Detective Bennet [Comprehensive novel]

There is still half an hour before midnight.

Several rooms on the second floor of the Rose Theater were brightly lit.The interviews with 19 members of the Italian troupe and 13 supporters of the Golden Rose were conducted overnight in batches.

Lestrade reluctantly asked Kelsey not to leave in a hurry, "I only brought four police detectives, obviously short of manpower. You might as well stay and solve this case together, it won't take up too much of your time.

We are all old acquaintances.When the officer heard that it was you, he would never be stingy with consulting fees, it was much easier than paying me a salary. "

"That's why the inspector feels sour, and secretly complains that your chief prefers a non-staff person, and now your invitation seems reluctant?"

Kelsey didn't intend to leave at all. She investigated the theaters in the West End and considered Brightman to be the most suitable partner from all aspects.In order to ensure that the musical adaptation of "Adventures in the Alps" can be staged smoothly, and to prevent the death of Jin Meigui from affecting the theater's business, it is necessary to find out the cause of her death.

However, Kelsey's thoughts were not expressive, as if he was not interested in the death of Golden Rose in the Rose Theater, and specifically pointed out Lestrade's misunderstanding.

"I haven't seen you in a few months. The detective must have eaten a lot of foie gras, and he thinks that it is easy to solve the case of Golden Rose."

What's the matter with eating foie gras here?

Lestrade didn't react for a moment, and only grasped the second half of the sentence, "Do you think it's complicated? Have you noticed any clues?"

Kelsey shook her head, "There is no autopsy, and it is too early to talk about any clues. But I know two things. If it is a poisoning, it is a complicated and possibly lengthy process to determine the poison.

In addition, whenever actors and singers with many supporters are killed, solving the case is likely to encounter additional obstacles. "

In this era, there are no titles of fans and idols, but there are already similar corresponding groups.

For example, 13 people including Corbett are comparable fans. Due to the limitations of the times, these fans will become a major obstacle in the investigation.

Seeing Lestrade, Kelsey still didn't believe it, "Not to mention that everyone has selfish desires, let's talk about it first, can the autopsy of Golden Rose be carried out smoothly?

Supporters from all over London even traveled thousands of miles to see her performance, can they allow the forensic doctor to disembowel the perfect golden rose and take out various organ samples for toxicology or other tests? "

Hit the ground running!

Lestrade covered his forehead, why didn't he consider this!

Today, Scotland Yard does not have a forensic department, let alone the authority to conduct an autopsy on any of its victims.

Even if it is known that he/she was murdered, in principle, the consent of the next of kin must be obtained, or a special entrustment has been signed before him/her.

Rules are rules, and there is bound to be room for maneuver.

In order to solve the case at the best time, unidentified corpses are usually found, and Scotland Yard will not wait foolishly to contact the family members, and the police detectives will inspect them first.

In most cases, the bottom will not dispute with Scotland Yard, while the middle and upper levels will allow the medical school to conduct detailed autopsies in order to find the real culprit who murdered relatives.

It is not yet known whether the deceased Stephanie has any close relatives, but it is likely that there will be people who disagree with the autopsy among the supporters of the Golden Rose.In daily case handling, there are by no means a small number of opponents of this type of autopsy.

Once a crowd gathers to make trouble,...

When Lestrade thought of that scene, his scalp went numb for an instant, and he might not even be able to withstand the pressure.

"Mr. Bennet who saved lives."

Lestrade immediately changed his attitude, and looked at Kelsey earnestly and sincerely, "You are so predictable, there must be a corresponding solution, right?"

"Disappointing the Inspector. I said early on that no one knows everything."

Kelsey fired a thunderbolt, turned around and left, "There is not much time to be quiet. Before the news of the death spreads, let's interrogate quickly."

Time is running out.

The news of Jin Meigui's death cannot be concealed, even if the theater troupe and theater workers are tight-lipped, the thirteen supporters who witnessed her death will never shut up obediently.

Want to detain 13 people?

Lestrade was taking notes on these men, not mentioning the others, only mentioning Corbett and looking at him resentfully.This colleague will never keep news of the death of Golden Rose.

Even if 13 people can shut up, and tomorrow's performance Golden Rose will not be on stage, how can the audience not ask why.

On the other side, Kelsey and Agent Carter questioned everyone in the troupe.

"How is Stephanie?" the head of the troupe didn't know where to start, "London is the fourth stop of the European tour. The troupe set off from Italy, traveled through three cities in France, and then came to London.

