Skulduggery Pleasant: Books 1 - 12. Derek Landy

stole the Desolation Engine.”

      “I thought that had been made safe.”

      “It has been, so we don’t know why he took it.”

      China shifted in her seat and grimaced.

      Valkyrie hesitated. “Are you … OK?”

      “I’ll survive. This is what happens when you invest all your magic into healing a bullet wound. It’s not pretty. Tomorrow I should be back to normal.”

      “Should?”

      China waved a delicate hand. “You worry too much about people who mean nothing to you.”

      Valkyrie’s eyes widened a fraction, but China still noticed.

      “Oh, I’m sorry,” she continued. “I didn’t mean to sound so cold. What I meant was there are others who would deserve your sympathy much more than I. Fletcher, for instance. That boy is always getting himself into trouble. How is he?”

      “He’s fine I suppose. He’s out in the hall.”

      “My, you have him well trained.”

      “China, do you think I don’t like you?”

      China’s smile was gentle. “No, my dear, I’m sure you do. You shouldn’t, but I’m sure you do. You’ve got a big heart. That’s not a compliment by the way. That’s a flaw in your character.”

      “I’ll work on it.”

      “That’s all I ask.”

      “Sanguine is back. He stole a Soul Catcher from the Necromancer Temple and he’s working with Dusk.”

      “That is interesting, but I’m afraid I can’t help you with Dusk. My ongoing inquiries about Sanguine, on the other hand, have finally borne fruit. What do you know of the assassination of Esryn Vanguard during the war?”

      “Just that he was a pacifist and the guy who killed him got out of prison a few days ago.”

      “At the time of his death support for Vanguard and his ideas was coming from soldiers on both sides of the war. I’d always despised the man – this was when I was a supporter of Mevolent’s, you understand, and I know that Mevolent did not appreciate Vanguard’s attempts to broker peace.

      “He suspected that Vanguard was working for Eachan Meritorious, in an effort to rob Mevolent’s troops of the will to die for him. A reasonable suspicion, I think you would agree.”

      “So he sent Dreylan Scarab to kill Vanguard.”

      “I had turned my back on the Faceless Ones by this stage, but yes, from what I can gather, Scarab was dispatched to eliminate the problem. An arrow, dipped in poison, while Vanguard was addressing a hall full of supporters. It happened so fast nobody had time to do anything. Vanguard was dead within seconds. The crowd, and bear in mind these were all sorcerers, swarmed the area, hunting for the killer, but Scarab was gone. Skulduggery found him a few days later, and with Guild’s help, he arrested him.”

      Valkyrie frowned. “Guild?”

      “Guild was one of Meritorious’s most trusted men. He oversaw certain departments within the Sanctuary and his duties included direct interaction with the investigators.”

      “I didn’t think Skulduggery and Guild were ever friends.”

      “Oh, they weren’t,” China smiled. “They hated each other from the very start, for reasons I won’t go into here. But they worked together on occasion.”

      “So they arrested Scarab and he was sent to an American prison. Where does Sanguine come into this?”

      “It took a long time for me to come across this little piece of information, so I hope you understand how much of a sacrifice it is to part with it for free.”

      “It wouldn’t be for free,” Valkyrie said. “You’d have my undying gratitude.”

      “Free then,” China sighed. “Scarab had a son, Valkyrie. You are trying to find out who is pulling Sanguine’s strings? I’d look no further than his father.”

      “Scarab is Sanguine’s dad?” Valkyrie stood. “This is … This is huge.”

      “Quite.”

      “China, I’m really sorry, I have to go. If I have some spare time, maybe I can stop by later to see how you are.”

      “By this time tomorrow I’ll be back to my usual self. But your concern – while pointless – is noted. Of course, if our positions were reversed …”

      “I know,” Valkyrie smiled. “You’d do the same for me.”

      China arched an eyebrow. “I’m sorry? Do I look like I make house calls? You may leave me now.”

      “Thank you, China,” Valkyrie said and turned to go. “Oh, one more thing. Ghastly’s façade. It’s great.”

      China smiled. “He seems to like it, doesn’t he? It took me long enough to devise, but I think it’s worth it.”

      “Me too,” smiled Valkyrie then hurried out to the corridor.

      “Well?” Fletcher asked grumpily.

      “We have the connection,” she told him, and immediately his grumpiness vanished and he took her hand.

      They appeared in Ghastly’s shop. It was dark, so they turned on the lights and waited for Skulduggery and the others to get there. Valkyrie crossed her arms and looked at Fletcher.

      “What?” he asked innocently.

      “You’re dying to say it.”

      “Don’t know what you mean.”

      “They’re still on their way back from the Sanctuary. We’ve been to China’s, found a very large piece of the puzzle and we’re here before them. Say it.”

      “I’m sorry, Valkyrie, I really don’t know what you want me to say.”

      She waited.

      “Although,” he began.

      “Here it comes.”

      “Teleportation is clearly the best power to have and you should all be really grateful that I’m on your side. Why anyone would still be using cars, I have no idea. Is it pride? Is it because Skulduggery doesn’t want to admit how useful I am? I don’t think I’m appreciated as much as I should be, that’s all.”

      “Right.”

      “We were getting on fine without him, you know.”

      “We really weren’t.”

      “We were doing OK. It wasn’t a disaster. No one got killed.”

      “A few people got killed.”

      “But not any of us,” he said, exasperated.

      “Anything else you want to complain about before he gets here?”

      Fletcher laughed. “What, do you really think I’m scared of him? I’m not scared of him. But since you brought it up, yes, there is one thing. I’m older than you. I should be the one giving you orders.”

      “Yeah, no. That’s not going to happen.”

      “I have more world experience.”

      “At doing your hair.”

      “What is everyone’s problem with my hair? My hair’s cool.”

      He kept talking about his hair until Valkyrie told him to shut up. A few minutes later Skulduggery and the others got back and Valkyrie told them what she’d learned.

      “It’s too neat to be a coincidence,” Skulduggery