Detective Bennet [Comprehensive novel]

"Freeman may have been a whaler."

"Freeman may have once made a living hunting whales."

On the carriage, Kelsey and Sherlock made similar judgments at the same time.

A piece of history that may be forgotten must be mentioned here.

In the first half of the nineteenth century, most household lighting in Europe and the United States was inseparable from one crucial thing-whale oil.

The fat contained in the huge body of whales has become a common fuel to light up the lives of Europeans and Americans.

This has turned whale hunting into an industry.

It began to rise in the seventeenth century, and reached its industrial peak in the mid-nineteenth century after the maritime countries had relatively mature navigation technology.

Among them, the United States is the most.

In 1840, more than 900 of the more than 700 whaling ships in the world came from the United States.In the following ten years, the whaling industry became the fifth largest industry in the United States, which shows its huge scale and huge profits.

Although the whaling industry is very profitable, the risks faced by the pioneer whalers are huge.For example, British whaling ships set off to the North Pole every February, looking for whales and fighting at sea in the face of the ever-changing ocean.

Blood, violence, profiteering.

The whalers were so labeled, and the peak of the industry passed quickly, and the entire industry quickly declined.

Because in the middle and late nineteenth century, the discovery and utilization of oil allowed kerosene to replace whale oil, and the world no longer hunted whales on a large scale.

This is good news for the protection of natural ecology.

Having said that, in today's London in 1880, a large number of former whalers had switched careers.Among them is likely to be Freeman, who is nearly 40 years old.

Sherlock pointed out the first relevant clue, "seal skin tobacco pouch, which is a common item for sailors in the cold north seas. Freeman's tobacco pouch is not finely crafted and old, which probably shows that he had made it in his early years. Sailors."

Kelsey received, "Drinking high-grade vodka directly is not the way Londoners usually choose to drink, but mostly the drinking habits in cold regions. I also saw empty wine bottles on the floor of Freeman's house. In addition to vodka, it is Lang Rum, which is also the drink that sailors like."

Not only that.

In the cold spring this year, Freeman had obvious chilblains on his fingertips.

"It may be habitual chilblains, a common occupational disease among whalers. Freeman's hands not only have chilblains but also thick calluses, which are the calluses left by holding a harpoon."

Sherlock paused when he said this, and his eyes fell on Kelsey's right hand.

Prior to this, Freeman wanted to shut the two out with a bad attitude, and almost closed the door heavily.Kelsey forcibly stopped Freeman's movements, holding on to the door to prevent it from being closed.

"Your hand isn't hurt, is it?"

Sherlock was not so sure, dear Kelsey's usual nonchalant air made it impossible for him to judge the truth accurately.Assuming Freeman was really a whaler, his arms would have been stronger and the impact of closing the door would have been greater.

"I am fine."

Kelsey noticed that Sherlock looked suspicious, "What? You still want to check it yourself?"

"Of course, I must make sure that you are not trying to be brave."

As Sherlock said, he took off his gloves first, and pulled Kelsey's right hand involuntarily.Gently took off his gloves and checked it carefully.

For a while, the atmosphere in the carriage was quiet.

With a smile in his eyes, Kelsey let Sherlock inspect him decently.He didn't care how many times his hands were pinched, and he replied that there was no pain in his hands.

After some careful confirmation, the two put on the gloves again.

"It's fine."

Sherlock said it seriously, how could he regret it belatedly, and he never regretted that the time when the two hands touched each other was too short.

Kelsey also put away her smile, and instantly switched back to her serious expression, "Yes, I'm fine. And I can confirm that Freeman's hands are strong. I don't know if you saw that Freeman tried to close the door but failed There was a moment of surprise on his face."

What was Freeman surprised about?

Surprised that his arm was so strong that he didn't close the door.

This adds to the evidence for Freeman's previous career as a whaler.

Why determine Freeman's former occupation?

This has a subtle connection with the disappearance of the fiancé of the first client, Ai Ji.

The missing bearded Heller met Ai Ji for the first time in a heroic way to save the beauty.

At that time, Aggie was returning home from get off work as usual, but unexpectedly encountered a crazy horse on the way.Crazy Horse was subdued by Heller in time.

Note that Heller kills Crazy Horse instantly with a harpoon.

The two detectives would not have missed this detail.

"According to Aggie's description, her fiancé, Heller, is taller and a bit fatter than Freeman."

Kelsey was never convinced that it was Heller's real figure, which could be easily disguised by using height increasing insoles and wearing some clothes.

Of course, linking Heller with Freeman is just a suspicion now.

The suspicion arises because the family backgrounds of the two missing cases are similar.

Aggie, whose fiancé is missing, has a stepmother, and Katie, who is missing as a fiancée, has a stepfather.Aggie has an inheritance from her uncle, and Katie's situation is not yet known.

Sherlock mentioned the cases he had handled in the past, "Inheritance and family reorganization, there are many cases arising from this. The stepfather and stepmother poisoned the stepson and stepdaughter to monopolize the property, which is the most excruciating method.

Or cooperate with the inside and outside, provide information such as the likes and preferences of the stepson and stepdaughter, and deliberately find someone to pursue them to defraud them of money. "

The above two crimes are still in the clear, and there is also a secret means of plundering heritage.

When they get married, most women will take away the extra inheritance as a dowry.

