Buried Within (Lockwood & Co Fanfic)

Enjoining

"It's bad enough you're giving details to Lockwood, but now Carlyle?" Sergeant Wade shook her head. "Are you sure that is a good idea?"

Barnes let out a sigh. "There's no real answer to that question, you know, but as for my train of thought," he said, his mouth pushing together. "Better for the kids to understand I'm not one of those adults out to get them."

"Yes, but you can't be their friends, sir," his sergeant said.

"I'm not trying to," the inspector replied. "However, with kids who see adults as only strict authoritarian figures out to get something from them, to take advantage of them, it helps to have someone who makes it clear they aren't, so they know they have someone they can turn to in a time of need."

"Still, telling Carlyle we need them to get the job done for our investigation to move forward...."

Barnes raised an eyebrow and turned to look at his fellow officer. "Sergeant Wade, do you think Lockwood and company should be aware that we're close to being ready to move on those who scammed their clients, or that they don't know, and out of frustration with us, adults decide to go and investigate the situation? Because we know full well they've done that before."

"And cost an agent their life," Seargent Wade replied.

"All the more reason to let them be aware of what we're doing," he said. "But the other thing is, telling them we're close to moving isn't the same as giving them detailed information regarding our plans."

"It's not as if we have a plan, though, is it?"

Barnes stared at her, but after he stared for quite a bit, she swallowed.

"I'll be getting back to work."

"You do that," Barnes said, sighing before heading over to see the officers in charge of the case Lockwood & Co. were working on.

One of the men saluted him on the way in, which resulted in the others looking up, many into whatever they were looking over to salute him as well. "Things are coming along, sir."

"I can see that," Barnes said. "And from the looks of things, you are, as I thought, ready to move."

"We just have to have a known scam that we can make a move on them," one of the agents muttered.

Barnes sighed. "You did get my message? About Lockwood & Co?"

"Something about making sure that the kids, those agents, don't interfere with what we're doing," the officer muttered.

"Really?" Barnes shook his head. "While it is true that I'm worried about Lockwood's agency interfering...."

"Everyone here at DEPRAC knows they're trouble," the agent said. "And thus, you don't want to tangle with them."

"You should tell that to the group you're investigating," Barnes said, "Because they managed to land a client that is what you need to move. But you would know that if you read the memo beyond Lockwood's agency being involved."

The agent looked up, staring. "What?"

"Lockwood & Co. has a way of drawing trouble to them," Barnes replied. "And because of that, you've got a case you can track the movement of those involved because they've already put in saying the property of their client should be transferred back at a certain closing date. So, I expect you to act on this so that said a client of theirs won't lose their property, particularly since DEPRAC is paying for the costs."

"Great," the agent said. "I do not look forward to working with Lockwood & Co."

"Nobody does," another agent said, not looking up from his papers. "But if we can finally close this case, we can shift manpower to other cases that need to be resolved."

The agent in charge sighed. "That's true, but this is Lockwood & Co. we're talking about. If it were Rotwell or Fittes, we wouldn't have to worry about psychical investigation agents doing something eccentric to mess things up."

Barnes let out a sigh. "You know as well as I do that a client who's been scammed by this lot won't go to those larger, reputable agencies."

"Lockwood & Co. is reputable?" one of the other agents laughed.

"Well, they certainly mean well, came another reply."

"It depends on what you mean by reputable," Barnes said.

"By the books, not having a reputation for not following the rules," the agent said. "I'm in charge, and don't want them interfering, let alone investigating. Everyone knows what happened the last time about the DEPRAC agent who got killed because they stuck their noses where they didn't belong. And we know it was them even though there was no evidence, but no. Getting information on that group in the first place wasn't easy.

"It's a rumor," Barnes repeated. "And the agent's family is safe, but there was no way for them to know we had an agent in there."

"Yes, but there was a way for them not to put their nose...."

"Lockwood's team is involved," Barnes said firmly, "But I've made it quite clear that we are investigating and using the information they gave us." His eyes narrowed. "Or, do you want to not move on this information? Their client gets screwed, and they start digging into this group you're looking for and thus cause even more problems for your group of agents?"

"What?" The agent who had been giving flack for Lockwood & Co. being involved looked up. He then let out a sigh. "They would do that, wouldn't they?"

"It's Lockwood & Co., After all," one of the other agents on the team said. "Everyone knows they're like a dog with a new toy whenever they encounter something not quite right. Sometimes I think Lockwood only takes cases where they can cause trouble."

"As a small agency, they need the money," Barnes said. "So it is, as I said, a matter of them attracting trouble rather than personally looking for it. So, just do your job, review the information I sent you, and act on it. It is an order coming down from me, straight from me, but the last thing I need is Lockwood causing a stir for DEPRAC after they finish this job. Got it?"

"Got it," the agent sighed. "We'll make plans, but it's your job to tell us when to go."

"That I understand," Barnes said, which he knew meant keeping an eye on the agency's movements the next few days.