━━ CHAPTER TEN / sheen road 
episode one, part one.

Upon the arrival of Lucy, a new routine began. Demi's mornings stayed almost exactly the same. Wake up, make her bed, go for a run, shower, eat breakfast but she quickly began cooking for both her and Lucy. The pair of them would sit and talk over breakfast and Lucy would have another set of questions for Demi to answer that day.

It was nice to have another girl around and it didn't take long for Lucy to notice Demi's obvious infatuation with Lockwood. The brunette didn't say a word about it but it was obvious they cared about each other. Especially when they began to go out for jobs. There had been three cases the trio had done together since Lucy had joined and they were either colossal failures or successful.

George had been researching each of their jobs for weeks which meant that the day before they headed out, they were sat down in the living room and given extensive notes on what to expect. George claimed that he was too busy researching other cases to go to these particular houses but Demi had a feeling that he was just a little too scared to go.

One of the houses was a cluster case. There had been at least three violent murders in the house and that was where they completely failed with the case. They had done everything right. Iron chains, salt bombs, everything that would be needed to get it under control but they had completely failed. Lucy had been instantly thrown off by the horrifying noises in the house, Demi had fumbled with her rapier and ended up cutting herself and dropping it down the stairs which meant that Lockwood had to defend her - though he did that anyway - and the iron chain had been disrupted by Lucy stumbling which meant that they had no safe place to go.

It had been a complete mess and so when Lockwood ordered them to get out of the house, the trio were more than happy to. They stood in the garden each with varying looks of annoyance, exhaustion and horror. Demi was glad to be out. The brief images that her Touch had thrown at her mind were disgusting enough. She never wanted to step foot in the house again.

And after they were unsuccessful in the first night, the homeowner, Mr Trout, decided that they would never be able to deal with it so fired them from the job. Lockwood had been annoyed about it for an hour or so before he realised that it was probably better that someone else dealt with it. Or, better yet, the house be left to decay. Sometimes spectres were better to be left to rot, alone, without any sort of human contact.

The other two cases the trio had been on were more tolerable. George still had decided against joining the trio - much to Demi's annoyance - but they didn't end up needing him in the end. Locating the Source between Demi's Touch and Lucy's Listening had been an easy task and they were secured within a few hours of being at the houses.

Demi slept well that night but she knew that their newest client would not be such an easy task. George had been unable to do any research on it. He knew nothing about the house and so when Demi, Lucy and Lockwood walked down Sheen Road towards the house, they were going in completely blind.

George had once again decided to stay behind so he could research the house if they needed to go for a second time. But he had also been asleep for most of the day after he stayed up all night doing something. Demi honestly wasn't sure what but he needed the sleep considering the amount of mental stress he put himself under for their little company.

The street was quiet and curfew was close to setting in now. As they headed up to Mrs Hope's house, they could hear the distant sound of car horns honking. Everyone wanted to get home now. It was getting later and later and being behind closed doors was always preferable. Especially considering they were adults and they couldn't see what loomed just beyond their front door.

Lockwood and Lucy had been going back and forth regarding their different plans as Demi walked beside the taller boy. He had his kit bag in hand and he was being his typical arrogant self. Demi had tuned out most of the conversation in favour of surveying the area. It wouldn't mean much until they were inside but she liked to know what she was stepping into.

She zoned back into the conversation just as they turned onto the driveway. The stones crunched beneath their boots as they headed up to the front porch. It was covered with a short roof and the whole house was probably mid-century. Old but not too old. Older than the problem which would not have helped with its haunted status.

"I thought there wasn't any time to be facetious," Lucy said as she looked at Lockwood. The boy rolled his eyes and glanced down at his watch, the familiar smirk appearing on his lips.
"Well, we're slightly ahead of schedule." There was a little shrug to his words. There was nonchalance to it and it made Demi want to roll her eyes. She didn't.

Instead, "You're facetious whether we have the time or not," Demi commented. Lucy chuckled and Lockwood didn't say anything as they stepped up onto the porch. He dropped the kit bag and Demi leant against the wall beside them.

"Are you sure this is the right address?"

"62 Sheen Road. Mrs Hope," He responded before he pressed the doorbell, "Quarter to six on the dot." Demi tilted her head as she watched him. Considering that they had no idea what they were about to walk into, the trio were all relatively calm. It would likely be a simple haunting. Lockwood knocked on the door for good measure.

There was no immediate answer but all three of them spotted a shadow slide across the entranceway corridor which they assumed was Mrs Hope. But when there was no movement closer to the door, Demi cocked an eyebrow. She reached out and gently placed her hand against the door, wondering if she could sense anything but there was nothing.

"I don't know if that w-" Demi began but then another voice interrupted.

