Chapter 17: An Epilogue

Layton was working in his study when he heard a knock on the door. Getting up from his papers, he turned the knob, finding himself greeted by a laughing Emmy, a grinning Luke, and a smiling Clive. Clive leaned on crutches, one of his legs in a cast. Still, he manged to hobble in after Luke and Emmy.

"He's finally out of the hospital!"

"Who would have known there would be reporters at the door," mumbled Luke annoyedly. "It took us forever to get out!"

Clive sighed. "Be grateful you don't have to wear crutches for two more weeks." Luke laughed.

"I'm glad to see you're recovering, Clive. Now, then, why are you three here?"

"Well, once the doctors informed Emmy about Clive's release, we thought we ought to drive him over here to see you. But…" Luke and Emmy exchanged a quick glance. "There's also something else Emmy and I came to talk about."

Layton nodded. "Go on."

"Well…" they paused, as if unsure where to start. Luke nudged Emmy.

"Well…" Emmy began slowly, "We just went on such an incredible adventure together. We made a great team. Luke…and I as well…miss going on investigations. Luke really misses being your apprentice. And…I really miss being your assistant." Emmy sighed. "I would have continued as an assistant to you…but after I betrayed you…I felt I didn't deserve it. I didn't deserve to come back. But, now…after I helped free you…I hope I've managed to redeem myself. And…I was thinking…would you be willing to take me back as your assistant, and Luke back as your apprentice?"

Layton's eyes widened in shock. Clive seemed shocked, too.

"After our adventure was published in the paper, my parents found out about it. At first, they wanted me to come back to America. But…I managed to convince them to let me stay." He looked sad. "When I went away to America…it was exciting. It was new. It was an adventure. But…not a day went by that I didn't miss being your apprentice." Luke turned to Layton, a hopeful look on his face. "So…please…will you let me stay?"

There was a pause. Then, Layton gently pulled Luke and Emmy into a hug.

"These last two years have been far too lonely. I've missed you two." He smiled at Luke and Emmy. "You're welcome to stay."

Emmy and Luke beamed back at him. "Oh, thank you, Professor!"

Emmy grinned. "It's the best job anyone could hope for! Do you mind if I move back in, Professor?"

Layton chuckled. "Why, of course not. But…surely you discussed your plans with Flora. Does she want to come back?"

Luke shook his head. "I asked her about it, but she said she wanted to be more independent. And she loves working as a maid. Besides, she's close by, so it'll be easy enough to visit her."

Layton nodded.

"Now, then," Emmy continued. "We're not just coming back to fool around, Professor. We want to continue solving cases. Do you know if Scotland Yard is interested in having you help them with an investigation any time soon?"

"As a matter of fact…" Layton reached into his drawer and pulled out a case file. He tossed it to Emmy. "After all the publicity I received from our recent adventure, Scotland Yard is interested in having me help them with one of their cases."

"A murder…a missing diamond…looks like quite a puzzling case," reasoned Luke.

"It's no match for this trio! Professor Hershel Layton, his assistant, Emmy Altava, and his...second assistant, Luke Triton."

Luke huffed in frustration. "Not his second assistant. We've been over this before, Emmy. I'm his apprentice. His apprentice number one."

Clive laughed. "In any case, I wish the three of you the best of luck."

Emmy raised an eyebrow. "But…what about you, Clive?"

Clive shrugged. "As much as I'd like to help with your investigation…I've already been offered a job proposition."

Emmy's face lit up. "Oh, Clive that's wonderful! When is the interview?"

"Tonight, actually. And, if I get the job, I'll have a place to stay as well."

"You're sure you'll manage to get there with your crutches?"

Clive laughed. "Oh, I'll manage. Now, then, if I could just spend the night here tonight…"

"Of course."

It was dark outside. The last rays of dusk had just faded over the horizon, and Clive hastened to the door.

A car was waiting for him. He hobbled in, shutting the door behind him.

"Where are we going?" he asked the driver.

"You'll see soon enough, Mr. Dove," a voice murmured back at him.

The drive continued in silence for over an hour. Finally, the car pulled to a stop in front of a rocky driveway.

Clive got out, limping over to the front door of the house. He rang the doorbell.

"Come in," a voice called out. Clive stepped inside.

Whoever owned the house was definitely rich. Luxurious tapestries, rare-looking stones and fossils, and all sorts of artifacts were placed on shelves, preserved behind walls of glass. Clive stepped forward to a wooden door. He opened it to find a small study.

"Please, have a seat." A voice called out from the dark. Clive sat down.

"I hear you're interested in hiring me…as an assistant?" Clive asked.

The voice chuckled. "Indeed. And…based on what I've read about you in the paper…you're just the young man for the job."

Clive frowned. "I've heard rumors about you. You were once a criminal. You're not going to be doing anything illegal, are you? I…don't want to become a criminal again."

"Illegal? Hardly. My days of villainy are long behind me. That's not to say my work isn't…dangerous at times."

"I can handle myself."

"So…do you accept my offer?" Out of the shadows, a slender arm reached out, as if to shake Clive's hand.

Clive nodded. He reached out his own arm, shaking the man's hand.

"Deal."

The man chuckled again. "A pleasure doing business with you, Clive Dove."

Clive smiled. "Likewise…Jean Descole."

B35x: I don't know whether there will be a sequel or not. If I feel inspired to write one, I will, but right now I'm thinking about writing a oneshot. It also depends on whether you guys want a sequel or not. Let me know!

To all of those of you reading: got any suggestions for a oneshot I could write? Let me know, and if I end up using any of your ideas I will credit you for the idea in the story.

Thanks so much for reading! Thanks to you guys, this was so fun to write :) And that's the end.