Detective Bennet [Comprehensive novel]

Kelsey understood Sherlock's implication, and asked her if she wanted to go to Yorkshire for Christmas together?

After hesitating for three seconds, Kelsey smiled and said, "Of course, it's nice to spend Christmas warmly, but this year I think peace is more important."

How can you be calm?

Staying at home is the best and easiest option.

"Right."

Sherlock seemed to accept this answer calmly, "Being busy some time ago makes people want to enjoy peace even more now."

Kelsey nodded, "Yes, you understand correctly."

The two looked at each other. It was not difficult to guess the reason for one party's invitation, while the reason for the other party's refusal might be that they just wanted to stay in London, or they were not ready to go to Holmes' old house together.

Simply invite and decline are hidden in cryptic words, so that the atmosphere in the room is not embarrassing.

Sherlock was just a little bit regretful, but quick to smile, and Kelsey just declined this year's invitation.

There are Christmases every year, not this year, next year, and even many years to come.He was about to go home first, but when he was about to say goodbye, he heard Kelsey speak.

"Although it's good to be calm, it's not beautiful to be too deserted."

Kelsey didn't change her decision, but just made another suggestion, "I wonder if you are in a hurry, do you want to make this year's Christmas more exciting?"

Sherlock is not sorry anymore, want to hear what Kelsey proposes to do together?

10 minute later.

Sherlock went home and put away the presents before going downstairs, and the two stood at the gate of his building.

"Jerry, is this what you call adding some excitement to Christmas?"

Sherlock scanned his surroundings. As far as he could see, the air and ground were covered with snow.In front of him was a snowball that hadn't fully formed yet.

At this point, Kelsey continued to roll the snowball, making it bigger and bigger.

Obviously to build a snowman.

"That's right. To be lively, there must be many people. There are no living people, so the snowman is the same."

Kelsey took it for granted, and pointed around, "There are also snowmen in front of those buildings, so it can be seen that I am not alone in thinking so."

Sherlock: Childish proposal!I didn't expect you to be such a naive Jerry!

Kelsey: I'm childish and I'm proud!

Snowflakes were flying, and the two looked at each other.

Kelsey slowed down his tone first, "Tom, you are leaving London, why don't you build a snowman and let it stay on Montague Street for the holidays?

Don't worry, I can look after them for you.By opening the window, I can determine the status of T and J, and 99% of them may spend Christmas Eve safely and joyfully. "

T&J, the codenames of the two snowmen are ready.

"Okay, I'll make a snowman T. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of childish things like this. I'm just trying to take care of your snowman J so that it doesn't stand pitifully alone at the door."

Saying so, Sherlock has gone to choose the untrodden white snow.

half an hour.

The snow fell coldly, and the two people on the street were sweating a little after playing some bocce balls.

Finally, decorations such as carrot nose and tree branch arms are added, and the two snowmen are officially piled up.

I saw T&J standing side by side decently.

The front faces the road, as if blessing and looking at every passerby.

"Unlike tying a bow, now I can be sure of one thing."

Sherlock nodded with satisfaction at the two snowmen, and proudly said to Kelsey:

"My T is without a doubt the prettiest snowman on the street. Jerry, admit it, your J has to take second place."

Kelsey smiled. "Whoa! That's not childish Tom."

Sherlock nodded, "Thank you for the affirmation. I, a mature Holmes."

The two made eye contact, and then looked at the two snowmen together.

T&J are very close, their branches touch each other, as if they can cuddle upright.Even if they melt, they will converge into the same pool of snow water.

There are some things that humans have not yet been able to achieve, but Xue is one step ahead.

Sherlock smiled, and that was all right.Kelsey can see the snowmen through the window, which is a kind of alternative Christmas companionship.

"Good evening, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Holmes."

Kelsey's landlord, Lao Jinsen, came back with big bags and small bags, and was seeing two freshly made snowmen. "They're so cute. There's no other snowman I've seen along the way that compares to your creations."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Kelsey and Sherlock looked at each other as they thought of something.Very good, I should have thought of a piece.

