Like Bradley was the 12th candidate for Fuhrer and Ling was the 12th son of the emperor of Xing, this is the 12th chapter of TO FIND A KILLER and it starts now!
Chapter 12
"On the record," came Henry Douglas' voice from the interrogation room, "were you aware of your father's illegal activities?" From behind the two-way mirror, Mustang watched Selim Bradley, whose front was to him. To the sides of the teenager were Hawkeye and Feury, while Havoc and Breda had joined the chief. Archer was also there with Roy, looking none too pleased; a fact that made Roy more than happy.
"Yes, I was fully aware of these activities," Selim answered with an entirely straight face, almost devoid of emotion. Perhaps most notable was the dignity with which Selim was sitting, as though he had his pride fully intact. Pride…how fitting, Roy thought.
"Was your mother, Mrs. Bradley?" Douglas asked, jotting some notes down on a pad of paper.
"Absolutely not!" It was the most emotion he'd seen since the interrogation-turned-deposition had begun. "My mother is a kind and honest woman. I wouldn't be surprised if all of this broke her heart."
"No need to answer so testily," Douglas responded calmly. "I'm only corroborating your story with other witnesses. Now, to what extent was your involvement with Homunculus Corp and its subsidiaries?"
"At the time, I guess you could say I was closest to a secretary," Selim stated. "A lot of things passed through me."
"A child?" Selim shrugged his shoulders in response to that, as if dismissing the question. "What things in particular?"
"Everything, really. My father was a very busy man, so the easiest way to relate messages to him was through me. It wouldn't be too suspicious that way," Selim answered. Roy folded his shoulders. This was starting to answer a lot of little questions that Mustang had had at the end of the Hughes investigation. "So, as a result, a lot of information passed through me: weapon shipments, money distributions, actionable intel. I started having to file things away in a safety deposit box. Of course, my mother had to sign for me since I was underage."
"Which safety deposit box?" Douglas questioned. Already, Roy could see the DAs notepad completely full on one page.
"Bank of Amestria, Box 3234," he answered. "Almost all the information on Homunculus Corp is in there. No one knew about its contents but me, and since it was solely in my mother's name, it's probably untouched." The chief looked over to Havoc and Breda, jerking his head. They got the message loud and clear. Only mere seconds later, they were gone, leaving Roy with the rather cunning Archer. Both returned to watching the scene in the interrogation room unfold.
"When you say there was information on Homunculus Corp, what sort of information are we talking about?"
"Officer names, employees, operations…you name it, it's there."
"Seems rather gratuitous of you. You realize this sort of information could put your father and yourself away for a very long time, correct?"
Here, Selim sighed before giving his response. "I don't think it'll make much of a difference, honestly. It was bound to happen, so, I figure this cuts out the troublesome middle. As long as my father beats the death penalty, I could care less."
"Then you're willing to hand over this information and testify at these trials as long as I tell the judge and jury that death's off the table in tomorrow's closing arguments."
"Pretty much." That made it practically a done deal. As long as they could keep Selim and the information he had safe, then they'd be able to ferret out any other Homunculus Corp members that were part of the Archer-Dante-Claudio triumvirate plan. That would stall them at the very least. It was certainly a risk, but Roy considered it a calculated one. Some part of it did make the task he'd given to Alphonse a little superfluous, but the chief knew how to hedge his bets. Selim's information may have been vital, but he very much doubted that they could get it and parse through it fast enough to stop the Triumvirate from going on a killing spree.
"Why?" Archer asked. Roy's eyes flitted to Archer, hardly remembering that the man was there amidst his thoughts. "What purpose was there in this?"
"As if I'd tell you," he remarked in response. Archer officially pissed him off to no end. "If you think there's no purpose in all this, why are you bothering to ask?"
"Curiosity," Archer stated simply. "You know the threats at stake here, yet you make a bold move such as this. You've always been a man that's very cloak and dagger, so making a move out in the open is surprising. I'm interested."
"Find another interest," Mustang snapped. "I told you, Archer. I'm coming after you, and you're not stopping me."
"Duly noted," the South PD chief stated dryly. Mustang scowled and both the men looked to be in a standoff, just without weapons. Neither would budge an inch, but eventually Archer gave a scoff and left the room. The chief let him go. There was nothing he could do in the station and he already had Havoc and Breda looking into securing the safety deposit box.
