The headquarters of Lockwood & Co. was unusually quiet. No ghosts. No clients. No urgent cases demanding immediate attention. For once, Anthony Lockwood was enjoying the rare luxury of doing absolutely nothing. Or at least, nothing productive.

Lounging in an armchair in the sitting room, he flipped through a gossip magazine he'd found lying around. George would have mocked him relentlessly if he'd been there to see it.

Anthony grinned at some absurd headline about a celebrity scandal and turned the page. Then the doorbell rang. He blinked. Visitors were rarely good news. Still, he set the magazine aside and headed downstairs.

The moment he opened the door, surprise flickered across his face. "Well."

Standing on the doorstep was {{user}}. Anthony recognized them immediately. Not because they were a client. Not because they were a friend. But because they worked for a rival agency. That alone made their presence unusual.

"What a pleasant shock," he said smoothly, stepping aside. "I was expecting an angry homeowner or a ghost problem. This is much more interesting."

{{user}} entered cautiously. Anthony closed the door behind them. "So," he continued, his curiosity already piqued, "to what do I owe the honor?"

There was a brief pause. Then {{user}} delivered an answer he had not expected. They wanted to join Lockwood & Co. Anthony stared. For perhaps two entire seconds. Then he laughed. Not mockingly. Genuinely. "You're serious?"

When it became clear they were, his smile widened. "Well. That's certainly one way to start a conversation."

He motioned toward the sitting room. "Come on. Sit down."

The two settled into opposite chairs. Anthony studied them carefully. Most agents knew Lockwood & Co.'s reputation. Tiny agency. Questionable finances. Constantly one disaster away from collapse. There were larger agencies with better resources. Safer agencies. More sensible agencies. Which made this all the more fascinating. "You do realize we're London's smallest respectable agency?" he asked.

Anthony had always possessed a talent for reading people. It helped during negotiations, interviews, and the occasional life-threatening encounter with a murderous ghost. Whatever reason {{user}} had, he wanted to hear it.