48 Hours a Day Novel Chapter 495 - The Idle Days

Chapter 495 The Idle Days

“That was an exhilarating fight! You followed all the pointers I gave you, won the fight, and fooled all the spectators at the sa ti. Here’s the money you won.”

Hols handed all thirty pounds to his flatmate.

As a participant, Zhang Heng couldn’t bet on himself, so he had Hols place the bet on his behalf. In addition to the two pounds he won, he received a respectable 32 pounds from the fight alone.

“You have no prior reputation, and no one knows how good you are. What more, this is just so lowly anonymous fight, so the fee for your appearance is only this much. It will get better, but it looks like you’re too eager to make a na for yourself, haha!”

“Like I said, making money is of secondary importance to ,” replied Zhang Heng as he wiped the sweat off his face with a towel.

“Pity. If you continue participating in fights, you might very well beco a well-known boxer. You have the skills, the composure, and you co from so ancient, mysterious land from the far east. It would be an excellent gimmick,” Hols remarked. “But I’m glad that you’re willing to work with . I really do need a partner.”

...

Two weeks had passed since the River Thas case. At that ti, Zhang Heng managed to sieze Pearson who was trying to escape, and Gregson interrogated him on the spot, thus confirming Hols’ deduction. The inspector had Paul imdiately released, but bad news awaited him when he went to John’s house with his n to arrest him. They learned that he had gone on vacation and had left the night before-clearly, the movents of a guilty man.

Gregson slapped his thigh in a fury. What worried him most was that John would have escaped to so obscure colony and would never return. He could be a long way from England and it would be nearly impossible to catch him then. But Hols had suggested that unlike Pearson, John was a man of good standing in London, owning many factories and plots of pri estate.

He wouldn’t have abandoned all of these things and escape to the colonies, where life was far less colorful than a big city unless it was his last resort. His escape was more of a temporary nature. Hols’ proposal to Gregson was also straightforward.

“Capture” Paul, and then pay John’s house another visit with the excuse of inviting him to attend Paul’s trial in court.

Gregson thought about it and did as he was told, and it did not take long for this gambit to bear fruit.

it turned out that John had never left London at all. Instead, he had been hiding in a secret manor on the outskirts, keeping a close eye on the situation, while his old housekeeper would report any news to him. The arrest of the “murderer” instantly made headlines on the Echo and newspapers such as The Tis and The Evening News. Headed by Inspector Gregson, Scotland Yard was lauded for their efficiency and valor. Furthermore, unions and activists were also demanding for the personal safety of female workers be improved. With the matter seemingly concluded, John returned to his ho a week later, worried that a lengthy absence would raise suspicion.

As soon as he set foot into his house, he was instantly surrounded by the police.

Gregson could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Smugly, he put John in cuffs, and the next day, Echo printed a new article detailing how the astute Inspector Gregson had used the dia to deceive the killer, lowering his guard down, before finally nabbed the real perpetrator.

The citizens of London felt as if they were witnessing the unfolding of a sensational detective story. They little expected the case to hold so many unforeseen surprises, where a battle between sheer wit of police and criminal ended with justice triumphing over evil. Who would hate to read a story like that?

Hols had also been keeping track of the case’s progress, but mostly, of whether his deductions of the criminals were accurate or not. Everything else outside of that didn’t seem to concern him.

Hols even made a trip to see John personally after his arrest. He returned to 221 Baker Street that day, looking extrely pleased. Zhang Heng thought it was rather amusing. Sherlock Hols’s obsession with deduction and reasoning had reached a tipping point where most people found difficult to understand. He was addicted to it, like a child preoccupied with toys, unable to withdraw no matter how hard they tried.

“The case itself isn’t complicated. In fact, it was quite simple. If I had been put in charge, I would have been able to tell that John was the killer right off the bat. Even if the evidence was insufficient and I couldn’t make an arrest, I would have my n follow him and keep him form escaping. Thank goodness, it’s finally over,” said Hols.

It took Zhang Heng two weeks to go through all the cases Sherlock had handed him. They really opened his eyes, especially so of the more compelling cris committed by the more crafty murderers.

Hols, however disagreed with the quick scanning

“There’s no need to rush. This is just the beginning. After this, you’ll need to summarize and analyze the similarities and differences between these cases, then rember them. You might encounter similar cases in the future, and you’ll be able to make quick, efficient deductions. As for the knowledge of soil, tobacco, and all that, I’ll be teaching you that as well. But not now... At least not until you’ve completed the first stage; otherwise, you might just bite off more than you can chew.”

Zhang Heng nodded.

With the stipends he earned from the boxing match, money wasn’t going to be worry for the next two months. Of course, as the odds of him winning increased, things wouldn’t be that simple anymore. His appearance fee would increase, of course, but he would have to participate in two or three fights a month to make enough money to cover his expenses.

Sherlock Hols was consulted on two more cases after the River Thas case, one from a fellow detective, and another commissioned by a client. After listening to detailed accounts, Hols compiled a list of deductions and solved the cases without even visiting the scene of the cri.

These two cases earned him so money. But after that, there was an idle stint.

With no work available for the entire week, Hols finally found the ti to complete his paper on the effect of the shape of hands on different professions. Then began the screeching and howling of his violin, until he finally succumbed to the boredom and beca a sack of potatoes.

When Zhang Heng enjoyed his breakfast, which he rarely had the opportunity, Hols was still fast asleep. In fact, he spent the entire morning in his room.

Zhang Heng knocked on his flatmate’s door and let himself in.

Hols was slouching on his suede armchair with his head tilted back. There was a syringe on the side table and a couple of needle holes in his arm.

“Do you know that this only serves to kill you?” asked Zhang Heng.

“Don’t worry; this is only 7% of the solution. I’m aware of the harms it can bring, but I am not the type of who can just sit and do nothing. I need to be doing sothing! Even if I am given the most difficult problem or the most difficult case, I would be happy. I detest living an uneventful, diocre life! The side effects of this drug is nothing by comparison.”

Hols’s eyes were shut as he spoke, “Every earthling pursues stability and comfort, getting married, having children, and a stable job. But what’s there to look forward to in a life like that? Don’t get

wrong. I’m don’t look forward to chaos all day long, but if there are no criminals in London, then I will consider relocating! Otherwise, I might just die in this chair sooner or later!”