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 other gun, a few bullets, various bits and pieces, a spike bomb, an old paperback I've never read, a pack of cards — '
'Spike bomb?'
'Mm? Yes.'
'What's a spike bomb?'
'It's a bomb with a spike in it.'
'You gave a bomb to that guy? Is it safe?'
'It's a bomb, Valkyrie. Of course it's not safe. The case, however, is very safe. Whether he's been using it as a coffee table or a footstool, or even if he's simply spent the last few years throwing it down a flight of stairs, its contents will be in no way damaged. Providing he can find the thing.'
Finbar reappeared. 'I'm getting warmer, man, I
know it. It's not in the front, so I'm thinking it's in the back, yeah? So I'm going to check out the back right now. You guys want to come in?'
'We're good out here,' Valkyrie said politely.
'Okay, cool. You sure? Skul-man? Sharon's in there, man. Why don't you say hi?'
'Because I don't know her, Finbar.'
'Right, yeah, okay.'
Finbar wandered off again.
Valkyrie checked the clock on her phone. If she were home right now, living a normal life, she'd probably be figuring out what to wear to the reunion. Not that it would take long. She had one dress in her entire wardrobe, which she wore rarely and with great reluctance. She figured that the Toxic Twins would have already started their beauty regime by this stage, applying eighty-four layers of makeup and figuring out which color lipstick made them look the most trashy. Valkyrie was glad she had a reflection to go instead of her.
'Oh hell,' she said suddenly.
'What's wrong?'
'The reflection. It's still in the back of the Bentley.'
Skulduggery's head tilted. 'Oh. Oh, we seem to have forgotten about that.'
She closed her eyes. 'Mum's going to go mental. I promised I'd be at the reunion.'
'Look at the bright side. If the world ends, none of that will matter.'
She waited a moment without speaking, and he nodded.
'That's probably not a great consolation,' he admitted.
Finbar wandered back, holding a black case. 'Found it, man. Reason I couldn't see it, it was on the floor, and there was someone sleeping on it. Y'know, for a pillow. It's good, though.
So, here.'
Skulduggery took the case. 'Thank you very much, Finbar.'
'Absolutely no problemo, man. Hey, this emergency thing — it's serious?'
'Yes it is.'
'You need some help? It's been a while since I was, y'know, in the field, or even out the door, but I still got it.'
'I'm sure you do, but we can handle it.'
'Oh right. Okay. Probably a good thing. I don't know if I got it anymore, y'know? Don't know if I ever did, but. . . what were we saying?'
'We were saying congratulations on your upcoming wedding to Sharon.'
'Oh, thanks, Skul-man.'
'I'm sure you'll be very happy together.'
'Yeah, me too. I mean, I've only known her three days, but sometimes you just gotta . . .
get married ... to someone. . . .'He trailed off and looked puzzled. 'I think.'
'Well,' Skulduggery said, 'thank you for keeping this for me. Stay out of trouble.'
'You got it. Hey, who's that with you?'
Skulduggery tilted his head. 'This is Valkyrie. She introduced herself.'
'Naw, man, not her. The guy in black.'
Valkyrie stiffened, and fought the urge to look around.
'Where is he?' Skulduggery asked.
'Across the street, doing a pretty good job of keeping out of sight, but you know me, Skul-man. Eyes like a feathery thing. Whatchamacallit. Hawk.'
'And he's watching us?'
'Yep. Wait, no. Not watching you. Watching her.'
'What does he look like?' Valkyrie asked.
'Black hair, pretty pale. Ugly scar on his face. Looks like a vamp.'
'You should get back inside,' Skulduggery said. 'Lock the doors.'
'You got it, Kemo Sabe. I'll keep my crucifix close.'
'Vampires aren't scared of a crucifix, Finbar.'
'I don't plan to wave it at him, I plan to hit him with it. It's really heavy. I figure I can do some considerable damage to his head.'
He stepped back and closed the door.
Skulduggery and Valkyrie walked back through Temple Bar to the Bentley.
'Is Dusk still following us?' Valkyrie asked, keeping her voice low.
'I think so,' Skulduggery answered. 'This is the break we've been looking for. Dusk has a grudge against you. We're quite lucky, in fact.'
'Very lucky,' Valkyrie agreed dryly. 'Very lucky that a vampire wants to kill me. Are we going to lure him into a trap?'
'Indeed we are. But not here. He won't get close enough. He has to believe you're alone.'
Valkyrie narrowed her eyes. 'That sounds suspiciously like a suggestion that I should act as bait. ...'
'You have to go to the reunion.'
'No no no . . .'
'You can't be around me, or Tanith, or any sorcerer. Dusk wouldn't risk it. He'll strike only when he thinks you're alone; that way he can take his time when he kills you.'
'You're not making me feel any better about this.'
'You're going to the reunion.'
She sagged.
'Tanith and I will wait nearby. The moment Dusk tries anything, we'll step in.'
'But my family. My aunts and uncles and cousins and second cousins and — '
'We'll protect them.'
'What? No, I mean, my family is really, really annoying. When they're drunk, they all start dancing, and that's just. . . that's just wrong.'
'You'll have a wonderful time.'
'I hate you.'
'I know.'
