Professor Layton and the Shadow Legend

Chapter 6

I felt like writing this chapter a while back... Here you go, readers! XD

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"So, this is what you guys have seen so far, correct?" Luke pulled out another copy of the police report on Dr. R. Dawson's vanishing act.

Luke, Hershel, Emmy, Flora, Brenda and Clark all stood around the dining room table. Luke's new house was rather nice, not too fancy but not too plain either, comfortable for family, friends and guests.

"Yes," Hershel kicked into puzzle solving mode, "according to this, Dr. Dawson was kidnapped by a figure in black."

"Not just according to this, Hershel," Clark stepped in, "myself and Luke saw it happening right in front of our eyes! As well as a handful of others!"

"Yes, I know of the witness reports, Clark." Hershel fell silent, already deep in thought.

"But, you see, that's not all!" Luke exclaimed. "There's been five other kidnappings of the same nature since then!"

"What! That can't be right!" Flora burst out. Hershel looked up from the report to look at Luke, then over at Brenda and Clark. They nodded solemnly to confirm their son's statement.

"But... Who? Who else was kidnapped?" Flora asked, concerned for the safety of people she had never met and didn't know.

"Most of the other victims were witnesses to the first occurrence." Brenda began listing names, while Luke pulled out photocopied police reports for each of them.

"Dr. Gracie Trailer, she was a witness, also a brilliant doctor, then there was Patrick Delaney, he was just a local weirdo, then Isaac Fenton, another witness, Mauve Dawson, Dr. Dawson's wife, and... Who was the last one again?"

"Aisling Murphy, tourist from Ireland, apparently a big puzzle enthusiast." Luke read off the last report.

"Oh, yes, that's her."

The room fell silent. Luke spread out the reports so that everyone could see them. All six said the same things roughly. The victim was seen late at night, black figure showed up, they were kidnapped, ect. Hershel, Flora and Emmy read each one in detail.

"I don't get it." Emmy pondered aloud. "There's no pattern aside from how it happened..."

"Yeah, that's the weird thing, the kidnappings are obviously linked, but the victims have no link at all other than Mr and Mrs Dawson!" Luke confirmed.

"Well, this does seem like a very interesting mystery, doesn't it?" Flora asked no one in particular.

"Indeed..." Hershel muttered.

"Well, I say, if you lot are going to investigate it, you should get on it as soon as possible!" Brenda stated, obviously not wanting to be part of the investigating.

"Yeah! Let's get right to work, professor!" Luke exclaimed excitedly. Flora added in her own "Yeah!", and Emmy smiled at the professor.

"They have a point, professor." She said, rather quietly, but she was almost laughing at the same time.

"Alright then! Where should we go first?"

"Well, there's not much point in asking the police, all they know is what's written on these reports..." Luke pointed out.

"Maybe we could ask some of the other witnesses! You know, the ones who haven't been kidnapped." Flora suggested.

"Good point, let's see who we could ask." The professor skimmed the reports again and found a list of people who were also witnesses.
"Let's get going then! Luke, would you care to lead the way?" He asked his apprentice.

"Of course, professor!" Luke collected the reports again and the group of investigators headed off.

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"Ok, so first up is... May! Ok, I know where she'll be. She's taking her final exams in school this year, and she's crazy about study. so we should check the library for her!" Luke exclaimed, marching off in the direction of the local library. Hershel, Emmy and Flora followed close behind, taking in the sights as they walked. Sunridge was a quiet enough town, but it was just big enough to be confusing. The paths were like a huge maze. Despite that, the library was only a ten minute walk from Luke's house.

As soon as the group stepped through the door, silence fell around them. Even for a library, it was quiet. The four looked around, seeing a few people around, but no one who looked like they could help the investigation.

Luke suddenly nudged the professor's side. He pointed at a girl, about Flora's age, pouring over a pile of papers and schoolbooks. She seemed to be muttering to herself about something or other.

"That's her." Luke whispered.

The group made their way to the table where May was and Luke started a whispered conversation.

"How's the study going, May?"
"Fine, now go away please." She responded plainly.
"Um... We wanted to ask you a few things, actually."

May looked up from her books. She noticed the other three standing beside the desk and sighed.

"If it's anything to do with history, don't ask me. Otherwise, what is it?"
"Don't worry, it's not history. You were one of the people who witnessed the recent disappearances, correct?" The professor asked.
"Yeah, and I've already told the police everything. Ask them if you want."
"May, come on! You're smart, you must have something else!" Luke pleaded.
"Why do you care anyway, Luke? You can't solve the case."
"Not on my own, but the professor's going to help! And Emmy and Flora! We're a group and we've solved loads of mysteries before! We can solve this one too, but we need any information you can give us!" Luke made a very convincing case.
"Oh, fine... I'll tell you what I know, but nothing more."

"I've seen three of the disappearances so far. They tend to happen outside the library. Apparently, the other three happened around residential areas, near where the victim lived. In my opinion, who or whatever that shadow person thing is, it's kidnapping people for a reason. I think I may be a target soon myself. All of the people taken so far have either been complete brainiacs or they were investigating the case. I'm surprised the police haven't vanished altogether yet. I would keep quiet about this investigation of yours, Luke. If not... You might just find out exactly what's been happening to the victims first-hand."

Luke and Flora both shuddered at this.

"I'm sorry, but I can't be of any more use to you. Maybe you could ask Markie, or Jonah? I'm not sure who else would know more."
"It's alright May, you've been a great help. Thank you." Luke concluded, and silently signalled for the others to leave and let May get back to her work.

Outside again, the group decided on what they would do next.
"To Markie's house!" And so Luke began to lead the way once more.