Thanks for the reviews once again. :

I'll try update more. Please have a lookinto my other stories too, thanks!

xxxxx

Finally the doorbell rang and Hohenheim stepped outside into the bright sun.

"So what are you planning to do now? You told me the story on the phone, yet I do not understand how you plan to find him." Roy asked tapping his fingers onto the steering wheel.

"I am not quiet sure myself yet, but I assume paying Mrs Simmons a visit might be a good idea."

Mustang pulled up his car to a pink coloured house. "A daring colour." He commented slamming the door shut.

"I find it quiet ok. Matches her personality. If Mrs. Simmons is the woman that used to be his girlfriend back then that is." Hohenheim retorted placidly and rang the bell.

A dainty black-haired woman opened the door. Her eye-lids modestly dopped as she bowed slightly to welcome them. "I knew you would come hearing of your friend's kidnapping. Welcome Hohenheim." The woman said opening the door widely for them to enter.

"I can not stayfor longs eeing as we run shortontime, so I'd like to ask you about your husband's last whereabouts." Asked Hohenheim gently. Mustang in the meantine had wandered round the room to take a closer look at the ancient things Mr Simmons had stored so neatly in shelves.

The room was drab-coloured and reminded of ancient times.

"In the woods close to the river flowing by here. He liked being out there when it had just rained." Mrs. Simmons strode over to the window and pointed to a little wood far off in the distance to their right.

"Woods, hm?" A faint note of bitterness underlay Roy's words.

"I thank you kindly, Martha. We will do our best to bring your husband back, I promise."

Mrs Simmons pale cheeks finally received some colour. "Thank you."

She led them back to the main entrance and handed each of them a few chocolates. Almost nervous and with trembling hands she handed them over wrapping their fingers tight around them as she put them in the men's palms.

"Take care out there."

Back in the bright sunshine Roy noticed some dark clouds covering the sky. "What was with this lady? She seemed a little out of sorts."

"She might just get spied on like we did. Open the chocolates. I bet there is something useful inside." Hohenheim said in a matter-of-a-fact tone.

"Yes." Gibed the Colonel. "Chocolate."

Hohenheim chuckeled and dangled a small piece of paper in front of his friend's face. "Not only. I suppose it is something she did not tell the police. Knowing we would come she waited for us to appear and hand this piece of information over to us."

"So what does It say?" asked Roy curiously.

"Something about a cave. Geez, those people have their labors everywhere it seems."

"Let's go and check on this hint then." Said Roy heading for the woods. "This is starting to get annoying."

"You can still quit." Said Hohenheim picking up a few leaves.

"I know, but hey, I can not let my friend down. Besides." He pointed over to a cave that had obviously collapsed."This is somewhat interesting. See, the cave, It has collapsed."

"Collapsed? Someone blew it up so it would hide nay evidence. Now to find Mr. Simmons."

"It was said he is buried. So let's watch out for something that looks like freshly digged up soil." Commented Roy and wandered off to the left.

Within half an hour they stumbeled across something that looked freshly digged up and was just covered with a few leaves. "Even though you find dozens of those here, thisonelooks the most suspicious." Hohenheim pointed out taking a quick lookat his watch. "8 more hours to go."

Swiftly Roy pulled out a mini-shovel. Hohenheim chuckling at the sight of this gestured Roy to begin. "Your turn, my friend."

Digging for another half hour the shovel finally hit something solid. "There it is."

Hohenheim brushed some dirt away and stared inside. "Dr. Simmons? It's me, Hohenheim. We will get you out of here, don't worry."

Working on the clasp for a while, a clicking sound implied It was open. A heavy breathing, trembling man stumbeled outside. His usually neatly parted black hair was messy. The sweat-glued hair exposed his bold parts even more.

Holding onto Hohenheim's arm he stumbeled outside. Sweat pearls ran down his forehead.

"Hey Hohenheim." Exclaimed Roy who still stood next to the hole in the ground. "Look at this."

Hohenheim stode over to his friend and took a look into the hole the Colonel had digged. "Looks like a trophy or something."

"A house-trophy, that is." Commented Roy wiping sweat off his forehead.

Hohenheim bent down to pick it up. "I'm sure this is not here by chance." He chuckeled.

Roy turned to the trembling man standing a little further away.

"It's ok now. We safed you. Come with us, we will bring you home." Roy said gently.

----

Stumbling through the woods they finally made it to the main street that led past Dr. Simmons' house.
"We should not bring you home to your wife as of now. It might still be too dangerous. I do not trust this whole thing. It was a little too easy for us to find you." Explained Hohenheim and tugged at the man's sleeve to accompany him. They changed their direction to the right where they had parked their car.

Mr Simmons was still pale. He had dark circles around his eyes and looked tired. As the sunshine met his face his few wrinkles added to the appearance of an old man. He looked worn out and scared. Hohenheim patted his shoulder and smiled. "There is no need to worry anymore. We will take care of you." The smile did not seem to be all this convincing. Simmons just frowned and tried to smile. His smile appeared to be disappointing though.

----

The house of the Elric's got visible in the distance.

"I comprehend you would not really fancy talking about today's incident, but there is no coming round." Explained the Colonel gravely. Puckering up his face, Mr Simmons nodded.

Everyone got out of the car again and entered the house. As expected noone was in the living room.

Hohenheim offered Mr Simmons a seat and took a seat right next. "You'd better not embezzle anything."

The man swallowed and reached for a handkerchief to dry his forehead. "I can not remember much. I sat in my living room watching tv." His voice trembled. Swallowing he continued. "Suddenly someone knocked. I ordered my wife to answer the door." He hesitated. "She did. Two men entered my room. They said they were from my branch. I work for a marketing-company you know." He looked up and faced Hohenheim. His eyes filled with desperation. "It's not unusual for them to visit me from time to time. I remember them telling me to come outside to their car. They said they had soemthing to show me. Some new designs." His head dropped back into his palms and he stared onto the ground. "When I got outside someone grabbed me from behind. Waking up in this coffin was the next I remember."

"Thank you, Mr Simmons." Said Hohenheim gently and patted his friend's shoulder. "I think you can go home now."

"Alright." He replied in a trembling voice. "Thanks again."

----

Mr Simmons stepped outside into the cool air. Hohenheim stopped in the doorframe and watched his friend disappear in the distance. He said walking home by foot might be a good opportunity to clear his head.

Roy's gaze fell onto the blood that still remained on the wall close to the kitchen. "Why don't you wash it off?"

"I wanted it to remind me that I have to find her. I feared other things might consume my time and I neglect my search for her." The blonde sighed.

"Come on, let's wash it off." Retorted Roy placidly and entered the kitchen to get a bucket.

Mr Simmons figure got smaller and smaller in the distance. Suddenly the noise of a shot broke the quiet scene. The figure in the distance collapsed and fell to the ground. A shock wandered through every of his limbs. Roy alarmed by this noise had run onto the porch. Hohenheim grabbed his arm and pulled him back though. "There are people coming already. Let's let them do it."

Roy's eyes met his - his eyes met stern, cold eyes. "He had to die either way. They never let them live. In this riddle noone survived." He hesitated. "So why should he have survived?"

Hohenheim turned around and grabbed the little hous-trophy they found.

"Our next hint?" inquired Mustang.

"Yes."