The plan is that the tour will last for one year, the schedule is quite busy, and there is no time for the group members to act privately. Stephanie basically goes in and out with the group. "

Just like the performance in London, the Italian troupe, including Stephanie, 20 people live in the Rose Theater.

"The performance in London lasted for three weeks, and most of it has passed, during which there were only two days of rest."

The head of the troupe remembers clearly, "every Monday is off. Stephanie will go out to meet friends during the day, but she will come back around ten o'clock in the evening. On normal performance days, she will chat with her supporters, and the show will end before midnight. gone."

Three hours a night, six consecutive days of performances, and rehearsals as usual in the afternoon.As the lead actress, Stephanie has no energy but participates in extra social activities.

Several members of the troupe who live next door to Stephanie also proved that they have not seen strangers during non-performance hours recently.

In addition to the opportunity for supporters to meet the Golden Rose after the performance, the Rose Theater was almost completely closed throughout the day, and outsiders were not allowed to enter to disturb the rehearsal.

Agent Carter recorded everyone's room numbers and their schedules one by one.

Kelsey asked the sensitive question to the troupe members who entered the cubicle one by one, "How is the relationship between Ms. Toby and the rest of the troupe?"

Without exception, including the head of the group, they all gave answers that were at odds with each other.

Ten years ago, Stephanie joined the troupe, and she had a good relationship with other people in the six years before she became popular.Later, as the name of the Golden Rose spread throughout Europe, the troupe gradually noticed Stephanie's duplicity.

Counting them down, there are always too many.For example, intentionally or unintentionally suppressing actresses, such as treating powerful audiences differently from ordinary audiences.

Once someone in the troupe pointed out Stephanie's problems, she would complain to her supporters in private, saying that someone in the troupe deliberately bullied her.

"I just joined the troupe last summer."

Adler still maintains a calm mind when talking about Stephanie, "Although I have heard about it, but I have never trusted her. I have worked with Stephanie for nearly nine months, and she is indeed strict with newcomers."

Adler smiled, "Sternly pointing out shortcomings is a good thing for me, and my professionalism has improved rapidly."

Kelsey looked at Adler. In front of all the accusations of slander and murder, the 20-year-old newcomer to the troupe could not be surprised. She was a woman destined to be extraordinary.

"But you are indeed at odds, what is the specific reason?"

"Simply put, Ms. Toby doesn't think I am qualified for the current role, and I think Ms. Toby's singing skills have declined. She must correct her attitude towards the performance."

Adler only started from the perspective of concentrating on work, "The soul of opera is music. As the chief, Ms. Toby must concentrate on the performance during the tour."

"Didn't Ms. Toby make it?" Kelsey asked about the night. "What did you think of today's performance?"

Adler did not answer directly, but instead asked, "What do you think?"

Kelsey stared at Adler for a few seconds, then smiled and said, "I'm not very interested in opera, and I don't understand soul. I just intuitively think that you sing better than Golden Rose."

A simple and straightforward compliment.

Adler was slightly taken aback. She had heard many compliments, but she didn't expect the restrained English gentleman in front of her to say that.

"Your favor is my honor."

The corners of Adler's mouth were slightly raised, which was different from a polite smile, just like when he thanked Kelsey before, he smiled from the bottom of his heart.

"In music, instincts are sometimes the most honest. If you're a layman and you know I can sing better, with all due respect, Ms. Toby's singing has really slipped."

Kelsey received, "And you know why she regressed."

Adler was silent for a few seconds, then nodded slowly. "The rest of the troupe may not have noticed that Jin Meigui has the idea of ​​retiring, and the tour is her last stage.

Ms. Toby is 28 years old, and it is not surprising that she wants to marry.Although everyone saw that the Golden Rose was surrounded by supporters and seemed to enjoy flowers and applause, Ms. Toby knew how to retreat bravely. "

"Do you know which man she is related to?"

Kelsey pressed, "Was that guy in the audience on tour?"

Adler shook his head, "I haven't met that man face-to-face, I only know that he will send roses sprinkled with gold powder to Ms. Toby.

In the past in Italy, it would appear every once in a while.I didn't see it during the French tour in the last two months, but the golden pink rose appeared again after coming to London. "

The reason why she thought Stephanie wanted to retire was because she looked at Jinfen Rose differently.

"This is my personal judgment. Ms. Toby's ambition for the stage, in the face of the giver of the gold pink rose, shows the love of a woman. Love makes her want to return to the family.

