For anyone who knows a lot about the British legal system, I'm sorry that I'm probably butchering it in this chapter; I only did minimal research, and I have no idea how different it is from American systems. I just kind of made it up based on what I've seen from American crime TV, so please, just bear with me and take it in stride, thanks! Glad to be back! Thank you for your patience and support!

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Alois sat quietly in the back of Sebastian's fine car, feeling his heart sinking even lower into his gut. His greatest fear had become reality when he heard that Claude had orchestrated Ciel's abduction in order to get him back. He couldn't imagine that Ciel was taking it very well. Despite the weak grin that rose to his lips while thinking about how the young boy would put up a fight, he was actually afraid for his friend. If anyone knew that crossing Claude always ended painfully, it was Alois, and he could not see passionate Ciel walking away without at least one bruise. In the back of his mind was the fear that the others might actually give in to Claude's wishes, and return him. While he knew that this would never happen, the fear was still there, the horror of what Claude would do with him if he did somehow manage to get him back.

The prospect of having to speak to the police again was unsettling. He had had to make a report when he had first come to Angel Wing, first to Will his lawyer, and then to a pair of policemen who came afterwards. They had not been unkind, but he had the sense that they were only there because of duty, not because they really cared about what had been done to him.

"We're here." Sebastian's voice pulled Alois out of his gloomy reverie, and he looked out the window. They were parked outside the station, a rather intimidating stone building. Alois swallowed as they all got out of the car.

"You alright?" Finny asked, placing a reassuring hand on his back as they walked.

"Yea," Alois responded, "just worried, like everyone else."

Finny smiled weakly at him, and then they walked through the station doors. Bard and Sebastian seemed to be unconsciously fighting for the role of leader, as they kept walking in front of each other, speaking over one another at the receptions desk. They both cared about this, they both had something to protect. It was actually rather awkward trying to explain to the man at the desk what they needed to do and why, He had to calm them down a bit despite how they tried to keep their voices down. After a long series of agonizing paperwork, where they each had to make a report, they were finally ushered into a more private room. Moments later a stocky older man entered, holding their reports, but not looking through them. He extended his hand at once to Bard, who was the nearest to him.

"I'm Chief Detective Inspector Henry Burns."

They introduced themselves as he took the time to shake each of their hands individually. Alois and Finny both took note of how he seemed to care not that they were Leonards.

"Now, why don't we all sit down, and you can walk me through it, alright?" He said, something about the quiet authority in his deep voice reassured them all, as if it held a promise that something would be done. They all sat at the conference table that took up most of the room, shifting in the roller chairs to try and get comfortable.

Sebastian and Bard looked at each other, now not sure which one should begin the story. Bard decided to plunge ahead, not knowing where it would lead, but telling as much of the truth as he could. He first recounted briefly Alois' experience, and how he had come to Angel Wing, and how they had made the police aware of Claude Faustus. Henry frowned, flipping though a separate file he had brought and silencing Bard for a moment.

"Yes, we have been investigating him for quite some time now. Smooth as ever, he is, with his expensive lawyers and all. Never been able to directly tie him to any of the dealings we know he's in charge of. Otherwise we would have had in behind bars long before anything happened to this young man." Henry nodded his head toward Alois. "Continue, please."

Bard glanced back at Sebastian, who decided to delicately pick up the reins.

"That's where I come in, sir." He said, trying to sound as calm as possible, "I brought a young lad, a Leonard, to Bard's establishment. He had been living on the streets and I knew it would be good for him."

Well, it wasn't a lie…entirely.

"What was this lad's name?" Henry asked, clicking his pen into readiness and looking up expectantly. Sebastian sighed softly, knowing that there was no getting around it.

"Ciel."

"Ciel what?"

"I actually don't know. He never told me."

"Well, it's not a very common name, I'm sure we'll find him in the database."

As Henry spoke the four of them exchanged worried glances, knowing what would happen when they ran the search.

"So, this Ciel is the one who is missing, correct?" Henry asked. Sebastian took a deep breath and nodded. "And you suspect that Claude Faustus is the one who took him?"

Bard took out the envelope that had been sent to them, and pushed it across the table toward Henry, who promptly flipped it open and looked through the pictures.

"He threatened us with these," Bard stated, "and then sent us a message on that DVD."

At that moment the door opened, and an officer poked her hear inside.

"Henry, a moment?" She asked, glancing at the others in the room.

"Pardon me, gentlemen." Henry said. When he stepped out of the room Finny instantly turned to the two men.

