Chapter 32 Chapter Thirty-One

Daisy quietly appeared at Acland's open bedroom door.He is packing his bags.Everything he owns is neatly laid out on the bed.Like everyone else, Daisy was too surprised to speak at the sight of such a small thing.A metal lunch box and a cylinder water glass, in Daisy's opinion, these are the most poignant things, they bleakly tell about the life he doesn't want to share with anyone. She shifted slightly to get his attention, "Jackson doesn't want you to go," her voice was soft so as not to spread downstairs, "but I don't think she will tell you herself."

"Did she really say that?" Ackland was folding a T-shirt. "Not saying that much ... but I'm sure I was right." He gave her a look with genuine, warm expression, "I don't think so, Daisy. Jackson is a realist. She knows I can't suddenly redefine myself as a nameless paying guest...nor can Let her always watch over my migraines, let you always watch over my food and drink." He stuffed the T-shirt into his purse, "Thank you for saying that, though." "Will you keep in touch with us?" "certainly." Daisy didn't believe it, "I know you think Jackson is a strong-willed, tough-minded person, but it's just a superficial appearance. She cares and cares about everything from the bottom of her heart. She will worry about you."

Akram pushed the T-shirt to the bottom of the purse. "She can always find me from the police. I need to report it every week. In case they need me to assist in further investigations." "I don't think you will do that either," Daisy said suddenly and firmly. "You will disappear from everyone's sight, leaving everyone in doubt as to where you went and what happened." Akram gave her a deep look. "That's Jock," he said. Ackland's bail conditions were lifted and he is free to travel again.On Monday morning, Ackland approached Jones and told Jones of his plans to leave Bell's the next day.Jones expressed the same suspicion as Daisy. "Are you going to slip away from here, Lieutenant?"

"No." "Do you mean what you say?" "It counts as before." The sheriff nodded. "But I want to make sure you really understand what's at stake here. We could have convicted something of a crime without you... but I doubt the justice of the sentence. If you don't defend yourself in court, Jane's choice Any accusations against you will not be challenged." "I'm not going to be the one to stand trial." "But your good name will, and the reputation of Jane's three victims . Acklan hesitated. "Maybe you'd do better without me," he said. "Put Quasimodo up against Uma Thurman, and the jury would prefer not to believe Quasimodo."

Jones was amused by him. "You're not in the same shape as Quasimodo, Charles, or Dracula." "Same issue - Beauty and the Beast - I'm not sure how much my reputation means to me, Sheriff, and it hasn't done me much good so far." "Let's part here, then," Jones said, "because I have a lot of respect for Lieutenant Ackland." He looked into the young man's face for a response.Seeing that Aklan was still expressionless, he shook his head, "The doctor is right. You are too keen on martyrdom, my friend... This is your least attractive feature. Your specialty is fighting. "

"I'm not allowed to do that anymore." "There's more than one way to skin a cat. Start a legal war and be the winner." "about what?" "The three dead are just the beginning. Justice doesn't come automatically, you have to fight for it." Ackland wondered if Jones realized he was using the same language that politicians used to justify war.In the end, the only satisfaction is to avenge one's own personal revenge. "Isn't it the police's job to deliver justice?" he asked flatly. "Of course," Jones agreed, "but we can't rely on us alone. You know, whatever happens, you'll be called as a witness. Once we've selected her, your contact with her will be monitored."

"Only because I gave her to you. If I had not returned to Bermondsey, you would still be in the dark." Jones smiled slightly. "We'll get there eventually. We found a guy named 'Cass' on Atkins' phone." "That's what I gave you too...and that duffel bag." "You didn't know it was Jane." It was the only secret Ackland had left, and he wanted to keep it one last time, but Jackson urged him to be fair.She once told him: "You can't wipe out all the evidence, at least give the police a chance to see Harry Peel's picture...even if you don't like Jones very much."

She is wrong about this.Ackland had great respect for the Sheriff.He recognized a power in the man the first time he met him, just as he recognized Jackson's.With a hint of sympathetic regret about losing Jones, he shook his head. "I was across the road when Ben snatched her bag," he admitted. "I always knew it was hers." The sheriff didn't show any surprise, "Did you know who Ben was at the time?" Aklan nodded, "I recognized him as the kid who instigated the girl to attack Jock. Jane didn't call out, but just got up and stood there with a face as pale as paper. This made me curious about the bag that was snatched What's in it."

"Why didn't you tell us before?" "I said it. I said it several times, and I think there's still a bag." "You know there's such a bag, Charles." "Not really sure. I couldn't see what Ben was carrying when he got to the alley. He passed out almost immediately, and it was so dark I wasn't even sure he was the kid I was looking for until I shone my flashlight on It was him when I got to his face to check his breath. I think that's when Jock buried the bag in his own luggage." Jones tapped his index fingers on both hands. "You could have told us you witnessed a robbery."

