An explosion and a fire damage an offshore drilling platform near the Virginia Capes, killing one (a major in the US Marine Corps Reserve) and injuring many others; Gibbs and company, along with Abby of the CGIS, investigate. The CEO and the chief legal counsel of the oil company assure the SecNav and Gibbs of their utmost cooperation. Tony and McGeek trace one lead, which appears to reach a dead end, but which leaves egg on McGoo's face; Gibbs and the other Abby suspect that the target was not the platform but rather the dead victim. Tony and McGee plus Gibbs and Borin revisit the dead end, where they make a major discovery; Abby puts things together in her shop; Borin questions the corporate lawyer in Gibbs's chat room and brings the investigation to a close. Meanwhile Halloween pranks abound, eventually tripping even Tony.