They got to Richard Melior’s house. The upper bay window was open. Without breaking stride, Skulduggery wrapped an arm round Valkyrie’s waist and took them both off their feet. They drifted up and through the window, touching down in the bedroom. The bed was unmade. The door to the ensuite was open. From inside, the sound of someone brushing their teeth.

Spitting. A tap running. The clink as a toothbrush went back into its holder.

A man came out, dressed in jogging bottoms and a T-shirt. His feet were bare. His black hair was short, his haircut expensive. His beard was trimmed close. He stared at them.

“Doctor Melior,” Skulduggery said. “Good morning. I’m going to have to ask you not to make any sudden moves.”

Melior darted for the door, but Valkyrie shoved him towards Skulduggery who grabbed him, spun him around and sent him stumbling to the wall.

“That would count as a sudden move,” Skulduggery said. “My name is Skulduggery Pleasant. This is Valkyrie Cain. We’d like to ask you a few questions, if you have the time. We’re looking for a friend of ours. Male, about your height, African-American. His name is Temper Fray. I believe you know him?”

Melior licked his lips. “You … you can’t be here.” He was American.

“We won’t be long.”

“You can’t just … you can’t just come into my house. You need a warrant or a—”

“You’re thinking of mortals,” said Valkyrie. “You’re thinking of cops. We’re neither.”

“Get out,” Melior said, shaking his head. “I’m telling you to leave. Leave now.”

Skulduggery picked up a framed photograph by the bed, of Melior and a man with a remarkably square jaw. “This is nice,” he said. “Your husband? Savant Vega, isn’t it? Is he in? Could we speak to him?”

Melior’s eyes narrowed. “I told you to leave.”

“Calm down, Richard.”

“They’ll know. They know you’re here now. You’ve got to leave.”

“Not until you tell us what you know of the anti-Sanctuary,” Valkyrie said.

Melior pressed the heels of his hands into his temples and screwed his eyes shut. His face was red and he was muttering.

“What’s that, Richard?” Skulduggery asked. “We can’t hear you.”

Valkyrie frowned. It wasn’t only Melior’s face that was going red. It was his neck and his arms and his feet, too. His whole body was flushed and trembling. He was burning from within.

“Skulduggery …” Valkyrie murmured, suddenly wishing that she was at home with the dog, having a nice quiet morning, far away from people who wanted to do her harm.

“Let’s not resort to violence, Doctor,” Skulduggery said. “If we feel we are about to be attacked, I must warn you that we will defend ourselves.”

Melior’s eyes snapped open. “You brought this on yourselves,” he growled.