This begins the second to last arc of the story. The climax is coming quickly. So let's start Chapter 20!
Chapter 20
Somehow, Ed couldn't believe he was standing here, in the box off the interrogation room. Through the two-way mirror he could see Mustang being interrogated by the man they called Fokker. Well, it was less of an interrogation and more of a staring contest at this point. Either way, Ed was stuck watching them until they said something one way or the other. The truly funny part was that he wasn't even a cop, but given all the time he had spent with Mustang lately, and his proximity to the head detective's team, he himself had been called into the room.
Something had gone wrong with the plan, that much was certain. Mustang was not supposed to have ended the call, and the second that happened, everyone realized that the plan was dashed to pieces. So they had to act the way they were supposed to, despite the changes. Breda and Havoc cuffed Gluttony and led him out of the building while Feury called Hawkeye. All of them arrived at the station soon after. Ed himself gave a visible sigh of relief when he saw that his brother was with Hawkeye. While the officers went to book both Vorac and Lust, Ed took his brother aside.
"I'm perfectly fine, Ed," Al said, and Ed couldn't help but frown at him. "You worry too much."
"You're my little brother, I'm obligated to worry about you." Al just smiled at him softly. "But that was low, Al. I can't believe you went so far as to actually deceive me."
"You've done quite the bit of deceiving yourself, brother," Al pointed out. Ed simply hand-waved it, stepping out and calling Al a cab back to Resembool. When he got back in was when all hell had broken loose. The call came in about a shooting at Xenotime Mall, the exact location of Mustang's scene. What made it worse was the fact that first responders reported a body at the scene of the crime, the head detective a few feet away from said body. Moments later, Mustang was on his way back to the station for interrogation and Fokker had pulled up to the station.
Ed was called in shortly after Breda.
"Edward Elric, correct?" Ed nodded. He wasn't going to let a loose tongue sink a fleet of ships. "You recently transferred here to East, or so your file says. I also see your first case here was with Roy Mustang. How's your working relationship with him?"
"Fine." Fokker frowned.
"So, if he were to ask you to take part in a secret sting, you would have no trouble complying."
"You said that, not me."
"Then, prior to the day's events, were you aware of the operation Roy Mustang had begun."
"No, he made me believe my brother was kidnapped."
"Was he?" Ed sat back in his chair and folded his arms.
"No. He agreed to help willingly."
"So, you were not aware that Detective Mustang was planning to kill someone today?" Fokker asked as he continued to jot notes down on his papers.
"I don't think he was. I was told it was a plan to catch a high-value target, not kill," Ed protested and Fokker paused to adjust his glasses and look at him. "Either way, I was not aware of the plan to begin with."
"Yes, that corroborates with the others' stories." Fokker went back to jotting down notes.
Ed looked at him a moment before stating boldly, "Roy Mustang isn't a murderer."
"That remains to be seen," Fokker replied. "You may go."
So, Ed left and rejoined the others. Forty minutes later, Mustang himself was called in for questioning. Both Hawkeye and Ed secretly snuck into the box to watch the interrogation…and that led them here. The two men continued to stare into each other's eyes. Fokker shifted around his papers without breaking eye contact. Finally, he spoke.
"You understand why you're here, Detective Mustang?" Ed surveyed Mustang, who looked completely calm and collected. It unnerved the forensics specialist. The head detective did not look like a man who had just killed someone. He looked like it was just another day at the office. No…it no longer unnerved him; it scared him. And judging by Hawkeye's body language, she felt the same.
"I shot and killed a man claiming to be a Detective Jealot, codename Envy, in self-defense," Mustang answered coolly.
"There are no witness stories to corroborate that." Fokker's steely eyes glinted, but Mustang remained impassive.
"He had a gun, and he threatened to kill civilians unless I handed my own over."
"True, the first responders reported two firearms," Fokker noted, finally breaking his gaze to take some notes. "Then, I suppose the real question is why you had a second gun on you."
"I was going into a dangerous situation. I wanted as much backup as possible," Mustang said with a small frown.
"So, are you saying that you did not plan to kill this Envy?"
"No. Our operation was set to ensnare a high-value target. Envy showed up as a proxy in his place." Mustang's scowl was starting to deepen and Ed felt himself starting to get the bigger picture.
