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“Ohhh…” Hannah breathed as her car approached the Crown Petone, which looked like a jewellery box floating above the sea.
It was the most exciting scene for an arrest and a run-in with Inspector Clamp Grosky!
Across a golden bridge was a round forecourt outside the theatre.
When the car came to a stop, Hannah lifted the hem of her sparkling blue dress, stepped out in her silver high heels, and looked around.
She had arrived in plenty of time; other attendees were leisurely making their way inside, but none possessed an impeccable pompadour, robust muscles, or resplendent chest hair…
“Er— Miss?” the taxi driver called, interrupting Hannah’s daydream. “You still need to pay!”
Huffing, Hannah paid the fee— this, combined with the extortionate opera ticket and her outfit, had cost a month’s wages!
As the taxi zoomed away, its exhaust fumes mingled with the scent of sea salt and pine trees. Hannah coughed.
She fixed her hair (feeling rather exposed without her hat) and smoothed down her dress skirt, before she proceeded across the cobblestones.
She pouted when she passed a lavishly-dressed couple promenading around hand in hand.
For a moment, Hannah waited, wondering if her beloved might bound down the road or burst out of the water to sweep Hannah off her feet—
“Ah— hello!” a familiar voice hollered. “It’s Hannah, right?”
Hannah turned to find a lady in a yellow trench-coat with voluminous brown hair. She was clutching a camera and smiling at Hannah.
“Hello,” Hannah replied. “…Emmy?”
When Emmy nodded, Hannah’s heart gave a flutter.
If Emmy was at the Crown Petone, did that mean Grosky was close by? Just a few months back, the two of them had solved a case together in Misthallery with that Professor Leighton fellow!
Hannah had heard Grosky would be investigating ‘The Eternal Kingdom’ opera tonight…
“Is Inspector Grosky here?” Hannah asked at the same time as Emmy.
“I thought you would know better than me,” Emmy chuckled. “Aren’t you the president of the ‘Groskettes’?”
“I am!” Batting her eyelashes, Hannah clasped her hands under her chin. “Have you reconsidered—?”
“Nope. Still not joining.”
Hannah wilted. She gazed around the forecourt. What was keeping Grosky?
“Would you like me to get a photo of you?”
“What?” Hannah glanced back at Emmy. The other woman held up her camera.
Hannah faltered; she didn’t want just anyone leering at photos of her. “Why?” she wondered, perplexed.
“Because you look like a movie star,” Emmy marvelled. “If Grosky could see you now, he would swoon!”
Hannah imagined giving her photo to Grosky, who she trusted with all her heart. He could put it on his office desk, in his wallet, or in his breast pocket…
“Yes, please!”
Hannah dashed over to the armless angel statue in the middle of the forecourt. She posed, beaming, while Emmy snapped several photos of her.
“I’ll get these printed for you when I’m back in London,” Emmy said, putting her camera away. “Tell Grosky I’ll catch him at Scotland Yard soon…”
“Aren’t you attending the opera?” Hannah said as Emmy went to unlock a narrow red car parked in front of the theatre.
Opening the vehicle’s front door, Emmy shook her head. “I just dropped off Professor Layton and Luke. But hope you enjoy the show!”
“Thank you!”
Oh, Hannah would enjoy it, as long as Grosky was there, like her very own unshaven guardian angel.
Though Hannah combed the opulent foyer before the show, she didn’t catch sight of her darling’s Herculean form anywhere.
(Wait, was that a flash of bushy grey chest hair—? No… It was just another man’s hairstyle. He was far too tall and gangly to be Grosky!)
Hannah took her seat, hoping she might spot Grosky in the theatre, but still, he continued to elude her.
Was he busy staking out the Crown Petone? Or was he stalking a criminal from the shadows?
Even when the main lights dimmed and the music commenced, Hannah kept an eye out for him.
She expected Grosky to appear onstage; a trumpet fanfare would sound, a spotlight would shine on him, and the dancers would move aside. Even the diva playing the queen would bow to Grosky!
As the opera went on, however, Hannah gradually became more invested in the tale of Ambrosia. (Despite her not understanding a word of what was being sung!)
It was not a love story between two souls, but between the treasured queen and her loyal subjects. So heartbroken were they when she died, that they all drank the elixir of eternal life and vowed to wait until she was reborn.
If dear Grosky were to— goodness forbid— pass away, then Hannah would do the same. She would follow him through a thousand lifetimes!
Hannah wiped a tear from her eye as the diva sang her final note and the spotlight faded out.
The theatre lights came on. Hannah started to put her hands together, but stopped as she glanced around.
No one else in the audience was applauding… apart from some people a few rows ahead of her— oh, it was Professor Layton and little Luke!
Some of the audience members clapped along half-heartedly. Hannah frowned. What was going on here…?
She gasped as the theatre went dark again.
A game for eternal life… where the losers would forfeit their lives.
Hannah hadn’t signed up for this. All she had ever yearned for was to see Inspector Grosky.
