Alright, it's not Sunday. Somebody whack me. But hey, at least I updated! I did brainstorm for a while though, so I have a much clearer idea on how this story will go.
100 reviews. Wow… wow. I never expected this story to get halfway that far. For that, the chapter is dedicated to Nathifa Femi, 100th reviewer. And refloc, for reviewing every single chapter.
This chapter is so packed with information that I had to open up all ten past chapters and use them for reference. And I put my iPod on LOTR for extra inspiration.
My birthday's on Friday! I'm turning 13. Yeah, thirteen. Wow.
Summary: Right after Holly gets a job in the LEP, she cuts her hair. Each auburn lock falling through the floor makes her think about choices, and especially their consequences. What will happen after?
Disclaimer: I don't own Artemis Fowl. Eoin Colfer does.
Haircut
Chapter Eleven
Second day of Recon. Already. Just two more days until she'd be back to boring old Traffic, back to her normal schedule.
Holly utterly hates 'normal'. You know exactly what's going to happen, when it's going to happen, and how to prepare. 'Normal' takes all the fun out of life. 'Normal' is just that… so normal.
And currently, Holly was waiting in Root's office for something to do. All the other Recon members already had longstanding missions, and since she was new (in a matter of speaking) she didn't.
She had walked in on Root conversing with two other Council members—two people she didn't know. They all had serious expressions on and were talking in even more serious tones. But when Holly made her presence known with a slight cough, the two others quickly made themselves scarce.
"Ah, Officer Short. Sit down and I'll tell you what you're supposed to be doing."
Holly had only been in the LEP for two weeks, but she knew that it was better to do what your Commander tells you, even if he tells you to sit down when you're completely sore from yesterday's crunchball tryouts. So she did.
"Right, Officer Short. This is what you'll be doing."
She leaned forward eagerly. She was rather interested in that bright-red envelope that had been worrying all the Commanders lately.
But his hand passed right over the envelope, and picked up a bright yellow piece of paper.
Seeing her grimace at the neon color, he simply muttered, "Foaly."
This was explanation enough. Foaly always had a thing for color.
Her disappointment at not getting the big mission was quickly evaporated as she read what was on the paper. Root began talking.
"You will take Officer Shrub's place as number Five on the Recon Squad tomorrow. The mission: to find Shrub. Tomorrow, the three days will be up and we will be able to go find him, getting you back to Traffic."
Holly nodded. Maybe she'd have to go back to Traffic, but she'd get to go on a real Recon mission before leaving.
"He disappeared not that far off, just by the chute. Today your job is to investigate his friends, family, and work area, whatever. We don't know if he's been kidnapped or what."
Of course. Standard procedure.
"Then tomorrow, I expect you to be at the chutes, fully clothed and ready for a possible all-day mission, at 0500 hours. Are we clear?"
"Yessir."
"Good. Now shoo."
Holly took the dismissal gladly, eager to get to work. Investigating was always fun. If Holly hadn't become a LEP worker, she would've wanted to be some sort of P. I., or Private Investigator.
She skimmed the papers quickly. One Victor Shrub, husband of Emily Shrub. Good friends: Victoria Calendula, wife of Marcus Calendula… she stopped there. Those were his two best friends, and plus, she didn't honestly want to make friend and family calls. She'd much rather just stick to rummaging through his desk or something.
Opening Shrub's door quietly, she peeked in. The room was neat. As in neatneatneat. Papers were filed, the clean chair was pushed into the sparkling desk, and everything was in perfect order.
Where to look first?
She started out with the desk, careful (but not too careful) to not let anything get out of order. All she found were notes on missions and some personal letters.
The mission notes were basic; in graphs and orderly, like everything else. This seemed like a man who could be promoted to Commander one day.
She found some notes from the mission he was working on when he disappeared. It was a basic runaway elf, hiding on the surface. There wasn't really that much too it.
Holly frowned slightly; sure this had to be something more then a simple mission. A personal letter suddenly caught her eye. It was a short note to a friend. A couple words intrigued her, and despite her strict ethics she began to read.
Dearest Victoria,
Emily does not suspect anything, thank Frond. We should meet at the same time tonight to discuss next week's plan.
When this is done, love, we won't have to worry about Emily, or Marcus… we'll be free. Everything will work out as planned.
Love,
Victor
Holly leaned back in Shrub's chair as the words sunk in. Emily and Victor were married… so were Victoria and Marcus… and Victor and Victoria were having an affair! She quickly checked the date on the note.
A sharp intake of breath.
The note was dated one week before the disappearance. Victor and Victoria had run off together—Victoria as the elf who escaped to the surface, Victor as the LEP officer who went to retrieve her but got lost.
And now they'd both have to be arrested for living on the surface without permission. So that meant Recon would have to find them—which will be a lot harder since they aren't just lost—they don't want to be found.
Taking the note and the mission graphs, she stood up to take the news to Root's office. Next she'd have to make a house call to Emily and see if she thinks this affair could've possibly happened.
Holly glanced down at the note declaring Victor and Victoria's love.
People could be so stupid sometimes.
END OF CHAPTER ELEVEN
Whew. Glad that's over. I don't like OC's, but you must agree that these were necessary. Can anyone guess where I got the names Victor, Victoria, and Emily from? Anyone at all?
Just to clear things up, I'll have a few plots in this story:
MAJOR PLOT: You should know this by now, but I'm not giving it away.
MAJOR PLOT: Holly's growing relationship with Trouble.
MINI-PLOT: The search for Shrub
MINI-PLOT: Slight discrimination against Foaly (hey, it has to exist).
MINI-PLOT: Crunchball tournament.
And that's all so far. Romance is haarrdd to write. Next chapter—Foaly'll be back.
