Saruman resisted the urge to rub his temples as Lurtz explained himself. He was having a hard time keeping the anger burbling up inside of his chest from exploding out of his mouth. He was staring, thin-lipped, brows furrowed, at the Mordor College student that Sauron had asked him to mentor. Saruman had accepted, for the student had shown great potential. Sauron had even seen the potential in Lurtz.

Now, Saruman was wondering where it had gone.

Lurtz was a tall, burly man that desperately needed a shave, and a hair cut. Though not enticing the greatest first impression, Lurtz soon proved that he was capable of plotting deeds, and avoid getting caught by the law. It was he who had been in charge of the pool prank, and it was he who had convinced the Balrog (a student that Saruman made to avoid) to light Gandalf's house on fire.

Saruman had watched Lurtz plan these things. The student, a football player for the college team, seemed to have resources everywhere. He had intense knowledge on how the security cameras worked, enough latex gloves to make the local dentist and doctor's office jealous, and enough followers to make it seem as though could take over America in his sleep.

Saruman wondered how he got them, though he did not ask. He, too, had eyes everywhere, mainly watching the café and trailing after its employees. He knew how far a little money could take people, and since he was quite a wealthy old man, he could spare some. Lurtz, however, wasn't wealthy. Sauron had found him on the streets, after Lurtz had tried to mug him. Why Sauron would trust somebody like Lurtz had become apparent, but now, Saruman wasn't so sure.

The elderly man had a suspicion that Lurtz's carelessness had come with the failure of his initial plan to dispose of the two smallest workers of the café. Saruman had tried to tell him that he had still succeeded; though in a different way. Disposing of the large politics student had meant that the café workers were not as safe as before. It displeasured Saruman greatly to find that the man would survive, and he had begun to panic; as had Lurtz.

If the man survived, he could well aware know who had hit him, and charge the police. There was too much evidence against Lurtz for Saruman to wave packets of money in front of the jury to sway them like he had done in the case against Grima about the police chief's son.

But now, Lurtz had gone and tried to abduct the two members he had failed to kill initially, in a public parking space. The only reason why Lurtz currently wasn't in jail was due to Wormtongue's power in the police station, and the fact that the nephew of the police chief had driven his car into Lurtz's van.

"May I ask why you deemed that to be a good idea?" Saruman asked, his tone of voice quite composed and calm. He had had practice with this over his time on the planet. Only somebody who really knew Saruman would realize that he was very close to losing control.

"You said to dispose of them, so I tried," Lurtz snarled back, his nose wrinkling in distaste. Saruman was well aware that Lurtz did not respect him. Saruman strode over to the young man, and grabbed him by his long hair.

"You did it carelessly, boy," Saruman spat out, yanking him towards his face, "If it were not for my placing of Grima Wormtongue in the police station, you would be shipped off to jail for attempted first degree murder, do you understand?"

Lurtz snatched Saruman's hand away, and pulled back, "I would have gotten away with it," he said.

"You were unconscious behind the driver's wheel," Saruman retorted coolly, "You would have been sent to the hospital in handcuffs if it were not for me. Sauron may hold you in high standards, boy, but all I see is a wreckless child that does not know when to let things lie. The only reason why you are not in any horrible situation is because I happen to have money and connections. The Rohan boy will be sent to jail in your place."

"If you're expecting gratitude, old man, look somewhere else," Lurtz said, sliding from his chair. The college student clutched his broken arm to his chest and made to brush by Saruman. The elderly man reached out and grasped the boy by his arm. Lurtz gave a small grunt of pain as Saruman yanked him back towards him.

"What I am expecting," Saruman said in a low whisper, twisting the boy's arm viciously in his grasp, "are no more slip ups. Am I understood?"

Lurtz gave a small nod, and Saruman withdrew his grasp, letting the boy go. Lurtz pulled his arm into his chest again, glaring at the man. The distaste was clear on his face, and Saruman relished in it. He was tired of playing the cautious old man. He was ready to bring the downfall of Middle-Earth University, and he was going to start it with the destruction of the café.

Once Lurtz left, Saruman pulled out his phone, and dialled 666-000-9966. He did not have to wait long for it to be answered. "It's me…"

"I am aware."

"I have quelled Lurtz's slip up, but I do not know for how long."

"How long do you suppose we have?"

"Gandalf is going to be released from hospital within two days, and I believe that he will be back to his meddling. Galadriel has also been starting to snoop around; she is keeping a good eye on the café workers, meaning we cannot act soon. With this slip-up, they are going to be on guard more. We have little time."

"It is simple, Saruman. We merely have to dispose of the café's owner, and the rest of them shall be scrambling."

"I understand. What of Lurtz? His uses are dwindling by the hour."

"Dispose of him. I do not care how. Send him to France, kill him, put him in jail. Just make sure he does not talk of our influence."

"And what of the Rohan natives?"

There was a small bit of silence before, "Finish what Wormtongue had started."

"Understood."

With that, Saruman ended the call. He walked over to coffee machine, and made himself a cup. Checking that his cell phone battery was full, he leaned back into his arm chair and took a sip of his coffee. Tonight was going to be long and filled with phone calls.

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THERE IS A FANMIX FOR THIS STORY!

Done by lovely Adanwen. The link shall be on my profile!

Sorry for such a short chapter! I am in an Exercise Science class, and I need to learn the muscles so I am studying quite hard for it. I've almost got the ones I'm supposed to learn down.

Unfortunately, we bought all of our fish sick (they looked healthy) and they are now all dead. When I went to go to the store to get my refund, the guppy tanks (which were what my beloved fish were) were completely empty. I feel a bit conned. I am hoping to get new fish, and I shall update you when I get them.