Warning: this article contains spoilers for Better Call Saul.
the death of Nacho Varga, which makes for ominous tidings. Kim's arc this season has seen her breaking bad, succumbing to her darker desires, and spearheading her and Jimmy's (Bob Odenkirk) scheme against Howard Hamlin (Patrick Fabian). At peace with Jimmy's sins and links to organized crime, Kim's morality has moved into a far grayer area compared to when she was first introduced in Better Call Saul.
Due to Jimmy's involvement with Lalo and the cartel in Better Call Saul season 5, danger could be around any corner for Kim, especially since Lalo survived Gus' (Giancarlo Esposito) assassination attempt and may strike back at any moment, putting many of Better Call Saul's characters on edge throughout season 6. While Gus Fring has looked more vulnerable than ever, so does Kim. With her eyes constantly looking over her shoulder, she became aware of Mike's (Jonathan Banks) men tailing her, and in her first meeting with Mike, she was informed that Lalo is still alive and that Mike believes she is made of "sterner stuff" than Jimmy. Kim's decision to not tell Jimmy about Lalo is for Jimmy's own good, but it might not be for the good of their relationship.
Before she decides to keep the truth from Jimmy, Kim is awake in the middle of the night, and when she looks at her digital clock, the time is 3:17. The shot shows the clock at an angle, encouraging the time to be looked at from a different perspective, and when viewed upsidedown, 3:17 also reads LIE. It appears that Kim is, perhaps subconsciously, following everyday signs to inform her actions, such as this lie to Jimmy. While it isn't the first time she's lied to Jimmy in Better Call Saul, not telling Jimmy about Lalo could be the first in a long line of lies she spins, and could, therefore, be the beginning of the end of their relationship - which in turn explains why (if not exactly how) Kim is conspicuously absent from Breaking Bad's story.
The clock that secretly reads LIE seems to be an instance of the old idiom that the writing is on the wall for Kim. By lying to Jimmy, it appears that Kim will have to uphold this lie throughout Better Call Saul season 6. This may be easier said than done, however, especially if Jimmy notices Howard's personal investigator tailing him. Although it could be argued that Kim shouldn't lie to Jimmy, she is doing it out of kindness. Jimmy is still anxious about the possibility of someone being out to get him, as evidenced when he points to the chair jammed underneath their door handle and says, "I was hoping it was just me." Nonetheless, the lies could begin to be too much for Jimmy to take, and he could end the relationship if there's a complete breakdown in trust.
On the other hand, Mike's words to Kim about her being made of "sterner stuff" could have a ripple effect. Kim lies to protect Jimmy, and this could snowball into Kim continuing to take matters into her own hands, especially if they are matters concerning Mike, Lalo, or the cartel. Since Kim's actions in Better Call Saul are motivated by her desire to protect Jimmy, this could manifest on a larger scale, such as Kim taking the fall for their schemes or Kim standing up to Lalo or other dangerous players. Regardless of whether the ramifications are violent or legal, they can go some way to explaining why Kim is absent during the events of Breaking Bad.
New episodes of Better Call Saul air every Monday on AMC.