The Crisis Centre is invaded when Vincent's replacement arrives. She is Louise Arden (Mary Coustas), a tough, slick lawyer who appears to come from a privileged background, and in her former practice, dealt with clients from the upper echelons of society. Louise seems to have come to the Centre with little social conscience or commitment, and Maxine is worried that the people who need her help most are going to take a back seat. Louise finds herself immediately involved in two cases simultaneously. Gretel Duncan is accused of trying to run down her estranged husband, Warwick. Mick Travis, a drunken ex-con, is charged with the attempted murder of his former landlady. Both cases demonstrate Louise's professional capability, and give us a taste of her tactics and attitudes. Bill and Maxine are left to contemplate the arrival of Cyclone Louise. What they don't know yet is that Louise's stylish lawyer facade is exactly that. Her roots lie on the wrong side of the tracks. Her brother has done time for armed robbery. He's out, and on her doorstep. Meanwhile, Kate and Charlie are distracted by something else—each other—and despite Kate's attempts to avoid a relationship with a colleague, they can't keep their hands off each other.