Archer slammed the door to the room loudly while Douglas rose from his chair. He was an enigma, Frank Archer. Never had Roy thought that he was what he was. Sure, he had always disliked him, but that was for being vain and slightly cruel to the criminals he caught. Being a killer was something else entirely. Even now, knowing the truth about him, he still couldn't figure Archer out. Dante and Claudio's motives had made sense, just like Bradley's had, even if they were completely insane. Archer didn't seem to have any motive whatsoever, making him entirely abstract. Then again, Roy thought darkly, that's what makes him the most dangerous of them all.
The door opened and Douglas strode in. "Looks like you've made yourself a deal, Mustang."
"Not my preferred option, but I suppose getting all the other officers will be beneficial," Roy commented.
"Hmm, it still seems strange that he'd choose now, but I think it hardly makes a difference. Death or life in prison; doesn't matter as long as King Bradley isn't on the streets." Douglas whipped his coat back over him. "Do you think you'd be able to secure the contents of that safety deposit box? Selim's testimony lives and dies with that."
"I already have Havoc and Breda on it," he told the district attorney.
"Excellent. I'll have Judge Steiner sign off on a warrant tomorrow," Douglas confirmed.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to send Feury with you and Selim to make sure the both of you get to central safely." Douglas nodded in acceptance of the request, making his way to leave the room. "I just need a quick word with him before you leave." The district attorney didn't hear anything, not that the chief cared. He left the room and walked into the interrogation room.
"Is this what you wanted, detective Mustang?" Selim asked, his hands still cuffed. He saw no need to remove them whatsoever. "I hope you don't mind that I didn't rat out Archer and the president."
"I'm glad you didn't," he said. Selim quirked an eyebrow but said nothing in return. "This way, they'll be able to move forward with their plan. I'd rather have that than them lashing out at us unexpectedly."
"Well, you're far smarter than I thought," Selim admitted. "Then again, you were the man that took down my father."
"Whatever. Feury, you'll be going with Douglas to Central in order to make sure Selim arrives there safely," Roy told the bespectacled detective. Feury nodded and Mustang pulled him close before he could grab hold of Selim. "When that's done, contact Armstrong and meet me at Alphonse's room. Central Gardens, Room 502. I'll join you there tomorrow."
"Sir," he responded to the whispered order. Mustang let go of his subordinate, who then grabbed Selim.
"Hey, Detective Mustang," Selim called before he could leave the room. "Thanks."
Roy was not happy to receive thanks from Selim Bradley.
"You've made quite the audacious moves in the last few hours, sir," Hawkeye commented sternly. "I would say that the information we received this morning spurred you on, but I get the feeling there's more to it. What happened in Central?"
Roy shot her a furtive glance; one that she returned with expectation. Then he walked over and closed the door. "Fullmetal is alive."
"Edward?" she asked, her face hardly breaking out in emotion. "Must have been some plan he made to pull that off."
"Yeah, and now he's being held hostage by the president," Roy chuckled out. "Some plan. Anyway, they're holding his life to force me to behave, but I think it's largely an empty threat. Handing over Selim shows they can't control me. It also helps in finding the ex-Homunculus Corp members before they do."
"I'd say they're planning to kill them, then?"
"Yep. I have Alphonse doing some work for me on that, but I'll need to return to Central to see it done."
"Then, you want me here in East City to keep tabs on Archer."
"At least until I've got some protective detail on those ex-members," Mustang answered, opening the door again. "I think you can trust Ross and Brosh, but don't rely on anyone."
"All right. Give me a call when the situation changes," she finished with. She walked past him and left the room. He was quick to follow her back into the heart of the station where she paused, staring at what he thought was a furious Archer. "Just be careful, sir. Don't die."
"Why do you say it like it's a predetermined thing? And the same goes for you." He squeezed her in a one-armed hug before he left her.
"Sir, we found it!" Havoc called. "Breda got in contact with the manager of the bank. We can have it open by tomorrow morning earliest."
"Good. Douglas asked me to handle it and he's working on getting that warrant," Roy explained to the two of them as swiftly as he could. "Open that box and hand over all the documents to Douglas. We can't waste time going through them, understand?"
"Clear as crystal, chief," Havoc remarked. Like Feury, he was also about to leave before Mustang grabbed him to whisper to him.
