“Doppelganger” - #036 – When a telemarketer suspects trouble on the phone line with a client from the Navy, Gibbs and the team are called to investigate the possible murder of a petty officer, on NCIS Tuesday, January 18, 2005 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS.  Terrance O’Hara directed the episode written by Jack Bernstein.

In the midst of a telephone sales pitch, a telemarketer hears what appears to be sounds of struggle on the other line.  The police are immediately notified and quickly learn that the alleged victim is a Navy Petty Officer.  Gibbs and his team are called in and join forces with the local police to follow the blood trail to find the missing officer. Throughout the investigation, Kate is amazed by the similarities that the team and the local officers share.

Using the computer skills of Abby and McGee they find out that what was first thought of as a murder was actually a hoax.  The team soon learns that the victim’s occupation was that of a computer programmer for the Navy.  Gibbs discovers that the officer was using the new Navy medical purchasing program to cleverly order large quantities of drugs to sell on the streets.  When several leads in the case don’t add up, the team uncovers the red herring that leads them right to their target.