Chapter 4

"Luke," Arianna said to him. "Your mum's crying. Your parents thought that you had run away. You have to go back to them. This has gone on long enough. Don't make them suffer any more."

"Yeah." Flora added. "We should go back. They're probably thinking something bad has befallen me too." Luke then got angry.

"Fine!" He snapped. His friends were now shocked at their friend's sudden mood. "If you all want to go back, and give up on this, then fine, but not me! I'm not giving up on the professor. I'm going to that hospital. I'll go back to my parents once this is all resolved. We have been through too much to give in now!"

"But Luke, we…"

"No; if I go back now, they'll never let me do this. I'll do it on my own if I have to. Now, are you in or are you out?" Flora and Arianna hesitated, looking at each other. Luke sighed.

"I'm going to the hospital to visit the professor before I leave for Wales tomorrow. If you two aren't there by the time the train leaves, I know your decision. I have to go now." And with that, he rode away on his bike. Flora and Arianna watched him go. Arianna then remembered something. She took out the maps from her pocket.

"Luke!" She called after him. "You forgot…"

"He's gone, Arianna." Flora told her. "He'll come back once he realizes he needs them."

"I hope so."

Luke parked his bike in the bushes, of the hospital, and went in. He didn't need an ID to get in this time!

"Hershel Layton." He told the woman behind the desk. She looked at him.

"Are your parents with you, little boy?" She asked. Luke shook his head. "Then I can't let you go."

"No, it's okay. I rushed in. My parents are coming. Mum said that I could meet them there." The woman shook her head.

"I'm sorry. That's not how it works. You have to be accompanied by an adult. Plus, you or someone else have to sign you in." Luke pleaded with his eyes.

"But…but…"

"I'm sorry, but you're going to have to wait. If they're on their way, you won't have to wait very long." Luke sighed. He then saw a middle- age couple come in. He pointed to them.

"There are my parents. Can you tell me where, and can I go now?"

"Wait until they sign in." The man signed them in.

"A198." She said to them. Before they could react, Luke ran to the elevator.

Once in, he pressed the appropriate button, and waited for the elevator to do the rest.

He had to wait for people to come in, and out of the elevator before it reached the floor he wanted.

Once it reached his floor, he ran out. Some other people went out with him.

"Don't run!" A woman's voice called. Luke slowed down.

When he saw the professor's room, he went in.

"Hi, Professor." He greeted when he saw him in his bed, still in a coma. "Still in a coma? That's too bad." He moved a chair closer to Layton's bedside, and sat on it. "But hopefully you'll be out soon, and up on you feet again in no time solving crimes with your favorite assistant."

"Now, don't get mad, but that is what I'm doing with Flora and Arianna, or I was with them anyways. Now I'm doing this by myself. Now I know you'll say that I can't, and should just let the police and Chelmey handle this, but let me tell you something, Professor. I can do this. I learned from the best, and I'm ready to do this. I won't let you down, Professor; you can count on it! Now, one of the suspects is from Wales. I'm going there tomorrow, I'm going to spend the night here, and leave first thing in the morning." He headed towards the TV remote.

"Right now, I'm just going to watch cartoons on the telly." He said. Once he grabbed the remote, he sat on the edge of Layton's bed. "Hope you don't mind." He turned on the TV.

When he found a cartoon he liked, he put down the remote beside him, and watched the screen.

A half hour later, a nurse came in. It was the same nurse from before.

"Hey!" She piped up. "It's you again!" Luke looked at her as she went over to the professor, to check his vitals.

"How is he?" He wanted to know. "Will he get out of his coma?" The nurse looked at him, and nodded.

"He's showing signs of getting better." Luke smiled.

"That's great! Do you know when he'll get out of his coma?" The woman shook her head.

"I'm afraid not. It's like I said before, it's up to him and God." Luke frowned, disappointed.

"Oh, I see." The woman looked around. "Are your parents around? You can't be here by yourself."

"Oh, my Mum just brought me here. She's in the loo."

"I see. Well, when she gets out, you two better get ready to leave. Visiting hours are almost over."

"Got it!" The nurse and Luke said their goodbyes, and the nurse left the room. Luke's stomach then growled. He turned to the professor.

"Hang on, Professor; I'm going to get something to eat. Be right back." He went off the bed, and left the room.

He came back with Ramen noodles, a pack of doughnuts, and a juice box (He stole them). He was about to go on the bed when he remembered that visiting hours were over. Someone might see him here, and kick him out. So he went under the bed to eat his meal. Arianna is right! He thought. I am turning into a bad boy! But, he didn't care. He was doing it for the professor.

When he was done with his meal, he yawned. He was tired. He put away his trash, and looked at the professor again.

"Well, I'm going to bed, Professor. Goodnight; see you in the morning!" He yawned again, and went back under the bed.

