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

footsteps going up the stairs and into each of the rooms. She didn’t want to find out what would happen if they found someone.

“Now, are you going to give me the blueprints, or not?” Angelica crossed one leg over the other and folded her arms.

“Oh, I will.”

“Tonight would be nice. After all, I’ve only been waiting for them for weeks.”

“I’ve been holding onto them as collateral until I got my payment.”

“I gave you your payment days ago. What’s keeping you now?”

“Perhaps I’d like to achieve complete and total victory first.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You know that detective? And his secretary?”

“Yes.” Angelica’s eyes narrowed.

“I’ve invited them here tonight.”

“Have you gone completely mad?!”

“Not completely, I’m certain. Because I’m going to do what the Trio hasn’t been able to do. I’m going to kill the detective.”

“You…what?”

“Yes. He’s been bothering the Order for long enough. They tried once, failed, and although his memory loss does make things a bit simpler, he is still quite the little thorn in everyone’s side. Especially with the help of Miss Samira Blayse.”

“If the Trio hasn’t killed him yet, there is a reason. You know that.”

“I think he is too dangerous to our cause.”

“And Circe has been taking care of that. You know the pains they’ve gone to in order to make the Whitechapel distractions.”

“The police can be led by the nose to the wrong clues, but he’s not so easily persuaded. Now that he has an assistant, we can’t throw him entirely off track.”

“Can’t we just steal his journal? We’ve done that before.”

The Shadow reached into her satchel and pulled out a very familiar book. Byron’s journal. She flipped through it, not actually reading, then closed it and set it on the table in the center of the room.

“I’ve stolen it. I stole it before he even came to the Pit this afternoon. And you know what? He still came to the Pit. Because of her.”

“Then why not just find a way to get her to stop?”

“I’m planning on that. But don’t you just think that victory would be much more complete if we got rid of him too?” The Shadow reached into the satchel again and pulled out a small glass syringe. She tapped it with her finger, and it made a resonating clicking noise against her fingernails.

“What does this have to do with the blueprints?”

“When he and Miss Blayse get here, I’ll invite them to sit down. Sam and Joe will guard the exits. You and I will sit and have a chat with them. My end goal is to have him administer the drug to himself and then watch as I hand the blueprints and the girl over to you.”

“How do you plan on doing that?”

“I’ve read his journal. Thoroughly. He may not always remember, but he certainly has feelings for her. Even if he doesn’t remember, he’ll want to be the hero. And so, I’ll give him the option. He can take my ‘serum’ and forget all of this and her, with the promise that we set her free afterwards. Or she can die, and he can report all of his findings to the police.”

“That is an incredible risk.”

“I know. This is what is called the illusion of choice. No matter what he chooses he will die, and she’ll be in your hands to do whatever you like. After all, you have more blood revenge with her than I do.”

“And what about the Trio? Won’t they disapprove of this?”

“They’ll congratulate us on neutralizing the threat. I know from my sources that, as usual, the detective has kept most of the facts out of Scotland Yard’s knowledge. Everything will be wrapped up.”

“You’ve killed someone before they gave us the go-ahead, and you had specific instructions from Number Three not to touch Miss Blayse. She has too many connections. You’ll be suspended from the Order.”

“Graham’s death was a decision made in haste and panic. This is different. This is revenge. I’m sure Number Three will understand.”

Mira felt her breath quickening. The closet stifled her. The men came back down the stairs.

“Did you check everywhere?”

“Yes ma’am. All is clear.”

Mira felt her head go heavy; her knees shook. She was about to faint. She crouched down quickly to try to lose the light-headedness. As she did her knee hit against the door making a knocking sound.

“What was that?” Angelica turned towards the closet. Mira’s heart rate quickened, and she held her breath. Footsteps approached the door. She grabbed hold of the door handle and pulled to hold it shut. A hand grasped the handle on the other side as the clock on the mantle chimed nine.

A knock came at the front door and the hand on the other side of the closet door released. Mira let out a short, quiet breath and stood to look through the hole again. Joe moved towards the entryway, almost out of sight. She heard the door open.

“Oh, hello there. Pardon me, but I believe I have an appointment here for something or other?” Byron’s voice sounded almost cheerful. How could that be? She squinted trying to see better. She could only see the members of Circe. Joe blocked any view of the door.

“Come in.” Joe stepped away from the door, allowing Byron to come in. He strode in, dressed in a sharp suit and tie, his top hat perfectly positioned on his head. He took off his hat and coat and hung them on the hooks in the hall. Then he came into the living room.

“Now, I’m afraid I don’t quite know what I am doing here.”

“You…what?” The Shadow’s smug look melted away.

“I’m afraid I woke up from, I believe a nap. I was a bit confused seeing as I had just gone to bed the night before. But seeing as I woke up around eight o’clock it must have been a nap. When I awoke, I found a note telling me to come here. So here I am.”

“You don’t remember anything?”

“That’s what I said. I gathered from