Here is the the latest update on the Mitrenko capers:

APRIL 2010:
Decending down into the gloom that was 'Barney's Bar & Pool Room' I saw my man right away.

Jack Ferrellio was an ex-cop. A good man brought down by circumstance. Working the wrong case at the wrong place and the wrong time, he'd accidentally witnessed some shady, night-time dealings involving the soon to be leaving State Governor, and a person of similar low moral values.

He brought the whole issue to light but his reward was to eventually be sent down on a bum larceny rap set up by the new State Governor and the DA, who just happened to be the brother in-law of the out-going State Governor.
The judge must've been the only guy in town who believed Jack was guilty. He dealt out got nine months in the State Pen.
Which also meant a dishonorable discharge from the force and no pension for our hero.

Jack was fresh out on the streets and sat smoking at the bar seemingly staring off into the distance, bourbon in hand and an overflowing ashtray nearby.

"Hey, Dick" he said without turning round "How's it going?".
So he was sharp as ever despite his recent ordeal.
"Hi Jack" I said "been awhile".

Jack had been on a couple of cases with me in the past and a certain amount of mutual backscratching had helped get the bad guys behind bars.

"Heard you're back on the Mitrenko case" he said.
"Yeah, that's right, and he's proving to be a bit of a handfull".
"So you'll be looking for a little help?".
"And then some" I replied, placing the Mitrenko case file on the bar between us.
"Usual rates?" he asked.
"Sure thing" I said. "And a big fat bonus if we can bring him in".
"OK" said Jack "Let me see the file".

The case was now back on, big style.

JANUARY 2010:
With Mitrenko's operation now spanning two continents, I thought It was about time to get myself a little help.

My Client was not happy when I called to say I needed to hire a junior partner and that would mean a hike in the retainer.

The argument went to and fro but I stood my ground.
Mistake! I put the phone down with the Client's final words still ringing in my ears - "You're off the case, Tective….we're gonna hire a REAL investigator!"

Whatever, I had plenty of low key stuff to keep me working...

All this was back in the summer after I was bundled off that unexpected flight back from Nashville .

Thanksgiving and New Year had passed and I was starting to get bored with the small time insurance fraud and divorce cases that were coming in when the call came.

"Mr Tective?" it was the Mitrenko case client - seems the new guys had found Mitrenko even slipperier than I had and had come up with zilch!

"So you've tried the rest and now you want to re-hire the best?"
I jibed.
So I'm back on the case...with a whole load of catching up to do.

First call was Phones - who had kept his file on the case open. Sure enough he came through with some useful info.

Mitrenko was following his usual pattern of hit and run local jobs but there were rumours of another American caper and this time Mitrenko was going over with both his main enforcers. Phil "The Sticks" Brittle and Paul "Low End" Turner.
Next, I made some calls to various low lives and dive bars.
I knew who I wanted for my new partner - it was just a case of tracking him down!

JULY 2009:
So I was sure that Mitrenko was gonna make a break for the 'states to keep the heat off his UK activities. I decided that this perp was not gonna get the drop on me an' leave me for dead on the sidewalk! I checked with my client and booked red eye tickets to get me where the action was. That's when my plan hit me smack in the face!

So there I was, looking at four cell walls in the airport precinct jail, Nashville USA... land of the frickin' free!
I'd figured Mitrenko wouldn't expect me to make a move on him over here. The other thing I didn't expect was the hand on my shoulder as I was queueing for customs...

"Mr Tective?" drawled the voice. I knew what was coming.
"Sure" I said.
"Could you come with us, sir" It wasn't a question.

They grilled me for hours but I stuck to my story about visiting an old friend. Trouble was, they'd gone through my paperwork with a finetooth comb and found a few small discrepancies. The sort of stuff they wouldn't normally bother with, but enough to hold me on. They were obviously on someone's payroll (Mitrenko's or Jones's) and I couldn't do a damn thing about it.
Before I knew it, I was on a plane back to the UK.

By the time I was back in my office, Mitrenko and Jones had already hit "Ella's Acoustic Café" and "The Cross Eyed Cricket" in East Tennessee, I knew this because "Phones" McGuire's report was waiting on my desk...

MAY 2009:
Things were slow and I hadn't heard from the Mitrenko case client for a while.
I even took on a couple of Divorce cases to keep things ticking over but it's not really my style. I hate seeing the face of some babe as I'm handing her photos of her paramour making whoopie with someone else, and I'm left feeling cheap.What can I do? The Bills have got to be paid, right?

Mitrenko had been doing a few jobs on the usual circuit according to the grapevine, but the major breakthrough seemed as distant as ever when there was a knock on my office door.

"Come on in!!" I called out but there was no answer. I went and opened the door....no one there. I walked over to the stairwell and looked down…no one again but I thought I heard the back door click almost silently shut.

