Shadow of great britain

London, Westminster.

The sun rose over Trafalgar Square.

No. 4 Whitehall Street, in the interrogation room at the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police.

Mr. Disraeli looked up at the light coming in through the iron window grille. He leaned back on his chair with a tired look on his face and spoke.

"Mr. Police Officer, you have been interrogating all night, why is it not over yet? How many times have I told you that I was at the Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park yesterday afternoon to give a campaign speech, but I had already left in the evening. I really I didn’t see anyone hanging in the maple forest behind!”

The police officer sitting opposite Disraeli was the equally depressed Charles Field. He was dozing off with one hand on the side of his face and his eyes were half-closed.

He said in a daze: "Mr. Disraeli, we believe in your personal honor. There is indeed no social connection between you and the deceased, so we believe that you must be innocent, but we have invited you here for questioning. It was also out of necessity.

You are unlucky because yesterday was a Wednesday so there were very few speakers in Hyde Park. You were the only one who gave a speech there yesterday afternoon. If it had been Sunday afternoon we would certainly be able to find more witnesses, but for now, sorry, we're stuck with you.

Please think about it carefully. Did you find any details during your speech yesterday afternoon? "

Disraeli was so angry at Officer Field's words that he cursed: "Didn't I tell you everything? I didn't find anything. Besides, why was I the only witness? I told you clearly that yesterday I When I left Hyde Park, I also discovered a moving gentleman and his three servants. The gentleman who lived at 36 Lancaster Gate ended up missing. He had all the time to commit the crime. Even if you want to suspect it, , you have to doubt him! Why did you find me?"

When Officer Field heard this, he just curled his lips and shook his head: "Mr. Disraeli, in this matter, I advise you to be cautious in your words and actions. Besides, it's not like we didn't look for him, he should be here at this time. On the way to the Metropolitan Police."

"Have you found him?" When Disraeli heard this, his sluggish spirit cheered up a lot: "When he arrives later, can I see him?"

When Field heard this, he picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself half a cup: "You want to see him? No, no."

Disraeli frowned and asked: "What? Are you worried about me colluding with him to confess?"

Field blew on the steaming teacup: "No, I'm not worried about that."

"Then what are you worried about?"

Field took a sip of tea, savored it for a long time, and then frowned and spit out a piece of faded tea leaf: "I'm worried that I don't have the power to command him. The most I can do is help you convey your request to see him. As for whether this request will be accepted." Execution depends on his mood today."

Disraeli thought about this sentence for a while, but still couldn't understand the reason why Field said this inexplicable statement.

He leaned forward and asked, "Then do you know how he is feeling today?"

Field thought about the scene when Arthur was talking to him last night, put down the tea cup in his hand and said: "I can't figure it out. It may be very happy, or it may be calm. Of course, if I were him, I would He was furious because he was called up in the middle of the night to examine the body.

But that honorable gentleman... he is one of the few good-natured people in Scotland Yard. Maybe he will feel honored because he has done his best for the public. "

Disraeli was confused by what Field said. He scratched his head and rapped his knuckles on the table unhappily: "Forget it, let me ask the last question, when are you going to let me go back?" . If you don’t let me out before noon today, I will write to the Magistrate Court and ask them to issue a writ of habeas corpus against me! Although I no longer practice law, I can tell you that I used to learn But the law!”

Field nodded: "Don't worry, this morning there will be a regular senior police meeting in the London area held by the Metropolitan Police Department. As soon as that meeting is over, we will definitely let you out."

As soon as Field finished speaking, the iron door of the interrogation room was slowly pushed open.

He turned his head and looked, and was so frightened that he hurriedly stood up and stood at attention, saluting: "Inspector Hastings!"

When the old policeman who opened the door heard this, he couldn't help but put on a serious face. He corrected him: "Field, after working all night, are you not so clear-headed? Are you even aware of the Metropolitan Police Department?" Can’t you recognize his police title?”

