Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

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Chapter 26 – Putting the pieces together

There was silence in the room. Kate patiently waited for the man to speak. But it seemed that he would force time to pass as slowly as possible. After one more hour Kate finally gave in and sighed, closing the file which was lying in front of him on the table.

It was the file about Monica. After what Natsu told her she tried to see a reaction from the man but it left him completely cold.

''Listen, Mr. Heartfilia. We have been sitting here for 3 hours now... Don't you want to answer some of all the questions I asked you?''

Judo looked away from her. He knew his rights and also that the police had no evidences to burden him. He simply had to wait for his lawyer and than this would be over.

Kate sighed again and leaned back in her seat.

''What about my daughter?''

''She's not here.''

Judo snarled slightly.

''Why can't I see her? She has been kidnapped! I am her father, I have a right to see her!''

Kate stood up and walked to the mirror, leaning against it with her back.

''Mr. Heartfilia, we have supposition that the story about your daughter being kidnapped is to be doubted.''

Now Kate had Judo's full attention. Did they see through it...?

''Why do you think so?''

''Because I saw how the two teenagers acted around each other. There is no way this boy hurt or forced your daughter to anything!''

Kate was a bit surprised to see Judo laugh after she said that.

''And you seriously believe that? I mean, he could have also told her before that she shouldn't say something. And he would then just have to act-''

''Impossible. Even your daughter would have been so smart to tell us the truth since she was in the care of the FBI.''

And then Judo started to get nervous. Did she tell them the truth? Did the FBI believe her?

Judo had no idea how much they knew but Kate already asked him about Monica and all the cases where those girls disappeared. So Lucy must have mentioned something.

The agent never asked him directly if he had something to do with it... But he knew the tricks of those officers. She wanted to intimidate him so much until he would give in. But he wouldn't.

–-o.O.o-

Erza, Gray and Gajeel were sitting on a bench in the park thinking about what happened the last days. It had been two days now since Erza talked to Natsu on the phone. He sounded to be okay, not really stressed or nervous at all. But they all knew better that Natsu and Lucy were in big trouble.

''Guys!'' All three looked up and saw Levy running up to them at an incredible speed. She was out of breath when she reached them and sat down on the ground in front of them.

''L-Levy... What's wrong?'' Erza asked a bit concerned. Levy's face was red due to the fact that she had been running down the whole street just to tell them what she just heard from her mother.

Trying to catch her breath, she started and only a few words came out.

''They... found...FBI...''

Gray and Gajeel both confused leaned forward a bit so they could understand her better.

''Here. Drink something.'' Erza offered the breathless girl some of her water which she gladly took.

''Thanks.''

''So... What?''

Levy took one big gulp from the water and then she sighed heavily.

''They found Lucy and Natsu.''

There was a long silence. At first Levy thought that maybe they didn't believe her. But when she looked up all three jumped at the same time screaming in unison.

''What?!''

Levy looked down on the ground again, she also reacted the same way when her mother told her.

''The FBI found them. They are in Maryland right now.''

''The... The FBI?''

Erza was shocked. Why would the FBI have them? Were they really involved in something that bad?

''I don't know the details... My mom just told me when she heard it on the radio...''

''Natsu this idiot. How could he drag Lucy into this shit?!''

Erza placed a gentle hand on Gray's shoulder.

''You know he would have never done something which would be dangerous to her if it wasn't necessary.''

Gray sighed heavily and turned away, knowing that very well.

''Still... What could be so dangerous that they both were chased by the FBI?''

All four just sat there since no one had any idea. Natsu had a past but so did they. And they all knew that he hadn't been in touch with drugs for a longer time now. And for Lucy's part... She was just to honest and genuine to do bad things.

They all let out a loud sigh of frustration. They heard someone approach them. When they all looked up they faced Rogue.

''Err... Hey.''

First none of them said anything. What did Rogue want from them anyway? But since he didn't make any motion to be gone soon Erza spoke up.

''Hi.''

''This might be strange, but... can I ask you if anyone of you knows where Sting is? He hasn't come home now for one and a half day.''

Gajeel snarled. ''Why should we know where your brother is?''

