Chapter 20: Happenstance

Ys Street

Vinyáya sidled into the room among the rest of the group, a slim figure among the grey uniforms. Holly watched her from a corner, sipping on the cup of coffee Iris had given her. Artemis was busy at the computers, helping Iris to sort out some of her data and doing some quiet hacking of his own.

'Nothing, V,' said Iris in a low voice as she passed the commander with a new pot of coffee for the other members. 'Hani's still sending me updates, but we haven't determined the exact location.'

'Thank you, Iris.' Vinyáya lowered her hood and shook out her long hair. 'But I do wish we could – Cahartez would suspect me after this, surely, since I didn't turn up for the meeting. Short of storming Police Plaza itself, I'm not too sure what we can do.'

'Bust his curry vans!' one of the younger members called from across the room. 'I swear his vole curry isn't what they were.'

'I might look into that,' said Vinyáya, amid laughter from the rest.

'Who's doing it, Commander?' asked Holly quietly, coming up behind the older elf. 'I need an explanation.'

Vinyáya stiffened slightly, and then she relaxed when she saw that it was Holly. 'Oh hello, Holly. How are you?'

'I'm fine.' Holly gave her a half-hearted smile. 'I was worried about you a few days ago – you didn't seem so friendly.'

'Oh. That. Yes, well, I do apologize.' Vinyáya looked apologetic, but she didn't continue, choosing to step around Holly instead and head for the door.

'What was that about storming Police Plaza?' said Holly, blocking Vinyáya's way to the door. 'Cahartez? This group? I want to know why.'

'I don't have time, Holly,' Vinyáya said evasively, heading the other way instead. 'I'll get Iris to explain things to you –'

'Oh no,' said Iris, from where she was standing beside Artemis. She made a face at him. 'I'd rather face a troll than go against that captain. She scares me, d'you know that? How come she hasn't killed you yet?'

'I wonder about that sometimes,' Artemis confessed, pretending to look through files whilst the computer sent vital information back to Fowl Manor.

'Oh no you didn't.' Iris pushed him and his swivel chair away and took back the keyboard. 'Gimme that. I already let you see our early days, but I'm not going to let you get past our security encryptions – oh hey.' She paused and pouted at the boy. 'Foaly. Can you get into his systems?'

'If you'd let me try.'

'Here you go.' She dropped the keyboard into his lap and pushed him back in front of the computers. 'Knock yourself out. If that pony hacks back, though, you're going to get it.'

'I want to hear it from you,' said Holly, across the room from the bickering pair. 'You owe me an explanation, Vinyáya.'

Vinyáya sighed and pushed past her to the door. Holly followed her out into the passage outside, shutting the door behind her.

'You've been away for quite some time,' Vinyáya began, turning round to look at the younger elf. 'The Ark Sool affair – the demons – Section Eight – a lot has happened since you left and came back.'

'I know,' Holly murmured. 'But why this?'

'I know who's doing all this,' said Vinyáya, sighing again. 'The LEP, the explosives, those people evicted out of their homes – I've seen it coming for some time now.'

'But you didn't stop it.'

'Yes, I didn't. That was my first mistake.'

'So who is it?' said Holly, crossing her arms.

'Cahartez.' Vinyáya smiled wanly as Holly's mouth fell open in shock. 'Yes, astonishing, isn't it?'

'How did you know?'

'He signed the orders for the old equipment in Section Eight to be sent to the recycling smelters. The organization's built up a lot of junk over the years, and my predecessors didn't throw them out – we didn't know what to expect from the demons, you see. Anyway, he signed the orders. Foaly and I were responsible for overseeing the process, but he was pretty busy since the demons came back. I found out a few things.'

'Which you didn't tell Foaly,' said Holly, tactfully keeping the accusatory tone out of her voice. 'It would have saved you and everyone else so much trouble.'

'Yes. My second mistake was not to tell Foaly. I should have – but it's too late.'

'You could call him up right now and tell him, Vinyáya.'

'Oh no,' said Vinyáya, 'the moment Cahartez gets wind that Foaly knows what he's up to, there's no knowing what he might do. Cahartez may not be the sharpest fairy around, Holly, but when he's in a corner, he'll fight back. I know what he's like.'

'So what did he do?'

'He…I found weapons missing from some of our shipments,' Vinyáya continued. 'Small things, at first. A few Neutrinos here and there, some of the older guns missing – I didn't think too much about it at first. And then Ariya started speaking to me about Cahartez's high-handedness with older LEP equipment. Lieutenant Howell's in charge of the recycling now – you've heard of him? No? He was your senior in the academy, I think, and one of Ariya's close friends – he was getting strange requests from Cahartez to set aside some of the weapons. Something about reducing the budget, which he didn't find odd at first.'

'So Ariya was murdered because she knew too much?'

'Oh yes. Sadly so. I was supposed to meet her on the day of her murder – after the Council meeting – but I never made it there. She wanted to tell me something important, but someone got to her before I did.'

