Long time, no see, everyone! I hope you have been doing well.
Life has been rather hectic the past month, but I will try to update as often as I can. With that, enjoy this chapter!
-Chapter Three: The Stolen Kiss, Part One-
Katrielle leaned her head into her free hand, as she looked on at the mess of maps, notes, and textbooks in front of her.
"A building with tall ceilings, a courtyard, and within a three hours' drive from London..." she muttered, recounting Flora's part of the story behind their father's disappearance.
"Does that really narrow things down?" Sherl asked from his basket bed, where he had been watching her study for the past hour.
"Not completely." She confirmed. "There are many places that match that description, as it turns out! It will take forever to go to each and every one of them."
Their discussion was cut short as the door nearly flew open as an ecstatic Ernest rushed in.
"Miss Layton! Miss Layton!" He exclaimed, hardly able to contain himself.
"Goodness, what is it, Ernest?" Kat couldn't resist asking as she got up from her seat.
"I know you won't believe this, Miss, but...I've won!" The teen happily cried, as he reached into the side pocket of his backpack. "A pair of tickets to the exclusive pre-screening of 'A Naval Advance: No Sub for Love'."
In an instant, Sherl's ears perked up. "Uh, Pinstripes?"
"So I was thinking you and I could go together, maybe?" Ernest asked, shyly.
"Pinstripes?"
"I mean, um...Well, not as a work thing..." he continued.
"PINSTRIPES!" Sherl barked, which finally got the teen's attention. "Does that film involve a boat? One that sinks?"
"C-Certainly." Ernest replied, surprised by the question. "I, uh...don't know if it sinks though-"
"Did you already forget what Kat's sister told us the other day?" The mini basset interrupted.
It took exactly two seconds for the dog's hints to click.
"Oh my goodness. Miss Layton, I am so sorry! I completely forgot about that part." He stammered as his hands waved about.
"Ernest." Kat finally answered. "It's quite alright, really."
"No, no it isn't. I should've remembered, that your mother-"
"I've seen other films about a ship, and those didn't bother me." added Kat. "It's more of when I'm on an actual ship."
"Oh." Ernest blinked. "What happens then?"
"Seasickness, mostly." She stated. "I suspect that's why..."
"So, you would be alright with going?" He asked, with a hint of hesitation. "If at...any point you'd rather not, I know of a quaint café just a short walk from the Saveloy."
"What's that? A famous cinema?" Sherl asked.
"Rather!" Ernest exclaimed, before he began rambling. "The Saveloy Theatre is known by film buffs all over the world! It started out as a run-of-the-mill cinema, but about ten years ago, there was a huge renovation and it was turned into a luxury theatre. Since then, it's attracted all manner of cultural figures and celebrities from London. It's considered the heart of British cinema now!"
"Really? The cinema of choice for London's elite?" Kat inquired. "Now I'm interested! A preview screening at such a prestigious location is going to be a big event, obviously."
"Oh it is!" Ernest confirmed. "I heard that as well, as the lucky winners like myself, all sorts of VIPs have been invited, too."
"Really? Well, then, what time does it start?" She asked.
"Tonight at 6:00 p.m., Miss." said Ernest, before he caught a glimpse at the wall clock, which had read 5:32. "Golly, we don't have much time!"
They had just barely enough time to dress up for the premiere, and rush to the nearest available train.
"Here we are, Miss." Ernest said, as they emerged from the Underground station. "The Saveloy!"
Kat and Sherl stood in amazement. It certainly was as luxurious as Ernest had described, what with its tall windows and bright neon lights. Across the front brick wall, there were posters advertising the film premiering that night, in addition to the large display above the sign.
"It is grand, isn't it?" Kat remarked, while shielding her eyes from the lights. "Gaudy, even!"
"I've never been inside before, actually." Ernest stated, as he took Kat's free arm into his. "I'm, I'm a little nervous."
"It's only a cinema." Kat commented.
The three crossed the street and made their way to the entrance, which was crowded with fellow film attendees; some of whom, like Ernest, were also winners of the contest. Of course, the closer they got to the door, the harder a time Sherl was having in trying to keep up.
