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Yay, new chapter! :will:

I think you're putting Edgeworth in a very interesting light. When the players play the games, they get the impression that Edgeworth had done all the 'concealing' of evidence and such on his own accord. But when you put Lana and a blackmailed Gant in the story... it truly shows how perhaps everything that Edgeworth did wasn't necessarily quite his fault. The new autopsy report, for example. One of the things that always bugged me about Edgeworth was that he became a prosecutor so that he could fight against criminals; yet, at least in the first case (and halfway through the third case) he seemed to be blind to the actual criminal and was more willing to put an innocent to jail than relinquish his record. However, you've helped explain his motives in a more... what's the word? 'Realistic'? way: that he truly thought it was Maya and that it couldn't have been White. Though I am eager to see how you explain Miles when a) Phoenix is suddenly accused and b) when White looks so obviously guilty, but Miles keeps pushing for his innocence.

Anyway, the only "complaint" (too strong of a word, but I can't think of a better one) I have is, while I did note the times you inputted Miles's feelings when certain events occured, there were certain parts I was hoping to see how internally Miles was reacting. You did do it; I guess I was hoping for a wee bit more. :oops:

Eager to see the next chapter!
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A very nice chapter. I still think you're leaning a bit too heavily on the game's text, but I do see that you inputted more of your own words which makes it much better. More then that, I quite like seeing Edgeworth's side of this trial and you get extra points for coming up with a good excuse for Edgeworth's trick with the autopsy report in 1-2 without him having been responsible for it. I'm surprised that possibility never occurred to me. The only thing that strikes me as strange is how little reaction Edgeworth seems to show while going against Phoenix. We know that seeing Phoenix again put Edgeworth through a great deal of emotional turmoil as he was forced to go head to head with a ghost from the past he was trying to forget. I guess I just expected a bit more inner contemplation on Edgeworth's part. Anyway, nice job!


General Luigi wrote:
Not to provide spoilers, but I intend for another female character--I won't say which one--to seriously consider changing her last name to "Wright" much later in the story.


Since I'm pretty certain I know which character you're talking about, I must say that this inclusion sounds great. Yes, I'm shameless. :P
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Mia_Fey wrote:
A very nice chapter. I still think you're leaning a bit too heavily on the game's text, but I do see that you inputted more of your own words which makes it much better. More then that, I quite like seeing Edgeworth's side of this trial and you get extra points for coming up with a good excuse for Edgeworth's trick with the autopsy report in 1-2 without him having been responsible for it. I'm surprised that possibility never occurred to me. The only thing that strikes me as strange is how little reaction Edgeworth seems to show while going against Phoenix. We know that seeing Phoenix again put Edgeworth through a great deal of emotional turmoil as he was forced to go head to head with a ghost from the past he was trying to forget. I guess I just expected a bit more inner contemplation on Edgeworth's part. Anyway, nice job!


Well, at this point in the story (and in the game), Miles isn't suffering too much because of Phoenix. Most of that turmoil builds up during 1-3 and 1-4 (especially 1-4). Right now, he struck me as more so just focused on doing his job. However, I revised the chapter just now, throwing in little snippets of memories and comments about Phoenix--mostly small stuff.

[laughs] I've been working on this story so much that I had to stop myself from referring to Phoenix as "Wright" in this post.
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Chapter 12—Torture

September 7, 2016


Lana had heard about the trial. White was almost certainly going to be a witness tomorrow—whether he liked it or not. Too many of the people involved knew about his involvement, and Wright would probably learn from one of them, the bellboy, Miss May, or even Maya. Every one of them had some connection to him, which meant one of them would probably spill the beans.

The Bar Association had contacted Lana shortly after the trial—they intended to penalize Miles for keeping White a secret from the court. Worried about him, she explained the situation to them and took the blame for the incident. Miles had no idea that White was going to be an important witness, not to mention it was she and Gant who had told him that White’s testimony was unnecessary, so they agreed to consider it a miscommunication rather than a deal.

Afterwards, she called Miles and told him what she had done. She knew Miles. He took great pride in his perfect record. As a whole, Miles was a very proud man. He didn’t seek revenge for insults, but he did take them much harder than most. Most people thought of him as conceited, but that was far from the truth. He cared about others, even if he didn’t always show it; the porcelain cat statuette she kept on her desk was proof of his other side—he had given it to her about a week after their first date. He didn’t show much fondness of people who gave him trouble, but he still respected those who deserved respect, and as such, expected others to respect him. Even then, he was kind to anyone who took the time to befriend him, such as Gumshoe. However, when there was a problem with an investigation, an outsider might think that Miles hated the lovable idiot.

Someone knocked on the door to Lana’s office. The “shave and a haircut” rhythm told her it was Gant. He was probably terrified since White was in danger. After all, ever since White found out about his forgeries, Gant had been doing everything the tyrant demanded of him.

“Come in,” Lana said. A very nervous Chief Gant entered, closing the door behind him.

“What happened!?” he cried, his face covered in sweat. “I thought Worthy had the case covered!”

“Wright managed to get his hands on some evidence that Detective Gumshoe missed,” Lana replied.

“WHAT!?”

“Wright acquired a cell phone with a recording on it and came across a wiretap in Miss May’s room.”

“How the hell did he find her!? May’s location was supposed to be classified!!”

“I’m guessing a slip of Gumshoe’s tongue.”

Gant growled, his teeth grinding against each other. “Get that oaf in here right now!”

Lana picked up the phone and dialed the Department.

“Criminal Affairs,” Chief Detective Wynn answered.

“Gumshoe’s needed at the Prosecutor’s Office,” Lana said.

“That’s where he is, ma’am. He said he was worried about Mr. Edgeworth.”

“I see. Thank you.” Lana then dialed the PA extension. “Detective Gumshoe to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office.”

A moment later, a knock was heard on the door.

“Come in,” Lana said. Gumshoe peeked in and entered, sweating. The area around his left nostril looked bloody.

“Y-you called, ma’am?” Gumshoe asked.

“Yes, I did. Do you know how Mr. Wright managed to acquire the defendant’s cell phone?”

Gumshoe gulped. He knew. “No, ma’am,” he lied.

“If you think you can avoid a salary cut by lying, think again. How did he get the cell phone?”

“I d-didn’t notice the recording, so I gave it to him. He said that Ms. Fey was worried that the collectible strap might—”

“A purple Steel Samurai strap?”

“How did you know?”

“It was confiscated at the Detention Center and shown to me. My sister has that same type of strap on her cell phone. Even someone with your salary could easily afford it.”

Gumshoe hung his head. He had been duped again.

“How could you be so stupid, Detective!?” Gant demanded.

“I know…” Gumshoe whimpered. “Mr. Edgeworth was really huffy about it, too, and when I told him that I was tricked into telling Mr. Wright the witness’s—OOF!!”

Gumshoe was cut off by a gloved backhand to his right cheek.

“YOU TOLD MR. WRIGHT WHERE THE WITNESS WAS!?” Gant exploded.

“I-i-it was an a-accident, sir!”

“I oughta fire you on the spot!”

“I’m sorry, sir! I really am! I didn’t know!”

“Chief,” Lana interrupted, her cold armor filtering out the concern in her voice. Gant, red with fear and anger, turned his head to face Lana. “Mr. Edgeworth has not lost yet. There will be no problems with the commissioners unless the killer is acquitted, which is unlikely with Mr. Edgeworth leading the prosecution.”

Translation: White will let you live as long as someone other than himself is proven guilty. With Miles prosecuting, it’s unlikely that Maya will be acquitted.

There was no decisive evidence that White was the killer, but it was very likely. And since White had a stranglehold on Gant, forged evidence would be needed from Lana, meaning Ema’s well-being depended on an innocent person taking the fall for killing Mia.

Lana had met the defendant once when she was in law school. Maya was visiting Mia for a few days. She was only eleven at the time, and almost as cute as Ema. Lana’s memory was that Maya was a very mischievous girl who sometimes let her tongue get ahead of her brain. Still, Maya loved her sister as much as Ema loved Lana. It was inconceivable that Maya was guilty.

However, Gant had demanded that Maya be made to look like the killer. What a way to repay Mia for her friendship—getting her innocent sister proven guilty of a crime she did not commit—all for the sake of Ema.

The telephone rang. Lana picked it up.

“Public Prosecutor’s Office,” she said into the receiver.

“I’m contacting you on behalf of our CEO,” a voice on the other end said. “I’ll put Mr. White on the line.”

White… Lana thought. Just who I wanted to talk to.

The receiver crackled a bit.

“White?” Lana called. “That you? What are you doing calling me at a time like this!?”

“Hello,” White’s voice said. “Chief Prosecutor? I’ve changed my mind. I want to testify tomorrow.”

“What’s this about?”

“The Mia Fey case. I witnessed the murder, you see. And, thus, as a very important witness, I would like to testify.”

“What? Why now? I thought you said you didn’t want to go to court?”

“Quietude…!” White barked. “I told you I changed my mind, didn’t I? Oh, and one other thing. Send the police over here right away. The man is standing right in front of me. He looks dazed but could be violent!”

“What? What man?” What is this creep raving about?

“Are you even listening? The executioner! The hatchet-man! The liquidator… The killer, man!”

“Chief Prosecutor Jacobson was dismissed a year and a half ago.”

A voice on the other end was screaming something (it sounded like “What!?”), so White probably didn’t hear her.

“Mr. White…” Lana started, “this isn’t another one of those…”

“Chief Prosecutor,” White said again. “I do not believe you are in a position to freely offer your opinions to me, correct? I’m telling you to send the police, now!”

White hung up before Lana could respond.

How could anyone mistake my voice for Mr. Jacobson’s!?

“What did he say?” Gant asked.

“He says that the real killer is in his office,” Lana replied. She turned to Gumshoe. “Detective, get to Redd White’s office on the double. Mia Fey’s killer is there. Arrest him.”

“If you can get us out of this mess,” Gant started, “we’ll reconsider firing you.”

“Right away, sir!” Gumshoe exclaimed. He dashed out, not wanting to waste a single second.

Mia… forgive me…

At least if someone else was arrested, Maya would not be convicted. Even so, it was likely that White just wanted to dispose of a troublemaker and decided to get him convicted of murder.

“That… was lucky…” Gant sighed once Gumshoe was gone.

“I told you things would be fine,” Lana said. “And Mr. Edgeworth even gets to keep his perfect record. I imagine he’ll be happy to hear that.”

“He kept it?”

“I contacted the Bar Association and put in a few good words for him. They decided to let it slide since White’s testimony was supposedly the same as May’s.”

“Did you do that because you thought little Worthy hadn’t done anything wrong or because you still love him?” Gant asked, trying to divert his mood to something he could make light of.

“Both,” Lana replied coldly.

Gant guffawed loudly enough to shake the light fixture in the ceiling, clapping the whole time.

“If you still love him, why don’t you just marry him?” he asked.

“That’s none of your business, Chief.”

“I don’t care what you do with your life, Ms. Skye, just as long as you don’t get me in trouble. Go ahead! Marry him, for all I care!” He paused.

Here it comes…

“Oh, I get it,” he teased. “You’re worried you might let your little secret slip, aren’t you?”

“You have to die eventually,” Lana said, maintaining her serious composure. If he was going to try to torment her, then she would do the same.

“Hah! The doc says I’ll probably live to be ninety at the least!”

“Not if you’re murdered or you get some lethal disease.”

“Oh, you think someone’ll kill me?”

“I know at least one person who wants you dead.”

“And you think you could get away with killing me? Worthy would never marry you then! And what about your precious little sister? She’d be crushed to see you put on death row!”

“Maybe I’ll just hire Shelly de Killer,” Lana said. She would never really hire an assassin; she’d have to live with that torment her whole life. “I hear he’s got a perfect record.”

“You’re bluffing.”

“Maybe I am, but you have no way of knowing that for sure. Perhaps that suit of armor in your office will come to life and quarter you, or maybe you’ll be followed home and shot. De Killer’s pretty creative, Chief. Can you imagine all the possible ways for him to kill you? Why, you’d need a—”

“That’s enough,” Gant interrupted. “There’s no way you’d do that. I know you, Lana; you may act cold, but you’re not. You couldn’t bring yourself to kill me.”

“You’ve changed me, Gant. What may have been impossible for me once is now almost routine. However, let’s not dwell on this topic. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of other things to do than argue with me about the person I know better than any other.”

Gant looked to the door. He looked normal, but Lana could tell that she had gotten to him. After all, what would a selfish man like Gant be more paranoid about than his own well-being? She was starting to understand why some people drew pleasure out of torturing others. After all the torment Gant put her through, the thought of him fearing for his life pleased her.

All this for you, Ema, she thought as Gant left the office. How many innocent people will I have to kill before we’re free? At least ten people have been put on death row because of me. You’d probably never forgive me if you learned what I was doing, even if it was for you.

Lana’s thoughts paused. Am I really forging evidence to protect Ema anymore? The real reason… I’m worried. As long as Ema knows nothing, I’ll be happy. As long as Miles has no idea that innocent people have died because of me, I’ll be able to marry him once I’m free. It’s all for myself… I’m becoming just as selfish as Gant…

She placed her elbows on her desk and her chin in her hands.

Will I even be able to live with myself when this is all over? Even if Ema loves me and I marry Miles, will I get over it? I’ve done so many horrible things. Even if I was blackmailed, I might have only done them for myself. Miles and Ema would never forgive me if they learned the truth. I really am just doing this for myself…

Lana felt tears forming in her eyes. She felt as though she had just learned she was responsible for her parents’ deaths.

Gant… You’ve turned me into a monster. I told myself I’d never become like you…

No… Her hands tensed up. She formed her hands into fists and rested her chin on her knuckles. It’s not just for me… Even if they’d be living a lie, Miles and Ema will be happy once this is over. I can return to normal and be the loving sister I want to be… I can marry Miles… I can only imagine how much joy I’ll draw from seeing Ema’s adorable smile again… and Miles…

That’s what sets me apart from you, Gant, she thought, feeling much stronger now. My motives may be selfish, but the pleasure I draw from the end will be from the happiness of others at my freedom, not my own relief at being free. I’ll never truly be like you, Gant. When I’m free, I’ll be the same lady I always was—kind, caring, and pleased by the happiness of others. You only care for your own happiness, but I’m not like that. I feel for others… that is what gives me the strength to fight you.
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Last edited by General Luigi on Mon Feb 16, 2009 3:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Wow! That was quick. I really loved this last chapter. The emotions were portrayed well and I love that you delved deeper into the turmoil of Lana's mind. The way she was questioning herself and her own motives, to the point of even comparing herself to Gant, just struck me as being very true to her character during this situation. Even that simple thought apologizing mentally to Mia really helped drive the point home about how much pain she was in during all this. All in all, a wonderful chapter. Nicely done!
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Chapter 13—Turnabout

September 9, 2016


Chief Gant had called Miles from the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The charges against Maya Fey were being dropped—the real killer was Wright. In addition, the other witness intended to testify. Why Miss May had lied about the killer’s identity was a mystery, but it changed nothing. As a prosecutor, it was Miles’s job to prove the defendant guilty.

His witness for the day was sitting in one of the armchairs in the Prosecution Lobby. Redd White: the man who was blackmailing Lana. To win the case, Miles had to work with him. This was going to be hell, using a criminal to convict another criminal.

“Let it go, Mr. Edgeworth,” Lana said. “Even if you don’t trust this witness, he is innocent as far as this case goes.”

“You there!” White said. “The beautacious lady who just spoke! I assure you, the work I do is abso-posi-lutely honest!”

“The only work you will do today is testify,” Miles said. “Anything else is irrelevant to the case.”

“I’ll be watching from the gallery,” Lana said, taking her leave. Not wanting to have to spend more time with White than was necessary, Miles got up and left, too. He figured it was only fitting to pay the defendant a visit.

“Well… I guess this is it!” Miles heard the previous defendant say to Wright as he approached the Defendant Lobby. What was she doing here?

“Yeah,” Wright replied. “One way or another, this case gets decided today.”

“Aaa!” Maya screamed, noticing Miles entering. “Ph-Phoenix! Look!”

Wright had a look of surprise on his face.

“I received a call from the public prosecutor’s office yesterday,” Miles said. “He told me that whatever Mr. White says today, it will be the ‘absolute truth.’” Even if everything he says outside of court is an absolute lie, he added mentally. “No matter how you try to attack his testimony, if I raise an objection, I have it on good faith that the judge will listen to me.”

“So…” Wright started, “you’re saying I’m going to be guilty. End of story?”

Miles didn’t respond for a moment. “I will do anything to get my verdict, Mr. Wright. Anything.”

“Why…” Maya asked, now quite angry. “Why!? How can you torment an innocent person like this!?”

Innocent? The department had good reason to suspect Wright.

“‘Innocent’…?” Miles repeated. “How can we know that? The guilty will always lie, to avoid being found out. There’s no way to tell who is guilty and who is innocent! All that I can hope to do is get every defendant declared ‘guilty’! So I make that my policy.”

“Edgeworth…” Wright said. “You’ve changed.”

Change is necessary, Wright. I couldn’t lie to myself after my father died.

“Hmm?” Maya chirped. “Phoenix! You know him!?”

“Don’t expect any special treatment, Phoenix Wright,” Miles said. He then left for the courtroom. Justice cares nothing about friendship. I will prove that to you in court today.



The judge silenced the gallery at precisely 10:00.

“The court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Phoenix Wright,” he said.

“The prosecution is ready, Your Honor,” Miles said.

“The defense is ready, Your Honor,” Wright said. Maya was also behind the defense’s desk for some reason.

So you’re defending yourself? That won’t save you, and neither will a “spirit medium.”

“Mr. Wright…” the judge said. “Are you sure you’re up to doing this?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Wright said with a nod. “I will be defending myself.”

“Understood. Very well. Mr. Edgeworth, your opening statement, please.”

“As the details of the event are already quite clear to the court,” Miles started, “today we will hear the testimony of another witness to the defendant’s crime.”

“I see. The prosecution may call its witness.”

Wright grasped his chin, thinking. He probably thought White had a hold on the judge, too. He then slammed his desk.

“Mr. Edgeworth, you owe an explanation to the court!” Wright demanded. “Why didn’t this witness testify in the trial against Maya Fey!?”

“Hmph,” Miles laughed, shaking his head in amusement. “I’m ever so sorry! Mr. White is a busy man, and besides, at the time, I thought that Ms. May’s opinion was all that would be needed. Again, my sincerest apologies to the court.”

“Excellent, Mr. Edgeworth,” the judge commented. “I appreciate your demeanor.”

Miles took a bow. Wright started sweating.

“I would like to call Mr. Redd White to the stand!” Miles said, straightening up.

White took the stand.

“Please state your full name,” Miles said.

“You wish to know the title of my personage?” White asked, his voice booming almost as loudly as Grossberg’s. He showed off the many rings on his fingers, grinning.

Is it any wonder prosecutors have a reputation for bitterness when they have to deal with these characters?

“Er… your name?” Miles insisted.

“Yes!” White replied. “That is what I said! Oh dear, do my locutions confuse?”

No, but your personality would confuse even Freud.

“Name!” Miles shouted, hitting his desk with his right hand.

“My name is Redd White,” he replied. “But my friends call me Blanco Nino.”

Niño Blanco que no habla Español…

“I am the CEO,” White continued, “or to use a more common term, the President, of Bluecorp.”

“Did you know the victim, Ms. Mia Fey?” Miles asked.

“That would be a negatory! No, I did not.”

Apparently, not everything he says is the “absolute truth,” Miles thought.

“You were at the Gatewater Hotel the night of the murder?”

“Correct.”

“And you witnessed the murder from there?”

“Ahem. Why tell you what you already know?”

Because you’re in a court with a slow judge.

“Very well, Mr. White,” the judge said. “You may begin your testimony.”

Wright started sweating as White laughed. White showed off his jewelry again.

“I hope you have made your peace with God, Mr. Lawyer!” White taunted.

Maya said something to Wright. Probably some form of encouragement. The gallery was silent.

“Let’s see, it was about 9:00, I believe,” White said, beginning his testimony. “I was quietly perusifying… er, that’s ‘reading’ to you, some papers by the window. Then I heard a bedlam coming from outside! Surprised, I turned to look at the building across the way. It was then I saw him: a spiky-haired man attacking a woman with long hair! Needless to say that man was none other than you, Mr. Lawyer! I called Miss May over at once. She, too, was flabbergasted of course. The victim, she… she ran away, but you gave chase! Finally there was a terrible impaction! Then it was all over…”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “If things occurred as you testify, then I’m afraid the defendant is guilty. Very well, defendant… er, I mean, Mr. Wright. Your corss-examination…”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Wright said. He looked over the testimony. “How do you know what time it was?” he asked White.

“Because I am always abso-posi-lutely perfect, you know?” White replied.

“No no no, you’re not getting away with that!”

“You are so mistrusting, Mr. Lawyer! So… what was the proper term for ‘secretary’ again…? Anyway, Miss May ordered room service for 9:00. It happened soon after the room service arrived.”

“True, the bellboy who brought the coffee saw Miss May.” Wright banged on his desk. “But he testified that he did not see you at the time!”

“Ahem. This is your concern? Silly Lawyer! Miss May received the coffee outside the room! Of course he could not see me. He would need X-ray vision to pull off something like that!”

“Tell us, what were you doing at that time?” Miles asked.

“I was quietly perusifying… er, that’s ‘reading’ to you, some papers by the window.”

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “By window, you mean the one directly across from the Fey & Co. Law Office?”

“Correct! That is the only window, you see.”

“And there you were reading… papers?”

“Correct! The Gatewater is a businessman’s hotel, and I am a busy man who had business to do! Then I heard a bedlam coming from outside! Surprised, I turned to look at the building across the way. It was then I saw him: a spiky-haired man attacking a woman with long hair! Needless to say that man was none other than you, Mr. Lawyer! I called Miss May over at once. She, too, was flabbergasted of course. The victim, she… she ran away, but you gave chase!”

“Hold it!” Wright repeated. “Can you be a little more detailed about that? I think it’s worth knowing exactly what happened.”

“Of course!” White replied. “Comprende! I understand!”

Pero usted no comprende Español, Señor Blanco.

“The victim was attacked,” White continued, “by you, and ran to the left. You gave chase, and struck her down!”

“Are you sure?” Miles asked. That contradicted May’s testimony.

White allowed his jewelry to sparkle again. “As you know, I am always abso-posi-lutely perfect!”

An abso-posi-lutely perfect pain in the neck…

“Perhaps you could change your testimony to reflect this new detail,” the judge said. Miles knew what was coming.

“The victim ran to the left, and you gave chase!” White said to Wright, repeating himself.

“Objection!” Wright yelled, pointing at White. “Wait right there! Mr. White, you’ve dug your own grave!”

“What is this!?” White asked, confused.

“You said the victim ran to the ‘left.’ But that directly contradicts Miss May’s testimony! She clearly stated that the victim ran ‘right’!”

“Oh hoh hoh,” White guffawed. “It is simple. You have misheard her.”

“I think not. Look at the floor plans…” Wright took out the diagram of the crime scene and pointed to the killer’s location. “The killer was here.” He then pointed to where Mia had been found. “And the victim, here. If the victim ran to the left, as you claim she did, she would have been running directly away from the door! She would have been running into a dead end! Don’t you find that odd?”

White placed his fists on the stand. He then crossed his arms, thinking. “Very strange…” he uttered. “I did see her run to the left… I did.”

Maya said something to Wright.

“True…” Miles heard Wright say in response.

“Mr. Wright?” the judge asked.

“Yes, Your Honor?”

“Miss May says ‘right,’ and Mr. White says ‘left.’ Can you explain this contradiction to the court?”

“Both witnesses are telling the truth.”

Miles shrugged and shook his head.

“Hah!” he scoffed. “I doubt it! Er, rather, that does not clear up the contradiction!”

“There is one scenario that would explain their conflicting accounts,” Wright said.

“What!?” Miles demanded. Wright slammed on his desk, then pointed at White.

“Obviously, the witness was not viewing the crime from the hotel!”

The gallery began murmuring. The judge quieted them down.

“Mr. Wright!” he exclaimed. “What do you mean?”

“Yes, what do you mean, he was not ‘viewing the crime from the hotel’!?” Miles demanded. He pounded on his desk. “If he was not in the hotel, where could he have been!?”

“In the law offices of Fey & Co., of course!” Wright responded.

The gallery, now quite noisy again, grew silent with three whacks of the judge’s gavel.

“More specifically, he was standing here!” Wright pointed to the killer’s location. “This is where he was!” he yelled, slamming his desk. “Look! When the victim ran for the door, if he was watching from this point, to him it would appear that she ran to the ‘left.’”

Miles hit his desk. “Please!” he barked. “This is no time for jokes in ill taste! That is where the killer was standing!”

The judge silenced the gallery. “Order!” he shouted. “I will have order! Anyone disturbing the order of this courtroom will be held in contempt! Mr. Wright! What are you suggesting!?”

“R-r-rapscallion!!!” White stuttered at Wright.

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “The postulations of the defense are a distortion of the truth, Your Honor!”

“Indeed,” the judge said. “They do seem a bit far-fetched…”

White laughed. “You provide us with so much entertainment, Mr. Lawyer!” he said. “The hilarity of the moment made me remember something… It appears I have been unclear, and for this, I apologize. Mr. Your Honor… Might I be allowed to testify once more?”

“Very well, let’s hear your revised testimony,” the judge said with a nod.

“Miss May’s testimony was correct… as was mine! When you assaulted the girl, she first ran to the left. And then you hit her, savagely! That is what I saw. Next, with the last of her strength, she ran to the right. You chased her, and delivered the final blow. That is what Miss May saw. You see? You hit her twice! Don’t you remember, Mr. Lawyer?”

“Hmm… that does seem to make sense,” the judge said. “Will you be cross-examining the witness’s testimony?”

“You bet I will!” Wright almost shouted. “I mean, yes, Your Honor.”

Wright was handed the testimony to look over. Almost instantly, he took the autopsy report out of a folder. Miles knew where this was going.

“Mr. White!” Wright called. The victim died from a ‘single’ blow!”

White looked shocked. Understandable, considering that he could not have possibly seen the whole murder.

“What do you have to say to that?”

“Er… Erp!” White yelped.

Wright banged on his desk. “Mr. White. Wasn’t it you who told this court you were ‘abso-posi-lutely perfect’?”

“Mmph. I will refrain from using this phrase from now on.”

“Your Honor, if you could ask the witness for a new testimony…”

“Objection!” Miles interrupted. “The witness is obviously confused, Your Honor! I would like to request a ten minute break!” Perhaps they could figure out what exactly happened during that break.

“Yes… yes, quite,” the judge uttered.

“Objection!” Wright yelled. “The witness is confused because he’s lying! I emphatically request that there be no break, Your Honor!”

The gallery was jeering—partially at Miles, partially at the judge. The judge banged his gavel.

“Very well,” he said. “If the witness would care to revise his testimony… Mr. White?”

“O… okay…” White managed to say. “Umm, well, see—I looked at the other window when I heard that thing fall. Then, the next moment, I saw Miss Mia run to the left! The killer, you, attacked her… but she dodged. Umm… and then… She turned, and ran for the door! Then you did her in with a single blow! Thwap!”

Why must you lie, White? Just say you didn’t see everything that happened! You couldn’t have seen everything!

“Hmm,” the judge muttered. “‘Thwap’ indeed. Very well, you may begin the cross-examination.”

“Mr. Your Honor…” White pleaded. “My stomach, you see, it is hurting…”

“Deal with it,” Wright said, shaking his head. “This is almost over.” He was handed the testimony to look over. “Hold it! You heard ‘that thing fall’? What exactly was ‘that thing’?”

“Huh? Oh… oh, that? Umm… the glass light stand!”

“Phoenix!” Miles heard Maya say. She said something else, but he couldn’t make it out.

“Mr. White,” Wright pressed.

“Huh?” White asked. “W-what?”

“You’re saying you saw the glass light stand?”

“Y-yes.”

“Then change your testimony to reflect that!”

“S-sorry. My bad…”

“The witness will revise his testimony,” the judge said.

“Okay okay. Of course,” White replied. “A light stand was lying on the floor when I looked.”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “Mr. White. It was impossible for you to have seen the light stand!”

“Whaaaat!?”

“The stand broke into pieces when it fell!”

“Ooof!”

“Just by seeing the broken pieces you would have no idea it was a light stand! So tell me, exactly when was it that you saw the stand?” He slammed his desk, then pointed at White. “Answer the question!”

“I-isn’t it obvious?” White stuttered after a pause. “I saw the stand before it fell over!”

“So… you saw the stand before the victim was attacked, then?”

“C-correct! That would be no problemo, right?”

I’m really getting sick of this man’s fake Spanish… It’s like hearing Franziska always calling people by their full names…

Wright shook his head. “There’s a big problemo, er, I mean problem here,” he said.

“What problem is this?” White countered.

“Mr. White, let me make sure I have this straight… You saw the glass light stand through the window, from the hotel, before the incident occurred?”

“Correct! That is so! It’s conclusive, definitive, undeniable… unimpeachable!”

Wright hit his desk. “No, it’s impossible! You couldn’t have seen the stand!”

The judge silenced the gallery with a single bang of his gavel. “What?” he asked. “Why couldn’t he? You have proof?”

“I sure do, Your Honor! A person in the hotel could not have seen the stand before it fell over! Look at this!” He took out the crime scene floor plans.

“These are the floor plans to the scene of the murder, yes?”

“Correct, Your Honor. Now, look… If you were to look through the window at the office… This is the area you would be able to see! Here!” He indicated an area that excluded the stand. “Well…? Note that the stand is not within the visible area! Well, Mr. White!” He pounded on his desk. “What do you have to say to that!?”

“Er… erp!” White yelped. “Ri… dicu… losity…”

There’s got to be something I’ve overlooked… White saw the stand, so how could he have done it without killing Mia?

“Mr. White. If you were in the Gatewater hotel as you claim, you could not have seen the stand before it fell over! In fact, you wouldn’t have been able to see it after it fell, either! There’s no way you could have recognized the broken shards as a glass light stand! So, when did you see the stand, Mr. White?” Wright banged on his desk. “It must have been the moment that it fell! And the only place you could have seen that from… is inside the Fey Law Offices! In other words, you were at the scene of the crime, when the murder took place!”

“Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!” White screamed. He let his forehead drop to the top of the stand and touch it. The gallery was in an uproar. The judge eventually banged his gavel to restore order.

“Mr.… White?” the judge asked quietly. White didn’t respond.

“Mr. White,” Wright said. Again, no response.

Think about the evidence. The phone, the stand, the weapon, the wiretap… Wait! The wiretap! If White entered the office to install the wiretap, he would have seen the stand!

“You did it, didn’t you?”

“Mr. Your Honor,” White said. “I… I… Miss Mia…”

“Objection!” Miles interrupted.

Truly heinous, Wright. Pressing an innocent man until he confesses to avoid your torment… Unforgivable.

“That’s far enough, Phoenix Wright!” Miles barked, smiling arrogantly.

“W-what!?” Phoenix screeched with a powerful jerk. He then slumped into his usual sweating.

“Mr. White…” Miles started. White didn’t respond. “I think the time has come. Shouldn’t you confess your crime now, hmm?”

“W… what?” White asked. He apparently thought being innocent of murder excused his tapping of the victim’s phone.

“I said, you should confess your crime,” Miles repeated, pointing at White. “Ergo, confess that you placed the wiretap!” He smiled evilly.

“The w-wiretap!?” Wright repeated, sweating bullets.

“What’s Edgeworth going on about?” Miles heard a voice in the gallery ask.
“Beats me. What does the—”

At that moment, the judge stopped the conversations.

“Order!” he bellowed. “Order! Mr. Edgeworth! Explain to the court what you mean by this!”

“Distinguished members of the court,” Miles started, “Mr. White is slightly confused. Allow me to explain.” Wright was sweating enough to turn his suit a slightly darker shade. “As you know, Mr. White is the CEO of Bluecorp. He ordered his secretary, Miss April May, to tap the law offices of Ms. Fey.”

“What does that have to do…?”

“Your Honor,” Miles cut him off. “The question is: when was the wiretap placed in the office, and by who?”

“No!” Wright begged. “You wouldn’t!”

I don’t know if it’s the truth, Wright, but I know I won’t let you pin your guilt on someone else—even if you were once my friend. It is my duty to prove criminals like you guilty.

“Mr. White. In order to place the wiretap, you entered Ms. Fey’s office. Am I correct…?”

White seemed to realize what Miles meant by “confess your crime.”

“C-correct!” White exclaimed, suddenly full of himself again. “You are most correct, Miles!”

You are not worthy of calling me by my first name, White.

“Give me a break!” Wright screamed.

“Yes…” White continued, “in order to place the wiretap, I breached the Fey & Co. Law offices! That is when I saw that accursed light stand!”

The judge silenced the gallery with his gavel.

“Now I’m confused,” the judge said. “Please explain to the court what all this means, Mr. Edgeworth!”

“Gladly, Your Honor,” Miles said. It appears I was correct… “Mr. Phoenix Wright has made his position quite clear. He has determined that Mr. White knew the glass stand was in the office. He has shown that there was only one time Mr. White could have seen the stand: At the very moment of the murder! Thus, Mr. Wright would like you to believe that Mr. White was the murderer!”

“I see,” the judge said.

“However!” Miles continued. “It is a fact that Mr. White had been to that office well before the murder took place! He went to place the wiretap! He could have seen the glass light stand then.” Miles pounded his desk like a timpani. “Ergo, Mr. Phoenix Wright’s theory is revealed for the baseless conjecture it is!”

The gallery started up again, stopping at the sound of the judge’s gavel.

“Mr. White!” the judge called. “You will testify to the court about this wiretap!”

White showed off his jewelry. “Ahem. Leave it to me!”

Wright was sweating enough to leave a fragrant puddle at his feet.

“It was the beginning of September… the week before the murder,” White said. “I had entered the Fey & Co. Law offices. Of course, I had done so to place the wiretap. That is when I saw this glass light stand.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “So, you saw the stand before the night of the incident… And this is how you were able to identify what had fallen over. By the sound?”

“Correct! That is right.”

“I see. Very well Mr. Wright, you may cross-examine.”

Maya said something to Wright. Wright was handed the testimony to look over and soak in his sweat. He looked over it frantically.

“D-do you have proof?” he asked, bluffing.

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “Miss April May knew the details of Ms. Fey’s phone conversation! This proves that the wiretap was placed before the murder!”

“Huh… right.” Wright paused and wiped some of the sweat from his forehead. “Was it really you that went into the office? Or was is Miss May?”

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “Unidentified fingerprints several days old were found in the Fey & Co. Law offices. Those were obviously Mr. White’s.”

Wright grasped his chin, probably thinking something along the lines of “And if I know Edgeworth, he’s already run a check on those prints…”

Miles took a bow. “Now, Mr. White,” he said. “Tell us why you went to the Fey & Co. Law Offices.”

“Of course, I had done so to place the wiretap,” White replied.

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “Why did you tap Mia’s phone!?”

“Objection!” Miles interrupted. “This has no bearing on the current case, Your Honor.”

“Bluecorp is a detective agency of sorts,” White explained. “We have a responsibility to protect client confidentiality!”

Wright looked at the testimony again. There was only one part that had not been pressed. “Why did you notice something as innocuous as a light stand!?” he asked, grasping his sweat-caked chin.

“The light stand was made entirely out of glass,” White responded. “It was quite stylish, so I guess it made a lasting impression on me. Such a beautacious thing deserves attention, does it not? That is all.”

Wright had his hands on his desk. He appeared to be shaking a little.

“Was it really you that went into the office?” he asked White. “Or was it Miss May?”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. He could have sworn Wright had asked that question already. “Unidentified fingerprints several days old were found in the Fey & Co. Law Offices,” he repeated. “Those were obviously Mr. White’s. Now, Mr. White. Tell us why you went to the Fey & Co. Law Offices.”

“Of course, I had done so to place the wiretap,” White said.

“Why did you tap Mia’s phone!?” Wright badgered.

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “This has no bearing on the current case, Your Honor.”

“Bluecorp is a detective agency of sorts,” White said. “We have a responsibility to protect client confidentiality!”

Wright’s face was sparkling from all the sweat. Miles tapped his forehead, doing his “evil smile” again.

“Tsk tsk,” he chuckled. “I’m afraid that’s as far as you go, Mr. Wright. The time has come for you to admit your defeat! You fought… honorably.” He took a bow.

“Mr. Wright?” the judge asked. “Are you giving up?”

“Y-yes, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“Phoenix!” a voice called. Miles looked to the source. Sometime during the trial, Maya must have switched positions with one of her fellow frauds. “Phoenix! Over here!” Maya’s replacement said to Wright. Wright tapped on his chin, thinking. He then looked over to the “spirit medium.” “Never give up, Phoenix!”

Wright muttered something and then fainted.



Miles returned to the Prosecution Lobby. No verdict had been given yet—the judge wanted to wait until Wright regained consciousness.

“You did splendiferously!” White said.

“It’s my job,” Miles said.

Neither one said anything else. Miles thought he heard Wright yell “Gak!” at some point while they waited for court to reconvene.


About ten minutes passed before court reconvened.

“The court will now reconvene for the trial of Mr. Phoenix Wright,” the judge said with a whack of his gavel. “Is the defendant… rather, are you alright, Mr. Wright?”

“Yes,” Wright said with his left hand behind his head. “Sorry, Your Honor. I’m fine now.”

“Then, let’s start where we left off.”

Miles smiled. “Your Honor,” he said. “There is nothing to go back to! The cross-examination of Mr. White is finished! All that is required now is for you to pass judgment on the defendant Phoenix Wright!”

“Hmm…”

Wright pounded on his desk. “Your Honor!” he called. “Please, give me one more chance. I promise you, this is the last time I’ll ask you!”

“Hmm… But, as Mr. Edgeworth has noted, the trial is more or less finished.”

“Mr. Edgeworth, do you have an opinion on this matter?”

Miles took a bow. “I say… let us give Mr. Phoenix Wright his ‘last chance.’”

“Very well!” the judge said. “You may begin your cross-examination.”

“Look closely at this,” Wright said, taking out the “message from the victim” that he probably wrote. “See the word ‘Maya’ written in blood…?”

Miles shrugged and shook his head. “Bwah hah!” he guffawed. “You’re grasping!”

Wright slammed his desk. “I think not. Look at the other side of the receipt.”

“Th-the other side?”

“Your Honor. Would you tell the court what is written on the other side of that receipt?” The bailiff handed the receipt to the judge.

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Well! A ‘glass light stand’! And the date of purchase… Why, that’s the day before the murder!” the judge continued. Miles jerked back. How was that possible?

“You see!” Wright exclaimed. “Mr. White. When you allegedly entered Fey & Co. Law Offices at the beginning of September… The stand could not have been there!”

“Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!?” White screamed. His head was on the stand.

“Well, Mr. White? Can’t get out of this one, can you?”

“No… It’s impossachievable…”

“Well, Your Honor. I understand there must be quite a bit of PRESSURE on you.” He hit his desk. “But I think you’ll agree you can’t judge me ‘guilty’ under these circumstances.”

“Very well,” the judge said, still somewhat shocked. He banged his gavel. “Then, that is all for the trial of…”

“Objection!” Miles interrupted. “Not so fast, Phoenix Wright!”

“Eh?” Wright hunched over, sweating again. He most likely was thinking “No way can he worm his way out of this one!” Miles took a bow.

“There is a certain thread of logic to the defendant’s claims.” He hit his desk. “However! There is no concrete proof that Phoenix Wright is innocent! Ergo! I would like to request one more day before Phoenix Wright is granted his freedom. I need time to make one more inquiry into this matter.”

Specifically, why has White been lying so much when he’s innocent? It’s hurting the case!

“Hmm…!” the judge exclaimed. Wright slammed on his desk.

“Mr. White’s guilt is obvious!” he yelled. “There is no need to prolong this trial any further!”

“Hmm. Well, Mr. Edgeworth?”

“If anyone is going to call Mr. White to trial, it would be me, the prosecution,” Miles said. “I need a day to ascertain whether your claims have any basis in factual evidence!” If Wright is indeed innocent, I can ask for the charges to be dropped. No harm done to the innocent, and none to my record.

“Hmm,” the judge mumbled. “I see. Objection denied!”

“Whaaaat!” Wright cried. The judge pounded his gavel.

“The completion of the trial of Mr. Phoenix Wright will be postponed until tomorrow.”

“Mr. Your Honor!” White called. “May I go home?”

“Of course. Thank you for your time.”

“The witness will stay!” Maya’s replacement shouted. She then said something to Wright and handed him a piece of paper.

“Your Honor,” Wright said. “If I may…?”

“You’re quite persistent today, Mr. Wright!” the judge commented.

“I have something I would like to read to the court!” He started reading a list of names. Miles recognized many of them. They had all committed suicide; he had read some of the reports.

“S-s-stop!” White interrupted. “Desist! Halt! P-please, stop! Make him stop! How… how did you get that list!?”

“Mr. White,” Wright’s assistant said. “Admit your guilt, right here, right now. Or else this list will be released to the press!”

Blackmail!? They can’t be serious! This is irrelevant to the case!

“I… I confess,” White sobbed. “I confess. I… I did it. I hit her. I hit Miss Mia with ‘The Thinker’!”

Miles almost fainted. He managed to hold himself up with his arms.

Impossible! Wright! You worm! Why did you have to get involved! You’ve ruined me!

“Case closed, Your Honor,” the assistant said.

“Well, I see no reason to continue this trial,” the judge said with a whack of his gavel. “Mr. Wright?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“You’ve done it again! That was quite a spirited defense!”

“Yes, Your Honor. I guess you could say that.”

“Hmm. Well! This court finds the defense… Ahem! Rather, the defendant, Mr. Phoenix Wright… Not guilty.”

Cheering rose from the gallery. Cheers for Miles’s defeat. Cheers for his failure. Cheers for Wright winning through blackmail.

How can the judge give this verdict!? White was blackmailed into giving a false confession! The department was sure Wright was the killer!

“That is all,” the judge said. “The court is adjourned!”



Miles read about White’s trial a week later. “Guilty.” Miles had prosecuted an innocent person—two innocent people. The department, the detectives, had betrayed his trust in them. He had always been so certain that they would arrest the right person. That was why he prosecuted, and if not for justice, then for his record. But that was gone.

To make things worse, Lana was the same even after the trial. White wasn’t her blackmailer. Mia had died for nothing. She and Miles had pursued a false lead. His “father” and “little sister” would probably think of him as less than nothing. With Lana distancing herself from everyone, the only family Miles had left was the von Karmas, but they would not want him after what had happened.

Wright… Was this your revenge for my actions? For leaving without a word, letting myself be led around by a lie… Is this torment your punishment for me?

To Miles, the only thing worse than innocent people suffering was the knowledge that he was responsible. He had always believed his ruthless way of prosecuting was justified because he believed the defendants were always guilty. But now he had been cut down for his own stupidity. He hated Gumshoe’s idiocy, he hated the department’s ambiguity, he hated von Karma’s teachings… But above all that, he hated himself for trusting all of them. He wanted to wake up and find it was all a dream, that by some miracle he had done nothing wrong. But the miracle never happened.
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I'll always love you, Max.


Last edited by General Luigi on Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:35 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Very interesting; it was nice to see Miles's perspective of these events. Can't wait to see how Lana's persepective as a result of this case will be. :redd:
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I think this chapter had a much better balance between the game's text and your own words. It was quite interesting to see this case through Miles' eyes and I love that towards the end you give us a glance into the character development he goes through in the game. Nice work. I look forward to the next chapter.
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Chapter 14—Doubt

October 2, 2016


Miles had been in a form of depression ever since he lost to Wright. He took a week off from work to pull himself together. During that time, he took no calls, regardless of the caller. When he returned, he was ready to prosecute again, the same Demon Prosecutor he had always been. With the exception of “that case,” he managed to maintain a perfect record. There was a difference, though. He was distant whenever he wasn’t prosecuting, as though he was contemplating something so deep that no one else had the right to give him their input.

She had been debating in her mind ever since the trial whether or not to speak with him on the matter. So far, she had been convinced that he was going to be fine.

A knock sounded on the doors to her office.

“Come in,” she said. Both doors were pushed open hard. Jake walked in as though he was some outlaw walking into a saloon. She had had the foresight to place doorstops a fair distance from the wall before calling Jake to her office. After getting a glare from Lana, Jake turned around and closed the doors. He then sauntered up to the chair in front of Lana’s desk and placed his heels on her desk after seating himself, tipping his hat down. “Please take your feet off the desk, Officer Marshall,” Lana said with a slight hint of distaste in her voice.

Sometimes I wonder how I ever had feelings for this man, she thought.

Jake shrugged and put his feet on the floor.

“You called, ma’am?” he asked, maintaining a tone of voice that was meant to make him sound like some star from a Western film.

“I did,” Lana replied flatly. “It’s about your job performance.”

“Lemme guess: I haven’t been showing up at my saloon.”

“Exactly. A few detectives have complained that they couldn’t access the evidence room because the ID Card Reader was turned off. You’re supposed to be guarding the evidence room.”

“A real desperado doesn’t do stuff just ’cause he’s supposed to.”

“And a real desperado has no place in the police force. If you want to keep your job, I suggest you—”

“You’re thinking about your prince, aren’t you?” Jake interrupted.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re petting that cat he got you.” Lana realized that she had been stroking her cat statuette with her right hand.

“What I’m thinking about is irrelevant. I’m arranging for your salary to be cut. If you only guard the evidence room on rare occasions, then your pay should reflect it.”

“You should go talk to him. He’s been staring at the moon like a coyote, but he ain’t howling. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.”

“You may go, Officer Marshall,” Lana said. “And as for a destination, I’d suggest your post.”

Jake shrugged, tipped his hat to Lana, and walked out of the office. Maybe he was right. Gumshoe apparently wasn’t doing too well cheering Miles up. However, she also didn’t want to risk her secret. Still, there was no harm in talking to him.

She waited a few minutes until she was sure Jake had left, then she got up from her desk and went to Miles’s office. She knocked on the door once, even though it was about a foot open.

“Is this important?” Miles asked wistfully from behind the door.

“It is to me,” Lana said, pushing the door open and closing it behind her. She walked in. Miles was sitting at his desk, his back to the door. She could smell fresh tea. The speakers on his computer were playing In the Steppes of Central Asia. “Can we talk?” she asked, standing near his desk.

If he’s listening to music on the job, he really must be depressed.

“It depends on who you mean by ‘we,’” he replied. “If by ‘we’ you mean me and Lana, then yes. If you mean me and Ms. Skye, though, I would rather not.”

Lana sighed. A small smile crossed her lips. “Very well,” she said, closing the door behind her. She took a seat on the sofa, placing her arms in her lap. “You can talk with Lana, but on one condition.”

“No discussion of your blackmailer? I accept.” Miles turned around to face her. A cup of tea was in his right hand. A faint smile was on his face. “It’s nice to see emotions on your face again,” he said. “Thank you for that.”

Lana closed her eyes. Okay, now what? If you keep this up, you’ll be telling him about Gant in no time. She sighed. “I’m worried about you,” she finally said.

“That’s understandable,” Miles said. “I’ve been concerned about myself. After White was proven guilty, I became ashamed of myself.”

“How so?”

“I was so foolish that I allowed myself to believe without question that the defendant was always guilty.” He put his tea cup down and looked out the window again. “I could have proven innocent people guilty, deprived them of thousands of dollars, sent them to prison, destroyed their families, ruined their lives… even ended them.” He then looked down, his eyes closed. “I let myself be manipulated. I’m no better than Manfred von Karma!”

“Yes you are,” Lana said.

“How!?” he demanded, turning to face her again.

Lana got up and took one of Miles’s hands in her own. He wheeled his chair toward the sofa so she could sit down. “Miles…” she said, stroking his hand. “Von Karma only cares about his record—you said so yourself. For him, it doesn’t matter if the defendant is innocent is guilty—all that matters to him is perfection. You’re not like that. Yes, your record was a symbol of pride for you, but you care about justice.”

“What does my reason have to do with this? I still did what I did. I prosecuted mercilessly, never once questioning the investigation.”

“You would never knowingly prosecute an innocent person. It’s not in you.”

“Again, it means nothing. Whether I knew about it or not, the fact remains that I tried to prove at least two innocent people guilty.”

“It happens,” Lana said, keeping sympathy in her voice.

“It happens!?” Miles repeated, taking his hand away and looking out the window again. “That doesn’t excuse my actions! People may have died because of me—innocent people!”

“Miles, look at me.” Miles turned his head to face Lana. He was almost glaring. “You’re not perfect. No one is. You’ve said yourself that there is never any way to know for sure that the defendant is guilty or innocent. All you can do is hope the investigators arrested the right person.”

“Again, that’s no—”

“You’re right, it’s no excuse for proving innocent people guilty. But look at it the other way around. Few people who are put on trial actually are innocent. For the few who are, we have the trial system so that our mistakes can be caught. Even then, the system’s not perfect. Sometimes, innocent people are convicted. Sometimes, criminals are acquitted. At the least, you should be proud that no criminal has gone free on your watch.”

Miles’s face looked somewhat calmer, but it was obvious that he was still struggling. Lana took his hand again, this time with both of her hands. She looked him directly in the eyes. His eyes avoided hers.

“I can tell this is hard for you. But I think I also understand why. You thought you were always right. You always focused only on the task before you. As long as you had no doubt, you would feel secure. It was only when you lost to Wright—”

Miles jerked a little at the mention of Wright. Lana held his hand a little tighter and waited for him to settle down. She looked back into his eyes.

“It was only then that you saw that the investigations weren’t perfect. As a result, you saw that you were not perfect, and so you began to doubt yourself. Thus, your current state of mind.”

“And what do I do about it!?” he begged. His eyes were still evasive.

“Accept it.”

“Accept it!?”

“Doubt’s not something you can get rid of, but you can limit its effect on you. It’s going to keep torturing you like this until you accept its presence.”

“You mean I have to live with this weakness?” he muttered, almost inaudible, facing away again.

“Don’t be fooled into thinking you’re weak. Even strong people doubt themselves. Sometimes even the right choice is one you’ll regret. Accept the few weaknesses you have and return to your more plentiful strengths.”

Miles didn’t respond. He sighed through his nose, still avoiding Lana’s gaze.

“You’re stronger than you’re letting yourself think. The only weak thing you can do in this situation is let yourself be tortured like this.” It then occurred to her that Miles probably also felt weak because he had to be comforted. “Am I helping at all?” she asked.

“You are…” Miles managed to say, turning to face her, but still not looking her in the eyes. “I’m just bothered that I need your help…”

“I told you. No one’s perfect. Even people like you need help from time to time.”

Miles didn’t have a response for that.

“Well, you certainly can’t get married alone,” Lana said. “Besides, isn’t that part of marriage? Depending on one another?” She smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “You didn’t think I’d just let you work alone once we got married, did you?”

Miles finally looked Lana in the eyes. Whether it was because he saw the smile or because he really was willing to look at her was beyond her.

“I’m sorry I made you worry,” he said, closing his eyes. He opened them after a few seconds, looking directly into her eyes. “Thank you for talking to me.” His voice sounded much calmer now. “I needed your help.” Lana felt her smile change. She was no longer smiling to cheer Miles up. She smiled because she felt like smiling.

“Thank you for listening,” Lana said. “I think you’ll do just fine.”

“One more thing: could you please keep this moment of weakness a secret?”

“I don’t think you were weak at all, but I will.”

She let go of Miles’s hands and stood up to leave. Miles stood up quickly and embraced her before she could leave the office. Sighing, she put her arms around Miles. The sigh was not one of annoyance, but not one of pleasure or amusement, either. Miles’s hug had been a bit of a childish impulse, but she had no problem with it.

“I love you,” Miles said, still holding Lana.

“I love you, too,” Lana replied as Miles released her. She then walked out of the office, fighting to remove her smile and return to her “normal” self as she did so. She closed the door behind her.

“Sounds like a couple of prospectors found gold,” a familiar voice said a moment after Lana closed the door. Jake was leaning against the wall, his hat covering his eyes and his arms crossed.

“Consider yourself lucky I can’t fire people for personal reasons,” Lana said. She no longer needed to fight to remove her smile. Jake simply laughed. He tipped his hat back as he straightened up.

“I don’t care what you think about me, Chief. But I do care what happens to you. If you’re happy with that caballero, I don’t got a mind to drag you away from him. He won. I lost. End of story.”

“Get back to your post, Marshall.”

With a shrug, Jake walked to the elevator to leave. Whether he left for his post or somewhere else was something Lana did not know, and at the moment, she did not care.

I’ll bet he had that whole thing planned out from the start, she thought.

Lana returned to her office and seated herself. She saw the porcelain cat and began stroking it as though it were Barbara or Katara. It had been a long time since she had been able to be herself, and it would probably be a long time before she could again. Miles was not the only one who had needed that conversation. Not only did it relieve much of the stress Miles had, it had also relieved much of hers.
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I'll always love you, Max.
Re: Tales of Law and LoveTopic%20Title

True love is forever.

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Aww, that was sweet. Drama and a bit of fluff all mixed into one excellent chapter. I think it was interesting how you included the hinted at past romance from 1-5 into the chapter without harming the flow of the fic and that it works really well. Great job! Keep it up. :)
Proud Supporter of Phoenix/Iris, Ron/Dessie, Klavier/Ema, and Apollo/Vera
Fanfics Updated-12/25
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In Justice We Trust

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I was actually quite worried about this chapter for fear that Miles and Lana would seem out of character.


Also, although like almost all evidence of romance between characters, it's circumstantial, I came across an in-game quote that could be interpreted as a hint that Lana had feelings for Miles. Again, it's purely circumstantial evidence and open to interpretation.

[Phoenix shows Marshall the Parking Stub]
Marshall: 5:12 PM... The prospector's bright red steed came in at a trot, real slow like.
Ema: A... trot?
Marshall: My Madonna tells me the crime occurred three minutes later... So it seems the Chief Prospector was lying in wait! Maybe... waiting for her prince to ride in on his bright red horse...
Phoenix: (So what you mean is... The killer intended to use Edgeworth's car all along!)
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I'll always love you, Max.
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Fascinating! Can you prove this, Wright?

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Wow. This is quite impressive. It really mixes all the cases together, with romance all tied in. Good job, General Luigi!
:karma: I am Perfect!!

:gant-clap: Good show, Mr. VonKarma!
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Chapter 15—The Wicked Witch of the Witness Stand

October 18, 2016


“The court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Will Powers,” Judge Clous said with a whack of his gavel.

“The prosecution is ready, Your Honor,” Miles said.

“The defense is ready, Your Honor,” Wright said.

Wright… This should be interesting. Miles could practically sense what the gallery—and even the judge—thought. Wright had ruined Miles’s perfect record. He probably had revenge on his mind. For some reason, Maya Fey was there. No matter; her role was unimportant.

“Very well,” the judge said. “Mr. Edgeworth, your opening statement, please.”

“The prosecution will show the court that at 2:30 PM on October 15, the defendant, Mr. Will Powers, killed fellow actor Jack Hammer at Studio One of Global Studios. It is impossible for anyone else to have committed this heinous crime. The evidence presented during this trial will all point to this fact.”

“Hmm. I see. Very well, I would like to move on to your testimony. Mr. Edgeworth, the prosecution may call its first witness.”

“First, I would like to call a familiar face, Detective Gumshoe, to the stand,” Miles said. Gumshoe took the stand. “Detective, if you would briefly describe this case to the court?”

“Yes sir!” Gumshoe said. “I’ll explain with the guidemap here.” Gumshoe reached into the pocket of his trenchcoat and pulled out a guidemap. “To understand this case, it’s important to grasp the layout of the studios, see? This here is the Employee Area.” He pointed to the Employee Area. “The actors did a run-through of their action scenes during the morning here.” This is the main gate to the studios,” he continued, pointing to the main gate. “The security lady that works at the studios was here at 1:00 PM on that day.” He then pointed to the gate to the studios. “Past the security station there is a gate, see? Past that are the studios.” He pointed to Studio One. “And here it is… Studio One. This is the scene of the murder, where the body was found!

“Now, on the day of the murder, October 15, there were only three people here. The victim, Jack Hammer, the defendant, Will Powers, and a young woman, the production assistant. All the production staff were in the Employee Area until noon. The after lunch, the victim, Jack Hammer, went to Studio One. Right after that, at 1:00 PM, the security lady got to the guard station. Now, jump ahead to later that day… 5:00 PM. The production staff came to Studio One to perform a rehearsal. Needless to say, the rehearsal was cancelled… The time of death was 2:30 PM. The ‘Samurai Spear’ found lodged in the victim’s chest was the murder weapon. That’s the case, in brief. Anyone like to hear that again?”

Amazing. He actually sounded like he knew what he was doing for a change.

“So the murder weapon was a ‘spear’?” the judge asked. “How… medieval!”

“Your Honor,” Miles said. “This case is quite simple if you ask one question: and that question is: ‘What did the security lady at the guard station see?’”

“Understood.”

“Let’s call this security officer to the stand!”

Gumshoe stepped down from the stand, replaced by an elderly woman who appeared to be in her late sixties and relatively good health. She was in her security uniform.

“Will the witness declare her name?” Miles requested.

The witness didn’t respond for a moment. She then began to blush.

“Hmm? My, aren’t you a handsome fellow!” she commented. “I’m afraid I’m a bit flustered!”

Miles jerked back. Why do I always get the characters!? He recovered and placed his right hand on his desk. “Y-your name, please!”

“Oh, dearie! No need for you to be embarrassed! Just call me ‘grandma.’”

“YOUR NAME, PLEASE!” Miles demanded, hunched over.

The only thing I’m embarrassed about is not having a normal witness!

“Wendy Oldbag, dearie. So just call me ‘grandma.’ It’s practically my name! So even when I was young I was an Oldbag, but not really that was just my name dearie. Still how the other children would make fun of me and just because of my name can you believe it? But there was this boy, the captain of the chess club in junior high, and when he called me an old bag well I just cried and cried because I had a crush on him you see—”

“Objection!” Miles interrupted. “O-objection! I… object to the witness’s talkativeness.”

“Objection sustained!” the judge said in agreement. “The witness will refrain from rambling on the stand.”

“I was just getting to the good part, dearie!” Oldbag complained.

“Perhaps we can get to the testimony?” Miles suggested, back to normal.

“Now, the witness was stationed at the main gate on the day of the murder, correct?” the judge asked.

“Yessey I was,” Oldbag replied.

“And to get to the scene of the murder, someone would have to pass by you?”

“You know your stuff, dearie!”

“You may begin your testimony,” the judge said after a brief pause. Wright was already sweating.

Just no rambling, please.

“On the day of the murder, I arrived at the guard station at 1:00 PM. Poor old Hammer and the rest had been doing a run-through there since the morning. I, well, I had some errands to run that morning. Anyway, it was 1:00 when I got to the guard station. I was at the main gate from then until 5:00! Now, the murder happened at 2:30 PM, right? Interesting to me, because a certain man walked right by me at 2:00 PM. It was Powers! That man right there, and he was heading toward the studio!”

“You saw the defendant, then?” the judge asked. “Hmm… Very well. Let’s begin the cross-examination. Mr. Wright?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Wright said. He slammed his desk almost instantly. “Let me get this straight, old bag! Er, Ms. Oldbag! You’ve been saying since yesterday that you ‘saw Mr. Powers,’ correct? But you’re talking about the man in this photo, aren’t you!” Wright showed Oldbag a photograph.

I had a feeling that photo would come up. How Wright got his hands on a copy is another question entirely.

“J-just a moment, Mr. Wright,” the judge interrupted. “Let me see that photo!” The judge took a look. “What is this, exactly?”

“None other than the Steel Samurai, defender of Neo Olde Tokyo.” Wright hit his desk. “Ms. Oldbag! Is this the ‘Mr. Powers’ that you saw!?”

“Of course!” Oldbag replied. “Didn’t your momma teach you any sense, sonny? Anyone can plainly see that’s Powers! Right?”

“Um, yeah,” Miles said, hunching over. Her line of logic is almost as bad as the judge’s… He paused, regaining his composure. Don’t fight blind, Miles. “Umm… well. I wonder?”

“True, Mr. Powers does play the role of the Steel Samurai!” Wright said. He pounded on his desk and then pointed at Oldbag. “But that doesn’t mean Mr. Powers IS the Steel Samurai!”

“I… I know that!” Oldbag yowled. “I wasn’t born yesterday!”

She’s missing the point completely. I wonder if she’s related to the judge…

“No one in this court is accusing you of that, Ms… er, witness.” the judge hesitated to say. “However, you do not have proof that the person in this photo is Mr. Will Powers, do you?”

“Humph! Nosey old man! Of course I have proof!”

“What!?” Wright yelped.

“Huh!?” Miles added. I was never told this! “The prosecution would like to ask the old… the witness. Please make known all the information in your possession ahead of time!”

“How was I to know everyone would be so nosy! You should be ashamed, all of you! Anyway, I showed that photo to the young detective. He told me ‘this isn’t any good as evidence, pal.’ He didn’t even give it a second look!”

Miles jerked back and broke his fall with his arms. And you still used it to support your argument!?

“Let’s hear about your proof, then,” the judge said.

“I never say anything I don’t mean, mind you!” Oldbag explained. “That morning, during the run-through of the action scene… I saw Powers trip and fall! He broke one of the props, it was a big mess. Apparently, he sprained his ankle pretty bad. Now, look at that picture! You can see he’s dragging his leg! See? Clear as day! That’s how I knew it was Powers. Happy?”

“Hmm. So he had sprained his ankle…? Very well. Mr. Wright, you may cross-examine the witness.”

Wright looked over the testimony. “Umm…”

“Whippersnapper!” Oldbag yelled. Wright began to sweat. “I’ll have you know I’m not pointing fingers at anyone behind their backs! Everything I’ve said is on the straight and narrow! The up and up! Youth today! Always whining about each other, pointing fingers this way and that! It’s enough to make an old lady want to cry…”

Miles slammed his desk, cutting the witness off. “Mr. Wright!” he demanded. “Please, for all our sakes, try not to upset the witness!”

Wright had a stupid grin on his face, his hand behind his head. He put his hand back and returned to his normal expression. “Who was present at the run-through?” he asked.

“Well, let’s see…” Oldbag said, trying to jog her memory. “There was Powers, he’s the Steel Samurai… Then poor old Hammer, the Evil Magistrate. And… me.”

“And what exactly were you doing?” the judge asked.

“Observing! Just… observing.”

“What about the assistant?” Wright asked.

“Oh, she was off moving backdrops around and such. I saw Powers trip and fall!”

“Hold it! ‘Trip and fall’…?”

“Yes! And to think, he’s supposed to be the Steel Samurai! What a laugh! So Powers sprained his ankle. I helped make it better for him, of course.”

“You… helped make it better?” the judge asked.

“I kissed it where it hurt,” Oldbag said.

She may be in decent physical health, but I wouldn’t say the same about mental health…

“L-let’s just skip over that part, shall we?” the judge insisted.

“Where was the assistant then?” Wright asked.

“Oh, her?” Oldbag confirmed. “She was cleaning up backdrops, I think. She didn’t know about Powers’s ankle.”

Which means if someone was posing as the Steel Samurai, it couldn’t have been the assistant.

“You may continue your testimony,” Miles said.

“He broke one of the props, it was a big mess.”

“Hold it!” Wright cut in. “He broke a prop?”

“Sure did! His own Samurai Spear. Luckily I was there with my duct tape to fix it.”

Hence the tape and her fingerprints on the murder weapon…

“Was Mr. Powers’s ankle badly sprained?” Wright continued.

“Not so bad that he couldn’t walk around,” Oldbag answered. “He went to his dressing room to rest up after lunch. Anyway, I saw him dragging his foot when he walked.”

Miles hit his desk with his right hand. “I think we’ve heard enough!” he said. “Haven’t we, Your Honor?”

“Well, there is one thing that bothers me,” the judge responded.

“Which is?”

“Where is this ‘Steel Samurai’ costume now?”

“Umm… hmm. Actually, well… We couldn’t find it.”

Which is always a possibility with Gumshoe handling the investigation.

“We’re looking, though,” Miles continued.

“Hmm…”

“Anyway, that’s not important! The witness did see the Steel Samurai, yes.” He put the testimony transcript down and shrugged, shaking his head. “And it is clear that the person in the Steel Samurai suit was Mr. Will Powers!”

“Hmm… I suppose that’s right.”

I think I know what’s next, Miles thought, looking at Wright.

Right on cue, Wright pounded on his desk. “Hold it right there!” he ordered. “We keep talking possibilities, but we have to agree that this photo shows the Steel Samurai!” He pointed at the judge. “Nowhere in this photo can we see Mr. Will Powers!”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “The defense has a point. I also wonder if someone else not caught on camera could have killed Mr. Hammer. We have to consider that possibility, also.”

Miles did his “evil smile.” “Then allow me to remove that doubt from your mind, Your Honor…” he said. “Will the witness continue her testimony, please?”

“No need to ask twice!” Oldbag chirped. “The time of poor Hammer’s death was 2:30 PM, true? The only person I saw go to the studio before then was Will Powers! No one else went there! If they had, I would have seen them!”

“Hmm…” the judge muttered. “So, if no one else went to the studio… Then it would have to be this ‘Steel Samurai’ who did it. Mr. Wright, you may cross-examine the witness.”

Wright looked at the testimony, then at the photo he had a copy of. He slammed his desk. “Hold on!” he shouted. “Look at this photograph one more time. This photo was taken by the camera at the gate for the studios, correct?”

“Yesiree, sonny,” Oldbag answered.

“So, whenever anyone passes by here, it automatically takes a picture?”

“And here I thought you didn’t know your head from a hole in the ground.”

“Right… Anyway! It’s also true that the computer in the guard station records all security cam data.”

“Ooh! You know, if you wanted to work at the studio, we might have an opening.”

“That very computer printed out this photo. Note that on the back of the photo are printed the words: [Oct 15, 2:00 PM, Photo #2]”

Photo number two!? What’s the meaning of this!? Gumshoe has some explaining to do…

“Even I know that means it was taken at 2:00 PM on October the 15th! Really, sonny!”

“Actually, I knew that too,” Wright said. “The issue here is the bit at the end where it says: ‘Photo #2’…”

“‘Photo #2’…?”

“The computer only held data for one photo on that day. Don’t you think that’s odd?” He slammed his desk. “Shouldn’t this photo be ‘Photo #1’ if it really was the ONLY photo!?”

The gallery started up. The judge restored order.

“Order! Order!” he ordered. “Please tell the court what you mean by this, Mr. Wright!”

“Actually, that’s what I want to ask the witness,” Wright said, a confident smile on his face. He started flicking the photograph. “This evidence shows that not one, but two people went to the studio that day. Yet there is only data for one of the photos! Who could have erased the data for the other photo?” He banged on his desk and then pointed accusingly at the witness. “Only someone with access… the security lady herself!”

“Eh!?” Oldbag yelped. “You watch your mouth, whippersnapper! The only person I saw that day was Will Powers!”

“But the camera on the gate fired twice! That means two people went by!”

“Umm… well, yes… that’s what it would seem to mean…”

“Can the witness explain this to the court?” the judge asked.

“Umm… ahem. I-I don’t understand these new-fangled computer things… Umm… E-Edgey-boy! Help!”

“Huh!?” He jerked back, then regained his composure and hit his desk. “B-believe me, I want to, but I don’t know what this means either.”

“Humph! Some help you are! You’re a whippersnapper too!”

How I wish I had Franziska’s whip right now…

The witness was quiet for once. Something must have clicked in her mind.

“Whippersnapper…” she muttered, probably not realizing she was thinking out loud.

“Something the matter, Ms. Oldbag?” the judge asked.

“Ah! That’s right! I… I just remembered something!”

“Let me guess… Someone else passed by the gate… someone other than the Steel Samurai?”

“Er… well, yes, I suppose you could put it that way.”

The gallery started up, mostly complaining about the decrepit old hen Wright had the misfortune of having to cross-examine. The judge banged his gavel with a sigh.

“I see,” he said. “Your testimony, please.”

I actually feel sorry for Wright. It’s at times like these that I’m glad I chose to become a prosecutor.

“Every day,” Oldbag started, “after I finish my guard duties, I have one other important job to do. I go through the photos recorded on the security computer and check them. I throw out any photos that aren’t suspicious lookin’, you see. Come to think of it, now I remember throwing out one photo that day!”

“M-Ms. Oldbag!” Miles complained, slumped over his desk. “This is the first I’ve heard of this!”

“Well, of course, sonny! I’ve only just remembered it.”

“Right… anyway,” the judge said, “Mr. Wright, please begin the cross-examination.”

Maya said something sarcastic-sounding to Wright. At least I’m not the only person fed up with this hag…

Wright looked over the testimony, clearly exasperated. “Well, who in the heck was in that photo you erased!?” he demanded.

“Humph,” Oldbag scoffed. “A fanboy.”

“F-fanboy?”

“Steel Samurai fanboys. Real freaks, if you ask me. They get information about the rehearsals from gosh-knows-where. They’re always hanging out. One was there that day.”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. He slammed his desk hard. “W-wait a second! Didn’t you just say no one else could get in!? ‘I locked the main gate so no one could get in’… Those were your words!”

“Well! If you must know, there’s a drain that goes into the Employee Area. The grate has been loose for a while. It leads outside, and well, that’s where they come in.”

“They come in through the drain?” Wright confirmed, sweating.

“I told you they were freaks. Oh, and…”

“And…?”

“They’re kids. Children. Whippersnappers.”

“K-kids!?” Wright repeated as he jerked back in shock. He returned to sweating after that. “So, on the photo that you erased…?”

“It was a boy. Probably 2nd or 3rd grade.”

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaat!?” Wright screamed.

She’s as lousy of a guard as she is a witness…

The gallery had a field day discussing that until the judge silenced them.

“O-order! Order!” he demanded. “Let me get this straight. You saw two people pass by the gate on their way to the studios that day? One was the Steel Samurai, dragging his leg. The other was a boy who looked to be in about 2nd or 3rd grade?”

“Oh yes, well we see his type there every day,” Oldbag said. “Can’t stop ’em. Can’t catch ’em.”

“A boy in 2nd or 3rd grade?” Miles confirmed. “Hmm… I assume it would be hard, if not impossible for a young boy to wield the Samurai Spear?”

“Impossible, I’d think,” the judge said. “It’s quite heavy.”

“Right!” Oldbag chimed in. “As I said, I didn’t pay him much mind. That’s why I erased the data.”

Maya asked Wright a question. Wright said something in response. The judge banged his gavel.

“I’d like to take a five minute recess,” the judge said. “I want the defense and the prosecution to consider this new information… And no forgetting vital information this time!”

“Consider this new information”? What is there to consider? A boy couldn’t properly wield the Samurai Spear! The only possibility if Powers is innocent is that someone stole his costume!



Miles did not even bother to return to the Prosecution Lobby. After five minutes, the judge banged his gavel to silence the gallery.

“The court will now reconvene for the trial of Mr. Will Powers,” he said. “Mr. Edgeworth, will you present the prosecution’s thoughts on this matter?”

“The prosecution’s thoughts are simple,” Miles said. He shrugged and shook his head in amusement at the waste of time. “Nothing has changed. The other person who went to the studios was a boy of roughly 10 years of age. The photo we do have may not be hard evidence…” He pounded on his desk. “But there is still no one else that could have committed this crime! I call for a verdict of ‘guilty’ for the defendant, Mr. Will Powers!”

“Hmm… Very well. Mr. Wright, your thoughts?”

“The defense disagrees with the prosecution’s claim,” Wright said. How predictable. He slammed on his desk. “There IS another person who could have committed this crime!”

The gallery started up, promptly silenced by a whack of the judge’s gavel.

“Order!” he shouted. “Interesting… Let us hear who you have in mind! However… Be aware that this court does not look kindly on accusing the innocent. If you accuse someone who is obviously innocent, you will be penalized.”

Wright was sweating, an obvious sign that he was going to try to bluff his way into a suspension.

