Spiro noticed that a digital wave meter had appeared on the Cube’s screen. When he spoke, it registered.
“Okay, then. We got communication. Now, who the hell are you? And how did you get this box working?”
“The name is Mo Digence, Mr. Spiro. I’m the monkey from Carla Frazetti’s team. I don’t know what kind of box you have at your end, I just have a plain old telephone.”
“Well, who dialed the number then?”
“A little kid I have here by the scruff of the neck. I impressed upon him how important it was that I talk to you.”
“And how did you know to talk to me? Who gave you my name?”
“Again, the kid. He was very eager to tell me everything after he saw what I did to the metal man.”
Spiro sighed. If the metal man was damaged, he would have to pay the Antonellis a fine.
“What did you do to the metal man?”
“Nothing permanent. But he won’t be aiming any guns at kids for a while.”
“Why did you feel it necessary to damage your own partner, Digence?”
There was a pause on the other end, while Mulch got the supposed sequence of events sorted out.
“It was like this, Mr. Spiro. Our instructions were to escort the kid across to the U.S. But Loafers goes crazy and starts waving a gun around. I figured this was the wrong way to go. So I stopped him. Forcibly. Anyway, the kid gets so scared that he tells me everything I want to know. And here I am now, having a conversation with you.”
Spiro rubbed his hands together. “You did the right thing, Digence. There’ll be a bonus in this for you. I’ll see to it personally.”
“Thanks, Mr. Spiro. Believe me, the pleasure was mine.”
“Is the Fowl kid there?”
“Right beside me. A little pale, but not a scratch on him.”
“Put him on,” ordered Spiro, all traces of depression vanishing.
“Spiro, it’s me.” Artemis’s voice was aloof, but with an unmistakable tremor.
Spiro squeezed the air, as though it were Artemis’s neck.
“Not so cocky now, kid? It’s like I told you, you don’t have the guts for this job. Me on the other hand . . . If I don’t get what I want, then I’ll have Mo put you out of my misery. Do we understand each other?”
“Yes. Loud and clear.”
“Good,” said Spiro, clamping a huge Cuban cigar between his teeth. It would be chewed to a pulp, but not lit. “Now, talk. What do I have to do to get this Cube working?”
Artemis’s voice sounded even shakier than before. “It’s not that simple, Mr. Spiro. The C Cube is encrypted. Something called an eternity code. I can remotely access certain basic functions; the phone, MP3 player, and so on, but to disable the code completely and unlock the Cube’s potential, I need to have it here in front of me. If you could just bring the Cube here. . . .”
Spiro spat out the cigar. “Hold it right there, Fowl. Just how stupid do you think I am? I’m going to bring this priceless technology back to Europe? Forget it! If you’re going to disable this thing, you’re going to do it here. In the Spiro Needle!”
“But my tools, my lab?”
“I got tools here. And a lab. The best in the world. You do it here.”
“Yes. Whatever you say.”
“That’s right, kid. Whatever I say. I want you to fuel up the Lear jet, which I happen to know you have, and do a quick hop across to O’ Hare Airport. I’ll have a chopper waiting for you.”
“I don’t suppose I have a choice.”
“That’s right, kid. You don’t. But do this right and I might just let you go. Did you get all that, Digence?”
“Loud and clear, Mr. Spiro.”
“Good. I’m counting on you to get the kid here safely.” “Consider it done.” The line went dead. Spiro chuckled. “I think I’m going to celebrate,” he said, unching the intercom button. “Marlene, send in a pot of coffee, and no low-caffeine junk either, I want the real thing.”
“But, Mr. Spiro, your doctor said . . .” Spiro waited for his secretary to realize who she was rguing with. “I’m sorry, sir. Right away, sir.” Spiro leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers behind is head. “You see, Blunt, this is going to turn out fine, in spite of our incompetence. I got that kid just where I want him.” “Yesh, shir. Masherfully done, shir.” Spiro laughed. “Shut up, you clown. You sound like ome cartoon character.” “Yesh. Mosh amushing, shir.” Spiro licked his lips, anticipating his coffee. “For a suposed genius, that kid sure is gullible. Do this right and I might just let you go? He fell for that one, hook, line, and sinker.”
