~Chapter 7: Lady of Danger
Our story so far:
Puzzle 004: Who finished when?
30 Picarats
"A gambler places a bet on a horse race, but the bookie won't tell him the results of the race. The bookie gives him clues as to how the five horses finished and won't pay the gambler off unless the gambler could determine how the five horses finished based on the following clues:
• Penuche Fudge finished before Near Miss and after Whispered Promises.
• Whispered Promises tied with Penuche Fudge if and only if Happy Go Lucky did not tie with Skipper's Gal.
• Penuche Fudge finished as many places after Skipper's Gal as Skipper's Gal finished after Whispered Promises if and only if Whispered Promises finished before Near Miss.
How did the five horses finish the race? Remember the results may include some ties."
"So Professor, what be your answer?" ask Gas Mask.
"I must confess; this is quite a mind boggler. But I believe I have the answer," said the very confident gentleman, "Whispered Promises came in first place. Skipper's Gal and Happy Go Lucky tied for second. Penuche Fudge came in third leaving Near Miss to bring up the rear in last place."
The leader snickers, "Impressive, you certainly have a knack for puzzles."
With a mere snap of his fingers to two lackeys release the boy's arms. He plops on the snow as the Professor sighs in relief however short it may be. For soon after he found his arms to be held back by the same men who imprisoned Lynal.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Layton could help but to raise his voice.
"I said if you solved the puzzle I'd let the boy go," Gas Mask explained, "I never said anything about your freedom. I bet Prime Minister Hawks would give anything to save your hide."
He holds the Swiss knife's blade to the side of his cheek. Layton grits his teeth trying to remain cool as cold sweat rolls down neck. Lynal; who has been frozen in fear for the past minute or so could stand it no more. Though still very tired he gets back on his feet and shouts:
"YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE YOU BIG BULLIES! WHY DON'T YOU JUST-"
Lynal couldn't utter the next word thanks to his nasty cough. Only this time it's louder and much more violent forcing him onto his knees.
Gas Mask moves his attention away from Layton but keeps the blade firmly by his cheek, "What wrong with him?"
"Wait a tick-"Shady shudders, "That's the same cough Joey had before he came down with-."
Then the two screaming yellow bellies drop Layton to hold each other, "MINER"S CHILL! RUN, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!"
They race out of the alley ignoring the barking of their head honcho. Layton takes this opportunity to rush over to Lynal's side. He tries to get the boy back on his feet so they could escape but his coughing paralyzes his tiny body. Its power and sheer thunder couldn't let him breath. The Professor clinches his teeth now fearful for the young lad's life.
Before he could lift Lynal into his arms the remaining thug grabs him by his oversized collar and pins him to the bricks.
"I won't let this window close on us!" He gets his knife reacquainted with Layton cheek.
The clang of metal suddenly rings down the alleyway giving Gas Mask a thousand yard stare. Layton regains his composure once the knife falls out his hands. He stares curiously as the gang leader wander off like the living dead.
"It's true what they said; trouble always finds those who search for it," He calmly turns to the direction of the voice finding the motherly Rouge caring for the recent unconscious boy, "You okay?"
"I'm well, only my pride is damaged," Layton tips his hat to her, "How is he?"
Rouge looks down at the boy in her right arm, "He's fine for the moment but his cough will need some tending too."
"Those 'men' claim that this boy has contracted the same illness that has befallen all the others," Layton pauses, "I know it's not deadly for adults, but for someone of his age-"
Rouge says what he is afraid to, "For someone of Lynal's age, it could be fatal. But don't worry the coughing spasm are only the first stage of the illness. It doesn't get worse till the second stage." Layton takes in a sweet breath of relieve, "Now if you'll excuse me I've got to get this little angle home. I'll meet you back at the inn. That is if you don't get into anymore mischief."
"Just a moment my dear," his words stop her cold in her tracks, "Theirs one detail that still puzzles me."
"What might that be?" her voice almost too soft to hear.
"That trick you pulled to stop the gang's leader. How on earth did you pull it off?"
"Oh that!" Rouge mood got cheerier, "It was just simple hypnosis; most of the laid off miners are getting paranoid and causing all sorts of trouble. So I gave them a little session." She puts Lynal down, wraps her cloak around him and picks up the pipe she place on the garbage can and give it the same ring. "It trigger by a specific sound and can only be snapped out of it by either the same of a different sound. By now Russell should be waking up to the sound of the jail door slamming."
"And 'Russell' agreed to this treatment."
"Not exactly, but it was the only thing that kept him and his friends from getting real jail time." She pauses for thought, "Mr. Layton, I know it might be hard to forgive them now. But you must understand, the people here are going though some really hard time and since no one can get financial help-"
The Professor had to interrupt her there, "What do you mean? Surely these people are getting medical and financial help." (Cut scene time~)
Rouge scowls "No our 'beloved' Hawks refuses to give out aid until the crisis in London is settled. I mean it's not like there was a large death count or anything. Most if not all the citizens were evacuated before the chaos started." Her voice gets louder and more annoyed, "And even if there was this crisis is a little more important. I mean there are innocent lives hanging in the balance and If Something Isn't Done SOON THEY'LL-!"