"Once you're through with that, meet me at the Central Gardens Hotel, Room 502." If Havoc found this order strange at all, he said nothing of it and retreated silently from the chief. No surprise, considering that Archer was now watching like a hawk. Roy turned his gaze to the man and stared him down. This was a race of time to stop the deadly plan that Archer had laid out. Both men knew it, and Roy's flash of his eyes was like a challenge he issued to the man. There was no doubt he had accepted it.
For now, though, Mustang was in the wrong city.
He had been ruminating on it in the back of his mind since leaving the Presidential Estate. Something big was about to go down in Central City. Of that, he was sure. Why else would the Triumvirate insist on him staying put in East City? No, staying in East City would be a poor move for the moment. He knew he'd have to go to Central City, since two of the three members of the Triumvirate were there. It also meant that he could get whatever information Alphonse had found.
Roy grabbed his coat again and left for the outside. Three-fourths of his team were on the way to Central already, and he got into his car reflecting on that. Of course, Archer's relatively empty threat still hung in the air, but Roy's mind was already wheeling with the potential ways to negate that threat. First things first, though, he thought and he drove the road to Central for what he hoped was the final time in this case, stopping for a small nap on the way.
The drive was so familiar that he couldn't help but think about all the different ways he could play this situation. No clear answer came to him, and more often than not, he'd worry over Riza being alone in the lion's den with Archer. It had been no different than with Bradley moving her under his direct purview. Only this time it was by choice. Then he'd remind himself that this was Hawkeye he was thinking about and his fears were assuaged.
It was still dark when he arrived in Central, though the tint of dawn was on the horizon. Everything at the station had taken surprisingly longer than he thought (or his nap was too long). The city's main roads had changed since yesterday, and for a moment he wondered why. Then he remembered: the Presidential Parade was going to take place. That thought brought nothing but a scowl to his face. It was just a farce, that whole thing. That wicked woman didn't deserve a parade to honor her, and Roy was going to make sure to shut her down. For Hughes. For Ed…And for himself.
The East City PD chief weaved his way through the half-completed decorations towards the hotel. He parked and slipped inside by the time the sun was finally rising. Not a single member of the staff stopped him as he rode the silent elevator to Al's room and knocked on it. Al let him in, and he wasn't alone; the rest of his team was already there, except for Havoc, who was obviously at the bank.
"We're here boss, but Alphonse hasn't told us anything," Breda commented. Mustang lazily took his position against the couch and folded his arms.
"Okay then, Fullmetal's alive." His statement was met with shocked responses (or in Armstrong's case, a rather volatile one). Rather, it would have been met with those if he hadn't cut them all off with his hand. "Right now, he's held hostage at the Presidential Estate."
"Unfathomable…" Armstrong spat. "The others filled me in and I find it all rather sickening."
"We all do," Breda said. "Makes me glad we found out late at night instead of just after eating."
"Yes, well, Ed might be a hostage, but he's not out of the game yet," Mustang said, trying to divert the conversation back on course. "He gave us a message to tell us what the next part of the plan is. They're going to try and kill ex-members of Homunculus Corp."
"Why?" Feury asked. Mustang really wished that he had an answer for that. Instead, he could do nothing but shrug.
"Al, were you able to find anything?" he asked of Ed's younger brother.
"I have a list, but it's not very big," Al said, grabbing a notepad from on the coffee table. Next to it was a laptop that still had some articles on it. "I'm not sure if these people will be on their own hit list, but it was the best I could do in the time that I had."
"Whatever it is, we'll make it work."
"Are protecting scumbags, boss?" Breda asked with a tired sigh. "Not what I expected."
"I'd like them to rot in a jail cell as well, but until Selim's evidence and testimony can put them all safely behind bars, we have to protect them in order to ensure the president's plan, whatever it is, fails."
"So that's what we brought him in for!" Feury realized. He looked pleased with himself for figuring it out. Armstrong, on the other hand, simply looked concerned.
"Sir, I'm not exactly sure I can protect them," he said with the most serious face Roy had seen the big guy wear in a long time.
"Don't tell me it's your moral ethics, Armstrong," Breda said in exasperation. "None of us want to do this, either."
"It's not that," Armstrong protested loudly. "It's just…I'm responsible for security at the parade tomorrow. The president would notice if I went missing, and my intuition passed through the Armstrong family for generations tells me that she'd be suspicious. She seems very shrewd."