"Mr. Jinsen, can you do me a favor?"

Kelsey asked the landlord to put the packages away before going out on the street, "Please help take two photos, and leave a photo of us with the snowman."

"no problem."

Lao Jinsen readily agreed. "You have found the right person. My photography skills are among the best on the street."

Of course, Lao Jinsen is the photographer of the photo studio.

Not long after, Sherlock brought the camera and somewhat bulky flash lighting equipment from upstairs.

Lao Jinsen became familiar with it after a little fiddling, and set up the flashing equipment, indicating that the two can pose freely.

'Crack bang! ''Crack bang! ''Crack bang! '

One, two, three, some standing on both sides of the snowman, some holding the snowman's shoulders from behind, and some sitting in front of the snowman...

A reel of twelve frames, all shot before ending.

Satisfied, Jinsen stopped and handed the camera to Kelsey. "Thanks to the invention of film, the days of carrying a photosensitive wet film box are over. Do I need to develop it?"

"Thank you, don't bother. The photo studio won't open until New Year's Day. I can think of other ways."

Kelsey once again thanked the old Jinson, and also thanked the bias of history, which made the invention of film film different from the world she once had.

The film invented in the Eastern Continent three years ago has spread to all parts of the world.

Although there are not many people who own cameras, those who have money choose to upgrade their cameras and replace them with new ones that are easy to carry.

Lao Jinsen was sent away.

Kelsey holds the camera and Sherlock holds up the flash device.

Kelsey smiled and tapped the photo camera, "I'll go to school to print it, and you'll come back after New Year's Day to get it. See you next year."

"Okay, see you next year then."

Sherlock originally wanted to add one or two more blessings, but he gave up because he didn't want to cause strange changes in luck.

The two parted by the snowman.

When they go home, the first thing they do is to wash their hands, wipe them clean and open the gifts they received.

Surprisingly, the two gave each other a pair of lambskin gloves.

The next day.

Snow didn't stop.

Since last week, all colleges and universities of the university have been on vacation one after another.

Fortunately, Kelsey had the key to the laboratory, so he printed the photos before the laboratory building was completely closed.

Today she is carrying a slightly larger suitcase, not only for cameras and photos, but also for some Christmas presents.

The main thing is not to forget to go to the mentor Egbert in the afternoon, and go to the club to give the candy gift box to Mycroft at dusk.

The campus was deserted, and so was Egbert's office.

Kelsey was a little surprised when she entered. The bookshelf was emptied, and the photo ornaments on the desk were gone.

"Is it a bit of a surprise?"

Egbert motioned for Kelsey to sit down, obviously far from the posture of exchanging gifts and saying a few words of blessing. "Actually, I was a little surprised when I received the news, but I still made a decision after careful consideration."

Ten years ago, the United States ended the Civil War.

In recent years, universities or colleges of higher learning have been established one after another.

Egbert spoke of launching Llanster University in New York City a year and a half ago, which has a mutual aid partnership with the University of London.

"Principal Lanster hopes that I can go to support for a few years and help lead the School of Economics."

Egbert had heard about it for a long time, but at first he refused and recommended another highly respected professor.Who would have thought that that person had a serious illness last month and had to recuperate for a year or two, and it was not suitable for long journeys, let alone overwork.

Egbert agreed after careful consideration, and went to New York after Christmas and winter break.

He can leave as he says, but the students he leads are different.Those who are not close relatives will be directly assigned to other professors.If you have a better relationship, if you want to go to the United States with him, the degree is double from the two schools, so don't worry about it.

In the mid-to-late 19th century, the levels of higher education in various countries were different, but education centered on science rather than theology was groping for development.

Some of these schools were familiar to Kelsey from a previous life.

There are also others, such as Lanster University, such as several schools in the Eastern Continent, which are unique to this world.

In either case, it is a rare experience to be involved in the start-up period of a university college.

Egbert was bringing up this matter, "Bennet, I know you plan to graduate early, but you haven't talked about your future career plans.

oh!Your professor knows that probably has nothing to do with economics, but what is it?Just to be a detective? "

Kelsey nodded slightly, but more than that.