"Are you from the agency?" A woman spoke from behind the trio. The columns partly obstructed Demi's view as she swivelled on her heel.

"Mrs Hope?" Lockwood inquired and the woman smiled a little hesitantly. He stepped forward and Demi took a place next to Lucy. The way he moved was so suave but Demi tried to keep her mind on the job. The girls shared a look before focusing back on Mrs Hope, "I'm Anthony Lockwood. These are my colleagues, Lucy Carlyle and Demi Campbell." Demi sent the older woman a warm smile before he continued, "We've come about your problem. Care to show us inside?" The sun was setting now. The fog was falling across the street and they could barely see the road from the porch.

"Oh no, I won't set foot in there. Not since my husband passed. Not since... how he passed," Her words were hesitant and the trio nodded sympathetically. Part of Demi was suspicious, cautious and curious about exactly how he passed. She knew he had fallen down the stairs but part of Demi wondered if there was something more. Especially if his spirit was lingering. Not that she dared say it, not in front of Mrs Hope, "The disturbances have been very persistent. I... I'm going to sell it, but it needs fixing first." It was clear that the death of her husband had left her distraught.

"That is exactly what we do," Anthony reassured and Lucy was quick to chip in.

"Locate the visitor, contain the source. A safe space means a satisfied customer." Considering she had only been on three jobs, Lucy slipped into her role easily. She was comfortable.

"Your peace of mind is our top priority," Demi added quickly. Mrs Hope nodded and she glanced around at the trio. There was quiet for a second before she spoke the dreaded question.

"Shouldn't you have a supervisor?" Mrs Hope asked quickly, "I-I thought an adult had to be present at an investigation." Demi glanced at Lockwood but she couldn't make out the expression on his face. She assumed he would take it calmly even though they were all frankly quite sick of the question being thrown their way.

"Strictly speaking, the law states that an adult's only required if operatives are undergoing training. But we don't find it necessary," Lockwood gave the diplomatic answer. He said it with so much confidence every time that most people didn't question whether it was the truth. Even Demi didn't actually know for sure whether it was true but she trusted Lockwood.

"To be honest, adults are pretty useless," Lucy added and that earned her a quick kick to the side of her shin from Demi. The two girls met gazes and Demi practically glared. Lockwood gave the pair a look and Lucy was quick to add, "'Cause of their lack of sensitivity. They just get in the way." It was a quick save but clumsy.

Lockwood gave Mrs Hope one of his charming smiles in hopes of smoothing everything over. And when she held her keys to the house out, it seemed to have worked well enough. Demi let out a soft sigh of relief before she stepped back from the edge of the porch.

"One more thing, madam. Is there someone else inside the house? It's just, we saw-" Anthony began but Demi already knew the answer that fell from Mrs Hope's lips before it had.

"No. I've got the only key," Her tone was clear and decisive. It seemed Mrs Hope was as antsy as those drivers only a few minutes before. The sun would start setting soon and everyone needed to get inside. Mrs Hope especially seemed to want to leave. So, she finally held out the papers in her hand and said, "Here's the form you sent. Tells you all you need to know. Now I have to go. It's almost curfew." The woman then turned around and she walked off. Lockwood looked back at the girls and he seemed mildly pleased with himself. Demi had to fight back a smile.

But then Mrs Hope spoke again, "When I was your age, I was out chasing boys, having fun. It's terrible the world's come to this. I feel sorry for your generation." The words made Demi pause for a moment. Her face dropped and then Mrs Hope turned around and walked away. Lockwood glanced down at Demi and gently nudged her.

"Come on, let's go inside," He mumbled. Demi nodded and the trio headed in. The house was cold and Lockwood commented that the heating was off. It made sense. Demi couldn't sense anything immediately but the chill was one indicator that the house was haunted.

The trio stood in front of the staircase together and Lucy asked 'Shall we?' Demi nodded and all three of them closed their eyes. It was quiet and Demi focused on her surroundings. The sun hadn't fully set yet which meant that the ghosts should have been weaker but she could feel the heaviness in her bones. The sadness that seemed to blanket her. The second indication of a haunting. Mrs Hope wasn't lying.

Demi opened her eyes and glanced past Lucy to see that Lockwood's eyes were also open. Demi sent him an awkward half-smile before she let her face fall into neutrality and looked immediately in front of them. The death-glow had been obvious since they had stepped through the door. Demi had tried to ignore it. The shape of Mr Hope's dead body sprawled across the wood. She stepped back from the pair.

"Hear anything?" Lockwood asked curiously as Demi looked around. She was as quiet as possible as she surveyed the room. Nothing out of the ordinary here but she pressed her hand softly against the dresser, hoping it would give her something. But all she could hear was happiness, giggling and the sounds of young love. Demi smiled softly to herself before she took her hand away.

"Knocking, faint. Can't tell from where. You?"

