NCIS: Los Angeles Recap Season 9 Episode 5: Identity Theft, Mirror Trades

Sunday’s NCIS: Los Angeles case began on twisty Mulhulland Drive. Financial advisor Philip Nelson was on driving while on the phone with drug and gun runner Abram Sokolov (Costas Mandylor) when he was killed by another car–but this was no accident.

Because one of Callen’s (Chris O’Donnell) past identities had been compromised, Mosley (Nia Long) picked Sam (LL Cool J) to infiltrate Nelson’s bank after his death. He discovered that a bunch of stock was being moved, and that this firm was getting ready for a crash or worse.

Meanwhile, Kensi (Daniela Ruah) and Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) went to Anna’s dad to get a handle on Sokolov’s intensions. The Russian was aware but wary. As Arkady (Vyto Ruginis) put it, his “rule of thumb” was to keep “one continent” between him and Sokolov.

That wasn’t possible since Sam was in too deep so Arkady led his colleagues to the underground poker den that Sokolov’s sister runs. As new information was gleaned, G went to wrangle the person who took over his Dexter Hughes alias.

Callen, paired with Nell (Renée Felice Smith), was able to suss out the stealer in a bar where the culprit had used Dexter’s credit card. Surprise! He turned out to be underage and on the run.

So was Sokolov after his sis alerted Kensi and Deeks to the fact that Nelson had been working for Abram, who had some compromising intel on Leigha. She was antsy since she had an appointment to meet with Sokolov, so the NCIS detail quietly backed her up.

They all went to where the laundered money was, staging a shoot-out that allowed Leigha to feign getting Abram to safety. Harley Hidoko (Andrea Bordeaux), wearing a hoodie and armed with Overwatch spray, was able to take down the bad guy just in time. Crisis averted!

As for Dexter Hughes? He was apparently a lost boy much like Callen once was. The needy kid left, clutching G’s NCIS business card like this was security he’d never known.

NCIS: Los Angeles airs Sundays at 9 p.m., ET on CBS.