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

Women in varying degrees of nakedness roamed through the joint, talking to anyone who would give them time. Men in expensive suits sat at enclosed booths and whispered to one another.

Byron spotted Selene sitting alone at a table with a small glass of alcohol. She seemed perfectly at ease. A booth sat empty near the table. He ushered Mira in that direction, let her slip in before him, and then sat down next to her. They had a perfect view of the door. They waited, listening to the din of people talking and laughing.

He subtly pulled out his pocket watch and Mira looked over his shoulder. Ten minutes to noon. Molly Bridges would be here any moment. Mira’s eyes drifted over to the door. Joe stood threateningly in front of it, the only path to freedom blocked by the smuggler who had kidnapped her. She looked up at Byron. He wouldn’t know that. His eyes carefully catalogued everyone in the room. Silently calculating. She looked back towards Joe, whose back was turned to her now. He opened the slot, and then the door. Molly Bridges strolled through as if she owned the place.

At least Mira thought it was Molly. Her face was the same, but her entire demeanor changed. The crying lover persona was a thing of the past. Her hair cascaded in waves of brown instead of red. She wore a black dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves, and carried a fan. A necklace prominently shone from her alabaster neck, a triangle enclosed in a circle. At each point of the triangle was a small gem. She looked around the establishment, saw Selene, smiled sweetly, and made her way over. Mira lost sight of her behind the booth.

“Selene Vermielle! So, it seems that you were telling the truth. Look at you! Free again.”

“Cut the sweet act, Shadow. You owe me payment,” Selene hissed.

“Do I?”

“We previously agreed that if I burglarized a specific set of rooms that you would compensate me.”

“I specifically remember telling you that the things you found in the apartment would be your compensation.”

“Even if that were true, there was nothing worth stealing.”

“Perhaps you didn’t look hard enough.”

“I’ve heard tell through the grapevine that you used my burglary to kill someone. I really don’t appreciate being a scapegoat. I’d like to be compensated.”

“I suppose I can’t argue with that.” There was the sound of muffled coins crashing onto the table, and a shuffling and clinking as Selene picked them up and counted them.

“This is barely enough.” There was a pause before a nervous, “but I’ll take what I can get.”

“Your gratitude is inspiring.”

“So, is it true?”

“Is what true, kitty?”

“You killed the man that lived there?”

“And if I did? What do you care? I’ve killed plenty of people.”

“I’m just curious.”

“And curiosity killed the cat. I’d consider the consequences before asking questions. Anything else you wanted?”

“No, that’s all.” Selene’s voice trembled.

“Good. I have places to be.” Chair legs slid across the carpet and then the Shadow was visible once again. She directed herself towards the door, then she stopped and turned back towards the table that Mira and Byron sat at. She smiled, and Mira felt the bile returning. Selene practically ran to the door and escaped past Joe.

“Ah. The little private detective and his pretty sidekick. I almost didn’t recognize you. Pity for you that I make it a point to know everyone who enters this club.”

“I presume I have the pleasure of speaking to the Shadow?” Byron dropped the act, straightened and resumed his normal voice.

“Indeed, you do. We have met before, you know. In a small house on the other side of town. Of course, I looked a bit different then. But you wouldn’t remember, would you?”

Byron bristled at her comment but stayed quiet.

“Of course, you do, don’t you little Mira Blayse?” She smiled at her. Mira felt cold all over.

“I certainly didn’t recognize you in that attire. Your posture is the only thing giving you away. Everything else is simply perfect, down to the soot in your hair. I’m very impressed,” the Shadow crooned.

“You and I both know you didn’t come over here to congratulate us on our disguises.” Byron gritted his teeth. Mira could tell that he didn’t like not remembering his previous interactions with Molly.

“No? Well perhaps you are right. I came to extend an invitation.”

“What kind of invitation?” Mira managed to keep her voice steady. Her insides tied themselves into knots. The Shadow, formerly known as Molly, slipped a piece of paper across the table. Byron picked it up and glanced at it.

“The Order of Circe requests your presence at a meeting of its members later this evening. I’d suggest that you come.”

“And if we don’t?” Byron clenched his fist around the message, crumpling it beyond recognition.

“Well, at least one of you knows about the consequences.” The Shadow stared Mira down and smiled. Mira swallowed and looked at Byron. His face continued to be stoic and unmoving.

“And if you need a hint, you need only to look at today’s paper.” She made a show of examining her nails before turning back to Byron. “Besides, I’m sure you’d like to get your journal back.”

“You took it?” Mira’s anger boiled to the surface.

“After getting into an apartment once, it’s easy to infiltrate again. I had hoped to get it the first time, but the address I found also proved useful.”

“What is it that you want from us at this meeting?” Byron slipped the paper into his pocket.

“We need to come to an understanding. An agreement. This is us offering you a chance. Hopefully, you’ll take it.” She stood up and took a few steps towards the door, then stopped and looked over her shoulder.

“Oh, and by the way, Samira, my sister wanted me to tell you that you impressed her with your French. She truly thought you were a native.” With that, she slinked back to the door, Joe opened it, and she disappeared. The din of the Pit crashed over Mira’s ears.

“Byron?”

“Hmm?”

“Are we going to