"Because we're trying not to get Paddy in trouble," Valkyrie added, in a tone bordering on the exasperated air she hadn't once used since Skulduggery last saw her a year ago. It was a comforting tone. Familiar. Ignoring it was just as comforting and familiar.
"There's nothing stopping Paddy from claiming the room was empty when he got here," Skulduggery pointed out. "Who would accuse a priest of lying? Other than the evil ones, or the ones that are."
"That wouldn't work." Paddy, while they were talking, had stepped over to help Gabe gently prop Solomon upright, but he stopped and looked over when he spoke. "There are security cameras in the hallways. How would I explain all of you? Or the amount of time we spent in here?"
Skulduggery's voice grew sour. He was completely aware that it did so, and perfectly capable of keeping his voice free of those sour tendencies, but he didn't bother. "Ah. Yes. Video monitoring." He hesitated, and then cocked his head. "Would the hospital really kick up such a fuss over one missing patient? One missing patient whose name they didn't even know?"
"If there's evidence of kidnapping," Paddy replied, "yes. They would."
Damn it. Skulduggery glanced back towards the doorway. "And if the video cameras were tampered with? All they would have to go on is your word, correct?"
"Well... I suppose." Paddy stopped and looked over again. "But if you're planning on physically tampering with them, I'm afraid I can't just turn a blind eye."
"Why not?" Tanith wanted to know. "It's for the greater good. You're willing to help us kidnap Solomon, but not to cover that up so you don't get in trouble?"
"Helping a patient get the best medical care possible is one thing. Omitting the truth from my statement to protect the hospital from it is... not something I'm comfortable with, admittedly, but I'll do it. Purposely damaging hospital equipment used to monitor the safety of others is going too far."
"Then you can relax," Skulduggery told him. "I won't touch the cameras. I'll just step outside and remove my disguise. They won't believe anything the cameras have told them for the last day. Which is probably a very good thing, since we've all been coming and going for the last twelve hours."
Paddy frowned. "Disguise...? Why would removing that help?"
Tanith, despite herself, was giggling. Valkyrie shrugged. "Trust me," she assured him, "you don't want to know."
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"Because we're trying not to get Paddy in trouble," Valkyrie added, in a tone bordering on the exasperated air she hadn't once used since Skulduggery last saw her a year ago. It was a comforting tone. Familiar. Ignoring it was just as comforting and familiar.
"There's nothing stopping Paddy from claiming the room was empty when he got here," Skulduggery pointed out. "Who would accuse a priest of lying? Other than the evil ones, or the ones that are."
"That wouldn't work." Paddy, while they were talking, had stepped over to help Gabe gently prop Solomon upright, but he stopped and looked over when he spoke. "There are security cameras in the hallways. How would I explain all of you? Or the amount of time we spent in here?"
Skulduggery's voice grew sour. He was completely aware that it did so, and perfectly capable of keeping his voice free of those sour tendencies, but he didn't bother. "Ah. Yes. Video monitoring." He hesitated, and then cocked his head. "Would the hospital really kick up such a fuss over one missing patient? One missing patient whose name they didn't even know?"
"If there's evidence of kidnapping," Paddy replied, "yes. They would."
Damn it. Skulduggery glanced back towards the doorway. "And if the video cameras were tampered with? All they would have to go on is your word, correct?"
"Well... I suppose." Paddy stopped and looked over again. "But if you're planning on physically tampering with them, I'm afraid I can't just turn a blind eye."
"Why not?" Tanith wanted to know. "It's for the greater good. You're willing to help us kidnap Solomon, but not to cover that up so you don't get in trouble?"
"Helping a patient get the best medical care possible is one thing. Omitting the truth from my statement to protect the hospital from it is... not something I'm comfortable with, admittedly, but I'll do it. Purposely damaging hospital equipment used to monitor the safety of others is going too far."
"Then you can relax," Skulduggery told him. "I won't touch the cameras. I'll just step outside and remove my disguise. They won't believe anything the cameras have told them for the last day. Which is probably a very good thing, since we've all been coming and going for the last twelve hours."
Paddy frowned. "Disguise...? Why would removing that help?"
Tanith, despite herself, was giggling. Valkyrie shrugged. "Trust me," she assured him, "you don't want to know."