Episode 2 of Season 1 of "Ballard" unfolds with our protagonist arriving at the scene of a lodge crime, her presence immediately noted by Detective Neylon, the incumbent investigator. Neylon, visibly irritated by her intrusion into his domain, nonetheless attempts to be cordial, granting her access to the crime scene and pledging to update her once the ballistic analysis is completed. Before departing, Ballard engages with the lodge manager and scours the CCTV footage, only to find that the murder remained uncaptured by the cameras. However, her attention is piqued by a suspicious figure, whom she swiftly photographs before exiting.
Outside, Zamira awaits, and Ballard reveals their covert plan to work the case together. She reaches out to Laffont, forwarding him the victim's details, and is urged by him to involve Bosch. Ballard, steadfast in her independence, declines. Neylon postulates that Yulia's demise was a botched robbery, a theory Ballard and Zamira dispute. Their investigation leads them to a local salon, where they trail one of Yulia's coworkers. The woman, fearing deportation due to her undocumented status, remains tight-lipped. Ballard, respecting her plight, permits her to leave and instead interrogates the salon manager, who offers insights into Yulia's life but lacks concrete leads. Fortunately, the manager recognizes the homeless man from Ballard's photograph, albeit unknown by name.
Returning to the office, the team convenes for a briefing, with Ted expressing his frustration at being sidelined on a 'wild goose chase.' Meanwhile, Ballard and Zamira immerse themselves in creating a caseboard and sifting through evidence. Ballard steps out to visit Laura's mother, only to bump into an irate Pearlman, who lambasts her for delving into Yulia's and Laura's cases.
Ballard counters by disclosing the connection between Sara and Laura, emphasizing that every case deserves attention. Their conversation prompts a revelation in Pearlman—perhaps Brian did not murder his sister after all, considering his military deployment at the time. Ballard vows to deliver answers to Pearlman and contacts Laffont to verify Brian's alibi. Once again, Laffont suggests involving Bosch, but Ballard stands firm in her refusal.
Her visit with Laura's mother proves tumultuous, and as Ballard exits the residence, she unwittingly becomes the target of a tail. Oblivious to her pursuer, she proceeds to her therapy session, where she reveals a harrowing past incident of attempted rape. Her therapist expresses concern over Ballard's emotional scars from betrayal by fellow officers, prompting Ballard to steer the conversation back to the shooting investigation. As she exits, she encounters Olivas and two male officers, one of whom makes a vulgar joke, incensing Ballard.
Back at the office, Colleen unearths the final advertisement Laura had toiled over. Martina, meanwhile, stumbles upon a conceivable link tying Laura and Sara together. Intriguingly, Sara was part of the drama club, hinting that the perpetrator might have crossed paths with them through shared acting workshops. Laffont receives an update regarding Brian’s alibi, compelling them to exclude him from the list of suspects. Additionally, it transpires that Leyton never sent the bullet that ended Yulia’s life for ballistic analysis. Ballard tasks Laffont with this duty, and Colleen eagerly volunteers to accompany him.
Elsewhere, Ballard pays Brian a visit to extend her apologies. Brian, visibly relieved to learn of his clearance, politely sees her off. Concurrently, Zamira joins forces with Ted in their quest to locate a homeless individual, ultimately stumbling upon a fellow named Frosty. Ballard joins them to effect an arrest, but Frosty attempts to flee, ultimately fracturing his leg in the chaos.
Given Frosty’s injured state and intoxication, they decide to prioritize his medical care and transport him to the hospital. After a grueling day, Ballard sustains an injury during the arrest and reaches out to Aaron. Aaron visits her residence later, teasing her about only calling him on rough days. Their evening leads to intimate moments, culminating in an awkward morning when Aaron accidentally exposes himself to Tutu.
Across town, Ballard faces the captain after Neylon reports her for overstepping her bounds in the case. To her relief, the captain sides with her and assigns her to lead the investigation, citing her arrest of Frosty. However, he issues a stern warning: deliver a flawless conclusion or risk losing the case entirely. Before heading to the office, Ballard detours to Ballistics, pleading with Freddie to expedite the ballistic analysis for her John Doe case and prioritize the Yulia inquiry.
Later, Ballard convenes with Zamira at the hospital to interrogate Frosty. Unfortunately, Frosty grapples with severe mental health issues, struggling to articulate coherent sentences even when sober. Zamira and Ballard suspect that someone might have deliberately hired Frosty to kill Yulia, given his already fragile state. When questioned about the gun, Frosty claims he buried it, only for it to miraculously transform into roses.
Left with more questions than answers, Ballard and Zamira depart, the mystery surrounding Yulia’s death as enigmatic as ever.
In the office, Colleen remains deeply shaken by her initial encounter with the morgue, her trauma evident. Laffont steps in to offer solace, and together, they refocus their attention on the case at hand. Ballard dispatches Zamira and Ted on a mission to locate the firearm Frosty had disposed of. Meanwhile, Bosch pays an unexpected visit, requesting a private conversation with Ballard. He expresses disappointment that she hadn't reached out to him, yet emphasizes that his feelings aren't hurt. He extends an invitation to lunch, using the occasion to uplift her spirits, urging her to see the brighter side of her current predicament. Bosch also reveals his doubts about the alibis provided by two witnesses in the Laura case.
On the streets, Zamira and Ted uncover Frosty's gun concealed near a vibrant rose mural. Zamira promptly informs Ballard, and they rush the weapon to Freddie for examination. Regrettably, the gun can only be tied to Yulia's case. Regarding the John Doe mystery, Freddie informs them that the bullet from the scene was never submitted for analysis. Zamira insists that she had requested the analysis herself before her departure from the force. Haunted by the suspicion, she's convinced that someone within the LAPD is deliberately stymieing the investigation.
Elsewhere, Ballard's stalker makes a phone call, reassuring the recipient that the case is wrapped up and Frosty will be scapegoated. The other party issues new directives. The episode concludes with a dramatic revelation: the stalker arrives at work, his true identity unveiled as a fellow police officer, adding an unsettling twist to the unfolding narrative.