"Mornin', Professor!" He said to him in the morning. He then became serious. "Well, I have to go. I don't know when the train to Wales takes off, and I don't want to be late, so I'm going now. Goodbye; get better soon!" He then left.

Before Luke could go to the train station, he went to his house to pack. His parents weren't home, so he could pack with ease.

He stole his father's wallet, so he didn't have to steal any more; packed up other things he needed, and left the house.

Once he entered the train station, he looked around for a board that had the schedules of the trains. He found it, and looked for the first train to Wales. He was in luck; the first one listed took off in three hours.

He bought a ticket at the ticket counter, and went to get some breakfast.

When he got his breakfast; a bagel with cream cheese, he sat down at a table to eat it. Families surrounded him with noisy children.

"Hey; I know you!" A kid's voice spoke up. Luke looked at him. He was about eight years old. "You're Luke Triton! You solve mysteries with that professor." Luke smiled.

"Yup!"" He answered. "I am."

"Are you in the middle of solving one now?"

"Yes." The kid smiled from ear to ear.

"Cool!" He looked around. "Is the professor around? I want to meet him, and ask some questions! I want to be just like him when I get older. I also want his autograph. So where is he; where is he?" Luke smiled again, and chuckled.

"I'm glad you want to be like him. You follow your dream, learn from the master; and I'm sure you'll be a great detective in no time!" The boy beamed.

"Thanks, I'm Dustin."

"Hey, Dustin." Luke then frowned. Dustin saw this, and grew concerned.

"What's wrong?" He wanted to know.

"I'm afraid the professor's in a coma." He said to Dustin. Dustin was disappointed.

"Oh, well that's too bad. He'll get better, right?" Luke smiled.

"Yeah. He'll get better." But, inside, Luke wasn't so sure. Then, he felt someone snatch his hat from his head.

"Hey!" He cried. He saw that it was a little boy about six years old that took his hat. Dustin gasped.

"Justin!" He scolded. "You give that back to him right now! Don't you know who he is? He's Professor Layton's trusty assistant, Luke Triton!" Justin looked at Luke.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're Professor Layton's assistant?" Luke nodded. "Well, that changes everything!" He was about to give Luke his hat back, when he withdrew it. Not!" He laughed.

"Justin!" Dustin scolded again. "You give back to him, now!"

"He has to catch me first!" Justin said. He blew a raspberry at Luke, and ran off. Dustin looked at Luke.

"I'm sorry about my little brother." He apologized. "He's bored I guess, but that's no excuse. I'll get it back for you." He then ran after Justin, so did Luke who put his breakfast down on the table. "Justin; you get back here right now!"

"GIVE IT, BACK!" Dustin commanded as they ran by a fountain. Justin laughed and laughed. "Justin; you are being so immature!" Justin stopped, stepped on the platform on the fountain, and held the hat above the water. Both Dustin and Luke gasped. "Justin; don't you dare!" Justin then slipped on a puddle on the platform. He screamed, and he and the hat fell into the fountain. Luke and Dustin gasped, as Justin flailed his arms.

"MY HAT!" Luke yelled. Other people saw this, and rushed to him.

"HELP!" He screamed. "I CAN'T SWIM; I CAN'T SWIM!" He then realized that he could stand, and stopped. "Oh, wait, it's not that deep." A security officer, stretched out his hand to him,

"Here, son." He said. "It's all right; take my hand." Justin went over to him, and grabbed it. The security officer pulled him out. Luke saw that Justin was soaking wet. A man and a woman ran to him.

"JUSTIN!" The lady cried. She hugged him close to her chest. "Oh, are you alright?"

"I'm alright, Mum." He told her. Dustin grabbed Luke's hat, rang it out, for it was soaking wet, and gave it to him.

"Here, I'm sorry about him again."

"It's okay." He said. He put it back on his head.

"What happened?" Justin's mom wanted to know. "Were you running by the fountain, and slipped?"

"Justin took this boy's hat." Dustin answered, pointing at Luke. His parents looked at him. Justin shot a look at his brother.

"Tattletale!" He said. His parents looked back at him.

"Justin," His mom began. "Is this true? Did you steal this boy's hat?" Justin didn't answer. His mom grew mad. "Justin!"

"Yes, but I was only having fun. I didn't mean for it to fall into the fountain."

"Doesn't matter, son." His father told him. "What you did was still wrong. Now, apologize to him right now."

"But…"

"Justin!" His mom said, firmly. Justin sighed.

"Oh, alright." He looked at Luke. "I'm sorry." He looked at his parents. "Can I still get ice cream?" His parents shook their heads. Justin was disappointed. "No fair! What about Dustin? He tattled on me!"

"He didn't steal this young boy's hat now, did he?" Justin sighed.

"No; it's still not fair though."

