Here's another chapter- I should warn you that tomorrow there may not be an update as I don't know if I'll be able to access the internet. I'll do my best though.

I own nothing.

It was eight thirty in the morning when three police officers showed up on their doorstep to escort the Elrics to the police station for questioning. It was nine when they arrived, and to their surprise, there waiting for them was their father.

"Dad?" asked Al, just as Edward and Envy said, "Old man?"

"Good morning, boys," said Hoenheim, "So you're here too, are you?"

Edward twitched. Alphonse laid a restraining hand on his brother's shoulder before turning to his father once more.

"But why are you here? Are they questioning you about Dante too?"

Hoenheim nodded. "It would seem so." he gave a quick shrug, and was about to say more when they were interrupted by a black-haired police officer.

"The Elric family?" she asked, and they nodded. "I am WPC Ross. I'm afraid you have to be questioned separately, so if Hoenheim Elric would follow me, please?"

Hoenheim rose, and the officer smiled. "Thank you," she said, and led him out of the room.

"Mr Elric, I am Officer Maes Hughes, and these two are officers Riza Hawkeye and Roy Mustang. We'd like to ask you a few questions concerning the recent death of Dante Bolton, please answer them truthfully and as fully as possible."

"Of course," Hoenheim replied. "Ask away, officers."

Maes smiled. "That's great. Alright, first of all, where were you between the first and the eighteenth of august?"

"I was on a camping holiday with my three sons. We had not seen each other for several years, and it was intended as family bonding time..." he smiled sheepishly. "It didn't go particularly well."

"I see." Maes nodded. "And why hadn't you seen your sons in so long?"

Hoenheim's cheery expression faded into one of remorse. "I made a foolish decision," he said. "Officers Mustang and Hawkeye- do you recall the incident with my wife's car? I believe you were the ones who questioned me that time."

Roy nodded. "We do. In fact, we'd like to talk to you about that, but first, the reason you left your family...?"

"Of course. Well, the reason Dante targeted my wife was because of jealousy... you are of course aware that we had a relationship at one time, and Envy is her son? Good. Dante never quite accepted rejection... I was afraid she would target my family again, so I left, hoping that if she thought Trisha was not a threat she would leave her and my sons alone."

"And did she?" asked Riza.

"She did," Hoenheim nodded. "They were not targeted again."

"So why did you return?" asked Maes, eyes glinting behind his glasses.

Again, Hoenheim looked suddenly older than he should, sad and weary. "Because Trisha died." he said softly. "Almost three years ago, now- five years after I left. I only found out recently."

"You weren't worried that your sons would be targeted after your return?"

Hoenheim laughed, but there was not a trace of humour to it. "No. She saw Trisha as a rival for my affections, and once Trisha died, there was no reason to target my family anymore."

Riza nodded. "I see." she glanced down at the notepad on the desk before them. "Would you mind telling us about your previous relationship with Dante?"

Hoenheim nodded. "We dated for a few months before she moved in with me, and she lived with me for the next three years." he sighed, softly. "It was some time into the second year that I began to notice her odd behaviour, but I dismissed it... however, as time passed, she became increasingly possessive and disagreeable. She was jealous and often accused other women of flirting with me... she also often stayed out late, sometimes not coming back for days or even weeks. The third year she lived with me, I heard her talking to a member of her gang over the phone... I did some investigation and found that she was heavily involved with criminals."

He shut his eyes for a moment, and leant back in his chair. "I should've reported her, but I couldn't do it. I didn't want to believe that the woman I'd been dating was... I'm sure you understand. Well," he laughed grimly, "I hope you do, anyway. I confronted her about it, but she didn't seem to understand why I was upset. We could not agree- she would not leave her criminal lie behind her, and I could not condone it. I told her to get out or I would call the police, and she left, fuming. She returned several months later with a baby- our baby." he said, and his face was wistful. "William Daniel Elric."

"William?" asked Maes with a raised eyebrow.

"He had his name legally changed to Envy when he reached eighteen," said Hoenheim with a rueful smile. "He always was rather rebellious in that way. Anyway, she brought him to me, and asked that I take her back... I said no. But the child- well, I couldn't leave him with her. She was a monster in my eyes." he sighed. "I took William in and told her that she wasn't fit to be a mother and to get out of my life. She left, and aside from a few desperate phone calls, I haven't spoken with her since. She did occasionally send gifts to our home for a while, and shortly after Alphonse was born she went as far as vandalising our house... and, well, Trisha's car."

Maes nodded. "Right. Now... according to this, you hired a car recently and didn't return it. Can you tell us why?"

Hoenheim looked sheepish. "Well, I, ah... I lost it, you see."

"You lost it?" Roy raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Hoenheim nodded, still looking embarrassed. "I honestly have no idea how it happened... I mean, I do have a tendency to be absent-minded, but it was the first time I'd lost something like a car."

"And why didn't you tell the hire company what had happened?"

"Well, if you must know... I was embarrassed. I mean, it's rather silly, isn't it? I realise I should've said something, and I did mean to, but I could never quite pluck up the courage. It would be a rather awkward conversation, after all... how do you tell somebody you've lost their car?"

Roy fought the urge to question the man's sanity. "I... see. Well, we're going to have to ask you to contact the hire company when you have the opportunity to, Mr Elric."

"Yes, I understand." he gave them another sheepish smile. "I apologise for the trouble. Do you have any other questions."

Maes looked at him thoughtfully. "Not... not presently, no. We may have to call you in at a later date, though, but for now you can leave."

"Thank you, officers." he said, and rose from his seat. "Is it okay if I wait for my sons in the lobby?"

"Certainly," said Riza briskly. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we'd like to get the rest of these interrogations over with. WPC Ross will guide you out."