''I don't know. Maybe one of you saw him...''

''No we didn't.''

Rogue nodded and left.

''That was strange.''

''Kind of.'' Levy replied drily.

But than Gray snapped. ''Wait a moment.''

All three had their attention on Gray who seemed to be really worried now.

''Sting.''

Erza titled her head slightly. ''What's with him?''
''Well, this all started since Natsu took care of Lucy because-''

''Sting threatened her.''

''What if they were running away from Sting?''

It would also make sense. But then Levy thought it over again.

''But it's also connected with Lucy's father somehow...''

''Yeah, we can't ignore that. I mean he even wanted to attend her to another school...''

''But maybe that's another factor.'' Gray started, putting all pieces together.

''What if Lucy didn't want to follow her fathers plan and they had a fight. Lucy would try to do something about it and call a friend – Natsu. He is also concerned because of Sting's tries to get closer to Lucy... And maybe all of it together made them run away.''

Erza listened carefully, understanding why Natsu wouldn't involve them. Since it was connected with Sting it was connected with drugs or anything else. But would the FBI be alerted only for that reason?

''I think there's more behind it.'' She simply stated. Now everyone looked at her.

''I mean... The FBI searched for them in the end. Do you really believe that the government would alert the FBI to search for two teenager who ran away from home...''

''True... But we heard on the radio that they... well were involved with a murderer case.''

Gajeel nodded to the statement of his girlfriend.

''Yeah, but normally only the police would investigate on that...''

''Arrrr... This is so complicated. Why couldn't they just fill us in?''

Gray frustratedly gripped his hair and shook his head. They were friends... Why did Natsu not tell them anything?

''Maybe we should go to Lucy's house and talk with her father...''

Gajeel looked at Levy.

''Do you think that's smart? You remember what happened last time...''

''Oh, right...'' Levy shivered slightly at the thought of the woman who treated them so harshly.

''I think it's a good idea...''

Levy looked at Erza who was already walking in the direction of the street.

''Maybe no one's home.''

The other three caught up fast to her statement.

''Wait! You want to break in?!''

Erza only turned around and laughed.

–-o.O.o-

''You know. I have got time... We can sit here as long as you want without telling me anything. But your wife... I bet she's more talkative than you are.''

Judo only laughed sarcastically.

''My lawyer will be here soon. I don't have to tell you anything. And Miranda won't tell you anything as well.''

And that's when it was enough for Kate. She jumped off her seat and pushed her hands down on the table looking straight into Judo's eyes.

''I know everything about the dirty, little business you're in! Do you really think that Lucy wouldn't just tell us everything she knows! You thought that she's just a little girl and even if she was caught by the police no one would believe her. But your plan didn't include the FBI. Since they killed two people which were related to one of the big drug dealers here in the states we were in charge of this case... And don't think that I would just ignore when a 17 year old girl tells me that she ran away from home because her father wants to sell her off to another country, like he did to so many other girls already! I will investigate on this more and then I swear that I will find the truth and then you're done for!''

Furious, Kate left the room and slammed the door shut. She leaned against it, shaking from her outburst. Normally she was able to control her feelings, but seriously this man pushed it to far.

Her boss was leaving the room next to the investigation room, he wore a serious expression.

''Kate—''
''I know, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted like that.''

''No, that's not what I meant... I just received a call from a cafe in town.''

Now Kate got curious.

''Why do you tell me?''

The man in front of her shifted slightly before he started to speak.

''It's the cafe where Chris and Rebekah were with the teens.''

Kate got nervous. Her boss seemed to be very tense and also he looked a bit sad.

''What happened?''

''They were attacked. The teens have been taken. Chris and Rebekah are both...''

Kate leaned forward a bit, tears in her eyes.

''What... What happened to them?!''

''Rebekah died in the cafe, Chris seemed to make it but he also lost his strength on the way to the hospital. I'm sorry Kate.''

–-

Finally xD

A chapter without Natsu and Lucy! I'm actually kinda proud right now xD (No not really but who cares anyway ^_^)

Soooo, I guess I'll write the next chapter in the evening or tomorrow :3

Until then, stay tuned :*