Arthur, who was standing behind the old policeman, put a white-gloved hand on his shoulder and said with a smile: "Forget it, Cleverley, young people still need to learn. Besides, he It’s reasonable to feel a little dizzy after a busy night.”

When Field heard this, he couldn't help being stunned for a moment. When he focused his attention again, he discovered the abnormality on Arthur's shoulder straps.

Three shining stars of Bath were missing, replaced by a crown emblem dotted with jeweled stars.

"Black... Superintendent Hastings, good... good morning!" Field's pupils trembled, and he stood at attention and saluted again in a panic.

Arthur smoothed his wrinkled white gloves, then smiled and returned the greeting.

"Good morning, Officer Field. By the way, I almost forgot to ask you if you are interested in transferring to my police district. Your intelligence is very satisfying to me, so I plan to send you a transfer invitation.

Don’t worry about your boss. I had a brief chat with him last night when I was examining Clemens’ body. Although he expressed regret for losing you, in the end he decided to reluctantly part ways with you and happily agreed. "

When Field heard this, he couldn't help but feel in a trance. It wasn't until the old police officer Cleverley called him that he woke up as if from a dream.

Field stood up straight and saluted at the top of his lungs: "It's an honor to join you!"

Arthur nodded slightly, then walked up to Disraeli with the police officer's knife in one hand.

He looked at Disraeli's expression as if he had seen a ghost, smiled and said: "Sir, it's nice to see you again. Thank you very much for helping me carry my luggage yesterday."

Disraeli put one hand on the table and the other on the back of his chair. He rolled his eyes and said, "Damn it! It turns out that the policeman yesterday was you. I thought he was really here to investigate me for violating public order and climbing over the railing in Hyde Park. And the walls.”

When the old policeman following Arthur heard this, he couldn't help but frowned: "What? Disrupting public order? Climbing over the wall of Hyde Park? Is there any hidden case here?"

When Field heard this, he couldn't help but stared in shock. He stood behind the old policeman and mouthed at Disraeli.

Disraeli read from his lips what he meant - caution.

He looked around with a smile, then rubbed his palms with sweat on his cheeks, and said: "Look, I must have lost my mind. It's okay, Mr. Hastings. I believe we will be good neighbors in the future." . To be honest, our two families live very close to each other. You live at 36 Lancaster Gate. Do you know where I live? I live at 27."

Arthur nodded slightly when he heard the words, and then ordered to Field behind him: "Mr. Disraeli must be very tired after being interrogated all night. Now that all the facts of the case have been ascertained, there is no need to continue to lock him up." Here, let him go home quickly and have a good sleep. After all, he has to continue to explain his beautiful vision to the public in Hyde Park this afternoon."

When Disraeli heard this, he immediately wiped the sweat from his forehead as if he was being forgiven. He picked up the coat hanging on the back of the chair, stood up and smiled at Arthur, raising two fingers.

"That's it for today. Mr. Hastings, I'll treat you to something to eat next time."

Arthur smiled and shook his head: "You are too polite, Mr. Disraeli. To be honest, my family recently hired a French chef. Next time you come to my house, I will let you try his cooking."

…

In the conference hall of the Metropolitan Police headquarters.

Director Rowan held a brand new resignation letter in his hand, which was one of the exhibits obtained from Clemens' body.

Director Luo Wan glanced at the contents of the letter. The conference hall was silent, and the breathing of the seventeen superintendents and five police supervisors present could be clearly heard.

After reading the resignation letter, Rowan pressed it on the table and pushed it in front of Sir Richard Mayne, the deputy minister who was sitting nearby.

After reading the letter, Sir Mayne slightly raised his hand towards Director Rowan. After receiving Director Rowan's nod, he spoke loudly.

"Then, this year's 17th senior police meeting of the Metropolitan Police Department begins. Regarding the case that occurred last night, I believe you have heard about it, so I will not go into details here. Regarding the cause of death of Tyler Clemens, After receiving the report last night, Scotland Yard immediately set up a special investigation team to investigate.

