The Crimes

The night after Alfred had come home for the summer break was the night everyone in Hearth came to misplace something. That would not have been too unusual. In fact, no one would have noticed or mentioned it at all.

Kat was used to things going missing. Arthur tended to blame those sorts of things on Maddox and if he did not need whatever it was he did not mention it until he did. Lovino blamed it on everyone – especially Ludwig and especially if Feliciano was telling him not to. Ivan would blame Natalia, though not out loud. Ludwig would give his brother a warning and Gilbert would complain to Elizaveta, who would repeat the sentiment.

But two people would blame no one but a real thief.

Tino's computer was missing, as was the entire composition of Eduard's herbal shelf. Not that he did much cooking... but still!

Eduard would not stand for it. Nor would Berwald.

"I didn't do it," Alfred said in the morning when both of them had come to see him. "And if you see my toothbrush while you're looking, I don't really care. I was going to buy a new one anyway."

Which left them wondering who in Hearth would bother taking an old computer and a bunch of herbs. Eduard considered asking Natalia if she had seen anyone sneaking around his house, but decided against it. Plus, if she had anything to do with it, he would rather not know.

Berwald, on the other hand, continued to have plenty of suspects. He went down the list. Maddox and Gilbert were at the top, along with his brother.

"You're joking right? Tell me you're joking," Matthias said. "Why would I take his computer? That's really stupid."

"Y're really stupid."

"Take that back!"

"Will the both of you stop that?" Mangus said irritably. "If you want him to believe you, Matthias, give him an alibi? And if you want to find the computer, Berwald, stop accusing an idiot. He's more likely the one who took my lamp."

"Hey! Take that back! You took my socket wrench."

It's way too early for this, Mangus thought, inwardly groaning. "I did not. Why would I need a socket wrench?"

"I sold you one last month."

"I... I didn't even need one then!"

"Then why'd you buy it?"

But then the lucky break came. Alfred (along with Yao and Muhammad) was not the only person to arrive in Hearth yesterday. When Berwald went to accuse Gilbert he was told that Elizaveta had two people from out of town at the inn, who had to have arrived late last night with the train. Berwald considered that just as Tino showed up to tell him to stop accusing everyone (having heard about it from Maddox who was apparently complaining about his favourite fireworks having gone missing).

"I let Brian and Roy know," Tino told him calmly. "They'll find it. Don't worry yourself over my computer, Berwald, it's okay!"

Berwald nodded an agreement for Tino's sake, but then went to make himself useful for their resident law enforcers who were currently trying to see if they could get fingerprints.

"Ye've lost yer touch. Ye can't get any fingerprints anymore."

"Ai can too! Ye're the one 'oo messed me up the las' time!"

Of course, what were they to do with fingerprints? Tino let everyone around here all the time. Berwald decided to get them in gear.

"New people 'n the 'nn."

And that was how Vash and Heidi became the prime suspects in the case.

Notes:

Mangus bought the socket wrench because Matthias was raised by a salesman. Occasionally he can pull it off. Berwald did not inherit that same ability. Nor would he have wanted to.

Fisher: I deleted it because I was going to make an original story out of the plot. Sorry for the inconvenience~