London, Westminster.

The sun rises over Trafalgar Square.

4 Whitehall Street, in the interrogation room of the Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Greater London.

Mr. Disraeli looked up at the light coming through the bars of bars, and he leaned back in his chair with a tired face.

"Mr. Officer, you've been interrogated all night, why isn't it over yet? How many times have I said it, I was giving a campaign speech at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park yesterday afternoon, but I was already gone in the evening, and I really didn't see anyone hanging in the maple grove in the back! ”

Sitting across from Disraeli was none other than Charles Field, who was also mentally depressed, dozing off with one hand on the side of his face, and his eyes half-open.

He said in a daze, "Mr. Disraeli, we believe in your personal honor. It is true that there is no social connection between you and the deceased, so we are sure that you are innocent, but you are forced to be invited for questioning.

You're out of luck because yesterday was Wednesday and there were very few people speaking in Hyde Park. You were the only speaker there yesterday afternoon. If it had been a Sunday afternoon, we would have found more witnesses, but for now, sorry, we can only find you.

Think about it, did you find any details in your speech yesterday afternoon? ”

Disraeli was so angry by Officer Field's words that he scolded, "Didn't I tell you everything? I didn't find anything, and besides, why was I the only witness? I tell you, when I left Hyde Park yesterday, I found a moving gentleman and his three servants, and the gentleman who lived at 36 Lancaster Gate had disappeared at all, and he had the time to commit the crime, and you had to suspect him if you wanted to! What did you bring me for? ”

When Officer Field heard this, he just pouted and shook his head: "Mr. Disraeli, in this kind of matter, I advise you to be cautious in your words and deeds. Besides, we didn't look for him, he should be on his way to the Metropolitan Police Department at this time. ”

"You found him?" When Disraeli heard this, his sluggish spirit lifted up a lot: "When he arrives in a while, can I see him?" ”

Hearing this, Field lifted the teapot on the table and poured himself half a cup: "You want to meet him?" No, no. ”

Disraeli frowned and asked, "What?" Are you worried that I will collude with him? ”

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

"So what are you worried about?"

Field took a sip of tea, which he savored for a long time, then frowned and spat out a faded tea leaf: "I'm afraid I don't have the authority to command him. At most, I can only help you communicate your request to meet him, and whether or not this request will be carried out depends on how he feels today. ”

Disraeli pondered the sentence for a moment, but still didn't understand the reason for Field's inexplicable words.

He leaned over and asked, "Do you know how he's feeling today?" ”

Field thought about the scene when Arthur spoke to him last night, put down the teacup in his hand and said, "I can't figure it out either, it may be happy, or it may be calm." Of course, if I were him, I would be furious at being called up in the middle of the night to examine the body.

But what about that honorable gentleman...... He is one of the few good-natured people in Scotland Yard, and perhaps he will be honoured to have done his part for the public. ”

Disraeli was confused by Field's words, he scratched his head, and banged the table with his knuckles unhappily: "Forget it, then let me ask the last sentence, when are you going to let me go." If you don't let me out before noon today, I'm going to write to the magistrate's court asking them to issue a writ of habeas corpus against me!" Although I don't practice law anymore, I can tell you that I studied law! ”

Field nodded: "Don't worry, this morning there will be a regular London area high-level police meeting of the Greater London Metropolitan Police, 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 to look, frightened, and hurriedly stood up and saluted: "Inspector Hastings!" ”

When the old policeman who opened the door heard this, he couldn't help but make a serious face, and he opened his mouth to correct: "Field, after a night's work, is your head not very clear?" Don't you even recognize the rank of the Metropolitan Police now? ”

Arthur, who was standing behind the old policeman, stretched out his white-gloved hand and put it on his shoulder, and said with a smile: "Forget it, Cleverley, young man, you still need to learn." Besides, he had been busy all night, and it was reasonable to be a little dizzy. ”

When Field heard this, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and when his attention was focused again, he noticed the anomaly on Arthur's epaulettes.

Three glittering Bath stars were lost there, replaced by a crown emblem embellished with jeweled stars.

"Black ...... Superintendent Hastings, early ...... Good morning! Field's pupils shook violently, and he stood up and saluted again in a panic.

Arthur brushed his wrinkled white gloves, then smiled and saluted him.

"Good morning, Sergeant Field. By the way, I almost forgot to ask you if you would be interested in transferring to my police district, and I am very pleased with your intelligence, so I am going to send you a transfer invitation.

Don't worry about your boss, I had a brief chat with Clemens when I examined his body last night, and although he regretted losing you, he decided to cut his love and readily agreed. ”

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

Field stood up straight and saluted at the top of his voice, "It's my honor to join you!" ”

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

He looked at Disraeli's look of surprise, smiled and said, "Sir, it's a pleasure to see you again." Thank you so much for helping me with my luggage yesterday. ”

With one hand on the table and the other on the back of his chair, Disraeli rolled his eyes and said, "Damn! It turned out that the policeman yesterday was you, and I thought he was really here to investigate me for breaking public order and climbing over the railings and walls of Hyde Park. ”

The old policeman who was following Arthur couldn't help frowning when he heard this: "What? Disrupting public order? Climbing over the Hyde Park wall? Is there a hidden case here? ”

When Field heard this, he couldn't help but stare in shock, and he stood behind the old policeman and lip-a-mouthed at Disraeli.

Disraeli read from his lips what he was trying to convey – to be cautious in what he said and what he did.

