A/N: It took me a while, I know. I'm sorry for letting you wait. But here is a new chapter, finally. I hope you like it :)

A huge thanks to those who reviewed, faved and followed. You are awesome :)

Disclaimer: All characters except for Insanity belong to Derek Landy.

Chapter three

A few moments later, Skulduggery, Valkyrie and Insanity were crossing the Sanctuary's parking lot.

"That's your car?" Insanity asked when they approached the Bentley. "It's, um, nice."

Skulduggery and Valkyrie's heads snapped at her simultaneously, both shooting her a death glare. Of course, Insanity couldn't see that the skeleton was glaring, but it was quite obvious to her that he was annoyed. Really annoyed, that is.

"Nice?" Valkyrie repeated slowly and in a low voice.

Skulduggery patted the Bentley. "Don't listen to her, you are beautiful", he assured his car.

"Is he actually talking to the car?" Insanity asked Valkyrie, whispering.

"She's not just a car" Valkyrie corrected her." She's a 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental, one of only 208 ever made. We both love this car so you better not say anything about her that you may regret."

"Okay, okay." The girl raised her hands placatory.

"Yeah, you should better listen to her", Skulduggery added, a dangerous undertone in his voice. "Insulting things I love has turned out very bad for some people. And for your information, there are not many things I like as much as this beautiful car." He paused for a few seconds to make sure he had both girls' attention. "For one, there is myself of course."

Insanity looked at him in disbelieve. How could someone seriously be this narcissistic?

Valkyrie, on the other side, was now glaring at the skeleton and punched him in the arm.

"Ow!" He exclaimed, rubbing his arm. "What was that for?"

"You know exactly what that was for!"

"There is no need for violence", he complained.

Insanity looked back and forth between the two Detectives, obviously confused what their argument was about.

"There is!"

"Is not. That's just showing what a violent nature you have. It doesn't suit you."

"It does."

"Maybe. But not right now" was his poor response to that.

"Besides, you are changing the subject."

Skulduggery sighed, but his expression showed amusement. How he liked to tease her sometimes.

"You know, I wasn't finished then. Besides, it would make things a lot easier if you just listened more carefully sometimes", he said smugly.

At that Valkyrie became very quiet and looked up at her partner expectantly.

"Well?" She asked impatiently when he didn't continue right away.

"Well", he said. "You know I don't like to repeat myself, but I'll make an exception this time. What I just said was, and now I'm quoting exactly, 'there are not many things I like as much' implying there is more than one thing, and 'for one' implying that I was going to enumerate those things, before I was so rudely interrupted."

Valkyrie tried to look annoyed about his lecture, but she had already forgiven him because she knew what he wanted to say with those words.

"Of course I was going to add that I love my dear partner and most loyal combat accessory just as much, if not even more. Although she had just punched me for no reason." Skulduggery seemed to be very pleased with the way he had saved the situation.

"That was very sweet of you, Skulduggery", Valkyrie said happily and hugged him tightly. Because this time, she had listened more attentive and she had noticed the 'if not even more'-part. And that really meant a lot, considering how obsessed Skulduggery was with this car.

He wrapped his skeletal arms around her and drew her closer.

"I have my moments." He brushed his teeth against her forehead before stepping back reluctantly.

When Insanity started to speak, they both jumped. For a short moment they had forgotten that they weren't alone.

"I don't want to interrupt or anything, but would you two mind a lot if we drove to your uncle's now? I'm really tired." As if to underline her words, Insanity tried to stifle a yawn but didn't quite manage.

Instantly, Valkyrie felt guilty. Of course she was tired, she assumed that the poor girl hadn't gotten much sleep before she was sent here early in the morning. What a bad host she was.

"I'm so sorry. I totally forgot. Of course we are going now."

As soon as they were seated in the Bentley, Skulduggery drove off to Gordon's mansion.

Since their failed attempt to murder Valkyrie on her eighteenth birthday, Stephanie, Tanith and Sanguine were hiding in an old warehouse.

