummy.
Graduated top of her class from Virginia Institute of Technology.
So, those, uh, glitchy Briarwood cameras?
My guess is she was shutting them on and off herself.
Made it look like a malfunction.
That's not all, either.
I was looking into the Briarwood resident app.
Rhonda is the administrator.
Would that give her access to everyone's personal information?
She can spy on all of them from the comfort of her security room.
Yeah, she might have got hip to the fact that Carson found the Specter's cash?
I mean, you said Rhonda's up in everybody's business, right?
So, Rhonda confronts Carson, demands to know where he found the money, he won't talk...
She kills him.
And that means Rhonda's still looking for the cash.
Yeah, or else she'd be in Versailles by now.
We have to find that money first, before she does and disappears.
And I know one person who can help us.
Hey, Dad.
Hey, sweetie.
Do I get to come home today?
Uh, no.
No.
I don't think so.
We still haven't caught the bad guy.
That's actually why I'm calling.
What's up?
Hey, we really appreciate all your help with this case.
Finding that stolen money...
that was a really big deal.
Yeah, well, I was just trying to do the right thing.
And it was very mature of you to be honest about where you found it, you know?
Even though you lied about it the first time.
Dad, I already apologized.
I-I mean, to you and Uncle Nick and Jess.
Uh, right, right, right