“Yes,” I said. “Walker’s dead. I killed him.”

“Why?” said Suzie. “Okay, dumb question. I can think of a dozen good reasons, without even trying.”

“It wasn’t like that,” I said. “He wanted to kill me and take over my life. And he threatened you. I couldn’t have that. So I killed him.”

“The most important man in the Nightside is dead,” said Suzie. “Good.” She put a comforting hand on my arm. “I know you and he were ... close, in some way I never really understood.”

“He was my father’s friend,” I said. “But he was always there when I needed him. He used me for jobs when he needed someone expendable, but he protected me when he could. At the end, when he knew he was dying, he said he wanted to be my father; but I never wanted that. And I don’t want his bloody job, either. Oh yes, the man’s barely been gone a few hours, and already people are queuing up to tell me I have a responsibility to take over his position and be the new Voice of the new Authorities!”

“If you don’t want to do it, don’t do it,” said Suzie. For her, it really was that simple.

“But ... there’s no-one else.”

“That’s my John,” said Suzie, putting her arms round me. Her black leathers creaked loudly. “Always ready to take the weight of the world on his shoulders. And always convinced no-one else can do the job as well as him. Maybe that’s why our mysterious benefactor sent Excalibur to you. Because they know you can be trusted to use it wisely. I’m not sorry Walker’s dead. Or that you killed him. I worked for the man, but I never liked him. He played chess with people and never gave a damn about the pieces he had to sacrifice.”

“I worked for him,” I said. “I respected him, and sometimes I liked him, against my better judgement.”

“Were you and he ever friends?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “It’s complicated.”