But Grosky wasn’t here. He wasn’t here— he wasn’t going to save Hannah— she didn’t want to DIE!
Hannah shot out of her seat. Some of her neighbours had the same idea. She tried to squeeze past them— to escape from the row of seats— but everyone got caught in the aisle like sardines and…
Were those figures blocking the doors?!
The audience members in the aisle froze. Hannah managed to reach the end of her row, but just as she stepped out—
The floor beneath the aisle vanished. People screamed as they fell— Hannah included.
But she was right at the edge of the seats. Someone could catch her. Someone strong and gallant and—
No! a voice in Hannah’s mind snapped. Catch yourself.
With a shriek, Hannah caught the arm of the last seat at the last second. She hauled herself back up into the row as the floor closed.
“Professor!” a young boy cried.
Hannah, still panting, raised her head. Professor Layton and Luke were running towards the stage, but another man had beaten them to it.
Hannah jumped up. He was here! They were all saved!
Leaping to the top of the stage, Inspector Grosky handcuffed that horrible ‘presenter’. Hannah almost fainted with relief.
“Fear not— I am Inspector Grosky of the Yard..!”
Hannah held back a cheer. She sniffed as Grosky assured the audience that he had arrested that diabolical criminal, and no one (else?) would lose their lives.
The nightmare was over. Her darling dreamboat had triumphed once again!
Then— Professor Layton had the nerve to interrupt Grosky and to question his authority!
What was Layton talking about? Of course Grosky was sure…!
Hannah was about to march up there and give Layton a piece of her mind, when Grosky grunted, “What the—? A puppet?!”
The man Grosky had handcuffed started to inflate. Above them, the theatre’s roof rumbled open. Grosky released a yell as he was lifted up by the balloon-puppet.
“No!” Hannah wailed, stumbling out into the aisle.
She had to get to Grosky!
Professor Layton climbed onto the stage, but he couldn’t reach… Grosky was far too high now!
Hannah watched with horror as the balloon-puppet was pierced by a spike in the roof.
The balloon flew off, taking her beloved inspector with it.
“G-Grosky…!” Hannah whimpered as the theatre shuddered around them. (The world wasn’t right without Grosky in it.)
“Ladies and gentlemen… Without further interruption, let us begin our journey to eternal life!”
What was he talking about? Inspector Grosky was not an ‘interruption’! He had just risked his life to save everyone…!
Hannah turned as Professor Layton and Luke rushed past her— out of the theatre.
She shook herself. Grosky had survived worst scrapes than this!
He must have landed somewhere outside. Now, he could be hanging on for dear life. Hannah could still help him…!
She raced after the professor, but she was swept up with the remaining audience members trying to escape the theatre.
When she finally made it out, Hannah gaped at the transformation of the Crown Petone.
The theatre— ship— was now sailing out to sea.
But where had Grosky gotten to…?
As leading member of the Groskettes, it was usually Hannah’s duty to attain as many puzzles as possible to impress the inspector.
Right now, though, Hannah didn’t have time for this ridiculous puzzle-solving game. Inspector Grosky’s life could be in danger!
While everyone else gathered around ‘the oldest thing they could see’, Hannah scoured the sides of the ship, peering down into the shark-infested waters.
If Grosky had fallen in, he could swim back to shore. He was so athletic… but he was also altruistic! He wouldn’t leave them all to perish onboard—
“Ladies and gentlemen, your time is up!” The disembodied voice of the game host made Hannah jump. “The oldest thing you can see are the stars above you…”
Hannah, who was still out on the deck, smiled up at the starry sky— which matched her dress. Some part of her must have known the answer after all!
Her blood ran cold, however, when the host added, “To those of you here in the theatre, congratulations, you can continue. To those of you who got it wrong…”
“Wait!” Hannah cried as masked guards emerged from the theatre. They herded Hannah and the other unlucky contestants into the centre of the deck.
Though Hannah was quivering, she steeled herself. She was ready this time…
When the floor opened beneath her feet, she managed to grab the ‘hatch’. She held on with all her might, struggling to pull herself up, until one of the guards glared down at her over the edge.
She prayed a burly Prince Charming would come to her rescue, but no…
Hannah breathed, “Please, don’t—!”
The guard stepped on Hannah’s fingers. Hannah screeched as she plummeted to her doom.
The ‘losers’ of the Game for Eternal Life had not lost their lives (yet), but they had all been crammed inside a submarine.
There was a BOOM above them that rocked the ship.
Amidst the panic, Hannah jostled her way to one of the portholes. She peered out of it, searching for a strapping physique as the submarine jetted away from the Crown Petone.
If her beloved inspector wasn’t here and he wasn’t on the ship, then was he at the mercy of the icy waves? Was he fighting off man-eating sharks?
Even an invincible man such as Grosky must have had his limits…
No. Hannah blinked away her tears. Inspector Grosky— and justice— would always prevail…
Surely the ‘surviving’ players in the game would have been moved to safety? Had Grosky been amongst them…?
Hannah started questioning the other passengers— had any of them seen the inspector on the ship?
