I hadn't realised how much time I had wasted until I saw Layton and Luke standing outside the entrance to Chinatown.

Well, I had eavesdropped for five minutes or so, but they managed to get a lot done while I was gone.

Coming out from where I had listened, I made it look as if I had only just gotten there. "Professor, there you are!"

"Ah, hello, Luke." Luke said.

"I couldn't help but overhear you as I ran up. Did you say you'd like to meet with the Inspector?" Which one was Inspector Chelmey? Wait, wasn't it the one with the green moustache?

"Yes. Ideally, we would meet him back in our time, while the events of 10 years ago are still fresh." Layton said.

"I think we can make that happen."

"But how?!" Luke said, completely shocked.

"Let's continue this conversation away from prying eyes, shall we?" I asked, trying to seem realistic. "Why don't we head over to the wooded area to the west?"

The three of us walked back out of the alleyways and into the wooded area. Luke and Layton looked as if they weren't 100% sure on everything going on, but they wanted to know what I was going to say.

"There. Much better. I don't think anyone is likely to overhear us here."

"You mentioned that there is a way for us to visit the inspector who exists in our own time." Layton started. "I can only imagine this means returning to the present. Is that possible?"

"Indeed, Professor. But the only way to do it is to use the wormhole in the clock shop." Damn, I nearly said lift…

"But the door to that place is bolted shut. How will we get in?" Luke asked.

"That shouldn't be a problem. I can get that door open for you." I said.

"Strange…Why is it you have such easy access to the wormhole?" Layton asked. Because I made it? Better think of something better than that.

"I promise I'll explain when we get there. Please trust me on this. But for now, let's return to the clock shop on Midland Road."

"But what about our plan to head to Chinatown?" Luke asked.

"That will have to go on the back burner for now. The situation has changed." I said.

The three of us started walking back to the clock shop. Once we got past the lighthouse, Layton and Luke stopped. "Say, when was that lighthouse on the Thames built?" Luke asked.

"About five or so years ago."

"Did anyone complain about the lighthouse's peculiar location?" Layton added. "Building a structure like that in the middle of the Thames seems like it'd do more harm than good."

"You make a good point, Professor. But enough chat about the city. We need to make for the clock shop."

The three of us carried on back to the clock shop. I really didn't need a distraction.

And that was when Graham stopped us. I only half listened to what went on, but pretended I was listening fully by saying a few comments when I though was necessary; including saying we were in a hurry, but Luke then said I needed patience, naïve thing. I also had to help Graham grab his garnet from the bottom of his bag, and snagged my hand on something. I winced, cursing under my breath, but pretended nothing happened. Graham was one of the most annoying people I have ever met!

After that scenario, we ended up with another addition to the group, a green parrot, which Luke had decided to name, but I didn't catch what.

After all of that, we managed to finally get moving again. If we were stopped one more time, I was going to blow. 'Future Luke' may be calm and a gentleman, but Clive was neither.

Once we finally got some progress, and were stood next to the train station, we stopped again, but this time, it was my idea. "Let's take the path on the left up here."

"The left?" Luke asked. "Will that take us back to Midland Road aswell?"

"It will, and in half the time."

And, we got stopped yet again, this time by Silky, who questioned Luke with a puzzle, who was actually excited at the thought of one.

Luke then questioned the observatory once Silky finished speaking. "I bet the view from the observation deck is out of this world!"

"It does have quite a view, but we don't have time right now. To the clock shop!"

Once we got further down the road, we reached the wooden door at the end of the path. "Midland Road is on the other side of that door."

"I'll run ahead and open it!"

Luke, the speaker, then ran on and pushed onto the door. It didn't move. "Hey, the door's locked!"

"Locked?" I asked. "That can't be. Step aside, Little Luke, I'll get it open." I may seem weak, but with all the fights at the orphanage, I had a lot when I needed it. Pushing on it, I couldn't get it to move. "Strange, it is locked." I said, after two more pushes.

"Look here, you two, there's an unusual set of numbers embedded in the door." Layton spoke up for the first time in a while, showing me and Luke the series of numbers. Since I had written that one out, it was pretty easy, and I had it sorted in no time.

"Wonderful work, Big Luke."

"I think it's a little early for congratulations, Professor. The door still won't open." Luke said.

"If the puzzle wasn't keeping the door shut, then what is?" he asked.

"Well, I suppose it's time for Plan B." I said, a new surge of ambition across my face when I suddenly realised why. "It might seem like too simple a solution, but would you two help me shove this door?"

"Certainly. It seems we've run out of other options anyway."

The three of us positioned ourselves, our hands rested on different parts of the door. "Ready everyone? All together on three." I then counted up to three, and the three of us pushed against the door."

As we eventually pushed it open, and before I could see anything, Luke shouted "Who's that sprawled out on the street?!"

"Ha ha ha! It's hard to believe, but this fellow must've fallen asleep against the door." I said.

"This just goes to show that every puzzle has an answer, even if that answer is just brute force."

"Well, think fast, Professor." Luke said. "Because that answer is coming right at us, and he looks mad."

The man, Niklaus, started yelling in anger. "Hey! Why'd you kick down my napping door? Not only did it hurt, but you woke me up!"

"We're terrible sorry, sir. Please understand we had no idea you were there." The Professor said.

"Oh, heh heh…didn't realise is was you…Look—forger I saw anything. I'm just feeling kinda queasy, so I'm just going to head home now." Niklaus said, before speeding off.

"I seem to have driven that poor man off again."

"I wouldn't fret over it too much, Professor." I spoke up. He should have found somewhere else if he wanted to sleep, at least an Inn or something similar. "Besides, we need to keep moving towards the clock shop. We're just about there." Eventually.

We finally reached to door outside the clock shop. "There's the shop." Luke stated. "The door was locked earlier, and no-one would answer when we knocked."

"That's because you didn't know the secret knock. Watch this." I said, knocking the simple pattern against the door.

"Come on in!"

"Go on. Try the door now." I said.

Luke opened the door, and the three of us walked in. "It seems like no-one's here." He said.

"Tee hee hoo! Well, look who's back." Spring.

"Augh!" Luke shouted. "What are you doing hiding there?!"

"I see you've learned the secret knock, dearie."

"Actually, it was I who did the knocking, Spring." I said. "Is Cogg around?"

"There you are, Luke. Cogg's in the back room."

"Oh, are you friends with the owners of the clock shop, Luke?" Luke asked.

"I suppose I neglected to mention that earlier. Yes, Spring and Cogg have been helping me." I said. More than you think. "Cogg actually explains the situation better than I do, so you should ask him about it."

"All right." Luke said. "Let's hear what he has to say."

Sorry for slowing down in the updates again! I've got the week off school (The U.K. have a week off between Summer Holidays and Christmas every year, oh yeah), so I'll try and update once or twice more this week. Thanks for reading!