"Which is exactly why you're going to be keeping as close an eye as you can on her," Roy instructed him. At the same moment, a different thought came to him. "Armstrong, how much control do you have over parade security?"
"Almost the entire security force answers to me. It surprised me, honestly. Even my dear sister acknowledged it as an accomplishment."
"So, should we find the evidence to arrest the president…?" He let his question hang, waiting for Armstrong's answer. Armstrong sharply nodded.
"Yes, I could direct them to do so. I could even move the crowds and my forces for safety issues. That's the kind of authority I've been given." That tidbit was both interesting and strange. Mostly strange. Giving a detective such power, even at the commissioner's request, struck Roy as odd. Maybe it was just the chief's newfound tendency to leap at shadows that looked like Dante or Archer, but he was starting to be worried that Armstrong had been called away for more than to cripple his investigative force.
"All right. For now, just keep tabs on her. The rest of us need to look into this list and offer our services." Both Breda and Feury nodded as the chief finally took the list from Al. For a brief moment, Roy contemplated informing them about Claudio's sudden resurrection, but determined that he didn't want to complicate matters. His decision made, he unfolded the list and looked at the names.
Klemin, Edison…Well, those names were hardly a surprise. Other names were there as well, most of them being the names of ex-officers, but there were some others that weren't quite that. Deitlinde Eckhart, CEO of Eckhart Aeronautic Industries; the famous nuclear physicist Karl Haushofer, and a well known colonel called Hess. The very sight of these names on this piece of paper were enough to make Roy's stomach churn. Not that he was surprised. Uncovering Blue Rose Tech's involvement with Homunculus Corp was like opening the lid on a whole new batch of pandemonium. It wasn't just police officers and criminals but other well-known figures. The DA's office would have a field day when Selim's evidence was released.
Thinking of the DA made Roy realize that coverage of the trial was to start soon. He hastily grabbed the remote that was also next to the laptop and turned the TV on. Clearly, Al hadn't been watching the news, judging by the movie on the screen, so Roy turned to one quickly. The courtroom appeared on the screen, an air of solemnity filling it as well as the hotel room. All five of them found their gazes transfixed on the screen. Mustang absentmindedly stroked his chin while watching Douglas speaking with the judge. He was keeping his end of the deal. Judge Steiner nodded a few times while signing a paper that he handed to Douglas. The DA then took it and handed it off to a young officer before taking a seat. The jury filed in shortly after that.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Steiner," called the bailiff, despite the fact that Judge Steiner was already there. Everyone complied anyway before sitting. Judge Steiner turned to the jury.
"Today, both the prosecution and defense will give its closing arguments. However, given developments, keep a few changes in mind," he said. The courtroom was sent all atwitter, judging from the sound. "As you head into deliberations, know that you are now convicting King Bradley to life in prison. Nothing else, including the death penalty."
That practically sent the courtroom into a seething outrage. The camera focused on Bradley, who was showing no emotion. Roy had to hand it to him; Bradley had one hell of a poker face. The judge suddenly banged his gavel, silencing the court without a word. He cleared his throat loudly for good measure. "Prosecution, if you will give your closing arguments for the case People versus Bradley."
"Of course," Douglas stated, almost as if he were born ready. He stood and walked over to look the jury in the eye. "Members of the jury, my esteemed fellow citizens, is King Bradley a monster? A man? A god? We've seen him portrayed as any number of things during the course of this trial, but the one thing you've consistently seen, the one thing that is true beyond a doubt, is that King Bradley is a criminal underneath all those other monikers. In fact, as his name suggests, he is the king of all criminals. You have been provided with testimony of his villainous acts. He built an empire of criminals; he cut off a man's arm; he ordered the deaths of fellow police officers. On top of this, he committed heinous acts of violence contrary to the orders of the very woman who hired him to keep our streets safe!"
Roy couldn't listen to the lies that Douglas didn't know he was spouting. He walked away for a moment. For some reason, Al followed, looking at him with concern. Seeing the younger Elric brother sparked something in Roy, setting the gears in his head to turn. He wasn't sure what it was, but he noticed that Alphonse hardly looked like his father. Edward did, however, and to Roy it was like an inspiration that somehow this was the bridge to getting him released. Yes, releasing Ed and ending that useless threat was best. Combining the two brothers' minds was even better. "Alphonse, when are you available today?"
