The Greatest Riddle of all

Emmy Altava / Professor H. Layton

Authors note:- I noticed there was a severe lack of Layton X Emmy, so I've decided to try do something about it! :P I love the Layton series and characters with a passion..this takes place after the games! Please feel free to R&R! This is my first work and i don't have a proof/Beta reader (please let me know if you'd like to do it) I'll post the first chapter (the second is already halfway done)
happy reading!

Chapter 1: Won't let you go

Drawing in a deep breath, Emmy raised up a hand and knocked at the door three times.

"Do come in"

*Polite as always*Emmy thought to herself, allowing a small smile to play at her face before opening the door abruptly enough to make the many papers laying around the office spring to life and Flutter about. There on the sofa of his office, was the Professor himself. Pouring over his books and notes as usual, He Glanced up to see who had disturbed him and gave Emmy a warm smile.

"Good evening Emmy, I see you have Kindly brought my post with you" he smiled, setting down his notes.

"Well Professor, you're always in such a hurry to get back to your work you've been letting your pigeon hole in the staff room to get to the point it was beginning to overflow" Emmy sighed, setting the post down on top of one of the many piles of books."For all you know you could've missed something relevant to the case your working...that is what your doing isn't it?" she asked.

The Professor got up from the sofa and walked over his office window, looking out with a sigh. Emmy thought the glow from the late Autumn sun shillouted him perfectly, making her fingers itch on the camera sat on her lap. Oh how she would've loved to feel free enough to snap the Professors photo at will...but he rarely allowed her to take his picture anymore... Still, something seemed to trouble the older man.

Layton paused for a moment." The case is solved as you know, but all these new laws and regulations mean that regardless of the fact it was the police who made the arrest I am still required to fill out an endless amount of paperwork" He sighed sadly." It seems I have become so overwhelmed with all these forms that I have become, dare I say it, lax."

"Come on now Professor!" Emmy snapped, Jumping up from the seat she'd taken on one of the many book piles and and placing her hands on her hips."Its been a while since you've had the office to yourself, of course the work will pile up if you don't have an assistant! Even you need help sometimes!" She stopped herself talking any further than that, waiting, hoping that the Professor would ask what she knew he should.

"I must admit, things have been very different now that Luke and Flora are no longer around..." he sighed again, though this time it was a noticeably sadder sigh. "...He was most unhappy to have to go to return to school, but as much as we both enjoyed our travels, His education was suffering. There was only so many subjects I could tutor him in." The professor looked at Emmy once again to find her face with a soft smile.

"How are Luke and Flora finding boarding school and college?" she asked quietly. Now wasn't the time to press the professor to take her back. He had loved those children like his own and was clearly missing them.

"They are excelling in ways I couldn't of begun to imagine" he smiled softly, but proudly. "Flora has made many friends, Luke too...though I'm unsure that he has forgiven me yet..." Layton paused to look at his watch and then to the desk. He had completed all but two forms which were due in the day after tomorrow. Normally he would finish up here and now, but it was getting late and it was not very often that he had a chance to see Emmy nowdays.

*It has been almost 5 months since she left..* he thought.

Due to the government reforms and cuts to taxes, many people had been forced to pursue other means of employment. This had included Emmy. She had been dropped as Layton's assistant as he 'technically' had a free assistant in Luke. As much as Layton had protested, Emmy went quietly. Nowdays she was working as a photographer for the local paper. Layton was aware that although the younger woman loved photography, she was unfulfilled by her current job. It probably explained why she insisted on dropping by his office once every month or so.

"Professor?" Emmy asked, wondering why he had paused for so long.

He snapped back to reality, and decided he would take this chance to catch up with Emmy and take a break from the mountain of work in his office.

"Would you care to Join me for a cup of tea?"
*****

They had driven separately as Layton had disliked the thought of Emmy having to walk back home in the dark and insisted she ride her moped. She had no problem leaving it at the university, after all she'd parked it overnight many times when she had been studying and working there.*He really is a gentleman, always making sure we were all safe...*she mused to herself, thinking back on their adventures as she entered the little tea shop.

This was one of the very few late night tea shops that had been left undiscovered in London, for which they were both grateful. She would often dip in here to relax after a long day's work, whereas Layton enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. It didn't matter what time of day,week, month or year, the tea shop was never crowded and never noisy. It was almost like a getaway only they knew about.

"Ah! I see you beat me to it Professor!" Emmy remarked, spotting the Professor in the far corner of the shop with a steaming pot of tea waiting to be served. She allowed him to pull a chair out for her and joined him.

*Typical Layton* she thought fondly, trying her best not to let it show.

After the tea was poured, She took a sip and enjoyed the warm fluid before fixating her gaze on the older man. "So, why don't you re-hire me?" she asked bluntly.

The Professor set down his cup and interlaced his fingers. *Straight to the point, so like you Emmy*he thought to himself."You mean as my assistant?"

"Yes"

"And what if I refuse?" Layton asked. He was doing this more to humour the girl than to actually protest. He knew she was desperate to go back to her old line of work and he could do with the help. However, Layton wanted to be sure this was what she really wanted . There was a particularly important letter bearing the seal of Scotland yard that had turned up in the post Emmy had delivered. He suspected there may be an difficult case coming up.

