The Shadow of Great Britain

73: Chapter 34: Storm in the City 73: Chapter 34: Storm in the City London’s rain poured throughout the night, and Arthur was busy almost all night in the police station.

The station’s doors were frequently pushed open, and although everyone entering and exiting was dressed in the same uniform, those in the know could distinguish their different police districts by the identification numbers on their epaulets and collars.

From XH of Islington in the westernmost part of Greater London to KD of Havering in the east, from YE of Enfield in the north, down to ZD and PY of Croydon and Bromley in the south.

Almost overnight, the Greenwich police station had seemingly become the center of Scotland Yard.

“Sir, we have almost finished checking all the hospitals in the Greater London area, and the results… seem rather pessimistic,”

“The hospitals contain unexplainably sourced cadavers, exceeding our initial estimates…”

“Several superintendents are currently rushing interrogations with the interrogation department.

From the information we hold at the moment, most of the bodies do not relate to the missing persons cases.”

“The superintendents preliminarily believe that most of these bodies were likely stolen from graveyards by professional grave robbers.”

“As we understand, these grave robbers likely have multiple stable contact channels.

They receive advance information about burials, then wait early near the graveyards.

Once the deceased’s family leaves, they immediately pry open the graves and steal the bodies to sell to hospitals.”

“Several superintendents are asking whether to temporarily set aside the grave robbers’ cases, because the quantity we’ve arrested is indeed a bit large.

Interrogating them one by one might delay the progress of the murder investigations…”

When Arthur heard this, he spoke up, “Set aside?

How can we set aside?

The line between grave robbers and body snatchers is exceedingly blurred.

Who knows whether their bodies were stolen or procured through murder?

Just ten years before, there were only eight anatomy schools in England, but now, that number has doubled.

Even right after the Napoleonic Wars, when the Bloody Code was most strictly enforced, the demand for legally obtained cadavers far exceeded the supply.

There’s no reason that now, with increased demand and fewer legal sources of bodies, these people would be merely engaged in ordinary grave-robbing.

You go back and pass the message that we will isolate and interrogate this group separately.

Tell those digging up bodies and the anatomy doctors, just because they keep their mouths shut and do not disclose evidence doesn’t mean they won’t face trouble.

If they can provide useful information, then the Home Office and Scotland Yard might consider leniency from a legal perspective, sparing their lives.

If they do not disclose anything, we might also set them free.

But they better not forget how the British public views grave-robbing and dissection, not to mention the involvement in murder cases!

In 1795, during a body-snatching case in Lambeth, the public, incensed upon discovering empty coffins in the cemetery, nearly killed the grave robbers on the spot.

It was only the authorities’ intervention that saved them.

In 1801, Londoners burned the houses of these individuals, and only governmental intervention prevented a large-scale violent incident.

Not just in England, but in the Scotland policing area, the military police have had to intervene at least four times in the past decade to prevent angry public onslaughts against Glasgow University.

The reasons are well known to those doctors.

If not for our intervention, they likely would have been burned at the stake by now by the public!

Everyone in Britain, including clergy and archbishops in various parishes, has been uncomfortable with them for a long time!

Tell them that if Scotland Yard can pull out the culprits of the missing murder cases this time, then according to the ‘Grave Robbing and Body Snatching Act’ passed in 1828, the doctors will get ‘illegal possession of a body’, and the grave robbers will receive ‘grave robbing and body theft’ charges.

These charges only require a fine to be released.

However, if they do not clarify the source of the bodies and the channels through which they obtained them,

then, although Scotland Yard cannot legally punish them,

I guarantee that those uncooperative will appear on the front pages of various major and minor newspapers.

Then, if righteous Londoners run to burn their houses, beat them up, or desecrate their ancestral graves, they should not blame Scotland Yard for failing to protect their life and property safety!”

The young officer standing before Arthur, hearing these words, wiped the sweat from his brow: “But…sir…are we allowed to speak like this?

Aren’t we supposed to protect their dignity and honor?”

Seated next to him, Tony, whose face darkened, sized up the young officer and asked, “Kid, are you new here?”

The young officer stood at attention, saluting nervously: “Sir!

Just started a month ago.”

Tony asked, “Have you seen the newly revised regulations issued by Scotland Yard?”

The young officer nodded: “Yes, I have.”

Tony continued, “Then tell me, what is the third principle of the Arthur Hastings Principles in the revised regulations?”

The young officer thought for a moment, then recited loudly: “Arthur Hastings Principle number three, if the law-abiding public cooperates voluntarily with the police, the police must ensure and maintain the public’s honor and dignity!”

“What is Arthur Hastings Principle number four?”

“Principle number four, the degree to which the police receive public cooperation inversely correlates with the amount of force and coercion necessary to achieve police objectives!”

“Did these people abide by the law?”

“Sir!

They did not!”

“Did they cooperate with the investigation?”

“Sir!

They did not!”

Tony stood up, slamming the table and bellowed, “Then what dignity and honor are you still protecting?

Crime is crime; the fact that we haven’t used physical force against them is already showing them mercy!”

The young officer was dripping with sweat: “Yes, sir!”

Arthur, seeing him like this, raised his hand: “Tony, that’s enough.

Don’t take your temper out on others; it’s not his fault.”

Tony also realized his own outburst, rubbing his face.

Not only had Arthur been busy all night, but so had he.

He patted the young officer’s shoulder, apologizing: “I’m sorry…

actually, maybe you’re right.

When I first started, I thought the same as you, but after working here for a long time, I’ve found that sometimes the right methods don’t work, and the effective methods might not be right.

Ugh…

what am I even saying…

I’m not a lawmaker, nor am I a judge; I…

I’m just a policeman.”

Tom, hearing this, also felt a bit sad, comforting Tony: “Don’t worry, Tony.

With Arthur here, the case will definitely turn out well.

You and Arthur have been up all night; why don’t you go inside and lie down for a while?

I’ll keep watch here, and if anything happens, I’ll call you.”

Tony nodded somberly: “Perhaps…

perhaps I should sleep for a while.

The world in my dreams might make me feel a bit better.”

Arthur watched his retreating figure, but did not follow Tony.

Instead, he turned to the young officer and spoke.

“Are you heading back to Scotland Yard?

I have a meeting soon; I might as well take you with me, as the fare for one person on the public coach is the same as for two.”

Tom, surprised, said: “Arthur, aren’t you going to sleep?”

Arthur shook his head: “I can’t sleep.”

After saying this, he pulled the young officer, who was standing dazed before him, outside.

Arthur found a secluded spot, lit his pipe, and took a deep puff.

Amidst the thick smoke, he asked: “What’s your name?”

The young officer, standing before this legendary figure from Scotland Yard, stood at attention and saluted.

“Sir!

My name is Charles Field!”