Chapter 7: Third Eye Jakes
Misthallery
While Emmy and Edgar were in London, Luke and Layton took the opportunity to investigate around the village. Layton was curious about how the residents of Misthallery viewed the Late Mr. Barde and began another round of interviews.
As they left the police station, Luke and Layton passed a streetlight that was horrendously bent out of shape. It was obvious that it had become damage by the Spectre attacks, but remarkable none of the surrounding area including the houses or the street had so much as a scratch.
"That streetlight must have been damaged by the Spectre," Layton mused out loud.
"Yes, It looks like it," Luke agreed, "the Spectre has attacked several times since Mr. Barde's death. Most of the houses have been rebuilt, but some things, like the streetlights, remain unrepaired."
Layton turned to look at the young boy, "Luke, do you remember all of the areas the Spectre has attacked?" Layton asked.
Luke shook his head, "Not off the top of my head, no," he replied before opening his shoulder bag. He rummaged through it for a moment and took out a brown notebook.
"However," Luke continued, "I have kept a record of every place the Spectre attacked." He gave the notebook to the professor who read a couple of the pages.
Layton's face was neutral as he read Luke's detailed accounts of the Spectre's attacks.
"I don't know what to say..." Layton said after a while.
Luke grew worried that Layton was going to criticise his note taking.
"What? Is it no good?"
Layton looked up and Luke a smile, "Luke, your organisational skills are quite impressive. I'm stunned!" Layton admitted happily, "This is wonderful data. This is the groundwork we need in order to make sound deductions. The more information we gather and cross-reference, the greater chance of us finding the truth."
"So it's helpful?" Luke asked hopefully.
"Extremely. Great work, Luke!" Layton complimented making Luke feel a little embarrassed, "Let's continue our investigation!"
They asked the local residents of the Upper Town when they happen to meet the police chief's son Hans. Hans looked to be in his late teens with short blond hair and very overweight. He had an aura of superiority in the way he talked, walked or did anything in fact.
"What!? You wanna ask me some questions? I know my rights, buddy," Hans said aggressively before adopting a smug tone, "You can't just go around asking questions! I can have my dad arrest you for that, you know?"
Layton didn't seem fazed by Hans tone, "I'm sure. Your father is highly regarded in town, yes?" Layton inquired prompting Hans to do one of his things: brag about his dad.
"Of course he is," Hans stated, rolling his small beady eyes, "My dad was the one who figured out that Barde committed suicide! Everyone was scratching their heads until my dad showed up!"
"So your father handles the case?" Layton asked to clarify.
Hans stretched a wide, disgusting grin over his narrow face, "You bet he did! He found the will and the eyewitness! If y'ask me, this town is pretty lucky to have him watching over it."
"Remarkable," Layton said, but he wasn't talking about the police chief.
"You bet it is," Hans bragged, before getting bored with the two and leaving unceremoniously.
Layton turned to Luke, "Luke, what do you know about a will or a witness to Barde's death?" Layton inquired.
Luke shook his head sadly, "I was worried about Arianna, so I didn't pay much attention to the investigation. Sorry," Luke admitted.
"I see," Layton hummed, "I hope Emmy and Edgar can dig up something for us."
After interviewing a couple more residents, the duo hadn't managed to get much information about Barde, while everything about police chief Jakes was everything they already knew including how Jakes found the eyewitness and Barde's will.
However, they did come across a tourist eager to get a glimpse of the project trying to find the Golden Garden. The dig team had left once the Spectre started to appear and work has been postponed since.
As an archaeologist, Layton found it hard to resist not visiting the site himself. Luckily, Luke told him that they were close by.
Their headed west of the Grand Plaza and passed some houses. They had to enter a narrow pass in a cliff side and once they stepped in it was almost as if they was no village a couple of meters back. They walked between two tall stone cliff edges cut out by the diggers. The ground of the pass had sunken in places and the route consisted of haphazardly placed wooden planks connecting rock pillars.
Luke explained that since the Spectre appeared, sinkholes have been appearing around town. Especially around the dig site. Layton hummed as he thought of the connection between the Spectre and the sinkholes.
Crossing the wooden planks carefully, Layton and Luke walked into a clearing. Patchwork tents and crates have been left over by the diggers in the clearing. At the far end was another pass which possibly led to the dig site itself. The only person in the clearing was a tall, skinny man with a sharp nose and sunken tired eyes. He was doing some paperwork when he noticed Luke and Layton.
He stood up from his foldable chair and went to greet them.
"Hey. I'm Nate. I'm on the dig team for the Golden Garden," Nate greeted playing with his green scarf.
"Dig team, you say?" Layton said looking around the clearing, "There doesn't appear to be any anyone else."
Nate sighed sadly, "Yeah. I guess now it's not so much a dig team as it is just a "dig". Everyone pretty much gave up."
"Things haven't been going so well?" Layton inquired noting Nate's sadness.
"If you go up to the dig site, you'll see I'm still doing what I can...which isn't much," Nate sighed again as he waved lazily for Luke and Layton to follow him.
The followed Nate through the other pass.
"So, do you think the Golden Garden is here." Layton asked as the group trudged towards the site.
"All I can say is that we dug pretty deep...and found nothing," Nate replied stepping over a large rock, "No evidence of any ancient civilisation... nothing. Some stories suggest that the Golden Garden is much older than civilisation as we know it. Perhaps it belonged to an age of giant animals and monsters who are no longer here to speak to us. Or something like that who knows? Maybe we just need to dig deeper," Nate explained enthusiastically before frowning as he remembered the disarray of the operation.
"There must be several water sources down there as well," Layton observed, "Do you think the garden is below them?"