"Rouge, please calm yourself!" Layton steadies her shoulders as she catches her breath.
Rouge holds her head with her free hands, "I'm sorry -I- I don't know what got into me."
"It's alright my dear; actually I should be thanking you." Rouge curiously hums at his statement, "After all you did save us so it would seem I'm in you debt."
She wave her hand in front of him, "Don't be silly, I- I was only doing my job-"
Before she could speak another work Layton lightly grabs her hand in mid air. He leans down bringing the hand to his lips and gives a gentle kiss. Rouge swings her hand out of his grasp scaring him a bit by her speed. She fearfully holds her hand trying to conceal her deep red blush. She grabs the still sleeping Lynal and rushes out of the alley before Layton could say anything on her strange behavior. He runs off behind her but she disappears by the time he's out.
"How can a woman my age caring a child move so fast." Layton couldn't help but ask aloud.
"Pretty easy when you have her kind of experience." Nana calls out from behind. Layton head turns to the veranda and sees his daughter behind him and the sweet Mrs. Bella resting on the rail, "Hot head Oswald left with his pals and son ten seconds ago. So we thought we check up on you and Lynal."
"We're fine as you can see Mrs. Sanders is escorting the young lad home."
Nana couldn't help but giggle, "I wonder if she's taking the rooftops home today."
"How does one take the 'rooftops' home?" Flora ponders.
"Like I said before its easy when you have her skills," she plays with her glasses, "They say she's been around the world and back again and knows all sorts of secrets and skills that one thought was impossible to achieve."
Layton lets out a rich laugh, "If she ever joins Scotland Yard she might give dear Inspector Chelmey a run for his money."
"Well I hope she does, Life in a big city like London is just the life for our little Ruby-"She holds her tongue.
"Little Ruby?" Flora asks before Layton could stop her.
Nana sighs mournfully, "That was the nickname I gave her, everyone in town call her by that name. She loved that name more than the one her family did."
"Come now, one can't possibly despise their family that much." Layton retorts,
"I'm afraid she did, after all being the black sheep of the family is bound to bring angst."
Flora looks confused, "Black sheep…?"
"It means someone who stands out in the family and in doing so causes misery for said home. No matter how hard she tried that's all the poor girl did," Nana fixes her foggy glasses before continuing, "She failed her lessons from her tutors that her sisters before her blossomed from. Because of this she never gets along with them and constantly argues with her mother. No matter how much her father still loved her she would always try to avoid them by her attempts at running away and ours to send her back."
"Am I to understand that every citizen in town was responsible for her constant retrievals?" asks Layton.
"Yes, it was originally Oswald's job but after the first few times Ruby learned not to trust him. In the end everyone had to lure the girl home with false words and half hearted promises. Making her hate us…I was the last one to send her home."
Her voice wanders as her mind takes her back thirty years. The day seems like any other summers day. Little Ruby happily runs ahead completely ignoring the dirt on her baggy clothes. The young Nana Bella couldn't help but to smile at the (Oct 25th) young child's naïve ways. Rubina rushed back to her side and hum to herself.
Her humming mutes out as her home came closer into perspective. She slowed down her pace but Nana gently grabbed to hand to insure she kept moving. The closer they got to the gates the tighter she had to hold her arm.
"Mama Bella, why did you bring me here?" Rubina asks once they stop in front of the gates.
Nana turn her head away from the child's pleading eyes, "Because my dear, it's time for you to go home."
Rubina's light peach face turned ghostly white. She back away from her and into two miners. Each grabbed her by the arm and lifts her up in the air. She kicked and screamed trying to break loose but Constable Grover grabbed her legs and kept her still.
"You Tricked Me!" she screamed
"You hush up," Grover ordered losing his patience, "Do you know how much trouble you cause with your constant antics? Maybe now you'll stay home like a good little lady."
He gagged her with a white napkin and leads the girl to the house. Young Nana helplessly watched as they dragged her away like a common criminal. She couldn't bear to watch anymore when she caught Rubina's soulless teary eyes.
"That was the last time anyone saw her…before she drowned." Nana's story ends.
"How awful," Flora nearly shouts, "Poor Ruby."
Layton begins to make sense of his situation, "Is this is the reason the townsfolk dare not speak of the young miss?"
"Afraid so," Nana turns her head in shame, "We all blame ourselves for Ruby's suicide. All she wanted was to be free and we wouldn't let her spread her wings. Sometime I can't help but wonder what she would have grown up to be if she was still with us."
"I have a feeling you don't have to wonder much longer." His statement makes both ladies stare at him disbelieving.
"What do you mean?" Flora spoke first.
Layton tips his hat, "Someone with that much spirit and so desperate to fly wouldn't just throw their life away, at least not for real."
"Are you telling me our Ruby 'faked' her death?" Nana could hardly believe her ears, "She's still alive."
"Perhaps," he shut his eyes, "But I'll need to investigate a little deeper to confirm this. Mrs. Bella, would you know where the police headquarter is?"