"Death-glow. So bright I should have brought my sunglasses." Lockwood then turned his gaze from the death-glow to Demi whose hand had pressed softly against the mirror in the hallway. She got the flash of a child. A little girl running excitedly down a corridor and a male sounding voice shouting a name 'Suzie'. Nothing else, "Dem?" Lockwood prompted.

"Nothing related to the death. Happiness. I assume these were all owned by Mr Hope," Demi gestured towards the mirror and side table. Lockwood nodded his head, "They're close to his death-glow so makes sense." Suddenly Lucy's eyes shot open and she rushed away from the staircase, her rapier pulled from its place and held out defensively.

Demi was nearly knocked over by the brunette but was quick to take two steps back, a frown on her lips. Demi gently placed her hand on Lucy's shoulder and the girl's head shot towards Demi. The horror was written across her face but it dulled when she realised that she was safe. Lockwood was leaning against the wall by the staircase, smirking and chuckling.

"It's not funny. I heard him falling. Sounded brutal," Lucy snapped. Demi gently tugged on her arm and they met gazes.

"Ignore him. Did you just hear the fall?" Demi asked. Lucy nodded and then both of the girls looked to Lockwood for what to do now. He lifted up his wrist to check his watch.

"It's not even six. Tea?" He asked. Demi rolled her eyes but they both needed something. So the trio headed into the kitchen. The temperature seemed normal enough and so they lit an oil lamp and a few candles before placing a torch face up in the room.

The new light made it easier for them to boil the kettle. Demi took out the mugs and two packs of biscuits from the bag. She placed one on the table for Lucy and Lockwood while she kept the ginger nuts for herself. No one else was a fan, much to Demi's annoyance.

Lucy poured the tea into the three mugs and Demi dragged a chair to the square table. She dropped down and glanced around the kitchen. It looked nice enough. More modern than the outside. Everything was white except the oven and considering Mrs Hope wasn't living in the home anymore, it looked fully stocked.

The corner of the counter had a spice rack and the sugar pot was full. And when Demi briefly looked in the fridge, it was half full. Most of the food had a longer shelf life though. It seemed that Mrs Hope had left in a hurry but when you believe your husband is haunting you, that would make sense. Demi glanced over at Lockwood and he was reading over the forms.

"Anything useful?" Demi asked curiously. Lockwood sat up a little straighter in his chair but his gaze stayed on the paper.

"The Hopes have lived here for two years. Before that they were in Kent somewhere, she gives lots of irrelevant details about how happy they were. Then they moved up here. All fine, no troubles in the house. No manifestation of any kind. Husband changed his job, started working from home. That's six months ago. Still nothing funny going on, then he fell downstairs and died," Anthony explained as Lucy moved across the room to grab the kit bag from the floor. She dropped it on the counter and then grabbed the second one and did the same. Demi's was already on top and open. It looked emptier now the mugs were removed, "Apparently he tripped while getting a glass of water in the middle of the night."

Demi scoffed and she watched as Lockwood glanced between the two girls. It was clear that they both had something to say.

"Likely story," Demi said. Lucy nodded her head in agreement and Lockwood glanced between the two girls. Demi had had her suspicions from when George had first told her about the case after he'd been the one to pick up the phone. Falling down the stairs and now there was an apparition. That meant that the ghost had a motive. No reason for a husband to haunt unless foul play was involved.

"So she pushed him?" Lockwood asked as he glanced between them. Lucy unzipped one of the bags and went searching.

"Well, at least that'd be a motive. Did she at least describe the apparition?" Lucy asked as she looked at the two. Demi took a ginger nut from the packet and dunked it in her tea. Lockwood nodded.

"It says she felt like something was looking for her but couldn't find her. And the thought of it finding her was more than she could bear," Lockwood explained as he reached out for his mug. He took a sip of his tea.

"So it has a purpose." Demi nodded.

"A Type Two." Demi suggested. Lockwood nodded and then he stood up from the table. She watched him move and couldn't help but admire him. He had taken his long-coat off when they had walked into the room and the white shirt always looked so good on him. It was ridiculous.

"It's 6:30," Lucy said as she glanced back at the clock behind them. It had been softly ticking in the background of their conversation and 6:30 meant that the sun was down. Completely down which meant that they could go hunting.

Demi stood up from her chair and the three of them prepared. They grabbed their work belts and put them on. Demi's hung snugly on her waist. Her rapier on her left side and her torch holder on the right. There were a few other smaller pockets, one filled with lavender water vials and the other one had emergency salt bombs in it. The brunette almost always wore her green jacket and the pockets were big enough to hold flares or any salt bombs she needed to carry around.

Once all three of them had their belts on and Lockwood had pulled his long overcoat back on. They were ready and tackled the downstairs first.

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