"That is indeed one more possibility," Nate said feeling slightly happy to be talking to someone about it, "you never know what's down there."
Nate's sour mood seem to have lifted as he lead Layton and Luke to the dig site.
Outside Misthallery
Half an hour later
Emmy and Edgar had arrived at Misthallery. Emmy parked her scooter right next to small old fashioned red car. Edgar had spotted when they left, but was too wrapped up in his thoughts to ask Emmy about it.
"Emmy, who's car is that?" Edgar asked as he shakily got off the scooter. It was another rough ride and Edgar was very sure that she was doing it on purpose to mess with him.
Emmy got off after Edgar and took off her helmet, "It's the professor's car," she answered cheerily picking up her bouquet of flowers from the seat.
"That thing?" Edgar asked in disbelief, "it looks like it will fold in on itself if I lightly lobbed my hat at it," Edgar remarked.
They began to make their way to the library, "Your not keen on vehicles, are you," Emmy teased.
"Actually, I'm not keen about the person driving the vehicle," Edgar shot back making Emmy roll her eyes.
However, Emmy noticed something.
"Edgar what happened to your badge?" she asked looking at his jacket.
Edgar looked down as well, "What do you mean?"
"You're missing a badge," she pointed to a noticeable empty space on his jacket lapels, "the Pink Floyd one."
Edgar stared at his jacket and than looked back the way it came. He hoped to spot the badge lying on the ground and not anywhere that may be incriminating.
He was disappointed.
"Honestly Edgar," Emmy said in exasperation, "trainee detective and you didn't notice something, literally, under your nose."
She carried on walking to the library, but Edgar stared behind.
'This is fine,' Edgar nervously thought, 'it probably dropped off on the ride here, hopefully.'
Edgar followed Emmy to the library.
'Hopefully'
Misthallery Library
Layton sat at a table reading the Misthallery newspapers kept by the library. He hummed as he read each individual paper while Luke sat near him looking slightly bored.
After visiting the dig site, Layton had confirmed that the diggers have not found anything. At the site the conversion turned from the dig site to Luke's relationship with his father. Apparently, he hasn't had time for Luke since he became mayor and Luke was convinced that Clark Triton has doing something nefarious or he was possessed by the Spectre. Layton had calmed him down and promised that he talk to his father once they visited chief Jakes.
Currently, the duo were waiting for Edgar and Emmy for the police report.
"Very strange indeed," Layton commented closing the newspaper, "no mention of Barde's death in the newspaper."
"Well that's no help," Luke said as he slumped into his wooden chair.
"Perhaps not," Layton agreed with the young boy.
The library door opened and Emmy and Edgar stepped in. Layton perked up at the sight of them, but Luke hadn't noticed their arrival since he was sat facing away from them.
"How long should we wait for Emmy and Edgar, Mr Layton? Do you think they can even find the library?" Luke asked genuinely.
Suddenly, Luke's cap was snatched of his head making the young boy cry out in surprise. He turned around to see Emmy and Edgar, who was holding Luke's cap out of reach, smirking down at him.
"What was that, Luke?" Emmy asked teasingly.
"Emmy! Edgar!" Luke said in shock before he wore a sheepish expression, "Nice to see you!"
"You too, Luke," Edgar replied in a similar tone, "Sorry we're late, but we had trouble finding the big, scary place with all the books. What was it called again, Emmy?"
"Hmm I don't know Edgar. It would seem our little brains can't remember its name."
"Indeed, how weird," Edgar said giving Luke a glare.
Luke shrunk into his seat, "Heh heh... um, l'm sorry, you two. I was just joking," Luke nervously said.
Edgar ruffled Luke's hair before putting his cap back on.
"Hysterical, Luke," Emmy said sarcastically as the two took their seats.
"Sorry we kept you, Professor," Emmy apologised as Luke combed his hair back into place. The reason why Edgar and Emmy were slightly late was because Emmy had to ask Bucky to drop the bouquet of flowers at the hotel. She didn't want to mess them up during the investigation.
"Here are the materials you requested," she pulled the police report and the papers from her bag and handed it Layton.
"Thank you, you two. I apologise for the inconvenience. Especially you Edgar. I could see how much you wanted to keep Scotland Yard from knowing about this," Layton said turning to Edgar who simply waved it off.
"Did anything happen that needs to be reported?" Layton followed up.
Emmy and Edgar paused at the question. They turned to each other; not knowing what to say.
Edgar decided to own up to the incident earlier, but Emmy stopped him before he could say anything.
"No, nothing to report," Emmy informed making Layton nod in understanding before he turned to the police report.
Emmy and Edgar shared a look. Edgar looked confused, but Emmy gave him a reassuring smile.
Edgar returned with a thankful smile as they both enjoyed the moment together.
A curious look from Luke destroyed that moment as the two teenagers coughed in embarrassment and looked away from each other.
"Oh, Professor, I had my film developed as well," Emmy said pulling out the photos from earlier and laying them on the table.
Layton looked up from the report, "Good work Emmy," said before turning back to the report, "According to the police report, Barde died when he fell off a cliff," Layton informed as the others crowded around also trying to read the report.
"No sign of struggle at the scene. A will was discovered in his house," Emmy continued as she read over Layton's shoulder.
"That sounds... convenient," Edgar commented, "But it sounds like a suicide or accident."
"And look at this..." Layton pointed out, "According to the single eyewitness, there was no one else in the area. And the eyewitness was..." he paused for a second in shock, "Clark Triton."
"What!? My dad!" Luke shouted in shock making the librarian shhh him for making to much noise.
