Blood River

Chapter One

Edward Elric walked slowly towards the crime scene. He had made this same walk only a week before. A poor girl had been found washed up on the shore of the river. Her body was bloated. She had been in the water for some time and now he was on his way to yet another murdered girl at the riverbank. He readied himself as he came in view of the crime scene. He could see Hughes running about barking orders. It was a little more hectic then it had been last time. As he got closer he saw the worried looks on the soldiers' faces. He saw Hawkeye talking to Fuery. Something about going to get the General as quickly as possible. As he walked up he saluted and ran off in the direction of Eastern Headquarters.

"Lieutenant? Why is everyone so tense?" Edward asked.

"The victim, is General Hakuro's daughter," Hawkeye answered.

"Oh shit. Does he know yet?" Edward said worryingly.

"He should soon. Warrant Officer Fallmen is on his way there now." Hawkeye replied.

"Great. This is just getting better and better. Where is she?" Edward asked.

"The coroner just put her in the body bag. She's a mess. I'm just warning you." Hawkeye said.

"Thanks," Ed replied

Edward walked over to the body bag and unzipped it. The smell hit him immediately. She too was bloated. Although not so much as the last body. He covered his mouth as the bile rose in his throat.

"What's that smell?" He asked.

The coroner looked to him and said, "I can't be sure, but, it smells like shit to put it bluntly. It means she was dumped somewhere by the water treatment plant."

Ed zipped the bag back up and turned away. The look on her face still haunting him. Her eyes were bulging out of her head.

"I warned you." Hawkeye said.

"Yeah, I know." Ed replied.

A car quickly pulled up and General Mustang stepped out of the back. He didn't look happy. He walked up to join Ed. "Well Fullmetal? Any thoughts?"

"Well, that body really stinks. The coroner thinks she was dumped in the water treatment plant. And by the way she smells, I think he's right. I think we should start our investigation there. It's the only clue we have. We got nothing in the other case," Edward told him.

"Damn. A Generals daughter. This means more paper work then the last case…far more work."

"Do you even care about either of those girls at all?" Ed asked.

Roy just glanced at him then walked over to Hawkeye. "Fullmetal, go check out the plant!" He called back to him.

"Tch. Mother Fucker." Edward mumbled to himself.

He headed off back in the direction he had come from. He was a little pissed off. That damn General can be a real asshole and not some of the time, but all of the time. He made his way to the Headquarters and signed out a military vehicle for the trip across town. There was something about this case that just wasn't sitting right with him. Right now there was no real motive that they could find. The only things in common were where they were found, and he was sure that after the coroner looked at the new body, the cause of death would be the same as well. The last girl had been brutally raped. Her vaginal walls were ripped up badly. Which meant the sex had been very rough. Next she was slowly dissected alive. The first thing to be cut off appeared to be the breasts and then she was cut open and all her internal organs were taken out. The brain was even missing. There were no cuts on the head, which led the coroner to believe that it was pulled out through the nose. Something an ancient race use to do to mummify its dead. All that remained in the body, was the heart. That's the only thing left intact. He'd been on murder cases like this before, involving mutilation. But nothing like this.

He got into the car and pulled away. This was going to be one hell of a case and he knew it. Especially with the military now so connected. The General would have the killer's head on a pike. 'Why me?' He thought to himself.

Mustang sat behind his desk as General Hakuro ranted and raved about how they'd better get this killer as soon as possible or he would have all their jobs. Roy just listened as the General verbally abused him. Hawkeye stood next to Roy with the case files in her arms. She'd gathered them for the General to read but that didn't seem like it was going to happen. He was too busy threatening Roy. She honestly felt sorry for him. Even though there were multiple times where she believed Roy deserved to get chewed out but this wasn't his fault. He didn't deserve this for once.

"I swear to god Mustang. You find out who killed my little girl. Or you're finished."

"With all due respect general. We're doing what we can but there just aren't any clues at this moment, at least not any proven yet. Fullmetal is on his way to check on one as we speak."

"That young blood? I don't want some dumb pup trying to find my daughter's killer!"

"General. That young man has proven himself more capable then most the men here. I know he's young, but that doesn't make him ignorant. I would stake my life on him."

"How old is he?" Hakuro persisted.

"Eighteen now."

"He should just have enlisted at that age. Instead the army let that brat in when he was twelve! That's bullshit!" Roy rose from his seat. Anger rising on his face.

"Sir," Hawkeye questioned cautiously, "please settle down."

