September 30th, 12:21 PM
Exposé Park
Underpass
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"Thank you very much for the intel, Ms. Jeager. This will be quite, helpful."
"It is my pleasure, Prosecutor von Karma. I just wish to make sure that justice is served. After all, no one is above the law."
This was not a good sign. It seemed as though Von Karma had already talked to Jeager, and not only that, he believed her story. What was going to happen now?
"Ah, Faraday. How nice of you to join us." said Von Karma. "I was just having a chat with Ms. Jeager here about the De Killer family."
"So I gathered." I said. "What exactly did she tell you?"
Von Karma smirked. "That Shelly de Killer may very well be within our grasp."
"This looks bad, Faraday." Badd whispered to me. "If Ms. Jeager knows that John Doe is really Shelly de Killer... then our case is in trouble."
"I'm well aware of that, Badd." I whispered back. "Which is why I plan to nip this in the bud right here and now." I then turned to Jeager and cleared my throat. "Ms. Jeager, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a few questions."
"More questions? I already told Mr. von Karma everything I know." said Jeager. "Ms. Burg was murdered by Shelly de Killer while I was knocked out. There's no other..."
"
" interrupted Von Karma, smirking evilly and wagging his finger. "Allow me to disagree with you on that score, Ms. Jeager. You haven't told me everything."
Jeager's eyes narrowed in disgust. "Wh-what do you mean by that?"
"As you said, you were knocked out when the murder occurred." said Von Karma with a powerful snap of his fingers. "Ergo, your argument is hardly worthy of my time! A Von Karma only seeks the most perfect explanation!"
"Y-you snake!"
Jeager pounded her fists together with incredible force. I had to smile. Manfred von Karma was many things, but "stupid" wasn't one of them.
"What is the meaning of this?! You were believing me a second ago!" bellowed Jeager.
"I said your intel was helpful, not invaluable." said Von Karma, clutching at his shoulder. "Perfection is my only goal, Ms. Jeager, and arresting a man on the basis of profiling and conjecture is hardly the work of a perfect prosecutor."
I would've called him a hypocrite (considering some of his more dubious cases) had I not agreed with him, at least in spirit. No one is perfect, but one thing a prosecutor should strive for besides conviction of the accused is integrity.
"Now, about my questions, Ms. Jeager." I said. "I want to hear what happened up to the point you were knocked out."
"There's no need to get into that." said Jeager haughtily. "As Mr. von Karma said, that has nothing to do with the murder."
"Oh really?" I said. "Because right now, I have Mr. Black under arrest under the suspicion of being an accomplice to the murder of Ms. Burg. It seems you two are hiding something."
Jeager suddenly turned pale. "Black's under arrest? Impossible. You're bluffing."
"Try me, Ms. Jeager." I said, tossing back my scarf.
Jeager was speechless for the longest time. Finally, she gave in.
"Alright. I'll play your game for now." she said. "But I will not tolerate bluffs. You try to weasel your way out, and I'm going to grind you into dust."
"You are hardly in a position to make that kind of threat, you foolish fool." said Von Karma, following up with another powerful snap of his fingers. "Now, proceed with your testimony. But be forewarned. I'd wager that even a fool like Faraday can see through your paper-thin lies."
Even when praising me, he still thinks my performance is unsatisfactory. I thought to myself.
Well, no matter. I might as well prove my worth to him by bringing an end to this entire charade.------------
Testimony: What Happened
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"At 9:15 this morning, Black and I were walking Ms. Burg to the courthouse." said Jeager. "Suddenly, out of nowhere, I saw someone steal Black's gun and knock him out. I was about to retaliate when I was knocked unconscious myself. We woke up in Exposé Park next to Ms. Burg's corpse."
"It seems like she's building upon Mr. Black's testimony." mused Badd. "She's trying to make it look like his story is the truth."
"Well, we already know it isn't." I said. "It's just a matter of proving it."
"I can see why Prosecutor von Karma calls you a fool, Prosecutor Faraday." huffed Jeager. "My story is airtight. Nothing you do can make me recant it."
"This debate has only begun, Ms. Jeager." I said. "Please, repeat your testimony."
Jeager complied.
"Suddenly, out of nowhere, I saw someone steal Black's gun and knock him out."
"
You never brought this up before." I said, raising an eyebrow.
"It wasn't relevant before." said Jeager. "Remember? That phony FBI agent neglected to mention the bullet wound on purpose."
"Agent Doe will be dealt with in due time, Ms. Jeager. Leave him out of this." said Von Karma. "In the meantime, Faraday brings up a valid point. You and Mr. Black never mentioned this."
"Black didn't mention it because he didn't know." said Jeager. "His guns were returned to him when he came to."
This was just what I needed. "Ms. Jeager, add that last statement to your testimony."
Jeager snorted, but complied.
"Black's guns were returned to him before he realized they were missing."
"
" I exclaimed, tossing back my scarf. "Ms. Jeager, this claim is highly far-fetched."
"And why is that?"
"Because of the guns themselves." I said, presenting the weapon in question. "Notice that one bullet is missing from the chamber of this very gun, and the ballistic markings do indeed match up to the bullet wound in Ms. Burg's head. Are you saying that Mr. Black is so careless that he wouldn't check his own equipment and notice this sooner?!"
Jeager leered at me with hungry eyes, snorting angrily like a bull ready to charge at a matador. "What does that matter? The gun was a ploy to frame us, anyway. Ms. Burg was stabbed with that knife."
"You know, it's funny." I said with a wry smile. "Mr. Black told us that same story, and as it turned out, he was lying."
"But that still doesn't explain when Ms. Burg was shot and stabbed." said Jeager.
