A/N: Okay, so before we begin let me explain the time period of this story. It is set after The Opal Deception, but before The Lost Colony. Actually, for the sake of argument, let's just say that none of you have read The Lost Colony. It just makes more sense that way. Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own Artemis Fowl. Eoin Colfer does.

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Chapter One; Assassination

Haven

It was three minutes until midnight according to the clock on Holly Short's bedside table. Every sensible fairy was fast asleep, resting for the full day's work that tomorrow held for them. Every sensible fairy that is, except for Holly Short herself. She lay wide awake in bed, staring at the neon green numbers emitted by the clock, watching the minutes of her life tick away slowly. In the complete silence of a dead night, Holly mulled over the events that had occurred in the past week of her life.

The past seven days had been full of shock, trauma, death, and of course the ever recurring near death experiences. Opal Koboi had come back for her supposed coma. Holly gnashed her teeth at the thought of the megalomaniac pixie and all the trouble she had caused. Commander Root was dead. Julius had died at the hands of the vengeful Koboi. Holly closed her eyes to hold back the tears. He had died valiantly. And Koboi had been stopped.

Holly rolled over at two minutes past midnight, deciding that she was sick of watching the neon numbers slowly will the night away. Instead, she opted for staring at her peach coloured wall. Thoughts continued to consume the elf. Artemis Fowl, her friend and ally; he had his memories back. A small smile grew on Holly's lips at this thought. She was glad that Artemis had been there to help her defeat Koboi. She couldn't have done it without him. She would definitely ask for his assistance on her next mission.

But what would her next mission be? After Julius had been murdered, a new Commander had been placed in power. Sool; never was there someone who Holly detested more. Not even Chix Verbil. Chix was annoying, not evil. Sool was evil, of that Holly was certain. She could not work with him; not after he accused her of killing Root. Not after he accused her of killing the fairy that had been like a father to her for so long. And so, Holly refused to work with him. She quit the LEP, she gave up her dream. And Holly Short opened up her own Private Investigations firm with her flatulent friend Mulch Diggums.

Another small smile crept over Holly's lips as she thought of Mulch and their many exploits. He would make a good partner, and good conversation. But no matter how much she enjoyed Mulch's company, Holly had a twinge of regret about leaving the LEP. It meant much fewer aboveground visits. No more daring shuttle piloting. No more fancy Neutrino manoeuvres. No more of Foaly's witty remarks before a mission.

Holly shook her head softly. She wouldn't stop talking to Foaly. No matter how big a stink worm Sool was, he could not stop her from talking to her friends. He wouldn't do something like that; Holly wouldn't let him.

Holly wriggled her body under the blue blankets that covered her body, finding a rather comfortable spot. A content smile appeared on her features as she closed her eyes for the night. What Holly did not know, was that her first mission as a private eye would come sooner than expected. And it would come from someone totally unexpected.

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As Holly Short drifted off into a well-deserved slumber, evil was afoot just outside of the big city. For years, the Birch family had been smuggling and dealing illegal weapons to illegal fairies. They were possibly the biggest weapon supplier to criminals underneath the Earth. However, being clever criminals as well, they never left any evidence behind. Consequently, they had been operating for the last decade without the LEP ever being able to bust them. Tonight was no different. Not yet.

Tawny Birch and her twin brother Timothy were the youngest members of the Birch clan, and as such they got stuck with many low-key delivery missions. Not exactly as dangerous or fun as Tawny and Timothy wanted. None the less, they sat outside an old warehouse on the outskirts of Haven, waiting. There were two large, wooden crates behind them. These crates were full to the brim with shiny, loaded weapons.

A clock struck twelve somewhere in the distance. Tawny looked over at her brother; annoyance written all over her face.

"Where is this guy?" she asked, "He was supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago. I have better things to do than sit outside all night."

"Sure you do," Timothy rolled his eyes. His sister shot him a dirty look. Timothy ignored her and stretched.

"The guy better get here soon," he muttered, "I'm giving him another ten minutes or we're packing in."

"No need for that."

Tawny and Timothy looked at each other and then spun around to face the opposite direction, where the comment had originated from. Now in front of them, there stood a cloaked figure. His facial features were not visible, but from the way he stood and his height Timothy drew the conclusion that the male was an elf.

"Nice theatrics," Tawny snorted, "Are you here to pick up this shipment?"

"I am," the figure took a step toward the female sprite and Timothy jumped in front of his sister.

"The password," he instructed, "No deal unless you have it."

"Of course," the male droned, "It's Metropolis." Timothy nodded. Each delivery that the Birch family did had a unique password and no one knew that password other than the deliverers, Timothy and Tawny, the recipient, that odd cloaked elf, and the boss, who created the password.

"And the payment?" Tawny requested, sticking her head out from behind her brother's shoulder. He was only slightly taller.

"I'm afraid that's going to be a little bit of a problem," replied the elf. Timothy's eyes narrowed. This guy was unbelievable. He was going to try and talk himself out of payment. Timothy put his hand inside his jacket, resting his palm on the gun that sat on his belt.

"No payment, no…"

Timothy never got to finish his sentence or draw his weapon. Before either of the Birch twins knew what was happening, the cloaked figure had drawn a rather large pistol-looking weapon and opened fire. Two shots later and both Tawny and Timothy lay on the floor, shot right through the wings. Their magic couldn't help them. They were a good as dead.

The stranger smiled and approached the crates, running his smoking weapon over the smooth wood. He pulled out a communicator and dialled a number, after first checking to see that there were no witnesses to deal with. He heard a deep voice answer his call.

"Did you do it?" the voice requested.

"Of course I did."

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A/N: And that's the end of Chapter One. I hope you enjoyed it. Please review and let me know if I should bother continuing. Constructive criticism is welcome. Cheers!

-Liv.