Skulduggery Pleasant: Books 1 - 12. Derek Landy

ten minutes past midnight tonight,” Bliss said. “That leaves us with nine hours until the Grotesquery is strong enough to open the portal.”

      Guild laid both hands flat on the table. “So what are we doing about it? Please tell me we’re not all sitting around just waiting for something to happen!”

      “We have all the sensitives on alert,” Skulduggery said. “Every psychic and seer we know is reaching out.”

      “And if they don’t find anything, skeleton?”

      Skulduggery, who was still leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, tilted his head as he looked back at Guild. “Then I recommend we work the case.”

      “What does that even mean?” Guild raged. “We are facing a global catastrophe that could mean the end of everything, and you’re talking about working the case?”

      “I’m a detective,” Skulduggery said. “It’s what I do.”

      “Well, you haven’t been doing a very good job of it, have you?”

      Skulduggery stood up straight now, hands down by his sides. “Working backwards,” he said calmly. “Person or persons unknown have arranged to isolate us just when we need reinforcements to stop the Grotesquery. The Grotesquery is up and about because Vengeous finally got the missing ingredients he needed. Vengeous is out of his secret prison because Billy-Ray Sanguine broke in and freed him. Billy-Ray Sanguine knew where this secret prison was located because somebody in a position of power divulged this information.”

      “You’re getting off topic again,” Guild scowled.

      “Somebody in a position of power,” Skulduggery continued, “divulged this information, presumably for a big reward. Now, here’s where I start speculating. It’s possible that this same somebody only rose to this position of power because he promised that once he was there, he would find the location of the secret prison and pass it on. He would have made a deal with a powerful person or persons unknown, very possibly the same powerful person or persons unknown who have isolated us from the international community, but, very likely, he wouldn’t have known who these mysterious benefactors planned to break out of that secret prison or, indeed, why.”

      Guild narrowed his eyes. “You better not be implying what I think you’re implying.”

      Skulduggery nodded to a slim file on the table. “That file is a record of the meetings you’ve had with other councils across the world since you were elected Grand Mage. You have had approximately twice the number of meetings with the Russian Council as you have had with anyone else.”

      “These are official Sanctuary matters and are none of your business,” Guild said, the veins in his neck standing out.

      “Three of those meetings were about security concerns in the wake of Serpine’s activities, where you would have been privy to confidential information including, but not restricted to, the location of various secret prisons in Russian territories.”

      Guild stalked up to Skulduggery and for a moment Valkyrie thought he might hit him. Skulduggery didn’t move a fraction.

      “You are accusing me of aiding a prison break?”

      “Like I said, I’m speculating. But if I were to accuse you of anything, it would probably be more along the lines of treason.”

      “You’re fired,” Guild said.

      Skulduggery tilted his head. “You can’t afford to lose me.”

      “Oh, we can,” Guild snarled, walking for the door.

      “I have a job to do,” Skulduggery said, “and I intend to do it. You may be a traitor, Guild, but you don’t want the Faceless Ones back any more than I do.”

      Guild reached the door and turned, his lip curled. “Then do it, skeleton. Stop the Grotesquery. Do your job. And once you’re done, never set foot in here again.” He left and nobody spoke for a while. Then Skulduggery nodded.

      “I really think he’s starting to like me.”

      

      hey left the Sanctuary and drove through the narrower streets of Dublin. Skulduggery parked the Bentley once they reached the Temple Bar area, and they walked the rest of the way. Even though he was wearing his disguise, he was drawing all the usual looks from passers-by, who sifted in and out of the many pubs and restaurants.

      They crossed the square, navigated between the hundred or so students who lounged around on the steps. Valkyrie liked Temple Bar. It was vibrant and packed, and there was music and laughter and chat everywhere. But if they failed to stop the Grotesquery, when this night was over, it could all be nothing but dust and rubble and screaming.

      They reached a shop with a brightly coloured mural on its wall, and Skulduggery knocked on the door. From somewhere inside there came voices, and a few moments later the door rattled as it was unlocked. A man in his early twenties opened it. His eyebrows, nose, ears, lips and tongue were pierced, and he was wearing old jeans, a Thin Lizzy T-shirt and a dog collar.

      “Hello Finbar,” Skulduggery said. “I’m here to collect my belongings.”

      “Skul-man?” Finbar said, in such a way that suggested that befuddlement was his natural state of being. “Is that you? What’s up with that hair and those gigantic sunglasses, man?”

      “It’s a disguise.”

      “Oh. Yeah, I get it. Nice. So hey, wow. How long’s it been?”

      “Since we last spoke?”

      “Yeah. Must be years, yeah?”

      “Last month, Finbar.”

      “Hmm? Oh, right. OK. And who’s this you have with you?”

      “I’m Valkyrie Cain,” Valkyrie said, shaking his hand. He wore many rings.

      “Valkyrie Cain,” Finbar said, rolling the name around in his mouth. “Nice one. My name’s Finbar Wrong. I’m an old friend of the Skul-man’s, isn’t that right, Skul-man?”

      “Not really.”

      Finbar shook his head. “Nope, wouldn’t call us friends, exactly. Associates, or … or … not colleagues, but … I mean, we know each other, like, but …”

      “I’m going to have to hurry you along,” Skulduggery said. “I gave you a small case to keep for me and I need it back.”

      “A case?”

      “A black case. I told you I needed somewhere to keep some supplies, in case of emergencies.”

      “Is there an emergency?”

      “I’m afraid so.”

      Finbar’s eyes widened and his piercings glittered in the sunlight. “Oh, man. I’m not gonna die, am I?”

      “I hope not.”

      “Me too, man. Me too. I got so much to live for, y’know? Hey, did I tell you me and Sharon are getting married? Finally, yeah?”

      “Finbar, I don’t know who Sharon is and I really need that case.”

      “All right, man,” Finbar said, nodding. “I’m going to see if I can find it. It’s got to be somewhere, right?”

      “So suggest the laws of probability.” Finbar wandered back into the shop and Valkyrie looked at Skulduggery.

      “What’s in the case?” she asked.

      “My