The Creeping Shadow (Lockwood & Co. #4)

by Jonathan Stroud

Once in a while you have to be a little reckless; that’s a skill I learned somewhere.

just reckless enough.... :(

Every agency worked like this. Every agency in London, except one.

Lucy stop gushing about Lockwood challenge, failed miserably

His smile broadened, carrying me with it. It became a sunnier place, that little landing;

I’m not normally a shaky tea-maker, but somehow in Lockwood’s presence it took me twice as long as usual.

‘Did you get someone else, then, to help you?’ I asked. ‘Another agent?’ ‘I thought about it. Never got round to it somehow.’ Lockwood scratched his nose. ‘George wasn’t keen. So it’s just the three of us still, muddling along without you.’

i am going to sob actually

‘Can you flip the bin lid open, please?’ ‘Of course.’ He put a polished shoe on the pedal; I lobbed the tea bag in. Lockwood took his foot away and the lid clanged shut. ‘Little bit of teamwork there,’ he said. ‘Yeah. We still haven’t lost it.’

I’d imagined Lockwood asking me to rejoin the company. Asking, or begging, even – going down on bended knee.

OH???

You are the best, after all.’

Yes she is you buffoon and you better let her do her thing

I’m not going to pretend that Lockwood and Co. found it easy after you left . . . George was pretty cut up about it.’

So were you , you lovesick puppy

‘There’s no one else I would want at my side.’

For the first time the old grin extended its way fully across his face. Its radiance bathed me; that was something else that hadn’t changed at all.

I’d been awake half the night thinking about Lockwood

‘Of course I trust you.’ He held my gaze. ‘It still concerns me.’

I couldn’t help smiling back at him. Compliments from Lockwood were always nice to hear.

‘It was good to team up with you again.’ Lockwood smiled at me,

‘Thank goodness for you, Lucy. Holly never carries chocolate, and George has always scoffed his before we’re out of Portland Row. But I can always rely on you.’

‘When did it start?’ I said. ‘When did it get worse?’ George shrugged. ‘After you left.’

Your leaving the company has had no effect on any of us. Why, a day after you left we’d forgotten your name.’

It was Lockwood who came knocking on your door, and that’s why you considered the proposal and, let’s face it, that’s why you said yes.’

I gave him a rude sign,

Flipping off black marketeers, what a woman

But he was already at my side, putting his arm round me, pulling me upright, ushering me up to the door and into the warmth and light. And talking, talking as he did so.

he caught sight of my sleeve, saw the congealed blood running from elbow to wrist. His face changed. ‘What the hell’s this?’

He knelt at my side, pulled my sleeve back with his long, quick fingers, exposing the laceration on my arm. He gazed up at me with searching eyes. ‘A knife made this, Lucy. Who—?’ He stood up. ‘No – explanations can wait. I’ll get George; we can clean this, fix you up. You don’t have to worry any more; you’re safe here.’

‘Well, Luce, we could look into this for you. Not just for the skull’s sake, though I see that it’s important. As far as I’m concerned, it would be because of what those men tried to do to you.’

he CARES he is so WORRIED

‘What, are you queuing now? Just how British are you people?

Even at a distance, the appalling parody of Lockwood’s voice was clear. ‘“What? A suicidal mission, you say, Lucy? Certain death, you say? Just what I enjoy. Sign me up!”

‘I’ve missed you so much, Lucy.’

and that smile and those words together swept everything else aside. All guilt and queasiness were gone, and I was conscious of nothing but the thrill of being there with him.

Then he pulled me to him. For an instant we stood at the top of the mound, clutching at each other while the world exploded around us.

You’re an amazing agent, Lucy.’ Well, as you can imagine, that made me feel a bit better.

‘I found Lucy,’ Lockwood said. His smile made me feel a little flushed.

It was no great hardship, walking with Lockwood through the countryside that spring morning.

Me, I was just happy for us to stroll together, side by side.

at last we lay together on the lip of the ridge, bedded by wet grasses, and looked down over the Rotwell Institute compound.

Lockwood looked at me. ‘Care to risk it?’ ‘I’d give it a go. The skull might be inside.’ ‘I knew you’d say that, Luce.’ He smiled at me through the sunlit grass. ‘It’s almost like the old days again.’

Lockwood grabbed my arm, helped me up the steep slope.

‘Quick question for you, Luce,’ Lockwood said. ‘It’s about us.

So many ways you could have worded that and you went with THAT

Or’ – he looked at me – ‘we could always do something much simpler—’

He motioned with his head; without looking at me, his fingers stole out and gripped mine.

Then I realized he was still holding my hand. He realized it at the same instant. Our fingers kind of fell away,

Lockwood cleared his throat; I pushed my hair out of my eyes. Our boots did small, intricate shuffles on the frosty ground. ‘What the hell was that?’ I said. ‘The Shadow?’ Lockwood glanced at me from under his fringe. ‘Of course the Shadow . . .’

Why are they so awkward help

Nor, after my experience in the churchyard, was the Creeping Shadow the only thing on my mind.

Se is thinking of holding hands with him again

Lockwood shifted where he lay; his hand touched my shoulder.

He was exultant; the remorseless drive and determination that Kipps had criticized, that Rotwell had understood, that had swept me up since I first met him, shone fulfilled in Lockwood’s face that moment.

I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was Lockwood. He was standing very close, facing me, the top of his hood almost meeting mine.

I’m glad I’ve got you with me. I think you keep me safe, if anything.’

Right then, the cape wasn’t the only thing that kept me warm. I smiled at him.

I’d been looking for an excuse to get you back all winter.

His eyes sparkled. He grinned at me. ‘We should stand together in a haunted circle more often.

Then Lockwood was beside me, pulling me to him, dragging me beside him under his cape. Its softness enfolded me.