Original subtitles

Previously on Ballard...

Bosch's guy pulled 14 numbers off of Driscoll's phone.

All burners. We traced one of them directly to Olivas last night.

Number ends in 0666.

Manny Santos.

My boyfriend. He was getting texts from Olivas.

Manny Santos? Hey!

No!

You're burned, Manny.

You're just the only one who knows it right now.

Don't you wanna keep it that way?

My name is Officer Emmanuel Santos.

I'm cooperating of my own volition.

I was a part of group of cops

across the LAPD that colluded with the Zacatecas Nuevas cartel.

You don't call me, Manny. I call you.

-What do you want? -I just wanted to see your face.

LAPD. Put your hands on your head.

Does the cartel has my son?

We are going to keep looking for him.

You said that there was a video of Luis with Gael.

I narrowed it down to seven kids who could be a match for Gael Ibarra.

These are the addresses where each one first entered the system,

but this one was surrendered at a firehouse six blocks from the Sunbeam.

The connection between these victims is behavior.

What if our killer was punishing these women for stepping out of their place?

It's lipstick.

It was found under Sarah's bed like she dropped it there.

That's not Sarah's. That's Othella. It's a brand for Black women.

There was no analysis done on the lipstick inside.

If it wasn't Sarah's, then whose was it?

Results on the lipstick?

Yep. You were right. Lipstick wasn't Sarah's.

Original IO only swabbed the outside.

Darcy tested the actual lipstick. Got a sample, and a hit in CoDIS.

Hell yes.

DNA matched a woman named Naomi Bennett. In the system for a 2003 felony.

Naomi Bennett. Arrested in 2003 for a hot prowl in Sacramento.

-Hot prowl? -A burglary with an occupant inside.

Naomi broke into the home of a woman. Twenty-six years old.

Living alone, asleep in her bed at the time.

Sounds like one of our victims.

What if our killer wasn't a solo act?

Hmm. You think this Naomi person may be working with him?

-Could be. -Female accomplice?

It's not that uncommon actually.

Gerald and Charlene Gallego, Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, the Ken and Barbie killers.

Okay, Reddit.

All right. Deep dive on Naomi.

Every database we got, forwards and backwards from '03.

Get creative.

Flag on the play. The serial killer's accomplice theory doesn't hold.

November 2000. Sawtelle. Check it out.

-Naomi Bennett was assaulted? -Strangled in her home. Left for dead.

November 2000.

That was five months before Sarah Pearlman's murder.

Naomi Bennett wasn't an accomplice.

She was a victim.

A victim who survived.

This is huge. She could ID your serial killer.

That's what we're hoping. Thing is, she's in Madera.

-Madera? -It's a cow town. Central Valley.

I did check.

The department plane is available.

That's not happening.

Just get Madera PD to set up a virtual interview.

You want me to re-traumatize an assault victim on Zoom?

And then try to extract 25-year-old details from her?

Good point.

Have a nice drive.

Right.

On the corruption case, DA's office wants written statements from your team.

Are you hearing anything else from them?

Case is strong.

Indictments should be coming in the next week or two.

I bet it feels good.

Knowing what you've been through with Olivas.

But Renée, he's well liked.

So, just keep your head down.

Copy that.

Hey, Parker. Pack a bag.

Meet me at the Ahmanson. We leave in 45.

Whoa. Renée Ballard.

J. Edgar. It's been a while. You good?

Trying to be.

Heard you're breaking the Sarah Pearlman case open.

Turned a cold murder hot?

-Heard from who? -Mutual friend.

I'm glad, Ballard.

-I'm glad you landed on your feet. -Mmm. Jury's still out.

I don't know. I'm hearing rumblings.

Y-You close this big one, they might bump you back to Homicide.

How many department rumors turn out to be true? Come on.

Well, this one has legs.

I'm crossing my fingers 'cause I could use a new partner.

Yeah? Who they got you with?

They got me with Tomlinson, and I kid you not,

this guy spends all day checking Bitcoin.

Stay out of trouble, Renée.

I cannot believe you got Berchem to approve the plane.

-Well... -Well?

He didn't. Hope you like a road trip.

I guess.

As long as you let me DJ.

-What? News on the corruption case? -No. It's Laffont.

He just got approval to go see Gael and collect his DNA.

We might actually reunite this kid with his mom.

You know, everything is coming up Cold Case unit.

Look, I know we took some bad beats, but you can feel it, right?

Like something big's coming around the corner?

You sound like Colleen.

Okay, sounds good. Will do.

