McGee is horrified when a Petty Officer on whom he based the character for his latest book is murdered. With little to go on, the team pushes McGee to figure out who could have accessed his secret manuscript.

With little evidence, the team turns to Scott to re-create the scene of the crime using his heightened senses of hearing and scent to track down the Petty Officer's killer. Meanwhile, Tony and Gibbs struggle with personal relationships.