We’re down to the nitty gritty, crawling ever closer to the big season-ender. Tonight, I think we’re going to be treated to something a bit lighter, at least as “lighter” goes with NCIS, with the teased return of Senior (Hello, Robert Wagner!) and, wow, does Tony have a sister?
Oooh! Let’s not waste any time finding out!
We open with a woman running out of a nice suburban home as police cars zoom in, sirens blaring. She is half hysterical, telling them there is a woman inside who shot her own husband. Just as the police go to enter, after telling Hysterical to stay outside, another officer on the scene says they got a call from a woman who locked herself in the closet inside the house, saying another woman shot and killed her husband. So, one officer stays with Hysterical, while the other two head inside. We find Dead Guy of the Week in a chair, with one to the temple, one to the chest, so no need to call the EMTs there. They get the Wife to come out of the bathroom, whereupon she immediately spies Hysterical outside on her lawn, and is incredulous as she points a finger, shouting “She shot my husband!” The officer explains that Hysterical said she did it. Ruh roh! A classic She Said-She Said: The Bitch-Off episode! I like it.
Aaaaand, roll awesome opening credits and theme song.
Michael Weatherly as Tony and Robert Wagner as Senior on NCIS. (Photo: Cliff Lipson, CBS)
We’re in the Bull Pen of Orangey Goodness as McGee gets a call from Delilah, letting him know he took her phone by mistake. He’s all worried she might see who is calling him, but doesn’t clarify. I’m thinking the whole jeweler engagement ring thing, but we’ll see. Enter Gibbs with Senior (yay!), who was down in the lobby. Turns out Senior is hours early for their standing weekly lunch because he’s hoping he can pitch in and help them out. He needs a project. Oh boy. He tries to get McGee on his side, but Timmy uses his phone-swap mission to duck the question. Unfortunately, that mission is derailed as Gibbs announces they have a dead body. And Gibbs tells Senior he has a project for him. A two-man boat project, in Gibbs’ basement. Delighted, Senior says he’ll be there that night. I’m sure nothing can go wrong with that plan. Tony tells his dad that they need to talk, and if he’s back in time, he’d still like to do their regular lunch.
And, we’re at the crime scene and our local officer explains the situation to Gibbs, and we learn that Hysterical is Dead Guy of the Week’s mistress. No real surprise there. Inside, the team is collecting forensics, including the discovery of one bullet in the ceiling. Ducky and Palmer confirm time of death is consistent with the phones calls to 911, while Tony and Bishop test both women for gun residue. Mistress isn’t happy about the GSR test, and Wife is still finger-pointing, claiming she’d never shoot her own husband, as we fade to black and white.
We return to the Bull Pen and the Screen of All Knowing and learn the NCIS connection is our Dead Guy, a civilian journalist now, who works with the Navy. Wife called their home security company and Mistress called 911, 30 seconds apart. Wife is a nursing assistant, currently unemployed, and the high school sweetheart of her now deceased husband. Mistress went to an unaccredited law school, then practiced on her own, before her license was suspended for “a pervasive pattern of misconduct.” My take? Mistress looks too good for this, so it has to be the wife. Tony always thinks it’s the spouse, but this time, he decides to question Mistress. Bishop takes Wife. Leaving McGee to follow up on the murder weapon. Time will tell who is right …
We start with Wife, who says she knew her husband was cheating and caught him in a lie a few days earlier. She confronted him with it, leading to a big fight, resulting in her moving out into a motel. Mistress says DG called her a few days ago, informing her he finally told his wife about his affair, something he’d been promising to do. (Oh, and also? Wife is in baggy, unflattering clothes, while Mistress is in yoga gear and has shed her jacket so we get to see her skinny-strap spandex top. Not that we’re being cliché or anything.) She says Wife did not take the news well, and DG had called her that morning, stating Wife was making violent threats. Mistress says she told DG she’d come by after her workout. Wife claims DG called her that morning, waking her up, telling her that he was ending the affair that day, and he wanted her to come over. When she got there, Mistress was already there. So … is there a chance these two wanted to kill hubby (for whatever reason) and both shot him, then each provided “reasonable doubt” for the other? If so … juicy! But why? Affair between the two women? And when does Tony’s sister show up? (I’m so impatient!)