"I actually do have an explanation." I said.
"Humph. A frivolous detail at best." said Von Karma. "But, I suppose we can humor you for now, Faraday. Give us your explanation. And it had better be perfect."
"Alright then." I said. "The explanation behind the two causes of death is that one of them was fabricated. Specifically, the stab wound."
"That indeed seems to be the more logical of the two." said Von Karma. "But why was this murder method fabricated, Faraday?"
"It's a complicated story." I said. "And I wish to start by hearing more testimony from Ms. Jeager."
"
You're just stalling for time!" barked Jeager. "You have no evidence to back up your claim!"
"Actually, I do." I said. "And this is the evidence proving that the stabbing was falsified."
I presented the kunai.
"
This weapon itself is a kunai, a knife typically used by ninjas." I said. "Now, I may not know as much about the De Killer family as you do, Ms. Jeager, but I do know one thing."
"And what's that?"
"I know that there is another group that you and Mr. Black have a grudge against. The Zangaru clan."
"NEVER MENTION THAT NAME!"
Jeager pounded her fists into each other with incredible force. It seemed as though I struck a nerve.
"What is this foolishness all about, Faraday?" inquired Von Karma, seeming less disturbed and more intrigued by this turn of events.
"Allow me to explain, Mr. von Karma." said I. "The Zangaru clan are a band of ninjas from across the world. They don't usually operate here in LA, but it seems that Ms. Jeager has some sort of history with them judging by her reaction."
"And what of it?" Jeager sputtered. "Are you claiming they did this?"
"Maybe." I said, not ready to play my trump card just yet. "What about you? Plan to recant your theory about Shelly de Killer?"
"Maybe." Jeager countered, regaining her composure. "What exactly do you want from me, Mr. Faraday? A confession?"
That would be nice. I thought to myself.
"I didn't kill Ms. Burg, if that's what you're thinking." said Jeager. "I have an alibi."
"In light of these recent events? I highly doubt it." said Von Karma. "Nonetheless, I suppose we should hear you out. Innocent until proven guilty, after all."
"At least someone has some brains around here." scoffed Jeager.
---------------
Argument: Jeager's Alibi
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"There is no evidence tying me to this murder." said Jeager. "Shelly de Killer has the motive, the Zangaru clan owns the knife, and the bullet came from Black's gun. I am nowhere in that equation, as you can plainly see. Ergo, it could not have been me. That is my alibi."
"She has a point, Faraday. There's no evidence tying to her." said Badd.
"This is no time to give up, Badd." I said. "There is a major hole in her argument, and I'm going to exploit it for all it's worth."
Jeager narrowed her eyes. "You'd like that, wouldn't you, Mr. Faraday? But I'm afraid you're merely delusional. Such a hole does not exist, and I'll prove it to you." With that, she repeated her argument.
"Shelly de Killer has the motive, the Zangaru clan owns the knife, and the bullet came from Black's gun."
"
Seeing as I already established Mr. de Killer's lack of motive to Mr. Black, I would be wasting my breath repeating myself." I said. "That being said, how do you know the knife belongs to the Zangaru clan?"
"Simple. It has their markings on it." said Jeager. "Now do you see, Mr. Faraday? My alibi is airtight."
"Oh, I see alright." I said. "I see that your alibi is nothing more than a paper tiger in a wind storm."
"What?! That's nonsense! What did I tell you about bluffing?!" Jeager boomed. "Nothing ties me to the murder! What does your statement about the knife have to do with anything?!"
"
You left out a major factor in your explanation." I said, presenting the notes on the Zangaru clan. "The Zangaru clan are ninjas who strike swiftly, and leave no trace behind. If they were to blame for this murder, why would they leave the knife?"
"Something tells me you already know why, Faraday." said Von Karma, clutching at his shoulder.
"Indeed I do." I said. "It is because the Zangaru clan are special ninjas. They leave traps."
"What do you mean? Ninjas have traps." said Jeager.
"Not like this." I said. "They leave traps that are meant to confuse. What might seem like a murder is nothing more than bait for bigger prey. And although ironic, it's through the help of the law that I they will finally catch their prey, as well as expose the true mastermind behind this murder!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" shrieked Jeager. "You have nothing tying me to this murder! Nothing!"
"
Actually, I do." I said, presenting Yuné's intel. "Lately, Zangaru ninjas that have been arriving here in the States have been picked off, being killed or framed for murders that they did not commit. We already know how you feel about the Zangaru clan, Ms. Jeager, and we also know what your position is on the De Killer family. Ergo, it is through this that you are tied to this murder."
"What? How? I don't believe you!" snapped Jeager, her face turning white as a sheet.
"It's quite simple." I said. "Ms. Burg didn't actually kill Mercy de Killer. You planted her at the crime scene and had me arrest her. But when she got to court, she could've easily plea bargained and exposed you. So, to effectively kill two birds with one stone, you led her here to Exposé Park, used Mr. Black's gun to shoot her, and try to pin the blame on Shelly de Killer! But what you didn't count on was that Mr. de Killer formed an alliance with the Zangaru clan, who set themselves up as patsies for your crime just so that they could finally catch you and stop your mad schemes! In taking another life to catch an infamous assassin, you've become no better than he is, Ms. Jeager!"
Jeager's eyes widened, and her pupils dilated. "H-how could this happen? This is not possible. I-I refuse to accept this!"
She then drew her sidearm, her eye twitching madly. "As long as I still stand, I will not rest until this world is safe from all those who treat human life with such negligence! And if killing you all is what it takes to make that dream come true, then that's the price I'll have to pay!"