Daniel E. Smith

Three seperate murders have taken place in Austin, Texas. The victims are two young women, and one young man. They were all seen for the last time at different but large social gatherings.

Oliver is upset when he overhears Miley saying she doesn't want him to help with the drama class performance because of his stage fright, then she gets nervous and forgets the words to the national anthem.

An old family friend, Army Corporal John Sydney, beseeches Gibbs to join him on a road trip to search for a missing military ID bracelet.

Syd and Jack follow some deciphered coordinates into the desert and uncover a metal box with Lazarey's hand in it, Dix gets arrested by the NSC under suspicion of conspiracy, Syd submits to memory retrieval treatment, Head bribes Sloane into setting up a hit on Sydney, and Syd gets one step closer to finding out where she was during her lost years.

Sark escapes from custody and kidnaps Dixon's children. He then demands the release of several prisoners from various countries in exchange for their safe return. However, Senator Reed does not want to negotiate.