How long had they been here? Hours? Minutes? Days?.
Luke was exhausted, both he and Evelyn had managed to free themselves from their bonds but that was as far as their success had gone. Since then, Luke knew how many bricks made up each wall, how deep the puddles were and yet, he didn't have the slightest idea of how to escape. Evelyn looked up at him, big brown eyes studying his mucky face. She noticed the purple bruise forming above his eyebrow and winced, holding her own head subconsciously. Luke sat down heavily on a rusty bucket, hanging his head in shame. He was the professor's number one apprentice, who fought every puzzle tooth and nail. This should have taken half an hour at the least. What was he to do?.
"It's alright Luke. You said you were looking for me, so that means there are others. They will find us you know" Evelyn kneeled in front of the boy, smiling despite the ache of worry she felt in herself. Luke watched her, fascinated by the freckles sprayed delicately across her pale face and how her red curled hair sat on her shoulders. He nodded, attempting to put a brave face on, just like his mother had told him on his visit to the doctors after a painful fall. His parents...did they know what had happened?.Before Luke could plunge further into thought, there was a loud thud and the metal door swung open, it's hinges creaking.A shadow stood in the doorway, blocking out the light, and in its hand was a book. The shadow began to read, words dribbling from it's mouth and onto the floor, like water from a tap.
"The jar of the Nile. Made from rare stones that men broke their backs to find. Moulded by the hands of the lonely and forgotten. Admired by Pharos and Egyptian queens. Property of Mr Vincent Clay."
At the mention of her father, Evelyn stiffened and crawled closer to Luke's side. The shadow waited, watched with cold unforgiving eyes, before moving into the dimly lit room. The book snapped shut. It looked cruelly at the children, a twisted smile was carved on its features. Doctor Fitz strode further into the room "Hello, Luke...not who you were expecting eh?"
-O-O-O-O-
"I have told you and I have told you.I don't know what you're talking about!." Doctor Andrews slammed the desk angrily "Yes that van is mine. Yes I do recall Veronica Finch telling me about some jar. No, I didn't assist or carry out the kidnapping of Luke Triton, Vincent Clay, Susan Clay or Evelyn Clay!"
Jack would not be put off "Look, I am not accusing you of anything at all, but I have a duty to the citizens of this city. The fact of the matter is, that Luke Triton was taken in a white van, almost identical to yours. Veronica Finch remembers speaking to you about the jar. You resisted arrest and now you're refusing to answer my questions!"
I rolled my eyes. This was not going well and, judging by the look on professor Layton's face, he did not like the guv's...interrogation methods one jot. I stepped in before Jack socked the simmering accused, "Doctor Andrews, please. You are not helping anyone, least of all yourself. Just tell me what you were doing on the day Luke Triton was taken."
Andrews sighed, removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I called in sick because...I was afraid."
Interesting, I prodded more "Afraid of what?"
"...I...I..." He hesitated, wiping beads of sweat from his brow "You won't believe me"
"Try me."
"I was afraid of...Doctor Fitz"
The professor stepped in, alert at the sudden accusation "Doctor Fitz? That kind man? He was the one who-"
"Directed you to me, yes. He...threatened to do that."
"Why?"
"Because I told him about V's jar. It was a simple conversation...I had no idea of what he was planning!."
"This is very important Doctor...what did he say?"
"He said that now was his chance to take revenge on the Finch family.I have no idea what that means, honestly!"
"And what did you do after he said that?"
"I asked him why he would want to do such a thing, especially to Veronica. He didn't really give me an answer, instead he said that if I breathed a word of it to anyone...he would make me pay"
"So...you told Vincent about the jar?"
Doctor Fitz began to sob "Yes...and now he and his family are missing.I knew what I had done as soon as the words left my lips. It's my fault, don't you see?"
I was shocked at the man's sudden change in behaviour and after sharing a look with the Guv, he hadn't seen it coming either.
I pressed him further, still uncertain if I should take him at his word "So let me get this straight. Veronica told you about losing information on the jar of the Nile. You then relayed that discussion to Doctor Fitz, unaware of what he was thinking. Now, he's decided to kidnap the Clay's and Luke."
"Yes."
"But you see that's what I don't get. Why would he kidnap all those people? He could've just taken the jar and left. Moreover, why does he want revenge on you and Veronica?"
