Detective Bennet [Comprehensive novel]

A long list of Peterson, countless paragraphs of dew.

Lestrade took Carter, one by one, and found out that his face was expressionless.After checking everyone on the list, I couldn't even fake a smile.

"I finally understand why the years at Scotland Yard are getting more and more serious. Carter, have you counted them? How many people have we made up for laughing these days?"

Investigating mistresses or one-night stands is not an easy task.

Mistress mistresses in this era are quite demanding on social status.If the disparity between the two parties is too large, don't expect to start a long-term relationship, you will only be ridiculed by the people around you.For example, a country girl has a one-night stand with an aristocrat at most, and has no chance of being taken to a mansion in London.

Therefore, Peterson is willing to give a list, but the woman may not be willing to cooperate.

Those women who have status are unwilling to cooperate, and those who have no status in the latter category have long been hard to find.

"It's hard work, sir." Carter's smile was stiff as he accompanied him for ten days, and he could be sure that this job was a test for Lestrade by the two devils.It's been hard work, but now I haven't got any valuable clues.

Carter asked in distress, "Everything that can be found on this list has been visited one by one. According to the list of questions, no one found anything unusual about Viscount Peterson."

The women surveyed thought that Peterson's snake worship was nothing serious, and he wasn't even crazy, since he didn't even keep a few live snakes.

In fact, Peterson isn't the funniest of the rich, despite the fact that he's come up with a snake-print bedroom.

In contrast, hunting beaver gao/pills, which have been popular for hundreds of years since the Middle Ages, can be taken as powder or directly injected with related agents to aphrodisiac.

Many things that seem absurd to later generations were the norm in the 19th century and were widely admired by celebrities.

For example, sympathetic magic can cure diseases, and this practice has long been popular in Europe.Among them, the folk prescription that is quite popular among the people is to use bull brain to treat mental illness.

Hollow out the inside of the baked bread, stuff it with the bull's brain, tie this special stuffed bread to the head of a mental patient, and his illness will be cured slowly.

Relatively speaking, Peterson's behavior of worshiping the snake god is not worth making a fuss at all.

It is an exciting and wonderful experience for the ladies to meet the handsome and handsome Peterson and be able to enter the Viscount's mansion to spend the spring night together.

They even regarded the serpentine bedroom as a kind of fun, and none of them felt uncomfortable after staying there.

Lestrade shook his head at Carter, "The ladies didn't notice anything wrong, but they still provided some clues."

Carter blinked, why didn't he feel anything.

"Look..." Lestrade's words came to his lips, but he changed his words again, "Dear Carter, you have never had a crush, have you?"

Carter: Detective, with whom did you learn the sudden turn?

We just need to maintain a simple relationship between superiors and subordinates, please don't ask about personal feelings, thank you.

Lestrade smiled smugly, "I knew you didn't, so I didn't pay attention to the hidden tone of those women. They had an affair with a rich and handsome nobleman. Apart from lusting for sensual pleasure or material gifts, could it be that Don't you have any feelings?"

Carter thought about it carefully, and the respondents hardly missed Peterson. "No, not even jealousy."

"Here's the clue."

Lestrade spread out the notebook, "According to the time sequence, the closer the time is, the less sour sentences appear. But looking forward is different."

"Currently, we have only found two ladies who had contacts with Viscount Peterson in the earlier period. One was ten years ago and the other was eight years ago.

When they described the past, unlike the later lovers, their tone was slightly bitter and disdainful.

It means that Peterson is not a lover worthy of his affection. No matter how passionate he pretends to be, he only leaves a cold figure when he turns around. "

Lestrade took very careful notes, as the two devils requested.The detailed records also allowed him to compare a hidden change.

"The viscount used to play tricks on the occasion, giving some specious feelings to deceive women. Later, he simply only wanted a beautiful body/body, and the time to maintain an affair with the same person became shorter and shorter."

Carter understood, but what could this change mean?

"Sir, is this suspicious? It's normal for a man like Viscount Peterson to be blatantly promiscuous when he reaches a certain age?"

Lestrade didn't know if it was suspicious, but the timing of this change was subtle.With his new discovery, he went to Montague Street.

Twelve days later, the three who were looking for clues separately met in Sherlock's rented house.

"nobody."

Sherlock asked Kelsey how he was looking for someone with his eyes.

Kelsey also shook her head, "No one."

Since it is impossible to get more truth from Peterson's mouth, it is necessary to find someone who is familiar with him.

Counting carefully, the old butler who had served Peterson for decades had unfortunately passed away three years ago.Most of the servants in the Viscount's Mansion are young and new, and none of them are old enough to stay in their posts.

After searching around, only Viscountess Hessel still knows about the past.

The information provided by Peterson also includes Hesel's refuge.There are four retreats in different directions in the outer suburbs of London.

Kelsey and Sherlock searched separately, but none of them had the correct address.According to local townspeople, the lady in the garden has not been seen for several years.