He looked around with a sneer, then rubbed his palms with sweat on his cheeks, and said, "Look, I must be dizzy." Nothing, Mr. Hastings, I believe we will be good neighbors in the future. Truth be told, we live very close to each other, you live at 36 Lancaster Gate, do you know where I live? I live 27. ”

Arthur nodded slightly, and then commanded Field behind him, "Mr. Disraeli must be tired from being interrogated all night. Now that all the facts of the case have been clarified, there is no need to keep him here, let him go home and sleep well. After all, he had to continue to present his vision to the public at Hyde Park this afternoon. ”

When Disraeli heard this, he wiped the sweat from his head as if he had been pardoned, picked up the coat that was on the back of the chair, got up and raised two fingers at Arthur and smiled.

"That's it for today. Mr. Hastings, next time I'll treat you to a meal. ”

Arthur smiled and shook his head, "You're so kind, Mr. Disraeli. Truth be told, I recently hired a French cook at home, and next time you come to my house, you can try his handiwork. ”

……

In the conference hall of the Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Greater London.

Director Rowan held a brand-new letter of resignation in his hand, one of the pieces of evidence taken from Clemens' body.

Director Rowan glanced at the contents of the letter, and there was silence in the conference hall, and even the breathing of the seventeen superintendents and five police superintendents present could be clearly heard.

Rowan read the letter of resignation, pressed it on the table and pushed it in front of Sir Richard Mayne, who was sitting beside him.

After reading the letter, Sir Mayne raised his hand slightly at Director Rowan, and after receiving a nod from Director Rowan, he spoke aloud.

"So, the 17th Metropolitan Police Agency Senior Policing Conference of the Year begins. I'm sure you've heard about the case that happened last night, so I won't go into too much detail here. Regarding the cause of Taylor Clemens's death, after Scotland Yard received the report last night, it immediately set up a special investigation team to find out.

After a night of detailed investigation, a breakthrough has been made. Next, Superintendent Henry Robinson, Superintendent of the Bayswater District, gives us a detailed presentation. ”

At this point, Superintendent Henry Robinson stood up and saluted, and then he took the lecture in front of him and read it from his script.

"After receiving the case, the police district immediately dispatched 12 police officers to the scene of the crime to cordon off and isolate in accordance with the newly promulgated "London Metropolitan Police Force Case Investigation Regulations", and to conduct investigation and search along the road near the crime scene.

In the course of the investigation, we enlisted the assistance of Inspector Arthur Hastings, who lives nearby. In view of Inspector Hastings' outstanding performance in the Greenwich Central Street Hotel murder case, Bayswater Police District has temporarily decided that Hastings Police Inspector will lead the post-mortem process.

According to the medical team of Inspector Hastings and St. Mary's Hospital, the deceased Tyler Clemens had obvious strangulation marks and hanging marks on his neck, his face was pale and blue, and his appearance was slightly hideous, and the cause of death should be suffocation. No other suspicions were found at the scene of the crime, and a letter of repentance was left at the body of the deceased detailing the reasons for the suicide and the resignation.

The handwriting of the confession letter was checked by the Metropolitan Police Department colleagues and confirmed that it was written by Taylor Clemens himself.

After considering the evidence on the ground, the medical team, the investigation team and the recommendations of various parties, the District finally concluded that the deceased Taylor Clemens had performed an act of self-relief due to mental pressure, and the cause of death was preliminarily determined to be suicide. ”

Hearing this, Director Luo Wan nodded slightly, and he spoke: "The facts of the case are already very clear, since this is the case, there is no need to go through so many troublesome verification procedures, let's go directly to the final task force to vote." ”

After speaking, Director Rowan took the lead in raising his hand: "I think it's suicide." ”

Immediately afterwards, the Deputy Director, Sir Richard Mayne, also raised his hand: "Seconded." ”

And after Sir Mayne, the five police commissioners also raised their hands in unison: "Suicide." ”

Seeing this, the seventeen superintendents sitting at the bottom raised their hands almost without hesitation: "Second." ”

Seeing this, Director Rowan finally showed a satisfied smile, he threw Clemens's resignation letter to the table, and picked up another document at hand: "Then, let's move on to the second item of this meeting." ”

He paused for a moment, then frowned slightly, and then began to announce: "The final decision on the promotion of Superintendent Arthur Hastings of the East London Metropolitan Police Force Greenwich Police District to one of the Superintendents of the East London Region of the London Metropolitan Police Force. Inspector Hastings' ability is obvious to all, and this promotion is naturally reasonable, and I don't think there is much room for discussion. Now, Superintendent Hastings is invited to come in. ”

With a slight wave of his hand, the policeman standing by the door of the conference hall immediately opened the door in understanding.

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

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

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

"Arthur, don't be so polite, sit down. A young police officer like you, who is so capable, deserves to be put to good use. However, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. From now on, in addition to Greenwich, Taur Hamletz will also be handed over to you. Do you have faith? ”

When the Red Devil behind Arthur heard this, he couldn't help but cover his mouth and snickered: "Oh! My dear Arthur, this old thing is trying to beat you. Taur Hamlets, the worst area in all of London. It seems that your rising sun is not always so popular in Scotland Yard! ”

Arthur only smiled at Director Rowan's inquiry, and he took off his hat and bowed.

"I don't know if I can do it well, but I feel like I have to do at least a little better than Superintendent Clemmens."

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

(End of chapter)