That was Ballard.

She said that the DA's office is requesting written statements

on the Manny Santos case, so while we wait for her and Parker...

-Written statements? -Letters make words. Left to right.

Can you put that thing down?

No, I mean, statements about what exactly?

Well, let's ask the expert. Detective.

The DA's office wants statements about the...

Oh, uh, I heard.

Um, detail your actions during the investigation. Be specific.

Stick to your own POV. It'll be different for each of you.

Homework.

You okay with that?

Uh, yeah.

I think I'm gonna enjoy this.

-Especially the ending. -Just stick to the facts.

And if you need any help...

-Hey. Everything okay? -Yeah.

I got Gael's DNA.

Oh, that-that's a good thing. Isn't it?

Yeah, Darcy's gonna run it, but it's just the foster home.

I mean, it's a caring place, but they're under-resourced.

Even when, uh, the system is working, it's not working well enough.

It's a shame.

God, I hate this part.

Ms. Bennett? I'm Detective Renée Ballard.

This is Officer Parker.

We're with the LAPD. We'd like to ask you some questions.

About?

November 2000.

All of them are dead...

And-And I'm-I'm the only one.

I know.

It's a lot to process.

That was decades ago and I could barely remember any details back then.

The detectives, they would ask me questions,

but it's like my mind didn't want me to remember.

I-I don't know how to explain it.

I understand.

I do.

But the smallest detail could help us.

We'd like to show you some things.

See if they spark your memory.

I don't know.

Actually, you know, why don't we, um...

Why don't we give you the night?

And we can speak to you in the morning.

Okay?

Yeah.

You had a feeling?

Now who sounds more like Colleen?

I know.

But I could tell that she was boxing us out.

Sometimes you only get one shot.

Yeah, but it can take time.

You know. You've been through it.

I still can't believe we got him.

Oh, boy.

Well, I don't know what business brings ladies like you

to this fair part of the country, but God bless capitalism.

Work trip, am I right?

-You sure are, cowboy. -I knew it.

Let me buy you a round.

Uh, we're still in the middle of this one actually.

Oh, come on. All work and no play? Is that it?

-Let's have some fun. -Oh.

Oh, don't you worry. I got a permit for it.

-Ah. -And, uh, I know how to handle it.

-Fastest hands in the west, I bet. -Like Billy the goddamn Kid.

So, how about it?

Yeah, we're just finishing up our wings and...

Tired of tipping back beers? Hmm?

Well, what if I could get my hands on something to, uh...

...light up the night a little bit?

Catch my drift?

-I think we do. -Yeah?

Mm-hmm.

-Oh. Um... -You know what?

I got a permit for mine too.

-Right. I, uh... -Go on now.

-Just gonna... Okay. -Get.

Sometimes it's just too fun.

I don't wanna move too fast with Naomi.

She's got that assault buried so deep,

we could lose our chance if we don't tread carefully.

I don't know.

What if we do the opposite?

-Good morning, Ms. Bennett. -Good morning.

Look, I'm-I'm so sorry.

I-I stayed up all night racking my brain,

and I really wanna help you, but there's nothing to tell.

-I've moved on. Thank you. -Naomi.

Look, hear me out. I know this is hard.

But the reality is we need you to do this

for all the women that he's hurt, and all the women that he could hurt.

It's not that I don't want to.

I just can't.

Yeah, because you're too far from it.

It's like you said, your mind won't let you.

Maybe that'll change if you go all in.

Come back to LA with us.

Wait? Come back to LA?

Maybe if you go back and you immerse yourself, it's a way to remember.

Wait.

Is that...

That's how we found you.

Wow.

Everything fell apart for that girl.

Can you tell us more?

Um...

Um, after what happened, I, um, I just left, you know?

I thought getting away would help.

I started drinking.

And then, I couldn't drink enough.

The first time I tried coke, I was like, "Thank God."

But eventually that wasn't enough either, so...

After that, um, I got arrested.

The burglary in '03?

I tried to break into my friend's house, and, ugh...

that was my rock bottom.

That was the end of a nosedive that all started with him.

Things were good before that.

So, it's like, I look at this girl and I just...

It just crushes me, you know?

When you say "good"?

I was happy.

I had my own place.

I'd been grinding through beauty school... ...for years,

and paying my own way.

And then I finally, finally got a chair in a salon.

And I was like...

Man.

I mean, I skipped to work every day.

It might not seem like much, but...

But it was everything to me.

Two months before Naomi was attacked, she landed a chair at Jolie in Mar Vista.

