Chapter 5: Family Ties

Prof. Layton's Office, Gressenheller University, Central London, 10.30 am

Layton put down his morning cup of tea on his desk and set aside the Papers he had just finished marking. He had just returned from his daily lecture and was resting and waiting for Luke to arrive, and then they would all meet Clark, Brenda, Emmy and Ross at Ratham Hall.

A knock on the door came without warning; Flora came from the kitchen area, and opened the door.

Standing there was a young man with Thick brown hair swept across his face, he wore a Navy Blue Business suit with a matching necktie, and he carried a leather briefcase in his hand, Flora didn't know what to make of him; a Lawyer? A librarian? There were many possiblies to fit his description.

"Professor Layton?" he said, looking around the room.

Layton addressed him, "Yes, Professor Herschel Layton of Gressenheller University. And this is my daughter, Flora. How may I help you, Mr.…?" Before Layton could finish, The Man quickly picked up when he left off.

"Patrick, Patrick Reynolds. Good to meet you." He shook Layton's hand and sat at the coffee table as Flora offered him tea.

"May I ask your business here?" Layton said.

"Yes, indeed," Said Patrick, "I'm a Lawyer from New York, and I've come to Visit a family friend. Do you know happen to know one Sir James 'A' Ratham?"

Layton's smile faded, "Ah….about that, sir…" Patrick raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"What's wrong?" he asked in concern.

"He's been murdered," Flora finished.

Patrick shuddered slightly; a look of shock lined his face, as if he had a horrifying nightmare, "Oh, man…how could have happened?"

"I'm stilling wondering that myself, sir," Said Layton. "In Fact, I am about to leave for Ratham Hall Right now." He Stood and motioned for Flora to follow him.

Patrick quickly stood and grabbed his briefcase, "Perhaps I should come along, too."

Layton frowned slightly at Patrick, he seemed very anxious and jumpy, but Layton just nodded. Besides, if Patrick was a friend of Sir Ratham, then maybe he could be of help in this case.

"Come, then, we mustn't keep Luke waiting."

Layton started out the door with Flora and Patrick following him, and they boarded the next bus to Ratham Hall.

Soon after the bus left, a red rose peaked out from the bushes, then a teenage boy of about 15 burst from the bushes and ran down the street, he had Bleached Blond Hair, he wore jeans and Black Converse and the rose he was wearing was pinned to his Red and Blue British Army Jacket, which he had no doubt stolen from a British army soldier.

He hurried to the nearby diner where he met another Teenager dressed in the same outfit, but he had Fiery Red Hair, and had added a British Bandana around his neck to his ensemble.

"Blake" he said to the redhead, "they're heading to Ratham Hall, I heard everything, and that Lawyer is with them."

The Redhead mulled it over, "Ok, thanks, Grady." He said to the blonde. "Now go get some food, everyone else has already ordered for themselves. I'll join you all in a minute."

Grady nodded and then ran inside to a nearby stool. Blake turned and then looked at his British Flag bandana, and then went inside to join the others, he and the gang had planned this for a week, and their time to strike would come soon…very soon.

Ratham Hall: London Outskirts: 12 pm.

Layton and the others stepped off the bus stop at Ratham Hall after it stopped, and all three stepped off the bus.

At the same time, A Navy Blue Police Cruiser pulled to a stop, Ross stepped out for the Driver's side, with Emmy coming out the other end, both had Badges and Berettas clipped to their belts.

They walked up together to the double doors where Miss Perry, the governess, was waiting for them.

"Good Afternoon, Professor Layton."

"Likewise, Miss Perry." He replied, "Is Vivian available?"

Miss Perry thought for a minute, then said, "Please come right in," she then did a double take on Patrick, "Professor, is this man with you?" she looked at the lawyer bitterly.

Flora jumped in, "Of course, he's with us!" Miss Perry was startled at Flora's protest; but Flora knew better than to sit on the sidelines and do nothing.

"Very well," Said Miss Perry, "please come in, all of you," She led the group inside to the sitting room, where Clark, Brenda, Luke & Clive sat and then said, "Please wait here. I will send for Miss Vivian as soon as I can."

Soon after she left, Layton spoke up, "So, Emmy, Have you any on Information to share from last night?"

"We did. Though not a lot of people told us much, we salvaged what we could; Ross did a background check of Sir Ratham and any friends or family of his back at Scotland Yard."

Ross nodded and took a notebook from inside his jacket, "Well, last night, I questioned An Associate of Sir Ratham, one Jack Craven. And he gave me some info of Sir Ratham's early days," he opened the notebook, "Apparently, Sir Ratham isn't as close with his family as he once was," he read from his notebook, "Sir Ratham had two children with his wife, Lady Louisa Ratham, one was a boy and the other was a girl, they were born at least nine years apart."

"Ah yes," Said Layton, "I remember that. Were you able to find information of where the Boy is?"

Emmy shook her head, "Apparently not, because it seems that Sir Ratham didn't want anyone to know about him after he turned three, we did as many background checks as we could; but no results. But I'd give my life to know if he's alive."

"Me too," Said Clive, "I hope I'm not dead by the time I find out."

"Hopefully, Vivian will tell us more when she comes." The door to the Sitting room opened and Miss Perry entered with Vivian following her.

Vivian didn't look much different from last night; she wore a Navy Blue Boarding school outfit with Small Shield shaped emblem on the jacket's breast pocket with a red Dragon on it. Her outfit also included a white blouse with a Red Plaid bow tie and a matching skirt; she sat on the sofa next to Luke and Flora, who each acknowledged her with a smile.