"What led to your shooting of him then?"
"As I said, he threatened to kill civilians," Mustang answered before dropping the hammer, "and he claimed to be the man who killed Maes Hughes."
"So it was an act of revenge? Not justice? Not necessity?" Ed stole a glance at Fokker's face. Though the man's mouth was covered with his hand, Ed could almost see sympathy behind Fokker's eyes.
"I won't deny that revenge didn't cross my mind," Mustang defended, "but this man was clearly a sociopath who divulged information that I did not want nor asked for. I was worried that he would kill civilians anyway, and with my gun. I made a gut decision that he was too dangerous to the civilian population to be left alive."
Fokker nodded as he finished writing his notes. "Well, your story certainly seems to match up with what your subordinates have told me. Although, none of you specified your actual target."
"It's highly sensitive. The less people who know, the better." Fokker gave a short laugh.
"Yes, well, you have quite the loyal team." Fokker snapped his folder shut. "After hearing your story, I have concluded my investigation into this matter, as well as the matter of your investigation into Hughes' death. When my report arrives on your desk in three days time, you will find that my conclusion is that you acted heroically in the face of danger, and dutifully in the matter of an open investigation. Well done, Detective Mustang."
Fokker held his hand out and Mustang shook it as he stood. Before Fokker could say anymore, Mustang strode from the interrogation room. Ed and Hawkeye quickly repeated said actions and almost immediately met up with the head detective in the adjoining hallways.
"Sorry you got dragged into this, Fullmetal," he said as soon as he saw Ed.
"You're damn right you owe me an apology, you lying bastard!" Mustang only fixed his shirt collar at Ed's remonstration. "So…how did it feel? You know…to kill him?"
Mustang looked at him askance before saying, "It didn't change a thing." Ed's jaw dropped.
"You just shot the guy, and you're saying it doesn't mean anything?" Ed yelled at him as the three of them made their way towards Mustang's desk.
"Don't get me wrong, I took great satisfaction in shooting the bastard," Mustang clarified, leaning against his desk, "but this isn't over. Hughes' real killer is the one pulling the strings, the one who ordered Envy to kill Hughes: Bradley. I won't rest until he's behind bars or I have his head!" Ed gaped at him like a fish. He turned to Hawkeye, hoping for some support, but she just stood there with her arms folded and a frown on her lips.
"Mustang! Elric! My office!" cried the voice of Grumman before his door slammed shut. Ed and Mustang shared a glance before departing from Riza and entering the chief's office. As he closed the door, Ed saw Fokker approaching an abandoned Hawkeye. Then the door closed and the two men were cut off from the rest of the station. Grumman was pacing back and forth behind his desk as they stood at attention.
"What were you thinking, Roy? I taught you better than that!" Grumman snapped.
"Sir?" Mustang's face was drawn into one of confusion, though Ed knew it likely had nothing on his own face. Grumman stopped pacing and turned to face the two of them.
"Shooting a man in broad daylight? ! You still have a lesson to learn in subtlety," Grumman commented. "And you, Elric, you're equally guilty for partaking in these idiot schemes of his. I expected far better out of my head detective and a top forensics specialist. Your work has just been plain sloppy."
"I'm still afraid I don't quite get your meaning," Mustang said, causing the chief to frown.
"If you think you're going to catch Commissioner Bradley flailing around like this, then you've still got a lot to learn." Mustang's face didn't change, but Ed's wasn't quite so immovable and quickly registered shock. "Now, I've tried to let you have free reign on this, but carry on and I'll start thinking you actually need my help."
"Sir, how did you-" Grumman waved his hand, effectively cutting off the head detective.
"Don't insult me, Roy. You really think I became Chief of the Eastern Police Force because I looked good?" admonished Grumman. "Now, I may not have known Hughes as well as the rest of you, but he was still an officer under my direct supervision and a fine detective. I want his killer caught as much as you do. I've been following your case quite closely."
Ed looked at the chief, the wheels turning in his head as he glanced at the older man. Finally, a conclusion clicked into place. "Wait a minute…that-that whole thing with the presidential gala…and me being put on the Chopper case. You knew-"
"Don't go crediting me for things beyond my control," Grumman countered. "However, yes, when I heard you were being transferred here, I checked your file. I gleaned your past, your motivations, and I knew that if both you and Roy worked together you could accomplish far more than Roy could alone. Look at the results; in just a little over two weeks you've come closer to catching Hughes' killer than ever."
