Professor Layton and the Search for the Missing

Chapter eight

"Ah, Mr. Layton." Bruno nodded tiredly. "You're back soon. I take it that Matthew's informed you on what's been going on in St. Mystere?"

The Professor nodded. "We seem to be facing a similar problem, Bruno." He said. Stepping to the side so that Liz was now facing the inventor, the Professor gestured to her. "Allow me to introduce Liz Triton. She's the twin sister of my apprentice, Luke Triton. You may remember him?"

Bruno nodded. "Yes, sir." He answered. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Triton."

Liz nodded, continuing to stare at the ground. "A pleasure." She replied.

"Miss Triton's brother has gone missing. There was a rather strange attack on the Laytonmobile as we were driving away from the village. Don Paolo attacked us out of nowhere, trying to kidnap Flora, and Luke ended up getting taken. But now we have gotten word that Lady Dahlia is missing, as well?" The professor asked.

Bruno nodded. "It was the strangest thing." He said. "I had in fact just begun to make my way back to the tower to work on one of the robots. I believe that it was Ramon again who broke down. But as I made my way up the tower, I was stopped by this man and a young boy. I believe that the boy could have been Luke, although he was missing his cap, bag, and one of his shoes. The man was also dragging Lady Dahlia along with him. Both she and the boy had a sort of horrified look on their faces. The man kicked me out of my own tower!!! I hit my head against the pavement after the door slammed behind me." He recalled. "Matthew brought me back to the manor and then found the note by the intruder, claiming to be you, on the door. That man is holding Lady Dahlia for ransom."

"That's horrible." Liz said, thinking about the story that Bruno had just told them. "But a quick question, if I may? Did you get a good look at the intruder?"

Bruno shook his head sadly. "All I saw was that he was wearing a purple coat, he had a rather interesting haircut, and that he looked like he hadn't slept in days."

"Hmmm..." the Professor began, and then mumbled to himself, "Puzzle number six, Mystery man. Worth about twenty picarats."

"Did you say something, Professor?" Liz asked.

"If we want to determine if the man who kicked Bruno out is, in fact, Don Paolo, we need to make sure that there is no one else in the town that it could be. That means making sure that there are no other gentlemen who have all three of those attributes." The Professor replied.

"We have records of all of the suspects." Matthew said, walking up to the Professor and handing him five files. Each file had a picture of a different man. The first man was wearing a purple coat, but did not have eye bags or a funny haircut. The second man had a funny haircut and eye bags, but no purple coat. The third man did not have a funny haircut or a purple coat, but he did have eye bags. The fourth man had a purple coat, eye bags, and a funny haircut. And the fifth man had eye bags and a purple coat, but did not have a funny haircut. After a few moments of thinking, the Professor circled the fourth suspect and said, "Liz, here's my answer." Looking over the Professor's shoulder, she saw the man.

"That's Don Paolo, isn't it? That's how Luke described him." Liz observed.

The Professor was smiling. "Another puzzle solved." He answered. "Yes, that would be Don Paolo." He replied. He turned around the picture so that Bruno could see. "Is this the man that attacked you, Bruno?" He asked.

Taking another ice pack from Matthew and placing it against his forehead, Bruno sat up a bit and squinted at the picture, before his eyes went wide with recognition. "Yes, yes that's him!!!" Bruno replied. "That was the man who had the boy and Lady Dahlia."

"Poor Luke..." Liz said to herself. "Oh, I hope you're safe."

"Would you happen to have the letter posted to the door with you?" Layton asked. "That may help us in some way."

"Well, we don't have it per se, but I'm pretty sure that it's still on the door to the tower. None of us have moved it as far as I am aware." Matthew answered.

The Professor nodded. "Thank you, you have been of the most help." He then turned to Liz. "Come, Liz. We're headed to the tower."

"Yes, sir." Liz replied, and turned to wave at Bruno and Matthew. "I hope you feel better soon, Bruno." She added, and then followed the Professor out the door and down the stairs.

Once they were out of the manor, the Professor began to lead the way. About two minutes in, they were stopped by a man with his hair over his eyes and a big, bushy mustache. He waved Layton and Liz over, and for some reason, Liz began getting drug dealer vibes. But there was no way that she was going to let the Professor go over there by himself. At least...that's what she told herself.

"Good day, Stachenscarfen." The Professor said, tipping his hat a bit. "How have you been?"

"G'day, Layton." Stachenscarfen replied. He then looked at Liz. "Woah, are my eyes playing tricks on me, or did your apprentice turn into a girl?

The Professor laughed. "Not exactly, Stachenscarfen. This is Liz. She is Luke's twin sister."

"Well, g'day, young lady." Stachenscarfen said. "Did you know that there's a bit of an easier way to do puzzles?"

"I've never been informed of this, no." Liz replied.

"Woah, your brother never told ya about hint coins?" Stachenscarfen asked, receiving a head shake from Liz. "Well, everywhere around you, you can find hint coins." He said. "Go check the side mirror of that car over there." He said. Liz looked at the Professor, who gave her a nod. Walking over to the car, she pulled out a small golden coin that was jammed in the side mirror.

"Beauty, ain't it?" Stachenscarfen asked. "You can use hint coins to help you with puzzles. Just give one to the person telling the puzzle, and they'll give you a hint."

Liz smiled. "That'll make puzzles much easier, thank you!!!" Stachenscarfen nodded.

"I'd best be getting off." He said. "Have a nice visit, you two!!" Then, he rounded the corner and left.

As Liz continued to follow the Professor to the tower, she thought about the interaction with Stachenscarfen. My, she thought. This is a rather curious little village, isn't it?