CHAPTER 4: WITHIN THE SHADOWS

Resembool – June, 1927

"Yes, that's right." Winry spoke softy into the phone. "Thank you." She finished, and gently rested the handset back on its cradle to hang up. She turned to look behind her, checking to see that the small suitcase was still where she left it with Den sitting beside it. Nothing more to do now I guess. Winry was dressed in a white shirt with blue horizontal stripes and a pink jacket on top. She also donned a pair of tanned khaki slacks that didn't quite reach her ankles and a pair of red sneakers.

"Okay Den, let's get going or we'll be late." Winry knelt down in front of her dog and gave Den a pat on the head, Den responded by licking her hand. Winry smiled, stood back up and picked up the suitcase which was weighted down by some of her cloths and of course, a complete wrench set. She walked out the front door of her home and gave the inside one last glance before closing and locking the door behind her. The two walked down the front steps and headed towards the Resembool train station.

Central – June, 1927

"Well, I'll see you suckers later!" 1st Lieutenant Jean Havoc picked up his coat from the rack and waved goodbye to his compatriots, all the while wearing a happy look on his face.

"Hey, watch who you're calling suckers." 1st Lieutenant Heymans Breda remarked from his side of the desk but Havoc simply ignored him and started towards the office door.

"Where do you think you're going Lieutenant?" Havoc was stopped by the voice of Brigadier General Roy Mustang.

"I'm off duty sir." Havoc replied plainly without looking back. The office door swung open and in walked Major Riza Hawkeye.

"Major, haven't you left already?" Roy asked from behind the newspaper he's reading at his desk. Slacking again. Riza frowned, noticing the huge pile of unsigned papers on Roy's desk.

"I was just about to go sir; I needed to pick up some files." Riza said as she walked to her desk to retrieve several documents.

"In that case, you should take Lieutenant Havoc with you." Roy flatly suggested, and it was enough to get Havoc to turn to face his superior officer, with a very peeved-off look.

"What? I'm off duty!" Havoc exasperated. "And I have a hot date tonight!"

"I wouldn't worry about her Lieutenant. And the Major needs a driver." Roy stayed hidden behind his newspaper and Riza frowned again.

"And just what are you inferring Brigadier General." Havoc gritted his teeth, chomping on the ever-present cigarette clipped between his lips.

"Nothing at all. You two should get going; you don't want to be late." Roy said calmly, again showing no emotion in his voice. Riza sighed and waved for the fuming Lieutenant to follow and they exited the room.

"Looks like the Brigadier General's at it again." 2nd Lieutenant Vato Falman whispered. 2nd Lieutenant Kain Fuery and Breda simply nodded in agreement. Roy finally lowered the newspaper, revealing an evil grin on his face as he smoothly pulled out his notebook, flipped a couple of pages and picked up the phone on his desk. Fuery frowned with the rest of the group.

"Looks like another stolen date for the Brigadier General."

Winry stared out the train window, at the landscape and scenery zooming by as Den napped quietly in the seat beside her. Ever since Gabriel visited her a few weeks back she's felt like someone has been watching her, breathing down her neck. Call it women's intuition but whatever it was, it bugged her enough to have called Major Riza Hawkeye. After giving her a brief explanation over the phone, the Major suggested that she head over to Central where they could meet in person. Winry wasn't thrilled about leaving Resembool, nor did she understand why the Major would ask her to go to Central but it seemed the Major knew something she didn't.

She extended her hand to pat Den as the dog slept peacefully. She had called the Major once more before leaving to let her know when she would arrive. The train begin to slow down as it approached the Central train station where Winry saw Riza waiting on the platform. The two made eye contact, smiled and waved at each other.

"Miss Riza!" Winry greeted the Major as she stepped off the train. "I didn't expect you to be here, I was going to take a cab and find you at headquarters."

"Don't be silly Winry." Riza looked down to see Den. Black Hayate appeared from behind her and the two mutts started to play with each other. Winry also enjoyed the scene. "After what I told the Brigadier General what you said, he ordered me to pick you up."

"Oh? He did?" Winry seemed a little surprise, she hadn't expected this much attention.

"So how have you been? I think it's been a few years since I've seen you." Riza started, smiling cheerfully at her. "You look prettier every time I see you."

