Chapter Seven

Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl. I own the plot and Amber. That's it. OK?


Jennifer walked home later that evening, her mind bubbling with plots for revenge. It annoyed her that Trouble obviously loved Holly, and, although she'd thrown a spanner into the otherwise perfect works, she was almost positive that the break up wouldn't last. She needed to turn him against Holly. But how?

She thought about it that night, as she lay awake. Trouble seemed to be a family man, if he lost his family he'd be heartbroken. She could just start off as a sort of shoulder to cry on. Then an idea struck her. She was so excited that she had trouble sleeping, she wanted to put it into action as soon as possible.


Lissy's apartment, Haven city

Amber woke early the next morning. She huddled up to her mother who was still asleep.

She wanted to know what was going on.

Where was her dad?

Why was her mum so unhappy?

Why weren't they in their house?

Why was no one telling her what was happening?

A terrible thought occurred to her. Her dad could be dead. A tear of desperation trickled down her cheek. It broke her little heart to think that. After all, she was too little to understand, and no one seemed to want to explain. She snuffled quietly, trying not to wake her mother. But, despite her efforts, she woke up anyway.

Amber didn't bother with a good morning, she jumped straight in with: "Mum, Where's Dad?"

Holly groaned; she couldn't cope with this. "Don't talk about him Amber." She glanced at the clock, Five Thirty. "Oh god." She muttered to herself as she stumbled out of bed. It was too early to even think about her rat of a husband. She grabbed her Recon uniform, and headed out of the room and in the direction of the shower.

Amber watched her go. Why was no one talking?

Lissy watched Holly emerge from her room, over a bowl of cereal. Holly almost seemed to be back to her old self.

Holly felt safe under the pounding water. It was hard to drag herself out of it and back to reality. But she did, otherwise the commander would be even more annoyed with her, for being late as well as fighting. She walked back into her room and noticed Amber hadn't moved form her position on the bed.

"Amber, get up! I've got to get you to Helen's before I go to work." She plucked her daughter from the bed and pulled her roughly from her pyjamas. She practically forced her into her clothes.

"You want breakfast Holls?" Lissy called from the kitchen.

"No thanks, Lis. We're already running late. I've got to drop Amber at Helen's." Holly sat on a chair opposite Lissy and pulled on her boots.

She turned to her daughter. "Amber go and get washed. Don't just stand there." Amber looked crestfallen, and left the room.

"Bloody hell Holly, have you heard of tact?" Lissy swung on her chair "She's a little girl for crying out loud. Her world's been turned upside down and you just shout at her!"

Holly shrugged, "I don't mean to, but I'm running on auto pilot right now, it's the only way I can cope."

Amber came back from the bathroom. Holly stood up, "Come on Amber, or we'll be late. Later Lissy!"

"Later."


Jennifer was up early, despite her late night. She had to go somewhere before she went to Police Plaza. Phase one of her plan was in full swing.


Police Plaza

Trouble arrived at Police Plaza earlier than usual. He ignored everyone, and went straight up to his office after signing in. Needless to say, he was in a foul mood. His bloody mother had been hassling him on the phone for hours the previous night. She'd demanded she was told everything about the break up. Trouble had said there was nothing to tell, and asked how she'd found out in the first place. It turned out that Grub had been round to see her, and told her all he knew.

Trouble had had no choice but to let her in on the proceedings, and, as he suspected, she hit the roof.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!",

"I BROUGHT YOU UP TO BE A GENTLEMAN, WHAT WENT WRONG?",

"THAT POOR WOMAN, SHE MUST BE HEARTBROKEN.",

"AND WHAT ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER? HOW DO YOU THINK SHE FEELS HAVING HER WORLD UP-TURNED BY HER SELFISH PIG OF A FATHER?"

Were just a few of the things she'd shouted down the phone line. He'd had to wait ages before he could tell his side of the story. When he had, he wasn't too sure whether she even believed him. That was just great, he didn't even have his own mother on his side.

He sank into his chair, and, ignoring the paperwork on his desk, he rested his head in his hands. Could things get any worse?

Holly had had a good day. It'd been uneventful even if it was boring. She decided to go and see Foaly for a chat before she left for the day.

She no longer feared walking into Trouble every time she walked down the corridor. After all, he was her husband, what could he possibly do?


