From the pages of Michael Connelly’s novels, Maggie Q is Ballard, a determined detective leading the LAPD’s newly formed cold case division. In episode 5, the team’s relentless efforts prove fruitful in both their cold cases.
After pressure from Councilman Pearlman’s campaign manager, Nelson Hastings, Ballard and her team prioritize their only lead: the elusive blue Ford van seen near both Sarah and Laura’s crime scenes. Following her gut, Colleen trims their massive options down to three. This leads them to a previous owner of one of the vans.
Ballard and Parker meet with the woman, who states her abusive ex-husband, Mike Garrison, took off with the van and another woman years ago. The van was scrapped in 2009. Given his violent history, Ballard wants to pursue Garrison. A request for a DNA swab from her and her daughter, Trish, is denied. But the daughter, a recovering addict, learns of her father’s possible crimes and volunteers to help.
Meanwhile, Thomas Laffont attempts to trace John Doe’s killer’s whereabouts during a three-month gap. They learn the perpetrator may have been a part of a DEA investigation and turned corrupt. Later, it’s revealed that the suspect’s alibi for the day of Doe’s death was fabricated.
Martina grows closer to her boyfriend, Manny Santos. She invites them to their headquarters and shares the latest updates, stating they’ve hit a dead end on the John Doe case thus far. Unbeknownst to her, Santos is relaying this information to the killer.
With a name attached to the van, Colleen and Rawls discover the vehicle’s records at the scrapyard. That information leads them to a storage unit that’s actively paid for each month. With a warrant in hand, Ballard and her team open the garage — registered to Mike Garrison — and make a horrific discovery. The near-empty unit holds neatly organized shoeboxes, each filled with a souvenir from a victim. They find Laura Wilson’s work badge in one of the shoe boxes. Garrison is their killer.
The story continues to improve as Ballard and her team inch closer to finding their needle in a haystack. While the A plot is good, the B plot soars with a powerful performance from Courtney Taylor as Parker. A revelation regarding her time on the force pushes her to her limits, which Taylor handles with great force and care.
Rating: 8.5/10