Directed by Mark Horowitz
Written by Brendan Fehily
Season 13, Episode 7
16 Years
An elderly man is found shot dead in the woods, and Ducky recognizes the name when he's positively identified as a retired Navy Lieutenant Commander named Runyan Hayes. Ducky reveals to Gibbs that he recently joined a cold-case solving club name The Sherlocks and that three weeks prior, Hayes asked them to help prove that his son Michael is innocent of a Navy-related murder that was committed 16 years prior that he is currently serving a life sentence for. Ducky thinks that the elder Hayes was killed by whoever the true murderer is to cover their tracks. NCIS joins forces with the Sherlocks to discover the truth and solve the elder Hayes' murder.- The Guards Must Be Crazy: Aversion when Walt and Judith try to pose as Michael Hayes' parents in an attempt to get his DNA.Prison Guard: Michael Hayes' parents just came to visit.
Bishop: [she and Tony share a confused look] Mmm... His mother died years ago and his father just passed away.
Prison Guard: We know. That's why we detained them. - My God, What Have I Done?: Abby's sentiments when she learns she's responsible for the wrongful imprisonment of Michael Hayes through outdated forensic methods.
- Raised by Grandparents: Prior to his death, the Victim of the Week had been raising his granddaughter since her father, his son, was imprisoned for 16 years.
- Running Gag: People telling Lyle to shut up:Gibbs: What's your name?
Lyle: I'm Lyle.
Gibbs: Shut up, Lyle.[When Ducky is calling out Walt and Judith for their stunt as posing as Michael Hayes' parents]
Lyle: Hey, just to be clear, you're yelling at them and not me, right?
Ducky: Oh, shut up, Lyle.[After Lyle gives Gibbs an "Eureka!" Moment]
Gibbs: Lyle...
Lyle: I know... shut up?
Gibbs: No. You just solved a murder. [Rushes out of the conference room] - Snipe Hunt: The Cold Open starts with a couple of fathers sending their sons on one. They end up finding the body.
- Tempting Fate: After thinking that her husband was killed during the last episode and him returning home safely, Bishop hopes for a quiet day at work. Naturally, that doesn't happen. Near the end of the episode, Tony and McGee make her "break the curse" by standing on top of her desk and loudly praying for a hectic day, getting her applause from the entire bullpen.Tony: You never say "good luck" in the theater. You never say "Hey, good game," to a pitcher who's in the middle of a no-hitter. And you never, ever say whay you just said in the big orange room.
- What the Hell, Hero?: After Tony and Ellie save Walt and Judith from their detainment by the prison guards for attempting to pose as Michael Hayes' parents, Ducky reams the Sherlocks for jeopardizing the case with their stunt, especially when they can't afford any slip-ups with a man's life and Abby's career being on the line.
