SKULDUGGERY AND VRLKYRIE 22

SPOV

We got into the Bentley and I remembered something from last day.

"hey Val, you were saying?"

"what?"

"before Fletcher's break in you were going to say something. What was it?" I asked while Val hopped in the passenger seat.

"I don't know, I forgot. Sorry." she responded while buckling herself in. "so where do we go now? shouldn't we be interrogating her? It's been a few days since we planned on it."

"you're right, but first we need to track her down. Let's try Finbar."

"sound's good *yawn*"

"do you want me to drive you home?"

"nah, I don't want to deal with my reflection. Can I crash at your place tonight?"

"sure, if you want. I still don't have a bed though" I took a left for Cemetery Road.

"eh, I'll use your couch, what channels do you get on your T.V?"

"well, there's BBC and I think that the season finale for Sherlock Holmes will be on."

"ooh. Sherlock Holmes, the greatest detective ever. Sounds good."

"eh, hem… you know he wasn't as athletic than they make him, right?"

"yeah, I know I watched the movies, I totally thought he was dead. And Jude Law, holy crap he is cute."

"huh…" we got up passed the competing funeral parlors and I parked the car. As I got out Valkyrie slammed the door a little too hard. Making a crick noise from the window. As we both turn around the car's window shattered, the frame refracted hard, the doors unhinged, the tires buckled making the shell sink resulting in the body scraped the floor. And for the finally the grill popped right off and the hub-caps shoot out at the sides. Val's face never looked so innocent before.

"I-I'm so, so sorry Skulduggery, I had no clue. I forgot it was so frail. I'm so sorry!" I could see her eyes fighting back the tears.

I was out of breath, my car. She was gone, dead, ruined. I had that car for almost 60 years. The black shell was now a crumpled up a piece of junk.

I didn't want Val to feel bad, but I also didn't know what to do. To try and possibly fail I brought some humor in the situation. "well, now there's only 207 in the world, huh." I turn to the door and step into one of my living rooms. Val followed in too. Her face looked all shaken.

"I-I can't believe I killed your car, I don't know what to do."

"well, there's nothing really that we can do, good thing I have those spare cars, right?"

"at least not that canary on wheels"

"oh, god no. and not the purple one either. No, we'll use the best one I own."

"what is it?"

"it's a Mini Cooper. White roof, black body, and white rims, what more could you ask for?"

"uh, maybe some space?"

"you know the most people to fit in a cooper is 18."

"charming, what's the inside like?"

"black, any thing else?"

"not really, so what about the car?"

"I don't know, we'll see what happens."

"huh, any way good night." she curled up to the back rest and instantly slept.

I picked out a good book, I forgot what it was called cause the title has been scraped away. I can assure you it's a good book though.

As hours passed I finished it as the sun's rays drifted through the windows.

I woke up Val, most of the time she's not a morning person.

"wake up", I said gingerly "it's morning".

"go away" she muttered

"get up, we have to see Finbar"

"5 minutes to a 6 hours more"

"get up!"

"never!" she flipped to her side ignoring me.

With no more patience a got some water and threw it at her, bad idea. She must of seen it coming so she stopped it midway.

"leave me"

"it's my house, you leave."

She grunted and flipped once again.

With no other idea I levitate her than drop her on the ground.

"was that really necessary?"

"extremely so, can we go now, please?"

"fine, but I'm sleeping on the way"

"the tattoo parlor is only 10 minutes away, plus we have to walk a few for the cooper so good luck with that."

"ugh, can we go before I change my mind."

"sounds good"

We walked for 6 minutes finding the cooper. The whole way Val squinted not willing to open them she wrapped her arm around mine. I didn't try to shake it off. I enjoyed her warmth in the crisp air. When we were about 5 feet away I kept walking in circles for 2 more so she wouldn't let go.

"who far is it?" she asked like a zombie.

"oh, were closer than you imagined, bed-head."

Valkyire opened her eyes to find the car right in front of her as she fixed her hair. "you tricked me, didn't you?"

"you have no proof"

"if I don't know, than why were we taking a left every 4 steps?"

"well, look who's becoming more observant."

"I only learn from the best. By the way, where's your gun?"

I checked my holster and it wasn't there. Damn it. Where is it?

"we have to go back, my gun is one of the most prized possession well next to my car"

She blushed with quilt and held out my gun.

"there solves the case of the missing gun" I said while holstering my gun.

"he, I took it when you were enjoying yourself"

"when do I enjoy myself?"

"like all the time"

"ha, ha, ha. Can we go now?"

We got into the cooper and we listened to some pink Floyd's on the way

"teacher, teacher, leave 'em kids alone… Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone!" Val's voice was not an angels voice. For the whole song she wouldn't stop singing till it ended than a personal favorite of mine came on. Val had no clue on what the song was. I started humming the guitar rift…

"black bird singing in the dead of the night…"I sang without ridicule of my voice.

"wow-"

"wow what?"

"your voice is not bad, it's like Michel Buble crossed with John Lennon."

"thank you. Were here"

We hopped out of the car and Val shut it too lightly this time, the doors were already locked. So she bumped it with her waist shutting it good this time.

We entered the parlor to find Finbar giving Geoffrey a tattoo, it was almost done.

"sorry to interrupt but we need your help, Finbar. Scrutinous.

"Skulduggery, your back. Does the sanctuary know? Right now they're looking for you. Hey, Val."

"oh, hey guys. We kinda got that idea, we're trying to find him innocent. And so I don't get suppressed."

"don't worry guys we wont tell a soul… ouch! Damn it, Finbar you said this wouldn't hurt!"

"I never said that man, I said this might hurt, I did warn you man. Anyway it's done, you like it?"

Scrutinous stood up and examined his arm, what a strange tattoo.

"cool, thanks. This is the best one I ever got!"

"wait, you got another tattoo? Where?"

Val did ask that question? He turned around and pulled his shirt up a little bit. It said "keep calm and put bacon on" the phrase was bordered by bacon, idiot.

"whoa, that is awesome! What's the one you just got now?"

He stepped forward, putting his index up to his upper lip. On his finger was a vague shape of a mustache.

"very nice, Finbar, we need to use you."

Geoffrey walked out of the store looking for sushi I believe.

"ok, so 'sup Skul-man? What do you need?"

"we need you to locate Eliza Scorn."

"sure, do you have something of hers?"

"uh, no. can you still find her?"

"I can try, I guess" Finbar pulled out his map. And closed his eyes.

"are you there yet?"

"uh, huh. Man, Dublin is awesome from up here" his hand moved near china's apartment. "she was there, like 6 days ago. Wait, she moved to Russia. I can see her right now having tea with uh-a person."

"who is it?"

Finbar didn't respond instead he fell over, blackout. Val hopped over his desk shaking him.

"Finbar! Can you hear me? Get out of there! Now!"

Nothing, he laid there franticly breathing. Short and shallow gasps were barely audible.

"what happened?" Val panicked.