Skulduggery Pleasant_ Death Bringer - Derek Landy [130]
“You don’t approve of Tanith, I take it?”
“I never have. She’s always been too… brash for my liking.”
“Some people like brash.”
“And they are welcome to it.”
“Of course,” Frightening said with a smile, “some people like other things as well.”
China laughed. “I admire your audacity, Frightening. It is completely wasted on me, but I admire it nonetheless.”
A pale, fleshy hand clamped on to Frightening’s shoulder – not an easy task, as the owner of that hand had to reach up to do it. “Frightening!” boomed Quintin Strom, lurching slightly into him, “aren’t you going to introduce me to your beautiful friend?”
Frightening sighed. “Elder Strom, you already know China Sorrows.”
“I know I do,” the British Elder grinned, “but it never hurts to make a second first impression. Hello, Miss Sorrows, you are looking ravishing tonight.” He was, quite clearly, drunk.
“Elder Strom,” China said, nodding politely. “How have you been? I have heard no scandal about you at all in the past few years.”
“Because I’ve been behaving myself !” Strom laughed. “It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve been keeping out of trouble. Unlike yourself, my dear. For someone who is apparently neutral, you find yourself fighting by the Skeleton Detective’s side an awful lot. Is there something I should know? Should every man in this room be jealous?”
Frightening sighed, smiled at China and backed away, leaving her to cope with Strom alone.
“There’s no need for friends to ever be jealous,” she told him.
He clasped her hand in his. “And what of those who could be more than friends?”
“My darling Quintin,” China said, “you will always be very special to me. A very special friend, with a very special wife. Where is she, by the way?”
Strom shrugged. “Somewhere over there. We have an understanding.”
“That must be wonderful for you both,” China said, realising she’d lost sight of Scorn. Her phone rang, and she disentangled herself from Strom’s hand. “Excuse me for just a moment.”
“It’s me,” Gallow said when she answered. “I have her list. Twelve people, most of whom should be with you right now.”
China smiled tightly at Strom and walked away from him, speaking quietly. “Where are you?”
“Parked in the woods to the north-east of the house. I can’t get any nearer without setting off the alarms.”
“Stay there,” China ordered. “I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”
She paused to check around her, making sure Scorn wasn’t anywhere about. Then she slipped by the Rippers at the door and walked quickly between the rows of cars, sticking to the shadows as much as possible. Her shoes, magnificently elegant though they were, had not been designed for walking across gravel, and were totally unsuited to walking across grass or, indeed, through woodland. But China had grace, and poise, and where a lesser woman would already have toppled, China remained upright. The real trick, of course, was to make it look effortless, even when there was no one around to appreciate it.
She cracked twigs and speared leaves with virtually every step, and there were certain kinds of branches that only wanted to snag her dress as she passed. She stepped from the treeline into a clearing. Gallow’s car sat quiet and dark, and China was already scowling as she approached. She banged her fist on the passenger side window. She doubted it would give Gallow a scare, but she had to at least make the effort after walking all this way. She opened the door and stooped to get in, froze when she realised Gallow wasn’t moving. She took a breath, bent lower. Gallow’s chin was resting on his chest. The upper half of his head was sitting on his lap.
There was a note on the dashboard, illuminated by a strip of moonlight. Too late, sweetie.
China stayed where she was. If anyone was sneaking up behind her, they weren’t making a sound. If anyone was watching from the trees, they weren’t making a move. She straightened up slowly. If this was a trap, then she was already at a disadvantage, and she wasn’t going to make things any better by losing her composure.
Her heart was beating so