Edgar turned to the spectacled librarian in irritation, "There's nobody else here. Hush yourself," he told the librarian who gave an annoyed snort and mumbled something about teenagers having no respect.
"Did Clark ever mention that?" Emmy asked Luke in confusion.
Luke was still startled by this information, "This is the first I've heard of it! Mum never mentioned it either," he answered sadly.
Edgar read the report further, "In his will, Mr Barde left the rights to his land...to Clark," he said slightly perplexed.
"He left all of that property to someone he wasn't related to?" Why?" Emmy questioned.
Edgar hummed as a thought occurred to him.
"What's the matter, Edgar," Layton asked turning his attention to him.
"Well thinking about it, it's strange how none of the London newspapers mentioned any Spectre attacks in Misthallery," Edgar reported, "You would think something like this would be newsworthy. I mean, I only heard of it in my investigation brief at the Yard and even then it was pretty hush hush," Edgar lied as he wanted to keep up the act.
Although, Edgar did wonder why Scotland Yard haven't been informed of the Spectre attacks. Was somebody keeping from getting out of Misthallery?
"Speaking of newspapers," Layton said with a raised eyebrow as he lifted a newspaper up, "Why does this one not have a front page?"
Emmy was briefly surprised before turning to Edgar for an explanation. However Edgar was prepared for this.
He gave a faux surprised expression, "I don't know, it definitely had a front page when I picked it up," Edgar didn't technically lie, he just didn't tell the whole truth.
Layton hummed in curiosity, but seemed to believe him.
Layton stood up from his chair, "Let's confirm the report at the Misthallery police station before we jump to conclusions. Perhaps the police chief has returned," Layton suggested.
They made their way to the door. However, Edgar spotted Luke's concerned face.
"Hey," Edgar said softly catching Luke's attention, "don't worry. I'm sure there's a perfect explanation why your dad didn't tell you. We'll talk to him later and I'll demand explanations from him," he reassured the younger boy.
Luke seemed to lighten up a little, but was still feeling a little down.
Edgar sighed feeling sorry for Luke.
Misthallery Police Station
We find the gang crowded around the police station reception desk waiting for the officer to stop filling in his paperwork.
"You folks sure are persistent," the officer said finally noticing them, "Chief Jakes is back now," he informed the group.
The officer smile grew wide, "Our chief is amazingly talented..." he said almost dreamily, "Tell him I said so, will ya?"
"Kiss ass," Edgar mumbled so only Emmy could hear him. Emmy giggled gently holding a hand to his mouth.
The officer, who didn't seem to hear Edgar's comment, pointed to the hallway to the right of him.
"Chief's office is straight down the left corridor," he said before turning back to his paperwork.
The group followed the officer's directions down the hallway.
As Edgar was walking he couldn't help, but think something was missing. That's when he realised how quiet it was. There was no talking coming from the offices, no shouting from the criminals imprisoned, no photocopiers loudly functioning not even the scribbling of pen onto paper. The hallway itself was deserted of any life forms apart from a couple of potted plants. It didn't sound like a police station. It was too quiet.
Edgar looked around suspiciously, 'A monster is attacking the town and there isn't any sort of commotion,' he noted as he turned to Luke.
"Hey Luke, what did you say the chief's nicknames was again?" Edgar asked in a low register. For some reason he didn't want to break the still atmosphere.
"Well, he calls himself Third Eye Jakes," Luke answered as they stepped up to a door label with the chief's name.
"What kind of person calls himself Third Eye?" Emmy asked incredulously.
"Humility may not be the chief's strong suit," Layton responded, preparing to knock on the office door, "He sounds like an excellent detective, nonetheless."
Layton knocked gently on the door.
Edgar humphed critically as a deep croaky voice told them to enter.
The office seemed unnecessary big, even for the chief of police. The office was finished trophies and paintings and on the other end was a fire place. As they walked in they saw a large oak desk with two large standing flags on either side of it. The person in the chair was facing away from them, but as soon as Edgar closed door behind them the figure turned in his chair.
Police chief Jakes was possibly the fattest person Edgar had ever seen. His large stomach bulged over his belt and filled out his orange suit to almost bursting. He face reminded him of a toad (no offence to toads) and he had small beady eyes that looked at the visitors lazily. He seemed to have an ever present smug smirk on his wide face and he topped his look with a orange trilby to match his suit.
Jakes stood up and walked in front of the desk. He was much taller than Edgar was expecting as he stood about a head over Layton. The wooden floorboards squeaked loudly under his weight as he took a couple of steps to meet them. Edgar could of sworn he heard him chuckle menacingly as he approached.
"So you're the archaeologist who took it upon himself to investigate the Spectre, eh?" Jakes said lazily observing Layton.
"Yes. My name is Hershel Layton. It's a pleasure to-" Layton began before Jakes turned away from him to look at the others.
"Layton, huh? Never heard of you. How's your investigation going?" Jakes said looking from Luke to Emmy.
His eyes lingered on Emmy's chest for too long making her fold her arms in front of her and gave him a deadly glare. Edgar gripped his fist tightly as he saw this. He instantly didn't like this beached whale. Strangely enough Jakes seemed to ignore Edgar. Probably for the best as Edgar would of had no choice but to see if Jakes' face would of cushioned the blow of Edgar's fist.
"Well, we're just getting started, to be honest," Layton replied slightly uncomfortable by Jakes attitude, "Chief Jakes, did you investigate the death of Mr Barde last year?"
Jakes turned back to Layton, "No, we just let that one go. Hah!" Jakes laughed at his own joke which sounded toad-like to Edgar, "why? You think Barde's death has something to do with the Spectre?" he asked slightly accusingly.
