"I don't know why everyone is making such a fuss over it," said Skulduggery, even as he shook Melissa's hand to seal the deal. "I've been known to do stupider things."

"No you haven't," Erskine grinned. "Well, with the one obvious exception. Part of the deal here is that you've got to let us have our fun, Skul. You've got to let us make all the jokes and quips and snide comments, all to our hearts' content."

"Making this different from normal, how?"

"Ah, but this time, it won't just be us. It'll be pretty much everyone you come into contact with. Can the ego of the great Detective Skulduggery Pleasant handle that, I wonder?"

Skulduggery gave Erskine a look, not exactly blank, but not exactly anything identifiable either. Then he placed his trademark hat carefully on top of the wig, perching it precariously amidst the large curls, where Erskine knew from previous experience it wouldn't so much as tilt without Skulduggery expressly wanting it to, so good was the detective's control over the air around him. "Erskine Ravel, with the help of my fabulous tailor and my gorgeous former partner temporarily downgraded to apprentice, I can make anything look good."

"Valkyrie," said Erskine, "your mother has just become my favourite person in the entire world."