As long as it is ensured that the daughter holding the inheritance does not marry, the money will be slowly eaten up by the elders.

Sherlock said, "The stepfather and stepmother who use this method have a good relationship with the stepdaughter on the surface, but secretly try to prevent the stepdaughter from marrying smoothly. As long as the stepdaughter who inherits the inheritance does not marry, the inheritance can be kept forever. Used to subsidize the family."

Kelsey nodded slightly. She also analyzed the two disappearance cases from these aspects.

"Currently, the circumstances of the first disappearance are relatively clear. Ai Ji lost her fiancé, Heller, and she has a tendency not to marry because of him."

The hero saves the beauty, and this hero fully meets the standard of the dream lover.

It may be love at first sight, or it may be love for a long time, and this relationship has also won the support of the elders.The subsequent development of Ai Ji and Heller is quite logical.

When it comes to talking about marriage, Ai Ji suddenly loses Heller, and it may be difficult for her to start a new relationship.

However, does Heller really exist?

Early the next morning, Watson went to Paris, France to verify Heller's identity information.The two detectives were not idle either, and went to the house of Aggie Aggis to find out the situation.

Aggie and her father have both gone to work, and stepmother Doreen is staying home.

"Yes, none of us believed that Heller would run away from marriage."

Doreen did not resist the investigation of the detectives, and answered questions about Heller very cooperatively. "Heller came to our house, and Agis and I are very satisfied with him. He is the kind of reliable and down-to-earth man who can make a good husband."

Sherlock watched Doreen.

This Ai Ji's stepmother is about thirty years old, with a slender figure, only five or six years older than Ai Ji.

Doreen's clothes are priced in line with her family's income and are new this spring, which is different from Aggie who needs to go out to work.

Aggie was wearing a dark dress, the same style as a clerk's dress for several years, and her handbag was a little outdated.

Besides, when Ai Ji came to 221B yesterday, she simply tied up her long hair, and she didn't know it was a little messy.

Compared with the two, Doreen wears a more elegant bun even when she is at home.

Her light blonde hair is slightly curled.If you look closely, there are a few strands of brown hair mixed in the bun, which is likely to have been dyed brown.

"Ms. Doreen, you think Heller is an ideal husband for Miss Aggie."

Kelsey asked in this regard, "Reliability, is that what you and Mr. Agis have always considered your son-in-law? With all due respect, what kind of man do you not support her marrying?"

Kelsey raised his jaw slightly, showing a standard gentlemanly smile, "Aren't people like me excluded first?"

Doreen was exposed face to face, and she explained with embarrassment:

"Mr. Bennet, please don't get me wrong. Ajis and I have never spoken ill of gentlemen and nobles. We just hope that Aggie will keep her feet on the ground. After all, Cinderella is just a fairy tale. As parents, Aggie should not let Aggie be unrealistic. love fantasy."

Kelsey nodded as if in agreement, and continued following Doreen's words:

"It is understandable that you are also responsible for Ai Ji. However, now that Heller is missing, we must consider the possibility that he cannot be found. What do you and your husband think about this?"

what idea?

Doreen was at a loss, "I don't know who Aggie would marry without Heller, and how could this kind of thing happen in my family.

Now I can only comfort Ai Ji, because Heller had something important to say and left before saying hello.It's a day if it can be delayed, maybe Heller will show up soon.Otherwise, you can only wait for time to solve the problem.After a few years, Aggie can always forget people. "

Time sounds like a magic doctor who can cure all diseases.

Kelsey and Sherlock exchanged a look.

Ai Ji's time to withdraw the remaining inheritance is not long. In seven or eight years, she will be able to withdraw all the inheritance annuity left by her uncle.

Thinking of this, Sherlock said to Doreen casually, "Miss Aggie inherited a fortune, and it's used as a household allowance every month, right?

I reckon you are on such good terms with Miss Aggie that she never minds whom the money goes to.You bought a new spring dress, but she didn't buy one or two. "

Doreen's face froze, but she quickly adjusted her expression and smiled happily.

"Indeed, I was so lucky to meet Aggie and his wonderful daughter. Aggie is generous, and I can't persuade her. She always buys things for me. This makes me take care of my family even more. Everything, so that she can live comfortably."

Is there such a good thing in the world?

People who justifiably inherit inheritance and work hard outside, don't care about dressing and only wear old clothes.

Instead, the man willingly handed over the money to support his stepmother, who was only five years older than her, and let the stepmother, who did not work at home, control her salary as she wished.

Suspicious, the two detectives leave Aggie's house, and Aggie and Doreen get along in an unusual way.

This is most likely a secret mind control.

Under the family education, Ai Ji never thought that she could match a gentleman, let alone be able to marry high.When he reached the marriageable age of 25, his ordinary life was suddenly in danger.

At this time, Ai Ji happened to meet Heller to save her from danger, and Heller was a good match with her and was the type he liked.

It is not difficult to imagine the situation after Heller disappears, and Doreen can naturally feel sad for Aggie.

Doreen could even more worryingly assume that after telling Aggie that she missed Heller, it would be difficult for her to find a more suitable husband.

Sherlock thought about asking Kelsey, "Jerry, do you have a picture of Katie? I remember Katie's hair is a bit curly. Take a look and see what kind of brown her hair is."

What kind of hair color is the missing Katie?

In an instant, Kelsey understood what Sherlock meant, but Katie was also slim.