Chapter 4

Location Unknown, Present Day

"The LEP Retrieval team got to her just in time. She survived."

Artemis looked up. He nodded, wondering again how the interrogators knew so much. "Foaly kept track of her remaining LEP equipment. Trouble sent out the team the moment they lost contact with her."

"We know, Artemis."

Artemis pressed on, haunted by the memory of Holly's near-death experience. "I saw the pictures. Her injuries were horrific. It was a miracle she-"

The red light on Artemis's handcuffs winked again and another burst of electrical current arced through him. He screamed.

"Focus!" shouted the male interrogator. "We don't have time for this. Forget Holly Short. She doesn't matter."

She matters to me, Artemis thought, but had the good sense not to say. "What does matter to you? What is this about?"

The question was genuine. The interrogators already seemed to know everything he knew, and none of their questions made any sense.

"The hostages, Artemis. They're all that matter. Try to remember. Where are they?"

"I don't know."

"The suited men Captain Short saw meeting the Talons on the surface. Who were they? Who were they working for?"

"I don't know."

"The HVI at Fowl Manor. Why did you kill him?"

"I didn't kill anyone!"

The sound of someone slamming a fist onto a desk reverberated through the microphone into the cell, rendered agonisingly harsh by the distortion. "There's no point. He's delusional."

The female interrogator – who Artemis guessed was supposed to be playing the good cop – started trying to say something, but their prisoner's patience was wearing thin.

"Who are you people?" Artemis shouted at the two-way mirror. "Where are Holly and Xayah?"

This time when the shock came, it wasn't short lived. It came full-blooded and snarling, a beast that tore through Artemis for second after second. When it was over, Artemis lay still and silent, drenched in sweat, the concrete cold against his cheek once more.

It was the female who broke the silence.

"Artemis," she said quietly. There was an emotion in her voice, but the distortion kept it ambiguous. "You have to stop fighting. We need you to cooperate, and we need it fast. Hard though it might be to believe, we are not the bad guys here."

Despite everything, Artemis still managed a shaky laugh. "Because the good guys are famous for their use of torture."

The female interrogator was unmoved. "You should have thought of that before you killed him."

"I didn't…"

"You didn't kill anyone? Yeah, you've said."

Artemis gave up. He wasn't strong enough to keep doing this. He needed time - time to come up with a plan, or time for Holly and Butler and Xayah to come and kick the door down. And the only way to get that reprieve was to play ball.

"Alright. You win, I'll help you. But I don't know the location of any hostages. It's the truth, I promise. I've been telling the truth the whole time."

The female interrogator exhaled slowly, the sound artificially exaggerated by the distortion. "OK, Artemis. I believe you. But we need you to concentrate. Can you do that?"

Artemis nodded.

"That's good. Think back to Captain Short's mission. It was meant to be a straightforward trap - pick up the weapons and kill the Recon officer sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. But Holly Short had other ideas."

Artemis thought of Holly's singular talent for getting in the way of well-laid plans and allowed himself a slight smile. "She often does."

The male interrogator cut in. "It turned into a disaster. For everyone. The Talons lost their shipment. The LEP missed their intel. Holly Short almost died, and almost exposed the People in the process. It cost the LEP a fortune to cover up her mess. It was a miracle no one was killed. If Trouble Kelp hadn't covered for her, she would have been suspended."

Artemis frowned, again amazed at his captors' knowledge. Even he hadn't known that Holly was almost suspended.

"How did they know she was there, Artemis? Do you remember?"

Artemis nodded slowly. "The Retrieval team picked up the Talon chasing Holly, but he wouldn't talk, and the suited humans were long gone. But I had a theory. There must have been a traitor in the LEP. It was the only explanation."

Artemis could almost feel the female interrogator lean into the mic before speaking. "And what about Xayah? What did she think?"

Xayah. Artemis felt reality lurch, taking a moment to come back into focus. "Xayah… She was one step ahead. She was always one step ahead…"

Haven General Hospital, Haven City, Eight Days Ago

"I want to see Holly," Artemis repeated firmly.

