The team investigate the five-year-old murder of a military recruiter who was dealing with troubled recruits, angry parents, and domestic problems of his own.
- The Atoner: The remorseful killer takes up the job of the man she killed in a moment of anger, trying to help other people the same way he helped her.
- Gangbangers: Two street gang members get into a fight with Mike when he tries to convince a third gang member, "Meathead" Newman, to enlist. Newman decides to remain a gang member, but one of the men who got into a fight with Mike ends up being recruited by Mike later on.
- Motive Misidentification: The detectives think that the killer killed Mike for wanting to turn her in to the authorities for a robbery. Actually, the killer was ashamed about the robbery and was willing to turn herself in, but then felt betrayed and abandoned upon hearing that Mike was about to leave on another overseas tour, leading to A Tragedy of Impulsiveness murder.
- Ungrateful Bitch: Mike helps Victoria discover confidence and self-worth, as well as an escape from her abusive home life by joining the military. She repays him by shooting him to death, though she's remorseful about it almost immediately afterward.
- Wicked Stepfather: Victoria's unseen stepfather is a violent drunk who she's desperate to get away from. He does apparently support her desire to join the military, but she puts that down to "macho crap".
