Chapter 9: A Shot in the arm

Trafalgar Square, Downtown London: 10:00 am

Patrick was making his way towards London's Trafalgar square the next morning. He was looking forward to having a hearty breakfast at a local cafe before continuing on his way to Layton's office to get an update about the case. He hadn't heard much from Layton since the other day, and was hoping for more insight about Sir Ratham's death.

He secured an outside table at a curbside café at Trafalgar square, and the waiter served him a cup of coffee while he studied the menu. he wanted a good hearty meal since he'd barely eaten the past day. He didn't order room service at his hotel suite, nor did he go aboard. he had just holed himself in his room for the day and read from his collection of novels he had brought for his journey to London.

The Waiter returned, "Sir, are you ready to order?"

Patrick smiled, "Of course, I'll have the Blueberry Pancakes with Honey, and Buttered biscuits on the side."

"Will that be all?" Patrick nodded, and the waiter stepped inside as Patrick opened the morning paper and began to read. As he laid eyes on the front page, the Main article quickly got his attention. It was an article about Sir Ratham's death which told some of his backstory as well as his funeral arrangements: it also said that his body would be buried at the St. Mary's Church Cemetery in Downtown London and in attendance would be the majority of London's citizens who had been associated with him, and that Vivian, who was currently a suspect in the case, would make an appearance in the procession that would pass through the Square.

Patrick's meal arrived, and he set the paper down and ate his breakfast slowly but vigorously, which would've made Layton's jaw drop at this ungentlemanly behavior. But then again, no Gentleman is a perfect Gentleman.

Patrick paid his bill, left a tip and hurried to a nearby bench to watch the Funeral procession stroll by on it's way to the cemetery. the sidewalks were crammed with townspeople, so much so that Patrick could barely make out the convoy that was passing through. A Scotland yard police vehicle carrying Ross and Emmy led the way, behind it was the funeral hearse carrying Sir Ratham's body in a sliver casket. Two other police vehicles followed behind with several other marked vehicles following it, as the hearse approached, all the Citizens either removed their hats or waved at the driver as he passed them, Patrick did the same.

Unbeknownst to everyone, Blake and Grady were perched on a building overlooking Trafalgar square. Blake was surveying the procession with binoculars while Grady kept watch for anyone suspicious. As Ross's police cruiser began to pass the building, Blake whispered into a small radio on his belt, "The pudding has thickened, prepare the whipped cream."

"Roger" said a voice at the other end. And with that final word, All Hell was about to break loose.

As Ross passed the side street next to the building, he was looking at the townspeople gathered for the event and then turned back to the road ahead. and then...

BOOOOOMM! A Bazooka round smashed into the back of his car, sending the car flipping over sideways and then after two rolls, it stopped. Ross and Emmy were trapped in the car, which was now on it's side.

After the whole world went black for a second; Ross got his bearings, smashed the driver's door open and struggled to get out. He was covered in cuts due to the shattered glass and he had to get them both out. he shook Emmy until she woke up and they climbed out to safety...or so they thought.

As they got out of the car; all Hell had just broke loose

Several army boys in British Jackets and armed with Shotguns, stormed Trafalgar Square and began shooting at the Citizens and the Scotland yard police cars behind the hearse! The constables in their cars broke out of their cars and began to return fire only to have their brains blown out by the Shotgun blasts. Ross and Emmy raced back to the Procession and quickly started to return fire. All the revolutionaries wore British army Jackets and had killed most of the citizens and some of the Police, their blood poured onto the street, the majority of them had escaped with incident, including Patrick.

Chelmey, Barton and Grosky ran onto the scene as well, and began shooting as well. Grosky, on the other hand, was just punching some boys to death, running from one to the next, which Chelmey didn't find very conventional. (Though Grosky was fast and strong)

Ross and Emmy managed to shoot a few boys, but then Reid showed up in the middle of the fight waving his Shotgun above his head as he blew the hearse door open and took the casket out. Blake and Grady followed behind, helping him carry it to the center of the square. they dumped the casket into the road as a hooded girl came forward welding a lit match.

"Hey," Said Grady, "I thought I was gonna do that."

Reid just smirked, "You lucked out this time, punk."

Blake reassured his friend-who was not used to being ignored-while Reid ignored them both and nodded to the hooded girl. Ross and Emmy were too late to rush forward as the hooded girl, with a twisted grin on her face, dropped the burning match into the casket as Reid shut the door and the casket burned inside and out. all four then vanished before the others could chase after them.