The sprite at the hospital reception desk looked like she was seriously regretting getting out of bed that morning.

"Like I've been trying to explain," she stammered, looking nervously up at Artemis. He was almost twice her height and visibly upset. "Captain Short has been through major surgery. She isn't supposed to have visitors right now."

"I don't seem to have been clear. I want to see Holly. This isn't negotiable."

"But sir, our policy clearly states-"

"You appear to have mistaken me for someone who cares what your employer's policy says about anything. Allow me to correct this sorry little delusion. I don't care. In the slightest."

"Yes, sir, and I respect your opinion, but…"

Artemis held up a hand. "Quiet. Your options are simple. Either you can allow me see my friend, or you can continue to get in my way, and in doing so make enemies of Holly Short, notoriously loose-cannon police officer; myself, former public enemy number one; and my friend here…"

Butler stepped out of the shadows. As with every building in Haven, he had to stoop to accommodate his bulk. He showed the receptionist his shovel sized fists. Each was noticeably larger than her head.

"Who is massive," finished Artemis. He smiled his vampire smile. "So… which option would you prefer?"

What little resolve the receptionist possessed evaporated. "The first one," she mumbled. "I'll send for someone to accompany you."

"That will not be necessary. I already know which room she is in. All I need from you is access."

The receptionist pressed a button under her desk and the automatic doors leading to the main hospital area slid open. Butler offered her what he probably hoped was an apologetic smile as they passed and she buried her head in shame.

Artemis considered a joke to lighten the mood - something like well that went well or she seemed nice - but decided against it. Holly had pulled through, but to say that it had been by the skin of her teeth would have been an understatement. Artemis's life had just come very close to becoming a lot lonelier. Perhaps the silence was fitting.

Artemis had hacked into the hospital system before leaving the Argon clinic, locating Holly and memorising the building's layout, and it wasn't long before they reached her. He gave the door three sharp knocks.

A hoarse voice that lacked Holly's usual mettle invited them in. The room was undecorated and a little too spotless, all gleaming white and no character. Holly was huddled in the only bed, clearly worse for wear but alive nonetheless. She brightened a little when she saw Artemis.

"Alright, Mud Boy? Who let you out of the asylum?"

Artemis feigned offence. "I believe the politically correct term is psychiatric clinic. And I didn't give them much choice."

"I bet you didn't. Same goes for coming here despite my not being allowed visitors, I imagine?"

Artemis raised a playful eyebrow. "Perhaps."

"Ah, I'm glad you did. Anything is better than going crazy on my own in this place." Holly gestured about, making a face. "It's like a laboratory. I keep half-expecting them to start experimenting on me."

While Butler tried settling into yet another space that wasn't remotely big enough, Artemis sat on the foot of Holly's bed, just the way she always had while he was in the worst grips of his Atlantis Complex.

"The tables have turned," he said quietly.

"I suppose they have. Always knew you could kick Atlantis's butt if you put your mind to it." Holly winked at him. "Even if you took your sweet time doing it."

"Oh, I would have been much faster without you distracting me," Artemis teased back. "And anyway, I'm not completely cleared yet. I will have to remain here for perhaps a few more weeks."

Despite Artemis's best efforts, the last sentence still carried an audible tinge of disappointment that didn't pass Holly by.

"You don't like it here?"

Artemis looked guilty. "It's not that. I do appreciate everything the People have done for me. It's just… lonely here. I've got Butler, and you come by often, but I miss my family. I've only seen a little of Mother, and nothing of Father and the twins besides video calls."

"Hey," said Holly gently, finding the strength to lean forwards and give his hand a squeeze. "It's normal to miss your family. If anything, it shows how far you've come. Not with Atlantis, but as a person. Once upon a time, Artemis Fowl didn't get lonely."

"Maybe." Artemis wasn't sure how he felt about Holly's hand still resting on his. Physical intimacy of any form usually caused him discomfort, but he increasingly found that Holly was an exception to the rule. "Anyway, look at us. Talking about me. I wasn't the one almost killed."

Holly's expression soured. "Almost," she stressed. "It takes more than almost to stop me."

