Buried Within
Tidbits

"What should I expect?" Lucy asked later that night while she and Maisie were in her room. "I mean, what is your dad like?"

Maisie frowned, then took a deep breath. "To be honest, I'm not sure what to say."

"Is that what you don't remember?"

The other girl shook her head. "No. I remember my dad. I think I look more like him than I do my mom. It's more of I don't remember anything that really stands out about my mom beyond the fact I think him great, but then look at who I have for a mother."

"Or maybe you're remembering correctly," Lucy said. "I mean, I definitely remember what my mom was like, and how she always complained about the amount of money she wasted on me."

"My mom," Maisie sighed. "She just wastes money. I mean, I know she has the issues she does with my dad, although I really don't know what those are. The problem is, we wouldn't need your agency's help if she hadn't taken issue with living in a house completely paid for by my dad. She spent whatever savings she had on that house, despite not having a job to pay for other expenses. She won't even access the bank account my dad set up for her to make sure we were living comfortably."

"I wonder what the reason was," Lucy said.

"I'm kind of scared to ask, particularly if it ends up being worse than I imagined," Maisie said. "That's just the way things are, to be honest. And every time she says I should know he did wrong, I can't help but imagine the worst thing possible, such as an affair."

"I could ask," Lucy said, then shook her head. "But I already said that, and if it's something you need to know, we'll let you know."

"But what if I don't want to? The fact I suspect an affair doesn't mean I want there to be one," Maisie said. "At this point, I just want a home again, but the fact she could lose this place because of a scam…." Maisie shook her head. "She drives me nuts."

"That's why we're doing everything we can to prevent that from happening," Lucy said.

"Just don't make a promise you can't keep," Maisie said, letting out a sigh, flopping down on one side of the bed for the night while Lucy took the other, but in the morning, Maisie left with George for the library, while she and Lockwood waited a little longer before setting out.

"So, what are you doing today?" Maisie's mother asked.

"You really shouldn't be reorganizing the house," Lockwood said, his standard amusement at anything and everything excentric not being there for Ms. Pascal. When they finally left, Lucy couldn't help but feel relieved, suspecting Lockwood thought the same.

They arrived at the station, and Barnes led them into an interview room. Lucy felt her head tilt slightly, agreeing with Maisie that she looked more like her father than her mother, but the man in front of her remained calm.

"So, they're alright?" the man said. "I mean, you are the agency tackling whatever mess my wife—ex-wife—has gotten herself into with our daughter?"

"Well, I'm not sure I should disclose the case details," Lockwood said, sitting down. "But we can tell you that they're doing alright. Barnes says he wanted you to talk to him."

"You definitely can't tell my ex that I was here, talking to you," the man said. "She might spook and end up elsewhere, taking my daughter with her."

"So, you're not trying to," Lockwood said, "Trying to get custody of your daughter?"

"Yes, well, I didn't fight my wife for custody because I didn't want Maisie drawn into the fight between us when she already was."

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked. "Sorry for asking if it's a private matter, but if it helps us better understand the situation…."

"Yes, well, I'm not sure if it's a private matter when you three are involved," the man said. "Have you noticed that my daughter is a Sensitive?"

"Your wife is adamant that isn't true when your daughter says it is," Lockwood said. "But then she's in denial of ghosts existing around her if she doesn't see them."

"Yes. That would be my ex." The man let out a deep breath. "And truth be told, it doesn't have to do with Maisie, but more of with her older brother."

"Older brother?" Lucy said. "She didn't mention one."

"Let me guess?" Lockwood folded his hands together. "Maisie said there was something she couldn't remember. Is this it?"

Lucy watched the man's eyes blink, and then he nodded. "Yes. Maisie doesn't remember her older brother, but I think to Maisie's mother, well, I think she sees becoming an agent as a death sentence."

"Was her older brother an agent?"

"No," the man said. He took a deep breath. "It's because his ghost never showed. There was never an incident."

Lockwood frowned. "Not everyone becomes a ghost. If someone has no regrets, if their ending is tragic, as in one that caused trauma in some shape or form, they don't stay behind. That's just the way things are. And even though some might want them to say something, it's probably best that they don't, given how dangerous the higher-level ghosts can be."

"Yet," Lucy said. "I can't blame her. And it certainly explains why she's in denial of ghosts being around her, and I guess it explains why she is in denial of Maisie being a sensitive."

"Yes, well, Maisie is almost of age where she can decide to be an agent on her own, so what her mother wants may not matter anymore," the man said.

"How close?" Lockwood said.

"About a month or two," the man said, frowning. He then started counting on his fingers. "Her birthday isn't next month, but the month after that is what I mean. I'm not good at math."

"Sounds like about in a month or two," Lockwood said. He turned to Lucy. "Hey, could it be possible for me to talk to Maisie's dad for a bit?"

"Alone?"

"Alone. I have my reasons."

"Don't you always."

"Don't worry. It might be to our advantage later on, or it might be something that isn't needed at all," Lockwood said, smiling. "I'm kind of hoping it isn't needed, but if it is, I want to have it ready to go."

"Alright," Lucy said, stepping out of the room. She tensed upon seeing someone just outside of the interview room. "Inspector Barnes?"

"Ms. Carlyle," the man said.

"You aren't spying on what we were saying?" Lucy said.

"You should have probably considered that when you went in there, but I wouldn't call it spying when both the father and Lockwood knew we were listening in." Barnes took a deep breath. "You know Lockwood's plans can go off the rails anytime, right?"

"I'm well aware of that," Lucy said. "But sometimes you must go with the hand you've been dealt."

"This is so that we all have the best hand dealt, so to speak," Barnes said. "Tell Lockwood we are investigating whoever sold the property to Ms. Pascal and not to go digging on his side. Focus on the house, particularly since getting the job done—it's important."

"Alright," Lucy said, unsure of what to think regarding what he said.