The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang Read Online Free

sense,” said Inspector Zhang. “Take, for instance, the icicle dagger that Mr. Carr spoke of. Suppose it could be fired through an open window or through a hole drilled into the door. Or a knife thrower in a room opposite the building who throws a knife through an open window but has it tied to a length of string so that he can pull the weapon back. It thus appears that the killer was inside the room when in fact he was outside all the time.”
    â€œBut the windows are sealed and there are no holes in the door, and besides the main door opens into the sitting room, there is another door off that to the bedroom,” said the manager. “The ice dagger would have to turn through ninety degrees and pass through two doors.”
    Inspector Zhang sighed. “Madam, I am not suggesting for one moment that Mr. Wilkinson was killed by a weapon made from ice.”
    â€œWell you are the one who keeps mentioning it,” said the manager, flashing him a withering look. “And if the knife didn’t melt, where is it?”
    â€œExactly,” said Inspector Zhang. “You have put your finger on the crux of the conundrum. Where is the knife? If indeed it was a knife.”
    â€œDo you know?” asked Mercier. “Why are you asking us if you know?”
    â€œI was being rhetorical,” said Inspector Zhang. He took off his glasses and began to methodically polish them with his handkerchief. “I am not sure where the murder weapon is, but I have my suspicions. However, let me first finish Mr. Carr’s list of explanations with the seventh, which is effectively the exact opposite of the fifth.”
    Everyone frowned as they tried to remember what the inspector had said was the fifth method. They all looked around, shrugging at each other.
    Sergeant Lee walked over to Inspector Zhang and whispered in his ear. “Inspector Zhang, I need to talk to you,” she said.
    â€œSergeant Lee, I am in full flow here,” he said. “Can’t it wait?”
    â€œNo, sir, it can not,” said the sergeant.
    Inspector Zhang sighed with annoyance then nodded at the door to the bedroom. “This had better be important,” he said.
    They went through to the bedroom and stood at the foot of the bed. “What is it, Sergeant Lee?” asked the inspector. “You seem concerned.”
    â€œSir, we really should be calling in the Forensic Department,” she said. She looked at her watch. “It will soon be midnight.”
    â€œNot yet,” said Inspector Zhang. “I think we can solve this case without resorting to science.”
    â€œBut it’s procedure, sir. And we have to follow procedure.”
    â€œSergeant Lee, you know that I speak Japanese, don’t you?”
    She nodded. “It came in very useful when we were working on the case of the sushi chef who ran amok in his restaurant,” she said.
    â€œExactly,” said Inspector Zhang. “But do you know why I studied Japanese?”
    The sergeant shook her head.
    â€œThere is a famous Japanese writer named Soji Shimada who wrote thirteen locked room mysteries, only one of which – The Tokyo Zodiac Murders – was translated into English. I wanted to read his other stories, which is why I taught myself Japanese.”
    â€œI understand, Inspector Zhang.”
    â€œThis is important to me, Sergeant Lee. This is a mystery that I can solve. I want to prove that to myself.” He smiled. “And perhaps to prove to you that even in the third millennium there is a need for real detectives.”
    â€œLike Batman?”
    â€œI was thinking more like Sherlock Holmes,” said Inspector Zhang. “We have an opportunity here that we may never have again in our lives. In Singapore we are lucky if we have one murder a year.”
    â€œLucky, sir?”
    Inspector Zhang put up his hand. “You are right; lucky is not the right word. Murders are rare in Singapore. Our