Plot Summary:A year after the shooting incident which wounded them both Gently persuades a disillusioned Bacchus to accompany him to Newcastle where vagrant Simon Thomas has died in police custody. He was apparently part of a protest group demonstrating against the demolition of houses for building clearance, a demonstration which turned into a riot where policeman Ashton was fatally wounded. Resentful of the investigators the local police close ranks though all deny a revenge killing. When WPC Coles, who found Simon's corpse, is apparently forced to resign on grounds of negligence Gently believes she is taking the rap for her male colleagues. Discovering the true motive for Simon's death Bacchus regains his confidence as he helps Gently arrest the real killer.