Artemis Fowl

Pleased with his plan, Artemis goes to see Holly but is stopped by Juliet, who says that Mrs. Fowl believes that Artemis Senior has returned. Feeling guilty that he has pushed his father to the back of his mind, he decides to go check on his mother.

When he enters her room, Angeline thinks that Artemis is her father and asks him to give her husband one night off. She also has made a version of Artemis Senior out of pillows and his clothes. Disappointed, Artemis plays the role of his grandfather, telling the fake Artemis Senior to take some time off. He leaves.

Meanwhile, Holly realizes that the acorn she’d picked up while performing the ritual is stuck in her boot. If she can find a patch of earth, she can restore her magic.

Artemis appears in the room, greeting Holly as “Captain.” She is surprised to realize that he can read Gnommish—the language of the fairies. He explains that he plans to obtain the hostage fund from the LEP and claims that Holly was the one who told him about it when he gave her truth serum. This is actually a lie; he knows that this is a cruel tactic and is unsure of how far he is willing to go. However, he continues to lie to her, saying that she’s been there for three days. Holly is speechless until she replies that she hopes to see when he is defeated.

At Tara, the LEP has formed a temporary headquarters to monitor the situation. Foaly explains that his research shows that the Fowls are a family of criminals. Root is grateful, though, that their home is nearby, allowing them to attack before dawn, when their magic will be lessened.

The Retrieval Squad arrives at the Fowl Estate and one of the other officers suggests using a “blue rinse,” a biological weapon that destroys all living tissue. Root refuses, pointing out that Holly is inside.

Inside, Artemis and Butler use a hi-tech camera to slow down the surveillance footage enough to break through the LEP’s shielding. Artemis gives Butler Holly’s helmet, which he’s modified to fit a human head. It will help him see through the shield when he goes to meet the fairies. Artemis tells him, “I prefer scared to dead. If possible” (131).

Outside, Captain Trouble Kelp of the LEP is talking to his fellow officer and brother over their communication device when he realizes that someone is missing. He sees Butler but doesn’t realize that the bodyguard can see him until he speaks. Butler commences his attack until each fairy is knocked unconscious except for one. He tells the LEP officer that next time, he’ll be using a fatal weapon. He also orders him to send a negotiator.

Holly starts to work on destroying her bed so that she can escape. When Juliet comes in, she also demands to be fed.

Foaly and Commander Root initiate a time stop, which will freeze time in the Fowl estate. Foaly wonders if they are playing right into Artemis’s hands but follow orders when Root tells him to begin. They have eight hours before time begins flowing again. Root knows that if they can’t save Holly in that time, the other officer will use the blue rinse. Foaly arms Root with a weapon disguised as a finger. He also gives him a contact lens with a camera in it.

Meanwhile, Artemis notices that time has stopped and believes that all is going according to plan. He goes to meet Commander Root, the negotiator.

He invites the commander inside, and they sit together. Artemis relays that he can reveal the existence of fairies to the world once the time stop ends. Root sees that he has lost one advantage. Artemis demands one ton of 24-carat gold in ransom for Holly.

Root points out they’ll use their bio bomb if Artemis refuses to return Holly, but Artemis insists that he knows how to escape the time stop. Root leaves to take Artemis’s demands back to the LEP, and the boy adds that no fairy can enter Fowl Manor while he is alive. Root plans to take “a bit of unorthodox action” (156).