The NCIS team places Mateo Diaz, a high school gang member turned informant, in protective custody while they investigate the murder of his junior reserve officers' training corps instructor. Also, Pride needs his brother Jimmy Boyd's help to gain Mateo's trust.

While on a sunrise jog, Pride is grabbed by two masked men who order him to complete a series of tasks in order to save Wade and his father, Cassius Pride, who are being held captive.