“So, who was this person other than Mr. Powers that could have committed murder?”

Wright pounded on his desk, then pointed at Oldbag. “It was the security lady! Wendy Oldbag!”

“W-who!?” Oldbag screeched.

“The Steel Samurai is dragging his leg in this picture. That means whoever was in the suit knew about that morning’s injury. Maybe because… they had been watching the action scene run-through! There was only one person other than Powers and Hammer who knew about the injury. The security lady, Oldbag!”

“W-what!? Whippersnapper!”

The gallery began muttering again until the judge restored order.

“Order! Order!” the judge demanded. “I-is this true, Oldbag!?”

“Oldbag!?” the witness repeated. “That’s Ms. Oldbag to you!”

“Ms. Oldbag was standing guard alone at the main gate,” Wright said. “She was by herself… in other words, she has no alibi! She could have briefly left her post to steal the Steel Samurai costume…” He slammed his desk. “Then slipped into Studio One, the scene of the murder!”

“W-why would she go through the trouble of wearing the Steel Samurai costume!?” the judge asked.

“Simple, Your Honor. She knew the camera at the gate would take her picture. If she was in his costume, she could point the finger at Mr. Powers!”

“I see! Excellent deductive reasoning, Mr. Wright.”

Wright had an extremely confident smile on his face. He then stopped smiling, looking at Miles. He started tapping on his chin. Obviously, he expected an objection.

“Well, Mr. Edgeworth?” the judge asked. “Does the prosecution have an opinion on this matter?”

Miles had his arms crossed, thinking. Wright has a point, though I imagine he’s incorrect. Best not to object until I have some evidence. “The prosecution has no meaningful objections at this time,” he said.

“W-w-what!?” Oldbag screamed. “What’s that supposed to mean!? Oh, so you all think I did it! Is that it!? Edgey-boy! Don’t just sit there, do something!”

Miles said nothing as Wright slammed his desk.

“The very same reasoning that makes Mr. Powers a suspect in this case…” Wright started, “can be used to cast doubt on Ms. Oldbag’s actions on that day!”

“B-but why would I do something so horrible to poor hammer!?” she cried. Wright shook his head.

“You forget that Mr. Powers lacks a clear motive, too.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Indeed.”

I suppose it is possible that Oldbag is the killer. There’s no proof that she’s innocent, after all.

“Wait just a minute!” Oldbag shrieked. “What about the other person who went to the studio!? The boy! The one whose photo I erased!”

There’s no way a boy that age could kill anyone with the Samurai Spear.

“He’s only a grade schooler though, as you said,” the judge replied. “2nd or 3rd grade, was it?”

“Th-that doesn’t matter! When I was that age, I could pin my old man in 10 seconds, tops!”

“Hmm… Your thoughts, Mr. Wright?”

“That boy is not the killer,” Wright said.

“What!?” Oldbag yelled. “How can you be so sure! Oh, or is it be nice to the kids and mean to your elders day? Whippersnapper!”

This woman is pathetic…

“I have proof,” Wright said.

“P-proof!?”

“Indeed?” the judge asked. “Then let’s see this proof, Mr. Wright. You have proof that shows the boy could not have committed this murder?”

Amazing… Well, he is Judge Clous, after all.

“Your Honor!” Wright called. “The murder weapon was the Samurai Spear. That very spear is shown here in this photo.” He slammed his desk. “How could the boy have taken the spear? It’s impossible!”

“I see!” the judge said. “Well, would the witness care to comment on this?”

“Mrph,” Oldbag spat.

She’s actually quiet for once… Next we’ll see Gumshoe thinking…

“Very well!” the judge said. He banged his gavel. “This court will suspend proceedings on the current trial for today. Mr. Edgeworth, please find out more about your witness, Ms. Windy… what was her name?”

“Something ‘Oldbag,’ Your Honor,” Miles said.

“Then the prosecution will look further into this Oldbag before we continue! That is all. The court is adjourned!” He banged his gavel.

“W-wait a second!” Oldbag yelled. “I’m not going to just sit here while you run off barking up the wrong tree… me! I’m talking!”

You almost always are.

“Oh, great, stop the presses!” Maya sighed, almost inaudible. “The windbag wants to talk!”

“Ms. Oldbag!” the judge barked. “What is this all about? Have you omitted something from your testimony?”

“Actually,” Oldbag started, “if you must know, there’s something I was told not to talk about.”

“N-not to talk about!?” Wright cried.

“By whom!?” Miles blurted.

“W-well, testify!” the judge ordered.

Miles pushed himself off of his desk. The right elbow of his jacket probably had a stain on it from the polish.

“Global Studios wanted me to keep quiet about something,” Oldbag said. “There were… some other people at the studios on the day of the murder. They said they had ‘nothing to do with it,’ see? So they told me to just pretend they ‘hadn’t been at the studios that day.’ But if you’re going to go accusing me, I’m not letting them get away scot free!”

“M-Ms. Oldbag!” the judge shouted. “This is crucial information! Why did you keep this from the court until now!?”

“Ain’t you been listening? They told me to shut my trap, and I always do what I’m told.”

Somehow, I don’t think you’d do as you’re told if I told you to be quiet…

“Mr. Wright… Your cross-examination.”

“So, you were told not to talk?” Wright asked.

“That’s right!” Oldbag chirped. “By the studio and TV bigwigs, no less!”

“Why didn’t I hear about this!?” Miles demanded through gritted teeth.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself; sonny. We were all in on it.”

This woman makes Gumshoe seem like a genius!

“There were… some other people at the studios on the day of the murder,” Oldbag continued.

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “W-who were these people!?”

“Well, the director and the producer, for starters…”

“The… director?”

“We should have known something was fishy!” Miles said. “How could they have done a run-through of their action scene without a director?” He hit his desk in annoyance at his own failure to notice beforehand. “Of course!”

“Yes, well, I was surprised no one asked about it.”

“So, where were these people?” Wright asked.

“The director was in the Employee Area all morning for the run-through. He joined the producer around lunchtime and they had a meeting after that.”

“Where!” Miles demanded.

“Oh, in the Studio Two trailer.”

“S-Studio Two…!?” Wright asked.

“Well, if you look at the guidemap…” She took out her own map and pointed at Studio Two. “Here it is. You go through the gate and all the way to the left.”

“Well, Mr. Wright…” the judge said. “Would you like to continue the cross-examination…?”

“Your Honor,” Wright said. “We have learned there were others at Global Studios on the day in question. The director and the producer and, er, some bigwigs, were all present.” He hit his desk. “Yet, as we stand here, they have not been questioned! I hold that it is impossible to declare a verdict on the defendant, Mr. Powers!”

“Hmm…” The judge banged his gavel. “The court acknowledges the defense’s point. The prosecution will gather more information about the witness, Ms. Oldbag… and more information about these other people we have just been told of!”

This cursed woman… How could she have kept all of this from me!?

“I understand, Your Honor,” Miles said, hunched over his desk.

“This ends the day’s proceedings in the trial of Mr. Will Powers. That is all. The court is adjourned!”



Miles entered the Prosecution Lobby and saw Gumshoe waiting there with two paper cups of coffee from some coffee shop: one for himself, and one for Miles, no doubt.

“Coffee, sir?” Gumshoe asked. Miles took a cup in his left hand and removed the lid. Gumshoe took his own cup and did the same, taking a large gulp. He jerked almost an instant later. “Hot! Hot!” He started pounding on his chest with his free hand. He gasped a few times.

“That is why you should sip, Detective,” Miles said, taking a sip of his own coffee. At least he remembered that I prefer my coffee black.

“So, how’d it go, pal?”

“We had to suspend.”

“Why, sir? I thought Ms. Oldbag would seal the case shut.” Miles felt his hand tighten at the mention of the witch.

“Aaaaarrrggh!” Miles cried in pain, dropping the cup he had crushed in his hand.

“Aaaaah!” Gumshoe screamed, no doubt caught off-guard by Miles’s cry.

Miles shook his left hand vigorously, doing all he could to get the scalding coffee off. After a few seconds, he held his hand still so he could roll up the sleeves of his jacket and shirt so the wet parts were not touching his skin. He then resumed whipping his hand around as he reached into his coat pocket and took out a handkerchief to wipe off the remaining coffee.

“That woman was anything but helpful!” Miles spat. “There were several other people who had an opportunity to commit the crime, and she had kept silent about it on their orders!”

“What!? R-really, sir!?”

“Yes, really. Gumshoe, I want you to get as much information as you can on these people.”

“Yes, sir!” Gumshoe gulped down some more coffee, shuddered at the heat, took another gulp, shuddered again, took a fourth gulp, shuddered, and dropped the now-empty cup on the floor. He saluted and ran out the door.

Idiot. Still, can’t fault him for a lack of enthusiasm…
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Last edited by General Luigi on Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:02 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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The chapter was quite good. I do think that this chapter was a bit game text heavy again, but I thought you handled well for the most part. Edgeworth's portrayal was excellent, although I did expect Phoenix's presence to be troubling him a bit more by this point to show the building unease that occurs in 1-3. It was an enjoyable read though and very well-written. Nice work. :)
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Wow! This is a nice piece of work you having going here. :edgeworth: / :lana: deserves a fair hearing and you're proving it. I love the little unspoken thoughts you insert into the game text, though I will admit to skimming much of the game text itself precisely because I've played through it a couple times before. Personally, I'd probably try to paint most of the proceedings in broad strokes, summarizing with some creative narration as much as possible and reverting to the game text when I want to insert the character's personal thoughts during an exchange. Of course, I haven't tried to deal directly with a canon court session before so my opinion is entirely theoretical at this point and thus may not carry much weight. Do with it what you will.

The cross-game references I like too. The Kitaki and Rivales families being discussed by law enforcement personnel and Miles secretly wishing he had Franziska's whip stand out to me as particularly nice touches. Speaking of Franziska, I got a real bang out of Miles's visit to the von Karma estate. Having the conversations take place in German was a stroke of genius. It really helped bring the place to life. "Ruhe!" I almost died laughing, it brought such a clear image. I took a little German in college, but I could never have translated the conversations like that. My hat's off to you for thinking to enlist the help of a fluent German speaker. Manfred's animosity toward Russians was an interesting twist and quite believable. My only question on this front is whether or not Manfred would have had any particular pro-Nazi sentiments. If I remember correctly, he was born somewhere in the 1950s so he probably would've been born during Soviet rule. Perhaps he learned about der Führer from his parents?

Again, good work. I look forward to seeing where this goes.
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I consider accuracy very important, which is why I quote directly from the games. The use of the games' text is a testament to that accuracy. I've actually been replaying Ace Attorney for that exact purpose. The scripts here at Court Records have their uses, but they don't cover things like desk-slamming and the judge's gavel.

As for the mention of Hitler, I never said Manfred himself supported him (after all, Hitler was dead before Manfred was even conceived). However, both of his parents had prospered during Hitler's rule, and having been born and raised during Soviet rule, it's understandable that he would buy into his parents' preference.
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Oh, nice text. I didn't think it would finally become so good :>
I assume a self-written plot with German passages might be some new experience for all the readers :)
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Chapter 16—Innocent or Guilty

October 19, 2016


At Miles’s request, Lana went to see the second day of Powers’s trial—for moral support, even if she couldn’t do anything other than watch. She had nothing else to do that day, so Gant was willing to let her. She was waiting in the gallery for the trial to begin. Miles was already at the prosecution bench, looking over the files. Wright went in with Maya a few minutes before court was scheduled to convene. Lana had looked over the information on Maya herself. Considering how much she resembled Mia at the moment, Lana concluded that she was channeling Mia to help Wright.

Miles, of course, thought such things as spirit channeling and the paranormal were utter nonsense. Had Lana not once seen Mia channel her father during their college days, she would have thought the same. Judge Clous entered and banged his gavel.

“The court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Will Powers,” he said.

“The prosecution is ready, Your Honor,” Miles said.

“The defense is ready, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“Very well,” the judge replied. “Mr. Edgeworth, your opening statement, please.”

“An unexpected fact has come to the attention of the court,” Miles stated. “Yesterday, we learned that there were other people present at the studios! Today, I would like to show evidence proving they had nothing to do with the murder.”

“Very well. You may call your first witness, Mr. Edgeworth.”

“The prosecution calls Mr. Sal Manella to the stand.”

A somewhat corpulent man with obvious acne and wearing a Steel Samurai souvenir hat took the stand. Sal Manella, the director of The Steel Samurai.

“Will the witness state his name and profession?” Miles requested.

“How r00d can j00 get!” Manella complained. “J00 don’t know ME!? I’m the director! I make the Steel Samurai, n00b! ROFL!”

I’m willing to bet he’s also an Internet addict.

Miles had his arms crossed calmly. Manella noticed his outburst had been frowned upon and started sweating.

“S… Sal Manella,” the witness stammered. “I’m a director. Television.”

“Were you at Global Studios on the day of the murder?” the judge asked.

“Y-yes, Your Honor.”

“Hmm… Very well. Please testify to the court about the events of that day.”

“Mia” said something to Wright. A briefing, no doubt.

“I was at the studios from around 9:00 that morning,” Manella said, beginning his testimony. “During the morning, I was doing… umm… an action scene run-through. It took a lot more time than I thought it would. I hear that everyone else ate lunch in the Employee Area… But I had a meeting in the Studio Two Trailer, so I ended up skipping lunch. We were in the meeting until around 4:00… During the meeting, well, I’m pretty sure no one left their chairs. That’s about it.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “The time of Mr. Hammer’s death was 2:30 PM. And according to your testimony, you were in a meeting at that time. Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination.”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Wright said. He looked at Manella. “So, in the end, you didn’t get to eat?” he asked, grasping his chin.

“Yeah,” Manella said. “No steak, at least! Can j00 believe it?”

“That must have been tough,” Wright said, the sarcasm in his voice as obvious as the sweat running down his face.

“Phoenix,” Mia said.

“Yeah?”

Mia asked another question, but Lana couldn’t make it out. Wright said something in response.

“Mr. Manella!” he then said to the witness.

“H-hmm?” Manella stuttered, sweating. “W-what do j00 mean? *sweats*”

He is definitely an Internet addict. It’s a sad, sad day when leet becomes a spoken language.

“When I went to that trailer,” Wright continued, “I saw something on the table. There were two plates on the table—the same kind of plates as in the Employee Area.” He pointed at Manella. “Who ate lunch there?”

“M-mmpf! No, er, ah, um, eh heh. Good call! *sweats* I, er, I was embarrassed so I didn’t mention it… But I did eat, after all.” Manella’s tongue hung out and he started drooling a bit.

Disturbing…

“A t-bone steak, you mean?” Wright asked.

“Yeah, well, I mean the assistant went through all that trouble… I brought it to the trailer, thinking I could eat it later.”

I’m guessing good behavior isn’t one of the criteria for getting a job there…

“So, when exactly did you eat it?”

“We took one break during that meeting. I, er, wolfed it down then. *drool*”

Wright was sweating—understandably so; the witness was a very disgusting excuse for a man. Wright started tapping his chin, thinking.

“We were in the meeting till around 4:00…” Manella said, restating his testimony. “During the meeting, well, I’m pretty sure no one left their chairs.”

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “You didn’t take a single break?”

“Er… well… Y-yeah! Not a one! *sweats*”

Even Gumshoe could see the contradiction there.

Wright started thinking. He then slammed on his desk.

“Wait a second!” he demanded. “Mr. Manella, you’ve just contradicted yourself! Didn’t you just tell the court that you ate that t-bone steak during a break?”

“Oops!” Manella blurted. “ROFL!”

It is way too easy to picture this fellow’s home life.

“Well?”

“Umm…”

“Mr. Manella, what’s this all about?” the judge asked.

“W-well, yeah, I guess we did take a little break.”

“Phoenix!” Mia exclaimed. “Great job!” She continued by saying something else, but it wasn’t loud enough for Lana to hear.

“Your Honor!” Wright said. “I call on the witness to testify to the court about this break!”

“Very well,” the judge replied. “Mr. Manella, your testimony, please.”

“Urk!” Manella yelped.

“Heh heh heh…” Miles chuckled. Wright started sweating. He had learned to fear the Demon Prosecutor.

“Yeah, FWIW, we took a break…” Manella said. “ROFL! But it was only 15 minutes! 15! That’s only 13 in Base 12! Not enough time for someone to, say, commit murder in Studio One! LOL! That’s only just enough time to eat a t-bone steak, if you ask me! *steams*”

“Hmm…” the judge muttered. “I don’t think it would even be enough time for that, but that’s just me. Very well. You may begin the cross-examination.”

“What time exactly did you take this break?” Wright asked, sparing no time.

“Hmm…” Manella mumbled, trying to recall. “I’d say it was from around 2:30 or so until 2:45.”

Wright started flicking the testimony. He had seen the coincidence. Miles didn’t say anything. It was only a coincidence, after all.

“But it was only 15 minutes!” Manella insisted, apparently recalling the time of the murder. “15! That’s only 13 in Base 12!”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “What were you doing for those 15 minutes?”

What do you think, Wright?

“Eating my t-bone steak!” Manella replied. “What else!?”

“There were two plates on the trailer table…?”

“Oh, right. The other one was Diva’s… sorry, Dee Vasquez’s plate.”

“To eat a t-bone steak in 15 minutes…” Miles commented, “that’s quite a feat.”

“Not enough time for someone to, say, commit murder in Studio One! LOL!”

“Hold it!” Wright yelled again. “Why is that?”

“Objection!” Miles interrupted. “Haven’t we had enough of this pointless line of questioning? Your Honor! The testimony to this point has made one certain fact painfully clear: The people in the trailer had nothing to do with this murder! It was impossible for any of them to go to Studio One!”

“What!?” Wright barked.

“Something wrong, Mr. Wright?” Miles taunted. “Surely you aren’t suggesting one of the people in the trailer went to Studio One!”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Well, Mr. Wright?” he asked.

Mia said something to Wright.

“Do you claim someone from the trailer went to Studio One?” the judge continued.

“The victim was murdered at 2:30, the exact time of the break in the meeting,” Wright said. “With 15 minutes, murder is certainly a possibility!”

“Hmm… I suppose you might say that…”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” Miles laughed. He shook his head in amusement. “Never a dull moment with you, Mr. Wright!”

“What’s your point, Edgeworth!” Wright hissed.

“You’ve been doing your homework, haven’t you? Look at the Court Record.”

“The Court Record…?”

“Surely, you knew that from 2:15 to 4:00 the path between the studios was blocked?”

It was?

“Mrs. Monkey’s head had fallen across the path!” Miles continued.

“Whoa!” Wright yelped. “You’re right!”

“True, the break in the trailer meeting came right at the time of death… However! The path from there to the scene of the crime was blocked!” Miles hit his desk. “The fallen Mrs. Monkey head barred the way!”

Wright was hunched over in a cold sweat. Lana thought she heard Manella whisper “Pwnt.”

“No counter-argument, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked. “Then I’m afraid you lose this round.” The judge wrote something down on his record: a penalty.

“I believe we have seen enough evidence,” Miles said. He took a bow. “I would like to relieve Mr. Manella from the stand.”

“It’s over?” Lana heard someone in the gallery say.

“Looks like it,” another person said. “If no one else had an opportunity to kill Hammer—”

The judge interrupted the chatting with his gavel.

“Very well,” he said. “The court’s opinion on this case is as follows: We have found that there were several other people in Studio 2 on the day of the murder. However, it is also clear that none of these people could have gone to Studio One. They therefore have no relation to this case. Furthermore, with regards to the photo of the Steel Samurai… Given the size of the costume, no one other than Mr. Powers could have worn it that day. All that is lacking is decisive evidence that he is the one who did it. If we had that, I’m afraid I would have to find Mr. Powers guilty.”

“Your Honor,” Miles called. “The prosecution is pleased to announce that we indeed have decisive evidence: a witness.”

That boy Gumshoe found, no doubt.

The judge silenced the gallery mere seconds after they had started talking.

“Who is this witness, Mr. Edgeworth?” the judge asked.

“My witness saw the very moment when the Steel Samurai skewered the victim!”

“Looks like Edgeworth’s gonna have his revenge,” someone in the gallery said.

“Yeah, it’s over now.”

The judge banged his gavel.

“Order!” he demanded. “I will have order!” He looked at Miles. “I see. The court will take a 10 minute recess, after which we will hear your witness. Court is adjourned for recess!” He whacked his gavel.



The judge banged his gavel right on time for the recess to end.

“Court is back in session for the trial of Mr. Will Powers,” he said.

“The prosecution has a concern,” Miles said. “As our witness is a grade schooler of tender years, and this is a murder case… We worry that the defense might cause unnecessary trauma with his cruel questioning!”

That’s Miles for you. Whenever he has an opportunity to look the hero, he uses it.

“However, we have no choice,” he continued. “The prosecution calls Cody Hackins to the stand.”

A boy garbed in all manner of Steel Samurai memorabilia walked up to the stand. He was so small that little more than his head was visible.

“Your Honor,” Miles said. “Perhaps you could arrange a box for him to stand on?”

“Oh, r-right,” the judge said. “Guard, please bring him a box. One of those donut crates should do.”

The ones his brother keeps in his chambers?

A moment later, the guard came in with a crate that previously had donuts in it. The boy waited impatiently for the box to be placed at the stand and then stood on top of it.

“Will the witness state his name and grade in school,” Miles requested.

The boy did not respond. Miles hit his desk.

“Witness!” he barked.

“What!?” the boy replied defiantly. “Just ’cause you’re all grown-up don’t mean you can push me around!”

“Mrph…” Miles hunched over his desk. He probably had a very negative opinion of his witness at that point.

“Cody?” Mia called. “Answer his question, okay?”

“H-hey, it’s you!” the witness chirped. “The nice lady!”

Nice lady? I can’t say Mia’s particularly nice in court…

“I’m Cody Hackins,” Cody said, now cooperative. “I’m in 2nd grade!” Wright was sweating again.

“Mr. Edgeworth,” the judge said. “Please remember that you’re speaking to a child. Try to be gentle.”

“M-mrrrrph!” Miles grunted, annoyed. He regained his composure. “Witness! Er, I mean, Cody.”

Sometimes I wonder if Miles would make a suitable father… He’d do fine as a husband, but a father? No, he’d be fine as a father. After all, he was very kind to Ema when he met her. Then again, Ema’s much nicer than this boy.

“You were present, er, you were at Global Studios on the day of the, er, incident?” Miles asked Cody, interrupting Lana’s train of thought.

“You got a problem with that!?” Cody snapped.

I don’t think there’s any need to be gentle with him…

“Please tell us what you saw that day,” Miles said, still calm.

“What, pops? You want me to tell you and gramps with the beard over there?”

“Just… Mr. Edgeworth will be fine,” Miles said, now a tad frustrated.

“I prefer ‘bearded gentleman’ myself,” the judge chimed in. “Incidentally, photographic equipment is strictly forbidden in this courtroom.”

“M-mpht!” Miles blurted. “M-my apologies, Your Honor,” he said, regaining his calm. “He said he wouldn’t testify if he couldn’t bring it… I’d like special permission, if that’s possible.”

“Wait, so you’re saying you had to bargain terms with a kid…” Wright started, “and you LOST?”

Why is he so surprised? Children like Cody do tend to be rather stubborn. It’s not as if they fully understand the world of adults.

“Hey!” Cody bragged. “I just got this new camera! Don’t really know how to use it all that good yet! But I bring it with me wherever I go!”

Sounds like Miles’s mention of how Franziska almost never goes anywhere without her whip…

Mia said something to Wright. Wright opened up his files and wrote something down.

“Very well, Cody,” the judge said. “Please testify to the court about what you saw the day of the incident.”

“I wanted to see a Steel Samurai rehearsal, just once,” Cody said, beginning his testimony. “I found a map on the Internet, and went to the studios that day. I went through the woods, off the path, so that old lady wouldn’t catch me. I was going for the studio. I got kinda lost on the way, though. For about 30 minutes. When I came out by the studio, there was the Steel Samurai! It totally rocked! Right before my eyes, out came the bad guy! Of course, the Steel Samurai took him down! Pow! If I had my camera with me, that woulda been the time for a shot, I tell you. Anyway, I couldn’t get into the studio, so I went home.”

“Hmm… Very well. The defense may begin its cross-examination. And, be gentle. Remember you’re talking to a child.”

Wright was still sweating. He looked over the testimony.

“Objection!” he shouted. “Cody, what you just said seems, well, a little strange. Didn’t you say before that you always bring your digital camera wherever you go? You were quite clear about that.”

“Huh!?” Cody yelped.

“Cody, you shouldn’t lie here. You understand that, right?”

“Mr. Wright!” the judge interrupted. “A word with you…”

Wright started sweating. He probably feared a penalty for piling on too much pressure.

“What is this ‘digital’ camera contraption you’re talking about?” the judge asked.

“It’s umm… a digital camera, Your Honor,” Wright tried to explain. “It’s kind of a new sort of camera.”

I’d hardly call it new. They’ve been around longer than Ema.

“I see,” the judge said.

“Anyway, Cody… I can’t believe you wouldn’t bring your camera on a trip to the studios! You did bring it, didn’t you?”

“Umm…” Cody was hunched over like Wright, but not sweating.

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “Mr. Wright! How cruel you are, to terrorize a poor child so!”

“I don’t care if he’s a child or a prosecuting attorney! No one should lie in court!”

Now that’s not very nice, Wright.

“What do you mean ‘or a prosecuting attorney’!?”

“Well, Cody?”

“Wh-what!” Cody snapped. “Yeah, so I had my camera. So what!? You got a problem with that!?”

“Yeah, why is the camera important?” someone in the gallery muttered.

The judge banged his gavel.

“So, you did have a camera?” he asked. “And did you use this camera?”

“W-why would I use it?” Cody lied. It was obvious he was hiding something. Why? “I… I was too busy watching.”

“Hmm… Very well. Please testify to the court about what you were so busy watching.”

“Y-yeah, I had my camera with me. But I was glued to the action! I couldn’t take my eyes off it! The Steel Samurai, he goes for the bad guy… wham! Then… then the bad guy stopped moving! He’s so strong! The Steel Samurai rules!”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Ah? Is that all? Well, that was brief. Mr. Wright, your cross-examination.”

“So you were watching the Steel Samurai,” Wright pressed. “Did you watch the whole fight?”

“Y-yeah, of course!” Cody stammered.

“You didn’t turn away, not even once?”

“N… no!”

“Okay, then tell us exactly what happened.”

“Y-yeah! I’m getting to that! The Steel Samurai, he goes for the bad guy… wham! Then… then the bad guy stopped moving!”

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “Why?”

“Huh? Whaddya mean, ‘why’?”

“Why wasn’t the bad guy moving?”

Because he was dead, Wright.

“W-well ’cause the Steel Samurai brought him to justice!”

“And how exactly did he do that?”

“H-how did he do it? With a Samurai Kick! And a Samurai Punch! Samurai Chop! …Samurai Slap! S-something like that.”

What about the Samurai Spear, boy?

“What!” Cody snapped. “Don’t gimme that look, pops!”

“Cody.”

“Wh-what!?”

“Something’s bothering me. Before you said that you ‘couldn’t take your eyes off’ the action.”

“Y-yeah? So what?”

“Yet you missed the most important part!”

“Objection!” Miles interrupted. “What is the meaning of this? The witness has stated what he saw quite clearly…”

“Objection!” Wright countered. “You know as well as I do that he’s being vague!” He slammed his desk. “Tell me, what kind of murderer uses a ‘Samurai Slap’!?”

“M-mmph!”

“My point is this: Cody, you may have seen some of the Steel Samurai’s fight…” He slammed his desk again. “But you missed the most important part: the killing blow!”

The judge silenced the gallery with three whacks of his gavel.

“Order! Order!” he shouted. “Mr. Wright! How could this be? Can you explain how he might have missed something so vital?”

“Um, well… er, that’s the thing…” Wright had his hand behind his head and was grinning stupidly.

“Phoenix!” Mia called. She said something else to him.

“Mr. Wright, your answer!” the judge demanded. “We have ascertained that this young boy is a great fan of the Steel Samurai… Why wouldn’t he watch the climax of the fight?”

“Your Honor, I have evidence,” Wright replied.

“‘Evidence’…?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“Why did Cody look away from the fight?”

“Take that! Here’s my proof!” Wright indicated the camera.

“What’s that? The camera…?”

“The witness stated that he recently received this camera.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that.”

“He wasn’t entirely familiar with its operation.”

“I’m aware of that, too. Ah!”

“Correct! Why would Cody be looking somewhere else at the critical moment? Because he was looking at his camera!” Wright pounded on his desk. “He was trying to take a picture!”

“Hey!” Cody yelped.

“Bullseye!”

“W-what’s your problem, pops! You got a thing for picking on little kids!?”

This from a boy with a toy sword on his back…

Mia said something to Wright. Wright said something in response.

“Cody?” he called. “There was only one reason why you would have looked away from the fight. And that was because you wanted to take a picture. But having just received your camera, you weren’t used to using it yet! So, you missed the climax of the fight. Correct?”

Cody didn’t respond. After a moment, he said “Yeah.”

Mia said something to Wright. Wright said something back to her.

“Your Honor,” he said. “The defense would like to request that Cody Hackins testify once more.”

“V-very well,” the judge replied. “Cody? Could you please tell us about your camera… And about why you didn’t take a picture of the fight?”

“Umm…” Cody squeaked. “Yeah, you’re right, pops. The Steel Samurai had just escaped from the clutches of the villain. So I held up my camera to take a picture! But the lens wouldn’t open in time, so I missed it. Th-that’s all that happened. Yup.”

“Hmm… Anything strange in that testimony, Mr. Wright?”

“I’m not sure…” Wright replied, shaking his head. “But I’d like to proceed with the cross-examination anyway.”

Wright re-read the copy of Cody’s testimony.

“That’s all?” he asked Cody.

“Y-yeah!” Cody stuttered. “I told you, I didn’t take a picture!”

Wright grasped his chin, thinking.

Cody’s definitely hiding something.

“Cody!” Wright called. “Listen up, Cody Hackins. I know exactly what happened that day. You took a picture!”

“Hey!” Cody shouted after a pause. Wright smiled, confident he was on the right track. “H-how did you know!?”

“I see through all your lies Cody Hackins. It’s one of my powers!”

“W-wow! Y-yeah… Yeah, I took a picture.”

“Perhaps you can change your testimony to reflect this, Cody?”

“I took a few shots, but it was too late, so I erased ’em.”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “Cody!”

“Wh-wh-what!? Man, every time you say ‘Cody’ you follow it with something bad.”

“I just wanted to thank you for giving me this the other day.” Wright had a notebook of some sort in his hand.

“Huh? O-oh… right.”

“What was it you told me then? Cody. Did you really get a picture of the Steel Samurai standing victorious over his foe? If you did, I find it hard to believe that you would just erase it!” He hit his desk. “Wouldn’t you keep it for your album?”

“Ah!”

“Mr. Wright…” the judge cut in. “What exactly is this album?”

“It’s called ‘Path to Glory,’” Wright said. “It’s a collection of pictures of the Steel Samurai, all taken by Cody Hackins. He claims it’s a perfect collection of every battle the Steel Samurai has won!”

“I… I see.”

“Don’t you find this very odd, Your Honor? Among all his pictures of the Steel Samurai, none were taken that day!”

The gallery started muttering, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“Order!” he demanded. “Mr. Wright. Have you an explanation? If the Steel Samurai had just defeated his adversary, I certainly would expect to see a picture of it in this album…”

“Exactly my point, Your Honor!” Wright paused. After a moment, he jerked back hard, then slumped into a cold sweat.

Mia said something to Wright. Wright replied. Mia nodded, then said “Yes.” She continued with something else.

“Mr. Wright!” the judge ordered. “Please explain to the court what is going on here! Why was there no picture in the album from the day of the murder? Why would the boy have erased the photos he took?”

“I can think of only one reason, Your Honor,” Wright said. He hit his desk. “The Steel Samurai didn’t win! That’s why Cody deleted those photos.”

“You mean the Steel Samurai… lost?”

“Well, Cody? I’m right, aren’t I? Tell the truth. The bad guy defeated the Steel Samurai!”

“N-n-n-no way!” Cody stammered. “No! I-it’s impossible! Th-the Steel Samurai never loses! He never loses to anyone! Ever!”

Judging by your reaction, I’m thinking he did lose this time. But where does that take us?

“Your Honor…” Wright said. “The witness has revealed everything with his words. There was a reason why he lied and told us he didn’t take a picture. The same reason he erased his precious photos! For Cody, it was inconceivable that the Steel Samurai could be defeated.” He slammed his desk. “However, Cody witnessed the impossible! He saw the Steel Samurai lose! Yet to admit what he saw would destroy everything he believed in! That’s why he lied and said the Steel Samurai won.” He hit his desk again. “He couldn’t handle the truth!”

“What? But then where’s the Evil Magistrate in all of this?” someone in the gallery asked.

“Hammer’s the victim, not Powers!”

The judge banged his gavel.

“O-Order!” he shouted. “I will have order! W-witness! I mean, Cody! Is this true!? W-what did you see? Tell the court what you saw!”

“I…… Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!” Tears poured out of Cody’s eyes.

“Cody…” Wright began. “That day, you saw the Steel Samurai lose a fight. Right?”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!” Cody cried. “Okay okay! Y-you’re right! Th-the Steel Samurai f-fell down… Th-then he didn’t m-move… Waaaaaaaaah!”

“You’re kidding me!” the person sitting next to Lana blurted. Before he could continue, the judge whacked his gavel.

“Order! Order! Order!”

Miles slammed his desk. “What kind of stunt are you trying to pull, Wright!?” he demanded. “The Steel Samurai was the murderer, not the victim!”

“Yet according to your witness’s testimony, the Steel Samurai was the one who fell!”

“What the hell is going on!?” someone in the gallery cried. The judge hit his gavel.

“Mr. Wright!” the judge yelled. “What’s going on?”

“Apparently, we have all made a serious error,” Wright replied.

“An… error?” Miles asked. “What’s this all about!?”

“If you understand what really happened, it’s actually quite simple. At the end of the fight, the Steel Samurai fell to the ground, and lay still. In other words, the Steel Samurai was not the killer, he was the victim! Don’t you see?” He slammed his desk. “Jack Hammer was the Steel Samurai!”

It… is possible… Lana thought amidst the gallery’s yammering. He is the right size to wear that costume… But then who did he fight?

The judge whacked his gavel.

“Order! Order! Order!” the judge shouted, getting a tad hoarse. “So, the Steel Samurai in this photograph… You’re saying the man in his costume was the victim, Mr. Jack Hammer?”

“That’s what I’m saying, Your Honor,” Wright replied. “Jack Hammer was present at the action scene run-through that morning. Thus, he obviously knew about Will Powers’s foot injury.”

“B-but wait! Hadn’t Mr. Hammer gone to Studio One already?”

“That’s what everyone thought! But remember what Ms. Oldbag said in her testimony? Mr. Jack Hammer left the Employee Area after lunch. However, no one saw him going to Studio One. Nor was there a picture of him. He waited for Mr. Powers to take a nap in his dressing room. Then he snuck into the dressing room and stole the Steel Samurai costume.”

“But why would the victim do such a thing?” the judge asked after a pause. All eyes were on Wright.

“I… don’t know.”

“I get it!” Cody said after a pause.

I forgot the boy was even there…

“I thought that the Steel Samurai was moving strange,” Cody continued. “So it was a different person inside the suit! Pops!”

“Huh, me? What?”

“Actually, there was one piece of data I saved.”

“Data?”

“Yeah, a photo on my digital camera!”

Wright slammed his desk. “W-what!?”

“Show us, quick!” Miles ordered.

“No way man, not if you’re gonna look at me like that!”

“Now!” the judge barked.

“Here…” Cody said, on the verge of crying again. He took a photo out of his backpack. “This is it.”

The judge looked at the photo. “Well, looking at this it’s still a little hard to say. I’m afraid that it could be anyone in that costume. Your opinion, Mr. Wright?” The judge passed the photo to Wright.

“I agree, Your Honor,” Wright said. “This isn’t decisive evidence.”

“I’m sorry, this doesn’t look like it’s the proof we need. I’ll give it back.”

“Wait, Phoenix!” Mia interrupted. Wright said something in response. Mia said something else.

“Wh-what!?” Wright exclaimed. “Y-Your Honor! May I see that photo once more please?”

“C-certainly,” the judge said. “I don’t see why not.”

Mia said something more to Wright.

“Your Honor!” Wright shouted. “Look at this!”

“I see… a gate?” the judge replied, confused.

“Might I draw your attention to the number on that gate?”

“The number? Ah yes. Well, it’s hard to see, but it looks like a ‘2.’”

“Clearly not a ‘1,’ Your Honor, correct?”

“Aaaaaah!” Miles screamed.

Studio… Two?

“I believe Mr. Edgeworth sees what I’m getting at,” Wright commented. Poor Miles was hunched over his desk.

“B-but… Th-that’s impossible!”

“Hmm?” the judge chirped. “Eh? What’s this all about? Please explain so that I might be shocked along with the rest of the court.”

“I’ll use the studio guidemap,” Wright said. He took out the map. “The body was found here, in Studio One. However, what do we see in this photo taken at the time of the murder? It does NOT say ‘1’ on that gate in the photo. Your Honor! Here is the true scene of the crime!” He slammed his desk. “Here, at Studio Two.”

“I see! That would explain the ‘2’ on the gate in the photo.”

“Your Honor, I find it very significant that the murder took place in Studio Two! As you may recall, there is a trailer in Studio Two. Now, on that day, a meeting was held in that very trailer. There was a break in the meeting corresponding to the time of death. During that break, Mr. Sal Manella and Ms. Dee Vasquez were outside, eating steak.” Wright slammed his desk. “They were at the scene of the crime!”

The judge stopped the gallery’s chattering with his gavel.

“The path to the trailer was blocked!” Wright continued.

“So we have heard,” the judge said.

“The path was blocked at 2:15…” Wright hit his desk again. “In other words, the victim went to Studio Two before that time!”

“Yes… yes, I suppose that would be the case.”

“Remember Mr. Sal Manella’s testimony? Allow me to remind the court: He said no one in the trailer was guilty because they could not have gone to Studio One. Yet, in actuality, the reverse was true! Only someone in the trailer could have committed this murder!” Wright hit his desk. “They were the only ones with access to the scene of the crime: Studio Two!”

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“O-order!” he demanded. “Order!”

“The defense makes the following claims:” He slammed on his desk. “The scene of the crime was Studio Two! The person that the security guard, Ms. Oldbag saw was the victim, Mr. Jack Hammer! Mr. Hammer, for some reason, stole a Steel Samurai costume. Then he went to Studio Two!”

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “This is madness! Jack Hammer is the victim! The victim! Why would he steal a Steel Samurai costume!?” He pounded on his own desk. “Are you suggesting he did so to cover up the details of his own murder!?”

“W-well, no, of course not…” Wright replied, sweating.

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled.

“Or do you have proof!?" Miles asked. "Give me proof that the victim, Jack Hammer, stole the costume!”

“I have proof!” Wright said. Miles hit his desk.

“Y-you do!?”

“You do, Mr. Wright?” the judge chimed in. Wright began sweating.

“Here’s my proof that Jack Hammer stole the costume!” Wright said, his voice shaking a little. He held up a little bottle. “This is it.”

“An empty… medicine bottle?” the judge asked.

“I found this on the table in the Employee Area. The same table where Mr. Hammer and Mr. Powers ate. The label reads ‘sleeping pills.’”

“‘Sleeping pills’…?”

“The defendant, Mr. Powers, spent that entire afternoon sleeping. He was drugged… by Mr. Hammer!”

Gumshoe can be expecting a salary cut for overlooking this… Lana thought while the gallery chattered. The judge banged his gavel to restore order.

“Wait a moment…” the judge said. “That bottle does raise some suspicions, yes. But there is no proof that Mr. Hammer used it.”

“Your Honor, I have an idea,” Wright said.

“An… idea? Very well, let’s hear it.”

“I want to check this bottle for fingerprints! If my claim is true, Mr. Hammer’s fingerprints should show up on this bottle!”

“Hmm…” Miles growled. He was either angry that he was losing to Wright again or angry that Gumshoe didn’t find that bottle during the investigation.

“I suppose you’re right,” the judge said. “Very well. The court will take possession of the bottle.” Wright tossed the bottle to the judge, who fumbled with it upon catching it. “This court will suspend proceedings on the current trial for today. Cody Hackins’s testimony has revealed new possibilities in this case. In fact, things may have happened very differently than we previously thought. The Steel Samurai seen by Ms. Oldbag may have been the victim, Jack Hammer. the scene of the crime was not Studio One, but Studio Two. And those in the trailer did have time to commit murder. Mr. Wright?”

“Yes, Your Honor?” Wright asked.

“Your homework is to find the answer to the following question: Why would Mr. Hammer steal the Steel Samurai costume? Also, who killed him, and why? Find the answers for me by tomorrow.”

Wright was sweating.

That’s quite a bit of homework.

“Mr. Edgworth,” the judge called.

“Mm?” Miles replied.

“You will need to reconsider your stance in this case. Above all, you will need to reconsider your suspicion of Mr. Will Powers.”

“As you say, Your Honor.”

He seems rather calm…

“This trial will be extended until tomorrow. This is the last extension!” The gallery started up, silenced by the gavel. “Very well… Court is adjourned!”



Lana saw Miles sitting on the sofa in the Prosecution Lobby.

“You did well today, Mr. Edgeworth,” she said to him, joining him on the sofa.

“It’s not over yet,” Miles replied.

“You seem rather calm for someone who could very well lose this case.”

“If Powers is innocent, he’s innocent.”

“So do you intend to drop the charges?”

“Not until I know for certain. If Powers is guilty, I will prove it.”

“I don’t think you needed my support today.”

Miles didn’t say anything. Lana opened her mouth to say more.

“I thought about what you said to me,” Miles finally said.

“What I said?”

“In my office. You said I could only hope the investigators arrest the right person. That’s true, to some extent. But I’m starting to wonder if that’s really all I can do. I can’t stand by and do nothing as an innocent person is convicted. But what if I helped the defense acquit a criminal?”

“Mr. Edgeworth…”

“I need to answer this question for myself. I don’t know what I’ll do if Powers is innocent, but as long as I believe he may be guilty, I will fight to prove it.”

Lana closed her eyes. She could not think of anything to say.

“Ms. Skye, could you please leave me? I need some time to think.”

“Of course,” Lana said, opening her eyes.

“I’d like you to be here for the last day of the trial, too.”

“If I can be there, I will.” She walked toward the door, then stopped. “I believe you’ll make the right choice when the time comes.”

Miles said nothing. Lana walked out.

Wright had proven the possibility of someone else killing Hammer. However, it was only a possibility. It was still possible that Powers was the killer, and as long as that possibility remained, Lana believed Miles would fight for a guilty verdict. He was changing, though; she could see it in him. The Mia Fey case had had an effect on him. He was going to truly be tested if Powers was innocent. Still, Lana believed in him. After how much he regretted trying to prove Maya and Wright guilty, he would never push for a guilty verdict if he believed the defendant was innocent.
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I'll always love you, Max.


Last edited by General Luigi on Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Chapter 17—What is Honor?

October 20, 2016


Miles had received word from Gumshoe that Dee Vasquez had attempted to destroy a piece of evidence Wright found and have Wright and Maya killed to keep them silent. He had almost no doubt in his mind: Vasquez had a role in the murder. She knew something that she was keeping from everyone. He thought back to the beginning of the case. Had Wright not pressed Oldbag, she would have kept the producer’s connection to the crime a secret. Miles could have allowed a killer to go free. Were it not for Wright’s persistence, an innocent person could have been convicted.

“This is it,” a voice said. Miles turned to face the source: Lana. She had a look of concern on her face. The guards were not in the Prosecution Lobby and no one else was there but her and Miles. Lana seated herself on the sofa next Miles.

“Indeed it is,” Miles replied. “Gumshoe told me what Vasquez tried to do. It’s possible that her actions are unrelated to Hammer’s death, but that is for the court to decide.”

“You seem very calm for someone who’s questioning his role in the case.”

“There’s nothing I can do to change the facts. If Powers is innocent…”

“There’s only one truth, Miles. I think you’re beginning to see that.”

“I will not allow Powers to be acquitted as long as any possibility of his involvement in the murder exists.”

Lana sighed.

“If that possibility disappears, though…” Miles continued, “…I’ll do what I must. As a prosecutor, I will make sure the guilty are convicted. If Vasquez is the guilty party, I will make sure she is convicted.”

“I told you yesterday: I believe you’ll make the right choice when the time comes.”

Lana was smiling. That alone spoke louder than her voice. She believed in him.

“You’re so beautiful when you smile…”

Lana said nothing, but the smile faded after a moment.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked. “You’re not worried about your family honor?”

“What is honor?” Miles replied. “I see nothing honorable in convicting innocent people. All I see is shame.”

Lana placed her hand on his. “I’m very proud of you. I look forward to seeing how this trial plays out.”

Miles brought that hand to his lips and kissed it. “I have you to thank for that,” he said. “I know I can trust in your words.”

Miles heard footsteps. In almost an instant, Lana’s loving gaze changed into a cold stare. A guard opened the door as Lana took her hand from his.

“Mr. Edgeworth, it’s time,” the guard said.

Miles got up without a word and walked out of the lobby.



The judge called court into session with a single whack of his gavel.

“Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Will Powers,” he said.

“The prosecution is ready, Your Honor,” Miles said.

“The defense is ready, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“Today will be the final day of this trial,” the judge said. “I hope both the prosecution and the defense will be able to present decisive evidence. Very well, Mr. Edgeworth. Your opening statement.”

Miles took out the transcript of yesterday’s trial.

“In yesterday’s session, the defense presented us with a new theory for this case,” he said. “He claims that the scene of the crime was, in fact, Studio Two.” He put the transcript away. “Today, I will call on people present in the Studio Two trailer that day. From their testimonies, the truth will become clear.”

“Hmm… very well!” the judge said.

The gallery started up for some reason. Miles could tell he was nervous about this case. He might have to help the defense.

Calm down, he thought, his eyes closed. Do what you must.

The judge banged his gavel, restoring order. “You may call your first witness, Mr. Edgeworth,” he said.

Here it is: the moment of truth. Miles placed his hand on his desk.

“The prosecution calls Ms. Dee Vasquez to the stand,” he said. “Ms. Dee Vasquez is a producer who was present in the Studio Two trailer that day.”

Vasquez took the stand. A smoker. Disgusting.

“Will the witness state her name and occupation?” Miles asked.

“Dee Vasquez,” she said after a pause. “I am a producer for Global Studios.”

“On the day of the murder, you were in the trailer in Studio Two…”

“As everyone here knows, yes?”

Miles widened his eyes slightly.

“I dislike needless banter,” the witness said. “If you must pontificate, do it when I’m not here.”

“Mrrph!” Miles huffed.

“V-very well, Ms. Vasquez,” the judge said. “Please give the court your testimony concerning the day of the murder.”

“Nick!” Maya hissed to Wright. “I know she did it! Make her pay!”

“R-right!” Wright replied. Everything that happened in court felt so vivid, as though he could see and hear everything that happened.

Prove it, Wright. Erase from my mind what little doubt remains.

“I entered the trailer, oh, a little before noon,” Vasquez said. “The meeting began at 12:00 sharp. It ended at 4:00. There was to be a rehearsal afterwards, so we went to Studio One… I was fatigued, so I had Sal take me. At 2:30, we took a 15-minute break in the meeting. Sal and I ate t-bone steaks on the table in front of the trailer. We found Hammer’s body later, when we all went to Studio One. That’s all.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “I have a question about one part of your testimony. You were ‘fatigued’ so you had Sal ‘take’ you…?”

“The van,” Vasquez replied.

“Hmm?”

“There’s a van at Studio Two. I had him take me in that. I thought it might be risky to walk, what with that monkey’s head toppling over.”

“I… I see! Very well. Mr. Wright, your cross-examination.”

“This is the final battle, Nick!” Maya said. “Let’s do it!”

Wright was handed the testimony to look over. He checked it a few times, then looked at his notes.

“Hah!” he guffawed. “As I thought!”

Vasquez said nothing.

“You claim you ate a t-bone steak!” Wright continued.

And this is relevant… how?

Wright slammed his desk. “But I say you did not!”

“W-what’s this, now, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked.

“Look at this,” he said. Wright reached into his bag and took out a container. Inside the container was a plate.

“It’s… a plate?”

“This plate was on the table in the employee room. As you can see, a large bone has been left behind.”

“Mr. Wright,” Miles said with a shrug and an amused smile. “Need I remind you it was a T-BONE STEAK!?”

“Exactly my point!” Wright said, nodding. “Remember, if you will… Ms. Vasquez and Mr. Manella ate at a table outside the trailer. Yet there were no bones left on the plates! The plates were bare!”

Vasquez did not respond, but the scowl on her face indicated that there was a good reason for the contradiction.

“Ms. Vasquez?” Wright called. He hit his desk. “Tell me, how can a person eat a t-bone steak… and not leave the bone?” He pointed accusingly at the witness. “I think I know how! You didn’t eat any steak during that break! You took your steak and threw it somewhere… like that incinerator!”

Vasquez grimaced. She then returned to giving herself emphysema.

“I… I see!” the judge commented. “Then what was Ms. Vasquez doing during her break?”

“Isn’t it obvious, Your Honor?” Wright replied.

“She was meeting with the Steel Samurai!”

Wright slammed his desk and then pointed at Vasquez. “She was meeting with the Steel Samurai!”

The gallery began chattering. The judge banged his gavel.

“Order!” he ordered. “A-are you saying…!?”

“Yes, Your Honor!” Wright finished. “As Ms. Vasquez left the trailer to eat her steak… She ran into the Steel Samurai! And then you did it.” Wright slammed his desk. “You killed him with your own hands!”

Vasquez reacted but said nothing. The gallery started up, silenced by His Honor’s gavel.

“M-Mr. Wright!” the judge exclaimed. “I-isn’t that a little presumptuous!?”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. He slammed his desk. “What kind of stunt are you trying to pull, Wright!?” If you’re going to accuse Ms. Vasquez, show me proof that she’s the killer!

“Let him claim what he wants…” Vasquez said, calm. She turned to Wright, a taunting smile on her face. “You say I did it?”

“Yes,” Wright replied.

“Fascinating! And here I was worrying that today would be as boring as all the rest.” She paused to take a puff of thousands of chemicals. “Very well. Let us have a battle of wits, you and I.”

Confident, aren’t you, Vasquez? If you’re the killer, you’ll be caught. I guarantee it.

“Good luck, Nick!” Maya cheered.

“Let’s see…” Vasquez said. “What was that murder weapon again? Oh yes, the ‘Samurai Spear.’”

“Yes…?” Wright replied.

“I am, as you can see, a woman of petite stature. How could I possibly use that heavy spear as a weapon?”

Wright shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said.

“Objection!” Miles yelled. He slammed his desk and started pointing at Wright. “You ‘don’t know’!? What kind of a lawyer are you!?”

“Quiet,” Vasquez said. “I’m speaking.”

“M-m-mmph!” Miles growled. Who’s the prosecutor here!?

“You ‘don’t know’!?” Vasquez repeated. “What kind of a lawyer…”

“I don’t know whether you could have fought with the Samurai Spear… However, that has no bearing on this case!”

Vasquez did not respond for a moment. “Meaning?” she finally asked.

“The Samurai Spear was not the murder weapon!”

“What!?” Vasquez snapped.

The gallery began yammering. The judge quieted them down.

“What is the meaning of this!?” the judge demanded. “The spear was found lying next to the victim’s body!”

“I have proof, Your Honor,” Wright said. “I can prove that the Samurai Spear was not used as the murder weapon!” He indicated the Samurai Spear. “Take that! I present my proof: the so-called ‘murder weapon’!”

“B-but, that IS the murder weapon!” Has the witness’s smoke messed with your nervous system!?

“Not so fast. Remember that this spear broke during the morning action scene run-through? But, someone fixed the spear. It was the security lady!”

I’d hardly call that old hag a lady…

“She fixed it with duct tape!” Wright continued. “Now tell me, how is it possible…” He paused to point at Vasquez. “for someone to stab a man who is wearing a thick costume with this!? Through the chest!”

The gallery filled the courtroom with noise until the judge hit his gavel.

“O-order!” he yelled. “Order!”

Miles slammed his desk, then pointed at Wright. “Mr. Wright!” he demanded. “What are you driving at!? Think about what you’re—”

“Silence!” Vasquez interrupted. “I’m the one testifying here and I will be heard!”

“Mmmph…!” I don’t know if you’re innocent or guilty, but I know I don’t like you…

“Are you quite sane?” Vasquez asked. “Are you even aware of what you’re saying? If the Samurai Spear was not the murder meapon, then pray tell what was!? How was Hammer killed?”

“Well, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked. “Can you tell us what weapon was used to kill Mr. Hammer?”

“Would I make a claim like that if I couldn’t tell you what the weapon was?” Wright replied.

“I’m afraid your confidence can sometimes be unfounded, Mr. Wright… Very well, let’s see this murder weapon, then.”

“Take that!” Wright shouted, taking out a photograph. “Look at this photo.”

“W-what is this? Why, that’s Jack Hammer standing at the top of the stairs!”

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.

“O-order! Order! If I cannot have order this trial will be suspended! Mr. Wright! What is this all about!?”

“This photograph is from five years ago,” Wright said. “There was an unfortunate accident at Global Studios. This is a photo of that very accident. Not a word of this was leaked to the outside. It was a close-kept secret at the studios.”

“What does this have to do with the current case!?” Miles demanded.

“Mr. Edgeworth… You still can’t see it?”

Miles looked harder at the photo.

“See the fallen man in this photo?” Wright asked. “See how the fencepost pierced him through the chest?”

“Wh…” Miles stuttered, jerking back and then slumping over his desk, “what!? Are you saying…!?”

“Yes. What happened five years ago…” He slammed his desk. “has happened again!”

Vasquez had a brief look of shock on her face. The gallery began chattering, silenced by the judge.

“Mr. Wright!” the judge shouted. “Continue!”

“It’s 2:30 PM on the day of the murder!” Wright said, trying to recreate the image in the court’s mind. “Ms. Dee Vasquez meets Jack Hammer outside the Studio Two trailer! Then she did it! She pushed Mr. Hammer off the stairs onto the fence! Just like Mr. Hammer had himself done five years ago! Though whether she did it on purpose or by accident, I cannot say.”

Vasquez was smiling evilly.

“I-in other words…” Miles stammered, “th-the victim, Mr. Hammer… He died in the same way that he caused another man to die… five years ago!”

Wright nodded. “Precisely,” he said. “Ironic, isn’t it?”

“Hoh hoh,” Vasquez laughed. “Very creative, Mr. Wright. I could use a man like you on my script writing staff.”

“You deny that what I say is true?”

Vasquez paused. “Mr. Wright. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that Hammer died at the trailer as you say. Yet, the body was found at Studio One, was it not? And in the Evil Magistrate’s costume, no less. Are you then claiming that I carried the body to Studio One… And returned to the trailer, all in the space of a 15 minute break? How could I have disposed of the body!?”

Wright said nothing, thinking about the possibility.

“The break in the meeting at the trailer lasted 15 minutes,” Miles said, “from 2:30 to 2:45. Could Jack Hammer have been pushed off the stairs to his death, then carried to Studio One and placed inside his costume?” Miles crossed his arms. “There wasn’t enough time!”

“Hmm… indeed,” the judge said. “Well, Mr. Wright? How could she have dealt with the body?”

“You’d be surprised!” Wright replied. “I bet she could do it!” He placed his hand behind his head and grinned stupidly. He had no clue; it was obvious. “When people think their life depends on it, they can do amazing things!”

“Mr. Wright, this is not an episode of “That’s Incredible.”

Miles shook his head, amused by Wright’s grasping.

“If you claim she did everything in 15 minutes…” he trailed off, letting Wright finish the sentence.

Wright started sweating. It was obvious what he was thinking.

“Correct!” Miles answered to Wright’s thoughts. “Show me proof!”

Wright said nothing, still sweating. No proof?

Miles slammed his desk, annoyed at Wright’s ineptitude. “Then I won’t have you making unsubstantiated claims!” he barked.

Wright said nothing, but a slight hint of confusion in his eyes told all.

“Hah!” Miles scoffed. He did his “evil smile.” “I need only look at the cold sweat running down your face to know what you’re thinking!” He thought he heard a few people in the gallery laugh.

“Mr. Wright,” the judge said. “Perhaps you’d like to reconsider your claim?”

There was no response.

“Well, Mr. Wright?” the judge continued. “How could she have dealt with the body?”

“15 minutes is kind of a short amount of time…” Wright admitted.

“You see?” Vasquez said. “Even I cannot do the impossible. Therefore, Mr. Wright. I didn’t do it. Agreed?”

“Not agreed!”

Prove it, Wright.

“What if she had another way to carry the body, other than with her own hands?” Wright asked.

“For instance?” Vasquez taunted.

“Actually, for that matter, there was no need for her to do the deed in 15 minutes!” Wright slammed his desk and pointed at Vasquez. “And there was a way for you to carry that body.”

Vasquez grimaced. She then returned to her confident smile and looked to Wright. “I-interesting! Let’s hear it then.”

“Mr. Wright?” the judge asked. “Please show us how she carried the body.”

Wright slammed on his desk again. “Ms. Vasquez,” he said. “You carried the body to Studio One. And you used the studio van to do it!”

The gallery started up, silenced by His Honor’s gavel.

“Recall your testimony…” Wright continued. “‘There was to be a rehearsal afterwards, so we went to Studio One. I was fatigued, so I had Sal take me. There was a van there, right? I had Sal drive me.’ You used the van to carry the body to Studio One! Then, before everyone else got there, you put the body into the Magistrate costume!”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “Hold on, Wright! Don’t forget, it was Sal Manella that drove the van!” Miles hit his desk, then pointed at Wright. “Are you suggesting that Mr. Manella was a conspirator?”

“Of course, Sal Manella has to have been a conspirator! The body had to be placed in the van, and put into the costume. There’s no way Ms. Vasquez could have done that alone! Also, don’t forget that they had to dispose of the Steel Samurai costume. They had to… because it was covered in Mr. Hammer’s blood! They probably burned it in that small incinerator.” Wright slammed his desk. “Well, Ms. Vasquez! Shall I continue?”

“No need,” Vasquez said. “You’re smarter than you look, Mr. Wright. Hmph.” She smiled. “I lose. You win. It… was fun.”

For a while, the court was silent.

Well, Wright, you’ve done well. It is indeed possible that Ms. Vasquez is the killer.

“Umm…” Wright muttered, breaking the silence. “So… what happens next?”

Vasquez made a bit of a “huh?” sound.

“Don’t ‘?’ me!” Wright snapped, sweating. “Don’t you have anything to say!?”

“What would you like me to say?” Vasquez replied.

“Huh? ‘I lost’? Something like that!”

“I just said that.”

Wright slammed his desk. “W-wait, so you mean… Dee Vasquez! So, it was you? You killed Jack Hammer!”

Again, the court was silent.

She’s too calm. There’s more to solving this case than what we already have.

“Who can say?” Vasquez said.

“Huh?” Wright stammered.

“Are you sure I did? Mr. Wright… We just engaged in a battle of wits. And the result of that battle? You proved the possibility that I murdered hammer.”

“R-right!”

“But… that is only a possibility. Proof is another thing altogether. You lack decisive proof, Mr. Wright.”

“Wha… wha… wha… wha… WHAAAAAAAAAT!?”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge quickly did what he did best.

“Order!” he demanded. “Mr. Edgeworth, your thoughts?”

“Umm… uhh… mmmph,” Miles blurted. What do I say? What she said makes sense, but she might be the killer! “O-of course, it’s as the witness says!” Miles straightened up and crossed his arms. “Certainly, it does seem very likely she did it… but, uh, there’s no proof!”

“Well?” Vasquez asked. “I came here as a witness today. If you’ve no more questions, I’ll be leaving.”

No! I’m not going to risk another wrong verdict! How can we find out for sure if she’s guilty!?

Wright hit his desk, but said nothing.

“Yes, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked.

“I was hoping I’d come up with a question while pounding on my desk,” Wright said. “I didn’t.”

Come on, think! What’s left to investigate?

“You have my sympathies,” the judge said after a pause.

The gallery began talking, confused. The judge banged his gavel.

“As it seems there are no further questions…” he started, “I would like to end the cross-examination of the witness, Ms. Vasquez.”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. Think! Find something more!

“Yes, Mr. Edgeworth?” the judge asked.

“I was hoping to come up with a question while I was objecting, Your Honor… I didn’t.”

“I see… Very well.”

Another testimony! We need another!

“Objection!” Miles repeated. “Your Honor! I request that the witness testify again!”

“You are the prosecutor, are you not?” Vasquez asked. “Why are you badgering me? I’m your witness!”

“I… I just want to hear your testimony again.”

I need to be sure! A person’s life is at stake! I won’t allow a guilty verdict if Powers is innocent!

“Does this make any sense to you, Your Honor?” Vasquez asked. “I don’t see that we have anything to gain by repeating the last several minutes.”

“Mr. Edgeworth…” the judge started, “I, too, see little point in making Ms. Vasquez repeat herself. What exactly did you want her to testify about?”

“Mmmph!” Miles huffed. “Well, yes, um…” Think! “Indeed! Verily, I say… Ergo!” Stop wasting your breath! Find an answer or don’t! Wait… yes! Miles hit his desk. "I want to hear about what happened… after they found the body!”

“After they found the body…” the judge repeated. “Very well. The witness will testify to the court concerning this matter.”

“Hmph,” Vasquez blurted.

“Nick!” Maya said. I forgot she was even there… “Why did Edgeworth…?”

“Who knows?” Wright replied. “He probably realized she did it, too.”

I just want to be sure, Wright. I don’t want to send an innocent man to his death.

“But… but!” Maya stuttered. “Wasn’t he the one that said he always gets a guilty verdict…? After all that…”

Forget family honor… No one’s perfect. The department, the detectives, myself… The honor I want now… is honesty. If there is anyone I need to trust, it is myself.

Vasquez took a few breaths of smoke, then began her testimony. “I was with Sal and Oldbag, the security lady, when we found the body. The assistant was there, too. Only Powers was absent. I immediately called the police. Then Powers showed up. The security lady, Oldbag, was quite agitated. Pointing at Powers, saying ‘he did it!’ I asked to be left out of the proceedings. I went back to the trailer to get my script and direction notes. Then I went home.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “I see no issues raised by this testimony… Mr. Wright, your cross-examination.”

“Okay, Nick, we’re close, real close!” Maya said to Wright. “She may be acting tough now… But if you put her on the spot she’s sure to falter! Find the key you need and twist the truth out of her, Nick!”

“Right!” Wright said. He looked at the testimony, reading over it carefully. “Mr. Powers was taking a nap, correct?” he asked.

“So he says,” Vasquez replied.

“Did no one go to call him?”

“Remember…”

“Remember… what?”

“There was a dead body lying in front of us. Yet you expect me to be calm?”

She was certainly calm enough when Wright accused her of murder…

“Wait a second!” Wright exclaimed. “Wouldn’t that be the other way around!?”

“The other way around?” Vasquez taunted.

“You discovered a dead body, and one person was missing, right? Wouldn’t you normally go looking for the missing person!?”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “I have to agree with the defense on this one. Well, Ms. Vasquez?”

“Hmph,” Vasquez huffed. “Logically speaking, perhaps. But no one there was thinking very logically, I assure you. Also. Without his Steel Samurai costume, Powers doesn’t really stand out. We often left him on the bus when shooting at location. No one noticed he was missing.”

“Hmm… Well, I suppose that explains that. Very well, Ms. Vasquez. You may continue.”

“I immediately called the police. Then Powers showed up. The security lady, Oldbag, was quite agitated. Pointing at Powers, saying ‘he did it!’ I asked to be left out of the proceedings. I went back to the trailer to get my script and direction notes.”

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “The script and your direction notes?”

“Yes, they’re quite valuable. It wouldn’t do to have them stolen.”

“No, I guess not.” He paused. “Wait a second! I thought you came to Studio One for a rehearsal! Why didn’t you bring your script and notes!?”

“Well, I was under the impression that we wouldn’t be able to rehearse anything.”

“Why?”

“There was a murder, after all! Who could think of rehearsing after that!”

Wait… what? How could she know…?

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Very well. Ms. Vasquez, please continue…”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. He slammed his desk. “Your Honor!!! I have an objection to the witness’s last statement! Think! Ms. Vasquez said she didn’t bring the script because there wouldn’t be a rehearsal. Don’t you see what that means?” Miles slammed on his desk. “She would have had to know about the murder before going to Studio One!”

The gallery made more noise than a rock concert at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The judge banged his gavel louder than the cannons in Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

“Order! Order!” he bellowed. “Mr. Edgeworth!”

Miles said nothing. What’s wrong, Your Honor? Is it a crime for a prosecutor to want justice?

“What you have just said…” the judge continued, “is a reasonable observation. However, I find it hard to understand why the prosecution would make such a move! Or are you thinking of a career change to defense!?”

Not a chance. Miles took a bow. “I… appreciate the concern, Your Honor,” he said. “I will stand by my statement, however, regardless of how the court sees my role here.” He hit his desk. “Now, Ms. Vasquez… Do you have an explanation?”

“Hmph,” Vasquez snorted. “So the prosecution is in cahoots with the defense? What kind of court is this? No matter. I think you misunderstood me. I had a perfectly good reason to believe there would be no rehearsal.”

Prove it.

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “The witness will change her testimony to reflect this reason.”

“I knew that Hammer was injured and couldn't do any action scenes, so I left them behind,” Vasquez said.

Liar!

“Objection!” Wright shouted, catching on. “You ‘knew that Hammer was injured’…? Don’t you think that’s a little funny?” Wright slammed his desk. “I mean, it was the Steel Samurai who was injured! It was Will Powers!”

“Wh… what!?” Vasquez stammered. The gallery started up again. The judge banged his gavel.

“Mr. Wright!” the judge barked. “Explain yourself!”

“Yes, Mr. Hammer is dragging his leg in this photo. But that’s because he was pretending to be Mr. Powers!”

“P-pretending…?” Vasquez stuttered.

“One person was injured in the run-through that morning. That person was Mr. Powers, not Mr. Hammer!” Wright slammed his desk again, then pointed accusingly at Vasquez. “Now, why did you think it was Mr. Hammer who was injured?”

“I-I already said it was Sal who told me! Th-that’s right! He must have gotten it wrong.”

It was her… She’s our killer…

“I think not,” Wright said. “Mr. Manella was at the run-through that morning. He would have known it was Mr. Powers who was injured. He saw it happen! Why would he tell you the wrong person?” He hit his desk. “Ms. Vasquez! Actually, you didn’t hear anything from Mr. Manella. You saw Mr. Hammer limping with your own eyes!”

“Yes, but…” the judge said. “Wasn’t it Mr. Powers who was injured…?”

“Yes, but remember! Mr. Hammer was dragging his leg, too! He was pretending to be Mr. Powers!”

“Aah!”

“And when was he doing this…?”

“Well…” Miles said. “It would have been after he put on the Steel Samurai costume… and went to Studio Two. Where he was murdered!”

“Exactly!” Wright replied. He pounded on his desk. There were probably two handprints on it by now. “Ms. Vasquez! You met him, didn’t you? You saw the Steel Samurai limping! And Mr. Hammer was in that Steel Samurai suit! That’s why you were confused!” He slammed his desk again. “That’s why you thought it was Mr. Hammer who had been injured that morning!”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel. It was losing its effectiveness.

“Order!” he demanded. “Order! I will have order!”

“Witness!” Miles called. He hit his desk. “Can you refute this claim?”

“Hrrmmmm…. hmph!” Vasquez huffed. She paused. “Very well! I have a question for you!”

Still not ready to give in, eh?

“Why in the world would I want Mr. Hammer dead?” Vasquez continued. “Yes, he’d fallen on hard times, but he was a star! I had nothing to gain from his death! Nothing!”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Yes, you would need a motive. Why would she have killed the victim? If there is a reason, it is unclear to this court. Does the defense have anything to say on the matter? In other words, can you prove she had a motive?”

“Okay,” Wright said. “I have proof, and I’ll show it to you! I present to the court evidence as to Ms. Vasquez’s motive in this murder.” He took out the old photo again. “This is my proof!”

“This is… the photo from before?”

Wright pounded on his desk. “This photo reveals the motive in this murder!”

Vasquez was silent. She seemed to be enjoying this for some reason.

“I’m right, aren’t I, Ms. Vasquez?” Wright continued.

“Hrrrrrrm… hmph!” she blurted.

“Five years ago, Mr. Hammer was at the height of his fame. With Dee Vasquez’s help, a terrible accident was swept under the carpet… Ladies and gentlemen, the case currently up for trial… It began on that day, five years ago! Ironically enough, that accident precipitated Mr. Hammer’s fall… His fall from stardom!”

“His guilt weighed him down, no doubt,” Miles commented.

“However!” Wright continued. “You, Dee Vasquez, used Mr. Hammer. You made him work for you for petty change!”

“Hmph,” Vasquez sighed.

“Bringing us to the present day…” Miles added, “and Mr. Hammer’s last role as the Evil Magistrate!”

“Yes!” Wright agreed. “Undoubtedly, it was a constant source of shame for the ex-star…”

“Hmm…”

“One moment, Mr. Wright,” the judge cut in. “We are talking about motive here… yet you have only talked about Mr. Hammer. It almost seems as if… As if it was Mr. Hammer who had killed Dee Vasquez, not the other way around! What motive would Ms. Vasquez have?”

“Y-yes, that’s right,” Vasquez said. “According to what you say… I would have had no reason to kill Hammer. He was a good source of income for me! And I never get rid of useful men. It’s a policy of mine.”

“Mr. Wright?” the judge asked. “Please explain Ms. Vasquez’s motive for murder.”

Wright shook his head. “She had no motive, Your Honor,” he said.

“What’s that now!?”

“It was Mr. Hammer who was out for blood! All Ms. Vasquez did was push him off the stairs… in self defense!”

“What’s that now!?” Miles demanded.

Wright hit his desk. “It’s simple! Mr. Hammer was intending to kill Ms. Vasquez!”

“Wha—!?” Miles doubled over his desk. “WHAT!?” Self defense!?

The gallery, just as shocked as Miles, could no longer contain their thoughts. The judge corrected the problem.

“Your Honor!” Wright shouted. “Jack Hammer drugged Mr. Powers with sleeping pills! Jack Hammer snuck into the dressing room and stole the Steel Samurai costume! Jack Hammer wore the costume to fool the security lady into thinking he was Powers! Then Jack Hammer made his way to the trailer! And for what purpose, you ask? To kill Dee Vasquez, who had so cruelly taken advantage of him all those years!”

Vasquez, no longer able to hold back, gripped her pipe in her left hand tightly. Eventually, it snapped.

“So, you did do it, didn’t you?” Wright asked.

“Yes,” Vasquez said after a pause. “I am guilty. It was me…” She was silent, as though she was remembering that day five years ago. It had no doubt taken a serious toll on her. She wanted to punish Hammer, so she blackmailed him. “Congratulations, Mr. Wright,” she finally said. “I lose… again.”

The gallery began talking, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

Vasquez left the stand with the bailiff.

“Mr. Edgeworth…” the judge called. “Where’s Dee Vasquez?”

“In the waiting lobby, Your Honor,” Miles replied. “As calm and collected as ever…”

“I see…” the judge said with a nod. “Mr. Wright.”

“Yes, Your Honor?” Wright replied.

“It appears you have brought about yet another miracle.”

“I… thank you, Your Honor,” Wright said, his hand behind his head.

“I think not, Your Honor,” Miles commented. “Will Powers was innocent. That he should be found so is only natural… not a miracle.”

The judge said nothing for a moment. He was most likely surprised by Miles’s actions during the trial. “Yes,” he said. “Yes, you’re right. Very well. This court finds the defendant, Mr. Will Powers… not guilty.”

