This story is gradually drawing to a close... over the next few chapters, please do tell me what you think. Is it a good mystery? Does it make sense? Is it predictable? I've been trying hard to make sure it's interesting and not too easy to figure out, and I'd appreciate it if you left me a note telling me how well you think I've done that.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Meeting Sins

The group stepped off the Central Express, breathing the polluted air of the city for the first time since the case had begun. Roy found himself missing the wide open space he had become used to in the tiny village of Rizembul.

He glanced around the station, looking for the friend Maes had said would meet them here. Maes told them he'd be 'hard to miss', but-

Oh.

Hard to miss indeed, though Roy, smiling despite himself as he caught sight of Alex Armstrong's huge form.

"There you are!" Alex beamed, pulling both Maes and Roy into a bear hug at the same time. "And this must be your team- Mr Vato Falman, Mr Kain Fuery, Mr Heymans Breda, Mr Jean Havoc and Ms Riza Hawkeye, I presume?"

"That's right," said Jean, and immediately found his hand in Alex Armstrong's vice-like grip.

"It's a pleasure to meet you!" the huge man boomed.

For a moment, Roy could've sworn he saw the huge man sparkle.

Alex drove them all to the prison. As much as Roy liked the man, he was secretly glad when they arrived at Briggs- too much of Alex Armstrong at a time was exhausting.

"Thank you for the lift, Alex. We really appreciate it."

"It's no problem! My family has a history of-"

"Ah, that's fascinating, really," Roy interrupted hurriedly, "But we don't want to be late to meet your sister."

"Ah," said Alex. "I understand completely. My dear sister can be quite daunting at times. I bid you farewell, then, and good luck with your case!"

The huge man got back into his car- more of a minivan really- and drove away. Roy stared up at the sombre front of the prison with apprehension in his gut.

"Well," he said. "Let's get this over with."

The security checks took over an hour, but finally they were admitted into Olivia Armstrong's inner sanctum. A tall and frankly rather terrifying woman met them.

"Roy Mustang," she said, obviously displeased. "And here I thought I'd finally seen the last of you."

"Hello, Olivia." he said weakly.

"You haven't changed a bit," she said, "unfortunately."

"Well, I think I've changed a little... perhaps we ought to get caught up? A few drinks?"

"I'd drink the likes of you under the table," she said. "And you'd be paying."

"...Then again, perhaps I'm a little short on cash right now."

She snorted. "Coward. Well, Miles here will show you around... I've got work to do."

Miles gave him a curt nod. "This way."

They followed Miles down into the bowels of the ex-fortress. When they reached their destination, eh turned and gave them each an evaluating look.

"These are the visitors' rooms. Wait here, I'll bring them in one by one. You have a maximum of fifteen minutes with each prisoner, and you are only allowed to ask or answer questions pertaining to your case. You are forbidden to touch the prisoners, give the prisoners anything or take anything from the prisoners. Your conversations will be monitored and you will be searched before leaving the building. If you break or bend any of those rules, you'll be arrested."

"We understand," said Roy, trying not to look nervous.

"Alright then," said Miles. "I'll bring them in."

Dante was brought in first- she was a slim woman with dark curly hair and violet eyes. Even dressed in a prison uniform, she managed to convey an air of superiority.

"I'm Roy Mustang," he introduced himself, "And this is Maes Hughes, Riza Hawkeye, Jean Havoc, Vato Falman, Kain Fuery and Heymans Breda. We'd like to ask you a few questions, please, Dante."

"Of course you would," she said silkily. "I'm afraid, Mr Mustang, that I can't guarantee you any answers."

Roy raised an eyebrow briefly. "What do you know about the Elrics?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Dante's face. That made sense, of course- they were the first people to connect her to the Elric murders. However, her expression shifted very quickly from surprised to devious.

"The Elrics? Hm... If you're talking about my relationship with Hoenheim, I think that's rather too personal." she said smugly.

"Relationship?" asked Maes, raising an eyebrow. "What kind of relationship?"

Dante scowled. "We dated, once," she said, unable to keep the bitter edge out of her voice, "Before he married that woman."

"You mean... Trisha Douglas?"

A curt nod.

"I see..." said Maes, contemplatively. "Do the names Edward and Alphonse Elric mean anything to you?"

Her eyes glittered, and her lips curved into the nastiest smirk Roy had seen in a long while. She leant forwards, baiting them a little, and in that moment, Roy knew that she was the one responsible for what had happened.

"No." she answered, leaning backwards again. "Who were they?" she asked innocently.

"Hoenheim and Trisha's sons." Maes said, narrowing his eyes. "Are you sure you don't know about them?"

"Oh, I'm afraid so. I was of the impression that they were childless." she smiled wickedly.

Roy grit his teeth. "Well, what do you know about the Elrics?"

"I know what you think, Roy Mustang... and you're correct. I am responsible. Hoenheim broke a deal with me, and I do not take kindly to such things."

Roy raised his eyebrows. "You admit to it?"

"And why not? My sentence is life. I'm not leaving any time soon. Another crime will make no difference."

Riza spoke up. "What deal did he break?"

Dante stretched languidly, studying the handcuffs on her wrists as she answered. "You know, I believe I've forgotten. How strange."

Roy scowled.

"What else can you tell us?" pressed Riza.

Dante grinned.

"Why, absolutely nothing, Miss Hawkeye."

Dante would answer no more of their questions, so Miles brought in the next gang member- Dante's own son, Envy.

He glared at each of them. "You know I won't tell you anything, right?" he said.

Roy raised an eyebrow. "Nothing? Dante has already told us about your part in what happened at the mansion, you know. About the deal... and about Edward and Alphonse Elric."

Envy narrowed his eyes. "She told you about the brats?"

Jackpot, thought Roy victoriously. "We were of the impression that the Elrics were childless," he said, echoing Dante's words. "Until she mentioned their role in this..."

"The old man should've given them up like he promised," said Envy with a shrug..

Given them up? thought Roy. Was that their deal?

"You can't blame him for wanting to protect his children," said Roy, fishing for more information.

"We wouldn't have hurt them." Envy smirked nastily.

Roy recalled something he'd said ages ago, way back when they'd found the journal.

"What exactly did these people want? Why wouldn't he give it to them?"

They wanted his children.

They wanted to take the Elric brothers and force them to use their alchemy for god only knew what. Hoenheim had pretended to agree, hoping to buy time to run away...

Then the Sins found out.

But they didn't win, he thought. They got arrested for some other crime, and the Elric brothers are still out there. They're alive, they're presumably safe and happy...

"You lost." muttered Roy aloud.

"What?" asked Envy sharply. Roy ignored him.

"Miles? We're ready to leave."

That's it. I know what happened now.

All that remains... are the Elric brothers.