Op's Booth

"Hey Foaly! Let me in!" Holly banged on the door of the booth.

Foaly checked the monitors, just in case it was an impostor who just happened to have Holly's voice. But it was only Holly. The good old days when you never knew just who might walk into the booth were long over. Foaly was still reminiscing in the past when Holly walked in.

"Heya Holly. How are you holding up?" Foaly looked concerned as he watched his friend collapse into a swivel chair. Holly was exhausted.

"Well I'm sooooo tired you wouldn't believe. But otherwise, I'm ok. You?"

Foal nodded, adjusting his foil hat. "Yeah I'm fine." He turned to face her once more, "Listen Holls, I don't want to take sides or anything, but I had Trouble come in here earlier, and he gave me his account of what happened. That Jennifer sounds like a right slimeball to me, he said he couldn't stand her. Look, I think you should at least let him tell you for himself. What harm can it do?"

Holly considered this. "Nothing I suppose. Maybe I will. You're right. Jennifer is a total slimeball. I guess you heard about the fight?"

"Watched it on screen. You throw some very good punches Captain."

Holly stood up, "Damn right I do. I gotta go, I told Helen I'd pick Amber up straight from work, because She said she was going out this evening. I have a day off tomorrow, thank god, so I won't be here, you'll have to cope without me!"

"Sure, See ya Holly." He buzzed open the doors for her, "Oh and Holls, if you ever want to talk, my door is always open."

Holly raised an eyebrow from the doorway, "Foaly, you're to paranoid to leave the ventilation system open in case someone crawls through it, let alone a door."

Foaly laughed, "Well you know what I mean."


Downtown Haven City

Holly strode along the walkway in the direction of her Helen's apartment. Around her two imps were delivering the evening newspapers. She flicked a small gold coin at one (an imp that is, not a newspaper) and took a paper from the stack. Then she walked on down the road. The imps behind her were whispering to each other and she could almost feel them staring at her.

Maybe Foaly's paranoia was rubbing off on her.

Then again, Maybe not.

She called in at Helen's on the way to Lissy's.

"Hey Holly, do you want to come in?" Helen greeted her employer warmly.

"Not tonight thanks Helen, I'm exhausted."

Amber heard her mother's voice and ran to the door.

"Hey sweetheart!" Holly picked up her daughter and cuddled her close. She'd been thinking about what Lissy had said this morning, maybe she didn't give Amber enough attention.

Helen laughed, "You don't need me tomorrow do you?" She checked.

"Nope, not till next week now."

"Ok, I guess I'll see you then."

"Sure will, Thanks Helen."

Holly walked Helen's front steps and turned left in the direction of Lissy's.

"Is dad dead, mum?"

Holly froze. "What! Of course he's not dead. I saw him today."

"So why don't we see him anymore?"

Holly held Amber out in front of her, "He's upset us really bad, we don't want to talk to him for a bit."

Amber didn't get it, "But he's still dad. What's he done?"

"He's hurt me really badly, I don't know if I can forgive him or not."

Amber didn't get it; she was too young. "Did he hit you? Where? Did you hit him back?"

"No. He didn't hit me. Now come on Amber, let's just get back."


Lissy's apartment, Haven City

Lissy had got back from work an hour ago, she was just sitting at the table with a nettle smoothie when Holly and Amber walked in.

Holly checked the clock, "Hey Lis. Have you eaten Amber?"

Amber nodded, "Yup."

"Good, now why don't you go and get ready for bed, hmm?"

Amber nodded and went to the bedroom. Holly sank into a chair. She put the newspaper in front of Lissy. "Got it as I came home, I thought it would save you going to buy one."

"Thanks Holls. There's smoothies in the cooler if you want one."

"Great, I'll just go change, and I might just have one."

Lissy pulled the paper from it's wrapping, exposing the headline. Lissy did a double take. Holly's photo was on the front page, next to Trouble's and above Amber's. They were arranged like a family portrait, under the headline 'False Pretences'. As Lissy scanned the article, a look of horror flashed upon her face. She gasped, and Holly came running.

"Lissy what is it? Are you alright?" Holly's voice was filled with concern.

Lissy pointed at the article, "Brace yourself Holls."

Holly picked up the paper, reading the article through twice.

