Detective Bennet [Comprehensive novel]

A missing fiancée, a missing fiancé.

The two parties did not know each other, and disappeared on the day when the wedding church appointment was finalized.

In addition, the two couples will not hold their wedding in the same church, nor will they hold their wedding reception at the same location.

"Similar disappearances happen every month in London."

Watson did not make detailed statistics, but he received similar commissions almost every now and then in Baker Street.

London is too crowded and messy.Not only are people escaping from marriage every month, but the frequency can be shortened to at least one week, which makes people have to doubt the stability of marriage in this era.

Watson couldn't be sure whether Sherlock would take up the two disappearance cases. According to the usual practice, this is not necessarily a case that Holmes is interested in.

"Invite the two clients to come first."

As Sherlock spoke, he flipped through other entrustment letters, but did not find any interesting cases that were clear at a glance.He looked at Kelsey, "Mr. Bennet, what do you think? How about restarting your new life of solving crimes in London with a love story case?"

Kelsey couldn't deny it, "I will decide after knowing the specific situation. Who knows what kind of love story it is, but don't forget that bloody love story is also a category of love story."

Watson: My God!Don't listen to what they say!Be sure to take pity on your believers, and don't show corpses this time!

At one o'clock in the afternoon, the footman conveyed to the two clients respectively that the detectives wanted to invite someone to interview the case.

Evening, six o'clock.

The first client arrived late.

Aggie Ages, the lady's fiancé Q. Heller disappeared at noon the day before yesterday.

"Sorry, I just got off work and I'm late."

Ai Ji walked into the living room on the second floor carrying a half-worn leather bag, glanced at the three of them hastily, then lowered her head.

Ai Ji lifted her skirt and sat down, but out of etiquette, she had to look up at the three people seated opposite her.

She only looked at Kelsey on the left for a second, and subconsciously pinched the hem of the skirt with her hands flat on her legs.The kind of nobleness and elegance exuded just by sitting made Ai Ji involuntarily restrained.

Ai Ji quickly looked away, and did not dare to look at Sherlock on the far right, but finally set her sights on Watson in the middle.

Ai Ji relaxed her fingers gripping the skirt slightly, "I, my fiancé Heller, disappeared at noon the day before yesterday. It is impossible for Heller to leave without saying goodbye. Detectives, can you help me find him."

Sherlock observed the client in front of him.

About 25 years old, ordinary appearance.The hair is a bit messy and simply tied up.

Wears a pair of clip-rim glasses with slightly worn frames and thick lenses.

The overall sitting posture habitually reveals a slight hunchback, and the brown gloves, especially the fingertips, have black ink on them.

"Miss Aegis, you work as a typist."

Sherlock made a judgment in a certain tone. Before that, Ai Ji only left a post office address, "Please tell me about the situation of you and your fiancé first. How did you know each other's families, and why are you sure that he is Disappeared for no reason?"

"Oh! How did you know I was a typist?"

Ai Ji looked at Sherlock in amazement, but failed to look directly into his sharp eyes, and lowered them again.

"Yes, family. Yes, I'm the only child in the family. Heller's parents are both dead, and he lives alone. It's coffee beans, from Africa."

Ai Ji's statement was a little stumbling.

Even though she is not a young woman who stays at home, going out to work has not made her calm and courageous.

After that, it was Watson who took the question.

I learned that Ai Ji's mother died of illness seven years ago, and her 40-year-old father married a new wife five years ago, and her stepmother was five years older than Ai Ji.

The family of three lived in a working London neighborhood.

Aggie's father is also a clerk, and her stepmother does not work and takes care of all the affairs of the family.

Fiance Heller, 35, six years old.

He works in an Anglo-French joint venture company, and every month he goes to Africa to purchase coffee beans, and he only stays in London five or six days a month.

"Allow me to interrupt."

Kelsey asked, "Do you live in a rented place? With your and your father's salary, it seems that it is not enough to afford a two-story house."

Ai Ji shook her head quickly, "It's not rented, it's my uncle's inheritance, and my mother inherited the house. Is there any problem?"

"This year, the law on women's inheritance rights has changed."

Kelsey asked about the ownership of the real estate, "Miss Aggis, who owns this house now? Your uncle's inheritance is only one house? Or is it from other annuities? Is there a designated heir?"