"You may think that." His father said. "But, you'll understand when you have kids." They then left. Dustin looked at Luke.

"Well, I have to go now." He said. "Bye; hope the professor feels better soon!"

"Bye!" He then left. "I hope so too." He went to finish his breakfast.

He then saw a mother, dragging away a crying child.

"I WANT A COOKIE!" He whined.

"Sorry, Raphe." The mother responded. "But, you heard the employees. They're all sold out." But Raphe just kept on wailing.

Kids! Luke thought. Kids are so immature! They need to learn some manners. Luke then shook it off. No! He won't become John Kidd. He won't start on hating kids. Kids like Clyde, sure, but that's about it.

As soon as he was done with his bagel, he threw it away in the trash. He looked at the time. He had two hours and thirty-five minutes left. What will he do until then? He then saw Inspector Clamp Grosky.

He couldn't believe it. He was about to call him, when he decided against it. He didn't want to draw attention to himself in case he knew his parents were looking for him, so he just went off.

Luke was reading a book in a bookstore when the PA system told him that his train was all ready to board. He looked at the line. The line was long. He groaned. He liked the book that he was reading. He stood up, and put it back to where it was. He'll have to memorize the title, and read it later, Right now, he needed to go, or he'll miss the train.

Once he was directed to his car, he went onto the train. Once on the train, he went to find his seat.

The train took off minutes later.

After he showed the man his ticket, he stood up to go to the Observation Car to see the scenery.

He was about to go when...BANG! He was shot in the leg! He collapsed onto the floor. Everyone nearby gasped, and ran up, surrounding him. His leg was now bloody.

"Luke!" A familiar voice called as Luke woke. "Luke!" Once his eyes were adjusted, Luke saw Professor Layton standing by his bad side. He shot up, and smiled.

"Professor!" He cried with joy. "You're okay!" The professor nodded.

"Yes, Luke." He said. "I just got out of my coma. When I heard you were here, I came here right away." Luke looked around. He was in a hospital room. He then saw his parents, Flora, and Arianna. His mother hugged him.

"Oh, Luke!" She said, smoothing his hair. "Thank heavens you're all right." Arianna brought out some papers from behind her, and showed it to Luke. Luke recognized them as the maps that they had printed at the library.

"The maps!" He cried. "Ugh; I forgot! How could I be so daft?" He looked at his parents next.

"Mum, Dad," He began. "I'm sorry for all that I have done. I'll understand if you want to ground me until adulthood."

"We'll talk about that later, son." Clark said to his son. Just then, Inspector Chelmey came into the room.

"How's my young detective doing?" He wanted to know.

"Good." Luke answered. "But, who would shoot a gun at an innocent kid?"

"A sick, twisted, evil person." Layton answered.

"And unfortunately," Chelmey added. "the world is filled with them." Luke then realized something. He sat up straight.

"The mystery!" He looked at his parents. "I'm sorry, Mum and Dad, but I have to do this. The professor's shooter is still at large. I have to get him, and bring him to justice."

"Whoa there, tiger!" Clark said. "Relax. There's no need." Luke was confused. Before he could ask, Chelmey beat him to it.

"The culprit's already been caught, and is behind bars." Chelmey answered. Luke looked at him.

"He is?" Chelmey nodded. "Who was it? Was it Alistair?" Chelmey shook his head.

"It was his brother, Crispin."

"He has a brother?" Chelmey nodded again.

"He didn't want to do it as first, but Alistair bribed him."

"Let me guess. It was money, right?" Chelmey nodded a third time.

"Indeed, it was. Alistair didn't do it, because he thought he would be a dead giveaway for after he escaped. So, he let his brother do it for him. Alistair knew that you were trying to solve the case, and wanted you dead. Crispin didn't think a kid like you would, but Alistair knew not to underestimate kids. His other brother, Clayton, shot the professor."

"All of the brothers were involved?" Chelmey nodded yet again.

"Are they all behind bars?"

"Yes. Alistair tried to escape again. He's the strongest out of all of them. He was even stronger then his parents, who he killed them both. So, it's just him and his brothers in his immediate family."

"So, Alistair has a criminal record."

"They all did some petty crimes when they were all teens."

"Yikes! Were his parents criminals?" Chelmey shook his head.

"No, they were both crime-free."

"Then why did…." Chelmey shrugged.

"Parents can raise their kids right, but somehow along the road, things can go wrong."

"I guess." Luke looked at his mom and dad.

"I won't end up like Alistair and his brothers, Mum and Dad." He promised. "I won't become a serial killer."

"We're glad, son." Clark said. John Kidd came into the room then. Luke was confused.

"John; why are you here? There're children in here. You hate children."

