A body is delivered on ice to secure facility, but it’s a body Ducky has seen before. This complex episode begins in the middle of the story, as the team stages a security breach at a facility that houses top secret military plans.

But something goes wrong with this elaborate ruse, the team only knows part of the story, and top brass – the Secretary Of The Navy -- is called to the scene. No one is above suspicion. Meanwhile, Abby is being unusually evasive, Ducky is fit to be tied, DiNozzo is raging against the machine, and Ziva still can’t bring herself to admit she has feelings for Tony.

Gibbs and Vance are on a mole hunt. It’s no surprise that Agent Lee is the mole (after all, we’ve known this from the season opener). She’s squirming as Gibbs and Vance close in, trying to flush out her accomplices.

This well-written episode is full of intrigue as it brings us back to the espionage story arc that began earlier in the season.

This episode is light on the witty banter and played for maximum drama. The tension is heightened by excellent use of details and decoys – an ominous cigar cutter here, a furtive look there, and a little Lady MacBeth action for good measure.  Kudos to the writers for keeping us guessing, and giving us a twist at the end to keep us coming back for more.

NCIS, now in its 6th season, airs on CBS on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Classic episodes can be seen on ION TV network on Monday and Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET. Multiple episodes also air nightly on the USA Network.

NCIS follows a team of special agents for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The highly rated show features Mark Harmon, David McCallum, Michael Weatherly, Cote De Pablo, Sean Murray, and Pauley Perrette.

Tony’s movie references in this episode include Raiders of the Lost Ark, Convoy, Smokey & The Bandit, Blade Runner, Mission Impossible, War Games, and Battlestar Galactica. Did I miss any? If so, let me know in the comments.