Dreams
Chapter Eight, Clues
Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl
A/N: Sorry, sorry, yet another short chapter ahead!
Replies:
Laughing dragoness: You're back at school already! Weird! I go back on the 6th of September. When did you break up?
PeanutButterII: i'm glad you liked it, I know short chapters, so just for you, here's another one...
DaydreamQueenMisha: Yeah amber must be feeling pretty bad. But she keeps busy, it preocupies her mind!!
Elvenwolf: Yeah! You've accepted I write short chapters! Glad you liked Newspapers. Here's an update...
Tara Shuttle Port, Haven City
Amber peered around the docking platform, it was swathed in police tape, and a large screen proclaimed:
'Possible Murder attempt,
12th of August at 9.30. Recon's Female Captain, Holly Short, fell into this chute. It is likely that she was pushed.
Were you there?
Did you see any suspicious characters or objects?
Please come forward.'
Crowds of fairies had crawled out of the woodwork to see what was going on. A couple of Lep privates were ushering everyone away.
She pushed to the front to get a closer view. She almost walked right in to Corporal Pine.
"Excuse me miss, but this an LEP investigation area, no entry to civilians." He explained, looking down at the small elf. He was sure she looked like someone he knew. But he had no idea who.
"I'm Holly's daughter, I need to look for clues." Amber explained, agitatedly.
That was who the girl reminded him of, Holly Short. Not surprising really, seeing as they were mother and daughter. "Look miss..."
Amber interrupted him, "My name's Amber."
"Look, Amber. Leave the investigating to the professionals. It's not safe for you to go poking around." Answered Pine.
"Let me deal with this, Corporal," said none other than Lili Frond. She was kitted out in the Lep Recon uniform and was wearing the Captains insignia.
"Since when have you been a Captain?" Amber asked, rather rudely.
"Since yesterday, when our former Captain suffered injuries that mean she is unable to perform her duties..." Lili rattled off the lecture that she'd bored everyone with, ever since she transferred.
"You're loving all this, aren't you??" Amber asked, furiously. She didn't give Lili a chance to respond. "My mother's lying, maybe even dying, in hospital and all you can do is boast about your new job position." Amber didn't even pause for breath; she just spoke faster. "You'll-never-replace-Holly." She was upset, she needed more proof, if only she had solid evidence.
She turned back to Pine. "Have you traced any witnesses yet?"
"Yes, we've got one. A maintenance gnome. He was fixing the lights when the disaster struck. He didn't see much because he'd switched off the lights in order to fix them. But he heard a scream."
Amber listened, intently digesting all the details, without saying a word.
Pine continued, "He said he never heard any footsteps coming or going, but the coming set could've been muted by the sound of the approaching shuttle. He didn't hear the throttle of a wing rig, so there's no way, anyone could've escaped.
Amber thought for a second. "Surely there's other ways of escaping?"
Pine nodded, "yes there is, but civilians would've noticed."
"Who was first on the scene?" Amber asked, her brain in top gear.
"The LEP rapid response team, and the shuttle pilot..."
Amber interrupted, "what about finger prints?"
"On Holly's jumpsuit? We've filed it into the lab, but the suit was badly burnt so it'll take some time to uncover prints." Pine explained.
"Let me know if there's any news." Amber said.
Before the Corporal could reply, Amber was gone.
"That girl would make a great Lep officer one day." he said, to no one in particular.
A/N: It was originally shorter, but I added in a bit here and there. Be grateful.
Keep smiling.