"I do." John admitted. "And when my brother told me about his wife, I was furious. My fiancé just got pregnant, so I dumped her. But, after thinking about it, I decided to give kids a chance. After all, Collin's my brother. I want him to be happy. So if that means being an uncle, then so be it, and like you said, not all kids are bad. My fiancé and I are back together since last night." Luke grinned.

"I'm glad you made up your mind. You won't regret it, and I didn't know you were engaged. Congratulations!"

"Thanks."

"Was she at the museum's opening?" John shook his head.

"No, I dumped her before the opening."

"Oh, well, that's too bad." John sighed.

"Yeah, it was. It was a rubbish mistake." He then changed the subject. "Are you okay, kid?"

"Yeah."

"When can you go home?"

"I don't know. Soon, I hope."

"I hope so too. Then you can come back to the museum. You won't make it for the re-opening through. I'll introduce you to my fiancé if she comes." Luke couldn't believe it.

"Really? You changed your policy on 'no kids allowed?"John nodded.

"If your parents say you can. I have something that you might like to see." Luke looked at his parents.

"Can I?" Mrs. Triton shrugged.

"We'll see, dear. Maybe after you're grounded." Next, he looked at Inspector Chelmey.

"Inspector Clamp Grosky was there at the train station, Inspector. Do you know why?" Inspector Chelmey nodded.

"He was looking for you, Luke."

"Oh." He was confused again. "How did he know that I was there?"

"We sort have told." Arianna admitted. Luke glared at her.

"Sorry! I had to tell. We didn't want you going to Wales all by your lonesome." Luke sighed.

"I guess. I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. I was so focused on the mystery that I guess I was only proving John's point. Kids are uncivilized citizens who need to grow up and learn."

"That's not all true." Flora put in. "If parents, or guardians teach them the difference between right and wrong, they'll hopefully live up to it, and do the right things in the future. After all, we are the children of yesterday's dream." Luke smiled.

"You're right, Flora. It's up to us to make the world what we want it to be!" Flora smiled back.

The nurse then came in.

"Come on," The inspector told everyone. "We better get going, and give Luke time to recover." The others agreed.

"Bye, Luke!" Flora said. "Get better soon!"

"Solving a mystery won't be the same without my young assistant." Layton put in.

"Don't worry, professor." Luke promised him. "The next case will be with me." He glanced at his parents, then back at Layton. "After I'm done with my punishment of course." Layton smiled.

"I couldn't be any happier." They all said their goodbyes, and left the nurse to attend to the boy.

A few days later, Luke was out of the hospital. He, Professor Layton, his parents, and Inspector Chelmey went to the museum when Luke was done being grounded two months later. It was a weekend, so Luke didn't miss school. Layton also was there the day of the re-opening. He had the honor of cutting the ribbon!

When Luke was grounded he had to do community service for breaking in a police station, using their computers, and stealing an officer's ID. Luke thought this, along with being grounded was not fair, and too long, but he didn't complain. He knew he deserved it. It was either the community service, or jail. Arianna and Flora were grounded too. They also did community service with Luke.

"John?" Luke said to him. "The museum is great, but my parents, and I are leaving now." John was with a plump woman. "Is this your fiancé?" John nodded.

"This is Mary." He said. Mary offered her hand, and Luke shook it.

"How'd you do?" She wanted to know, shaking everyone's hands.

"Good. How long are you? Do you know the gender? Do you know the name?"

"Two months, seven more to go, and we don't know. My future husband's thinking Luke after you. How'd you like that?" Luke was shocked.

"Wow, really?! That'll be an honor! And seven months is when John and his wife's babies are due."

"I know. Small word. Imagine if he'd become an uncle and dad all on the same day, and of course we'll only name the baby Luke if he's a boy."

"Yeah, that would be something, and yeah, of course. I'll still be honored that you thought about it." Well, we have to go now." John wagged his finger back and forth.

"I have something to show you first." He stated. Luke was confused, wondering what it could be.

"I wanted you, the professor, and your family to be the first people to see this." John explained.

"What?" Luke wanted to know. John led them into a pitch-black room. Mary went too Luke, the inspector, professor, and Luke's parents have noticed it before, but were so busy, that they didn't bother with it. John turned on the lights. Luke, and the others gasped at what they saw.

It was a playroom for little kids. The rooms were painted sky-blue, and the carpet had trains all over it. An easel, an elephant slide, a swing set were also included in the room, with so much more.

"This is amazing!" Luke complimented, marveling.

"And take a look at this." John said. He pointed to some writing on the door. Luke, and everybody else read it. 'Dedicated to Luke Triton'. It read. Luke smiled.

"I'm really honored. Thank you."

"And thank you for opening my eyes. I will think twice about kids now."

"You'll make a great uncle."

"I sure hope so."

"You, your family, and Professor Layton are welcome here any time." Luke smiled.

Through Luke hated being grounded, with the professor all better, and the culprits behind bars, he felt that it was well worth it.