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

“My parents I suppose. I know now beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were murdered.”

“Murdered?” Landon pulled back in surprise.

“We’ve been investigating it. And the evidence points to that. The Vaporidge company wanted them dead for some reason.”

“I see.”

“I’ve just felt for so long that their accident was more than that. And now that I know, I thought it would make me feel better somehow. That finding the truth would bring me closer to them. The investigation is by no means over but…”

“You haven’t found the closure you were looking for?”

“Exactly.”

“Closure comes with time. You need to allow yourself the time to grieve.”

“Eighteen years isn’t long enough?”

“Sometimes a lifetime isn’t long enough.” He looked down. “I don’t think I ever told you about Mrs. Tisdale. After all, she died before you were born.” He took off the glove on his left hand. A golden wedding band shone in the dwindling light.

“No, you hadn’t. You were married?” Mira filed away this new information.

“I am married. Just because she has passed on, doesn’t mean she isn’t here.” He placed a hand on his heart. “Every day I miss her. It’s been over thirty years. She died in childbirth. Which is why I feel so fortunate that I’ve had the opportunity to help raise you and your brother.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. It isn’t your fault any more than it is mine. It is something that happened, and though it grieves me every day, I know things will be alright. It may take a lifetime for you to accept the loss of your parents, Mira. Sometimes there isn’t closure.” He put his glove back on.

“But that’s all I want!”

“Is it, though? When you close a chapter, that means it is done. You don’t think about it. You forget. It is possible to move past things in life, but if we don’t keep it slightly open in our memory, it will be forgotten.” He paused to pour a cup of tea for himself. “And if you hadn’t kept it open so far, you wouldn’t have met Byron.” He took a sip.

“Well, I would have. After all, we met at a cafe before I even went looking for a private detective.”

“But would you know him now?”

“Probably not.” She blew a strand of hair from her face.

“I suppose that isn’t a problem though. Is it?” He took another sip.

“No! It would be awful if I had never met him. I wouldn’t trade these last few weeks for anything!”

“Because of the mystery or because of him?” He set his teacup down.

“Because of…” She trailed off, struck by an epiphany. “That’s actually one of the things that’s been bothering me.”

“Oh?”

“The thrill of the mystery, the chase, tracking down clues, everything; I love it. It speaks to some fundamental part of me. I can’t help but be drawn to it, but I really shouldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“Well it isn’t really ladylike, is it?”

“Since when were you interested in being ladylike?” His eyes sparkled.

“It’s just, this is so new to me. Chasing down criminals, sneaking into places I shouldn’t be in, questioning people, solving murders, this shouldn’t be interesting to me. Should it?”

“Perhaps not. But then again, it depends on your reasons for doing it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Motive is a strong indicator of character. Why do people join the military?”

“I don’t see how this is relevant.”

“Bear with me. Why do people join the military?”

“To protect the country?”

“That’s one reason. And an admirable one at that. But that isn’t the main reason I joined the regiment.”

“I didn’t know you were in the military.”

“There are many things you don’t know about me, Mira.”

“Why did you join?”

“There was the promise of adventure. Foreign lands. Scouting missions. Discovering new places. All of that was highly tempting to a brash, young lad like me.”

“Why not become an explorer, then?”

“I didn’t have the fortune to spend on expeditions. But by joining the military, I got my adventures as well as a salary I could send back to my wife. However, joining the military meant the possibility of coming face to face with death. Killing other men. I didn’t enjoy that part at all. If I did, there would have been a major problem. I’m not a killer. But I have killed people. Ask yourself what your motive is, and then you can determine whether it is wrong or right.”

“I just enjoy finding the clues, putting them together, it’s all just so fascinating. It’s as if my artistic observations have a new purpose beyond sketching.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with that, as long as you are safe. And aside from that, you are helping people by solving these crimes.”

“I guess that’s true, but…”

“Yes?”

“There’s another part to it. Byron is just so different. In a good way, of course. He’s exciting, and brilliant, and spontaneous.”

“He sounds wonder—”

“But I can’t like him.” Mira interrupted.

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Firstly, because it would get in the way. I can’t focus on emotions when I’m around him. He needs me to focus on the mystery. Not him.”

“Can’t you do both?”

“I don’t know. But even if I could, what use would it be? He can’t remember me. It isn’t like he’d fall in love with me.”

“You’d be surprised. But I understand. You don’t want to get your hopes up in case he’ll never remember you.”

“Exactly. It just makes sense to keep my emotions in check.”

“Then, what’s the problem?”

“I can’t convince my emotions of that! Every time I get around him, or look at him, or talk with him, I start getting butterflies. Often enough, I can push them to the side, but other times they are insufferable!”

“Emotions are strong beasts. It is possible to control them, but it can be difficult. Especially when it comes to love.”

“They’re making things too complicated. I can’t be falling in love with him! It’s been less than two weeks.”

“And who is to say that love has a timeline? Two weeks, two years, two days? What does that matter to the heart?”

“Landon, I swear if you got