Preview of TO STOP A KILLER

"What do we have?" he asked, his tone shifting to business in a matter of seconds.

"Feury's managed to hack into the cameras inside the bank, but we're obviously dealing with professionals. We can't even really confirm the hostage count or the number of robbers. I just gave a rough estimate earlier," Hawkeye responded promptly. He looked to her in disgruntlement, yet couldn't help notice that she wasn't wearing her earrings today like she usually did. This case was obviously serious.

Riza Hawkeye had changed relatively little over the sixteen years, other than growing older like the rest of them. Since he had become commissioner, and because Hawkeye insisted on having his back, he had promoted her to the station of chief at Central. It was really a no-brainer. The woman was a warrior in her own right and she easily garnered respect in her command amongst everyone. Mustang wasn't sure if cutting her hair shorter helped, but at the very least it made her look like she was in a position of greater authority; just like the woman she seemed to be talking about.

"Captain Ross is currently meeting with the tactical team," she told him, folding her arms across her chest. Mustang nodded as he looked up at the imposing bank building. He hated hostage situations.

"How are we sure that Senator Lowe is in the building?" he asked.

"Called his office, chief," said the voice of Jean Havoc, who was leaning against a truck with a cigarette. Mustang frowned at him and he immediately removed it from his mouth with a growl. The man's vice had gotten worse since his divorce. "Witnesses said he was seen entering the bank about five minutes before the commotion started inside. Then we managed to talk to his driver and confirmed it with his office."

"So, we have no line of connection to the inside," Mustang said, his eyes briefly flitting over to the senator's driver. The man was fidgeting back and forth in front of his car, so the commissioner ignored him. Havoc let out a puff of smoke as a response before finally putting his cigarette out. It was obvious he had only really done so because of the captain approaching.

"Commissioner, I wasn't expecting you here," Captain Maria Ross said with a minor salute. Mustang gave her a swift nod to remove the edge from their conversation. Ross relaxed a little and ran a hand through her black hair while Mustang's continual stare urged his Captain of Robbery to go on with whatever news she had. She cleared her throat immediately. "Right, we have a vague number of hostages inside, estimated at about twenty or so since we were able to confirm with upper management that about seven people are on staff and we can estimate customers by the number of cars."

"Has a call inside been successful?" Mustang asked. His gaze flicked over to the bank building, its stone walls a practical fortress with no obvious lines of sight inside.

"We've put in a couple calls, but they haven't picked them up," Ross answered, her lips a thin line that accented her mole slightly. "Whoever these guys are, they're professionals and they have no plans to negotiate."

"Well, that gives us a window, at least," called a voice. Mustang turned to see Heymans Breda, bedecked in tactical gear, walking over. "If they were just some random bank robbers, they could randomly kill a hostage out of desperation. Seeing as they're professional, though, we may have a small window in which to act."

"Doesn't matter," Mustang dismissed casually. "If you have a plan and the tactical team is ready, I suggest you move in as quickly as possible. Let's not lose a single hostage and I want those robbers taken alive. If they are professional, they might be working for someone. I'd want to know who."

"Even if they're not," Hawkeye continued the train of thought, "it'd behoove us to know why they'd want to break into a highly secured bank like the Bank of Amestria in broad daylight, especially with a senator in the building."

"Those are good questions," Havoc commented. Mustang answered with a dirty glare.

"Go help out Feury," Mustang snapped at the blond. Havoc didn't argue.

"Is the team ready, Detective Breda?" Ross asked of the burly man. Breda nodded curtly.

"Just waiting for your command, sir. I'm personally leading the team in myself," he responded with a straight posture that belied his confident manner. Mustang slapped him on the back.

"No one better," he told him. That sort of acknowledgement seemed to be the signal for both Breda and Ross to move off and start preparing the team. This left Mustang alone with Hawkeye.

"I hate hostage situations. Sets my teeth on edge," the commissioner admitted.

"I know you do, sir," Hawkeye chortled out in amusement. "We all do. Speaking of unpleasant situations, I hear there will be some familiar faces at the wedding this weekend."

"Don't remind me," Roy said with a scowl, his lower lip twitching slightly. "I've got enough on my plate to deal with before I can even begin to think about this weekend. And you're not even going anyway!"

"That's-" Before Riza could get the words out, both of them once more caught sight of Havoc running towards them, looking more than flustered. Mustang's eyes narrowed; something had gone wrong. "Detective Havoc, what's going on?"

"Activity on the camera," Havoc answered. "Something's going on inside, but hell if we know what it is."

This is a preview of TO STOP A KILLER, of which the first chapter is now posted. Please be sure to read and review on that story! Thanks much!