Bud Sr. and Mike (Bud's father and younger brother) travel to Washington for Bud and Harriet's wedding. Bud Sr. leaves insults, injuries, and hurt feelings in his wake; Harriet's mother also causes much discomfort and embarrassment. Bud passes a big career milestone with grace and empathy. A dry cleaner loses Harm's dress whites, but Harm finds them in an unusual place. The girls go to Harriet's party, then Mac bails Harm, Bud, and the admiral out of a DC jail after Bud's party. Bud Sr. skips the beautiful wedding, and Mike arrives late. Harm takes charge of a detail of eight officers who form an arch of swords for the new couple; he also shows up with an unusual and unexpected date.

A Japanese man accuses a US Naval officer of raping his teenage daughter. Harm, Mac, and Bud investigate; a rear admiral applies political pressure. The Japanese conduct a trial, which goes poorly until a witness eventually steps forward.

A five-year-old abused girl dies during a field trip to a Naval museum in Washington, DC. Harm, taking a strong personal interest, investigates. He and LCdr. Coulter find many answers plus the victim's twin sister. Bud passes the bar exam.

Harm pursues a lead about Annie's killer. After the christening of the Roberts baby, Harm follows and finds Charlie and Dar-lin, who then starts toward an adoption. Harm receives orders to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, and he leaves.

Harm misses Mac's rehearsal and dinner by doing his semiannual carquals, then he and Skates eject from an F-14 Tomcat at night during a storm at sea. A rescue helo picks up Skates, but Harm remains unfound in the rough sea. [Continued.]

A Marine dies in an ambush in Iraq; his sister is a classmate of Mattie; Harm and Mattie help the mother and the sister of the Marine. Bud investigates the failure of the body armor. Harm and Mattie continue to understand each other better.