November 23rd (The present time)
Dublin, Ireland
Haggard
Valkyrie Cain was running on the beach of Haggard. She was wearing her dark violet winter coat, which Ghastly had made for her. It was waist high and had a warm lining. She had jeans and black boots and red mittens. She ran, her boots slipping in the wet sand. A wave hit the cliffs in the shore and the splash rose in the gray sky. The wind made small drops of seawater hit her face and smiled. It was a wonderful weather, even though it was cold. She saw a large stone and run faster. Right next to it, she splayed her hand and shot upwards and landed on the stone. She did a small pirouette on the stone and closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh wind. She was a little sad because it wasn't snowing and she hoped that it would be a white Christmas. Christmas, she couldn't wait. She loved Christmas. She looked at the drive way next the beach and saw Bentley, still parked there. Skuklduggery had come to pick her up half an hour ago, but she had wanted to go in the beach and Skulduggery had agreed to wait her. Skulduggery was nice. She really liked him. She sat down and then lied on the stone hands behind her head.
She looked at the gray sky and thought about Skulduggery. He was really nice. Awesomely nice. And handsome, in a weird way. She really waited for Christmas, because she wanted to give him a Christmas present. Something really cool. The best present he had ever got. She started to feel like a screaming school girl with a stupid crush, so she stopped thinking and closed her eyes and thought that she really wanted to go shopping with Tanith. Suddenly a cold raindrop hit her nose and woke her up in her thoughts. It started to rain and she jumped off the rock and ran to the Bentley. Skulduggery was sitting in the driver's seat tuning the radio when she came to him.
"I hate when it isn't snowing in wintertime", Valkyrie said, but Skulduggery raised his hand.
"Hush, listen", he said and got the radio on the right station. Magic FM. Valkyrie heard people screaming and a panicking woman voice came over the noise.
"…Politician Mr. Zimmermann has been shot. Apparently he isn't dead, and the Cleavers are taking him in to the hospital. People are trying to get out of the court hall. Cleavers are trying to find the shooter. Wait, they have located the gun in the observing balcony…
Both were silent and listened the broadcast.
"Another murder attempt?" Valkyrie asked carefully and Skulduggery nodded.
"This is catastrophic. First Quantum and his colleague and now Zimmermann" she said worried and wrapped her coat tighter around her. She had heard about Quantum's murder two days ago when Skulduggery took her to see the murder sight. It wasn't a pleasant place to be in any way. The blood and other insides had splashed on the walls and the shot had blown Mr. Quantum's head almost completely. She remembered how she ran out and threw up in the Sanctuary bathroom. She remembered how Skulduggery had looked at her throwing up and she felt embarrassed.
"And is the Sanctuary going to do something?" Valkyrie said and Skulduggery tiled his head.
"This is starting to get out of hands. Guild should do something fast before all he politicians are dead. But why someone is killing them?"
"…The condition of Mr. Zimmermann isn't fatal and the bullet hit only his arm says police commander Morel. The suspect has been seen by an eyewitness…"
"Hey, they got something new", Valkyrie said and Skulduggery turned the radio louder.
"…The main suspect is the still fired detective Skulduggery Pleasant, who was seen shooting from the balcony ten minutes ago. He ran out and down to the street, but then disappeared. And other eyewitness saw him running towards the main street…"
Valkyrie started at Skulduggery. Skulduggery sat perfectly still. A moment dragged by. And then another moment dragged by. The rain started to get heavier, but Valkyrie ignored it.
"Skulduggery", she stared. "Did you drive really fast in to the Sanctuary with a gun, somehow maid in to the press conference in time, shot Mr. Zimmermann and then drove super fast back with out me noticing?"
"They said that I ran off and I didn't got a car, so apparently no"
"It couldn't been you", Valkyrie said panicking. "You were here all the time". They listened the radio once again.
"…Skulduggery Pleasant is told to be armed and dangerous. Civilians are ordered to inform the Sanctuary agents about any visual perceptions of the main suspect. Police is calming the crowd by saying that Skulduggery Pleasant will be arrested and punished. For this moment further, he's a wanted criminal…"