Episode 1 opens with a flashback to 2003, where a youthful Gaby is engrossed in painting. As the door creaks open, Bella, a frightened young girl, is thrust inside. She screams for her mother, while Gaby attempts to soothe her, promising to reunite her with her mother. Bella inquisitively asks how long Gaby has been held captive in this house, and her response is a simple, yet profound, "Too long."
In the present, Gabi leads a Crisis Management team. They're on the trail of a missing black boy, having narrowed down his possible location. Gabi employs a ruse, posing as a damsel in distress, to gain entry to the house and swiftly neutralize one of the captors. Her teammate, Dhan, rushes in to secure the situation while Gabi rushes to find the boy. With Zeke's guidance via her earpiece, she locates the boy and reassures him of his safety.
Minutes later, the police arrive, accompanied by Bella. Detective Trent arrives on the scene, questioning the legality of Gaby's team's actions. He attempts to take over, but Gaby insists on staying with the boy until his family arrives. The boy is quickly rushed to the hospital and reunited with his loved ones, who express their gratitude to Gaby for her unwavering dedication.
Outside the hospital, Captain Mallory holds a press conference, claiming the rescue as his own. Bella finds this infuriating, but Gaby reminds her that the boy's well-being is the only thing that matters. When the press spots Gaby and Bella, they demand comments. Gaby promptly clarifies that her team was the sole rescue operation, putting the captain on the spot and elevating her team's efforts. When questioned about her role as a vigilante, Gaby retorts that her highly skilled team is dedicated solely to finding those who slip through the police's cracks. She recalls her own experience two decades ago, when she escaped from a kidnapper, yet the police never took her case seriously. She drives her point home by displaying a photo of Sarah Holden, the senator's daughter, who has been missing for 29 hours and is making national headlines. In stark contrast, Dashika, another black girl, has been missing for two weeks, yet her plight garners no such attention.
The following morning, a young boy named Deron visits Gaby's office, pleading for her help in finding his foster sister, Camilla. Camilla has been at odds with her foster parents, who believe she ran away with her boyfriend to clear her head. However, Deron is convinced something sinister has happened to Camilla, as she would never abandon him. Gaby's team immediately springs into action, delving into Camilla's past. Dhan, too, is skeptical of a kidnapping, but as the investigation unfolds, Gaby turns on the news, appalled to see that the media continues to focus solely on Sarah's disappearance. She rallies her team, urging them to work harder, as Camilla deserves the same attention and dedication in her search. She assigns each member specific tasks and heads out to meet with Camilla's foster parents.
Gaby escorted Margaret and Bella to encounter Camilla's foster parents. Margaret, renowned for her keen observation of human behavior, couldn't help but notice the plethora of locks adorning each door, seemingly designed to confine the children within. The sight struck her as a miniature prison. She further surmised that in every photograph, Camilla appeared fiercely protective of Deron, suggesting she wouldn't have abandoned him.
Prompted by these observations, Gaby dialed 911 and filed a missing person report for Camilla, hoping for an amber alert that might be Camilla's saving grace. She then contacted the press, offering a tip on a high-profile case. Her team scrutinized social media, finding that Sarah's case remained a trending topic.
Zeke, delving into Camilla's social media, stumbled upon a photo of her boyfriend—an older man, hardly the ideal choice for a parent's approval. Meanwhile, tensions flared between Zeke, the newcomer, and Dhan, who wasn't particularly welcoming. However, Gaby insisted they collaborate, emphasizing their complementary strengths.
As the investigation gained momentum, they delved into Camilla's foster parents and boyfriend. Gaby held a press conference, where Deron, tears streaming down his face, pleaded for help in finding his sister. Moved by Deron's plea and Gaby's proactive approach, the Captain assigned Trent to oversee Camilla's case. The press conference sparked a buzz, piquing public interest in Camilla's disappearance. The team soon learned that Camilla's mother had returned, seeking custody, leading them to question if she had anything to do with her daughter's abduction.