"What the hell", I thought, I'm not one for stupid games so I decided to go back to my easy chair for some more brooding. Then I noticed the small package that had been left just under my Dick Tective Private Investigations sign.
Returning to my desk, I opened it to find this list:

Sat June 20th: Cross Eyed Cricket bar, Mosheim Tennessee (Acoustic duo with Doug Jones)
Tue June 23rd: Roxx Tavern, Newark, Delaware (With Doug Jones and full backing band)
Wed June 24th: VFN post 6027, Northeast Maryland (Duo)
Thurs June 25th: Bourbon St Grill,Claymont, Delaware (Full band)
Fri June 26th: Rehoboth Ale House, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware (Duo)
Sat June 27th: Boyce Festival, Stephens City, Virginia (Appearing with Doug Jones alongside Johnny Neel - ex Allman bros.)

There was also a casette tape. You can check that out on the next page.

Someone was tipping me off that Mitrenko was going back to the US with a full agenda of operations plus serious local backup.
But who? My client or a third party?
I went to my safe and blew the dust off Mitrenko's case file, it was gonna be a long night.

MARCH 2008:
I guess I was right about it being harder to keep track of Mitrenko now he's got two crews. He's been pretty careful with his operations and not made any real slip-ups.
He's mixing it up some and I'm finding it hard keeping tabs on him.

There seems to be no way of figuring out where he's going to turn up next, and with which team.
I was hoping a pattern would emerge, but he's outsmarting me, for the moment.

The only good news was this intercept from 'phones (gotta give that guy a bonus, soon)

Groundwaves FM Internet Radio Review.
"Finding a band from Birmingham that plays Texas style boogie woogie and Mississippi delta blues normally wouldn't raise any eyebrows - if we were talking about Birmingham, Alabama.

But The maz Mitrenko band hails from the original Birmingham, seven times further away in the Midlands of the island of Great Britain.

Mitrenko's upbeat and occasionally aggressive guitar style brings to mind everyone from Johnny Winter to The Fabulous Thunderbirds and vocally he reminds us of Duke Robillard or present day Eric Clapton.

If England is producing blues guitarists this authentic then, I guess, you DO mess with Texas!!!"

OCTOBER 2008:
It's been quiet on the Mitrenko front for a suspiciously long time, I was wondering if he'd been permanently closed down, if you know what I mean.
The circles this guy moves in, you got to have eyes in the back of your head and I was seriously thinking of closing the case.
I was doing my usual weekly pump on Jimmy, the shoeshine guy down on Madison and 5th when he comes up with this;
Mitrenko has re-organized his operation. "Yeah, sure" I said "And he came down here to tell you all about it"
"I ain't tellin' how, but I know and It's gonna cost you" says Jimmy.
A 50 spot got me this:
Mitrenko has got himself a new crew, to wit one Paul Turner (Ex Mighty House Rockers) and Phil Brittle (who has enough previous to fill a couple of pages).
What's more, he hasn't closed the old firm down and will be working blags with both teams.
I'm not sure if this is good or bad for my investigation.
Sure, it'll be harder keeping track of two operations, but it also means there'll be twice the chance of Mitrenko slipping up and twice the witnesses.
Looks like the case is staying open after all.

JULY 2008:
Finally caught Sneaky Pete dodging out of the back door of the State Street Bookies. I knew he'd been avoiding me since the Eddies studio debacle and he was not pleased to see me.
Despite a little light persuasion, (ie my .38 pointing up his nostril), he swore he'd just passed on the date he'd been told and had since heard the job had been postponed to July 20th, same time.
I told him he'd better be right, else next time I caught up with him, I'd let my piece do the talking.
This time, I staked out Eddies on my own and, whadd,y know?, another no-show.
Just as I thought, Mitrenko must be on to me and feeding these damn red herrings into the grapevine. Now I gotta stop, think and figure out my next move.

MAY 2008:
Mitrenko's getting mighty hard to keep track of. He pops up for two or 3 quick local jobs then lies low for a week or two. Of course, he's long gone before I can get myself or one of my ops on the scene.
Word came through via the usual sources that a "special job" was on the cards at Eddie Morton's studio. I figured this could be the recording of the much anticipated 2nd CD.
That would mean all the main players, (Mitrenko and his two chief enforcers, Newey and Tandy) would be in the same place at the same time; a real opportunity to bust the case wide open.

I made sure me and a few of my best guys were in position around Eddies a good 24 hours before the reported time of 10.00 am May 4th. It was a no-show and a big waste of my hard earned greenbacks. Question was, did Mitrenko get tipped off? or was the original information lousy?


APRIL 2008:
Well it looks like my US info sources have been blown big time.
Phones has sent another transcript and it seems Mitrenko has pulled off another American blag.
And I didn't hear a sniff about it 'till it was all over.

