Chapter 36: King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table
Chapter 36 King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table
The rain outside the window gradually turned down, and the police meeting in the Greenwich Police District came to an end.
“Meeting adjourned.”
As the door to the conference room was pushed open, bitter smiles spread across the faces of the sergeants who walked out of the conference room.
“It seems like the job will be even worse in the future!”
“Isn’t it a bit whimsical for Inspector Arthur to focus his future work on big cases?”
“The police force we have on hand is already in short supply at the moment, and it’s a struggle just to complete routine patrol duties. Something as exhausting as a murder case or a poisoning case is better left to those professional burglars and detectives, right?”
“In the end, it’s because our weekly pay is too low, those burglars and detectives can earn tens or hundreds of pounds for a single big job. We’re on twelve shillings a week, and the brothers working underneath us aren’t even too keen on patrolling, let alone assigning other tasks.”
“However, if what Inspector Arthur says is true, and we can get a full twenty-five percent raise if we can take a few key cases, it’s not like we can’t bite the bullet and put up a fight.”
“So let’s do what he says and take Fred out first? Have any of his men been active in your patrol area lately?”
“Active? That’s more than active, who can count how many men ‘General Thief’ Fred has under his thumb?
Half the thieves in the entire East End of London could be connected to him. Either they’re his minions, or they rely on his network to sell stolen goods.
Haven’t you heard the saying? Where to hide when you steal, General Fred will help. Where to hide when you steal, go to General Fred’s lair.”
“To be honest, I’ve also long wanted to find a chance to get him. Forget it, no matter that much, brothers put in some effort and do away with this son of a bitch Fred! Without him, at the very least, we’ll be able to save some heartache when patrolling in the future.”
As they spoke, the several sheriffs gradually walked away.
Only Sheriff Jones stayed in the same place, his face looked a bit wrong.
“Fred ……”
Suddenly, a hand tapped on his shoulder.
“You don’t look too well, do you?”
Arthur’s face came up from behind him, “Need me to give you a few days off?”
Jones shivered in shock as he rushed back, “No need. I’ve only just taken office, so it’s not really appropriate to call in sick. It’s just that I got caught in the rain, so I’ll be fine if I go home and take a nap.”
Hearing this, Arthur nodded slightly and whirled around, pulling a sealed document from his arms and handing it to him.
“Since it’s fine, I’d appreciate it if you’d run to Scotland Yard. Here are the minutes of today’s meeting on file, your patrol area is closest to there, so please send someone to bring them there when you’re not busy.”
“Yes, sir! I’ll go now!”
Jones saluted, and then hurried away from the scene.
Arthur looked at his figure as he trotted along, cupping his chin in thought.
The Red Devil mysteriously appeared quietly, “Arthur?”
“Something wrong?”
The Red Devil heatedly rubbed his hands together and grinned, “There are so many criminal organizations in the City of London, why did you have to pick on Fred?”
Arthur raised an eyebrow, “Is that a knowing question? Willox’s investigative report said he rolled up forty guns from Scotland Yard and smuggled in a large amount of stolen goods.
And Fred’s men were in a firefight with someone at the docks two days ago and discharged their guns, are things that coincidental?
So I decided that some of the loot that Willocks had gotten away with must have fallen into Fred’s hands.
It is perfectly logical that I should initiate an investigation against him.”
Agares narrowed his eyes and smiled, “But isn’t it clear in your heart and mine whether Willox is fleeing from the crime or not?”
Arthur grunted, “Since the investigation report says it is, it is, and I only recognize written documents from Scotland Yard.”
“And you’re not going to look deeper into it?”
“Check?”
Arthur looked coldly at the Red Devil as he asked, “What if I do find out something?”
“If you’re afraid of finding out the truth, why did you move Fred? Aren’t you afraid that someone will screw you over?”
Arthur put on his bowler hat and pushed up his cuffs, “To screw the hottest star in Scotland Yard right now for a notorious head thief?
I’m sure those men have more than one way of selling stolen goods, and if he can only go to Fred, then there’s no reason for me to be afraid of him. A man who can only work with the head thief, how much more powerful can he be?”
With those words, Arthur took a step toward the rain outside the police station. Agares asked, “Where are you running to?”
“Since we’re going to focus on big, important, and murder cases in the future, it’s only natural to add some medical-related knowledge. I’ve arranged to meet Charles at a nearby cafe, and I’ll have to ask him for some good advice.”
“Which Charles are you talking about?”
“Of course it’s the same Charles who furthered his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh for a year!”
……
Just as Arthur had gone to the café, Sergeant Jones had returned to the sub-station where he belonged.
He was sitting in the office that originally belonged to Willox, looking at the rain outside the window, his mood was complicated and difficult to understand.
Knock knock knock!
There was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Officer Dennis pushed the door open and walked in.
“Have a seat.”
Jones smiled and poured Dennis a steaming cup of tea and thoughtfully put a lump of sugar in it.
Then he pushed the teacup in front of him and said, “It’s cold today, have some tea to warm you up.”
Officer Dennis’ expression looked a little rushed, his two hands on his knees, as if he wasn’t quite used to the feeling of sitting down in front of an officer.
“Sergeant, what do you want to see me about?”
“Wow, it’s not a big deal.”
Jones smiled, “It’s just that I heard you were the last person to see Willox before he disappeared. So I thought I’d come by and ask you if you knew where he’d gone.”
Dennis bit his lip for a moment, “On that subject, I, uh, I’ve already reported to Scotland Yard in detail.
All I know is that Sheriff Willox was last seen heading south with his saber and in civilian clothes.
As to exactly where he went, I am not sure.”
Jones nodded, “Indeed, your description, exactly as I saw it at Scotland Yard, you have not changed your story.”
Dennis breathed a soft sigh of relief, “May I go then please? It’s raining today and the patrols are bad, I should get to my duty early.”
“Of course, I’m glad to see you have such a high work ethic.”
Hearing this, Dennis stood up and said, “Well then, goodbye, sir.”
He pulled the door open and was about to go out when, suddenly, Jones’ voice snapped out again, “Wait a minute.”
Jones supported one hand on the table and pestled his head, while the other pointed to the teacup on the table, “But, are you really not going to drink some tea? I can see that your body seems to be shivering a bit, it’s the weather that’s too cold, isn’t it?”
Dennis’s heart tightened slightly, but he managed to force himself to calm down, “It’s alright sir, I can hold it together.”
“Okay.”
Jones smiled, “But before I go, I’d like to say one thing. If there are things you don’t know now, it’s best if you don’t know them in the future as well, if you suddenly find out one day, it’ll make things difficult for everyone.”
Dennis calmly said, “Mr. Jones, what are you talking about?”
Jones smiled wider, “I’m saying you can go now, Officer Dennis.”
Dennis turned and walked out the door, and the moment the door closed, he was relieved.
His lips moved slightly as if but made a sound but no one could hear it, only the top lip-sync masters could decipher the meaning of his words.
“Betraying Arthur, once is more than enough.”
(End of chapter)