As for the usual times, Ms. Toby treats the men who have an affair with her, just enjoying the vanity of being surrounded by those people. "

Listening to Adler's objective tone, the latter criticism does not treat any personal emotions, but just states facts.

The relevant inquiries have come to an end for the time being.

The thirteen male Golden Rose supporters all thought that the Stephanie they supported was perfect.

Jin MeiXinMei performed beautifully, took good care of her colleagues, and laughed it off even if she was wronged.How to make people dislike.

Opinions were also unified in the theater troupe. After Stephanie became popular, she gradually drifted further and further away from the troupe members.

If it wasn't for the reputation of Golden Rose, the troupe needed this pillar, and they would definitely not tolerate her behavior any longer.

As for the lovers of Gold Pink Rose and Stephanie, except for Adler, no one else has paid attention to either of them.

In Stephanie's room, indeed, a bouquet of gold roses was found.The outer packaging has been removed, and the bouquet is placed in a vase by the bed.

But I couldn't find the message card, and after asking around, no one noticed when Stephanie received the flowers.It may have been given by the audience during the performance interval, but there were too many gifts for the Golden Rose, so I couldn't remember the logistics clearly.

The interviews with both parties are over, and the first round of poison searches is complete.

In order to ensure the quality of the performance, the food provided to the theater troupe is light, so as not to hurt the actors' throats due to fishy or spicy food, or cause physical burden due to greasy food.

Alcohol and stimulant drinks are prohibited, and there are no suspicious items in Stephanie's room.All the catering utensils she touched were sealed up for laboratory testing.

This time, the search was as detailed as possible, and it took more than four hours to search the Rose Theater from top to bottom.

The only confirmed source of the poison was the external plaster found in Adler's luggage.

At present, it is known that poison celery has serious toxicity, which can cause headache, vomiting, weakness of limbs, and eventually death.

Hemlock is not a common poison, and more characteristics of the onset of toxicity are yet to be tested.

Kelsey purposely collects Stephanie's vomit.She didn't know much about poison celery. Judging from her behavior before death, the death of Jin Meigui was consistent with the poisoning of poison celery.

However, no conclusions can be drawn on this.

The use of poison involves the specific dosage, whether there are mixed poisons, and whether Stephanie has concealed other people's underlying diseases, showing behavior similar to poisoning before death.

Kelsey could analyze rationally, and Corbett, who had been holding back for half the night, exploded when he heard the news.

"What? Found a tube of poisonous plaster!"

Corbett didn't listen to anything else, and pointed at Adler angrily, "What did I say before? It was her poison, and I was right!"

"Detective York! Who asked you to tell the clues!"

Lestrade was still worrying about how to successfully dissect Stephanie's body and how to make the thirteen Golden Rose supporters conceal the news of the death for the time being, but Corbett jumped out unexpectedly.

Looking around, Lestrade found that York's eyes were different. This unreliable guy even quickly leaked the results of the on-site investigation.

York shrank his neck and muttered in a low voice, "Inspector Corbett is also from Scotland Yard, so he is not considered an outsider."

Lestrade took a deep breath, stupid subordinate, he will change when he returns to the police station.

Even if York ignores Corbett's headstrong conceit and private emotions, this so-called is not an outsider, and the whole theater knows it with his voice.

"My ointment, of course, is my own. I have kept Ms. Toby at arm's length, as anyone in these troupes can attest."

Adler still didn't change his face, and asked Corbett without fear, "Do you think I can still poison and kill people under the watchful eyes of everyone?"

Corbett sneered angrily, "Is there any impossibility! Who knows if you will be poisoned in full view of the public. It is innumerable to have a group of people testify."

"Yep!"

The thirteen Golden Rose supporters disagreed, and the mustache said sarcastically, "And you are in the same group, maybe there is a possibility of false testimony."

The head of the troupe lowered his face when he heard it, "Who gave false testimony! I have already said that the troupe went in and out together, and eighteen pairs of eyes looked at Irene and Stephanie, as well as several staff members of the theater. Are you all blind! If you haven’t been poisoned, you haven’t been poisoned.”

After staying up all night, both parties were originally sleepy.

Now because of a tube of external plaster, the two sides are once again fighting each other.

Lestrade and Brightman both frowned and had a headache, they couldn't help but looked at Kelsey together, expecting him to say something soon.

