When an ex-army officer is murdered on his patch, Harry goes off in hot pursuit of IRA suspects, intent on selling the story to the national press. He finds the real villain is somewhat nearer home.

There is dissension in the ranks at News Associates. Harry criticises the team's productivity but they respond in kind. Jonathan and Alice decide to follow up a story about a young girl whose parents are launching a £250,000 appeal to send her to Pittsburgh for a life-saving operation. When other press fail to turn up, the father turns the staff of the diner into hostages. Harry decides to manipulate the situation, with unexpected results.

Harry is in deep trouble with the law after interfering in a serious hostage incident. Harry wants to go to trial against his solicitor's advice.

Snappy and Jonathan are in line for a "Good News" award.Harry wants a reunion with his estranged wife, but she wants a divorce. A young prostitute disappears and her friends think she has been murdered.Harry can find no trace of her at a residential home for troubled kids run by local businessman Paul Collier, Harry supects that a local judge who is a friend of Paul Collier's may be involved. When this lead proves unfruitful, Alice, who looks like the girl decides to pose as a prostitute herself to flush out the person who may have abducted her.

Dean Hawkins breaks out of prison to settle a score with the local police and the politicians who destroyed his father, especially prospective MP Frank Melhouse. Harry has a tip off that Melhouse has been involved in a cover up about water pollution and is determined to investigate despite Melhouse's police minders...