Constantine Capers: The Pennington Perplexity by Natalie Brianne (new ebook reader TXT) 📕

The side table lay in pieces on the floor. She entered the living room and found that every drawer, every paper, every facet of the room had been uprooted from its normal place and rearranged into complete disarray. The entire place was turned upside down. She stood in absolute shock as Byron came in. He frowned, but didn’t seem to be too upset by it.

“It would seem someone wanted to see what we knew. Let’s go ahead and clean up and see what’s missing.”

He calmly began to pick up the papers and drawers and place them into piles. Mira stood there for a moment more before helping him.

“Byron, how can you be so calm about this? Someone has broken into your home!”

“Yes. They have. And really, I’m not too concerned. Everything that matters to me was with me outside Palace Court.” He smiled at her. She blushed slightly and looked down. He cleared his throat. “After all, the most useful information I have is in my journal.”

“Right, of course.” She shook her head, feeling a bit foolish, and continued to pick up the odds and ends that had been flung about the room.

In the end, from what they could tell, nothing had been stolen other than a few address files and some notes that he already had in his journal. He couldn’t be certain what was missing because of his memory, but as he wasn’t concerned, Mira couldn’t be worried about it. She brought a fresh pot of tea and some cups into the living room while he finished up the last of the papers. She offered him a cup, and he took it gratefully.

“See Mira? Everything is alright. Nothing of consequence was stolen or hurt. It just means we are getting closer to the answer and someone wants to hinder us.”

“Perhaps you are right.” She placed the tray on the table and took a cup and a seat for herself.

“Now, I believe we were going to go over the remaining facts.” He pulled out his journal.

“Let us start with the previous suspects and then work our way through this new information to eliminate some of them.” He flipped through the pages of his journal, came to a stop and put his finger down on the page.

“Firstly, we have the landlord. What do you think of him Mira?”

“Well, he seems like he cares about money more than his tenants. However, Pennington dying doesn’t do anything to help him. Unless of course he is involved with the smugglers.”

“Which is unlikely, but is still an option. What about his coworkers?”

“Seeing as Pennington didn’t know about the smuggling hold before he discovered it, I would doubt his coworkers knew anything about it. They also probably weren’t good enough friends for them to know where he lived.”

“Excellent thought process. I suppose we can skip over Ms. Bridges?” He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Well, no. She’s in the same boat as the landlord. She would have a motive if she was involved with the smugglers.”

Byron smiled. “Which is unlikely as well, but it is also an option. Selene Vermielle?”

Mira paused in thought. “I think she is telling the truth. I don’t think she has anything to do with the smugglers, but she is involved with a bigger group. One that would know where Pennington would be.” Her thought process stopped.

“Just a moment.”

“Yes?”

“She knew he would be gone at ten.”

“Yes. She did.”

“How would anyone know that for certain?”

“Well perhaps if that was his usual style to go on a walk late at night, or if the murderer had invited him out…” He trailed off. She saw his internal gears turning and felt hers as well.

She stood up. “We need to talk to Mr. Graham again. He might have seen something.”

“I think that is an excellent idea, Mira. But we’re going to have to do it tomorrow.”

“Why tomorrow?”

“Do you see the time?” She looked over at the clock. It was well after nine. Had it really taken that long to reorganize his apartment? Mr. Graham could be up, but it would be rude to disturb him at this late hour. She sat back down.

“Tomorrow, then. First thing. He must have seen something.”

“I agree. Let’s get you a cab back home.”

They finished their tea and then grabbed their coats from the hooks in the hall. She walked down the front steps into the drizzly evening air. He closed and locked the door behind him and came down the steps next to her. He hailed a cab, as it was raining, and they both got in, telling the cab driver in unison where to go. She laughed, he smiled, and they both sat back in the seat.

“You’ll have to remind me tomorrow exactly what we’ll be doing.”

“Of course. I always do.”

“Well, I can’t be entirely certain of that,” he teased.

“Then in that case you could always write it down in your journal.”

“I’d rather hear it from you.”

He looked at her, with that deep gaze that made her stomach flutter. She looked down blushing again. How did he always manage to do that? He lifted her face up slightly with a gentle hand then pulled it away. He looked forward again in thought. She found herself thinking artistically again as she thought about how strong his profile was, watching the lights and shadows flickering across his face from the lights on the street. He turned towards her again, pulling her out of her reverie.

“Mira,” He stopped and ran a hand through his hair. He stuttered. “What is your opinion of me?” The question caught her by surprise. She paused to pick her words carefully and to ensure that she didn’t embarrass herself.

“I think you are brilliant and kind. You’re a gentleman. I, well…” She stopped herself. “I’m delighted to be your secretary and to share your friendship.” He nodded considering her words. She looked away, attempting to hide the thoughts she didn’t understand yet. Knowing him, her eyes hadn’t given her thoughts away to