If it wasn't for the fact that Hessel regularly visits the Queen at Buckingham Palace every year, I'm afraid she would have disappeared long ago.

The reality is that Hessel is not missing, it's just that her husband no longer cares about her whereabouts.

Lestrade was used to Peterson's various operations, "Perhaps it's because Peterson's family has too much money and has real estate everywhere, which makes you return without success."

Good bad jokes.

Kelsey smirked back holding the field, "Inspector, do you have any gains over there?"

"Of course!" Lestrade said a little excitedly about the discovery, "Petersen's attitude towards his mistress changed exactly seven or eight years ago, and it's worth noting at this point in time.

A year before, his daughter died; a year after, his wife moved out.Then, he worshiped the snake god and remodeled his bedroom. "

"I think something must have happened in those years, which made Viscount Peterson change more ruthlessly. For example, there was an inside story about his daughter's death, for example, what happened to his mistress."

Lestrade speculated casually, "But I haven't been able to find out any gossip in London. I'm afraid the two of you must find Mrs. Peterson and let her speak."

Find it, you must find it.

Sherlock agreed with Lestrade's bad joke.Peterson had too much money and his vacation spots were scattered around, making it difficult to determine where Hessel lived.

The resort that was discussing started looking for someone, and there was a knock on the door.

The newsboy delivered a letter, "The gentleman ordered that if Mr. Bennet is not at home, come here and deliver the letter to Mr. Holmes?"

which sir?

Lestrade found that Sherlock had a complicated expression for a moment.

Sherlock opened the letter, wrote a line of address as expected, and added a note. "At the end of October every year, Mrs. Peterson travels around for more than a month."

It is now the end of October.

"The right direction has emerged."

Sherlock hands the letter to Kelsey.It's no surprise that Kelsey is the number one recipient.Understandably, Kelsey was the first to take on the case after all.

Kelsey had never seen Mycroft's handwriting, so she immediately identified the sender from Sherlock's expression.She couldn't help raising her eyebrows at him, "Look, your brother is indeed an interesting person."

Some people say that they don't care, but they still secretly investigate and provide clues and help. Isn't that interesting enough?

Lestrade was silent, and the eye contact between the devils appeared again.

Now, his curiosity is not as strong as before, and he will always be told what he needs to know.

"Mrs. Peterson usually lives in the manor in Kent, and now is her travel time."

Kelsey read out the address on the letter and expressed doubts about it:

"Mrs. Peterson is free all year round, so why not choose spring and autumn, when the weather is more pleasant? Traveling at the end of October, just in time for the winter season, the cold wind is not pleasant to travel. Is she really going out to play?"

"What Mycroft calls 'going around' must have two meanings."

Sherlock couldn't be more familiar with Mycroft's unfinished meaning, "First of all, make it clear that Mrs. Peterson will not stay peacefully in the manor during this period. As for whether she is going to travel or do other things? Unhappy Those who investigate are too lazy to investigate further."

"At least I have an address."

Lestrade was optimistic, "Maybe, if you hurry up, you can catch up with Mrs. Peterson who is not too far away from home."

Kent, east of England.

Known as the garden of England, the mountains are lush and the valleys are quiet.There are many colorful and intoxicating gardens.

The idyllic scenery has retained Viscountess Hessel, but no matter how peaceful and ordinary life is, there are always some strange voices.

Kelsey and Sherlock first visited Hessel's current manor and learned that she had traveled and her whereabouts were unknown.

The two are now settling near the village.

In view of the strange behavior of Peterson and Franklin, this is also to inquire about the bizarre rumors in Kent, and use this as a direction to find Hessel.

"Strange things?" The innkeeper was a native of Kent. "Oh, you mean those mysterious legends? I do know some."

The shopkeeper first pointed to the guidebook, "Going south, the church in Gelfin Village was once attacked by a three-headed dog."

The shopkeeper pointed to the north again, "Go north, the abandoned hotel in Hansford Village was once devoured by the devil's fire."

"Don't think I'm going to start my story with 'Once upon a time. "

The shop owner specifically pointed out, "This has all happened in recent years. You can still see traces of churches and hotels being attacked when you go to the local area. If you are lucky, you may find witnesses."

There must be a reason for the groundless wind.

"In recent years, how many years ago?"

Sherlock asked the innkeeper, "Have you heard the details?"

The shopkeeper made six or seven eight gestures, "About six or seven or eight years ago? I can't tell you the specifics. I've heard various versions. However, there are two things for sure.

It was raining heavily when the three-headed dog attacked the church, and the villagers heard the dogs barking.It rushed into the church and scratched the pastor, leaving bloody claw marks on the church door.

Devil's fire burned the inn.Although the shop was destroyed, there were not many lodgers in the hotel, and most of them escaped safely.It was a woman who was burned alive in her sleep. "

The fire burned the sleeping person to death?