I heard Egbert say, "From myself to others, I hope to establish my own set of economic theories to be recognized by the world. There is no detective science major in the world today, so I boldly guess that you will also want to popularize a set of norms. criminal investigation standards.

If I'm right, I suggest you go to New York and help me.While you are young, go outside more often. "

"Professor, you are right."

Kelsey knew that it would not happen overnight to come up with a relatively complete theoretical system of investigation.

Not only must there be professional knowledge, outstanding reputation, and a complementary environment, but also extensive contacts.That is a long-term goal, which I hope can be achieved in middle age.

Going to New York and participating in the construction of Lancaster University College is an opportunity that cannot be met, and the most rare thing is to build a wide network of contacts.

Kelsey didn't agree immediately, and accepted the thick information file first, and will reply after New Year's Day.

Saying goodbye to Egbert, Kelsey went to the Diogenes Club.

Mycroft didn't let her go back empty-handed, not only gave her back a box of candy, but also handed over a mail along the way.

Where is the mail coming from?

It's America.Maybe you have to ask why it is the United States again.

Professor M went to the United States, Paul Goodman also went to the United States, and now Egbert is also planning to go to the United States.

This time the letter came from the United States again.

It's just that the sender is actually in an Italian prison.

Joan Spada, one of the perpetrators of the triangle exchange poisoning case, the last of the Spada family died of illness in prison.Before she died, she wrote a suicide note to Professor Joe Smith in the United States.

Joe Smith, the character played by Kelsey, was arranged by Mycroft to become a real identity.

This suicide note flew across the sea to the United States, and then was transferred back to the United Kingdom by the United States.

Back home, Kelsey opened the envelopes one after another.

She had a hunch that Joan's suicide note might be able to reveal a mystery—why Svoboda, the leader of the triangle poisoning case at the time, easily pleaded guilty and entered the Chateau d'If prison to serve his sentence without resistance.

**

Christmas Eve passed in heavy snow.

December 12.Croft House, Yorkshire.

The Holmes family of three had breakfast.

Mycroft was reading the morning paper which had just arrived when he heard his mother speak.

"The snowy days make the manor quieter. There's nothing wrong with that. After all, I don't like noise."

The old Mrs. Holmes said slowly, "Just as I never ask my sons to live an ordinary life. Even if my eldest son founded the Silent Club, he is still addicted to sweetness at the age of 29. Even if my youngest son is 22 years old , officially began to go further and further on the road of fighting wits and courage with criminals."

Mycroft put down the newspaper, Sherlock put down his teacup, and they all listened attentively, so what will the mother say in the second half?

Old Mrs. Holmes said with a smile, "But occasionally, the manor needs some excitement; but occasionally, I also have some expectations for you. Please recall, gentlemen, that you have not brought a friend back as a guest in these years.

Please don't get me wrong, I don't expect you to marry anyone, but don't you even have one or two close friends? "

"That's too pitiful."

Old Mrs. Holmes stood up and went outside to enjoy the snow with such a look in her eyes.

Before leaving, he said to his two sons, "My Christmas wish, I hope you can give me some little surprises next year."

Watching his mother leave, Mycroft and Sherlock faced each other.

Mycroft had a flash of inspiration, "Actually, it's not difficult, is it? You can invite Mr. Bennet to your house as a guest. My dear brother, you should be able to invite someone?"

Sherlock smiled, avoided answering, pointed to the newspaper and asked, "What's new on Christmas Eve?"

Mycroft didn't want a definite answer either. To be precise, it was the front-page news that attracted his attention.

——"Shocking!The strongest prison in Château d'If in France was robbed, and the unknown robbers were absconding with the prisoners! 』

Seeing this title, Sherlock first thought of Swoboda who was serving his sentence there.Who is the robber who broke into the Chateau d'If prison, and who is the prisoner who escaped from prison?

Suddenly, he thought of the dark castle where there were many murders last year.This prison robbery can't be related to Kelsey who is staying in London, right?