The fifth episode of Season 1 of "Ballard" kicks off with Ballard and Arron embarking on a romantic outing. However, Ballard's serene evening takes a sudden turn when she mistakenly perceives a customer's interaction with a waitress as offensive, triggering deep-seated emotions.
Elsewhere, Driscoll dials Manny to inquire about the progress in winning Martina's confidence. Manny reassures him, revealing that he and Martina are currently on a date, with Manny pulling out all the stops to charm her.
Later that night, Driscoll finds himself in a dark alley, meeting with the mafia to facilitate an illicit exchange. With a hint of malice, he taunts one of the informants the mafia is brutally interrogating.
The next morning, Nelson pays a visit to the office, seeking an audience with Ted. Nelson voices his concerns that Ballard's investigation is too narrow-focused, insisting that Sara should remain the primary target. He requests a weekly briefing to keep tabs on the progress.
The team zeroes in on the vehicle angle, yet an air of melancholy pervades the room, with Colleen being the lone exception. She proposes they delve deeper into a car that was involved in a minor scrape in 2009 and was registered under Jenny Garrison's name.
Ballard assigns Colleen and Ted to focus on the automotive leads, while she and Zamira venture into a different line of inquiry. Laffont, meanwhile, remains behind to compile a timeline of Driscoll's past movements. Ballard reaches out to him, but he reports back with no new developments. During their journey, Ballard inquiries about Zamira's partnership with Olivas. Unfortunately, Zamira fabricates a story, claiming that everything between them is perfectly fine.
The encounter with Jenny Garrison sets them on a path that inevitably leads to her estranged husband, Mike Garrison, a man rumored to have vanished with his mistress, Denise, leaving behind a trail of mystery that has remained unresolved for years. His whereabouts remain a mystery to this day. Jenny steadfastly refuses to grant them permission to obtain Mike's DNA through their mutual daughter. Undeterred, Zamira and Ballard secretly reach out to the daughter, who, fortunately, agrees to contribute her DNA and persuades her mother to do the same, breaking Jenny's resolute stance.
Laffont's diligent efforts finally bear fruit when he uncovers a connection between Driscoll and a covert operation from the past, with Lucas Ibarra identified as one of the informants involved. Ballard and Laffont trace the operation back to its supervising agent, who reveals that Ibarra, who was originally Driscoll's informant, supposedly fled to Mexico after showing signs of hesitation. Driscoll reported Ibarra's departure as voluntary departure, but Ballard and Laffont see through the facade, realizing that Driscoll eliminated Ibarra to safeguard the cartel's interests. Driscoll had masterfully concealed all traces of his involvement.
Later that evening, the trio debriefs Zamira, devising a fresh strategy to monitor Driscoll's activities. After Laffont departs, Ballard warmly invites Zamira to join her for dinner, creating an intimate setting where Zamira opens up about her harrowing experience with Olivas. He violated her, then cruelly manipulated her into believing she was at fault. Ballard offers heartfelt comfort, reassuring Zamira that justice will prevail.
The following day, Ted and Colleen embark on a journey to Encino, their investigation guided by a lead involving a scraped car record. Their probe leads them to a storage unit registered under Mike Garrison's name, adding another layer of intrigue to the already complex narrative.
Meanwhile, Ballard convenes with Damani to scrutinize the court archives and authenticate Driscoll's alibi for the day Ibarra met his demise. Driscoll had insisted he was in court to testify, yet no concrete evidence supported this claim. As night descends, Martina escorts Manny to the office, affording him an insight into their case's progress.
Later, Manny confronts Driscoll, informing him that Ballard's team is at a dead end. He suspects their primary focus has shifted to Sara's case. In response, Driscoll issues a chilling warning, threatening to harm Martina should Manny's assessment prove incorrect.
Back at home, Zamira collapses into a slumber, haunted by the memories of Olivas's atrocities against her. Elsewhere, Colleen and Ballard pursue the lead pointing to a storage unit, urging Ballard to secure a warrant. Though tardy, Ballard arrives just in the nick of time.
The team summons reinforcement and proceeds to unlock the storage unit. Inside, they are astounded to discover what appears to be the killer's macabre trophies, meticulously stored in small boxes, painting a chilling picture of the murderer's sickening obsession.
