Prologue

'Dear Luke

I'm delighted to hear you are settling in. Flora and I are doing well, though we miss you dearly.

Thank you for the puzzle you sent me. (It took me two Hint Coins to solve it!) The stamp you made appears very professional with a personal touch. Truly, it is the mark of a young gentleman.

As for the document accompanying your letter, and for the mystery it details... I'm sorry to say this is one case you may have to solve without me being there, at least for now. (However, I'd be more than happy to offer advice through our written correspondence.)

I'm trying to make up for lost time working at the university. My students require my upmost support with their examinations fast-approaching. Flora is also in the middle of revising for her GCSEs. (I suppose you will soon be busy with school as well?)

I'll admit, there is another reason our hands are full. Inspector Chelmey brought to my attention an eight-year-old boy whose family perished during the attack on London. He will be staying with us until further arrangements can be made. His name is Alfendi. I hope the two of you will have the chance to meet someday. He is an inquisitive young man, rather like someone I know.

Once again, I regret that I can't visit you sooner. But don't be disheartened, my boy; I will suggest to Flora and Alfendi that we could join you during the Easter holidays (for a 'vacation', as the Americans say), as long as it is satisfactory with your parents. In the meantime, perhaps you could investigate this mystery with your new friends.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Hershel Layton'

Luke read the letter slowly, imagining Professor Layton speaking the words aloud. His brow furrowed the further he got down the page. Finally, he reached the professor's formal signature. Luke had at least expected him to finish with 'Your friend' or 'Your mentor', but no…

He shook his head. Of course the professor wouldn't try to detach himself from Luke— he was the one who had promised their friendship would endure, no matter the time or distance between them.

Slightly reassured, Luke studied the signature again. Maybe the professor had just written his letter in a hurry. That shouldn't have been too surprising; he was a very busy man, even more so without his apprentice there to assist him! Luke chuckled as he pictured the professor's disorganized office. How would Rosa and Flora cope by themselves…?

They had Alfendi.

Luke swallowed. Really, it was good to hear the professor's family was growing, especially after what had happened to Claire. Plus, Flora would have more company. She was so upset the day Luke left… but now, Alfendi could be like her little brother. The two of them could go out on their own adventures. Flora could — or probably would need to — help the professor take care of him.

Because the professor didn't have enough time.

Sighing, Luke gingerly folded the letter on his desk and gazed out of his bedroom window.

His neighbor, a slender pink-haired girl, was walking her pet Pomeranian. Luke waved to them, but gained no response. The dog would bark at so much as a fallen leaf, while the girl was lost in her own little world, listening to blaring music. Besides her absentmindedness, she seemed affable enough when Luke bumped into her the other day… though, the Pomeranian barked at Luke to be careful of his mistress.

At that moment, the Pomeranian went darting after a grey squirrel, which scurried up the oak tree overlooking Luke's bedroom. "Are you okay, Kiki?" Luke called.

The squirrel confirmed, breathlessly, that she was, crawling along a branch to get closer to Luke. She asked if he was okay.

"Not really…" Luke admitted. "I just got my first letter from the professor, but he isn't able to visit me yet."

She chittered something about acorns cheering him up. Luke shook his head, but she had already hurried up to the higher branches. He appreciated her kind offer and her company, but there was hardly any way that she or his other animal friends could help with this mystery. At most, they could inform him of any 'strange smelling humans' lingering at the museum where his dad worked...

He glanced at the tree again when he heard Kiki chattering. His dad was home.

"Thanks, Kiki!" He grabbed the professor's letter and dashed out of his room.

Luke made it downstairs just as Clark trudged through the front door, briefcase in hand.

"Dad "

"Hello, Luke—"

"You'll never guess what I've got," the two of them said together.

Clark gestured to him. "You first."

"The professor replied to my letter!"

Clark smiled. "I told you he wouldn't take long..." The three-week wait had been agonizing for Luke.

"What have you got?" Luke prompted.