"Why didn't you tell him?" He asked, "I thought we all agreed to-"

"I just wanted to see if there was a way to…keep Ciel's status out of this." Sebastian defended, and Bard nodded his agreement. Finny sat back and crossed his arms, unwilling to speak what the other two had not to the Chief, but unhappy nonetheless. A few moments passed before Henry came back into the room. He looked a little more stern than before, his graying brows drawn in tighter. He sat back down with an air of finality.

"Now, gentlemen," He began, his voice sounding more serious than before, "I think I can help you all much better if you told me the full truth."

The silence that fell could have been time stopping, as hearts pounded to a stop, then began racing again.

"Let me clarify," Henry said, sitting back in his chair, "there is no record of a Ciel ever being registered at Angel Wing Shelter. For that matter, the only Ciel in the London Shelter System has been missing for years from a completely different Shelter. Now, do you care to go back to the beginning and start over?"

Sebastian and Bard both looked like children who had been caught at something naughty. Sebastian was the first to speak.

"The blame is mine. It was an honest mistake at first; I took in a kitten off the street and kept him. I didn't realize that he was a Leonard."

"So this Ciel was a stray." It was not a question, but neither was Henry's tone condemning as he wrote in his notes.

"Yes," Sebastian answered. "He lived with me for weeks before I found out what he really was."

"And when you discovered this, why did you not simply take him to a Shelter?" He nodded at Bard, "Mr. Collins here runs Angel Wing, which is one of the best in all of London. That's convenience if I ever heard it."

"He wasn't ready for that, sir." Finny piped in, unable to keep silent. "He was a runaway to begin with, what good would dragging him back to a Shelter do?"

"Well, it would be following that law." Henry said, as if this was an absolute no-brainer and they had all been stupid for not knowing that. "So, what did you do then?"

Between the three of them, they told the story again with no omissions or lies. When they were finished they watched Henry as if he would determine their fates right there and then. He sat looking thoughtful, his pages full of notes now. Finally he spoke.

"Let's overlook any law-bending for now." He said, making them all relax, "I'm not saying that I can forget about that, mind you, but at the moment Ciel's safety, as well as yours,"-he glanced at Alois-"is crucial, and takes precedence over anything else. So here's what we'll do; we'll review this DVD, and I'll call in a consultant on this case. We take kidnapping very seriously, so rest assured we'll do everything we can. I hope this is the straw that breaks the camel's back; we really want this guy."

"Is there anything more we can do?" Bard asked.

"Sit tight for now, while we take a look at the DVD."

((()))

It was hard to wait, to sit still, to feel completely helpless. Finny had to stand up and pace the room, while Bard rubbed at his forehead and Sebastian tapped the table. Alois was the only one who seemed frozen in place, just waiting.

It was almost an hour later before Henry returned, just opening the door and asking them to follow him. He led them through the bustling office area, where officers were on their phones, working on their desktops, and going about their various jobs. He took them to a room on the far side that had several windows, and was packed full of equipment. A woman sat at a table that was covered with wires and technology that none of them could place, besides the laptop on which she was typing. She stood out amidst the sea of sleek black equipment, her golden hair catching the stray light filtering in from the windows.

She looked up when they entered, removing the giant black headphones that she had been wearing.

"It's all ready, sir." She said to Henry, getting up from the chair.

"What's all this?" Finny asked.

"I'm going to have you call that number at the end of the DVD. We have a tracer program all set up for when you do."

"Which one of us should make the call?" Bard asked.

"That's a hard one to call," Henry admitted, "but seeing as how Ciel addressed Sebastian directly in the video, I think it would be best if Bardroy called. No offense, Sebastian, but I want to try and spare as many emotions as possible right now."

"I understand." Sebastian responded.

"Now, then, sir," The woman said, speaking to Bard, "this is the phone that you will be using; try to keep him talking for as long as you can so that we can try and get a trace on their location."

She handed him a small mobile phone that still had a wire connecting it the laptop on the table.

"He has made his demands clear," Henry said, "but we need to try and negotiate some other way out of this. Just stall him, try and get more information if you can. He may give you more than he means to."

Bard took a deep breath as Henry signaled him to make the call. The numbers were already dialed into the mobile, he just had to press send. The seconds ticked by slowly as the phone rang twice, thrice, four times, and then was answered.

"I've been waiting for this call."

The smooth voice could be heard by all in the room, emitting from the computer speakers. Bard's nervous face hardened at the sound.

"I figured you would be." Bard said evenly. There was a pause on the other end, and Claude said,

"This is not Sebastian. Who is this?"

"Bardroy Collins."

"Ah, well you have no place in this conversation, I wish to speak with Michealis."

"You threatened me and my kids." Bard said with a more than an ounce of anger, "So don't tell me I've no place."