'Papa--'

Kelsey applauded suddenly, "That's right, Mr. Corbett is right this time, the public eye doesn't mean there is nothing to take advantage of."

Lestrade's eyes widened: Is the devil sleepy?Feeling drowsy, on the wrong side? !

"I am the Inspector of Scotland Yard, and of course I can see through this kind of loophole."

Corbett smiled smugly, and gave Lestrade a sidelong glance, without the need for anyone else.

Kelsey asked humbly, "Then do you know that, in terms of probability and logic, the person who first discovered the deceased or the person who reported the crime may also be the murderer?"

Without waiting for Corbett's question and answer, Kelsey smiled at the thirteen Golden Rose supporters:

"Gentlemen, from Ms. Toby's exit to her death, she has never seen anyone other than you. Even if it is in full view, there is no other party to prove that you have not joined forces to poison. After all, it is impossible to determine the specific situation of the corpse now. Immediately Poison exists too."

"you……"

Corbett was about to yell, but was stopped by Roderick.

Roderick is the highest among the 13 people, and it is impossible to accept the identification of the murderer, and it is useless to scold Kelsey. "Mr. Bennet, what do you say?"

"The most objective and powerful evidence is to conduct an anatomical examination on Ms. Toby, and conduct a toxicological analysis of her various organs and blood."

Kelsey said helplessly, "It's just a few difficulties. Considering everyone's love for Golden Rose, I'm afraid you won't want her to be dissected, and the opposition from the outside world will hinder the discovery of the truth."

There is a big hole ahead!

Roderick saw the hole dug for him and 12 others, and the name of the hole was 'Proof of Innocence, Full Cooperation'.This is to ask them to rush forward and propose an autopsy for Jin Meigui.

Roderick's face turned green and pale. If he jumped into the pit, he might receive a lot of public opinion siege.

But don't jump in, Kelsey has turned black and white, and pulled 13 of them into the water.Once it explodes, it will also be besieged by public opinion.

hateful!Roderick gritted his teeth secretly. Now that the KS team is in the limelight, he can't keep Kelsey's mouth shut.

Countless headlines in countless newspapers in London and even Europe are willing to invite this Mr. Bennet to do an exclusive interview.

Kelsey looked gentle and didn't rush, "It's going to be dawn soon, why don't you have breakfast first. Everyone think about it and what to do next."

"You don't have to think about it after breakfast, of course we are fully cooperating."

Roderick tried his best to pull a smile, "Autopsy, autopsy is necessary! Only then can the murderer be caught and the innocent be innocent."

Roderick glared at Corbett angrily as he said, it was this stupid guy who gave someone a handle.

"Mr. Roderick, you really understand the righteousness."

Kelsey also added, "As you requested last night, the overnight search for evidence is not to give the murderer a chance to erase the evidence. Now in order to solve the case as soon as possible, it is very important that the known clues are not leaked. Whoever tells it, then his suspicion ..."

Unfinished meaning, let everyone figure it out for themselves.

Roderick took a deep breath, and told the 12 people to leave here to discuss what to do.

Kelsey also offered to leave. The next autopsy must find a reliable forensic doctor. It is still uncertain which medical school is willing to accept Jin Meigui's body.

Before leaving, Kelsey winked at Adler.

Just now, the two people's inadvertent verbal cooperation has deceived the Golden Rose supporters, aimed at the flaws, and threw out the cauldron of how to solve the autopsy public opinion storm.

"Hey! Go slowly! I'm the one driving the carriage. If the driver doesn't arrive, can the carriage move?"

Lestrade quickly followed Kelsey, "Thank you for the autopsy. As a thank you, I invite you to have breakfast. What would you like to eat?"

At this moment, Lestrade was in a very good mood, and the autopsy turmoil had been brought to the fore.

"However, I have a small request. Can you give some hints in the future? At first I thought you were on Corbett's side."

In the theater, everyone else also dispersed.

Adler walked a little slower, and shook his head with a smile when he heard Lestrade's words.

The Inspector should have had more confidence in Mr. Bennet, and he may have missed a detail.

——Kelsey never called Corbett an inspector, only called Lestrade an inspector, and obviously never thought that the character and professionalism of the former one were worthy of being a policeman.

Kelsey climbed into the carriage, ignored Lestrade's little plea for a hint, and said casually, "Anything to eat around Montague Street. And I sincerely suggest that the Inspector eat less goose. "

Goose is mentioned for the second time.

Lestrade didn't understand why he wanted to eat less goose products?