It seemed no one had, but it wasn’t all in vain. Hannah reminded everyone that Grosky would save the day, rallying their spirits, and she even found some potential recruits for the Groskettes!
Within a few hours, their submarine had made it back to shore.
The passengers flooded out onto a beach not far from where the Crown Petone Theatre had been situated.
Hannah sprinted up and down the beach, but of course, Grosky was not present.
He— and the other eternal life contestants— must have still been at sea, after all!
Hannah tried to convey this to some bemused police officers, but she wasn’t the only one vying for their attention.
“Listen to me!” Hannah bellowed over her (former) fellow audience members. “Inspector Clamp Grosky is missing! He was on the Crown Petone— you need to— EXCUSE ME…!”
She was barged aside by a large woman moaning about her lost dog.
Hannah huffed as the officers were consumed by the crowd. It was fruitless— the police force here was overwhelmed.
If Hannah wanted to assist Grosky, then she needed to report to his base of operations: Scotland Yard!
“Don’t you understand? Your finest man is MISSING!”
Monica the receptionist gave Hannah a flat scowl. Hannah knew she looked a state with her dishevelled hair, her still-damp dress, and her sandy heels, but right now, she didn’t give a damn.
“Yes, we are well aware, Miss Pryce,” Monica sighed. “A rescue operation is in the works for Grosky and the missing audience members—“
“In the works?” Hannah repeated, appalled. She slammed her hands on the front desk. “The rescuers should already be OUT AT SEA! Grosky could DROWN—!”
“Hannah?” someone exclaimed behind her.
She whipped around to face…
“Emmy!” Hannah gasped.
The woman in yellow, who was carrying some rolled-up papers, stared at Hannah.
“Weren’t you at— on the Crown Petone?”
Hannah began to nod, but then, she burst into tears. She heard Monica grumble behind her back.
Emmy, on the other hand, removed her trench coat and offered it to Hannah.
“Hey… it’s alright,” Emmy said softly. “It’s over. You made it back—“
“But G-Grosky didn’t,” Hannah sobbed as Emmy draped the coat over her shoulders. “He’s still out there…!”
“Same as Luke and Professor Layton,” Emmy murmured.
That poor boy must have been terrified…
Hannah sniffled.
Emmy guided Hannah out of Scotland Yard’s reception with a hand on her back. It felt… nice. Strong and reassuring.
“I know you’ve been through a lot,” Emmy whispered. “But please can you tell me what happened, as much as you can?”
“O-of course…”
As Hannah relayed the events of last night, Emmy’s eyes widened.
When Hannah described the game host’s ‘minions’, with their dark costumes and white masks, Emmy let out a curse.
“…A-and then, the ship exploded while we were in the submarine,” Hannah finished breathlessly.
“They couldn’t have still been on the ship,” Emmy muttered, half to herself.
“That’s what I thought!” Hannah said as they stepped out of Scotland Yard. “Maybe there was a-another submarine for the winning contestants!”
But where could they have gone? And where did that leave Grosky?
“You might have hit the nail on the head there,” Emmy agreed. She folded her muscular arms. “We can’t wait for this ‘rescue operation’. I’ll handle this—“
“But how?”
“I’ve got connections,” was Emmy’s firm reply. “I could get a boat, or a plane—“
“Take me with you!” Hannah latched on to Emmy’s arm. “We’ll save Grosky— and the others— together!”
“You’ve already been a big help,” Emmy said, gently detaching herself from Hannah. “And you’ve been through enough…”
Hannah winced, drawing the coat around her.
“…Besides,” Emmy continued, “there might not be enough room in the boat or the plane.”
“Right,” Hannah mumbled. “You’ll need plenty of space…” Grosky was a beefcake, after all.
“I will find them,” Emmy vowed. “Don’t you worry. You’ll be back to chasing Grosky before you know it.”
“Thank you,” Hannah breathed. Though Emmy’s coat was lovely and toasty, Hannah started to take it off. “Here—“
“You can keep it.” Emmy patted her on the shoulder. “I have a spare… and you’ll find your photos are in the pocket!”
Hannah felt even warmer as she wrapped the coat around her once more.
“Can you…” Hannah wet her lips. “When you see Grosky, please can you give him this?” She kissed Emmy on the cheek.
“Um…” Emmy coughed as Hannah pulled back. “Sure— I’ll pass it on!”
“Thanks again.” Hannah beamed at her.
“W-will you be okay getting home on your own?” Emmy checked.
“Yes, of course!” Hannah shooed her away. “Now go— go and save everyone!”
With a confident grin that made Hannah’s stomach flip, Emmy saluted. “Catch you later!”
As the lady in yellow took off running, Hannah realised something.
That voice Hannah had heard earlier— “Catch yourself!”— that had been Emmy’s, from the day the two of them met!
Hannah had almost fainted at the thought of Grosky, but Emmy had refused to catch her.
Hannah smiled as she hurried on home. She would run herself a bubble bath while she awaited news of her beloved’s return!