PART TWO

Edward looked up at Major Hughes with his hand upon his hips, a little annoyed. "What does it matter how I got the information?"

"You're protecting your sources?" Maes asked.

Ed nodded. "Yeah, is that a problem in the military?" He really didn't want to expose Franky after he'd been so helpful and welcoming. Why did it matter to Hughes where he'd obtained the information so long as he got it and Anise went down?

Maes shook his head. "No, but Roy's gonna want to know and since you're his kid now he has the right to ask Edward. Just keep that in mind before you blow your top okay?"

Ed closed his mouth and scratched his head. He'd not thought about that. Well maybe he could tell a half truth. Just say it was someone who happened to know what was going on and watching stuff happening in this district. "Yeah so we going or not?"

Maes nodded patting his breast pocket. "Just have to get back up from the police, just in case Ed." He said heading off Ed's protest. "We don't know what's going to be there this evening. Who ever it is she's dealing with could have their own guards and protection. Needless to say it could get pretty ugly. Besides including the police in this will make it easier for us to do what we have too and they'll get some drugs and dealers off the streets."

"Can we get her for what she did to Roy and Lily?" He asked as Al returned from getting dinner.

Maes sighed and adjusted his glasses. "No, not this time Edward. I'm sorry. But keep in mind that Hakuro and the Fuher know exactly what's been going on, on that front and it will probably affect her regardless. And she'd need someone to speak for her in court, you really think Roy's going to stick up for her after all she's done to him and Lily? Roy is exactly the kind of person she'd need to help lesson her sentence and with him not sticking up for her, well it doesn't look good."

Edward smiled a little. "Good, well at least there's that."

"What if you told-"

Ed winced. "No Al," He was still disgusted and uncomfortable about the entire last encounter with Anise. He didn't want to talk about it anymore, didn't want to think about it because it made him ill.

Maes perked a brow. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"No,"

"Brother you promised you tell-"

Ed whirled around on his brother. "No Al, it doesn't matter."

"But it's not right. She's sick!"

Maes caught hold of Edward's shoulder, startling him before he stiffened. "Ed?"

"Fine if you won't I will." Al snapped.

"No, nothing happened!"

"Anise told me she wanted to talk to Ed alone, that it wouldn't take too long and asked me to wait in the dinning room. Then she came on to him."

"What?!" Maes yelped.

"It's true, she wanted to sleep with him but Ed tricked her and tied her up and we left."

Edward stood mortified that his own brother would betray his wishes in this matter. For some reason he just didn't want to… there would be questions and well he wasn't exactly proud of himself and after that encounter, the way she'd looked at him, he still couldn't get the feeling that he'd not washed her off his skin and she'd barely touched him.

He heard Maes shift and take a seat upon one of the beds. "You haven't told Roy yet have you?"

"No, I wanted him too but-"

"No it's good you didn't, at least not yet." Maes breathed. Edward could tell by his tone that he was repulsed. "Edward tell me everything that happened."

"It's nothing," Ed muttered clenching his fist.

"Yes, actually it is. I know you don't want too but I really need you too." The man said gently. "Come on it's just me; you know you can trust me."

Edward struggled for a long time before he began. Maes sat still, didn't ask any questions or push him, just let him take his time. When Edward was finished Maes held out his hand and beckoned him to come.

As soon as Edward was within reach Maes sighed and caught hold of his arms. "After tonight you won't have to worry about her again. She was probably only going after you for information and I'd say you handled it very well. You going to be okay?"

"I will be once I get home." Ed confessed.

Maes ruffled his hair and in turn Edward glared, getting a small chuckle from him. "Well, you can bet she's not getting out of jail now. Don't worry I'll make sure it stays under wraps when I get back to Central with her. I won't let it get out okay?"

Ed nodded and felt a little better. It wasn't so much the fact that Anise had tried to come on to him that he was worried about getting out. It was what he'd done. No wait… maybe it was both. He shouldn't have done it but he'd wanted to get back at her. "'K,"

"Alright, let's get this over with." Maes said and rose from the bed.

Ed could tell he was angry; it was the way he stood, tensely when he was usually more relaxed and at ease.

This seemed all too familiar to Edward, almost in an eerie sort of way. The streets were dark and deserted, quiet except for a few normal sounds of night, crickets, a car passing several streets over, blowing leaves. There were a few overhead lights on inside the warehouse across the street and a few shadows indicating movement and people inside.