"Uh…all day…We don't have access to the hospital lab until this evening," Al told him. "I mean, we're past the testing stage and we've got a strong prototype medicine, so we're running final tests today."
"Great, then I can count on you to be here." Mustang didn't care about Alphonse's medicine right now. He cared about doing everything he could to upset the Triumvirate's plan. Roy turned back to the trial coverage, where Douglas was finishing up.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I implore you," he continued, "keep our streets safe, for your families. We should all be able to trust a police officer that comes to our door, but as long as Bradley is out there, we cannot. I ask you to consider that and find King Bradley guilty." Breda nabbed the remote and clicked the TV off.
"What a load of crap!" he exclaimed. "I know they don't know the truth, but I can't stand hearing it."
"Yeah," Roy scoffed, understanding fully. "Well, it's time to get to work boys."
"I'll take Haushofer," Breda said without hesitation.
"I guess I'll take Eckhart, then," Feury said, actually looking a little disappointed.
"Hess seems like he won't be a problem, considering he's in the army," Roy mused, thinking of all the remaining people on the list. "I suppose it would be best to offer my personal services to Klemin."
"And I'll keep a close eye on the president," Armstrong announced. He didn't sound too sure of himself, which was unlike him. Mustang looked at him and noticed him deep in thought. "Would it be all right if I got in touch with Commissioner Grumman and had him send trustworthy officers to protect the other names on the list?"
"That's fine, but be discreet," he acknowledged. "Everyone, be ready to answer your phones at any moment. I don't know how close we are to endgame and we need to be ready."
"Yes, sir!" He even heard Al's voice in the mix. Then it was time for them to leave the room one by one, with Armstrong's rather conspicuous form going first. The chief was the last to leave, but before he did, he turned to Al.
"Wait on standby, Al," he said, a hint of a smile on his face. "I'm thinking of a way to reunite you with your brother very soon."
"Good luck, then, Mr. Mustang," he responded with a handshake and a smile. Roy nodded and left the room.
Too many ideas were swirling in his head, mostly around Ed and freeing him. However, protecting the ex-Homunculus Corp members came first. Knowing this, Roy set off for the courthouse, where he knew Klemin (and Edison, for that matter) would be. He checked his watch as he drove and saw that it was nearly ten o'clock in the morning already. They had taken a long time figuring things out, but it also meant he would hopefully be able to get a hold of Klemin. He slightly underestimated the mid-morning Central City traffic, resulting in his trip to the courthouse taking extra time.
The Central City courthouse was packed, and there was no real surprise. The jury for the biggest case of the year was heading into deliberations. Of course, there were going to be plenty of people, mostly reporters, jockeying for answers. Mustang himself was nearly subject to it when a reporter saw him entering. A group of them tried to pester him with questions but he just held up his badge and told them "scram!" They scattered like the wind in time for Douglas to walk through and offer a nod, obviously heading to his office. Havoc was there, too, having just arrived from dropping off the contents of the safety deposit box, his phone hanging loosely from his hand.
"Chief! You're here!" he said, pocketing his phone agitatedly.
"Everything taken care of?" Roy asked. Havoc nodded breathlessly. Klemin made his appearance then and Roy instantly made to approach him. "Counselor Klemin!"
"Roy Mustang," he spat angrily. He looked exhausted, too. No doubt it was a result of fighting a losing battle. "I'm afraid I don't have time for you. I'm waiting on the verdict of the biggest case in my career."
"I know that, sir," he interrupted. It took all the willpower he had not to smack the smug and incompetent lawyer in the face. "I understand, but we believe there is a threat against your life."
"A threat?" Klemin asked disbelievingly. That was before he threw his head back and laughed. "Is this some ridiculous ploy of yours to make me look like some kind of silly laughingstock. I won't fall for it, Mustang."
"I'm not that petty." Roy didn't point out that he already was a silly laughingstock. "You were Bradley's lawyer and I assume your firm was the lawyer for Homunculus Corp."
"I had no knowledge of Bradley's activities!" Klemin snapped, as if Roy had some nerve suggesting such a thing in public.
"Whether you did or didn't is immaterial. If you have even the slightest connec-"
"I don't have time for this. I'm late for a lunch meeting with an associate," Klemin said, brushing past Roy without a care in the world. "I don't want your 'protection' and I don't need it, so good day!"
