I do not own any characters or ideas created by Eoin Colfer
A/N Thank you for my new reviews from crystalocean and foreverforgetful again and for the pointers from Despere Romantique. Sorry for the delay. Longest chapter yet!WARNING: From here on in, Johnson resorts to violence! Enjoy!
Chapter 3- Trouble With Hitmen
The man had been there the whole day. No matter where Artemis and Butler went, the man in the black suit followed. It was obvious he was trying to spy, but he was doing a crappy job at it.
"Butler, that man has been following us all day! Can't you simply ask him a few questions? I wish to know why he's following us and who he's working for" Artemis finally said.
"He is getting a bit irritating… fine, I'll be right back. Remember, you're in a top security building so you'll be safe" Butler replied. Artemis nodded his agreement. When Butler was gone, Artemis continued up the polished marble floor toward the elevators. A security guard walked up to him.
"Watch it kid, you're not supposed to be here. Tell me, where's your mother?" he asked. Artemis' vein pulsed.
"My name is Artemis Fowl Jr. I'm sure you've heard of my father."
"Oh you're the kid doing adult work! Okay, what are you here for?" the idiot of a security guard asked.
"I'm here to see Monsieur Lecombe for some dealings" replied the teenager.
"Ah yes, Mr. Fowl. Monsieur Lecombe is on the thirtieth floor. The last office on your left" Artemis nodded his thanks, and continued to the elevator. It opened, and he stepped inside. Jacques Lecombe had called Artemis about a week ago to make a proposition. I hope this isn't a waste of time, he thought.
Butler didn't like the idea of leaving Artemis alone, but he knew figuring out something about this man would be important. The man was currently watching Butler in an alleyway. Butler pretended not to see him, and then when he got closer, he jumped into the alleyway. This sudden move caught the man off guard, so Butler was able to pounce on him. He pinned the younger man to the wall.
"Who are you?" asked Butler casually.
"I'm just another busy citizen in Munich, sir. Now if you don't mind," he tried shoving Butler's arm off "I'd like to get home as soon as possible."
"Who are you?" Butler asked more forcibly. This time the man grinned.
"I'd really like to get home, sir." The man had a Russian accent. His blonde hair was long, and partially covered his eyes. However, it didn't take an expert to know that he had clear blue eyes.
"WHO ARE YOU?" Butler growled. He pushed his hand a little deeper until the man couldn't breath.
"Okay! Okay! Please!" Butler removed his hand and the Russian fell to the floor. "What do you want?"
"Why are you following Artemis and I? Who sent you?" Butler replied. For an answer, the Russian grinned and sent his fist crashing into Butler's head. Butler started bleeding, but he jumped to his feet, blocked the next blow, and sent a fist to the man's chest. The Russian fell in a heap to the floor, breathless.
"Oh… that hurt," he said as he gasped in some air "My name is Constantine Rosiski. (A/N HAHAHA… sorry, all I could come up with) I'm following you and you're "principle" because he owes Damien his life.
"So Johnson sent you?"
"Of course, but now that you know, you better die." And with that, he jumped to his feet at the same time taking out his knife. Butler just managed to dodge a blow to the chest, but instead he ended up with a small cut on the arm. Constantine ran up the alleyway, and turned a corner. Butler followed closely behind. They ended up in a dead end. Constantine turned, silenced pistol in hand. He was smiling ear to ear.
"Good bye, sir" said Constantine mockingly. When Rosiski looked like he was going to pull the trigger, Butler picked up a garbage can lid, and blocked the bullet. Constantine was shocked! Butler threw the lid at him and it him right in the face. He advanced, but Rosiski jumped up. They both pounced on each other so that they ended up fighting mano-a-mano. Butler threw a punch but Rosiski blocked. Constantine kicked but Butler blocked. They fought furiously until Butler had a black eye and his lip was cut, and Constantine had a swollen cheek and a heavy nosebleed. By that time Butler had picked up two garbage can lids, and he smacked Rosiski on both sides of the head at the same time. Constantine Rosiski fell to the floor instantly. Butler checked for a pulse, and when he found Rosiski OK, he left.
Artemis was ready to go now. Lecombe had just called him to be a sponsor for his newest program. Butler walked in the building with a black eye, a cut on his arm, and a cut on his lower lip.