'What about Lyess?' said Holly, pulling at her bottom lip. 'Ariya's cousin.'

'She knows nothing about all that.' Vinyáya laughed bitterly. 'But she wouldn't say no to a bit of extra authority – Cahartez would have a willing supporter from her if he plays his cards right.'

'I see. So…what about the weapons?'

'Rook – Corporal Rook, have you met him? No? A shady character, to be honest, but he didn't like what was going on. He was one of the few officers who were involved in hiding the equipment. He told Iris about it, who told me – they're dating,' said Vinyáya, smiling at Holly's frown. 'Anyway, he came to tell me about it – he was one of my students in the Academy – and it turned out that Cahartez was smuggling the guns in his curry.'

'It sounds too coincidental to me,' Holly said musingly. 'You knew about all this because of what someone said to another person?'

'I like coincidences,' said Vinyáya, shrugging. 'We hardly pay attention to them, but they're there. Can we know why? I don't know. But I'm not complaining about how things have turned out.'

'So the curry – Cahartez used Merrick's lorries to transport it, did he?'

'Yes, exactly. After all, what's suspicious about curry?' said Vinyáya wryly. 'Merrick found out about it too late. He wasn't ready to risk it for Cahartez, and there was an argument, from what I've gathered. And then before you know it – Merrick's dead.'

'His bodyguards killed him, didn't they?' said Holly.

'They were ex-LEP, you see. It was a simple matter for Cahartez to call them up and ask for a favour. I wager he promised them something else in return, but I'm not going to bother about that.'

'So Cahartez was the culprit all along.' Holly ran a hand through her spikes, trying to digest everything Vinyáya had told her. 'But why?'

'Ah – here is where it gets murky.'

'Yeah?' said Holly, grinning uncertainly. 'Someone's behind all this?'

'There are signs. Cahartez doesn't have it in him to plot something as elaborate as this – he's simultaneously turning the LEP against themselves, us and Artemis.'

'I won't be surprised with everything that's happened so far.' Holly rubbed her eyes wearily. 'Especially when you've been friends with Artemis, nothing surprises you after a while.'

'I understand.' Vinyáya placed a hand on Holly's shoulder. 'But we have an idea where this person might be. Hani's been tracking her for some time, and we're getting closer to capturing her. I was thinking…maybe you'd like to get to this person yourself? Stop the problem from the cause, so to speak?'

'I'm not one of you.' Holly shrugged off Vinyáya's hand, none too gently. 'Why did you start this group?'

'I'll be asked to step down soon, Holly.' Vinyáya cocked her head and studied Holly's dismayed expression. 'I've been in this job longer than Julius had. I've heard the rumours…and they're generally right, if my judgement is anything to go by. I'll remain in the Council once I step down, but the Wing Commandership will be passed on to a younger officer. Making way for new blood, so I've heard.'

'But you've been so dedicated to your job,' Holly protested. 'Surely you can't change their minds? Who decided this?'

'The Council, I'm afraid. They have the highest authority in the Lower Elements Police, don't they?' Vinyáya shook her head thoughtfully. 'I'm beginning to wonder whether Cahartez had anything to do with it. I've opposed quite a few of his decisions in the past.'

'So you started this just to have something to do once you step down? But that doesn't – doesn't make sense.'

'I started this to…blame an old elf for having her strange fancies, Holly.' Vinyáya's smile was dreamy. 'I can't say myself – maybe I thought I could stop Cahartez on my own. Going up against the Council isn't easy, I know, but there are steps I could have taken instead of this. But I chose this. Maybe I'll understand why someday, but not now. Not now.'

The look on Vinyáya's face was a new one to Holly. In all her years in the LEP, she had not seen Vinyáya look so…tired before. 'Why didn't you tell me earlier then?' she asked gently. 'I've been back for months – '

'You've been busy,' Vinyáya replied simply. 'Catching up with your old life. Getting back into the LEP. You had so much to do – I thought it wouldn't be right for me to burden you with this. Besides,' said Vinyáya, taking Holly's face between her hands, 'you have your career before you. Not long ago you were considered for the post of major – the first female Recon major in history. I can't ask you to join this group and risk your future for me.' She lowered her hands and stepped back, her face impassive. 'Do you understand now?'

'Yes,' said Holly. 'As best as I can. But there are so many things I still want to know.'

'So do I, Holly.' Vinyáya placed her hand on the scan pad, opening the door into the main room. 'But we don't have time to look for the answers. We need to stop Cahartez, before he manages to take over Haven completely. And when he does, even those in the LEP who oppose him won't be able to do anything.'

'What can I do?' said Holly.

'In the meantime…there's always the other fairy to go after,' Vinyáya answered, holding the door open for her. 'Would you do that for me, Holly?'

'I won't have a future if Cahartez takes over,' she said, chuckling. 'Yes, I will. For you, for the LEP, and for the People.'

'Ah, a noble sentiment,' Vinyáya observed. 'I like those.'