The perp spent 10 days in Nashville (not even moving around this time!!) with Adrian Styles.; Styles, you'll remember, runs the "Alias" outfit and operates in the Stratford area. Our boy did a few jobs with the Alias crew a year or two back.
Of course, they hooked up with Doug Jones (Aka "Blind Willie") as Nashville is his back yard.
It seems the trio took in some local bar gigs, then teamed up with another local, one Johnny Neel, for a bigger caper.
Now Mitrenko's CV includes a recording with Johnny Neel and his gang.
It's anybody's guess when the pay off will be, but I'd put money on it being on the next Mitrenko gang CD as an "extra" or somesuch.
I did some background on Neel and found he was part of the "Allman Brothers" set up awhile back.
Working with guys like this must mean big kudos for Mitrenko.
I just can't believe he pulled it off right under my nose without me finding out!!

Meanwhile, I'll be laying some heat on my USA operators, I don't like mistakes!!

FEBRUARY 2008:
The UK end of Mitrenkos' operation has gone suspiciously quiet. No further word on the solo acoustic project (although one source claims ten tracks were partially recorded then scrapped, well maybe, but so what?)
Mitrenko has his fingers in so many pies, I can't see how he would have time for everything.
On the other hand some or all of this information may be a smokescreen for something big.
I'm staying on the case.

JANUARY 2008:
My US contact has been through on the secure line and it looks like things will be kicking off in Nashville in early April.
Remember, in July last year, Mitrenko hooked up with Doug Jones (aka "Blind Willie") and Russell Gully for a heist at the Hopson plantation in Clarkesdale.
Word is he's going back out there to record one of his tunes for a "Truckers Tracks" CD being put together by Jones.
Also, the Alabama grapevine is twitching with the rumour that Mitrenko will also be visiting Fort Payne for an unspecified job alongside Gulley. More on this as it comes through.

AUGUST 2007:
Good news and bad news here.
Unlikely as it seems none of my US contacts managed to intercept Mitrenko during his American operation, well, you pay peanuts, you get monkeys I suppose.
The good news is my info tech man, 'phones Mcguire managed to grab an email out of the ether. You can check it out on the next page.
It's obviously Mitrenko's report back to whoever's hiring him at the moment.
I'm gonna be real busy for a good while, checking out the stuff in there
Time I put in for a raise.

JUNE 2007:
I now have the full story on the US operation.
One of Mitrenko's junior ops was bragging down at Moe's so I got Sneaky Pete to drop a pentathol in his next drink. Talk about striking it lucky, ..he sang like a canary!
Here's the full SP:
Mitrenko lands in NY on Wednesday 11th July and the following places will be hit.
Thur. 12th-The Waterwheel cafe, Milford, Pennsylvania (jam with house band).
Sat. 14th-The Radisson Hotel, Scranton, Pennsylvania (jam with Ukrainian band "Fata Morgana").
Thur. 19th-Neil's bar, Memphis, Tennessee (jam with the "Memphis blues society" gang).
Sun. 22nd-Boozenblues Festival, Indianola, Mississippi (jam with house band).
Tue. 24th-Cragnacker's bar, Nashville, Tennessee (jam with "Music City Blues" crew).
I wish info was always this easy to come by.
I'll be getting my US contacts working on this so stay tuned.

MARCH 2007:
Got an anonymous tipoff that Mitrenko has been invited to the "Boozenblues" festival in Mississippi.
Found out it's in July so that ties in nicely with the US trip info, jeez I love it when the pieces start to fit together.

FEBRUARY 2007:
Moe's bartender, Sneaky Pete says Mitrenko is hitting the big five-oh this year and for a celebration, he's repeating his US trip of ten years ago.
He'll be heading south out of Chicago on or about the 16th of August bound for St Louis, Memphis, Nashville and eventually The Delta and he's looking to jam or gig all along the way.
I'm gonna try and arrange a tail, but it'll be tough.

JANUARY 2007:
Met up with Joe the Squealer at Moe's bar last night and pumped him for info.
He's heard Mitrenko is currently in the studio on his own, recording a long awaited solo acoustic CD.
Many of the punters who've seen him doing his country blues lap slide live say it's about time.

DECEMBER 2006:
OK so now I know the story behing this new merchandise that these guys are peddling.
What I'm hearin' is that the title is gonna be 'Passing thru' and the deal is that this little product is gonna be hittin' the streets sometime before the Christmas holidays.

NOVEMBER 2006:
The rumour mill was grinding out stories about some new album that Mitrenko and his gang were involved in cutting but my sources were pretty thin on details.
Looks like I'm gonna have to lean on a few of my contacts.

SEPTEMBER 2006:
The trail had grown cold on this case until I had the word that Mitrenko and his buddies had started some more capers and tearing up a few joints in the process.

JULY 2006:
The word on the street is that Mitrenko and his crew are going to ground in August. Their cover story is that they are lying low to write and record material.

JUNE 2006:
A west side contact tells me Mitrenko has been moonlighting with another band of late.
They're called (guess what?) "Alias" and info about their operation can be found at www.aliasmusic.net
It isn't the blues but our man seems to be of many talents.