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It was a pretty warm afternoon at the Yard. Lucy was taking care of some paperwork in the Mystery Room. Some hours before, they came back to Scotland Yard from Forbidium Castle, where they had solved the murders of the Makepeace. Alfendi and Hilda were still interrogating Justin though.
“They are sure taking their time...” Lucy thought, seated at Alfendi’s desk. She put off her hat and sighed. She was done with most of the paperwork, and looked at her phone: It’s been around 3 or 4 hours already. How long are they going to take?
she thought, clearly bored.
A moment after that, she heard footsteps in the corridors and Alfendi came back with a face mixed with tiredness, anger, and confusion.
“Ey up Prof! Took you long enough!” Lucy said with a joking tone. “How did it go with Justin?”
“Terrible! Awful! Disastrous!” He said before falling on the couch.
Oh my- ... She started making tea to help him calm down and cheer him up. He looked really tired.
“If they ever let him out, I’ll kill him with my bare hands!” Alfendi shouted, illustrating his words with big movements.
Lucy was getting used to his sudden outbursts but even then, she didn’t expect that.
“Ee, whatever happened?” she asked, giving the tea to Alfendi. The angry inspector put a strand of his crimson hair behind his ear and thanked Lucy before taking a big sip. It seems like the tea had the wanted effect because he calmed down and started explaining calmly what happened.
He had asked Justin how his second personality came to be, and the former detective told him he had used a brainwashing book. Alfendi showed Lucy the cheap looking book before throwing it on a wall when he continued his explanations.
“Look what I’m made of. A trashy schoolboy guide to mind games!” He finished, laying back on the couch with his hands on his face.
“No! It can’t be!” He stood up again. “It must be something else! Agh, stupid book! It couldn’t unhinge me. I’m a great mind! A thinker! I do the Times One!”
Now he almost threw another book and the cup before Lucy asked him to calm down.
“No, it can’t be. You’re right.” She started while taking Alfendi’s cup before any other damage was done. “Sounds like a new mystery to me, Prof!” She said with a smile and excitement in her eyes.
Alfendi looked at her with a confused expression so she continued.
“Aye, a new mystery. And if there’s a new mystery to solve…we can’t just leave it be!” she continued, pointing at him dramatically.
His confusion only increased. “What are you talking about, Lucy?”
“We’ve got to investigate, Prof.” she replied really excitedly. “ To find the great secret behind Placid Prof!”
He sighed and replied with a pretty harsh tone: “Don’t mock me Lucy. No one could hope to understand the inner workings of the mind.”
“Don’t be so sure.” She smirked. “Between the three of us, Potty Prof, Placid Prof, and me… there’s nowt we can’t solve!” The detective finished while slamming the desk.
Alfendi frowned.
“I don’t have the time, Lucy. I have a mountain of paperwork stacking up.” He said, as he gestured towards the piles of files he had yet to finish. “I really can’t-”
Before he could finish his sentence she pulled his arm and he was forced to get up.
“All that can wait! Come on!”
The young woman smiled to him. Her crimson red eyes were shining with excitement.
“It’s a cracking day out there! Perfect weather for solving mysteries!”
She let go of his arm to take his coat and give it to him.
“Let’s go!”
Alfendi rolled his eyes and sighed, knowing it was no use to argue with her when she was like that. He smiled a bit, it was nice to see her interest about solving a new case.
“Fine, fine. But you’ll have to help me with the paperwork when we get back.” He said as he put his coat on.
“Aye! Of course! Wait for me outside, I'll be quick.”
“Alright then, but don’t be slow, or else I’ll go without you.”
He smirked and put a strand of his red hair behind his ear.
She chuckled a bit and rolled her eyes*
“Hey!! You were t’one who didn’t want to come! I said i’d be quick”
He shrugged and smiled. “Well I’m just saying.”
He walked out of the Mystery Room to get to the entrance.
She smiled a bit. He really never changes
As she got ready to go she thought to herself.
You’re a really nice guy Prof. I wonder why it all had to fall on you.
Justin didn’t reveal anything, which will make this investigation harder. Though, I am sure you’ll find the truth someday, just like you always do.
Lucy looked through the window, Alfendi was there, waiting for her.
But even then, I kinda hope you never do.
She closed the curtains and smirked.
Oh well, at least I’d have gotten to know you.
She chuckled a bit and sighed.
Good luck with your investigation Alfendi Layton.
Because the Jigsaw Puzzle killer is still out there.