They were in the car again.

Valkyrie Cain sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window, counting all the red cars since Skulduggery was being quite again. He kept doing that – being quite when they were in the car. It was kind of un-nerving since he usually enjoyed talking.

Skulduggery Pleasant had his hands on the steering wheel, his eye sockets staring straight ahead. He glanced over at Valkyrie. She was still staring out at the window. What in the world could she be staring at that was so interesting? His head swivels back to look out the windshield.

The detective and his partner were driving through Roarhaven. The battered buildings seemed to be crowding in on the small streets as the Bentley drove past. Few people walked on the oil stained sidewalks, and who did looked homeless or like they were trying to sell Illegal drugs. The Bentley swerved into a driveway and Skulduggery parked it in a weakly marked parking spot. He got out and waited for Valkyrie to join him. The young elemental hopped out off the car and walked over to him, shooting him a small smile.

The both of them walked over to the building together.

The building was a bit shabby, but it was all the Irish had for a back-up sanctuary. It was dimly lit and it needed a good dusting. A person or two walked past the detective and Valkyrie every couple of minutes. They were scurrying along quickly, not even glancing at them. Well maybe a couple weird looks got shot Skulduggery's way, but that was normal.

Valkyrie didn't make eye contact with any of them. She didn't find any of them interesting enough with their neutral color clothes, and nervous aura. All of them were so similar to the point they all looked the same as far as Valkyrie could tell.

But Skulduggery knew who they all were of course. He took prompt note of all the strange looks and would remember them for the next time he spoke to those people. The looks on their faces when he told them he remembered them staring would be priceless.

After walking down the dimly lit hall, Skulduggery walked up to a door and pulled it open. Sitting at a desk in the middle of the room was Erskine Ravel, scribbling away at a piece of paper on the desk. His pen was flying a mile a minute until he heard the click of the door and his head snapped up. "Skulduggery, Valkyrie! Glad you could make it!" He smiled and stood, walking around the desk. He shook Skulduggery's hand and offered Valkyrie a hug, which she promptly declined.

"A pleasure as always, Erskine. Now what can we do for our new Grand Mage?" Skulduggery said smoothly, his empty sockets not leaving his friend.

Erskine tried to look serious, but he was still smiling. "Well I need you two to go catch a bad guy. He killed a sorcerer in Dublin and has been running amuck in the city since. Harassing the mortal police as well. He just needs to be rounded up, and you two seemed perfect for the job seeing as all my other choices are tangled up in something else at the moment."

"Good to know we're on the top of your list then, hmm?" The detective says sarcastically. "But we'll get right on it."

"Very good. Have fun Skulduggery, Valkyrie." His smile widened as he dismissed them with a wave.

The detective snorted and tipped his hat. "Good day, Erskine. Come on Valkyrie, were off to run errands."

"That sounds like work.", Valkyrie said sourly.

"You think everything sounds like work.", Skulduggery retorted.

"Because it usually ends up being work with you."

"What? You don't think I would just take you out to have some fun?"

"Yep."

"Hardly fair."

"Life isn't always fair, Skulduggery."

The detective grumbled and opened the door once more, holding it open for Valkyrie. She smiled smugly and walked out the door, waving to Erskine as she did. He waved back and Skulduggery walked out behind her. If he had still had eyes, he would have rolled them. The door shut with a solid thud.