He was gone from sight far too quickly, leaving Roy standing there with a frown. Havoc whistled lowly from next to him. "That could have gone better, chief."
"He's waiting on a verdict and he decides to go to lunch," Roy said with a scowl. "He's an idiot."
"What now, then? I think he'd probably sue you for harassment if you followed him."
"I don't have time for this," Mustang growled, running a hand through his hair restlessly. "Havoc, stay here and keep an eye on both Klemin and Edison when he returns."
"You got it, chief," Havoc responded positively. "What are you going to be doing, though?"
"Making my next move," he announced simply. Havoc just accepted it and let the matter go. Roy clapped him on the back and left the courthouse. As he was leaving, his phone rang. But it wasn't his burner phone, and the call was from Archer. "What do you want Archer?"
"Back off, Mustang," Archer warned. Roy rolled his eyes at the empty threat. "You cannot stop what is about to happen, and if you keep trying to stop it, I will take drastic measures."
"Like killing Ed? I already told you-"
"How about his wife?" This gave Roy pause, his hand frozen on his car door handle.
"You sick bastard…" Roy growled, almost sounding completely feral. "She's pregnant."
"I could care less, if it gets you to behave." Mustang's hand clenched, almost hurting from the pressure. "Like I said, back off of this crusade." Then he hung up without letting Roy get in another word. Roy was past words, though. Archer had just threatened to kill a pregnant woman, not only that, but one who was pregnant to term. If he hadn't been considered a wicked, evil psychopath before, he certainly was now.
Roy shoved that phone in his pocket and pulled out his burner, dialing Hawkeye's own burner. He didn't even wait for her to say her name. "Get over to the Elrics."
"Is something wrong?" Hawkeye asked. Judging from the sound, she was already on the move.
"Archer just made a threat against Winry's life. I need you to protect her," he said as he wrenched his door open. This action and his dirty scowl were attracting a few looks now. "I'm not releasing Ed only for him to find his wife and unborn child dead."
"Understood, sir." She ended the call before him. Roy slid into his seat and tightly, angrily, grabbed his steering wheel. It was only when he actually felt his nails digging into his skin that he realized he needed to calm down. Roy closed his eyes and heaved in deep breaths, allowing his body to relax. Once it did, he felt a renewed determination fill him. Archer's threat had done it; now more than ever, he needed to get Ed released. He needed all the info he could get, and Ed was the key.
And Hohenheim was the key to Ed's freedom.
It was a risky gambit. He knew that as he set off for the University, but if he could make any plays, he had to do it now. Roy weaved his way through the glut of traffic in Central City. It was far more congested than it had been just yesterday and it took the chief some time to figure out why. Finally, though, he remembered yet again the parade and all the people flocking to Central City to watch it. The very thought of it made him scoff as he pulled into the University and went straight for the President's Office.
"Excuse me, sir, do you have an appointment?" the secretary called as he breezed in. Obviously, she didn't recognize him from yesterday. "Sir, please! Mr. Hohenheim is in a meeting."
"And I don't care," Roy snapped, flashing his badge to her. She clammed up and stood aside nervously. Mustang nodded and slammed the double doors to Hohenheim's office open. Hohenheim instantly looked up in shock at the intrusion, and his guest whipped around indignantly.
"Excuse me! You are interrupting a very important meeting!" the man said with a puffed up chest.
"You're excused," Roy said bluntly as he walked through the office.
"Wh-what? Now, see here-" Mustang lazily held up his badge and the man's eyes widened.
"Leave!" he barked. The man scrambled for the exit, hastily grabbing at his toupee. He thankfully closed the door on his way out. "Mr. Hohenheim, I'm sorry for the intrusion, but I felt time was of the essence."
"It's fine," Hohenheim expressed as he stood. "The man's a sniveling worm and the meeting was far from pleasant anyway. Now, what was it you needed me for?"
"Ed's alive." It was a very simple statement, but one that was all too profound. Hohenheim practically collapsed back into his chair, the shock evident on his face. "Alphonse knows, but no one else in your family does."
"Unbelievable…" Hohenheim breathed. "I'm so grateful; I don't know what else to think. But…why tell me before Winry?"