"The liars." She said, lowering the paper, "The dirty rotten liars. Is this all they've got against me? To make up rubbish about my family?" Holly's faced was getting redder by the second. She threw the paper to the table, the put a clapped a hand to her mouth, she strode from the kitchen to the bathroom. Lissy could hear her being sick.

When Holly had cleaned herself up, she decided she had to act upon this. She changed out of her uniform into black jeans, black sleeveless shirt and black boots. She had to tell him the truth. He deserved to know.

"Where are you going?" Lissy asked as Holly walked purposely through the kitchen. She didn't answer at first then her conscience got the better of her, after all, her friend hadn't done anything wrong. "Home. I need to see Trouble."


Holly and Troubles apartment, Haven City

Trouble had just sat down properly for the first time all day, when the door buzzer rang. He groaned and walked to the door, yawning all the way. He was shocked to see Holly on the doorstep. She'd been crying, her eyes were red rimmed with tears.

"Holly, what's the matter?" He stood back to let her pass.

"It's all lies Trouble. All of it. Don't believe them. It's not true." Holly was getting angrier and angrier, and voice was getting louder…

"Shhh Holly, calm down." And, for the first time since the whole Jennifer fiasco, he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. Holly didn't resist. It felt wonderful to have someone there, someone she could rely on, and someone who could hold her. Even if that someone had to be Trouble.

The pair sat down on the sofa, "Holly tell me what's going on? Who's lying?"

Holly groaned, "Haven't you read today's paper?"

Trouble shook his head, "Nope, only just got back from work. Why?"

"It's full of lies. They're lying about us, about me."

Trouble was confused, what was she on about? Why would the newspaper print anything about her, or him for that matter? He stood up, "Let me get the paper." He stood up and walked to the coffee table where the unopened newspaper lay, it's packaging intact. He ripped it open, letting his eyes settle on the story in front of him.

FALSE PRETENCES

Captain Holly Short of the LepRecon squad is known for her excellent reconnaissance missions and her tendency to disobey orders. Ten years ago she married Captain Trouble Kelp of LepRetrieval and gave birth to her daughter Amber. An anonymous source says that, ten years on, Holly is guarding a secret. A secret she wants to take to her grave. Holly Short is not heroine she makes out to be; she is a liar and a cheat. She lied to her husband, and told him her unborn baby was his. She cheated him into marrying her.

Trouble had to fight to keep his face blank. Holly sat watching him from the sofa; she had to fight back the tears.

Now, ten years on, Holly exposed her husband's affair, the affair that has left their marriage wrecked. There was no point lying to him, because he went off her anyway. Where did lying get you Holly? But the real question is who's the biological father?

Trouble put down the paper, taking deep breaths, managing to stay calm, but only just. "Who's her father?" He asked Holly plainly.

"You." Was all she said.

Trouble stared at her, "You're sure?"

Holly stood up, her fists clenched. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN ARE YOU SURE! WHAT SORT OF A PERSON DO YOU THINK I AM? A LIAR, A CHEAT, A SLUT? OF COURSE YOU'RE HER FATHER!"

Trouble stayed silent, letting her calm down.

She looked at him, staring into his eyes; "You don't believe me do you?"

"I don't know what to believe."

Holly cursed under her breath, "Who the hell was the anonymous resource?"

This Trouble did have an answer to, "Who really hates you? Who do you utterly despise?"

"You?" A small smile played on Holly's lips, Trouble knew she was joking. Holly thought for a minute, "Jennifer."

Trouble nodded, "Don't you see? She's trying to split us up. First framing me for having an affair with her, which I promise I'm not, never have and never will be doing, and now she's spreading rumours about you. She's jealous Holly. Although she has the looks she doesn't have the personality to hold down a relationship."

This made some sense to Holly, "But what are we going to do? By tomorrow morning the entire city will think that this is true?" Holly picked up the paper and tore of the first page, ripping it into shreds.

"I'd better get back to Amber. This has been really hard on her. She asked me if you were dead, this afternoon."

Trouble groaned, "Holly why don't you just come home?"

"I can't. It's not right. We're not up to trusting each other. Not yet."

Trouble could see her point; after all he wasn't quite sure what to believe. He imagined how Holly must have felt when she saw him and Jennifer. Awful.

"How can I prove to you that I'm telling the truth?" Holly asked.


A/N: Ok, I'm gonna leave it there. You can guess what they do in your reviews if you like, but it's not anything too major.

Keep breathing.