"So you were purposely trying to push us together?" Roy asked bemusedly. Grumman chuckled.
"Since the start," he admitted. "I knew you two would make great partners.
"Now, both of you, I'm not one for doling out much advice, but I'll give you a bit. You won't be able to catch Bradley by laying all these plans; he's too smart for that. A plan or two is fine but only to get what you need. If you're going to get the son of a bitch, you need to catch him in the act. Put simply, find out what he's doing, when he's doing it and where, then nail the son of a bitch to the wall."
Ed and Mustang sat there silently for a moment before Mustang asked, "That all?"
"Yes, you two are free to go. Good luck." And Grumman paid them no more attention. The two younger men stood a moment longer and then slowly exited the room. Once they closed the doors, Mustang broke out into chuckles.
"That sly old fox!" he said under his breath. Ed looked at him in confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
"Grumman….he wants to be commissioner." Now Ed was really lost. Grumman had helped them, but Mustang was saying that it all came from an ambition to become commissioner. Although, he thought, if we take down Bradley, it would leave the position open for a veteran officer. Shaking the thought away, Ed began following Mustang back over to Hawkeye.
"How did it go, sir?" she questioned as soon as they were in normal earshot.
"Your grandfather's as wily as ever," he commented, and she nodded in assent. Ed merely shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Speaking of wily," Ed began, drawing the detectives' attention to him, "what did Fokker want with you?"
"He asked you to meet him at East's Subs and Eatery, sir," Hawkeye responded, handing a piece of paper to her former boss. Mustang unfolded it and Ed took a peek to see it only contained the address. The two men looked up to see Riza walking away.
"Where are you going?" Roy called out.
"I still have to go to work tomorrow…in Central, if you remember," she said, barely turning her head back to them. "Try not to bungle too much without me."
"Whatever…" Riza rounded the corner a second later and was gone. "Well, what do you think?"
"Why are you asking me?" Ed snapped. Mustang glared at him, but Ed glared back; fatigue and annoyance were getting the better of him. "Why don't you ask Breda or Feury…oh, how about the un-injured Detective Havoc?"
"What? You're still mad about that?" Ed folded his arms to emphasize his point. "Okay, fine…sorry for tricking you. Are we good?"
"Would be if you meant it, asshole," Ed snarled. "Don't you ever leave me to the wolves again."
"Fine, now can we go see what Fokker wants?" Ed responded to him by pushing past him, towards the exit of the station.
"Hurry it up, dumbass!" he yelled back and, congratulating himself on his insult, turned out of the station. Mustang caught up shortly after and the two walked silently a few blocks before they reached East's Subs and Eatery, its door opening with a jingle. It then took all of five seconds to locate Fokker.
"Detective, Mister Elric!" he called, waving them over. The two approached and joined him in his booth. "Can I get you something? The subs here are fantastic."
"Not hungry," Roy declined curtly. Fokker just shrugged and finished eating his meatball sub. Ed felt his stomach gurgle (he hadn't eaten anything since yesterday), but managed to suppress it before he got any dirty looks. "Is there a reason you wanted to meet?"
Fokker cleared his throat before asking, "What kind of quarry are you chasing, Roy?"
As if in response to the man using his first name, both of them sat straight up. Ed shared a quick look with Mustang. In that moment, Ed appreciated for the first time the fact that they were partners. The fact that both of them could communicate to not say a single word without saying so was beneficial. "What are you talking about, Fokker?"
"Don't bullshit me," Fokker commanded, his glasses flashing menacingly. "I was called in to look into your investigation, and I did that job, but I'm no idiot. You people have the impression that we at IA get our jollies from landing cops, but don't forget that we were cops too. I know when I'm leading a witch hunt, not an investigation.
"A witch hunt?" Ed asked, his eyebrow raised. Fokker took a drink of his soda before responding.
"An investigation into a fellow cop's death shouldn't be called under the scrutiny of IA, not unless the cop was dirty. Maes Hughes was clean as a whistle, so I know that's not it. Someone didn't want you looking into that case, so they sent me to stop it. Now, the obvious answer is that it's someone high up in the department, but I can't know how high."
