Author's Note: This chapter mostly focuses on the plotline of the story and the playful relationship between Layton and Luke. I love it when things develop slowly, so I wanted to try and express their friendship before getting to the good stuff, lol. But anyways, thank you for the reviews and please continue to let me know what you think!


M u r d e r

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St. Mystere was a remote maze of a town, streets going in every which way and possessed more dead ends than a poofy-maned rock star. The colors were dull and aged, brown and cream being the dominant shades. It seemed the entire village was enclosed by the walls of worn buildings, and even if there was a crack or crevice to escape from, the moat that encircled the town kept all secured inside. Strange why such a place, far off in the countryside, would need to be barred off this way. More curious yet was the looming, zigzagged tower in the distance.

To think a prissy feline would be the reason the two found themselves running around this interesting town for the good part of the day. The cat had taken them on a tour of the entire stretch of the village, and when they finally had her cornered, she turned around and nearly took Luke's eye out!

"It's alright, Professor... i-it's just a little scratch is all," Luke claimed with a sniffle as the scholar kneeled down before him. "Something must have spooked her again..." Layton didn't believe it for a moment. That feline was as feisty as lady Dahlia herself, it seemed.

"I'm... sure that was the case," Layton fibbed. He gently pressed his thumb and forefinger against the boy's chin to turn his head sideways. Luke complied without complaint. The scratches were turning red but could easily be treated.

"Now, don't go touching your face with those filthy fingers. Once we get to the car I'll tend your wound. I've got some rubbing alcohol and such in the first aid kit."

"But--Claudia..."

"Retrieving that cantankerous feline can wait. I don't want you getting an infection." Luke frowned and unwillingly accepted Layton's command. However, as they neared the entrance it occurred to them that, for whatever reason, the bridge had been drawn. The explanation for this became clear once they questioned Franco, the one who manned the drawbridge.

"A thief, you say?" Layton rubbed his chin quizzically.

"That's right! I'm downright FURIOUS. What kind of jerk steals a crank, of all things!? Obviously someone who just wants to mess with my head!" The man was so furious he didn't regard Layton any further. The top-hatted man turned back to Luke.

"Well then, it seems we're stuck here until that crank pops up." Layton concluded. Luke became distraught.

"Oh no! The lunch I packed for us was in there!" Layton chuckled at the boy's trivial concern.

"It's no matter my boy. I'm certain the town offers everyday accommodations such as food and lodging, so we certainly won't starve!" Luke crossed his arms and pouted. Be that as it may, he had put his all into those sandwiches and was looking forward to eating them that day! There was little time to sulk however, seeing as Layton was already getting off the topic.

"Speaking of lodging, we really ought to secure a room at the inn for the night. Let's head over and take care of that before we resume our search for Claudia, shall we?" Luke nodded. The two of them headed towards the inn, which was not too far from the place they were standing. The owner of the inn, a stout and cheerful woman by the name of Beatrice, was prompt to greet the man and his young partner. After securing a couple of rooms, the two returned to their chase. Once they met a woman who claimed to have psychic powers, they finally gripped a promising hint: Cats are intelligent creatures. Like people, it's best to persuade them rather than use force.

"Of course!" Luke proclaimed, thumping his fist into his palm. The elderly woman smirked mysteriously.

"Lucky for you lads, I have just the thing to entice the kitty cat to you. But if you want it, you'll have to solve this puzzle for me." Layton solved the puzzle with ease, and in turn, they received the skeleton of a small fish, portions of meat still clinging to the bones. The rest was, as they say, history.

Luke held the now-tame feline, the sheer amount of snow-colored fluff almost overwhelming in his arms.

"Professor? Do you think we can get a cat when we get back to London?" Layton looked straight ahead as they walked, even after hearing the innocent request.

"I'm... not so sure about that, Luke." Layton declined, considering the well-being of his furniture and rugs among other things.

"Then..." Luke pondered, chin atop Claudia's cottony head. "How about a dog?" Luke's enthusiasm hindered the professor briefly, but nevertheless the sound of any animal in his house was less than tempting.

"Wouldn't you prefer something a bit... smaller, my boy?" Layton attempted to compromise as they entered the Reinhold manor, rather than outright crushing Luke's dreams. "For instance, a turtle?"