That hadn't been part of the plan in the first place. A few hours later, it was around midday, Tanith was pacing around in the warehouse. She couldn't hold it any longer.

"Steph, I'm bored. Isn't there anything I can do?"

"I'm afraid, no."

"I feel like kicking someone's ass or something."

"Then you'll have to wait until we have a new plan."

Tanith sighed. "But that might take ages!"

"It would not, if you helped me" Stephanie pointed out accusingly.

"Nah, I don't think so. You make the plans, I fight. That's what they call teamwork."

Stephanie rolled her eyes.

Someone cleared his throat and the girls winced at that noise. It was Sanguine.

"I'd suggest someone goes lookin' around, checkin' if the area is safe."

Stephanie frowned at this. "Haven't you been out all morning? I thought that's what you did."

"Um, no" Sanguine said, shifting uncomfortable. "Actually, I've been grabbin' some food." He held up a grocery bag for evidence.

"Well, that's not that a bad idea", Stephanie admitted. "Who knows for how long we are staying." She then turned to Tanith and saw her exasperate expression. Obviously, her dear friend just imagined what it would be like to stay in here for several day, doing nothing. She groaned. "I'd never even thought I would say this once and yet I have to say it for a second time. His other idea isn't bad, either. You want to go check the area, Tanith?" She started to laugh when Tanith' mood lightened immediately.

"Sure, Steph!", she said happily.

"Great!" Speaking to Tanith, she lowered her voice. "You know, I give you the credit for that. I think you're being a good influence on him." Tanith' grin widened at that, while Sanguine started to sulk.

"I can still hear ya, ya know?" He sounded hurt. The girls ignored him.

The detectives had just arrived at Gordon's and brought Insanity's luggage into the hall.

"Come on" Valkyrie said to Insanity. "I'll show you the guest room."

The British girl looked relieved. Finally she could get some sleep.

But before they had reached the stairs, Skulduggery's mobile rang.

"Hello, Ghastly, already missing my company?" he joked. When he listened, he got instantly serious. "They have?... That's great. Though I didn't expect they'd find something this early … Okay, we're going to check this place out." He hung off.

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to get some sleep later. We have a lead. They had Cleavers observing possible hide-outs, who were in contact with the Sanctuary. They lost contact to two of them and send detectives to find out what happened. Guess what they found?" He didn't left them enough time to answer before he went on. "Two Cleavers, dead. They were beheaded with a sword."

"Tanith!" Valkyrie and Insanity exclaimed at the same time. The girls grinned at each other.

"Exactly. Ghastly just send me the location. We should better go now before they figure out we're on their lead and leave."

He gave Insanity an apologetic look. She sighed.

"I suppose coffee will have to do, then."

"Good idea. I'll make some." Valkyrie already headed for the kitchen, but Skulduggery called her back.

"No time, Val. We'll grab you some coffee to go on the way."

"You've done what?" Stephanie exclaimed.

A few minutes ago Tanith had returned, a broad smile on her face when she told her friend what had happened.

Her smile dropped. Being shouted at wasn't the reaction she'd expected. After all, she had eliminated two potential enemies.

"There were two Cleavers, apparently observing this warehouse. What else should I have down?" Tanith asked back.

"Coming back here and report us. We could have thought about our next step. By stabbing the Cleavers, you've told the whole world where we are. They can count one and one together. As soon as the Sanctuary finds out that the Cleavers are dead, they will send reinforcement to catch us."

"I haven't thought about it like that", Tanith admitted. Stephanie stayed quiet.

"So", Tanith started again after a few minutes had passed. "What are we going to do now?"

"Obviously, we have to go somewhere else soon. But we can't just walk out on the street, not any more. They could have set up a trap already. Someone has to go and check that first."

"I can do that", Tanith offered.

Stephanie raised an eyebrow at her.

"I will stay away from whoever there is, I promise" Tanith said pleadingly.

"Fine." Stephanie said reluctantly.

Will our detectives arrive in time? Or will an empty warehouse be everything they find?

Please review, constructive critism welcome :)