Episode 2 of "On Call" kicks off with Harmon and Diaz being briefed about a commotion. They speed to the location, where a large and noisy crowd is setting off firecrackers and blocking an intersection. Although they were instructed to stand still, they soon received reports of an attack nearby. Harmon and Diaz spring into action, finding Sergeant Lasman and his partner grappling with an assailant. The partner lies gravely wounded, while the assailant manages to strike Diaz before fleeing the scene. Lasman urges Diaz to pursue him, but Harmon, concerned for their safety amidst the rioting crowd, counters with a firm order for Diaz to remain. A stark contrast in approaches emerges between Harmon and Lasman.
The following morning, Lasman extends an invitation to Diaz to join their softball squad for the inter-division police games, further counseling him to retaliate when hit, regardless of Harmon's stance. "Order versus chaos," he remarks. When Diaz joins Harmon for the start of their shift, he reasserts his determination to catch the assailant. Harmon leads him to the spot where Delgado met his end, cautioning Diaz against heroic acts fueled solely by ego.
Their attention is soon diverted elsewhere. They rush to a park, where a grim discovery awaits: a decapitated head, wrapped tightly in tape, lies abandoned. The park is infiltrated by homeless individuals and drug addicts, among them a woman named Mary who approaches Harmon, whispering that "the Sheriff" had been around a few days prior. Diaz inquiries about the identity of this "Sheriff," to which Harmon responds with a pretense of ignorance.
Diaz intervenes in a scuffle between two homeless individuals battling over a sack. The man clutches it tightly, turning aggressive towards Diaz. Harmon steps in, recognizing his drug-induced delirium. She swaps a fake deputy badge sticker for the sack, revealing its contents: a severed hand adorned with tattoos resembling those of the East Barrio gang, which Eddie Watson belonged to.
Lieutenant Bush enters the scene, her presence commanding immediate attention. Harmon briefs her on the details and promptly inquiries about the progress in the Delgado investigation, only to receive the disappointing news of no new updates. Eager to contribute, Harmon expresses her desire to join the task force probing into the matter, but Bush declined her request.
With the investigation at a standstill, Harmon and Diaz rush off to another emergency involving a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, they find the area already swarming with officers, including an officer who was once Harmon's mentor. The scenario unfolds with the apprehension of several youths from the L.B. Flores gang, caught red-handed with drugs. Harmon attempts to squeeze information out of them regarding Delgado's murder, but her efforts meet with stonewalling silence. Recognizing the cultural barrier, Diaz steps in, engaging them in Spanish. The young girl confides in Diaz, revealing that the East Barrio has mysteriously vanished, as if erased by an unseen force.
Following this revelation, Diaz and Harmon delve into the historical rivalry between the East Barrio and L.B. Flores, once united but now divided. Their conversation is abruptly cut short by a call to another incident—a shooting sparked by a heated argument. At the scene, the bereaved mother of the deceased accuses a member of the L.B. Flores gang of sowing discord among the youth. In an attempt to defuse the tense situation, Diaz nearly comes to blows with the accused, egged on subtly by Sergeant Lasman's nod of encouragement. However, he manages to restraining himself at the last moment.
Later, Harmon commends Diaz for his restraint, sharing a personal anecdote about his brother's incarceration for robbery to emphasize that one's past does not define one's present. She reveals her own unfired weapon in twelve years of service, emphasizing the weight of responsibility that comes with donning the uniform. Diaz concurs, acknowledging her wisdom.
As Harmon exits to meet with Bush, she learns that the severed hand belongs to Juan Cortez. After her departure, Lasman confronts Diaz, revealing he has uncovered footage of Diaz threatening the assailant of his mother. He quizzes Diaz about Harmon's involvement, to which Diaz reluctantly nods in agreement, closing out Episode 2 of On Call with a hint of unresolved tension.