"A TURTLE? Of all things!? That's just about the most boring pet you c--" Luke was interrupted when Matthew rushed up in a panic.

"S-sirs! Something awful has happened!!"

"What seems to be the matter, Matthew?"

"There's been a murder right here in the manor! It... it was Simon... Sir Baron's nephew..." Layton and Luke both gasped. A murder? When--how had such a dreadful thing occurred in the short time they were gone? Matthew explained what he knew thus far and escorted them back to the parlor, where they were immediately greeted by a disgruntled man who introduced himself as Inspector Chelmey. He explained how one Simon Reinhold had been found dead earlier that day, and that everyone who had visited the manor, including Layton and Luke, were suspects. They were told that no one was leaving until they all had been questioned.

Patiently, they waited. One at a time, Chelmey called each relative and servant into a room, where they stayed for random lengths of time. To Luke's surprise, he even called in Lady Dahlia.

"Professor, I don't like that Chelmey fellow one bit," Luke started in a low voice, tugging on end of Layton's sleeve. "He sounds so brash! I can hear him yelling at each person he brings in there! Plus, he reeks of smoke! Blergh!"

"Now, now, Luke."

In time, Layton was called into the room as well. It seemed the inspector was saving him for last. As he entered the room he noted that it must have been the baron's study. Chelmey seemed to have made himself at home. The curtains were drawn shut and there was a half-full ashtray on the beautifully constructed oak desk that sat in the center of the room. The detective had his hands behind his back and his back towards the other man. An overtly dramatic pose, Layton thought.

"Have a seat, Mr. Layton."

Layton wondered briefly how the detective had acquired his name without a proper introduction, but supposed Matthew or one of the others had mentioned him and Luke before they arrived.

"So where exactly were you at 12:45 today?"

"Well, my assistant and I arrived in the village around 11 O'clock this morning. Within an hour we arrived here at the Reinhold manor, on business to locate the Golden Apple, but Lady Dahlia and I were only able to speak briefly about the matter. A loud noise frightened her cat and we were forced to chase after it. I presume we left around 12:15. We spent the next 3 hours chasing the feline around town, before finally arriving back at the manor. I do believe we were close to the inn at the time you mentioned."

"That's a likely story." Inspector Chelmey turned around, eyes granite and fixed on the man sitting in front of the desk.

"I... beg your pardon, sir? If you doubt my story, you can ask Lady Dahlia herself--"

"Nevermind. Tell me exactly what you did today. I want to know every detail and every location you visited. Witnesses names if you have any."

Layton told the inspector all that he could recall, or all that he was willing to recall. The questioning was more brief than he had expected, and soon enough everyone was out in the parlor again. All the suspects, and everyone was a suspect, seemed to be frazzled over the events of that day. Especially Lady Dahlia. Once Chelmey announced that it was fine for people to come and go, she headed back to her room.

"Professor!" Luke met Layton soon after he emerged. "The inspector didn't knock you around, did he!?"

"My--" Layton gave him a befuddled look. "...boy. I do believe you've been watching too much television." After assuring his apprentice that he was perfectly fine, he decided to speak with Lady Dahlia one more time before heading out. Once the permission was received, they entered Dahlia's room and found her to be visibly upset for being considered a suspect in such a heinous crime. Although she didn't seem too keen on talking, she did mention that one of her servants--Ramon---had vanished shortly after the murder. She then requested that they locate and bring him back to the manor immediately. Honestly. Luke and Layton both began to wonder if they would ever get around to the case of the Golden Apple. When the lady left the room, Layton began out the door as well.

"Professor, look at this." Luke was pointing towards a picture frame. Layton turned around, gave it a once over, and realized the photo was of the baron and his wife. They seemed to be beaming with joy, and rightfully so. In their arms they held a beautiful baby girl. Likely the same, teen aged girl that was portraited downstairs next to the painting of the baron.

"This must be the baron and his wife."

"I... I can't believe Dahlia is a mother. She's not at all how I'd imagine one. Plus look here! She looks so happy! I haven't seen her smile even once since we got here!" Luke placed his hands on his hips. Layton seemed to be contemplating Luke's logic. He gazed at the photo again.

