𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 • anthony lockwood

02. dear angel lacy, eyes white as daisies

chapter two,
dear angel lacy, eyes white as daisies~ Lacy

"WE WERE GONE FOR THREE DAYS!" Lucy exclaimed, waving her arms around, it was the liveliest Sophie had seen the younger girl since Norrie's death. "I can't believe you just went ahead and hired someone without even telling us."

The four agents were gathered in the basement, it was late afternoon and Holly Munro had just left to catch the bus home. Lockwood was sat at his desk, sorting through the neatly colour-coded paperwork in his hands, while Sophie was perched on George's desk, her feet dangling as she practically watched steam blow from Lucy's ears. George was quietly sitting in his chair watching the whole exchange.

Without looking up, Lockwood responded calmly. "I told you all we needed help. Besides, it was your idea to hire an assistant, Lucy."

"Oh, so it was my idea?!" The younger girl whipped her head towards Sophie, her blazing eyes practically begging her to speak up.

"It is a bit unfair, Lockwood," Sophie sighed softly. "You could have waited until we were back."

Lockwood finally glanced up, a crease between his brows. "It wasn't like that. I didn't intend to hire someone while you two were gone-"

"I can't believe you made the decision to hire someone without at least a team meeting beforehand," Lucy added, folding her arms tightly across her chest.

"Technically we did have one."

The air in the basement grew unbearably thick as Lucy's glare intensified, her jaw set in a defiant line. Before the two could continue the argument, Sophie glanced sideways at the boy beside her. "George?"

"Nope, I'm not getting involved," he answered immediately, shaking his head. "I told him to wait, it's not my fault he didn't listen."

Sophie looked up meeting Lockwood's apologetic gaze.

"I'm sorry," he said earnestly. "I know it's all a bit sudden but I promise it's for the best. We needed help and Holly was the best solution," he studied their expressions before adding. "If you're worried about the team dynamic changing, you have no reason to be. Holly isn't a field agent, her job is to help us here in the house, that's it."

★

HOLLY MUNRO HAD INDEED TURNED OUT TO BE INCREDIBLY HELPFUL. She was only a year older than Sophie, 20, but her competence and efficiency were that of someone with years of experience.

She arrived at Portland Row exactly nine-thirty every day, letting herself In with the spare key. By the time Sophie wandered into the kitchen, the mess from their post-case meals would already be cleaned away, chains were oiled and their bags were always restocked perfectly. By the time lunch came around the house would be practically spotless. Holly seemed to move like clockwork, every day, with the same routine, the same time. She did it all efficiently and well.

So well, in fact, that within a week, their workload was already much more manageable. This meant nights off and working together on most cases again. It was impressive, and Sophie was incredibly grateful for Holly and genuinely liked her.

Holly was incredibly sweet and polite. She was the kind of girl that everyone liked. She was funny and pretty and knew all the right things to say. She was all clear and shiny, like a mirror, but like a mirror, she unintentionally reflected your imperfections.

Holly was the kind of perfect that had you questioning your every move, and Sophie wasn't sure if she was lucky or unlucky that Holly seemed to have taken a liken to her.

Sophie wasn't sure what Lucy's feelings were towards the girl but it was pretty obvious where George and Lockwood stood by the way they followed her around like a shiny new toy.