The wild ass son of a Romanian ambassador commits crimes on the boardwalk, causing a huge headache for the Pacific Blue team because the father's diplomatic immunity extends to his son. The government refuses to help because the ambassador is taking part in a secret sting operation to uncover illegal arms trading. When the son's crimes become serious, Palermo risks defying the government handlers to keep his beach safe.

Palermo befriends a young black guy on the basketball court whom he believes to be an honest, hard-working kid; but discovers his new friend is a former college basketball player who was illiterate, and involved with drugs and point-shaving. When a local college coach asks for Palermo's help in recruiting the guy, Palermo must decide whether the kid's efforts to ""turn over a new leaf"" and re-enter college with a new identity in order to get a real education are genuine.