The penultimate episode of NCIS season 23 had the team waiting for justice when it came to former CID Director Wayne Rogers. who was on trial for his actions involving what happened surrounding the death of Director Leon Vance. Things seemed to be going well, but what complications came up for the case?
Parker attended the beginning of Rogers’s trial, having made sure the prosecutor got his report on all of the strategies the defense could use. But despite the prosecutor’s repeated assurances that they were ready, the defense surprised them with a motion for continuance. Basically, this meant Rogers was trying to strike an immunity deal to get them something bigger.
Parker was determined to get justice for Director Vance
Understandably, Parker was angry and upset when the judge told them that, until they had more information to put the deal in place, she was instituting a gag order. He didn’t like this idea and when the AUSA tried to calm him, he punched him in the face.
Back at the office, the team was stunned to find out what had happened, and Kasie was able to figure out that Parker had managed to give them a clue through a newspaper story about the deal. The deal wasn’t complete, so the team had time to figure out what information Rogers was sitting on to hopefully get it out before he could, thus leaving the deal null and void.
Parker’s sister, Harriet, arrived to bail him out of jail. We found out it was a day before the anniversary of their father’s death. She was worried about Parker going off the deep end again. He assured her he could put Rogers away legally, but not behind bars. As they were leaving the cell, Parker noticed Rogers with a security detail.
When two men arrived who looked like security, Parker realized they didn’t have the same badge, and he engaged in a shootout with them that left the actual security guard dead. One of the shooters was killed, and the other apprehended.
McGee found out the gunmen had information on the WITSEC database and every federal safehouse, meaning only NCIS was a safe place for Rogers to hide from criminal elements after him. Parker took Rogers to his house, which was the last place anyone would expect to find him.
In the meantime, Torres questioned the gunman they apprehended, who was not cooperative and claimed that he would be released before telling Torres to check his messages. It turned out the people associated with him had abducted the AUSA and his wife, sending a ransom video message of the missing couple.
Kasie figured out the weapons they used came from the Navy, specifically ones that should be in a stockpile in Virginia. The last person to access the facility was none other than Harriet Parker, making it seem like she was associated with the cartel that the shooters were a part of and that Rogers had information about.
What actually happened was there was a mission to send weapons to a rebel group in Venezuela, but then they turned into a cartel and began terrorizing people. Harriet was being called in front of Congress to take the fall since she signed off on it. They also had missiles, something Harriet had tried to prevent.
Knight found some evidence outside of the AUSA’s home, which turned out to be barnacle residue that was associated with a building that had been closed down to an infestation. The team found the victims alive, but something was off. The kidnappers had left, and when McGee tried to call the agent watching Rogers, he didn’t answer.
They went back to Parker’s, learning that Rogers was missing and had left willingly with a member of the cartel. They realized Rogers was actually leading the cartel. They also determined he used his attorney to gain access to his other client who was associated with the cartel.
Once they talked to his lawyer, he immediately folded and admitted Rogers had the missiles. But even after being caught on a ship heading out of the country, Rogers still had a trick up his sleeve. He lost one immunity deal, but made another one. He had plenty of tricks up his sleeve and Parker knew that he would not stop selling weapons.
Was Parker involved with what happened to Wayne Rogers?
Even though all hope seemed lost, a breaking news report revealed that Rogers had been shot on the way to his new location. McGee’s contact informed him that it was a sniper hit from 4500 yards away.
Harriet went to see Parker, having successfully argued her case in front of Congress. She then questioned him about the shooting. Parker claimed not to have any sniper knowledge, but she told him the car was stopped, which could allow a shooter to make the shot. Parker did have knowledge of how to mess with a car from his youth. He continued to make their dinner, which consisted of fresh Alaskan fish.
The episode seemed to suggest that Parker worked with Gibbs to take down Rogers. However, it might be a mystery that may never be solved.
Either way, the team got justice for Vance and no longer had to worry about Wayne Rogers. With only one more episode left of the season, this was a great way to lead into the finale and leave a question about whether Parker’s tendency for crime went even further.
NCIS airs Tuesdays on CBS at 8/7c.
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