Upper Hampton

<p>DCI Julie Ashton is presented with a very unusual case not the actual case as such but the people involved.</p><p><br></p><p>Professor Eugene Algernon Blackthorne a doctor of law and opted out now a trumpet player in a syncopated band. Julie had to literally translate for her officers his words being flowery and old fashioned.</p><p><br></p><p>Seven very cleaver musicians made up the band with ten degrees between them including doctorates and as Julie had said burnt out at twenty-four.</p><p><br></p><p>Skins Malone the percussionist as the professor had told Julie that; His demise t'was as he hit the high hat in a final flurry.</p><p><br></p><p>Julie realised that he meant Skins was dead murdered. She now had to get them to relate their past but getting their names was almost impossible until she threatened them with jail; a night in her cells only worked partially.</p><p><br></p><p>It took all of her patience and skill to find out that the band were all in danger of meeting their deaths by a drug gang.</p><p><br></p><p>The gang from Blythe did not want them to testify as witnesses to them dealing.</p><p><br></p>