The entire gallery was cheering. After a moment, the judge whacked his gavel.

“That is all,” he said. “The court is adjourned!”



Miles decided to save the visit to the Prosecution Lobby for after speaking with Wright. They needed to talk. What about was a mystery. Despite the right verdict being given, Miles found himself still full of doubt. He had, in essence, forsaken his “family.” Right or wrong, it was an action that would almost certainly haunt him.

“Congratulations, WP!” Maya exclaimed as Miles entered the Defendant Lobby.

“Oh?” Powers replied. “Oh! Heh heh. Thanks to you, I’ll be able to don the Steel Samurai outfit once more! I can’t wait to get back into that sweaty costume and…” He stopped, noticing the look on Maya’s face. Maya’s eyes were on Miles. “Is… something wrong?” Powers asked.

“N-no!” Maya stammered. “O-of course not… Aah! N-Nick! Edgeworth!”

Miles was glaring at Wright. It was thanks to him that these cursed feelings were plaguing him. Wright didn’t say anything. Do I have to start? Curses…

“Say something, Wright,” Miles said. “I’m not good at small talk.”

“Huh?” Wright replied. “What?” He paused. “Umm… that was too bad, Edgeworth!”

“You don’t waste any time gloating, do you?”

“No… I really want to thank you,” Wright said. “Vasquez would have gotten away if you hadn’t stepped in.”

“Ah, uh, pleased to meet you,” Powers said, a couple of tears on his cheeks. “I’m Powers.” He sniffled.

“Ah, er, Edgeworth,” Miles said, extending his hand. “I’m a big fan of your work, Mr. Powers.”

Admittedly, Miles had only seen one episode of the Steel Samurai—specifically, when he visited Lana’s condo and Ema was watching it. Powers was not Oscar material yet, but for a kids’ show actor, he was something else.

“Wright,” Miles said, glaring at his former friend. “I must say, I hadn’t expected to meet you again after all these years.”

“Meet ‘again’…?” Maya asked.

“However,” Miles continued. “In retrospect, it would have been better had we not met. Thanks to you, I am saddled with unnecessary… feelings.”

“Unnecessary feelings?” Wright repeated.

“Yes. Unease… and uncertainty.”

“Aren’t those kind of necessary?”

“They only serve to get in my way. You listen to me, Phoenix Wright. Don’t ever show your face in front of me again. That’s what I came here to tell you.”

Wright was silent. Taking that as a cue, Miles walked out.

In the Prosecution Lobby, Lana was waiting. No one else was there.

“Where’s Vasquez?” Miles asked.

“I had the guards take her to the Detention Center,” Lana replied. She paused, trying to look Miles in the eyes.

“I don’t feel like talking to you about this, Ms. Skye.”

“Well, I feel like talking to you about it,” Lana replied. Miles glared at her. “Don’t give me that look; I’m trying to make this easier for you.”

I never thought I’d actually want Ms. Skye instead of Lana…

“I said I didn’t feel like talking about this,” Miles insisted. He started to leave, but he felt Lana’s hand holding his own very tightly. He struggled to break his hand free, but was unable to.

“Tough,” Lana said.

Miles sighed. He knew he wasn’t going to get out of this, so he followed Lana to the sofa.

“Okay, you win,” Miles said. “What’s bothering you?”

“To be blunt, your reaction to this case. I’m very proud of what you did in court today, but you don’t seem to think the same.”

“Why should I be proud? Yes, I helped get the right verdict, but I’m not feeling any better about it.”

“Why?”

“You tell me! I still feel as though I’m unfit to prosecute, as though I have no right to have a role in deciding a person’s fate!”

“Perhaps it’s your von Kar—”

“Don’t be stupid, Lana. I have my honor, and it’s with justice. The von Karma family has my thanks for raising me, but their idea of perfection is anything but perfect. They’re just as unworthy of their titles as I—”

“Miles.”

Miles stopped and glared into Lana’s eyes. They didn’t wander away.

“If you think you’re unfit to prosecute, then quit,” Lana said. Miles turned his head away, facing straight out. “But don’t think you’re the only person who has to worry about such things. There are plenty of American soldiers stuck in Afghanistan who are asking themselves, ‘am I doing the right thing?’ Soldiers, Miles. Even people famed for their courage and determination doubt themselves. And just as someone has to fight, someone has to prosecute. If that someone is not you, then you should leave the Prosecutor’s Office before you lose your mind.”

Quit? That would be the same as admitting defeat!

“So you’re staying, are you?” Lana asked, noticing Miles’s reaction. “Then get a hold of yourself and find an answer. As a prosecutor, what can you do to make sure the guilty are convicted and the innocent acquitted? If you don’t have that answer, you’ll always feel as though you’re insulting the judicial system simply by standing in court. There’s more to prosecuting than a guilty verdict. I believe you know that.”

“Of course I know that!”

“You’re a prosecutor, Miles. If the defendant is guilty, it’s your job to prove it. If they are not, then do as you did today.”

Miles said nothing. What was there to say to that?

“Starting from when you asked Vasquez to testify again,” Lana started, “I was smiling on the inside. I felt like I was seeing a soldier throw down his weapons in the middle of an immoral battle. During that time, I had more respect for you than I ever had. I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am of what you did…” She paused, unable to think of how to continue for a moment. “I don’t know what you think of yourself, but I would have a great deal of difficulty being prouder of you that I already am… I believe you’re on the right track, and I believe you will follow it to the end.”

“I don’t know if I’ll follow that track to the end, but I know that I will continue prosecuting,” Miles said. “Your words make sense, Lana. I can’t say I feel fit to prosecute, but I have a better idea of what I have to do.” He looked to Lana and saw her smiling again. “Thank you,” he said. “I’ll do what I can to find the answer I need.”

Lana let go of Miles’s hand and allowed him to get up and leave.
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I'll always love you, Max.


Last edited by General Luigi on Sat Feb 21, 2009 5:34 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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In Justice We Trust

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Chapter 18—Flawed Perfection

December 25, 2016 and December 26, 2016


To say the day was torture would be an understatement. Lana had to endure Ema’s tears in the morning when she refused to hug her younger sister for the presents or even say more than an emotionless “thank you.” Then, before she could even finish breakfast, she was called to the Prosecutor’s Office to prepare evidence for a murder trial—Miles’s trial.

There was no way he was guilty. Miles despised crime with a passion; committing a crime himself would be something he would never be able to handle. And now, as Chief Prosecutor, she had to prepare the case that would pour sodium thiopental into his veins. She completely exhausted a box of tissues before being able to calm down. For the first time since the SL-9 Incident, she had been completely unable to consciously control her emotions.

A knock on the door to her office sounded.

“This had better be important,” Lana said.

“It is,” a harsh voice on the other side said.

“Then come in.”

A man looking well into his sixties entered the room. Everything from his slicked-back grey hair to the curve of his eyebrows to the way he gripped his cane made Lana feel as though she was looking at the Devil himself—if he even existed. He walked very precisely, his cane always tapping the exact same amount of time after each footfall. Lana almost had a heart attack when his piercing glare looked her way.

“Who are you supposed to be?” the man asked.

“Chief Prosecutor Lana Skye,” Lana replied, managing to hide the uneasy feeling in her mind. Fear was something she could conceal; Gant’s threats had taught her how to do so. Even so, fear engulfed her mind. After all, Manfred von Karma was a man to be feared.

“Svetlana Skye…” He smiled—a sickening smile that came off as saying that its owner drew no end of pleasure from seeing others suffer at his hands. “My condolences. It appears you won’t be able to marry Mr. Edgeworth after all.”

“Mr. von Karma,” Lana said, squinting slightly. “Did you just come here to taunt me? I would never call something as trivial as insults important.”

“Heh. I expected Jacobson to be here. How long have you been standing in his place?”

“Almost two years. Did you have any reason for coming here other than to exchange pleasantries?”

“Pleasantries? With you? Peh! Why would I waste my breath on such needless pursuits? I came here to tell you that you need not do anything for this case. My presence alone seals your beloved’s fate. All you need do is watch as the needle pierces his skin.”

“It is my job to oversee the case. Personal concerns do not change that. Unless I get orders from someone with a higher rank than myself, you have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do.”

“Hah. Your type has never minded ordering around those with higher ranks.”

“Please leave my office, Mr. von Karma; I have nothing more to discuss with you.”

Von Karma scoffed. “Typical,” he said. “When you can’t win an argument, you try—”

“I said leave.”

“Excuse me? You’re ordering me out of this office?”

Lana pressed a button on her intercom. “Security? Please remove Mr. von Karma from my office.”

“Hah! Fine!” von Karma hissed. “I’ll leave!”

Von Karma walked out of the office.

“Never mind,” Lana said into the intercom again.

Manfred von Karma, a man who had once been penalized for tampering with evidence to get a guilty verdict. His record was flawless with the exception of that one penalty. He always got a guilty verdict. Every case he ever prosecuted was perfectly planned out ahead of time. He was obsessed with the concept of perfection, not just in court, but at home, too. Miles had compared the man to a computer; he showed no sign of an actual personality. He covered any flaw in his plans, eliminated anything that threatened him, and punished any who interfered.

The phone rang.

“Chief Prosecutor’s Office,” Lana said, picking up the receiver.

“Ms. Skye?” Gant’s voice called.

“What is it?”

“I just got a call from Mr. von Karma, and he made a very good point.”

“About…?”

“You’re off the Edgeworth case. Since you’re in love with the defendant, there’s concern that you’ll interfere with the evidence.”

“I see. And you think I’ll do that?”

“The possibility has occurred to me. Anyway, you’re not in a position to argue with me, Ms. Skye. Besides, even if you did make Mr. Edgeworth look innocent, Mr. von Karma would still win. He always gets a guilty verdict, after all.”

“Is this your way of torturing me, Chief?”

“My way? No, no, not at all, Ms. Skye. Whether I stepped in or not, you’d still suffer. Anyway, you heard me. You can go back home. There’s nothing else we need you to do. Mr. von Karma can easily handle everything on his own.”

Gant hung up. Lana closed her eyes. No tears came, but she could feel them trying to escape.

I’ll be there. I’ll be there when you sit in the defendant’s chair. Though I will be powerless, I’ll be there for you.



Lana sat in the gallery, as usual. She made sure she was in a place where Miles could see her. More people entered the courtroom as the time drew closer to 10:00. By the time the judge arrived, the gallery was so crowded that Lana was being squeezed by people to both sides of her. Miles’s trial was one that had gained nationwide attention.

Judge Clous banged his gavel to silence the noise at precisely 10:00 AM.

“Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Miles Edgeworth,” he said.

“The defense is ready, Your Honor,” Wright said.

Von Karma said nothing. He simply had his arms crossed, as though he had better things to do than stand in court.

“Erm, Mr. von Karma?” the judge called. “Is the prosecution ready?”

“Fool…” von Karma said after a moment. He uncrossed his arms and glared at the judge. “You seriously think that I would stand here were I not completely prepared?”

“R-right, my apologies!”

Wright was already sweating.

Grow a spine, Wright! If you’re defending Miles, then do it confidently! He’s innocent. You just have to prove it!

“Very well, your opening statement, please,” the judge said. Von Karma waited until the courtroom was completely silent.

“Decisive evidence…” he said. “A decisive witness… What else could possibly be required?”

“Ah… er, nothing of course. That should be fine. The prosecution may call its first witness.”

Maya was slumped over slightly, clearly annoyed by von Karma. She said something to Wright. Wright said something in response.

“I call the detective in charge of this case, Detective Dick Gumshoe,” von Karma said.

Gumshoe walked up to the stand, dragging his feet.

Poor Gumshoe… It’s obvious he doesn’t want to do this…

“Describe the incident,” von Karma ordered. “Now!”

“Y-yessir!” Gumshoe stuttered. “Er, please take a look at the map.” Gumshoe reached into his coat and unfolded a map of Gourd Lake. “The murder happened late Christmas Eve, around midnight. There was one boat in the very middle of the lake. There were two men on the boat. Now, there happened to be a woman camping here on the edge of the lake.” Gumshoe pointed to a clearing that was set aside for picnics.

If I recall correctly, camping’s not allowed in that spot. I hope she can afford the fine…

“At 12:10 AM,” Gumshoe continued, “she heard two pistol shots. Then the boat started to move. It went towards the boat rental shop.”

“Hmm,” von Karma growled. “Testify to the court about your arrest. Now!”

“W-w-wait!” the judge cut in. “Mr. von Karma…”

“Yes?”

“Actually, I’m the one that’s supposed to be handling these proceedings…”

Von Karma shook his head and wagged his finger at the judge, as though scolding a child. “Wrong,” he said, crossing his arms. “There is only one thing you need to do here. You will slam down your gavel and say the word ‘guilty.’ That is your role!”

“Y-yes, of course. You’re quite right.”

No he’s not!!!

“A man called into the station around 30 minutes after midnight,” Gumshoe said, beginning his testimony. “We headed to the scene of the crime as fast as we could. That’s where we found Mr. Edgeworth. Now, I didn’t suspect him of anything at all. But… the next morning, a body was found in the lake. So we had to arrest Mr. Edgeworth.”

“Hmm… I see,” the judge said. “Very well…”

“Begin your cross-examination, attorney,” von Karma spat. “Now!”

“You received a call from a ‘man’?” Wright asked.

“Er… yup,” Gumshoe replied.

“But you said there was a woman camping there? She was the one who heard the two gunshots, right?”

“Objection!” von Karma bellowed. “That woman and the ‘man’ who called in the report are two different people, obviously!”

“Different people?”

“There were two witnesses!” Wright gritted his teeth and hunched over, sweating. “Their testimonies were quite similar however,” von Karma continued. “Today I’ve summoned the woman who was camping. What happened next, Detective?”

“We headed to the scene of the crime as fast as we could,” Gumshoe said.

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “How long was it between receiving the report and your arrival at the lake?”

“Er, well… I’d say it was about three minutes.”

“That’s pretty fast!”

“Our motto for the month is ‘get there quick.’”

“Objection!” von Karma shouted. “Detective! You will refrain from casually revealing department secrets!”

That’s no department secret!

“Y-yessir!” Gumshoe whimpered. “Sorry, sir!”

“Do that, and you’ll be able to look forward to your next salary review,” von Karma said.

Any more salary cuts and he’ll be grocery shopping at a 99-cent store!

Gumshoe rubbed the back of his head, then looked down, sad. “So much to look forward to, these days…”

“This is no time for daydreaming! Continue!”

“Y-yessir! That’s where we found Mr. Edgeworth.”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “What was Mr. Edgeworth like when you saw him then?”

“Well… From what I saw, he looked pretty relaxed. Not like a murderer at all, really.”

“Objection!” von Karma barked. “Detective! The court requires the facts, NOT your opinion! How many years have you been on the force!?” The snap of his fingers echoed through the courtroom. “Facts only, Detective! Hard, cold, objective facts!”

“Y-y-yessir! Now, I didn’t suspect him of anything at all.”

“Hold it!” Wright yelled again. “Why didn’t you think he was suspicious?”

“You should know! We have a deep, trusting relationship with the prosecutors.”

“Objection!” von Karma yelled. “Detective! The court isn’t interested in your musings! ‘Deep’? ‘Trusting’? Poppycock!” He wagged his finger at the detective. “I’ve never heard so many flippant comments from an active detective on the force!”

“Mmph!”

“Continue! Now!”

“But… the next morning, a body was found in the lake.”

“Hold it!” Wright cut in. “Did you find any clues on the body?”

“A single bullet was recovered from the body. He was shot through the heart… fatally.”

“Judge!” von Karma interrupted. “Here’s the bullet…” Von Karma took out a bullet and handed it to the bailiff, who passed it to the judge. “It didn’t strike bone, so its shape is well preserved.”

“Very well,” the judge said. “The court accepts this bullet into evidence.”

“So we had to arrest Mr. Edgeworth,” Gumshoe said after a glare from von Karma.

“W-why is that?” Wright asked.

“Well, we found the murder weapon in the boat.”

“The murder weapon…?”

“A pistol.”

“Detective Gumshoe…” the judge said. “That is a vital piece of information. Please revise your testimony.”

“Right! S-sorry, Your Honor. The murder weapon we found in the boat was decisive evidence.”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “What about the pistol made it ‘decisive evidence’?”

“Tsk tsk tsk…” von Karma chuckled.

So that’s where Miles got his unique laugh…

“There were fingerprints on the pistol found in the boat,” Gumshoe said. “They were clear prints from Mr. Edgeworth’s right hand.”

“Wh-what!?” Wright yelped.

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“Order! Order!” the judge barked. “So Mr. Edgeworth’s fingerprints were found on the murder weapon!?”

“Y-yes, Your Honor,” Gumshoe whimpered.

“Judge!” von Karma called, holding a pistol. “This is the weapon in question.”

“A-accepted into evidence,” the judge said.

“Members of the court… We now have the pistol used in the murder, and the bullet found in the body!” Von Karma snapped his fingers. “Detective!”

“Y-y-yessir!”

“Was the bullet found in the body fired from this pistol?”

“Yes. The ballistic markings on the bullet match the pistol.”

No! It can’t be!

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled.

“Hey, Nick!” Maya said to Wright. Lana was so close to the defense bench that she could hear the conversation quite well. “What does he mean, ‘ballistic markings’?”

“Shocking!” von Karma spat. “To imagine someone here does not know something as basic as ballistic markings!”

“N-Nick! He’s glaring at me!”

“Tsk… very well, I’ll explain. Actually, Judge! You do it.”

“Eh?” the judge chirped. “M-me?” He paused. “Erm, ahem. Ballistic markings are like the ‘fingerprints’ of a gun. The barrel leaves distinctive marks on each bullet it fires. You can examine these ‘ballistic fingerprints’ to see which gun fired the shot. It’s quite accurate.”

“Indeed. This leads to one, inevitable conclusion: the bullet found in the victim’s heart… was, without a doubt, fired from this pistol.” Von Karma snapped his fingers again. “This pistol which, as you may recall, was covered with the defendant’s own fingerprints!”

The gallery was muttering again until the judge banged his gavel.

“O-order! Order!”

“Well, Judge?” von Karma asked.

“I’d say it’s almost decisive, yes. Honestly, I could declare a verdict at this point.”

No! Miles couldn’t have done it! He’d never—

“However…” the judge continued. Von Karma wagged his finger at the judge again.

“You wish to hear the witness speak, no doubt,” he said. “Very well. I am somewhat fatigued, and so I will take a brief break. I will call my witness after the recess. Which will last ten minutes. Judge!”

“Y-yes?”

“What are you doing? A ten minute recess! Now!”

“B-but, wait, I…”

Von Karma snapped his fingers. “Just bang your flimsy gavel and get on with it, man!”

“Y-yes!” The judge whacked his gavel. “Ahem. This court will take a ten minute recess.”

This is ridiculous…



After ten minutes, the judge called court back into session with a whack of his gavel.

“Court is back in session,” he said. “Mr. von Karma, call your witness.”

“Yes,” von Karma replied. “Will Ms. Lotta Hart take the stand?”

A young woman with an afro walked to the stand. She had a somewhat excited smile on her face.

“Lotta Hart, you are a research student at a university?” von Karma asked, his tone of voice making it clear that he didn’t care.

“That I am,” Hart replied. She had a thick Southern accent.

“Good. Begin by telling us what you saw the night of the incident. And don’t add anything trivial or subjective. Understand?”

“Y’all need to learn some manners,” the witness said through gritted teeth. Von Karma simply wagged his finger at her.

“UNDERSTAND?” he repeated.

“Y-yeah, I understand, I understand!”

“Er… very well,” the judge said. “Your testimony, please.”

“It was Christmas Eve, just after midnight, I reckon,” Hart said. “I was in my car. I heard this ‘bang’ come up from the lake. When I looked out the window, I saw two gents in a boat. Then there was another ‘bang’… There wasn’t nary a thing on the lake but that boat.”

“Enough,” von Karma interrupted.

“Huh?”

“Judge! She happened to take a photo of the incident!” He took out a photograph. “This is that photo. Accept it as evidence.” The judge was handed the photograph.

“W-well!” he exclaimed. “This is a surprise! This looks like… the very moment of the murder!”

We’re dealing with Manfred von Karma, Your Honor, Lana thought while the gallery murmured. How is seemingly decisive evidence a surprise?

The judge banged his gavel. “O-Order! I will remove you from the court if I do not have order immediately!”

“As the witness testified,” von Karma said, “she looked at the lake when she heard the shot. There were no other boats on that lake! So, the man in the boat with the victim must have been the one who shot him…” He snapped his fingers. “Yes. It was the defendant, Miles Edgeworth!!!”

The gallery started up again. No! He’d never shoot someone! He’s INNOCENT!!! The judge broke up the chatter with his gavel.

“Order!” he demanded. The gallery was still noisy. “Order! Order…! I will have order!” The gallery was finally silent.

“Well, Judge?” von Karma sneered after it was quiet. The judge nodded.

“The evidence is… decisive.”

No it isn’t! There’s still room for doubt!

“I have very little doubt about this case,” the judge continued. He banged his gavel.

No!!!

“Very well, this court finds the defendant…”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “W-wait! Your Honor! I haven’t cross-examined the witness yet!”

If you do exist, God, thank you.

“A cross-examination?” von Karma scoffed. He wagged his finger at Wright. “We have photographic proof! What question can there possibly be!? This photo is worth a thousand words… and they all read ‘guilty’! You lose. Or… Do you claim to have found a contradiction in her testimony!?”

There has to be one! Miles would never kill anyone!

“Very well,” von Karma said. “If you have to, you may cross-examine the witness. You will only flounder and ask meaningless questions! You will fail to find anything!” He snapped his fingers. “And then, I will have you held in contempt of court!”

Don’t let him scare you, Wright!

Maya and Wright exchanged whispers. They were too quiet for Lana to hear.

Come on… Mia wouldn’t give up! Take him on… for Miles… for me…

“I understand…” Wright said. “I will cross-examine the witness!”

“Tsk tsk tsk…” von Karma chuckled. “Very well!”

“I pray for your sake this isn’t a waste of time,” the judge said.

Wright looked over the testimony. “‘Just after midnight,’ you say? In other words, it was no longer Christmas Eve… but Christmas Day!”

“Huh?” Hart asked. “Uh, yeah, well, yes.”

“Objection!” von Karma shouted. “I know you want to find contradictions, but really!”

“Mmmph,” Wright huffed.

“I hope your next contradiction is a little more relevant to the trial,” the judge said. “Witness, continue your testimony.”

“I was in my car,” Hart said.

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “Why were you camping there, anyway?”

“I’m a research student at my university. I was taking pictures to use in my research.”

“Ms. Hart. Could you be more specific about your ‘research’?”

“Objection!” von Karma cut in. “What does the witness’s motive in camping by the lake have to do with this case!? The answer is ‘nothing’! I object to this line of questioning! Objection sustained!”

“W-w-wait, now, I’m the one who says that!” the judge said.

“Well, then say it already!”

“Objection sustained.”

Von Karma, will you stop at nothing to make Miles look like a killer!?

“I heard this ‘bang’ come up from the lake,” Hart continued.

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “So, you weren’t looking at the lake at that time?”

“Nope. I looked after I heard that noise.”

“Objection!” von Karma yelled. “She’s said that already! I asked you to find ‘contradictions’! Not leisurely chat with the witness!”

“When I looked out the window, I saw two gents in a boat,” Hart said, resuming her testimony.

“Hold it!” Wright barked. He slammed his desk. “Could you clearly see the two men?”

“Just look at the picture! Clear enough for you?”

You can’t tell that’s Miles in that picture!

“Wait a second! I wasn’t asking you about the photo!” Wright banged on his desk and pointed at Hart. “I was asking if YOU saw the two men!”

“Uh, yeah, well, of course…”

“Objection!” von Karma bellowed. “The witness has testified that she saw them! There’s also a photo! You’d best look elsewhere for your precious contradictions!”

That part was way too vague… Von Karma’s trying to hide something there… Find it, Wright…

“Then there was another ‘bang’…” Hart continued.

“Hold it!” Wright cut in. “Were you watching the very moment the shot rang out?”

“Well, yeah, sure…”

“Objection!” von Karma barked. “You’re asking meaningless questions! Meaningless!” He snapped his fingers. “‘Contradictions,’ Mr. Wright. Not meaningless babble!”

How can you face yourself when you do this, von Karma? Don’t you care that you’re prosecuting your own student?

“There wasn’t nary a thing on the lake but that boat,” Hart said.

“Hold it!” Wright shouted, hitting his desk. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah, sure as a country gal can be!”

“How come you’re so sure?”

“Well, heck, I scanned the whole lake.”

Wright grasped his chin, thinking for a moment.

There’s something fishy here. Why would she look around to see if there was anything else on the lake?

“Ms. Hart…” Wright said, “you—”

“Objection!” von Karma yelled. He wagged his finger at Miles’s defense. “Mr. Wright! The witness has answered the question in full.”

“Mmph!”

“No need for further questions! Objection sustained!”

“U-uh,” the judge cut in, “that’s what I’m…”

“Sustained!”

“Y-yes, of course.” The judge banged his gavel.

No! Wright, stop cowering every time that beast objects!

“Enough!” the judge said. “I think we’ve heard all we need to hear, Mr. Wright. It seems you are unable to find a contradiction in the testimony worth noting.”

“B-but, Your Honor!” Wright begged. Von Karma snapped his fingers.

“You keep your promise!” he demanded.

“Mr. Wright,” the judge said. “I am afraid that I will have to penalize any further outbursts… By holding you in contempt of court!”

“And if that happens, you’ll have to leave the courtroom immediately! Understood…?”

“Uh… uh huh,” Wright whimpered.

Show some spine, Wright! Hart’s testimony is too vague!

“Nick…!” Maya called. “Lotta’s testimony is fishy, Nick! Real fishy!”

Wright mumbled something back.

The judge banged his gavel.

“I believe we’ve covered the evidence sufficiently to make a decision,” he said.

“Then, pass your judgment!” von Karma ordered. The judge nodded.

No… No! This is wrong!

“Very well,” the judge said. “Mr. Miles Edgeworth, please take the stand.”

“HOLD IT!” a voice yelled.

The court was silent as everyone tried to figure out who had said that.

It wasn’t me… so… who said…?

“Wh-who was that!?” the judge asked.

“It… was me,” Maya said.

“I-is something wrong? D-do you need to use the facilities?”

“No, I do not! Lotta Hart! Your testimony stinks! It’s unclear whether you were actually looking at the lake! It’s highly doubtful that you actually saw Mr. Edgeworth! Tell us the truth! This is a matter of life or death!”

Hart gave a slight lurch.

Listen to the girl, Wright! She’s absolutely right!

“Lotta!” Maya called. “Did you really clearly see Mr. Edgeworth that night!? Did you see him fire that pistol!?”

The judge banged his gavel.

“You will stand down!” he roared. “The court does not acknowledge the defense’s outburst!”

“Answer me, Lotta!” Maya begged.

“What’s the big idea, treating me like some kind of criminal!?” Hart exploded. “I saw him! I swear it! I saw Edgeworth…”

“Objection!” von Karma barked. “Enough! Judge… Declare the defense in contempt of court!”

“Y-yes… yes, of course,” the judge replied. “I’m sorry, but you WERE warned. Guard! Escort Mr. Wright out of the courtroom! He is in contempt of court, and must leave.”

NO!

“Wait!” Maya yelled. “I-I was the one who made the outburst, Your Honor! Nick is innocent!”

Von Karma shook his head and wagged his finger at Mia’s little sister.

“Hah!” he scoffed. “What’s the difference? All that remains is for the guilty verdict to be declared! Isn’t that right, Mr. Phoenix Wright!?”

Don’t give up, Wright! Miles is innocent!

Wright slammed on his desk.

“Wrong!” he replied.

Yes!

“What!?” von Karma shouted.

“Did you hear what Ms. Hart just said? She said she clearly saw Mr. Edgeworth!” Wright hit his desk and pointed at von Karma. “That was not in the testimony! That changes her testimony, and I have a right to cross-examine her again!”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel.

Yes… Please, Wright… save Miles…

“Order! Order! Order! Order! Order! Order!” he yelled.

“You’re in contempt of court!” von Karma roared. “It’s too late for wild claims! Judge! Sustain my objection!”

The judge was silent, thinking.

No! Wright’s right!

“I’m sorry, Mr. von Karma, but I cannot,” he said.

Lana closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.

“What!?” von Karma demanded.

“Ms. Lotta Hart has made a new testimony,” the judge said. “The defense does have a right to cross-examine her again.”

“B-but he is in contempt of court!”

“No, I am!” Maya insisted. “If you’re going to arrest someone, arrest me!”

Maya… thank you so much…

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. He nodded. “Very well. Maya Fey! You will leave the courtroom immediately.”

“Nick!” Maya said to Wright. “I did what I could… You have to do the rest! Good luck!”

“M-Maya…!” Wright almost cried. The judge banged his gavel.

“Peh!” von Karma hissed. “I care not for this melodrama! Listen well, Mr. Wright! I do not tolerate badgering of my witnesses!”

“Mr. Wright!” the judge ordered. “Begin your cross-examination!”

“I saw it clear as day,” Hart said. “The man on the boat was Mr. Edgeworth!”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. The sound of his voice echoed through the courtroom. Everything was silent. “Got you. Got you, Ms. Hart! Finally!”

“Wh-what!? You got what?”

Wright took out the photo. “Look at this photograph.”

“The photo I took…?”

“The very same. There’s something I want you to see in this photo… it’s quite clearly visible. The fog, Ms. Hart.”

“So… so?”

“This picture was taken with professional, high quality film, correct? Yet even it could not capture the faces of the men on the boat!” Wright pounded his desk. “Yet you claim you saw Mr. Edgeworth! How!?”

“Whut!? Wha—!!”

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.

My heart almost stopped…

“Mr. Wright has a point!” he said.

“Objection!” von Karma shouted. “That’s why I told her not to say that in her testimony! Please!”

Tampering with testimonies… The Bar Association will hear about this, von Karma!

“Yet, now she has said it, Mr. von Karma,” Wright said. He then pointed at Hart to address her. “How could you possibly see Mr. Edgeworth!? Explain yourself!”

“Ms. Hart,” the judge said.

“What!” Hart snapped.

“Could you see the defendant that night?”

“O-of course! I said I could and I meant I could!”

“Then, please testify as to the circumstances of your sighting.”

Finally… Okay, Wright, keep it up! It’s not over yet!

“Yer right,” Hart said. “It was a cold night and the fog was thick as grits. So, once I was finished setting up my camera, I got back in the car. Still, I brought my binoculars with me. When I heard that noise out on the lake, I looked with my binoculars. See? No problem!”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “You used binoculars? Very well. You may begin your cross-examination, Mr. Wright.”

Wright read over the testimony. “Hold it! ‘Binoculars’?”

“Yeah, binoculars,” Hart said.

“Yesterday, you mentioned that you were out looking for shooting stars, correct?”

“Well… yeah.”

Then why did she have a photo of the lake instead of the sky?

Wright hit his desk. “Wouldn’t you need a telescope, not binoculars, for that?” Hart grimaced. “I’ve got doubts about your camera, too! Was that really to take pictures of meteor showers?”

“Objection!” von Karma barked. “The camera is irrelevant to this case!”

“You can’t say that for certain!”

“Hmm…” the judge cut in. “Mr. Wright. Is the camera really relevant to this case? If you believe it is, you may continue with this line of questioning.”

“But know this!” von Karma added. “If you find nothing with this, there will be consequences!”

“Well, Mr. Wright? Do you wish to press further about the camera?”

Wright slammed on his desk. “The camera is of utmost importance, Your Honor. It is, perhaps, the key to this entire case! Therefore, I will continue my line of questioning!”

The judge banged his gavel. “Very well! Ms. Hart! You will testify to the court about the camera!”

“Yeah, yeah, I hear ya,” Hart said. “The camera was set up to take pictures of a meteor shower.”
“Objection!” Wright shouted. He smiled confidently. “You were photographing shooting stars? That’s a lie!”

“S-says who!?”

Wright hit his desk. “I saw the camera you set up yesterday. It was pointed directly at the lake! You have to point a camera upwards to take photos of the stars, Ms. Hart!”

“Ooof!”

The gallery began yammering. The judge whacked his gavel.

“Mr. Wright!” he called. “What are you driving at?”

“The witness was not at the lake to photograph shooting starts, Your Honor!” Wright said.

“W-well then, what exactly was she photographing?”

“Your Honor! Take a look at this…” Wright pounded on his desk. “Ms. Hart.” He took out a newspaper article. “This is what you were trying to photograph!”

“What’s this? A newspaper article? ‘Gourdy’…? Ah, the sighting at Gourd Lake…”

“Well, Ms. Hart?”

“I… I never heard of no lake monster!” Hart stammered. “You got proof or something? Let’s see you prove that I was down at the lake trying to photograph this ‘Gourdy.’”

“I have it! Proof!”

“Hmm… Intriguing!” the judge said. “Very well, let’s see it. And… no joking around this time, please. Here is proof that the witness was trying to photograph Gourdy, the lake monster!”

Wright hit his desk. “The proof is in this article about Gourdy the lake monster! According to this article… When Gourdy breaks through the water, it makes a loud noise! Which is why you set up your camera with that microphone! You had set it to respond to loud noises! And that’s how you got this picture when the pistol fired!”

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel and two cries of “Order!”

“I see…” the judge commented. “I, too, thought is was a little strange.”

Liar…

“Well, Ms. Hart?” Wright asked. He slammed his desk. “You were camping there to try and take a photo of Gourdy, weren’t you?”

“Yeah,” Hart said after a pause. She smiled. “Not bad. Are all you lawyers that smart? So, smart boy, I was down there trying to photograph Gourdy, you got me. So what?”

“Huh…?”

“That don’t change what I saw, does it?”

“Exactly!” von Karma added. “What you just used several precious minutes of our time to prove… is nothing more than that the witness is an idiot who thinks monsters exist!”

“H-hey!”

“But, as she so succinctly said, so what!? It changes nothing!”

It must change something, or else von Karma wouldn’t be going to all the trouble of covering it up.

“Ms. Hart,” the judge said. “Why did you hide the fact that you were searching for Gourdy from the court? Please revise your testimony.”

“Right,” Hart said after a pause. “Fine, I’ll testify. It won’t change nothing, though.” Hart waited for the court to be silent. “Actually, I’m not a research student at a university. I’m an investigative photographer. Imagine what a scoop it’d be if I got a picture of that monster! That’s why I was camping out by the lake. But, that’s all I was hiding. When I heard the ‘bang’ I looked right straight out at that lake. There wasn’t much else to look at, so I just watched that boat the whole time. Then I saw a flash, near one of the men’s hands, and I heard another gunshot. I was looking right at that boat, the whole time, cross my heart and hope to fry.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Well, Mr. Wright. You may cross-examine the witness.”

“Objection!” von Karma yelled. “The witness’s testimony is unchanged from before! Whether she is a research student or a photographer has no bearing on this case!” He snapped his fingers. “There is no need to waste more of our time with another pointless cross-examination!”

“Er… hmm.”

“Objection!” Wright shouted, banging on his desk. “I claim the defense’s right to cross-examine the witness, Your Honor!”

“Very well. You may begin the cross-examination. You seem sure of yourself, you must have something in mind.”

“Hah!” von Karma guffawed. “That would be a first!”

“You understand that this is your last chance at a cross-examination, Mr. Wright? If there is no problem with the testimony this time, we will let the witness leave. I will announce my verdict at that time, Mr. Wright. Understood?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Wright said with a nod. He was handed the testimony. He took a look at each line carefully.

Come on, Wright…

“Ms. Hart!” he called. “Were you REALLY looking at that boat!?”

“W-what’s with you!?” Hart snapped. “Course I was looking at it! It was the only thing out there! Any normal person’d be looking at it!”

“I agree, any normal person would.” He hit his desk and pointed at Hart. “But you are far from normal!”

“Wh-what!? Y’all wanna step over here and say that!?”

“You were camping at the lake to take a picture of Gourdy!” He banged on his desk. “Think about it—what would you do if you heard a loud noise? You’d be scanning the lake for any sign of Gourdy, that’s what! You wouldn’t give the boat a second thought!”

“Aah!”

The gallery started up.

This is too close…

“Order!” the judge said with a whack of his gavel. “Continue, Mr. Wright!”

“You testified that you were watching the boat through binoculars!” Wright accused. “However, you wouldn’t need binoculars to watch that boat! You needed them to search for Gourdy… and that’s what you were doing!”

Hart grimaced, then crossed her arms, thinking. Wright slammed his desk.

“Well!?” he demanded.

“Hmph… Well, now that y’all mention it… I did sort of take my binoculars and kind of scan the lake a bit… I mean, Gourdy might be out there, n’ all…”

“M-Ms. Hart!” the judge barked, shocked. “a-are you saying that you were NOT watching the boat, then?”

“S-sorry, y’all,” she said after a moment, her hand in her hair. “I wasn’t fibbing, really. I was, just… I thought y’know, I could be witness to a murder n’ all! I kinda got excited. I was sure I was watching that boat… till now.”

The judge was speechless for a moment. “This… this is totally uncalled for—”

“B-but hey! You got the photograph! You got proof!”

“Hmm… Still, we can’t see who is shooting who in this.”

“Right! Right! That’s why I took this photo n’…”

“Objection!” von Karma interrupted, snapping his fingers. “Witness… that’s enough. You’ve had a long day. Shut your pie-hole.”

“Sh-shut my what!?” Hart hissed.

What was she going to say? It must be something bad for von Karma, or else he wouldn’t object… Wright! Figure it out!

Wright slammed his desk. “Ms. Hart!” he called. “Look at this photograph. You enlarged this photograph, did you not?”

“Y-yeah! I did!” Hart chirped.

“Why has that enlargement not been presented to the court!?”

“Objection!” von Karma cut in. “B-because it does not exist!”

Liar! Your stuttering tells all!

“What’re y’all talking about!?” Hart exploded. “You were the one who told me not to show it in court in the first place! You old fool!”

The gallery was in an uproar.

Von Karma, this is beyond low! How can you call yourself a prosecutor!?

The judge banged his gavel, restoring order. “What’s the meaning of this, Mr. von Karma!” he yelled.

“Er… erm…” von Karma mumbled.

You’ll pay for this, von Karma! Mark my words, you’ll regret concealing evidence!

“Ms. Hart!” Wright shouted, pointing at her. He hit his desk. “Show the photo to the court! Show us the enlargement!”

“Objection!” von Karma roared. “The prosecution objects to the submission of this evidence!”

“Objection… denied,” the judge said. “The witness will show the enlargement to the court.”

“Here it is,” Hart said. She took a photo out. It showed two men, their faces concealed by the fog, one firing a gun in his left hand.

“Hmm,” the judge muttered. “We still cannot see who is firing in this. It could be the defendant… or maybe it’s not. Regardless, I’ll accept this as evidence.”

Von Karma snapped his fingers. “Happy now, Mr. Wright?” he taunted.

“Hmm…” Wright growled.

Wait! Miles’s fingerprints… They were on his right hand!

“You asked for the enlargement, you got the enlargement.” He wagged his finger at Wright. “And little good it has done any of us! That’s why I requested she not show it!”

Liar! That photo contradicts the murder weapon and you knew it!

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “I suppose this means that the cross-examination…”

“Is over!” von Karma finished. “Obviously!”

The judge banged his gavel. “Then, I would like to close the cross-examination of Ms. Lotta Hart.”

No!

“And none too soon. That was a flagrant waste of my time.”

“Mr. von Karma, do you have anything to add?”

“I stated everything I needed to when this trial began. Decisive evidence. A decisive witness. What else could possibly be required?”

“Nothing, of course. Then, I believe it is time for me to declare my verdict.”

Wright, stop him! STOP HIM!!!

Wright banged on his desk. “Your Honor!” he yelled, his voice shaking. “There is something decidedly strange with this enlargement!”

“W-what might that be?”

The gallery started up, silenced by His Honor’s gavel.

“Mr. Wright…” the judge said. “You will show the court what you mean! What about this photo is ‘strange’?”

Lana felt a bead of sweat roll down her neck. Come on, Wright… It’s the shooter’s hand!

“Here, Your Honor!” Wright shouted, pointing at the shooter’s hand.

Yes! YES!!!

“The shooter…?” the judge asked, puzzled. “I’m not sure I understand. What about the shooter is strange?”

“Look at the hand holding the pistol, Your Honor!”

“The hand…?”

“That hand directly contradicts another piece of evidence!”

“This man’s left hand does what…!?”

“Let me show you. I’ll show you the evidence that left hand contradicts!” He pointed at the gun. “Take that! The evidence is clear. The man in this photograph is holding that pistol in his left hand. However! The prints on the murder weapon were from Edgeworth’s ‘right hand’!” Wright banged on his desk as though he was trying to crush it under his weight. “Ergo! The man shooting the pistol in this photograph… Is not Mr. Edgeworth!!!”

The gallery’s chatter filled the courtroom. The judge banged his gavel repeatedly until everyone was finally quiet.

“Now that everyone in the courtroom has quieted down…” the judge said. “I would like to reconvene this court of law! Mr. Wright.”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Wright replied.

“You have given us definitive proof today. We now know that it was not Mr. Edgeworth who fired the pistol that night. However… This leaves us with a rather large problem. If Mr. Edgeworth didn’t do it, then who shot our victim?”

“Precisely!” von Karma said. “As we have seen, there were no other people on the lake that night!” He snapped his fingers. “Who but the defendant could have shot the victim!?”

“There is only one explanation remaining!” Wright said. He hit his desk. “The man who shot the victim was none other than… the victim himself!!!”

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel and two cries of “Order!”

“So…” the judge started, “you are saying that the victim committed suicide?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Wright replied. “I can think of no other explanation.”

“Hmm… Indeed that does seem to be the only remaining option.”

“Objection!” von Karma yelled. “I’m so very, very sorry, Mr. Wright. But suicide is out of the question.”

“Wh-what!?” Wright stammered.

“An examination of the victim’s wound reveals the distance at which he was shot.”

“The… distance?”

“The victim was clearly shot from further than a meter away!”

“A meter! Th-that’s three feet!”

Technically, a little more…

“There is no way it could have been suicide!”

The gallery started up again. The judge did what he did best.

“Order! Order!” he bellowed. “Mr. von Karma! Are you sure of the accuracy of your data!?”

“Of course! I had already considered the possibility of suicide, you see.”

“Hmm… I see.” The judge banged his gavel. “Very well, allow me to state my opinion. Considering the situation, the shooter had to be the defendant, Mr. Edgeworth.”

NO!!!

“However!” the judge continued. “The prints on the gun reveal that the shooter was not Mr. Edgeworth. This is a conundrum. Therefore, I would like to suspend proceedings for this trial for the day.”

Phew…

“The court orders the defense and the prosecution to further investigate this matter. Understood?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Wright said.

Von Karma was silent.

“That is all,” the judge said. “The court is adjourned.”

He banged his gavel. The gallery began to file out. The stench of sweat—Lana’s sweat—entered her nose. She saw Miles leave the courtroom with Wright. Miles turned his head to look at her. Lana gave him a reassuring smile. His lips trembled just the slightest bit.

You’ll survive this, Miles… …We’ll survive this.
Image
I'll always love you, Max.


Last edited by General Luigi on Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:28 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Chapter 19—Memories

December 27, 2016


“Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Miles Edgeworth,” Judge Clous said with a whack of his gavel.

“The defense is ready, Your Honor,” Wright said.

Von Karma was silent.

“Very well, apparently the prosecution is also ready,” the judge said. “Mr. von Karma your opening statement.”

Von Karma was still silent.

“Er… very well, no opening statements so…”

“Objection!” von Karma yelled. “Not so fast, Judge! I was taking a meaningful pause before speaking!”

“R-right, of course.”

“A prediction!” Von Karma snapped his fingers. “Today’s trial will end three minutes from now!”

The gallery was in an uproar.

I’ll survive… I’ll be acquitted…

The judge banged his gavel. “Order… order!” he yelled. “Mr. von Karma! What is the meaning of your statement just now!?”

“Objection!” von Karma barked. “Bah! Must you question everything! It will be over in three minutes! We have no time to waste! I’ll call my witness now!”

“R-right…”

“I call my witness… my decisive witness to the stand!”

A man in his fifties took the stand.

“Witness… state your profession,” von Karma ordered.

The man was asleep, a bubble near his nose. A moment later, the bubble popped and the witness woke up and started rocking from side to side.

“I, er, am the proprietor of the restaurant the ‘Wet Noodle’ at Gourd Lake,” the man said. Von Karma snapped his fingers and glared at his witness. “And I, er, also rent boats.”

“The night of the incident, you were in the boat rental shop, correct?” von Karma asked.

“Er… ayup, yup I was.”

“Please testify.”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “Wait a minute! The witness hasn’t stated his name yet!”

“Objection!” von Karma roared. “Because I did not ask him, Mr. Wright! Bah! I have predicted this trial will end in three minutes!” He shook his head and wagged his finger. “Stop asking trivial questions and cooperate!”

Trivial!? The witness’s name is far from trivial! What if he’s got a connection to Hammond!?

“The witness will state his name,” the judge said with a whack of his gavel. The man was asleep again. A moment later, he woke up.

“Mmph!” the witness mumbled. “Well, er… I’m not really sure, ayup.”

“What do you mean?”

“My, er, memory…”

“Your Honor…” von Karma cut in. “The witness does not remember anything beyond the last several years… Ergo, he cannot recall his own name.”

“Hmm… he can’t recall, you say?” the judge aksed.

“Yes, but the incident in question took place three days ago. He can testify.”

“Very well. Let’s hear his testimony then, shall we. Witness?”

The witness began swaying back and forth. “It was the night of the 24th, just after midnight, ayup. I was in the restaurant… where I er… rent boats, as usual. Then I heard a ‘bang!’ Ayup. When I looked out the window, I saw a boat just a’ floating on the lake. Then I heard another ‘bang.’ Just about then the boat comes back to shore, and a man walks by my window.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Very well. I’d like to begin the cross-examination…”

“Objection!” von Karma interrupted. “There is nothing to question in my witness’s testimony! Ergo, no need for cross-examination! Besides, there are only ten seconds left before our three minutes are up!” Von Karma snapped his fingers. “Judge! Your verdict, now!”

“Er… yes… M-Mr. Wright…?”

Wright slammed his desk. “What are you saying!? Of course I’ll cross-examine the witness!”

“Hmm… Very well, you may begin.”

“Raaaaaaaaaaaargh!” von Karma screamed.

“E-excuse me? Mr. von Karma?”

“Three minutes just passed.”

“I see. Well then, let’s just take our time. You may cross-examine the witness.”

Wright was handed the testimony. “‘Just after midnight,’ you say?” he asked.

“Ayup, just around then,” the witness replied.

“Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure, ayup.”

“When I talked to you yesterday, you were rather vague about the time… I’m surprised you seem so sure about it today.”

The witness fell asleep.

This is a waste of time, Wright. Press something more relevant!

“Objection!” von Karma shouted. “I asked him, and he remembered. Isn’t that right!?”

The witness woke up and mumbled something. He noticed von Karma’s glare. “D-don’t glare at me like that…!” he begged. “I, er… I remembered it clearly, I did. Ayup.”

“You see? Continue!”

“I was in the restaurant… where I er… rent boats, as usual.”

“Hold it!” Wright yelled. “Is there anyone who can verify that?”

“Well, I guess Polly could.”

Wright banged on his desk. “Th-that’s not good enough for a court of law!”

“Mr. Wright…” the judge started, “exactly what’s not good enough?”

“Ah, uh, Your Honor, this ‘Polly’ is a parrot.”

“A… parrot?”

He’s using a parrot to corroborate his alibi!?

“Don’t be so hard on the girl, Keithy-boy!” the witness said.

“Keith…?”

“Objection!” von Karma interrupted. “The prosecution concedes that we cannot prove the witness was in the shop. Witness… please continue.”

How can they let someone like this testify!? Did von Karma bribe the judge!?

“Then I heard a ‘bang!’” the witness said. “Ayup. When I looked out the window, I saw a boat just a’ floating on the lake. Then I heard another ‘bang.’ Just about then the boat comes back to shore, and a man walks by my window.”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “‘By your window’?”

“Ayup, by my window. Right outside the window of my little shack.”

“And, could you see the man’s face?”

“Well, the fog was pretty darn thick, but he was right there in front of me. I saw him.”

“This is a rather important detail!” the judge commented. “Please add it to your testimony.”

The witness nodded off. Von Karma chuckled evilly.

What have you done with this man’s testimony, von Karma!?

“That man was the defendant…” the witness said, “he was saying ‘I can’t believe he’s dead.’”

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “A-are you sure!?”

The witness was asleep. Wright slammed his desk.

“D-Dad!” he shouted.

The witness awakened. “Dead certain, Keith!” he yelled, shaking his fist. “He said ‘I can’t believe he’s dead’ as he was walking by, too.”

No! No!

The gallery was in an uproar until the judge banged his gavel. Miles felt sweat pouring down his neck.

“Witness!” von Karma called. “Are you sure that the person you saw was Miles Edgeworth!?”

“It was him!” the witness cried. “That Edgeworth boy!” The man fainted, still shaking his fist as he went down.

I didn’t kill anyone!

“This… sounds like decisive evidence indeed,” the judge said. “I see no room for doubt.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” von Karma chuckled.

I… I feel faint…

Miles felt his vision fading.

“Nadikh!” a voice called. “I dolth lie dow eh thig zar kohn teer! Everun nun tuh korr troom isklering gat oss!”

“Objection!” Wright cried. It was no use figuring out what was going on. It was all gibberish to Miles’s ears.

“Objection!” von Karma shouted. He gibbered something in response.

No… I’m innocent…

The conversation between Wright and von Karma continued. Miles heard von Karma snap his fingers and continue speaking. He realized he had closed his eyes.

“Objection!” Wright yelled again.

Miles heard a number of bells ringing in his ears amidst the talking. What were they? They were all off-key, but they sounded like they were trying to make music.

“Objection!” von Karma yelled. The voices continued. Images flashed through Miles’s mind.



“Father, someday, I’ll be a defense attorney, too! I’ll be even better at it than you are!”

“Ha ha ha… Miles, I don’t care what you become, just as long as it’s an honest job that you enjoy doing.”



“It appears this is good-bye. When I return, I’ll be a full-fledged prosecutor.”

“Just you wait, Miles Edgeworth! I’ll become a prosecutor, too! I’ll be perfect! I’ll be more worthy of the von Karma name than you can even dream of being!”

“I look forward to seeing that day, Franziska. Ouch!”

“No pleasantries! We’re rivals now!”



“I would like to marry you. Will you grant me that pleasure?”

“Oh… Miles… I-I… Yes… I will. I’ll marry you…”

“Lana… My love… Thank you…”

“I love you, Miles…”




“…guilty. The accused will surrender to the court immediately, to be held pending trial at a higher court within a month from today’s date. That is all. The court is adjourned!”

It’s… it’s over… I’m going to die…

“W-w-waaaaaaait!”

“Wh-who was that just now?”

“Me!!!”

That voice… Lana? No… It’s not Lana…

“Huh? Waaaaahhh! L-Larry!”

Miles opened his eyes.

What…? Larry…?

“Wh-what are you doing here!?” the judge demanded.

“Listen!” Larry screeched. “Y-you gotta listen to me! I… I was… I was there, in the park, the night of the murder! I… I wasn’t sure about it until just yesterday. B-but today I remembered it!”

“Remembered what?”

“The gunshot! I heard it too!”

The gallery filled the courtroom with noise. The judge banged his gavel.

“O-order!” he yelled.

“Objection!” von Karma shouted, snapping his fingers. “What is the meaning of this!? The verdict has been decided! I call for adjournment!”

“One moment, Mr. von Karma. So, you say you heard a gunshot?”

“Yeah, I did!” Larry barked. “A gunshot! That night! I was sitting here in the audience, listening to the testimony… Then I realized, something he said was different from what I remember! A-anyhow, I can’t just sit here and let you call Edgey a murderer! It’s… It’s just not right! I’ll testify! Lemme testify!”

The gallery started up again.

Larry… If you don’t blow it, I owe you big…

The judge banged his gavel.

“Order!” he yelled. “Order!” The gallery quieted down enough. “Well, this is the first time something has happened like this in my court. I’m not quite sure how to proceed…”

“Judge!” von Karma roared. “You’ve already given your decision!” He snapped his fingers. “The trial is over!”

“Nick!” Maya called. “This is it! Larry’s given us one final chance at this!”

Wright was sweating profusely.

Take the chance, Wright! I’ve already been declared guilty!

“Mr. Edgeworth was just declared guilty, Nick!” Maya cried. “It doesn’t get any worse!”

Listen to the girl!

“You’re right!” Wright admitted. “Okay!” He hit his desk. “Your Honor! If there is another witness, it is our duty to hear him speak! Right here! Right now!”

“A waste of time!” von Karma spat. “The verdict cannot be overturned!”

Yes it can!

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. After a moment, he banged his gavel. “Allow me to speak my opinion. In all court proceedings, it is our duty to prevent an inaccurate verdict. In order to make sure no mistake has been made, every witness should be heard!”

“Wh-what is this!?” von Karma hissed. The judge whacked his gavel.

“I withdraw my previous verdict of ‘guilty’!”

The gallery began chattering. The judge calmed them down.

“Mr. von Karma!” he called. “I order you to call this new witness to testify. Now!”

“Whaaaat!”

“The court will adjourn for a five minute recess,” the judge said with a whack of his gavel. “After that, we will hear this new witness.” He banged his gavel again. “Court is adjourned!”



Miles followed Wright into the Defendant Lobby. After a moment, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.

“Whew…” Wright sighed. “That was too close. Sorry to keep you on the edge of your seat like that, Edgeworth.”

“Hmph,” Miles huffed. “I’ve seen worse.” The look on Wright’s face told Miles that his lie had been caught.

“I just wonder what Larry plans to say in there,” Wright continued.

This just might be our chance… Von Karma’s had only perfectly planned cases. That imbecile caught him completely off-guard. But all that’s happened… And that photo Wright showed me… What if this is all connected to my father’s death? What if this is all some plan to get me to confess?

“Hey, Edgeworth.”

Who was that? Oh!

“Huh? You say something, Wright?” Miles asked.

“Yeah, a lot of things,” Wright replied. “You seem out of it. What’s wrong?”

“It… it’s nothing,” Miles lied.

“Hmm?”

“Umm… Mr. Edgeworth?” Maya cut in. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“What’s that?” Miles asked.

“Why are your fingerprints on the murder weapon?”

“Oh.” The scene returned to Miles’s mind. “When he fell into the lake, I went into a daze. I couldn’t understand what had happened. I couldn’t think straight. Then I saw the pistol lying on the floor of the boat in front of me. I picked it up without thinking. I didn’t have a reason, really.”

Or did I? What if I did it because… Because it felt so familiar?

“I see…” Maya trailed off.

“Wright…” Miles said.

“Yeah?” Wright asked.

“This might be our chance.”

“Our chance?”

“Von Karma has only ever run perfect trials.”

“Perfect trials…?”

“Perfectly prepared witnesses, perfectly complete evidence. That’s the secret to his success.” He looked Wright in the eyes, now quite serious. “This is the first time he’s ever had to deal with something unexpected! He has let someone he hasn’t even talked to testify before the court! And that someone… is Larry!”

“What are you getting at?” Wright asked.

“It’s likely his testimony will be full of holes, Wright.”

“That’s right, Nick!” Maya chimed in. “No ten minute trial this time! We’ll milk this one for all it’s worth!”

“Hey, it was fifteen minutes!” Wright corrected. “Fifteen!”

It felt much longer to me…



The judge called court back into session with a whack of his gavel. Miles scanned the gallery and saw Lana in the same spot she had been in yesterday. The redness on her face suggested she had cried recently.

Lana… Please don’t torture yourself like this…

“Court is now back in session,” the judge said. “Witness… Please testify to the court about everything that you saw on the night of December 24th.”

“Right…” Larry said, “leave it to me!”

I wouldn’t if anyone more reliable were available…

“That night,” Larry started, “I was out in a boat on the lake. I was looking for something, and I, er, found it. So I quietly slipped the boat back in at the rental shop dock. Then, just as I was thinking about going home, I heard this ‘bang’! I looked out over the lake, but I didn’t notice the boat. So after I heard that single gunshot I went home.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “That was an unusually vague testimony, even for this court. In any matter, Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination.”

“Yes, Your Honor…” Wright said.

“What’s wrong, Nick?” Maya asked.

“It’s Larry! I have no idea what he’s going to say if I press him. I’m a little scared.”

“Hmm… Well, we’ve come this far. There’s no way to go but forward, Nick!”

She’s right. Besides, the contradiction in that testimony is obvious enough for even Gumshoe or the judge to notice.

Wright was given the testimony. He looked over it and took out a white envelope—the transcript of Hart’s testimony from yesterday.

“Objection!” Wright shouted, pointing at Larry. “W-wait just a sec, Larry!”

“Wh-what!?” Larry replied.

“You only heard one ‘bang’!? You’re sure!?”

“That’s what I said!”

“But Ms. Lotta Hart testified yesterday that she heard two ‘bang’s! And the old man just now said the same thing! They both heard two gunshots that night!”

“Huh?”

Wright slammed his desk. “Were you even listening!?”

I wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t…

“Were you paying attention at all to what they said?” Wright continued.

“Yo, Nick, please!” Larry almost shouted.

“Huh?”

“You know, something’s been bothering me. I’m a witness, see? I’m like a customer here! So you got to treat me nice and stuff, okay!?”

He makes Gumshoe look smart…

“Mr. Butz,” the judge said.

“What!?”

“You only heard one gunshot? Are you sure?”

Larry crossed his arms and seemed to do what little thinking his brain was capable of. “Umm… Well, to tell ya the truth… I’m not sure.”

“Eh…?”

“Not sure!?” Wright cried. “H-how could you not be sure?”

“Yeah, well…” Larry started, “I, uh, I might have missed the other gunshot. I was, uh, listening to something else…”

“Something… else?”

“My radio, dude! On my headphones.”

“Whaaaaaat!?”

The gallery began jeering at Larry—or possibly at Wright. The judge banged his gavel.

“Order! Order!” he demanded. “And stop that booing! M-Mr. Butz! You were listening to a radio on earphones?”

“Y-yeah!” Larry snapped. “So what! That a crime!? I listen to my radio! Everybody listens to the radio! What’s the big deal!?”

“Hmm…”

This guy’s behavior warrants much more than a “Hmm…,” Your Honor.

“Mr. von Karma… your opinion?” the judge asked.

“Waste of time,” von Karma replied. “I do not accept this witness, nor his shoddy testimony.”

“Hmm… Well, Mr. Wright? Should he continue the testimony?”

It’s the lesser of two evils.

“Your Honor,” Wright said. “Please… please allow the witness to continue his testimony.”

“Bah!” von Karma huffed. “Nothing is more pitiful than a lawyer who doesn’t know when he’s lost!”

“Very well, Mr. Butz,” the judge said. “Please give your testimony, and be sure to include details like your RADIO.”

“Right!” Larry exclaimed. “Leave it to me!”

I wouldn’t if there were any other way out of this, believe me.

“It’s lonely, being alone on Christmas Eve!” Larry commented, beginning his testimony. “That’s why I was listening to an all-requests show on the radio, see? I was listening to it real booming loud, like. But I’m sure I heard that gunshot! I remember exactly what the DJ was saying when I heard it, too.”

“You were listening to your radio… at a high volume!?” the judge spat.

“Yeah, what’s the big problem?” Larry screeched, his voice cracking. “Can’t a man listen to his radio in peace? Isn’t this a free country!?”

And we’re free to think poorly of you, which I guarantee you almost everyone in this courtroom is doing.

“Judge,” von Karma said. “Can you believe a word this witness says? What he heard was probably nothing more than a drum beat from the radio!”

“True enough, it is difficult to believe this testimony,” the judge agreed.

“Objection!” Wright shouted, banging on his desk. “Wait, Your Honor! The witness said he remembers exactly what the DJ said when he heard the gunshot!”

“Excuse me? ‘Dee-jay’…?”

“An announcer… the guy who says things on the radio. Anyway! What this means is, when he heard the sound, no music was playing! The DJ only talks between songs! So he could have heard the gunshot from the lake! I’d like to cross-examine the witness, Your Honor!”

“V-very well, Mr. Wright.”

Wright was given the testimony. “So, you turned on the radio?” he asked.

“Right!” Larry replied. “I just wanted to hear someone’s voice y’know? You don’t know what it’s like out there, alone, on Christmas Eve! Alone!”

If this fool ever met Franziska, his skin would be reduced to ribbons.

“That’s why I was listening to an all-requests show on the radio, see?” Larry continued. “I was listening to it real booming loud, like. But I’m sure I heard that gunshot! I remember exactly what the DJ was saying when I heard it, too.”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “What did he say?”

“Objection!” von Karma interrupted. “Mr. Wright! Please cease these pointless questions! What possible good could knowing what a radio DJ said do us!?”

“Indeed, Mr. von Karma has a point,” the judge said. “I’ll allow the question only if you see some reason why we should care…?”

I don’t see any reason. They were probably just saying some stupid piece of gossip about a celebrity.

Wright hit his desk. “We should care, Your Honor!” he half-shouted. “Of course we should!”

“Why?” von Karma asked.

“Uh. W-well, how do you know if we don’t ask, hmm?”

Great. He’s grasping.

“Fine, very well,” the judge said with a sigh. “Mr. Butz, please testify to the court. What was the radio announcer saying when you heard the gunshot?”

“Just when she said ‘Hey! It’s almost Christmas!’ I heard the gunshot!” Larry said.

“Objection!” Wright barked, slamming on his desk. “Larry! Are you absolutely sure what you’re saying is correct!?”

“Huh? What’s with the face? You look scary, dude. Hey, if you’re trying to scare me, you better know I don’t scare that easy!”

“Is something the matter, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked.

“Your Honor!” Wright called. “Did you hear what the witness just said? The DJ said ‘Hey! It’s almost Christmas!’ when he heard the gunshot!”

“Indeed… And…?”

“‘Almost Christmas’ means it wasn’t Christmas! Do you realize what this means?” Wright banged on his desk. “When he heard the gunshot, it was still Christmas Eve!!!”

What!?

“That would seem to be the case, yes…” the judge admitted.

“But he should have heard that gunshot after midnight!” Wright continued, taking out the photograph. “This photograph is irrefutable proof of this fact!”

“Let’s see what the time was on the photo taken when the gun triggered Ms. Hart’s camera. < 12/25 00:15 >…! Fifteen minutes after midnight, on Christmas Day!”

Wright pounded on his desk. “This is a clear contradiction, Your Honor!”

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“Order!” he demanded. “Order!” The gallery calmed down. “What does this mean? The two prior witnesses heard gunshots after midnight. However, this witness says he heard a gunshot before midnight…”

“Judge,” von Karma said. “The answer is simple.” He snapped his fingers. “The current witness is plainly mistaken. Just look at him! Suspicious!”

“Wh-whaaat!?” Larry screeched at the prosecutor.

I doubt a radio show would be more than fifteen minutes off…

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Well, Mr. Wright? What do you think about Mr. Butz’s claim he heard the gunshot before midnight?”

“Larry’s not mistaken, Your Honor!” Wright replied. He slammed on his desk, then pointed at Larry. “He heard that gunshot before midnight!”

“Intriguing,” von Karma said after a pause. “I’m assuming you have evidence for this wild claim?” He snapped his fingers. “Show me evidence there was a gunshot before midnight!”

“Take that!” Wright shouted, holding up a picture of the lake. “Look at this photograph! This was taken by our witness yesterday, Ms. Lotta Hart, with her automatic camera. The timestamp on the photo reads ‘December 24, 11:50 PM.”

“Oh yeah?” the judge asked, taking a look for himself when the bailiff handed it to him. “Hmm? But, there’s nothing on the lake in this picture.”

“Your Honor. The real issue here is not why nothing is shown in this photograph. It is why this photograph exists at all!”

“What do you mean?”

“Your Honor… This photograph was taken by an automatic camera. That camera was set to go off in response to loud noises!”

“Ahah!”

This… is a stroke of incredible luck. If that photo was the result of a gunshot, then it’s possible the victim was shot somewhere other than the boat!

“Correct!” Wright said. “There was a loud noise on the lake at 11:50 PM. That is why this photograph was taken! In other words…” Wright paused and slammed on his desk. “When Larry heard that gunshot, it was most definitely Christmas Eve!”

“Indeed, it would seem that is the case!” the judge commented. “Then… where does that leave us? Ms. Hart testified that she heard the gunshots after midnight. Are you claiming she was mistaken?”

“Not at all, Your Honor. It is a fact that the camera also triggered at 15 minutes after midnight!” Wright hit his desk again. “Your Honor! That night, there were two sets of gunshots, with a 25 minute pause between them!”

The gallery poured comments into the courtroom until the judge’s gavel told them to be quiet.

“Why would this be…?” the judge asked.

“Objection!” von Karma cut in. “Don’t be fooled, Judge! That camera was set to respond to ‘loud noises’!”

“Yes?”

Von Karma shook his head and wagged his finger. “There is no proof that the ‘loud noise’ at 11:50 was a gunshot! Why, the witness could have sneezed, triggering the camera!”

“H-hey, my nose was clear that night, man!” Larry barked. “Clear!”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Well, Mr. Wright? There’s no turning back now. Can you prove that the ‘loud noise’ at 11:50 PM was indeed a gunshot? Please show the court evidence if you have any.”

“This is my evidence,” Wright said, pointing to the murder weapon.

“The… murder weapon?”

“Something about this pistol was bothering me, Your Honor. Both of the witnesses who testified yesterday heard two gunshots.”

Only one of them testified yesterday!

“However,” Wright continued, “the murder weapon was fired three times. When, then, was the last shot fired? Only now have I realized the truth.” Wright banged on his desk. “That third shot was the shot Larry heard just before midnight!”

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel once to restore order.

“Order! Order!” he yelled. “Hmm… That would make sense of the evidence we’ve seen so far. …However… This leaves me wondering exactly what did happen that night on the lake.”

“Exactly!” von Karma added. “If this is true, there were two sets of gunshots, separated by 25 minutes! One at 11:50, another at 15 minutes after midnight!” He snapped his fingers. “Why, I ask you! Why!?”

Because I was framed, that’s why!

“Aaaaaaaaah!” Wright screamed.

“Wh-what’s wrong, Nick!?” Maya asked, panicked.

“I have it! I have it!”

“Huh?”

“Remember the case with the Steel Samurai!?”

“Huh? Yeah, of course I remember…”

“The murderer in this case had the same idea as the murderer in that case!”

“What do you mean?”

“Maya!”

“Yes!?”

“If we don’t figure this out now, we’ll never overturn Edgeworth’s guilty verdict! I’ve got a hunch, and I’m going to run with it…”

“Right! I mean… is this safe?”

“Safe? We’ve already gotten a guilty verdict! We have nothing to lose!”

Maya didn’t say anything.

“You just watch and let me know if I say anything that sounds fishy, okay?”

“Right, Nick!”

Wright slammed on his desk.

“Your Honor!” he shouted.

“Y-yes, Mr. Wright?” the judge responded.

“The testimony just now has cleared up this entire case!”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel three times.

“What do you mean, Mr. Wright!?” he demanded.

“Tsk tsk tsk…” von Karma snickered. “So, you’ve finally realized the truth? There can be no other murderer here than Miles Edgeworth himself.”

That tone of voice… I’ve heard it before… That time he spooked that horse and got Franziska hurt… He said repeatedly that it was me… He knows it! He knows I’m innocent! This… I can’t believe I once respected this monster! This isn’t something petty! It’s murder! He’s knowingly trying to prove me guilty of murder!

“Wrong, von Karma!” Wright replied. “A man was shot that night, but it wasn’t Edgeworth who did the shooting!”

Von Karma shook his head and wagged his finger at Wright. “Listen, rookie. Take a deep breath, and consider the facts. At the time of the murder, one boat was on that lake. This was shown by the witness’s photograph. The defendant, Edgeworth, and the victim, Robert Hammond were on that boat. There was a gunshot fired on that boat, and Robert Hammond fell into the lake. The distance of the shooting was one meter. It couldn’t have been suicide! Well?” He snapped his fingers. “The guilty party has to be the other man on that boat!”

“I admit, it is hard to imagine any other possibility,” the judge agreed.

“Yes…” Wright admitted. “But this assumes that the victim was shot at 15 minutes after midnight.”

“What do you mean by that, Mr. Wright? We have photographic evidence of the time of the shooting. The timestamp on the photo says 00:15.”

“But Larry heard a gunshot 25 minutes before that!” Wright pounded on his desk. “Robert Hammond was killed then! 25 minutes before the shot on the lake!”

That… makes perfect sense…

The judge was speechless.

“Mr. Wright,” von Karma said after a moment. “Are you quite mad? Explain who this is sitting on the boat!”

The only mad one is you, von Karma.

“Of course, it was Edgeworth and the murderer!” Wright replied. “After the murderer killed Robert Hammond at 11:50… He assumed the guise of Mr. Hammond and met Edgeworth!”

The gallery started up, silenced by a few whacks of the judge’s gavel. He was going to break it at this rate.

“Wh… What!?” the judge stammered. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Wright answered. “Edgeworth won’t tell us why he went to the lake that night. However, I have a hunch. That night, Robert Hammond called Edgeworth to the lake. Now, Edgeworth didn’t know Robert Hammond’s face that well.” Wright hit his desk, then pointed at the judge. “That’s why he didn’t suspect anything when the murderer took Robert Hammond’s place!”

That’s… possible, I suppose. The only proof I had that I was meeting Hammond was that he told me he was Hammond.

“I’m not sure what to make of all this,” the judge said.

“L-Ludicrous!” von Karma barked.

But you know!

“Mr. Wright,” the judge said. “Tell us the name of the murderer then!”

“The murderer’s name…? Right! It’s… Actually, I don’t know the murderer’s name.”

“Y-you don’t know!?”

“Bah!” von Karma hissed. “Again, you waste my time!”

Wright hit his desk as though it was a drum. “I don’t know because he never told us!” he shouted. “The murderer is the caretaker of the boat shop, that old man!” He banged on his desk again and then pointed at von Karma. “At 11:50, he was the one who killed Robert Hammond.”

“The caretaker of the boat shop!?” the judge asked. “Wh-where did he do this!? There weren’t any boats on the lake then!”

“Why would he have to go all the way out on the lake just to shoot someone? May I suggest… That the real scene of this crime was not in a boat!”

“What!? W-well then, where did the murder take place!?”

Wright pointed to the boat shop on the map.

“Here, of course!” he said. “The boat shop, where he lives. That way he could meet with the victim without anyone seeing!”

“Objection!” von Karma shouted. “Do you have proof that the boat shop was the scene of the crime!?”

“Recall Larry’s testimony if you will. That night he was out on the lake in a boat, searching for something. He finds it, and returns the boat. Then, just as he’s starting to head for home, he hears a gunshot! He heard a gunshot, Your Honor! Even though he was wearing headphones at the time! In other words, the gunshot was very, very close by! And where would that be if he had just returned a boat?”

“The boat shop…!” the judge finished.

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.

“Mr. Wright!” he called. “What happened that night on Gourd Lake!? Please tell the court, from the beginning!”

“Y-yes, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“Nick, are you sure about this…?” Maya asked.

“Um, not really. But, I think if I start at the very beginning… And I take it slow, I might just be able to figure this out…” He looked out to the court. “That night… The caretaker of the boat shop called Robert Hammond to his shop. This was around 11:50. That was when the gunshot that Larry heard was fired. After that, the caretaker put on Robert Hammond’s coat… He became Robert Hammond! Then he got in the boat with Edgeworth, and went out into the middle of the lake.”

“Then… who fired the pistol on the boat, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked.

“Of course, it was the murderer who shot the pistol. He shot twice. Both missed Edgeworth, on purpose.”

“Wait a minute…”

“Y-yes?”

“Why would he shoot twice if he didn’t mean to hit anyone?”