"I believe there is the possibility of a connection, yes," Layton admitted calmly, "you determined that the death of Mr. Barde was a suicide. How did you determine that?"
"Because we found a will," Jakes replied plainly as if it was obvious.
"The mere presence of a will is not enough to indicate a suicide, is it?" Layton asked critically.
"No, it's not. Kinda like how a tall hat isn't enough to indicate a competent investigator," Jakes shot back.
"Or how a strong belt isn't enough to keep all your flab in," Edgar quipped earning a slight glare from Layton and snicker from Emmy and Luke. Edgar had hoped that would get a rise from Jakes, but he didn't seem to notice anybody spoke.
Edgar frowned in curiosity and irritation.
"I'm not challenging your judgement, Chief Jakes. I just need to confirm some facts," Layton defended himself turning back to Jakes.
"Confirm this: Barde threw himself off a cliff. We got a witness," Jakes declared matter of factly.
"Clark Triton was your witness," Layton confirmed.
"So you've done some homework!" Jakes said condescendingly, "Yes, Mayor Triton witnessed it while he was out fishing. If you got a problem, you can take it up with the mayor himself."
"I see. Thank you for your cooperation," Layton thanked Jakes reluctantly.
Jakes waddled behind his desk and slumped in his swivel chair.
"Now, why don't you go and dig us up some buried treasure," Jakes dismissed the professor as he shooed the group away with his hand.
"...quite," Layton replied. If Edgar didn't know any better he would say Layton was annoyed.
The group made their way out the door when Jakes chuckled darkly.
"Layton, you know why they call me Third Eye Jakes?" he asked with a smirk.
Edgar thought up an sarcastic answer.
(A.N He would of said it out loud, but than I would of had to put the rating of this story to up to M.)
"Yes I do. They call you that because you haven't left a single case unsolved," Layton responded firmly.
"It's because I haven't left a single— Yeah, that's right. And you know how I've done that?" Jakes asked slightly annoyed by Layton's guess.
"You lied about solving the cases to boost your own ego," Edgar suggested half jokingly.
For the first time, Jakes' beady eyes fell onto Edgar. Edgar was slightly put off by the chief's intense gaze.
And in a low threatening voice he said, "I've solved every one of my cases because I see..., " he leaned in closer to Edgar, "...everything".
"I see you outsiders crashing my little hamlet. I see the mayor's son running around with you outsiders. I especially see you, Mr Cipher," Jakes told them his smirk getting wider and wider.
Edgar frowned in concern. This is definitely a bad sign.
"With all due respect, Chief, we were asked to investigate the Spectre," Layton spoke up.
"Yes, by the mayor himself!" Emmy added fiercely.
"And I employed Edgar to help us in our investigation. I assure you he is no harm to Misthallery," Layton defended Edgar.
Edgar was slightly startled that Layton was lying for him. He didn't seem to be the type person who would do that especially for somebody he met just yesterday. It was nice of him, but he needs to do more to earn Edgar's trust,
"We should be going now," Layton said ushering the others to the door.
"Layton," Jakes called out making the professor stop, "I've got my eyes on you. All three of 'em."
Silence fell after Jakes said that. Both men seem to stand off against each other, neither backing down,
It was broken when Jakes spoke again, "I want you out of Misthallery, you got it?" he threatened in a low voice, "I'll give you 24 hours to pack your stuff, get in that funny little car of yours and go back to London."
The others were shocked by Jakes warning. Edgar was now regretting the decision to visit the chief.
"The clock is ticking, Layton. And this is not negotiable," Jakes continued smugly.
"You can't do that!" Luke cried, "that's not fair!"
Layton has had enough of Jakes, "Let's just go," he ushered the others again.
"Actually," Jakes called out once again, "Can I have a word with you Cipher?"
Edgar felt a cold chill go down his spine. He had a bad felling about this.
"No way!" Emmy shouted in irritation, "If you got something to say to Edgar, you can say in front of us."
"Yeah, Edgar is part of our investigation," Luke supported equally as determined.
"I quite agree, Chief," Layton agreed strongly with a small glare of his own.
Edgar was honestly touched by this. Nobody has ever looked out for him in his life and now he felt... what's that feeling... like he belongs somewhere.
'This is nice and all, but I have to leave them soon. I can't let them know who I really am. I need to keep on running, I... just can't stand to see their faces if they found out,' Edgar thought sadly. He didn't know why seeing them disappointed sadden him the most.
'I shouldn't care about them. Edgar Cipher does not care for anybody but himself. I do no favours for anyone,' he said to himself. However, Edgar couldn't but feel like that was a lie.
Edgar could see the Jakes was not backing down any time soon.
"It's alright guys," Edgar reassured the group, "I'm sure it won't take too long."
Emmy and Luke were about to protest when Layton shook his head at them.
"Are you sure, Edgar?" Layton ask in concern.
"Of course. I'll catch up later."
Layton nodded, "We will meet you at the Triton cottage," he told the teenage boy who nodded in reply.
After saying their goodbyes, Edgar was left alone with Third Eyed Jakes.
"So what's this about, Jakes," Edgar asked as he sat on the edge of Jakes desk checking his nails, "I'm a busy person."
"I sure you are," Jakes said grossly, "I just wanted to personally welcome a visiting celebrity, that's all."
Edgar was unfazed by this, "Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not that model voted most handsomest man in London. Can't blame you, of course, people make the mistake all the time."
Jakes chuckled, "You're a funny one. Do you use that humour when your escaping Scotland Yard's finest."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Edgar denied calmly.
"I can see tomorrow's headlines now, 'Misthallery police chief catches London's master thief' has a certain ring to it, don't you think?" Jakes smugly said causing Edgar to look up from his nails.