"I thought you don't get your jollies from taking down cops?" Roy said sardonically.
"I'm still ambitious. It's no secret I hope to make D.A. one day, and exposing corruption is the best way to do that," Fokker elaborated. Still, neither of the young men opted to say anything. "Look, I'm ambitious, but I'm not stupid. I could have wrapped my investigation ages ago but I waited because I knew you were narrowing in on a target. Today's actions proved you had a suspect, and I can help you catch him. I return to Central in the morning, and I'm offering you an allegiance. You know I can get information that you as a normal cop could never get easily. I just need a name."
Fokker seemed to finish presenting his case, but there was still no movement from Mustang. Ed wondered whether they should accept it, but knew it was difficult to not tip their hand as long as Fokker was sitting across from them. As if sensing this, Fokker stood and left to refill his drink. "Should we trust him?"
"Don't see the harm in it…" Ed said, folding his arms. Mustang looked at him inquisitively. "I'm not saying to tell him everything, only an idiot would do that. So look at it this way: if he's on Bradley's payroll, he'll know that we know all this anyway. On the other hand, if he doesn't know, then we may just gain another ally to take him down."
"Well put," Roy commented as Fokker returned to them. A gulp of soda and a beckoning look later, the head detective gave a response. "King Bradley." As expected, Fokker nearly dropped his soda.
"C-commissioner King Bradley?" Both Ed and Mustang nodded. "Well…I knew you were angling a big fish, but not this big."
"Still looking for an allegiance?" Mustang questioned with a smirk.
"More than ever," Fokker replied with an eerily similar smirk. "How many times do I have to tell you, Mustang? I want to become D.A. Now you just presented me a fast track into the election next November."
"So you'll help?" Ed blurted out. Fokker's smirk changed into a smile as he stood.
"Yes. If there's evidence of corruption in King Bradley's office I will expose it. You can count on that."
"Why are you helping us really?" Roy asked.
"Put simply, Maes Hughes was a good man. We once offered him a job in IA, but he turned it down. I don't want to see a man like Bradley get away with his murder," Fokker admitted, slipping his coat on. "I'll do what I can, you just be careful in your own investigation."
"That goes double for you," Roy countered and Fokker accepted the advice with a nod. Then he was gone with a jingle. "I hope we made the right move."
"Of course we did," Ed boasted confidently, "because now Fokker's with you instead of against you. Now buy me a sub. I've got no money and I'm famished."
"You're kidding, right?" Ed asked, the waffle he was about to eat nearly in his mouth. His wife, meanwhile, stood there with her hands on her hips, glaring vehemently. While she certainly wasn't showing that she was pregnant, her mood swings were a near constant reminder.
"Does my face look like I'm kidding?" Winry deadpanned, causing Ed's swallowing to become more of a gulping.
"Considering it's the face you wear when I damage your automail…no," Ed responded. "Look, I haven't spent a solid night, or day for that matter, at home in ages."
"That's your own fault, Ed. You're the one spending more time with your pal Mustang than you are with me!" Ed stared at her, absolutely flabbergasted. He knew she was right, but really didn't want to give her the satisfaction.
"Yeah, well…you lied to me on Mustang's orders, too! We're even!" If eyes could narrow any further, Winry's would be slits.
"Wow…real mature, Ed," she shot back at him. "Mei is going to become a part of our family, your sister-in-law, and Ling will be a part of that too. The least you could do is go to this damn gala."
"Winry…honey," he said with a grimace, "if you remember the last gala, someone got shot."
"They've beefed up security this time." Ed considered her for a moment and realized she wasn't going to budge.
"Fine, I'll see what I can do. But I'm not willing to put you in danger simply because they'll be family," Ed conceded. Winry nodded emphatically as the phone began to ring.
"Oh, look, Detective Mustang," Winry announced with mock surprise. "Ed, if I wasn't completely sure of your sexuality, I'd almost think you were having an affair." She tossed the phone to him and strode angrily from the room. Ed shuddered at the thought, scowled at her exit, and answered the call.
"What do you want, bastard?" he said angrily, but Mustang hardly seemed fazed.
"Not now, Fullmetal; we have a problem," Mustang quickly told him.
"Come on! You can't handle it without me? Are you really that useless?" complained Ed. Having no time on his hands was really starting to get to him. Then again, I did choose to help.
