Welcome to my new story! I do hope you enjoy this, and if you are going to read on, please do leave reviews and comments as I'd love to read them! I need areas to improve on, so that would be an awesome opportunity! :)

AthenaX

Professor Layton and Luke sat in a well-lit office located at the end of the Archeology corridor at Gressenheller University. Luke had his body splayed across the sofa, both of his legs dangling over the arm of the chair as he flicked, absent-mindedly, through his new collection of Sherlock Holmes novels that his father had bought him a while back as a moving present. A crystal chandelier swayed to and fro, glimmering in the light reflecting off it, illuminating every inch of the room as he read, tinkling softly. The busy London streets were just outside the window, sirens blaring and cars honking, indicating the annoyances of people who were trying to get to work on time.

Professor Layton held a mug of tepid tea in his hands, his hat balancing precariously on his head as he bent to take a sip of the warm liquid. He sighed and leaned back in his chair, his eyes flicking over to where Luke was lying on the sofa.

"Luke." he said, setting down his mug of tea, "A gentleman never puts his legs up like that on a sofa."

"I'm sorry, Professor." Luke mumbled, swinging his legs off the sofa and onto the floor, "It's just so comfortable and I don't have a great sofa like this at home."

Layton chuckled.

"Well, I have a foot rest if you'd like it." he said, with a small smile, reaching under his desk.

Luke sighed and set his book down on the table.

"It's almost like you live here, Professor." he said, reaching for the biscuit tin on the table, "I could ask for a toothbrush and you would have one here!"

Layton sighed.

"Well, what can I say my boy?" he said, getting up and looking straight out of the window, "I'm very busy these days."

Luke munched on the biscuit, crumbs scattering onto his blue jumper and tumbling down onto his grey shorts.

"Speaking of being busy," he said, mouth full of a custard cream biscuit, "We haven't had a case to solve in ages, Professor!"

"Pity." said Layton, smiling, "I really did enjoy our little trips around town, solving mysteries."

A small silence echoed through the room.

"That sounded a lot like sarcasm, Professor." said Luke, looking up at him, earnestly.

Layton paused for a moment.

"Oh come now, Luke." he said, "I was being quite serious, you know."

Luke grinned and at that moment, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it." said Layton, walking to the door, adjusting his hat as he did so.

An elderly woman stood at the door, her greying hair twisted up into a messy bun. Her spectacles were perched on her nose and the oversized frames made her look like an owl that had terrible cataracts. She held a parchment coloured envelope in her hands and a copy of the local newspaper was tucked under her arm.

"Letter for you, Professor Layton." she said, handing him the envelope.

"Thank you, Rosa." he said, smiling and closing the door after her.

"What is that, Professor?" asked Luke, getting up from the sofa, his hand still in the biscuit tin.

"It appears to be a letter, postmarked from the London Metropolitan Police Station." said Layton, turning it over and reaching for his penknife.

"Ooh!" said Luke, scooting over to the desk and perching himself on a chair to get a closer look at what was in the letter, "I wonder what is in it!"

"Let's see. "said Layton, unfolding the letter and leaning forward in his chair slightly.

Dear Professor Hershel Layton,

My name is DC Lucy Baker and I work for Scotland Yard in the Criminal Cases Division. I am writing to you today about a puzzling case that I cannot seem to deal with on my own. It's about my boss, your son, Alfendi.

He has been very distant from me recently and is always throwing himself into violent outbursts of rage and I can't seem to figure out why. All his other colleagues and I solved a mystery concerning this a few days ago, but I'm still puzzled as to why he is actually like this. I thought that if anyone were to know best about this, it would be you.

He is always talking about his mother and how much he misses her. He keeps telling me that she lives somewhere else and that she will come back for him one day...I really want to help him.

You see, Professor…. I love the man. He has been my hero and inspiration from day one and I simply cannot imagine life without him. Surely you know what that feels like? It pains me to see him so distant and the only time we really interact anymore is when he smiles at me when I walk into the office in the morning.

I do hope to hear back from you soon. It would really mean the world to Al if you came by to speak to him.

Eagerly anticipating your reply.

DC Lucy Baker. (Scotland Yard)

"DC Lucy Baker?" asked Luke, peering over Layton's shoulder to look closely at the letter, "I think that's probably my cousin who wrote to you."

"Your cousin?" repeated Layton, staring blankly at the letter.

"Yes." said Luke, "She majored in criminology at university and now she's working for Scotland Yard. It's always been her dream."

"Alfendi…." mumbled Layton.

"Professor, are you alright?" asked Luke, nervously, "You look shaken."

"My son…." he muttered.

"Er…." stammered Luke, "Are you sure you're alright, Professor? We can go meet Lucy tomorrow if you'd like?"

"W-what?" stuttered Layton, "Ah yes, of course we can."

Luke got up out of the chair and stood in front of Layton.

"Are you sure you're alright, Professor?" he asked, once again.

"I haven't seen the boy in 9 years." he whispered.