~TWO~ MEETING UP
Just about twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Rictor volunteered to get it - this was his house, after all - and in stepped a man with shaggy brown hair and twinkling brown eyes.
"Hershel!" The man smiled, extending his arm. The professor took his hand and said happily, "Rictor, this is the old friend who's going to help Luke and I find out who did this to your mother." Sherlock looked at the boy. "Rictor? Rictor Vega? Oh, I knew your mother! Became a widow when you were quite young, didn't she?" Sherlock asked. Rictor looked at him for a moment before nodding. "I remember you. You came to my second birthday party because Mum had run into you a few days before. Said you two had some catchin' up to do." Sherlock blinked. "And you remember that? Well, I'm not surprised. You always were a very bright boy. It's a shame this had to happen to your mother. She really was a bright soul." Layton looked from his friend to the boy, then back to Holmes. "So you've met? Well. How about that." That should make things much easier." Holmes put his arm around his colleague's shoulders and said, "Rictor, this is John. Watson, Rictor." The man gave a short nod. "Pleasure." Rictor nodded as well.
"Well then." Layton said, catching everyone's attention. "What do you say we all get started here?" Sherlock smiled. "Just what I've been waiting to hear."