Skulduggery Pleasant: Raising Cain

Chapter 67 - Shattering defeat

Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

Solomon – Raven

....................................................................

Chapter 67

Valkyrie, Snake, Panda, Tanith, Wolf, Weasel and Raven all panted as they glared at Divina Marr who sat in the middle of the room tied to a chair. Crow was standing right over her with a somewhat satisfied look on his face. There was no way the Elders could allow her to continue to be a Sanctuary detective now she'd tried to break in, after all.

"Detective Marr," Crow said from behind her. The others quickly moved into position, standing at the doors and windows, allowing Tanith and Valkyrie to stand right in front of her and cross their arms. "What could possibly have made you think it's a good idea to try and break into the residency of the Dead Men and co?"

She said nothing, just spat blood onto their carpet.

Crow tutted. "Breaking in, I can deal with. Breaking that vase, I can deal with."

"It was from Beryl anyway," Valkyrie put in.

"Exactly. Disgusting! But spitting on the carpet? Someone has to clean that now. That is just rude."

Marr sneered. "I have reasons for coming here."

"But not for spitting on the carpet," Crow said, coming around and standing between Valkyrie and Tanith. "Tell me the reasons."

"No."

"Why?"

"I can't."

"Why can't you?"

She said nothing.

Crow hummed and used his magic to pull his armchair over to sit opposite her. "We're going to have to guess, are we? I think you're forgetting that as this is not yet a Sanctuary operation, no one here is being held by Sanctuary rules so we can do this our way." He leaned in. "Or you can tell us what we want and we can put you under Sanctuary protection by taking you in."

She glared at him. "You're all despicable. You shouldn't have that type of power to mess with people's lives. You're still a Sanctuary Detective. You're still Head of the Investigations Department. You shouldn't be allowed to pick and choose when you follow the rules or don't."

Crow tilted his head. "And you don't get to break into other people's homes, but look where we are."

"You arrogant prick. You have no idea why I'm doing this, or else you'd understand."

"Would I? Perhaps if you told me that reason I could make that verdict for myself. So what is it going to take to make you talk? Last time it was the threat of losing your job that made you leave myself and Valkyrie alone, but I think it's fair to say that's worn off. What could I try next? The fact you'll be sent back to America, or at least out the country if you lose your job? The fact you'll never be able to get a Sanctuary job again? Maybe it's your sister, that's still on trial following her aiding and abetting a murder in this country? Or perhaps the threat of having a psychic friend of ours rummage through your head for us is enough?"

She glanced at Valkyrie and Tanith's stony faces and wetted her lips. She looked nervous but no less convinced in her motive. "Get your psychic. They won't find anything."