## Chapter 88: Fred’s Big Business
The Black Pool Detective Agency was in disarray. Jones, tied to a chair, had purple and blue rings around his eyes, his white shirt stained with blood from his nose.
Fred sat across from him, leisurely cutting a juicy steak with a knife and fork. He tasted a piece, seemingly finding it a bit rich, and took a sip from his teacup.
But as the tea reached his mouth, Fred couldn’t help but spit it out.
“Pfft!”
He wiped his lips and peered into the teacup. The once vibrant green tea leaves had turned a dull grey.
Fred, enraged, slammed the teapot on the floor with a resounding bang. “Damn it! These profiteers, they dare to swindle even me!”
He lost his appetite and leaned back, gazing at Jones, who was slowly losing consciousness from the beating.
“Now, tell me, what brings you here today?”
Jones took a shaky breath and lifted his head. “N-nothing… Inspector Hastings received a report today about a missing Frenchman. I thought about it, and the only one who deals with such business is you. I came to ask if you have anything to do with this case.”
Fred licked the meat stuck between his teeth. “Oh… you’re quite clever. Yes, I did capture a fat Frenchman, but it’s none of your business. You can go now.”
“It’s really you!”
Jones tried to stand up, but the gun pointed at his head forced him back down.
He endured the throbbing pain and tried to reason with Fred in the calmest tone possible. “Take my advice, release the man. Inspector Hastings is currently rising like a star in Scotland Yard. He’s highly favored by Sir Peel, even Commissioner Rowan has to be polite to him.
Didn’t I convey Clemens’ request last time? He asked you to lay low for a while, to stop those businesses for now. The St. Giles disappearance case seems closed, but I believe Inspector Hastings hasn’t given up yet.
Besides, even if you ignore our advice and insist on dealing with indentured servants, you can go to other areas! Why pick Inspector Hastings’ territory? You’re practically walking into his trap!”
Hearing Jones mention Clemens, Fred warned him. “Kid, you think Clemens is omnipotent? He tells me to do something, and I have to do it? Let me tell you, my business is bigger than he imagines!
I have hundreds of brothers under me, all relying on me for food. If I don’t make a sale, you want them to drink Thames water to survive?
If you insist on me releasing the Frenchman, it’s not impossible. Hand over 3,000 pounds, and I’ll let you take him back right now.”
“3,000 pounds?!” Jones roared. “Fred, you’re asking for the moon! An indentured servant sold to North America is only worth 30 to 40 pounds. You’re asking for 3,000. You’re so greedy, why don’t you just rob a bank in the City?”
Fred shrugged. “Rob a bank? I would love to, but I don’t have the guts.
Besides, if you can’t afford 3,000 pounds, then sorry. There are plenty of others willing to pay. Let me tell you, that Frenchman is worth every penny. Someone paid a hefty sum for his life.
The middleman told me that if I deliver the fatso back to France alive, I’ll get a 2,500 pound commission. Even if I just deliver the body, I’ll get 1,500 pounds for my trouble.
The other party paid such a high price, and I’m only asking for 3,000 pounds to break the contract. You can see how much I value our past friendship and good cooperative relationship.”
Jones thought Fred was bluffing. He couldn’t help but yell.
“Fred, you’re digging your own grave! If we just weather this storm, we can continue doing business like usual. The Duke of Wellington is about to collapse!
Once the Tories are out of power, Inspector Hastings will lose his patron. We can do whatever we want to him! And you, you’re going to throw us all in jail for a measly profit!”
“Measly profit?” Hearing this, Fred raised an eyebrow and walked towards Jones, slapping him across the face.
A loud slap echoed through the room, and Jones was dazed.
When he regained his senses, he saw Fred waving a crisp white check in front of his eyes.
“Take a good look, Rothschild Bank, a reputable brand you can trust, 500 pounds, and that’s just a down payment for capturing him. Do you still think I’m messing with you?”
Seeing the check, Jones’ mind slowly cleared, and he was startled.
“What’s the Frenchman’s background? Why is he worth so much?”
Fred pointed his chin. “I have no idea. I only know the mastermind behind the scenes is generous and efficient, much better than you broke-ass Metropolitan Police officers.
It’s such a pain to deal with you. Dozens of guns, a bit of insignificant loot, you always want me to pay your commission. Tsk, if it wasn’t for your ability to cover my indentured servant business, I wouldn’t bother dealing with you.”
With that, Fred nodded to his men, signaling them to untie Jones.
He took a wad of bills from his drawer, counted out a few and stuffed them into Jones’ jacket pocket, then put the rest into his trousers pocket.
“Sergeant Jones, don’t be so angry about today’s incident. The twenty pounds in your jacket is my apology, and the two hundred pounds in your trousers are for Clemens’ respect.
Go back and tell him that I’ll be shipping goods overseas soon. After all, the client paid a hefty price, and they’re in a hurry.
If Clemens has any stock left, send it to me as soon as possible. I’ll take it with me when I leave.”
Jones was filled with anger, but seeing the bulging pockets, he swallowed his blood.
“Alright, I promise you. But I have to remind you, if you insist on doing this deal, be careful.
Finally, next Wednesday, Inspector Hastings will lead a team to Liverpool to provide security for the railway inauguration. Let’s make the deal that day?”
Hearing this, a smile finally appeared on Fred’s sleepy face.
He patted Jones’ shoulder and laughed. “Brother, you should have spoken like this earlier. You got beaten up for nothing, why bother?”
(End of Chapter)