Blunt tried to grin. It was not a pretty sight. “Yesh, Mishuh Shpiro. Hoo, line, an’ shinkuh.”
Fowl Manor
Artemis hung up the phone, his face flushed with the thrill f the sting.
“What do you think? he asked.
“I think he bought it,” replied Butler.
“Hook, line, and sinker,” added Mulch. “You have a jet? I presume there’s a kitchen.”
Butler drove them to Dublin Airport in the Bentley. It was to be his final act in this particular operation. Holly and Mulch huddled in the back, glad of the tinted glass.
The Butler siblings sat up front, dressed in corresponding black designer suits. Juliet had jazzed hers up with a pink cravat and glitter makeup. The family resemblance was clear, the same narrow nose and full lips. The same eyes, jumping in their sockets like roulette balls in the wheel. Watching, always watching.
“You don’t need a traditional gun on this trip,” said Butler. “Use an LEP blaster. They don’t need reloading, they shoot in a straight line forever, and they’re nonlethal. I gave Holly a couple from my stash.”
“Got it, Dom.”
Butler took the airport exit. “Dom. I haven’t been called that in so long. Being a bodyguard becomes your world. You forget to have your own life. Are you sure that’s what you want, Juliet?”
Juliet was twining her hair in a tight braid, at the end of which she attached an ornamental jade ring. Ornamental and dangerous.
“Where else would I get to body-slam people? Body-guarding fits the bill, for the moment.”
Butler lowered his voice. “Of course, it’s completely against protocol for you to have Artemis as your Principal. He already knows your first name, and truth be told I think he’s a little fond of you.”
Juliet slapped the jade ring against her palm. “This is just temporary. I’m not anybody’s bodyguard just yet. Madam Ko doesn’t like my style.”
“I’m not surprised,” said Butler, pointing to the jade ring. “Where did you get that?”
Juliet smiled. “My own idea. A nice little surprise for anyone who underestimates females.”
Butler pulled into the set-down area.
“List
en to me, Juliet,” he said, catching his sister’s hand. “Spiro is dangerous. Look what happened to me, and in all modesty, I was the best. If this mission weren’t so vital to humans and fairies, I wouldn’t let you go at all.”
Juliet touched her brother’s face. “I’ll be careful.”
They climbed onto the walkway. Holly hovered, shielded, several feet above the throngs of business travelers and holiday makers. Mulch had applied a fresh layer of sun block, and the stink repelled every human who was unfortunate enough to get within ten feet of him.
Butler touched Artemis’s shoulder.
“Are you going to be all right?”
Artemis shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. Without you by my side, I feel as though one of my limbs is missing.”
“Juliet will keep you safe. She has an unusual style, but she is a Butler, after all.”
“It’s one last mission, old friend. Then there will be no more need for bodyguards.”
“It’s a pity Holly couldn’t have simply mesmerized Spiro through the Cube.”
Artemis shook his head. “It wouldn’t have worked. Even if we could have set up a link, a fairy needs eye-to-eye contact to mesmerize a strong mind like Spiro’s. I don’t want to take any chances with this man. He needs to be put away. Even if the fairies relocated him, he could do some damage.”
“What about your plan?” Butler asked. “From what you told me, it’s quite convoluted. Are you sure it’s going to work?”
Artemis winked, a very unusual display of levity.
“I’m sure,” he said. “Trust me. I’m a genius.”
Juliet piloted the Lear jet across the Atlantic. Holly sat in he copilot’s chair, admiring the hardware.
“Nice bird,” she commented.
“Not bad, fairy girl,” said Juliet, switching to autopilot. “Not a patch on fairy craft, I’d bet?”
“The LEP doesn’t believe in comfort,” said Holly.
“There’s barely enough room in an LEP shuttle to swing a tink worm.”