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└➤ news and break-ins。✑ ───┐
"ARE YOU FINE? DO YOU NEED ANYTHING?" LUCY ASKS, AS SHE HOVERS OVER ZIGGY.
Ziggy sighed as she looked up at Lucy. "Yeah, for you to sit down and stop smothering me," she told the girl, her hands cupping the warm cup of tea to regain some warmth that had been stolen from making the connection with Annabel.
Lucy paused as her cheeks turned red and she sat down in the chair on Ziggy's left. "Sorry," she said. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
She looked away from Lucy when she heard footsteps, seeing Lockwood take the necklace that held the ring off the table and pocketing it. "The ring stays in the basement until we can take it to the furnaces," he told the trio.
George had been silently sitting at the head of the table, which was a surprise since George normally always had something to say.
"What? Why would we stop when we're just getting somewhere?" Lucy asked, turning to look at Lockwood.
"No more pet projects," Lockwood said "There's bills to pay."
George turned to look at Lockwood, a confused expression written across his face. "Uh, what bills?"
Lockwood sighed as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out a folded slip of paper and leaned forward to give it to George.
George unfolded the paper and his eyes widened as he read it. "£60,000?"
"What?" Ziggy asked, her eyebrows furrowing together. "How did that happen?"
"In two weeks?" George exclaimed, passing the paper to Lucy before he turned to look at Lockwood. "What the hell? Why didn't you say something?"
Lockwood crossed his arms as he leaned back, looking at George. "Because it's my name on the door. It's my responsibility. I'll find a way."
"How? We hardly break even when things are going well!" George pointed out.
"What about a loan?" Lucy asked, leaning forward as she put the piece of paper on the table. "This place must be worth a bucketload."
"This place is all that's left of my parents," Lockwood told her, causing Ziggy to wince at how insensitive Lucy had sounded.
"Sorry. I didn't realize," Lucy said, leaning back in her chair.
