5th Pentagram: The sequel to the #1 Hard Boiled Mystery, 9th Circle (Book 3 of the Darc Murders Trilogy) (Book 3 of the Darc Murder Series) by Ben Hopkin Page B
Authors: Ben Hopkin
Tags: General Fiction
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said was affecting her.
“Okay…” Mala began, then paused. “But I’m just not sure I have time for romance right now, with everything that’s happening with Janey…”
“I’m going to stop you right there. Saying I have no time is the same as It’s not you, it’s me . When the right thing comes along, we rearrange our lives for it. And you know that.”
Maggie’s words seemed to have gone deep, as Mala just stood there, her face thoughtful. Trey decided to try to tip the scales even further.
“What say we give it one more try?” Trey asked. “All four of us this time.”
“This time?” Mala answered, her tone pointed.
“Well, this time in person,” he answered.
Mala let out a huge sigh, then gave him a grin. “All right. Fine. One more try.”
Trey sat down in his chair and reached over for Maggie’s hand. As she made contact with him, he felt the familiar tingle that her touch always sparked in him. Ending up with Darc’s ex had been painful on so many levels, and had put him in physical danger more than once. But he wouldn’t have given it up for anything in the world.
It was nice to hear that she felt the same way.
CHAPTER 7
Janey hadn’t been asleep. She guessed that pretending was maybe not so good, but it wasn’t lying, right? Popeye started laughing at her, but she ignored him.
It was just that grown-ups didn’t like to say things around her. At least not important things. And because she had acted like she wasn’t awake, she’d gotten to hear all kinds of things.
Like how Mala didn’t want to date Darc anymore. That one had almost made her pop her head up. But she managed to stay relaxed, so she had also heard the whole conversation with Trey and Maggie. That had made it all better.
Well, mostly.
Because now Darc was out walking around in the rain. Trey said he did that all the time, but Janey was pretty sure he only did it when he was feeling lonely or sad. Like when Janey hid in the closet or underneath the sink.
When she wanted to be by herself, it was usually because she was thinking about her mommy and daddy. And those were times that she hurt in her chest. She bet Darc was hurting in his chest, too.
It wasn’t fair. Mala loved Darc, Janey knew she did. She saw the way that Mala looked at him when he was figuring things out.
But Mala didn’t seem to know. And Darc wasn’t very good about explaining things. Like why he should be with Mala. And with Janey, of course.
That would make everyone so much happier. Darc would be with Mala. Mala would be with Darc. Both of them would be with Janey.
The only one upset would be Popeye, but that was only because he had a crush on Mala. He said he didn’t, but Janey knew better. Popeye stuck out his tongue at her. Naughty bear.
But maybe Janey could make things better. Maybe she could behave really well so that the date would go better next time. If she hadn’t snuck down to the car, it might have gone well.
Mala carried her up the stairs to the front of the apartment building where they lived. It sounded like she was tired, and Janey felt bad, but if she woke up now, Mala might know that she had been awake the whole time.
So she stayed quiet and still.
When they got up to the apartment, Mala tucked her into bed without even putting her in pajamas. She just pulled Janey’s shoes and socks off and pulled the covers up over her. Janey stirred, and almost decided to open her eyes so she could give Mala a big hug. It seemed like she needed one.
But Janey had something she needed to do.
Darc saw the bands of light and color just like she sometimes did. But he never saw them about people. That’s why he didn’t know that the lawyer guy that tried to date Mala had been such a bad person. But Janey did. She saw those things.
And she knew something that he didn’t about the man from the ferryboat.
She pulled out some paper and a crayon and started drawing.
* * *
Darc squinted against the sunshine as he walked into
“Okay…” Mala began, then paused. “But I’m just not sure I have time for romance right now, with everything that’s happening with Janey…”
“I’m going to stop you right there. Saying I have no time is the same as It’s not you, it’s me . When the right thing comes along, we rearrange our lives for it. And you know that.”
Maggie’s words seemed to have gone deep, as Mala just stood there, her face thoughtful. Trey decided to try to tip the scales even further.
“What say we give it one more try?” Trey asked. “All four of us this time.”
“This time?” Mala answered, her tone pointed.
“Well, this time in person,” he answered.
Mala let out a huge sigh, then gave him a grin. “All right. Fine. One more try.”
Trey sat down in his chair and reached over for Maggie’s hand. As she made contact with him, he felt the familiar tingle that her touch always sparked in him. Ending up with Darc’s ex had been painful on so many levels, and had put him in physical danger more than once. But he wouldn’t have given it up for anything in the world.
It was nice to hear that she felt the same way.
CHAPTER 7
Janey hadn’t been asleep. She guessed that pretending was maybe not so good, but it wasn’t lying, right? Popeye started laughing at her, but she ignored him.
It was just that grown-ups didn’t like to say things around her. At least not important things. And because she had acted like she wasn’t awake, she’d gotten to hear all kinds of things.
Like how Mala didn’t want to date Darc anymore. That one had almost made her pop her head up. But she managed to stay relaxed, so she had also heard the whole conversation with Trey and Maggie. That had made it all better.
Well, mostly.
Because now Darc was out walking around in the rain. Trey said he did that all the time, but Janey was pretty sure he only did it when he was feeling lonely or sad. Like when Janey hid in the closet or underneath the sink.
When she wanted to be by herself, it was usually because she was thinking about her mommy and daddy. And those were times that she hurt in her chest. She bet Darc was hurting in his chest, too.
It wasn’t fair. Mala loved Darc, Janey knew she did. She saw the way that Mala looked at him when he was figuring things out.
But Mala didn’t seem to know. And Darc wasn’t very good about explaining things. Like why he should be with Mala. And with Janey, of course.
That would make everyone so much happier. Darc would be with Mala. Mala would be with Darc. Both of them would be with Janey.
The only one upset would be Popeye, but that was only because he had a crush on Mala. He said he didn’t, but Janey knew better. Popeye stuck out his tongue at her. Naughty bear.
But maybe Janey could make things better. Maybe she could behave really well so that the date would go better next time. If she hadn’t snuck down to the car, it might have gone well.
Mala carried her up the stairs to the front of the apartment building where they lived. It sounded like she was tired, and Janey felt bad, but if she woke up now, Mala might know that she had been awake the whole time.
So she stayed quiet and still.
When they got up to the apartment, Mala tucked her into bed without even putting her in pajamas. She just pulled Janey’s shoes and socks off and pulled the covers up over her. Janey stirred, and almost decided to open her eyes so she could give Mala a big hug. It seemed like she needed one.
But Janey had something she needed to do.
Darc saw the bands of light and color just like she sometimes did. But he never saw them about people. That’s why he didn’t know that the lawyer guy that tried to date Mala had been such a bad person. But Janey did. She saw those things.
And she knew something that he didn’t about the man from the ferryboat.
She pulled out some paper and a crayon and started drawing.
* * *
Darc squinted against the sunshine as he walked into
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