The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang Read Online Free PDF Page A

make any sense at all,” said the manager crossly.
    â€œI beg to differ,” said Inspector Zhang. “It makes all the sense in the world. It is as Sherlock Holmes himself says in Arthur Conan Doyle’s masterpiece The Adventure of Silver Blaze, it is the fact that the dog did not bark that is significant.”
    â€œWe do not allow dogs in the hotel,” said Mercier. “There are no pets of any kind.”
    Sergeant Lee looked up from her notebook, smiling, and Inspector Zhang sighed. “I was using the story as an example to show that it is sometimes the absence of an event that is significant, which was the case in The Adventure of Silver Blaze. If I recall correctly it is Inspector Gregory who asks Sherlock Holmes if there is anything about the case that he wants to draw to the policeman’s attention. Holmes says yes, to the curious incident of the dog in the night-time. That confuses the inspector who tells Holmes that the dog did nothing in the night-time. To which Holmes replies, ‘That was the curious incident.’ Do you understand now, Madam?”
    She shook her head impatiently. “No, Inspector, I am afraid I do not.”
    â€œThen, Madam, please allow me to demonstrate,” said Inspector Zhang. He put a hand on Mercier’s shoulder. “Please, Mr. Mercier, fast-forward now to the point where the waiter arrives with the room service trolley.”
    â€œThis is a waste of time,” said Mercier. “We did this already.”
    â€œPlease humour me,” said the inspector.
    Mercier did as he asked and they all watched as the video fast-forwarded to the point where Mr. Chau arrived with his trolley and began knocking on the door.
    â€œNormal speed now, please, Mr. Mercier.” The video slowed as they watched the waiter use his key card to enter the room.
    â€œAt this point Mr. Chau is discovering the body and calling down to reception.” Inspector Zhang waited until the waiter appeared at the door and began pacing up and down. “As you can see, no one enters the room until the hotel staff appear.” On the screen Miss Berghuis and her staff appeared and they all hurried into the room. “At this point you phone the police,” said the inspector, turning to Miss Berghuis. The manager nodded. Inspector Zhang patted Mercier on the shoulder. “So now fast-forward until my arrival, Mr. Mercier, but not too quickly. And I want everyone to note that no one else enters the room until I arrive with my sergeant.”
    The door to the room remained closed for twenty minutes until Inspector Zhang and Sergeant Lee stepped out of the elevator.
    â€œNormal speed now, please, Mr. Mercier. Thank you.”
    Mercier pressed a button and the video slowed. Inspector Zhang walked up to the door and knocked on it. It opened and he went inside, followed by his sergeant. The door closed behind them.
    â€œSo, now we are inside, talking to you and assessing the situation. We talk, then I go to the bedroom with you, Miss Berghuis, I look at the body, I talk to you, I walk back to the sitting room, and then I walk out with Mr. Mercier.” On the screen Inspector Zhang and Mercier walked out of the room and headed for the elevator.
    â€œYou can stop it there, Mr. Mercier,” said Inspector Zhang, patting him on the shoulder.
    The picture froze on the monitor, showing Inspector Zhang and Mercier walking towards the elevator.
    â€œSo here is the big question, Mr. Mercier,” said Inspector Zhang. “You walk out of the room now, but when exactly did you walk into the room?”
    Mercier said nothing.
    â€œYou did not arrive with Miss Berghuis.”
    â€œHe was already in the room when we got there,” said the manager. She gasped and put her hand up to her mouth. “My God, he was in there the whole time.”
    â€œApparently so,” said Inspector Zhang.
    Mercier stood up and tried to get out of the door but the two