A/N: I love to read reviews so please leave some for me!
Disclaimer: First, what do you think I'm going to say? Oh yeah I own Artemis Fowl! I say sarcastically. Sorry guys, still don't own it!
Spiro Needle
Trudy had left the office because she was tired of sitting around and being "polite". Nick watched her go and turned to his uncle.
"I didn't know you were married." The sprite said.
"What? Oh, I'm not. I was but she and I divorced after Trudy turned three. Unfortunately my x-wife died in an, uh, accident." Jason said nervously, yet it still seemed sinister.
"If I may, why did you break up?" Nick pried.
"I kind of told her that Trudy was dead so that I could keep her all to myself. My wife found out about it and got angry. She was going to take Trudy with her after the divorce but we had to get several custody documents signed. It had been four years by the time we got half of them done. My x-wife had gotten remarried and had a son. Trudy had been in boarding school for most of that time. After we got all of the papers done the, uh, accident occurred and I got to keep Trudy." Jason sighed.
"I'm sorry; I didn't realize you had ever been married." Nick gave his uncle a pat on the back. It was very awkward for both.
"You should be sorry." Jason muttered.
"What?"
"Err, you don't have to be sorry, it was—err wasn't – your fault." Jason pulled at his collar.
Nick gave his uncle a curious look but thought better of asking. Instead he decided to compliment his uncle. "I think you've done an excellent job of raising Gertrude, if it means anything to you."
"You aren't going to ask me if you can date her, are you?" Jason said suspiciously.
"No! I was just trying to make you feel better!" Nick tried to erase the thought from his mind.
"Good." Jason breathed.
Outside Spiro Needle
Artemis had his plan ready and his team ready. Now they just needed to put it into action. Then all they could do was hope it worked.
Artemis shook his head. No, all we can do is MAKE it work. And it will.
A few minutes later the group watched through the binoculars as Jason led Nick to a guest room. Artemis waited as Jason walked back to his office and for Nick to stop checking the walls for trap doors to tell his team what to do.
"Butler, I see three hidden doors leading into Nick's room. There are guards in two of them. These may be a good alternate entrance should plan A go amiss." Informed Artemis.
Butler grunted in reply.
Holly had already landed on the roof and was doing scans of the areas they would need to break into.
"Artemis, it looks like they've really downgraded the security since Jason took over. I don't think the vault even locks anymore!" Holly said into her walky-talky.
"That is a good thing, I suppose. But scan Nick's room, we don't need to break into the vault today."
Holly grunted.
"I mean ever, we don't need to break into the vault ever again." Artemis sighed.
"Alright then," there was a pause as Holly scanned, "I've got three security cameras, three guards, locks on the windows and doors, and laser beams around the door knob."
"I see. And the floor above?"
"If you're thinking about pulling the same trick as last time, I don't think it will work." Holly said.
"What trick did you pull last time? You must remember that I was dead so I don't know." Butler inquired.
"We cut a hole in the floor of the room above Artemis'. I pulled him out and we sealed the floor back up." Holly told him.
Butler looked quizzically at Artemis.
"I'll explain later. Why don't you think it will work, Holly?"
"Um, Jason's secretary happens to be sitting right above Nick's room. She has three cups of coffee; I think she's working the night shift." Holly commented.
"How about the room next to Nick's?"
"Well, it looks empty but my radar is picking up vibrations. Let me get a better look." Holly flew to a different point of the roof. She was very careful with the unpredictable wings. "It's an octopus! There is a large aquarium on the wall next to Nick's room!"
Artemis sighed. "How about the room to the left?"
"That's where the secret tunnel starts; the wall is really thick there."
"Alright. We'll have to go through the front door. We will remove the guard and feed the cameras a loop. Then we must turn the lasers off and hack the combination. Then we'll simply walk in and take Nick." Artemis said, planning as he went.
"What about the guards in the secret doors?" Holly knew Artemis would have a plan for them too, but the genius sometimes forgot to include everyone else.
"You will take them out with a stun. Butler and I will be going through the front door." Artemis said impatiently.
"Sure." Holly said.
Artemis glanced at the Spiro Needle. He had already conquered this building once. He could do it again couldn't he? Artemis was 99.99% sure he could. But to a genius 0.01% was a big chance to take.
Nick's Room, Spiro Needle
Nick had decided not to escape from his uncle once he had heard the story of Gertrude's past. He really didn't want to cause her any heartache. Because he knew how losing your parents felt and he didn't want Trudy to have to go through what he did when her dad got taken to jail. No one deserved that kind of pain.
That didn't stop Nick from looking around his room. He wanted to be sure there were no Assassin Entries into his room before going to sleep. Nick couldn't find any doors but he knew there probably were some. He didn't go to sleep.
Nick thought Artemis was probably back in Ireland by now, glad to be rid of Nick. But had Artemis really wanted to help Nick in the first place, or was he just part of the whole scam to get Nick to Chicago? Nick hoped Artemis cared just a little.
Gertrude's Room, Spiro Needle
Trudy felt bad for her cousin. He was her only relative who knew what it was like to lose their mother, but he hadn't just lost his mother, he'd lost his dad too. Trudy realized how lucky she was to have her father.
She wrote a note on the back of a picture of Big Emerald Beetle.
"Hey Charlie? Will you take this to my dad?" Trudy asked her body guard.
"Sure thing, Miss Spiro." Charlie nodded and took the note to Jason.
Jason Spiro's Office
Jason was having his fifth cup of hot chocolate when Charlie brought him Trudy's note.
"Thanks Charlie. Why don't you take the rest of tonight off?" Jason said kindly.
Charlie nodded and headed for the door.
Jason unfolded the piece of paper his daughter had sent him. He saw the band picture and frowned. The man flipped the piece of paper over and read the note from Trudy.
Dear Dad,
I'm sorry for behaving so badly lately. I don't need to go see some stupid band. Thanks for being my dad! You're the best!
With Love,
Trudy
Jason smiled sadly. He wished that Nick had a father to love. Tears began swelling in the business man's eyes. What have I done? Jason thought grimly.