"Haha, you look great too Miss Riza." Winry giggled lightly.

"Well we should go, Lieutenant Havoc is waiting." The two walked out of the station followed by their dogs. Havoc was waiting impatient by the car outside.

"Oh, hi Lieutenant, how are you?" Winry greeted Havoc, but he only mumbled something incoherent in response. She noticed the many burnt cigarette buds at his feet.

"Um… what's wrong with him?" Winry asked.

"Don't worry about him." Riza sighed. Havoc finally moved to relieve Winry of her suitcase; he was rather startled at how heavy it was and grunted as he tossed it in the trunk of the car. Havoc jumped in the driver's seat as the two women hopped into the back.

"I was a bit surprised when you called so suddenly." Riza said as the car started to move. "I was able to go through the records for this Gabriel person you mentioned."

"Oh, you didn't have to go to the trouble of..."

"It was no trouble at all." Riza brushed aside. "But none of our records have an investor named Gabriel Mackenzie residing in Central or in this country."

"Are you sure?" Winry's eyes were a little wider now.

"Yes. We checked the records thoroughly." Winry sank further into her seat at hearing that. That bad feeling she's been having for so long just got worst.

"Maybe he's from another country?" Winry suggested, mostly to herself.

"Perhaps, it's a very real possibility." Then Winry remembered something.

"He had red eyes."

"Red eyes?" Riza repeated, and even though the Major herself had red eyes, they were a relatively rare trait.

"Yes, but his are more crimson then yours and he had light skin, he didn't look like an Ishbalan." Riza took several seconds to digest that piece of information.

"Winry." Riza turned to face the younger girl. "Tell me what happened."

The car pulled up in front of the hotel building as the sun started to set on the horizon, giving the sky a beautiful orange glow. Winry, Riza and Den got out the back as Havoc grabbed the suitcase from the trunk.

"Lieutenant Havoc will stay with you as your escort for now." Riza told Winry.

"Ah, you don't have to…"

"Don't start." Riza cut her off. "I just want to make sure you're safe."

"Miss Riza." Winry's voice was barely audible now. "Is there something you're not telling me?" She kept her eyes down and away from the Major. Riza was momentarily caught off guard by Winry's sharp instincts. I've forgotten how good she is at reading people. Riza reached out and put her hand on Winry's shoulder.

"I have to confirm some facts with the Brigadier General first, including what you just told me." Winry raised her head back up. "I'll be back tomorrow morning, than I'll tell you what we know." Riza smiled at her to try to further reassure her.

"Okay." Winry looked a little more relieved. "Thank you." Winry bowed politely, and walked into the hotel with Den. Havoc turned to follow her but was stopped by the Major.

"Lieutenant." She whispered just loud enough for him to hear. "Stay alert and be careful. I'll send some more guards as soon as I can." He gave her a puzzled look.

"Huh? Aren't you going pretty far for someone who probably just has a stalker hounding her?" He asked. "I mean, she's pretty cute, could be somebody has a crush on her." He sounded a little too excited at the word "cute", but she gave him a very serious look.

"Maybe. But you know about the incidents in the city recently."

"Sure. I've been working the cases with the rest of you." He gave her a deadpanned look, almost as if he was insulted. "But they've only involved State Alchemists, not automail mechanics."

"That doesn't mean they couldn't be." Riza got in the car, and all Havoc could do was sigh and shrug because he didn't get it. It's just like that time again, with Scar… but no, this is different. Riza thought to herself. Havoc watched her drive off before following Winry into the hotel.

Gabriel Mackenzie had waited patiently at the restaurant across the street of the hotel for some time now. He had watched Winry arrive in the car, enter the hotel with Havoc and Riza depart. I guess my sources were correct… which means I'll have to pay them. Damn. Gabriel sighed to himself; he scanned the area around him quickly before standing up to cross the street. He paused in front of the hotel and looked up at it for a second before entering the building.

Unbeknownst to him though, two men had been watching him and the hotel intently from the shadows the whole time. When Gabriel walked into the hotel, one of the men turned to the other.

"He's here too, this could be a problem." The other one thought for a moment before answering.

"It doesn't matter, our objective is inside now. We can take care of him if he gets in the way." The first one nodded. "Call the others; tell them to get ready… we're going in tonight."

To Be Continued…