"Edward has saved more lives than you can count! Military and civilian alike! He's young but that doesn't mean a damn thing! Remember he's saved your life before too. You'd be rotting in the ground right now if it weren't for him! You should pay him a little respect or at least a bit of gratitude!"

Hakuro swung and punched Roy sending him flying to the floor. He in turn quickly got back to his feet and tackled Hakuro to the ground.

"Sir!"

Hearing the commotion, Armstrong and Havoc burst in.

"Sirs!" Armstrong exclaimed as he and Havoc ran to break up the fight. Roy was kicking his ass. He was on top, punching the hell out of Hakuro. Armstrong plucked him off with one arm as Havoc quickly took hold of Hakuro before he could lunge again.

"You're fucked Mustang! I'll have your rank for this!"

"Try it!"

Havoc quickly hustled Hakuro out of the room while Roy still fought to get his hands back on the General again.

"Calm down sir." Armstrong warned.

"He started it! He jumped me!"

"You're acting like a five year old!" Hawkeye burst out; "if you haven't forgotten, there's a murderer out there that need's to be caught! More people could die, while you two fight over stupid shit! We all know how well Edward works. How dependable and caring he is. You should have just let him have his remarks. The higher-ups won't take him off the case. If anyone can solve it it's Edward."

She walked over to him. Fire burning in her eyes. She raised her arm and slapped him. A red handprint appearing on his face.

"Forgive me sir, but you're incompetence may have cost you more than a rank. Use your damn brain more often! Sir."

No one spoke. No one could. Hawkeye had never really spoken up like that before. And the point of it all was that she was right. Armstrong slowly put Roy down. "Am I needed any more?"

"No Major. You can go."

"Sir," He saluted and left. Hakuro was still cursing in the hallway and now he had to go calm him down.

"Why does he get like that? I know he doesn't like me. But what does he have against Ed?"

"You and Ed are the same."

"What?"

"You have become a General at such a young age. Hakuro has always hated you for that. Edward is doing the same thing. He's a Major, and he's working his way up fast. He doesn't like it. He's worked so hard for his position. And you two have hardly worked at all."

"Stupid jackass."

Ed pulled up to the water treatment center and stepped out of the car. He stretched as he looked at the facility. He suddenly would rather be listening to Hughes talk about his daughter right now. This case just reeked problems. A serial killer with no MO other than the fact that it looked like he may have a problem with women.

He stepped inside and asked to talk to the supervisor. Moments later he emerged.

"Hi, I'm Major Edward Elric. I have a few questions for you if you don't mind."

"Sure. What can I help you with?"

"We had a murder recently. Two in fact. We found the second victim this morning. She reeked pretty badly and its been suggested that she may have been thrown into the water here at the plant. Her smell was more of feces, not decay. Could I possibly have a look around."

"Of course."

"Can you show me where you have the outflow water that goes into the river?"

"Of course. This way."

He led him through a door in the back and into a large containment room. Large vats stood in the room, water running into them.

"This is where the water is collected and purified. The area you're looking for is back here."

He led him further back in the large room to a pair of large double doors. They entered and Ed saw a mass flowage of water.

"This is the water that is returned to the river after it's purified."

"How many people work in this area?"

"A group of ten."

"All trust worthy?"

"Of course. All family men who wouldn't hurt a fly. None of them have any sort of criminal record. We do thorough background checks."

"Nevertheless, I'd like the names and addresses of those workers."

"Of course. Anything you need."

"Thank you. Also. As far as you know has anyone been back here that wasn't suppose to be?"

"No. Not that I know of. We have security cameras all over this facility."

"I'll need the security tapes from the last two weeks to check that out."

"Okay. You got it."

"Now you're absolutely sure you don't remember anyone suspicious being back here?"

The man thought for a moment before answering.

"No. I don't think so. We have a military official in here from time to time. He checks to make sure no toxins were placed in the water to poison the town. Although, he's had a visitor the last few weeks."

"Visitor?"

"Yes. Another soldier. A major I believe. Kimbly I think his name was."

"Zolf Kimbly?"

"Yes. That was his name."

'What the hell would he be doing here?' Ed thought to himself.

"Thanks for the information. Now I'll just need those names and addresses and the security tapes and I'll be on my way."

"Alright. Right this way please."

Ed followed him to his office and got what he needed. "Thanks again."

"No problem. I hope you find that asshole."

"Thanks."

Ed walked back to his car and got in. He sat there wondering what in gods' name Kimbly would be doing there. He needed to talk to the general.