Operations Booth, Police Plaza

'Er…Kelp? Commander? Was this the one you wanted?' Foaly held out the big ugly gun to Trouble Kelp, doubt and amusement all over his face. 'Here you go. A Pig Blaster, '80s original, with extra slugs if you want.'

The Pig Blaster. It was one of the first guns to be outlawed when solar and nuclear cells became big in fairy weaponry. It resembled a human rifle, with the difference being that the slugs used involved much more than metal. There were several options for the ammunition, ranging from wrap balls (sticky little balls that spread out into a thin flexible web, preventing the person hit from moving), paint balls (someone lost their acorn over this, but they should never be underestimated) to the standard bullets. Originally used by field operatives who needed much more than bullets in their missions, the Pig Blasters gained notoriety for their varied – and often illegal – uses, once some smart fairies figured out ways to adapt the guns for functions besides incapacitating the target. The LEP had stopped using the guns in the late 1800's due to complaints from civilians and fairy human rights groups (they were considered nutty even then, but were pretty big during the time, all the same), but once in a while, a Pig Blaster found their way into the hands of antique collectors or the tunnel gangs.

And Trouble Kelp had specifically requested for one to be brought to him. To which Foaly was happy to oblige, although it was technically illegal for an LEP officer to use it.

'Thank you, Foaly.' Trouble turned the Pig Blaster over in his hands, checking the various parts and mechanisms. 'Good condition too.'

'One of my contacts had it,' said Foaly, watching in fascination as Trouble loaded the gun with paint balls. 'Er…sorry for asking, Kelp, but paint balls?'

'I'm not going to hurt anyone with this.' Trouble took aim and fired the gun, once, at the wall opposite the Ops Booth. Paint splattered over the surface of the wall and dripped to the floor.

'Hey hey, safety regulations, Kelp,' Foaly reminded him. 'No firing weapons in the Plaza unless you're within secure areas.'

'Sorry about that.' Trouble motioned to the officers who had been waiting outside the booth to step in. 'I'm not going to fire it anyway.'

'What are you doing, Trubs?' Foaly wasn't usually surprised with whatever happened these days – but this was just way too out of the ordinary. 'Going out on patrol to play paint balls? Is this your idea of a joke?'

'One: Don't call me Trubs,' said Trouble, surveying the Recon officers who came to stand to attention before him. 'Two: I'm not going to play paintball. Three: I'm going to arrest Cahartez.'

Foaly spat out the carrot he had begun to munch. 'You can't arrest the Council Chairman!'

'Actually, I can,' said Trouble without a trace of sarcasm. 'It's in my power to remove any obstruction which hinders LEP operation using any force that I deem necessary (1).'

'But you can't apply that to – you know – arresting Cahartez!'

'The rule book doesn't say I can't.'

'Yes, but – are you out of your mind?'

'Maybe I am,' said Trouble, looking over the row of fresh young faces before him. 'We're all mad here anyway.'

'So what are these rookies going to do then? Knock out Cahartez with paint balls?'

'Oh no, they're just for show.' A few of the eager faces lost a bit of their enthusiasm under Trouble's scrutiny. 'A show of support, really. This is for Cahartez to see for himself that not every LEP officer is going to stand back and listen to him. The rookies, for one, are not going to stand for that.'

'Yeah, but why the Pig Blaster?' Foaly pointed at the gun in Trouble's hands with his second carrot. 'Why not the Neutrino? Handier. Deadlier. And they're not illegal.'

'This, my friend, is just for show.' Trouble held up the gun in front of the centaur's face. 'Cahartez's been hiding behind the LEP for too long. I'm going to show him what we can do.'

'You'll be kicked out if you lose this,' Foaly said, his eyes following the gun as though he had been mesmerized. 'All your acorns, Kelp.'

'Oh he can have them.' Kelp gestured to the officers to march out the door. 'And the rest as well. We'll see how he holds up with half the force. The other half isn't going to play nice.'

'You're crazy,' said Foaly, munching on his third carrot without registering what he was doing. 'I have nothing to do with this, okay?'

'Fair enough, pony. I'll deal with it on my own.'

'I still think you're crazy. I'll set an appointment for you with the psych when you get back.'

'Do that if it makes you happy. Now if you'll excuse me,' said Trouble, striding to the door with the Pig Blaster held aloft, 'I've got some coward's fairy arse to bust.'

Foaly crammed the last of the carrot into his mouth and hurried to the computers, calling up various views from the security cameras in Police Plaza. He always knew Trouble Kelp was half-crazy, but this was going to be good. He could trust the hooves to tell him.

A/N: The Pig Blaster snitched a few ideas from the lightning rods in Colfer's The Supernaturalist. I liked the cellophane slugs and the Gumballs - icky, but oh so deadly.

(1) The line is referenced from Chapter 2 of The Arctic Incident.

I'm a rabid Vimes fangirl. Credit goes to Pratchett's Jingo in this chapter!