"Ed instructed me before we parted to not tell anyone but Al," he explained to the father. "The situation's changed, though, and I felt that coming to you was the best option."
"Situation? Is Edward all right?" It was strange, but in that moment, he had gone from professional president to concerned father and the change was noticeable.
"For now, he's technically fine. He just can't go anywhere," Roy explained. "Dante's holding him hostage to make me behave. I believe there's more to it than that, but most importantly, by doing so, she's keeping Ed and I from pooling information to stop her."
"I see…" Hohenheim expressed with a sigh. "I can understand why you thought to come to me." He gave a pause, recovering from his shock, before he stood slowly. "You've confirmed all this with your own eyes?"
"I spoke with him…and with Dante," Roy said sourly. Hohenheim nodded to himself.
"Well, then let's get Edward out, shall we?"
"So, you can do that?" Roy asked, grateful that his hunch had been right. "How?"
"I may not be president of the nation, but I have a few strings I can pull," Hohenheim answered, grabbing his coat off of a coat rack. "Believe it or not, I'm quite influential in those upper social circles, and I'm always welcome to drop by unannounced at the Presidential Estate."
"Right now, I'm very grateful that you're Ed's father."
"You know, so am I," he said with a chuckle. The chief followed after Hohenheim, who paused only briefly to leave a note with his secretary on where he was going. The two then made their way out to Roy's car and he allowed Ed's father to take the wheel. In a matter of seconds, they were trundling along to the Presidential Estate. A slight fear actually gripped Roy as they reached the gate, wondering if security would let them through. Turned out that there was no need to worry.
"Hey, boys, is Dante in?" Hohenheim asked casually of the security guards. Roy glanced at them through his car windows, noting with relief that neither Baldy nor Strangle Man were among them.
"Oh, yes, Mr. Hohenheim, the Madam President is taking her lunch at the estate today," one of them said. "You can just go on through. I'm sure she'd love to see you."
"Thanks, boys," Hohenheim said with a wave. The gates before them rattled open and he drove right on in with a grin. "Easy as pie, right? Let's get Edward." Mustang didn't particularly share the man's confidence. He felt a little naked as he stepped out onto the lawn, feeling like one of Dante's men would pick him up and throw him in a dungeon at any moment. Hohenheim gave him a reassuring grin as the two strode up to the front door and it opened on cue. Obviously, the guards had radioed ahead. Roy made sure to stay behind the older man for the time being.
"Van, what a surprise!" called Dante from a nearby dining room. She sounded younger, or maybe it was supposed to be flirty. It made Mustang silently blanch, either way. "I had no idea you'd be stopping by today!"
"Neither did I until I learned my son was alive," he said coldly. She froze and peered at him suspiciously. Mustang took that moment to step out and when she saw him, she scowled. "I don't need your words to tell me it's true."
"I wouldn't believe every rumor you hear, Van," she said. Her tone was now matching his.
"Shut up, Dante. I want my son."
"I'm afraid that's out of the question for the foreseeable future," she said, all business. Hohenheim took a furious step forward and she actually flinched.
"Release my son, Dante," he said warningly. Dante looked a little conflicted from the brief moment that Roy saw her mask break. "If you don't, I'll have to go to the press. You know how they love a good story from someone like me. Your career would be on the rocks all over again."
"You would really do that?" Hohenheim gave his silence as an answer. Dante sighed loudly. "Very well, Hohenheim. For you, I'll release Edward. I can't afford another scandal right now. Just don't expect any more favors from me in the future."
"Last I checked, I granted you the favors." Dante turned her nose up at him, but there was a noticeable blush on her cheeks as she whipped towards her butler.
"Grams! Fetch Mr. Elric for me." She left right away. Roy and Hohenheim waited silently in the hall. That had been surprisingly easy to the chief. Dante had barely looked reluctant to let Ed go. He was sure something was up with that, but all that mattered was that he accomplished his goal. It was all the more confirmed when Ed walked down the stairs freely with a smirk. Hohenheim was the first to greet him with a big hug.
"Okay…this is weird…and kinda creepy," Ed commented.
"I'm just glad you're alive," Hohenheim breathed as he drew back. "No more stunts like that, understood? Now let's get out of here."
"Since when did you become such an overprotective father?" Ed questioned with amusement. "Well, I'm glad to get out of here myself. Nice job, Mustang, going to my dad."
