“Call me Lord Thomas,” the ghost says. “That shall make things simpler.”

I tell Nicolas, and then the two go in opposite directions to stand watch. We are in a quiet part of the house, with the bedrooms and such, and I am able to work in silence. Within moments, I have the door open, and we are inside.

Despite what I told Emily, I do not have a sitting room at home—I have converted it to an office, complete with a massive window and an attached seat for daydreaming. I have a desk, bookcases and an armchair. It is my perfect little space.

This is not that office. This is a cramped room, dark and windowless. There is a small desk, an uncomfortable-looking chair and bookshelves filled with ledgers and boxes that I’d wager contain more ledgers, along with receipts and correspondence. If there is a single actual book in the office, I do not see it. What I do see are endless places where Norrington could put important notes. The most likely spot, though, is the black iron box squatting in a corner.

“Do you know how to operate a lock like that?” Nicolas says as we peer down at the safe. “I have never seen one.”

“They are rare.” Even in my time. “But I have opened them.”

“Then I will leave you to it.”

He scans the office and heads for a row of boxes. I kneel in front of the safe and then glance up at Lord Thomas.

The ghost gives me the first number. I turn the dial, with my ear to the safe, and hear the faintest click of the tumblers. When I tell him, he exhales in relief.

“Good. Then he has not changed the lock. May I give you the rest of the numbers and then stand guard in the hall?”

I take a pen from the desk and write down the remaining numbers. He confirms them. Then he slips through the wall and promises to pace the hallway, letting us know whether anyone even seems to be heading this way.

When he is gone, Nicolas says, “If we are discovered, trouble will come from the main section of the house. We need only run into the next room, where I have left open a window for our escape.”

“You are rather good at this.”

He smiles over his shoulder. “I am a quick study of that which interests me, and while I never imagined thievery and espionage would qualify, I have discovered I have a knack for them, so long as they are in pursuit of good.”

“There is nothing quite as thrilling as misbehaving for a cause.”

“Very true. You shall need to show me how to open locks. That is a skill I have not yet attempted.”

As we talk, I continue working the safe lock, and he continues searching the boxes. We also keep our voices low. When he says something else, though, I do not hear it. I am too busy frowning at the safe.