"I'll show you at dinner," Clark said, leading him into the dining room. "Let's not keep your mother and Doland waiting." Luke couldn't argue with that— Doland was cooking roast lamb.

When the Tritons and their butler were seated at the table, Luke read the professor's letter for all of them to hear. Brenda was surprised but delighted to learn Layton had taken in Alfendi. Clark was a tad more skeptical, wondering how he would cope.

"Hershel is more than capable," Brenda said. She glanced at the dining room cabinet, where there was a photo of her family, Layton, Flora and the Barde siblings from when they all gotten together in London. "He managed to look after both Luke and Flora."

"Despite a few close scrapes…" Clark took a sip of wine. "At least he's taking a break from perilous adventures for the time being. Let's just hope he doesn't overwork himself. I should ask Dr. Schrader to keep an eye on him in my next letter—"

"Can he, Flora and Alfendi stay with us at Easter?" Luke pleaded.

Clark inclined his head. "Of course, as long as it doesn't clash with school or work."

"What do you mean?"

"Flora and Alfendi might have different term times to you," Brenda explained gently. "And it sounds like the professor is just as busy as your father and I. But even if that's the case, they can always come for a weekend."

"That won't be enough time to solve the museum mystery," Luke said with dismay. Even the professor's shortest cases had taken up to three days. Their trip to find the Azran eggs was more than a month!

"I doubt there will be a mystery for much longer." Clark retrieved a piece of shining blue rock from his briefcase, placing it carefully on the table. "This is a fragment of the Temsik Meteorite stolen from the museum three weeks ago. It was confiscated from a man thought to have been present at scene of the crime, and he is now being questioned by the police."

Leaning in closer, Brenda peered at the meteorite fragment. "Why is it in your possession now?"

"I was asked to confirm whether or not it is authentic… If it is, we can hopefully use it to recover the rest of the meteorite— Luke, where are you going?"

He had tried to sneak away from the table. His shoulders were hunched, making him appear smaller, and his eyes were shielded by his cap. "Up to bed. I don't feel very well."

"You've hardly touched your food," Doland pointed out in concern.

"'M not hungry."

"Luke…" Brenda stood up and pulled him into a hug, smoothing his hair.

He hiccupped. "I… I miss him."

"We all do," Clark added softly.

Luke shot him a tearful look. "No, you don't— not like I do."

"Now, Luke—"

"W-why did you make us move?" Luke demanded thickly. "Everything was fine in London."

"You know it wasn't," Clark corrected him, keeping a cool tone of voice. "Half of the city was destroyed by that madman— Who looks just like you, might I add—"

"Clark, that's enough," Brenda cut in.

"Stop saying that!" Luke twisted out of Brenda's arms to face him. "The professor would p-protect us! He always does!"

"I know how much he tries—"

"He tries a lot harder than YOU!"

"Luke Triton!" Brenda gripped his shoulders, firmly enough to silence him without hurting him. "You mustn't speak to your father like that, ever! Go to your room— Doland, will you accompany him, please? I'll be up in a minute…"

"I don't need Doland," Luke muttered, moving away from her.

Clark snapped, "Will you at least listen to your mother—"

"You never listen!" Luke tore out of the room, knocking the table as he went. The meteorite fragment fell to the floor. It was probably broken. Good, Luke thought as he reached his bedroom, slamming the door shut. He pressed his ear against the door; his parents were arguing, but he couldn't hear Doland out there.

He wanted to lock everyone out, like he had done back in Misthallery. He'd refuse to open up to anyone but the professor, like on the day they first met. The professor would probably chide him for his rash behavior, for his spiteful words towards his father, but at least he would be here.

A letter — Luke needed to write him a letter. If his dad didn't let him send it by post, he would ask a bird to deliver it. He rushed to his typewriter.

'Professor, I need your help!

I miss you, Flora, and Emmy and everyone else! I miss our adventures! I wish things could go back to the way they were —

I wish I could be your apprentice again.'