Chapter 5: Tricky Case

The Magistrates' Court was set up not far from Scotland Yard, so it didn't take long for Arthur and the others to arrive on foot.

However, at this time, Tony had already lost his will to work, consumed with worry about his future.

But he was not the most anxious person there.

A police officer with a tense expression paced slowly in front of the court, his eyebrows knitted tightly. Even from a distance, Arthur could clearly see the beads of sweat forming at his temples.

Arthur raised his hand in greeting, "Tom, are you responsible for escorting the suspect today?"

Officer Tom, seeing Arthur's familiar face, almost burst into grateful tears.

"Arthur, you have to help me!"

Arthur turned his head to glance at the dispirited Tony behind him, then turned back to Tom and asked, "What's up? Is your kid also going to college?"

"Going to college? No, my wife has just gotten pregnant, and whether she can deliver safely is still uncertain."

"Are you facing any difficulties?"

"Not at the moment. But she's miscarried twice before, and this time, you really have to save me."

Arthur shrugged and spread his hands.

"Tom, you must be flustered. I'm just a policeman like you, I deal with crimes, not childbirth. If you want to help your wife deliver successfully, you should be feeding her nutritious food and finding a skilled midwife. Neither of which is within my scope of work."

Tom's palms were sweaty with urgency as he said, "I've already contacted a midwife, and even though I'm not wealthy, I've been trying to set aside part of my modest salary every day to buy her meat.

Even though everything seems to be going smoothly, my wife had a dream about God last night.

God said that the reason she miscarried was that I, her husband, have too many sins on my hands, and I must seek redemption, or else this time, the child will also die in the womb."

"Redemption? Isn't that a job for a priest? St. Margaret's Church is just behind me, you should go straight and then turn left."

Tom covered his face and spoke incoherently, "This time, this time, I'm afraid a priest won't do."

"Won't do?"

Arthur stroked his chin in thought, "How about buying a boat ticket to the Ottoman Empire to consult an Imam? Or head East, to seek advice from a high-ranking bald monk? Even if God doesn't respect the priest, at the very least he should consider the feelings of Allah and Buddha, right? If none of them work, I know a red-nosed clown who knows witchcraft, he might be able to help you out."

Agares's apparition flickered, "Arthur, I am definitely not a clown!"

Tears shimmered in Tom's eyes, he was on the verge of a breakdown.

"Oh! Arthur, at a time like this, please stop making fun of me. God must have had a reason for appearing in my wife's dream at this time. I've been turning it over in my mind all morning, and no matter how much I think, I feel it must be Adam's case that God was referring to."

"Adam's case?"

Upon hearing this name, Arthur's thoughts also grew heavy.

Adam's reputation was well-known to the patrolling police officers of the area.

Although just a nine-year-old boy, Adam's criminal record couldn't be covered by a single sheet of paper.

As an experienced petty thief, Adam's ventures ranged from breaking into houses and stealing handkerchiefs to snatching fruits and toys.

But because the amounts involved were small, his sentences were never too long.

As a result, he could be seen back on the streets of St. Giles Parish every once in a while, but it wouldn't be long before he was sent back to prison.

Arthur took the case file from Tony's hands and quickly found the relevant information about Adam.

While he flipped through the relevant documents, he muttered, "I've talked to that kid before, trying to get him to rein it in a bit. But it was only after I learned about his family situation that I realized it was impossible."

Tony asked, "Why impossible? Isn't he afraid of going to jail or being whipped?"

Arthur closed the folder and stared straight at Tony, "Adam told me, he finds jail more comfortable than his own home.

Because he can have a hot bath when he goes in, and get some clean clothes and socks.

Even though he might get bullied by other prisoners sometimes, the guards and some conscientious inmates will step in.

Whereas, if he's outside and fails to bring home money, his scumbag parents beat him much worse than any prisoner would in jail."

"Tony, we're just policemen; we can solve some of the public order issues, but Adam's criminal behavior is a societal problem, and we are helpless against it."

Then, Arthur turned to Tom, who was praying in repentance, and said, "If you feel guilty because of little Adam, you really shouldn't. For him, you putting him in prison is actually a charitable act. God would not blame you for it. If you could arrange for him a better cell, God might even reward your kindness."

"But... but this time it's different, Arthur!"

Tom wept, "This time he's stirred up big trouble, it's not something that can be settled by just putting him in jail. Worse, he was caught by Chief Wilcox this time, who made a point of telling me this morning that we must nail this case.

Because the Home Office just issued a new document the day before yesterday, stating that low prosecution success rates would damage the social image of the London Metropolitan Police, so we're supposed to aim for a hundred percent prosecution success rate.

You know the kind of person Wilcox is, that old bastard, if we screw up and tarnish his glorious record, we could all be out of a job.

My wife is about to give birth, I can't lose this job. But I also can't stand by and watch little Adam get sent to his death!"

"Sent to death? What crime has he committed this time? Murder or arson?"

"Neither," Tom said, shaking, "He just stole a lady's umbrella."

Tony, upon hearing this, breathed a sigh of relief, "Tom, could you not be so overly dramatic? How much could an umbrella be worth? The Magistrates' Court will most likely sentence him to a year in jail, just find him a decent place to stay, it's not a big deal."

Tom shook violently, "No, Tony, it was a very delicate sun umbrella with lace trimming, worth seven shillings and sixpence."

"Seven shillings and sixpence?"

Tony exclaimed, "Damn! Anything over five shillings and it's the gallows for him! Even if the Magistrates' Court and the Jury were lenient, he'd still be transported to Australia for seven or eight years. A nine-year-old kid, transported to Australia? He'd probably die on the ship before he even got there."

Tom gasped for air in great gulps, "If... if it really comes to it... I'll... I'll just have it out with that old bastard Chief Wilcox! If it's God's will, I... I should be okay."

As Tom clenched his fists, ready to do whatever it took, Arthur placed a hand on his shoulder.

It was a smile warm with sunshine.

Behind that smile of Arthur's, Agares also wore a satisfied smile.

"Oh! Arthur, I can almost see your wicked thoughts already."

Arthur said, "Tom, leave this matter to me, you can go back on patrol. I promise you, little Adam will be alright."

Tom's face lit up with surprise, "You've thought of a perfect solution? Oh! My God! I knew it! After all, the smartest head in all of Scotland Yard is standing right here!"

He clenched his fist and waved it vigorously towards the sky, "Arthur! Go show them, your four years at University weren't for nothing! Oxford and Cambridge can't hold a candle to the worth of one leg of the University of London!"

As he watched the excited Tom, Arthur calmly took off the blue and white armband from his left arm and handed it to Tom.

His deep voice was like the devil's musing.

"And while you're at it, send my regards to Chief Wilcox. Tell that uncultured bastard that London Metropolitan Police's Greenwich District Patrol Officer, Arthur Hastings, he's damn well not going to do it anymore."