After a night of detailed investigation, a breakthrough has been made. Next, Bayswater District Superintendent Henry Robinson gave us a detailed statement. "

When Sir Mayne said this, Superintendent Henry Robinson immediately stood up and saluted, and then he picked up the speech before the case and read it as written.

“After receiving the case, the police district immediately dispatched 12 police officers to the crime scene to seal and isolate it in accordance with the latest London Metropolitan Police Case Investigation Regulations, and to conduct investigations and searches along the roads near the crime scene.

In the investigation of the case, we received great assistance from Inspector Arthur Hastings, who lived nearby. In view of Inspector Hastings' outstanding performance in the Greenwich Central Street Hotel murder case, the Bayswater Police District temporarily decided that Inspector Hastings would lead the autopsy.

It was determined by Inspector Hastings and the St. Mary's Hospital medical expert team that the deceased Tyler Clemens had obvious signs of strangulation and hanging on his neck. His face was white and blue, and his remains were slightly hideous. The cause of death was judged to be suffocation. No other suspicious points were found at the crime scene, and a letter of confession detailing the cause of suicide and resignation was left on the body of the deceased.

The handwriting of the confession letter was mutually reviewed by colleagues from the Metropolitan Police and confirmed to be indeed the handwriting of Tyler Clemens himself.

The police district comprehensively considered the on-site evidence, the medical team, the investigation team and suggestions from all parties, and finally concluded that the deceased Taylor Clemens performed self-relief due to unbearable mental stress. The cause of death was initially determined to be suicide. "

When Director Luo Wan heard this, he nodded slightly and said, "The facts of the case are already very clear. In this case, there is no need to go through so many troublesome approval procedures. Let's go directly to the final task force to vote."

After saying this, Director Luo Wan raised his hand first: "I think it is suicide."

Immediately afterwards, Deputy Minister Sir Richard Mayne also raised his hand: "Second."

After Lord Mayne, the five police superintendents also raised their hands in unison: "Suicide."

When the seventeen superintendents sitting below saw this, they raised their hands almost without hesitation: "Second."

Director Rowan finally showed a satisfied smile when he saw this. He threw Clemens' resignation letter to the table and picked up another document at hand: "Then, let's start this book. The second agenda item of this meeting.”

He paused, then frowned slightly, and then began to announce: "About the promotion of Arthur Hastings, the Greenwich Police District Superintendent of the East London Region of the London Metropolitan Police, to the London Metropolitan Police." The final decision of one of the Superintendents in Charge of the Metropolitan Police's East London Region. Inspector Hastings' ability is obvious to all, and this promotion is naturally reasonable. I think there is no room for discussion. So next, please black Superintendent Stings, come in."

He waved his hand, and the policeman standing by the door of the conference hall immediately opened the door with understanding.

Accompanied by the crisp and heavy sound of riding boots, a tall figure wearing a dark blue tuxedo, white tight breeches, holding a slender police officer's knife, and a crown emblem on his shoulder appeared in the conference hall.

Arthur stood like a straight sword. He raised his hand and saluted: "Superintendent of the East London District of the London Metropolitan Police, Arthur Hastings salutes you."

Director Luo Wan nodded slightly, threw the promotion document on the table, and leaned back on the chair.

"Arthur, don't be so polite. Sit down. A young police officer with outstanding abilities like you should be reused. But, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. From now on, except for Greenwich, Tower Hamlets is about to be handed over to you too. Do you have confidence?"

When the red devil hanging behind Arthur heard this, he couldn't help covering his mouth and snickering: "Oh! My dear Arthur, this old guy actually wants to beat you. Tower Hamlets, that's the whole The worst area in London. It seems you, the rising sun, are not always so popular in Scotland Yard!"

In response to Director Rowan's inquiry, Arthur just smiled, took off his hat and bowed.

"I don't know if I can do a good job, but I feel like I have to be at least a little better than Superintendent Clemens."

When Director Luo Wan heard this, the smile on his face became a little thicker. He nodded slightly and said, "Smart."