The Shadow of Great Britain

306: Chapter 197: Chameleon and Lizard (4K4) 306: Chapter 197: Chameleon and Lizard (4K4) Knock knock knock.

“Come in.”

Arthur pushed open the door of the Chief’s office.

Despite the decent sunlight today, even the abundant sunshine couldn’t hide the shadow on Rowan’s face.

Rowan leaned back in his office chair, incessantly smoking.

He looked at Arthur as he entered, remained silent for a long time, and then nodded at him, “Take a seat, Inspector Hastings.”

As soon as Arthur settled into his seat, he heard Rowan’s deep inhalation fill the almost stagnant air.

He took off his pipe and knocked it against the lacquered wood ashtray on the desk, resting his arms in front of him, his body leaning forward slightly.

On his face, there was neither the expected mockery nor a trace of joy at an enemy’s misfortune.

The first thing that Rowan blurted out left Arthur somewhat puzzled, “Kid, why would you do something like this?

The higher-ups are valuing you right now, and you suddenly stir up this kind of trouble.

Although I have to take leadership responsibility as the administrative director of Scotland Yard, as the executor, you will be affected too.

I know there is some unpleasantness between us, but you don’t have to do this over such a trivial temper, do you?

Arresting a member of Parliament during the session, what were you thinking?”

Frowning at these words, Arthur stared at Rowan for a long time, seemingly lost in thought.

Seeing him like this, Rowan became even angrier, but considering his subordinate practically at par with him in leading the London Police Intelligence Bureau, Rowan had to suppress his anger and ask more gently.

“Arthur, you’re a smart man, so I’m not going to beat around the bush with you.

It’s no fun playing these games all the time.

I just want to tell you that you should think things through when you do something.

You just turned twenty-one not long ago, and I’m almost fifty this year.

My mindset is that it would be best to move up a step further, but if that’s not possible, then I’m ready to quietly step down from my position at the Greater London Police Department.

Your life’s goal isn’t here at all.

There’s no need to fuss over the position I’m sitting in.

Look at you, not only do you have jurisdiction over the London Police Intelligence Bureau, but you are also named in the Prosecutor’s Office being established in the London area.

In the future, whether you go through the Lord Chancellor’s office or the Home Office, you have great prospects.

Do you really think the title of Chief of the Greater London Police Department is more precious compared to those two departments I just mentioned?”

As soon as Rowan finished speaking, Arthur, who had been silent, suddenly took off his hat and threw it onto the desk.

He smoothed his hair and said, “Chief, I originally intended to ask you the same thing.

This case is disadvantageous for both of us, and I couldn’t understand why you would hand such a case over to the Criminal Investigation Department.

If what you just said was truly heartfelt, then I can only conclude that you didn’t do it intentionally but merely out of negligence.

If you really think I’m smart, then you should understand that a smart person wouldn’t do something that hurts others without benefiting themselves.”

Taken aback by this, Rowan initially blinked, but then it seemed he also caught on.

The gloom on his face gradually dissipated, replaced by twitching lips and a mysterious anger: “Damn it, they better tell me that this was truly just negligence.”

Rowan slammed the desk and yelled toward the door, “I need someone lively, get me the case file immediately, I want to see which bastard messed with this case!”

Rowan’s bellow startled the duty officer outside.

Before long, the case file was presented to Rowan.

He flipped through the file, and soon his neck veins bulged with rage.

But this didn’t really blame Rowan for his explosive temper, as everything about this case seemed peculiar inside and out.

From a normal perspective, Bernie Harrison, being a member of the House of Commons, a successful doctor with an excellent education, should have been well aware of his rights.

Yet, he had remained silent during the arrest, compliantly handcuffed to Scotland Yard for interrogation.

Even if this could be explained by Mr.

Harrison’s timid nature, how could he have committed a grave offense like murder?

Regarding this murder, the circumstances are even more peculiar.

Not long ago, Mrs.

Harrison had filed a report claiming their employed maid had disappeared without a reason, and a few days later, the maid’s body was discovered by a ferryman on the banks of the Thames River.

After the autopsy, the medical examiner declared that the cause of death was drowning.

Originally, the case was also set to close officially as an accident, but yesterday, the medical examiner suddenly recanted, overturning his previous statements, claiming that he had testified thus due to personal threats.

For this reason, the medical examiner specifically requested personal protection from Scotland Yard as a condition of his confession.

It was because of this series of peculiar developments that the local police district, citing the complexity of the case, requested the assistance of the Criminal Investigation Department, with its professional personnel and resources, to lead the second autopsy.

Armed with a series of leading pieces of information provided, including but not limited to Mr.

Bernie Harrison’s involvement with chemical formulations, the suspected long-term improper relationship between the victim and her employer Mr.

Harrison, and the medical examiner’s claim of being bribed and threatened by people closely connected to Mr.

Harrison, the local police naturally identified Bernie Harrison as the prime suspect and submitted a search and arrest warrant to the Magistrates’ Court.