Chapter 3

The intruder didn't take anything, that was good news. But I wasn't getting enough sleep. I was worried that the intruder would come back. I had only worked with Lockwood for three days. They all were concerned for me. I just waved them off.

Last night was the worst of all. I sensed a presence of a ghost near by. I had stayed awake the entire night making sure I wouldn't get ghost-touched. When I got to Portland Row for work, I passed out at the door.

"Is she alright?" I heard. I couldn't tell who it was, maybe George?

"I don't know." Said another. This one sounded like Lockwood.

"Do you want me to call an ambulance?" That time it sounded like a girl. Probably Holly.

"No, look, she's waking up." Lockwood responded.

I slowly opened my eyes. I was asleep on their couch. I rubbed my eyes. My head throbbed. I had a headache.

"Are you alright?"

I turned as I slowly sat up. Lucy was sitting next to Lockwood. She had a concerning look on her face, and by the nail marks on Lockwood's hand, she really was.

I reached for my satchel, realizing it was gone. George handed me my notebook and a pencil.

"By the way, you have some interesting notes." He said, smiling.

I flushed, then opened to an empty page. I told them everything, about the intruder, my sleep schedule, and the ghost. Lockwood sat in thought, Lucy rubbing his back. I could tell they were together. George wrote down everything in his notebook. Holly wasn't in the room, probably making breakfast, or maybe lunch?

"This almost sounds like your situation when we were younger." Lockwood grinned, looking at Lucy. She shook her head.

"No, mine tried to kill me. This intruder sounds like they're looking for something." She looked toward me. "You also say you felt the presence of a ghost. Do you know where it was?"

I shook my head. I went back to my notebook. Usually the closest person to me was my voice for these type of moments. George was closest, he was my voice today. I handed him my notebook.

"No she didn't. She says that she stayed awake all night to make sure she wasn't ghost-touched. You know, since she can't see ghosts?" He explained.

Lucy then sat there in thought. I heard a kettle whistle. Holly was probably making tea.

"It's dangerous for you to go back to your apartment with a ghost, and an intruder, on the lose." Lockwood said. Lucy's face lit up.

"Wait, I got an idea." She said, sitting up straight. "What if I went to her apartment for the night? We can either catch the ghost, the intruder if he tries again, or Dottie here can get a full night's rest."

Lockwood thought for a moment. "It's a fine plan, but we don't know if it's safe." He glanced at Lucy, then looked at me. "Unless your fine with her staying over, Dottie?"

I nodded my head.

Lockwood sighed then grinned. "Then it's settled. Tonight, Lucy will go over to Dottie's apartment." He eyed me. "But you should rest Dottie, you technically have a day off, but you can't go home." He stood up. Lucy stood with him, grasping his hand. Lockwood squeezed hers as they walked out of the room. George sat on the couch, going over his notes.

"Luce.." I heard in the hallway.

"Dottie and I will be fine, Lockwood. We can protect each other. You saw how she is with a rapier. I took your word for it. Plus," I heard her slug Lockwood. "I learned from the best. "

I heard Lockwood chuckled. I smiled.

"So what did you do before you worked here?"

I turned towards George.

"Obviously you've been doing ghost hunts yourself before Lockwood and Co. You have a lot of writings and drawings of ghost experiences in your book." His blue eyes stared at me.

I reached for my notebook, flipping to another empty page. When I was done, I handed it to George.

"Ah, I see." He said, looking at my book.

"What?" Holly asked, bringing in the mugs of tea.

"I was just asking Dottie here, what she did before working here."

"Well, what did she do?"

"Nothing."

I coughed.

"Well technically you did nothing," he replied to my cough. He turned back to Holly. "She couldn't get a job with any of the other agency's because of her Talents."

I coughed again.

"Oh yes, and her disability. To earn money, she was a maid."

I scowled at the thought of my old job. The clothes required for the maids were awfully hot and stiff. And the guy I worked for was no help either. It was this old guy. He just liked to show off everything he owned to his rich friends. He died a few days after I left. His only son inherited everything. He was a year older than me. His name was Zachary Brill. My scowl softened. I wondered what he was doing now.

"Well, that is interesting." Holly said, handing me a mug of tea. George kept going through my notes.

"Looks like you've only dealt with type ones." George said, handing back my notebook. He started to clean his specs.

I rolled my eyes. I rip the blanket off of me, sitting up straight.

"Dottie, you really should rest." George said, putting his glasses back on.

I waved him off. My head wasn't throbbing anymore, and my headache was minor now. I got up and went to the hallway. Lockwood and Lucy were gone. I walked over to the kitchen to grab a cup of water. I glanced over at the table cloth, what everyone has told me was called the Thinking Cloth. there were multiple messages on it. I chuckled at some of them. Then I glanced at the middle of the table. The skull. I stared at it. It was day, so there wasn't much to worry about. Still, it bothered me. My trance broke by the sound of the doorbell. No one was rushing to the door. Lockwood and Lucy were probably down in the basement. Holly might be looking in the casebook at her desk. George was in the living area. I was already by the door when he walked out into the hallway. He turned around and went down to the basement to get the others. I turn back towards the door and answered it. My jaw dropped. There, standing in the doorway, was Zachary.

"Hey Dots." He signed.