“Uh…”

That’s… a good question…

“Know this, Mr. Wright,” von Karma taunted. “The moment you run out of explanations is the moment you lose.” He snapped his fingers. “Tell us why the murderer had to fire twice!”

“I believe he shot twice to create a witness, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“Create a witness…?” the judge repeated.

“The murderer lifts his pistol and fires one shot. That ensures that anyone who heard the shot would look at the lake. Indeed, Ms. Hart did exactly that after hearing the first gunshot. Next! The murderer waits a bit and he fires again. Then… The murderer jumps from the boat himself! Leaving the pistol in the boat behind him.”

“I see!” the judge said after a pause. “To someone looking from the edge of the lake… It would appear that one of the men on the boat had shot the other!”

“The murderer didn’t know about the automatic camera, of course.” Wright slammed on his desk. “That’s why he shot twice to draw attention to the boat!”

“Hmm…”

“Once you realize that, everything else falls into place! The boat shop caretaker swam back to his shop. Then he put Mr. Hammond’s wet coat back on the body. And threw the body into the lake! This is what happened, Your Honor. These are the events that transpired that night on Gourd Lake.”

The court was silent. The judge banged his gavel once, simply to hear something. He didn’t say anything, though.

“Bailiff!” he finally ordered after realizing the court’s eyes were on him. “Bring out the witness from before! The boat shop caretaker! Quickly!”

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“Very well,” he continued. “While we are waiting for the caretaker… I would like to ask the defendant, Miles Edgeworth, a few questions. Mr. Edgeworth. Please take the stand.”

Miles walked to the stand.

“Mr. Edgeworth…” the judge said. “You heard what the defense has said?”

“Yes,” Miles replied.

“Well? Why did you go to the lake that night?”

Miles was silent for a moment.

“What Wright was said was mostly correct,” he said. “Astonishingly so, actually. Yes… Several days ago, I received a letter. The letter was signed, ‘Robert Hammond.’ He asked me to come to the boat shop by the lake at midnight on Christmas Eve. He said he had something very important to discuss with me.”

“Something important?” the judge asked.

To think it was all a trap… And that man used my father as a lure…

“I’m sorry,” Miles said. “I can’t say what it was.”

“Hmm…”

“Your Honor, sir!” a voice cried.

“Bailiff!” the judge barked. “We are conducting a trial here, I ask that you remain quiet…”

“The witness has disappeared! He isn’t at the boat shop, either!”

“What!?”

“What should I do?”

“F-find him, quickly! We cannot allow him to get away!”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel repeatedly until the courtroom was silent again.

“Mr. von Karma!” the judge shouted after everything was calm. “Your witness has disappeared!”

“A search warrant has already been issued,” von Karma said.

“Hmm… It goes without saying that I cannot declare a verdict under these circumstances. I will extend the trial until tomorrow, the final day allowed. I request that the police department utilize all its forces to find that witness! Am I understood?”

Von Karma was silent.

“One more thing,” the judge continued. “Just who is that boat shop caretaker? I think his identity has become very important to this trial. I want him and I want to know who he is.” There was another pause. “Very well. Court is adjourned!” The judge banged his gavel.



The thought of his father’s death plagued Miles as Wright and Maya escorted him to the Defendant Lobby.

That letter… The old man must suspect that I killed my father. I know that it’s entirely possible that I did… But… How did he know? I’ve told no one… not even Lana…. That man must know something about DL-6. But… What if I really did kill my father?

“Umm… Mr. Edgeworth?” a voice said

Miles realized Wright’s and Maya’s eyes were on him.

“D-did you say something?” Miles asked.

“Don’t look so pained!” Maya said. “I mean, it looks like you’re probably going to get off the hook! You could try to smile just a little…? Relax!”

If only you knew…

“I’m sorry…” Miles said. “But… I fear it’s not over for me yet.”

“Wh-what do you mean?” Wright stammered.

“Wright… There’s something that’s been troubling me for a long time now. And I don’t know whether or not to tell you…”

Should I tell him?

“Edgeworth?”

“No… there’s so little time left. I want to tell you, to get it off my chest, but…”

But what if it really is just a dream?

“Hmm,” Miles sighed. “I can’t make up my mind.”

“What is this about, Edgeworth?”

I need to tell him…

“It’s… a nightmare I’ve had. A memory of a crime… that I committed.”

“A crime you committed?”

“A memory… of a murder.”
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I'll always love you, Max.
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True love is forever.

Gender: Female

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I apologize for not responding sooner. I haven't really been able to get online for about half a week. Anyway, the story is excellent. The emotions are handled well and the writing is very good. I look forward to more. :)
Proud Supporter of Phoenix/Iris, Ron/Dessie, Klavier/Ema, and Apollo/Vera
Fanfics Updated-12/25
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In Justice We Trust

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Chapter 20—Judgment

December 28, 2016 and December 29, 2016


Wright had managed to provide proof that there could have been another killer: the boat shop caretaker. Lana had no information on who the man was, but she believed that he was connected to DL-6. The only logical conclusion was that he was Yanni Yogi. Miles was the defendant, Hammond the victim, and von Karma the prosecutor. With Miles’s father, Gregory, dead, the only possible person remaining with even a hint of a motive was Yogi. There was no proof, though, and Wright would be hard-pressed to establish the identity of a man who was feigning amnesia.

The judge banged his gavel to call court into session for the final day of Miles’s trial.

“Court is now in session for the trial of Miles Edgeworth,” he said.

“The defense is ready, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“The prosecution… is ready,” von Karma said after a “meaningful pause.”

“U-uh… right, very well,” the judge said. “We have reached the final day of our proceedings in this trial. I ask that the prosecution submit decisive evidence.”

“Understood.”

“Very well, Mr. von Karma, your opening statement.”

“Right. Thanks to Detective Gumshoe’s efforts, the boat rental shop caretaker has been arrested. In yesterday’s trial, the defense asserted that the caretaker was the murderer. However, the caretaker has yet to confirm this. I would like to ask the defense to cross-examine him as much as necessary.”

“Very well! Please bring the witness into the courtroom.”

Yogi took the stand and pretended to fall asleep standing up.

Your act didn’t fool me yesterday, old man, and it won’t fool me today.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the court…” von Karma said. “I believe you all remember our witness. He lives in the boat rental shop on the lake, from where he witnessed the incident. In addition, he has currently lost memory of his name and identity.”

“Witness!” the judge called. “Why did you run away yesterday?”

“Objection!” von Karma yelled. “The witness was not running away, as he will now testify.”

“I-I see. Very well, please begin your testimony.”

Yogi “woke up.”

“Er, I’m really sorry about just leaving yesterday like I did,” he said. “But, I wasn’t running away or nothing. I, uh, went to buy some food for Polly, see… I figured I got nothing to do with this incident anyhow. Er… I mean, I’d need one of those ‘motive’ things, right? And I don’t got one. So, my testimony yesterday stands as is.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Very well. Let’s begin the cross-examination, shall we?”

“You’ve lost much of your memory, is that correct?” Wright asked.

“Er… ayup, seems like it.”

Wright banged on his desk. “Then how could you know that you didn’t have anything to do with this incident!”

“Uh…”

“Or… Or maybe you’re lying about not having your memory, hmm? You know exactly who you are!”

“Objection!” von Karma shouted. “The witness has testified quite clearly that he has no memory of who he is. If you claim he’s lying, then show the court proof!”

Wright didn’t respond.

“Hmph! I’m glad you’ve come to your senses, Mr. Wright. Very well, witness. Please continue.”

“Er…” Yogi trailed off. “I mean, I’d need one of those ‘motive’ things, right? And I don’t got one.”

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “How can you say you had no motive? I say you do! You had a grudge against Edgeworth and the victim, Robert Hammond! That’s why you took revenge on them! Right?”

“Objection!” von Karma barked. “Please don’t make me repeat myself, Mr. Wright! This witness has no memory of anything beyond several years ago! He can’t hold a grudge! It’s impossible!”

The judge banged his gavel.

“Might I say something, Mr. Wright?” he requested.

“Yes…” Wright said. “Yes, Your Honor?”

“You’ve been saying the same thing now over and over. You’ve been calling the witness’s memory of the past or lack thereof into question. But, does this really have anything to do with the current case?”

Wright nodded. “Of course, Your Honor. The witness has said he has ‘nothing to do with this case’ and ‘no motive’…” He hit his desk. “Both of these statements are lies!”

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.

“Order! Order! Mr. Wright! There is a serious problem with your claim! Or… are you saying… Are you saying you know who this witness is!?”

He wouldn’t be making that claim if he didn’t. Looks like Wright has this all figured out.

“Of course, Your Honor!” Wright said. Von Karma snapped his fingers.

“Ho hoh!” he guffawed. “Now, this is interesting. I would like to know myself! So, who is he?”

Wright started sweating.

You’re kidding! Von Karma knows!? And he’s still… No word in the world can describe how horrible he is…

“Mr. Wright, please tell us this witness’s name,” the judge ordered.

“His name is Yanni Yogi, a former court bailiff!” Wright shouted, pointing at the witness.

“Yogi…?” the judge repeated after a pause. “That name sounds familiar. …Oh! Yanni Yogi! From the DL-6 Incident! But, what does this mean?”

Wright pounded on his desk, then pointed at Yogi. “Your Honor! If this man is Mr. Yogi, then he has a clear motive!”

“Objection!” von Karma interrupted. “Tsk tsk tsk…” He shook his head and wagged his finger at Wright. “Jumping to conclusions again, Mr. Wright! This man, this witness, is Yanni Yogi? Fascinating! However… How do you propose to prove this to the court?”

Wright was silent for a moment.

“This is a court of law, as you may recall,” von Karma continued. “You need proof! And, allow me to repeat, once more, that the witness has lost his memory!”

“Nick!” Maya said. She whispered something to Wright. Wright whispered something back.

“Your Honor!” Wright called. “Please take this man’s fingerprints! Then, we’ll compare them to the fingerprints on file for Yanni Yogi 15 years ago…”

“I see… that makes sense,” the judge agreed.

“Tsk tsk tsk!” von Karma chuckled.

“Huh?” Wright chirped.

“I’m so very, very sorry, Mr. Wright.”

“Wh-why?”

“The witness… has no fingerprints!”

“What? What!? No fingerprints!?”

Yogi, who had been pretending to sleep, “woke up.”

“Er… you see,” Yogi started, “before I worked as a caretaker, I worked at a chemical plant. I burned my fingers working with the stuff. Ayup.”

“Wh-what!?” Wright howled.

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Well, if the witness has no fingerprints… I guess we will not be able to prove his identity.”

No! There has to be some way…

“Tsk tsk tsk…” von Karma laughed. “Well, what will you do, Mr. Wright?”

“Uh…”

“Hmm? It seems that the case has been decided, no?” Von Karma snapped his fingers.

No! We’re so close! It can’t end now!

“There is no one who can testify as to who this witness is!” von Karma yelled. “No one!”

“Nick!” Maya almost screamed. “What are we going to do!?”

Wright said something in response.

“Tsk tsk tsk… Well, Mr. Wright?” von Karma taunted. “Perhaps you’d like to cross-examine the parrot for a little comic relief, hmm?”

Lana gritted her teeth. She realized she was shaking.

Maya said something to Wright.

“Your Honor!” Wright called. He hit his desk. “The defense would like to take Mr. von Karma up on his proposal!”

WHAT!?

“Take Mr. von Karma up?” the judge repeated.

“On his… proposal?” von Karma finished.

“Exactly, Your Honor!” Wright shouted. “I would like to cross-examine the witness’s pet parrot!”

Cross-examine the parrot!? Are you out of your mind!?

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge whacked his gavel a few times.

“O-order!” he bellowed. The gallery was still fairly noisy. “Order!” They finally quieted down. “Uh… well, what do you think, Mr. von Karma?”

“Need you even ask!?” von Karma roared. “This is a farce! I object!”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “Wait a second! You were the one who suggested I cross-examine the parrot, von Karma!” Wright banged on his desk. “I have a right to do as you suggested!”

“Mmph…” He paused. “Well, if you’re so desperate, then please, be my guest. Of course, should you go through with this… And nothing comes of it, then I hope you’re ready for the consequences.”

Maya said something to Wright. Her voice was teeming with worry. Von Karma snapped his fingers.

“Well?” he demanded. “Still want to go through with your little game!?”

“Let the parrot take the stand,” Wright said. “I will cross-examine her, Your Honor.”

“This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!”

For once, I agree with you, von Karma.

The judge banged his gavel.

“Bailiff!” he yelled. “Bring in the parrot.”

A very lovely red parrot was brought in. It must have been quite calm, because it didn’t move from its perch.

“That’s… quite a bird,” the judge commented. “Please tell us your name?”

The parrot said nothing.

“Name!”

Again, nothing.

“The witness is ignoring me.”

It’s a parrot, Your Honor. It’s not as if it actually understands the words it says.

The judge cleared his throat. “Very well, witness…” he said. “Who is your owner? Please, er… testify for us.”

The parrot was silent. After a moment, it said “Hello!” twice, then squawked. Then it was silent again.

“Hmm… Certainly the most concise testimony we’ve had so far. Very well, begin your cross-examination.”

“Right…” Wright said. He was sweating profusely. Maya said something. Wright said something in response.

Wright wiped the sweat from his brow, then slammed on his desk. His palms slipped a little from the sweat on them.

“Witness!” he barked. “You can’t just say ‘hello’ and expect us to get anywhere! I want you to testify!” He turned to Maya. “Maya, you talk to her.”

“R-right!” Maya said. “Uh… What do I say?”

Wright whispered something to Maya.

“Um, Polly?” Maya asked. “Have we forgotten something?”

The parrot was silent. After a moment…

“Hello! Hello!” The parrot then squawked again.

“Th-that’s not what you’re supposed to say!” Maya cried. “Forgot! Something we forgot!”

“Hello! Hello!” The parrot squawked.

“Uh oh. It’s not working, Nick! She won’t say it!”

“Tsk tsk tsk…” von Karma chuckled. “Something the matter, Mr. Wright?”

Lana thought she heard Wright growl. After a moment, he tried again.

“Witness!” he shouted. “You can’t just say ‘hello’ and expect us to get anywhere! I want you to testify!” He turned to Maya again. “Maya, you talk to her.”

“R-right!” Maya said. “Uh… What do I say?”

Wright whispered to Maya.

“Polly!” Maya called. “Polly! What’s your name?”

“Pol-ly! Pol-ly!” the parrot replied. She then squawked.

“Mr. Wright…” the judge cut in. “I think we’ve established that this parrot is named ‘Polly.’ Does this have anything to do with her owner’s identity?”

“Yes it does!” Wright said.

It does?

“Hah!” von Karma scoffed. “Fascinating! You claim that the parrot’s name will prove her owner’s identity? Then show us this proof!”

“Nick!” Maya snapped. “Don’t you think you’re taking the bluffing a little too far?”

Wright said something back to Maya. Lana heard him say “Yanni Yogi.”

“Your Honor,” Wright said. “The proof that the parrot’s name reveals the caretaker’s identity is… Take that!” Wright held out a file. It was handed to the judge.

“The DL-6 Case File?” he asked.

“Objection!” von Karma interrupted. “That’s quite a large file you have there! Which page is this ‘proof’ on, then?” He snapped his fingers. “Show us, or stop wasting our time!”

“Hmm… Very well, Mr. Wright, please show us this page. Where in this file is the information connected to this parrot’s name?”

“It’s on the ‘Suspect Data’ page!” Wright replied.

The judge, as usual, looked confused.

“This page has all the information about Yanni Yogi! Right after he was arrested, his fiancée committed suicide, see?”

“Hmm…” the judge muttered. “Indeed, it does say that, yes.”

“What was his fiancée’s name?”

“‘Polly Jenkins’… ‘Polly’!”

“Exactly, Your Honor! He remembered the name of his fiancée who committed suicide.” Wright banged on his desk. “That’s why he named his parrot after her!”

“I see! I guess that is possible.”

“Objection!” von Karma yelled. “Bah! A mere coincidence, that’s all! My granddaughter has a dog she calls ‘Phoenix.’” He snapped his fingers. “Well, Mr. Phoenix Wright? Does this make you my granddaughter’s fiancée!? She’s only seven years old!!!”

“Hmm… Indeed. Alone, it is a little weak for evidence in a murder trial. We would need some other corroborating evidence…”

I can’t believe Wright is using such a ridiculous tactic…

Maya said something to Wright.

“Hmph!” von Karma huffed.

“Very well, witness,” the judge said. “You may continue.”

The parrot was silent.

“Witness!” Wright yelled. “You can’t just say ‘hello’ and expect us to get anywhere! I want you to testify!” He turned to Maya again. “Maya, you talk to her.”

“R-right!” Maya said. “Uh… What do I say?”

Wright whispered to Maya. Maya said something in response. It sounded like a question. Wright said something else.

“Polly!” Maya called. “What was the number of the safe in the shack?”

“1228…” Polly said. “1228…”

“My, what a reckless parrot,” the judge commented. “Well, Mr. Wright? you aren’t claiming that this number has something to do with the caretaker?”

“Actually it does!” Wright replied. “That’s why I had her say it!”

You’ve got to be kidding me…

“Hah!” von Karma guffawed. “Ridiculous! How can the number to a safe tell us who the caretaker is?” He snapped his fingers. “Show us your proof! What could possibly link this number to the caretaker’s true identity!?”

“Take that!” Wright shouted, holding out the DL-6 file again.

“The DL-6 Case File? What is this obsession you have with that case?”

Look who’s talking.

“Mr. Wright,” the judge said. “Where in this file is something relating to that safe number?”

“It’s on the ‘Case Summary’ page!” Wright exclaimed, pointing to the judge.

“The Case… Summary?” the judge repeated.

“Specifically, the date on which the DL-6 Incident occurred!”

“The date of the incident? December 28…? Why, that’s today’s date. Fifteen years ago!”

“And the number on that safe is 1228!”

“Ah!”

“He used the date of the DL-6 Incident as the number for his safe, Your Honor!” Wright pounded on his desk, then pointed at the judge. “That’s how important that date was to him!”

“I see… It certainly is an interesting coincidence. People often do set their secret numbers to dates.”

“Objection!” von Karma roared. “Bah! This is not tangible proof! I set my ATM card’s number to ‘0001’ because I’m number one!” He snapped his fingers. “This has nothing to do with a date! Nothing!”

The judge banged his gavel.

“That’s enough!” he barked. “I think we’ve reached a conclusion here.”

“This is a mere coincidence, that’s all!” von Karma insisted. Lana could tell from the slight waver in his voice that he knew the caretaker’s identity.

“True, that is a possibility. However, two coincidences at the same time seems more like a ‘pattern’ to me.”

“Wh… what are you saying!?”

The judge whacked his gavel. “Summon the caretaker of the boat shop. Immediately!”

Yogi took the stand again and pretended to fall asleep.

“Witness…” the judge said. “Tell us your name.”

“Objection!” von Karma shouted. “Wait! This witness, he doesn’t remember…”

“No… it’s okay,” Yogi said. “I’ve accomplished what I wanted to do. I’m done.”

“Nick!” Maya said. “He looks totally different!”

“This is the real Yogi, I think,” Wright said. “Finally. He’s been acting feeble to hide his true identity. Acting… for 15 years!”

“W-well…!” the judge stammered. “Let me ask you again. Please state your name for the court!”

“My name… is Yanni Yogi,” Yogi said. “15 years ago, I served as a bailiff in this very court.”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel to quiet them down, yelling “Order!” to emphasize his demands.

“Yanni Yogi!” the judge called. “So was it you who killed Robert Hammond…? And tried to frame Miles Edgeworth for his death?”

The court was silent. All eyes were on Yogi.

“Yes,” Yogi said. “It was me. I did it. …They put me on the witness stand 15 years ago… Robert Hammond… he said I was mentally unsound. He told me it would make me innocent. Get me off the hook. So… I pretended to have brain damage… I was innocent, really! But he didn’t believe me! We won the trial… But I lost everything. I lost my job, my fiancée, my social standing…

“…Then, this year, 15 years later… A package arrived. It was a letter… and a pistol. The plan was written out in careful detail. It was a plan for me to take my revenge on the people who ruined my life. I didn’t care who had sent it. I thought this was my chance, after 15 years, this was it! Finally, a chance to have my revenge on Robert Hammond and Miles Edgeworth… I have no regrets.”

“W-wait a moment!” the judge shouted. “Revenge… against Miles Edgeworth? What do you mean?”

“I’m not at liberty to speak on that matter. Why don’t you ask Mr. Edgeworth yourself? Anyway, I admit it, I was the one who killed Robert Hammond.”

Yogi was taken from the stand and escorted out of the courtroom.

“Von Karma…” the judge said. “Where is Mr. Yogi?”

“Under arrest, Your Honor,” von Karma replied. “I saw no room for error in his confession.”

“Then… the defendant, Miles Edgeworth is…”

“Innocent. In this case, at least.”

“Hmm.” The judge nodded. “Very well. Will the defendant please take the stand?”

It’s over… Miles… God, if you exist, you have my eternal gratitude…

Miles walked up to the witness stand. He looked as though he had just seen Hell and been told he was going there.

Miles, it’s over. You’re free. Don’t look so sad…

“There are a few mysteries left unsolved,” the judge said. “Still, you are cleared of suspicion for this particular case. So I would like to pass judgment on the murder of Mr. Robert Hammond. Any objections?”

Wright was silent, naturally. Miles said nothing. Von Karma kept his mouth closed. He must have been struggling to accept that he had lost.

“Very well,” the judge said. “This court finds the defendant, Mr. Miles Edgeworth… not guilty.”

The entire gallery was on its feet—even Lana. Lana said nothing, but she pumped her fist in the air, tears rolling down her cheeks.

After a moment, the judge banged his gavel again.

“That is all,” he said. “The court is adjourned!”

“Objection!” a voice shouted.

What? No… That was Miles’s voice…

“D-did someone just say ‘objection’?” the judge asked.

“No…” Wright whimpered. “Edgeworth!?”

“Your Honor,” Miles said. “I object to your judgment.”

Miles, no!

“Wh-what do you mean?” the judge asked.

“I’m not innocent at all! As we have heard, Yanni Yogi killed Robert Hammond in revenge. But, revenge for what?”

“Nick!” Maya almost screamed. “Edgeworth is trying to confess! He’s going to say he’s guilty! He’s going to tell them he was the murderer in the DL-6 Incident! He’s going to tell them he killed his own dad!”

No! Miles couldn’t have done it!

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “The judgment has already been passed! I object to Edgeworth’s outburst…”

“Objection!” von Karma countered. “Didn’t something like this happen yesterday, too? I believe a certain witness raised an objection after a guilty verdict was passed. We must hear this new statement!” He snapped his fingers. “We must hear Miles Edgeworth!”

“He’s right,” the judge agreed. “We have a duty to hear Mr. Edgeworth out.”

Miles… What are you doing? You’re innocent! You couldn’t have killed your father!

“For fifteen years…” Miles started, “I have had a recurring dream. A nightmare… it’s only a nightmare. That’s what I told myself. But now I know, it wasn’t a dream. Yanni Yogi wasn’t the killer.”

“You mean… in the incident where your father died?” the judge asked.

“From the distance of the shot, it wasn’t suicide, either. Everything was as clear as day. The murderer… The criminal in the DL-6 Incident… It was me!”

No!

“Your Honor!” Miles continued. “I confess my guilt! I am guilty for DL-6, the statute of limitations of which ends today! The culprit… is me!”

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.

“Order!” he screamed. “Order!”

Lana was speechless. Miles couldn’t have done it. Why would he kill his own father?

“This is certainly unexpected!” the judge said. “The defendant, declared innocent, is confessing to a different crime! A crime for which the statute of limitations runs out today! I’m not really sure how I should deal with this…”

“Bah!” von Karma scoffed. “It’s obvious. We hold a trial. Right here. Right now.” He snapped his fingers. “We try this man for his crime of fifteen years ago!”

The judge banged his gavel. “I think… I think I would like to take a five-minute recess. During this time, I will consider the appropriate course of action to take. Court is adjourned!” He banged his gavel again.



After the brief recess, the judge banged his gavel.

“Then, I would like to resume our trial,” he said.

“Judge!” von Karma snapped. “Miles Edgeworth has admitted his own guilt. He has confessed his crime. Let us begin by hearing his testimony. Then, though pointless, let the defense do their cross-examining. The statute of limitations on the DL-6 Incident runs out today. Though it’s unconventional for me, I’d like to run this one by the book.”

“I see. Does the defense have any objections?”

“No, Your Honor,” Wright said, shaking his head.

“Very well.” The judge banged his gavel. “Will Miles Edgeworth take the stand?”

Miles took the stand again.

Miles… You’re innocent. Why are you torturing yourself like this?

“Will the witness state his name and profession,” von Karma ordered.

“Miles Edgeworth…” Miles said. “I am a prosecuting attorney.”

“Mr. Edgeworth. Fifteen years ago, you mistakenly killed your father, Gregory Edgeworth. Is this correct?”

“…It is correct.”

“Then testify about this matter to the court.”

Maya was whispering something. It sounded like praying.

“That day,” Miles began, “I had gone to the courtroom to observe one of my father’s trials. As we went to leave, an earthquake struck, trapping us in the elevator. My father and Mr. Yogi lost their composure, and began to argue. Just then, something heavy fell at my feet. I picked it up, and threw it at Mr. Yogi. I wanted them to stop fighting. A moment later, there was a single gunshot, then a scream. It was a terrible scream. I remember it to this day. That’s all.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “And, until now, you thought this memory was a ‘dream’?”

“We were stuck in that elevator for five hours. The oxygen in the elevator ran out, and I lost my memory of the events.”

“Bah!” von Karma spat. “The same claim Mr. Yogi has made!”

“Very well,” the judge said. “Mr. Wright? Your cross-examination, please.”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Wright said.

It was just a dream… It’s not suitable as evidence.

“Are you sure you only heard one gunshot?” Wright asked.

“Yes,” Miles replied. “I’m sure of that. I heard the shot, and the scream… Then everything faded. I was unconscious until the rescuers came.”

“I see…” the judge said. Wright shook his head.

“But that doesn’t make sense!” Wright added. “Look at this file one more time.”

The DL-6 File?

“This plainly contradicts the witness’s testimony,” Wright continued.

“Objection!” von Karma barked. “You do enjoy dragging out that file, don’t you? I don’t accept this evidence! Unless… you can tell us what page it’s on! Which page contradicts Miles Edgeworth’s testimony?”

“Look at the ‘Victim Data’ in this file!” Wright banged on his desk. “It says quite plainly: ‘the murder weapon was fired twice’!”

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.

“Miles Edgeworth only heard one gunshot!” Wright said. “Yet, the murder weapon was fired twice! The first shot was the accidental firing when the pistol was thrown.” He slammed on his desk. “So… who fired the remaining shot!?”

Again, the gallery started chatting. The judge restored order.

“Hmm…” he mumbled. “Was there, perhaps, another shooter who fired that second shot?”

“Objection!” von Karma shouted. “Your Honor. As I’m sure you’re aware… This incident occurred fifteen years ago. The evidence is dated… The pistol did fire twice. However, we do not know WHEN that second shot was fired.” He wagged his finger at Wright. “It might have been fired the day before the incident!” He snapped his fingers. “There is no proof that the second shot had anything to do with this incident!”

There’s also no proof that it had nothing to do with the incident!

“Hmm… see, I see,” the judge said. “You do have a point. Mr. Wright? The murder weapon was fired twice, as we have heard. One of those shots was fired by the defendant, a boy at the time. Do you have any proof that the other shot fired had something to do with the case?”
Wright hit his desk, then pointed at the judge. “Your Honor,” he said. “I think I will be able to show you proof.”

“Wh-what!?” von Karma snapped. “Impossible!”

“Now, now, Mr. von Karma,” the judge said. “Save your surprise for after you’ve seen the evidence. Very well, Mr. Wright. Show us your proof. Do you have evidence that the second firing of the pistol is related to this incident?”

“Look at this photograph,” Wright said, taking out a photograph. It was handed to the judge.

“This is a photograph of the scene of the crime, fifteen years ago,” the judge said. I can see that the victim lying there is Gregory Edgeworth…”

“This proves the murder weapon was fired twice, at the time of the incident! This photo proves it!”

How? I can’t see any… The bullet hole…

“So let me get this straight,” the judge said. “This photo proves two shots were fired? Where?”

Stupid…

Wright banged on his desk. “As should be obvious,” he said, “the contradiction is here.”

“I see… a bullet hole in the door…” the judge replied. Wright pounded on his desk.

“Your Honor! Gregory Edgeworth was killed by a shot from the pistol! Yet, there is also a bullet hole in the elevator door! We also know that the murder weapon was fired twice! Thus… Someone other than Edgeworth fired that second shot!”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel.

“O-order!” he shouted. “Order! Mr. Wright! What are you driving at?”

“It’s simple, Your Honor,” Wright replied. “At the time of the incident, two shots were fired. One went into Gregory Edgeworth’s heart. The other hit the elevator door.” He slammed on his desk. “Remember that the defendant lost consciousness after the shot he fired rang out. In conclusion… We must agree that the second shot was fired by someone else!”

“M-Mr. Wright! But who could that someone else be!?”

“The murderer, of course!”

“Objection!” von Karma roared. “…I knew I should have stepped in before your wild fantasies got out of hand. Mr. Wright… Look once more at the DL-6 Incident case file. Look closely. Try the ‘Case Summary’ page. Look what is written there! ‘Not a single clue was found on the scene.’ If the pistol had indeed been fired two times… Then the other bullet would have been discovered on the scene!”

“He does have a point,” the judge agreed.

“That second bullet has never been found!” He snapped his fingers. “Why? Because the second bullet does not exist! The bullet that claimed Gregory Edgeworth’s life was the one fired by his own son! That is the truth of this matter. The whole truth. It was undoubtedly something else that made that bullet hole in the door.”

Prove it, von Karma! Lana thought as the judge tried to silence the again noisy gallery.

“Order!” he bellowed. “I will have order!” He paused. “Mr. Wright has proven one thing to us quite clearly… That the murder weapon was fired twice at the time of the incident. However! As Mr. von Karma says, the second bullet fired was not found. It is highly unlikely that the police merely overlooked this second bullet.” He banged his gavel. “So, all we have is the single bullet fired. I’m afraid I have to discount the defense’s claim.”

“Tsk tsk tsk…” von Karma snickered. “I praise the judge for his wisdom in this matter.”

No… No! We’ve gotten so far!

“What are you doing, Nick!?” Maya yelled. “Why aren’t you raising an objection!?”

“…I’m sorry, Maya,” Wright said.

“What?”

“I… It looks like I was wrong.”

“Nick…?”

No! Don’t give up, Wright!

“If the second bullet wasn’t there,” Wright sobbed, “then all my conjectures are for nothing!”

“N-no… But you said you’d do it, Nick! You said you’d get Edgeworth declared innocent!”

What would Mia think of you, Wright!?

“I’m sorry…” Wright sighed. “It’s just, when I saw the photgraph, I thought that two shots had been fired. I was so certain of it. I thought I’d won! I thought there was another person, someone else who fired the killing shot. But now… I was wrong to think it could be that simple. This case has stood unsolved for fifteen years!”

“Nick…”

The judge banged his gavel.

“Well, it seems that we have finally cleared up this incident,” he said.

NO!!!

“Only one bullet was found at the scene of the crime,” the judge continued. “That shot was fired by Miles Edgeworth.”

“Precisely,” von Karma sneered.

“I would like to ask one thing of Miles Edgeworth before passing my verdict. Have you been paying attention to the trial so far?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Miles replied.

“Do you have any objections?”

“No… No, I do not.”

NO!!! MILES!!!

“So you killed your father, though that was not your intention?”

“…Yes, I did.”

Maya said something. She sounded on the verge of tears.

“Very well,” the judge said.

Miles…

“The statute of limitations on the murder of Gregory Edgeworth runs out today,” the judge said. “Therefore, I must pronounce my verdict on the defendant today, right here…”

Von Karma snapped his fingers. “Right now!” he ordered.

“Indeed. Does anyone have any objections?”

Come on, think, Lana! If Wright can’t find anything, do it yourself! There has to be a way! The second bullet… What if it fell into the elevator shaft? Or what if the killer took it!?

“Mr. Wright?” the judge asked.

“Objection!” Wright shouted.

YES!!!

“Your Honor!” Wright barked, slamming on his desk. “I… I object!”

“Tsk tsk tsk,” von Karma chuckled. He shook his head and wagged his finger at Wright. “Mr. Wright, on what grounds do you object, hmm?”

“Oof!”

What!?

Maya said something to Wright.

“Grah!” Wright spat. Wright suddenly jerked back in shock at something. “Wh-what?” he asked Maya. “What did you just say?”

“N-nothing!” Maya said.

Say something, Wright! Find something—anything!

“It seems waiting is not going to produce any answers from Mr. Wright,” the judge said. Wright banged on his desk.

“Wait, Your Honor!” Wright begged.

“Hmm?”

“I, uh… Th-the second bullet! It, uh, it exists!”

“What!? But we’ve just heard proof that it did not exist!”

“I-I realize that, Your Honor.”

He sounds just like Mia when she’s cornered… So persistent until everything’s accounted for…

Wright pounded on his desk. “I-it’s just, someone took it from the scene of the crime! That’s what happened!”

“But… Who!?” the judge asked.

“Th-th-the murderer!”

“Objection!” von Karma roared. “The murderer? Then tell us, just who is this ‘murderer’?”

“I’m… still thinking about that one.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “So the criminal took the second bullet? Why would he?”

“Huh?”

“First of all, how would he have found it? It’s not easy to find a stray bullet, Mr. Wright! Was there some pressing need for the murderer to search for that bullet?”

Wright said nothing, but he slumped over his desk, forming a puddle of sweat beneath him.

Think, Wright! THINK!!!

“What’s wrong, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked.

“Uh… Um…” Wright stuttered.

“Bah!” von Karma scoffed. “The murderer had no reason to take that bullet! You don’t want to admit it, but it’s true!”

“Urk…”

NO!!!

Wright suddenly jerked back again. He grasped his chin.

“Mr. Wright?” the judge asked again.

“Y-yes, Your Honor!” Wright replied, his voice shaking. “U-uh, well, the murderer had no intention of taking the bullet from the scene. But… uh, the murderer HAD to take that bullet.”

“‘Had to,’ Mr. Wright? What do you mean?”

“Well, for instance…” He paused. “Uh. maybe the bullet, uh… hit the murderer?”

“The bullet… hit the murderer?”

THAT’S IT!!! IT WORKS!!!

“J-just saying, for instance,” Wright stammered. “I mean, if it hit you, you would have to take it with you, wouldn’t you? It’s not like you could perform surgery right there. Y-y’know?”

The entire courtroom was silent.

Come on, Wright! Run with it!

“Let me get this straight,” the judge said. “So at the time of the murder, the murderer himself was shot? And he left with the second bullet still inside!? Thus leaving only one bullet at the scene of the crime?”

“Uh, yes…” Wright stuttered. “I guess that’s how it would work, yes.”

“But there’s a problem with that! The other two people rescued from that elevator… Miles Edgeworth and Yanni Yogi were both unharmed! So that would mean…”

“The murderer came from outside, yes.”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel repeatedly.

“The two men fight inside the elevator,” Wright said. “Trying to stop them, the boy picks up the pistol at his feet and throws it. The pistol discharges, and the bullet…. The bullet goes through the elevator door and hits the murderer outside! The boy loses consciousness… Then the murderer opens the elevator door and sees the men inside…”

“Hmm,” the judge mumbled. “Mr. Wright. You are truly the most unpredictable defense attorney I’ve ever known. I can tell you’re grasping, yet I cannot deny the possibility of what you say.”

“Objection!” von Karma roared. He snapped his fingers. “What are you saying! Deny it! Deny it! No one involved in the incident was wounded! There was no ‘murderer’!”

“Hmm…”

Because the murderer fled!

Maya and Wright began whispering. Lana had trouble making out the beginning, but as they apparently got an idea, they got louder.

“But took it because he was injured!” Wright said.

“Which would mean…” Maya trailed off.

“It could only mean one thing!”

“He was the murderer in the DL-6 Incident!”

“He was the man who shot Gregory Edgeworth!”

“It was… von Karma!”

Von Karma!? HE’S the killer!?

“Something wrong, Mr. Wright?” the judge cut in. “You seem… dazed.”

“Uh, n-no, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“Well? You have indicated the possibility that the murderer came from outside. Can you give us the name of your suspect?”

Wright slammed on his desk.

“Your Honor!” he shouted. “There is a suspect… one lone suspect!”

“Well, this is certainly interesting news. Very well, Mr. Wright. Who is your suspect?”

“V-V-V…”

Say it, damn it!

“V-what?” the judge asked.

Wright banged on his desk. “Von Karma!” he shouted.

“Von Karma!?” Miles yelped.

Everything was silent. Von Karma was smiling.

He’s… smiling? Why would he…?

“You mean, THE von Karma?” the judge asked, breaking the silence. “The prosecutor? Sitting right there?”

“Bah,” von Karma scoffed.

“You… don’t object?”

“Hmph. I see no need. Why honor this ridiculous outburst with my objection?”

Wright pounded his desk. “Because you took a vacation for several months starting the day after the incident!” he shouted. “Yet you pride yourself on a perfect record! Why would you take such a long vacation without any reason!?”

“So you’re claiming that I took a vacation to heal my ‘injury’ from the incident? Fascinating! Prove it. I would have needed surgery, no? Where did I go under the knife at, Mr. Wright!?” He snapped his fingers. “Bring the doctor that operated on me! Have him testify!”

“Urk…”

“Nick!” Maya barked. “Let’s find out who his doctor is!”

“It’s no use,” Miles said.

“E-Edgeworth!?”

“I know von Karma. Perhaps too well. He’s perfect. He wouldn’t leave clues. He probably didn’t undergo surgery. That would leave a doctor as a witness.”

Wait… Miles… So you think von Karma… Then I’ll believe it, too. I trust you, Miles.

“So… so what, Nick?” Maya asked. “Did von Karma pull the bullet out by himself!? That’s insane!”

“No… he couldn’t have,” Wright replied. “You can’t just pull bullets out of yourself!”

Then...?

“Tsk tsk tsk…” von Karma chuckled. “Well, Mr. Wright! Can you produce evidence to prove that I was shot?”

Wright hit his desk. “Alright, von Karma, I’ll prove it,” he said. “And I’ll even use evidence… I know how you like it so much.”

“Wh-what!?”

“The evidence that proves von Karma was shot is…! Take that! Von Karma is perfect… He wouldn’t risk surgery, leaving an evidence trail. So then, I ask, where is that bullet now? I think it unlikely that von Karma performed surgery on himself!”

“You… you don’t mean!” the judge stammered. Wright nodded.

“I do.” He banged on his desk. “There is the possibility that the bullet is still inside von Karma!”
The court filled with noise. The judge banged his gavel.

“I-is that even possible?” he asked. “For all these years!?”

“Well, there’s one way to find out.” Wright took a metal detector out of his bag. “We could use this metal detector! Well, von Karma? I’m going to run this over you, and see what we find.”

“Objection!” von Karma shouted. He was sweating. He looked nervous.

He DID do it! Von Karma… You deserve a punishment that could not even be found in Hell!

“I… refuse!” von Karma spat.

“Y-you refuse…!?” the judge asked. “But, refusing this means… You acknowledge that the bullet is still inside you?”

The gallery started up again. The judge silenced them somewhat with his gavel and three shouts of “Order!”

Wright slammed on his desk. “Your Honor!” he called. “The defense requests that we be allowed to use the metal detector!”

“Objection!” von Karma screamed. “Judge! I call for a suspension of this trial! This is an invasion of privacy!”

“Objection! The statute of limitations runs out on this case today!” He hit his desk. “It was you who said we had to end it right here, right now!”

“Mm… mmmph!”

The judge whacked his gavel. “Enough!” he barked. “I permit the use of the metal detector. Mr. von Karma, you will submit yourself to testing!”

Maya said something to Wright. Wright said something in response.

The bailiff took the metal detector and ran it over von Karma. Near von Karma’s right shoulder, it went off loudly.

There is something in there! It must be the bullet!

“Mr. von Karma…?” Wright called.

“You!” Miles growled. “It was you!”

“…I was afraid this would happen,” von Karma said. “And so, I remained silent.”

What do you have up your sleeve now, beast!?

“Indeed, there is a bullet in my shoulder,” von Karma continued. “However… it has nothing to do with this incident!”

“What!?” Wright snapped.

“I was shot in the shoulder long before the DL-6 Incident!” Von Karma snapped his fingers. “I claim that the bullet in my shoulder has no relation to DL-6!”

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.

“B-but, Mr. von Karma!” he stammered. “Can you prove that?”

“‘Prove’?” he repeated. He wagged his finger at the judge, an evil grin plastered on his face. “I have no obligation to prove anything! It is you who must prove something here, Mr. Wright! Not I.”

“M-Mr. Wright? Well? Can you prove it? Can you prove that the bullet in von Karma’s shoulder was from DL-6?”

“Of course he can’t!”

Liar! All we need is the bullet from the victim’s heart! If its ballistic markings match those of your bullet, you’re the killer!

“You don’t have any of the DL-6 evidence!” he taunted. He wagged his finger at Wright. “With no proof, you cannot convict me of any crime! So sorry, Mr. Wright.”

Wright shook his head. “No… I’m the one who’s sorry, Mr. von Karma,” he taunted back.
“Wh-what!?”

“You were close… one day away from freedom.” He pointed at von Karma. “You see… I have proof!”

“Wh-what!?”

“Who would have thought you would have dug your own grave trying to convict Edgeworth! I can link that bullet in your shoulder to the DL-6 Incident…” He slammed his desk and pointed at von Karma. “And here’s my final proof! Take that!” Wright took out an evidence bag with a bullet in it.

“Th-that’s…” the judge stuttered. “A bullet?”

“Where did you get that!?” von Karma demanded.

“This is the bullet used in the DL-6 Incident,” Wright explained. “This was taken from the heart of the victim, Mr. Gregory Edgeworth.” Wright pounded on his desk. “The bullet is preserved quite nicely, with all the ballistic markings intact.”

“Ballistic markings…” Miles muttered.

“You may recall the term. It came up in the first trial, two days ago. We have two bullets in our possession. One, the bullet removed from Gregory Edgeworth’s heart. The other, Mr. von Karma, is the bullet buried in your shoulder. We could analyze both bullets… Then, it the markings matched…” Wright slammed on his desk. “We would know that both bullets had been fired from the same gun! The very same pistol… in other words, the murder weapon that killed Gregory Edgeworth!”

“Mmmph… mmmph!” von Karma spat.

“Mr. von Karma? You will let us remove the bullet from your shoulder. Then we’ll compare the ballistic markings to those on this bullet…” Wright hit his desk. “And solve this case once and for all! Well, Mr. von Karma!?”

“Mmmrrrrrrgggh! Uuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! Uuaaaaarrrr… aaa …oooh. Wooooooorgh… aaa… oooooh…”

It’s over… Finally, it’s really over…

Miles looked as though the entire disaster had come back full force in his memory. “It’s that scream I heard in the elevator!” he gasped. “Fifteen years ago…” He pointed accusingly at von Karma, his face an effigy of hatred. “Von Karma!” he roared. “It was you who screamed!”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel to restore order.

“Mr. von Karma?” he called.

“Wooorrrrrooooooggggh….” the villain wailed. “Ehhh… Edgewoooooth……. Ehhh… Edgewooooorth… Only… you would… dare… defy me…!”

“So… it was you!” Miles shouted through gritted teeth.

Von Karma grabbed onto the wall behind him and began slamming his head against it. “You an your father are my curse!” he hissed. “Your father shamed me with a penalty on my record! And you… you left a scar on my shoulder that would never fade!” He hit his head harder, more rapidly. “I... I'll bury you! I'll bury you with my bare hands! Death! Death!

“It was a shock like none I had ever known. Me? Penalized!? It took hours for me to regain my composure. Suddenly, I found myself in the darkness… I was in the court records room. I must have wandered in there without thinking where I was going. The room was pitch black. The lights must have gone out. I went out in the hall and felt my way to the elevator. I pressed the button, and nothing happened. Then… there was a noise!

“I was in pain! A horrible, burning pain in my shoulder! Just then, the lights came back on. The elevator door opened before my eyes. I saw three people inside, all lying unconscious from oxygen deprivation. Much to my surprise, a pistol lay at my feet. I knew then… it was destiny. In his last moments, Gregory Edgeworth was still unconscious. He died, never knowing who had shot him Later, he spoke through a medium, blaming Mr. Yogi. He was fooled! It was the perfect crime!

“Tsk tsk tsk… Who would have thought another man would come to open that elevator door?” He snapped his fingers. “Judge!”

“Wh-what?” the judge blabbered, shocked by the sudden end to von Karma’s tale.

“What are you doing!? Do your job! Bring an end to this miserable charade! Now! End it!”

“V-very well.” He whacked his gavel. “It appears that we have come a very long way to the end of this maze. Fifteen years later… Mr. Miles Edgeworth?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Miles said.

“You were innocent. You are innocent. As you said, it was all a ‘nightmare.’”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

The judge banged his gavel again. “This court finds the defendant, Mr. Miles Edgeworth… not guilty.”

It was over. Miles’s trip through Hell was over. He was free.

“That is all,” the judge said after banging his gavel again. “The court is adjourned!”



Lana stood at the door to Miles’s office the next day. She heard music coming from the other side. She listened.

Поднялася с полуночи… a tenor voice cried out. A men’s chorus joined in.
Поднялася с полуночи
дружинушка хрестьянская
молилася, крестилася,
молилася, крестилася,
на смертный бой готовилась.
Прости, прощай, родная весь,
прости, прощай, родная весь!
Не плачь же ты, семеюшка:
нам смерть в бою написана,
нам смерть в бою написана,
а мёртвому сорома нет.
Нам смерть в бою написана…
Нам смерть в бою…


Lana knocked on the door.

“I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone,” Miles said from behind it.

“Not even to me?” Lana asked. She had decided beforehand that if she was going to talk to him, she would have to be herself, not Ms. Skye. As such, concern poured from her lips.

“Not even you.”

Lana sighed. “Is this how you’re going to be when we’re married, too? We’ve been through this before. You’re not invincible.”

“I’m fine.”

“No you’re not, Miles. You sound as if you’re going to cry.”

“Everything’s okay now. I’m free.”

“Miles, your voice is breaking.”

“I said I’m fine.”

“You saw me during the trial, didn’t you? I was so worried…”

“I saw you.”

“I even cried a few times. Even though I did all I could to contain my emotions, they broke out a few times.”

“I saw signs of it.”

Lana waited for Miles to say more. All she heard was his music, though.

“Don’t you trust me?” she pleaded.

No response.

Lana sighed again. “Miles, if you can’t even trust someone who agreed to marry you, who can you trust? Do you really want to keep all your thoughts to yourself?” She closed her eyes. “You can trust me, Miles. I may not be worthy of your trust as a co-worker, but what about as your fiancée? Yes, I broke it off, but I still think of you as the gentleman I’m going to marry. …I believe in you, Miles. I know you’re a wonderful person on the inside, so please show that side of yourself to me.”

No response.

“…I see. You still think you need to handle everything alone. Do you really want that? There’s no shame in needing help. I’m here for you.” She sighed again. “And, frankly, I need proof that you’re fine. I’m not going to stop worrying until I’m sure. Closing yourself off from me like this just makes me more convinced that you need help.”

Is this how Ema feels? Whenever she needs me, I close myself off. She must be worried about me…

Miles’s music stopped. Lana heard the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door. The instant Miles opened the door Lana threw herself into his arms.

“You need to stop being this way,” Lana said, still holding onto Miles. “I’m not marrying Miles von Karma.”

Lana felt Miles’s arms tighten around her. She felt something touch her ear. Tears. Miles’s tears. She could feel his broken breathing. He was crying.

“Please, let it out,” Lana continued. “The only weak thing to do here is keep it all pent up inside. I’m here for you.”

Lana closed her eyes and held onto Miles. He needed someone to trust, someone he could turn to when he couldn’t handle everything on his own. Lana recalled that the door to the office was still open. She tried to move to close it, but Miles wouldn’t let go. With a small sigh through her nose, she decided to ignore it. She tightened her embrace.

“Whenever you need someone, I’ll be there for you,” Lana said, closing her eyes again.
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I'll always love you, Max.
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In Justice We Trust

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Chapter 21—Following Orders

February 22, 2017 and February 23, 2017


Miles walked into the Detention Center. He managed to carve his face in stone as he approached the guard. The guard saluted.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Edgeworth, sir, but I’ve been told not to let visitors in, sir!” he said.

“By who?” Miles asked. “I’d think it’s fairly important that the prosecutor get information from the defendant.”

“The Chief Prosecutor told me to keep visitors out, sir!”

“I need to speak with the defendant. This case is under a great deal of scrutiny; it’s critical that the right verdict be given.”

“But, sir—”

“I’d suggest you allow me to speak with Ms. Skye. As things stand, she does not have the authority to interfere with your salary. I do, however. You can be certain that your salary will drop lower than that of Detective Gumshoe if you give me any trouble.”

The guard gulped. “Y-yessir.” He opened the door.

“I thought I said I wanted no visitors,” Lana’s voice said from in the visiting room. She had her back to the visitors’ half of the room.

“Not even me?” Miles replied.

There was no response. Miles walked in and seated himself across from Lana.

“What happened?” Miles asked.

“I killed Detective Goodman.”

“Do you expect me to believe that, Lana? My love for you isn’t the only thing telling me there’s more to this than meets the eye.”

“There’s nothing more to this case. I stabbed Bruce Goodman in the Prosecutor’s Office parking lot and left the body in your car to frame you. I was caught, and so I’m here instead of you.”

“Liar. Do you forget how much we’ve been through? You would never kill someone, let alone frame me for it.”

“Well, I did, so you’re wrong.”

Miles closed his eyes.

“Why don’t you trust me?” Miles asked. “That armor of yours doesn’t hide the white wings under it… not from me.”

Lana turned around to face Miles.

“I trust you, Miles. However, the truth is that I killed Goodman. As the killer, I must accept my punishment.”

Miles said nothing.

It must be him…

“You’d accept death just to protect Ema?”

“I never said Ema had anything to do with this.”

“The fact that you’re in this mess tells all, Lana. As things stand, you have no motive. I can only think of two possibilities. The first is that you’re innocent, but you’re taking the fall anyway because your blackmailer ordered it. The other possibility is that your blackmailer ordered you to kill Goodman. Either way, your blackmailer is a criminal and must be punished for it.”

“My blackmailer is not involved. I stabbed Goodman. I don’t need a reason.”

“I don’t believe that for a second. What’s going on, Lana? I want answers!”

“I gave you the answer! Just leave it at that!”

Miles gritted his teeth. “So you’re going to keep silent? So be it. There’s another way for me to get the truth out of you.”

“What are you going to do? Blackmail me?”

“I took this case specifically because I need to know the answer… and because I love you. I’m not letting you go to prison unless I know for certain that you’re guilty.”

“I am. And you’re right. I had a motive. My blackmailer ordered me to stab Goodman. But for my sake, to honor my memory… Please don’t hunt him down.”

“No,” Miles said.

“What?”

“If what you’re saying is true, then your blackmailer is also guilty. Even if you’re going to die for your involvement in this, I am going to drag that demon down with you. He deprived me your hand in marriage, and he will ultimately deprive you of your life. I will not let such actions go unpunished, no matter what you say.”

Lana was silent for a moment. She turned around and faced away from Miles.

“Very well,” she said. “You know what you must do. Prove me guilty; for killing a fellow human being, I deserve to die.”

“I’ll see you in court, my love,” Miles said as he got up and left. Lana did not respond.

If this is the case, you will be found guilty, Lana. But what if it isn’t? Even if you’re willing to die to protect Ema, I will not allow you to if you’re innocent. If you’re innocent, I will make sure you’re acquitted. And your blackmailer… Regardless of your role in this case, I will have my revenge on him. For myself, for you, and for Ema, I will make sure your blackmailer suffers for his actions.



Miles returned to the Prosecutor’s Office, determined to find the truth. He had an enemy, and he would not rest until that enemy was defeated. Jake Marshall had been put in charge of the investigation. He and his subordinates were mostly just lazing around. Angel Starr was also there, selling lunches again. She noticed Miles and changed her scowl into a “May I take your order?” smile.

“Can I interest you in General Tso’s Trilobite lunch set?” she asked, taking out a lunchbox.

“I prefer meat that died after the dinosaurs were extinct,” Miles replied. He walked over to the elevators and rode one up to the twelfth floor. His office was not too far from the elevator. He heard voices from inside.

I could have sworn I locked the door…

He saw a familiar cheap blue suit and spiky hair standing part-way in the doorway: Wright.

“Look, look!” a young feminine voice chirped from inside the office. “There’s a trophy or something here! It takes real nerve to display stuff like this. Whoever’s office this is, he must be a real stuck-up jerk!”

“Mr. Phoenix Wright…” Miles greeted. “You never tire of prying into other people’s business, do you?” Wright turned and saw Miles, who walked into his office. The girl with Wright looked around sixteen. She had a lab coat on.

I know I’ve seen that girl before…

“Long time, no see, Edgeworth,” Wright said.

“Huh?” the girl yelped. “Aaaaaaaaaaaaah! M-M-Mr. Edgeworth!”

I thought I knew her from somewhere.

“You know him from somewhere?” Wright asked the girl.

“O-of course!” the girl replied. “I’m his biggest fan! My sister introduced us once, and…”

Her sister? Wait… Ema?

“Well?” Miles cut in. “What brings you here?” He smirked, glaring at the girl, slightly amused. “I’ll warn you… I’ve been known to be a real stuck-up jerk…”

“N-no!” the girl stuttered. “Did I…? No! It was just, Mr. Wright here, he…”

“Hey!” Wright snapped. “Don’t blame me!”

“W-we’re just here to investigate a murder case!” the girl continued.

“Murder…?” Miles asked. Just my luck…

“A body was found in this nasty, bright red sports car in the parking lot…”

“Hmm? That would be my car. What of it?”

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaa!? Y-y-y-your car!?”

My ears…

“So, the body was found in your car?” Wright asked.

“Go ahead, say it, Wright,” Miles said. “You think I did it, don’t you? After you went through all that trouble to help me last year, no less.”

“N-no, we don’t think you did it!” the girl stammered. “I mean, it was my sister who stabbed him… Uh, wait, no, she didn’t do that! I mean…”

Oh, dear…

“Wait…” Miles said. “So you’re the Chief Prosecutor’s little sister, then?”

“Y-yes, sir!” she chirped. “Ema Skye! It, uh…” She paused. “It’s nice to meet you again!”

The image of Ema during SL-9 returned to Miles in full.

“Ah, now I remember,” Miles commented. “You’ve… really grown.” He looked to Wright. “I’ll admit, it was a surprise to me, too. To think that my own car would become the scene of a murder. More surprising still… Now I’m forced to prove my superior’s guilt.” In front of Ema, no less…

“I can understand…” Wright agreed. “W-wait!… What did you say!?”

“Lana Skye is the Chief Prosecutor… the top prosecutor in the district. She can’t prosecute herself, so I’ll be the prosecutor at the trial tomorrow.”

“You!?” Ema almost cried. She looked down at the floor. “Mr. Edgeworth…”

Best to keep my feelings for Lana out of this, or these two won’t let me hear the end of it.

Wright reached into his coat pocket and took out a picture of Lana.

“Chief Prosecutor Skye?” Miles replied. You could have just asked instead of bothering with a picture, Wright… “Yes… We first worked together on a case two years ago. It was my first big case.”

“That’s right, I remember,” Ema added, still downcast.

“Since then, I always felt that she was looking out for me… It appears I was mistaken.”

“M-mistaken!? Why? I mean, I know she’s not the warmest person… But I’m sure she felt some responsibility for you!”

“Then… why? Why did she stab someone in the trunk of my car? Not only that… She stabbed him with my knife.”

“Wha… Whaaaaaat!?” Ema screamed. “Mr. Edgeworth! Your knife was the murder weapon!?”

“To be specific, it was the knife kept in the toolbox in the trunk of my car.”

How could she have even known the knife was there? It’s not as if I showed it to her…

“Um… Edgeworth?” Wright asked.

“What?” Miles replied.

“Are you sure you didn’t do it?”

Miles said nothing, but he glared at Wright, whose face shifted into a stupid grin.

“You have a strange sense of humor, Mr. Wright!” Ema scolded.

“To be honest…” Miles continued. “It’s a bit of a miracle I’m still here at all.”

“What do you mean?” Wright asked, his grin gone.

“Rumors. You’ve heard the rumors about me, haven’t you?”

Wright’s eyes closed briefly.

“Thanks to you,” Miles continued, “my innocence was established in the trial at the end of last year. However, there are some who say I’m the one responsible for the current incident.” Though I would never sit by and let Lana die for a crime I committed…

“Wh-what?” Wright yelped. “That’s crazy!”

“Hmph. Some people need very little excuse to think ill of others. It’s a fact of life. Impossible to stop.”

“But…” Ema whimpered.

“Some of them even go so far as to present me with toys like this…” Miles added, indicating the King of Prosecutors trophy he had received on the day of the crime. “They think it’s funny.”

Wright looked at the trophy.

“I’ve been wondering…” he commented, “what the heck is this?”

“It has a big ‘K’ on it,” Ema said.

“King of Prosecutors,” Miles mumbled.

“Huh?” Wright asked. “What’s that?”

“It’s the ‘King of Prosecutors’ trophy.”

“K-K-K…” Ema stammered. “‘King of Prosecutors’!?”

“It’s a great honor. They send that shield to the best prosecutor each year.” He noticed a smirk crossing Wright’s face. “What! So?”

“So that ‘K’… that’s…” Wright trailed off.

“‘K’ stands for ‘King’?” Ema finished.

“Yeah, you got a problem with that?” Miles snapped. “I didn’t design the thing!”

“‘King of Prosecutors’… Kind of like ‘Employee of the Month,’ only better!”

“So, in other words,” Wright said with a grin, “you were the best of the best this year, huh?”

“You can take that foolish grin elsewhere, Wright,” Miles replied. “I lost a day of work to receive that travesty.” If I hadn’t been there, I could have stopped this disaster from even happening…

“Huh?” Ema chirped. “Why’s that?”

“I had to go to the Police Department ceremony to receive that broken shield.”

“The Police Department?” Wright echoed.

“Yes. Right next to the Police Station downtown. You’ve been there, correct?”

“Where Detective Gumshoe works? Yeah.”

“Um, I was wondering something about your shield…” Ema cut in. “Why is it broken?”

“What does it matter?” Miles replied. “I’ve got more important things to worry about.”

“Oh. Right…”

“Yesterday was a very busy day for the Prosecutor’s Office.”

“Maybe… we should ask him more about yesterday?”

“Could you tell me more about yesterday… the day of the murder?” Wright asked.

“Yesterday was the annual cleaning day at the Prosecutor’s Office,” Miles said.

“Cleaning day?” Ema repeated.

“Working with the Police Department, we sort and file all evidence for solved cases. We call it ‘evidence transferal.’”

“Wiping your hands of old cases, in other words.”

“Oh, and another thing… A ceremony was held at the Police Department. There’s an annual review and awards for outstanding police officers and prosecutors.”

“And that’s when you got the shield?” Wright asked.

“I was at the police department yesterday afternoon… I got back here at 5:12.”

“That’s… very precise.”

“People like myself and Mr. Edgeworth pride ourselves on our precision, Mr. Wright,” Ema said.

“No, I place little faith in my memory,” Miles said. If only because of how much pain its deceptions have caused me. “The only thing I trust is solid evidence,” he continued, taking out the parking stub from yesterday. “This is the parking stub from the underground lot.”

“So the murder happened right after you got back,” Ema confirmed.

“What, Wright?” Miles asked, noticing his suspicious gaze. “I’d appreciate it if you’d direct that suspicious glare elsewhere.”

“Um…!” a voice blathered. A patrolman burst in through the doors. “Excuse me! But is Mr. Edgeworth, uh… anywhere on the premises?”

“I’m Edgeworth,” Miles said to the patrolman. “What is it?”

“I’m here, sir, at the request of the Chief, sir! I’ve got your report, sir!”

“Report? What? Did you find new evidence in the case against Chief Prosecutor Skye!?” Miles was glaring at the patrolman. Maybe there’s something that proves Lana’s innocence…

“Er… Skye, sir?” the patrolman replied, confused. He then saluted. “No, sir! No name of that kind, sir! Not in this report, sir!”

WHAT!? Then why are you wasting my time!?

“Mr. Edgeworth’s lid isn’t on very tight, is it?” Ema commented.

“I made a clear request to the Police Department, did I not?” Miles exploded. “I need to focus on the trial tomorrow, so don’t bring me anything unrelated!”

“Sir!” the patrolman yelped. “But, but sir! I’m just following orders, sir! They told me to bring this to you! I wasn’t aware of the peculiars of your arrangement with us, sir—”

“Give me your name!”

“U-uh, yes… yes, sir! M-M-Meekins, sir. Officer Meekins!”

“Right. Officer Meekins? Take your report and leave. And good luck with that raise next month.”

“B-but, sir, I d-didn’t know!” Meekins whimpered. Meekins left, crestfallen.

“Wright,” Miles said.

“Y-yes, sir!?” Wright replied, caught off-guard by the shift of focus.

“As you can see, I’m busy. You may leave now.”

“L-let’s do what he says, Mr. Wright!” Ema agreed.

“The victim was a detective from the same department as that patrolman just now. Go down to the Police Department. You can ask more there.”

“U-uh… Thanks,” Wright said, leaving. Ema followed.

Wright… So you’re defending Lana? Good; I know I can trust you. After what you did for me last year, I know that if Lana’s innocent, you’ll prove it. If she’s guilty, I will prove it, but not before I know the truth.



Wright took his position at the defense bench. Ema took the same position as Maya. Miles found that his eyes were often moving in Lana’s direction. She had her usual expression on her face—none. Judge Clous banged his gavel.

“The court is now in session for the trial of Ms. Lana Skye,” he said.

“The defense is ready, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“The prosecution has been ready for a while, Your Honor,” Miles said.

And so it begins. Wright, I entrust Lana’s fate to you. If she’s innocent, prove it.

“I hope personal feelings will not be a part of the proceedings today, Mr. Wright,” Miles said, partially to himself and partially to Wright. “I will choose the path I think is right, regardless of what those around me might say. The judgment to be made here is in our hands, not those of anyone else.”

“Very well, Mr. Edgeworth, your opening statement please,” the judge said.

Flush it out, Miles. Lana’s no longer anyone important; she’s just the defendant.

“Chief Prosecutor Lana Skye has committed an unpardonable crime. Not only this, but she was rash enough to commit it in the Prosecutor’s Office lot!”

“Wow…” Ema commented. “He’s much more forceful in person. I suddenly feel like confessing to everything!”

“However,” Miles continued, “she will now pay for her rashness with her life. There was a witness to her crime… A ‘professional’ witness!”

The judge banged his gavel.

“Well then, call your first witness, Mr. Edgeworth!” he said.

“The prosecution calls its first witness, Ms. Angel Starr, to the stand.”

Starr took the stand. She had a full basket of lunchboxes hanging on her right arm.

“Hmm?” the judge chirped. “Haven’t I seen you somewhere…?”

Starr took a lunchbox out of her basket. “You ordered the Caviar Lunch, right?” she said.

“Ho ho! Caviar! I’ve never eaten caviar before!”

Great…

“Ah, and for you…” Starr added, taking out another lunchbox, “I have a Fiesta Bowl.”

“Uh… thanks,” Wright said, sweating.

“Will the witness state her name and profession?” Miles requested, hoping to restore order.

“Ah, and you, sir…” Starr said. “Did you order ‘The Fingerprint’ lunchbox?”

“It is too early for lunch. Your name and profession, please.”

Starr was silent for a moment. “Well, Your Honor? How does it taste?”

“So this is why everyone raves about caviar!” the judge commented. “It’s so tasty it hurts! I always thought caviar would taste like pickled tapioca.”

I guess I can’t rely on the judge here…

Miles slammed his desk. “Name,” he barked. “Profession. Now.”

“Me?” Starr replied. “The name is Angel Starr. Don’t go forgetting it.”

I would definitely like to…

“I find myself running Lunchland these days,” she continued. “Is… that what you wanted me to say, Mr. Edgeworth?”

“Very well, witness,” Miles replied. “Please describe the incident to us.”

“The prosecution will wait!” the judge interrupted. “I’m not finished eating…”

Innocent or guilty, this is one case I will soon want to forget…

The judge swallowed. “Mmmm…” he mumbled. “Very well, Mr. Edgeworth. As you know, we usually call on the police to provide a description of the crime…”

“Your Honor,” Starr replied, “as Mr. Edgeworth has said to the court… I am a… ‘professional.’”

“Uh… Huh? What exactly does that mean?”

“Until two years ago,” Miles said, reading a file on Starr’s time as a detective, “Ms. Angel Starr was a special investigator with the police. She was a first-rate homicide detective.” And a first-rate flirt…

“Wh-whaaaat!?” Ema almost screamed. “Ms. Starr was a detective!?”

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-hah!” the judge bellowed, remembering. “I-I know who you are!!! Cough-up…!?”

“Cough-up Queen Angel Starr, Your Honor,” Starr said. “Long time no see.”

The judge whacked his gavel.

“V-v-very well! Y-you may continue with the description, Ms. Starr!”

“If I might have the court’s attention over here…” Ms. Starr said, indicating a map of the crime scene Miles had given her. “The parking lot at the Prosecutor’s Office is divided into two blocks. A Block is for the Prosecutor’s Office personnel. B Block is for visitors and clients… A chain divider separates the two blocks.”

“I suppose that’s to keep visitors from taking up prosecutor’s spaces, yes.”

“The crime took place by a car in the back of A Block, in the car’s trunk. The killer stabbed the victim with a knife and went to drive the body out. Unfortunately for her there was a witness, and an arrest was made on the spot.”

“And who was this valiant ‘witness’…?”

“Why, it was me, Your Honor.”

“Witness, did you see the very moment of the crime?”

“Of course, Your Honor. Immediately after that, I apprehended the Chief Prosecutor.”

“Hmm… It seems rather cut and dry, doesn’t it? Well, Mr. Wright?”

“Uh… I can’t agree on principle, Your Honor,” Wright said, sweating.

“It seems that some poor losers are unwilling to accept the truth, Your Honor,” Starr said. “Shall I proceed to crush what little hope they have remaining?”

“If you can…” the judge said. “Then give them your worst, Ms. Starr!”

Poor Wright…

“Somehow, I always knew a day like this would come,” Starr said. “I was on my way to deliver a lunchbox to my boyfriend…”

Which one?

“When I sensed something…” Starr continued, “perhaps it was my finely-honed detective instincts working. Then, through a wire fence, I saw the Chief Prosecutor standing next to a garish car.”

Garish!? My car’s beautiful!

“The chief prosecutor was holding a knife in her right hand… Then, she thrust the pointy tip of the knife into Detective Goodman’s chest!”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Bringing a lunchbox to your boyfriend? How touching!”

“Hmph,” Miles huffed. “As you can see… There is no room for doubt.”

At least, with her testimony as is…

“The key ‘point’ of your testimony seems to be nothing other than the point of the knife which you saw being stabbed into Detective Goodman!” the judge said.

“So…” Starr teased, “how does it feel to be so utterly crushed?”

“I… I’m still thinking about that,” Wright replied, sweating.

“I-it’s merely a flesh wound, Mr. Wright!” Ema encouraged.

“Very well, Mr. Wright,” the judge said. “You may cross-examine the witness.”

“Somehow, I always knew a day like this would come,” Starr repeated.

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “How did you know!?”

“I respect the prosecutors’ basic abhorrence of crime. Yet their methods are ugly and twisted. Twisted methods will always lead to tragedy.”

Miles took a bow. “The lunchlady’s uninformed opinion is duly noted,” he said.

“Given that they are used to erasing inconvenient evidence at their whim…” She tossed her head and stared at Wright. “Killing off a detective that knew too much is merely an extension of that.”

Defense attorneys make plenty of personal attacks on me, but this is the first time a witness has done it…

“Ms. Starr…” Ema cut in, “do you have something personal against prosecutors?”

“I felt that I had found my dream job when I became an investigator…” Starr said. “And if I hadn’t been laid off by those prosecutors over there, I’d still be one.”

“Laid off…?” Wright asked.

Come to think of it, why was she dismissed?

“To me, prosecutors are nothing more than worms,” Starr said. “That said, I am a pro, as you know. My testimony is unbiased… and flawless.”

She may not be, but her testimony seems that way.

“Very well,” the judge said. “You may continue, Ms. Starr.”

“I was on my way to deliver a lunchbox to my boyfriend… When I sensed something… perhaps it was my finely-honed detective instincts working. Then, through a wire fence, I saw the Chief Prosecutor standing next to a garish car.”

“Hold it!” Wright barked. “By ‘garish car,’ you mean…”

“Mr. Edgeworth’s car, yes.”

“M-Mr. Edgeworth’s!?” the judge confirmed.

“Incidentally, the knife with which the victim was stabbed was also Mr. Edgeworth’s. Wasn’t it?”

I can’t say I care for your opinion of prosecutors, but you’re right.

“Indeed, it was,” Miles said.

The gallery started up, but didn’t need a whack of the gavel to quiet down.

“Hmm!” the judge hummed. “What an odd case this is. And the person you saw… you are sure it was the defendant?”

“I saw her from no further than thirty feet away,” Starr responded. “I am certain it was her.”

“Let’s just do what we can!” Ema said to Wright. “Even if we don’t have any proof, we can always complain!”

Wright banged on his desk.

“Witness!” he called. “In your testimony, you clearly stated the following: Prosecutors are nothing more than worms. Ergo!” He pointed at Starr. “You are a biased witness!”

“You might want to keep those silly opinions to YOURSELF in the future, rookie,” Starr replied.

“Huh? Rookie?”

“Unless you’re willing to risk the consequences of doubting me? I’ll fry you like a fritter! Crispy on the outside… chewy on the inside!!!”

“That… That was inspiring!” the judge commented.

“I believe I’ve heard that tag line elsewhere…” Ema commented, writing it in her notebook, “you could cry plagiarism?”

“I may be relegated to the lowly post of lunchlady…” Starr continued. “But my instincts are honed!” She held out a photograph. Miles could recognize the face in it easily: Lana.

“A-a photograph!” the judge exclaimed. “You took this!?”

“The moment I witnessed the crime, my reflexes took over and snap! I took a picture! In fact…” She paused and took out a lunchbox. “One of my lunchboxes is rigged with a camera.

“Er… this is my first time seeing this photograph,” Miles said.

“You think I’d show it to you, a prosecutor? Think again.”

Do you really think I’d get rid of that photo just to save Lana? Miles took a closer look at the picture. Wait… Why isn’t Lana wearing her scarf in this picture? I can’t remember the last time I saw her without that radiant scarf…

“My boyfriend works in the photography division of Criminal Affairs,” Starr continued.

“Well…” the judge said. “This is most certainly the defendant!”

“So, what was the defendant doing at the time?” Miles asked, hoping to return to the cross-examination.

“The chief prosecutor was holding a knife in her right hand…” Starr said.

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “And you witnessed this? You saw Ms. Skye stab the victim with the knife?”

“As I’ve already said, yes!” Starr took out another lunchbox. “I swear it on my finest ‘Salmon Swirl’ lunch!”

These lunches are getting very trite…

“Hmm!!!” the judge mumbled, tempted. “I’m sure that is a fine lunch!”

“But… isn’t that odd?” Wright asked. “Look at this photograph! This is the photograph you took of the very moment of the crime, is it not? Then why is Ms. Skye not holding a knife!?”

Because the knife is already in the victim, Wright. And here I was hoping you actually had something there…

“Ahem,” the judge said after a pause. “Mr. Edgeworth, your thoughts?”

“Objection,” Miles replied calmly.