Mistress says Wife was there before her, and she came in to find her holding a gun on DG. She begged her not to shoot, but she shot him, then walked closer and shot him again. (Also? Ducky said there were no defensive wounds on DG, so why is he just sitting there? Not even lifting his hands in defense?) Wife, of course, gives the opposite story, saying Mistress had the gun when she got there and shot him twice. They both claim the other turned the gun on them after shooting DG. Mistress says she grabbed her arm, making her drop the gun, then ran outside and called 911. Wife says she did the same, then hid in the bathroom, calling their security firm on speed dial. She asks if she can go home, but nada. Still a crime scene. Bishop explains they’re just staring their investigation, so she’ll be staying with NCIS for the time being. She wonders if maybe she should get a lawyer. (You think?) Mistress wonders the same, and Tony is all, “Yeah, well, you can’t represent yourself, seeing as your license is suspended and all.”
We move down to Ducky’s Digs and learn that DG was shot in the chest first, then at close range on the temple, which ties in more with Mistress’ story. Wife was unclear on the actual shooting part, thinking maybe Mistress shot twice, you know, or whatever. On the chest wound there were fibers embedded in the bullet hole, so Abby has those, along with the bullets. Ducky wants to know what Gibbs’ gut thinks about who done it. Gibbs says it’s too early, and his gut is overrated. Gibbs exits as Ducky tells DG not to believe that for a moment. Heh.
Brian Dietzen as Palmer and Pauley Perrette as Abby on NCIS. (Photo: Monty Brinton, CBS)
In Abby Lab, she bites off Palmer’s head for asking for information she is still compiling, which is only part of a very long list of information she’s been chasing down all morning, and how she’s only one person. He leaves, warns McGee as he comes in, but McGee is just there to tell her that the gun was registered to DG and was legally purchased six years earlier. Turns out DG’s fingerprints were on the gun … and so where both of the women’s as well.
Tony and Senior exit the restaurant, post-lunch, as Tony is trying to come up with ideas of things for Senior to do. They are approached by a woman who looks a little rough for wear. She grabs Senior’s sleeve and is all, “Dad! I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Tony is delighted, asking dear old dad if he has a sister, while Senior explains that clearly the woman has a few problems and gently explains to the woman that she has the wrong person. She ignores this and says she has so much to tell him. Tony gives her some money, gently tells her to get something to eat, and they walk away. The woman calls after Senior, calling him Dad, saying, “Please don’t leave me.” Tony ushers his perplexed father away.
In the Bull Pen, night has fallen, and Director Vance is checking in, wondering which woman they’re charging with murder. Gibbs says they don’t know. They have two eye witnesses, both accusing the other of pulling the trigger. Vance wants to know if they’re leaning one way or the other, but the opinion is still split. McGee tells us that the cell towers confirm that both women were where they said they were when they were called by DG. Mistress is a shady lawyer at best, but the neighbors say Wife was forever haranguing her spouse, who is described as the nicest guy. Both women had GSR, but they both claim to have struggled with the gun in self-defense.
Back in Gibbs’ basement, Senior is helping as Gibbs clamps on the latest board, and they chat about Senior’s moving to D.C., making adjustments, but happy to be near his son. Gibbs confirms that Tony looks forward to their lunches. Senior tells Gibbs about the homeless woman mistaking him for her father and how he’s been feeling guilty for walking away. She was young enough to be his daughter, and he feels bad that he left her standing there, looking lost. Gibbs tells him that if he needs a project, start with her. Senior questions his seriousness, but Gibbs just smiles and asks him if he has something better to do. Fade to black and white.
Robert Wagner and Melora Walters on NCIS. (Photo: Monty Brinton, CBS)
We come back the next morning to Tony, at home, making his morning bagel when who shows up but dear old dad … and his homeless friend, Susan. Susan likes Tony’s apartment, then sits down at the piano and starts to play. When Senior compliments her, she smiles and reminds him how he is the one who made her take lessons. Senior tells Tony he wants to find out who she is. Tony is not a fan of this idea and is even less of a fan when Senior allows Susan to push in an old shopping cart with all her worldly possessions, thinking maybe there might be some ID in all the junk … which has now tipped over all over his living room floor.
In the Bull Pen, Bishop wants to know if McGee is hiding something from Delilah, and he confides he’s looking at engagement rings. Her glee at this news is cut short when Gibbs enters for an update. We learn that DG was living paycheck to paycheck until recently when he made two deposits totaling $500K into two different accounts, both of which are now empty. They are still tracking where it came from and where it went. Tony comes in and Gibbs remarks on his tardiness. He shares the joy that was his morning, then comments that according to Senior, it was all Gibbs’ idea. Gibbs just says he’s glad Senior found her, while Tony explains he put them both into an Uber and directed her to a shelter.