Kelsey and Sherlock exchanged a look, which was very close to Viscount Peterson's nightmare.

In connection with Peterson's description of the dream, the place where the fire occurred in the nightmare is not gorgeous, but rather simple.The country inn did not meet the viscount's so-called shabby.

"Check separately."

Sherlock thinks that both sides need to find out, not just check the fire hotel, there may be rumors that deceive the eye.

"I'm going to the hotel."

"I'm going north."

The two spoke in unison, and immediately chose to investigate the cause of the devil's fire.

As soon as the words came out, they looked at each other face to face, waiting for the other party to change directions.

Kelsey finally took a step back, "Okay, the coin is decided. Two out of three rounds, whoever tosses more heads will go north."

"That's a good idea." But Sherlock changed the topic, "But we need to change the rules. Let the shopkeeper throw it, and we guess through a door. Two out of three rounds, whoever guesses correctly will go north."

Sherlock had already heard what Lestrade had said about the casino. How could he bet with Kelsey unpreparedly? Doesn't it mean rushing to find a loser?

Kelsey smiled back, and lo and behold, that's what it takes to be famous.

As a result, one person always gets what he wants, while the other changes direction.

Kelsey went to the church in the village of Gelfin to the south.

The setting sun was slanting, but there was a noise coming from the church, mixed with people's discussions and sobbing.

"Everyone, don't be too sad, God has recalled Pastor Abuli."

An old voice choked up and said, "This is the merciful decision of the Lord, and he does not want Pastor Abuli to continue to keep the pain and suffering in the world."

Abuli?

Isn't this the legendary priest who fought with the three-headed dog of hell?He actually died?

Kelsey stepped into the temple quickly, and immediately asked someone to ask about the situation, claiming to be the son of an old friend of the pastor when he was preaching outside.

"May I ask the old man, why did Pastor Abuli die suddenly? Not long ago, my father received a letter from him. He said that the scenery in Gelfin Village is pleasant and the villagers are kind. He invited my father to visit it when he has time."

The choked old man wiped away his tears, heard Kelsey's tone of approval for Gelfin Village, and saw the disbelief on his face, so he didn't think about anything else at all.

"My condolences, sir. You don't know that Pastor Abuli's health hasn't been very good since he fought a vicious dog. He never complains about these worries."

The old man said that Abuli was always kind and did not reveal his pain to the outside world. "When I see people in the village, I also care about our lives.

If the people in the village hadn't seen him going in and out of the pharmacy, I really don't know that he has been unwell, and I'm afraid he never wrote to your father. "

Abuli is 55 years old.

At this age, one step into the coffin may die one day, so it is said that the 52-year-old Peterson is alive and well, and he is young enough.

The old man talked about Pastor Abuli intermittently.

Abuli has been a pastor for more than 20 years. He has always been kind and kind, listening to and enlightening people's anguish and sorrow.

Ten years in this parish in Kent, the relationship with the village has always been very cordial.The villagers also knew that his health was not good, and they had been taking medicine for several years, but they did not expect that he would die one day.

Kelsey was thoughtful, and heard from the old man that the villagers were helping to arrange Abuli's burial. "Can I go to the back room and see Pastor Abuli again?"

"Of course, please follow me."

The old man led Kelsey to the inner chamber of the church.

Abuli died on the bed in the bedroom, and his body has not been moved.

However, due to the coming and going of the villagers, the room was already a little messy, and the death scene had been destroyed.

Kelsey quickly looked around. This is a very simple and simple bedroom.There are only bookshelves, desks, wardrobes and other furniture, and there are no extravagant arrangements.

When he came to the bed, Abuli's death was not peaceful.

His facial muscles are slightly twisted, and his exposed hands are tightly clenched into fists.When he got closer, he could smell a special metallic taste in his mouth.

Kelsey's eyes were fixed, and she immediately walked to the bookshelf.

There is a row of glass bottles on it, all from drugstores.One of them is labeled "refreshing water".

"Refreshing water", a popular drink in the nineteenth century.

The main ingredient is the wood/turtle/alkali that later generations dare not touch, but most medical people now believe that the wood/turtle/alkali can help improve physical fitness.

Perhaps, this is also true.

Tiny doses can stimulate the nervous system, but once it exceeds 5 mg, it can be fatal.

Kelsey never had much faith in Victorian medicine.Because of the medical confusion at this time, it was difficult for her to immediately judge whether Abuli was killed by suicide?

In today's poisoning, did Abuli drink too much refreshing water on his own, or did someone deliberately increase the dose?

Just thinking about it, Kelsey opened the drawer and found four clay seals.The seal is the size of a golf ball, with strange patterns engraved on it.

Except for the texture of the soil, it is similar to the clay lumps found at the scene of the Franklin rental house fire.

"Sir, can I ask a question?"

Kelsey thought of something, and quickly asked the old man, "Have you ever heard Abuli mention his hometown?"