I just started re-reading Artemis Fowl (book 1). It's weird to go all the way back to the beginning, especially after just reading The Time Paradox. But I'm enjoying it, and it reminds me why I like this series so much!

A big thank you to kasplosion for answering my fanfiction questions a couple chapters ago. Thanks!

xxxxxxx

Artemis sat in a chair in his room. He hated to admit that he was slightly bored. There was nothing to do around here. He'd already called home. He spent an hour on his computer. He even ventured outside (very briefly) before concluding he had nowhere to go.

At 6:14 p.m. there was a knock on the door. Bradon swung it open, slammed it shut behind himself, and sat on Artemis' bed in a huff.

"Is there a particular reason why you're here?" Artemis asked, dryly.

Bradon huffed again. "I have nowhere else to go. I can't even sulk in my own room, because I have to share it. Can you believe Chase said I was interrupting him?"

"I can't imagine why."

"Like he's so busy. Even Robin thinks I'm a liar. I don't want to have to deal with any of them, but I'm not allowed to leave the house. This is my only sanctuary. It did used to be my room, you know."

Artemis sat patiently while Bradon ranted. When he was sure he was finished he said, "I believe you."

Bradon perked up. "Say what?"

"I know you did not write that e-mail," Artemis clarified.

Bradon faltered, searching for words. He finally came up with, "Really?"

Artemis nodded, but did not elaborate. Bradon perched at the end of the bed. "But why? No one else does. There were even supposed 'witnesses'."

"I know. I was one of those witnesses," Artemis told him. In response to Bradon's confused expression he continued, "I was in the computer room across from the office. I saw you go in and out."

"But you just said you believe me."

"I repeat, I saw you go in and out, but nothing in between. No one did. There was no real proof of what you did. People just jumped to conclusions. Unfortunately, innocent until proven guilty does not apply outside your judicial court."

Bradon was elated. "Yes, someone on my side! How come you believe me, but no one else does?"

"Most people are generally easy to read," Artemis said with a wave of his hand. "There are certain behaviors one unconsciously shows when they are guilty that gives them away, none of which you did."

"Cool," Bradon decided. "So, what do we do now?"

"We?"

"Yeah, I mean, aren't you going to vouch for me?" he asked hopefully.

Artemis brushed some dust off his pants. "And what do you expect to happen? Everyone will change their minds simply because you have one classmate on your side?"

Bradon looked defeated. "So…that's it? I have to live through this punishment I don't deserve?"

An emotion spread through Artemis that he couldn't quite place. Was it sympathy? No, no, just pity. The Irish boy sighed. "I'll tell you what…"

Bradon listened expectantly.

"I'm going to help you find the real culprit. Things are so uneventful around here, I'd agree to do just about anything. Who knows? This could be interesting."

"You're helping me?" Bradon couldn't believe his ears. "I love you, dude! But what exactly are you expecting to do? It could have been anyone."

"Which makes it all the more challenging." It was time for Artemis to put his genius to work.

xxxxxxx

The next morning, before school, Artemis explained to Tyler what he wanted him to do.

"You're not serious," Tyler mumbled.

"You owe me, remember?" Artemis reminded him.

"Yeah, but I don't owe Bradon," he shot back. "I've never even talked to him. This is-"

"What I want you to do," Artemis cut him off.

Tyler grumbled. "Why do you care, anyway? Don't you think you're risking a little much over one little suspension?"

"Probably," Artemis agreed.

"You don't even know if he really is innocent."

"That's what I plan on proving."

"You're crazy."

Artemis smirked. "Not crazy. This is the type of thing I do."

"This is what you do in your free time? Sneak into places you don't belong?"

"Trust me, this is nothing compared to what I've been through. Honestly, it's not like we're stealing from a high security vault."

"Have you done that?"

"I am only asking you to keep watch."

Tyler obviously disapproved but didn't protest again. They stayed in the hallway when the tardy bell rang and all the stragglers made their way to class. When they were sure no one was around, Artemis went in the office and knocked on Principle Wincher's door. "Come in."

Artemis opened the door and put on an innocent face. "Hello. Miss Phoebe needs to see you in her room straight away."

"Did she say why?" the principle questioned.

"Just that it's urgent."

"Alright. Thank you, young man." He put some papers back in a drawer and headed for Miss Phoebe's room. Of course, she didn't really need him. Artemis just chose that classroom, because it was the furthest away from the office. Tyler showed up behind him. "Okay, he's gone."

"Good, now shut the door, and keep anyone else from coming in here," Artemis ordered.

"This is wrong."

"So is sneaking into a professional basketball game," Artemis threatened. "Or maybe you forgot. The police would know."

