20150918

Constabulary Consequences

Inspector Warren!! Young Constable Crane moves swiftly towards the Inspector, out of breath and cheeks flushed. Oh, sir, I'm glad I found you. Gasping for air and hands clasped at his rib-cage. I ran...all the...way here to fetch...you, sir. Warren looks back at Jack in alarm. Jack moves to the cell door for a better view. Crane, having caught his breath and eager to convey his important message, steps closer to Warren and in a hushed tone says, Ah, sir, what I have to tell you is confidential. He glances to Jack and back to Warren, it has to do with the prisoner. Eyes narrowed and lips pursed, Warren  motions for them to leave. 
Outside the cell block, Crane explains the Superintendent wants to see him immediately. Why didn't you just call me? Well, I did sir, but there was some confusion and well, I just decided to come here. Why didn't you take a cab? Ah, yes. Well, sir, I didn't have any money, sir and all the police buggy's were engaged. For future reference, Constable, the station can pay for cab fare when you're on official orders from Sugden. Now, please tell me what this is all about. Ah, shouldn't we be getting back to the Yard sir? The Superintendent was rather 'anxious' to speak with you in person. Yes, I am sure he would, but I have urgent matters to attend to first. Now, tell me what you know! Warren's voice raises higher and is dangerously close to loosing all patience with this young, green, officer.
Fearing further consequences, the young Constable explains the sudden turn of events. The London Hospital called, looking for you, and since you were out they asked to speak to your superior; I passed the call onto Superintendent Sugden and they informed him Mr. Ó Seachnasaigh had become deathly ill and they could not find a cause for it. They fear he will not live much longer and if we want his side of the story, we had better do it soon.
I am not going to ask how you got all those details. Warren gives Crane a disapproving look, but secretly is happy to know this without having to see Sugden. As it happens, that is where I was heading when you showed up Constable. That's not all sir. Crane, bursting to tell all he knows, continues. The hospital tried to contact the next of kin, but are having a hard time tracking down the brother-n-law, Mr. Namron. I told the Superintendent you got a package from this man and maybe you know him or where he can be found in Whitechapel; I remembered that was on the address. The Superintendent got really angry when he heard about the package.
Warren's head had a sledge hammer beating inside it and a chorus chanting, die, die, die! Bloody hell! Sir?! This has turned into one fucking mess. Sir. Warren balls his fists and clenches; the urge to pummel this fellow officer sours his mouth. Constable Crane, sensing that he may have been too enthusiastic in his effort to assist the detective, waits for a tongue lashing or worse.
Letting out a deep breath, Warren doesn't have time to teach Crane a lesson. OK, here is what we're going to do. Warren decides to put this over eager Constable to work, so he can get on with this investigation. Take this notebook and type up the statement I just took from the prisoner; make sure you check it thoroughly and it needs to be in triplicate. Call Superintendent Sugden and tell him you just missed me, but were told I was going to The London Hospital to get Mr. Ó Seachnasaigh's statement, having successfully gotten one from Jackson. Stay here until I return and speak to no one else. Do you understand? Yes, sir, but won't the Superintendent want me to go to the hospital to fetch you? No, because you'll have called there and left me a message. Oh, right! Yes, I'll call. Get started Crane; I want that typed statement ready on my return. Certainly sir! The Constable beams and starts on his tasks. I'll prove how good I am; the signed document will be waiting on the Inspector's desk!

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