A/N: Hello my lovely readers! I am back, and I bring you the gift of chapter 4! I really don't think I wrote this chapter very well; it's kind of another filler before the fun stuff begins. I'm pretty sure I broke every rule of grammar there is in it, but since I'm the author I can do what I want.

Also, for those of you who don't know what Murphy's Law is, it states: Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. You'll thank me later.

Chapter 4: Zippers

What was the motivation behind zippers, anyway? Were they really invented for the betterment of mankind? Did someone really look at buttons and think, Wouldn't it be easier if you only had to pull on a tiny piece of metal so the bag would close… and shazam! zippers were born? Zerubbabel made a mental note to ask Art to check it out and make sure, because she seriously doubted it as she sat on her suitcase and tried to yank the zipper around. She believed zippers had come about in a much different fashion: Whitcomb L. Judson had simply been wondering, How can I bring untold misery to mankind?, saw a button, and invented them right there on the spot. That method seemed much more plausible to Zerubbabel, especially as she started eyeing the heaviest thing (her dresser) in the room.

She felt the pocket of her dress buzz. Out came her phone and in went the ear buds she had just pulled from her earringed ears. Glancing at the screen to check who it was, she was not surprised to see her boss's number glaring up at her. She accepted the call and greeted him.

"Hello?"

"So, you're in Amsterdam, huh?" questioned her boss lazily.

"Yep. I was just um-," her eyes wandered over to the overstuffed suitcase on her bed, "unpacking."

"So I figured. I wanted to ask for a report of how much of my money you've been using."

His money. "I suppose. Hold on." Zerubbabel hurried over to her purse, which was lying on the desk. She rummaged through it for a minute before extracting her trusty notepad and pen. This held all the secrets of how much money she'd spent. She spoke into the phone, acknowledging his presence, and gave him a report of all the money she'd spent, how she'd spent it, where she'd spent it, and whether it was strictly necessary. If she weren't such an honest person, she gladly would've scammed him. Not too much money, but enough for him to notice and become upset. Unfortunately, she valued having a steady job she liked over avenging herself on her boss. "And that last one was completely necessary. Did you expect me to starve during the flight?"

"Hmmm… I suppose not.

"It seems your affairs are in order. I will call you again in three days. Have your next report ready by then."

"Yes sir."

When she heard silence on the other end, Zerubbabel turned her screen off and threw the phone aside. It landed on her bed next to her suitcase with a small thud.

"Ahhhh…" she sighed as she lowered herself into the swivel chair and placed her wedges on the desk. "I'm never moving again." As Murphy's Law would have it, no sooner had she settled down to take a nap in this position than her phone rang again. "Noooo," she groaned.

Zerubbabel initially ignored the unwanted caller, but when her phone buzzed on her bed again, she was forced to get up and see who it was. Art's name flashed on the screen. Zerubbabel answered, though in a condescending manner.

"Yeah?"

"Hey Zerubbabel."

"Do you have any particular reason for calling? Because I'm really busy right now." She crossed her index and middle fingers behind her back.

"Actually, I do. I thought you might like to know that since I started poking around some more, I found out where the Inplayers are tonight."

"What?" asked Zerubbabel, momentarily stunned.

"I thought you would be glad," Art replied with a smile in his voice, "Not that I believed that you wouldn't be able to figure it out on your own. I thought I would help you out."

"Do you hear me complaining? Where are they?"

"The K-O-N-I-N-K-L-I-J-K Theatre Carré. Don't ask me how to pronounce that first one. I already told you I wasn't hired for my brains."

"The Koninklijk?" confirmed Zerubbabel, in perfect Dutch.

"However, you apparently were. So am I of some use yet, or am I still only a second-rate spy?"

"Well, your information is useful, so I'd venture to say it's rubbed off on you. I really need to get going though. The next train there leaves in fifteen minutes."

"Oh, alright. Talk to you later… hopefully."

"Bye."

Zerubbabel sighed once more as she picked her purse up off the desk and stuck her phone back in her pocket. So much for grabbing a nap. She swung her door open and nearly collided with a small child. Strangely enough, when Zerubbabel bent over to make sure he was alright, she was confronted with the face of a grown man.

"Hey!" he shouted. "Watch where you're going! Seriously!"

"Ummmm…" Zerubbabel was at a complete loss for words. Her brain was working double time to process the man's height. When it finally completed its task, she registered his anger.

"I'm sorry, I was just walking out and must not have been watching where I was going," she apologized.

"Tall people. They all think they're so high and mighty, but short people know better! We know we're a thousand times better than you will ever be, and what's more, there's nothing a tall person can do that a short person can't."

This guy needed some serious help. "Look, I'm sorry, I'll watch next time, okay?" Zerubbabel tried.

"No! Your kind have taken one step too far. This means war!"

Gaping in disbelief, Zerubbabel began to stumble backward.

"There's no escaping me! You're coming with me to see what my brothers make of you."

Wait, brothers? "Hold on. Exactly where do you want me to go?"

"To my home, of course. I've heard it's called the Amsterdam Metro these days."

"The what?"

"If you will kindly follow me," the dwarf smiled an evil grin.

Still stupefied with shock, Zerubbabel followed him across the hallway, in the elevator, and out the glass front doors of the hotel, with people gawking at them the whole way.

A/N: So like I said, not my favorite. I began writing this yesterday, but it wasn't turning out the way I wanted it to, so I deleted and started over. I'll probably go back and edit this one so it won't be as painful to read. Just give me your ideas on how to make it better, I am all ears!

Congratulations to "Guest", the winner of the one hundred brownie points and TheTrulyBeautifulOne kumquat for their review! Let's give them a round of applause! *clapping* Thank you for your kind contribution to a desperate soul such as myself *hands kumquat* The brownie points will be added to your account. *more clapping* And now, to announce the next prize! The next person to review within a week will receive *drum roll* A reenactment of Pompeii on their school and a real brownie! *gasping* Thank you both for your reviews and good night!

Have a great week! Review and berate me for how disappointed you are in me for writing this chapter. Trust me. I love the attention.