Episode 4 of The Lincoln Lawyer's sophomore season kicks off with a deluge of boxes engulfing Mickey's office, a strategic ploy by Andy to drown the defense in a sea of paperwork. In parallel, Lorna embarks on a quest to verify the credibility of the witness who claims to have witnessed Lisa's departure from the premises on the fateful day of Brodunant's demise. Her investigation reveals a stark reality—the witness possesses impeccable vision, necessitating a swift recalibration of their tactics to undermine her testimony.
Returning to the hubbub of the office, where colleagues are immersed in sorting through the mountainous piles of boxes, Lorna finds herself embroiled in a brainstorming session with Mickey. He prompts them to delve into the potential motives that might have led the police to suspect Lisa's guilt. Amidst the discussion, Lorna daringly suggests that perhaps the authorities are onto something, hinting at the team's reluctance to fully commit due to Mickey's personal involvement with Lisa. Mickey, unwavering, stresses that Lisa stands as any other client, urging Lorna to present her argument unfettered.
As Lorna passionately lays out her case, Mickey observes Cissco's preoccupation with his phone, a distraction he chooses not to interrupt. Her argument intensifies, fueled by a gut feeling that Lisa's story isn't quite adding up. Shifting the focus to the elusive murder weapon, Izzy drops a bombshell—a hammer, now missing from Lisa's toolbox, matches the description of the murder instrument. This revelation casts a grim shadow over their prospects.
Mickey's subsequent visit to Lisa takes a turn as he inquires about the hammer, only to be met with her insistence that the toolbox belonged to her ex-husband and the hammer's disappearance could be attributed to his negligence. He urges her to reach out to him, cautioning against the prosecution's likely attempt to exploit their past against her. Lisa, however, reveals a hesitancy, uncertain of how to establish contact with her former partner. The scene lingers with a sense of unease, foreshadowing the complexities that lie ahead in unraveling the truth.
Mickey inquisitively delves into the reasons behind their divorce, and she reveals with a sigh that their aspirations diverged, painting a picture of him as insufficiently ambitious for her desires. As their conversation draws to a close, Lisa is summoned away, yet not without extending an invitation to Mickey to join her at a soirée at the restaurant that very evening. Observing her frazzled state and the weight of her business concerns, he offers a soothing presence, a balm to her troubled mind.
Just as Mickey's empathy begins to settle in, a call from Terrell disrupts the moment, his voice laced with anxiety over his teenage daughter, Angelica. Fearful that his ex might exploit a delicate situation to snatch away his cherished custody, Terrell implores Mickey's intervention, his resolve to rebuild his life evident in every word.
Embracing the challenge, Mickey dives into the case, discovering that Angelica, a budding artist, has inadvertently painted herself into a predicament by adorning a storefront with her creativity. The store owner, furious, sees her as a cautionary tale against vandalism, while the unimpressed judge takes note of Mickey's tardiness, a stern warning hanging in the air. Mickey, quick on his feet, explains the suddenness of the case and petitions for a postponement.
Meanwhile, Cisco remains a shadow, steadfast in his surveillance of Kaz, his lens capturing the comings and goings of Kaz's associates.
Later, Andy's unexpected summons casts a new light on the proceedings. He presents Lisa with a plea deal, the terms of which lessen her charges to voluntary manslaughter, accompanied by a hefty sentence of six years behind bars. Lisa grants him a day to consider, but Mickey senses a deeper agenda at play.
Returning to the office, Mickey's mind races, trying to unravel Andy's strategy. He conjectures that Andy has uncovered a chink in their armor, a realization that sends them into a race against time—23 hours to uncover the truth. Lorna's forensic review yields no immediate answers, but Izzy's suggestion of delving into Bondurant's finances ignites a spark of hope, hinting at a path that might unravel the mystery.
Mickey embarks on a determined quest to devise a strategy that would discredit the witness, his mind buzzing with possibilities. Lorna, observing his scattered demeanor, cautions him against allowing Andy's shadow to consume him, but he counters passionately, insisting that Andy's virtue demands he be fully prepared.