"Hi, Professor Layton," She said," Miss Perry says that you wish to ask me some questions. Mr. Craven told me last night that if I am cooperative with you, I will know what happened to my father, as well as his business successor. Do you agree?"

"Whatever the truth is, I will find out." He stated firmly.

"Very well." Miss Perry entered with a tray of Tea and cakes, set it on the coffee table and left the room.

"First of all," Said Ross, "Several guests I talked to last night attested to the fact that you were absent prior of the events before the murder, can you recap?"

Vivian spoke carefully, "Well, I did leave the ballroom to use the restroom and fix my dress a little, as soon as I heard the shot; I saw my father's body through the door," she gulped before continuing, "I decided to stay hidden until the heat died down, because since I wasn't in the room, other people would accuse me of the crime."

"Was that why you tried to flee when Luke called the police?" Asked Flora.

"…yes. I saw you two phone the police and I didn't want to be here when they got here. So I fled-"

"Yet you failed." Clive finished.

"Yes."

Ross took a look at his notebook, then to Vivian, "Thank you for answering our questions, Vivian."

"No," she said gratefully, "I guess I should be thanking you all." She smiled to everyone.

Layton stood up, an idea had just come to him, "Vivian, does your father have an office or personal study here?"

"Yes, upstairs." She answered.

"Excellent," Said Patrick, "May we see it?"

Vivian frowned with confusion, but that was ok since she didn't know him, "Who are you?"

"Patrick Reynolds," he said, "I was a friend of your Father."

Vivian frowned in confusion, but she then remembered her father was a more secretive man, yet she swore she still hadn't seen him before, and Patrick looked very young to be the friend of one of the wealthiest businessman in all of England. But that was no different to Layton and Luke's relationship as not only mentor and apprentice, but also friends; they had been as close as any friend could be, just like Luke was to Flora.

"Yes," Said Ross, "However, if we are to proceed further; we must see your father's documents. Take us to his office at once."

Vivian led the group up the stairs just outside the sitting room and all the way to a door with Sir Ratham's nameplate on it. But as Vivian tried to open it, it didn't budge.

"That's weird," she said, "Dad never locked the door like this." Layton knew that Sir Ratham's office would've been locked; he stepped towards it and looked for a way of opening it.

"Is there a keyhole in it?" Asked Patrick, "If there is; we can force it."

"Indeed," Ross Agreed, "and I have just the tool for the job," He took a small black object from his pocket, and then squatted to peek inside the keyhole, He took a lighter from a pocket, lit the pointed end of the object, then stuck it in quickly in the keyhole.

"Stay back, all of you!" he called over his shoulder, then backed up slowly from the door.

Then they heard a sparking sound, like Ross had just blew the door with a firecracker, then the lock jiggled, and Ross booted the door open. "All Clear" he said.

Layton felt a bit baffled by what had just happened that he had to ask, "Ross, what was that you did?"

"That was a disposable pick; it incinerates the lock when ignited. However, after it's used once, it can't be used again."

"Very clever." Said Patrick, and he stepped inside followed by the others.

Suddenly, Emmy came over to Ross from the stairs and tapped his shoulder, "Ross, Miss Perry called for us, There's a call for us, we should take it." Ross nodded and followed Emmy down the stairs. Leaving Layton and the others behind,

Clark spoke to Layton, "Well, Herschel?"

Layton knew what he was thinking, "Well, actually, Clark, would you leave this to the experts?" and by 'the experts' he meant Luke, Flora and himself, Sir Ratham's office wasn't all that big, so the space of just three people occupied it perfectly.

Clark nodded, and Luke and Flora entered the office followed by Vivian. Sir Ratham's office was very small but elegant; a desk with two chairs occupied one corner of the room. And several bookcases lined the walls, and the wall behind Ratham's desk had several paintings and hand drawn portraits.

Layton started to rummage around Ratham's desk while Luke, Vivian and Flora sifted through books, nothing! Not a single document or paper turned up!

Layton regrouped with the others, "This is weird," Said Luke, "we searched the entire room, but not a single paper was found! Not even His will!"

Layton himself was buried in his thoughts, Flora too, for some reason; Sir Ratham seemed to be a more slippery silk than they thought.

Just then, the door knocked, and Ross entered the office followed by Emmy, Layton and the others had their full attention.

"Ross, Emmy. What news?"

"Our call came from Scotland yard." Said Emmy, "It appears that a message came to Inspector Chelmey with information about Sir Ratham's Lawyer, Thomas Barkley. A Scotland Yard Detective stationed in Southampton, where Barkley resides, obtained the information from Barkley's neighbor as well as a gang of street performers."

Layton smiled in satisfaction. Finally a lead for them to follow.

"So, he lives in Southampton?" Said Flora,

"I think I know which house he lives in there." Said Vivian.

"Very well, then, said Layton, "What say we head there to finish off the day?"

"No objections, Professor." Said Luke with excitement, Flora and Vivian nodded in agreement.

"Very well then, Luke, inform Clark and Brenda about where you're going, and then join us the ballroom. Ross, Emmy, take us to Southampton to meet The Detective who will help us."

Ross agreed, "Very well. Emmy, Send a message to him to expect us at the Southampton bus stop." And Layton and company left Sir Ratham's office, unaware of the danger and suspense that awaited them.