Episode 6 of Season 1 of "Ballard" kicks off with the police meticulously cataloging the evidence retrieved from the concealed storage room beneath Mike Garrison's premises. Meanwhile, outside, Ballard finds herself in an intense discussion with the captain, passionately arguing that her modest team is more than capable of cracking the case. Jake leverages his clout to secure her the assignment, and the captain, albeit reluctantly, grants her a 72-hour ultimatum to produce concrete results.
The mounting pressure begins to take its toll on Ballard, as vivid dreams of her late father haunt her nights. Consumed by her dedication, she spends the bulk of her evenings ensconced in the office, poring over every lead. Elsewhere, Laffont establishes a surveillance perimeter around Driscoll's residence, while Zamira reaches out to the Federales for assistance in locating Gael.
Inside the prison walls, a nurse catches wind of Javier's transfer to K10 and promptly alerts Driscoll. She reveals that the relocation swiftly followed Javier's encounter with a pair of detectives, sparking intrigue.
The ensuing morning witnesses the team diving into the painstakingly compiled evidence from the storage room. Alas, the perpetrator has left them with an almost pristine crime scene, eradicating nearly every trace of forensic evidence. Ballard contacts Jake and his father, Gary, hoping they can recognize any of the trinkets as belonging to Sara. However, their efforts yield naught, leaving Ballard to reassure Jake that they are inches away from unraveling the mystery. Just as she's about to lose herself in her work once more, Tutu's call interrupts, gently reminding her of a forgotten promise—to chauffeur her to the airport.
Darcy summons Ballard once more, imparting the grim news that the corpse discovered in the rugged mountains was indeed Mike Garrison. Unearthed in 1997, this revelation excludes him from their list of suspects in the ongoing murder spree. Driven by curiosity, Ballard heads to the local sheriff's office to procure files pertaining to Mike Garrison, who was initially identified only as John Doe. The information on him is scarce, but Ballard stumbles upon a pivotal clue linked to Denise, the woman who accompanied Mike on his journey. Intriguingly, Denise turns out to be the Jane Doe found deceased in 1999. Unlike Mike, who met his demise via stabbing, Denise was strangled—a method consistent with the other female fatalities.
The team, particularly Ted, is cast into a morose funk by these latest developments. The looming deadline of their 72-hour time loop exacerbates their despair. Recognizing the need for a shift in focus, Ballard decides to concentrate their efforts on understanding the victims rather than pursuing potential suspects. They embark on a mission to match the trinkets found at the crime scenes with the individual victims.
Following a distressing call from the prison nurse, Driscoll places a hit on Javier, though fortunately for Javier, he narrowly escapes death. Meanwhile, Damani reaches out to Ballard, alerting her to a security breach within their ranks. Concurrently, Zamira identifies another victim, adding to their burgeoning caseload. Ballard observes Zamira cyberstalking Olivas and gently intervenes, urging her not to let the dark obsession consume her.
Laffont's abrupt interruption informs them of Driscoll's return to his residence. Setting up a nighttime surveillance operation ensues, during which Ballard succumbs to exhaustion and is plagued by yet another harrowing nightmare featuring her late father. Seeking a reprieve, she invites Aaron to bring them some sustenance, hoping to momentarily lift the heavy atmosphere that has enveloped them.
Aaron complies with a cheerful heart but is compelled to depart when Driscoll makes his move. Ballard and Laffont trail Driscoll to a parking lot, where they witness him conferring with an unidentified policeman. Regrettably, they are unable to approach close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation. Nevertheless, Driscoll's demeanor betrays a turmoil, as though he is bracing himself for a swift escape. Soon after, they lose sight of him.
Back at the office, Zamira diligently tracks down Gael's mother. Meanwhile, the team persists in identifying new victims but finds no discernible similarities aside from the manner of their demise. The investigation leads them to conclude that the killer had been scrutinizing his targets.
With their leads dwindling, Ballard and Laffont meet Abril, Gael's heartbroken mother, who is grappling with the loss of her child and Luis. She recognizes Driscoll as the policeman who was supposed to lend her family aid. She mentions a cartel member named Jesus, and upon delving into his background, they uncover a connection between Jesus and Driscoll; Driscoll had assisted him in evading several arrests.
Back in the office, Martina identifies a new victim who was killed a few months prior. They realize with a shock that the killer is still at large. Once Jake acknowledges that Garrison is a dead end, he turns his back on Ballard. The case is then seized by a new unit. However, Ballard remains undeterred and continues to delve into the trinkets, eventually uncovering a solved case. The victim was purportedly slain by her boyfriend, yet her bracelet was discovered in a storage unit. She visits the captain and leverages this information to reclaim the case.
Later that evening, Zamira confronts Olivas, but he taunts her mercilessly. Olivas harbors a belief in his immunity to the law and lacks any semblance of remorse. The encounter with Abril deeply stirs Laffont, prompting him to dedicate more of his time to aiding her in her quest to find her son.
After a grueling day, Ballard returns home and settles in for the night. She drifts off to sleep on the sofa only to awaken to a masked man choking her. A fierce struggle ensues, and Ballard manages to crush the man's windpipe. She hastily dials 911, but they inform her that they are five minutes away.
She then reaches out to Aaron, who guides her through performing a field tracheotomy. To their astonishment, the assailant turns out to be Driscoll. He regains consciousness and yanks out the tube, but it is too late; he expires instantly.