"Indeed. Narrow escapes are rather your forte."

Holly frowned. "How do you know anything about my escape?" Her frown deepened. "Come to think of it, how did you even know I was injured?"

"Surely you must know by now that the LEP has no secrets from me."

"You know about the mission I was on?"

Artemis nodded. "I've read and memorised the relevant files."

Holly shook her head in disbelief, but couldn't help herself from laughing. "Foaly's gonna be furious."

"You'd think he would be used to it by now. I'm surprised he still bothers with encryption."

Before Holly could deliver a suitable comeback on her friend's behalf, there was a rapid series of knocks on the door.

"Captain Short?"

The gruff voice belonged to Commander Trouble Kelp, if Artemis wasn't mistaken. He didn't sound in a patient mood.

Holly offered Artemis an apologetic shrug. "Come in, Trouble."

Trouble Kelp was already speaking as he barged in. "Sorry to disturb you, Holly, but there have been developments, and we don't have much ti-" He spotted Artemis and Butler and the sentence petered out. He narrowed his eyes. "Care to explain this, Captain Short?"

Holly's reply was measured but firm. "This is my hospital room, Commander, not Police Plaza. I'm entitled to accept whichever visitors I see fit."

"But you're not even supposed to have visitors in your current state!"

"And yet here you are."

"Yes, well," Trouble blustered. "I needed to speak to you before you could run off gossiping with any undesirables." He shot Artemis a glare. "From now on, all information relating to your latest mission is completely classified. I trust you haven't shared anything with anyone?"

Holly and Artemis couldn't resist sharing a slightly guilty look, and Trouble groaned.

"It's really not Holly's fault," interjected Artemis before Trouble could start ranting in earnest. "I had already liberated the relevant information from the LEP servers."

Trouble expression went through several rapid transformations, including disbelief, outrage and horror.

"I assume from the secrecy," continued Artemis. "That you have reached the same conclusion as me."

Trouble found his voice. "And what conclusion is that, Mud Boy?" he growled.

"That you have a traitor among your ranks."

Trouble looked at Artemis for a long moment, no doubt weighing up his options. Eventually, he seemed to decide that since Artemis already knew their secrets, there wasn't much harm in letting him stick around.

"Alright, Fowl. Yes, Foaly and I talked it over and a traitor in the LEP is the only explanation that makes sense."

Holly's expression darkened, and Artemis could almost see the cogs turning as she tried to reconcile the notion that one of her colleagues, perhaps one with whom she had shared a smile in the corridors of Police Plaza, was helping an army of bloodthirsty thugs risk the entire fairy world by trading with humans.

"This is serious," she said, a little unnecessarily. Artemis put it down to the near-death experience and the horrific injuries.

"You don't say," muttered Trouble. "In any case, everything related to the hunt for Miller now stays between me, Foaly and yourself, Holly. Nothing on a computer, and no paper trail either. I don't trust anyone else, not unless I have to."

"Commander, if I may," Artemis began. He ignored the immediate glare and ploughed on. "As I am not in the LEP and would never attempt to have Holly killed, I think we can confidently assume that I am not your traitor. However, I may be able to help identify them - strictly off the record, of course."

To the whole room's astonishment, Trouble looked like he was actually considering it. It underscored to each person just how dire the situation was.

"I don't trust you, Fowl," he said eventually. "Not for a second. But being the devious little rat that you are, you might be useful on this one. And don't take that as a compliment. It wasn't meant as one."

"I wouldn't dream of it, Commander."

"And no consultant's fee."

"Consider my assistance a token of my gratitude. For all the People have done to help with my Atlantis."

Trouble grunted and turned to Holly. "I know you deserve a little R after your ordeal, Captain, but I'm afraid I'm short on good surface operatives and even shorter on people I can trust. I want you back reporting to Police Plaza as soon as the medics can justify it."

Holly tried not to look pleased. When life knocked her down, she was less the type to wallow in self pity and more the type to get back up and start hitting life with a very large stick. And possibly grenades.

"Understood, sir."