Ai Ji didn't know how the problem was related to the inheritance from her fiancé. "The inheritance is designated to my mother and me. In addition to the house, there is still [-] pounds, but it needs to be paid annually, [-] pounds a year."

It's not such a complicated calculation problem.

Aggie has already received an inheritance annuity of nearly [-] pounds, and it will take another seven or eight years to finish it.

The money was not used on Ai Ji, as can be seen from her attire.

Sherlock asked Aggie, "So, the money is yours now. You and your fiancé are going to get married, so have you discussed the wages and other issues? Do you know his salary situation?"

"Ah?" Ai Ji stirred the coffee spoon helplessly, "Does this need to be discussed? After marriage, do we need to separate it so clearly? Anyway, they are all used together."

Dazed and generous are two different things, and Aggie apparently confuses them.

Sherlock could only ask a more specific question, "You mentioned that you have known Mr. Heller for nine months. During this period, have you provided him with financial assistance?"

The question is clear enough.

He almost asked directly if Ai Ji had been cheated out of a sum of money, and Heller took the money and ran away.

Ai Ji reacted belatedly, and raised her voice sullenly, "No, Heller has never borrowed money from me! He is so upright and kind, he is not a rich man who looks like a handsome gentleman but is indifferent."

As soon as the words came out of her mouth, Ai Ji regretted her impulsive words.

His face was terrified, especially he didn't dare to glance in Kelsey's direction, and lowered his eyes again.

Kelsey: People are sitting at home, and the pot is coming from the opposite side.

It was pretty obvious at the moment that Aggie didn't like rich gentlemen.

No, Ai Ji not only doesn't like it, but also subconsciously feels inferior in front of that type of men.

"Then tell me how honest and kind Mr. Heller is."

Kelsey didn't care either, and asked Ai Ji to provide photos, which should have been the basic material for finding someone, but Ai Ji didn't take the initiative to provide them.

"In addition, please give your fiancé's photo and home address. As a fiancée, Miss Agis, you won't say you don't understand?"

"Heller didn't take photos, and he doesn't have a fixed address in London. You know, it's not worth renting a house because you only stay five days a month. But we have been in constant contact."

Ai Ji opened the handbag and handed out seven letters with some reluctance.While handing it over to Watson on the opposite side, he explained, "I correspond with Heller at a fixed post office address."

Seven thin letters.

They met in July last year, and Aggie and Heller wrote one letter a month from August to exactly seven letters in February this year.

Watson distributed the seven letters to the two detectives beside him, and watched them open the envelopes and browse.

I saw that each letter was only one page of letter paper, and Heller actually typed the letter with a typewriter.

This scene made Watson involuntarily start thinking about it.

Ai Ji and her fiancé have too little common language, and there are so few love letters between a pair of lovers.

In contrast, when Kelsey in Sherlock's bedroom was in the United States, letters came once a month, and each time was a heavy mailbag.Not only is it all handwritten, but there are also various hand-painted illustrations.

Watson: God!I must have written too many detective dramas, why did the strange comparison start?Describing the case and expressing love are two completely different things.

Despite Watson's divergent thinking, Kelsey and Sherlock read Heller's letter quickly but carefully.

The content of the letter does not include details of Heller's life, but consists of direct love poems and a long confession of vague language about love.

"Please allow us to hold these letters for now."

Sherlock did not comment in person, but asked Ai Ji again, "Miss Aggis, you haven't said how you met your fiancé. Was it introduced by your family? Also, what do your parents think of your marriage?"

"My parents were very supportive of me marrying Heller."

This time Ai Ji answered firmly, "I never had unrealistic princess dreams, and marrying someone as reliable as Heller is the best destination."

As for the acquaintance?

Not an introduction from relatives or friends, but love at first sight.

"Heller is my destined hero. Last July [-]th, at [-]:[-] pm. His presence saved my life."

Ai Ji changed her previous confused state and described the first encounter between the two in detail. At the end, she said, "It was so thrilling at that time, I was almost hit by a carriage! In the nick of time, he fell from the sky and killed Crazy Horse with a harpoon. Thrust and fall to the ground."

Ai Ji recalled that first meeting, her face was full of dreamy happiness.It took a while to regain consciousness, and she lowered her gaze cautiously again, and made up for her gaffe just now.

"This kind of bravery is amazing. I only read about it in newspapers before. A few years ago, an unknown bearded man took control of a crazy carriage and saved a certain rich business lady."