"It's a bit wordy, in my opinion," Edgar said with a shrug, "but what is really interesting is how someone like you knows that," Edgar pointed out standing up from the desk and turning to face the chief. Edgar's strong poker face competing with Jakes' ugly smirk.
"I have my third eye, remember," Jakes waved off, "but let's get down to the real business."
"It being?" Edgar inquired.
"You're going to answer every question I'll ask you. About Layton, about the investigation and I won't call Scotland Yard that I have caught their little thief," Jakes proposed, his smug smile widening.
"And why would they believe you?" Edgar shot back sceptically.
"I'm a respected police chief. If I said I've caught London's most wanted, I'm sure they'll listen," Jakes counted.
"Than I'll just run before they could get here," Edgar replied firmly.
"We'll put you in one of our best jail cell."
"I'm sure I'll escape from your "best" cell."
"Than I'll personally track you down and drag you back."
"You'll catch me. Hah, no offence mate, but you look like you'll have a heart attack just watching me run away."
"And what would your new friends feel when they'll find out?"
"..."
Edgar didn't say anything. He couldn't say anything.
Jakes noticed his hesitation and laughed loudly while Edgar harshly glared at him.
"What's this?" Jakes choked out between laughs, "Is the big, bad criminal scared that he'll make his friends feel sad?"
Edgar growled as Jakes continued to laugh in his face. After a minute, Jakes calmed down from his laughing fit as he wiped a tear from his eye.
"Well, since your not convinced by my offer. Why don't I send some...encouragement to your precious friends so-"
Edgar slammed both of hands on the desk, "If you so much as look at them I will-"
"You will what?" Jakes jeered, "what exactly will you do?"
Edgar was silent again. Jakes was right. He can't do anything.
"Tell you what," Jakes leaned forward in his chair, "if you sing like a canary, I won't mention anything about you to the Yard and I will come up with an excuse for why you ran away," he proposed. His smile expanding as he saw Edgar's defeated face.
"You don't have to tell me now. I'll give you 12 hours."
"12? It was 24 hours earlier," Edgar counted sternly.
"Consider this a special offer, boy." Jakes said, "If you don't get back to me by then, I'll call Scotland Yard, if you run, I'll call the Yard, if you try to get out of this... well you get the idea. No matter what you choose, your doomed."
He reached out his fat hand for Edgar to shake, "So, are you going to sing for me, canary?"
Edgar stared at the hand.
He was committed to helping Layton and the others and he couldn't jeopardise the investigation. Arianna is relying on them, on him. However, he can't go to prison. He's come so close to freedom. And although he wouldn't admit it, he really didn't want them to know he was lying to them.
'Come on, Edgar. Throughout you whole life you believed in there being another way. You'll find one, but for now you need to rely on your frien- allies,'
His mind made up, Edgar slapped Jakes outstretched hand.
"Listen here," Edgar growled, "they are not my friends. If they are anything, I am using them so I can get out of this bloody town. I do no favours for anyone."
Edgar knew it was harsh, but he couldn't admit they were his friends wether it true or not. Otherwise, he used them against Edgar. However, as he said that, he couldn't help but think back to earlier when he said that Emmy and him were friends and all the times he had enjoyed the group's company. The talks with Layton, his quip battle with Emmy, the puzzles he set out for Luke. It was the most fun he has had since... Agatha.
"And let me get this through that thick head of yours," Edgar continued, "call the Yard, don't call the Yard; either way I'm doomed so why don't you take that offer and shove up where the sun don't shine."
Jakes didn't seem to be taken back by Edgar refusal. He lounged back in his chair and chuckled darkly.
"Well, I tried to be nice," Jakes shrugged lazily.
Edgar headed for the office door. He just wanted to get out of there.
"Remember, boy," Jakes said making Edgar stop in front of the opened door.
"I'll always know what you're doing. After all, that's why they call me Third Eyed Jakes," he boasted proudly, chuckling grossly to himself.
Edgar slowly turned his head towards the chief.
"Oh really," Edgar said calmly, "well, unlike you Third Eyed Jakes, at least I don't need a third eye to see my own dick, you fat piece of shit."
Edgar slammed the door behind him and wondered what he has gotten himself into,
Jakes, on the other hand, startled to laugh quietly; celebrating his victory. His laughter, however, erupted into a loud evil cackle; rejoicing in his superiority.
Triton Cottage
The maid had let Edgar in after he told her he was with Layton.
The whole trip to the cottage was devastating. He couldn't help but worry for the others' safety and it was all his fault. He barely remembered the journey from the station to the cottage. Although, he did note that same grey mouse scurrying across the street. He couldn't wrap his head around why he keeps seeing that same mouse.
"They are in Mr. Triton's study upstairs," the maid told Edgar who nodded in thanks.
For now, he'll try to keep his mind away from Jakes and his third eye.
Ascending the stairs, Edgar could hear the voices of Layton and Clark talking. He followed the voices right at the stairs and left down a corridor. They were coming from, what Edgar assumed to be, Clark's study on the left and Edgar could hear them clearly now.
"...planned to oversee the land until they were of age," Edgar stopped as heard Clark talking. Were they talking about Arianna and Tony, "Unfortunately...it is unlikely that Arianna will live long enough to see that happen."
"So you know about her illness?" Layton inquired.
"Of course," Clark sighed sadly, "Tragic. I don't know what I would do if such a fate were to befall Luke."
Edgar head enough.
He slammed the door open; surprising the people inside.
"YOU KNEW!" Edgar shouted approaching Clark murderously, "You knew about the Barde children and you left them all by themselves! How irresponsible can you get!"
