The Shadow of Great Britain

Field gently exhaled, as if finally untying the rope on the gallows: ”Sir, over at Tom’s side...”

”What about Tom?” Arthur slowly straightened up: ”Mr. Phillips made it very clear just now. All involved personnel, irrespective of rank, must be dealt with seriously!”

Field’s heart tightened: ”Dismissal from the team?”

Arthur glared at him: ”Do they dare!”

”Understood, Sir!” Field stood at attention and saluted: ”Head of the Crime Archives Center, Tom Flanders, due to the failure to scrutinize young radicals, led to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive affairs and constitutes a serious misjudgment. He should be demoted and transferred from his original position.”

”No.” Arthur suddenly interrupted him: ”That’s not enough.”

Field was stunned: ”Sir?”

Arthur spoke slowly: ”Demotion is the minimum penalty. If he is only demoted, what kind of accountability is that?”

Field hesitated for a moment, as Arthur neither allowed dismissal nor demotion. Could it be that he wanted Tom stripped of all ranks?

Truth be told, Field thought that might be worse than dismissal.

Arthur looked up at Field: ”My opinion is internal dismissal. Tom is an old hand at Scotland Yard, even if he made mistakes, he shouldn’t be dismissed so heartlessly.”

Field was momentarily stunned, but immediately understood Arthur’s intentions: ”Yes, Sir. Internal dismissal with retirement benefits calculated on twenty years of service, no demerit recorded, the resume kept as voluntary resignation. Sir, rest assured, I will personally handle this matter.”

Arthur nodded slightly.

Field, knowing this matter could not be delayed, turned around ready to leave, but Arthur called him back just as he turned.

”Hold on.”

”Sir?”

Arthur did not look up, he was leaning over the desk writing a letter, the quill pen scratching against the paper.

Field quietly waited by the side.

Not until Arthur finished writing, folded the letter, sealed it with wax, and stamped it did he finally look up: ”Last time Inspector John Ball from Liverpool Police came to London for a conference, I remember he mentioned that Liverpool was short of an assistant director.”

Field was first stunned, then his eyes slowly widened: ”Sir...you mean?”

Arthur tossed the recommendation letter on the desk, speaking in an indifferent tone: ”Later, find someone to take this letter to Liverpool as my ’private request.’ Remember, don’t let Tom know about this beforehand, let him stew for two months, wait for the storm to pass, and let him learn a lesson.”

”Understood, Sir.” Field stared at the recommendation letter, unable to help but sigh: ”Two months, not sooner, not later. Wait till London’s attention completely shifts, then send him away.”

Arthur did not reply, simply continued to organize the documents on the desk.

Field glanced at him, and couldn’t help but add a comment: ”If Tom knew it was you...”

Just as Field finished speaking, Arthur slammed shut the thick law and order book that could squash a rat: ”Let him get as far away as possible! Every time a situation arises, he cries and wailed like a woman. Just thinking of how he knelt and begged me to spare Allen makes me sick! If not for past ties, I would have kicked him into the Thames River long ago!”

”Yes, Sir!” Field stood at attention and saluted. After a brief silence, he finally gathered the courage to ask a question he had been holding for a long time: ”Then... Sir, about Allen’s matter... are you really going to continue with the arrest warrant?”

Arthur, upon hearing this, slowly raised his head: ”Charles...”

”Sir!”

”Who do you think I am? I am the Home Office’s Deputy Secretary!” Arthur suddenly slapped the law and order book: ”Alive, I want to see him; dead, I want to see his body! As long as he has a breath left, he will always be on Scotland Yard’s wanted list. Little bastard almost got me killed!”