"I'll take it he didn't come in peacefully?" Artemis asked pleasantly. Butler shook his head. Once they were out of the building, Butler told Artemis the information.
"He was a hitman hired by Johnson."
"I thought so… he was a good hitman I presume?" Artemis asked. To answer, Butler pointed at his wounds. Artemis nodded his understanding. They hailed a taxi to Fowl Manor. When they arrived, Artemis wanted to go to bed. Butler took his post in the kitchen beside the main doorway and Juliet took her post on the third floor on the opposite side of the house, near Artemis' bedroom. Artemis lied down and read a Lord of The Flies by lamplight for an hour and then lied down. He thought about anything, the trip to England tomorrow, Johnson, what Butler had done to that poor hitman. That thought made Artemis smile slightly. Then, slowly but surely, he fell asleep. Meanwhile, downstairs, a greedy businessman and three hitmen were entering and disabling all the alarms through the wine cellar. Artemis awoke suddenly, he didn't know why, but it was probably because of his dry throat. Or maybe it was the voices outside of his door. Voices? Artemis didn't know who they could be. Butler was in the kitchen and Juliet was at the end of the hallway. His parents were in Spain and weren't expected back for two months. Artemis climbed out of his bed and put his ear to the door.
"-once you scratch him, you go back to Gavin and wait. Spencer, you scratch the girl, then do the same as Howard-" it was definitely Johnson. " When I get to… take care of the kid I'll get to you guys and together we'll see the demolition of Fowl Manor. Now get out of my sight-" by that point Artemis had stopped listening. He had four men outside his room that intended to blow up his home! He quickly gathered some things- a light jacket, his cell phone, and a buzz baton, which had been given to him by Holly, to live up to his name. But there was one more crucial thing he needed. He put on the jacket and placed the cell phone in his jacket pocket. He put the buzz baton in the other pocket. Artemis saw the door handle shake slightly, and then the lock shake. Artemis, or actually Butler, locked the door. But soon that lock would be picked. He didn't have much time. Artemis dropped down and slid under his bed. Metal bars held his bed, like most beds, underneath. He pushed up on his mattress, and saw a slit in his mattress. Out of this slit, he pulled out a small metal box. Before this slit was hidden by the metal bar. The door handle was shaking crazily now. Artemis placed the box on the floor and on a little keyboard, he typed two-nine-zero-six. A little door opened instantly. He pulled out a comlink/communicator or whatever you want to call it. He placed this in his breast pocket. He then hid the box in a cabinet. Suddenly, Artemis heard a click from the door. Oh no, he thought to himself. He quickly opened the window and stepped outside on the roof just as the door started opening. He quickly moved out of sight just as the door opened and Johnson walked in. Artemis continued walking until a tile slipped and he fell. Damn, he thought as he dusted himself off.
Johnson was furious. He made a call to Howard.
"The kid aint here!" he shouted. Artemis was placing a call too. Except the number he was calling was 911.
"Don't panic! A team will be right over!" a police officer said when Artemis told him his current situation. Artemis turned off the cell phone. Next, he reached for the communicator. He called Holly, but she didn't answer. Instead he put a coded message, just in case Sool was tracing random calls. Holly trained the codes with him a couple of weeks ago. She should recognize it. He stood up again. He was thinking about Butler and Juliet. They can take care of themselves, he thought. Artemis was now standing on the roof above Butler.
"Don't move" a voice, said behind Artemis. Artemis turned. Johnson stood there, looking incredibly menacing. He had a gun in his hand.
"I know how to aim kid, and this is pointed at your head." Artemis tried backing up but he slipped on another tile. It fell over the roof and landed on the ground.
"That's right kid. Bow down to me" Johnson's voice was full of hate. Artemis was at a loss for words.He got up shakily.
"Ready to die?" asked Johnson.
"No" Artemis replied dryly.
"Then too bad" Johnson aimed, and a trigger was pulled.
A/N Bum, Bum, Bum…. Oh no! Is Artemis really dead? What has happened to Butler and Juliet? And sorry that I couldn't answer all the questions I said I would in chapter two! But I decided that would be a cool place to stop. But, have no fears! I will update as soon as possible! REVIEW!