The seventh episode of Season 1 of "Ballard" kicks off with an intense scene as police officers grill Ballard at her residence, following the harrowing attack on Driscoll. Amidst the tension, Laffont steps in, requesting a temporary halt to the interrogation and urging that Ballard be rushed to the hospital. Before boarding the ambulance, Ballard subtly passes Driscoll’s burner phone to Laffont, whispering a series of instructions.
The following morning, Laffont gathers the team, his voice laden with concern for Ballard who remains hospitalized. He reveals that the assault is intertwined with the John Doe mystery, yet assures them that the sheriff is on the case. However, their conversation is abruptly interrupted by the arrival of sheriff's deputies, who confiscate all their case files.
At the hospital, Ballard receives grim news: the Homicide department has seized control of her two ongoing investigations. The captain further informs her that she will be under protective custody at a motel until further notice.
Later, at the motel, Bosch pays Ballard a visit to brief her on the burner phone. He has extracted the data and restored it to the chain of custody. Bosch, curious and cautious, inquires about the implications of his involvement. Ballard unburdens herself about the rogue officers, and to her relief, Bosch decides to lend a helping hand. He explains that tracing the numbers from the burner phones will require manual effort.
Despite her exhaustion, Ballard finds sleep elusive. She ventures to the office, her resolve undiminished, to share the truth with her team. She offers them the option to walk away, but loyalty triumphs fear; none depart. With their current cases hijacked, Ballard proposes they tackle a fresh challenge. Checking her voicemail, she listens intently to a pleading message from a woman searching desperately for her missing son.
Lilian, a desperate mother, is on an arduous quest to locate her missing son, Ray, whose footsteps had unfortunately intertwined with a notorious gang in Koreatown. The investigative team ponders whether the passage of time has softened the community's resolve, making them more inclined to share what they know.
Amidst the turmoil of a fresh case, Ballard inadvertently overlooks her scheduled meeting with Ochoa, currently incarcerated for the brutal murder of a woman recently tied to her serial killer investigation. Realizing her mistake, she promptly contacts the prison to reschedule.
Through heart-wrenching conversations with Lilian and Ray's brother, Jun, it becomes evident that the family yearns for closure. They have come to terms with Ray's probable demise but ache for the solace of finding his remains. The team delves into an overlooked altercation between Ray and a classmate, Marcus, that preceded his disappearance. Prior detectives had dismissed it, presuming the gang's involvement in Ray's fate.
Marcus, the classmate Ray clashed with, offers scant details, merely asserting that the fight was exaggerated and that Ray had attempted to recruit him into the gang. Meanwhile, the team unfurls a banner, appealing for information on a green Ford sighted near Ray's residence.
As the investigation intensifies, Laffont urges Ballard to seek respite at a hotel, while Bosch hotly pursues a lead involving a disposable phone. Upon her return from a trip, Tutu joins Ballard at the motel. The next morning, Laffont phones Ballard with a promising lead.
A witness recalls glimpsing a green Ford near a hiking trail, which coincides with the final location pinged by Ray's phone. Ballard and Laffont hastily converge on the witness, who recounts how, while relieving himself in the woods, he was startled by a figure emerging and speeding away in the aforementioned vehicle.
A swift search of the area unearths Ray's body, identifiable by a metal plate in his shoulder, a remnant of a past sports injury. Additionally, a gun is discovered at the scene, leading the investigators to a woman named Fortson.
The narrative thus unfolds with poignant clarity, painting a vivid picture of the relentless pursuit of justice and the unending quest for closure by a grieving family.
Regrettably, Fortson reveals that she once procured firearms for her gang-affiliated boyfriend, who has since passed away, yet her alibi proves solid. Laffont generously offers his home as refuge to Ballard and Tutu, only to be politely declined. The ensuing day brings Ballard into Ochoa's orbit, instilling him with renewed hope. She champion's Ochoa's cause by presenting his appeal to Damani, seeking his representation. Concurrently, Laffont redoubles his pursuit of Gael, relentless in his quest.
Colleen unearths a crucial video of the altercation, a clue that directs them to a teacher named Mr. Kim. En route to confront him, Ted extends a security escort to Ballard, who requests time to consider. Mr. Kim steers the investigative team towards Fortson's brother, Eddy, who harbored deep resentment towards Ray. Ballard apprehends Eddy, yet his alibi too stands scrutinized and unchallenged. Eddy counters with a revelation about Mr. Kim, disclosing that the educator had taken his favorite, elite students on a hike along the fateful trail.
As night descends, Ballard accepts Ted's offer and retreats to the safety of her home. Aaron lends a helping hand with the cleanup, on the verge of confessing his affection for Ballard when she drifts into slumber.
The team's focus sharpens on Mr. Kim. Colleen uncovers that, coinciding with Ray's demise, Mr. Kim's mother was the owner of a green Ford. They track down the vehicle's new custodian and subject it to forensic examination, uncovering damning evidence placing Mr. Kim on the hiking trail on the night of Ray's murder.
Before they can apprehend him, Jun takes Mr. Kim hostage within his own abode. Fortunately, Ballard intervenes, persuading Jun to spare the teacher's life. The case concludes with Mr. Kim in custody, and Ballard pleads for leniency towards Jun from the District Attorney.
The episode concludes with Bosch reaching out to Ballard, informing her that one of the disposable phones has been traced back to Olivas, leaving the narrative ripe for further unfolding.