"Good. Humanity is already in contact with the People, if we can't shut this thing down fast then war will become inevitable." He spared Artemis a glance. "Foaly will be in touch, Mud Boy - help him however you can."

Trouble made to leave, but paused in the doorway as if struck by an afterthought. "Oh, and Holly? Get well soon."

Once his footsteps died away, Holly raised an eyebrow at Artemis. "A token of your gratitude? Did they put something experimental in your breakfast at the clinic?"

Artemis averted his eyes. "If you must know, I've been immeasurably bored cooped up in the clinic on my own. I've been dying for something interesting to do. Plus," he added, voice hardening, "that traitor almost had you killed. I'm not going to pass up the chance to help bring them to justice."

Artemis found Xayah waiting outside Holly's hospital room. She was clad in an LEP jumpsuit that had seen better days, and her normally pretty features were contorted by stress. Artemis caught her eye and knew instinctively that she was there to talk to him. He touched Butler's arm.

"Would you be so kind as to give me a minute, old friend? I'll meet you at reception."

Butler didn't even look at Xayah. "I don't like leaving you alone."

"I promise, I'm not up to anything. I just need a moment. I'll be fine."

Butler looked sceptical but relented nonetheless. With the whole of Haven permanently under the watchful eye of the LEP, he wasn't quite as strict with Artemis as on the surface. "Alright. One moment."

As soon as Butler was out of sight, Xayah took Artemis by the arm and led him to the end of the corridor, pausing more than once for a furtive glance behind.

Artemis wondered why he was placing such trust in this elf he had met only once before in his life. He was guarded by nature, and his Atlantis Complex had only made him more paranoid. But the faint remnants of the Complex did not denounce Xayah as they did Holly and Butler - quite the opposite. Perhaps their last meeting had meant more to him than he had realised.

Xayah pulled him out of sight and checked a final time that they were alone. "Listen to me, Fowl. We don't have much time. Your friend Holly Short, she was almost killed on the surface."

Artemis hesitated. "It's kind of you to let me know, but you needn't have bothered. Visiting her is what brought me here."

Xayah nodded. "Of course, I should have guessed. Do you know how she was compromised?"

Artemis had an inexplicable urge to tell her everything he knew, but he quelled it, remembering Trouble's words. Xayah was LEP – anything he told her could easily find its way back to the traitor.

"No," he lied. "I've no idea."

Xayah smiled knowingly. "You are clever," she said, in that odd accent of hers. "I think you have already figured it out. You think there is a traitor in the LEP, feeding information to the Talons." She leaned in. "It's true. And I know who it is."

Artemis couldn't help but ask. "Who?"

"I will tell you. But first you must promise me something: no one can know this information came from me."

"Why not?"

Xayah made a face. "The LEP is rotten. Everywhere is the stench of corruption and incompetence. There are dozens of low-level operatives loyal to the Talons. Colleagues of mine. If word gets out that I helped you, I am a dead elf."

Artemis processed this. Dozens of traitors in addition to the high level one they were already seeking was not good news.

"Very well. I'm willing to keep your involvement quiet."

Xayah shook her head. "Not quiet. You tell no one. Not even your friend Holly Short."

"I trust Holly with my life."

"And I admire you for it." Xayah gave the arm she was still holding a squeeze. "Truly. The bond you have maintained with her, in spite of all you have suffered at the hands of the LEP… it's special. But Artemis, Captain Short is a soldier. She believes in orders. Anything you tell her, she may be compelled to pass onto her superiors – and what then for me?"

Artemis had no reason to believe Xayah was even telling the truth, and he had learned the hard way about keeping secrets from Holly. But they needed the traitor's identity sooner rather than later, and if there was even the slightest chance that Xayah had a lead, Artemis wasn't going to pass it up.

"You have my word. I'll tell no one."

Xayah smiled at him. "Clarke. The person who tried to kill Holly Short is called Clarke."

A/N: Thank you to those people who left kind words on the previous chapter, it's wonderful hearing positive feedback. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far! This chapter is a little more character focused and less action heavy, but fear not, I'm sure we can find more things to explode relatively soon.

-Kio