That sounds familiar.

Like Elena's promotion, or Laura Wilson's commercial gig.

But for that to motivate our guy to go after Naomi,

-he'd have to know about it. -Exactly.

So look for anyone with proximity. Friends, family, employees at the salon.

Uh, employees at the Jolie strip mall. Anyone.

Councilman Pearlman.

Everything all right?

Things are turning nasty, with the election coming up.

My opponent... ...wants to make my connection

to the Cold Case unit a central campaign point against me.

-Guys, I am working as fast as I can. -And we recognize that.

But we have another ask.

I'm setting up an interview with KTLA to get in front of the narrative.

-And we want you to... -No.

We want you to join Jake on camera.

Hell no. You came here to talk politics?

-I-I have a million... -We wanted to meet in person.

-Talk it out. -Bullshit.

You knew that if you called me, I'd hang up on you.

Okay, just t-try to think big picture here, Ballard.

It's not just Councilman's political career that's on the line.

It's his influence.

What's this?

Everything about my relationship with Manny. Right up to his arrest.

And why are you giving it to me?

Make sure it's thorough. Professional.

I don't want anything to screw this up.

Oh.

I'm sure Laffont probably...

Laffont's too nice to be honest.

You lack the tact to be polite.

Okay then.

-Hey, Ballard. -Hey.

I found, uh, something.

Back in 2000, there was a hot wings spot

at the Jolie mall, right next to the salon.

Had an employee named Casey Robbins.

-Casey Robbins have a record? -Oh, no. Something more than that.

In 2000, Casey Robbins lived in Palms

on Jasmine Avenue, just north of Venice.

One of the same blocks that another victim,

Josie Culver, canvassed for Hillary Clinton.

Josie Culver knocked on Casey Robbins's door.

He has a connection to two of our victims?

-That's something, all right. -I told ya.

Can you get a photo of him from 2000?

Naomi, I know it's been a long time, but do you recognize this man?

Um, I'm not sure.

I still can't picture his face, but I'm trying.

Don't worry about it.

-It's okay. -Thank you.

Where's Casey right now?

I couldn't find a current on him. But found his mom. Woodland Hills.

All right. Rawls and I will go check it out.

You guys cross reference every victim with this guy Robbins, all right?

This is our angle.

Rawls.

What?

The shit women have to deal with is messed up.

I just... I read Martina's statement.

And... ...everything that happened to Naomi.

I mean, all-all these cases.

Yeah. It's not ideal.

And you're expected to date under these circumstances. I mean...

Honestly, what's that like?

I mean, I guess it's like getting on the 405.

The traffic sucks, but you still gotta get across town.

What about you?

D-Dating wise.

Oh, you mean my foundation?

What?

Oh. Ted Rawls's Foundation for Hungry Single Women.

It's our mission to feed any hungry single woman

at LA's finest establishments,

drinks included, for four dates, give or take, until we amicably part ways.

Jesus, Ted.

I mean, I date. I...

I haven't been in a relationship in forever.

Psych 101 probably says that you can't have my dad

and come away with a winning approach to love.

I don't know. Maybe I'm part of the problem.

Well, at least you're rich.

Yeah.

Yeah, I could believe a serial killer grew up here.

Yeah.

Only one car.

-Why don't you check out back? -Uh-huh.

-Hi. -You're here about the dog then?

-The dog? -You're a little early.

Don't just stand there.

You're a cop.

I love Law & Order.

"You have the right to remain silent."

You know, after the apocalypse,

all that will be left are cockroaches and cop shows.

And that will be just fine by me.

You live alone?

Oh, I did, till my son moved back in.

Casey.

He's a real mama's boy.

Is your son here right now?

No?

No. He stepped out.

Do you mind if I use your restroom?

I just had too much coffee on the way in.

Uh... ...sure.

Sure, if you're brave enough. You go right ahead.

Thanks.

You okay?

Hope you didn't fall in.

"Right to remain silent." Oh.

Well, come on now.

Let's get what you came for.

Uh, actually, I just realized that I need...

Mama?

Oh, dear.

There you are, sweetie. Hi.

Who the hell is this?

-She's the woman about the dog. -That woman canceled.

Who the hell are you?

She's a cop.

-Got a badge and everything. -Yeah. I think I should get out of here.

That's a good idea.

"Anything you say can and will be used against you."

Step aside.

Step aside!

-Step... -Everything good in here?

Rawls.

Do you want to get the car started?

Get animal services over here, and call SIS.

That creep doesn't go anywhere without a shadow.