"Who the devil are you!?" Clark cried out, startled by Edgar, "How did you get in!?"
"Clark, this is Edgar Cipher who I was mentioned earlier," Layton explained as Edgar kept his glare on the bearded man, "he's been assisting our investigation."
"They are left alone up there! They could of been hurt! What you didn't have enough room in your cottage!" Edgar continued to interrogate Clark.
"The situation was out of my hands. Arrangements were made for them by the police, but I had no say in what happened nor can I do anything about it," Clark defended himself, slightly irritated by Edgar's accusations.
Edgar sighed and calmed himself down, "I'm sorry, I've had a... stressful meeting with the police chief," he apologised.
"Is there anything to report?" Layton asked in concern.
Edgar hesitated a little before answering, "Nothing, I couldn't handle. He just wanted to ask some questions, that's all," Edgar sighed stepping back into the corner of the study next to Emmy.
She gave him a worried look, but Edgar shook his head to say he'll talk later.
"Although, I must admit that I was surprised Barde didn't make provisions for the children," Clark said continuing to talk about Arianna and Tony.
"And do you agree with Jakes' conclusion of Barde's death?" Layton inquired,
"Well, he is much more qualified to make that judgement than I. They call him Third Eye, after all!" Clark replied although he seemed slightly nervous.
"What did I miss?" Edgar whispered to Emmy.
"Nothing we didn't already know," she answered quietly, "Clark saw a figure fall from a cliff, but didn't know it was Barde until later."
Edgar sighed in frustration, "We're just going around in circles," Edgar muttered. Emmy couldn't help but agree him.
They turned back to the tow men's conversation.
"Hershel, the man has practically eliminated crime in Misthallery," Clark defended Jakes.
"Doesn't that sound suspicious," Edgar commented, "a zero crime rate is impossible even for a village like this."
Layton nodded in agreement, "Some cases are deceptive. If the criminal confesses, the complaint is withdrawn. Case solved. It's a common pattern among solved cases."
"Meaning Jakes might not be as great of a detective we first thought," Emmy finished, causing Clark to frown as he thought it through.
"Hershel..." Clark said after a minute, "you don't think Jakes had anything to do with Barde's death, do you?" he asked with uncertainty.
"Would Master like to have his dinner now?" a voice startled them and stopped Layton from answering. They turned to see the Doland, the Triton's butler, had entered the room.
"Bloody hell, mate! Where the hell did you come from?" Edgar exclaimed. He didn't notice the butler come in at all.
"Doland!" Clark cried, "You gave me quite a start! How long have you been there?"
"Only moments, sir. I apologise if you did not hear me knock. Am I disturbing the master?" Doland replied calmly, unfazed by Edgar previous exclamation.
"No, no... of course not," Clark said hesitantly.
If Edgar didn't know any better, he would say that Clark was weary of Doland. What does he not want Doland to know? Is Clark hiding something?
"Yes... dinner would be splendid! Hershel, Emmy... Edgar, you will join us, and I will not take no for an answer!" Clark announced eagerly, "we have several aged wines in the cellar, Hershel. Perhaps you could go down and select a bottle for us!"
Layton seemed surprised by what Clark said, "You want me...to pick a wine?" he asked in slight confusion.
"Perhaps the master would prefer I select a wine to go with dinner," Doland offered with a small smile.
"Oh no, no. Our friend Layton is quite the wine aficionado. Isn't that so, old boy? Hershel, please," Clark insisted stopping Doland in his tracks.
"Well, I... it would be my pleasure. Where is the wine cellar?" Layton replied happily getting over his confusion.
Doland said nothing.
Layton, Clark and Doland stood off against each other and everything went quiet.
The tense atmosphere was broken by Edgar.
"This has got to be the poshest Mexican stand-off I have ever witnessed," he commented.
Wine Cellar
Layton, Luke, Edgar and Emmy are looking around the cellar trying to find something. Layton had told them how strange it was for Clark to call him a wine expect considering it was a never an interest of his. He proposed that, perhaps, Clark wanted them to find something hidden in the wine cellar.
"Looks like a normal cellar to me," Emmy said giving up the search, "What are we supposed to notice?"
Layton turned to Luke, "Does anything look out of the ordinary to you?" he asked.
"No, not really" Luke admitted, "Actually, the cellar has been off limits lately, so I can't say for sure."
"Off limits, eh? Did you get caught down here scarfing fruit tarts between meals, Luke?" Emmy teased with a small smirk.
"What!? No!" Luke exclaimed and then in a quieter voice, "They were eclairs," he admitted shyly causing Edgar to chuckle.
"You know I never really got wine," Edgar said as he examined a dusty wine bottle, "rich people pay hundreds of pounds just to collect them and never drink them. Honestly, anybody who is willing to pay more than 5 quid for a bottle of rotten grape juice is an idiot and should be treated as one."
"Shh! Quiet," Emmy hushed suddenly.
"Oh don't tell me your into wine, Emmy," Edgar groaned, trying to find a way to steal a bottle or two to sell later.
"Not that," Emmy retorted, catching Edgar's attention, "I thought... I thought I heard something. Maybe I imagined it," Emmy said looking around in confusion.
Edgar was about to ask what it sounded like when Doland step through the cellar door.
"Professor Layton? Is there anything I can do to help?" the butler asked politely, looking down from the wooden steps.
"No, we're fine, Doland. Thank you," Layton replied as Edgar put the bottle back on the rack deciding it wasn't worth it.
"Doland," Layton asked as he ascended the wooden steps towards the butler, "did you happen to know Mr. Barde as well?"
