Start of Volume 2. Are you guys liking this novel? For me, it is getting interesting. Let’s see if this volume 2 will introduce new exciting events. Hopefully, there will be less or small dialogues. History is interesting.
Chapter 35
The rain outside gradually subsided, and the Greenwich Police District’s meeting drew to a close.
“Dismissed.”
As the meeting room doors opened, the police officers who walked out all wore wry smiles on their faces.
“Looks like things are going to be tougher from now on!”
“Focusing our work on major cases in the future, is Inspector Arthur being a bit unrealistic?”
“We’re already short-staffed, just completing routine patrols is a struggle. Things like murder and poisoning cases, which take a lot of effort, are better left to professional trackers and detectives, right?”
“At the end of the day, it’s still because our weekly wages are too low. Those trackers and detectives can earn tens or even hundreds of pounds for a single big case. Our weekly twelve shillings, the guys below don’t even take patrols seriously, let alone being assigned other tasks.”
“But, if what Inspector Arthur said is true, as long as we can crack a few key cases, we can get a 25% raise for everyone, we’re not afraid to give it a shot.”
“Then let’s do as he says, take down Fred first? Have his people been active in your patrol area recently?”
“Active? It’s more than active, who can count how many people are under ‘General Thief’ Fred? Half the thieves in the East End of London are connected to him. Either they’re his underlings or they use his network to sell stolen goods. Haven’t you heard the saying? If you steal something, where do you hide it? General Fred will help you. If you rob something, where do you hide? Go to General Fred’s den.”
“To be honest, I’ve been wanting to find an opportunity to get him for a long time. Forget it, no matter what, we’ll put in the effort and take down that bastard Fred! Without him, at least we can relax a bit during patrols.”
As they talked, the police officers gradually walked away.
Only Sergeant Jones stayed behind, his face didn’t seem quite right.
“Fred…”
Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder.
“You look a bit uncomfortable?”
Arthur’s face appeared from behind him: “Do you need me to give you a few days off?”
Jones was startled, he quickly replied: “No need. I’ve just taken office, it’s not appropriate to take sick leave. I just got drenched in the rain, I’ll be fine after a night’s sleep at home.”
Arthur nodded slightly at this, then pulled a document from his pocket and handed it to him.
“Since you’re fine, then I’ll trouble you to make a trip to Scotland Yard. This is the meeting record archive for today, your patrol area is closest to there, please have someone take it there when you’re not busy.”
“Yes, sir! I’ll go right away!”
Jones saluted and then hurried away.
Arthur watched his retreating figure, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
The Red Devil appeared silently and mysteriously: “Arthur?”
“Something?”
The Red Devil chuckled and rubbed his hands together: “There are so many criminal organizations in London, why did you choose to target Fred?”
Arthur raised an eyebrow: “You’re asking this knowing full well? Willocks’s investigation report said that he absconded with forty guns from Scotland Yard, and also smuggled a large sum of stolen goods. And Fred’s people had a shootout with people at the docks two days ago, and even fired guns, is it a coincidence? So I’m convinced that some of the stolen goods Willocks took away must have ended up in Fred’s hands. My investigation into him is completely justified.”
Agareus smiled with narrowed eyes: “But we both know that Willocks is actually a fugitive, right?”
Arthur snorted: “Since the investigation report says so, then so be it, I only recognize Scotland Yard’s written documents.”
“You’re not going to investigate further?”
“Investigate further?”
Arthur looked coldly at the Red Devil and asked, “What if I really find out something? What then?”
“If you’re afraid of finding out the truth, why are you still targeting Fred? Aren’t you afraid of someone getting you?”
Arthur put on his top hat and smoothed his cuffs: “For a notorious thief, someone would try to get the current hottest star in Scotland Yard? I’m sure those people have more than one way to sell stolen goods, if he can only go to Fred, then I don’t need to be afraid of him. Someone who can only work with a thief, how powerful can he be?”
With that, Arthur strode towards the rain outside the police station.
Agareus asked: “Where are you going?”
“Since we’re going to make major cases, important cases, and murder cases our future focus, then we’ll naturally need to supplement some medical knowledge. I’ve made an appointment with Charles at the nearby cafe, I need to have a good chat with him.”
“Which Charles are you talking about?”
“Of course, it’s the Charles who studied medicine at Edinburgh University for a year!”
…
While Arthur went to the cafe, Sergeant Jones had returned to his division.
He sat in Willocks’s former office, looking at the rain outside, his heart filled with complex emotions.
Knock knock knock!
A knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Officer Dennis pushed the door open and walked in.
“Have a seat.”
Jones smiled and poured a cup of steaming hot tea for Dennis, even thoughtfully added a lump of sugar. Then he pushed the teacup towards him and said: “It’s cold today, have some tea to warm yourself up.”
Officer Dennis looked a little awkward, his hands were on his knees, he still didn’t seem used to sitting in front of his superior.
“Sergeant, did you call for me?”
“Oh, nothing important.”
Jones smiled and said: “It’s just that I heard you were the last person to see Willocks before he disappeared. So I wanted to ask you, do you know where he went?”
Dennis bit his lip: “Regarding this issue, I, I’ve already reported it in detail to Scotland Yard. I only know that Inspector Willocks last appeared carrying a saber and wearing plain clothes going south. As for where he went exactly, I don’t know.”
Jones nodded: “Indeed, your description is exactly the same as what I saw at Scotland Yard, you haven’t changed your story.”
Dennis breathed a sigh of relief: “Then can I leave? It’s raining today, the patrol route is difficult, I should get to work early.”
“Of course, I’m glad to see your high work enthusiasm.”
Dennis stood up and said: “Then, goodbye, Sergeant.”
As he pulled open the door to leave, suddenly, Jones’s voice rang out again: “Wait.”
Jones rested his head on one hand on the table, his other finger pointed to the teacup on the table: “But, you really don’t want to have some tea? I see you’re shaking a bit, is it too cold?”
Dennis’s heart tightened slightly, but he still forced himself to remain calm: “It’s okay, Sergeant, I can handle it.”
“Alright.”
Jones smiled: “But before you leave, I still want to say something. If there are things you don’t know now, it’s best not to know them in the future. If one day you suddenly know, it will make things very difficult for everyone.”
Dennis said calmly: “Mr. Jones, what are you talking about?”
Jones smiled even brighter: “I said you can go, Officer Dennis.”
Dennis turned and left, the moment the door closed, he felt a sense of relief.
He moved his lips slightly, but the sound seemed to be inaudible to anyone, only the most advanced lip-reading masters could decipher the meaning of his words.
“Betraying Arthur, once is enough.”
(End of chapter)