"Think they'll let us leave so easily?" Mustang asked, ignoring Ed's sarcastic remark.
"Dante won't try anything," Hohenheim responded as he led them all out of the building. "She knows I'm not stupid enough to come here without telling anyone." That logic was good enough for Roy.
None of the men said anything on the way back to the car, or the University for that matter. Mustang was the one driving through this broody silence since it seemed neither father nor son had anything to say. From his rearview mirror, the chief could see that Ed looked unpleased (and who wouldn't), but there was an absolute fire in his eyes. All too soon, they had arrived back at the University and Hohenheim started to get out.
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Hohenheim," Roy said to him. He offered a smile in return.
"You boys be careful," he said with a particularly insistent look to Ed. The younger man shrugged with a chuckle. "I'd rather not hear that you died again."
"Relax, dad, I'll be fine," Ed passed off. "You just go back to your work. Lord Detective and I will take it from here."
"Very well," Hohenheim said with a sigh. He then closed the door and walked away, his job complete. Ed clambered from the back seat of the car and into the front.
"So, what's next?" he asked. Roy turned the car around and went back towards the hotel.
"You're going to tell me any other bright ideas you've had, but first we have to get somewhere safer."
"And here I thought you just wanted to see my face again," Ed snarked. Roy tossed him a dirty look.
"Don't flatter yourself, Fullmetal," he told the kid. "By the way, we got your message and acted on it. Selim was a big help. Did you know-"
"I had no idea about Selim," Ed confessed, "but I am glad that you got my message. Now, we just have to work on dismantling their plan."
"Do you even know what the plan is?" Roy asked, hoping for a positive answer, but not expecting it.
"Not a clue, but I know it's soon and it's in Central. That's why they wanted to keep you away," Ed said, reclining back in his car seat. "I figured it out once I saw how focused the attacks were on the South. We'd start assuming everything was down there instead of the place we weren't looking at."
"Nothing new to me, then. Great…Where do we start now?" Roy asked with a frown. Ed reached over and thumped him on the back.
"Well, we'll figure it out…and why are we going to a hotel?" The chief refused to answer him as he came to a park and exited the car. Ed followed, utterly bewildered at their choice of where to stop. It didn't stop him from following Roy inside. "Hey, Mustang, thanks for getting me out of that hellhole."
"Who are you? Fullmetal never thanks me, he's far too small a person for that."
"Call me small one more time and I'll thank you with my fist. I'm just glad to be out here and kicking ass, that's all. So just accept my damn gratitude." Roy chuckled his acceptance and the two boarded the hotel elevator for the fifth floor. Ed still looked lost, but when the door to room 502 opened, he finally understood.
"Brother!" Al yelled, flying from the room and gripping Ed so tightly he looked liable to pop. "Brother, you really are alive! I'm so glad you're alive!"
"Crushing…me…Al…" Ed wheezed out. Al refused to let go, earning a laugh from Roy and an attempted middle finger from Ed.
"I'm sorry, brother…it's…I thought you were dead," Al confessed, drawing away with tears.
"Well, I'm not yet," Ed laughed, leading them into the room. He flopped onto the couch instantly. "Gotta say, I didn't expect the Old Hag to let me go so easily, considering I was your deterrent."
"Me, too, but she was in a PR nightmare with the situation your father presented. I guess she saw little value in keeping you there," Mustang said. Ed shrugged like it didn't matter and got up to raid the mini-fridge. Roy's burner phone rang and he answered it.
"Hey, chief, jury's already reached a verdict," the detective said frantically.
"That was incredibly fast," Mustang responded, completely taken aback.
"Yeah…well, they plan to read the verdict at five," Havoc informed him. "The lawyers are gathering now, but Klemin's not here. It looks like Edison's stepped in." Roy closed his eyes at this.
"Son of a bitch!" he screamed suddenly, calling the brothers' attention to him. "I'm coming to the courthouse. Wait for me." Havoc understood instantly. After all, you didn't need to be a genius to realize just where Klemin had disappeared to. Roy just hoped he was very, very, wrong.
Author's Note: Not much to say this time around, though it's nice to write Roy and Ed as a team again. Anyway, why did no one review last time? Okay, some of you did…but compared to chapter 10 it was like everything dried up. Oh well. I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you in four weeks. Until then, Review, and Dare to Be Silly.