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

to shine a light on the case should anything happen to her or Byron. She smiled to herself as she climbed back into the carriage. She checked the pocket watch again. Almost quarter to eight. An hour and fifteen minutes to figure out what to do. How was she even supposed to get in? The carriage came to a stop in front of Vale street, she paid the driver, and then walked down to number 6.

In the middle of this dull residential area stood an unimposing building. Red brick, white trimmings, obviously a wealthy person lived here, but it looked exactly like every other house on the street. She walked past it and looked through the window. A young girl sat on a couch drawing. Mira smiled. She reminded her of herself. A younger boy ran into the room, followed by what seemed to be the mother. This couldn’t possibly be the meeting place for Circe.

The daughter closed her sketchbook and put on a hat. They were leaving. Mira smiled. That was it. Circe wouldn’t use a house that was theirs. They would use one that belonged to someone else as Molly Bridges had done. This family would leave and then the Order of Circe would come. And if she was there before Circe, that meant that she had a chance to get in. She ducked into the alleyway near the house and waited until she heard the door click and the family move down the sidewalk. Then she looked around for a way in. Going through the front door would probably get her arrested for breaking and entering. She walked around to the back. A staircase led to a small veranda at the back of the house. Perfect. A large iron gate separated her from the stairs. She took off her brother’s top hat and pulled two hair pins out. Her hair fell around her shoulders once again as she picked the lock. Soon, the gate creaked open, and she snuck up the stairs to the veranda.

The setting sun created a lovely view over London, but she didn’t have time to look at it now. She needed to get in. She went to the door that led onto the veranda and tested it. It opened without a sound. She smiled and stepped inside the house.

Quiet. The last filtered rays of sunlight came trickling through the windows, giving the darkness a hazy glow. She tiptoed through the house, listening occasionally, to make sure that she truly was alone. She came into the front room. They would likely meet here. The fewer rooms they touched, the more likely it would be that no one would know they were even there. She looked around the room for somewhere to hide. If Byron came alone, he would tell Circe as much. They wouldn’t be expecting her.

Large couches and chairs cluttered the living room. Shelves of books stood on either side of the fireplace, every book matching one another in its cover. A small door sat in the eastern wall. It had been papered over, but the seams of the door were cut in. The room must have been sealed off at some point. She opened the door and found shelves filled with linens. She smiled. It would be perfect. She took the linens and shelves out and brought them to a guest bedroom up the stairs. She hoped the occupants of the house would forgive her.

As it originally led to another room, there was a handle on both sides of the door. Mira determined that would be nice in case anyone tried to open the door. She could hold it closed and pretend it was locked. Everything seemed to be falling into place. She needed to take that place before the Order of Circe decided to show up. She just needed to be able to see. She went into the kitchen and looked around for something she could use.

After opening a few drawers, she found a corkscrew and brought it back to the living room. She felt the wood of the door. It seemed soft, but sturdy enough. She took a deep breath and began to work. The point ripped through the paper without a problem, and although she had to work harder on the wood, it wasn’t long until she had a hole to look through. Better still, it was small enough and positioned in the pattern of the wallpaper so well that it didn’t attract attention. She cleaned up the shavings and put the corkscrew away. The sun set. They would be coming to get ready any minute now. She checked the clock on the mantle. Eight-sixteen. It really wouldn’t be long. She stepped into her cupboard and waited.

It couldn’t have been ten minutes before she heard noise at the back of the house. The Order of Circe had arrived. They lit the lights, causing Mira’s accustomed darkness to vanish. She blinked a few times, then looked through the hole.

The Shadow entered the living room. She wore a pitch-black dress and carried a brown satchel. Behind her came Joe and Sam, the smugglers. At the back came the woman from the smuggling den. Presumably the Shadow’s sister. She spoke first.

“Are you certain they won’t be coming back tonight?”

“Positive.” The Shadow’s words flowed like honey. “I have several families I keep tabs on just in case I need a house. The family that lives in this house is going on holiday this week. They are meeting the husband at the bank and then–”

“Alright, alright I get it. You’re brilliant. You don’t need to show off.” The sister sat in an armchair and folded her arms, entirely annoyed.

“I was simply stating the facts, Angelica.” The Shadow closed the curtains then sat on one of the couches, leaning back into it.

“If it’s all the same, I’d like to have the boys search the place.” Angelica glanced around.

“It’s fine by me.” The Shadow smiled. Angelica snapped and Joe and Sam left. Mira heard their lumbering