‘NCIS’ season 14 episode 14 recap: Comeback of the Sherlocks amid murder mystery

“NCIS” season 14 episode 14 observes the comeback of the Sherlocks while the NCIS team tries to solve a murder mystery. Gibbs (Mark Harmon) isn’t apparently thrilled to see them back.

The episode shows the body of Maya Kettering at her home. She has been on leave from her work at USS Tallahassee. The pizza delivery guy discovers the body first after seeing it through the window. The NCIS team arrives thereafter and Ducky (David McCallum) declares that strangulation caused her death.

Amid investigation by the NCIS team, Sheriff Walt Osorio (Richard Riehle) of private investigative team the Sherlocks arrives on the scene. The team was last seen on the show in season 13 episode 7 titled “16 Years,” which led Jimmy (Brian Dietzen) to joining the "NCIS" team. They are back once again, and Gibbs isn’t quite thrilled to see the whole team, including Anthony DiNozzo (Robert Wagner) back.

When Gibbs and Bishop (Emily Wickersham) go to Tallahassee for further investigation, they find that the team of Sherlocks is already there. They discover that her husband Mike (Nick Jandl) hasn’t come to home on weekends since the past three months. "NCIS" team finally find Mike with a mystery woman. They initially think she is his sister but after watching them kissing, the possibility is ruled out.

Furthermore, in “NCIS” season 14 episode 14, it is revealed that Mike’s girlfriend and neonatal nurse Darlene Jones (Austin Highsmith) isn’t aware that he is already married. Later, the team discovers that he flew from San Francisco to Washington, DC 30 minutes after the death of his wife. Hence, the team thinks he is no more a suspect at the moment.

The autopsy reveals rug burns on Kettering’s body, revealing she was dragged from her living room. Meanwhile, home security tech guy Taj (Steven Cox) is removing the alarm unit in the house for Sheriff Walt.

Quinn (Jennifer Esposito) finds that about eight alarms have been stolen in Kettering’s neighbourhood, and so, Taj falls under suspicion. Lyle is telephoned and warned about the same. Taj tries to escape but Bishop catches him. He denies the murder and gives the “ugliest” alibi. He says he was off duty and stole a belt at that time.

The suspicion is once again drawn on Mike. Gibbs has to prove how he was there at two places at the same time, and he does that quite well. He proves through an airport video that Mike exchanged clothes with a similar-looking guy at the bathroom. After that, they exchange their flights as well. Hence, the murder mystery is solved.

“NCIS” season 14 episode 14 aired on Feb. 7. The next episode will air on Feb. 14 on CBS in the US. In Australia, the show airs on Channel Ten at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.