For A Moment - A Wonka AU

Chapter 13: That Little Brat

Later that night, as Willy parted ways with Charlotte and he and his friends headed back to the Wash House, they were unaware of the four watchful eyes on them from a neighboring window.

"There's six of them," the Chief reported, stuffing a chocolate in his mouth. "Not counting your daughter, Felix."

Fickelgruber scoffed. "I knew she was working with them...She never learns, does she?"

"That little girl over there seems to be the brains of the operation." The Chief pointed at Noodle as she ordered the others into her laundry cart and pushed the cart through the doors of the Wah House. "They go to that place o'er there- Scrubitt and Bleacher, it's called."

"Scrubitt...?" Slugworth echoed, raising an eyebrow sharply at the name.

The Chief nodded, his mouth full of chocolate. "Mes, Mubbit." He paused to swallow the chocolate, before speaking again, "You know her?"

"Yes..." he murmured. "As a matter of fact, I do..."

The Chief nodded briefly, before crumpling up the empty chocolate wrapper. "Yeah, well, yknow, I'm happy to do whatever you want to get rid of that bunch- and I mean anything." He chuckled. "They just rented a shop, so legally I can't touch them, but illegally, I'm happy to do whatever you guys want."

"Make them have a little accident..." Fickelgruber muttered, his blood boiling at the thought of his own daughter helping them out.

"In which they die," Prodnose clarified.

Fickelgruber groaned.

"No problem," the Chief said. "But it's going to...erm...cost ya a lot more chocolates..."

"Alright, Chief..." Slugworth waved his hand dismissively. "You can have your chocolates."

"And if you could, well, give me those in advance, that'd be great, because, well-" he stammered, a few crumpled up chocolate wrappers falling out of his sleeve, "-I've sort of eaten them all..."

"All of them?!" Fickelgruber cried.

"Yes! I've been having to resort to eating these little wrappers for the past few days!" He shoved one of the wrappers into his mouth. "And they're not even chocolate! You've gotta help me out, Mr. Slugworth..." His voice took on a pleading tone.

Slugworth's nose wrinkled in disgust and he reluctantly shoved a box of chocolates into the Chief's hands. "Here you go, Chief," he said, trying to hide his disgust. "And there's plenty more where that came from..."

The Chief's eyes lit up and he greedily unwrapped the box, revealing four small chocolates. His mouth was practically watering at this point. "Thank you, Mr. Slugworth. Thank you, thank you."

Slugworth dismissed him and looked out the window in thought again.

"What is it, Arthur?" Fickelgruber asked, noticing Slugworth's expression.

"The girl," he said quietly.

"What girl?" Prodnose asked, then answered his own question, "Oh, that girl."

"You don't really think it could be...her, do you?" Fickelgruber asked.

"I do," Slugworth replied.

Fickelgruber became slightly fidgety and he exchanged nervous glances with Prodnose. "But you assured us she wouldn't be a problem."

Prodnose nodded. "He's right. You did assure us."

"She won't be," Slugworth said coldly and turned to them. "And nor will Mr. Wonka, or Miss Charlotte-"

"I will handle my own daughter, Arthur," Fickelgruber said.

"-I'll see to it personally. Come along, you two." Slugworth urged the others out the door with him, heading towards the Wash House.

~

Mrs. Scrubitt practically jumped out of her seat at the sound of knocking on her door. She wasn't used to having visitors in the dead of night, but she walked over to the door anyway.

After pulling back the hatch, she looked outside impatiently for the person who had come to disturb her at this hour.

"Who is it? What do you want?" she asked gruffly.

"Mrs. Scrubitt?" Slugworth's voice said, causing Mrs. Scrubitt's eyes to widen.

"Mr. Slugworth!" She gasped and immediately opened the door for him. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Bleacher appeared behind her as Slugworth and the other two chocolatiers stepped forward into the building.

"What is it, my honey- WOW!" Bleacher cried. "Why, it's Mr. Slugworth himself!"

"You have a guest, Mrs. Scrubitt," Mr. Slugworth said, paying no mind to Bleacher. "A certain...Mr. Wonka, perhaps?"

Mrs. Scrubitt nodded. "Yes? What about him?"

"He's been sneaking out to sell chocolate with that little servant girl of yours, did you know?"

Her eyes widened in anger. "That little brat!"

Slugworth lips curled into a malicious grin. "How would you like to help me put an end to their little shenanigans, Mrs. Scrubitt?"

Mrs. Scrubitt eyed him carefully, but that was all she needed to convince her. "You've got yourself a deal, Mr. Slugworth. What do I have to do?"