“Don’t worry about it,” Skulduggery said. “At least it hasn’t fallen into enemy hands. That’s the main thing. OK, I have to go. Don’t do anything stupid.”

He hung up before Valkyrie could summon any indignation, and she finished dressing and hurried downstairs. She hopped in her car while munching an apple. Not the most satisfying breakfast ever, but it’d have to do. She drove to Gordon’s house.

When she walked into the study, the Echo Stone lit up in its cradle on the table, and Gordon Edgley appeared before her. Sort of. The image was faded.

Gordon frowned. “This is odd,” he said.

Valkyrie tapped the stone, shifted it in its cradle, and the image became clearer.

“Looks like I need a service,” Gordon said. “Hello, Stephanie. I hope you’re here to bring me news of my niece.”

Valkyrie frowned. “What do you …?” Her eyes widened. “Oh, Gordon! I am so sorry! I didn’t come to see you! I didn’t explain!”

“About what?”

“It’s me. It’s Valkyrie.”

Gordon’s frown deepened. “But … but Valkyrie became Darquesse …”

“I’m me again! I’m so sorry, I didn’t get a chance to come and tell you.”

A smile broke out across Gordon’s features. “My favourite niece has returned to me! Tuesdays were always my favourite days!”

“It’s Thursday.”

“Closely followed by Thursdays! Valkyrie, it’s so good to have you back! I bet there’s a tale needs telling …”

“There is,” she said, “but we’re kind of pressed for time. Gordon, a lot has happened. Obviously. I’m back, Skulduggery’s fine, the Sceptre is at my house and it’s bonded to Alice, but that’s another story entirely, and Darquesse is … she’s an untethered entity.”

“Things have been happening.”

“And Stephanie is … dead.”

“Oh,” said Gordon. “Oh, that’s inconvenient.”

“It’s a little more than inconvenient, Gordon. She … she was a person. And she’s dead.”

“I’m sorry,” said Gordon. “I didn’t mean to be insensitive. But keep in mind that she did try to kill you.”

“I remember.”

“And she did kill poor Carol.”

“I remember that, too. But all she wanted was a family. All she wanted was to be normal. And now she’s dead and I … don’t really know how to feel.”

“Did you like her?”

“Yes, actually. She was … I liked her. She had a thing with Fletcher – as weird as that sounds. She liked him, he liked her …”

“That must have been very confusing for him,” said Gordon.

“I’d say so. She was building up her own life. She had a boyfriend, for God’s sake. Yes, it was my ex, but it still counts.”

“How did she die?”

“Darquesse.”

“Oh.”

“And now the body’s gone. We think Darquesse has it.”

“Well, that won’t last …” Gordon’s voice faded and his image flickered.