“Let’s be a little more careful with our evidence, shall we?” Wright requested, sweating.

“It is you that needs to be more careful, Mr. Wright!”

“What do you mean, Mr. Edgeworth?” the judge asked.

“This photograph was not taken the moment before the stabbing… This was taken the moment AFTER the stabbing!”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “H-how can you tell that!?”

“Blood splatter,” Starr replied.

“Huh?”

“See the dark crimson stain on the Chief Prosecutor’s coat?”

I see a stain, but you can’t know its color from a black-and-white picture…

“Ah…” the judge said, “yes, it’s hard to tell, but this could be blood.”

“Well, Mr. Wright?” Miles taunted. “I see no problem here. No problem… except you.”

“Mr. Wright!” Ema scolded. “Are you going to just sit there and take that kind of abuse!?”

Wright slammed his desk. “Wait!” he barked. “That contradicts what the witness said in her testimony! Namely, that she took the picture the ‘moment’ she witnessed the crime!”

“Well, it seems I was slightly unclear,” Starr said. She smiled flirtatiously. “My apologies.”

There was a pause.

“Th-that’s it!?” Wright snapped.

“If you run out of lunch, you order seconds,” Starr stated. “Problem solved! If you don’t like it, try ordering the jumbo-sized lunch from the get-go!”

“Good advice…” Ema commented. “I’m not sure I understood it, but… good advice.”

“I didn’t have time to stop her. Prosecutor Skye was cold, calculating, like a robot. She killed without pain or remorse! It was a premeditated murder!”

Objection!

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “P-premeditated!? How do you know!?”

“Look at the Chief Prosecutor’s hands in that photograph,” Miles said.

“Well…!” The judge commented. “Are those… gloves?”

“Surgical gloves made of thin rubber, most likely. Why would she have those on?”

“Uh…” Wright trailed off, knowing what was next.

Miles hit his desk. “If it was not premeditated, she would not be wearing those gloves!”

“Waaaaaargh!”

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

Though I can’t help but wonder…

“These gloves do seem to tell a tale of premeditation!” the judge agreed.

“Premeditated murder… a serious offense,” Starr said.

“Witness! Add this to your testimony!”

“The murder was planned!” Starr testified. “The rubber gloves prove it!”

“Objection!” Wright yelled. “Witness, do you know what this is?” He indicated Miles’s knife.

“Are you trying to test me? I sell box lunches for a living, you know. That’s a knife. THE knife. The knife that was in Mr. Edgeworth’s trunk!”

“Indeed, it is my knife,” Miles said.

The gallery started up.

“What’s with this case!?” one voice demanded.

“The bloody murder weapon, a red car… all belonging to the prosecutor there!?” another said.

“The defendant is the chief prosecutor for the district, right?”

“Mommy, are prosecutors bad people?” a child’s voice asked.

What are children doing at a murder trial?

Wright hit his desk.

“The defense has a request,” he said. “We ask that the witness provide an ACCURATE testimony.”

“What’s that, Rookie?” Starr taunted.

“In your testimony… You stated that Lana Skye planned this murder. And that’s why she was wearing those special gloves.”

“Seems like a natural conclusion to me!” the judge said. “The gloves do indicate planning…”

“However! Why would she not also prepare the most important thing… the murder weapon!?”

“Oh,” Starr growled.

“This knife just happened to be in the trunk of that car.” Wright banged on his desk. “Ladies and gentlemen, if you’re going to plan a murder, you don’t forget the weapon!”

“Ugh… Woooooooorrrgh!”

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.

“Order!” he barked. “Order! Order!”

The expression on Wright’s face told Miles he was overplaying his little victory.

“Great show, Mr. Wright!” Ema chirped. “My sister’s as good as free!”

Miles did his “evil smile.”

“Wright,” he said. “I believe the next lunch you’ll be eating is… humble pie!”

“W-what!?” Wright stammered.

“I hope you weren’t deluding yourself into thinking that the ‘tide has turned.’ Not over such a trifling detail!”

“B-but this shoots a hole in the whole premeditated theory!”

“Bah! The prosecution could care less if it was premeditated or not.” Miles pointed at Starr. “The only one who seems to care is that lunchlady over there. The defendant, Lana Skye, murdered a detective with a knife. That is the only thing the prosecution need prove. Nothing else.”

“Very good, Mr. Prosecutor…” Starr hissed. “I suppose you think you’re clever now? But you know as well as I do that she planned on killing him! It was planned! If it wasn’t why would she have been wearing…”

The judge’s gavel cut her off.

“I believe I’d like to hear your testimony again,” the judge said.

“Witness, please tell us only what you ‘saw,’ not what you ‘thought,’” Miles said.

“How dare you!” Starr replied. “My powers of deduction are not to be underestimated!”

Well, there’s plenty of room for overestimating.

“Lana Skye intended to murder Detective Goodman!” Starr testified. “That’s why she called the victim all the way to the Prosecutor’s Office. I’m sure the Chief Prosecutor had a grudge against the victim. Nothing else could drive that human machine to plunge the knife in again and again…”

“The victim was summoned from the Police Department to the Prosecutor’s Office…” the judge said. “It does sound a lot like premeditation, doesn’t it!?”

“So, if I order pizza, does that mean I’m planning to kill the delivery boy?” Ema commented.

“In any case, the defense may now cross-examine the witness.”

Child’s play…

“You say she stabbed him again and again…” Wright said. “but you couldn’t have witnessed that!”

“Are you testing me…?” Starr teased. “Then I’ll test you!” She took out a lunchbox. “With my Moss Surprise!!!”

“I’m afraid the moss is growing under our feet as we wait, Ms. Starr,” Miles said.

Starr glared at Miles.

“W-what do you mean?” the judge asked.

“I shouldn’t have to explain this…” Miles paused to open up the autopsy report. “But, take a look. The autopsy report states that death was due to a loss of blood… from one stab wound.”

“Ah hah! You’re right! Good show, Mr. Edgeworth!”

“What a hunk!” Ema chirped. “He’s my hero, really!”

Wright had an annoyed look on his face.

Sorry about stealing your spotlight there, Wright.

“Well, witness?” the judge asked.

Starr took out another lunchbox. “You got the Crime Scene Set, right?” she asked.

“Uh… oh, thanks.”

“I always believed that no one could ever mistake ketchup for blood… But now, I realize that such mistakes are possible.”

“So…” Miles said. “You’re saying you mistook something… for blood?”

“When she lifted her knife, I thought I saw blood at her breast… Splattered blood from her victim! That’s why I thought she must have stabbed him at least twice.”

The judge banged his gavel. “Then tell us what you saw that you thought was blood!” he ordered. “Testify!”

“Her red muffler looked like blood to me… that’s how ghastly the whole scene was.”

“Objection!” Wright shouted, hitting his desk. “Ms. Starr! I demand an explanation…”

“Objection!” Miles barked. “The witness is clearly not suited for detective work.”

“W-what!?” Starr hissed.

“The suspect was not wearing a scarf or muffler of any kind when she stabbed the victim. And you’ve proved it yourself!” Miles indicated the photograph Starr had taken. “With this photograph!”

“Huh? B-but that… That can’t be!”

“Only a true professional could be so clueless. I’m sure you’ll make a good lunchlady, have no fear.”

“Hmm!” the judge hummed. “Harsh words! But good!”

“In the end, Mr. Edgeworth prevails!” Ema commented.

Wright was sweating.

“What was my objection, chopped liver!?” You’re not the only one who wants Lana to be innocent, Wright.

“B-but it was there,” Starr stammered, “a scarf, no, not that, but something red! Really!”

Miles banged on his desk. “Well now, where were we?” he asked. “The witness has given us an entertaining interlude, now back to business.”

“Wh-what!?”

The judge whacked his gavel.

“Very well, witness, continue your testimony,” he said. “You saw the crime, and apprehended the suspect… Tell us about that.”

Starr was glaring at Miles again.

Glare all you want; it won’t change anything.

“Very well,” Starr said after realizing Miles was unfazed. “I do remember some things accurately, at least.”

Wright looked annoyed.

Calm down, Wright. It’s not over yet.

“The most important part…?” Ema asked, reading Wright’s thoughts.

“The part where your sister stabs the victim!”

“After the murder, the suspect attempted to run behind a partition off to her side,” Starr said. “I quickly caught her, explained her rights to her, and arrested her on the spot. Ah yes. When I arrested her, she mentioned the muffler! That’s what had me confused in my earlier testimony! The chief prosecutor made to escape, but against Angel Starr, resistance is futile!”

This “Angel” is proving to be more of a “Devil”…

“You are quite determined about this scarf, aren’t you?” the judge commented.

“I strike like a snake and bite like a cobra! That’s me. Angel Starr.”

“That wasn’t a very good metaphor,” Wright said. “First of all, a cobra is a kind of snake.”

“Don’t bother with details, unless you want to get bitten!”

“N-no thanks!”

This is a murder trial; every detail matters, Starr. You should know that.

“Note to self:” Ema said, writing in her notebook. “Attorney Wright gets bitten by snake.”

“The chief prosecutor tried to resist,” Starr continued, “but her efforts were in vain. She knocked my hands aside, kicked over an oil drum…”

“O-oil drum?” Wright repeated, sweating.

“Oh, she’s beautiful, but deadly! A predator, this one! A leopard woman! Rowr!”

Beautiful? Definitely. Predator? Not at all.

“Very well, Mr. Wright,” the judge said. “Your cross-examination, if you will.”

“So where is this ‘partition’ on the floor plans?” Wright asked.

“I’m sure she means this wall next to the car,” Miles answered.

“She was obviously trying to hide herself,” Starr said.

Considering that she’s not even five-and-a-half feet in her heels, she could, theoretically, hide behind that.

“Quite a natural thing for a criminal to do!” Starr added.

“And what did you do then?” Miles asked.

“I quickly caught her, explained her rights to her, and arrested her on the spot.”

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “You say ‘quickly’… were you close to the suspect?”

“As I just said! I was only 30 feet away from her the whole time.”

“I’d like to see this on the floor plans, just to be safe,” Wright said, taking out a copy of the floor plans. “The Lunchland car was…”

“She was a ‘visitor,’” Miles said, “thus, she was parked in B Block.”

“So, you witnessed the murder from… here?” Wright pointed to an empty parking space.

“That would make it about 30 feet from the car, yes,” the judge said.

“Is that correct, Ms. Starr?” Wright asked.

“Y-yes, that’s right,” Starr answered.

“But, there was a chain link fence in front of you…?” the judge added.

“I went over it, of course.”

“Amazing!” the judge exclaimed. “The Cough-up Queen, lunchlady athlete, indeed.”

“It would have taken her a little time to climb over the fence,” Ema said. “So she couldn’t have gotten to my sister THAT fast…”

Do your job, Wright.

“When I arrested her, she mentioned the muffler!” Starr said, restating her testimony.

“Hold it!” Wright yelled. “She mentioned the muffler? What exactly did she say?”

“If I remembered exactly, I would have told you in my testimony!”

Why would she be talking about her scarf anyway? I know she treasures it, but…

“Anyway,” Starr continued, “all I heard her say was the word ‘muffler.’”

“Just that one word?” the judge asked.

“So…” Miles cut in, “what you heard wasn’t the suspect talking to you, but to someone else?”

“Yes,” Starr replied. “The Chief Prosecutor was talking on her phone!”

“By phone…” Wright said, taking Lana’s cell phone from his pocket, “do you mean this cell phone, discovered at the crime scene?”

“Yes, ultimately.”

“Ultimately?” Miles asked.

“My memory… it’s like a salmon, heading upstream, you see.”

So it’s focused on mating? Knowing you, that's no surprise.

“N-no, the court doesn’t see, Ms. Starr,” the judge answered.

“The chief prosecutor first attempted to use the phone hanging on the wall.”

“On the wall?”

“Apparently, it was out of order.”

“And so she used her cell phone?”

“Indeed, the emergency phone was out of order that day,” Miles said.

“Hmm. Good witnessing, witness!” The judge banged his gavel. “You should of course add this to your testimony.”

“The things I do to please this rookie defense attorney,” Starr commented, feigning exasperation. “She gave up trying to use the phone on the wall and just used her cell phone!”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “Um… do you think you could restate your testimony for the court?”

“Ah hah!” the judge added. “I was going to ask the same thing!”

“I’ll only say this one time, so listen close, Rookies,” Starr said. “The Chief Prosecutor stabbed the victim, and ran behind the partition. Then she picked up the emergency phone on the wall, but it was out of order. So she pulled her own cell phone out of her pocket.”

“And during that time, you climbed over the fence…”

“Then when I boldly grabbed her arm… The Chief Prosecutor hung up her phone!”

“And you saw her doing this?” Wright asked, a confident smile on his face.

“What is it, Mr. Wright?” Ema asked.

“Objection!” Wright shouted. He slammed his desk. “I have to conclude that you have a personal grudge against Ms. Lana Skye.”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “The witness is a former detective. Her testimony is unmarred by personal bias.”

Except for her bias against prosecutors…

“Well, who would have thought you would be my knight in shining armor, prosecutor? You who, together with the Chief Prosecutor, kicked me out two years ago!”

I had no role in your dismissal, Starr.

“Well, Ms. Starr…” Wright continued. “This is a fatal contradiction with your testimony… How do you explain this?”

“Hmph! I don’t know what you’re talking about. Mess with me… and I’ll make you cough it ALL up!”

“Ahem. Let’s look at the floor plans. You said you witnessed the crime from this point. However, if that’s true… You couldn’t possibly have seen Ms. Skye making that phone call!”

Starr started sweating.

“I believe you see what I’m getting at,” Wright continued. “That emergency phone was on the back side of this partition.” He slammed his desk. “If, indeed, you were in B Block… You couldn’t have seen it!”

“Wha… Waaaaaaaaaaarrrgh!” Starr screamed, dropping several lunchboxes in the process. The gallery started chatting.

“Order! Order!” the judge shouted, not bothering to bang his gavel. “What is the meaning of this?”

“It’s simple, Your Honor,” Wright said. “She’s not coughing up lunch… she’s coughing up lies!!!”

“Grrr!” Starr growled.

“Objection!” Miles roared. “That’s quite a claim, Mr. Wright… perhaps you will allow me a question? Tell us exactly what lie this witness has told the court!”

Hopefully, Wright’s got proof that it was the stabbing.

“The witness lied about…” Wright trailed off. “She tried to use the emergency, phone… but it was out of order. What is significant about this fact? Nothing. It would be pointless for her to lie about it!”

“Pointless to lie…” the judge repeated. “I see!”

“The witness did actually see Ms. Skye use the emergency phone. In other words… Ms. Starr witnessed the crime from a different location!”

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “A different location!? Now that’s a pointless lie if I ever heard one!”

“Objection!” Wright barked. “Before you call my lie pointless… at least let me tell it!”

The judge whacked his gavel. “Let me ask a question to our clever wordsmith, Mr. Wright,” he said. “Just where was the witness when she saw the crime!?”

Wright banged on his desk. He then indicated the security room on the floor plans. “This is the only place where she could have been,” he said.

“The security guard room?”

“Indeed, the security room in the underground parking lot is well positioned…” Miles stated. “It’s built on the second level, so you can see the entire lot.”

“Hmm… She would have been able to see the emergency phone from there. But why there? There are many other places where she could have seen the phone.”

Wright shook his head. “Not in this case, Your Honor,” he said. “The witness, not being part of the Prosecutor’s Office, couldn’t park in A Block. The only place where she could have seen the crime and the back of the partition is here. I remember in your testimony, you said… You brought a lunch to your ‘boyfriend’ in the security guard room, yes?” Wright hit his desk. “Well, Ms. Starr?”

“How many years have I been getting the better of men…” Starr replied to no one.

Way too many…

“To think that the tables could be turned…” she continued. “Today, a man has got the better of Angel Starr!”

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“Order!” he yelled. “Order! Witness! What have you done!? You used to be a detective! You should know better!”

“I’m not turning back,” Starr insisted. “The guilty will be punished. And I’ll do what I must to make sure justice prevails.”

You sound just like von Karma… And to think, you despise us prosecutors!

“Um, Mr. Wright?” Ema asked. “Doesn’t this strike you as odd? Why did Ms. Starr lie? It doesn’t make sense!”

“Huh?” Wright replied, confused.

“She could have just said she saw the crime from the security guard station. It wouldn’t change anything!”

“Exactly!” Miles agreed. “This photograph tells all! It was the defendant who stabbed the victim!” Miles banged on his desk. “That truth still stands!”

As much as I hate to admit it…

“Objection!” Wright responded. “It ‘still stands’? I disagree, Mr. Edgeworth.”

“Wh-what!?”

“If a witness is found to be lying, they’re guilty of perjury. She knows this.”

And come to think of it, if that perjury resulted in Lana’s wrongful execution, then that witness would be sentenced to death!

“She wouldn’t risk that without a good reason!” Wright continued.

The judge banged his gavel. “So, tell us what her reason was, Mr. Wright!” he demanded.

“Huh? M-me?”

“Who else!?”

“Mr. Wright!” Ema called. “Let’s review what we know!”

Wright looked over the floor plans, thinking.

What does it change? If she’s willing to risk her own life, it must affect something!

Wright hit his desk. “It changes the distance between her and the scene of the crime!” he shouted.

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “My condolences, Mr. Wright… But one look at the floor plans and it’s quite clear. The distance between the scene of the crime and the guard station is 30 feet. I don’t see how that would change what she would see.”

“Objection!” Wright countered. “What she saw is not in question here. What matters is the time it would take her to reach the scene of the crime!”

Of course! How could I have been so stupid!?

“Ms. Starr!” Wright called. “You witnessed the crime from the security guard station! Now, how long did it take you to go from there… to the scene of the crime, where you arrested Ms. Skye!?”

Starr said nothing.

“Well, witness?” the judge requested.

“You…” Starr said.

“Y-yes…?” Wright replied. Starr took out a lunchbox.

“You ordered the Squid Wheels, right? I was bringing a PB&J lunch with fresh boysenberry jam to my boyfriend.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Boysenberry for the boyfriend!”

“He wasn’t in the station, so I waited. I witnessed the crime from the glass-walled station… and before I knew what I was doing, I found myself running towards the scene. But… the door was locked. I couldn’t open it. That’s why I had to go through the visitor’s parking in B Block.”

“That’s quite a detour.”

“It probably took me at least five minutes to get to the scene of the crime.”

“F-f-f-five minutes!?”

The gallery got noisier.

“Hmm…” the judge muttered. “This changes things considerably!”

“But, it was that woman over there in the defendant’s chair who stabbed him! I know it! I have photographic evidence!”

All that photo shows is a beautiful lady opening the trunk of my car.

“I swear it…” Starr continued. “I swear it on my finest plastic spork!”

“You have a point,” the judge said. “And the spork is a wonderful invention.”

Starr took out a lunchbox. “Would you like another Caviar Lunch…?”

“Absolutely!”

Bribing the judge with more fish eggs!? Despicable!

“Mr. Wright!” Ema begged. “You have to do something!”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. He banged on his desk. “Five minutes between the witnessing of the murder and the arrest! Think about it! You could make pasta in that amount of time! If you like it al dente!”

Please, Wright, no more food references.

“I’ve got lunchboxes that tie pasta into knots, Rookie!” Starr said, holding out a lunchbox. Wright shook his head.

“A five minute ‘blank’… Isn’t that strange!?”

“Strange…?” Miles repeated.

That’s an understatement, Wright.

“If you were a criminal…” Wright trailed off. “What would you do with five minutes, Your Honor?”

“Well, um… I guess I’d flee the scene,” the judge replied. “Hey! D-don’t get the wrong idea! I didn’t kill anyone…”

Wright hit his desk, then pointed at the judge. “But you have the instincts of a killer! You would run! But this time was different! Ms. Skye dawdled at the scene of the crime… she even had her picture taken! No true criminal would act this way! It’s inconceivable!”

“Y-yeeeaaargh!” Starr screamed.

The gallery reached a volume that demanded the judge’s gavel.

“Well then,” the judge said. “It seems we’ve come to the end of this testimony. She has a grudge against the defendant, and there is a blank in her testimony. Mr. Edgeworth, is the next witness ready to go?”

“Unfortunately… I appear to have overestimated this witness on account of her professional history…” Miles said, pointing at Starr.

“We did it!” Ema chirped. “We screwed that can shut, Mr. Wright!”

The judge banged his gavel and shook his head. “I’m afraid that the Cough-up Queen has been dethroned,” he said. “And with that, court is adjourned!”

“Hold it!” Starr yelled. She took out a lunchbox. “Mr. Edgeworth, you ordered the Squid Wheels, right?”

The only mollusks I like to eat are snails, Ms. Starr.

“I prefer to not take the defense team’s leftovers,” Miles said. “Anything else to say?”

“I… might be able to save you,” Starr said.

Save me? The one who needs saving is Lana.

“I have decisive evidence,” she continued.

“Wh-what was that!?” the judge blathered. “My apologies, but we have no further questions to ask of you, Ms. Starr.”

“Ah…” She took out a larger lunchbox. “Is this your jumbo lunchbox?”

“Whoo hoo! A triple-decker!” He whacked his gavel. “Out of deference to the witness’s determination, I’ll allow one more testimony! Let’s hear about this decisive evidence.”

Judge Clous, you are pathetic.

“Like the Lunchland motto says, you won’t be disappointed!” Starr replied. “I should have mentioned those five minutes when I wasn’t looking at the crime scene. And now, to the matter of the victim’s shoe… Did I not bring this up…? Two types of blood were found on this shoe! One was of course the victim’s. And the other was…! The defendant, Ms. Lana Skye’s blood! This shoe proves it! It’s flawless, decisive evidence!”

“Wh-what!?” the judge barked after Starr was silent. Starr pulled another lunchbox out of her basket.

“Try Lunchland, for all your lunch and decisive evidence needs!”

The gallery began chattering.

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “Witness, what’s the meaning of this? Why is this the first time I’ve heard of this evidence?”

“Simple,” Starr replied. “As I’ve already said… I don’t trust you with evidence, Mr. Edgeworth! That’s why I took the liberty of investigating this myself.”

I don’t manipulate evidence, Ms. Starr.

“And… you had blood tests performed?”

“Didn’t I mention? I have three boyfriends in forensics.”

Miles pounded on his desk. “In any case, Your Honor, I can’t accept this as evidence!”

“What…?”

“You should know the two rules of evidence law, Ms. Starr! Rule 1: no evidence shall be shown without the approval of the Police Department! In other words, this shoe is illegal evidence! At least, for the time being!”

“I-is that right, Mr. Wright!?” Ema asked.

“It seems so,” Wright responded. “Edgeworth sure is celebrating.”

“Not so fast, Mr. Edgeworth,” Starr said.

Will you stop at nothing to make Lana look like a killer?

“Don’t forget… I used to be a detective!” she continued. “As I mentioned previously… This shoe has already been tested by a member of the forensics department!” She took out a file. “As you can see, it was approved by the Police Department as of… today. Even the general public can produce official evidence, Mr. Edgeworth.”

“Nuh… Ungh!” Miles growled, slumped over his desk.

Witch!

“I-is that right, Mr. Wright?” Ema asked again.

“It seems so,” Wright replied. “Edgeworth is looking pretty sullen.”

“You could at least study some evidence law! Really!”

The judge banged his gavel. “The prosecution’s complaints notwithstanding…” he said. “It appears that this evidence satisfies the first rule of evidence law. Well… It seems you have yet another count against you, witness.”

“Anything to ensure that the guilty are properly judged,” Starr said.

Are you sure your last name isn’t von Karma!?

“Very well, Mr. Wright,” the judge said, “you may cross-examine the witness.”

“Why did you lie about those five minutes?” Wright asked.

“I guess you could say, I just wanted people to look at the results.” Starr replied.

“The… results?”

“How many times do I have to say this? I saw the Chief Prosecutor stab the victim before my very own eyes! Compared to that… A five-minute ‘blank’ means nothing!”

“Then why didn’t you just tell the truth?” Miles cut in.

“Don’t make me laugh! We’re dealing with the most untrustworthy of the vile lot known as prosecutors! Falsified evidence, arranged testimonies, erasing and manipulating evidence… When you fight monsters, you need to use every trick in the book!”

And that would make the fighter a monster, too.

“False testimony is the most despicable crime of all, Ms. Starr,” the judge said.

Especially if it could get an innocent person executed.

“Let’s just get this over with,” he continued.

“And now, to the matter of the victim’s shoe…” Starr said. “Did I not bring this up…? Two types of blood were found on this shoe! One was of course the victim’s. And the other was…! The defendant, Ms. Lana Skye’s blood! This shoe proves it! It’s flawless, decisive evidence!”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. Starr took out a lunchbox.

“You ordered the peppered fish guts, right?” she asked.

Offal isn’t exactly popular in this country, Ms. Starr.

“Some like it hot, Mr. Wright,” Starr said. “Some, like your client. She’s in enough hot water to make a whole batch of soup.”

“Mr. Wright!” Ema called. “Do you or don’t you have a problem with this shoe!?”

“A problem…?” Wright replied. “If I’m not imagining things… I’d say there is one critical problem with this evidence… A clear contradiction!”

“That gleam in your eyes…” Starr commented. “You’re still young, Rookie. I’d give you a peppered fish gut now, but you couldn’t take the heat, could you!”

The judge banged his gavel. “Let’s hear what Mr. Wright has to say!” he said. “What is contradictory about the victim’s shoe? Show us the problem with the evidence!”

Wright was handed the shoe. He pointed to some blood on the sole. “I wonder if you noticed…” he said, “there’s blood on the bottom of this shoe!”

“Don’t mess with me, Rookie…” Starr said. “Or it’ll be your blood on the bottom of my shoe!”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Indeed, there is quite a bit of blood on the bottom of the shoe.”

“It makes sense,” Miles said. “The victim was stabbed with a knife!” He banged on his desk. “What could possibly be contradictory about blood on the bottom of his shoe!?”

Wright pounded on his desk. “The problem lies… in the footprint,” he replied.

“The… footprint?” Starr asked.

“Note that the bottom of the victim’s shoe is covered in blood. Then… isn’t it strange? Why weren’t any bloody footprints found by the scene of the crime!?”

“Ah hah!” the judge exclaimed.

“As you can see… There were no traces of any such footprints at the scene of the crime! That contradicts your claim about this shoe!”

“Objection!” Miles barked. He slammed his desk. “This picture only shows part of the floor, so there could have been bloody footprints.”

“Objection!” Wright yelled. “If there were bloody prints they would have been found. We checked the scene and found nothing of the sort!”

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel and managed to get things silent again with three shouts of “Order!”

“Well, witness!?” the judge demanded.

“What!?” Starr snapped. “Huh? I, uh…”

“Great going, Mr. Wright!” Ema cheered. “But… It’s true that the lack of a footprint is a contradiction… But then we have to ask why there wasn’t a footprint!”

“Oh!”

“That’s true!” the judge agreed. “There has to be a reason why there wasn’t a footprint!”

“Think, Mr. Wright, think!” Ema begged.

So how is this possible? If Goodman was stabbed in the parking lot, his shoe must have left a print. Lana couldn’t have just wiped up the blood. There must have been some other way…

“Hey, I don’t know why it’s not there,” Wright said. “I’m just good at finding contradictions.”

“What!?”

“Hold it!” Miles shouted. He did his “evil smile.” “I see… Now I get it! Our witness is more devious that I gave her credit for! We were hoodwinked to the very end! But she slipped! There is one vital hint to the truth in her testimony…”

“Wh-what are you talking about?” the judge asked.

Miles took out the transcript of one of Starr’s earlier testimonies. “Think back to when she told us about apprehending the suspect… ‘The Chief Prosecutor tried to resist, but her efforts were in vain. She knocked my hands aside, kicked over an oil drum… Oh, she’s beautiful, but deadly! A predator, this one! A leopard woman! Rowr!’ I thought that was a strange thing for the normally cool-headed chief to do. Now, witness. Allow me to ask a very simple question. This ‘oil drum’… was it empty?”

If you lie, you’ll regret it.

“Oh, that, hmm?” Starr replied. “I’m not sure I like your attitude, Mr. Edgeworth. Though apparently you’re not the slowest conveyor belt in the lunchbox factory.”

“Witness!” the judge interrupted. “W-well? Was the oil drum empty…?”

“The oil drum kicked over by the Chief Prosecutor… was brimming with water.”

“W-water?” Wright asked.

“Still don’t get it, Mr. Wright?” Miles taunted. “Do you want to know the reason she knocked it over? The REAL reason?”

I just find it hard to believe she’s actually guilty…

“Aaaa haaaaah!” the judge exclaimed. “You don’t mean…!”

“Yes,” Miles said, “the suspect knocked over that oil drum for one reason and one reason alone!” He pounded on his desk. “To erase the blood stains that would become evidence against her!”

“Whaaaaaaaaargh!” Wright howled. The gallery started chattering. The judge whacked his gavel.

“That ties things up quite nicely!” the judge said. “The blood stains left on the victim’s shoes tie her quite clearly to this murder! Then, after the deed was done, she knocked over the oil drum to erase the telltale signs!”

“Why, that’s a prosecutor’s specialty… erasing evidence!” Starr added.

I just wish it wasn’t you, Lana. …Still, I’m a prosecutor. If you’re guilty, it’s my duty to prove it. Justice comes before love…

“So my sister’s blood on the shoe…” Ema sighed. “That’s when it happened?”

“Well… I see no reason to prolong this trial,” the judge said.

“M-Mr. Wright! Do something! Please!”

I hope you’ll forgive me, Lana…

“W-what!?” Wright yelped. “What can I do? Your sister has confessed to the crime, and she tried to conceal it!”

“B-but…”

Miles hit his desk. “Enough,” he said. This has to end now, before I get second thoughts… “There is no need for further debate. The verdict, Your Honor!”

“Very well…” the judge agreed.

“But Angel Starr is on the prosecution’s side!” Ema cried. “She could have been lying about the water!”

We’ll need proof, Ema. I’m sorry.

The judge banged his gavel.

“This court finds the defendant, Ms. Lana Skye…”

“Hold it!” Starr interrupted. “Little girl… What did you just say?”

“Huh…” Ema asked. “M-me?”

“Did you say that I, Angel Starr… was on the prosecution’s side?”

“W-well, yeah, you are! You’re saying my sister hid evidence by erasing the bloody footprints!”

Must you torment me like this!?

“Well,” Starr said. She tossed her head. “I thought you’d had your fill, but here you are, demanding a second helping! Another lunchbox… A lunchbox called ‘evidence’!”

I don’t need to see any more! Just let me suffer as is!

“W-wait…” the judge said. Witness, don’t tell me you have something else?”

“Objection!” Miles roared. “You’ve reached your verdict, Your Honor! Any further comments will be held in contempt of court!”

“Your threats don’t scare the Cough-up Queen!” Starr hissed. She held up a photograph. “Look at this!!!”

“A photograph…?” the judge asked.

“I had this just in case anyone had the gall to suggest that the white shoe didn’t belong to the victim!”

“Hmm… I see no room for error in this evidence.”

“M-Mr. Wright, wait!” Ema pleaded. “Look at the asphalt in this photo!”

“Hey!” Wright exclaimed. “It’s clearly wet!”

The judge whacked his gavel. “Erasing the last traces of doubt from the court’s mind,” he said. “Immediately after the murder, the crime scene was washed with water!”

“I-I’m sorry, Mr. Wright,” Ema almost sobbed. “I guess I… I couldn’t help after all.”

Ema… I wish you didn’t have to see this…

Wright’s eyes closed.

So that’s it. She really is guilty… Lana…

All of a sudden, Wright’s eyes jerked open. The judge banged his gavel.

“Very well!” he said. “This time I’d like to declare a verdict for good!”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “Your Honor, wait!”

Arrgh! Wright, must you keep up this death sentence of a trial!?

“What is it with you people!? Can’t I hand down my verdicts in peace anymore!? Whatever it is, can it wait?”

“N-no it can’t. Then it will be too late! Look at this photograph, the last one submitted… This trial isn’t over… until we give each piece of evidence proper consideration!”

“So, Wright…” Miles growled. “Are you saying there’s a problem with this latest piece of evidence?”

“Yeah!” Wright said. “Yeah, there’s a problem!”

I know that tone of voice. You’re bluffing.

The judge banged his gavel. “I suppose since we’ve come this far,” he said, “we should give every claim a fair shake. Very well, Mr. Wright. Show the court the problem in this photograph!”

Wright looked at the photograph. He then pounded on his desk.

So you do have something… It better be important…

“The problem in this photograph… is here!” Wright shouted, indicating Miles’s car’s muffler.

“What’s this…?” Miles asked as he was handed the photo. “There’s something poking out of the car’s muffler!”

“Wait just a moment, Mr. Edgeworth!” the judge interrupted.

“Your Honor?”

“You just said ‘muffler’… However I see no trace of a muffler or scarf of any kind in this photograph!”

The other type of muffler, Judge Clousless.

“A muffler is also a part on a car or motorcycle, Your Honor,” Miles explained. “Just think of it as… part of the exhaust system. A pipe…”

“I see!” the judge replied. “And… I see! What’s that suspicious-looking cloth sticking out of the car’s muffler?”

“Hmph! So what if there is something sticking out of the muffler!” Starr snapped. “What does that have to do with this case? Nothing! Absolutely nothing!”

It has plenty to do with this case. That cloth was put in the muffler after the murder, making it relevant!

“Objection!” Wright barked. “Sorry, Ms. Starr… But it’s not going to be that easy! In fact, you’ve already told us why this is important to the case… You said as much in your testimony!!!”

“Wh-what!?” Starr hissed.

What are you driving at, Wright? Basic logic proves the cloth’s relevance!

The judge banged his gavel. “Let’s hear what Mr. Wright has on his mind!” he said. “Tell us why you think this piece of cloth in the muffler is related to this case.”

Wright banged on his desk. “Ms. Starr!” he shouted. “Recall your testimony for the court… ‘Ah yes. When I arrested her, she mentioned the muffler! That’s what had me confused in my earlier testimony!’”

“Muffler!” Starr repeated. “Argh! Yeearrrrgh!”

“Could it be that the ‘muffler’ you heard mentioned… Was actually this exhaust pipe!?” He hit his desk. “If so! That means this piece of cloth is vital evidence!”

“Oh… Whoooooooooooooooooooooooragh!”

“Well…” the judge said. “It seems we will have to suspend the proceedings.”

“Sus… Suspend!?”

“I find myself wondering about that piece of cloth. If we leave any question unanswered here we do a disservice to the law! Have the car at the crime scene inspected at once, and bring me that cloth! The verdict will wait until after we’ve seen all the evidence. Agreed…?”

This could be decisive… Maybe Lana is innocent… And I was going to demand a premature verdict…

“I suppose so,” Miles said.

The judge banged his gavel. “The court will adjourn for a thirty minute recess! It’s lunchtime after all!”

You can’t be serious…



I can’t believe I deluded myself into believing that the case was so simple… There are so many problems… The knife… The photo… And that cloth… And Lana’s confession… Thinking about it, it still makes no sense. If her blackmailer had ordered the murder, then Lana would have been prepared. There’s something else going on here, and I need to find out what.

“How’d it go, sir?” Gumshoe’s voice asked.

“No verdict yet,” Miles said, turning to face Gumshoe. A young woman in a police uniform was standing next to him. She looked familiar for some reason.

“Really? I thought Ms. Starr’s testimony was… well… decisive.”

“She lied on the stand; a capital offense if Lana is wrongfully executed as a result.”

“Capital, sir?” the officer asked.

“Perjury that contributes to a person’s death is a crime subject to capital punishment in this state. And to think that witch thought ill of my methods… Trying to get someone convicted simply because of a personal grudge… Absolutely despicable.”

“What are you going to do, sir?” Gumshoe asked.

“Continue, of course. I took this case because I wanted to be sure Lana got the right verdict.”

“Sir, why are you referring to the Chief Prosecutor by her first name?” the officer asked.

“Because I love her,” Miles replied.

And speaking of love, I just remembered who you are.

“You are… Maggey Byrde, correct?” Miles asked the officer.

“Y-yes sir! But how did you know who I am, sir?”

“Detective Gumshoe mentioned you a few times. You work under him, right?”

“Yes, sir! It’s an honor to work under him, sir!”

“So, Mr. Edgeworth, what now?” Gumshoe asked.

“Hope that something critical is unveiled when the recess is over,” Miles said. “Hopefully, something that will prove Lana innocent.”

“Don’t think you’ll be having that luck, pardner,” a voice said. Marshall, obviously.

“How did the investigation go?” Miles asked.

“We ain’t found much, but the chief said he’s coming with important news and evidence. Hate to tell you this, boy, but it looks like your lady’s gonna be found guilty.”

“Only if I truly believe she’s guilty. As the prosecutor, I need to make sure there is no doubt about Lana’s guilt.”

“Heh. You know, you’re a real prince when it comes to that gal. Makes me really see why she likes you. Keep your eye out for rattlers; there’s a whole bunch of ’em on this trail.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“By the way, someone from the Bar Association told me to warn you not to conceal evidence. Next time they catch you with a gun hidden in your boot, you’re getting called out.”

What!? Concealing evidence!?

“Please leave me, Marshall. I need some time alone. You too, Gumshoe and Byrde.”

Miles collapsed onto the sofa and placed his forehead in his hands.

This… this is unacceptable! In this case!? I would never manipulate the evidence!



The recess wasn’t enough time for Miles to get his wits about him. Gumshoe had to lead Miles into the courtroom by his hand. After the judge had entered, he banged his gavel.

“I’d… like to… resume…?”

I can’t believe this… Who’s concealing the evidence!?

“Is something wrong, Mr. Edgeworth?” the judge asked. “Your face is blue, your lips are purple, you’re sweating bullets… That furrowed brow, those grinding teeth, those watery eyes… What’s more your eyes are unfocused, you’re doubled over, your back is bent…”

Miles slammed his desk. “It… can’t… be!!” he managed to say, bending back over. “This… can’t… happen!”

“I wonder what happened to Mr. Edgeworth?” Ema wondered. The judge banged his gavel.

“Well then, I believe it is time we continued on with this trial,” the judge said. “During our recess I had requested that the prosecution conduct an investigation…”

“Th-this is unacceptable!” Miles exploded.

“Hmm… It seems our prosecutor is quite beside himself.”

“Ah, er, excuse me,” a voice said. “Knock knock?”

“Who’s there?” the judge asked.

Gant walked up to the stand.

“Hey!” Ema commented. “The temperature rose 5.7 degrees when that man came in!”

“Ah, it’s you…” the judge said.

Gant waited until he was sure all eyes were on him.

“Oh!” he chirped. “Oh, heh heh. Sorry I’m late, Udgey! The roads were packed. It’s just me! Long time no see, eh, Udgey? How ya been? Swim much these days!”

“Ah! Hello, hello. No, I’ve been so busy…”

“Busy! Busy-smizzy, Udgey, my boy! You have to make time to relax!”

“Y-yes, indeed.”

“Udgey… seems to be his nickname for the judge…?” Ema asked, confused.

“I’m afraid you’re right,” Wright said. “Very afraid.” He turned to Gant. “Um… sorry, but… who are you?”

“Ah hah!” Gant exclaimed. “So you’re Wrighto! The attorney! I’ve heard good things about you, son!”

“Eh? Uh, th-thanks…?”

“So sorry about our little Worthy giving you all that trouble, eh? You know, we should all go swimming together sometime! Jolly!”

“Little… Little Worthy…?”

“Mr. Wright!” the judge barked. “You don’t know the district Chief of Police!?”

“Chuh….?” Wright stammered. “Chief of Police…!?”

“He’s the top-ranking police officer in the entire district!”

Gant waited for absolute silence in the courtroom.

“Name’s Gant, Damon Gant,” he said. “Pleased to meet you, everyone!”

“So, uh, to what do we owe this honor today?” the judge asked. “It’s been over… two years since you last came to this courtroom, hasn’t it?”

“Well, it’s Worthy, here. Look at the poor fellow! I just thought I’d help out… by bringing this.” He held up Lana’s scarf.

No… that… That’s Lana’s…

“Hey!” Wright exclaimed. “Th-that’s…!”

“My sister’s muffler!” Ema finished.

“But to think it was stuffed into that exhaust pipe…” Gant said.

Why would Lana do that?

“On little Worthy’s car, no less!” he continued. He unfolded the scarf and took out what looked like a switchblade knife. “It’s really quite embarrassing, even for us.”

No… Is that…?

“Wh-what’s this!?” the judge asked, noticing the knife.

“It’s what you’d call a switchblade knife,” Gant answered. “Quite perplexing, this.”

The gallery started up.

“Objection!” Miles shouted, hitting his desk. “Chief! What kind of outfit are you running!?”

“M-Mr. Edgeworth!” the judge gasped.

“How could they miss such a vital piece of evidence!? If your investigators are this lax, how do you expect us to do our job?”

“N-now wait just a minute, Worthy!” Gant requested.

Miles banged on his desk.

“I’ve no desire to hear your excuses!” he barked.

“I’m telling you to wait!” Gant said. He paused. “Or didn’t you hear me?”

What have you got up your sleeve, Gant? Are you going to try to pin this mistake on me?

Gant took out a file. “Have a look at this document,” he said, “where it says ‘person in charge of investigation’… There’s no mistaking that signature… Miles Edgeworth?”

“Th-that’s no fair!” Miles stammered. “The day of the crime, I-I had…”

“Your head in the clouds because you got that award! I know how you feel…”

No, I was busy picking up that stupid screwdriver for you!

“But you’re the person in charge,” Gant continued. “I’ll expect a written apology.”

“What?” Miles demanded. “Are you serious!?”

“Don’t be too upset, we’ll find a way to clean up this mess… that you made.”

That I made!?

“This is the first time I’ve seen Mr. Edgeworth at a loss for words…” Ema commented.

The judge banged his gavel.

“This kind of major blunder is unlike you Mr. Edgeworth,” he said.

“Gah…!” Miles hissed.

“The court accepts this new evidence. But, I’d like to ask the defense a favor first.”

“Y-yes?” Wright asked.

“Just to be sure… I’d like to take a look at the blade of this knife.”

“The b-blade, Your Honor? Well, I don’t see why not…”

“Could you open it up for me, I wonder?”

“Yes, well. I think all you have to do is push that switch, and…”

“If I cut my finger Mr. Wright, I wouldn’t be able to pound my gavel anymore.”

You’ve got to be kidding me…

“Come on!” Ema snapped. “Just hurry up and open it!”

The bailiff handed Wright the knife. Wright pressed the switch. A blade with the tip broken off popped out.

“Waaaah!” Ema screamed. “D-don’t scare me like that!”

“I’m the one who’s scared!” Wright replied.

“Look at this knife blade… the tip is broken off.

The tip… No! Not that knife! Miles gritted his teeth. That cursed thing is the blade that started it all… Lana wouldn’t be in this mess were it not for that knife!

The whole disaster came back to haunt Miles. Neil Marshall’s death, Miles’s brief engagement to Lana, the return of the ring to his possession, the mysterious dismissal of Angel Starr and demotion of Jake Marshall, Ema crying on the stand, and Lana building a wall around herself. Though the case ended in a guilty verdict, by the time it had been formally finished, Miles felt as though his heart had been ripped out.

“This does not excuse the actions of the Police Department!” Miles shouted, returning to the present. “I would like to hear an explanation from the Chief of Police himself!”

The judge pounded his gavel.

“I’m terribly sorry,” he said, “but could I ask you to testify for us? About the split between the prosecutors and the police… and this knife.”

“Sure!” Gant said, clapping his hands and smiling jollily. “Not a problem, not even a little one! Really!” He paused, waiting for everyone’s attention to be on him. “This knife is special… but I can’t say how here. Unless there’s evidence to prove a connection between this knife and Goodman… That was a bad day for the Department. We weren’t in any shape to do an investigation. A detective was killed at the Police Department, see… what a mess! The time of the crime? 5:15. Scary coincidence, eh? It’s not officially linked to this here case, so I can’t talk much about it.”

“There…” the judge stammered. “There was a murder at the Police Department!? A detective!?”

“That’s hush-hush information, Udgey! We haven’t exactly announced it yet.”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “W-wait a second! You said ‘5:15’…” He pounded on his desk. “That’s the exact time that Detective Goodman was killed at the Prosecutor’s Office!”

The gallery started up, silenced by three whacks of the judge’s gavel and three cries of “Order!”

“Anyway,” Gant continued, “we at the Department were all a-flustered, as you might well assume. We’re in the middle of a top-secret investigation. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“I think we understand the Police Department’s situation…” the judge agreed. “Well, Mr. Wright?”

“The chances of that are really slim,” Ema said, referring to the simultaneous murders. “Scientifically speaking, of course.”

“I’d… like to exercise my right to cross-examine the witness,” Wright said.

“Very well…” the judge said with a nod, “however! Keep your questions focused on the case at hand!”

Wright was handed the testimony. He looked over it. He then looked at a piece of paper that he took out of his coat pocket.

“Objection!” he yelled, pointing at Gant. “Wait a second!”

“Ah, at last!” Gant exclaimed, clapping. “An honest to goodness ‘objection’!”

“This knife… This has to have something to do with Detective Goodman!”

“What do you mean!?” the judge demanded.

“Ah hah!” Gant laughed. “An honest-to-goodness what do you mean from the judge! This is great!”

“Look at the tag on this knife!” Wright requested. “It reads ‘SL-9 2’…”

It IS that cursed knife! SL-9…

“And this is important… why?” the judge asked.

“Over here we also have…” Wright said, holding the piece of paper from a moment ago. “A memo that was on the body of the victim!” The judge was handed the memo.

“Hmm… what’s this? 6 minus 7S… 12/2…?”

Wright shook his head. “Your Honor… It’s upside-down.”

“Upside…?”

“The printed name on the memo makes it look like it’s right-side up… But turn it around and what do you get!?”

“Ah… Ah haaaaah!” the judge exclaimed, doing just that.

“When he wrote this note, he was holding the paper upside down!”

“SL-9… That’s the same thing that is written on the knife’s tag!”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge pounded his gavel.

“Order!” he shouted. “Order!” He looked at Gant. “Well, Chief?”

“Ah well,” Gant said after a moment. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag… You win, Wrighto!”

“I… win?” Wright asked, confused. “Ah…”

You knew the knife was connected!?
“This knife was evidence in a case,” Gant said. “It was stolen from the Department’s evidence room. That was a bad day for the Department. We weren’t in any shape to do an investigation. A detective was killed at the Police Department, see… what a mess!”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “On the same day that a detective was killed in the Prosecutor’s parking lot… Another detective… was killed at the Police Department!?”

“That’s a fact. Surprising, isn’t it, Udgey?”

“I’m at a loss for words,” the judge responded.

“And the perpetrator?” Miles asked. “Do you have a suspect?”

“Well, there was a suspect,” Gant replied. “Just arrested ’em, in fact. But… there’s still a lot of unanswered questions. Maybe you could help, Wright!”

“I suppose I could help… if you help me by giving me data on your case?”

“Oooh, good one! This kid’s sharp! Okay, here’s the deal. I’ll tell you one thing and one thing only…”

“So, tell me… where was the victim found?”

Gant was silent for a moment. “Well, I can’t speak on where the corpse was found. But I can say the crime took place in the evidence room at the Police Department.”

What!? But that’s where that knife was taken from!

“The evidence room…” Ema said. “Didn’t he mention that in his testimony just now?” Wright smiled. “You seem happy, Mr. Wright!”

“Happy?” Wright repeated. “We just got handed our ticket to go to town on this case!”

“It’s not officially linked to this here case,” Gant said, “so I can’t talk much about it.”

“Hold it!” Wright barked, banging on his desk. “Chief… The defense’s position is simply this: The connection between these two cases has already been proven!”

“Heh, you don’t say? Well, out with it Wrighto! What’s your connection?”

“Yes, out with it, Mr. Wright,” the judge echoed.

“The connection is a place, mentioned in the testimony we just heard,” Wright explained. “The knife found in the lot was stolen… from the Police Department’s evidence room.”

“Not to mention the victim had written down the numbers on the knife’s evidence tag,” Miles added.

“And we also know that the detective murdered at the Police Department was killed in that very same evidence room!”

“Indeed…” the judge said with a nod. “There do seem to be too many connections for it to be a coincidence.”

Gant was quiet for a while. After a moment, he finally spoke.

“You two make a good pair,” he said. “It took my men two days to find out what you deduced right here.”

Miles pounded on his desk. “Chief!” he shouted. “I request that you release your information on the victim at the Police Department!”

“See, that’s the tricky part. It hasn’t been announced yet, and all…”

“Can we get the information… unofficially?” Wright asked, an ignorant grin on his face.

“Hmmmmm…” He paused for a moment. “Sure! Why not? It’s unofficial, after all.”

Amazing…

“Who would have guessed?” Ema commented.

“I’ll cooperate,” Gant continued, “but I can’t reveal the name of the victim at the Department, okay?”

“If you’re going to tell us a little, why not tell us everything?” Wright asked.

“Ah, well, case information is sticky stuff. You have to do everything properly.”

“Okay… How about you tell me the victim’s ID number?”

“Hmm? Sure, why not. It’s not like you’ll be able to tell who it is from that!”

“Of course not,” Wright agreed. “You won’t tell me their name, after all.”

“We keep a tight lid on ID numbers, so don’t go getting your hopes up. The number is… 5842189.”

“Well!” the judge exclaimed. “That’s quite… long!”

“And we have to remember these! It drives me nuts!”

“8… 2… I can’t do it.”

I hope his memory wasn’t always this pitiful…

The judge banged his gavel.

“Well, Mr. Wright?” he asked. “Does this tell you anything?”

Wright hit his desk. “Actually, it does, Your Honor,” he replied. “It does…! I think!”

“Meaning?”

What’s going on in that head of yours, Wright?

The judge whacked his gavel. “Well, let’s hear what the defense has to say,” he said. “You say the ID number of the detective who was murdered at the Police Department tells you something? What does it tell you!?”

Wright slammed his desk.

“Witness!” he yelled. He was silent.

Everyone waited for Wright to continue.

“What is it, Mr. Wright!?” the judge demanded, taking the words right our of Miles’s mouth. “You’re grinning like a schoolgirl on prom night!”

“No, I…” Wright trailed off, “it’s just, I got confused…”

“And this is news?” Miles joked.

“Huh?”

“Just come out with both guns blazing… like you always do.”

“Actually, I happen to have a police ID number here.”

“Oh hoh!” the judge exclaimed. “Is it yours?”

“N-no, Your Honor. I’m a defense attorney… remember? This is the ID number of our victim, Detective Goodman.”

“Shame on you, Wrighto!” Gant teased, clapping his hands. “Personnel IDs are top secret!”

“Detective Goodman’s ID number is… ‘5842189.’”

And you’re telling us this… why?

“And…?” the judge asked. “This means… what, exactly?”

“Huh?” Wright replied.

Wait a minute…

“Wait…” the judge said. “That ID number we heard from the Chief earlier… That started with ‘82…’ Hmm. I’ve forgotten.”

What a surprise.

“The number the Chief of Police gave us was… 5842189.”

“Objection!” Miles roared. “W-wait a second, Wright! What does this…?”

“Mean? That’s what I want to know! The two ID numbers are identical! In other words… The detective killed in the Police Department’s evidence room was Bruce Goodman!” He hit his desk. “What does our witness think about that!?”

“Oh! Ho ho ho, sharp as a tack Wrighto!” Gant cheered. “Sharp as a tack!”

“B-but wait!” the judge cut in. “Detective Goodman is OUR victim! He was killed at 5:15 in the underground parking lot!”

Wright slammed his desk.

“Yet,” he said, “a Detective Bruce Goodman was also killed at the Police Department… In the evidence room… at the exact same time!”

“Objection!” Miles shouted, striking his desk. “Th-that’s impossible! So, what we’re saying is… The same person was killed at the same time!? And in a completely different location!?”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge pounded his gavel.

“Order!” he cried. “Order! Order!” He looked at Gant. “Chief! What does this mean!?”

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “No… what I want to know is… why didn’t I hear about this!? Yes, it’s top-secret, fine! But I’m the prosecutor in charge of the case!!!”

“Now, just wait a second, Worthy,” Gant said. “No need to get all flustered.”

Flustered!? An innocent lady may have been convicted!

Miles hit his desk. “Your Honor!” he barked. “The Police Department has made a grave error in this case…”

“Wait,” Gant said. “I said ‘wait.’ Or didn’t you hear me?”

What now!?

“The oversight… the grave error…?” he continued. “Mr. Edgeworth… They’re yours.”

“Wh-what!? How… how dare…”

“We informed you yesterday. I believe it was our Officer Meekins who brought you the news?”

“O-officer… Meekins?”

“Mr. Wright!” Ema called. “Where have we heard that name before? Wait… Ah hah!”

Meekins… That bumbling fool who said the file was irrelevant!?

“You don’t mean… him!?” Miles growled, slumped over his desk.

“According to Meekins, you didn’t accept the report? Hard to believe.”

“B-but your officer, he told me!” Miles straightened up. “He said that report had nothing to do with the Lana Skye incident!”

“[Detective Bruce Goodman murdered in the Police Department evidence room…] Mr. Edgeworth. The victim’s name is written right on the top of the report.”

“Gaaaaaaah!” Miles screamed. “Wh-why didn’t your officer tell me!?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure if that officer was capable of making the connection…” Ema commented. “He did seem… challenged.”

“In any case, this is a serious error,” Gant said, “a gross negligence of duty on your part, Worthy.”

“Objection!” Miles howled. “B-but, sir!!! You could have submitted that report this morning to the court, as evidence! Then, I…” Miles couldn’t finish the sentence. What was there to say?

“No such luck this time, Worthy… or should I say, un-Worthy?”

“What!?”

“Now what was the second rule of evidence law, hmm?”

“Well, Mr. Wright?” Ema asked.

“Huh?” Wright yelped. “Oh, well, it’s, uh…”

“Rule 2:” Miles said. “New evidence may only be submitted if it concerns the case on trial. And how is this relevant!?”

“Normally, you submit a list of evidence to be used in court before the trial,” Gant said, messing with his hair. “This report wasn’t on that list…”

“So…” the judge said. “What does this mean?”

“I couldn’t submit this evidence until a connection was proven in court.”

Arrgh!!! I… I can’t believe I was so stupid!!! I was so focused on the case before me that I didn’t consider the possibility of a connection…

“The connection was just proven by Wrighto over here,” Gant continued. “Good job, Wrighto, my boy!”

“Huh?” Wright chirped. “Uh… I… I was just doing my job.”

“No…” Miles sobbed. “Nooooooooooooooo!!!”

The gallery started up. After a moment, they calmed down on their own.

“It seems… we have come to the end of this trial,” the judge said.

“You are becoming a thorn in my side, Worthy…” Gant said. “There’ve been rumors… After all, you were in the defendant’s chair just last year…!”

“I apologize for this terrible lack of due diligence on my part…” Miles said, struggling to calm down.

“M-Mr. Edgeworth!” the judge exclaimed.

“Please… Just give me one day. I’ll get to the bottom of what happened… If it’s the last thing I do!”

“You’d better get results this time,” Gant pressed. “Really.”

“I’m sorry!” Miles wailed, as much to Lana as the court. “I’m so sorry!”

“Poor Mr. Edgeworth…” Ema sighed.

The judge banged his gavel and shook his head.

“I don’t think there’s ever been an error this serious in the history of this court,” he said. “We will grant one further day as the prosecution has requested. Will this be sufficient, Mr. Edgeworth.”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Miles replied. “Thank you.”

“Whatever your punishment for this is, for your sake I hope it’s not… decisive.” He pounded his gavel again. “Very well! Court is adjourned!”

This still makes no sense. Unless everything Starr said and presented was false, there’s still that scene in the parking lot to take into account. But now we’ve got the evidence room murder, too. What the hell is going on with this case!?
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And finally we get to 1-5. I can't wait to see how you handle this. :) The last two chapters were fantastic, although they were a bit text heavy (I know I'm a broken record. I'm sorry. You just write so well that I wish I could see more of your stuff and less of the game. Periods between days where the characters could meet and interact without being so closely bound to the game text like earlier chapters in the story. I'm not suggesting that you break canon, but there is plenty of time between cases and even during them that we never see which you could work with without violating the story line. Anyway, just my two cents). Overall, a very satisfying read. :butzthumbs:
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Chapter 22—Darkness

February 23, 2017


Starr had made a horrible mistake that day in court. In committing perjury, she had put her life on the line. If Lana was executed and later exonerated, Starr would be sentenced to death. It was a stupid move. Starr had once been a respectable detective, but her grudge against Lana blinded her to the danger she was putting herself in. Lana could probably help the investigation, but doing that would put Ema in danger.

It’s not your fault that Starr’s in danger. She chose to lie. She could have testified truthfully, and I would still look guilty. Lana sighed. This whole disaster is going to harm many people. It’s already wounded plenty. Goodman has already lost his life to SL-9. At the least, he can’t suffer any more because of it. Jake hasn’t been the same ever since Neil died. And Ema… Oh, Ema… She’ll probably never forgive me. I’ve done irreparable damage to her innocent soul. And then there’s Miles. No matter how this ends, he’s going to be in terrible pain. I probably should have abandoned our relationship altogether. At least then he would have no qualms about proving me guilty. Still… I can’t change the past.

Why must I care so much about Ema? If I didn’t love her so, I could have stopped all of this from happening. I could have just left the scene the way I found it. But no. I had to worry about her. I felt a need to protect her. And Gant, taking advantage of that need, gained control over me. Then everything went downhill. If only I had left the crime scene alone…

Then what? Would I have been able to handle that? Then, rather than regretting what I did, I would regret my own inactivity. Ema would have been seen as a killer. Even though she’d not be sentenced to death, her life would be ruined. And I’d have to deal with the fact that I could have stopped it.

There’s no way out. SL-9 has me. No matter what I could have done, I would have suffered. I can only watch as my fate—and the fate of others—unfolds before my eyes. I suppose the only question is will I die in darkness, or will others be incinerated by the light?


A guard came in and led Lana into a questioning room. Considering what had been revealed in court, this session was probably going to be a long one.

“You know what was revealed in court, so I’ll cut to the chase,” an officer said. “Which one of you killed Bruce Goodman?”

“I confessed to the crime yesterday,” Lana said. “I killed Goodman.”

“Look, I know that’s what you said, but the guy we arrested is saying the same thing. According to his statements, what he did was justified self-defense. You, on the other hand, are charged with premeditated murder. If you’re found guilty, you’re looking at 30 years minimum. Given the circumstances, you’ll probably get life, if not death. Do you want that?”

“I killed Goodman, so I deserve whatever I am sentenced to.”

“Then why the hell was Goodman also killed at the Police Department?”

Why? I don’t know who died there, but it wasn’t Goodman. I’d bet my life that he was in Miles’s car at 5:15.

“Answer me!”

It’s basic logic that Goodman was in Miles’s car. But this… This could be of use to me.

“Why was Goodman killed in two places at once!?”

“I’ll tell you—on a condition,” Lana finally said.

“What’s the condition?”

“My involvement in Goodman’s death be treated not as murder, but as voluntary manslaughter.”

“What!?”

“Take it or leave it.”

“I-I don’t have that kind of authority!”

“Then deliver my message to someone who can make this bargain with me. I will help out with the evidence room incident in any way I can if my maximum sentence be that for voluntary manslaughter.”

“I’ll call Mr. Edgeworth.”

The guard left Lana behind in the questioning room, taking care to lock the door beforehand.

Perhaps that will help take the pressure off of him. At the least, if he proves me guilty, he won’t have my death on his hands. Poor Miles… He always seems fated to walk the most difficult path possible. And I was always there to help him when he felt weak… But not this time. But he doesn’t need me. He’s stronger than he lets himself think. Merely staying on the path he’s chosen is a symbol of that strength of will.

Lana sighed. Miles… I’m sorry you have to suffer so much on my account. Don’t take all of this as a sign that I do not love you. Even though you can’t always trust me in law, when it comes to love, you will never find someone more worthy of your trust.



Miles came as soon as he could—which was in a few hours, thanks to the inquiry committee.

“So, what’s this I hear about a plea bargain?” Miles asked, seating himself.

“On the condition that my maximum sentence be that given for voluntary manslaughter, I’ll cooperate with the investigation,” Lana said.

Miles closed his eyes. He was no doubt struggling with having to face Lana like this.

Miles… You can’t do anything to stop this. All you can do is mitigate the damage.

“As much as I’d like to, that’s too steep,” he said. “I can promise no capital punishment, possibly more, but voluntary manslaughter is out of the question.”

“Second degree murder, then? Twenty years maximum sentence.”

Miles stopped to think.

“Deal,” he said after a moment. “Guard, you may leave us.”

“Sir?” the guard asked.

“Perhaps I should be more specific. Please leave us. I’ll call you back in when I’m done.”

“Yes, sir.”

The guard walked out.

“Let’s start with the purpose of the plea bargain,” Miles said. “What do you know about the murder in the evidence room?”

“Goodman was in the Prosecutor’s Office parking lot at 5:15. Whoever was stabbed in the evidence room was not Goodman.”

“Then where’s the fake Goodman?”

“I have no idea. As far as I know, no body was found. Perhaps the ‘murder’ didn’t really happen?”

“So you’re still insisting that you killed Goodman?”

“I stabbed him in the Prosecutor’s Office parking lot at 5:15. Unless someone managed to switch the body of the person I stabbed with Goodman’s body, there’s no way the person killed in the evidence room—if anyone died there to begin with—was Goodman.”

Miles had his eyes closed. He sighed through his nose.

“What are you hiding?” he asked.

“Excuse me? I struck a plea bargain. I can’t keep any secrets about the case.”

“I want the truth, Lana. If there’s any case I must be absolutely sure of, one in which I have no doubt about the defendant’s guilt or innocence, it’s this one. I’m not going to send the lady I love to prison unless I know she’s guilty.”

“I am.”

“You say it, but what if you’re just protecting your blackmailer? No—protecting your blackmailer to protect Ema?”

“Ema has nothing to do with this,” Lana lied.

“But that’s not true, is it? Ema has everything to do with this. The fact that you were nearly asking for the death sentence proves that you did not kill Goodman to save yourself. You also told me that you stabbed him because your blackmailer told you to. The only conclusion I can reach is that you did it for Ema.”

“…No. It wasn’t just for her. It was for you, too.”

“Me?”

“There’s a great darkness covering my secret. It holds back a harsh light, one that would burn right through your heart. I won’t allow it to break free; I don’t want to see you suffer.”

“I’m already suffering. I trust you, Lana, so why don’t you trust me?”

“If I keep my secret, you won’t blame yourself for any of this. And Ema will be safe.”

“Of course I’ll blame myself! For two years, I’ve been hunting the truth. If I had been more relentless in my pursuit of it, I could have caught your blackmailer and freed both you and Ema. That’s why I want to end this. Even if you’re going to prison for murder, I need to know that you’re safe.” He closed his eyes again. “You know how much I love you. …I need you, Lana.”

“No, you don’t. You’re stronger than you let yourself think.”

“And yet I was weak enough to let this happen. And I’m too weak to defeat your blackmailer.”

“You’re right. You are, and so am I. Even together, we cannot defeat him. So let it go. Accept defeat and move on. Only the weakest of the weak dwell on the past instead of look to the future.”

Miles sighed. “I’ll find the truth—if not for you, then for myself. Maybe I don’t need you, but I need to be satisfied with this disaster. I want to look back on it and not fear it.” He got up and started to leave. “Good-bye, Lana.”

“Miles.”

He turned around.

“Do what you can to help Ema with her investigation,” Lana said. “At the least, she should come to terms with the truth.”

“I will.”

Miles left and the guard entered.

Miles… I’ll help, but you won’t realize it until it’s over. For you, and for Ema, I’ll take this risk. You and I alone can’t defeat him, but with Wright and Ema, we might have a chance. But you won’t see that I’m helping until the verdict has been handed down. I'll help you through this darkness, and... if the light breaks free, I'll let it, even if it hurts you.
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Last edited by General Luigi on Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Ah, I enjoyed these last chapters (I've been reading, but not responding).

This chapter was quite good. It was nice to see Lana's internal struggles. I also enjoyed the almost "oxymoronish" symbolism of light and darkness; the fact that even though the light may be "good" and the truth, its blinding light can still sting.

You are still hoping to have this continue till AJ, correct? Then the suspense of the end of this trial will be killing me! :edgy:
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I really love this new chapter. Both Lana and Miles are well handled, plus this chapter is entirely your writing. I particularly love they way you tied the romance and drama together so nicely in this chapter. Excellent work!
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Chapter 23—Deceived

February 24, 2017


“Court is now in session for the trial of Ms. Lana Skye,” Judge Clous said with a whack of his gavel.

“The defense is ready, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“The prosecution is…” Miles trailed off. “Hmph,” he laughed.

“…Hmph?” the judge repeated. “I’m afraid you’ll have to clarify.”

“It takes 30 minutes by car to reach criminal affairs from the Prosecutor’s Office.” Though it’s closer to 45 in San Diego’s typical traffic… “The victim, Bruce Goodman, was slain at both places at the same time.”

“But, that’s not physically possible, is it?” the judge asked. “What’s more, I hear the victim from the evidence room just ‘disappeared’!”

“Yes, and the body eventually reappeared in the trunk of Mr. Edgeworth’s car,” Ema added.

Just my luck for the one Lana didn’t do to be the fake murder.

“One of my duties as prosecutor is to present impartial evidence,” Miles said. “Today I will present evidence relating to the murder at the Police Department. In so doing, I believe the way in which we should proceed will reveal itself.”

“Now that’s what sets Mr. Edgeworth apart,” Ema commented. “He sounds so on top of things even though he doesn’t know what’s going on himself!”

“And that’s supposed to be an admirable trait?” Wright replied.

Hah! The evidence found in the other investigation makes it obvious what happened! I just wish it wasn’t true…

The judge banged his gavel.

“Very well,” he said, “let the trial resume. On the day of the crime, what exactly transpired at the Police Department? Mr. Edgeworth, you may call your first witness of the day to the stand.”

“For its first witness,” Miles said, “the prosecution calls the suspect of the murder that occurred at the Police Department!”

“The suspect!? You mean, the so-called murderer!?”

The gallery started up as Wright began sweating. Meekins took the stand.

“Will the witness please state his name and occupation,” Miles requested.

“Yes, sir!” Meekins replied, saluting. “I am Officer Mike Meekins, sir! My occupation is, um…” he banged his fist onto a heavily bandaged hand and continued, “that would be murderer, sir!”

Idiot…

“Er…” the judge grumbled. “So you’re telling us you’re a ‘professional killer’…”

“Sir. It was me, sir! I’m the one who did it! I’ll never kill anyone again, sir! YOU’VE GOT TO BELIEVE ME, SIR!”

We can do without the loudspeaker, Meekins. Your voice is obnoxious enough on its own.

“Uh… Actually, what we’d like to hear from you is…”

“Sir! I’m what you would call part of the ‘younger generation,’ sir! A PERSON WHOSE ACTIONS ADULTS CAN’T POSSIBLY COMPREHEND!”

You’re a person whose actions even Sigmund Freud wouldn’t understand.

“Please, Mr. Edgeworth, sir!” the judge begged. “Help me, sir!”

Great. It’s contagious.

Miles pounded on his desk. “Officer Meekins,” he said flatly.

“Y-yes, sir!” Meekins responded, saluting again.

“Give us your report of the crime. Consider that an order.”

“Yes, sir! As you wish! After all, I am part of a generation that must be told what to do, sir!”

No, you’re part of an IQ level that must be told what to do.

“You can’t fault him for a lack of enthusiasm,” Ema commented.

“Although it’s not my normal duty,” Meekins said, “I was assigned to guard the evidence room that day! I spotted a suspicious man on the security screen, and rushed into the room! I WAS ONLY DOING WHAT I WAS TRAINED TO DO, SIR! I WAS SUDDENLY ATTACKED! I FOUGHT FOR MY LIFE! THEN I… I DID IT! After that I passed out… until another officer smacked me awake!”

“Hmm,” the judge mumbled. “So the victim, Detective Goodman, attacked you?”

“‘DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO UNTO YOU’! That’s the Meekins family motto, sir!”

“I see. Then you fainted, and a colleague helped you regain consciousness.”

“Yes, sir! He knocked me upside the head, sir!”

“Very well. The defense may begin its cross-examination.”

“Mr. Meekins,” Wright said. “You work in the General Affairs Department, do you not?”

“Yes, sir!” Meekins replied. “I am in charge of hiring new recruits, sir!”

No wonder the Police Department’s average IQ has been dropping.

“Evidence transferal was taking place on the day of the crime,” Miles stated, “which meant many officers were given special tasks not ordinarily performed.”

“I was in charge of guarding the Blue Badger, sir!” Meekins said, somewhat proud.

“The Blue Badger?” the judge asked.

“Yes, sir. The lovely police mascot created by the Head Detective, sir! I was to ensure it wasn’t broken during the transferal process. That was my sole mission for the day, sir!”

“I see. Sounds like a very… uh, important mission.”

“After the award ceremony finished that day, there were so many people running around that I relocated the Blue Badger to the evidence room!”

“Oh… So that’s why you went to the evidence room.”

“Tell us…” Miles said, “what did you see when you got there?”

“I spotted a suspicious man on the security screen, and rushed into the room!” Meekins almost screamed.

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “In order to enter the evidence room, you need an ID card, am I correct?”

“Precisely, sir! I have one right here around my neck!”

“So then, your ID number should be listed in here, right?”
Wright was holding up a sheet of paper. The ID Card Record, no doubt. Meekins was handed the paper.

“THERE IT IS! I FOUND IT! This is the one right here.”

“Could you please read us the number?” the judge requested.

“Yes, sir! It’s ‘4989596.’ That’s my number, sir!”

“I see…” Wright said. “Huh? But the number 4989596… is shown as being used twice!”

Miles hit his desk. “Please explain, witness,” he ordered.

“It’s n-no real mystery, sir!” Meekins answered. “The first time is when I relocated Blue Badger to the evidence room, and the second time is when I went to go get him after everything settled down.”

“I see,” the judge said. “So it was during that second time when?”

“Yes, sir! That was when I spotted the man on the security screen! I WAS ONLY DOING WHAT I WAS TRAINED TO DO, SIR! I WAS SUDDENLY ATTACKED!”

“Hold it!” Wright yelled. “So you were attacked… Can you please tell us exactly what happened to you?”

“It was a knife, sir! A knife!”

“Detective Goodman pulled a knife on you?” the judge asked. “What happened then?”

“Well, with me charging in on him like that, he looked as surprised as I was! That’s when I reacted, sir! I swung my arms like an octopus, struggling to detain him! That’s how I got this gash on my hand.”

How did this idiot get into the force?

“Maybe if you’d just kept your cool your hand wouldn’t be…” Ema trailed off.

“When I saw the blood trickling down my arm, I panicked!” Meekins continued. “I grabbed the man by his collar! I FOUGHT FOR MY LIFE! THEN I… I DID IT!”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “What exactly do you mean when you say you, ‘did it’?”

“I know I don’t look the type, but I’m really into kung fu films, sir!”

Maybe you should have learned it yourself rather than just watch actors pretend to do it…

“The man let his guard down for just an instant, so I snatched his knife from him!” Meekins exclaimed.

“You took his knife?” Wright asked, sweat running down his face.

“I spun him around and performed a disarming maneuver! I made sure to close my eyes like a man!”

“I, uh, see…”

If this fool gets off the hook, I’m going to demand that he go through training again.

“The next thing I knew,” Meekins said, “his white coat was drenched in a sea of my blood, and then… Then, the next thing I knew…”

“Yes?” the judge insisted.

“HE PUNCHED ME RIGHT IN MY FACE, SIR! After that I passed out… until another officer smacked me awake!”

“Hold it!” Wright barked. “About what time did you regain consciousness?”

“No offense, sir, but how am I supposed to know that? I was unconscious!”

“Oh… right.”

“According to the report from the officer that woke up the witness, it was about 5:30,” Miles said.

“He hit me right in the head too!” Meekins cried.