Edward was impressed with the police. They were quite organized and had a nice plan even he could agree with made up in a matter of minutes of being informed of what was going on. They were even happy to work with them and Edward had no doubt it was partly because of Hughes's charisma and the way he'd approached them.

Maes looked back at him. "You going to be okay?"

Ed grinned. "I do this all the time."

Maes perked a brow. "Yeah I know, Roy tells me." He sighed and pushed his glasses up. "Look Ed, you're my best friends kid, if anything happened to you-"

"Guess that makes you my uncle now right?" Ed smiled. He liked that notion, Maes being his uncle made what he'd already felt for the man seem more concrete.

Maes blinked a moment then smiled. "Yeah, but Ed, seriously. You have got to be careful in there. We got back up for a reason."

"I know what I'm supposed to do, go in through the window, sneak a peak at how many, what's going on, yada yada yada, and get out."

"Right," Maes replied. "And you're going to do that right?"

"Sure," Ed replied. He turned to Al. "Coming?"

"Right behind you," Al replied and before Maes could say another word they hurried quietly across the street, sticking to the shadows.

Al hoisted Edward up to the window in the back where the lights were off. Luckily, just like his morning it was still unlocked. Anise was either not paranoid enough of just really stupid when it came to the security of her wares. Or maybe she was just too arrogant in thinking that no one would dare steal from her or break in. Either way it was an advantage, not that a lock upon the window would ever stop the Fullmetal Alchemist if he really wanted to get in.

Ed opened the window, looked to make sure the coast was clear and slipped inside, standing upon one of the stacks of large wooden crates. He poked his head back outside and gave his brother the thumbs up, who in turn flashed the flash light once, signaling things were fine so far and the rest of them could move in closer.

"'K, moving on," He whispered and turned to follow the path he'd followed this morning to get down by memory since it was dark. Quietly as he could, he inched toward the door that would lead him into the main room of the warehouse.

He opened it, caught the sound of voices, and slipped out, leaving the door open incase he had to make a run for it. He didn't see the new small boxes sitting on either side of the door as he passed, sticking to the shadows and crates.

As he got closer the voices became more pronounced. He could tell Anise's, Mr. Carter's, Mr. Carter seemed to be arguing with her about something.

"300,000 cens, no more." A man's voice said sternly. Must be one of the buyers as Edward didn't recognize him.

"325,000," Anise haggled.

Ed inched closer, to peak over a line of crates, careful of the large antique vases standing beside them. He could see them. Anise, Mr. Carter who sat in upon a sofa looking over some sort of document, three men in business suits, and another woman, a tall blonde. All of the small group looked respectable but appearances could be deceiving. The four strangers seemed to converse with each other.

"315,000," the blonde woman said.

"Take it Ms. Miller," Mr. Carter said without looking up from his paper. "and because our friends have been so generous with their money shall we throw in a little something extra for their trouble? Something on the side and under the table from our other shipment?"

It was all so civilized, somehow Edward didn't think drug deals went this way, thought things were a little more stressful.

Anise smiled. "I'll have to get that from the back."

"I'll accompany you," One of the men from the other party said. Anise hesitated but Mr. Carter merely nodded and she motioned for him to follow her.

Edward ducked quickly and began to scurry like a mouse, light and quiet like to the back room. He had to get there before they did and signal for Maes to come in. They had what they needed now he just had to do what he was told and get out.

He didn't quite make it to the crates that would lead him up and out before Anise and her friend entered the room and flicked on the light. There was a gasp from Anise and Edward knew he just hadn't hidden himself fast enough. "You little brat! What the hell are you doing in here?" She demanded.

"Who the hell is that?" The man asked sternly.

Ed turned around and scratched his head. "Uh well,"

"This," Anise said venomously as she stalked over to him and caught his arm. "Is my nephew who is supposed to be at home and in bed."

The man didn't seem to believe her. "Nephew? Last we knew you didn't have a nephew."

"He's adopted by my brother in law. Don't worry he's not a threat, are you Edward?" She asked glaring at him.

Ed grinned up at her. "Depends, AL!!!"

From there on out everything was a blur of motion, light, and sound as a fight broke out in the main room, the man with Anise pulled a gun and began shooting. Anise shrieked and scrambled for something in the corner upon a desk, or in the desk he wasn't quite sure, then it seemed like the entire building fell upon him as he dodged bullets to climb up the crates and out the window.

To the people of Ariss, the night's sky from the south end of the city lit up with an orange glow, smoke filled the air, and sirens wailed through the streets.