Looked like a horror show in there. Think he'll consent to a search?

He doesn't have to.

-I already got his DNA. -Oh.

-Hey, now. -Hey.

Tutu? Wow. I mean, it's...

It's 9:30.

A perfectly respectable time for mimosas.

This new lead sounds like a cause for celebration.

Maybe. Under normal circumstances.

And how would one describe current circumstances?

Well, if I solve this serial case,

there could be a move back to Homicide in my future.

And that's not a good thing?

You like where you are.

You know, I think I might.

Even more reason to celebrate. I'll get the glasses.

Goddamn it.

-Hey, what's up? -Hey, Parker. Casey's a bust.

The toothbrush sample didn't match the DNA we got from the palm print.

No.

I know we were supposed to take a morning off,

but I need you to get Naomi into a black and white.

It's time for her to go see the apartment.

-You sure she's ready for that? -I mean, she has to be.

Okay. We'll meet you there.

Frack! You know what? I can't.

I gotta go meet Pearlman and Hastings to prep for this stupid interview.

You know what?

-You go. Take Laffont. -You got it.

-No notes. Great job. -Really?

Actually, one note.

That guy was an asshole.

Uh... Uh, wait. Two notes.

You know you deserve better than that, right?

Okay. Good.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

How'd you sleep?

I'm not sure that I did. Uh...

Well, unit's currently empty, so we can take all the time we need.

Okay.

The memories are there.

Just let them surface.

It's weird.

Smells the same.

I'd only been here a few months.

My first place by myself.

Uh... That night, I, uh...

I had drinks after work with a few friends from the salon, and...

and then I came home, not too late.

Do you remember anything being off when you got home?

No.

That creak.

I used to step over that creak.

But that night, I heard it and I knew somebody was in the apartment.

Where were you? When you heard it?

I was...

I was asleep.

In bed.

There.

There was a dresser on that wall.

Used to be... ...a fan there.

What's that sound? It was after, uh...

Was it after?

I remember when he was...

There were people outside.

They were laughing.

His, uh...

His eyes.

I remember his eyes.

They were brown.

You're sure?

I'm positive.

Um...

Oh, God.

I can almost see his face.

And then it fades away.

-Shit. Okay. -Okay, okay. Don't worry.

Don't force it, okay? This was really good, Naomi.

I just need a minute.

-Okay. -I just...

Progress.

A little.

Just...

-I just hope it was worth it. -Oh, she'll get there.

She's doing good.

I'll call Ballard, ask her to put in a request for a sketch artist.

There are over 6,000 unsolved murders in this city.

Many of them involving victims with families

who don't have the power to pull strings.

As the son of a blue-collar mom and dad, I know what that's like.

And now with this unit, I'm using my position

to fight like hell for all those families waiting for answers.

But Councilman, what do you have to say to those critics who say

you are funneling money into solving your sister's murder,

while the city's crime and homelessness problems spin out of control?

I'd say those critics are misguided...

Councilman?

-May I? -Please.

Cher, you mentioned funneling money.

The Cold Case unit has one full salaried employee. Me.

The rest of my team are volunteers. We work in the basement of this building.

And yet we're still getting results.

Just last week, we closed a case.

Murder of a 19-year-old boy.

We arrested a killer who was walking the streets for seven years.

Well, that's impressive, but if Detective Ballard

is actually clearing cases like she says, then why is it that your office

is in discussions with the police commission about replacing her?

Well, I'm not sure where you're getting your information,

but whenever we play with taxpayer money,

it's always important to constantly reassess.

-Even if changes aren't necessary... -What the hell?

First time hearing about it.

...just to ensure that resources are properly allocated.

It was due diligence after the attack at your house.

-That's all. A contingency plan. -Then why didn't you say that?

There were also some concern about the other case you were building.

-Against Robert Olivas. -What?

It was suggested that there might have been some personal motivation.

-Oh. -We should've back channeled.

This was a mistake.

Oh, on that, I wholeheartedly agree.

Oh, gosh.

-Hey. -Oh, hey.

-Please tell me you bought beer. -I did, but, um...

-I... I told him he could come in. -What?

But...

Hey.

Hi.

Sorry to swing by. I wanted to talk to you in person.

Okay.

Um...

We...

We started this casually.

That was the agreement.

And it was good.

It was great.

But when you were attacked, and I was on the other end of that call with you, I...

It was awful.

I mean, it... I was worried about you, obviously, but...

it was more than that.

And I realized...

I want something more.

I...