Well, it’s not as if there’s anything in there…

“I WOKE UP CRYING TEARS OF PAIN!” the witness continued.

“That’s nice…” the judge said. “Er, I mean… it’s nice that you recovered, that is…”

“When I came around though, I made sure to finish my mission, sir!”

“Your ‘mission’…?” Wright asked.

“Yes, sir! The Blue Badger, sir! I returned him to the entrance before things got out of hand!”

Personally, I’d do something about that bleeding hand first.

The judge banged his gavel. “I believe we now have a fairly accurate picture of what happened,” he said.

“Yes, Your Honor,” Miles agreed. “Only one thing remains unclear. Was the man this officer ‘murdered,’ really the victim?”

“Um…” Meekins cut in.

“Yes, Officer Meekins?” the judge asked.

“With regard to that, sir…” He took out a blue video cassette. “Take a look at this. It was sent to my cell. Chief Gant delivered it to me just this morning sir!”

“The Chief?” Miles asked. Why wasn’t I told about this?

“Delivered it…?” Wright finished.

“What is that?” the judge asked. “A… videotape?”

“Yes, sir! Meekins answered. “That’s absolutely right, sir! A videotape, sir! IT CONTAINS FOOTAGE FROM THE SECURITY CAMERA IN THE EVIDENCE ROOM.”

“Objection!” Miles roared, banging on his desk. “What!? But I specifically asked if there was such a tape, and was told it had been mistakenly erased!”

“That’s quite a mistake,” the judge said.

There are too many miscommunications for this all to be accidental. Someone in the Department must be trying to get me in trouble! But why!?

“I just do what I’m told, sir,” Meekins sobbed. “It’s the only thing I’m really good at.”

The judge banged his gavel. “Well then, let’s have a look!” he said. “Show us the video of you murdering the victim!”

“Oh… Please stop using hat word, ‘murder,’ sir! It scares me!”

The bailiff brought in a television and played the tape. Some wriggling piece of plywood was dancing around on-screen. What looked like Detective Goodman walked by the camera and opened his locker. Something fell out. The camera panned away. A moment later, Meekins walked over and confronted “Goodman.” The camera panned back to the entrance. When it panned back, “Goodman” pulled a knife on the idiot. The two proceeded to fight, but the camera panned away. When the camera panned back, “Goodman” was nowhere to be seen and Meekins was lying against the wall, unconscious.

Miles was hunched over his desk when the video stopped.

“Well, I believe we’re all thinking the same thing,” the judge said, breaking the silence. “How can we deal with these unsettling feelings stirred within us…?”

Miles hit his desk. “What the hell was that wriggling piece of plywood!?” he barked.

“Sir!” Meekins replied, saluting. “That is the pride and joy of the entire Criminal Affairs Department, sir! It’s the Blue Badger, sir!”

That thing is the Blue Badger that Gumshoe was talking so proudly about!?

“Yes, well anyway…” the judge said, “this tape seems to prove that the witness did indeed encounter… er, ‘someone’ in the evidence room, and some sort of… er, ‘activity’ did take place…”

Miles slammed his desk. “Your Honor…” he said, “instead of relying on clearly incomplete footage, the witness’s testimony will suffice.” He pointed at Meekins. “Is that alright with you, Officer Meekins?”

“Yes, sir!” Meekins exclaimed. “As you wish, sir! His face can’t be clearly seen in the video, but there’s no question that the other person was Detective Goodman, sir! I mean, he opened the locker, which required Detective Goodman’s fingerprint to do! The locker he opened is unquestionably Detective Goodman’s locker, sir! SO IT MUST BE HIM! NO ONE ELSE COULD HAVE UNLOCKED IT!”

“What’s this about a fingerprint?” the judge asked.

“Each detective has been given a locker, equipped with a fingerprint-activated lock,” Miles explained. “These locks ensure that each locker can only be opened by the detective it belongs to.”

“Intriguing… That would mean… the victim at the crime scene would have to have been Detective Goodman.”

Using that logic alone, yes, but it’s impossible for Goodman to have been there.

“Very well!” the judge continued. “The defense may begin its cross-examination!”

“Tell me, were you able to get a good look at him?” Wright asked Meekins. “At the face of the man who attacked you with a knife?”

“S-sir!” Meekins barked. “If you must label people as having ‘seen’ or ‘not seen’ the man’s face… I believe I would be classified as… the latter?”

“The latter? But you were standing right in front of him, were you not?”

“More to the point,” the judge added, “you are the person who fought him, aren’t you?”

“Oh, yes sir!” Meekins replied. “But… I didn’t get a clear look at his face, sir. I’m not the kind of guy who looks directly at people when talking with them, you see…”

This from a man who makes a living out of confronting criminals…

“STILL, I’M SURE IT WAS HIM!” Meekins whined through his megaphone. “I’D BET MY BADGE ON IT!”

“But you don’t know that for sure, do you?” Wright asked. “You never actually saw Detective Goodman’s face.”

“Well… I suppose you might say that. That is, if you must label people as having ‘seen’ or ‘not seen’ it.”

“Since his face can’t be identified in the video, only you can verify it,” the judge said.

“W-w-why is everyone l-looking at me? If I had to label your stares as ‘disturbing’ or—”

Miles hit his desk. “Meekins!” he shouted.

“Eek!” Meekins’s handcuffs caught on the strap holding his ID and he choked briefly.

If I had to label this guy as” low IQ” or “negative IQ”, I believe he would be classified as the latter.

“Having seen a questionable video at best,” Miles said, “we are not in the best of moods. Now please be more certain when you testify!”

“Y-y-yes, sir!” Meekins stuttered.

“You claimed the man who brandished a knife on you was Bruce Goodman. Tell us why you are positive it was him!”

“I mean, he opened the locker, which required Detective Goodman’s fingerprint to do! The locker he opened is unquestionably Detective Goodman’s locker, sir! SO IT MUST BE HIM! NO ONE ELSE COULD HAVE UNLOCKED IT!”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted, slamming his desk. “However, the most important detail is not shown in this video… the man’s face!”

“S-sir! If I may say something, sir!”

“Please do,” the judge said. “After all, you are the one being examined.”

“I don’t understand why the man’s face is so important in this case, sir! I mean, it was his hand that opened the fingerprint lock… and it was his hand that tried to thrust his knife into my body, sir! MY UNSETTLED STATE CAN TESTIFY ENOUGH TO THIS, SIR!”

“Yes, you have a point. The footage doesn’t lie.”

“That is… unless the defense can find a problem with it?” Miles taunted.

“Mr. Wright!” Ema chirped. “Let’s check the Court Record again!”

Wright looked at his information.

“Regarding the video contained on this tape,” he said, “there is one thing in particular that seems rather strange.”

“Strange?” the judge asked.

“This contradiction leads to the possibility that…” He hit his desk. “the man may not be Detective Goodman.”

“What? This video contains such a contradiction?”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. He then smiled tauntingly and shrugged. “Interesting… Your Honor, I have a proposal."

“Yes, Mr. Edgeworth?”

“I propose we have the defense point out to us this alleged ‘contradiction’ in the video.”

“Very well, proposal accepted,” the judge said. “Let us further inspect this piece of evidence.” He banged his gavel. “I will now play the security tape. Mr. Wright. Please show us this contradiction you speak of.”

“You can do it, Mr. Wright!” Ema said. “It’s set up so you can Fast Forward, Rewind or Pause the video. Just take a good look and be sure to point out the right thing!”

“Please don’t play it too many times,” Meekins requested. “I-I can’t stand watching this video!”

And I can’t stand this soon-to-be-impoverished imbecile’s whining.

“Now then, Mr. Wright,” the judge said. “Please enlighten us! Where is the contradiction that indicates the man may not be Detective Goodman?”

Wright pressed the pause button on the remote control when the camera took its first look at Goodman’s locker. He then slammed his desk and pointed at the locker. “The thing that’s strange about this video… has got to be this!” He looked at Meekins. “Officer Meekins.”

“Sir!” he barked, saluting. “D-do you mean me, sir?”

“As I understand it, the locker apparatus works like this: When you grab the handle, a sensor reads your fingerprint. If the print matches the registered data, the light turns on and the lock is released.”

“A-according to my very limited experience, that’s the way I understand it, sir!”

Wright banged on his desk. “If so, then something is seriously wrong with this picture!” He had the video play again from the start. He paused it when “Goodman” reached for the locker door. “When the victim reaches for the handle to open the locker… Let’s rewind to a little earlier…” The video rewound to the first time the camera was pointing at the locker. “Here! Notice the light?”

“What’s this!?” the judge blathered. “It’s… already lit!”

Wright nodded. “Precisely my point, Your Honor. The locker was already open before the victim grabbed the handle!”

“AAAAAAHHH!!!” Meekins screeched, choking himself with his ID strap again.

The judge banged his gavel to silence the gallery.

“Order!” he barked. “Order! What’s the meaning of this!?”

“It’s very simple, Your Honor,” Wright answered. “The locker wasn’t locked on the day of the crime!”

“Objection!” Miles yelled. He struck his desk with his right hand. “But the locker locks are controlled by an electronic system. When a door is shut, a sensor is triggered and the locker is automatically locked!”

“Oh, I know!” the judge chimed in. “It must have broken down! Of course, I’m not an expert in this…”

“That’s not likely, Your Honor. The sensor would detect and report any malfunction.”

“Oh well. It just goes to show novices should keep their mouths shut.”

If every novice did that, I’d be on death row.

“So then, Mr. Wright,” the judge continued. “Do you have an explanation?”

“Me, Your Honor?” Wright asked.

“Yes. Why wasn’t the locker locked?”

“Me, Your Honor?” he asked again, this time in a cold sweat. He thought for a moment, then put his right hand behind his head, grinning stupidly. “Yes, well. You see… This isn’t exactly my field…” He turned to Ema. “What do you think, Miss ‘Scientific Investigator’?”

“Huh?” she chirped. “Oh, um…” She put her pencil eraser against her cheek in thought. “Maybe something, like, jammed the electronic system?”

Wright looked at the video again, the look on his face indicating that he thought something else was wrong.

“Yeah, I thought so too!” Ema said, noticing Wright’s reaction. “There’s got to be another clue somewhere in this footage!”

The judge banged his gavel.

“Very well,” he said. “Let’s inspect the video once more. The locker wasn’t locked… Mr. Wright. Please point out the cause for this!”

Wright took out the remote control and played the video again. He paused a brief moment after “Goodman” opened the locker. Something was falling out.

“Take that!” Wright yelled, hitting his desk. “Please watch closely. This is the continuation of the part I showed you earlier.” He replayed up to that portion.

“What’s this?” the judge asked, noticing the object. “Something white fell out of the locker!”

“But sir!” Meekins interrupted, saluting. “It’s been my experience that things fall out when doors are opened! I often fall out and roll great distances when I open my car door, sir!”

“Objection!” Wright yelled. “We can’t be sure that item was in the locker to begin with.”

“What do you mean?” the judge asked.

“The sensor triggers the lock when the door is shut… What if something was inserted, say, between the sensor and the door?”

“In… Inserted…?”

“This white thing wasn’t inside the locker… It was stuck between the door and the sensor!”

“Oh, I understand now, sir!” Meekins exclaimed, hitting his mitten of a bandaged hand with his good hand. “It’s just like my tie! Two out of three times it gets stuck in the door when I get out of my patrol vehicle, sir! Instead of the door closing, my tie chokes me!”

Aren’t officers supposed to wear clip-on ties to avoid that kind of problem!?

“But the object would have to be extremely thin to fit in the door,” the judge said.

“Not only that,” Miles added, “it would also have to block electrical currents… It would need to be an insulator.”

“Yes, an insulator! But at the crime scene…”

“there just might have been something that fits the description,” Wright finished.

“But s-sir!” Meekins cried. “By ‘insulator,’ you don’t mean…” He trailed off.

“Very well!” the judge said with a whack of his gavel. “Will the defense please present the relevant evidence! What was this insulator that was stuck in the locker door?”

“Take that!” Wright said, holding a rubber glove. “I found this near the locker: a thin rubber glove.”

“But we can’t be sure that was in the victim’s locker.”

“It has a tag that says, ‘SL-9 Incident.’”

SL-9 AGAIN!?

“The video seems to depict the victim opening the locker,” Wright continued, “but that isn’t the case! The lit lamp attests to this.” He pounded on his desk. “On the day of the crime, even I could have opened that locker! Is this not so, Officer Meekins!?”

“Sir…” he said. “It would appear so, sir!” He choked on his ID strap again. The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“Order!” he shouted three times. “So are we to believe then, that the ‘victim’ whom this witness stabbed in the evidence room… was not Detective Goodman?”

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “Do not be misled, Your Honor.”

“What do you mean, Mr. Edgeworth?”

“The defense has merely demonstrated that possibility, and nothing more. The ‘victim’ in the video was indeed Bruce Goodman. The prosecution will offer one more testimony to prove this!”

“What!?” Wright snapped.

“Officer Meekins, please testify about this.”

“Sir!” he barked, saluting. “M-me, sir!? I’m not sure what you’re referring to, sir…”

The other bit of proof that Goodman was in the evidence room, stupid.

“O-oh!” Meekins shouted, remembering. “You mean that, sir! Of course, sir!”

The judge banged his gavel.

“Very well, begin your testimony!” he ordered.

“There’s one other thing that proves the man was Detective Goodman, sir!” Meekins explained, saluting. “To enter the evidence room, one must use their ID card! When an ID card is used, there’s a record of it!” He hit his bandaged hand with his good hand. “At the time of the crime, the detective had used his card!”

“An ID card record. I see…”

“I have the ID card record right here, Your Honor,” Miles stated, holding a copy. “The ID used at 5:14… is that of the victim.”

“Just before the crime, hmm? Yes, without a doubt this is the victim’s ID! However, one thing does strike me as unusual… Several hundred cases should have been due for transferal. Why were there so few people using this room?”

“This particular evidence room is only used for storing certain special cases.”

“‘Special’ cases…?” Wright asked.

“Extremely violent cases involving police staff.”

“Just hearing that makes my hair stand on end!” Ema commented.

Naturally, SL-9 had to be one of those cases…

“There were only a few cases up for transferal there,” Miles continued, “and most were cleared up by noon.”

“Right…” the judge said. “I see. Now, let us move on to the cross-examination.”

Wright hit his desk. “Wait one moment, Officer Meekins,” he said.

“I-I’m not good at waiting, sir!” Meekins replied.

“I have the victim’s ID card right here. I found it at the crime scene.”

“That makes sense,” the judge said. Wright shook his head.

“When I say, ‘crime scene,’ I’m not referring to the evidence room at the Police Department. I mean the ‘other’ crime scene… The underground parking lot at the Prosecutor’s Office!”

And it appears Lana will be going to prison after all.

“Your Honor…” Wright said. “I have one more piece of evidence to present.” He held up a Lost Item Report. “It’s a very important clue regarding the victim’s ID card.”

“A… Lost Item Report?” the judge asked. “It’s only half completed,”

“but it shows that detective Goodman had lost ‘something’ on the day of the crime. Something important enough to fill out this report.”

“Let me guess,” Miles said. “You believe this ‘something’ to be his ID card, right?”

“I can’t say for sure… but there is a high probability! On the day of the crime, Detective Goodman was not carrying his card!”

The gallery started murmuring, cut off by a whack of the judge’s gavel.

“Order! Order!” he demanded. “So now… what does this all mean?”

“It can only mean one thing,” Wright explained. “It doesn’t require much thought! The man Officer Meekins encountered in the evidence room… was not Detective Goodman, but rather the man who stole his ID card!”

The gallery started up again, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“Order! Order! Order!” the judge yelled. “Does the prosecution have a response?”

Miles waited until everyone was quiet, his arms patiently crossed.

“I have only one thing to say to the defense,” he said. “Bravo, Mr. Wright.”

“B-bravo…?” Wright stammered.

“Allow me to summarize the defense’s argument. At 5:15 PM on the day of the crime, the man Officer Meekins encountered in the evidence room was not Detective Goodman. There are two grounds to support this. First, the locker in the evidence room was already unlocked. Second, the victim lost his ID card. Am I correct so far, Mr. Wright?”

“Yes…” Wright said, the look on his face making it apparent that he was confused.

“That being the case, we must inevitably arrive at a single conclusion: If the ‘victim’ in this video is a fake… then the murder in the evidence room is also fake! In other words, the security camera does not show the instant of the murder.”

“Uh… Th-that is…” Wright put his hand behind his head. “Well, I guess that’s right…”

“Is something wrong, Mr. Wright? Only moments ago you seemed content to be pointing your finger around.”

“This isn’t good…” Wright muttered. Miles did his “evil smile.”

“Well, well… It seems you’ve finally realized exactly what you’ve gone to such lengths to prove!”

“Explain yourself, Mr. Edgeworth!” the judge requested.

“The defense has already done the explaining for me,” Miles said. “The victim in this video is a fake… which means a murder did not take place at the Police Department at 5:15 on the day of the crime.”

“So…”

Miles struck his desk. “So the real crime could only take place at one location: the underground parking lot at the Prosecutor’s Office! The murderer being Ms. Lana Skye, the defendant! The evidence is compelling! A trustworthy witness observed the moment the defendant used the murder weapon!”

“Aaaah!” Wright screamed, sweat pouring down his face.

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.

“The activity in the evidence room still leaves many questions unanswered:” he said. “Who exactly was the ‘victim’ Officer Meekins encountered? And where did this person disappear to…? However… This trial’s purpose is to examine only the murder of Detective Goodman.”

Miles took a bow. “Just so, Your Honor,” he agreed.

“Mr. Wright!” Ema cried. “You have to do something, or else Lana…” She trailed off. Miles couldn’t tell from the distance, but he thought he saw tears in Ema’s eyes.

“Objection!” Wright yelled, banging on his desk. “One moment, Your Honor!”

“What now, Mr. Wright?” Miles asked. “Don’t tell me you’re objecting to what you’ve just proven.”

“Of course not. But I almost walked right into the prosecution’s trap!”

“What are you talking about?”

As far as I can tell, you did walk—quite clumsily, I may add—into my trap.

“This cross-examination has proven one thing and one thing only,” Wright said. “The security video did not show the actual murder.” He hit his desk. “However! It cannot be said that it is unrelated to the murder in the parking lot. Specifically, large amounts of blood traces were found in the evidence room! The defense demands further examination into the truth of the matter!”

“Mr. Edgeworth,” the judge said after a pause.

“Yes, Your Honor?” Miles asked.

“If this court were to examine this further, other witnesses will be necessary. Is the prosecution prepared?”

“I’m sorry, Your Honor… The prosecution considered the incident at the Police Department to be unrelated. We have not prepared any other witnesses for this incident.”

Wright looked as though he had an idea.

“Mr. Wright…” Ema said, catching on. “Do you mean…”

“Your Honor,” Wright called. “The defense would like to request a specific witness.”

“Oh?” the judge asked. “Whom do you have in mind?”

“Someone we have reason to believe knows the truth… The truth behind the activities that took place in the evidence room.”

“The prosecution requests to hear this person’s name before deciding whether or not to comply,” Miles said.

The judge banged his gavel. “Very well then, Mr. Wright!” he said. “This person whom you would have testify… What is his or her name?”

“Officer… Jake Marshall,” Wright said.

“Why him?” Miles asked.

“He’s in charge of the evidence room. I feel we should hear what he has to say.”

“The prosecution agrees to the defense’s request. Since he was responsible for guarding the room, we should hear his testimony. Fortunately he works in the Police Department.” Assuming he’s at his post for a change. “We shouldn’t need longer than 20 minutes to prepare.”

The judge banged his gavel and nodded. “Very well,” he said. “The court will take a 30 minute recess while the witness is subpoenaed. Will the prosecution please prepare the witness during this time?”

“We will, Your Honor.”

“Court in recess!”



Miles waited by the doors to the Defendant Lobby. He had heard Gumshoe’s voice coming from in there. There was some trick up the defense’s sleeve, and he wanted in on it.

“No, Lana!” Ema’s voice cried from inside the lobby. “That’s over with! No!!!” Suddenly, Ema burst out through the doors and ran out crying. Miles almost lost his balance from the shock.

“Uh, ya know what?” Miles heard Gumshoe say to Wright. “I just remembered… I gotta be somewhere. Sorry pal, but I’m outta here!”

Gumshoe ran out a moment later and turned to leave. Miles extended his leg and tripped the good detective, who apparently had not noticed him.

“Oof!” Gumshoe puffed as he landed.

“Wherever you’re going, it can wait,” Miles said as Gumshoe got up. “What were you doing with Wright?”

“He just asked for the SL-9 files, sir.”

That would explain Ema’s outburst…

“And you gave him the files?” Miles asked.

“D-did I do something wrong?”

“Could I see the request?”

Gumshoe handed Miles a piece of paper. The handwriting was unmistakable. Miles chuckled.

“Our lovely defendant should try reading Wright’s handwriting before trying to imitate it,” Miles said, “let alone trying to imitate his way of speaking.”

Gumshoe whimpered.

“Don’t keep this kind of thing from me, Gumshoe,” Miles said calmly. “If there’s any case I need no doubts about, it’s this one.”

“S-sorry, sir…”

“Keep anything else from me and you can expect to do your grocery shopping at a homeless shelter.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You may go.”

Gumshoe walked off, dragging his feet.

So you think this case is connected to SL-9? I should have figured as much. The knife, the glove, the victim, and then these files… But we can deal with the connection after we find out who the killer in this case is.



The judge banged his gavel to bring court back into session.

“The court will now reconvene for the trial of Ms. Lana Skye,” he said.

“Allow me to call the next witness to the stand:” Miles said, “the officer in charge of guarding the evidence room on the day of the crime.”

Marshall took the stand, drinking something out of a small canteen.

“Witness, please state your name and occupation,” Miles requested.

“Me, pardner?” Marshall asked. “Oh, I’m just a man, same as you, wanderin’ the trails of civilization,”

“occasionally helping the elderly cross intersections when needed,” Miles finished.

“Oh, I know!” the judge exclaimed. “You’re a ‘patrolman’!”

“As for my name, if you listen hard ’nuff, you can hear the howling wind calling it out.”

“To be exact, it’s Jake Marshall,” Miles said. Clint Eastwood’s biggest fan. “…Your Honor.” Wright was already sweating. “Now, Mr. Marshall. Let me ask you something. You were in charge of guarding the evidence room on the day the crime took place. Is this correct?”

“According to the papers, pardner.”

Get rid of that accent, Marshall. You and I both know it’s fake.

“What do you mean?” the judge asked Marshall.

“A desperado’s soul is as boundless as the desert sands. No ‘paper’ can sum it up.”

But a paper can certainly sum up your salary.

The judge banged his gavel.

“Maybe it’s best we get on with this quickly,” he said. Please share with us your testimony of the day of the crime… in English!”

Trust me, Your Honor, you wouldn’t want to hear him faking Spanish.

“My job was to keep a wary eye on that bone orchard,” Marshall testified. “They said I was supposed to make rounds three times a day, but that ain’t my style. Besides, the room’s protected by two security systems, anyway. If I remember right, I was at a street-side saloon at the time it went down. I’m just an innocent travelin’ man, so if you’re out of ammo it’s time I hit the trail.”

Innocent traveling men don’t betray a lady’s trust, Mr. Eastwood.

“I can’t say I particularly care for your attitude…” the judge remarked.

“I can’t say I care for your beard,” Marshall shot back, “but you don’t see me complainin’.”

“Wait a minute…” Wright said. “What do you mean by ‘two security systems’?”

“I mean the security cameras and the ID card reader. I reckon even a cowpoke like you knows about those.”

“Yes, well, what about the fingerprint activated locks inside the evidence room?”

“Fingerprint activated locks? What kind of new-fangled doohickeys are those?”

Wright hunched over in an exasperated sweat.

“He’s not that good with machines…” Miles commented, “or with following orders.”

“Everyone’s got their weaknesses, now don’t they, Mr. Prosecutor?”

Some more prominent than others, Mr. Layabout.

“This one seems like trouble,” the judge said, shaking his head. “Okay Mr. Wright, he’s all yours.”

“Officer Marshall,” Wright said. “Doesn’t it strike you as odd? That is, you being called in to testify like this?”

Marshall was silent.

“After all, you weren’t in the security room at the time of the crime,” Wright continued.

“And yet you dragged me down here,” Marshall replied. “Explain yourself, pardner.”

“It’s quite simple. You left a very large trail behind at the scene. Or, to be exact… a handprint.”

“Hmph! Listen real good, pardner. Like I said, I’m the caretaker of that crypt. I pay my respects… that is, make my rounds, about once a month. It’s only natural my fingerprints would be in there.”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “I only wish it were, Officer,” He paused to hit his desk. “but you see… your fingerprints were covered in blood!”

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“Witness!” the judge cried. “What’s the meaning of this!? Your bloodstained fingerprints were at the crime scene…!?”

“The blood was wiped away, however!” Wright said. “A luminol test clearly revealed this! Well, Officer Marshall?”

“…It seems to me…” he started, “there ain’t a person in this room with a head on his shoulders.”

“I take it you have an explanation then, Officer Marshall?” Miles asked. He pointed at the witness. “About the ‘bloodstained’ fingerprints?”

The judge whacked his gavel.

“Very well,” he said, “you may begin your testimony about your fingerprints, found at the scene of the crime!”

“Like I said, it’s only natural for my fingerprints to be in that evidence room,” Marshall explained. “One of them just happened to be at the same place as the bloodstained handprint. The murderer touched the locker where my fingerprint was by chance. The bloodstain and the fingerprint are completely unrelated. Or didn’t you know the murderer was wearing gloves? See? I had nothing to do with it.”

“Hmm… The witness’s explanation appears valid, although there’s room for doubt.”

“Life wouldn’t be fun without any doubt, pardner.”

Although court proceedings would be a lot more efficient.

“The defense may now cross-examine the witness,” the judge said.

“Like I said, it’s only natural for my fingerprints to be in that evidence room,” Marshall repeated.

“Hold it!” Wright said. “That’s because you… how did you put it… ‘pay your respects,’ once a month?”

“Yeah, that’s right. That, and one more thing… That locker happens to be mine.”

“What!?” the judge asked. “What do you mean?”

“I mean what I said. That’s the locker I used when I was a detective… the locker I still use. All that’s in there now is a heap of broken dreams.”

“I see…” Wright said.

“It’d be strange if my prints WEREN’T all over that locker. One of them just happened to be at the same place as the bloodstained handprint.”

“So then… What about the bloody handprint?”

“Wasn’t mine. It’s no mystery.”

“Please explain,” the judge requested.

“My locker is covered with my fingerprints. It just so happened… The murderer touched the locker where my fingerprint was by chance.”

Wright banged on his desk. “The chances of that happening are a million to one!” he shouted.

“On the contrary, one could argue just the opposite. The chances of that not happening are a million to one! Get one thing straight, pardner. You ain’t gonna get no reward for me with a mere fingerprint. You wanna know why? The bloodstain and the fingerprint are completely unrelated.”

“Unrelated?”

“They’re as different as night and day. Kinda like ‘cereal’ an’ ‘serial.’ One’s got to do with breakfast while the other’s a type of murder.”

“He’s right…” the judge said, “although seemingly alike, they’re totally different.”

“Or didn’t you know the murderer was wearing gloves?”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “How do you know that!?”

“I may be a loner, but I still do my job. I keep up on the reports.”

“There was a bloodstain at the scene, thought to be left by the murderer,” Miles stated.

“That’s right, it was found on Detective Gumshoe’s locker,” Wright recalled.

“However, no fingerprints were detected on that handprint.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “So that would mean… the murderer, wearing gloves, happened to place his hand on top of Officer Marshall’s fingerprint.”

“That’s the only logical conclusion,” Marshall said. “Are you starting to get the picture, pardner?”

“The picture…?” Wright stammered.

“This seal of blood… in the desert, it’s just food for the buzzards. There’s only one reality, and that’s this.” Marshall motioned to the television. “So long as my trail isn’t in there… you can’t say otherwise.”

The judge banged his gavel. “This isn’t getting us anywhere, Mr. Wright,” he said. “Please consider carefully where you’re going with this cross-examination.”

“Y-yes, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“Now then, continue your testimony, Officer Marshall.”

“Too bad it wasn’t me in that video, right, pardner?” Marshall taunted.

“What do you mean by that?” Wright demanded.

“You want to tie me to this crime, isn’t that right, pardner? If so, that video is the only direct evidence you have.”

“Objection! But that video is useless! It’s full of blind spots!”

“Blind spots?” the judge asked.

“Places you can’t see! The camera’s panning back and forth, the floor isn’t shown… If someone was familiar with the camera’s position, he could leave the room without being caught on tape!”

“Objection!” Miles shouted, hitting his desk. “We don’t have time for your speculations, Mr. Wright.”

“Well, Mr. Wright,” the judge said. “If you can show us evidence in this video that indicates Officer Marshall was present, please do so now.”

“Very well,” Wright said with a nod. “Allow me to point out your mistake, Officer Marshall!”

“Tread carefully, Mr. Wright,” Miles warned, “or you might wind up being the one making the mistake.”

The judge banged his gavel. “Now then,” he said, “let’s have another look at the video. Show us this incriminating evidence of the witness… Officer Jake Marshall!”

Wright fast-forwarded past the “fight” and paused when the camera was looking toward the door. He pointed to a piece of cloth sticking out of Marshall’s locker, then hit his desk.

“Bringing our attention back to the security camera…” he started, “is a mistake I’m afraid you’ll soon not forget, Officer Marshall.”

“The days are short in Texas… and so are our tempers,” Marshall said. “Could you sum up what you have to say in eight words or less?”

“Very well,” Wright said with a nod. He banged on his desk, then pointed at Marshall. “You can clearly be seen in this video!”

“Exactly eight words… Not bad, pardner.”

“The key… lies in a certain locker shown in the video.”

“See this locker that has a white cloth sticking out?” the judge asked. “This is the witness’s locker.”

“Now then, let’s rewind the video a bit.”

The video rewound until it was looking at Marshall’s locker again. The cloth wasn’t there.

“Oh!” the judge exclaimed. “The white cloth… it’s gone! What’s the meaning of this, Officer Marshall!?”

“When the crime took place,” Wright explained, “the white cloth wasn’t there. Then… it suddenly appeared! There’s only one explanation:” He slammed his desk. “Officer Marshall! You were in the evidence room at the time of the crime! What’s more, you opened your locker when the camera was turned away!”

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel once.

“Order! Order!” the judge yelled. “It would seem that’s the only—”

“Hold your horses!” Marshall interrupted. “Sorry, pardner… but you got the wrong man. So what if my locker was opened? That doesn’t mean I’m the one who opened it!”

Yes it does, you twit.

“The murderer needed to hide something,” Marshall continued, “so he opened a locker and stuck it in. It’s not my fault he happened to choose mine!”

The court was silent.

“Why’s everyone staring at me like I’m a wanted man?” Marshall demanded when he noticed.

“Uh, I hate to rain on your parade,” Wright said, “but you’re the only person who can open that particular locker.”

“Oh yeah? I call your bluff. You say I opened that locker… Now prove it!”

“Take that!” Wright yelled as he tossed a file to Marshall. Marshall looked at it.

“A… ‘fingerprint’ sensor?”

Wright nodded. “We talked about this earlier today. The lockers can only be opened by the detectives they belong to.”

“W-what kinda crazy talk is this!?”

Wright pounded on his desk. “So, sheriff! What do you have to say… in eight words or less?”

“I only got one word for you, pardner. NOOOOO!!!”

The gallery began yammering until the judge banged his gavel.

“Order! Order! Order!” he shouted. “Witness! Explain yourself!”

“If this is a joke, it’s the worst I’ve ever heard…”

“I assure you this is no joke, Officer Marshall,” Wright replied. “Now then, please tell us what you were doing in the evidence room at the time of the crime!”

Marshall said nothing and simply tried to break a strip of jerky he had brought along.

“Olé!” the judge barked. “Please answer the question!”

Leave the Spanish to the people who speak it, Your Honor.

“That’s alright, Officer Marshall,” Wright taunted. “I believe we can figure the rest out from here.”

“We can?” the judge asked.

“Have a look at these floor plans,” Wright said, handing a copy to the bailiff to give it to the judge. “There is no place for someone to hide in the evidence room. Yet, Officer Meekins didn’t see Officer Marshall.”

“If that’s so, then… where was the witness?”

“It seems Mr. Wright has an answer,” Miles said.

The judge banged his gavel.

“Well then?” he requested. “Let’s hear it. Where was Officer Marshall at the time of the crime?”

Wright hit his desk. “Officer Marshall was standing right here!” he yelled, indicating the victim’s location.

“There? But that’s… That’s where the victim, Detective Goodman, was!”

Wright shook his head. “Correct… unless the man wasn’t Detective Goodman.” He struck his desk. “I believe the ‘victim’ in the video is… Officer Marshall! It was you, dressed up like Detective Goodman!”

“Objection!” Miles shouted, hitting his desk. “But that’s preposterous! Officer Meekins witnessed the detective at the crime scene! Onde he saw the man’s face, he’d know for sure!”

“Objection!” Wright countered. “May I point out though, that Officer Meekins did not know Detective Goodman. He also testified about the man’s reaction when confronted. Something about the Officer’s story puzzled me. If the man had his ID card, why didn’t he just show it?”

“Yes, he would have needed it to enter the evidence room, so he must have been carrying it,” the judge agreed.

“The answer is simple. He couldn’t show it.”

What? Why not?

“As you can see,” Wright continued, “Detective Goodman’s picture is on his ID card.”

“Oh, I get it,” the judge said.

“If he showed that, his cover would have been blown! Officer Meekins would have realized the man wasn’t Detective Goodman. Do you have anything to say to this, Officer Marshall?”

“You’ve got quite an imagination, pardner,” Marshall said after a moment. “We got a term for that. It’s called ‘circumstantial evidence.’”

“Circumstantial evidence…?”

“You’re gonna have to do better than that to break a detective. Unless you have hard evidence proving I dressed up as the victim…”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “I can’t say I care for your uncooperative disposition…”

“I can’t say I care for your beard, but you don’t see me complainin’.”

This sounds too familiar…

“Well, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked. “Do you have any evidence? Any evidence proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Officer Marshall dressed up as the victim?”

“Well…” Wright started, but not finishing. He hunched over and started sweating.

Ludicrous. You point out problems I couldn’t find, and then you trip on the last blow?

“I can see the fear in your eyes, pardner,” Marshall gloated. “Seems like you’re the one who couldn’t take the desert heat!”

“Ack!”

“Hmph,” Miles laughed. “It looks like your lack of experience has finally been exposed. I’ll pass onto you what someone told me when I was just starting out. When you’re run into a wall with no place to go, return to the basics.”

“The basics…” Wright echoed.

“Why do you think this locker was opened in the first place?” Miles asked.

“What do you mean?” the judge replied.

“There’s no reason for Officer Marshall to open his locker at the time of the crime. Yet he did, despite the chance it might be discovered later as it has been.”

“According to the defense’s argument, Officer Jake Marshall dressed up as Detective Goodman at the time of the crime. Then, after the crime was ‘committed,’ he opened his own locker for some unknown reason.”

“The fact that a white ‘cloth’ is sticking out of the locker seems to indicate that he opened it in order to put the cloth inside,” Miles said.

“So… just what exactly is this piece of cloth?”

“Perhaps…” Wright said. “Perhaps the video is the key to all our unanswered questions.”

The judge whacked his gavel.

“Very well,” he said. “Let’s take yet another look at the security tape. After committing the crime, the witness opened the locker to put away the white cloth. Please show us why the witness had to open his locker!”

Wright paused the video at the moment Meekins and “Goodman” were fighting. He pointed at the blood on “Goodman’s” coat. He then hit his desk.

“For some reason,” he began, “you disguised yourself as Detective Goodman, and entered the evidence room. I don’t know what that reason was… yet.”

“‘Yet’?” Marshall repeated.

“However, something unexpected happened. Officer Meekins barged in on you. When asked to show your ID card, you pulled a knife on him. However! Officer Meekins panicked, and the white coat you were wearing was soiled with blood!”

“A bloody white coat…” the judge commented.

“You couldn’t just walk out like that, so you hid the coat in your locker.”

“Not bad, huh ‘pardner’?” Marshall asked. The gallery started up, but quieted down before the judge needed to use his gavel.

“Now then, Officer Marshall,” the judge said. “Are you ready to tell us the truth?”

“Looks like I underestimated y’all. I hope you’re happy now, Mr. Edgeworth.”

Happy about what?

“Two years ago…” Marshall continued, “if you were only half as persistent then as you are today, we all wouldn’t have to be here, now would we?”

What are you blathering about!?

“Officer Marshall!” Wright barked, hitting his desk. “Tell the court what you did… all of it.”

“Alright. It seems the time has come.”

I have a bad feeling about this…

“I had to do it that day,” Marshall said. “I couldn’t just stand by and let it die. I stole the detective’s ID and dressed like him. I planned to take out the evidence. I wasn’t expecting Officer Meekins. I knocked him out and managed to escape. I knew which areas wouldn’t be caught on the camera. There wasn’t any murder in the evidence room at 5:15.”

“So the supposed ‘victim’ was really you…” the judge said.

“But there’s one thing I still don’t understand,” Miles said. “Large quantities of blood traces were found on the floor of the evidence room. If no one was murdered, then how could that be?”

“Officer Meekins managed to cut his own hand,” Marshall answered. “My guess is he’s the donor.”

Either Meekins suffers from hemophilia, or there’s something else to that blood trace.

“When you say ‘it,’” Wright pressed, “you mean…”

“Do you even have to ask, pardner?” Marshall replied.

SL-9, naturally. Why can’t I get away from that cursed case?

“Two years have passed since that case was closed,” Miles said. “It was going to completely end with the transferal that day.”

“Not if I have anything to do with it. That incident’s not over!”

“But what did you hope to accomplish by sneaking into the evidence room?” Wright asked.

“When a case is closed, only the detective who was in charge of it can look through the evidence. I wanted to have a look at it myself one more time… no matter what the cost. I don’t care what anyone says, pardner. That case is mine.”

I’d hardly call it yours, Marshall.

“That day was my last chance,” Marshall continued. “That’s why I… I stole the detective’s ID and dressed like him. I planned to take out the evidence.”

“Hold it!” Wright interrupted. “Why did you disguise yourself as Detective Goodman?”

“If I didn’t make it look like Goodman was carrying out the evidence transferal, I’d be arrested for stealing evidence, which wouldn’t get me anywhere.”

“So you did it to fool the security camera,” Miles said.

“And the detective’s ID card?” the judge asked.

“I stole that the morning of the incident,” Marshall replied. “I returned his ID card. I left it on the floor in the Prosecutor’s Office parking lot.”

“So essentially, you managed to succeed despite your lack of foresight,” Miles said.

“What do you mean… pardner?”

“I mean the fingerprint-activated lock, of course. No matter how well you disguise yourself, you can’t change your fingerprints. Normally, that locker shouldn’t have opened.”

“I wasn’t expecting Officer Meekins. I knocked him out—”

“Hold it!” Wright yelled. “You pulled a knife on Officer Meekins and tried to drive him off?”

“Let’s just say I was a little surprised. I only planned on being in the evidence room for no more than five minutes. I didn’t think anyone would actually come in during that short time."

“Officer Meekins…” the judge commented, “certainly is a one-in-a-million type of person. “Mistaking a detective for an intruder and demanding to be shown his ID…”

“I’ll have to think a little more about his raise this year…” Miles said.

“Anyway,” Marshall cut in, “he threw himself at me, and I ended up cutting him slightly.”

If you think Meekins is the one behind all that blood, I’d say you cut him more than just “slightly.”

“I’m sorry it had to turn out that way,” Marshall continued, “with me knocking him out and everything.”

“By the way, what happened to your knife?” Wright asked.

“Oh, you mean this one?” Marshall replied, shaving off a bit of his stubble with a knife.

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “So, what happened next?”

“I managed to escape. I knew which areas wouldn’t be caught on the camera.”

“So you did your research beforehand,” Wright said.

“Those who go into the desert unprepared don’t live long, pardner. I didn’t think it would make a difference, though. The security tape is erased every six hours. If all had gone as planned, no footage would have been left.”

“However,” Miles said, “you bloodied your coat in your struggle with Officer Meekins.”

“If someone was in the security room when I came out, the jig would have been up. I opened my locker and stashed it in there.”

“What was Officer Meekins doing during that time?” Wright asked.

“What else? He was sleeping like a baby.”

“So what you’re saying is,” the judge started, “on that day…”

“There wasn’t any murder in the evidence room at 5:15,” Marshall finished.

“Hold it!” Wright shouted, hitting his desk. “But the blood found at the scene certainly indicates a crime took place!”

“What are you, blind? The ‘victim’ shown on that tape is me, and I’m not dead yet, pardner.”

“So, you stole the evidence from the locker?” Miles asked, hoping to find a new issue with the case.

“Actually… no, I didn’t.”

“Why not?”

“When I opened the locker, the evidence was already gone.”

“What!?” the judge cried. “Mr. Edgeworth. Where is that evidence?”

“It’s still missing, Your Honor,” Miles replied. And I’ll probably get blamed for it if I know the Bar Association.

The gallery started up.

Wright slammed his desk.

“Officer Marshall,” he said. “May I ask you one thing?”

“Fire away, pardner,” Marshall answered. “It’s a free country. Just remember, I’m also free to decide whether or not to answer.”

“Why did you do this? Stealing a detective’s ID, injuring a police officer… This is no small offense!”

“Moreover,” Miles added, “you’re an officer yourself. This will have serious consequences. It can’t just be forgiven with a simple cut in salary.”

Marshall was silent for a moment, then he spoke. “Like I said. This isn’t your case. This one is mine. And I’ll do anything it takes to get an answer I’m satisfied with.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “The witness has an unusual amount of zeal. Let’s hear more.”

“I can’t just forget the SL-9 Incident… You know why?”

“Officer Marshall,” Wright said. “I think I understand. I think I know why you care so much about the SL-9 Incident.”

“Sounds like you’ve been sipping too much cactus juice, pardner.”

“I have the SL-9 Incident file here,” Wright said, holding one form from it. “The name ‘Marshall’ is mentioned in here… in a list of murder victims. ‘Neil Marshall’… Are you related to this man?”

“Neil Marshall…?” Miles asked.

“Yeah, I’m sure you heard the name,” Marshall spat. “Two years ago… he received the same lousy prosecutor award you got.”

“What!?” the judge barked. “A prosecutor…?”

“Now I remember…” Miles said. “Prosecutor Neil Marshall. He handled the SL-9 case before I did.”

“That’s right,” Marshall confirmed. “He was killed… and the case fell into your hands.”

“But what’s his relation to you…?” the judge asked.

“He was my brother. He was investigating the murders with Damon Gant, Chief Detective at the time. The group of detectives I was part of worked under them. We were desperate to prosecute the killer. Joe Darke… My brother fought Darke and was killed. That was the first time Darke left behind any evidence. That was all we needed. He was arraigned and incarcerated. The case was finally closed… at least, according to the public records.”

“What do you mean?”

“My brother couldn’t have been killed by Joe Darke. I knew my brother better than anyone… No one could have beaten him in a fight.”

“And that’s it?” Miles scoffed. “That’s your reason for your insane actions?”

And I’m pretty sure your brother’s not nearly as tough as you’d like to think.

“There’s more to my brother’s death than what the records say. No matter how much you try to hide it, you can’t fool me.”

Let me guess: you’re going to say I forged evidence in that case.

The judge banged his gavel.

“Well…” he started, “at least one thing’s for certain. Now we know what happened at the Police Department on the day of the crime.”

“That was the last day the SL-9 case could be reopened,” Miles stated. “Not satisfied with its resolution, Officer Marshall planned to steal the evidence.”

“Disguising himself as Detective Goodman,” Wright added, “he entered the evidence room. Officer Meekins confronted him, so he rendered him unconscious and fled.”

“Yes, this mystery has finally been cleared up. No murder took place at the Police Department that day!” Meaning Lana really did do it… “The things that happen by chance never cease to amaze… At exactly the same time as the murder at the Prosecutor’s Office… this fake murder was going on at the Police Department.”

The judge banged his gavel. “So if no one was murdered at the Police Department on the day of the crime,” he said, “that means the murder in the Prosecutor’s Office’s parking lot was the real one.”

“Which, in turn, means…” I can barely say it… “only one person could have committed the crime: Chief Prosecutor Lana Skye.”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “B-but wait! A verdict wasn’t reached in yesterday’s trial!”

"Objection!” Miles countered, striking his desk. “Which is why we examined the incident at the Police Department today.”

“But…!”

“There’s only one reason the defendant was not convicted yesterday: there yet remained the mystery of the simultaneous murder at the Police Department.”

“It seems to me… this boy’s got the draw on you, pardner,” Marshall added.

“All the mysteries at the Police Department have been uncovered. No contradictions…” he paused to hit his desk, “remain. The murder took place at the Prosecutor’s Office! The only suspect is Lana Skye. There were no errors in the testimony of the witness, Angel Starr! If you have a response… make it one word or less.”

“ARRRGHHHH!!!” Wright screamed.

“I rest my case,” Miles said, taking a bow.

The gallery started murmuring, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“It seems this trial has reached its conclusion,” he said. “There’s no room for doubt.”

“Well done, Mr. Wright,” Miles commented. “Thanks to you, I didn’t need to waste any time disproving the alleged ‘murder’ at the Police Department.”

The judge banged his gavel. “Now then, the time for the verdict has arrived.”

I guess it really was Lana… It’s just so hard to believe…

“This court finds the defendant…”

“Hold it!” a voice shouted. A moment later, Ema ran into the courtroom. “Y-your Honor! Wait!”

“Ema!” Wright yelped.

“The defense has an objection. A scientific objection! Right?”

“What do you mean, ‘right?’”

“Mr. Wright,” the judge called. “Are you this girl’s guardian?”

Hah. The day Wright watches over a teenage girl is the day he gets disbarred for forging evidence.

“Your Honor!” Wright replied. “Oh, uh… in a sense…”

“Please, Your Honor,” Ema begged. “All I’m asking is for a minute of your time! Please hear me out! Mr. Edgeworth, please…”

Her love for her sister is truly touching… “I don’t want to leave any loose ends,” Miles said after a moment. If only because this is one case I need to be absolutely sure of… “You want a minute? I’ll give you three.”

“I… I was kind of in shock,” Ema said, averting her eyes from anyone who looked at her. “I mean, finding out the SL-9 Incident referred to the Joe Darke Killings! But that’s when I figured it out. I mean, what Officer Marshall was trying to do that day… So I knew his fingerprint had nothing to do with the crime. That left only one thing… the other handprint!”

“You mean the traces of blood found on Detective Gumshoe’s locker…”

“But no fingerprints were found on it, right?” the judge asked.

“No,” Ema admitted, “but I figured if I examined it scientifically… I’d be sure to find a clue! So I ran over there and looked at it again!”

That print… What if it is related to the crime? But… If it was, Marshall’s fingerprints would have been on it. Oh, Ema… Why must you prolong our agony?

“So, did you find something?” Wright asked.

“Um… No!”

“Huh?”

“Sorry. I guess I’m not much of a scientific investigator after all.”

Poor Ema… She really thinks her sister’s innocent… Then again, I’m still having trouble believing Lana would kill someone… even to protect someone else…

“Um…” Wright sighed. “Is that all?”

“Please don’t be mad,” Ema half-said, half-cried. “I’m just a high school student! But Mr. Wright! Those traces of blood are the only clue we have! If we can’t find something wrong with them… Please, Mr. Wright. You’re a professional. If anyone can save Lana, it’s you!”

“Me? Oh boy…”

No wonder he’s sweating. The risk of letting someone like Ema down would make anyone nervous.

The judge banged his gavel. “Time’s up,” he said. “Now then, Mr. Wright. Wirh regard to the incident at the Police Department… Does any reasonable doubt remain?”

“Um…”

“It appears the defense is troubled by the other blood mark,” Miles said. He took out a copy of the evidence room floor plans. “Looking at the floor plans, a handprint was discovered around here. Is there a problem with this?”

“Mr. Wright!” Ema called. “I’m sorry I can’t be of more use… But still! If you can’t find anything wrong with that blood mark, Lana will be…”

For both our sakes, Wright, please find something wrong that makes sense…

“Please answer my question, Mr. Wright,” the judge ordered. “We don’t have all day.”

“Y-yes, Your Honor,” Wright stammered. He stopped to think, looking at the floor plans. “Objection!” He banged on his desk. “This handprint left at the crime scene… clearly shows a contradiction!”

That pause… I should have figured he had nothing.

“The only thing that seems clear is you’re grasping, Mr. Wright,” Miles taunted.

Maybe that’ll help. He does tend to fare better after I taunt him, after all.

“You’ve been staring pretty intently at those floor plans,” the judge noted. “Tell me… is there a problem with them?”

Wright continued thinking. He then seemed confident.

Finally…

“Take a good look at these floor plans,” he said. “Something is missing.”

“‘Missing’…?” Miles asked. “You mean, something hasn’t been drawn on there?”

“Yes. Something that, when drawn, will completely change the meaning of the blood mark!”

The judge banged his gavel and shook his head. “Let us pray the defense isn’t simply trying to buy time. Very well, Mr. Wright! The question is… which item can prove something is missing in the floor plans?”

“Take that!” Wright shouted, holding a picture of the Blue Badger.

“What about that piece of plywood?” Marshall scoffed.

“The Blue Badger! Mascot of the police force! Defender of truth, guardian of proof!”

“Explain yourself, Mr. Wright,” Miles demanded.

“Please look at the floor plans of the crime scene. The Blue Badger is not here.”

“So?” Marshall asked.

“So watch what happens when we put him in.” Wright took out his pen and marked the Blue Badger’s location. “This is where he was dancing at the time of the crime.” He held up the map so everyone could see. “Well…?”

“Well… what?” the judge asked.

Wait… That spot… Miles jerked back with a loud gasp.

“That’s right,” Wright said. “So long as the Blue Badger is dancing here, it would be impossible… to place a handprint at this spot on the locker!”

“Whaaaaat!?” Marshall screamed, summing up the gallery’s murmurs quite well.

The judge banged his gavel three times. “So that means…” he trailed off. “Uh… just exactly what does that mean!?”

“It means it can’t be done!” Wright replied.

“What are you saying? Blood traces were undeniably found on that locker!”

“Don’t look at me, I didn’t put it there!”

“Mr. Wright!” Ema called. “Think it through scientifically!”

“Ema!”

“On that afternoon… Officer Meekins was the one who brought the Blue Badger to the evidence room, right? After he put it down, it would be impossible to leave a handprint on that locker.”

“So that must mean this blood mark… was left there before the Blue Badger was brought in…?”

“Just one moment!” the judge barked. “I will not allow such farfetched balderdash in my courtroom!”

“It may sound farfetched, Your Honor… but it’s the only possible explanation! On February 21st… in the Police Department’s evidence room…” He pounded on his desk. “blood was spilled not once, but twice!”

“B-but how…!” Miles almost screamed, doubling over his desk.

“One time was captured on this tape, taken by the security camera. Officer Meekins cut his hand, from which a trivial amount of blood fell. The problem is… the ‘other’ time. Someone bled prior to the struggle shown on this tape.” He banged on his desk. “It had to have been… Detective Goodman, when he was really murdered!”

“Objection!” Miles shouted, striking his desk. “That’s ridiculous! I refute you!”

“Objection! The murder portrayed in the security tape has been proven to be a fake. However! That does not explain the blood mark found on the locker!”

“Objection! So then… assuming this ‘murder’ you purport really happened, when did it take place!? I demand you show evidence that proves it occurred!”

“To surmise,” the judge said, “the defense claims that… prior to Officer Meekins being cut by Jake Marshall, who was disguised as Detective Goodman, another ‘incident’ took place in that evidence room.”

“The blood mark on the locker proves this,” Wright said.

“Very well. Then tell us… When did this ‘first’ incident occur? Proof must be presented.”

The ID Card Record, no doubt.

“Now then,” the judge continued. “Will the defense please present its evidence? What shows when the ‘first’ crime took place?”

“If the crime took place inside the evidence room,” Wright said, “then the perpetrator would had to have entered the room. In order to do so, an ID card is required.”

I knew it.

“An ID card…” the judge echoed. “Oh! The ID Card Record!”

“Officer Meekins brought the Blue Badger panel into the evidence room at…”

“Let’s see here… 4:50 PM. If the crime took place before that time, then it would be… 4:40 PM… Ah! AAAAAAAHHH! M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-Miles Edgeworth! Just what have you done!?”

Are you sure you were once a lawyer, Your Honor?

“I never figured you had nerve, boy,” Marshall sneered.

“Put off the act, witness,” Miles said. “It doesn’t take a lot of thought to figure out it couldn’t have been me.”

“Hmm… Nope, I ain’t gettin’ it…”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “I’m afraid I don’t understand either.”

For starters, I wouldn’t frame someone I care so much about.

“It’s clear from the luminol test that blood was there,” Miles explained. “However, when the ‘second’ crime took place, both Officer Meekins and Officer Marshall failed to notice the blood.”

“That means…” Wright started, “the blood from the first crime was wiped away… by the real murderer."

“I would have had just ten minutes to murder the victim, carry his body away, and clean up the blood… Unfortunately, that’s physically impossible.”

“That would mean…” the judge said, “the crime must have taken place before Mr. Edgeworth entered the evidence room.”

“Let’s look at the chart again,” Wright said. “There’s only one other card number remaining: ‘7777777’!”

“Talk about a lucky number…” Marshall commented.

“But wait…” the judge said. “That doesn’t make sense! How could Detective Goodman have entered the evidence room?”

“Since there’s no record of his card being used beforehand…” Wright stated, “he must have entered along with the real murderer.” He bit his desk. “That’s the only plausible explanation. He went in with ‘7777777’!”

The judge banged his gavel. “Mr. Edgeworth! Please look into this ASAP! Find out whose ID number is ‘77777777’!”

“That’s one ‘seven’ too many, Your Honor,” Miles said. “Unfortunately… I’m unable to look up the owner of that ID card. At least, at present.”

“What!?” Wright barked.

“Explain yourself, son,” Marshall demanded.

“The ID number ‘7777777’ belongs to someone with a rank of Captain or higher…” Miles explained. “Someone who is a so-called ‘executive officer.’ We don’t have the authority to inquire into such a person’s identity.”

“Objection!” Wright yelled, banging on his desk. “But that’s ridiculous! Just how—”

“I’m not finished talking, Mr. Wright. There is one situation in which we can be granted such authority.”

“If an official charge against an executive is accepted,” the judge said.

“An ‘official charge’…” Wright said.

“You’re all alike, aren’t you?” Marshall complained. “With your ‘cover-ups’ and your ‘forgeries’… That’s how the Prosecutor’s Office operates!”

The gallery started up.

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “I take pride in my work, Officer Marshall. I would appreciate it if you would keep your slander to yourself.”

“‘Slander,’ is it? Okay. Let me ask a question.”

“Yes?”

“No, not to you. To her, the defendant sitting over there. Your own little ‘executive.’”

“Objection! Don’t be stupid. She’s been charged with murder. Of course we’ve looked into her ID number… and it’s not ‘7777777.’”

“Don’t play me for a fool, pardner. That’s not what I want to ask. All I want to know is one thing… about that incident.”

“The SL-9 Incident?” the judge asked.

“Answer me this, Chief Prosecutor!” Marshall demanded. “In that trial two years ago… Did you really only use legitimate evidence!?”

What!? Why are you pushing this!?

Lana waited until it was quiet.

“Do you need the witness to repeat his question, Chief Prosecutor?” Miles asked.

“I heard him fine, Mr. Edgeworth,” Lana replied.

“Two years ago… I was in charge of the prosecution for that trial. At the time, we…”

“Occasionally…” Lana interrupted, “we felt the powerlessness of the law. At least… I did.”

What!? Lana… You can’t be serious…!

“L-Lana…” Ema squeaked.

“I became a prosecutor in order to suppress crime with the law,” Lana continued. “But before I realized it, we were the ones being suppressed by the law.”

“Defendant!” the judge snapped. “Just what are you saying!?”

“I’ll ask you again, Chief Prosecutor,” Marshall said. “During that trial two years ago… did you really present all the evidence in court? Can you look me, an investigator in that crime, in the eye and say that you did?”

“Chief Prosecutor! You didn’t…”

Lana… Please tell me you haven’t been lying to me…

“I don’t have to, Officer Marshall,” Lana said to Marshall.

No! “Why don’t you answer him!?” Miles demanded.

“Drastic crimes require drastic measures… That’s just the way it is. We did what we had to… in order for him to get the verdict he deserved.” Lana was looking directly at Miles. He could see the sorrow in her eyes.

“But Lana!” Ema cried.

“Even if it involved ‘forging’ evidence.”

No… Lana… you… you…!!!

“See?” Marshall said, breaking the courtroom’s silence. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

“No…” Miles almost cried. “NNNOOOOOOO!!!”

Miles collapsed onto his desk as the gallery filled the courtroom with jeers. The judge tried in vain to silence the uproar.

“Order!” he roared, repeatedly banging his gavel. “Order! Order! ORDERRRRR!!!”

How could you, Lana? Mere days before it happened, we had every intent to spend our lives together. There were going to be no secrets between us, no lies… Is your blackmailer truly so horrible that you had to forsake our future together?

I needed you, Lana. Out of all the people I knew, I felt I could trust you no matter what happened. Up to this point, I always believed you would do what was right… no matter the cost… But you’ve been deceiving me from the start. Is this the real you? Someone who will do anything to save her own skin?


Miles brought his head up from his desk. Everyone had left.

All that’s happened… because of the woman I loved… Why must life torment me so!?

Miles ran out of the courtroom, too heartbroken to cry.
Image
I'll always love you, Max.


Last edited by General Luigi on Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Tales of Law and LoveTopic%20Title

True love is forever.

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Ah ha! I've been waiting for this revelation to occur in the story and I must say that you didn't let me down. The emotion in the chapter was handled really well particularly at the end, with a mild exception for a few points in the story where I thought Edgeworth's thoughts didn't quite reflect the torment he should have been feeling as he worked to prove Lana's guilt. This chapter had a particularly strong ending and left me waiting anxiously for the next one. Good work. I look forward to more. :)
Proud Supporter of Phoenix/Iris, Ron/Dessie, Klavier/Ema, and Apollo/Vera
Fanfics Updated-12/25
Re: Tales of Law and LoveTopic%20Title
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In Justice We Trust

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Chapter 24—The Final Phases

February 24, 2017


Wright walked into the room, Ema by his side. Lana greeted them with her usual cold gaze.

“L-Lana…” Ema stuttered.

“Mr. Wright,” Lana said. “It seems I keep causing you trouble.”

“Falsifying evidence…” Wright said, amazed. “I didn’t think you were the type.”

“Criminals don’t mind playing foul, why should we?”

“But Lana!” Ema cut in. “If you’re wrong… an innocent person might be found guilty!”

“Believe me… I understand the risks.” If you knew the risk disobeying Gant involved, you’d realize my motive, Ema.

“Lana,” Wright said. “Ema told me about you.”

“Oh?”

“About how you were a detective two years ago, and how the SL-9 Incident was the reason for your transfer to the Prosecutor’s Office.”

“That’s right.”

“Could you fill me in on the details? Especially about that unusual change of jobs.”

The details? No… I can’t tell you everything… but I’ll tell you what I need to. “I suppose you have a right to know, Mr. Wright. It’s true. I was a member of the police force two years ago.”

“She was amazing!” Ema chirped. “They still talk about all the cases she and Chief Gant cracked together!”

“Chief Gant?” Wright asked.

“Then he was the Vice-Head of Criminal Affairs,” Lana explained, “but he still worked the crime scenes. Damon Gant… he was everything I aspired to be.” Until I learned his true intentions, that is…

“They were the best team ever!” Ema exclaimed. “They solved crimes before the reports could even be filed!”

“But now you’re Chief Prosecutor…” Wright said. “What happened?”

“I always planned on being a prosecutor,” Lana replied. “The reason I became a detective was…”

“to gain experience investigating crime scenes,” Ema finished, “so you could later use that experience in court.”

“Gant’s help in the SL-9 case was critical in its resolution. After that, he became Chief of Police, and arranged my transfer to the Prosecutor’s Office.”

“A lot of revelations were uncovered at the trial today,” Wright said, “not the least of which was the fact that this case is largely connected to another one, two years ago.”

“Evidence from that case was stolen…” Probably by Gant… “I expected as much. I know how obsessive Officer Marshall can be.”

“That trial…” Ema sobbed, “it really wasn’t ‘fair,’ was it?”

Ema… If only you knew why…

“I believed in you, Lana!” Ema cried. “I believed that no matter what happened, you’d always stick to the truth!”

“It couldn’t be helped, Ema,” Lana replied. “At that trial two years ago… I sold my soul.”

“Well,” Wright cut in, “all drama aside, the fact of the matter is at 5:15, there was no murder at the Police Department.”

“Tell me it’s not true, Lana!” Ema begged. “What the witness… Ms. Starr said! About you stabbing Mr. Goodman with a knife!”

That much was true… but not in the way Starr would have you believe.

“Lana!” Ema snapped. “I don’t understand! Why won’t you tell us?”

“Ema…” Lana finally said, averting her gaze. “This doesn’t involve just me.”

“Um…” Wright said, “going back to SL-9…”

“Two years ago I was second-in-command of the detectives investigating Darke,” Lana said.

“‘Second-in-command’? That means the Chief Detective was, no doubt, Damon Gant?”

“Yes. Detective Gant and I shared the same office, and the same investigations. We led a team of the best detectives on the force: Detective Goodman, whose case it was, Jake Marshall and Angel Starr. It was the first time Marshall worked with his brother. He was quite… ‘gung ho.’” Not unlike Gumshoe when he works with Miles.

“Without a doubt,” Lana continued, “Joe Darke was the serial killer. We asked him to come in for questioning. We were desperate for evidence. That was when the last murder took place.”

“Prosecutor Marshall was trying to save me from Darke…” Ema said.

“You see, the first person who happened upon the scene of the crime… was me.”

Wright looked surprised.

“Detective Gant and Prosecutor Marshall were the ones questioning Dark that day,” Lana continued. “The investigation was in its final stages, when Darke must have panicked. He waited until Gant and Marshall let their guards down, then fled the room. From there, he ran straight to…” she took a deep breath, “the office shared by Detective Gant and myself.”

“That’s where he found me,” Ema squeaked.

“So you were the first person to run to the scene, Lana?” Wright asked.

“It appears so,” Lana replied. “I was filing some papers while Gant and Marshall were questioning Darke. When I returned to my office, I saw three bodies on the floor and smelled blood.”

“Three bodies? Prosecutor Marshall, the victim, Ema, who had passed out,”

“and the suspect, Joe Darke,” Lana finished. “During the struggle, it seems Mr. Marshall struck a final blow before he died. Joe Darke had incurred a minor concussion, and lay unconscious.”

“What did you do?”

“To be honest, I panicked. I picked up Ema, carried her out of the room and just held her. After that, I placed Darke under immediate arrest.”

“Let me get this straight. You were all involved in the SL-9 Incident?”

“That’s right. Quite a coincidence, hmm?”

“I don’t buy it.”

“W-what are you saying?” Ema asked.

“There’s no way everyone involved in this trial was also involved in that incident just by ‘chance.’”

“But that case was solved two years ago!”

“At least one person went to extremes because they didn’t believe it was truly solved.”

“Officer Marshall…” Lana commented. “Yes, his actions came as a surprise to me as well. Ever since his brother died, he’s changed completely.”

“I guess he wasn’t convinced with the ruling against Joe Darke,” Ema said.

Well, that makes sense, considering that we lied. “Life doesn’t end with the closing of a case. Everyone has to live the rest of their lives with their memories.” Which is why I couldn’t bear to let Miles know…

“That ‘case’ just might not be over yet,” Wright said.

No, please…

“Ema was assaulted by Darke at the Police Department, right?”

“Yes, in the office that Damon Gant and I shared,” Lana answered. “The office that Mr. Gant now occupies by himself: the Chief’s office.”

Wright nodded and got up, walking out the door. Ema hesitated, looking to Lana sadly before following.

The final day is tomorrow… It’ll be over then. Ema will finally be safe…

Lana’s right hand shook. Her face contorted into a glare.

Gant… May your death be slow and painful, and may you be conscious right up to the end. May it last for as long as you have caused others pain. For what you’ve done to me, to Miles, to Ema, and everyone else who has suffered at your infernal hands, you deserve sympathy from no one.

How often have my thoughts wandered down this path? I feel as though I have hated you my entire life. I have you to thank for very much, though all you helped me achieve, and every pleasure I have felt because of you, has been taken from me now. Thanks to my post as a detective, Ema and I could finally move to a more comfortable home. We even were able to get another cat. And then there was Miles. Had you not taken me under your wing, I probably would never have met him.

But after SL-9, you robbed me of it all. Nothing in life pleased me as much as it used to. Every second, the guilt of what I did, and the torture of being powerless to fight you, engraved a frown into my face and encased my heart in ice.

It’s not over yet, though. Even though I will surely fall, you will fall with me. You’ve robbed me of almost everything I held dear; it’s only fair that I do the same to you. When that case is finally closed for good, I’ll tell all; you’ll be exposed. Ema will be perfectly safe with the closing of the case, but there are still forgeries you have committed that are subject to punishment. At last, the world will know the beast that is Damon Gant.




Miles didn’t come that day. He was no doubt still furious about the forgeries. It made sense, though; he trusted Lana more than anyone else, and then she told him she had been lying to him.

Lana heard the door open. It was Wright again.

“Where’s Ema?” Lana asked.

“Chief Gant wanted to talk to her,” Wright replied. “He needed to ask her some questions.”

“I see. So the Chief asked Ema to come in for questioning…”

“It’s no use thinking about it. Tomorrow’s the final day in court. I’m committed to doing everything I can to defend you, which is why I’m here.”

“But I’ve already told you all I can…”

“What you’ve told me over these past couple of days… is absolutely nothing. Not a single, useful thing.”

So you’re really going to try to take him down? I’m sorry, Wright, but I’ve made up my mind. I’ll defeat Gant on my own.

“Really?” Lana asked. "I believe I did mention something quite important. Something I told you right at the beginning. I said that I was the one who stabbed Detective Goodman.”

“You know, I think I’ve finally figured it out…” Wright said. “Who it is you’re hiding behind those words.”

You’re making a mistake, Wright.

“Mia did a good job mentoring you,” Lana said. “I’m rather jealous… It seems Edgeworth was right.”

“Edgeworth…?”

“Once you’re convinced you know something, no one can persuade you otherwise. ‘Thick headed’ is the term he used, I believe.”

Wright looked as though he was mulling something over.

This case is too much for you. Get out before you send Ema to prison with me.

“I have to admit I was more than a little perplexed at first,” Wright finally said. “You insisted you ‘did it,’ yet there was no incriminating evidence. That’s when it hit me. It’s not that you’re unwilling to tell the truth, it’s that you’re incapable of doing so, because of a certain individual.”

“What an intriguing notion,” Lana said, averting her gaze from Wright. “A certain, ‘individual,’ you say? So you think I’m… protecting this person?”

“Protecting? No. I think ‘afraid of’ is more like it.”

He’s figured it out… I can’t let him know that, though.

“If I’m not mistaken,” Wright continued, “the person in question may have persuaded you to silence.”

I have to keep quiet about this… Ema’s well-being—possibly her life—is at stake.

“For argument’s sake, Mr. Wright,” Lana requested, “whom may I ask is this person you’re speaking of? The one I am supposedly so ‘frightened’ of? What is this person’s name?”

“Damon Gant,” Wright answered. Lana felt her muffler getting sweaty. “Well, Ms. Skye?”

Lana turned around, facing away from Wright to conceal the broken face she felt trying to escape. “Mr. Wright. You are addressing the Chief Prosecutor. Do not forget your place. My apologies.” She turned back to face him, her usual face back. “Could you please tell me a bit more about the circumstances?”

Wright motioned for Lana to continue.

“We were partners until two years ago,” Lana said. “I respected him as a detective.”

“Assuming he is respectable, then tell me something…” Wright said. “Why would he try to hide his crimes?”

“His ‘crimes’…?”

“Both you and Edgeworth will be brought before a board of inquiry for what you did. Specifically, hiding and forging evidence.”

“Of course, these are serious offenses…”

“Why is it, thought, that Chief Gant’s name was never mentioned?”

“Chief Gant…?”

“Edgeworth didn’t know the truth behind the forgery. The only party who could have possibly investigated that evidence was…”

“Me,” Lana said. “I had access because I was second in command of that investigation.”

“Yes you, but also one other: Damon Gant.”

Yes, you’re definitely Mia’s student. She was too persistent for her own good, too.

“If you intend to accuse Chief Gant,” Lana said, “you’ll need more than just words.” She glared at Wright. “Show me proof that Chief Gant falsified evidence in that case!”

“Take that!” Wright shouted, taking a jar from his bag and pointing to a section with red lines—probably blood—on it. “This jar piece, and this strip of cloth.” He took out a piece of cloth with a handprint on it. “Do you know what these are? They’re pieces of evidence from the SL-9 Incident!”

“I…”

“The person concealing evidence was none other than Chief Gant himself. Now tell me! Why are you taking all the blame for him!?”

He knows… I… suppose there’s no point in playing dumb now…

“Touché, Mr. Wright,” Lana said with a sigh. “It’s as you surmised. I cannot disobey the Chief’s orders… even if it means being found guilty for murder.”

“Why not?”

“Come now, Mr. Wright. You can’t possibly expect me to be able to tell you that. Three days ago… I had no choice but to cooperate. Or perhaps I should say, ‘follow orders.’ Yes, that’s more accurate than ‘cooperate.’ Although I can’t tell you the details, I can say that I was given an order that day. ‘I need you to dispose of Bruce Goodman’s body. You’ll find it in the trunk of Miles Edgeworth’s car.’”

If I did nothing, Miles would have been accused instead.

“Just as I suspected,” Wright said. “Despite what everyone believes… you were not the one who murdered Detective Goodman!”

“Correct,” Lana admitted. “I was trying to take the body out of Edgeworth’s car. The trunk was broken. I discovered that murder weapon while inspecting the body.”

“The murder weapon… You mean, Edgeworth’s knife?”

“No. When I found the body, this was the knife stuck in it,” Lana said, pointing to Darke’s switchblade in Wright’s bag. “I couldn’t just leave that knife in him, so I took it out and stabbed him with another knife.”

“That would be Edgeworth’s knife?”

“That’s right. Even though he was already dead, my hands were shaking at the thought of stabbing him. That’s why I ended up cutting my hand.”

“And that is the reason for the bandage on your right hand?”

“Yes. It seems I got blood on the victim’s shoes as well. And then… she saw me as I plunged the knife in.”

“Why did you need to hide Darke’s knife so badly?”

“It took a lot of work to finally close the Darke case two years ago. It was over with. I didn’t ever want it to be opened again. My intent was to prevent that by whatever means possible.” Lana turned away again, feeling tears forming in her eyes.

“So… you hid Darke’s knife?”

“The weapon used to stab the detective was evidence in the Joe Darke case… If word got out, which it would, the reporters would have a field day with that.”

“So you wrapped the knife in your scarf, and hid it,” Wright said. “In Edgeworth’s exhaust pipe…”

“Right. Then I called my sister,” Lana said, turning back around, “to tell her what happened, and to ask her to hide the knife that was inside my muffler.”

“You asked Ema?”

“I didn’t want anyone on the force to know about this. Speaking of phone calls, I had a bad feeling about one of them that day.”

“A bad feeling?”

“The truth is, after I received those orders from Chief Gant, the first thing I did was make a phone call. A phone call to Patrolman Jake Marshall.”

“To Marshall? Why on earth would you call him?”