Andrews shuffled under the guv's glare, scratching nervously at his arm. He spoke carefully, trying to keep his emotions under control
"Veronica...she belongs to a wealthy family. Unlike Doctor Fitz. In her younger days, Veronica was a nurse, known across England for her miracle working medicines. At the time, Fitz's wife - Laurie, was extremely ill. He took her 300 miles away from home to see Veronica. V tried everything but nothing worked. Laurie sunk further into her sickness and died 2 years later. Doctor Fitz became a bitter recluse, he couldn't understand why Veronica, with all her money and skill, failed to save his beloved wife. When Veronica moved to London, Fitz refused to be her doctor and so I was given the role.I have been her friend and doctor for a long while now, although I started to notice gaps in her memory. As did Fitz. He was sick of the office, wanted to be out as soon as he could. One day, he turned up at my house, drunk. He began rattling on about how we could bribe V to give us money, that because I'm her friend she would trust me. I refused of course, the idea appalled me! But Fitz was fuming, he kicked off, saying that I was a coward and that I had betrayed him."
The Guv was getting impatient, he leaned towards Doctor Andrews "Hurry up. I haven't got all day. What does Vincent Clay have to do with anything?"
"Vinc and I are best friends. We went to school together and I'm his daughter's godfather. Well, I told him what had happened.I needed to tell someone. Anyway, the next day he confronts Doctor Fitz about it, something he later regretted doing because...when he did that...he let it slip that he had bought the expensive jar that Veronica's book had described."
"Why did he kidnap them?"
"To keep me quiet.I wasn't supposed to tell you any of this. Fitz threatened that he would kill the Clays if I did. I was terrified, so...I said nothing. Then...you crawled out of the woodwork with your theories and questions. I knew right then, it was all over." That last bit was aimed right towards me and the professor.
Layton had remained silent as everything unravelled, until now, "Doctor Andrews, do you know where Fitz is keeping them?"
"I'm sorry, I don't." He sighed, a defeated man "Professor? Rachel? I want you both to know that I never wished this upon either of you. Especially Veronica and the Clay family.I hope you find them soon.I am truly sorry"
Doctor Andrews began to shake as uncontrollable waves of emotion choked him.I never imagined I would feel sorry for the man, but in that moment I realised why he had acted so arrogantly. To protect Veronica and buy the Clays more time. I left the room behind Jack. Upon reaching the guv's office, Layton was the first to speak "Well, that was a...revealing discussion. I do believe the man was telling the truth."
"You think?" The guv snapped, pouring himself a whiskey.
The professor recoiled at the man's harsh behaviour but said nothing. The silence weighed heavily on us, no doubt heavier still on Doctor Andrews. A clock ticked in the distance, a reminder that time was running out. The press had released an interview with the superintendent and by now, it was fast becoming common knowledge that police had arrested Doctor Andrews as part of the enquiry into the kidnap of the clays and a young boy. There was no telling what Fitz was going to do when it reached him.
The professor spoke directly to the Guv, his voice riddled with concern, face pale and hands shaking. He said one word, yet a word which said everything he was thinking all at once "Luke"
The Guv looked at me, then he grabbed the radio on his desk and barked orders into it "I want a team of 20 officers to be on standby. At my word you will arrest Doctor Fitz."
Static came in response, a dead radio was no use to anyone.
"Bleeding police radios!" The Guv shouted and stormed out of his office.
Before he could get to the door I called after him, "Guv, we can't wait. Let me and the professor go, I'll call you."
He hesitated, shifting his feet on the floor, no doubt arguing with himself. Then he replied with a level voice "Fine. You call me when you find them. Do not go in until I arrive on scene with backup. Be careful Rachel" he glanced at Layton "and you professor"
The professor nodded "Of course. It is my duty as a gentleman to protect those in my care, Detective Inspector Waterstone will be fine."
The Guv smiled slightly, clearly uncertain but there was no time to consult his conscience yet.
We ran down the corridor and out of the station, muttering apologies as we pushed our way through the crowds of P.C's. I jumped into an unmarked car. The professor sat in the passenger seat, the cogs in his trained mind whirling and clicking.I stepped on the accelerator and managed a giggle as the professor held onto his hat, as if it was the only thing preventing him from tumbling out.
"Where to?" I shouted over the roar of the engine.
Layton looked out of the window, face contorted in concentration "When we were attacked, I vaguely remember the van turning left when it sped away"
"Left..." I visualised the street layout in my head "That would take him to...Finch street and there's a factory nearby!"
"Finch street...hm, that's ironic"
"So ironic it makes sense right?"
"There's no time to waste. We should hurry!"