"Shut up, Ed!" Something in Mustang's voice told the young man his partner was more annoyed than angry. "Get down to the East Grand, right now."
"You do realize I'm on suspension still?"
"I don't care. Raven's been murdered." Ed nearly dropped the phone in surprise. Raven was their key suspect in exposing Bradley. He had been their number one corrupt cop, but now he was dead?
"Be there in half an hour." After a chaste kiss to an annoyed Winry, Ed left and arrived at the East Grand exactly when he said he would. Mustang brought him in and immediately started going over the details.
"The maid found him this morning when she went to clean the room," he quickly explained to Ed. "Knox says he's been dead since yesterday afternoon."
"I thought you had Armstrong watching the place," Ed remarked and Mustang frowned at the mention.
"I did, but unfortunately my little stunt at the mall caused enough distraction that even the 'surveillance techniques passed down the Armstrong family for generations' allowed someone to slip through the net. We questioned the hotel staff who said they saw a suspicious looking man in a white hoodie go up to meet Raven, but they didn't get his face."
"They didn't want Raven talking," Ed confirmed as the two of them entered the crime scene. The room was practically sparkling, save for the dead body lying in the room. There were two shots on his body: his chest and his head. Clearly the killer had wanted to make this quick. "He was shot, huh?"
"Yeah, .45 caliber according to Knox." Ed whipped around in surprise. "Well, we figured that it would have to be another cop, and they didn't have time to plan the murder because my plan didn't give them the time to."
"But to be so sloppy as to use a .45?" Ed questioned. "No, it may have been impulsive, but if we know Bradley, the gun won't trace back to a cop. It could be traced back to a victim, though."
"Wait, you don't think-"
"That's exactly what I think," Ed informed him. "A .45 was used in that murder, too. We know that person, that killer, was a corrupt cop who worked for Homunculus. They don't want it getting out, so they seal the records, kill the cop investigating. No one thinks twice about it. The killer keeps the gun though, so it can't be traced to him. He doesn't have time to dispose of Raven like he normally does, so he uses the old gun."
"If we can link it back to that case, we can find that cop!" Mustang exclaimed. "I'll get them to run ballistics."
"Actually, let me," Ed told him with a smirk. "I may be suspended, but I have a few friends." Mustang readily agreed and the two partners headed straight for the station once more. They wasted no time in heading down to see Doctor Marcoh.
"Let me get this straight," Marcoh said, "you want me to run ballistics to see it it's a match to a previous case, but you don't want me to log it in just yet?"
"That would be helpful," Mustang clarified. Marcoh gave a tired sigh.
"I don't know what you're up to, but I trust Edward," agreed Marcoh, taking the evidence bag from the head detective. "I'll have the results in an hour." Marcoh quickly took his leave into the back room. Ed, not wanting to leave the results alone for even a second, sat down at his desk.
"What are you thinking, Fullmetal?" Mustang asked as Ed began to tap his chin.
"Connecting the dots…" he mused out loud. "I'm almost certain the ballistics report will come up with a match to Scar's brother. That means the killer definitely works for Homunculus Corp. But it also means we were wrong."
"Not necessarily," Mustang replied, leaning against the wall casually. "Raven was definitely involved, but he was more of a mouthpiece. He wasn't an enforcer; that was left to people like Envy…and whoever did this."
"That just makes it stranger. If Envy was one of their top enforcers, why send him to talk with you and not a mouthpiece like Raven? Or, if they didn't want to send someone like Raven, why send Envy, who's more into killing than talking. Talk about standing in the line of fire."
"Because Envy wasn't their top enforcer," Mustang reasoned, a look of dawning comprehension on his face. "Sure, he was a sadistic bastard, but he made no secret about Raven being one of theirs. That's because they knew they had to eliminate Raven. As soon as my plans became a threat to that, they sent their top enforcer to kill Raven."
Ed allowed Mustang's words to sink in. It made sense. Someone as cunning as Bradley wouldn't risk his best piece to tackle a pawn. No, but…he would if Ed was about to spill his secrets. That would be far more of a threat than an inconsequential cop. After all, he was the son of the University President. Now it was Ed's turn for a plan to form in his head, and since Mustang wasn't saying anything more, the plan continued to develop itself. An hour later, Marcoh returned with the ballistics report.
