okay this is Chapter 4 of The Two Detectives. This may be a little rushed so I hope you don't mind.
Skulduggery was sitting with an old woman in a café, the old sorcerers's name was Helen Brew. She always nodded slowly as if something didn't sound quite right and spoke in a the like everything was miles away or just out of her grasp.
"So that murder back in Dublin, you say the murderer may have come in refuge to the old town of Mayo?" She laughed. "I don't see why you people don't just let him get away. It's only one murder, what about Mr. Sanguine? He's murdered many and yet theres been no great search party for him."
"This man had been a suspect of many murders for the last twenty-six years, Sanguine only rocked up say- around eighteen years? It's just priority Helen."
"Well in that case," Helen continued in her shaky old voice, " I wouldn't be surprised if he was around here at all, I've known many murderers in my life, him among the many. I keep they're secrets Mr. Pleasant."
"Please call me Skulduggery. Also this man killed people and not to worry you Helen but you we wouldn't defend you if they came to kill you if you are not willing to give information."
Helen laughed again, "Oh skeleton what is going on in that elaborate mind of yours? Why on Earth would they want to kill me?"
"Helen you just told me you knew their secrets, if they knew we were looking for them and their positions were at risk you would be the first person they'd come looking for."
"I beg your pardon but who's we?" Helen asked.
"Me and my partner." Skulduggery replied,
"So where is he?"
"She is shopping."
"Hm, dedicated. I agree to help you, but you must promise to protect both me and my family."
"You have my word." The skeleton detective nodded.
"So when about do you say this person fled to Mayo?"
"Around 11 or 12pm last night,"
"Ah, I know your mystery man. His name is Hamish Goth, he's killed many in his lifetime. His strategy has always been to flee to the most innocent places around."
Skulduggery leaned closer, "Where can I find him?" Helen looked tired,
"There is a masquerade ball going on in Mayo to celebrate many criminals work and success, in a large catacomb that no mortal knows about. It is illegal for sorcerers to go down there, which is why it is so wonderful for them."
"I see, strange. I wasn't expecting that."
"It takes a bit of time to settle, but Hamish received an invitation with the co-ordinates on it. He's going to be going. That is all the information I can offer I'm afraid."
Skulduggery got up "Thank you Helen it's been a delight meeting you."
"Thank you as well Mr. Pleasant."
Skulduggery was passing a shop when he saw a little glittering emerald neckless hanging on a manikin wearing a sleek black strapless dress. The emerald was mounted on a delicate silver chain with a silver dragon climbing up the side of the gem. He could imagine it on Valkyrie. Skulduggery turned into a dark ally way, out of the corner of his eye he saw a dark figure. He was about to blast that figure into the wall with one jet of air but before he could do anything someone elbowed him hard in the back of his skull. Skulduggery staggered as his hat fell to the path. He snapped himself some fire and blasted it at the man had blonde hair that stuck up on its ends just like Fletcher's did. He an extravagant suit just as Skulduggery was, his silver eyes shining. This man dodged the fire easily and smiled,
"Well detective? Lost your ability to put up a real fight?" The man threw a punch at Skulduggery that caught him in the jaw, he staggered again. "Ah, so that would be a yes then."
"You just caught me of guard." Skulduggery threw twin punches both hit the man square in the face, he sent more rapid punches to the mans chest. A sword pierced through Skulduggery's coat and scratched against his sternum. The skeleton fell to the ground hugging his ribs. Bloody hell theres two of them he thought to himself.
"Psh, this is the skeleton detective? I confess myself unimpressed." The swordsman scoffed.
"He's usually better than this."
"So how do we actually kill him?"
"Dunno."
A scarred man grabbed the two men by their collars and threw them both into the wall, the blonde man slipped out of Ghastly's grasp and ran up the opposite wall and into the darkness. A creased piece of paper fell from his breast pocket. Ghastly kept throwing the man against the wall until he collapsed to the floor, he was gone.
"You've looked better." The tailor grinned.
"Just help get me up." Ghastly weaved his arm around Skulduggery's ribs and pulled him up.
"Put on your facade on," Skulduggery did so and soon after Ghastly did the same. Skulduggery picked up the piece of paper. The two men walked past the dress shop window and Skulduggery stopped. "You like it?" Ghastly raised an eyebrow,
"Yes I do."
Ghastly laughed, "It would look great on you." Skulduggery took a moment to imagine himself wearing the black dress with the emerald around his skeleton neck before saying,
"Ghastly, not funny."
They walked back to The Star Inn where Valkyrie was waiting with many, many bags of clothes.
Ghastly smiled, "Valkyrie," he pulled her into a hug. "You saw Tanith today?"
"I did. We had coffee, it was a shock."
"She didn't tell you? I did tell her to call you, I mean I called Skulduggery." Skulduggery deactivated his facade and nodded,
"He did."
"I have to go and find Tanith, but it was nice seeing you, and saving your life Skulduggery, and seeing you Val." And with that he left.
"So he saved your life? Wanna talk about it?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
The two detectives sat on their bed reading through a invitation printed on a slip of creased paper. it read:
Hamish Goth, we invite you to join us in the Ball for the Unrighteous, It will be in the catacombs of Mayo, but if you need them, here are the co-ordinates. Many thanks.
"So that was Hamish Goth," Skulduggery muttered to himself.
"Are you going to the catacombs? I hate catacombs."
"We are going to the catacombs."
Valkyrie sighed "I hate catacombs."
Uh, I rushed this so much but I hope you don't mind. I just had to get this done so the story had some shape. Thank you so much for all of your support, ily guys.