Playing With Fire

Chapter Twenty-nine PICKING UP A TAIL

THEY 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 passersby who sifted in and out of the many pubs and restaurants.

They crossed the square, navigating 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. And 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 colored 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. Okay. 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 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."