Doland's face saddened at the mention of Barde, "Yes. I know it isn't kind to speak I'll of the departed..." he looked around, "but Mr. Barde was a man who changed exorbitant rents to those who lived on his land. Some believe it was not suicide, but rather that he was thrown from the cliff by an angry tenant. Surely a cultured man like yourself is aware how the local will gossip."
"It's unfortunate that that is how Barde is remembered," Emmy said sadly.
"I'm more worried about his children," Edgar mumbled as he climbed the stairs.
"Most everyone knew him, and most everyone despised him," Doland gravely said, but his tone changed suddenly, "Oh, but I do prattle on. If you have selected a wine, I can carry on with preparing dinner."
"Doland?" Luke said catching the elderly butler's attention, "Has my dad seemed... normal to you lately?"
"He has been rather preoccupied, I would say. He has been spending much of his time in the study," Doland answered honestly.
"Yes, clearly Clark has other matters at hand. Let's get going," Layton suddenly declared.
"Hey, what about dinner!?" Edgar exclaimed, not liking the fact he's missing a free meal.
"We'll have to do it another time," Layton said before he turned from Edgar to Doland, "Please give my regrets to Clark." Layton passed the Doland out of the cellar.
"Thanks for your help, Doland," Emmy brightly thanked as she followed Layton.
Edgar just grumbled in annoyance as he and Luke passed the butler.
"Of course. Do be careful," Doland called out after them.
The group left the cottage and headed back into town.
"So, what do you think, Professor?" Emmy asked.
"Between our trip to the library and Clark's story, there are many questions about Barde's death," Layton responded, "This, coupled with the Spectre not being reported outside of Misthallery, troubles me. It would appear that someone is carefully manipulating information about these two events."
Emmy shook her head in disbelief, "A falsified report and a cover-up conspiracy! This is shaping up to be quite a case! But who is capable of doing this?"
"Who do you think," Edgar said, "It's Jakes. He's the only one who can do any of this. He's like the fat, warty toad sitting on a lily pad controlling the entire pond and polluting it with his own filth; choking and slowly killing the entire ecosystem until it becomes nothing but a soulless husk of its previous self and blindly follows the toad's every command," Edgar darkly said as he looked at the ground with a scowl.
He noticed the pregnant silence and looked up to see the others staring at him with worried looks.
"...or something on those lines," Edgar coughed in embarrassment rubbing the back of his head.
"That was very...poetic," Layton observed hesitantly, "But Edgar is correct, Jakes is the only one in this town capable of both," Layton agreed while Luke nodded as well.
"He's a public servant! That's unforgivable!" Emmy exclaimed in shock. She always believed in the police to uphold the peace.
"Corruption in the police. Who would of thought?" Edgar sarcastically quipped, rolling his eyes.
"However, there is no doubt that Jakes is withholding information. We need to find out more about him," Layton suggested as they headed further away from the cottage.
Standing on the path a couple of meters in front of them is somebody Edgar recognised and hoped he wouldn't see so soon. She was a slender lady with shoulder length red hair in her early thirties. She wore a blue suit and a matching wide brim hat and round golden earring. Edgar would say she was pretty and would definitely flirt with her, if it wasn't for one small thing.
"Oh, Inspector Grosky! Your muscles glisten in the country just as they do back in London! How dreamy!" the lady sang as she twirled around and grasping her hands in a love sick way.
This was Hannah and she is deeply in love (obsessed) with Inspector Grosky. She follows Grosky like a moth to flame everywhere he went declaring her love to him. He had seen her occasionally pursuing Groksy while Grosky pursued Edgar through London. Whenever Groksy would fall in one of Edgar's pre-made traps Hannah would chase after Edgar in his place and for some reason he had more difficulty losing her than any other officer in the Yard. She had some unknown strength easily disguised by her slender frame. Edgar was slightly more afraid of her than of any of person.
Seeing her here was bad news as it meant Grosky was nearby.
'But how did he know I was he...' he felt where his missing badge should be.
'That might explain that,' Edgar thought dryly.
"Hannah!" Emmy cried out in surprise, "What are you doing here?" Emmy asked in confusion.
"You know her?" Edgar asked Emmy.
"I bumped into her while we were in London," Emmy explained in a tone that suggested it wasn't a great meeting.
"For Grosky, I would walk on coals to get here," she declared joyfully, "But I just took a taxi."
"And what up is the inspector doing in Misthallery?" Layton asked both Hannah and to a lesser extent Edgar.
Edgar just shrugged to show he was equally as confused whilst hiding the true reason.
"I believe Grosky is searching for someone," Hannah answered eagerly, "He said something about a lead in Misthallery and I followed him afterwards. He was even more determined than usual. I wish he would search for me with that kind of passion," she proclaimed with a wide smile as hearts appeared in her eyes.
"So he's in Misthallery now?" Edgar had to ask, trying to keep his calm appearance.
"No," Hannah replied sadly, the hearts in her eyes disappearing.
Edgar sighed in relief. He still had time.
"I believe my love has gotten lost on his way here and I'm waiting for him," Hannah explained.
"Than where is he?" Luke asked curiosity.
"Well," Hannah said pulling an electrical device out of her handbag and pushing a couple of buttons.
'Is that a tracking device!?' Edgar, Emmy and Luke exclaimed in their heads while Layton hummed in concern.
"It would appear that he's in Newcastle," Hannah declared happily making the group sweatdrop.
"He's more than lost. He's ran right past Misthallery by miles," Emmy said with a raised eyebrow.
"Well thank you, Hannah. We should be going now," Layton thanked and led the others around the love sick woman.
She didn't seem to notice their departure as she day dreamed about Groksy.
