“Hard to say,” said Vex. “But I don’t think so. Not even the Necromancers. That’s quite a thing, you know, having Necromancers on your payroll.”

Earl shrugged. “You got to be competitive if you want to stay in business.”

While Vex wandered around the office, Saracen sat opposite Earl. “Can I ask you something, Mr Earl? It almost seems like you were waiting for us, like all this was an ambush that didn’t quite go according to plan.”

Earl shrugged. “My boys are always ready, what can I say?”

“But this is quite a large compound,” Vex said from behind him, forcing Earl to look round. “And you only have a handful of goons with guns? I’d heard you had a small army in here, and I’d even heard rumours of a vampire. And while you do have five unconscious Necromancers downstairs, I saw no vampire tonight.”

“Cutbacks,” said Earl. “Had to let the vampire go.”

Vex completed his tour of the office, ended up standing beside Saracen’s chair. “You know why we’re here.”

Earl remained impressively impassive. “You’re thinking of getting into the mobster business and you want some tips?”

Vex smiled. “Where’s the bow, Mr Earl?”

“What bow? I don’t know what you’re—”

Without taking his eyes off Earl, Saracen nodded to the wall to their left. “It’s behind there,” he said. “Hidden compartment. Circuitry runs across the floor to the desk.”

Earl paled.

“Would you mind?” Vex asked. “Just press the little secret button like a good chap.”

The mobster hesitated, then reached under his desk.

“Be careful you don’t accidentally knock against the gun that’s hidden down there,” Saracen said. “Wouldn’t want it to go off by mistake.”

Earl’s jaw tightened, then he moved again, very slowly, and there was a loud click from the wall. Vex walked over, got his fingertips behind a large painting and pulled. It swung open, revealing the compartment. He lifted the bow clear, feeling the power that practically made the thing vibrate. There was a quiver of arrows in there, and he took that, too.

“Are these special arrows?” he asked.

“No,” said Earl, speaking as if every word caused him physical pain. “Arrows are ordinary. It’s the bow that gives them their power. Can I ask you to return it when you’re done? It is mine, after all.”

“Sorry,” said Vex. “I have a feeling you’d be using it for criminal gain, and that’s just unfair to all the other criminals in this fine city.”

“But I paid for it. I paid a lot for it.”

“Then you’d probably have been better off spending that money on something else, like a waffle iron. I love waffle irons. You can pick up a good one for, what, thirty dollars? How much did the bow cost you?”

“Half a million.”