Mt. Thomas station is full of secrets. Maggie and PJ have come back from holidays deeply in love but determined that no one, especially Tom, will find out about their new relationship. Meanwhile, Nick and Adam have intercepted Dash's Confirmation Certificate as a fully-fledged constable in order to have it framed for a special presentation, and Tom and Chris are conspiring to organise a surprise celebration for Dash's 20th birthday. Into this web of intrigue comes a very distressed Elly Winslow, asking for police protection because her ex-husband, Danny Hobson, has just been released from prison in Queensland where he was serving time for sexually molesting his own son, and she is terrified that he will come looking for them.

Dash is somewhere out there in a bus with a group of school children, their teacher and an armed gunman, and the Heelers are feeling especially bad about it because they led Dash to believe that they've forgotten her birthday. When the bus is found abandoned, the Heelers must decipher both true and false clues in order to find the missing children.

For months Dash has shadowed PJ on the job to prove she is worthy detective material, and her efforts are rewarded when she makes the short list for a job in Criminal Investigation in Melbourne. Dash is hurt to learn that, while Tom supports her endeavours, he does not believe she is ready for the job. PJ certainly never took her seriously. At least her mother, Beth, believes in her and accompanies Dash to Melbourne for the final interview and a spot of shopping. They have a close relationship and Dash's promotion is a proud moment for her hard-working mother. The moment is all too brief, however. When Dash returns to Mt. Thomas, she and Ben are called out to a hit and run accident. On the road nearby is a clutch of shopping bags belonging to the victim. Dash recognises them, and in one afternoon her dreams of a new start are shattered. The victim is Beth. The Heelers close ranks around their distraught mate, but Dash shifts into auto and works maniacally to ward off the grief th

Sabu, the family dog of Tom's family is accused of killing livestock. Tess takes the hard line impounding the dog. As per usual Jonesy questions Tess' stance, resulting in another D & M between the lovestruck, but unattainable pair. Tess revelas that as a child she had a dog...for merely a few weeks. From all magazine accounts Jonesy fronts Tess late one night in the station a gorgeous border collie pup in his arms.