"Edgar do you know why Groksy is coming to Misthallery?" Luke asked the teenager catching the attention of the others.
Edgar decided to play ignorant despite how much he hated lying to Luke.
"No idea. He's very...unpredictable," Edgar responded not looking at them.
Emmy and Luke seemed to believe him, but he could feel Layton inquisitive gaze on him before he turned around as well.
Jakes offer rang through Edgar's head.
'He was right,' Edgar thought in worry, 'I'm going to get caught if I stay here to long. I could already sense Layton trusting me less and less.'
The dusty ground path turned into cobbled stones as they entered the village. They passed a group of local residents when two burly men, one who was thin with with blue lips and the other much fatter and bald, stepped out of alley and blocked their way.
"What's this?" Layton said as Edgar looked behind him to see two more burly men one with red hair and sunken eyes and the other was tall with tattoos over his face. They stood menacingly and Edgar could tell they were poised to attack them. It looked like they had walked into an ambush. Sensing danger, innocent residents ran away from the scene.
Emmy stood in front of Layton and Luke and facing the thugs in front while stood facing the thugs from the back.
"Gentlemen, I hope we're not going to have any trouble here," Emmy said warningly, staring down Baldy and Blue Lips.
"Yeah, we wouldn't want anybody to get hurt now, would we?" Edgar added, starting at Red Head and Tattoos.
Layton had dragged Luke to the side of the street, not wanting him to be caught up in the fight that's going to happen.
Blue lips and Baldy smirked frighteningly and charged at Emmy while Red Head and Tattoos ran towards Edgar.
Edgar and Emmy gave shared confident smirks before running towards their attackers.
Edgar took off and threw his flat cap at Tattoos face distracting him temporarily. He dodged under a clumsy right hook by Red Head and jabbed him hard in the stomach. As Red Head doubled over in pain, Edgar held his head in place and kneed him straight into the nose. Edgar could feel his nose break from the impact. He finished him off by sending a right haymaker to side of Red Heads face sending him to the ground.
Tattoos has recovered and aimed a punched at Edgar's face. Edgar sidestepped the punch, grabbed his wrist and the back of his head and used his own momentum to send his face slamming into the pavement knocking him out.
Edgar looked up to see how Emmy was doing. She had already taken out Blue Lips as he lay on the street clutching his stomach and withering in pain and she was in the middle of flipping acrobatically over Baldy and sending a sharp kick to his liver.
Edgar was slightly dazzled by her fighting skills that he didn't notice another thug with missing teeth and clutching a knife in his hand.
Emmy noticed though.
"Behind you!" she cried as the thug made to stab Edgar in the back.
Edgar spun around and grabbed his wrist before he could do any damage. Squeezing his wrist, the thug dropped the knife on the ground. The thug looked up in pain at Edgar's smirk before Edgar slammed his forehead onto the thug's nose making him fall back onto the street. Edgar reckoned he knocked more of his teeth out with the last.
He turned to see Emmy, having picked up his cap from the ground, giving it to back to him. Putting the cap back on his head, Emmy and Edgar high-fived each other in victory.
"You were good, princess" Edgar commented.
"You weren't so bad yourself, pig," Emmy replied with a smirk.
Layton and Luke approached the two teenagers, "Emmy, Edgar, your methods are unorthodox, but very effective," Layton said.
Emmy smiled, "Thanks! Whenever you need a little muscle you just let me know Professor," she happily declared flaming her right arm.
"And I... just like beating people up," Edgar added with a shrug.
"I'll keep that in mind," Layton calmly said.
Luke looked at the thugs laying knocked out on the ground.
"Who are these men?" Luke asked, "Do you think Jakes sent them after us?"
"Looks like Jakes didn't want to wait the full 24 hours to get rid of us," Emmy said.
Edgar couldn't help but feel responsible for this. Jakes mentioned how he would send encouragement and he did.
Luke might of gotten hurt.
Maybe he did have to leave sooner rather than later.
"Was Mr. Barde...killed by these thugs?" Luke asked angrily.
"Unfortunately, we can't say for certain," Layton said doubting their involvement in Barde's death.
Edgar didn't listen to the rest of the conversation.
'Is Jakes going to send more people for them? What happens if something bad happens to them and I can't prevent it?'
He paused for a moment considering his option, 'Ok forget about Layton, Emmy and Luke. You need to focus on yourself. I don't know them, I don't need them. Why should I feel responsible for...' he sighed to himself.
'I'm lying to myself. I could of left at any time, but I haven't. The reason why I've started is because I don't want to see them hurt. They are not safe when I'm here, Jakes will keep on sending more people.'
He remembered what Jakes had said to him.
"I'll always know what you're doing. After all, that's why they call me Third Eyed Jakes."
Edgar came to a decision.
"Edgar are you alright," Layton asked in worry. Edgar was just staring away from the group and hasn't turned around. He hasn't spoken in a while and the others are starting to get concerned.
"I need to leave," Edgar quietly said.
"I beg your pardon," Layton asked. He thought he heard him incorrectly.
"I said..." Edgar started as he turned around and gave the group a stern and serious look. It looked wrong on somebody like Edgar.
Edgar could feel his heartbreak when he uttered the next sentence.
"I need to leave Misthallery, now."
And cut! It takes so long to write these chapters, but it's worth it. If you don't recall what the Golden Garden was (I don't blame you btw) I believe Edgar mentions it in chapter 1 when he meets Layton and Emmy for the first time. And if you are offended by the swearing in this chapter than I'm sorry. Thanks for all the support and I'll see you next time for the next chapter.
Next Time: The group come face to face with the Spectre again.