"Agh, slow down, Katnest!" He barked, though he was sure they might not have heard him.
Soon, he couldn't see them at all. And with so many people around, he couldn't exactly navigate and search for them himself.
"Kat? Pinstripes!" Sherl yelped. /Ugh, if only humans weren't so tall!/
The more he panicked, the less attention he paid to his surroundings, bumping head first into a set of human legs.
"Ugh, did someone really bring their dog here?" A woman's voice spoke aloud, possessing an accent different from the ones Sherl had long been acquainted.
"There you are!" Kat and Ernest said near simultaneously.
As Ernest plucked the mini basset up off the ground, Sherl saw the owner of the voice was a woman about Kat's age, but with tightly curled dark brown hair, and olive skin. Much like his own humans, she was dressed in formal attire.
"Oh, it's you." She spoke in a tone that was less than inviting when her eyes fell on Katrielle.
"Hm?" Kat raised an eyebrow in response.
"You're that so-called detective who thinks you solve cases with gut feelings and instinct, aren't you?" The woman asked with a scowl.
"Well, all of the greats each have their own approach!" Kat remarked, pretending not to notice the other woman's demeanour.
"Have you two met before?" Ernest asked Kat.
"Not that I can recall." She answered.
"I'm Emiliana. Emiliana Perfetti." The other woman answered. "For-"
"Here they come!" A member of paparazzi shouted as the doors of the Saveloy were opened to their fullest.
Emerging from there was a rather short, pudgy man with lightly tan skin, and greying hair. He wore a cream and yellow suit, a matching fedora, and carried a walking stick. With him, in addition to an employee of the theatre, were two other men, both about as tall and roughly the same age as he was, save for the aforementioned employee who was much taller.
The first of these other two, was an axolotl looking type of man with a broad wavy brown moustache and a bit of an overbite. He wore a fuchsia suit with a matching flat cap, and a blue bowtie.
And the second had a wide, disc-like jaw, round nose, and bushy eyebrows. His outfit was more simple and subdued compared to the others', consisting of a dark grey jacket, tan trousers, and a flat cap that matched the jacket.
"Gosh, I don't believe it." Ernest's voice rang with excitement. "Maverick D. Rector and Eddie Torre! The Dynamic Duo of Film!"
"Wait, those are their names? Seriously?" Kat whispered, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, not legally, no." He sheepishly replied. "Anyway, I have most every single one of their films! And tonight, we're finally going to meet them in person!"
The crowd was then hushed before the director began speaking.
"Hello, and welcome, to everyone attending tonight, to the premiere screening of A Naval Advance: No Sub for Love." The man called Rector started off. "Thank you all for coming, and I hope you will all enjoy the film. Now, the screening will begin soon, so would the winners of the contest please approach the doors first?"
Said winners, including Ernest and co. were then organised single file, presenting their tickets to the employee -the ticket-master, as it turned out, while meeting and greeting with Rector, Torre, and the third man. All the while in line, they stood behind their new acquaintance.
"Emiliana Perfetti." She replied in response to the greetings and inquiry to her name.
"Emiliana! That's a fun name to say." Rector remarked. "Enjoy the show!"
"Nice ta see you, Miss Perfetti!" The third man greeted her.
"Likewise, Mr. Barnone." She replied.
Ernest breathed deeply before stepping up to the people he admired.
"Oh, Mr. Rector! Mr. Torre! My name is Ernest, I am such a huge fan of your work." He started off rapidly.
"I can see that, you're shaking quite a bit." Torre pointed out. "Must be a big night for you!"
"Yes, very much so." He nodded, as he handed his tickets to the ticket-master. "I'm, I'm here with Miss Katrielle Layton, of the Layton Detective Agency, and our mascot, Sherl O. C. Kholmes!"
"So you're this Katrielle Layton I've been hearin' about, eh?" The man called Barnone asked her as he approached them, as he gave a hearty laugh. He spoke with an accent that was distinctly Texan. "I've heard all about your cases in the papers! I'm a big fan of detective work, and so I was hopin' for the chance to meet ya!"
