After a few exceedingly pleasant hours alone, followed by a hearty roast dinner at the pub and a few games of cards, the agents gathered in the lobby.
It was almost dark outside, and the ghost-lamps were flickering to life along the lane. Agnes had closed the pub shortly before, after shooing out the last of her regulars. People were taking more caution due to the recent activity, she'd told Lucy as she collected their glasses.
Lockwood had decided it would be expedient to split into two teams, to try and sort out as many sites as possible that night. George and Holly would go to the church, where George's research suggested the ghost of a nun who had been bludgeoned to death two centuries ago was lurking.
Meanwhile, Kipps, Lockwood and Lucy were heading to the school. George hadn't been able to find much information about what might be waiting for them there, but questions to Agnes revealed a local tale about a young woman who had been crushed in a carriage accident nearby in the 1850s, before the school was built.
They had also pressed their landlady about any unusual activity in the area, but aside from the Visitor activity, she hadn't noticed anything strange or any newcomers hanging around.
After wishing Holly and George luck at a fork in the road about half a mile up from their lodging, the remaining trio headed left onto a narrow road that curved around the outskirts of the village.
If they hadn't been holding their rapiers tightly and watching intently for any sign of ghost activity, Lucy would have said it was a pleasant summer night.
A light breeze rustled the leaves in trees as they walked past rows of near identical cottages, all of which had their curtains firmly pulled. They didn't see a single other soul as they went.
"How tough do you think finding this source is going to be?'' Kipps asked after awhile.
"We're going to be screwed if her bones are buried under one of the classrooms or something.''
Lockwood shrugged, although he was frowning too. "We'll just have to see when we get there. I don't suppose you brought a jackhammer with you, by any chance?''
Kipps didn't deign to dignify that with a response.
After another mile or so, the school came into view. It was a small, slightly ramshackle cluster of buildings with a sports field and faded playground out the back. The streets around it were well lit by ghost-lamps, some of which looked new. Clearly the locals weren't taking any chances.
They reached the front gate, which was padlocked closed.
Lockwood hoisted himself over, before giving Lucy and Kipps a hand to do the same.
"Right,'' Lucy said, wheezing slightly as she clicked on her flashlight. "Where do you want to start?''
"The children were attacked as they were walking across the playground, we may as well check that out first,'' Lockwood replied.
They followed him through the maze of classroom buildings and across a small courtyard. Lucy's grip on her rapier tightened as the playground came into view, and she quietly pulled a salt bomb out of her pocket.
They spread out, searching for any signs of a disturbance. Lucy grew more confused as time went on. There was nothing- no strange lights, no drop in temperature, no sounds, unless you counted Kipps swearing when he stubbed his toe on the edge of the slide.
After about ten minutes, Lockwood called out, a strange note of uncertainty in his voice.
Lucy and Kipps hurried over to where he was standing, beside a rickety looking see-saw.
He was shining his torch down at the ground, where Lucy could see a small but deep hole had been dug.
In the glow of the torch light, Lockwood's face was pale and his lips were pressed together in a thin line. Lucy immediately knew what the problem was.
"Has someone already been here?'' She asked, crouching down to peer into the hole.
"Looks like it,'' Lockwood replied tensely. "I'd say the source of that woman was buried here.''
"But who would've done that? We're the only agents DEPRAC have sent, right?'' Kipps asked.
"That,'' Lockwood said. "Is a really good question.''
After another quick check of the grounds to confirm they hadn't missed anything, the three of them set off towards the village centre. They figured they may as well find George and Holly and tell them what they'd discovered. They walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Lucy was perturbed, and she could tell the others felt the same. There were no agencies based here, and Barnes definitely would have told them if DEPRAC was sending anyone else. That meant a non-agent had risked venturing into the school grounds, the site of a deadly attack, to dig up a source. But why?
Lucy was pondering that question when a flicker of movement underneath a ghost-lamp up ahead made her stop suddenly. She put her hands out to warn Lockwood and Kipps, who were a couple of steps behind her.
"I think I just saw somebody,'' she breathed, nodding towards the lamp.
Drawing their rapiers again, the trio began to slink forward, keeping to the shadows. It was likely just a local foolishly out after dark, but the three of them were jumpy after their unnerving discovery at the school. Plus, Lucy reasoned, it didn't hurt to be cautious.
They were about to walk past a large brick fire station when they stopped again, this time due to Lockwood.
"I'm almost certain I just saw someone creeping down the side of the station,'' he whispered. "Looked like they were carrying some kind of a large bag. Definitely looked suspicious.''
After a quiet bit of wrangling, they fanned out. Lockwood slipped over to the far side of the building, while Lucy took the other. Kipps stationed himself across the street, close enough to help if needed but ready to intercept the mysterious stranger if they somehow managed to evade Lucy and Lockwood.
Lucy crept down the side of the building, trying to avoid tripping over on the uneven path that ran along side it. The space between the building and the neighbouring fence was clearly used as something of a junkyard. In between watching for any movement, she had to dodge a coiled up garden hose, three old boots, and several cracked garden pots.
She was nearing the back of the building when suddenly a bright light shone into her eyes, momentarily blinding her.
"Ah!" She stumbled back, waving her rapier in front of her wildly.
A loud crack rang out, and Lucy felt herself falling heavily onto the ground.