Mustang was swearing, and he was on the brink of it himself. They hadn't found the files on Strawberry Fawnson. They were gone, as if by magic. Or possibly… by Alchemy? "Come on! I have an idea of where the files are!" he called, running back to the office.
Falman and Dark looked up at his entrance. "Did you find the files sir?" Dark asked hopefully.
"No, but I bet I know where they are!" Ed snarled. He stalked over to the files and performed some quick Alchemy. As he'd suspected, papers fell out of the folders. "They were trans-muted into the file-folders!" he told Mustang and Al, who were just entering the room. Angrily, he turned to Dark, ready to yell at the soldier. Upon seeing the angry look on Edward's face, much to everyone's surprise, Dark burst into tears.
"Why am I always the one blamed? Is it my heritage? I never do anything, but I'm always the one in the dog-house!" the young man wept. "I don't even know any Alchemy other than water Alchemy!"
"I'm sorry, Dark." Ed said softly.
"Brother, do you think it could've been a self-activating circle with a timer or something?" Al suggested.
"Probably. I mean, it's the only explanation right now." Ed nodded.
"Well, these papers aren't of much help anyway. We'll have to meet her in person." Mustang sighed.
"Can I help?" sniffed Dark.
"Since we were so harsh, yes, I think you'll help us. I'll call her." Mustang nodded, already dialing.
An arrangement was made quickly. After making the call, everyone prepared to go to the suspected's house. Since Mustang apparently knew the way, he drove the car.
Falman knocked on the door. A young woman with short brown hair, and even tan, and rust-colored eyes opened the door. She hugged Falman, but upon seeing Mustang, squealed and tackled him. "Hi! So why're you coming over so late tonight, cutie?" she asked Mustang.
"This is your girlfriend?" asked Al curiously.
"You're the one dating Strawberry? But she's sixteen!" Falman objected.
"Oh, hush, what would you know?" Strawberry retorted, still clinging onto Mustang.
"Well, actually, Strawberry, you're a suspect right now. There's a young woman in red that sounds and looks just like you running around the city." Mustang told her.
"Oh! Was she active tonight? If she was, I've been here all night! Even ask old Lady Stanley next door! She's always complaining that I'm too loud, even when I'm silent!" Strawberry told him. She turned to Ed and Al. "So, who're you're friends? Is this kid your son or something?" she asked curiously.
"Excuse me?" Ed growled. "As if! Like I'd want to be the son of this—"
"No language on the premises." Strawberry said sternly.
"No, Strawberry. The— erm—the smaller one is Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist. The other one is his brother, Alphonse Elric. And this one is Major Dark Jones." Mustang introduced.
"Why don't I go ask the neighbor if she's been here? I'll be right back." Falman said, walking towards the next house.
"Well, while cousin is doing that, would you like to come in?" Strawberry asked cheerfully. Ed found himself strangely drawn to her, like an old friend.
Strawberry led them to her living room. "Would any of you like coffee? Juice? Milk?" she asked sweetly.
"Coffee. Black, please." Dark said softly.
"I'll take some of that berry-juice you made yesterday." Mustang nodded.
"I'll take coffee." Ed grumbled.
"You know, someone as small as yourself should probably lie off of coffee and drink more milk! Coffee stunts your growth while milk promotes it!" Strawberry giggled, turning to Al. "What about you?"
"Uh, no, I'm fine!" Al said quickly.
"Are you sure? It must be awfully hot in that armor!" The girl shrugged. "Suit yourself!"
As she walked into the kitchen, Falman came back inside. "Yeah, the neighbor lady says that Strawberry has been up all night, even had some of her friends over at one point." Falman sighed. "That pretty much cleans her."
There was a gun-shot, a shrill scream, and a crash. All of them ran to the kitchen. Another shot rang out, and the bullet ricocheted off of Al. Strawberry crouched on the floor in the middle of shattered glasses and spilled liquids. Outside the window was the one called Orange. She held a revolver in her hand. She took careful aim and shot again, winging Mustang. "If you guys wanna live, you'll lay off! You can't find us! And if you did, I'd just take up my old profession again and pick you all off one by one!" she yelled.
Then Dark did something very brave and very stupid. He ran at the woman. She fired again and again, but both times, he dodged the bullets. He hurtled out of the window, tackling her. But a concealed knife scored down his arm, causing him to reel backwards. The woman shot again, this time catching Falman's leg.
Strawberry scrabbled over to Falman. "Are you okay? She didn't majorly hurt you, did she?"
The fact that one of the people they were after had just shot at Strawberry eliminated any possibility that she was one of them. Dark was shocked from the score of the knife, his hand gushing blood. He seriously doubted they would fight each other to throw them off.
"I'm so sorry, sirs. I could've captured her…" Dark looked ready to cry again. He was a little over-eager to please, Ed thought, looking at the young man huddled in the dark.
"Don't blame it on yourself, Dark. She surprised us all. But she gave us a big clue. Orange was clearly once an assassin. She only intended to scare us away by wounding us, but you were very bold when you charged her, and very lucky. If you were any slower, you'd be dead now." praised Mustang, helping Strawberry help Falman up.
It was working. While they followed up on Orange's clue, they would be solving more crimes. Terios had told them it would work, but this was working better than expected! She smiled, disguising it as an affectionate smile for her cousin. They were doing it. At this rate, they would find the one Alchemist they were lacking—the Spectrum Alchemist.