We shift to said shelter. A caseworker comes out with Susan, who is happy to see that Senior hasn’t left. He goes back with the caseworker alone, and the man tells Senior that they only provide food and shelter, and it’s obvious she needs medical care. He says an ID would help, so Senior offers to take her fingerprints to his “connections.”
Now we’re at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, with Gibbs and McGee talking to DG’s office co-worker, who is very sad and all, but thankful DG put the article he was writing into the cloud, so, you know, Co-worker wouldn’t have to start over. Yeah. That’s a good thing. He goes on to tell them that DG was a nice guy, very competent, reliable, well liked. They ask about DG’s home life and Co-worker tells us that he thought those problems would resolve themselves after DG won the lottery. $500K after taxes. Co-worker says DG didn’t tell many people, that Maryland allows winners to remain anonymous. He got involved with Mistress Lawyer in dealing with his winnings. Co-worker introduced the two and says he heard rumors they were involved personally, as well.
Over at Abby Lab, she’s explaining to Senior what she’s doing, and he claims she’s adorable, despite the fact he has no idea what she’s talking about. Tony comes in and finds that Senior is getting Abby to run Susan’s fingerprints. Tony’s all, “You can’t do that,” but Abby gets a hit on the prints and we’re off to the races. Her name is Susan Lowe, Army corporal, honorable discharge, so probably eligible for benefits. Yay! Abby’s all, “Your dad is so compassionate,” and Tony is all, “Yeah, who knew?”
Emily Wickersham as Bishop on NCIS. (Photo: Cliff Lipson, CBS)
Back in the Bull Pen, we’re digging deep into the bank statements and have learned that Wife turned into a spend-a-holic on the winnings, going through them and putting them $40K in debt. Tony unearths all kinds of doctor bills on the other account statement, all so Mistress could get some “work done.” Turns out DG cut up Wife’s credit card and cut off Mistress from further procedures. Ah, now we’re getting somewhere. Bishop and McGee are nailing the Wife to the wall on motive, but for every claim they make Tony has an equal one pointing at the Mistress. Gibbs says they can find out who the liar is by asking them to take a polygraph. Fade to black and white.
Back from break, Wife is taking a polygraph. Mistress is on her way in. Tony thanks Gibbs for getting Senior to help the homeless woman, sincerely saying it’s really given his dad a boost. Gibbs is all, “I just nudged him.” We shift to interrogation, with Gibbs, Vance and Bishop watching through the window as Wife takes the polygraph. Gibbs says they aren’t always conclusive. Watching her answer, it’s hard to tell.
Shifting back to the homeless shelter, Senior brings sneakers to one of the homeless guys who had been eyeing his leather shoes, then tells the caseworker they have an ID on Susan and she qualifies for a VA hospital. Turns out that when the visiting doctor gave her a basic physical, it spooked her and she’s taken off. Senior is not a happy camper. The caseworker tells him that in addition to the dementia issues, she was also showing signs that indicated she may have a brain tumor. Senior sets off to find her.
We move back to interrogation, now with Mistress taking the polygraph, who also sounds pretty convincing. The polygrapher tells them that the results are inconsistent, but on the question did they kill DG, neither woman was lying. Ruh roh. He’ll re-examine the data. Vance is all, they can’t charge either one because they both have reasonable doubt, so Gibbs heads off to find more evidence.
In Tony’s apartment that evening, he’s taking Mandarin lessons … I think, when Senior shows up saying he’s had no luck finding Susan. Tony tells him he’s proud that his dad is doing what he’s doing, and Senior says that maybe she got to him because she thought he was her dad, and that he’s making amends for not always being there for Tony. Tony chides him not to worry about that, but Senior stands by it, saying that if and when Tony is a father, he’ll understand. Tony shares that he has done his own tracking on Susan and found her last-known address, which touches Senior. Tony says they’re going to track her together the following morning.
The following morning, Abby is über-caffeinated and sidesteps Ducky’s concern for her elevated intake. Abby has tracked down the fiber found in the gunshot wound as belonging to an electric blanket. Ducky claims that putting an electric blanket on the body, even for a short time, could change the time of death estimation. Oooh, we’re getting closer to finding out they both did it! Question is, will they get away with it? Ducky says that with the blanket, the time of death would be earlier, when both women would have alibis. Mistress at the gym, Wife at her motel. Ducky surmises what I’ve been saying all along … could they be conspiring to cover up the truth? Well … duh! But why? And if they didn’t shoot him, who did? Fade to black and white.
