The five of them sat in the Bentley.
"I was hoping to speak to Mister Diggums alone," said Artemis.
"Fat chance. We've still got to take him into the station and check him into a cell. He'll be there at least 50 years, Fowl, so don't make any plans with him."
"I merely wanted to ask him questions." He and Mulch had a lengthy discussion about security and how to surpass different systems.
"Moon's nearly gone and if the sun comes out this dwarf has a burn time of under 3 minutes, Fowl. Root and I aren't much better off. Besides, you have school tomorrow."
"Quite right. At least allow us to give you a lift back to Tara." It wasn't really a question.
The fairies left the car at E1. Fowl raised his eyebrow, "Holly, just how did your co-workers react to that.ensemble?"
She'd removed her wig in the car because it was getting too hot, and she removed the mask. Her face needed to breathe. "They didn't know it was me."
"But won't they know now? If I'm not mistaken you can't put that mask back on."
"D'Arvit!" she swore quietly. "If anybody says anything I'll just have to smack them with this," she took the buzz baton from Root and smacked Artemis across the arm with it.
"That smarts."
Holly considered healing him but instead left him as he was. "Goodbye, Fowl. Bye, Butler."
"Goodbye, Captain. Goodbye, Commander."
"Isn't anyone going to say goodbye to me?" asked Mulch.
"No," growled Root. "Fowl, your stolen watch will be returned to you when we find it. The LEP gear and gold, we're keeping."
"Understandable." * * * * * * * * *
Holly knew she could do nothing about her face now but she put the wig back on to hide her auburn crew cut.
They entered the police plaza with Mulch walking between them.
"We've come to turn-in wanted fugitive, Mulch Diggums," said Holly. The wig and mask were half stuck in her purse and she'd wiped the makeup off her face. Unfortunately she didn't have a chance to change clothes yet.
"Name and rank?" asked the officer at the desk, not bothering to look up from his paperwork.
"Captain Holly Short and Commander Julius Root."
"It says here you weren't on-duty tonight. "
"Well, you can't expect us to see him and not catch him just because we weren't on the clock," she said angrily.
"All right all right, take it easy. Says here Mulch Diggums is wanted on several charges. Did you happen to catch him doing anything tonight?"
"Selling illegal Mud Man technology."
"Alright." He raised his voice and turned his head to call over his shoulder, "Kelp! Verbil! Come and show Diggums back to his cell."
Trouble Kelp and Chix Verbil walked out from another room, coffee in hand.
"All right. Who brought him in?" asked Chix.
"Commander Root and Captain Short." The officer at the desk had returned to his work and didn't look at any of them.
"Hey, gorgeous, how about--Holly! That can't be you." He gaped at her.
"Sure it is. Just because all you've ever seen me wear is my uniform doesn't mean I don't have other clothes," she retorted. "And in case you're wondering, that blonde was me that you were hitting on earlier." She shoved Mulch toward them. "Lock him up. Give him a goblin for a roommate."
"No!" cried Mulch.
"Hey, if I had to go to this much trouble to catch you then you're definitely going to have some trouble," she growled and it was a fair imitation of Root.
"Holly, you really can't walk home by yourself dressed like that. At least let me drive you," said Trouble.
"I'll think about it." She turned away. "Commander, shouldn't we get back to Foaly?"
"Right."
They went back and Holly pounded on the door. "Let us in, Foaly!"
"What's the magic word?"
"Let us in or you're fired, horse!"
"That's not very nice." Even through the intercom he sounded like he was pouting.
"Tough luck."
The door opened and they went in.
"The masks worked perfectly," Holly handed her mask to the centaur and Root peeled his off his face and did the same.
Foaly said, "I know. My inventions always work. Besides, I've been watching the video feed from the iris cams. Nobody recognized you."
"Of course nobody recognized me. Think they would have acted like that if they had recognized me?" she asked, clearly irritated.
"I guess not. Professional respect of course."
"Thank you," she said coldly. She sighed. "I'm sorry, Foaly. I shouldn't snap at you. It's just that, none of the male officers get treated this way. I hate it."
"I know. Look, you're the test case remember? You're paving the way for more future female officers. But unless you've got something else to wear, don't walk home by yourself."
"You're right."
"I'm leaving. I've got to get a little shut-eye before I come back in for work," said Root, who had been silent until now. He replaced the iris cam in its vial and Holly did the same with hers.
"I'll see you in the morning, Foaly. You're not going to stay here all night are you?"
"No. No, I'm just going to finish up something. I think I've got a wing-design that'll beat the Hummingbirds. Just a few bugs to work out first."
"Alright. I better go before I fall asleep on my feet." She found Trouble waiting in the hall.
"Holly, I've got my car, you aren't going to walk are you?"
"No. My feet are killing me." She took off her sandals and held them in her hand instead.
"Good. Then I'll drop you off." They got in his car and he let her out in front of her apartment. He hesitated, "Hey, Holly?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry I was a jerk tonight, earlier I mean." "Forget it."
"Chix too."
"Can't do anything about him, he's always like that."
"I never really realized how hard it's got to be for you to be so outnumbered like that by such jerks."
"You get used to it." She thought silently, No, I'm never going to get used to it.
"I just wanted to say that I'll try and get the guys to be nicer. You don't deserve to be treated like that."
"Thanks, Trouble." She turned to leave.
"Holly."
"What?"
"This is something I've kinda been wondering for a while." He took a deep breath before continuing "Holly, will you go out to dinner with me sometime?"
She smiled. "I'll think about it." She turned around and went into her building and Trouble drove away.