Nana shakes her head, "If you going to look for Rubina's records you're not going to find them there. Old Venn Michelson stored those records along any evidence from her suicide case at his place."
"Do you know where we can find him?
She points down the same street Rouge disappeared into, "Head down this street and take a left, head past Lynal's home and keep going till you hit a large violet building."
"Thank you madam you've been most helpful," Layton tips his hat to her, "But before we go, I have one last question." Nana nods in approval, "Did your granddaughter catch a terrible cough before her tragic disappearance?"
"Well now that's an odd question," She quickly answers, "but yes she did have a terrible spasm when she came home from the temple that day. I could never forget how worried I was when she had trouble breathing. Come to think of it…"Nana pauses for thought, "I remember now, I was awaken by the sound of a new year on the night she dissapeared."
"The sound of a new year?" The professor urges for her to continue.
"You know the old bell over by Daji Shrine. We ring it three times to ring out the New Year. But lately someone been ringing it once a night, and it always seems to be just before a child goes missing."
"Thank you very much for that information. Have a pleasant evening Miss Bella."
Flora puts on her best smile, "Good night Nana, thanks for tea."
"Take care dear's!"
Nana wave's goodbye to the two until the winter wind drives her indoors for warmth. Flora notices how intense her mentor and step father was concentration.
"What are you thinking Professor?" Flora couldn't help but to ask.
"I'm beginning to see pattern taking place," Layton explains," Every night before a child goes missing the sound of the town's bell would ring throughout the town; a bell that is supposed to be rung only once a year. Also all the children who went missing had the first symptoms of the deadly illness."
"But why would a thief kidnap sick kids," Flora ponders, "It's not worth the money if he gets sick."
He smiles "I don't think its wealth he's after."
"What do you mean?"
"Try thinking of it this way my dear; what do your parents tell you to do when you're sick?"
Send you outside to play
Make you stay in bed
Throw a party and invite everyone.
(Though I have a little fun with this ^-^)
"They tell you to stay in bed and take terrible medicine," She answers.
"Precisely, it's common knowledge to quarantine the sick to prevent exposure to others and so their condition doesn't grow worse."
Flora seems to get the answer, "So he's 'quarantining' the children by taking them from their homes."
"Yes, a crude method but an effective one none the less," He said aloud.
"Oh!" A theory pops in the young ladies head, "Do you suppose he's using the temples bell as some sort of signal?"
Layton tips his hat to her, "You're spot on my dear. One person could ring the bell to tell the other when it safe to ascertain the children."
"Where do you suppose they took them to?"
"I'm not sure," he deduces, "But if what Officer Grover said is true the children are still somewhere in town…as well as the resident kidnappers."
"Oooo this is getting scary," Flora shivers at the thought.
"You know it would be much safer back at the hotel," Layton tries to persuade her; "You could always head back and wait for me."
"And leave you out here all by yourself, absolutely Not!" Flora became offended, "I promise Luke I look after you while he was away and keeping promises is the way of a proper lady, and a good friend."
He sighs, "Very well, just promise me you'll be extra careful. I…don't want any more losses this year,"
"I Promise," she smiles in victory, "Cross my heart~!"
"Well, shall we get going; we still have a long way to go and not a lot time to spare."
Flora nods with her rosy check and the two continue their journey down the snowy road. As Miss Bella predicted one quick left turn lead then down near the House of Lynal. They notice Rouge waving goodbye to little Lynal as his mother carries the sleeping prince inside. She lets out a big sigh and lowers her glossy eyes to gaze at the hand that was kiss upon but a quick shake of the head fixes it. With a hop on the box and one big leap she lands gracefully on the roof.
As fast and she landed her footing slips and she falls to her knees. Layton and Flora gasp in fear and she slide down the snowy roof. Luckily she regains some traction and stops on the gutters. She stands up and brushes the snow off her uniform, her smile looking more tired and faded than before. She rushes back up the roof and moves on without ever noticing them.
"Goodness! That was so incredible my heart nearly stopped," Flora shouts.
Professor Layton lets out a sigh of relief, "That was a bit too close for my taste. I really hope she's not the type that pushes her luck."
"I don't know Professor I think she knew she was going to make that jump," she disagrees, "Actually she kind of reminds me of you."
"Don't be ridiculous, I would never put myself in that sort of situation," He averts his gaze to the ground to hide his embarrass blush and then something caught his eye, "Hmm what do we have here?"
Layton walks straight over to the recently bounced box and kneels to the ground. From the snow he picks up a tiny red box. A slow lift of its rusty lid reveals an empty velvet pillow.
"A ring box," said Flora, "How did that get here?"
"I suspect it fell out of the dare devils pocket when she lost her balance," He deduces as he further examine the box, humming to himself.
"What's wrong?" said Flora.
The Professor closes the box and puts it in the jackets pocket, "Nothing my dear, but I believe we should keep going before we freeze to death."
Mystery 006: Rouge:
The only female officer in Stanton and one of the best knows the town like the back of her hand. Strangely she carries around an empty ring box that seems to have aged quiet a bit. What could she be hiding?