"Then I'll just get Dean Delmona to assign me to you again" she stated. No ifs or buts. She hoped if she made it clear that she wouldn't back down then the Professor would have little choice but to accept.

Emmy looked across the table intently, locking eyes with the older man to let him know she meant what she had said.*I worked so hard to be your assistant the first time round, I'm not going to let the university's budget cuts get in the way!*she thought. She'd been devastated at being made redundant however she'd gone quietly as to not kick up a fuss for Layton. He had enough to worry about at the time dealing with a very hurt and angry Luke who could not understand why he had to be sent to school.

The Professor sat quietly for a moment, mulling it over before Emmy saw a small smile appear.

"Alright. I shall take you on as my assistant once more " he smiled "I assume you will need a week or so to hand your notice in at your current employer?"

"Not at all!" Emmy Beamed "I handed my notice in last week!"

The professor nearly choked on his tea. *She'd planned this!*

"Emmy! how reckless!"

She just beamed at him.
*****

Two days passed before the Professor and Emmy saw one another again. This was mainly due to the university needing to do some paperwork and admin about re-instating Emmy as Layton's the end, they had decided it was fine as they had found Emmy's loss had also resulted in the loss of a few important connections the university wished to maintain.

It was a misty Monday morning when Emmy pulled up to the Uni gates and parked up her moped. She had received a phone call in the early hours of the morning telling her she needed to be at the Professor's office at 7am sharp. Taking off her helmet, she checked her watch, 6:30 . Hopefully, her plan would be a success.

Having chained up her moped and entered the main building, she felt almost giddy with excitement. She was back as Layton's assistant and she wanted to make sure he would never want to do without her again. *Ill do my best Professor! you'll never want to let me go again* she thought, checking the noticeboard and The Professors pigeon hole on her way. *Filled with post as ever* Emmy wondered if he may have forgotten about the existence of his pigeon hole as she scooped up the mound of post and headed into the his office.

Upon opening the door, She was startled to find Layton already sat on his sofa waiting for her. *DAMNIT ALL!*she thought as she closed the door behind her. Emmy had planned to beat him to it and have tea and cakes waiting for him. Her annoyance was short lived however when she noted the very grave expression on Layton's face.

"Professor?" she asked quietly.

"Emmy, Please sit down. I have important news to tell you" he said, his expression still serious but at least softening a little when he glanced at her. He motioned for her to join him on the sofa where a cup of tea was already waiting.

"Professor, what's going on?" she asked cautiously, taking her seat.

The older man took a deep breath and looked directly at her. "Firstly, I must thank you for coming so early. I'm afraid that our first case together is a most unfortunate one so we will need to devote our time and efforts as soon as possible" he said solemnly."What I am about to tell you is not at all pleasant."

"I'm ready for it professor!" Emmy nodded, undeterred."I will do my best no matter what the circumstances!"

"Alright. I received a letter from Scotland Yard amongst the post you bought me on Friday. They arranged a meeting the following day with the Dean, Myself and the other university staff." He paused for a moment, considering what he would say next. "It seems 3 students who were absent over the last week or so have been murdered. All of them female."

"That's awful!" She exclaimed, Clutching her hands to her chest.

"Indeed. The bodies were found Friday morning. We've been requested to take part in the investigation by both the police and the university. Its not a straight forward case. It seems that whoever is doing the killing is not taking any souvenirs" He replied, setting down his tea before sifting through the post Emmy had brought for him.

"Souvenirs?" Emmy asked, clearly confused.

"Yes, if it is a serial killer we are dealing with, they almost always take a trophy from their victims" Layton sighed before setting a rather large envelope on his lap bearing the seal of Scotland yard. "Now, I must ask you to be brave Emmy. This envelope contains what I think may be the information I requested in regards to the crime. This means there are more than likely to be some gruesome details enclosed" Layton cautioned. The young woman nodded once again and took a sip of tea to steady her nerves as the Professor opened the envelope. Inside, there was a file containing information and an image that would be burnt into the back of Emmy's mind forever.

She took the photos and inspected the first one carefully as Layton read over the notes. It showed an image of a dark haired girl, laid flat on her back with her hands placed over her heart. She would've looked like she had merely been sleeping had it not been for the fact her eyes were half open and her throat had been slashed. Emmy's hand shook slightly as she set the photo down beside her and stared into her cup.

"Are you alright Emmy?" the Professor asked softly, placing a warm hand on her shoulder. " I realise this may be difficult-"

"Im alright, Professor" She interrupted, taking a deep breath and then exhaling. The reassurance of his touch had been just what she needed and she let herself glance to him to let him know she was alright. "Although this is truly the most horrific thing I've ever seen, I will keep to the job at hand. What did the notes say?"

Layton passed the file over to Emmy and began to sift through the photos."Well, from what I've read, Of the three girls, Paris Valentine, Penny Brooks were both students whilst Ivy Marshall was a lab assistant. They all appear to be between a size 8-12 and All have dark brown or black hair. All were found dead in the same positions, at the same time, same location." He said, being sure to keep his eyes on his assistant.

Admittedly, he had been worried at first that Emmy may struggle to come to terms with such a case, but watching her now he realised she was more than capable. It is important to not get emotionally involved when dealing with such sensitive cases.

"Its going to be a long day, Professor" Emmy said sadly, picking up the photos as she took out her book and prepared to make notes...
*****