The Artemis Fowl Files (Artemis Fowl 0.50)

Holly scowled behind her mask. There must be something she could salvage from this.

“Give me that tiara. And the helmet.”

Artemis rolled the helmet across the ground. “The helmet, certainly. But the tiara is mine.”

“Give it to me,” shouted Holly, authority in every syllable. “Give it to me, or I will stun you both and you can take your chances with Ehrich Stern.”

Artemis almost smiled. “Congratulations, Holly. A masterstroke.” He took the tiara from his pocket, tossing it to the LEP officer.

“Now you can report that you broke up a gang of dwarf jewel thieves, and recovered the stolen tiara. A clutch of feathers in your cap, I would think.”

People were coming. Their thumping feet jarred the earth.

Holly set her wings to hover.

“We’ll meet again, Artemis Fowl,” she said, rising into the air.

“I know,” replied Artemis. “I look forward to it.”

It was true. He did.

Artemis watched his nemesis lift slowly into the night sky. And just as the crowd appeared around the corner, she vibrated out of the visible spectrum. Only a fairy-shaped patch of stars remained.

Holly really makes things interesting, he thought, closing his fist around the stone in his pocket. I wonder if she will notice the switch. Will she look closely at the blue diamond and see that it seems a little bit oily?

Butler tapped him on the shoulder.

“Time to be gone,” said the giant manservant.

Artemis nodded. Butler was right, as usual. He almost felt sorry for Sergei and the Significants. They would believe themselves safe right up until the Retrieval squad arrived to take them away.

Butler took his charge by the shoulder, and directed him to the shadows. In two steps they were invisible. Finding the darkness was a talent of Butler’s.

Artemis looked skyward one last time. Where is Captain Short now? he wondered. In his mind she would always be there, looking over his shoulder, waiting for him to slip up.

EPILOGUE

Fowl Manor

ANGELINE Fowl sat slumped at her dressing table, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Today was her husband’s birthday. Little Arty’s father, missing for over a year. Every day made his return more unlikely. Each day was difficult, but this day was almost impossible. She ran a slender finger over a photograph on the dresser. Artemis senior, with his strong teeth and blue eyes. Such a startling blue, she had never seen quite that color before or since, except in the eyes of her son. It had been the first thing she had noticed about him.

Artemis entered the room hesitantly. One foot outside the threshold.

“Arty, dear,” said Angeline, drying her eyes.

“Come here. Give me a hug, I need one.”

Artemis crossed the deep pile carpet, remembering the many times he had seen his father framed by the bay window.

“I will find him,” he whispered once he was in his mother’s arms.

“I know you will, Arty,” replied Angeline, fearful of the lengths her extraordinary son would go to.

Afraid to lose another Artemis.

Artemis drew back. “I have a gift for you,

Mother. Something to remind you, and give you strength.”

He drew a golden chain from his breast pocket.

Swinging in its V was the most incredible blue diamond. Angeline’s breath caught in her throat.

“Arty, it’s uncanny. Amazing. That stone is exactly the same color …”

“As Father’s eyes,” completed Artemis, coupling the clasp around his mother’s neck. “I thought you might like it.”

Angeline gripped the stone tightly in her hand, the tears flowing freely now. “I shall never take it off.”

Artemis smiled sadly. “Trust me, Mother, I will find him.”

Angeline looked at her son in wonder. “I know you will, Arty,” she said again. But this time, she believed it.