The inaugural episode of Season 1 of "Ballard" unfolds with a thrilling chase, as Ballard hotly pursues a fleeing suspect. In a dramatic twist, the suspect retaliates by opening fire, compelling Ballard to return fire. With quick reflexes and determination, she manages to apprehend the suspect just moments before her partner, Laffont, arrives on the scene.
Post-arrest, Ballard and Laffont find themselves under scrutiny by their superiors, who meticulously interrogate them to ensure their actions adhered to departmental protocols. However, Laffont, ever the cautious one, whispers a warning to Ballard: their interrogators are fishing for any hint of misconduct.
Undeterred by the night's events, Ballard bravely faces the next day, arriving at work with unwavering resolve. It becomes evident that she leads a newly formed cold case unit, a modest team comprising herself, Laffont, Colleen, Ted, and Martina. After successfully closing their inaugural case, Ballard sets her sights on another challenging mystery. Ted, however, pours cold water on her enthusiasm, branding the case a hopeless endeavor due to the lack of evidence and cooperation from potential witnesses.
As Ballard briefs her team, Councilman Pearlman and Nelson storm in, casting a shadow over the room. Pearlman, visibly agitated by the publicity surrounding Ballard's recent case, insists she prioritize the murder of his sister. He reveals that his support for her unit was predicated on her commitment to solving this particular crime. Ballard, mindful of their limited resources, reminds him that she needs concrete evidence before confronting a person of interest named Brian, whom Pearlman believes to be his sister's killer. Nelson ups the ante, threatening to dismantle Ballard's team if she fails to deliver results in the Sara Pearlman case.
Amidst these revelations, it transpires that Ted, who is friendly with Pearlman, has an ulterior motive: to keep a close eye on Ballard. Once the councilmen depart, Ballard redirects her focus solely onto Sara's case, recognizing the urgency in providing Pearlman with the closure he desperately seeks. Nevertheless, she is juggling this high-stakes assignment with another unresolved case involving a John Doe, complicated by the fact that the investigating officer has resigned and is evading her calls.
Ballard pays a visit to Officer Zamira, hoping to coax her into discussing the perplexing John Doe case. Zamira, however, proves hesitant to collaborate, hinting darkly that someone within the LAPD had buried a crucial detail. Recalling her time on the case, Zamira reveals that a witness had spoken of a pre-murder altercation involving John Doe, shortly before his untimely death and the disappearance of his infant. This critical incident, she claims, had been systematically erased from all records. Intrigued, Ballard extends an invitation to Zamira to examine the evidence firsthand at her office.
Later, confiding in Laffont, Ballard unveils her plan to recruit Zamira into their fold. The very next day, Zamira shows up, offering her expertise in aiding the John Doe investigation. After brief introductions, she makes it clear that her involvement is strictly advisory. Zamira's insights provide the team with a fresh perspective on the case. Martina presents documents pertaining to another case, Sara's, which piques Zamira's interest even further. Laffont observes that Ballard has secured a palm print left by the perpetrator, though its usability remains uncertain. Ballard, hopeful for DNA evidence, eagerly approaches the lab and implores Darcy to expedite the results. Darcy, admirer of Ballard's courage in confronting corrupt officers, readily agrees.
As evening descends, Ballard retreats to her home, a sanctuary shared with her grandmother, Tutu. Noticing her granddaughter's somber demeanor, Tutu inquiries about her troubles. Ballard confesses that any mention of the past evokes a haunting response within her. Tutu, ever the wise counselor, suggests that it might be time for Ballard to embrace new beginnings, perhaps even dipping her toes back into the dating pool.
The subsequent morning finds Zamira at the lodge where John Doe was last sighted. Attempting to engage the manager, she encounters a wall of silence. Overhearing their conversation, a cleaning lady discreetly steps in later, phoning the police and requesting to speak directly to Zamira. Unfortunately, the call is mistakenly directed to Zamira's former partner, Olivas. Upon realizing Zamira had resigned, the caller abruptly hangs up.
Back in the office, Ballard engaged Colleen in a conversation about her instincts, her brow furrowed with concern. She fretted that Colleen's intuitive hunches could potentially undermine their meticulously built case, providing the defense attorneys with an opportunity to dismiss it all. Just then, Zamira popped in, her demeanor tinged with melancholy as she recounted her recent visit to the hotel. The revisit had stirred up feelings of helplessness, resurfacing memories that had prompted her resignation years ago. The case in question dated back five years, and she felt it best to let bygones be bygones. Ballard persuaded her to reconsider, urging her to give it at least a day before making a final decision.
Meanwhile, Darcy reached out to Ballard with exciting news—they had successfully retrieved DNA from the palm print. Ballard then made her way to Brian's tattoo parlor, where she was interrupted by a call from Nelson. He reminded her of his desire to stay informed about the case's progress. While at the parlor, Ballard went undercover, surreptitiously attempting to collect Brian's DNA. Unfortunately, her subterfuge was discovered, and Brian snatched the gloves from her grasp. The case had already wreaked havoc on his life, and he was eager to sever all ties with the police.
Elsewhere, Olivas tracked down Ballard and her team. Zamira looked flustered upon seeing her former partner, while Ballard's expression darkened at the sight of him. Olivas informed them that a woman had called for Zamira and offered his assistance. Ballard curtly declined and sent him on his way, insisting that he call ahead next time. He hinted at the possibility of burying the hatchet, but she made it clear that such reconciliation was not on her agenda.
Later, Ballard sought solace in a surf session, using the rhythmic waves to wash away her stress. She struck up a conversation with Aaron, the lifeguard, promising to call him later. After her session, she met with Zamira, determined to convince her to rejoin the team. Zamira harbored a desire to contribute but struggled with the weight of her past. Ballard opened up about her own experiences, revealing that she had been demoted for attempting to bring down Olivas. She also confessed that she had revived the cold case because Olivas had previously worked on it. She extended an invitation for Zamira to join her in making a positive impact. Touched by Ballard's sincerity, Zamira agreed and headed back to the lodge with renewed purpose.
At the lodge, she encounters a throng of people and discovers to her shock that Yulia, the woman who had summoned Zamira earlier, has passed away. Tragically, her life was cut short while she was engaged in the mundane task of cleaning one of the rooms. Simultaneously, Darcy dials Ballard's number and imparts the distressing news that Sara's murderer is entwined with another grim case. There's a possibility that he could be the same individual who had brutally ended the life of Laura Wilson in 2008. With a heavy heart, Ballard retrieves Laura's case files and embarks on an investigation, her mind swimming with concerns that they might be dealing with a ruthless serial killer. However, her mood darkens further upon realizing that Bosch was the officer who had presided over that harrowing case.