"Have the three gentlemen heard of that incident? At that time, the front pages of London newspapers were full of thank-you letters. Beard is my most admired hero."

Ai Ji sighed, "Of course, Heller saved me and couldn't be published in the newspapers. That's nothing to regret. I feel very lucky. Not only the rich lady has a bearded hero, but I also have my own hero."

Since there was no photograph of Heller, Kelsey sketched the portrait on the spot based on the description.

When Kelsey heard this, the hand holding the pen paused slightly.Very well, she is the one who is hated, and she is also the one who is admired.

If Kelsey is not mistaken, the so-called bearded beggar incident is that she rescued Miss Bingley when she first arrived.But from saving lives to being thanked in the newspaper, some unhappiness occurred, and the truth is far less exciting than Ai Ji imagined.

"Look, is this Heller?"

Kelsey didn't think much of it back then and sketched it now, but she wasn't happy with the portrait.

"Miss Aggis, can you give a more accurate description? I think it is difficult for others to recognize Heller at a glance based on this painting."

It's not that Kelsey's professional skills are not in place, but the image description of Heller shows that he is an unremarkable character.

The beard covered most of his face, and he was always wearing a sports cap.

Ordinary figure, popular brown eyes and brown hair, there is nothing special about the whole person.

"That's Heller! You've drawn a perfect likeness."

Ai Ji didn't know it, and she felt that the degree of restoration of the portrait was almost as good as that of the photo.

At the moment, Ai Ji dared to look at Kelsey for the first time.

However, due to the oppressive feeling from the other party, she dared not request to draw another portrait of Heller for collection.

Kelsey handed the painting to Sherlock, winking at him, "How do you feel about that?"

Feelings?

There are some things that cannot be said in front of Ai Ji.

This meeting has also learned about the specific situation of Ai Ji's missing fiancé.

Asked about the original meeting place on the day of Heller's disappearance, and left Ai Ji's home address, asking the client to leave first.

As soon as Aggie left, Watson spoke first.

"That Heller only goes back to London five days a month. The day before yesterday he agreed to make an appointment with Aggie for a wedding church. He never had the habit of leaving without saying goodbye."

Watson thought that since Heller had never used Aggie's money and had such a hero to save the beauty, he could at least be considered a good person.

"The story just now reminded me of my old friend Apep. It's a pity that it's hard for the three giants of horror and horror to get together again. The horror stories of "Apep" and "Chocolate Cake" have also changed from monthly serials to One book for half a year. "

Watson said that he missed the thrilling time in the dark castle, but he quickly returned to his senses and asked the two detectives, "Whiskers just look rough, not rude. They are all beards, and Heller's actions don't sound like it." Is it a liar?"

Sherlock didn't answer, because Watson didn't understand some things.A beard may be brave, but it doesn't mean that he is not a master of deception.So he smiled and asked Kelsey, "Mr. Bennet, what do you think?"

Kelsey only brought the conversation back to Heller's disappearance itself.

"It's not a case of defrauding money. It's interesting. Why did Heller disappear?"

This question has to be put aside for a while, and the second client is here.

This time it was Billy Lacher, the fiancée who disappeared on the day of the church appointment and other wedding appointments.

"Sorry, Wo (I) just got home from get off work, and that's when I received the scare (message)."

Billy's words were slurred.While speaking, it was hard to ignore the bruises and injuries on his side face, it was because he was beaten so hard that it was inevitable to feel pain when speaking.

Sherlock asked directly, "Mr. Rachel, who did your injury?"

"Old Mr. Freeman, my future father-in-law."

Billy didn't hide it either, "I deserve this injury. I didn't take good care of my fiancée, which made her go somewhere."

At first glance, this is no problem.

Kelsey asked, "Why did you come to report the crime? Why didn't your fiancée's father invite the old Mr. Freeman to come with him? Could it be that he is unwell?"

Here is the second half of the sentence, a person who is unwell, can still beat Bill like this?

The corners of Billy's mouth were slightly pursed, and it took a few seconds before he said, "Katie's mother and stepfather are unwilling to report the crime. They think Katie is crazy and ran away secretly. Don't report the crime if you don't want to expose your family scandal."

Watson: Huh?How do you say that?

Wait a minute, what a coincidence, the second unmarried couple, one of them is also reorganizing the family.