Layton gripped the brim of his hat, nodding to his old friend. "Before we go…Clark, I haven't even asked about Brenda, or your son. How is Luke?"
"My wife is fine," the mayor answered. "She's away. Family matters." He shifted uncomfortably. "Luke has…shut himself up in his room, as usual."
The professor took the bait. "I would like to say hello to Luke if that is all right. I haven't seen him since he was a baby."
"Of course," said a relieved Clark. "I think he might enjoy that. Perhaps it'd be good for him to talk to someone outside the family. I would appreciate that, Hershel."
And now they were standing in front of a door with a suitably messy exterior for a ten-year-old boy. An uncomfortable silence filled the air.
"Maybe he's sleeping." Emmy cast a look at the professor, who barely acknowledged.
"Perhaps," he said, and then called through the door, "Luke? My name is Hershel Layton. I'm a friend of your father's. Could we talk for a moment?"
"Certainly," came the muffled voice of a boy who sounded about ten or so. Emmy could hear the grin in his tone. "But first, you'll have to solve my door puzzle!"
"Your…door puzzle?" Layton repeated. His eyes flashed with understanding. "Ah ha, I see," he announced to his assistant. "Luke means to test our mettle with a puzzle."
"That's so cute, Professor!" The woman clasped her hands together under her chin. "Let's do it!"
"So we shall," the professor said, both to Emmy and the door.
Luke seemed to have heard. "If you are truly the esteemed Hershel Layton, then this puzzle should be no problem. You will have fifteen seconds to perform a specific action in front of the door."
"Just a second, young one!" Emmy interrupted. "How are we to know exactly what it is we're supposed to do?"
"You may search the area outside my door as much as you like," Luke invited. There was quite a lot outside the door – a tray of food, a rug, a teddy bear holding a card, and a painting, among others – making both adults scan the area quickly.
"And when we're ready to perform this action, whatever it may be," the professor said, still needing a hint, "we should let you know?"
"Correct. But I will tell you now, you can't do anything to solve this puzzle."
"Ah-ha," said Layton, but he wasn't fast enough to stop Emmy from picking up the teddy bear and practically squealing over it.
"This card says, 'Happy seventh birthday!' How adorable!"
The professor nodded. "This must have been one of Luke's birthday presents."
"Aww…this little stuffed teddy is so soft!" she gushed, and was about to continue when the young Triton cut her off sharply.
"Don't touch my bear!"
Emmy's eyes flashed. "I know. Luke, I'll put him down if you come out of your room."
"Emmy," Layton began, "it would be the mark of a lady to simply complete the puzzle – "
"I said don't touch him!" Luke burst out.
"That seems to be rather important to him, Emmy," the professor went on. "Perhaps we should let it alone for now."
"It will just be a minute," his assistant defended. "Luke, I have your bear and I'm not putting him back!"
A brief pause, and then the door flung open, the child nearly in tears as he reached for his stuffed animal. "N-no! Give him back!" he demanded.
"Relax, Luke." The woman released his toy into his grip, letting him hug it tightly.
"What was it you wanted?" he asked after a moment.
"We just wanted to say hello," the professor said. "I haven't seen you in nearly nine years."
Luke's face darkened, and he looked away. To the ground he announced,
"Very soon…the world will end."