Chapter 5: A Tricky Case
The magistrate’s court was located not far from Scotland Yard, so Arthur and Tony arrived on foot within a short time.
Tony, however, had lost his work motivation and was filled with anxiety about the future. But he wasn’t the most anxious one present.
A nervous policeman paced slowly in front of the magistrate’s court, his brow furrowed. Even from a distance, Arthur could clearly see the beads of sweat on his temples.
Arthur raised his hand and greeted him, “Tom, are you responsible for escorting the suspect today?”
Seeing Arthur’s familiar face, Officer Tom was almost moved to tears.
“Arthur, you have to help me!”
Arthur turned his head to look at Tony, who was dejected, and then asked Tom, “What’s the matter? Is your child going to university?”
“University? No, my wife is just pregnant, and it’s not even certain if she’ll be able to deliver safely.”
“Are you facing any difficulties?”
“Not yet. But she had two miscarriages before. This time, you have to save me.”
Arthur shrugged and spread his hands.
“Tom, you must be confused. I’m just a policeman like you. I deal with crimes, not childbirth. If you want to help your wife deliver safely, you should give her more nutrition and find an experienced midwife. Neither of these is within my scope of work.”
Tom’s palms were sweaty, and he said, “I’ve already contacted a midwife. Though I’m not wealthy, I try my best to save some money from my meager salary every day to buy her meat.
Everything seems fine now, but my wife dreamed of God last night.
God said that she had miscarriages because I, her husband, have too many sins on my hands. I must go and atone, or this time, the baby will die in the womb again.”
“Atonement? Isn’t that the priest’s job? St. Margaret’s Church is behind me, just go straight and then turn left.”
Tom covered his face and stammered, “This time, this time, I’m afraid the priest won’t work.”
“Won’t work?”
Arthur pondered for a moment, “Why don’t you buy a ticket to the Ottoman Empire and ask an Imam? Or go to the East and consult a high-ranking bald-headed monk? Even if God doesn’t care about the priest, he should at least consider the feelings of Allah and Buddha. If they don’t work, I know a red-nosed clown who knows witchcraft, and you can ask him to take a look.”
Agareus’s shadow flickered, “Arthur, I’m not a clown!”
Tears welled up in Tom’s eyes, and he was about to collapse.
“Oh! Arthur, at this time, don’t make fun of me. God chose to appear in my wife’s dream at this time, there must be a reason. I thought about it over and over this morning, and I think God must be referring to the case of little Adam.”
“Little Adam?”
Arthur’s heart sank when he heard this name.
Little Adam’s reputation was well-known among the local patrolmen.
Although he was just a nine-year-old kid, Little Adam’s criminal record couldn’t be filled on a single page.
As an experienced thief, Little Adam’s business ranged from breaking and entering, stealing handkerchiefs, to swiping fruit and snatching toys.
However, due to the small amount involved, his sentences were not too long.
Therefore, he could be seen roaming the streets of St. Giles’s parish every few months, but he would soon be sent back to prison.
Arthur took the file from Tony and quickly found information about Little Adam.
He flipped through the documents, muttering, “I talked to that kid before, trying to get him to tone it down a bit. But after learning about his family situation, I realized it was impossible.”
Tony asked, “Why is it impossible? Isn’t he afraid of going to prison or being whipped?”
Arthur closed the file, his eyes fixed on Tony, “Adam told me that prison is more comfortable than his home.
Because he can take a hot bath when he goes in and get some clean clothes and socks.
Although he’s sometimes bullied by other inmates, the guards and some conscientious criminals will stop them.
But if he’s outside, if he doesn’t bring back money, his bastard parents beat him harder than the inmates in prison.
Tony, we’re just policemen, we can solve some problems, but Adam’s criminal behavior is a social problem, and we’re powerless to do anything about it.”
Then Arthur turned to Tom, who was praying and repenting, “If you feel guilty about Little Adam, don’t worry. Because for him, you’re doing good by putting him in prison. God won’t blame you for that. If you can arrange a better prison for him, God might even reward your kindness.”
“But… but this time is different, Arthur!”
Tom sobbed, “This time he’s made a big mess, I’m afraid it won’t be resolved by just putting him in prison. What’s worse is that this time he’s caught the attention of Inspector Willocks. He specifically told me this morning to make sure the case is solid.
Because the Home Office just issued a new document the other day, saying that low conviction rates would damage the image of the Metropolitan Police, so they require us to strive for a 100% conviction rate.
You know the old bastard Willocks’ personality. If we mess up and tarnish his glorious record, he might fire us both.
My wife is about to give birth, I can’t lose my job. But I can’t watch Little Adam die either!”
“Die? What crime did he commit this time? Murder or arson?”
“Neither.” Tom trembled, “He just stole a lady’s umbrella.”
Tony breathed a sigh of relief, “Tom, can you stop being so dramatic? How much can an umbrella cost? The magistrate will probably sentence him to one year in prison. You just arrange a good place for him, it’s no big deal.”
Tom was shaking all over, “No, Tony, it was a very delicate lace-edged parasol, worth seven shillings and sixpence.”
“Seven shillings and sixpence?”
Tony exclaimed, “Damn it! Over five shillings, and he’ll be hanged! Even if the magistrate and the jury show mercy, he’ll be exiled to Australia for seven or eight years. A nine-year-old kid, exiled to Australia? He’ll probably die on the ship before he gets there.”
Tom gasped for breath, “If… if it really doesn’t work… I… I’ll just fight with that old bastard Willocks! It’s God’s will, I… I should be fine.”
Just as Tom clenched his fists and was about to go all out, Arthur put his hand on his shoulder.
It was a warm, sunny smile.
Behind Arthur’s smile, Agareus also showed a satisfied smile.
“Oh! Arthur, I can already see your naked evil intentions.”
Arthur said, “Tom, leave this to me, you can go back on duty. I assure you, Little Adam will be fine.”
Tom was overjoyed, “You’ve figured out a win-win solution? Oh! Heaven! I knew it! After all, the smartest minds in all of Scotland Yard are standing right here!”
He clenched his fist and swung it hard towards the sky, “Arthur! Let them see, your four years in university weren’t in vain! Oxford and Cambridge can’t even match a leg of London University!”
Arthur looked at the excited Tom, calmly took off his blue and white armband, and handed it to Tom.
His low voice sounded like a devil’s murmur.
“By the way, give my regards to Inspector Willocks, tell that uncouth bastard that Arthur Hastings, a patrolman in the Greenwich District of the Metropolitan Police, is fucking quitting.”
(End of Chapter)