"Now that you mention it, Lady Dahlia hasn't seemed to have aged at all since this photo was taken. If only I knew her secret."

"Professor." Luke's tone was scolding.

"What? I'm getting up there in the years and you know it."

"Sure, but you don't look a day over thirty" Layton smiled at the compliment. "seven." And then the smiled vanished.

"...Quite," Layton responded, raising a brow at the boy's devious smile. "But back to the photograph. Perhaps we could question Lady Dahlia? I'm sure she could tell us all about it and the little baby as well."

So question they did. After they found Dahlia out in the parlor and asked her about it, they were left with more questions than answers when she claimed that she never had any children. Pure curiosity driving them, they then questioned Matthew, and to their surprise they discovered that the woman in the photograph, as identical to Dahlia as she was, was not Dahlia at all, but the baron's former wife Violet. Apparently, they had a daughter together named Flora. Then, one day, after Violet's passing, the baron showed up with Dahlia on his arm. It was all truly baffling.

"MATTHEW!" Dahlia shrieked from the other room. "Come here this INSTANT!" Matthew cowered and began to dismiss himself.

"O-oh, there was one other thing, sir..." Matthew reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked to be a small cog. "This was in the room where Simon's body was found... I don't suppose it could be a clue?"

"Hmm. Interesting. We'll hold onto this and let you know if we come up with anything." With that, Matthew scurried off to tend to the lady.

As they left the manor, Layton jotted down what they had uncovered thus far, including the curiosities in the inspector's story.

"So what are we going to do now, Professor?"

"Well, it seems we need to put off the search for the Golden Apple a bit longer while we search for Dahlia's missing servant. Let's ask around town and see if anyone has spotted him."

Dusk arrived shortly. Layton and Luke asked around about Ramon, but it seemed no one had seen him since earlier that morning. As they neared the center of town for the second time that day, the professor heard a listless voice from behind.

"Searching for people sure is exhausting, Professor..."

"Shall we stop and rest, my boy?" Layton sympathized, wondering if all this running around was finally wearing on the boy.

"N-no. I'm fine! Although... my tummy has been grumbling for the past hour or so."

"Ah, yes. I'd been so absorbed in the task at hand I'd entirely forgotten about food! I could have sworn I saw a restaurant of sorts back that way. Let's head there."

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"It's not fair Professor... I thought we were supposed to be looking for the Golden Apple, but so far all we've been doing is running around for Lady Dahlia all day!" Luke blurted out after washing up and climbing into a chair opposite the archeologist. Layton smiled when Luke picked up the menu. It was so tall, or perhaps Luke so short, it hid his face entirely.

"True. But we must be patient. I actually have the sneaking suspision that this is all somehow connected to the case of the Golden Apple." Layton let his eyes fall shut as he sipped a cup of hot tea. It was simply divine.

"If you say so, Professor. Hmm... so, do you think that Ramon," Luke stopped and looked up when Crouton, the restaurant proprietor approached their table. "Oh, I'll have your corn chowder dish, the chip sandwich--may I have an extra side of chips with that as well? And whatever beverage you have that's really sweet! The chocolate fudge cake looks delicious as well. I'll have that after the main course." Crouton smiled and wrote the order down as quickly as possible. "What about you, Professor?"

Layton gave the boy a subtle look of disapproval before answering.

"I'll just have a salad and the vegetable soup. That's not made with meat stock, is it?"

"No sir."

"Splendid. That's all then, thank you." Once Crouton collected the menus and headed into the back, Layton eyed his apprentice once more.

"Your eating habits are atrocious, Luke. You didn't order a single vegetable."

"That's not true!" Luke retorted, nose high in the air. "There's corn in the chowder after all, isn't there? And what would you call a potato?"

"I'd call it a starch."

Luke's lips stiffened and his eyes squinted with anger.

"Don't lecture me like a child." The professor could only smile at that demand. If only the boy knew how often he actually forgot he was merely a child. As it was, he was clearly capable of carrying on a conversation about mature manners. Such as murder.

"Anyway, as I was saying! Do you think that Ramon could possibly be the murderer? After all, he's the only one who isn't accounted for..."

"It is one possibility, but we must'nt jump to conclusions without any evidence. Our number one priority is to locate Ramon. I'm sure he can answer our questions once we do.