“The lead investigator for the SL-9 Incident had been murdered. I wanted that fact to be kept hidden, and I needed help. He was the only other person I could trust.” Miles would have revealed everything. “Or at least, I thought I could trust him at the time. However, it seems that after I spoke to him he went off on an escapade of his own…”

“Oh! You mean…”

“Not wanting the case to die, he decided to take things into his own hands. He had already stolen the ID card… but it seems he still hadn’t made up his mind to break into the evidence room. After my phone call, any remaining doubts he had must have disappeared.”

“So your phone call caused the incident in the evidence room!?”

Lana turned around again to face away from Wright. “I’m afraid that’s all I can tell you,” she said.

“But Lana…”

“You’ve earned my respect, Mr. Wright. Both as a defense attorney and an investigator.” She turned around and glared right into his eyes. “Now please… Don’t pursue this any further in court tomorrow!”

Wright left without a word.

Why am I even trying to make him leave this alone… If he learned from Mia, he’ll pursue this to the end. Lana sighed, closing her eyes. Think. That picture… can you save Ema with it? You’ve looked at it enough. That part of Marshall’s vest… That piece of cloth must be from it. Wait… What if Gant cut that out? That would… No… Gant wouldn’t keep that strip of cloth if it incriminated him.

Still… Perhaps I can still take Gant down with me with that picture. After all, if Gant had the cloth, that means he concealed evidence. Okay.


When Lana opened her eyes, she saw Gumshoe standing in front of her.

“What are you doing here, Gumshoe?” Lana asked.

“I… just wanted to see if I could help.”

Lana closed her eyes again, and let out a calming sigh. “Actually, you’re just in time. I need you to give Mr. Wright something. In my condo, there’s a book that I want him to have. It’s titled Evidence Law. If there’s a break in tomorrow’s trial, give it to him.”

Gumshoe sighed, a little annoyed. “That’s it?”

“That’s it, Detective.”

Gumshoe winced at the word “Detective.”

“Okay, Ms. Skye,” he said, clearly disappointed in not being able to do something he thought was more important.

“Also, after the trial is over, try to convince Mr. Edgeworth to visit me. For better or worse, I need to talk to him.”

“Okay.” He seemed to think for a moment. “Um… What do you think is gonna happen between you two?”

“I’d rather not think about that at the moment. I’ll find out soon enough on my own. Now, you have your orders. Please leave me.”

Gumshoe, saddened by what was all but guaranteed, got up and left.

I guess this is it. After two years, I’ll finally be free… but at a more horrible cost than I could have imagined. Wright, you had better get Ema out safe. I don’t care what that scene looked like. She’d never kill someone. It’s just not in her nature.

And Miles… I’m sorry it had to end this way. Don’t hold all this against me. I was a victim of fate, just like you. Perhaps you’ll understand when the time comes.

Image
I'll always love you, Max.


Last edited by General Luigi on Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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True love is forever.

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The chapter is quite good. It nicely fills in those blank spaces that occur during the case and really drives home the emotion that is so prevalent in the case. Good work. I look forward to more. :)
Proud Supporter of Phoenix/Iris, Ron/Dessie, Klavier/Ema, and Apollo/Vera
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Re: Tales of Law and LoveTopic%20Title
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In Justice We Trust

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Finale—The Truth

February 25, 2017


At last, things were beginning to come together. The secret that had torn Lana from Miles’s arms had been exposed. In addition, Chief Gant himself had contacted Miles and requested that SL-9 be ignored and the only case under scrutiny be Goodman’s death. With that call, Gant had made it clear that he also had some secrets.

Miles walked into the Defendant Lobby and saw Wright there. Lana was gone.

Gant must be talking to her. He’s got something to hide, and this case has given him reason to get paranoid.

“Something’s been happening behind the scenes…” Miles sighed. Wright turned and saw Miles.

“Edgeworth!” Wright yelped.

“Knowing you, you’ve already figured it out… Who the owner of the ‘7777777’ ID number is.”

“Well… I have a pretty strong hunch.”

Gant, I presume. I figured as much. This is a problem, though.

“You know,” Miles grumbled, “the only reason this trial didn’t reach a verdict yesterday is because there was still room for doubt on this ID record. If that number does belong to whom you suspect, then no doubt will remain.” Unless you have some idea how to throw suspicion onto him. “After all, he hasn’t been officially charged with anything.”

“True…” Wright admitted. “Not yet.”

“In any event, once all doubt has been removed from that list, I can call for a ruling on the defendant. Five minutes after the trial starts…” I can hardly bear to say it… “Lana will be found guilty.”

“But she didn’t do it!”

“I figured you’d say as much. That’s why I came here… to hear what you have to say.”

Wright looked surprised.

This isn’t just about Lana anymore, Wright. Someone’s out to get me, and I intend to strike them down.

“Lana’s hiding something,” Wright said, “and the only we’ll ever know the truth is to draw it out of her.”

“The ‘truth’?” She’s already admitted to forging evidence. What more could she be hiding?

“Everything goes back to the SL-9 Incident,” Wright said.

“Don’t be stupid!” Miles snapped. “Today’s the last day of the trial. We don’t have time to reminisce about the past!”

“That depends on you.”

What do you mean by that, Wright?

“If she’s found guilty,” Wright continued, “you’ll lose your only chance to find out what really happened.”

Amazing… Did you somehow learn I dated that beautiful client of yours?

“I’ll think about it,” Miles said. “See you in court, Wright.”

Miles walked out of the lobby.

What really happened… Forging that evidence… Why did she do it? Thinking about it, it’s not in her to do something so horrible without what she considers a very good reason. Just catching Darke… Yes… There is more to that disaster…



Miles walked into the courtroom. Moments later, Wright joined him on the other side. The judge banged his gavel.

“Court is now in session for the trial of Ms. Lana Skye,” he said.

“The defense is ready, Your Honor,” Wright said.

“The prosecution is ready, Your Honor,” Miles stated.

“Normally this is when the prosecution puts forth its opening statement,” the judge said, “but before that, the police chief has a proposal to make.”

A proposal? Hm… This definitely makes Wright seem right.

Gant took the stand. “Mornin’ folks,” he said, clapping his hands jollily. “How’s everyone doing? Hey, Udgey. Been back to the pool yet?”

“No, I’ve been drowning enough as it is in my work,” the judge replied.

“Ho! That’s a good one! Don’t think I can top that!”

“If you don’t mind me asking, Chief,” Miles cut in, “exactly what is this ‘proposal’ of yours?”

Gant waited a moment until the court was completely focused on him. “Lana… that is to say, the defendant, has asked me if she could speak directly to the court.”

What about?

“Having heard what she intends to say,” Gant continued, “I feel she should be granted her request. In the end, it should save everyone a lot of time and trouble.”

Gant stepped down from the stand and Lana took his place.

“What’s this all about, defendant?” Miles asked.

“I’d just like to make one simple request, and I’ll be finished,” Lana said.

“Well then?” the judge asked. “What’s your request?”

“Your Honor, I’d like you to put an immediate end to this trial.”

“Huh!?” Wright gasped.

“I confess to all charges against me. On February 21 of this year, I murdered Detective Bruce Goodman in the underground parking lot of the Prosecutor’s Office.”

“No, Lana!” Wright screamed.

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.

“Objection!” Wright yelled. “You can’t! Your Honor. The defendant’s claim does not change the defense’s plea!”

“In that case, Mr. Wright,” Lana said, “I no longer require your services.”

“But Lana!”

“Your Honor. I hereby forfeit my right to an attorney.”

What!? Lana, this is madness!

“The prosecution may lack direct evidence against me,” Lana continued, “but it has sufficiently proven its case through testimony and circumstantial evidence. I would like you to render your verdict now, if you please.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Well, the defendant certainly has the right to self-representation… Her request is legally valid, although this is an unprecedented situation.”

The judge banged his gavel.

So it’s over? Just like that? Are you really this desperate, Lana?

“Indeed,” the judge continued, “it appears there’s no further need to continue this trial… even if Mr. Wright may feel otherwise.”

What to do… If she really wants this verdict…

“It appears the time for the verdict has arrived.”

No… I must know the truth!

“This court finds the defendant…”


Image


“One moment, Your Honor,” Miles requested.

“M-Mr. Edgeworth!?” the judge stammered.

“The prosecution has not yet proven the defendant guilty beyond reasonable doubt.” Miles struck his desk. “Any ruling at this stage would certainly be premature.”

“Come now, Worthy,” Gant said. “I understand this is a difficult time for you, but why don’t you just be a good little boy and keep your mouth shut, hmm?”

I should have known, Gant. You’ve got your own dirty secret behind this case, don’t you? Well, that changes a great deal. Miles smiled evilly.

“Hmph,” Miles scoffed. “I don’t think I care for your tone… Chief Gant.”

“What?”

“Creating another fabrication to cover up your past mistakes… Sorry, but I’m no longer the naïve little ‘boy’ you would have me be.” After two years, I’ve finally found out who it is that’s responsible for all the rumors flying around about me, all the oddities that I decided against questioning… and the end of my engagement to Lana… Thanks to Wright, I finally have in my sights the monster I’ve been searching for. I’ve thrown my glove before your feet, Damon Gant. Choose your weapon; the place is here and the time is now.

“With this sudden confession from the defendant,” Miles continued, “it’s obvious to me some kind of deal was struck behind the scenes.”

“Some kind of ‘deal,’ hm?” Gant teased. “Not everyone operates as you do… Worthy.”

“Hmph. I thought so. Your Honor. The prosecution would like to change its first witness.”

“Oh?” the judge asked. “To whom…?”

To someone who can shed light on SL-9… Someone who saw the crime scene before the forgery…

“As its first witness, the prosecution would like to call… Ms. Ema Skye! I request the court hears her testimony!”

“Hold it!” Lana screamed. “Mr. Edgeworth! I am exercising my right to self representation. I don’t think we need to contin—”

“I don’t care what you think, Ms. Skye.”

Lana glared at Miles.

I don’t know what to think of you anymore, Lana. But I know what I want, and that’s the truth. Gant has you under his control. But he doesn’t control me. I don’t care who I have to strike down to defeat him—even if I have to strike you down to get there.

“The exposure of truth sometimes results in tragedy…” Miles said. “However! No matter how tragic the truth may be, it would be an even greater tragedy… to avert one’s eyes from it.”

Even if you despise me for this, I’m going forward. If we are destined to be apart, then I have a right to know why.

The judge banged his gavel.

“Very well,” he said. “The court shall grant the prosecution’s request. That’s okay with you, right Chief Gant?”

“Worthy…” Gant said. His smile suddenly became serious. “You’ll live to regret this. Mark my words.”

I imagine I will… But I’d regret letting you go free even more.

“Ms. Ema Skye,” Miles said. “Please take the stand.”

Ema walked to the witness stand, clearly saddened by Lana’s statement.

“Now then, witness,” Miles continued. “Please state your name and occupation.”

“Um…” Ema stuttered. “M-my name is Ema. Ema Skye. My occupation? I’m Lana’s little sister, and I want to be a scientific investigator!”

“Two years ago… you encountered the serial killer Joe Darke, of the ‘Joe Darke Killings.’ Is this correct?”

“Yes. I’m trying my hardest to forget about that, though…”

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to recall those events one more time.”

“Mr. Edgeworth,” the judge called. “Please remember this trial concerns the murder of Detective Goodman. Is an incident that was resolved two years ago really all that relevant?”

“Yes. It most certainly is.” It’s become clear to me that the secret of SL-9 has a critical role in this case.

“W-well okay then!” the judge said.

“Now… please testify about what happened to you two years ago.”

At last, I’ll know what Gant has been using to threaten you. Even if we may not be together, Lana, you may still have your sister.

“I was waiting in my sister’s office that day,” Ema squeaked. “A man came running in, and took me hostage. Neil Marshall rescued me, but I’ll never forget what I saw that instant! The man raised his knife, and… and stabbed Mr. Marshall in the chest…!”

“It’s a good thing you weren’t harmed,” the judge said.

“I passed out… I don’t remember much.”

“That’s understandable. However… please tell me, Mr. Edgeworth. What does this testimony have to do with Detective Goodman’s murder?”

I know there’s a connection, but how to phrase it…

“That will soon become apparent, Your Honor,” Miles said, confident. Wright, on the other hand, was already in his usual cold sweat.

“Very well! The defense may begin its cross-examination.”

“What was the prosecutor doing there?” Wright asked, referring to Marshall.

“That day,” Miles answered, “there were two people present during Darke’s questioning: Detective Damon Gant, and Prosecutor Neil Marshall. Neil Marshall had just received the King of Prosecutors award. Young and dedicated, he went straight to the questioning room after the ceremony.”

“I assume that would also be why he was the first to run after Darke,” the judge said.

“When Darke grabbed me,” Ema sobbed, “I… I thought I was as good as dead.”

“And that’s when Prosecutor Marshall came running in?”

“I… I don’t clearly remember what happened then. But… but I’ll never forget what I saw that instant!”

“Can you tell us about that?”

“Mr. Marshall jumped on Darke. Just then… the lights went out.”

“The lights?” the judge asked.

“It was just about this time of year… There was a terrible storm going on, and lightning struck nearby.”

Right, I remember that. Thanks to that brief blackout, I lost a report I was in the middle of typing.

“So the electricity went out?” Wright asked.

“Wait a minute…” the judge said. “If it was pitch dark in that room… you shouldn’t have been able to see anything, right?”

“Right, but just then lightning flashed again outside,” Ema replied. “That sudden flash left an unforgettable image of the scene in my mind…”

“I see…”

“I told the detective about what I saw then.”

“The detective?” Wright asked.

“Yes. Detective Goodman. He was in charge of the case.”

“So you spoke with Detective Goodman about this… two years ago.”

“Yes. That’s what’s so scary about this trial.”

“And you told Detective Goodman what you saw?” Miles asked.

“Yes, but… at the time, the words just wouldn’t come out. That’s why I drew a picture.”

A picture?

“Well, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked. “Have you heard enough?”

“This picture the witness drew…” Wright said. “I believe it has a very important meaning.”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “But the list of evidence I was given two years ago didn’t contain a picture…”

The judge banged his gavel. “Witness,” he said. “Would you mind if we added this statement to your testimony?”

“Y-yes, Your Honor,” Ema said. “I drew a picture of that scene once… but it seems to have been lost.”

“Objection!” Wright shouted. “Mr. Edgeworth. This little girl put all her heart into drawing that picture…” He struck his desk, then pointed accusingly at Miles. “and yet you still insist on denying its existence?”

“Huh!?” Miles yelped. He hit his desk. “Hey, I’m not the bad guy! All I’m saying is that as the prosecutor for that case, I wasn’t handed such a picture!”

“That may well be… but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.” Wright held up a piece of paper. “Behold!” The paper was handed to the judge.

“This is… the evidence list for the SL-9 Incident?” he asked.

“Please turn it over, Your Honor,” Wright said with a nod.

“Turn it over…? Turn… it… AAAAAAAHHHH! What’s this!?”

What’s what!? What in the world is going on!?

The judge held up the evidence list. On its back was a picture of some sort.

What the hell…?

“Yes, what is that?” Miles demanded.

“Hey!” Ema chirped. “That’s it! That’s the picture I drew!”

The gallery started murmuring, but quieted down before the judge had to use his gavel.

“Indeed…” the judge said. “Two men appear to be wrestling here.”

“Objection!” Miles barked. “What’s the meaning of this!? What are you doing with that list!?”

“Me…?” Wright squeaked, sweating.

“Only the prosecutor in charge should have access to that list!” Miles yelled, holding up his copy.

“Huh…?” the judge mumbled. “These lists… They’re… They’re different from each other.”

“What?”

“It would appear, Mr. Edgeworth, that the evidence list you were handed two years ago… was incomplete. These two lists… fit together to form one. You can see the marks here, where they were torn apart from each other.”

Torn apart!?

“So you see, Mr. Edgeworth,” Wright said. “It’s quite obvious what happened. Two years ago… only half of the evidence in that case ever reached you.”

“What…” Miles said through gritted teeth. “WWWHHAAAAAAATTTTT!?”

The gallery began yammering. The judge banged his gavel to silence them.

“Order! Order!” the judge roared. “Who’d have thought the picture would have been drawn on the back of the list…”

“That was handed to Detective Goodman in the questioning room?” Ema finished.

Is everyone in the Department out to get me!?

Wright pounded on his desk. “Your Honor!” he called.

“Are you all right, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked. “Your eyes are bulging from your head…”

“If the evidence list was torn in half… then there might be more of the drawing on the back of Mr. Edgeworth’s list!”

He’s right!

“Yes, that’s quite conceivable,” the judge agreed. “Mr. Edgeworth?”

“It’s possible,” Miles said, looking at his half of the list. “Let’s see…” He turned it over. On the other side, however, was not part of Ema’s picture, but the rotten head of the Blue Badger. Miles doubled over onto his desk, his teeth grinding against each other. “MM!” he growled. “MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!” Why the hell did THAT thing have to show up again!?

“Is something wrong?”

Why couldn’t Wynn have designed something more authoritative!?

“Sorry, Your Honor,” Miles said, regaining his composure. “There is something drawn on the back of my list. This is that… thing!” Miles indicated the jester of a mascot drawn on his half of the evidence list.

The judge appeared shocked. “That’s that… that thing! That thing that was dancing in the evidence room!”

I’d hardly call it a dance. “Apparently the Head of Criminal Affairs used this for his blueprint.” Before I resign, I’ll have to make sure someone looks over his salary…

The judge banged his gavel. “Very well,” he said. “Witness. Will you please testify about this picture you drew two years ago?”

“Huh?” Ema asked after a pause. She must not have been listening. “Oh, y-yes sir, Your Honor! This is the picture I drew two years ago. The flash of lightning was so bright all I could see were shadows. After that I must have fainted. This picture shows exactly what I saw that instant!”

“To think a flash of lightning could burn such an image in your mind… Well, I don’t see any contradictions here. This clearly shows Joe Darke about to murder Prosecutor Neil Marshall.”

You can’t really tell that. After all, Ema only drew a pair of silhouettes.

“The defense may now begin its cross-examination,” the judge said.

“Did you draw this picture right after the incident?” Wright asked.

“Um… I think I drew it two or three days later,” Ema replied. “At first I was in such a state of shock that I couldn’t do anything…”

“During that time the detective team was reorganized,” Miles said. “Detective Goodman was placed in charge under the direction of Damon Gant and Lana Skye.”

“Excuse me, witness,” the judge cut in, “but can you please tell us why this picture is painted all black?”

“The flash of lightning was so bright all I could see were shadows,” Ema explained.

“So at the time you didn’t even know it was Mr. Marshall who had come to your rescue?” Wright asked.

“No… I couldn’t see him clearly. The lightning was so bright… and I was knocked to the floor.”

“You were knocked to the floor?”

“Darke had a tight grip on me, but when Mr. Marshall jumped on him, I was knocked away. I turned around, and that’s when the lightning flashed.”

“What happened after the lightning flashed?” Miles asked.

“After that I must have fainted,” Ema answered.

“You mean, you didn’t see the actual murder take place?” Wright asked.

“No. I-I’m sorry…”

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “The flash of lightning only drove off the darkness for a split second. Not only that, but the trauma of the situation understandably caused the witness to faint.” Miles hit his desk. “Do you really need to torture this girl any further!?”

“What!?” Wright yelped. “Hey, I’m not the bad guy here!”

“Anyway,” Ema said, “this picture… this picture shows exactly what I saw that instant!”

“Objection!” Wright hit his desk. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this picture the witness drew… contains a blatant contradiction!” Wright was holding Marshall’s autopsy report in one hand.

“What?” Ema yelped. “B-but, I still remember it just like it was yesterday!”

The judge banged his gavel. “Mr. Wright,” he said. “Perhaps it would be faster if you simply pointed out this contradiction for us. What part of this picture… contradicts the autopsy report?”

“The contradiction of course lies here!” Wright said, indicating the knife shown in the picture. “Take a look at the knife the man is holding. If you look closely, you can see its tip is broken!”

“In fact, you don’t even have to look closely to see that.”

“But Mr. Wright, look at the evidence!” Ema said, flipping through her notebook. “See the murder weapon? Its tip is broken too!”

“If I recall… the tip of the knife was found broken off in the victim’s body.”

“It was the conclusive piece of evidence that proved Joe Darke was the murderer!”

Wright shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s not so simple, Ema,” he said.

“Objection!” Miles shouted, striking his desk. “Huh? Where could you possibly see a problem!?”

“It’s obvious, really. The victim ‘suffered a single stab wound to the back.’” He pounded on his desk. “If the victim was only stabbed once, then the murder weapon should not yet be broken!”

“AAAAAAAHHHHHH!” the judge screamed. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “Perhaps the knife was broken beforehand!”

“Objection!” Wright shouted back. “Sorry, but I’m afraid that’s not possible. The tip of the knife was found inside the victim’s body.” He slammed his desk. “If it was broken beforehand, it couldn’t possibly wind up there!”

The judge banged his gavel. “That’s right!” he agreed. “But what does this mean?”

“Objection!” Miles barked. “The tip of the knife was undeniably discovered within the victim’s body! The only possible explanation is the witness’s memory is mistaken!”

“Objection!” Wright countered. “That’s why I asked her so many times if she was sure she remembered correctly. I believe you were annoyed at the time. But she was sure she remembered correctly!”

“But… there’s no other way to explain this inconsistency!”

“Objection! Not so fast, Mr. Edgeworth. There is another explanation. Have you forgotten already? About a little something called… ‘falsified evidence’?”

“You’re treading on thin ice, Wright…”

“All I’m saying, is that this broken knife might be the piece of evidence that was forged! You can’t deny the possibility!”

“No… Aaaaagh!”

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“Order! Order! Order!” the judge bellowed. “Are you saying the investigation really was corrupted?”

“Your Honor…” Wright said. “Please allow me to once again go over the events that took place the day of the murder. The Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office were holding a ceremony that day. After receiving the King of Prosecutors award at the ceremony, Neil Marshall questioned Joe Darke along with Damon Gant. During his questioning, Joe Darke fled the room. Prosecutor Marshall chased after him… and was killed by Darke. It is my belief that somewhere in this story… there is a lie.”

“Hmm…”

“I… I’m not lying…” Ema sobbed. “The man really was holding up a broken knife!”

Where does that leave us, then?

“If that’s true…” Miles started, “then there’s no other way around it.” He pointed to Darke’s knife. “This could not have been the actual murder weapon. There must have been another broken knife!”

“What are the chances of there being two broken knives?” the judge asked.

“If the witness is this adamant about the accuracy of what she saw…” Wright said, “it can’t just be explained away by a simple observational error.”

“Mr. Wright…” Ema said.

Wright banged on his desk. “In that instant… Ema really did see a broken knife!”

The judge banged his gavel. “I assume then,” he said, “that you have some information about this ‘other’ broken knife? If so, please feel free to enlighten us.”

“Take a look at this. Here’s the real murder weapon!” He held up a picture of the photograph hanging on the wall in Lana’s old office. “The answer lies in the past… Two years in the past. Right here inside this picture!”

“This is a picture of the awards ceremony,” Miles said. He then noticed it: the broken knife on Marshall’s trophy. “A-AAAAHH!”

“What is it, Mr. Edgeworth!?” the judge asked.

“It’s the… the broken murder weapon!” She really did lie to me…

“Notice the award Prosecutor Marshall is holding,” Wright said.

“That’s… a broken knife!” Ema exclaimed.

Wright struck his desk. “As we earlier concluded, the knife in the picture was not Joe Darke’s knife. That being the case… the knife the witness saw, was in all likelihood this award!”

The gallery started up again. The judge did what he did best.

“Order! Order! Order!” he roared.

“Neil Marshall was awarded King of Prosecutors that day,” Wright continued. “As an award, he was given this broken shield and a broken knife. When he chased after Joe Darke, he pulled out this knife. Being a prosecutor, he did not carry a pistol. This broken knife was the only weapon he had in this dangerous situation.”

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “But that… That can’t be!”

“Oh? And why not, Mr. Edgeworth?”

“Because if the King of Prosecutors award knife was the murder weapon… then the murderer and the victim would be reversed!”

“What do you mean?”

Miles hit his desk. “I mean… This man raising a knife… would have been Prosecutor Neil Marshall!”

“Oh…” Wright mumbled. He then jerked back. “OOOOOOOHHHH!!!”

The gallery started talking until the judge banged his gavel.

“But the prosecutor was the one who actually died!” the judge said.

“That’s true…” Wright admitted.

Miles shook his head, amused. “It seems Mr. Wright has been a bit too eager to jump to conclusions…” he said.

“Hold it!” Ema screamed. “Wait! I… I remember now… I remember everything!”

“Witness…?” the judge asked.

“Mr. Edgeworth!”

“What is it?” Miles asked.

“Could you show me your evidence list again, please?”

“His list?” the judge confirmed. “The one with that… picture scribbled on the back?”

Miles held up the picture.

“I knew it…” Ema said. “This picture… I’m the one who drew it.”

“What!?” Miles demanded.

“You drew that?” Wright squeaked.

“That’s right,” Ema stated. “The list wasn’t torn in half at the time I drew this picture. All this time I’ve been trying so hard to forget… I must have locked this part away deep inside me…”

The judge banged his gavel. “Perhaps it would be best…” he said, “if we added this to the witness’s testimony. Would you please tell us what you’ve recalled, Ms. Skye?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Ema answered. “When I saw that man raise his knife… I panicked, and rushed toward both of them. I think I… I knocked away the man with the knife. Just then there was another flash of lightning, and that’s when I saw… the Blue Badger! He wasn’t in the room, but I’m sure I saw his shadow!”

“This is certainly most unusual…” the judge commented.

“Objection!” Miles barked. “Try impossible! The Head Detective of Criminal Affairs didn’t even design him until this year!”

“Yes, well. The defense may now begin its cross-examination.”

“Hold it!” Lana screamed, having run up to the witness stand. “Stop!” she yelled, striking it with her right hand. “Please! Don’t pursue this any further!”

“Lana!” Wright cried.

“What’s the meaning of this!?” the judge growled. “Please remain seated in the defendant’s chair!”

“But you can’t do this! I’ve already confessed to the crime! Why can’t you just leave it at that!?”

“Chief Prosecutor Skye,” Miles called calmly. “We’ve already come this far. It’s too late to turn back.”

The judge banged his gavel. “Silence!” he shouted. “The defense will now begin its cross-examination. Bailiff. Please detain the defendant.”

The bailiff took Lana back to the defendant’s chair and stood next to her lest she try to interfere with the trial again.

We’re getting close to the truth, Lana. I don’t care what you do. Even what remains of my love for you will not stop me from pursuing this to the end.

“When you say, ‘that man,’” Wright said, “I assume you refer to Joe Darke?”

“Yes…” Ema answered, “at least, I think it was him.”

“You… ‘think’?”

“All I could really see were shadows.”

“The power outage that immediately preceded the incident,” Miles explained, “is also documented in the Prosecutor’s Office reports.”

“So then you…” the judge started.

“I panicked,” Ema finished, “and rushed toward both of them.”

“Why would you do something so dangerous!?” Wright asked.

“What else could I have done!? He was about to stab Mr. Marshall!”

“But as we’ve just theorized,” Miles stated, “Mr. Marshall was the one holding the knife.”

“Well, I didn’t know that at the time! When that Darke guy knocked me down, all I could think was, ‘I’ve got to help Mr. Marshall!’ I think I… I knocked away the man with the knife.”

“What do you mean, you ‘think’?” Wright asked.

“It… it all happened so fast… And I was in shock! I don’t remember everything clearly. What I did… it’s all kind of a blur…”

“In a matter of seconds Ms. Skye was almost killed,” Miles said, “then she witnessed a murder about to take place. A little disorientation is only natural.”

“I saw the man about to stab the other person, who I thought was Mr. Marshall. I knew I had to stop the man with the knife.”

“What you did was very brave, young girl,” the judge commented. “So then, what happened next?”

“Just then there was another flash of lightning, and that’s when I saw… the Blue Badger! He wasn’t in the room, but I’m sure I saw his shadow!”

“His shadow?” Wright asked. “So you mean, you didn’t actually see his face, with its winning smile and all?”

And losing design?

“That’s right…” Ema said, “but I still remember it. He had three creepy horns…”

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “This is pointless! That thing couldn’t have possibly existed two years ago… The witness must be mistaken!”

“Objection!” Wright barked. “That may well be…” He struck his desk. “but what’s important is what caused her to think she saw what she did.”

“Oh? And I suppose you have an explanation?” He struck his desk. “If so, then by all means… please tell us what this ‘shadow’ really was!”

Wright pounded on his desk. “Ladies and gentlemen… It is the defense’s belief that on that fateful day two years ago… there indeed was something that looked similar to the Blue Badger… Something that is now sitting in this very room!”

“Mr. Wright…!” Ema chirped, excited.

The judge banged his gavel. “In this room?” he asked. “Very well, Mr. Wright. What is it that the witness saw in that instant? Please show us this mysterious ‘Blue Badger’ look-alike!”

Wright hit his desk. “The mysterious ‘Blue Badger’ was in fact… this!” He took an old pot out of his bag.

“But that’s… Er, what exactly is that?”

“I believe it’s some sort of jar.”

“But Mr. Wright!” Ema complained. “That doesn’t look anything like the Blue Badger!”

“Indeed it doesn’t. As it stands now, it’s just a plain jar. However… What if we were to change our viewpoint?”

“Our viewpoint…?” the judge asked.

Wright picked up the jar and held it by the wide section, rotating it. He turned it to show everyone. Indeed, it looked just like the head of that monstrosity.

“Well…?” Wright asked, confident. “Is this a miracle or what? No one can possibly deny this jar’s resemblance to the Blue Badger!”

“No…” Miles muttered. “It can’t be!”

The gallery started muttering until the judge banged his gavel.

“Order! Order!” he bellowed. “The defense has proven its claim. The mysterious ‘Blue Badger’ witnessed on the day of the crime was actually this…”

“Objection!” Miles interrupted. “Although we all enjoyed Mr. Wright’s dramatic performance, one question remains…” He struck his desk. “What’s your point!?”

“What do you mean?” Wright replied.

“So that Badger thing was actually just a jar. That doesn’t change anything!”

“Objection! I’m afraid that’s where you’re wrong, Mr. Edgeworth. You see…” He paused to slam his desk. “this changes everything!”

“Indeed? Very well, then. Please tell us… What’s different now that we know the witness saw this jar?”

“Allow me to take these in turn. At the moment of the murder, the witness saw this jar.”

“Not only that, but she saw it at a very specific angle.”

“Knowing this, where could she have seen this jar?”

“Where…?” the judge asked, confused as usual.

“The location of the jar is shown in a picture taken on the day of the crime. It’s on a shelf in the office of Damon Gant.”

“Objection!” Miles yelled, hitting his desk. “But the body was found lying near Lana Skye’s desk! The witness testified so herself!”

“Objection!” Wright hit his desk. “Yes! And it is these two facts that reveal what actually transpired! You see… The struggle between Darke and Marshall did not take place in Lana Skye’s office! It happened on the other side of the room, in Chief Gant’s office!”

“Objection! Are you implying the murderer moved the victim’s body? From Damon Gant’s office to Lana Skye’s office?”

“Yes.”

“Why would he do that!? There’s no reason!”

Wright nodded. “Exactly,” he said. “If there wasn’t a ‘reason’… he wouldn’t have gone through the trouble. The only logical conclusion… is that there was a ‘reason.’”

“Do you know what that reason was, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked.

“Please recall the witness’s testimony. She said she knocked away the man who was holding up the knife. In the next instant, the jar was hit and flew through the air. Now tell me… What could have sent the jar flying?”

“That would have to have been… the impact the man made when he was knocked into the wall?”

“Ladies and gentlemen… if I may draw your attention to this picture once more. If the man was knocked in the direction of the shelf the jar was sitting on… what would he have hit?”

“A-AHHHHHH…” Ema whimpered.

“The suit of armor!” the judge answered. “Holding… a very sharp and dangerous-looking sword…”

“Yes,” Wright said. “And since the man who was knocked into the armor was carrying a broken knife… he would have had to have been Neil Marshall, wielding the Prosecutor’s Award.”

“No…” Miles said. “Mr. Wright… You can’t be thinking…”

“Yes. There is another possibility of what actually transpired in that room.”

“Another possibility?” the judge asked.

Wright banged on his desk. “Of course the perpetrator would have had no idea, but nevertheless!” Wright started sweating profusely.

“Mr. Wright? What’s the matter?”

“If events took place as the defense theorizes…” Miles said, “then the outcome is obvious. In that moment… assuming the man Ema Skye knocked away was actually Prosecutor Neil Marshall…” Miles could not bring himself to finish. The dead silence in the courtroom established that everyone understood what Wright was implying.

“You mean…” Ema stammered, “Mr. Marshall died… because of… me…? NOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

With that scream, Ema fainted on the stand.

“I never imagined her testimony would lead to this…” Miles said, trying to contain his shock.

“So it was the witness who took the victim’s life…” the judge confirmed, “and then proved so with her own testimony! This is unprecedented!”

The gallery filled the courtroom with noise, but one voice silenced them better than the judge’s gavel possibly could.

“Objection!” Lana yelled, breaking free from the bailiff’s grasp and running to the stand. “What… What are you saying!?”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Skye,” Wright said, “but given the circumstances…”

“Joe Darke murdered Prosecutor Marshall! How can you think it was Ema!? How dare you try to pin the crime on her!?” She started biting her thumb.

Apparently, you think it’s possible, Lana.

“Imagine that, coming from you,” Miles countered. “If you recall, it was you who admitted to forging evidence two years ago. The reason you moved Prosecutor Marshall’s body… was to keep anyone else from finding out what Ema did, wasn’t it?”

“I assure you, Mr. Edgeworth,” Lana snapped, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. If you hope to have anyone believe your insane allegations, I’m afraid you’re going to have to have proof. Tell me… Do you have any conclusive evidence that proves my sister killed Neil Marshall?”

“E-evidence?” Wright stuttered.

“I’m willing to bet you don’t.”

“Yes… it certainly would be difficult to prove this with evidence,” the judge agreed.

“If we don’t have evidence,” Miles responded, “then we’ll have to rely on testimony.”

Lana turned away. “I’m afraid that won’t work in this case,” she said. “Both parties involved in this incident are dead.”

“Hmph. Touché, Ms. Skye. Of course… That only leaves us with one possibility.”

“What do you mean, Mr. Edgeworth?” the judge demanded.

“I mean, the possibility that the victim has left us a message. For better or for worse, Mr. Marshall did not die instantly. He may have left behind the name of the person who took his life… somehow.”

“That’s…” Lana stammered. “That’s impossible!” She looked to Miles. He could see in her eyes that she was scared.

I’m sorry, Lana, but I’m not turning back.

The judge banged his gavel. “Well, Mr. Wright?” he asked. “This is the only possibility left to you. A message from the deceased… Does such a message exist?”

“The real murderer’s name that the victim may have left behind…” Wright trailed off. He struck his desk. “This ‘message’ from the deceased… is already in our possession.”

“Mr. Wright!” Lana yelled. “Will you stop at nothing to prove my sister a murderer?”

“Do not be mistaken, Ms. Skye,” Miles said. “Our purpose is not to accuse Ema of any crime. There is only one thing we seek: the truth.” Miles hit his desk. “No matter how painful it may be.”

The judge banged his gavel. “Now then, Mr. Wright,” he said. “Please show us the piece of evidence… that conveys a message from the deceased!”

“This is the message from the deceased,” Wright said, indicating the jar.

“This is that ‘Blue Badger’ from before, right?”

“Oh, is he going to just speak the killer’s name?” Lana joked, clearly furious.

“If that thing could, I’m sure it would,” Miles said.

“A message was left here…” Wright said, “on the surface of this jar.”

“What do you mean?” the judge asked.

“If you look closely, you can see a faint trail of blood on this jar.”

“It looks like someone wiped the blood away,” Miles said. If Ema’s the killer, I’d bet every dollar to my name that Lana did it.

“Yes, but notice: for some reason…” Wright said, “the blood on some of the fragments was not wiped away.”

“Yes…” the judge agreed, “there is a line here… drawn in blood!”

“So what you’re saying,” Miles confirmed, “is that these ‘dots’… were once lines!”

“Prosecutor Marshall did not die instantly,” Wright said. “He used the few precious moments left to him to leave behind a message!”

“One that someone apparently wiped away… But blood must have seeped into the jar where the lines change directions.”

Wright pounded on his desk. “Precisely so! All we need to do is connect these points… and the victim’s message will become apparent!”

“N-no…!” Lana whimpered, again biting her thumb.”

The judge banged his gavel. “Mr. Wright!” he called. “What kind of message did the victim leave for us!?”

“Your Honor…” Wright replied, “I believe these blood stains will reveal to us the answer!”

Wright took a pen and started scribbling on the surface of the jar. When he was done, he showed the message. The ink connected the dots to show Ema’s name.

“‘Ema’…” Wright said.

“So this is the final message Prosecutor Marshall left behind,” Miles stated.

“Of all people…” the judge said. “She may not have meant it… but in the end, the one who took the victim’s life…”

“was Ema Skye,” Wright finished.

Miles saw a tear flow from Lana’s right eye.

I’m sorry, Lana.

“See, Worthy?” Gant’s voice teased. “Can’t say I didn’t warn you.” Gant had managed to walk in without anyone noticing, and was now in Lana’s place at the stand.

“Chief Gant…” Miles said.

“Do you understand the implications of what you’ve done?”

“What…? What are you talking about?”

“Two years ago, Joe Darke was sentenced to death. He was convicted because of his final murder.” He grasped his tie in his left hand and smiled sinisterly. “I believe you were the prosecutor in the case, were you not?”

“Ack!” I… I proved…

“Yes, Worthy,” Gant said. “Because of you… an innocent man was sentenced to death. Not only that… but you used forged evidence to ensure his conviction!”

“K-kkckck!” Miles hissed. “KKCKRRAAAAHH!!!”

“Objection!” Wright yelled. “But Joe Darke really was a serial murderer! That’s undeniable!”

“I’m afraid that’s not important,” Gant replied. “Didn’t you know? We aren’t defenders of justice.”

“What?”

“We’re merely keepers of the law. Sentencing a man to death… is no light matter. Even if there wasn’t any cover-up or evidence forgery… ultimately the responsibility falls on the prosecutor in charge.”

I… I failed…

“Despite what anyone may say, this fact cannot be denied,” Gant said.

The courtroom was noisier than a military jet. The judge attempted in vain to restore order. Ultimately, he was unable to do so, and instead declared a recess.



Miles walked into the Defendant Lobby; he knew that finding the truth would require more than just his own efforts. He had plenty of doubts about himself, but he had no doubts about what he had to do next. The forgery had been exposed, but there was more to be found—such as Gant’s role. He knew he had to face that man, and he was not going to leave until only one of them was left standing. The police were the keepers of the law, as Gant had said, but Miles was no keeper of the law. As a lawyer, he was a defender of justice.

“Sorry, Edgeworth,” Wright said. “I didn’t mean to get you in trouble…”

“Hmph,” Miles scoffed. “Don’t worry about it. This is my problem, not yours.”

“Hope I’m not interrupting anything, pals,” Gumshoe said as he entered the lobby with a loud slam of the door. Neither Miles nor Wright responded. “Oh… Guess I am. I’ll come back later.” He turned to walk away.

“Oh, Detective Gumshoe!” Wright called. “What is it?” Gumshoe turned around.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve, pal! Making a detective run all around while on duty, and to top it off you call me here… I’ve seen happier people at funerals!”

“I take it Lana’s having you run errands again.”

“Let me tell you, this is the last time, pal!” He took a book out of his coat. “Here. She asked me to give this to you if there was a break in today’s trial.”

“‘Evidence Law’?”

“The Chief Prosecutor also wanted me to give you a message.”

“A message?”

“She said, ‘If you’re planning to take HIM on, you’re going to need this book.’”

Wright put the book in his coat.

So it is Gant…

“Doesn’t look like that book’ll do you any good now though,” Gumshoe said. “All that’s left now is the Chief Prosecutor’s sentence.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Detective,” Wright replied.

“Huh?”

“Haven’t you figured it out yet?” Miles asked the oaf. “Why I’m still sitting in that prosecutor’s seat… despite all these allegations being thrown at me?”

“Mr. Edgeworth…”

“The real trial today… hasn’t begun yet.”

“What!? What else is there left to do? Your credibility’s been all but ruined with this forged evidence you were unaware of, Ema Skye found out she unwittingly caused a man’s death… And now you’re telling me you want to do more!? You’ve gotta be kidding me, pal!”

“You’re missing the point, Detective. Lana didn’t murder Detective Goodman.”

And she actually told you that?

“She merely stuck a knife into his dead body,” Wright said. “That means the real killer… is still out there.”

“What!?” Gumshoe almost screamed.

Miles walked out of the lobby and to the medical office. Knowing Lana, she would probably be at Ema’s side. The truth was going to come out soon; he knew it. However, he wanted to hear the words from Lana’s lips. He pushed the door open and saw Lana sitting in a chair next to Ema, who was still unconscious and lying on her back on a bed (if it could be called that). Lana looked over, saw who had come, and instantly turned her head back to face Ema.

“Now is not the time to distance yourself from me,” Miles said, taking a chair and sitting down across from Lana. He would have sat next to her and held her hand, but he was worried that she might be angry with him and hurt him.

“Why are you here?” Lana asked bitterly, not bothering to face her former fiancée.

“Because I want—no, I need—to hear the truth from you.”

“I’ve already—”

“Stop right there. You have nothing to gain anymore from lying. Whether you hinder us or help us, Wright and I will both fight to find the truth, even if we have to strike you down to do so.”

Lana turned to face Miles and glared at him. “You’ve turned my sister into a killer. I have nothing to tell you.”

“Fine. Then I’ll tell you the truth. It’s Gant. He’s the one who’s been tormenting you these past two years, and I am going to call him to the stand and drag the truth out of him. He knew about what you did to the crime scene and held it over your head to control you.”

“And where’s your proof it’s Gant?”

“In Wright’s coat pocket.”

“Excuse me?”

“Gumshoe handed him a book in the Defendant Lobby. I believe it was titled Evidence Law?”

“Ah…” She started biting her thumb.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen between us after this trial is over, but there’s one thing that book made clear to me: you’re innocent, and you lied to protect Ema. I don’t know everything, but I know that. And… You intend to defeat him. That book has a purpose, or else you would not have given it to Wright.” Miles tried to look Lana in the eye, but she turned away.

“All the times you’ve been there to comfort me,” Miles said, “you looked me right in the eye and did everything you could to make me listen. Now it’s my turn. You’re not fighting Gant alone. I’m angry with you for lying to me, but I can still tell that I love you, too. Now, Lana… please… Tell me the truth. You didn’t kill Goodman, did you?”

Lana didn’t respond. Miles got up from his chair and kneeled down on the floor in front of her.

“Do you really want it to end this way?” he asked her. In a swift motion, he reached over and took Lana’s left hand in his right hand. “Lana… You can trust me.” She attempted to free her hand, but Miles refused, simply tightening his grip. “You can keep pretending to serve Gant in court and feigning guilt; I won’t question it in there. But here, I only care about seeing proof that I still have some reason to trust you. I said it before, and I will say it again: I love you. And now we can finally fight to set you free, side by side.”

Miles felt Lana’s hand stop trying to free itself. “Even if you set me free, Ema—”

“Ema will be fine. Considering the circumstances, even Manfred von Karma would not be able to prove her guilty of anything more than justified self-defense. If I have to, I will personally hire the best defense attorney for her that I can find. After all she’s done to help us find the truth, I owe it to her—and you. You have my word that she will not be seen as a criminal.”

Lana said nothing. He could see the anger had left her eyes, though.

“Please tell me: what really happened? What you say here is not admissible as testimony.”

“You’re right,” Lana finally said. “Gant… he’s the blackmailer you’re looking for. I didn’t kill Goodman. Gant just told me to dispose of the body. When I saw that… that…” She paused.

“You removed it and put my knife in the wound,” Miles finished.

“Y-yes… But Ms. Starr caught me.”

“And Gant? Is he the killer?”

“I don’t know, but that’s what I think.”

“Then we have even more reason to fight him. The truth will come out—all of it.” He got up, still holding Lana’s hand. At last, Lana looked at him. “Would a kiss be asking too much?”

He saw Lana’s sad eyes lose their veil of tears as the rest of her face shifted into a faint smile. She stood up, placing her right hand in Miles’s left, and leaned toward Miles. He, in turn, leaned in towards Lana’s face and placed a light kiss on her lips.

“I don’t think I’m ready to marry you,” Miles said after their lips parted, still holding Lana’s hands, “but I know for a fact that I don’t want to leave your side. You’ve always been there for me, so now—”

Miles heard a knock on the door.

“This never happened,” Lana said, changing her expression back to the ice sculpture it had been these past two years. Miles let go of her hands with a nod and managed to force his own face back to an emotionless gaze.

“What is it?” Miles asked the person behind the door.

“Oh!” Gumshoe yelped, opening the door. “M-Mr. Edgeworth!”

“What is it?”

“Court’s gonna start up again.”

“I see.”

Miles walked out the door with Gumshoe, Lana following.



The judge called court back into session with a whack of his gavel.

“The court will now reconvene for the trial of Ms. Lana Skye,” he said. “Mr. Edgeworth.”

“Yes, Your Honor?” Miles asked.

“The inquiry committee is planning to impose harsh penalties for your actions.”

Miles took a bow. I’ll be ashamed later. “Thank you for the news, Your Honor.”

“Yes, well…” The judge cleared his throat. “Normally, this is where the prosecution calls forth a witness… but, er…” He cleared his throat again and coughed a couple of times. “This isn’t easy to say… You see, there is some concern that Mr. Edgeworth may have, ah…”

“Struck a bargain?” Miles finished. “You think I may have manipulated the witnesses.”

“I didn’t say that! It’s just, you see… Everyone has been talking, and…”

I see… How to proceed… Wait. Wright knows the truth, too. “Very well, Your Honor. I have a solution.”

“A solution?”

“That being the case, the prosecution will allow the defense to call forth all further witnesses.”

“What!? But there’s never been a case example…”

“Undeniably this is an unusual arrangement, but a very effective one. It would prove that I haven’t struck any ‘deals’ with the witnesses.”

“Hmm… Well, Mr. Wright? What do you say?”

“Very well,” Wright said with a nod. “The defense accepts the prosecution’s proposal.”

The judge banged his gavel. “Then it’s settled. The, uh… defense… may now call forth the next witness!”

“Mr. Wright,” Miles said. “You do realize this is your last chance? If you call the wrong witness, this trial is as good as over.”

“The defense calls… Damon Gant,” Wright said, hitting his desk. “The defense calls Damon Gant to the stand!”

“D-Damon Gant…?” the judge asked. “What does he have to do with anything!?”

He has everything to do with everything, Your Honor. And we’re going to prove it.

“As the defendant’s partner two years ago,” Wright explained, "Mr. Gant has first-hand knowledge of the crime. I feel we should hear what he has to say about it.”

“Hmm…”

“As luck would have it,” Miles added, “he should still be in the courthouse. He would also be the least likely to have been manipulated by me in any way. Wouldn’t you agree, Your Honor?”

“True… All right. Bailiff! Please escort Mr. Gant to the stand!”

Gant took the stand.

“Witness,” Miles called. “Please state your name and occupation.”

“What is this, some kind of practical joke?” Gant replied. “I was just on my way to lunch!”

“Your name and occupation, sir.”

“Worthy… Are you sure you want to do this?”

Yes. Miles struck his desk. “Your name and occupation!”

Gant waited a moment to build up pressure. “So… You want to play hardball, eh?”

“P-please, Mr. Gant,” the judge requested.

“Fine. My name is Damon Gant. I’m the acting Chief of Police.”

“Now then, Chief Gant,” Wright said. “The court requests to hear your testimony.”

“Oh, Wrighto. What’s with the grim face?”

“First, let’s clear up this SL-9 Incident.”

“Oh, you mean that time when Lana’s sister murdered that prosecutor? Personally, I think it’s been made pretty clear already.”

“There are still some things unaccounted for.”

“Oh? Like what?”

Like the role you played in all of this.

“Like the role you played in all of this,” Wright replied in time with Miles’s thoughts.

“Son… Either you’re very brave… or very foolish. You are aware of course that a police chief has all kinds of weapons at his disposal?”

“‘Weapons’…?”

“Sure. Take my testimony, for example. I don’t have to give it if I don’t want to.”

“What? Is that true?”

“I’m afraid so…” the judge answered. “The Chief of Police has the right to refuse to testify.”

“Of course,” Miles added, “such an action carries with it certain risks…”

“Don’t worry,” Gant said. “I’m not here to hinder your trial. Just remember… If this turns out to be a big waste of time, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The judge banged his gavel. “Very well,” he said. “The witness may now begin his testimony.”

“As I recall, Neil and I were questioning him that day. To make a long story short, we slipped up. That power outage didn’t help either. When I went to my office, I found Lana there. Apparently she had already… ‘arranged’ the crime scene. As you can see, I had nothing to do with the ‘forgery.’”

“Hmm… Is that when Darke was arrested?”

“Him? He was lying on the floor unconscious. When Ema sent Neil flying… it seems Darke bumped his head.”

“I see… Everything seems pretty clear-cut.”

“You claim you had nothing to do with the forgery…” Wright said, shaking his head after pausing, “but I’m afraid that is a claim you cannot back up!”

“Explain yourself,” Gant requested, fiddling with his hair and not appearing to feel threatened in the least.

“Several pieces of evidence were found in your office. Take this list, for example.” Wright held up his half of the SL-9 evidence list.

“That’s the list Ema Skye drew her picture on…” the judge said.

“This was discovered in your desk. Not only that, but a piece of this jar that was sitting in your office…” He paused and hit his desk. “was found inside your safe!”

“It was found where!?”

“You see, Chief Gant. These articles of evidence uncovered in your office…” He paused again to strike his desk. “are both concrete proof… that you also played a part in the illegal investigation!”

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel. “Chief Gant! What’s the meaning of this!?”

“Ho!” Gant scoffed. “Here’s a defense attorney who may even rival Worthy!”

Wright, you got careless. Though I believe you, you don’t have proof that you’re right.

“So you admit to it, then?” Wright pressed. “That you were involved in the forgery?”

“Who, me?” Gant taunted. “Or do you mean… you?”

“Me? Why would I have anything to do with that!?”

“Well… You were the one who snuck into my office when you ‘found’ this evidence. Prosecutors aren’t the only ones capable of forging evidence, you know. Defense attorneys can do so too. Isn’t that right, Wrighto?”

“Objection!” Miles barked, striking his desk. “However! Detective Gumshoe was present during the investigation!”

“Worthy, my boy. Not even detectives are exempt from the law. Rest assured Dick will receive his due punishment.”

“Wh…” You’re one to talk, Gant!

“WHAAAAT!?” Wright screamed.

The judge banged his gavel. “Yes, well,” he said. “In light of the detective’s presence… please give us your testimony regarding these pieces of evidence found in your office, and their relation to the forgery that took place at the crime scene.”

“My, my…” Gant teased. “Kids these days no longer know how to put two and two together…”

Understandable when their teacher says it’s five.

“Let’s see, what was it now?” Gant confirmed. “A jar fragment… and a list? For all I know, you could have planted them in my office. anyway, you can’t prove ‘when’ those pieces of evidence were discovered. If they were found after Darke was convicted, then they’re worthless. There’s no reason I’d participate in a forgery. Rearranging the crime scene wouldn’t help me out in any way.”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “Mr. Wright.”

“Yes, Your Honor?” Wright replied.

“When investigating the crime scene… you should have been more careful to observe protocol.”

“You do understand that I am the Chief of Police, right?” Gant added, clapping his hands. “There will be consequences…”

“Ooh…” Wright groaned.

“Indeed, I believe I will press charges… so you won’t make the same mistake again.”

“My apologies, Chief,” the judge cut in, “but would you mind waiting until tomorrow for that? Today is… well, you know…”

“All right, Udgey. In return, though…”

“I know! I know! That place, right?”

And now I’m curious about what makes today special for the judge… No matter; we have more important things to worry about.

“Are you saying this jar fragment… wasn’t discovered in the initial investigation?” Wright asked.

“It would appear not,” Gant replied. “After all, it wasn’t listed in the evidence list. For all we know, it could have suddenly materialized the day after Darke was sentenced.”

“Objection!” Wright pounded on his desk. “Oh, and wouldn’t that be convenient…”

“Wright,” Miles interrupted. “The Chief is talking about a ‘possibility.’ So long as you can’t rule that out, your remarks, however clever they may be, will only succeed in wasting time.”

“Come now, Mr. Wright,” Gant said. “Think about it. There’s no reason I’d participate in a forgery. Rearranging the crime scene wouldn’t help me out in any way.”

“Really, Chief Gant?” Wright asked. “At the very least, there is one very large benefit you’ve reaped from all this.”

“Oh? I wasn’t aware. What is this ‘benefit’?”

“That of course would be the position you have—Chief of Police.”

“Oh…” the judge said.

“The resolution of the SL-9 Incident secured your promotion to Chief. That in itself is sufficient motive!”

“Ho! Ho! Ho!” Gant guffawed, clapping. “Oh, that’s a good one!”

“Huh?”

“Do you really think I’m that incompetent?”

“What do you mean?”

“Even without that case, I was already next in line to become the next chief. The resolution of SL-9 merely sped up the inevitable a little.”

“Is that true, Edgeworth?” Wright asked.

“Yes…” Miles replied. “He was going to be made Chief anyway.”

“Gah!”

“Be careful when pointing that finger…” Gant warned, “or you might wind up being the one pointed at!”

“So that means…” Miles said, “there’s only one possible motivation for you to commit forgery. If you didn’t do it for yourself… then you did it for someone else.” Your lovely assistant.

“Don’t be silly, Worthy,” Gant responded. “You know me better than that. There are only three people I look out for: Me, Myself and I. There, it’s out in the open now. Udgey, would you mind if I changed my testimony a little?”

“By all means, please do!” the judge replied.

“I wouldn’t be anyone’s ‘accomplice’ if there was nothing in it for me.”

“‘Nothing in it’ for you?” Wright asked.

“Sorry, but the only person I care about is Yours Truly. That girl… Lana’s little sister, was it? If you think I felt sorry for her, you’d better think again.”

“You’re right…” Miles commented. “You don’t feel sorry for anyone.”

“Be tough on crime and tough on people. That’s how I was raised.”

“You seem to be lax enough on yourself, though.”

“Ho! Ho! Ho! Oh, that’s a good one, Worthy!”

“True, you might not help out anyone for their sake,” Wright said. “But if it would benefit you… you might decide to assist someone.”

And now we finally get to show the world Gant’s true colors.

“Mr. Wright,” the judge said. “It appears you’re positively determined to portray the Chief… as a nice man who likes to lend people a hand.”

As clueless as ever.

The judge banged his gavel. “Very well, I’ll ask,” he continued. “Who is this person you believe Chief Gant may have helped forge evidence?”

“Lana Skye,” Wright replied.

“Chief Prosecutor Lana Skye… Th-the defendant!?”

“I believe it’s quite obvious in light of the circumstances. Ema Skye fell victim to an unfortunate series of events. Who would want to help her more than her own sister, Lana? And as for Chief Gant… he would also have a reason to help Lana if she asked him to.” Wright banged on his desk. “That reason, of course, is… self profit.”

“Self profit…? What do you mean?”

“After the SL-9 Incident was resolved… Lana Skye was appointed Chief Prosecutor at the Prosecutor’s Office. The person who arranged this job change… was you, Chief Gant.”

“B-but… how would he profit from all of this?”

“He would be able to use the Chief Prosecutor as his puppet!” Miles answered. He struck his desk. “Essentially… he would acquire unchecked authority over all investigations!”

“Do you mean to tell me… that despite the Chief’s formidable appearance, he plays with puppets!?”

Idiot…

“Oh, wait,” the judge corrected. “You must mean ‘puppet’ as in someone forced to do his bidding… Never mind!”

Wright slammed his desk. “Admit it, Chief!” he pressed. “You assisted Lana Skye in forging evidence! Your motive: to appoint her as Chief Prosecutor so you could control her!”

“Wrighto, my boy,” Gant replied. “You have quite an imagination. Let me ask you something.”

“What?”

“Do you have any proof of this? That I ‘controlled’ Lana? For example, is Lana testifying that I’ve done such a thing?”

“Lana…”

Even now, I doubt she’d testify against him. As long as she believes Ema’s threatened by him, she’ll keep quiet.

“I’m afraid without any proof,” the judge said, “this all amounts to nothing more than mere conjecture.”

“Unless…” Miles said, “that is also what happened in this incident…”

“‘This’ incident…? Er… which one would that be?”

The one Lana’s on trial for, Judge Clousless.

“Of course I’m talking about the murder of Detective Bruce Goodman,” Miles answered. “The Chief Prosecutor has been acting strange throughout this entire trial. Almost as if… someone has been ‘controlling’ her!”

“Worthy…” Gant said. “You’d better watch your tongue… I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”

This duel is not to first blood, Gant. What’s one small wound compared to the one you gave me two years ago?

“Just what do you mean?” the judge asked.

Wright hit his desk. “What he means, Your Honor,” he explained, “is that Chief Gant is involved in the murder of Detective Goodman. Not only that… but the Chief is now making Lana take the rap to cover up his involvement!”

“Wha… wha… wha… WWWHHHAAAAAATTT!!!?”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel repeatedly.

Order! Order! Order! I SAID… ORDEEEEERRRR!!! Mr. Wright! You… You can’t be serious!”

“Huh?” Wright asked.

“This… This is an affront to the highest ranking officer in our law enforcement agency! To accuse the Chief of Pollice of blackmail… and murder!!!? That’s i… i… i-i-i-i-i-i-i-IMPOSSIBLE!!!”

The gallery started murmuring again.

All are equal before the law, Your Honor. The police are the keepers of the law, but the courts are the defenders of justice.

“Your Honor,” Wright stammered, “I was merely reiterating… what Mr. Edgeworth said, in easier-to-understand language.”

Miles smiled evilly. “It’s too late, Mr. Wright,” he replied. He hit his desk. “There’s no turning back for us now.”

The judge banged his gavel. “Can you prove this, Mr. Wright?” he asked. “that the Chief, a high-ranking officer of the law, is involved in this murder!?”

“Regardless of his rank or title,” Miles said, “Chief Gant is just a man. The question is, is he a criminal? I believe the evidence will tell.”

“I see. Alright, then. Show us this evidence that ties Chief Gant to the murder of Detective Goodman. Just remember… It better be good!”

“Take that!” Wright shouted, holding up the ID Card Record.

“This is the ID card list…”

“Yes, the one that shows who entered the evidence room on the day of the crime. There was one ID on the list we couldn’t determine the owner of yesterday… 7777777.”

“Sorry, but there’s no way you can prove that’s my card number,” Gant said.

“It’s your number.”

“What!?” the judge yelped. “How do you know that!?”

“The safe in Chief Gant’s Office requires a code to open. A seven-digit code…”

“Seven digits… You don’t mean…”

“I’m afraid so, Your Honor. The code was ‘7777777’… The same as the remaining ID card number on that list!” He pounded on his desk. “Chief Gant! You entered the evidence room on the day of the crime!”

Judging by the change of expression on your face, Gant, I imagine you are tiring out. Don’t worry. One thrust to the heart is all it takes to end this.

The gallery started murmuring. The judge banged his gavel.

“Order! Order!” he shouted. “Chief Gant! What do you have to say!?”

Gant was silent for a moment. His right fist was clenched, sweat on his brow. “Nothing,” he said. “The defense’s search of my office was in violation of regulations.”

“And I will demand Mr. Wright be punished to the maximum extent of the law,” Miles said. He then hit his desk. “But right now, this court demands an explanation from you… about the use of this ID card!”

Gant said nothing. The judge banged his gavel.

“Chief Gant!” he exclaimed. “So you admit it? You entered the evidence room… on the day of the crime!?”

“What about it? I’m Chief of Police. Whether it’s the evidence room or the bathroom, what’s the difference? I can go anywhere I want.”

“Tell me,” Miles requested. “When you entered the room… were you alone?”

“I always go to the bathroom alone… as I do with the evidence room.”

“Detective Goodman wouldn’t have happened to be with you that day… would he?” Wright asked.”

“O-of course not! Why would he be? I hadn’t seen him in days!”

“Objection! You hadn’t seen him… ‘in days’? Chief Gant… I’m afraid you’ve just undone yourself.” He pounded on his desk, then pointed at Gant. “On that day, you had to have met with Detective Goodman!”

The judge banged his gavel. “What do you mean!?” he asked. “This trial’s purpose is to determine Lana Skye’s guilt!”

“Objection!” Miles shouted, striking his desk. “No it isn’t, Your Honor. This trial’s purpose is to determine the truth. If Chief Gant met the victim on the day of the crime,” He struck his desk again. “then we need to determine one thing: what transpired during that meeting!”

The judge banged his gavel. “In that case, Mr. Wright!” he called. “I’m going to have to ask you for evidence! Show us proof that the victim went to meet Chief Gant on the day of the crime!”

“Detective Goodman lost his ID card on the day of the crime,” Wright replied.

“Or to be more accurate, Jake Marshall stole it,” Miles stated.

“So Detective Goodman filled out a lost item report. He would have had to give that report… to the Chief of Police!”

“Yet you are in possession of the report…” Gant sneered, “which means you can’t be sure if he filed it.”

“He filed it. How do I know, you ask? Because he needed to enter the evidence room that day.”

“He needed to?” the judge asked.

“Yes. To transfer the evidence out.”

“Oh…”

“Detective Goodman took the form to you, Chief Gant. Then… you accompanied the detective to the evidence room!”

“I ‘accompanied’ him?” Gant asked through gritted teeth.

“There’s no other way the murderer and Detective Goodman could have entered the room!”

The gallery began murmuring.

“Hold on,” Gant said. “Let me guess what you’re going to say next. I, the Chief of Police, murdered poor Goodman!”

“Exactly,” Wright said with a nod.

“But wait!” the judge interrupted. “The Chief didn’t necessarily need to accompany him to the evidence room. He could have just lent him his ID card.”

“Yes…” Gant confirmed. “Now that you mention it, I believe I might have done something of the sort.”

“Objection!” Miles barked. “Sorry, but that’s not possible. According to the record, your card was used only once. But you showed us your ID card earlier. If you had really ‘lent’ it to Detective Goodman,” Miles hit his desk. “it would have been found on his body!”

“N… NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

The gallery filled the courtroom with noise. The judge banged his gavel to calm them. “Chief Gant!” he cried. ‘Y-you didn’t…!”

“The murder was most likely committed on the spur of the moment,” Wright said. “No one in their right mind would choose the Police Department as a place to commit murder. After the murder, you contacted Lana at the Prosecutor’s office. Why else? To dispose of Detective Goodman’s body.”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “However, the victim’s body was discovered in the Prosecutor’s Office’s parking lot. How did he manage to move it there?”

“I was at the Police Department the entire day, you know,” Gant said.

“And everyone’s aware that Lana stayed at the Prosecutor’s Office after the ceremony.”

“Everyone except me, it seems…” Wright thought out loud. “Still, you’re the Chief of Police. You have an entire police force at your disposal.”

“Oh, so you think I just ordered an officer to do it?” Gant taunted. “‘Hey you. Take this here dead body over to the Prosecutor’s Office.’ I don’t think so…”

“Chief Gant. You left all the evidence we need to prove how you moved the body to the Prosecutor’s Office.”

The judge banged his gavel. “How could the Chief have moved the body!?” he demanded. “Mr. Wright! Show us this evidence!”

“To move the victim’s body… Chief Gant used this!” He took out a screwdriver. “This is how he moved Detective Goodman’s body!”

“What’s that? A screwdriver? But what does that have to do with this case?”

“Mr. Edgeworth. Think back to the day of the crime. What is this screwdriver doing here?”

“It’s here because…” Miles trailed off. Wait… No! “A-AAAHHHH!” That’s why he had me retrieve that stupid tool!? “After the ceremony ended that day, I didn’t plan to return to the Prosecutor’s Office.”

“But you did. Because Chief Gant asked you to.”

“You mean I… I…”

“The body was found in the trunk of Mr. Edgeworth’s car. I think it’s obvious what happened. The body was moved by that car!”

The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel. “Detective Goodman’s body…” he exclaimed, “was carried in the trunk of Mr. Edgeworth’s car!”

“Yes. Unless, of course, you have another explanation, Chief? Why else would you have asked Mr. Edgeworth to carry evidence from a closed case? There’s only one plausible explanation: to transport the body to your accomplice… Ms. Lana Skye!”

The gallery began murmuring again. The judge banged his gavel yet again.

“Order! Order! Order!” he shouted. “What’s going on here!? Is there no room for rebuttal to the defense’s outrageous accusations!?”

“Think back to the photograph Ms. Starr took at the Prosecutor’s Office,” Wright said. “This was not a photo of the body being stuffed in the trunk to be taken away. It was exactly the opposite…”

“It is a photo of the body being taken from the trunk!” Miles finished.

“Chief Gant!” the judge barked. “Please, say something!”

“I believe…” Gant said, pausing until the court was silent, “your time’s up.”

“My ‘time’s up’?”

“Sorry, Wrighto, but I’m having lunch with the District Attorney General after this. We have to get going if we’re going to make it in time for the early bird special.”

“Objection!” Wright yelled. “B-but… The cross-examination isn’t finished yet!”

“Remember what I told you earlier? A police chief… has all kinds of weapons at his disposal.”

“‘Weapons’…?”

“Like the right to refuse to testify. I’m invoking that right now.”

“What!?” the judge howled. “That is not a right to be casually invoked. There are certain risks to be considered!”

“Objection!” Miles roared, striking his desk. “So you’re going to just run away after all this!?”

“‘Run away’?” Gant repeated. “Don’t make me laugh, Worthy.”

Cur!

“‘I stabbed ol’ Goodman.’ That’s what you’re saying, right?” Gant taunted. “But if you had any conclusive evidence, you would have presented it by now.”

“Well I…” Wright stammered.

“You think I had Lana dispose of the body? If so, then show your proof and get it over with!”

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “I’ll say it again, Mr. Wright. Damon Gant is the current Chief of Police. This court will not tolerate any accusations against him without concrete proof. Well, Mr. Wright?”

“Y-Your Honor?” Wright replied.

“Do you have any concrete proof? Proof that Chief Gant murdered Detective Goodman and made Ms. Skye dispose of his body?”

Unfortunately, Gant’s right. If there was any, Wright would have presented it along with his accusation.

“No, Your Honor,” Wright said. “At present I have no conclusive evidence.”

“Hmph!” Gant scoffed. “See, Udgey?”

“In that case…” the judge said, “this court is forced to penalize you for your allegations against the Chief.”

“What?” Wright yelped.

“I don’t gamble unless the stakes are high!” Gant said. “It seems that Lady Luck was on my side again today. Okay Udgey, I’ll leave the rest to you!”

Think! That coward’s going to get away! How can we prove he’s the killer!?

“I warned you earlier, Mr. Wright,” the judge said. “This… is an affront to a senior officer in our nation’s law enforcement agency.”

Lana… I’m… No, wait… That’s it! Lana!

“WAAAAAAAHHHH!!!” Wright screamed.

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “‘Lady Luck,’ hm? Maybe we should have a word with her.”

“Mr. Edgeworth?” the judge asked. “What do you mean!?”

“There’s one ‘Lady’ who knows the real truth behind this trial… We haven’t yet had the honor of hearing her testimony. In the absence of conclusive evidence, the only other method of proof is testimony.”

“But Chief Gant has invoked his right to refuse to testify!” Wright replied.

“There’s still someone else.” Use your head, Wright. I said a lady, not a coward. “One more witness who can answer all the questions raised in this trial. Someone right in this very room!”

“Mr. Edgeworth!” the judge called. “Who is this person!?”

“Hmph… Why are you asking me, Your Honor? Have you forgotten? The defense is the one calling witnesses today.”

The judge banged his gavel. “Mr. Wright. Does such a witness exist?”

“Yes, Your Honor!” Wright answered. “The defense calls forth… Lana Skye!”

“The defendant… Ms. Lana Skye!?”

“She was in the underground parking lot at 5:15 PM on February 21. Her task: to dispose of the victim’s body…” He paused to hit his desk. “in accordance with a certain someone’s orders!”

“Hmm… Mr. Edgeworth…?”

“The prosecution has no objections, Your Honor,” Miles replied. It’s only fitting that Lana be the one to deal the final blow.

The judge banged his gavel again. “Very well. The court will now take its final recess for the day. In fifteen minutes, we will reconvene to hear the defendant’s testimony. This court is now in re—”

“Hold on!” Gant’s voice called.

“Huh?” The judge noticed Gant had taken the stand again. “Chief Gant! I thought you were going to eat.”

“Listen good, Lana!” he warned. “I don’t think you need me to tell you this, but if you accept Mr. Wright’s claim… there will be terrible consequences. That’s right… Your sister will be found guilty… for Neil Marshall’s murder!”

“Ah!” Wright yelped.

Not on my watch, coward.

“Of course, you’d never support such outrageous claims anyway… right?” Gant continued. “Just something to think about… All right then. I’ve got a lunch date to meet.” Gant left the courtroom.

I doubt anyone in the courtroom now thinks of him as innocent. He just openly threatened Lana.

“Okay,” the judge said after recovering from the shock of Gant’s threat. “If there aren’t any further objections… this court is now in recess!”



Lana decided to stay in the courtroom. Given the situation, Miles thought it best for her to choose the right course of action. He had had his say with her, so it was pointless to continue trying to push her his way. Instead, Miles decided to join Wright at the Defendant Lobby. He was already there.

“Looks like we managed to stay in the game,” Miles said.

“Yeah,” Wright replied. “Thanks to your help, Edgeworth.”

“That Chief…” Gumshoe commented, walking in. “He’s something else, eh pals?”

“Detective Gumshoe!”

“Ha ha ha. I’m not a ‘detective’ anymore.”

“Oh yeah. Sorry about that…”

“Ah, don’t worry. I’ve already decided where to work now! At your office!”

“My office…?”

“Sure! I’ll take the place of that top-knotted girl you used to work with!”

Right… Maya… I wonder what became of her…

“Still…” Gumshoe sighed. “Looks like we’re all out of moves now.”

And so is Gant.

“Chief Gant’s done it again,” Gumshoe moaned. “How is it he always gets the upper hand!?”

“It’s not fair he has the right to refuse to testify!” Wright complained.

“Hmph,” Miles scoffed. “Settle down, Wright. Remember what the judge said?”

“‘Risks’… What did he mean by that?”

“It’s simple. If the Chief refuses to testify, the opposite also holds true.”

“You mean, he forfeits his right to say anything too!” Ema’s voice finished. Miles turned and saw that Ema had entered.

“Ema!” Wright gasped. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she replied. “When I came to, I was in the medical office. I’ve been listening to the trial from the gallery.”

That saves us the trouble of explaining it to her.

“Um, Ema… I’m sorry for what I said before,” Wright said.

“No, don’t be,” Ema replied. “It was the truth. You know, it’s funny. I almost feel somehow… relieved.”

“‘Relieved’?”

“Yeah… Now I finally know what really happened. To think that all this time… my sister was being blackmailed by that terrible man! And she did it all… just to protect me.”

“Ever since her appointment as Chief Prosecutor,” Miles said, “everyone who knew her… said she changed.” On the outside, at least. “Perhaps… it was easier that way for her.”

“What do you mean?” Gumshoe asked.

“What do you think I mean? To follow Chief Gant’s orders. She must have shut herself up deep inside… to force herself to do anything and everything the Chief told her to do.”

“It was all my fault,” Ema whimpered. “It’s all because I… I murdered Mr. Marshall.”

“Hey,” Gumshoe snapped. “Don’t go blaming yourself, now. If you want to blame anyone, blame society, pal!”

Is that what you do when your salary gets cut, Gumshoe? It would certainly explain why you never learn.

“Chief Gant may be able to fool everyone else with his ‘forgery,’” Ema said, “ but he can’t fool my memory. I remember now. I knocked Mr. Marshall into that armor.”

“I… I see,” Wright said.