I don't know what to say.

No, you don't have to say anything.

Because I know you can't give something more right now anyway.

I can't let myself be a casualty here.

I'm sorry, Renée.

You're quiet this morning.

More than usual.

Everything good?

Brown eyes.

That's all we got so far. She didn't give you anything else.

Okay, but she will.

Or she might.

You know, she was with the sketch artist all morning.

Maybe there was some progress made.

We're putting her through all of this again.

How much damage is worth doing to her? If we don't even get what we need.

Come on.

You know sometimes it just takes one thing to blow open a case.

Just one tiny thing.

And you know that sometimes that thing never comes.

Good morning.

-Good morning. -Morning.

How are you doing?

I'm fine.

But, uh, why're we here if the assault happened in my apartment?

Because we're struggling, Naomi.

Ballard.

It's true that, uh, the picture we showed you of Casey Robbins, that was a miss.

And we ran the list of employees at the strip mall three times.

Nothing. So... ...maybe being back here will spark something.

Can you tell me which one the salon was?

Um, my chair was by that window.

Do you remember any male clients that stood out to you?

Jolie only serviced women.

Any coffee shops or restaurants nearby that you'd go to?

I used to bring my own food.

What are the chances of you actually finding this guy?

I mean, if I can't remember.

Is there some other way?

We're figuring it out, okay? Don't get discouraged.

Why didn't she park in the lot?

That employee.

She didn't park in the lot.

Um, when I worked here, the company that owned the mall

didn't allow employees to park out front.

So we had to park around the corner, up a side street.

Can you show us where?

Let's find out who lived here back in 2000.

If Naomi was parking here, she could have been spotted on the way to work.

You know that building?

It was under construction back then.

Parker. Listen, I... Naomi, thank you.

All right, guys, we're expanding our search to the 1400 block of Ashland.

Naomi parked off-site, so there's a chance she encountered our killer there.

All right. I'll look into ownership records, divvy them up with Martina.

Okay. Hey, where's Rawls?

-Isn't he supposed to be here? -He called.

Uh, said he had something to do on his way in.

All right, well, fold him in when he gets here.

-Laffont. -Mm-hmm.

Naomi didn't recognize her attacker,

which means he was on the periphery of her life.

Someone she never noticed, but who noticed her.

Yeah. There was a real estate office on the corner.

It was renovated in 2000.

I spoke to the owner and he said he was gonna send me a list of sub-contractors.

Oh, he already did. Great.

I'm gonna forward this to you, so that you can have a lo...

No.

No way.

What?

No fucking way. That, uh...

That's gotta be a coincidence, right?

Naomi, these men may or may not have been involved in your attack.

But can you tell me if you recognize any of 'em?

Okay.

All right.

It's number four.

Definitely. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

Naomi, are you sure?

-Okay? -Yeah.

So?

Tom, it's him.

Who?

Gary Pearlman.

What?

The Councilman's dad?

Oh, my God.

Pearlman Electric was one of the subs on the Landmark Realty build-out.

Gary watched her walk to her new job every day.

To her new life.

She was on top of the world.

And he couldn't have that.

Why didn't anyone flag a connection in the DNA?

There wasn't one.

I reviewed the results with Darcy myself.

We need Gary's DNA. Where's...

Where's Rawls?

I mean, she ruffles feathers. I get it.

But replacing her would be a colossal mistake, and Jake...

He-He needs to know that.

I'm sorry. He said he'd be about 20 minutes.

-You don't mind me waiting here for him? -No, not at all.

You've really, uh, changed your tune on her, haven't you?

Can I assume she's making headway in Sarah's case?

Oh, yeah.

We found a living victim.

Can you believe that?

-You're... You're kidding. -No.

No, killer left her for dead in 2000.

Wow.

So, uh, what has she told you?

I mean, did she ID the son of a bitch?

No, but it's been a lot of years, you know?

A lotta... lotta trauma to wade through.

Yeah.

But Ballard, you know, she doesn't waste an opportunity.

Speaking of...

-Yo, boss. What's up? -Hey, Rawls.

Listen, I know this is gonna sound crazy, but it's true.

Naomi just ID'd Gary Pearlman. He's our killer.

-What? -Yeah.

We need you back here. Now.

Uh...

Yeah. Yeah, I can work on that for you.

-Rawls, where are you? -Uh, I...

I stopped by Jake's place.

I'm with his dad.

Um...

But I'll be back at the office soon.

It's all good.

No, Gary! Wait! Don't...

Rawls?

Oh, my God.