The Anti Bill Hawks Association

Bloom didn't expect to see the prime minister that morning. Or rather, a poster of the prime minister's face with a cross through it and the letters 'A.B.H.A.' written beneath. Really, nothing surprised Bloom anymore.

Tearing the poster from the office door, Bloom traipsed inside. He was met with the sound of the printer producing a million more posters. (There went their printing budget.)

"Hannah, what is this?"

His partner glanced up from her computer screen. "An advertisement for the A.B.H.A."

"Meaning?"

"The Anti Bill Hawks Association, of course."

Bloom chucked the poster in the bin. "We don't have the time or the money for you to set up another trivial fan club."

"It's an Anti Association," Hannah stressed. "It isn't trivial— and neither is the Groskettes. Though I'll admit, the A.B.H.A.'s aims are much more significant. We're going to condemn Bill Hawks for his atrocities and free England from his tyrannical reign of power."

Bloom was aware of Bill Hawks' 'crimes' and how they propelled him up the political ladder. (Targent may have had something to do with it.) But even after Clive Dove's rampage, Hawks' secrets hadn't been revealed to the public.

Bloom hummed. "Where did you hear about Hawks' crimes?"

"I first read some rumours on the internet—"

"You believe things you read on the internet?"

"—So, I searched Scotland Yard's Archives. I found a case file from Inspector Chelmey that confirmed the truth." Hannah pulled out a silk handkerchief and wiped her eyes. "Bill Hawks was responsible for a laboratory explosion that killed ten people, including his assistant and Clive Dove's parents!"

"Indeed," Bloom frowned. "This wouldn't have anything to do with your affinity for Clive Dove, would it?"

"N-no," Hannah spluttered, flushing. "I just want to prove that Clive isn't the true mastermind here."

"Hannah, Dove murdered hundreds—"

She leapt to her feet, clenched her fists and cried, "I KNOW! Clive Dove is sitting in a cell and it still changes nothing. Someone has to reveal the root of his madness."

Bloom blinked, taken aback by her outburst. "But why you?"

Hannah's expression was hidden underneath her hat. "For a former Groskette… a friend who was lost during Clive's attack. You wouldn't care." Oh.

Hannah gasped when Bloom titled her head up with his hand. "You really are passionate about this, aren't you?" His fingers trailed to her lips before she could retort. "Exposing the prime minister without sufficient evidence will only unleash chaos, especially in the aftermath of Dove's attack. The country is still recovering; it can't afford to turn on its leader right now. However, with precision and patience, we can out Bill Hawks."

"We…?" Hannah breathed.

Bloom nodded. His speciality was keeping secrets, not disclosing them. But he had dealt with nefarious leaders before. And wouldn't it be pleasing to knock down the pawn Targent had put forward? Yet another nail in the agency's coffin.

"First, you can show me these rumours you saw online," Bloom turned to her computer. "Let's gather how much opposition there currently is for Hawks."

Of all the sources, Hannah logged into her PuzzleBook account. Bloom resisted the urge to groan as he read her latest posts.

DoveLoverSuzie had stated, "Please read this, super important! Clive Dove is 100% INNOCENT. Bill Hawks is the real criminal. :("

A very obvious Mrs. R. Layton commented, "I heard Bill Hawks didn't even THANK Professor Layton after he saved his f***ing life!"

JammehDodger123 reasoned, "That's a bit extreme, lol."

"You think this is FUNNY, troll?" Mrs. R. Layton demanded in response. "Professor L could've DIED saving Hawks' sorry *ss!"

"Yeah! And he wants to give Clive the death sentence!" DoveLoverSuzie added.

JammehDodger123 asked, "And you know this… how?"

DoveLoverSuzie had the last word. "I don't have to tell you my life story, Hawks-hailer! I don't need your pity just because my parents were killed by a stampeding ostrich…"

Hannah closed the tab and said, "See?"

"Well… There certainly are some potential Anti Bill Hawks members out there," Bloom agreed. "But we don't want them to be as aggressive as that."

"Where else can we find support?" Hannah wondered.

"That case file belonged to Chelmey, didn't it? We'll start at Scotland Yard." (As long as they didn't arrest Bloom on site.)