"You were right, Fullmetal," Mustang told Ed as he flipped through the report. "Perfect match to the murder of Scar's brother. We've got him."
"Not quite," Ed mumbled, flipping through the report himself. "It's hard to believe that he wouldn't know about this connection."
"Who?" Ed continued to stare at the piece of paper in his hand, despite Mustang's question. He needed to confirm it. He needed to know that the man inside East PD was definitely the one who had killed Scar's brother. Otherwise, they'd never get anywhere.
"Mustang, I need to visit Scar."
The doors to the visiting area buzzed open and Ed sat up straight. Through the door came the cuffed and tattooed Ishvalan. Rage coursed through Ed's veins for a moment but he restrained it. Everything hinged upon Scar's answers; he couldn't let his anger prevent that. Scar finally reached the table and sat, the guards chaining him to the table. Mustang tensed next to him but said nothing. It was a full minute before Scar spoke.
"I thought you had already asked all your questions," Scar said sourly.
"At the time," Ed responded through gritted teeth. "This time, I want the full truth."
"Last I checked-"
"Don't you fuck with me, Scar!" Ed yelled and Mustang shot him a warning look. He took a deep breath and slid the folder containing the ballistics report across the table. "Don't try to tell me you had no idea who was behind your brother's death."
"I don't," Scar said unflinchingly. He looked at the file before him without blinking. "What's this?"
"A ballistics report saying that the man who killed your brother killed a detective named Raven. Are you telling me you've never heard that name? Or how about Isaac McDougal?" Scar continued to stare at Ed. "Tell me, why were you really at that gala in Central?"
Scar seemed to consider him for a time before sighing deeply. "I once knew a man who owed me a life debt. His name was Yoki, former mayor of Youswell, brought up on corruption charges."
"I know the case, Hughes arrested him," Mustang clarified.
"Anyway, the man was an idiot, but he was useful," Scar explained. "Since Youswell never had a station of its own, it got most of its officers from Ishval. Likewise, Yoki could get whatever information he wanted from Ishval. A few months after my first bombing, he got me a dossier on a number of officers from Ishval. I spent years tying the information together. Eventually I found that the detective investigating my brother's case was killed the same way. He was found in Central. I put two and two together."
"You weren't there to find your next mark, were you?" Ed questioned. You already had a mark in mind. Mustang just became a mark of convenience. So who was it?"
"The man who would tell me everything. But that shot was fired before I could get to him."
"But who was your target? !" Scar paused a moment and Ed could see him contemplating the situation. Then, without taking a breath, he answered.
"The man who had my brother killed: King Bradley." Ed's scowl turned into a smirk. "I think I'm done here. If you want to know anything else, find it out on your own." Neither Ed nor Mustang said anything as Scar was then taken away from them. A few minutes later and the pair was outside.
"You mind telling me what the point of that was, Fullmetal?" Mustang asked as they got in his car. "He didn't tell us anything we didn't know."
"No, but now we have proof," Ed retorted.
"Proof doesn't do us any good if we can't catch the man!"
"How did you even make detective?" Ed snapped. "Now we know for sure that Bradley is the one behind the deaths of both Isaac McDougal and Scar's brother. We also know that same person killed Raven and is likely the top enforcer of Homunculus Corp."
"Yes," Roy conceded, "but how does that help us?"
"Before Bradley released me, he told me that if I threatened to expose him, he would send his best guy after me. So we bait a trap that allows us to capture this guy and find out how to catch Bradley in the act."
"Using yourself as bait…It's a good plan, but how do we convey it to Bradley without him suspecting it's a trap?"
Ed turned in his seat to grin at him. "Oh, that part's easy. Tomorrow, we're going to visit Hohenheim."
Author's Note: Once again, the delay here was unbearable, but I always knew it would be a tricky chapter. On that note, however, the last bunch of chapters I WILL release quickly. I've already begun work on Chapter 21 and it will be posted in two weeks. On another note, I have a new poll to vote on which I would really like your feedback on. Also related, I have finally broken 100 favorites! I have to thank everybody for liking this story that I've worked so hard on. We're not through yet so I hope you'll continue to drop reviews on this story until the end. So, for the next two weeks, review and Dare to Be Silly.