"Fine. Since you refuse to play nicely perhaps I'll just hang up."

Henry quickly gestured for Sebastian to take over the call, which he did.

"Wait, Faustus!"

"I knew you'd come around." Claude said, "now, you better be calling to tell me you want to know where to drop off my pet for me to collect."

"That depends," Sebastian said, "on whether or not you have mistreated Ciel."

"You saw him on the DVD; you know he's alive."

"I want to speak with him."

Sebastian's demand made Henry nod encouragingly at him, while the blonde woman worked on a separate laptop connected to the first, presumably trying to get the trace.

"You are a sly one, aren't you?" Claude asked, "Very well, I'll make you a little deal; I'll let you speak with Ciel if you let me speak with Alois."

Every eye turned to the boy standing in the background, whose face was the picture of shock. Henry gave Sebastian the 'cut' signal, and Sebastian turned back to the phone.

"I don't think I can do that, Faustus."

"Don't play dumb, Michealis, as much as it pains me to admit, you're far too smart for it to suit you. I know you want your precious pet back, but you have to cooperate if we are to get anywhere with this."

Sebastian looked helplessly at Henry, who looked in turn at Alois. The boy took a noticeably deep breath and walked forward, holding out a shaking hand for the mobile. Sebastian clasped his hand gently as he passed it over.

"Hello?" He spoke into the phone quietly.

"There you are, my pet." Claude said, his monotone voice coloring slightly, "I've been looking all over for you for months, you know. You were very naughty to run away from me."

Alois lifted his chin defiantly, as he answered,

"It was the best decision I ever made."

"Is that so?" Claude sounded tense, unused to hearing Alois speak to him that way.

"Yes," Alois confirmed, "anywhere's better than being with you, but these people have been very good to me."

"Before you get too cozy," Claude's voice lowered to a threatening hum, "you should think about Ciel. I know you two are friends. You don't want to see him come to harm, do you?"

Alois gulped as he stayed silent, unable to answer.

"That's what I thought. Now, Alois, before you get all high and mighty, I want you to think about poor Ciel never seeing his Sebastian again, sent somewhere far away in the hands of strangers. It will be all your doing if you do not return to me."

Sebastian snatched the phone from Alois, all but yelling into it,

"That's enough, Faustus! You got your way, now let me speak to Ciel!"

There was a long pause, and Sebastian had to check the phone to be sure the call hadn't been dropped. He cast a look over to the woman, who looked frustrated as she clacked away at the other laptop, shaking her head and biting her lip. A small fumbling sound came through the speakers, and then a small angry voice,

"Sebastian, you bloody git I'm going to kill you!"

A smile broke across Sebastian's face, and he closed his eyes as if the harsh words were the sweetest sound in the world.

"I told you not to go along with him, why on earth did you-"

"Ciel, are you alright?" Sebastian asked, sounding desperate.

"I'm fine, a bit roughed up, but nothing that I can't handle." Ciel answered, sounding like his usual self in spite of the situation. "These guys need a crash course in henchmen training." He added with a little laugh. It was that laugh that worried Sebastian, and told him that Ciel was indeed scared.

"I'm going to get you out of there, Ciel," Sebastian said adamantly, "do you hear me? I'm going to bring you home."

Ciel's voice flared up at once, raining protests,

"If you get shot and die I'll never forgive you! I tried to beg you to stay out of this; I can handle-"

Ciel's voice was muffled as Claude came back on the line,

"That was going nowhere."

"I'm warning you Faustus," Sebastian all but growled, "if I don't get him back safe and sound…"

"But that's all I want," Claude said, "to give him back to you, and have my pet given back to me. Is that so difficult"

"If I said I'd agree, where would I go to make the switch?" Sebastian asked, gesturing to Alois to ensure him that he was in no way considering it, but only trying to gain information. A small chuckle met his inquiry, and Claude said,

"Nice try Michealis, but pathetically transparent. If you do truly decide to do as I ask, give me a call and I'll tell you where-"

"We're in the country, Sebastian! The countr—"

Ciel's voice, and a muffled cry and thump sounded before the line went dead. Sebastian had a murderous look in his eye, and Henry eased the mobile from his hand, patting him on the shoulder.

"Did we get anything, Becky?"

The young woman curled her lip slightly as she shook her head.

"The conversation was long enough," she explained, "but the signal kept bouncing between other towers, tampered with, I'd say. I couldn't get a lock on the location."

"Damn it…" Bard said softly.

"At least Ciel gave us a clue." Finny spoke up, though his voice showed that he was just as worried about what was happening to Ciel right now for speaking the words.