Constantine Capers: The Pennington Perplexity Natalie Brianne (best summer reads of all time .txt) 📖

“So, his influx of money began around March of this year. He received an increased income from March until July, but when he quit his job, he was still receiving funds, withdrawing it in smaller amounts.” He trailed off in thought.

“Yes sir. From what I could tell he was a financially responsible man,” Elkins added.

“How often did he come in?”

“About once a week I believe. He would withdraw the funds he needed for that week, and around March he simply made deposits once a month. I assume he got a second job of some sort. His income from Vaporidge was sent directly here.”

“Thank you so much. You’ve been most helpful. May I keep this?” He gestured with the papers.

“Yes sir, we have a second copy. Happy to oblige you.”

Byron tipped his hat, slipping the documents into his journal and soon he and Mira exited the bank.

“His sudden disappearances on the airship and the influx of money are connected, but how could he have a second job on the airship itself, especially if the paychecks from Vaporidge were separate from his additional income?”

“Then that is the crux of the issue. We need to find out where he was going,” she said.

“Shall we take another ride on an airship Mira?”

“I suppose we shall.”

As they approached the Mooreland docks, Mira once again felt small in contrast to the balloons. The Horizon was moored for repairs.

“It seems as if Fortuna is with us today Mira. We won’t even have to buy a ticket or leave London this time.”

Mira found her breath again.

They approached the ship and Byron focused his efforts on finding the foreman. He stopped one of the men supervising the repairs.

“Excuse me, but where can I find the foreman?”

“Right over there, sir.”

“Thank you.”

The foreman turned towards them as they approached.

“Can I help you?”

“I certainly hope so. You see, I’m a detective working with Scotland Yard. This is my secretary. We are investigating the death of Clement Pennington.”

“Oh? How can I help with that?”

“We need access to the Horizon.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. We need to finish these repairs. It will be launching across the channel first thing tomorrow morning, and we can’t have any distractions.”

“We would stay out of the way. We simply need to look around.”

“I’m sorry, but unless you have a warrant, I can’t let you in.”

The foreman turned back towards his workers and Byron herded Mira around a group of crates.

She said, “If it’s leaving tomorrow, we don’t exactly have the luxury of waiting.”

“My thoughts exactly. It’s also rather odd that he’s so against it. The repairs the ship needs now are minor in comparison to when we were grounded at Bristol, and we were certainly allowed around the ship then.”

“I wonder how late the foreman stays.” Mira peeked around the crates. “He can’t stay all day.”

“True. Perhaps we can take a walk and check back later.”

After taking a long, winding route around the docks, they returned to their hiding spot behind the crates. After watching for a few minutes, Byron turned to her.

“Play along the best you can. I’m going to determine if the foreman is truly gone.”

He led her towards the back section of the ship and found one of the supervisors.

“Hello there, good sir! Would the foreman be around?”

“Not currently. He’s on break. Can I help you with anything?”

“Perhaps. I’m a reporter with the Central News Agency,” he pulled out his journal to corroborate his story.

“Are you wanting an interview?” The man looked skeptical.

“No, we’re wanting to tour your ship. After all, the new and improved airship that Vaporidge is building wouldn’t be nearly as impressive without a comparison. I’ve heard that this ship is currently the finest ship in the fleet!”

The man stood taller. “Indeed, it is sir! I’m fortunate to work on it.”

“So, you’d let us take a look around?”

“Well it isn’t exactly protocol to let anyone on the ship when it’s being cleaned you see—”

“You would impede a critical newspaper article?”

“No sir, not at all but,” he paused for a second, then relented, “well the foreman is out for about two hours, as long as you left before he came back.”

“Good lad.”

They started on the top floor and checked every room, every broom closet, the ballroom, the dining hall, the observation lounge, everywhere for a trap door or hidden passage. Nothing. They moved down into the engine area. Workers tinkered with all sorts of equipment, tightening bolts and maintaining the engines. They avoided the workers the best that they could and kept searching, working their way through the ship checking welding, bolts, and rivets in the walls. Eventually they split up in order to cover more ground.

Mira walked around the back of the ship and it occurred to her that the ceilings in the crew section were a lot shorter than the ceilings in the main chassis. It was odd because they looked to be about the same height from the outside. Perhaps there was an area with more machinery beneath them, but she hadn’t found any doors or stairs to lead down to them. They must need maintenance at some point or another. She kept looking around, and she assumed that Byron did the same.

When she reached the back of the ship, she noticed a grate covering some sort of vent. She furrowed her brow. Had there been any other grates? This one matched the metal surrounding it so well that if she hadn’t been looking closely, she wouldn’t have even noticed it. She pressed her face against it, trying to look beyond the metal crisscrossing. Her eyes met darkness, but there seemed to be an opening of some sort. That was when she noticed the hinges on the grate, as well as the lock keeping it in place.

She left to find Byron. He was around the next bend, pushing on wood panels in the walls.

“Byron, I think I found it.”

“You did? Where is it?”

She led him back to the grate and showed him the hinges.

“Problem is, it’s locked. How much