It was a low blow, but it did the trick. Tyler obediently stood guard in front of the closed door while Artemis took a seat at the principle's desk. The computer was already logged in, making things much easier for Artemis.

He opened up Principle Wincher's e-mail and clicked on the deleted folder. He opened the most recent 'untitled' message. Jackpot. Even though Artemis had not known what the e-mail had said, he was fairly certain this was it. Artemis had never fully appreciated a deleted folder before. It was pointless. If you wanted to delete something why would it automatically be put in another folder? Any random person could still read it…

Artemis checked the time the e-mail was written, the whole point of coming in here in the first place. 10:07 a.m. Okay. He closed out of e-mail and made sure everything looked as it had before he sat down. He left, and Tyler followed him into the hall, where they kept going to make it look like they had a destination.

"So…what?" Tyler pried.

"Whoever really wrote that e-mail did it at 10:07 a.m." Artemis said, taking on a professional manner. "Our next goal is to find out who was not in their classrooms at that time. You are aware that all students must sign in and out whenever they leave the room?"

Tyler nodded.

"We need to look at every sign out sheet in this school and see who was out at 10:07 a.m. yesterday," Artemis finished.

"What?" Tyler complained. "Why do I have to do this?"

Artemis frowned. "I could do it myself, but it would take much longer. With your help we could get this done today. It's not so hard. Just peek in a room and glance at the sheet for names. The sheet is always kept right by the door. Are you really incapable of doing this?"

"You're confusing incapable with unwilling," Tyler sighed. "But, fine, I'll do it."

"Good. We'll compare notes after school."

They split up to go to their individual first hours.

Tyler departed with, "You made me tardy. I hope you're happy."

Artemis was quite pleased.

xxxxxxx

For the rest of the day during the five minutes between classes, Artemis went in every room he passed by to check the sign out sheet. Anyone who signed out before 10:07 and signed back in after was taken note of. Unfortunately, when Artemis checked in Mrs. Maxwell's room, Bradon fell under that category. Not helpful. As the final bell rang, Artemis found Tyler, and together, they collected six names. That narrowed it down considerably.

xxxxxxx

After school, Artemis headed straight downstairs. Chase was pulling papers out of his backpack while Bradon sat on the floor, banging his head on the wall. "I'm bored."

"Wash the dished like Mom told you to and you wouldn't have that problem," Chase said without looking at him. Bradon blew a strand of hair out of his face.

"Sorry to interrupt," said Artemis. "But I need to speak with Bradon."

"Hear that?" Bradon said to his brother. "He wants to talk to me, unlike you."

"I really don't care," Chase passed Artemis on his way out the room.

"I have been so bored all day," Bradon said as if they'd been conversing for hours. "I even played some of Chase's video games. Don't tell him."

"Today was quite busy for me," Artemis informed him. "But there is no longer a doubt in my mind of your innocence."

"You have proof?"

"For myself anyway," he said. "That message was typed at 10:07 a.m. I clearly recall checking the clock some time after you left the office, and it said 10:05. Whoever did this went in after you left."

Bradon bobbed his head excitedly. "There! That's proof! Go tell everybody."

Artemis stayed where he was. "While it convinced me, I am afraid that information alone is not enough to relieve you of punishment. My thinking I know what time you left the office is not concrete evidence. They could just say I was mistaken. There was only a two minute time difference. No, your best bet would still be to find out who the real guilty party is."

"Do you know who it is?" Bradon asked.

"No, but I do have it narrowed down to six suspects." Artemis pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Bradon, who scanned the list.

"Do you know any of those people?" questioned Artemis.

"Not really," Bradon said unsurely. "He's in my math class. I think she's a cheerleader."

"Any of them likely to have done something like that e-mail?"

"Not Sierra," Bradon said. "Cross her off your list."

"You're sure?" Artemis confirmed.

Bradon was positive. "She's such a good girl it's not even funny. I think she's friends with Robin, actually. Makes sense. They both have squeaky clean histories."

"Alright, I will forget her for now," said Artemis. What about the others?"

Bradon looked at the list again. "I don't know them well enough."

Artemis understood. "Five suspects, then."

xxxxxxx

Why am I doing this? Artemis asked himself as he was falling asleep that night. Did he really care about Bradon? Not likely. Maybe it was just the excitement of once again proving how smart he was. Maybe it was a nice distraction from the fact that he was sleeping in someone else's house…

The problem with being new is you don't know anyone in your own grade, let alone the entire school. So Artemis had to ask around a little bit, but it didn't take long for him to put a face to the five names.

Now was the hard part, narrowing down five names to one.

xxxxxxx

Kind of short, but not really. Good? No? I'm going as fast as I can. Every other review says Update Soon! And I'm trying to. This Chapter took less than 2 days. I think that's pretty good!