PROBLEM - Anthony Lockwood

CHAPTER NINETEEN

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xix

judging by the time they've decided to break in, i think they're more of a coffee person

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"OH, IT'S LOCKED."

"That can't be right," Lockwood furrowed his brows, watching as Alice strugged to open the door.

"Oh finally," came a voice. They turned to see Lucy pulling herself into the house through a window, "Come in through here."

Alice furrowed her brows.

"You left before us why are you here now?" she inquired.

Lucy hauled herself into the house and didn't meet her eyes, "Oh, um, I had some stops to make."

Alice mock gasped as she climbed in through the window. "Lucy Carlyle!"

"Shhh!" Lucy hissed as Lockwood began to climb in. "How'd it go with watermelon?"

Watermelon?

Alice shook her head, "Not the time," she whispered.

Suddenly glass shattered.

The three of them exchanged a look.

"What if it's Blake?" Lucy whispered.

Alice grabbed her knife while Lucy grabbed some flashlights and Lockwood unsheathed his rapier.

They peered out of the crack in the door to see a masked person in black creeping around the house.

"I'll take him," Lockwood declared.

"It's a girl," Alice corrected.

Both Lucy and Lockwood stared at her.

"What?"

Lockwood turned to Lucy, "You find George, Alice - you'll be backup."

"On it."

They opened the door, and Lockwood shined a flashlight at the intruder, causing her to stop and turned to them.

"I'll offer you a cup of tea while you ransack my house," Lockwood offered, smirking, "One lump or two?" And then he threw the flashlight at them.

They dodged, but kicked it back at them, and all three ducked. "Run!" Lockwood yelled.

Lucy gasped, turning and going down the stairs.

The intruder unsheathed her rapier, coming down the stairs.

"Fine - have it your way," Lockwood quipped.

They began to fight, slashing at each other and blocking. The intruder twisted her rapier around Lockwood's and shoved him into a bookcase.

Alice dove forwards and slashed at her with her knife.

"Take my sword!" Lockwood yelled.

"I'm alright," Alice refused, lunging at the woman, ducking her rapier and then slashing at her side. The woman cried out, kicking Alice back, before she pressed her gloved fingers to her side. They came away with blood. Alice lunged fowards again but the intruder kicked the dagger out of her hand and slammed her against the doorframe and caused her to fall to the ground.

"Ally!" Lockwood shouted, throwing her his rapier.

Alice held up the rapier with both hands, horizontally over her head, as the woman brought her own down.

Lucy and George ran up the stairs and the latter was carrying iron chains. There was a horrible clinking and clattering as George spun the chains at the intruder.

Alice screamed and dropped the rapier at the same time the intruder was thrown back. But they were surrounded and, realising it was a losing battle, turned and jumped out of the window, causing it to shatter as they fell onto the pavememt and then ran away.

What was it with these people and chains?

"That was more fun than an early night," George mused, "We should have people round more often."

"What did they say? Did they give anything away?" Lockwood inquired.

"No, but I know what they wanted," George revealed.

Lockwood turned to Alice, who was still on the ground and had a gaunt, scared look on her face. He extended a hand to her, "You okay? You're not hurt are you?"

Alice let him help her up and shood her head, "No, I'm not."

As they made their way downstairs, Lockwood turned to her, "You should start carrying your rapier everywhere. That knife is too small."

Alice raised an eyebrow, "Technically its a dagger and it's kept me alive until now."

Lockwood chuckled, "It has my gratitude then."

They made their way into the storeroom and George sighed, holding the empty silverglass box, "Hugo Blake must have found out we had the ring. Sent that bastard to get it back since it linked him to the case."

Lockwood grabbed the box from him, "Maybe. Whoever it was, this proves its value as evidence."

Lucy and Alice stood in the doorway. The auburn haired girl leaned down slightly and whispered, "You have it, don't you?"

"Of course I do," the raven haired girl muttered back.

"Evidence we don't have anymore," George moped, "We're screwed."

Lockwood turned and kicked a shelf, grunting, "Everytime we get ahead someone kicks us in the nuts and knocks us back down again." Furious, he ran a hand through his hair, angrily.

Alice made a sharp intake of breath, her knees going slightly weak.

Fuck, he's hot.

"One point for me," Lucy whispered, watching as Alice bit her lip.

"I hate you."

Lockwood turned to them, surveying the two girls, "What? Why are you giving that face?"

Alice blinked shaking her head.

"What face?" Lucy replied.

"That face!" George pointed at them, "That's not your normal face, or your 'girl talk' face, that's your 'I know something you don't face,' so what do you two know?"

"Promise you won't be angry," Lucy declared.

"Why would we be angry?" George inquired.

Lucy and Alice exchanged a look. Alice reached into the neckline of her dress and pulled out the necklace.

"The ring?" Lockwood realised.

"You lunatic!" George gasped, "What the fuck?!"

"George!" Lucy chastised.

But Alice was busy staring at Lockwood, who was looking at her with a huge grin on his face as he chuckled. Something like pride shone in his eyes, and his face lit up. Alice was having trouble looking away from his dimples.

She almost wanted to kiss him.