Professor Layton and the Search for the Missing

Chapter two

Liz Triton sat at her desk, reading the most recent letter from her brother.

May 15, 2007

Dearest Elizabeth,

We recently solved the secret of the curious village. The professor told me not to reveal it to anyone, but he said that you're okay to tell it to as you're my sister.

So apparently the "golden Apple" that we were searching for was Flora Reinhold all along. She had been hiding up in that creepy tower I told you about, you know, the one that we entered after we nearly got squashed to death by a giant Ferris wheel. I just may have a pathological fear of Ferris Wheels, now...

Anyways, basically the whole village were robots created by this kind old man named Bruno, one the late Baron's most trusted friends. And get this: we saw Don Paolo at the top of the tower. The professor says that he has no idea why Don Paolo hates him, but he almost killed all three of us (Flora was with us at the moment.)!!!

Baron Reinhold created the village for his daughter, Flora, to keep her happy and have friends for her. Even Lady Dahlia was a robot, designed to look just like Lady Violet, the Baron's late wife. But as she acted exactly like Violet, Baron Reinhold didn't like being reminded of his late wife, so reprogrammed Lady Dahlia to a whole different personality. It scared Flora, however, and she hid from Lady Dahlia a lot.

We did find the treasure, though. It was in a secret room in the mansion, a switch to open a secret door was hiding within a portrait of Flora. When we opened the door, a massive room full of treasure was revealed to us. But if we so much as touched it, all of the robots of St. Mystere would just break down and die. Flora wanted her village to thrive, and so didn't touch her treasure.

Flora is now with us, we're bringing her home to London. The professor adopted her in a way, and now she goes everywhere with us. You'll love to meet her, Liz. I'm sure you two will be the best of friends.

I can't wait to see you again and see what all you've been up to since your last letter.

Best Wishes,
Luke Triton.

Her short brown curly hair moving along her shoulders with each movement, Liz picked up an ink pen and slid a piece of paper in front of her. Starting with the date, Liz began to write her next letter.

May 20, 2007

Dearest Luke,

It's wonderful to know that you're well. I recently received your letter describing Don Paolo. He sounds absolutely terrifying, and I'm not exactly reassured by the fact that the professor has absolutely no idea what he had done to him. I hope that you, Professor Layton, and Flora make it back to London safely. I miss you every day. I fear every day for your safety.

And you're right, it is most peculiar that the Ferris wheel would just break free from its hinges like that. I hope you're well. Maybe Don Paolo was behind that as well? You did mention that he was a scientist, I wouldn't be surprised if he somehow hotwired it to a remote control or something. You also mentioned in your last letter that the real Inspector Chelmey was found and unharmed. It's nice to know that he's okay, and that he apologized to you two for any trouble Don Paolo may have caused posing as him, even though it was in no way his fault.

I'm enjoying my studies in London, as well as the puzzles you sent me in your last package. So far I've gotten 278 picarats from all the puzzles you've sent me. I look forward to seeing you and the professor, and meeting Flora.

Your sister,
Liz Triton

Liz took the paper and reread it, until she said all she wanted to say. She then folded it three times and gently tucked it into an envelope. She wrote Luke's name and the Professor's address on the front and licked a stamp, sticking it onto the top right corner, then writing her return address on the top left corner before standing up from her desk and walking towards the door to her room.

Walking out of her room, she slowly and silently walked down the hallway towards the stairway, the ancient floorboards creaking with every step. She put her hand on the old oak banister and slowly made her way down the stairs, towards the front door to place her letter in the mailbox. Opening the door, she proceeded outside, down the stone path. Upon coming to the mailbox, she opened it, and was surprised to find a letter inside. Pulling it out and placing her own letter in the mailbox, she pulled the flag up and shut the door to the mailbox, reading the envelope as she walked back towards the house.

Clark and Elizabeth Triton was written along the top, along with her father's address and area code.

Strange. She thought. No mail ever comes for the both of us.

Walking back inside her house, she called for her father, still looking at the letter in her hands.

"Father." She said, walking into the kitchen to where her father stood in front of the stove. "We've got mail. A letter for the both of us."

"Oh?" Her father asked.

"Yes, sir." Liz answered. "It's in a more fancy envelope than the ones we receive from Luke or the Professor." She said. "The return address claims that it's from Inspector Chelmey." She looked up. "Inspector Chelmey...that's the man who Don Paolo posed as. Why would Inspector Chelmey send us a letter, father?" She asked.

Her father shrugged, adding a few spices to whatever he was cooking. "Perhaps to thank us for Luke's assist in finding him?" He asked. "Open it and read it aloud, would you, darling?"

Liz nodded and opened the envelope, tearing it a few times before pulling out the letter inside. She read aloud to her father,

"To Mr. Clark Triton (And Elizabeth)

I am ashamed to say that we have a bit of a problem on our hands, to say the least. Earlier today, Professor Hershel Layton was driving your son (and brother) Luke Triton, along with young lady Flora Reinhold, from the small village known as St. Mystere.

Unfortunately, there seemed to be an attack, possibly an attempted murder, upon the small car by none other than Hershel's nemesis, Don Paolo. He attempted to kidnap Flora, and young Luke jumped in to save the day, eventually jumping onto Don Paolo's machine to intervene with the kidnapping." Liz began to get confused at where this was going, but read on, her father at her side now.

"All of the commotion caused Hershel to swerve off of the road, into a nearby river. By now, both he and Flora were inside of the car, however Flora can't recall if Luke was inside or not. Swimming out from underneath the sinking car, they realized that Luke wasn't swimming to shore. They then found his shoe on the road, as well as a few bolts that flew off of Don Paolo's machine.

In conclusion, I'm afraid that I must be the one to tell you that your son (and brother), Luke Triton, has been missing, effective today.

-Inspector Chelmey." she finished. Her face turned two shades paler than it had been five seconds ago. She looked up at her father and he was frozen in place. She read and reread the letter in her hands four or five times. But rereading it didn't make it say anything different.

No doubt about it, Luke was in danger. Luke was missing.