Lower Elements

Mulch Diggums strode confidently down the street, his hard day's work clanking in his pocket. Well, he never really had a hard day's work. All the wannabe criminals that roamed the Lower Elements were simple to capture, especially with Doodah Day's help. Doodah and Mulch's private investigative company was booming. Mulch was ready to spend his pay on a much needed vacation.

Irish soil sounds good. Maybe I'll pay Mud Boy a visit while I'm there.

Mulch had really come to appreciate Artemis Fowl and his big brain. Mulch still had a hope that Artemis would team up with him to rob some unsuspecting banks above ground. But Artemis' morals had taken a turn for better. But, perhaps, he still had a little criminal left in him.

Mulch turned the corner into a damp alleyway that led to a bar. His beard hairs began trembling, and fear shot through his body. He quietly crept towards one dead end of the twisting alleyway, and found a lonely sprite crouched in a corner. Mulch started to reach out for the sprite, but hesitated.

"Hey, buddy. Are you alright?" Mulch asked. There was no reply. His beard hairs continued to tingle, and he decided, against his better judgment, to shake the sprite by his shoulder. The sprite's body fell backwards, with a trail of blood along with it. Mulch let out a tiny screech.

Good thing Foaly didn't hear that. I'd never hear the end of it.

The sprite's cold, dead body lay there on the filthy alleyway floor. Mulch didn't know what to do. There hadn't been a murder in hundreds of years. It was against the Book. Evidently, this sprite had been murdered, though. Time to call in the LEPrecon.

***

"Was there any DNA found at the scene?" Commander Kelp of the LEP asked Foaly.

"No sir. Nothing. This murderer is a smart one." Foaly scanned his computer network for diagnostics. "It appears this murder happened about 20 hours ago. The sprite's name was Erica Finley. Poor girl. She was a singer at the local bar. She wouldn't hurt a fly."

"What caused her death?" Kelp asked.

"Not sure yet. She was low on magic, and so whatever was left in her system sealed the wounds. Unfortunately, her blood loss was too great."

Kelp grunted. "Keep an eye out for suspicious activity in that sector, Foaly. If this scum bag thinks he can get away with murder, he can think again." The Commander left Foaly's office, and Mulch turned to the centaur.

"I can't believe someone of fairy-kind would do something like this. It's against the Book; it's not natural," Mulch commented. Foaly nodded and continued typing in records when he paused.

"Maybe it wasn't fairy-kind." He franticly searched his computer, pulling up Artemis's surveillance file. "Let's see if Mud Boy has been spilling his guts to anyone."

Mulch moaned. Why did he have to mention that? Of course Artemis was the first non-fairy Foaly thought of. Except for maybe that mass of muscle Butler.

I really need to learn to keep my bum flap closed.

"Artemis wouldn't kill anyone, Foaly," Mulch argued. Foaly sighed. "I know. But he could have let slip something about the People to someone who would commit murder." Mulch grunted.

"Artemis Fowl? Making a mistake and letting something that important slip? Unlikely."

"True. But he has made mistakes before."

Fowl Manor

Artemis rubbed his temples. His headache wasn't improving.

Why can't I let these nightmares go?

He was searching an answer to that problem when Holly's communicator buzzed.

"This is Captain Short. Talk to me, Foaly," she answered. "Yeah, Artemis is right here. Why?" Artemis's ears perked up. The centaur hadn't contacted him recently. Why such the sudden interest?

"Oh, gods…" she whispered. She turned and stared at Artemis. He noted her face's cold demeanor.

"What's going on, Holly?" he inquired. She didn't respond. Artemis started growing anxious.

Not another People problem, I hope.

"Artemis…" she began. "A sprite has been murdered." Artemis paled. It was against the fairy's belief to murder one of their own. But he wasn't a fairy, was he?

"Foaly, you're not suggesting I'm a suspect in a murder investigation, are you?" he asked. Holly switched her communicator to speaker. The centaur's sigh buzzed through the transmission.

"We don't think you murdered her, Artemis," he replied. Artemis felt his pulse quicken.

Someone murdered a female? How horrible. It's sounding more like my nightmare by the second.

"But your vitals have been wacky these past few weeks. Are you stressed out about something?" Foaly questioned. Holly glanced at Artemis. He felt himself become irritated.

"No, not really. I've just been having nightmares," he answered. "Is that enough to justify me as a suspect?"

"No. But we think it's possible you let something slip about the People to someone. Someone who may just have a knack of violence. Have you told anyone about these last few years?"

Artemis felt his world shrink. Mother. He had told Mother everything about his escapades with Holly and the People after she was saved from Opal's possession. Would they punish him for it? Would they punish her? She would never hurt anyone. She wanted to change the world, for heaven's sake! But was it possible she let something slip during any daily conversation out amongst the public, where anyone could have heard? Goosebumps covered Artemis's entire body. He could feel a bead of sweat forming on his brow.

"N-No, of course not. I wouldn't tell a soul." He had stuttered. Artemis Fowl had stuttered. Holly, even Foaly, was smart enough to realize that he was lying to them. He stared at Holly, her mismatched eyes staring back at him.

You lied to her once. Don't do it again.

"Artemis…" Holly began. "Tell us."

He sighed and looked to the floor. He had to tell the truth. "When my mother was possessed by Opal, she gained all of Opal's memories. She confronted me, and told me to explain everything. She told me not to lie, because she knew about pixies and the People. I had to." He glanced at Holly. "She would never say anything or harm anyone. You have my word."

Foaly grunted. "Your word? No offense, Artemis, but for the past few years, your word hasn't been very dependable."

"I believe you," Holly interrupted. Foaly almost neighed. "Of course you do, Holly. Fine. Whatever. I'll keep my eyes out for suspects here on the home front. You just relax and take time off, Holly." Holly frowned.

"No, I want to help in this investigation!" She protested. "If there's a murderer out there, I want to bring him to justice. I don't just want to stay here and do nothing." Foaly half chuckled. "When you're with this certain Mud Boy, you'll find yourself in the midst of doing something; whether you want to, or not. Foaly, out."

Holly cut off the transmission and started pacing. Artemis watched her, and began to feel fatigue wash over him. His mind was a fired up circuit, trying to piece these circumstances together.

This seems familiar. I know something. But what?

It was making him feel dizzy. What if mother was a possible target? Or Holly? It began to overwhelm him. Sometimes, Artemis wished he could just turn off his brain. But, of course, that was impossible for genius. He sighed at this fact, and passed out onto the floor.