The victim is Marine Gunnery Sgt.
Richard Wilson, who was shot twice and dropped from an overpass to be impaled on a fence spike.
As is often the case in a TV show murder situation, he was three months shy of retirement.
Credit: Michael Yarish/CBS
They arrive to find the house trashed and a scared redhead in the bathroom, brandishing a bat.
She introduces herself as Lori and says she just got home from her mothers place in Florida.
That unit lost two men capturing terrorist Nazar Zakir and recovering $30 million in stolen cash.
Gibbs hollers that hell meet them at McCarthys house and storms out.
Then Gibbs slams out the door and roars off.
At HQ, theres no sign of Gibbs anywhere, which is a first in McGees experience.
They decide to hold off on telling Vance and keep working the case on their own.
Privately, Vance reprimands her for sharing details in front of family members.
Hey, here comes Ducky to justify his new archivist salary!
The three surviving Americans denied any theft, and hey presto, now weve got a motive.
This revelation barely has time to settle when McGee summons Bishop to the spot where McCarthys body was found.
They immediately pick up Calfa, the lone survivor, packing his car to flee.
McGee says that Calfas big secret is out, and theres no more burden to carry.
Calfa says the theft of the money was never proven, which is terrible as far as denials go.
Torres drives Lori home, making sure the house is clear before accepting her goodbye hug and leaving.
Thats bold, yo.
Yep, McCarthys girlfriend is the fake Lori.
Shes actually con artist Inga Petrov and is flying to Costa Rica that night.
Then she tries to get Torres to go on the run with her.
Honestly, WHOMST AMONG US wouldnt at least give that a shot?
He says no, of course.
Better luck next time, Inga.
Okay, so where was Gibbs all episode?
As Gibbs started spiraling, he summoned her mid-session with a patient about to have a breakthrough.
But he recently told his three best agents, and now everything feels different.
She absorbs it in silence and finally orders that drink.
To help her understand the context, she asks what else is happening in his life.
Now that the weight of all that emotion is getting to him, is it time to retire?
He considers this and quietly says, Im worried about what Id do without what I do.
The direction, structure.
In the car, Grace asks how hell know when his mission is accomplished.
A heros exit, jumping on a grenade to save everybody?
He laughs and says there are worse ways to go.
Throw him into those bright lights, baby.
Gotta say, I sincerely hope that isnt foreshadowing anything for seasons to come.
No grenades, Gibbs, literally or figuratively!
In the end, hes back at his desk like nothings wrong, chalking it up to lost time.
Although nobody pushes the conversation, it does seem like more discussion might be good at some point.
Oooh, a cliff hanger leading into the finale.