"Bloody hell!" Cried Chelmey, after joining Ross and Emmy at the square, "This place is a War Zone!"

"No doubt about it." Agreed Ross, "Sir Ratham's body is now a pile of ashes and charred wood." he pointed to the burning wreckage in the middle of the square.

"Jumping Jupiter!" Grosky exclaimed, "Where's Layton when we need him!"

"I'll get him!" Said Patrick, Panting from his run to safety, his face fouled with sweat stains, Clive was next to him, "You stay here and clear up this mess."

"No," said Emmy," I'll get him and-" but Ross held her back.

"No, he's right. We have enough to worry about." He turned to Patrick, "Hurry back here with him as quickly as possible, and don't return unless he returns with you."

Patrick nodded and was gone in seconds, and Ross, Emmy & Clive began to salvage the wreckage and heal the wounded people that littered the street.

Prof. Layton's Office. GressenHeller University. Central London. 10:30 am

At Layton's Office, Flora and Luke had their minds focused on a game of chess. Luke had won the first game, but only because Flora was rather distracted most of the time and couldn't play as well as him. But now that they were on their second game, Flora was able to pick up speed and had taken three pawns, a knight and a rook.

"I really like this game," Said Flora, studying her next move.

"You only like it because you've took more pieces than I have." Luke reminded her. Disappointed that she was beating him.

"Well..." she said, her next move would've put Luke in Check. But as she moved her Rook, the door opened and Layton entered the room, taking note of their game.

"Well, Flora. I can see you've sharpened your mind pretty well." Layton commented, But the words barely escaped his mouth when his door burst open with Patrick standing there panting and sweating.

"Patrick?" Said Layton, "What is wrong with you?"

"You look like as if you've run for miles!" Exclaimed Luke.

Patrick fell into a chair and caught his breath, then he spoke up, "Professor, Scotland yard's calling for you to come to Trafalgar Square at once. They said to return with you or not at all."

"What has happened?" Layton Asked

"You've see when you get there. But now we must hurry!" with that, he leaped up from his chair and started for the door as Flora and Luke rose from their chess game.

"What is he talking about, Professor?" Flora asked.

"I Wish I knew, Flora," He said thoughtfully, "All the same, we will not keep Scotland Yard waiting. Come you, two. Let's be off." and they hurried out the door and followed Patrick to Trafalgar Square...or what was left of it.

Trafalgar Square

They arrived at Trafalgar Square in no time, and the first sight of the desecrated remains left Layton, Luke & Flora breathless. It was like A tank had plowed through the area. Hospital medics had arrived and were healing the wounded and cleaning up the spilled blood. The Burning casket was extinguished but Sir Ratham's body was burned to ashes, which wouldn't have been a problem if he had wanted a funeral pyre after his death.

Layton surveyed the scene until he saw Ross and Emmy scouring the dead revolutionaries' bodies for I.D, Chelmey, Grosky and Barton were talking to the wounded for information on the disaster. Ross and Emmy noticed Them and walked to them quickly, both were exhausted enough to fall asleep if they could, which wouldn't be inevitable.

"Professor," Emmy Gasped, struggling to stand on both feet, "Thank God you showed up-though you're too late to help pick up the pieces."

"I can see that," He replied, "What happened here?"

"Hard to say," Answered Ross, "We were assigned to lead Sir Ratham's funeral procession to the Church Cemetery for his burial. But Some revolutionary group in British army Jackets shot our squad car with a Bazooka, We blacked out after the collision, and by the time we made it back to the road, They had killed most of the crowd and several Constables. However, we managed to kill some of them, but Sir Ratham's body is now a pile of ashes."

"Who did it?" Luke asked.

"I wish we knew," Emmy Shook her head, " I only wish we knew."

Layton couldn't bear to keep looking any longer at this mass destruction that had plagued London under the space of half an hour, but he didn't have to look any longer because Flora tapped his arm for attention.

"Professor," She said, "I found something you might wanna see!" Luke's ears quickly perked up at the sound of that, as did Layton's.

"What is it, Flora?" said Luke, "What did you find?"

"This. What is it?" Flora took a piece of paper from her coat pocket, it was small and rectangular, like a ticket and it had a name signed on it, Cher Burleigh. Layton studied the signature on the ticket, the ticket said, Buechler's Jewels and Pawned Goods. Anderson Buechler, Prop.

