A/N: HIIII wave lol anyways, heres the thrid chapter. sry to keep you guys waiting '

"Well hello to you too Mud Boy," said Mulch. He seemed to be hiding something. Something that Artemis wanted to know.

"But…but….your supposed to be dead! Holly just called me yesterday and said you were," the genius said. He was almost at a lost for words.

Now Mulch seemed confused. "Dead? Artemis, I'm standing right here."

Artemis just stared. It's true. He was standing right there. The question was how. "Then why did holly contact me saying you were gone?"

At this statement, Mulch's beard moved in a very strange way he had not seen before. "How should I know?"

Artemis stopped to think. "Mulch, why did you trick Holly?"

Artemis was expecting more resistance but Mulch caved in, in an instant. "Because, people are after me. During the three years that you guys were gone, I reverted a little bit. Not totally, but a little. And now people are after me for it.

"I had to Mud Boy. If anyone goes to Holly looking for me, she can say I died and actually believe it. Please don't tell her Arty. I'm begging you."

"Mulch, what did you do this time?" Butler was silent until now. He really cared about Holly and so did Artemis. His voice sounded really menacing. Mulch was shaking by now.

"Some people really care about how much money you have. I gambled and won a lot. They think I rigged the machines," Mulch said.

"And did you," Butler took over.

"Just a tinny bit," said Mulch in a squeaky voice. "I didn't take that much actually, compared to what I used to take."

"How much is a tinny bit to you Mulch?" Artemis was a little over the edge. Alright, he was pissed off.

"Oh, only about…twenty-one million," he said with an innocent smile.

Butler lost it from there. "Twenty-one million dollars! Mulch, who did you rip off?"

Mulch dropped his head and muttered. "I don't know. I just know they're after me."

Artemis sighed heavily and sank to a chair. "Mulch, I can't believe I'm saying this but, you have to give it back."

"I know I do! But do you think it's gonna stop them from coming after me?"

Artemis or Butler didn't get a chance to answer as the doorbell rang.

Butler struggled to get up so Artemis pushed him back down and went to get it himself. The doorbell rang a couple more times before Artemis finally got to it.

"May I help you?" he said. He tried to make his voice sound polite.

"Is Mulch here?" said the man in a deep voice. Wearing a grey suit and dark sunglasses at night, Artemis expected this man to be sent by the people looking for him.

Artemis thought fast. "I am Mulch. What can I do for…?"

He didn't get a chance to respond as that man held a pistol to his chest and fired.