The pair continued to talk even after their meals were served. The topics ranged from light banter to serious thoughts on what was to come. After a second cup of tea and witnessing Luke consume a nauseating amount of unhealthy food, Layton suggested they return to their search. Even though night had fallen.

The restaurant owner cleverly made a puzzle out of their check, which Luke solved with a little help from his guardian. On their way out, Crouton offered some advice.

"So you two heading out? Hey, be careful walking around with your son at night. They... say there's a kidnapper on the loose..."

"Oh, he's not my..." Layton paused, something clicking in his mind. "I beg your pardon? A kidnapper, you say?"

"Yeah... a lot of rumors have been going around about it lately. I don't really know much myself though. Just be careful, okay?"

When they finally left the restaraunt, Layton seemed to be deep in thought. Luke was concerned.

"A kidnapper, huh? Do you... do you think it's true? Could that be why Ramon went... went..." Luke started to yawn with awful timing. "Oh, I'm sorry! I still feel really tired for some reason..."

"It's a wonder why after all that junk food you ate."

"H-hey! I'm fine! Let's go find Ramon and that scary kidnapper!"

"My boy, I appreciate your enthusiasm. But it may be for the best if we retire to the inn for the--"

"Professor! Look over there!" Layton followed the finger that Luke threw out in front of him and spotted what looked to be an elderly man with a large sack on his back. "T-t-that man has a body in that sack!"

"Isn't that... Ramon?"

The old man jumped when he realized eyes were on him. Quickly, he dashed away.

"Quick, Luke! After that man!"

They gave chase down the dark streets, dimly lit by streetlamps and confused by several forks and pathways. Unfortunately, they lost him fast. It was simply too dark, and there were too many twists and turns. Within moments they heard that same deafening sound that startled Claudia earlier that day. Unsure of what to do next, they chose to backtrack to see if the man had dropped any type of clue. And indeed he had--another small cog, very similar to the one Matthew had given them earlier that day.

"Luke," Layton's voice was stern. "We must return to the manor and tell everyone about this at once. Something strange is afoot."

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"Kidnapped!?" The entire parlor seemed to echo the word.

"Are you sure!?"

"Yes, Luke and I were on our way back to the inn after searching everywhere for Ramon. Then, suddenly, we witnessed an elderly man carrying a sack with Ramon's body in it. We're looking at a kidnapping, and even possibly another murder!"

Gasps and words were exchanged between Dahlia and the others. Sadness, confusion, and suspicion dwelled upon their faces.

"Are you crazy, Layton!?" Chelmey seemed to fume. "This is MY case. Who gave you the right to play detective!?"

"Mr. Chelmey, there's no time for this. We must all organize a search at once and find the man who--" Layton stopped when the heads of all turned towards something behind him. He too turned to see what, or in this case, who had entered the room.

"Oh dear!" The purple-lipped man in red cried out. "What on earth is everyone doing here so late, ahoo hoo hoo?"

Everyone looked in shock. Luke frowned deeply and shouted: "What!? But you were... w-we saw you..."

Ramon stood there smiling, without so much as a scratch on him. But how? Layton and Luke both could have sworn the man they saw in that sack was none other than Ramon. He certainly hadn't look alive, either.

"Kidnapped, eh?" Chelmey glared daggers into the scholar, who happened to be scratching his chin in bewilderment.

"You were gone so long we thought you'd been kidnapped!" Dahlia shouted, waking the sleeping cat in her arms.

"Kidnapped? Heavens! What ever are you talking about, madam? I haven't left the premises at all today! Ahoo hoo."

Gaping mouths and unsure glances were exchanged before Chelmey decided to step in.

"See, this is why I told you to stay out of MY case. Don't you have some kind of...treasure, or something, you're supposed to be looking for? Quit acting like you're detectives. You aren't even close."

"Ah, yes. My apologies everyone. It seems we were indeed mistaken."

"Professooor. I know what I saw!" Luke said in a small voice, after catching the man's attention.

"Luke, we've had a very long day. Let's get some sleep and start fresh in the morning."

The pair left, albeit a bit ashamed and highly confused, and headed back to the inn. Something very strange was afoot indeed. That was more certain now than ever.