"I know this place," said Layton, "It's only a short jaunt from here."

"What's going on over here?" Said Ross, who appeared with Emmy. "What did you find?"

Layton produced the ticket, "Flora found a Pawn ticket for Buechler's Pawn store in the downtown area."

Ross studied the pawn ticket, then he said to Layton, "Well, I can definitely say that this is worth checking out. However, we still have to finished patching up what we can here.

Emmy interrupted, "Actually, they can manage without us." she turned to Layton, "Professor, I know the name on that pawn ticket, Cher Burleigh, she has an apartment near the outskirts of London. We should go and talk to her.

"Cher Burleigh?" Luke piped out suddenly, "That's who she is!" everyone turned to him.

"Who she is?" said Clive, puzzled.

"She's the singer that was supposed to perform at Vivian's birthday." Luke explained, "Dad talked of her the week before, but for unknown reasons, she didn't appear."

Layton frowned thoughtfully, it was all too puzzling, he had no idea of the name of the singer talked about in his letter from Clark. But all the same it seemed very odd.

"We shall see her promptly." he said. "Emmy, you and Ross come as well."

"Good idea, Professor." Said Flora, "Luke, Clive and I can check out the pawn store for the item pawned on the ticket."

"Agreed," Said Clive, "After we're done; we'll meet at Ratham Hall tonight to discuss our findings."

Layton nodded to them, tipped his hat, and then followed Ross and Emmy toward the squad cars. Once they were out of sight, Clive, Flora and Luke walked down the sidewalk towards the downtown area. They walked to many blocks until they saw a tall old brick building with a sign on the bottom half printed in black letters: BUECHLER'S JEWELS AND PAWNED GOODS, this was the store, there was no doubt.

"This is it," Said Luke, "the sign says it all." Clive and Flora nodded in agreement and they all entered the shop.

The shop was all walking in a treasure room: Jewels and necklaces were in cases near the rear of the shop, and there were also books and pawned goods including tools, coats, paintings among other things. Flora had never seen such treasures all in one room together, Luke and Clive wanted to skim through the books if they could. Well, maybe they could when the mystery was solved.

The man behind the counter, obviously Anderson Buechler, the proprietor. walked over to them. he was a tall thin man with a mustache and he wore a white shirt and a leather apron. "Hello, there." he said, "May I help you?"

Clive cleared his throat, "Of course, sir. My name is Clive Dove, and this is Luke and Flora." He nodded to them, "We found this pawn ticket in Trafalgar Square after the disaster that happened this morning and we were hoping you'd tell us more."

studied the ticket, "Yes, the woman who signed the ticket, Cher Burleigh, she came in with a mysterious necklace with jewels on it."

"And what did the necklace look like?" Asked Flora.

"It's in my back room, "I'll be right back." he disappeared into the back room and then returned with the necklace, and true to his word, it was a very strange necklace indeed: The jewels on the necklace were real, no doubt about it, but they were very rare jewels, including diamonds, rubies and even emeralds. Mr. Buechler looked at the three, "May I ask what your purpose is with it?"

"Of course," Said Luke, "We work alongside Professor Herschel Layton. He's investigating the death of Sir Ratham and after finding the pawn ticket, we figured the necklace would be valuable evidence in this affair."

"Well, If Professor Layton says it's so; then so it must be," Said Mr. Buechler, "Very well. It's yours, then."

"Thank you," Said Luke, "Your help is appreciated, good day."

Flora, Luke and Clive left the shop and were ready to head for Ratham Hall. unbeknownst to them, A revolutionary was perched above the building opposite the shop. It aimed it's gun until it lined up with the necklace. then it took aim and fired! At the sound of the blast, Luke and Clive dived to safety as the blast shattered the glass of the pawn shop.

After a beat, Luke and Clive opened their eyes and scanned the area, the sidewalk was littered with shattered glass from the gunshot, but otherwise they was nothing.

"That was close!" Said Clive.

"Yeah," Said Luke, We'd best get out of here, Flora." but there was no answer, "Flora!" Luke cried.

"Over here, Luke!" Shouted Clive, and they both turned the corner where they found Flora laying on the sidewalk, clutching her arm, blood was slowly oozing from it Both stood there in silent shock when she didn't move again.

And Finished, sorry for the long wait. Please Read and Review. Thanks.