Kat was surprised, but certainly flattered. "Well, it's an honour to meet you too, Mister...?"
"Phineas T. Barnone, at your service!" He replied, shaking her hand. "I'm the owner of the Saveloy, and the one who's puttin' on this screenin'! Well, I hope you enjoy the show."
"I'm sure I will, thank you." Kat replied.
As Kat had been speculating all this time, this film -which Rector claimed to be 'the pinnacle of his career'- was certainly not within her interest. However, it only seemed fair to join Ernest, as this obviously meant a lot to him. And hey! At least she was able to purchase a few snacks before they entered the auditorium, she thought to herself.
From the bits and pieces that she did pick up on, the flick was one of the many predictable lovey-dovey types, where the main man and woman get together in the end. Now, it wasn't that she disliked the entirety of the romance genre; there were a select titles she genuinely liked, but Kat preferred an engaging plot with fleshed out characters, and memorable twists. Those, however, were becoming more and more rare by the day. As a result, film generally just didn't grab her attention.
Hopefully, we're nearing the end. she thought, while munching on some of her popcorn. Then we can go to that café Ernest mentioned.
Finally, they got to the climatic scene.
"We're going to die!" The leading lady loudly cried as she firmly held on to her lover.
As the ship sank, the deck beneath the couples' feet split open to reveal a previously hidden submarine. The young couple (and presumably everyone else on board) had been saved! Even they couldn't believe their eyes! But they were grateful to still be alive and with each other.
However, at the exact moment the young couple were going to kiss...
The film ended abruptly, leaving only a white screen!
It went without saying the whole of the auditorium was baffled. Some began chatting with one another to see if anybody had any idea what had just happened, with virtually no result.
"Who did this?!" Rector bellowed as he stood, holding his head in anxiety and frustration. "What's happened to my film?! Why's it cut here?! No, this isn't right...The last scene...The kiss scene...The big finale! Someone's stolen it!"
Unable to do much else right away, the crew and staff had sent all the guests home. Out the initial hundred or so, the only ones that remained were Kat, Ernest, Sherl, and Emiliana.
"Now, Miss Perfetti, is there by any chance I could hire you to figure out this incident?" Barnone requested of the Italian woman.
"Certainly." She answered confidently. "This theft of the climactic scene of the film is a serious offence."
"You're hiring her, sir?" Ernest asked, puzzled.
"Why, of course!" Barnone replied, with a hearty laugh. "This here is Emiliana Perfetti, she works for Scotland Yard. I had hired her for a case of mine a few months back, so I can trust her with this mystery!"
"Wh-Are you serious?" Kat asked, taken aback. "What division are you from?"
"I'm a case analyst and criminal profiler." Emiliana explained.
"So the forensics division, then?" Kat remarked. "I know of a few people there through my brother."
Things seemed to click the minute Emiliana heard this and recalled Katrielle's surname. "So you're related to him?"
"Another one?" Kat mumbled, discouraged.
"Well, talk about luck, havin' a Scotland Yard officer, and a private eye on site!" Barnone laughed. "Say, let's make this interesting! I'd like to ask both of you to figure out what happened here. I'll be ready what conclusion each of you reach!"
"You mean like a competition of sorts?" inquired Kat. "I gladly accept. 'Any Mystery Solved!' That's my motto!"
"Mr. Barnone, please! I'm more than capable of handling this case. Leave it to the experts at Scotland Yard!" Emiliana spoke up, annoyed at the idea.
"Now, now. I'm not saying one of y'all is more superior than the other. But a little competition should make you both work harder!" remarked Barnone. "Good luck to the both of y'all!"
As soon as both the ladies, plus Kat's companions, wandered off to begin their respective enquiries, Barnone went off to a room off limits to the public, where six other people were waiting.
"Alright, let's watch her over surveillance." He said, taking his seat in front of some monitors. "If she truly is who she claims to be, this could spell trouble for us..."