The Montana country side was still shrouded in darkness as dawn was yet to break and all was silent within the cabin as the Elric's slept unaware of what was to come. Hohenhiem had slept for a few hours in the same chair he had dozed off in the book he had been reading still on his lap. Alphonse was curled up on his bed wrapped in the covers looking like he was in a cocoon as he slept with his mouth open a tiny bit the sound of his breath faintly audible. Edward had moved so much from restless sleep that his covers were all bunched at the foot of his bed just covering his right foot and his left leg hung over the edge of the bed his hands were laid out on his stomach as his shirt rode up exposing his abdomen, his hair a mess around his head as he snored lightly. The occasional hooting of owls could be heard outside along with the distant howls of wolves as they slept soundly and the gentle night wind moaned it's way through the trees. All was dark except for the white of car headlights that seemed to float their way towards the cabin down the long dirt track that lead from the main road to it. The large police cruiser wound it's way among the tree lined dirt track coming to a stop in front of the cabin and two officers got out making their way onto the porch stopping at the front door knocking on it loudly. Hohenhiem woke a little startled putting the book aside pushing his glasses up and got up walking to the door to open it.
"Hello?".He said still a little asleep.
"Sorry to bother you at this time of the morning sir but are you Mr Hohenhiem Elric?" The slender red haired thirty something year old officer asked.
"Uh yes I am. May I help you?" Hohenhiem looked a bit stunned.
"May we come in sir? We have a matter of some importance to speak about with you." Replied the second officer who was a large partially balding man in his late forties.
"Yes please come in." Hohenhiem gestured for them to enter and closed the door once they had. "What is this all about gentlemen?"
"The owner of this cabin a.." The older officer flipped through his notebook. "..Mr Tom Taylor. He allowed you to stay here is that correct sir?"
"Yes that's right. Tom is an old friend. He let my sons and I stay here for a while. Is there something your not telling me?" Hohenhiem asked.
"Have you had any contact with him since you came to stay here sir?" The younger officer asked.
"Yes my sons call his daughters every day..except last night they couldn't get an answer." Hohenhiem told them.
"And could you please tell us if you are aware of anyone who may want to harm him or his family?" The balding man asked.
"What! Did something happen? Are Tom and the girls alright?" Hohenhiem's gut feeling was that bad news was coming.
Just as he asked this the sound of footsteps could be heard coming towards the living room, slowly shuffling along the wooden floor, Alphonse appeared in the room rubbing his eyes having been woken
by the voices. Edward came up behind him scratching his head and yawning also woken by the talking he had decided to check it out, he stood beside his younger brother looking a bit blearily at his
father.
"Nnmm...what's going on dad?" Edward asked in a half asleep way.
"Yeah why are there police here dad?" Alphonse added.
"Um boys they are here about Tom. They were about to tell me what is happening.." He turned to the officers. "..isn't that right?"
"There has been a serious incident." The older officer said. " Mr Taylor's home was broken into. He and his daughters were attacked."
"Attacked! By who? Are they all unharmed?" Hohenhiem's expression was shock and disbelief.
"UH! NO! Jenny!" Alphonse said shocked.
"Noo..it can't be.." Edward also looked shocked his gaze lowered to the floor his voice concerned. "...Jessy.."
"By whom we do not know yet sir." The younger officer said looking down.
"As to the condition of the victims..." The balding officer sighed placing a hand to his temple. "..Mr Taylor is..deceased."
"..." Edward and Alphonse's mouths hung open when the officer said this.
"My god no.." Hohenhiem lowered his head. "..Tom..my friend. Please officer what of the girls? Are they hurt?"
"..." Both brothers waited with baited breath for the answer.
"They are in shock. The younger daughter is unharmed she only suffered abrasions from the restraints used to tie her hands." The older officer said.
"Poor Jenny.." Alphonse said quietly the worry evident on his face.
"And Jessica?" Hohenhiem pushed for an answer.
"The older sister sustained minor injuries the exact details we are not sure of..but.." The red haired officer said his expression changed to a look of sadness.
"But what?" Hohenhiem pressed him for more.
"Her father died in her arms sir." The young man replied.
"UH!" Edward's eyes were wide with shock.
"Oh no. Jessica you poor girl what a horrible thing to happen to you." Hohenhiem's voice sounded a little choked.
"The local law enforcement guys down there asked us to come by and question you about possible suspects." The older man told him.
"Well I don't know of anyone specific." Hohenhiem replied.
"I see. Well they may want to send someone up here to talk with you in more depth." The young officer told him.
"I see." Hohenhiem put his hand to his chin thinking.
"I'm going down there." Edward declared as his hands clenched into fists.
"Me too brother." Alphonse said.
"Boys I don't think it's a good idea." Hohenhiem looked at them and realized he wasn't going to win this debate. "Fine we will leave today alright?"
The two officers asked a few more questions taking notes, before heading out the door getting into their cruiser starting it up and driving off into the light of day..leaving the Elric's reeling after the shocking news of Tom's death and the attack on the girls. Hohenhiem and the boys then began to pack their things for the trip back to Florida, all the while Hohenhiem couldn't stop thinking about that feeling he had been bothered by the day before as he called for a taxi. Edward and Alphonse hurriedly packed their things as they were eager to get going and they put their bags by the door waiting for their father to finish up. Once done they walked out the door to the waiting taxi Hohenhiem had called loading their bags in the trunk and getting in, Hohenhiem in the front the boys in the back, the taxi pulled away from the cabin slowly heading down the dirt track to the main road. After a half hour drive the taxi pulled up in front of the bus station and Hohenhiem left the boys to gather their bags as he went to purchase the bus tickets, returning a few moments later with them. He and the boys made their way to the bus bay where their bus was parked placed their bags in the luggage compartment under the bus and boarded taking seats close to the front. Hohenhiem sat behind the driver with Edward and Alphonse on the opposite side of the bus by the door, Edward having the window seat, he leant his elbow on the arm rest his chin on his palm and sighed starring out the window as the bus moved out of the bay heading for the highway. As the bus reached the highway joining the traffic the long and tiresome journey began back to Florida, back to the ones they cared so deeply for, unsure of what the situation was knowing they only wanted to get to the girls, knowing they wanted to protect them.
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