AN: Now, I know they're just gonna love this chapter…
ASN: Imagine evil laughter.
Chapter 12: Dinner and an Invitation
Juliet opened the door. "Artemis, dinner's ready." Artemis looked up from his work. His desk was a mess, covered with program disks and operating system manuals. The girl decided it was safer not to ask.
"Holly, I'll get you something here shortly. Any preferences? Oh, we're fresh out of dolphin."
Holly grinned, and Artemis shook his head. "Don't come downstairs this time." he said sternly to the elf.
"Oh, but it was so much fun last time." she laughed.
"I wouldn't suggest it, Captain Short." Juliet commented. "Invisible girlfriends usually don't come to dinner at Fowl Manor." She received two identical glares for that remark.
"I'm not invisible." Holly said with dignity. "You just can't see me."
Artemis said nothing, but walked out the door. Juliet waved to Holly and followed.
The beginning of dinner went exactly the same as every other meal since Simone came to stay. The French girl asked questions almost nonstop while Artemis Jr. picked at his food and his parents tried unsuccessfully to prod him into conversation. Usually the meal would end in a tense silence that his mother tried to fill with her chattering until Artemis asked to be excused. Tonight, however, ended a little differently.
"Mr. Fowl," Simone asked sweetly, "My dad's going on a business trip next week to investigate a hacker in Dublin, and I was wondering if it would be all right if he stopped by afterwards. I'd really like to see him if he's going to be on the same island."
Artemis Jr. stopped contemplating the pros and cons of sending a certain elf back to the LEP in gift wrap and gave the conversation his full and undivided attention. Artemis Sr. smiled at Simone.
"Of course you can. We'd be delighted to meet your father." Simone smiled brilliantly.
"Thank you!" she trilled.
It took all the self-control Artemis had developed over the years to keep the impassive expression on his face. The one person in the world who was the most likely to start asking some unanswerable questions would be visiting his house in a week. And Holly would still be here. This was not the way Artemis had envisioned his last week of summer vacation.
"Mother, may I be excused?" Artemis asked suddenly, pushing away from the table. "I have a lot of work to finish." Angeline sighed.
"Yes, Artemis."
As soon as Artemis disappeared from the dining room, Simone stood. "Is it alright if I'm excused as well?"
"Yes, dear." Angeline said, resigned to the fact she would get no conversation out of the two teens tonight. "You may go."
"Thank you."
**********
Simone headed up the stairs quietly. She opened the door to Artemis's room and stopped. His desk was covered with disks and manuals, and he was typing away calmly. She thought she saw a shimmer out of the corner of her eyes, but when she looked harder, there was nothing.
Artemis caught sight of her in the reflection on his screen and sighed. "Yes?"
"Hi!" the French girl chirped. "You said you had some work to do, and I thought I'd come up and see what it was. So, what are you doing?"
Artemis gave her a scornful look. "I'm reformatting my hard drive; what does it look like?" he asked sarcastically. Simone grinned smugly.
"It looks like you're reformatting your hard drive…to destroy any incriminating documents." she said.
"Precisely."
"Give that girl a cookie and send her on to round two." Holly whispered sardonically. Artemis smirked slightly at her comment. Simone noticed.
"Want to let me in on the joke, Arty?" she asked. He barely looked at her.
"No. Not really."
Simone pursed her lips. "Uh-huh. Well, if you ever need any help going through your things, I'll be here." After a moment, she added, "And if you want, I'm certain my father would love to see some of your things."
"If I ever become suicidal," Artemis said calmly, looking at the French girl, "I'll remember your kind offer. Now leave."
Simone left. She felt she had made an impression on the boy so far. Maybe he would take her seriously now.
**********
The day had come, and Kegel was ready. At precisely 10 o'clock, the screen flickered to life, showing a bored centaur.
"Hello, Stephen dahhling." she drawled. "How are things going back at the ranch, hmm?"
"Well," Kegel said, rubbing his hands together nervously. He had to act this out just right. "My boss stills wants that new geological equipment, and the email trace program. Can't you help me? If I don't get it, I'll be out of a job."
"Well," Defea said, rubbing her chin, "I might be able to help with the email tracking. It will be costly-"
"All your items are costly." Kegel muttered.
"Oh, stuff it; without me you'd be on the streets." Defea snapped. "Anyway, I can't help with the magma vents. It's just not worth my time."
"Why not?" Kegel asked, now intrigued. It wasn't often Defea denied him something.
"Well, if you must know," Defea began, looking very tired with the entire business, "Quite a few years ago I thought about harnessing magma for energy. Just between you and me, I'll give you some advice, free of charge." She looked straight at Kegel. "It's completely worthless. Not one ounce of good will come from it, I guarantee it." The centaur sniffed dramatically. "That was my greatest failure."
"Uh-huh." The computer nerd did not seem to believe her. "Well, will you be sending me the email technology, then?" he asked.
"Sure. It'll be at the regular meeting place at 10 o'clock tonight. Regular amount." she said, yawning. "Anything else?"
"I'd still like the magma technology. In case you ever change your mind." Kegel grumbled. He hoped Defea would buy this act.
"Yeah, whatever, Mud Man. Buck up, and be there at 10. Later." The centaur's face disappeared from the screen, and Kegel grinned. Ten o'clock, huh. Well then, he'd just have to show up a little earlier. The nerd thumbed for the secretary's desk.
"Anna, dear, something very important has come up. If Mr. Badeau asks, tell him it was an unavoidable emergency. I'll be back in late tonight or early tomorrow."
"It's Miss Wetzel, and sure. I'll tell him." The secretary said absently.
"Right." With that, Kegel gathered up his things. A stakeout was in order.
**********
Defea switched off the screen. Hmm, the little Mud Man needed his precious technology before his boss fired him. Well, she could handle that quite easily. Now where was her delivery boy…?
"Defea!" a voice hissed. "I'm here! What do you need me to do?"
Now, what fairy would be twisted enough to help Defea in her smuggling ring? Who could possibly want to deliver technology to a Mud Man for a slightly crazed centaur? Who would do such a horrible, awful thing; something that could affect fairies for centuries should any other Mud Man find out?
"It took you long enough, Grub." Defea said. "Come on, I have a little delivery run for you to make."
ASN: Hee, hee. I love doing things like this. And is Grub really a bad guy? Well…
AN: He was really annoying in the earlier chapters.
ASN: If being annoying makes someone evil, you should be hanging out with Jack the Ripper and Hitler.
AN: Jack the Ripper was left handed.
ASN: Guess what hand Lessa uses? *Lessa sticks her tongue out* Anyway, hope you enjoyed the new chapter and see ya soon!!