7. Where There's Smoke

Complete story — includes the ending

A fire destroys the restaurant. The insurance company refuses to give Charlie the money because they think he did it. Even Kirsten begins to suspect that Charlie started the fire, but she helps him and they get the insurance money, but it is only half of the agreed amount since there is no evidence that Charlie intentionally started the fire. Meanwhile, Will asks Bailey if he can go out with Sarah, and he says 'yes', but later regrets and realizes he still likes her. Griffin steals money from one of the restaurant's employees, and he goes to jail. Julia finally sees that Griffin comes from an abused home; Griffin's father is a Major in the U.S. Army who yells and beats Griffin every day and has zero tolerance for insolence or loafing. When Charlie and everyone else is unsympathetic to Griffin's plight and refuses to help out, Julie approaches and begs Major Chase Holbrook to help Griffin and not abandon him. Julia's plea seems to work as Griffin's father hires a professional U.S. Army lawyer who works out a plea deal; Griffin will not do prison time, but has to go away for six months to a military academy in Louisiana. Also, Claudia meets a new school friend named Jody, who is a troublemaker, and the girl convinces her to smoke cigarettes and play pranks.