Michael Weatherly as Tony and Robert Wagner as Senior on NCIS. (Photo: Monty Brinton, CBS)
We come back to Senior and Junior checking out Susan’s last-known address, which turns out to be in a rather nice neighborhood. They talk to the building manager who knew Susan, said she lived there 18 years ago, but hasn’t seen her in a very long time. They tell him what they know about her now, and he confesses that she went through a bad time, was screwing up at work, lost her job. He carried her for a few months, but eventually the owner of the building found out and evicted her. He gives them what info he has on where she went, says he knew she was trying to reconnect with her dad, who had rejected her because she is gay. This was all 30 years ago, but he tells them he’s not surprised they found her in the local park, as she used to go there to feed the pigeons.
Over in the Bull Pen, Gibbs gets Bishop to track down DG’s life insurance and gets McGee to look into whatever might have been deleted from DG’s laptop that is still in the cloud. Senior and Junior bond over their joint mission, and they find Susan in a very bad way in the park. Tony calls an ambulance.
In Ducky’s Digs he gets Palmer to do more tests on DG’s hands and fingernails. Abby comes in and wonders how Gibbs knew to check computer deletions. Turns out there was one the morning DG died. A suicide note that blames both women for ruining his life. So … I guess if the women wanted to split his life insurance, he can’t be ruled a suicide, and bingo, we get their she said-she said defense. He shot himself in the head, they shot him in the chest post-mortem to make it look like murder. Gibbs asks about the life insurance policy and yep, suicide clause. So … wow. Lovely duo, Wife and Mistress, eh? A $2 million payoff. So we know why Wifey made it look like murder, but how did she get Mistress to go along? And why? Split the payout to insure neither could be tried? It’s a big risk for Mistress. She could have been charged with murder, but for a million bucks, maybe worth it.
Mark Harmon as Gibbs on NCIS. (Photo: Cliff Lipson, CBS)
Move to the scene of the crime, where Gibbs, McGee and Bishop lay out the whole deal for both Wife and Mistress. Gibbs wants to know how much Mistress wanted to collude on the deal, and she finally caves and says, “Half.” Bishop says what we’re all saying, how insane it was to allow themselves to be suspected of murder, but Mistress chimes in with how she knew it was a foolproof idea, creating reasonable doubt. Except how it wasn’t so foolproof. Of course, neither actually killed anyone, so all they’re guilty of is insurance fraud. Hopefully that comes with a nice long prison sentence.
At the hospital, Senior learns that Susan’s brain tumor is past the treatable stage, so they’ll try to keep her comfortable. She has a month, probably less. The doctor reminds Senior that Susan thinks he’s her father, so Senior goes in to comfort her, give her closure and pretend to be her father. It’s sweet and loving and I’m a little misty. OK, maybe a lot misty. He apologizes to her as her father, making amends for all her father did and gives her the closure she needs, and maybe a little for himself, too, as Tony watches from the doorway.
Fade to black and white.
So, the fake murder ends up being the light plot, and the surprise daughter is the one to deliver the emotional punch. I like it. Now, pass the tissues, will you?
While we’re all de-mistying ourselves, let’s talk giveaway winners and cheer up the room a little. Many, many thanks to all of you who took time to write, share your thoughts and for your interest in my “real job” — if you try any of my books, I hope you enjoy them! One of you is going to get that chance right now. The winner of a signed advance copy of my upcoming April 26 release, Starfish Moon, and choice of a Blueberry Cove canvas tote bag OR a lovely bookmark charm designed exclusively for my Blueberry Cove series by The Cotton Thistle is: Amber Stovall! Amber, please e-mail me at dmkauffman1@gmail.com with an address and your prize choice and I’ll get them in the mail to you!
No new episode next week (waaaah!), so let’s up the ante and expand the new giveaway to two winners! With only a handful of episodes left and a handful of weeks until my new book hits the stands, consider it a comfort read to help as we anxiously await Tony’s fate and what is sure to be a slam-bang season finish. Same prize up for grabs this week! Want in? Send me an e-mail to dmkauffman1@gmail.com with “I need a comfort read! Starfish Moon please!” in the subject line, and you’re good to go! Of course, if you want to include your thoughts about this week’s episode, or the season in general, please do. I love hearing from you! Prize winner will be announced in the next recap. I always post a link on my Facebook page, so jump over there and join the fun. More giveaways there, too, not to mention our weekly Tuesday Mark Harmon Moment! Good luck!
Donna Kauffman is the USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 50 titles. (I know! She’s busy like that!) Born in Washington, D.C., she now lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia surrounded by wildlife that has nothing to do with what’s going on in our nation’s capital. You can scope out her website (a little episode title humor there) at www.donnakauffman.com. She loves to hear from her readers. Yes, even you.
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