Sam Baxter, a troubled 15 year old girl, is found breaking in to her mother's store. Her mother, who is tired of this, wants her to be charged. Jo thinks she just wants attention and begins to believe everything Sam says, including that it is her parent's fault. Her criminal father arrives in town and her mother doesn't want anything to do with him but Sam likes him.

Instead of being charged, Sam is let off with a warning and has to help an elderly member of Grace's parish, Olive Hemmings, with her housework. Surprisingly the two hit it off and Jo's faith in the girl is restored. But when Olive doesn't turn up at church, she is found bleeding in her house. Someone broke in and stole $2000. A young female called the ambulance and they soon find out it is Sam, staying at her adult boyfriend's house. Sam pushed her over cause she was ""in the way"". Her mother is sure she is ending up like her father. Jo can't believe that the girl she trusted did this.

Meanwhile, Jo's parents arrive in tow

Everyone is gossipping about Tess' failed marriage after last week's discovery, but out on patrol, Jonesy defends Tess. Jonesy and Ben come across two 12-year-old boys chroming and attempt to help them kick the habit, only to discover that their home-life provides no help and takes it upon himself to save them. When one of the young boys dies, Ben can't cope with the loss and hits the bottle again.

Young Sam Baxter is implicated when there is a burglary—at the telephone shop run by Sam's estranged mother Adele. After being open just one month the burglary will set Adele and her partner, Lachlan, back severely. Adele points the finger at Sam, much to Jo's horror. Sam's alibi is weak and when Lachlan is found unconscious, the victim of a hit and run, things become more complicated. Who ran him down and why? Could it have been Sam, jealous of her mother's relationship with him? When Adele is later found unconscious in her van, with the exhaust pumping into the cabin, it looks like she tried to kill herself. But why? Did she run down her boyfriend?