Robert Franklin Jackson 
The Blues of Portsmouth P.D. 
A Series: Episode One

The Case of the Erroneous Homophone

In the first of two episodes of The Blues of Portsmouth PD, your author introduces the nine fictitious but charismatic members of the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Police Department: Chief Wesley Frey, fair and definitely in charge but facing retirement; the veterans, Desk Sgt. Joe Cooper and dispatcher and sergeant Sally Thorne, who have a love-hate relationship, add comic relief; Detective Lt. Tim Slone, who has a stammer until he deals with pressure; Detective Beth “Skiv” Van Dyke and her lover, genealogist turned detective Keegen “Keeg” O’Regan; Detective Tony Brock, who arrives from another jurisdiction; coroner Dr. Newt Brookings, an African American who loves his work; and medical examiner Dr. Alex Long, a small man with many talents. All is calm in Portsmouth until three bodies indicate that they are facing a serial killer.