“Well, we’d better get back,” Gumshoe cut in. “It’s time for the final act!”

“Ema, why don’t you wait h—”

“No,” Ema interrupted. “I’m going with you. I want to be there… when Lana tells the truth.”

And you should be there. “Let’s go, Wright,” Miles said. “It’s time to end this.”



The judge banged his gavel, bringing court back into session.

“Now then…” he said. “Will the defendant, Ms. Lana Skye, please take the stand?”

Lana walked up to the stand.

“Ms. Lana Skye,” Miles said. “You are the Chief Prosecutor. I’m sure you’re aware of what is required of you.”

“But Mr. Edgeworth…” Lana replied, “you already know everything… You know all that I’ve done these past two years.”

I do know, Lana, but the court does not, and if you don’t want to waste our only chance to strike that dishonorable Chief down, you will testify.

“Please provide the court with your testimony, Ms. Skye,” the judge requested. “And remember… you are under oath. We want to hear the truth.”

“Of course…” Lana said. “The truth…”

“Lana!” Ema called. “No matter what happens, I’ll always be your sister!”

I’m not going to let you lie.

The judge banged his gavel. “Now then,” he said, “your testimony, if you will. First, tell us about your relationship with Gant.”

“I worked alongside Gant for years…” Lana said. “There’s no truth to this ‘blackmail’ theory. I fabricated the evidence two years ago all by myself. When I found Prosecutor Marshall’s body, I rearranged the crime scene. My only motivation was to get Darke convicted. It had nothing to do with Ema.”

“Hmm…” the judge said. “Are you sure about this testimony?”

She’s sure it’s a lie; that much I know. I said the truth would come out, and now I’m going to keep my word.

“Your Honor,” Lana replied. “I’m confessing to a capital offense. Of course I’m sure.”

“But Lana…!” Ema begged. The judge shook his head.

“If this is true,” he said, “then that means Chief Gant has nothing to do with this.”

“That’s what I’ve been telling you from the beginning,” Lana responded.

“Please, Mr. Wright,” Ema insisted. “You’ve got to help her! She’s sacrificing herself because of me…”

Wright looked unsure. Apparently, he was concerned that Lana was being honest.

“She’s not,” Ema said to Wright. “I know my own sister. Whenever she speaks stiffly like that, she’s hiding something inside. Deep down, she’s really screaming in agony!”

The judge banged his gavel. “The defense may now begin its cross-examination,” he said.

“You say you did this all by yourself?” Wright asked.

“Yes,” Lana replied.

“Would you mind telling us what you found when you arrived at the crime scene?” Miles requested.

Lana paused for a moment. The memory was no doubt causing her pain as she brought it back to the surface. “It seems I was the first person to discover the scene,” she stated. “The broken prosecutor award knife was stuck in the victim’s body.”

Wright slammed his desk. “What!?” he barked. “But Prosecutor Marshall died from an unfortunate ‘accident’!”

“That’s only a situation you dreamed was ‘possible.’ The reality is, it wasn’t my sister who took the prosecutor’s life! Fantasize all you want, Mr. Wright, but I’ll never change this statement!”

“You mean,” Miles pressed, “Prosecutor Marshall wound up being killed by Darke?”

“Something like that…”

“If that is so, what happened to the other murder weapon? Darke was carrying a switchblade knife.”

“Oh, that was lying on the floor a little distance away. It was probably knocked away in the struggle.”

Your love for your sister is truly touching, Lana, but that will not change what happened.

“All just to protect me…” Ema commented.

The judge banged his gavel. “So when you found the scene like this,” he started, “what did you do? After all, this is what everything boils down to!”

“Yes…” Lana replied. “I broke off the tip of Darke’s knife, planted it inside the wound, then moved the body.”

“Hold it!” Wright shouted. “You planted the tip of Darke’s knife in the victim’s wound?”

“And then you moved the body?” the judge added.

Miles struck his desk. “But why!?” he demanded. “Why would you do that…?”

“You of all people should know, Edgeworth,” Lana answered. “You’ve always had a good head on your shoulders.”

In other words, to protect Ema.

“When you showed up on the scene, where exactly was the victim’s body?” Wright asked.

“It was where you deduced it was—by Chief Gant’s desk,” Lana responded.

“But the body was found by your desk,” Miles stated. “Why did you move it there?”

“The reason for that is simple…”

The judge banged his gavel. “Let’s have the witness explain this in more detail. The reason Ms. Skye moved the body!”

“The pieces of the jar that shattered during the events threatened my plan.”

“Objection!” Wright yelled. “Ms. Skye, I understand how you feel. You committed that ‘crime’ two years ago to protect your sister.”

“You mean the forgery at the scene where Neil Marshall was murdered?” the judge confirmed.

“If that truth were to be exposed now, the past two years of your life…” He paused to hit his desk. “will have been useless. Even so, I am compelled to bring to everyone’s attention a significant contradiction within your testimony!”

“A contradiction… in my testimony?” Lana asked.

“You testified, and I quote, ‘The pieces of the jar that shattered during the events threatened my plan.’”

“That’s right…”

“Do you have a problem with that?” the judge asked.

“It’s a simple oversight, really,” Wright said. “You see, a message was written on this jar with the victim’s blood.”

“Yes,” Lana agreed. “The prosecutor must have written it in his final moments.”

“Exactly so. And this is where the contradiction lies. In order for the victim to be able to write his message on the jar, it must not yet have been broken before he died!”

“Ah…”

Wright banged on his desk. “He couldn’t have written Ema’s name on a shattered jar!”

The gallery started muttering. The judge banged his gavel to quiet them down.

“Order! Order!” he yelled.

“Your Honor,” Miles said. “It would appear more information is needed in regard to this jar, and its bloody message! We may be missing something critical here! Chief Prosecutor. It seems you’re as in the dark as we are… about the truth towards which we’re headed.”

“What…?” Lana replied.

“Just tell us exactly what you saw. We’ll piece together the information to arrive at the truth.”

“The judge pounded his gavel. “Very well!” he said. “The witness may now continue her testimony!”

“I immediately noticed the blood traces on the jar,” Lana testified, “but it was dark in the room and I didn’t have time to check it out. To be safe, I wiped away the blood. The fragments were large, so I’m sure I got them all. All I could think about was wiping them clean before they were discovered.”

“You mean you were the one who wiped away this message in blood!?”

“I wasn’t Chief Prosecutor at the time.”

“She didn’t think Darke was the real murderer,” Ema said. “That’s why she tried to erase the ‘real evidence.’”

The judge banged his gavel. “Very well,” he said. “The defense may now begin its cross-examination.”

“Ms. Skye,” Wright called. “I believe this jar conceals a truth even you were unaware of.”

“What?” Lana replied.

“We found the final piece of this jar in Chief Gant’s safe.”

“In the Chief’s safe? But how…?”

Now it makes sense… Gant was there before Lana… which means he must have altered the crime scene!

“There’s something even more disturbing about that final piece:” Wright continued. “There was still blood on it.”

“But the witness just testified…” the judge said, “that she gathered every last piece and wiped the blood off of them!”

“Yes, which leaves us with only one explanation.” Wright hit his desk. “On the night Prosecutor Marshall was murdered… you were not the first one to show up on the scene! Chief Gant got there before you!”

The gallery started murmuring. The judge pounded his gavel repeatedly.

“But couldn’t the defendant have simply missed a piece?” he suggested.

“Objection!” Wright yelled, striking his desk again. “I’m afraid that’s unlikely. The pieces are too big for anyone to miss, let alone an ace detective!”

“That may well be, but everyone makes mistakes. Even I once wasted an entire day looking for my dentures. They were in my mouth all along! Ha! Can you believe that!?”

“Objection!” Miles barked, pounding on his desk. “Have you forgotten, Your Honor? When this witness arrived at the scene, the jar was already broken.”

“Oh, that…”

“There’s no way a name could have been written on a shattered jar. Another person discovered the scene prior to the witness!”

“I hope you’re not implying this ‘person’ was Chief Gant. At the time, he was looking for Darke downstairs. Besides, even if he was there first, why would he break the jar?”

“Objection!” Wright shouted, banging on his desk. “The question is, if he did arrive there first, why did he hide that fact for two years!?” Wright slammed his desk again. “Well, Your Honor? Can you answer us that!?”

“Nnnnn… NNNNGHAAAAAAA! Noooooooooooo!”

The gallery began murmuring.

“Wait, I’m not the one on trial here!”

“Damon Gant arrived at the scene prior to the witness,” Miles confirmed. “He proceeded to break the jar, and purposefully hid one of the broken pieces. Question: What is this action called?”

“Fabrication…” Wright answered.

“B-but why would Chief Gant do that!?” the judge cried.

“In light of what happened afterwards, isn’t it clear?” Miles replied.

“What happened afterwards…?”

“Discovering the scene, Lana Skye believed her sister Ema killed the victim. Determined to help her sister, she sought Gant’s aid. Lending her his ‘aid,’ Gant helped her create evidence that incriminated Darke, sparing Ema. And here is the reason! The reason why Ms. Skye became the Chief’s puppet!”

Lana bit her thumb. Miles saw a small amount of blood spray from it. “N-no…” she stammered. “I… I did it on my own…”

“Please, Sis!” Ema cried. “Stop trying to protect the Chief! I… I can’t watch you suffer any more for my sake…”

“No, you didn’t!” Lana shouted to Ema. “It wasn’t you, Ema! You didn’t kill anyone! Don’t believe anything Mr. Wright says! Defense attorneys make up the most foul lies to defend their clients!”

“‘Foul lies’…?” Wright repeated, hunched over in a cold sweat.

“Hmm…” the judge mumbled. “I guess you do seem the type who likes to twist the truth.”

Wright suddenly regained his composure. Something appeared to occur to him.

“Is something wrong, Mr. Wright?” the judge asked.

“Lana… may be right after all,” Wright said.

“What do you mean, Wright?” Miles demanded.

“So you do tell foul lies then, Mr. Wright?” Ema asked, completely missing the point.

Wright hit his desk. “Ms. Skye!” he called. “Please testify once more!”

“But…” Lana started.

“If evidence was ‘fabricated’ behind your back… then Ema’s accidental killing of Prosecutor Marshall… might also be a lie!”

“B-but,” Ema stuttered, “I do remember knocking over Mr. Marshall…”

“Ms. Skye! If you will!”

“I… I can’t…” Lana whimpered.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of anymore,” Miles reassured her. “This cross-examination may not change a thing.” He struck his desk. “However, there is a possibility that it will, if you tell the truth!”

Lana was silent for a moment. “Very well,” she finally said. “I’ll testify… about what I really saw.”

The judge banged his gavel. “All right,” he said. “The witness may testify once more, for the final time!”

“When I arrived, I found Mr. Marshall’s body impaled on that suit of armor’s sword. Ema and Darke were lying unconscious on the floor nearby. When I saw what had happened, I thought she… did it. That’s why I erased all the evidence that linked her to the murder. I had Chief Gant help me remove the body from the sword and carry it… But if it all really was a fabrication, Ema might be innocent!”

Finally… Thank you, Lana.

“Unbelievable!” the judge exclaimed. “The body was impaled on the armor’s sword?”

“You were the only one who saw that,” Miles said, disappointed. “If only you had proof…”

“Actually,” Lana said after a pause, “I do have proof.”

You do!?

“I gave it to Mr. Wright just this morning,” she continued.

“What?” Wright asked. “To me!?”

“It’s a picture I took of the crime scene as I encountered it. I thought it might be needed.”

“But I don’t remember receiving a picture like that…”

“Lana must have known…” Ema said. “See, Mr. Wright? She really does have faith in you!”

The judge banged his gavel. “Very well, Mr. Wright,” he said. “Please present this ‘picture’!”

“Lana said she gave it to you this morning, right?”

“I seem to remember getting something from her then…” Wright recalled.

“Let’s check that evidence again!” Ema said. “There must be a picture in there somewhere!”

Wright took out the book he had received and opened it. He flipped through the pages. When he reached the end, he saw something and took it out: a photograph.

Ingenious…

“Hey…” Wright said. “There’s a picture here!”

“Oh…” Ema gasped. “Oh my… This is… the actual crime scene…!”

“No other detective saw the crime scene like this,” Lana explained. “That’s because I contacted Criminal Affairs only after I rearranged the scene.”

Ema gasped after another look at the picture. “Mr. Wright! That piece cut out from his vest! Could that be… That cloth… It had fingerprints on it! Whosever fingerprints those are must be the real murderer!”

Wright suddenly began sweating.

Miles struck his desk. “Anyway,” he said, “let’s get on with the cross-examination. So long as you tell the truth, we should be able to flush out the real murderer.”

“The judge banged his gavel. “Very well,” he said. The defense may now begin its cross-examination.”

“Hold it!” Gant’s voice bellowed. Gant walked up to the stand. Lana stepped aside. “Come now, Udgey. This is the poorest excuse for a trial I’ve ever seen!”

Come back to accept your fate, have you? And here I was thinking you didn’t have a heart for my sword to pierce…

“Chief Gant…” the judge said.

“What, now you want to make me out as the bad guy too? If so, I’d like to put in a word or two in my defense.”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.”

“What?”

“You already declined testimony. That means you forfeited your right to make statements of any sort.”

Gant just stood there, as though the words had not sunk in.

“Just sit back, relax…” Miles continued, “and enjoy the sound of the noose tightening around your own neck.”

“GGGCCKCKCCKKKK…!” Gant snarled. After a moment, he regained his composure. “Ah, so what? You think I’m worried?”

So what else do you have up your sleeve, Gant?

“Sorry to disappoint you,” Gant continued, “but I don’t need to make any statements.”

“What do you mean?” Miles asked.

“The evidence will do all the talking for me. Even if I can’t testify, I can still present evidence.”

“Yes, that’s true…” the judge agreed. “Wait! You mean… you still have some conclusive evidence?”

“No, I don’t. But someone does.”

“‘Someone’…?”

“So then… what’s your excuse Wrighto?”

He’s asking for evidence? Wright, I’ve lured you into enough traps to know one when I see it.

“Why have you been keeping quiet about it?” Gant asked. “You do have something to show us, right? Something that proves who knocked over Neil Marshall, causing his death. Conclusive evidence, that leaves no room for doubt!”

It’s definitely a trap. If he thought that evidence was a threat, he wouldn’t ask for it.

“I-is this true, Mr. Wright!?” the judge asked.

Wright didn’t respond. The judge banged his gavel.

“Mr. Wright!” he snapped. “If you have any more evidence, present it now! And if you try to conceal anything… you will be the one appearing before the Board of Inquiries!”

“Your Honor, I don’t have any evidence I can present at this point in time,” Wright said.

“What!?” Gant roared. “You lie!”

“Chief Gant?” the judge asked.

“You… you opened my safe! I know you took what was inside! The conclusive evidence!”

Hah! We have you now, Gant. You just admitted to concealing evidence. From here, we just have to wait for you to bleed to death.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Wright taunted.

“Mr. Wright!” Ema snapped. “Why don’t you show them? We found it together!”

“Oh, I see,” Gant said. “It’s because you know the truth, don’t you? You know whose fingerprints are on it. That’s why you won’t present it!”

Miles struck his desk. “What are you talking about, Chief Gant!?”

“Can’t you figure it out? Take a good look at this picture. See the victim’s vest? Notice anything odd about the chest area?”

“It looks like part of it’s been cut off for some reason,” the judge said.

“You mean, you had this…? In your safe?”

“What!? That means you… the Chief of Police… concealing evidence! This is going to be the biggest scandal in the history of the Police Department!!!”

The gallery was in an uproar.

“Impressive…” Gant sneered. “To be honest, I didn’t think you had the gall, Wrighto. Well, I can’t just let you pin me up as the murderer. I’ll tell you what really happened.”

“What!?” the judge barked. “You mean you admit to it!?”

“I was the first person to arrive at the crime scene that day. It then occurred to me that I could use the situation to control Lana.”

“So you really were manipulating her!” Ema yelled.

“I knew Lana. If I made it look like the blame lay with her sister… that when she saw the scene, she would ask me for my aid.”

“So you ‘assisted’ Ms. Skye!” Miles growled.

“I told her to arrange all the evidence. I had her plant the knife tip in the victim’s body, and move the body across the room.”

“And I ended up using that evidence to get Joe Darke convicted!”

“When we rearranged the crime scene, I hid two pieces of evidence. I did this before Lana arrived at the scene.”

“Two pieces of evidence…” Wright said. “You mean those items in your safe!”

“But... why?” the judge asked.

“For insurance, of course,” Gant answered.

“‘Insurance’…?” Wright repeated.

“I was sure my plan would work, but it’s always best to be prepared for the worst. I wasn’t about to let anyone blame me for a murder that girl committed.”

“You mean you were calculating that far ahead while forging the evidence!?” the judge snapped.

“Who do you take me for, a fool? I didn’t make police chief by dumb luck. See this jar fragment?” He pointed to the part of the jar that Lana had not wiped off. “I hid the most legible part of Ema’s name. I didn’t expect Lana to go and wipe the blood off all the pieces.”

“Objection!” Miles yelled, striking his desk. “But if you fabricated all the evidence… what’s to say you didn’t fabricate the message on this jar, too?”

“Ho ho ho… Some people just don’t know when to quit, do they?”

I believe that’s my line.

“That’s why I kept one more item for ‘insurance,” Gant continued.

“You mean that piece of cloth?” Miles asked.

“Come on, Wrighto,” Gant taunted. “Cough it up, already. I know you have it.”

Wright was silent.

“What are you waiting for, Mr. Wright?” Ema asked.

“So you admit to it then, Chief Gant? That you were hiding the cloth you cut off the victim’s vest in your safe?”

“Yes, I admit it,” Gant answered. “I didn’t want to have to do that, being Chief and all, but it’s a lot better than being portrayed as a murderer!”

The judge banged his gavel. “Well, Mr. Wright?” he asked. “What do you have to say for yourself? Just a moment ago, you said you didn’t have any evidence you could present.”

“Foolish move, Wrighto. You should have shown it then before it was too late.”

Its relevance hadn’t been established at that point, Gant. But now it’s relevant.

“Your Honor,” Wright said, “I do have evidence to present now.”

The judge banged his gavel. “All right then,” he said, “let’s see this ‘conclusive’ evidence! The evidence that shows who murdered Prosecutor Marshall!”

Wright banged on his desk. “Let me verify this once more. On the day of the crime, you personally cut out this piece of the victim’s vest?” He held up a strip of cloth with a handprint on it.

“Oh, yes!” Gant replied, clapping. “At last you’ve finally brought it out into the open.”

“There’s a handprint on this piece of cloth!” the judge commented.

Miles hit his desk. “Your Honor!” he called. “The prosecution requests that be immediately sent to the lab for analysis! This handprint on the leather… There must have been a strong impact for it to be left so clearly!”

“You mean…”

“It could not have been forged. It must be authentic, conclusive evidence!”

The gallery started yammering.

“Ho ho ho…” Gant chuckled. “You’re as slow on the uptake as ever, Worthy!”

“What?” Miles spat.

“Think about it. Wrighto had all this time to present this evidence… Yet he was reluctant to do so. Why would that be?”

“You mean you already know?” Miles asked Wright. “You know whose fingerprints are on that?”

“M-Mr. Wright…” Ema exclaimed. “Do you really know?”

The judge banged his gavel. “Whoever the fingerprints belong to must be the real murderer!” he said. “Whose fingerprints are they!?”

“Very well,” Wright said. “I’ll tell you. The person whom these fingerprints belong to is… Ema Skye.”

“Ema? Ema Skye!?”

What!?

“What!?” Ema yelped. “They’re mine…!?”

“I’m sorry, Ema…” Wright said.

“But why… Why didn’t you tell me!?”

The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel repeatedly.

“Oh ho ho ho!” Gant guffawed. “You’re really something, Wrighto! You knew this girl did it all along, and you still tried to pin the murder on me!”

“So it’s true,” the judge admitted. “Tragic, but true. This girl really did shove Prosecutor Marshall to his death.”

“Hold it!” Lana shouted. “How could you!? You… you monster!!!”

“Ms. Skye…”

“You knew whose fingerprints those were all along, yet you… you acted like she really didn’t…”

Wright… I sorely overestimated you.

“Ms. Skye,” Wright said. “It’s not over yet…”

“What!?” Lana asked.

“I said this trial isn’t over yet.”

“Ha! But I’m afraid it is over, boy! Not only this trial… but your career too!”

What do you mean by ‘not over yet,’ Wright?

“You purposely concealed this conclusive evidence,” Gant continued. “That, my friend, is a serious offense. I’m looking forward to pressing charges after the defendant is convicted. I’ll have your badge, boy!”

Wait… If Wright was just fighting for a verdict, he wouldn’t have ever shown that cloth. That means there’s got to be something else.

“What’s the matter,” Gant taunted, “cat got your tongue? Aren’t you going to tell us how it feels? How it feels to be the one who single-handedly turned a poor little girl into a murderer!?”

“Before I do that…” Wright said, “there’s just one little thing I have to clear up.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

“Who really killed Prosecutor Neil Marshall.”

“What!?” the judge barked.

“Chief Gant, you are absolutely right. This piece of cloth proves who the real murderer is. Who killed Neil Marshall, you ask?”

“It was Ema Skye, wasn’t it?”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

How is it not possible?

“You see,” Wright continued, “this piece of cloth contains a critical contradiction!”

“What!?” Gant roared. “A contradiction!? What is this fool babbling about!?”

That glare… He knows something, too…

Wright hit his desk. “I’m talking about a contradiction,” he said. “One that proves… who the real killer is!”

The gallery started murmuring. The judge banged his gavel.

“M-Mr. Wright!” he yelled. “This piece of cloth… What could it possibly contradict!?”

“Behold!” Wright shouted. “The piece of evidence that contradicts this cloth!” Wright held up Lana’s photograph. “Take that!”

“And what exactly is this supposed to be…?” Gant growled.

“This is the picture Ms. Skye took. Take a good look at it. See where the piece of his vest was cut out?”

“Yes…” the judge said. “His shirt is showing underneath. It’s hard to make out with all the blood on his vest, though.”

That’s it! That means that cloth was cut out before Marshall… But that means… GANT!

“Exactly my point,” Wright stated. “His chest is soaked with blood. That’s only natural. His lungs no doubt were punctured. Blood poured out of his mouth.”

“Oh!” the judge exclaimed, apparently catching on. “But that piece of cloth… Wait… There’s no blood on it!”

“AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!” Gant screamed.

“Since Ema Skye’s fingerprints are on this cloth,” Wright said, “there’s no doubt that she shoved the prosecutor aside!” He pounded on his desk. “However! Mr. Marshall was not impaled on the sword!”

“No! Th-this is nonsense!”

“Now then, Chief Gant. Let me ask you something. Prosecutor Marshall was not impaled when he was shoved aside.”

“He most likely hit his head on the ground and was knocked out,” Miles said.

“If so, then tell me. Who could it have been? Who could have arrived at the scene before Ms. Skye, picked up the unconscious prosecutor, and impaled him on the armor’s sword?”

“Hnnngngghgghh…” Gant growled.

“Then,” Miles added, “to make it look like Ema was responsible for the prosecutor’s death, said person proceeded to write her name on the jar with the victim’s blood. Then he broke the jar on purpose, to leave behind a clue,” He struck his desk. “and make Lana believe her sister did it!”

“Remember what you admitted only moments ago?” Wright asked. “That you personally cut out this bloodless piece of the victim’s vest? Ironic, isn’t it? Through the very act of creating ‘insurance,’ you proved that you were the actual murderer!”

“NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” Gant howled.

At last… Gant… Hell’s too good for you.

“Objection!” Gant roared.

What!?

“Heh…” he chuckled. “Heh heh heh! Oh ho ho ho ho ho! That was close, Wrighto! You almost had me! Sorry, but you’ll have to do better than that. I refute your allegations.”

“What do you mean, you ‘refute’ his allegations?” the judge asked.

“You see, that piece of cloth… is illegal evidence!”

The gallery jeered at Gant. Clearly, everyone believed he was the killer. The judge banged his gavel.

“Order! Order!” he bellowed. “What nonsense is this!?”

“Illegal evidence cannot be used to convict a suspect!” Gant explained. “Remember, Udgey! Earlier, ol’ Wrighto here concealed that piece of cloth!”

“Well, that’s true… The defense did refuse to present evidence!”

“At that moment, that piece of cloth ceased to be ‘legal evidence’!”

“But that’s not fair…!” Ema cried.

“Hoo hoo hoo hooooo! Did you actually think you could best me in court? It looks like the last laugh’s on you, son!”

Your wound is still bleeding, Gant. We have yet to remove our blade.

The gallery’s jeers, which had only temporarily been silenced earlier, reached troublesome levels again. The judge banged his gavel.

“I’m afraid Mr. Gant’s claim is legally correct,” he admitted. “Well, Mr. Edgeworth?”

“True…” Miles agreed. “Illegal evidence cannot be used to convict a person… assuming, of course, that the evidence is indeed illegal.”

“Hmm? Well, Mr. Wright?”

Hopefully, he caught the hint.

“Mr. Wright,” the judge said again. “Do you admit to it? That you purposefully and illegally concealed this piece of cloth?”

“Certainly, I refused to present evidence at one point,” Wright stated.

“Aha!” Gant laughed. “So the evidence is illegal!”

“Objection! No it isn’t, Mr. Gant.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not that I ‘didn’t’ present evidence then… it’s that I ‘couldn’t.’”

“What do you mean, you ‘couldn’t’?” the judge asked.

Wright pounded on his desk. “There are certain procedures involved when presenting evidence!”

“No, Udgey!” Gant cried. “Don’t listen to his lies! He’s nothing but a coward! You can’t let him!”

“Objection!” Miles roared. “Nothing but a coward?” That’s you, Gant. And you’ve slipped through your last loophole. “There is only one issue left to be resolved in this trial: Is this evidence legal or not?”

The judge banged his gavel. “Very well,” he said. “Let us settle this once and for all. Earlier you refused to present evidence. If you can prove your conduct was not in violation of the law, then do so now!”

Wright slammed his desk. “This is my proof, Your Honor,” he answered. “‘Evidence Law.’”

“What’s this?” Gant growled.

“I’ve done my homework too, Chief. Indeed, Ema Skye’s fingerprints were on this piece of cloth.” He struck his desk. “However! At that point in time, this was merely a piece of cloth, nothing more.”

“What?”

“You see, it’s written right here in this book: The second rule of evidence law!”

I think we’ll twist the blade around in your wound before removing it.

“Rule 1: no evidence shall be shown without the approval of the Police Department!” Miles said.

“I found this piece of evidence myself… inside your safe,” Wright said. “It goes without saying I did not have approval from the Police Department.”

“Rule 2: unregistered evidence presented must be relevant to the cast in trial.”

“And here is the crux of the matter. You see, at the time it was impossible for me to prove the relevance between the cloth and the SL-9 Incident.”

“What!?” Gant exploded. “What kind of nonsense is this!? You want ‘relevancy’? Just take one look at this picture and—”

“Objection!” Wright pounded on his desk. “Sorry, but can you recall… when was that picture presented?”

“That was shown only a few moments ago!” the judge recalled.

“No…” Gant moaned.

“He’s right,” Miles said. “At the beginning of today’s trial, that piece of cloth was still meaningless.”

“The person who gave it value as evidence…” Wright added, “was you, Damon Gant.”

“You yourself confessed to a certain ‘truth.’”

“NNNNOOOOO!!!” Gant cried.

“It was then that you approved this cloth… as conclusive evidence.” Miles struck his desk. “Yes! You, the Chief of Police, personally approved this cloth!”

“The only person who could have cut this from the victim’s vest…” Wright said, “is the one who stood before Prosecutor Marshall in his final moments. In other words, the real murderer! And there’s only one person who that could be…” Wright pounded on his desk, then pointed at Gant. “Damon Gant, the killer was you!”

“N…” Gant groaned. “N… Mmph.” He then began clapping repeatedly and laughing like a maniac, his head thrown back and his mouth open wide. “I knew I should have gotten rid of him… That good-for-nothing scum! For two years he’s been snooping around the department trying to get something on me! Crimes are being committed everyday, yet he insisted on hounding me!”

“Well, your crime wasn’t exactly petty,” Miles said.

“He wanted to reinvestigate the case. He recruited Angel Starr, then convinced Brusce Goodman…”

“Detective Goodman?” Wright asked.

“Yeah, that’s right. Goodman turned him down, as he ought to. Still, Jake Marshall didn’t know when to quit.”

“He stole Goodman’s ID card and tried to steal the evidence!” Miles recalled.

“Goodman came to me that day. He wanted to file a lost item report. I went with him to the evidence room. Then all of a sudden he had to speak out! ‘What are you talking about, Goodman?’ ‘Can you please reopen the investigation, Chief? We can’t transfer the evidence out. There are too many questions left unanswered!’ He… told me to open up the evidence room and take it out. ‘It’s not too late. I’ll hand this to Marshall!’ Well, to be honest, I was a little panicked too. I had a bad feeling about it, but never knew it would come to this. That’s when I saw it… that accursed knife. I couldn’t just pull it out.”

“You would only increase the amount of blood and you couldn’t finish what you started.”

“Even so, the blood was just pouring out. I didn’t know who might stumble in, so I was wiping it up. I was worrying so much about the floor, I didn’t realize my mistake.”

“Detective Gumshoe’s bloody handprint…” Wright said.

“I used to be known as the ‘crime computer’… But everyone has to start somewhere I guess. I was too nervous. I had no business doing any of it.”

“Then you put the body in my car?” Miles asked.

“I’m sorry! We couldn’t think of any other way to move the body. We broke the trunk, but what’s the big deal? You pull down a lot more than us detectives!”

“Grr…” That car cost more than a year’s salary!

Wright struck his desk. “W-what does this have to do with anything? You’re horrible! How could you get Ms. Skye involved in all of this!?”

“Well, she had as much to lose as I did if the truth came out.”

No, she just thought she did.

“So you took the evidence from Detective Goodman’s locker?” Miles asked.

“I feel bad for having to do it,” Gant said. “I couldn’t sit around and pick and choose what to take.”

“Well…” Wright recalled, “you left the jar fragment and gloves.”

“Yeah… It looks like I was better off being an investigator of crimes than a committer. They all did their best to get in my way… I’ve got to hand it to them, they do their jobs well… much to my dismay.”

“Fake evidence doesn’t hold up very well upon close examination,” Miles said. “You must have known that…”

“Tell me, Worthy. What are you doing in court?”

“Me?” Trust me; I intend to take a long vacation.

“You despise criminals. I can feel it. You and me… we’re the same.”

Do not compare yourself to me, Gant. I’m no criminal.

“One day you’ll understand,” Gant continued. “If you want to take them on alone… you’ll figure out what’s needed!”

I’ll find a way around it, Gant. I’m not a von Karma.

“Well,” Gant said, “looks like it’s time to say goodbye. Oh, Udgey.”

“Wh-what?” the judge stuttered.

“Looks like we’ll have to cancel that lunch date. Sorry old friend!”

The judge shook his head. When he stopped, his face was serious. “I’m sorry too, Damon Gant. I knew you as you used to be, long ago. You were once a fine investigator, and an example to others on the force. I’m sorry to learn that you are no longer that person.”

“Those days are gone now, Udgey. Thanks for all the memories, though… Don’t worry, you’ll be fine! Now you have Wrighto here… and Worthy. With these two around, you can’t go wrong… You see, if I listen carefully, I can hear it right now… The sound of a new beginning!”

Gant was led off by the bailiff. Lana resumed the stand.

“There are two things I want you to understand,” Wright said.

“Yes?” Lana replied.

“First, your sister never hurt anyone. Second, Damon Gant betrayed you from the beginning. You see, Ms. Skye… you no longer have any reason to keep silent.”

“You’re right. When this trial is over, I’ll tell everything. All that I’ve done these past two years… from the tine I had Gant help me forge evidence, up until today.”

The judge banged his gavel. “So…” he said, “it seems all the questions raised in this trial have been answered.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Skye…” Wright said. “I couldn’t get you out of all your trouble.”

“My, my,” she said. “What high standards you have… for a rookie.”

Sometimes, only a rookie is stupid enough to make the right choice. That’s two favors I owe you, Wright.

“I can see why Mia thought so highly of you,” Lana continued. “Who knows? A few years from now, you just might make it to the top.” She smiled. It was different from the ones he had seen the past two years. Rather than just her mouth and eyes, her entire body shone with the radiance that Miles saw in no one but her.

I’ve waited so long to see you smile like that… Svetlana… “Shining one…” Your smile does your name justice.

“I owe you my thanks, Mr. Wright,” Lana said.

“Ms. Skye…” Wright managed to say.

“And to you too, Mr. Edgeworth.”

Miles returned to reality. Court’s still in session. Save the jubilance for later.

“You’ve suffered every bit as much as I have over these past few days,” Lana continued. “Believe me, I know how much of an ordeal it’s been for you.”

“Hmph!” Miles scoffed, trying to avoid getting flustered. “It was nothing.”

“I was worried the pressure might break you. And yet… you rose above it all and guided Mr. Wright to victory. You’ve done well, Mr. Edgeworth.”

“S-stop it! I only did my job!”

Miles thought he saw Lana roll her eyes in amusement.

The judge banged his gavel. “In light of this case…” he said, “it seems a good self-examining is in order for all of us. Ms. Skye.”

“Yes, Your Honor?” Lana replied.

“You are innocent of murder. However… Although the Chief blackmailed you, the fact is you still acted as his accomplice. A trial will be scheduled for these crimes at a later date.”

“Yes. I understand, Your Honor.”

“Is there something amusing about all of this? Why are you smiling?”

“It’s been a long time, Your Honor. A long time since I’ve felt free of these heavy chains…” With those words, Lana left the stand and resumed her place in the defendant’s chair.

“Well, this trial has gone on far too long already,” the judge said. “Regarding the charge of murder, this court finds the defendant, Ms. Lana Skye… not guilty.”

The courtroom erupted into cheers. Silently, Miles cheered as well.

The judge banged his gavel. “That is all,” he said. “The court is adjourned!”



Miles left the prosecutor’s bench. Though he was pleased with the verdict, the trial itself had been Hell. On his own, he would have proven Lana guilty. The thought terrified him. He knew he was unfit to prosecute as things were. There was more to his job than he knew, and if he was ever going to stay in the world of law, he would need to learn just what that was.

At the least, I should say goodbye to Lana…

He saw Gumshoe walk into the Defendant Lobby with Lana.

What to do… How am I going to handle this…?

“Hope I’m not interrupting anything!” Miles heard Gumshoe say. Gumshoe then muttered something else. Wright said something in response. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Making a detective run all around while on duty, and to top it off you call me here… I’ve seen happier people at funerals!” The next part was relatively inaudible.

“Lana!” Miles heard Ema exclaim. The conversation continued.

Damn it… Right when I need to say something, I can’t think of anything to say… I suppose it makes sense… All this time that I fought crime, I walked a crooked path. And then Lana sat in the defendant’s chair… and could have died because of my methods… I don’t deserve her…

“…Edgeworth?” Miles heard Lana ask. Wright said something. “Stop hiding and come over here.”

Defeated, Miles walked in. Think of something to say…

“I just came to say…” Miles trailed off. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Lana said, smiling.

“Thank you, Mr. Edgeworth!” Ema exclaimed.

“Right,” Miles said. “Well… I’ll be going now!”

Miles turned around to leave. He felt a hand on his left shoulder.

“Mr. Edgeworth,” Lana said from behind him. “I hope you don’t blame yourself for what happened.”

Don’t… Miles turned to face Lana.

“We were the ones who acted corruptly,” she said, “not you.”

That changes nothing. I don’t deserve to prosecute. “It’s too late for me,” Miles said. “No matter what anyone may say, I realized today that I can’t change my own mistakes!”

“Mr. Edgeworth…” Ema whimpered.

“Not only that, but I don’t even trust myself anymore. Chief Gant was right… I do despise criminals. I planned to dedicate my entire life to fighting them. But in order to fight crime alone, one needs a ‘weapon.’ It’s scary, but I’ve been thinking the same thing for quite some time now.”

“But Edgeworth…” Wright said.

“Who knows? Given enough time, I might have tried to pull something like Chief Gant did. That thought terrifies me. That’s why I can’t continue on as a prosecutor!”

“Edgeworth…” Lana said, a hint of sorrow in her voice. “Don’t you understand? Damon Gant and your mentor, Manfred von Karma… were both the best of the best when it came to fighting crime. But they both made the same mistake. You said, ‘in order to fight crime alone, one needs a “weapon.”’ That may be right, but think back to today’s trial. You weren’t alone.”

L… Lana…

“You were working together with Mr. Wright,” Lana continued. “And because of that partnership, you were able to present evidence that otherwise would have gone undiscovered. Isn’t that right, Mr. Wright?”

“Huh?” Wright yelped. “What? Oh, uh… yeah.”

“Come on, Mr. Wright!” Ema exclaimed. “Show him what Lana’s talking about!”

Wright grasped his chin in his right hand. He then apparently got an idea and took out his half of the SL-9 evidence list. “Take that!” he said.

“That’s the picture I drew!” Ema commented.

“Our counterattack began with this. You had one half of the evidence list, and I had the other. Apart, we wouldn’t have been able to completely restore Ema’s picture.”

“That didn’t just happen by ‘chance,’ Edgeworth,” Lana said.

Yes… you’re right… But what proof do I have that I’ll always face someone like Wright? I need to find a way to fight crime alone and do so honorably.

“It’s time for me to go,” Miles said.

“Mr. Edgeworth…” Ema said, worried.

“If you’ll excuse me… there are still some loose ends that need wrapping up. Take care, Chief Prosecutor.” Miles turned around to leave.

“Edgeworth!” Wright called. Miles turned around again. “What will you do now?”

I don’t know yet, Wright.

“Well, whatever you do,” Wright said, “just remember. What happened in this trial can either make or break you as a prosecutor. In the end, it’s up to you.”

“I know…” Miles replied. “It seems I owe you my thanks too, Wright. But what I face now… is my problem.”

“Edgeworth… I’ll be waiting for you in court.”

We’ll see. “Farewell.”

Miles turned around and left. To his relief, no one called him back in.



That night, Miles returned to his office for the last time. He sat at his desk and picked up the phone and dialed the Gatewater Hotel’s number. He looked at the bag of tea Lana had given him. That tea had been drunk a while ago, but he had kept the bag to remember the type.

“Gatewater Hotel front desk,” a voice answered.

“Please transfer my call to room service,” Miles said into the receiver.

“Ah, Mr. Edgeworth.”

Miles waited as the room service telephone rang.

“Hello?” the bellboy’s familiar voice said.

“Do you carry…” Miles paused to look at the bag. “Krasnodar tea?”

“Yes, sir. Which grade?”

“FTGFOP.”

“One moment, sir. I’ll check.”

Miles waited, drumming his fingers on his desk.

“Yes, sir, we have it,” the bellboy said. “I’ll be over right away with some. It will be ten dollars.”

“Thank you.”

While waiting for the tea, Miles took a pen and sheet of paper and started writing, often pausing to think.


My beloved Lana,


I have chosen to leave the United States for a while. What you have said to me rings true, but I do not believe I should prosecute again until I know how to do the job right. I cannot be certain that Wright will be my opponent every time. I need to be ready to find the truth no matter who I am facing. It is with that in mind that I am leaving.

Know that this is not the end for either of us. I still love you, but I am unfit to be by your side until I am more sure of myself. You can consider yourself forgiven for the lies you have told me. Though your actions were criminal, your motives were understandable.

I will return one day, and when that day comes, the ring you returned to me will again decorate your finger.


With devoted love,

Miles


Miles took the letter and put it in an envelope. You will be the one to know what I have done, Lana. But as for the rest of the world, they will receive a different message. Miles prepared another sheet of paper.

The door opened. The bellboy from the Gatewater Hotel came in with the tea Miles had ordered. Miles paid him no mind.

“Uh, Mr. Edgeworth?” the bellboy called. “I brought you your tea…”

Miles took out his wallet and handed the bellboy twelve dollars. He then looked back to his paper. The words came to his mind.

“What’s going on?”

Miles simply motioned for the bellboy to leave and wrote down a single sentence:


Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth chooses death.


The Miles Edgeworth of the past must die. The new Miles Edgeworth will be everything Lana deserves in a husband, and everything the world deserves in a prosecutor.

Part I—Конец

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I'll always love you, Max.


Last edited by General Luigi on Sun Feb 01, 2009 5:55 pm, edited 12 times in total.
Re: Tales of Law and Love (Part I complete)Topic%20Title

True love is forever.

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And here I thought that the ending to that case couldn't be more emotionally charged. You proved me wrong. :) Adding the additional motivation of his doing all that for Lana's sake as much as his own lends an interesting feel to the piece and one that I quite like (I am a romantic at heart... in other words I'm very sappy :P). And I loved the ending. Again his actions are for Lana as much a they are for himself and he goes out of his way to make sure that she knows the truth about his "death" so that she won't grieve for him unnecessarily. Overall, this was an excellent conclusion to part one. I look forward to seeing how you approach part two. :)
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Re: Tales of Law and Love (Part I complete)Topic%20Title
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Part II—Great Revival

Chapter 1—Looking Forward


March 28, 2017


A little under a month had passed since Lana’s sentence. Due to mitigating circumstances, she was to serve a mere six months in prison. Since she was blackmailed, it was decided that her role was minimal, resulting in a smaller sentence. Shortly before formally being moved to prison, she contacted a friend, Alice Charleston, and asked her to look after Ema for the time being. Alice wasn’t exactly Lana’s idea of a good role model, considering her occasional shopping problems, but she knew Ema would be pleased with the choice. After all, Alice was a coroner, a job Ema was certain to be interested in, not to mention she lived in England, a place Ema had always wanted to visit.

Like Mia, Lana met Alice through college. In fact, her first boyfriend was Alice’s brother: Tom Charleston, a good man, but one who had the misfortune of getting a false negative on an STI screening. Lana didn’t hold a grudge over it, considering that it wasn’t his fault, and she respected him for telling her the truth the instant he learned he had herpes. Fortunately for Lana, she did not contract the illness. They remained a couple for a few months afterwards, but they refrained from anything that posed the risk of infecting Lana. Ultimately, both agreed it was best that they break up. According to Alice, Tom was now happily married to someone who also had his disease.

“Thinking about ‘him’ again?” one of Lana’s cellmates asked, referring to her silence.

“Not this time,” Lana replied.

Lana’s cellmates were all relatively decent people, though one of them did not think the same of her. The one who had spoken was Teresa Lowe, a college student who had been given six months and fined ten thousand dollars for distributing pirated music. She was to be released in another month. She was a bit of a gossip-lover, especially when it came to romance. Needless to say, she felt drawn to Lana because of her past relationships. In particular, she felt sorry for her because of Miles’s “death,” though Lana knew Miles had his reasons for wording his parting message in that way. Perhaps it was to get the media off his tail while he went off to find himself. Miles was a strong man, but the mere mention of his difficult past made him tremble on the inside.

“Well, how about you think about the people here in your cell and play a card?” another cellmate demanded of Lana. That was Angel Starr, still holding a grudge and serving two years for perjury against a government officer. Angel was more of a Devil whenever she spoke with Lana. Even so, she was willing to put their conflicts aside from time to time when the ladies felt like playing a friendly game of hearts. Besides, neither of them had anything to gain from getting into a fight.

Lana played the two of hearts.

“You’re supposed to follow suit,” Angel scolded.

“If I had a diamond, I would have played it,” Lana replied. “If you want proof that I don’t have any diamonds, I give you permission to record every card I play and call for this hand to be disqualified if I’ve been cheating.”

Angel sighed and waited for the last cellmate to play her card. That last cellmate was Katie Peterson, a college dropout who was spending three-and-a-half years in prison for carjacking. She was extremely ambitious and wanted to become an actress. After her bout with the law, that ambition was unlikely to be fulfilled. Still, she was determined. From what Katie said about her intents, it seemed more as though she wanted to act so she would be famous, not because she enjoyed it.

Katie played a heart, too. Angel took the trick.

So, only four hearts remain, and then there’s the Queen. And Angel has every heart so far.

Angel led with the king of clubs. Teresa played the ace.

Perfect.

Lana played the queen of spades.

“Again!?” Angel snapped. “That’s it! Show me your hand!”

Lana turned her hand around. There wasn’t a single club in it. Nothing but hearts and spades.

“Angel, it’s just a game,” Lana said calmly. Angel just appeared to get angrier.

“You’re getting nothing but good hands! You’ve got to be cheating!”

Lana chuckled and stood up, spreading her arms out as if expecting a full body search. “If you claim I’m cheating…”

Angel gritted her teeth. That’s right, Angel. You need proof.

“Exactly,” Lana answered to what Angel’s was no doubt guessing in her thoughts. “Don’t accuse me unless you have proof. By all means, do whatever you must to find proof. I’ll submit myself to a search if you really think I cheated.”

Angel, not willing to look the fool by going back on her argument, walked behind Lana and reached into the pockets of her jacket. Nothing.

“Take off your jacket,” Angel ordered. Lana did so. She was wearing a simple white shirt underneath without a single pocket on it. Angel checked the inside pockets of Lana’s jacket. She apparently felt something. “Aha!”

Damn… I forgot I put Miles’s letter in that pocket…

Angel took out the letter and checked for cards. She then noticed the signature.

“You’re kidding me…” she sighed.

“If you’re satisfied, I’d like my jacket back,” Lana said. “And the letter.”

With an annoyed grunt, Angel returned the jacket and the letter. Lana promptly put her jacket back on and placed the letter back in her pocket.

“Why did you have a letter in your pocket?” Teresa asked.

“It’s my evidence,” Lana replied.

“Evidence of…?”

“It’s my proof that Miles is still alive. The letter’s from him.”

Teresa gasped.

“I was hoping no one would find it. I think he had his reasons for letting people think he’s dead.”

“You know,” Angel commented, “that’s only proof that he was alive when he wrote the letter.”

“He’s alive,” Lana said. “He’s too proud to kill himself over what happened. Besides, he said in his letter that he was going to return. I believe him. One day, he’ll return an even better man than he was when he first proposed to me.” She paused. “Sorry I kept that from all of you. I’d prefer if this stayed a secret, though.”

“Sure, sure,” Angel said. “Not as if I want to add Edgeworth to my list.”

Lana rolled her eyes. Not as if Miles would ever allow himself to be added to your list in the first place…

“So, shall we resume our game?” Lana asked, sitting back down. Katie played the five of clubs. Teresa took the trick.

“Did you hear about Manfred von Karma?” Katie asked after a pause.

Almost everyone's heard; the man was a legend.

“He died recently from that flu strain that we all had about two weeks ago, right?”

“THAT’S what did him in!?”

“Children and the elderly are much more vulnerable to most forms of the flu. I guess von Karma’s immune system just couldn’t handle it. Besides, you all saw what horrible shape some of the other prisoners were in, not to mention diseases like the flu spread in densely-occupied areas such as a prison like a fire in a grassland.”

“Wow… All I knew was that he was dead. I didn’t know it was the flu that got him.”

Teresa played the six of hearts. Lana followed suit with the five.

“Gant survived, though,” Lana said. “In his shape, he’ll probably live to be at least eighty.”

“And I hope he’s hurting all the way there,” Angel said as Katie played the king of hearts.

“There’s something I agree with you on.”

“Hmph. He’s not the only one.”

Say what you want, Angel. I doubt you’ll ever understand my trip through Hell, considering your outlook on life.

“What I went through obeying Gant’s orders is something you will have a lot of trouble ever mimicking. Think what you want of me; it won’t change a thing. I still have a great life to look forward to. Even if I never get allowed back into law enforcement, I still have a wonderful life to look forward to. I’ll always have to deal with the guilt of what I did, so don’t think I’m getting off easy.”

“Hah! ‘The guilt of what I did!’ I’m gonna be in here way longer than you, and I don’t feel an ounce of guilt for lying on the stand!”

“That’s because you believed what you did was right. I knew from the start that what I was doing was horrible. Even if it meant protecting Ema from that monster, I still regretted all those lies I told. I regretted it back then, and I do now.” Lana paused. Angel played the ten of hearts. Katie took the trick. “But let’s not dwell on this topic. I’d rather look forward to the future than regret the past, and I’m sure Miles thinks the same thing. It’s one reason why he left—to make a better future for himself.”

Katie snatched a look at the score card and put down her new score. Angel then took the card and wrote down her score, followed by Teresa. Lana wrote down her score and compared the results.

“Well, Angel broke one hundred in that last hand, so the game’s over,” Lana said. “Looks like I won for once.”

“I would have won if you hadn’t given me the Royal Pain,” Teresa commented.

“Which is exactly why I sent her your way. I believe this is the… second time I’ve actually won?”

“That sounds right,” Katie said. “Still the worst out of all of us.”

“It’s only a game. Still, it’s nice to win for a change.”

Angel got up and walked over to her bunk, lying down with no intent to go to sleep.

“So, Lana…” Teresa started, “what are you gonna do if they don’t let you prosecute?”

“That’s a good question. Maybe I’ll become a judge.”

“A judge?”

If they let people like Noah Clous judge cases, I’m sure I’m qualified for the job. “Judges have no role in handling evidence, so any suspicion that I’d tamper with evidence would be meaningless.”

Teresa chuckled. “A prosecutor and a judge. How fitting.”

“If I am going to become a judge, I probably won’t be allowed to oversee cases that Miles will prosecute.”

“Assuming you’re still going to be together after what you did,” Angel cut in.

Lana rolled her eyes. “Obviously, you only read the signature at the bottom of the letter,” she replied. “I’m sure he’ll make the right choice. When he sees things clearly, he always does.”

“Hah.”

“The fact that I was acquitted proves that he’s not the same man he was when he first proposed. He’s a much better person now, and I believe in him.”

“Where’s your proof?”

“The letter is my proof.” Lana took out the letter.

“‘Know that this is not the end for either of us,’” she read. “‘I still love you, but I am unfit to be by your side until I am more sure of myself. You can consider yourself forgiven for the lies you have told me. Though your actions were criminal, your motives were understandable.

“‘I will return one day, and when that day comes, the ring you returned to me will again decorate your finger.’

“I’d say that’s sufficient proof,” Lana said, putting the letter back in her jacket pocket. “And if that’s not decisive enough, I’ll visit you in prison someday once we’re married and show you the ring. The future holds nothing but happiness for me—it’s a fact.”
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Re: Tales of Law and Love (Part II, Chapter 1)Topic%20Title

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You've written yet another great chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

One issue I see though is that Angel is in jail. Yes, she committed perjury, but, if I'm recalling this correctly, we see her in the credits still free, so it doesn't appear that she was charged for it. Normally when someone outside of the actual murderers (particularly those we are helping) is sent to jail, we see them in their cells during the credits (ex. Lana, Adrian, and Iris). The fact that Angel is still free seems to indicate that she was not punished for her crime. Perjury doesn't seem to be as serious crime in the PW world as it is in the real one considering how many people we see lie on the stand who are never punished for it. I could be reading it wrong though. I also would have thought that once Lana's reasoning for becoming so cold had come to light, Angel would have backed off some with the anger at her. She was furious at Lana because to her it looked as though Lana had turned her back on them without a reason and she couldn't forgive that. After finding out the truth, I would think that Angel's attitude would have softened, but that is a matter of opinion considering that we never really here Angel talk about Lana at the end of the case.

Still, the chapter was fun to read and Lana's emotions were handled nicely. :)
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Re: Tales of Law and Love (Part II, Chapter 1)Topic%20Title
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I had considered the possibility of Angel dropping her grudge, but ultimately decided not to portray her as having forgiven Lana... yet. She might in the future, though I haven't decided yet. I have met some people who hold grudges even after the cause has been rectified, and Angel doesn't strike me as someone who would just forgive and forget.

As for having been shown in the credits at the Prosecutor's Office parking lot, that can be explained away relatively easily, though I hadn't considered that point when writing the chapter--she was on bail while awaiting her hearing. Admittedly, there's no proof that I'm right, but there's no proof that I'm wrong, either. As I'm the author, though, assume I am right as far as my story is concerned.
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Re: Tales of Law and Love (looking for a new banner)Topic%20Title
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In Justice We Trust

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Vickinator, you have my thanks for making the first banner, but I'm starting to feel a desire for a new one. Yours will still be displayed, though it won't be the main banner.

Anyone who's interested in making the new banner should PM the final product to me. Only one will be the main banner, but others (assuming enough effort was put into them and they're not inappropriate) will be put below with Vickinator's banner.

Criteria:

  • It must be drawn, not sprited.
  • It must depict one of the more romantic scenes between Miles and Lana (e. g. the conversation between them in Chapter 14, one of the conversations in Chapter 17, the hug at the end of Chapter 20, the kiss in the Finale of Part I).
  • It must be colored and shaded well.
  • The scene must look realistic, much like one of the pictures from the games (like the hug Lana and Ema share at the end of Rise from the Ashes).
  • You must put actual effort into it. I won't even display it with the old banner if it doesn't look professional.

I'll also be posting this request in the main post and in the Fanart Requests thread.
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Re: Tales of Law and Love (looking for a new banner)Topic%20Title
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In Justice We Trust

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Chapter 2—Family

May 3, 2017


“All rise for the Honorable Mrs. Justice Denning, Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire,” the clerk called out as the judge entered the courtroom. It was the first time Miles had stood in court since Lana’s case. The layout was slightly different, but like the American court system, the British system had also undergone some changes in the past decade. To start, the prosecution and defense benches sat side by side, facing the judge. The judge was a woman looking to be in her fifties. Rather than the usual black robe the San Diego judges wore, this judge wore a red robe and tippet and a black scarf. She was also wearing a short bench wig.

The defense team consisted of a grey-haired man looking to be around the judge’s age and wearing a pure black suit. He was advising the actual defense attorney, a man around Wright’s age with long blond hair tied back in a ponytail and wearing a bright blue suit and glasses.

“You may be seated,” the judge said as she took her seat. “Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Michael Monroe.”

“The prosecution is ready, My Lady,” Miles said, standing.

“The defense is ready, My Lady,” the defense attorney said, also standing.

“I understand you are both new to the court system,” the judge commented. “I am Dame Martha Denning.”

“Miles Edgeworth, My Lady,” Miles said. “Until recently, I was a prosecutor in the United States.”

“Kristoph Gavin, My Lady,” the defense said. “I’ve been in training for a while and have chosen this to be my first case.”

“I see,” the judge said. “Mr. Edgeworth, your opening statement?”

“Of course,” Miles said. “No two emotions are stronger than love and anger. When the two are brought together in a single person, the results are often deadly. Such was the fate of our victim, Mrs. Jessica Monroe. Her husband, overwhelmed by the shock of seeing the woman he loved in the arms of another man, reportedly struck her with his cane, killing her. Whether or not it was with murder in mind that he did so… shall be determined today in court.”

“I see. What plea does the defense wish to enter?”

“The defense pleads not guilty,” Gavin said.

“Very well. Mr. Edgeworth, you may call your first witness.”

“The prosecution calls the detective in charge of the investigation, Detective Otis White, to the stand.” The detective took the stand. “Detective, before the trial can begin in earnest, we must understand the basic facts of the case.”

“Understood, sir,” the detective said. “After receiving a call from a witness, the police arrived at the scene of the crime and found the victim dead. The suspect, her husband, was in their room. He didn’t put up any fight when we arrested him. The cause of death is not known with 100% certainty, but the Department believes the victim died when her neck was broken by a blow from her husband’s cane. Coupled with the witness’s statements, we are convinced that the victim was killed by her husband.”

The detective stopped speaking.

“Detective?” the judge called.

“Yes, My Lady?” he replied.

“Why did you stop?”

“Because we only need the facts and the Department’s conclusion,” Miles said. “Questions about motive will be answered as the trial progresses.”

“I… see… Very well, Mr. Gavin, you may cross-examine the detective.”

“Yes, My Lady,” Gavin said. “Detective, you said the suspect didn’t put up a fight. Why was that?”

“We can’t say for certain, but he was probably in shock.”

“In shock?”

“Well, he had just killed his wife, and considering the circumstances, it probably wasn’t premeditated.”

“Do you have any proof that he was in shock?”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “Mr. Gavin, the reason why the defendant was there is only important if you can come up with some other reason and substantiate your claim with proof. So, let me ask you: why was he in his room, if not because he was in shock?”

“Hm… perhaps someone threatened him?”

“‘Perhaps?’ Do you have any proof of this?”

Gavin was silent, trying to think. “No, I don’t,” he said after a moment.

“I didn’t think so. Detective, please continue.”

“The cause of death is not known with 100% certainty, but the Department believes the victim died when her neck was broken by a blow from her husband’s cane.”

“Hold it!” Gavin cut in. “A cane? And has the defendant sustained any sort of injury as a result?”

“Huh?”

“If he lifted his cane and stood only on his two legs, did he hurt himself?”

“No. The cane’s mostly for show. It’s been found that the defendant is perfectly capable of standing and fighting without the support of a cane.”

Gavin placed his right hand on the bridge of his glasses, a tad annoyed at having hit a dead end.

“Anyway,” the detective continued, “coupled with the witness’s statements, we are convinced that the victim was killed by her husband.”

“Any further questions for this witness, Mr. Gavin?” Miles asked.

“No,” Gavin replied.

“Good. Detective, you may step down. The prosecution now calls the man who witnessed the crime, Mr. Daniel Watson, to the stand.”

A man around the defendant’s age took the stand.

“Witness, please state your name and occupation,” Miles requested.

“Daniel Watson,” the witness replied, “waiter at Greenie’s Pub.”

“Good. You witnessed the crime, correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Please testify about what happened, then,” the judge said.

“All right. Jessie and I had returned from an outing and wanted to enjoy a few good moments before her husband got home. We started making out, but we got carried away and lost track of the time. We heard Mike open the door and tried to avoid looking suspicious, but he didn’t buy it. After a brief debate, me and Jessie trying to convince Mike we weren’t doing anything he didn’t want, he started swinging his cane around. He managed to hit Jessie in the neck. She fell down and didn’t get up. He also started beating me. I ran out and called the police.”

Miles took out the autopsy report. “My Lady, the witness’s statements follow what the autopsy report said. Some of his saliva was found in the victim’s mouth. In addition, death was from a broken neck. Sadly, we have no decisive proof that the cane was what killed her.”

“The court accepts the report into evidence,” the judge said. “Mr. Gavin, your cross-examination.”

“So, would you say the motive came from your luring the victim away from her husband?” Gavin asked.

“Yes,” Watson responded.

“So, essentially, this murder happened because you came in—”

“Objection!” Miles interrupted. “Mr. Gavin, if you think you can transfer guilt through the witness’s role in an affair, then I suggest you transfer yourself to a different occupation. Responsibility for the motive does not make the witness a killer. By your logic, one could also argue that it was a suicide.”

“Objection sustained,” the judge said. “Mr. Gavin, you will refrain from slandering the witness.”

“Yes, My Lady,” Gavin said. He looked back at the witness. “Do you know what tipped off my client?”

“I don’t know,” Watson said. “Perhaps our faces were a little red? I really have no idea. We were making out pretty passionately, so I’m sure something about our appearance tipped him off.”

“I see… You claim my client also beat you?”

“Yes. He managed to hit me a few times on my back as I fled.”

“Weren’t you worried about Mrs. Monroe?”

“Of course I was. But… I was also worried about myself. As far as I could tell, she had been knocked out by that cane. I wasn’t about to let myself get knocked out, too.”

“And you think my client did this because of the affair?”

“Yes.”

“Somehow, I find it odd that my client would start lashing out after seeing his wife cheating on him. Are you sure he attacked you because of the affair?”

“Objection!” Miles yelled. “My Lady, this is unnecessary badgering of the witness! The defense has shown no evidence to support their reasoning!”

“Objection sustained,” the judge said. “Mr. Gavin, please refrain from badgering the witness.”

“Sorry, My Lady,” Gavin said. “Hm… So, you say my client started swinging his cane around?”

“Yes,” Watson said.

“Did he hit anything besides you and the victim?”

“Yes. He hit one of the speakers on the computer in the room.”

“I see.”

“Well?” Miles asked. “Is that important?”

“Yes. You see, what if the speaker was sent flying by the cane, and that’s what killed the victim?”

“That would only work if you were pleading manslaughter. In addition, the speaker was not the right shape to produce the wound found on the victim.”

“Hmm…”

“I think that’s enough,” the judge said. “It’s clear that there are no contradictions in what this witness has said. Mr. Gavin, any final statements or evidence?”

“Gavin,” Gavin’s associate said. “There are still areas that need examining.”

“My Lady, I would like to continue the cross-examination,” Gavin said.

“Overruled,” the judge replied. “There are no contradictions. Further questioning would simply be a waste of this court’s time.”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “There is still room for doubt, My Lady.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mr. Gavin, if you are done with this witness, I would like to call the next witness.”

“The next witness?” Gavin asked.

“The defendant,” Miles replied, “assuming you are all right with that.”

“Hmm…”

“Well, Mr. Gavin?” the judge asked.

“The defense agrees to the proposal. My client will take the stand.”

“Very well.” The judge banged her gavel. “This concludes the cross-examination of Mr. Daniel Watson.”

Watson stepped down from the stand as the bailiff escorted Monroe to the stand.

“Please state your name and occupation for the court,” Miles requested.

“Michael Monroe,” the defendant replied, “but everyone calls me Mike. As for my occupation, I’m a desk clerk.”

“Mr. Edgeworth, what do you want the defendant to testify about?” the judge asked.

“Mr. Monroe,” Miles said, “I would like you to testify about the crime that Mr. Watson claims to have witnessed.”

The gallery started up, silenced by the judge’s gavel.

“Mr. Monroe, begin your testimony,” the judge said.

Monroe sighed and closed his eyes. He seemed to jerk a little. “I… I’m guilty,” he said. “When I saw Jessica with Daniel, I instantly suspected something. When they lied to me, I… I lost my mind. I was so furious that I just swung my cane around at both of them. But… you have to believe me… I’d never kill Jessica on purpose… Yes, I was angry with her, but I still loved her… I hit her in the neck, and she died. I thought she had only fainted, but as more time passed, I started to think she was dead… I couldn’t just leave like that… I thought maybe she was still alive… I… I just feel so horrible… Do what you want with me; I killed her… my wife… the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with…”

The gallery, which had began murmuring the instant Monroe said he was guilty, was now quite noisy. The judge banged her gavel.

“Order!” she shouted. “Mr. Monroe, is this a confession?”

“Yes, My Lady,” he replied.

“My Lady!” Gavin called. “The defense would like to change its plea!”

“To what?” the judge asked.

“The defense pleads ‘voluntary manslaughter.’ We believe that though Mr. Monroe may indeed have killed his wife, he did not do it out of any criminal malice towards her.”

“I see. Let the records show that the defense has changed its plea to voluntary manslaughter. You may begin your cross-examination, Mr. Gavin.”

“So, what made you ‘suspect something?’” Gavin asked the defendant.

“Whenever Daniel’s over, I’m told about it beforehand,” Monroe replied. “That was my first hint.”

“I see. Isn’t it possible that there was nothing suspicious going on, then?”

“That’s what I had considered, so I confronted them. Their faces were both red, not to mention Daniel’s hair was a mess, as was Jessica’s. Not to mention… Jessica’s blouse was a little sweaty, and part of it was unbuttoned. Their lies were also easy to see through…”

“And that caused you to lose your mind?”

“In a sense, yes. I really think I had been driven mad by what I saw. We’ve argued in the past, but the thought of hurting Jessica never even grazed my mind. I’d never hurt her…”

Everything he says makes sense. If he really did love her that much, I doubt he’d hurt her, let alone with a cane. I know that I’d never hurt Lana—even if I were to learn she cheated on me.

“So,” Miles commented, “it appears the issue at hand is now this: did the defendant kill his wife intentionally, or was it in the heat of passion?”

“I’d never hurt her…” Monroe whimpered. “She meant the world to me…”

“My Lady, the prosecution would like to summon a witness who can establish with almost complete certainty whether this crime was murder or manslaughter.”

“I see,” the judge said. “This court will take a fifteen minute recess. After the recess, we will hear from the prosecution’s witness. Court is adjourned for recess!” She banged her gavel.



Miles entered the Prosecution Lobby and saw Ema sitting in one of the chairs with the coroner.

“Ema?” he called. “How did you end up here?”

Ema looked up from the book she was reading and jumped out of her seat when she saw Miles. She ran up and hugged him tightly.

“It really is you!” she cried. “I was so worried!”

Miles couldn’t think of anything to say. He decided instead to simply give Ema a small familial hug. It then occurred to him what to say.

“Sorry I made you worry. I had no idea you would be here in England.”

“What about Lana?”

“What about her?”

“She told me you still loved her.”

“I do.” Miles reached into his coat pocket and took out the ring. Ema gasped in excitement. “When I feel I’m on the right path again, I intend to marry your sister. I believe that she and I will be very happy together. She’s always there when I need her, and I’m there when she need me.”

“You’re really going to ask her!? That’s wonderful! I’m sure she’ll say yes!”

“I’m sure she will, too. One thing these past two years taught me is that Lana and I are deeply devoted to each other. This is much more than a fleeting romance; our love will last.”

“Congratulations, then,” a voice said from the door. Miles turned his head in the direction of the voice and saw Gavin standing there. “Do you mind if I have a word with you?”

“Be my guest,” Miles said.

“Thank you.” Gavin walked closer to Miles. “You knew all along that it was voluntary manslaughter, didn’t you?”

“I suspected,” Miles said. “There was no decisive proof, so I believed the only way to find out was to hear from the defendant himself. …I suppose I can sympathize with him. From the sound of his testimony, it seems as though he really didn’t harbor any intent to kill.”

“Agreed.”

“All that remains is to establish whether or not he was telling the truth.”

“Someone who spoke that passionately cannot possibly be lying.”

“Mr. Gavin, I’ve met people who can tell very clever lies and mask them behind strong emotions or an innocent face. It is by all means possible to feign such emotions. However, as luck would have it, there is a witness who can easily establish the truth.”

“Who?”

“The defendant’s psychiatrist. I believe he can be considered a credible source as far as the defendant’s motive goes.” He paused. “In all honesty, I think it unlikely that this was truly a murder. All that remains is to prove it.”



The judge banged her gavel to call court back into session.

“Court is in session,” she said. “Mr. Edgeworth, please call the next witness.”

“The prosecution calls to the stand someone who we believe can establish whether or not the defendant killed his wife out of criminal malice,” Miles said. “Dr. Peter Kohler, please assume the stand.”

An elderly man looking well into his seventies took the stand.

“Witness, please state your name and occupation.”

“Peter Kohler, psychiatrist,” the witness replied.

“Very well,” the judge said. “Dr. Kohler, please testify to the court as to whether or not you believe the defendant held any criminal malice toward the victim and why.”

“There’s no question that Mr. Monroe loved his wife dearly. I was actually invited to their wedding three years ago; their marriage was a very happy one, so I’m shocked that Mrs. Monroe saw fit to cheat on her husband. However, I know Mr. Monroe would never wish any harm upon his wife. They argued a few times, but they always worked things out, and things never got even close to becoming violent. I have no doubt in my mind that Mr. Monroe flew into a rage; he would never in the right mind do anything to hurt his wife—this I can say with complete certainty.”

“Hm… I see. Mr. Gavin, your cross-examination.”

“Dr. Kohler,” Gavin started, “you said their marriage was a happy one. What do you mean by that?”

“They were very devoted to each other,” Kohler said, “and they always managed to work out their differences without hurting their marriage.”

“So why did the affair start?”

“My guess is that Mrs. Monroe simply fell in love with a second man. She still loved her husband, too, as far as I could tell from what Mr. Monroe has told me.”

“I see.”

The judge banged her gavel. “This case is becoming very clear to me,” she stated, “and I feel ready to render a verdict. Mr. Edgeworth, what are your thoughts?”

“I believe that the defendant by all means regrets what he did. Murder or manslaughter, the knowledge that he is responsible for his wife’s death is punishment enough. However, the law is still the law, and it is my hope that he will learn to move on during his time in prison.”

“I see. Mr. Gavin?”

“I agree with Mr. Edgeworth completely, My Lady. No psychological torture is more severe than that which my client is undergoing right now—a mock execution would feel like a sample of Heaven to him. Also, the evidence and testimony presented in court make it clear that he had no intent to kill his beloved wife. Therefore, I believe a verdict of voluntary manslaughter is in order.”

“Hmm… Very well. It appears we have reached a consensus. This court finds the defendant, Mr. Michael Monroe, guilty of voluntary manslaughter. I hereby sentence Mr. Monroe to five years in prison under either Category C or D, as is to be designated upon his entrance into prison. Court is adjourned.” She banged her gavel.



Ema was waiting in the Prosecution Lobby, as was the coroner.

“How’d the trial go?” she asked upon seeing Miles.

“It was voluntary manslaughter,” Miles replied. “Upon realizing his wife was cheating on him, the defendant flew into a rage and struck her with his cane, accidentally killing her. He wasn’t of sound mind when the crime was committed. I hope they give him access to a psychologist during his time in prison; he’s no doubt facing a terrible amount of psychological torture right now.”

“Oh…”

“The only thing worse than the death of a loved one is the knowledge that you’re responsible. I know what it’s like—it’s a sample of Hell.”

“Mr. Edgeworth…”

“Family and friends really are important; they can help you through these kinds of disasters.” He paused. “I suppose I have the von Karmas to thank for that, at the least. And then there’s you and Lana—and even Gumshoe and Wright. All of you lent me a sympathetic ear—especially Lana. I don’t want to think about where I’d be were it not for everyone who’s been there for me when I needed them.”

“You’ve really changed. You just feel a lot… Um…”

“Kinder?”

Ema didn’t feel like answering that.

“You don’t need to worry about offending me with that statement,” Miles continued. “The Demon Prosecutor is dead. There is only one direction for me to go, and that’s forward. This trial is proof of that.”

Ema pulled her glasses over her eyes and smiled. “Well, I’m behind you 100%, Mr. Edgeworth! And I’m sure Lana is, too!”

Miles felt himself smiling. Ema had a way of cheering people up simply by being cheerful herself. “One more thing. Why are you here in England?”

“Lana asked one of her friends to keep me healthy while she was in prison.”

“A friend?”

“Alice Charleston.”

“The coroner?”

“Yeah! I never realized how much detail was involved in forensic science!”

“So examining victims doesn’t unnerve you?”

“Um… Well… actually…” She trailed off and sort of hung her head.

“That’s understandable. Crime is rarely clean. Even then, victims of clean murders rarely look clean after the autopsy.”

“I’m thinking I might take on a different part of forensics.”

“A wise choice. I’m sure there will be some portions of the field that you will enjoy. After all, I imagine you had some fun working with Wright.”

“Of course! I loved it!”

“You might actually make a good detective, too. You have an eye for details.”

“Well… Yeah, but I’d rather deal with forensics.”

“Well, if you have enough ambition and enough skill, I’m sure you’ll do well. To be successful, you need three things: ambition, talent, and the right opportunity. At the least, you’re very ambitious. Train properly and I can guarantee you’ll become a forensic scientist.”

Ema smiled eagerly, which in turn made Miles smile. It was easy to see why Lana loved her sister so much. Ema was going to be a welcome member of the family; Miles could tell.
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Re: Tales of Law and Love (looking for a new banner)Topic%20Title

True love is forever.

Gender: Female

Rank: Ace Attorney

Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 4:55 am

Posts: 2182

Well, Kristoph was a character that I certainly didn't expect to see, but it's a nice addition.

Spoiler: AJ
My only issue is with how easily Kristoph accepts voluntary manslaughter. While it's true that in the first case he talks about how all that matters is the truth, we find out later that he believes no such thing. All that matters to him is his reputation and a guilty of any sort would leave a stain on his. Even if you're trying to show Kristoph before that perfection psychosis sets in, I would still expect to see it starting. Things like that don't appear out of nothing.


Other then that though, the chapter was a nice read. The scene between Miles and Ema was particularly sweet and I really enjoyed it. Nice work. :)
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Fanfics Updated-12/25
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