Meanwhile, Cisco convenes with Walter, a building inspector whose testimony against Lisa had paved the way for Bondurant's restraining order. Walter stands firm in his truth, presenting Cisco with haunting photographs that capture Lisa's volatile confrontation with Bondurant amidst a protest, undeniable evidence of her actions.
Elsewhere, Mickey infiltrates Lisa's events, only to stumble upon Henry, diligently interviewing attendees. Mickey sternly reminds Henry of his professional boundaries, urging him to preserve the footage until the case's resolution. Henry, resolute in his conviction of Lisa's innocence, refuses to back down. In a private moment, Mickey shares the deal's details with Lisa, who, to his dismay, rejects it outright. Mickey vows to find another way, his spirits dampened further by Cisco's transmission of Walter's damning images.
Fortuitously, Izzy breaks through the gloom with a glimmer of hope. It transpires that Bondurant's empire is hemorrhaging money, having incurred a staggering $200 million loss the previous year due to a tumultuous construction project. Cisco speculates that Bondurant's financial struggles must have left him indebted to many, sparking the suspicion that someone might have sought revenge. Emboldened by this lead, they delve deeper into the maze of connections.
Before departing, Cisco confides in Lorna, revealing his urgent need to locate Kaz, whose safety might be jeopardized. She implores him to tread carefully yet swiftly. As Lorna and Izzy later commiserate, Izzy's joy overflows at their breakthrough.
Cisco's reunion with Kaz is fraught with revelations. Kaz has been secretly feeding information to the feds about Teddy and his biker gang, a fateful choice stemming from a self-defense killing in prison that the authorities leveraged to coerce his cooperation. Kaz's disclosure of an imminent gun trafficking operation has prompted an ATF raid on Teddy's operations, a move that threatens to expose Kaz as the traitor and invite Teddy's wrath upon him and Cisco. This precarious situation propels Cisco into a race against time to devise a plan that would outsmart their adversaries and protect Kaz.
Mickey spends a restless night delving into Bondurant's emails, determined to uncover a vital clue. Despite it being his designated evening with Hayley, he can't resist seeking her insight into the enigmatic Angelica case. A spark of inspiration ignites within him, and he promptly dials Terrell to share his strategy. Returning to Bondurant's emails with renewed vigor, Mickey stumbles upon a damning piece of evidence: an email where Bondurant demands a refund from Alex Grant for payments made towards the Terrazo project, accompanied by a veiled threat to expose any illicit activities through legal channels. This revelation hints at Bondurant's awareness of underhand dealings within the contractor's company.
Eager to capitalize on this lead, Mickey sets his sights on Cisco but is thwarted by Lorna's white lie, claiming Cisco is off grabbing a caffeine fix. She vows to relay the information upon his return.
The dawn brings a triumph for Mickey as he executes his master plan, successfully leveraging his idea to dismiss Angelica's case. His cunning move involves enlisting Terrell's help to secure the endorsement of a former NBA star for Angelica's artwork and store. By branding her street art as legitimate, Mickey creates a narrative where the store owner appears to be withholding payment from an artist promoting her business. The mere threat of legal action, coupled with the overwhelming publicity, convinces the owner to pay Angelica royalties, thus resolving the matter amicably. Terrell and his daughter express profound gratitude for Mickey's ingenuity.
Returning to the office, Mickey is greeted by Cisco's updates on Alex Grant, which unveil a startling revelation: Grant is the son of Sasha Kazerian, the notorious head of the West Coast's most powerful Armenian crime syndicate. This discovery solidifies Mickey's belief that Bondurant's threat was aimed at exposing Grant's ties to organized crime. Convinced he's uncovered Andy's hidden agenda, Mickey eagerly shares the news with Lisa.
However, a surprising turn of events awaits as Andy unexpectedly withdraws her plea offer mere hours later, leaving Mickey perplexed and wondering what prompted the sudden change. He relays the disheartening news to Lorna, both of them left to ponder the enigmatic shifts in the case.
