The Case of Hallingham Manor

Chapter four: Internal affairs

The days rolled on. Both dismal and stormy days as the detective sat there alone in a tea room confused and deep in anguish. She everyday before Mycrofts funeral went to visit him in the morgue with tears in her eyes. Not only was Mycroft a personal friend and colleague ,he had also been a second brother to Detective Jones. The day of the funeral was most sombre and depressing. Hardly anyone attended because barely anyone
knew him. The only people who came were the detective and Mycrofts' brother. But, as the detective stood there in silence for her fallen friend, she noticed something. In the misty and foggy churchyard stood a person she had not seen before. The person wore a brown coat and a black funeral hat. Detective Jones could not decipher who it was as they had disappeared from the spot they stood before she had the chance. As she made her way to the Santler , a police officer came running up to her from out of nowhere. ' Detective...thank the lord I found you' the police officer said out of breath. ' You need to come with me'.
'Whatever for'? the detective asked
' The chief sent me , he says that the Hallingham case has something to do with one of the police officers'!
' And how does he know this might I ask'?
' He found a letter addressed to a Micheal Johnson. Never heard of him but the chief says you have'.
' And why would a very good friend of mine do something as to kidnap a little girl'?
' As I said the Chief found a letter addressed to him. Now could you please come with me back to Scotland Yard'!
' Yes yes ok hop into the Santler'. They both got into the Santler and drove through the busy streets of London toward Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard building was situated on the Victoria Embankment in the city of Westminster. A beautifully made building at that but with the most gruesome cases withheld within it. For example, the leather apron murders ( or as they were well known as the Jack the Ripper murders) that were never solved and never will be to this very day. Anyway, the Detective and the police officer got out of the Santler and made there way into Scotland Yard. The building was packed with officers and detectives all trying to solve different cases . There was a cacophony of telephones ringing and typewriters being pressed all mixed together with the talking and shouting of people either obeying the law or not. They both walked up the corridor and toward the main detective department. They opened the door to the detectives office and the chief inspector was sat in the chair opposite her desk. He had brown eyes a black shaved beard and almost grey hair. He was a rather stout man for the age of 45 but nonetheless he was a brilliant inspector.
' Ah Detective Jones I presume' the Chief Inspector said.
' Yes please to meet you Inspector' Detective Jones said as she shook him by the hand. He sat down again and Detective Jones sat at her desk and took off her black coat.
' Now then Detective let's get down to business' the Inspector said
' Yes of course Sir' the Detective replied.
' So, yesterday evening I found this letter addressed to Micheal Johnson'. He handed the letter to Detective Jones and she read it aloud:
KIDNAP HALLINGHAM GIRL
OR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY AGAIN YOU DISGUSTING NEGRO.
The Detective not only was shocked but disgusted by the way this person had described her dear friend.
' This person is a disgrace to mankind' Detective Jones said angrily. ' How dare they think they could say such a thing'!
' It is truly disgraceful' the Inspector added. The Detective got up from her chair and opened her filing cabinet. She flicked through the different police files until she came across the file for Micheal Johnson. She place the file on her desk and opened it. The chief inspector stared down at the black and white picture of the young man.
'This is Mr Johnson's whole file' the detective said. 'We need to find him...immediately. And I know where he might be'. The detective walked toward the police officer that stood in the corner.
' I'm sorry what's your name' ? the detective asked.
' Eric Fern or Officer Fern' the police officer said.
' Could you go and find  Micheal Johnson and bring him into questioning' Detective Jones asked again.
' Yes ma'am but where would I find him'?
' Either at his home at 6 drernbrough Lane or H-Division'. With that the police officer swiftly walked out of the room and left the Chief Inspector and Detective Jones alone in the Inspectors office.
' Also Detective I heard what happened to Mycroft and deepest regards for you if there is anything I can do' the Inspector sympathetically said.
' It is what it is and nothing more. In the words of Shakespeare Life's but a walking shadow. A poor player that struts and frets upon the stage and is heard no more' the detective said. And with that the Detective left the office without another word and walked down the busy corridor of Scotland Yard.
' Oh I almost forgot' the Detective said suddenly. ' Any luck on finding Mr Hallingham at all'? She asked walking back to the office.
' Nope not a dam thing he hasn't been to his family or anywhere around here since that day' said the Inspector.
' Well I know what I have to do. I need to go back to the Hallingham home and find out where he might be'. And without a single word more Detective Jones left the Inspectors office and walked down the busy corridor of Scotland Yard as the cold and rainy english day drew on and on.