A/N: Thanks for the complement Insanity! It was nice to have a review that wasn't about my grammar errors… As to why I'm posting this so soon after chapter seven: I was inspired! A chocolate muffin can do that to ya!
Disclaimer: Do I really need to tell you this? You guessed it! I don't own Artemis Fowl! I do own a couple of the characters in this story though. Such as Nick, Minnie, Travis, the first name of Jason Spiro, and my latest creation…
Spiro Needle, Chicago
Gertrude Spiro sat on her bed, pouting as usual. In her leather gloves, which were the kind missing the finger tips, she held a picture of her favorite boy-band. Gertrude crumpled it up and hurled it at the garbage can angrily. The teenage girl stood and continued to throw everything in her room as far as she could throw it. A security camera that was mounted on the wall followed her every move.
Gertrude or Trudy as her friends called her, sighed and collapsed in her arm chair. Being a moody teenager was hard work.
A strong knock sounded on her door.
"Go away!" The fifteen year old girl screeched.
"Miss Spiro your father wishes to see you." A man's voice called.
"Go away Charlie! I don't care if Dad sends the whole mafia in here I'm not going to talk to him!" Trudy yelled at Charlie, her body guard.
"Miss Spiro he says there is a visitor he would like you to meet." Charlie called timidly.
Trudy sat up. "Did he say who?"
"I don't think so; all I know is that it's some boy." Charlie said.
Trudy quickly unlocked the door and looked Charlie in the eyes. "Are you lying to me?"
"I would never, Miss Spiro." Charlie said, crossing his heart.
"You better not be." She paused, "Or else." It was something her father said to scare his enemies.
Trudy walked briskly up to flights of stairs and around a corner to her father's office. She didn't bother knocking but instead just pushed the door open and glared at her father.
Jason Spiro's Office, Five Minutes Previous
Nick followed his uncle into the office and took a seat in yet another uncomfortable leather chair.
"Do you like it?" Jason asked him, "I personally don't care for leather but Jon had this place furnished before he told me to take care of it. Brothers!"
Jon Spiro had been caught by the FBI several years previously and gone to jail. While he was away he had appointed his slow witted brother the care taker of all of his operations. Which made Jason in charge of not only Jon's legal operations but the illegal ones as well.
Nick glanced around the office. It had a large, expensive looking, glass desk, a beautiful view of the city, and three, big, uncomfortable chairs. The desk was cluttered with documents and pens, not to mention a couple empty hot chocolate mugs with cigarette stubs sticking out of them.
"It's a wonderful office, Uncle Spiro. Your right though, the chairs are kind of ugly." Nick said nervously.
"You've got good taste my boy." Jason said affectionately, but dastardly. "Hey Charlie! Why don't you go get Gertrude? I'd love to introduce her to my nephew."
A big man in the corner nodded and exited through a doorway that was concealed by a large piece of art. Nick shivered. He knew what those doors were called; Jason had told him once. The secret doors were named Assassin Entries, probably because that is what they were used for. Apparently Jon Spiro had had the doors built so that if he had a guest staying at the tower and the guest wasn't exactly a person who Jon called friend an assassin was sent through the secret tunnels to that room.
A moment later a girl of about fifteen, with brown and blue hair burst in. She glared at Jason.
"You wanted to see me, Father?" Gertrude said through gritted teeth.
"I don't appreciate the sarcasm, young lady. I want you to meet your cousin." Jason said, gesturing to Nick. The boy gave a little wave.
Trudy growled. "I'm out of here." She flicked one of her blue streaks and turned to go.
"Are you cranky because I wouldn't let you go see that band or because I won't let you perform with yours?" Jason asked grumpily.
"Dad! The Big Emerald Beetles aren't just some band! When will you learn?!" Trudy screamed and exited the room, only to be dragged back in by two enormous security guards.
"Nick, this is my daughter Gertrude. She is a big fan of this band called The Large Green Bugs. Her friends and her decided to come up with their own band after seeing the Bugs perform. Gertrude's band is called Blue Blood." Jason explained.
"Yeah, but Dad is being a total jerk and not letting me go to the Big Emerald Beetle's concert tonight! Since I couldn't go to that I was going to perform with my band in the park. But Dad grounded me so I couldn't go!" Trudy yelled.
Nick pressed himself against his chair, hoping that Gertrude would not want to talk to him. He hated talking to girls. This girl seemed to be the bad girl type, which made Nick even more nervous. He wished that he had just stayed with Artemis.
Outside the Spiro Needle
Artemis held the binoculars up to his eyes. He could immediately see the interior of a hallway in the Spiro Needle.
"These binoculars are rather useful, what do you think Foaly would say to me borrowing a pair?"
"I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon." Holly laughed.
Artemis smiled but stopped to think.
"Hmm, last time we broke in here it was to take back a computer. Taking a man will be considerably harder." Artemis mumbled.
Butler had rented a car that the team was using for surveillance. Artemis, to the dismay of the rest of the group, had been practicing his driving skills of late and decided that he should drive. Butler and Holly gripped their seats until the ride was over.
Artemis put the binoculars to his eyes again. "Aha, I've spotted our friend Jason Spiro. He's in Jon's old office. There are two people with him; both are about the size of teenagers…" Artemis stopped.
"What? Who are the teenagers?" Holly asked eagerly.
"One of the teenagers is a girl but the other…"
"Who is it?" Holly said, practically jumping out of her seat.
"It's Nick! He has been captured by Jason Spiro!" Artemis exclaimed, still looking through the x-ray binoculars.
"Oh great, now it's a rescue mission too." Holly moaned.
"How will we go about getting him out?" Butler asked gravely.
Artemis thought for a minute. "We stick to the plan. We'll just modify it to take Nick instead of Jason. Mr. Spiro will have to wait for a later time."
The rest of the team nodded.
It was time to commence Operation Take down Spiro/Rescue Nick.
Jason Spiro's Office
Gertrude had sat down in a chair and was now pouting. She glared at Jason and then at Nick for not being who she had expected.
When Charlie had told Trudy that a boy was in the tower she assumed her father was trying to make up for grounding her and had brought in the lead singer of The Big Emerald Beetles. You may be wondering how she ever came to that conclusion. Well, Jason had spoiled his daughter in the past and Trudy thought he might have arranged for this meeting. She was rather upset that her father hadn't been spoiling her when he called her up to the office.
Nick was trembling in the leather chair. In this room were two people who hated his guts. Jason had power here and even though he didn't know Gertrude he knew that she probably had a little bit of power too.
This had turned out to be Nick's worst plan yet.
Maybe there is still a way out of this, Nick thought, spotting the crack between the window and the frame.
