Skulduggery Pleasant: Raising Cain

Chapter 130 - Burn, baby, burn

Chapter 130

Valkyrie's frustrations at her work didn't end that day. She was able to spend some time talking with Nadia on the phone, hearing about how well getting her things from her parents' house had been as well as her brother's approval of redoing the house. The house ideas were exciting to Valkyrie, the concept of big change that she and her girlfriend got to dictate and make exactly to their tastes. The dead-end work was not.

In the end, Valkyrie stayed at work and slept on the sofa in Corrival's office. When she woke up six hours later at about five in the morning, Corrival was still in his office, passed out in his chair with his chin on his chest and snoring up a storm. Valkyrie felt immediately guilty for taking his sofa and decided she'd somehow get one for herself so she wouldn't steal his next time. She made herself and Corrival a pot of tea in the corner of the room and when the kettle clicked, he rubbed his eyes.

"Time," he demanded groggily.

"It's five thirteen in the morning. No one's come with an emergency. And here's your tea," Valkyrie recited as she put the pot on the desk and sat across from him. "Sorry I took your sofa."

"It's fine," he said quietly, beadily pouring tea into his cup and holding the warmth. "This war-brewing needs to stop. These damn Spiders are making my life miserable. I was meant to be brought tea and deal with the boring missions and crime, not prepare for a war."

"You can retire again afterwards," Valkyrie said comfortingly, sending a quick text to Nadia that she knew wouldn't be seen for a few more hours. "Once Skulduggery's dealt with and the Sanctuary's finished we can work on the Spiders directly. The Sanctuary is partially done, and I'm on the Pleasant investigation, so it isn't long now."

"You said last night," Corrival started, closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair. He reminded Valkyrie of her grandad, "that you removed half your team."

"I did. I looked through their paperwork and spoke with them and only five of the group wasn't letting their anger and hatred get in the way of their work. I had one report that claimed the interviewee was, and I quote, 'an idiot'. I've filed why I got rid of them, don't worry."

"What did you do with them?"

"Put them on review and they're on normal work. The ringleader is stuck here on unknown observation and review, but I told the staff to make it obvious. I want him to regret being so stupid, but ultimately, I know there isn't much we can do about firing anyone right now. I've told the remaining team that I'm not on Skulduggery's side, but they don't entirely trust me."

"And how close are you now you've seen their work?"

"Not particularly," Valkyrie muttered bitterly. "I'll be working from scratch. But I have a few ideas on drawing him out. He hasn't visited or contacted us at all, his car hasn't been seen. I think he stored the Bentley. He knows we'll recognise it."

"Yes," Corrival stated.

"To be honest, the only one of our plans that I think will work is waiting him out. He'll show himself when he feels like it, or rather when he gets bored of hiding. As soon as a big, loud bang goes off, he'll be straight there."

"I'd rather it didn't," he told her blandly. "But you are right. There are criminals getting in at every point of the country. We don't have enough staff to deal with those getting in. And we're getting pushed more by the Americans, and the English are kicking off because a lot of criminals are jumping between here and there to keep out of getting caught. I wouldn't be surprised if we get an unexpected visit from other countries soon. I wouldn't be shocked if we have spies all over this Sanctuary."