The Collaboration Files

The Tides Have Turned

After Lizzy had cut Butler, rescued me, and kidnapped Artemis, We were speeding in a Ferrari to the storage docks downtown. I got Artemis to unlock the cuffs with a tap from his index finger, and then looked over at Lizzy. Her eyes had a determined look, and we were going at a smooth 80 mph.

"Let me drive," I elbowed Liz aside, and brushed stray locks of brown hair from my eyes. Then I adjusted the mirrors. As I adjusted the rear view mirror, I caught sight of Artemis in the back seat staring at me through the rear view mirror. That freaked me out a bit, but I kept my eyes on the road.

"Strap in, kids and geniuses. It's gonna be a nasty ride," I grinned. Lizzy and I hijacked a car once, and the only way I could drive it was trial and error. Luckily, I fared pretty well, so this was how I drove the Ferrari. Artemis, looking decidedly cagey about my driving skills, reached for the seat belt. Coming to the highway, I had to slow down the joyride, and that's when my Mobil buzzed. This reminded me.

"Yo, kidnapper, hand over the phones, any devices or electronics. I'm sure that big guy after us will probably try and contact you."

Artemis passed up a wafer-thin cell, and shrank back into the plush leather upholstery. I doubted this was all he had.

"Hey, Artemis, I'm not trying to pressure you, but that's all you have? A phone? No way."

He sighed and passed up a rather small laptop and lots of cables. I was still a bit wary, but at least I could see him through the mirror. Now we'd be able to see if he tried anything.

I've come to regret that statement.

Anyway, we were cruising along at a steady 75 mph, and in minutes we were at the storage holds. I fired up Artemis's computer, made him log on to it's system, and wiped out their cameras with a simple command. Child's play. Now all we needed to do was walk in.

I got out of the car, taking Artemis and Liz with me, and we walked in through the main entrance. There was an old man on guard behind the service desk, reading a newspaper. Other wise no one else. The guy on duty behind the desk looked up from the paper, and glared at us.

"Darn you kids! always coming in here with no business whatsoever, and trying to sneak in with your boyfriend too!" He rolled up the paper and pointed it accusingly at Artemis. "I suggest you walk out of here with your girl in tow, and nothing will happen." Then he pointed the paper at  me. "Get your boyfriend out of here! You're in enough trouble without bringing another innocent boy into your god-forsaken life!"

He might've been mistaking me for someone else.

There was silence.

Then I could hear Lizzy snickering.

"Um... Benjamin, is it?" I asked him. I was going to try something.

"Yes, and you're about to be running from the police in a minute!"

I sighed. "Ben, you should treat customers better." I tried to keep a certain edge to my voice.

Trying  to keep a calm demeanor, I couldn't help but blush a bit at the boyfriend thing. Rage was  also threatening to engulf me. 

Crud. I was risking this chance... I jerked my head to stare directly into his eyes, and said,

"I'm a potential customer, and you're an employee. If you refuse me, you could get fired."

"Customers?"

"Yes, nitwi- Ben. Customers. I have a storage unit that I would like to open."

Ben the guard stood for a moment. His eyes were going a little loopy in their sockets, but I knew this would pass. It always does. Finally, his eyeballs glazed over, giving him a dreamy look, and he straightened a bit. I released the breath I had been holding, and gestured.

"Take us to Unit #4812."

*    *    *

After Ben had taken us to the specified unit, I took out the table and chairs and recorder to my old interrogation session with... Let's just say a potential threat... and sat Lizzy and Artemis down.

This verbal battle was about to ensue.