"Yeah, man, thanks. I'll head over," Deeks spoke into his cell, rubbing a hand over his face. "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about it. Yep. Uh huh. Thanks."

Callen and Kensi exchanged questioning looks, wondering who had called him. It was someone who was pretty frantic about something if the babbling they had caught was anything to go by.

"Yep. Hey, I'll be right over. Uh huh. Bye."

Deeks hung up his phone and sighed heavily.

"Everything okay?" Kensi asked.

"What's not okay?" Sam asked, coming out of interrogation.

"Everything's fine," Deeks said.

"What's not fine is that we've had Kirsch for nearly two days and he's still not talking," Sam grumbled, he'd been trying to work on the guy again."

"Who was on the phone?" Kensi asked her partner.

"Something that should help is out."

That got him some raised eyebrows and folded arms. Now was really not a time to be vague.

"LAPD has Kirsch's keys," he announced. "They forgot to release it with the rest of his stuff when they handed him over to us."

"Seriously?" Kensi exclaimed.

"We can go over all of LAPD's faults later," Sam said (getting a weak "Hey!" from Deeks). "What's important is that his damn keys aren't lost."

That was true. Maybe now they could get Kirsch to focus on other things. Like his interrogation.

"We'll go grab them and then we can hopefully get somewhere in this case." Deeks said, indicating to himself and Kensi.

Thankfully it wasn't McHughes that gave them Kirsch's keys. Deeks wasn't in the mood for his smug grin directed his way. Nor was he in the mood to hold Kensi back from him.

Instead, a rookie cop handed them over, looking extreme apologetic and more than a bit scared. What on earth had the guys been telling the poor kid? Ah, the cop's eyes quickly glanced at Kensi and back to him again. Now it made sense.

"She doesn't bite," he offered as he grabbed the keys.

"Not people who don't deserve it," Kensi muttered.

Deeks elbowed her as the kid's eyes got wider. She was not helping.

"She's kidding. Mostly."

Ok. Now he wasn't helping. But it was rather funny how Kensi's reputation extended to LAPD.

"Officer McHughes sends his condolences," the kid muttered before taking off.

"I'm sure he does," Deeks said to Kensi sarcastically.

"At least we don't have to talk to him," Kensi said.

One of life's small mercies. He'd dealt with enough annoying people the last few days.

Deeks dangled the keys in front of her.

"Why don't we dander on over to the warehouse before we give Kirsch his keys back?" Deeks suggested. "Have a little look around for incriminating evidence?"

"Dander?" Kensi asked him, scrunching up her nose.

"Yeah, you know, a casual walk."

"I know what it means but why on earth did you use it? We're not in one of those old cowboy movies."

"Would you have rather I said mosey?"

Kensi shook her head in exasperation.

"Do it," Callen instructed over their comms. "Me and Sam are meeting up with his boss. Should keep him out of your hair."

"Brilliant!" Deeks proclaimed. "Come on, partner, let's mosey on down to the old warehouse."

Location: Boatshed

"Okay, Kirsch," Callen said, dropping himself in his chair. "We've found your keys for you."

"So, start talking," Sam added.

Kirsch perked up at that.

"My keys? You found my keys?"

"Yep. So, you're not going to get in trouble with your boss for that. Start talking."

Kirsch shook his head and folded his arms obstinately. "How do I know you're just saying this to get me to talk, huh? I seen them cops shows. You'll do anything to get me to talk."

"Don't tempt me," Sam muttered.

"Hey, I know my rights. I don't have to talk if I don't want to."

"You're doing an awful lot of talking for someone who doesn't want to talk." Sam pointed out.

Kirsch just glared at him.

"You do realise that this is a matter of National Security, right?" Callen asked.

"Yeah, for you," Kirsch snorted. "What's it to me?"

"Well, Kirsch. It means that certain rules come into play."

"Rules that I don't think you're particular going to like," Sam told him.

For the first time since they nabbed him, Kirsch looked uncomfortable.

"So?" He didn't sound as confident either.

"So, I'd start talking if I were you," Callen said as Sam deliberately loomed over him.

They "moseyed" over to the warehouse and entered it. Turned out the keys were actually for it; the first bit of information Kirsch had given them that was true. Interesting.

"No swipe cards or ID checking?" Kensi asked. "Just a physical key to get in? No wonder Kirsch was worked up about losing them."

"Definitely not secure," Deeks agreed, opening the door. "But at least we don't have to kick down the door."

They both went in and almost immediately came to a halt.

"What the?" Deeks exclaimed.

"What's wrong?" Sam immediately asked. "What's going on?"

"Feathers. Why are there feathers everywhere?" Deeks asked in amazement.

"They're even on the ceiling," Kensi said pointing up.

"Feathers?" Callen repeated in their ears in confusion.

"What type of feathers?" Sam barked. "Bird feathers?"

Deeks knelt down and picked one up, frowning.

"I don't think so."

"Well, what other type of animal has feathers?"

"None," Deeks replied, holding one right up to his face and squinting at it. "Unless you know an animal that has hot pink feathers."

"Are those yellow dots on it?" Kensi asked, coming over to peer at it.

"Yep. And green."

"They're fake?" Callen asked.

"G, what bird do you know that has pink feathers with spots on it?"

"Well, I don't know. I'm not versed in birdology."

"Birdology? Really?"

Kensi and Deeks chuckled at their teammates banter.

"Did Kirsch say anything?" Kensi interrupted them.

"Nothing. He's lawyered up now," Callen said. "Sam scared him."

"I did not."

Callen just ignored him.

"There's a warrant coming your way for the warehouse. Comb the place and then come back to the boatshed."

"Will do."