The True Story of Emily Lockwood / g. karim

𝟙𝟙. 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕪 𝕓𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤

~ / Episode Three - Part One \ ~

"brutal"

❀

--Emily was not sure where she stood with George. She'd tried to see things from his point of view, but in the end - being spoken to so harshly by someone she held in high regard left her incapable of rationalizing their conversation. Feelings were awfully tiring, she sighed. 

One thing she was certain of, was that this was her home, and she wouldn't be a stranger in her own home, because of a petty argument. So, as usual, she rose early, made tea, and sifted through case files at the dining table. 

A clattering sound was heard in the other room, and George emerged, putting his glasses onto his face. Emily wasn't ready to face him yet, so she simply told him: 

"Kettle's still warm." She deadpanned, before leaving the room to dress. Lucy had just woken up. 

"Hey," she said sleepily, and Emily waved back "still cross with George?" Now, she rolled her eyes. 

"I'm more hurt, than mad," Emily informed. Lucy climbed out of bed. "i just don't get it."

"He's an idiot if he lets one argument ruin everything for you two," Lucy said sagely, getting her things ready to shower up. Emily pulled on green trousers, and a black tank top, throwing on a loosely-crocheted sweater over it all. 

She hummed in agreeance. "I think the more pressing issue is our debt," she chuckled, and Lucy paled. 

"You're right," she shrugged, and Emily went downstairs, to give her friend privacy. 

--Once everyone had woken up, they gathered around a rather odd contraption of George's, set up on the table to examine the ring. 

"So, the intruder was after the ring," George said, grinning impishly. Emily's heart twinged at seeing him so normal. "buy why? Hallmarks," he answered his own question with a flourish, showing them the small letters on the screen he'd hooked up. 

He was a bit like a mad scientist, Emily reckoned. 

"H 22 115," Lucy read for them. "Maybe H for Hugo?" She suggested, but George was ready with a counterpoint. 

"That's what I thought," he shared "but what was the other big H in Annabel's life?" he excitedly passed Lucy Emily's copy - her copy - to show her what he meant. 

"Act 2, Scene 2," Emily recited from memory. "Doubt thou the stars," Lockwood looked at her, puzzled. 

"You knew that?" he asked, as if it were really so surprising. 

"It's one of Shakespeare's most famous lines of all time," Emily stated dully, her personality lacking it's normal charm. "of course I know it." Her brother frowned. 

"The hallmark's a love letter!" Lucy exclaimed. "It proves that her and Hugo were together! That has to be enough to put him away, right?" Emily was dimly aware that George had sat next to her.