Detective-Sergeant Karrin Murphy came skidding around a corner, chasing Harry—how did he always manage to get into these situations, why did she always say she'd help, one of these days maybe she'd learn—ducked behind a projecting bit of wall, and ran directly into someone who wasn't there.

"D'Arvit!" Thin air was swearing at her.

It probably said something about her tolerance level, she reflected wearily, that this didn't faze her beyond a blink.

Murphy whirled, shot a man in the knee, and was surprised when he went down without a sound. The mystery was solved when a second later, three bolts of bright liquid light scythed over her head and cut down her other three pursuers. Dead, or unconscious, she wasn't sure, but the invisible person behind her must have gotten them.

The invisible person must also be taller than her, but she had come to terms with that. Everyone was taller than her.

Anyway. Invisible person was not her problem at the moment, since they were clearly on the same side. She stayed on guard, peering carefully around the corner, for a solid minute before she decided that no one else was coming, holstered her gun, and turned around.

At first she thought invisible person was still invisible. Then someone cleared their throat ostentatiously, and Murphy looked down.

"Well," she remarked, after a moment. "I don't see someone shorter than me every day."

The fairy—though those wings looked mechanical; interesting touch, that—made a rude noise, and said, "Bite me, Mud Woman. I take it we're on the same side?" She nodded at the four men collapsed in a neat heap in the center of the hallway.

"I suppose so," Murphy said. "You must be Holly Short."

The fairy's gaze snapped onto her, eyes narrowed. "And how would you know that?" she demanded.

"Butler," Murphy said, and Holly Short relaxed. "I'm Karrin Murphy, he may have mentioned me. Did you see a tall guy go sprinting past?"

"They're all tall to me, lady," Holly said.

Murphy shrugged. "This one's taller than usual," she said. "Skinny like he doesn't eat. Brown eyes, dark hair, nose you could plow a field with…"

Holly shook her head. "Nope. Nobody came through here until you did." She looked suddenly troubled. "Which is bad. I was expecting the others by now."
Murphy was busy doing her own mental swearing. "So was I," she said. "Bugger. They got caught, didn't they."
"Probably," Holly said, sounding resigned. "Why do I do this to myself? Why?"

"Know that story," Murphy muttered. "Why are you here? The Fowl kid's not exactly what I'd call persuasive. More like irritating."

Holly sighed, checking the small gun she held. "He gets less irritating when you get to know him." She paused, thought for a moment, then said, "No, he doesn't. I guess you just get used to him."

Murphy laughed. "So he is persuasive."

"He asked, and I said yes. I should just stop saying yes."

"Been there, done that, bought the entire fucking wardrobe," Murphy said. "Only mine doesn't come with a bodyguard. And he's way more prone to bodily harm. And definitely not a genius."

Holly made a muffled sound that Murphy could have sworn was a laugh. "Good thing, too. One of Artemis is bad enough."

"True that." She sighed again, then shrugged. "Oh well. Time to go get them out of whatever mess they're in. Do you think Butler's with them?"

"Must be." Holly activated the wings and rose slowly until she was on a level with Murphy's head. "He won't usually leave Artemis." A fleeting smile crossed her face.

Murphy chose not to ask for the moment. She could always ask Butler later. There had been a certain fondness when talking about Holly Short.

But how would that…

No, later. Definitely later.

Possibly never.

"Let's go rescue the boys," she said.