Trent stops by Gaby's office, eager to pursue the case's latest developments. An intriguing revelation unfolds—Gaby and Trent once shared a passionate night. His lingering feelings for her are evident. Returning to the matter at hand, Trent is dismayed to discover that Gaby had surreptitiously installed cameras around Camilla's foster parents' abode. Suddenly, Trent's phone rings, informing them that Camilla's biological mother has been found. They rush to the scene, only to witness her on the verge of jumping from a towering building, devastated by her failure to be a good mother and her inability to stay clean from drugs. Dhan calms her down, sharing his own harrowing tale of being abducted as a young boy after being betrayed by those he trusted.
Once the crisis is averted, Gaby rushes home, and Trent follows suit to ensure her well-being. She assures him she's fine, merely tired from the day's events, yet she refuses to invite him in. Her actions are uncharacteristically suspicious, her nerves palpable as Trent pops in unannounced. A flashback takes us to 2003, following Bella's abduction. Gaby struggled to help her cope, devising a rescue plan.
The following morning, Trent is among the first to arrive at Gaby's office. The team dives deeper into Camilla's former boyfriend's involvement, but his alibi proves solid. Gaby shifts their focus, exploring the possibility that Camilla was abducted by a stranger. Meanwhile, Margaret confides in Bella, sharing her struggles in searching for her son, Jaime, for the past 13 years. She remains hopeful that she'll reunite with him someday.
The revelation that Sarah Holden had been discovered was a pivotal turning point in the investigation. Astonishingly, Sharon was discovered wearing Camilla's sweatshirt, a stark reminder that the girls' paths had crossed, likely during Camilla's journey to the Department of Child and Family Services. Camilla had aspired for emancipation, with the ultimate goal of gaining full custody of Deron. Trent, determined, requested the captain to secure the senator's consent for accessing his daughter. However, the senator posed a challenge, preoccupied with his looming political ambitions. Trent confronted him, and Gaby threatened to expose the matter to the press if Camilla's fate remained unknown.
In a heated exchange, Gaby confronted Trent, urging him to choose a side. He vowed that his loyalty lied with Camilla. Returning to the office, Gaby's mind wandered to a distant past. She recalled her abductor, insisting they address him as "Sir." He had a penchant for staging dinner fantasies, scripting their conversational nuances with strict precision. One fateful evening, Gaby's defiance reared its head as she questioned his motives behind Bella's abduction. Meanwhile, Bella accidentally spilled stew on her hand, drawing Sir's ire. Seizing the moment, Gaby grabbed a cooking pot and struck Sir twice with brute force. She then urged Bella to flee, and together, they escaped into the night. Alas, by the time the police arrived, Sir had vanished into the shadows.
Bella and Dhan watched Gaby with concern, fearing she was on the verge of a breakdown. Bella attempted to rally her spirits, urging her to focus on the game. Gaby questioned Bella's dedication, urging her to pursue law and leave. Bella, however, was steadfast in her resolve to remain by Gaby's side, offering her unwavering support. Gaby acknowledged Bella's wisdom, realizing she would always need a legal advocate given her unconventional methods in searching for the missing.
As they conversed, Trent relayed Sarah's whereabouts, revealing she was receiving treatment at the hospital. Gaby's persuasive skills prevailed, convincing the senator to grant them access to locate Camilla. Sarah recounted Camilla's valiant efforts to save her, yet she had failed to escape. Sarah identified her brother's drug dealer as the prime suspect, leading to a swift arrest. However, the dealer remained obstinate, forcing the team to frantically search the premises for Camilla. Fortunately, they found her in the nick of time, reuniting her with Deron.
The team celebrated their triumph, adorning their office with Camilla's photograph. This was their ritual, a testament to every life they had saved. Gaby encouraged Dhan to give Zeke a chance, while Bella retreated home, locking herself in with numerous bolts, a testament to her lingering trauma. Zeke, on the other hand, suffered a minor panic attack. Margaret, clutching a photograph of her son with an altered age, traversed the airport, scanning the crowds with hopeful eyes, praying for a glimpse of her long-lost son.
Meanwhile, the real surprise awaited at Gaby's abode. She had imprisoned "Sir" in her basement, using him as an unorthodox asset in her investigations. She delivered a meal to him, clarifying that they were not partners. She recounted a new case, seeking his insight as a seasoned abductor.