"There's nothing I can tell you, because I thought it was just a bunch of magazines that Ben snatched." He saw the exasperation on the sheriff's face, "I hope I have what I want in the bag, it's my way to the alley The only reason, I thought Jock might be able to tell me where the kid usually hangs out." "What do you want?" Akram hesitated, "These." He reached into his coat pocket and put two USB drives on the table, "It wasn't Jane who broke my laptop, it was me. That's why I spent two weeks I will go back to her place later. She downloaded some photos that I don't want anyone to see. I hope it's over. Until the day I went to Iraq, she sent me a letter containing the A USB drive." He pressed his thumb and forefinger to his temple, "She said before I destroyed the notebook; she copied the contents."

Jones looked at the two rectangular baubles. "Why do you think they're in the duffle bag?" "I didn't... it was just a possibility, as simple as that. Jane also had a memory card in her handbag when she arrived at the hospital. I took it away, and the next day I was browsing on Susan Campbell's computer. Read it again." He shook his head at Jones' inquiring expression, "They are some promotional photos." "What were you doing outside her apartment last Friday?" There was a wry smile on the corner of Aklan's mouth, "Research how to get in, if she hadn't become easily startled by the robbery, I could have gotten in easily. A taxi appeared a few seconds later, but she Didn't go up, went back inside. It made me even more curious about what was in the bag." He paused, "I had no idea that anyone else was involved. I really believe it was just me." Jones was unimpressed. "When you found Kevin Atkins' cell phone in Ben's backpack, you must have wondered." The lieutenant shook his head. "Not yet. I think Ben stole it, as well as those iPods and Blackberries. If he'd transferred the Taser to this backpack, I'd guess that." He fell silent. . Jones stared at him for a moment. "Maybe you don't want to believe there's a connection?" Ackland shook his head, but Jones couldn't tell whether it was an agreement or a denial. Out of habit, he turned the USB drive towards himself with the tip of his pen, "Were you searched when you were brought here from the Crown Bar?" "yes." "Why weren't these things on you then?" "I put them under the mattress in my bedroom. I need to see what's in there before I turn them in." "What is it?" "One is empty and the other has some pictures of someone, probably Harry Peel. I think maybe Jane copied it onto the notebook before I destroyed it, if she took pictures of Britton and Art Kings' picture, that must be on her own computer." "We haven't found out yet." Jones was playing with the USB drive idly again, "You should have trusted me, Charles. We won't publish your photos. If you destroy the evidence, these things are useless at all." silence. "Whose computer did you use to download and delete your photos? Dr. Jackson's?" Akram shook his head. "Are you trying to force me to serve her a subpoena?" "You're wasting your time. There's absolutely no way you can get anything back, neither from a USB stick nor from a hard drive. Can you believe me on that?" "Why should I trust you?" After a short silence, Acklan said, "Because I don't want you to see my pictures, sir. There's no way you'll see them. I want your respect, not pity." "You are a difficult man, Lieutenant. I will respect you no matter what." He stood up suddenly and held out his hand. "Can you promise me personally that you will testify in court?" He saw Acklan's face Hesitantly, "You told Inspector Bill that you never betray a friend. If you don't refuse to shake my hand, does that mean we're friends?" "Not necessarily." Aclan grabbed Jones' hand, "I prefer enemies. At least with them, I know where to stand." Jackson sat sprawled in a chair at the dining table, looking down at the ledger.When the Lieutenant appeared at the door with his traveling bag, she glanced at him with pleasure.He was relieved to see that she wasn't showing much sadness over his leaving. "You still owe Daisy £5 for breakfast." She patted the front page lightly, "Otherwise you will be billed." Aklan took out his wallet, "She forced me to have a full meal, for fear that I would starve to death." "It's her way of saying goodbye," Jackson said, folding the money he was handed. "And yours?" She reached out to open the money drawer, "I had to format my hard drive to completely erase your USB drive, so a £50 fine. You're lucky I'm a computer geek." She watched him organize the rest Bills, "If you think about it carefully, you can also fine you 100 pounds. I didn't sleep much all weekend because I had to reorganize my data after this." Ackland produced five twenty-pound notes and placed them on top of the wad.He thought that since he was fined last time, the money in this drawer has not been touched. "Who do you plan to give this money to?" "I'm a businessman. What makes you think I'm giving this money away as a gift?" "Intuitively," he laughed, "I realized that I also have a feminine side." "There is progress." She saw him throwing the travel bag over his shoulder, "Do you want me to see you off at the door?" Aklan shook his head, "You'll just pester me and ask if I'll keep in touch." "It's not my style," she said firmly, "It's up to you whether you get in touch...but I will never ask you this question to please you." His smile deepened, and the scars on his face were elongated, which merged with the humorous smile lines at the corners of his eyes. "According to Daisy, if you often don't hear from me, you will be worried." Jackson put the £5 note in the drawer. "You'd better believe it," she said.