Parts 2 through 7 were other letters written in to the advice column. Parts 8 and 9 involved Klavier getting dragged out to a crime scene by Detective Skye, which is where we meet up with our intrepid prosecutor.
10/1
Klavier looked over the report in his hand dubiously, glancing up over the edge of the paper every so often to watch the defense attorney question one of the detectives about the state of the victim's body when it was found. Surprisingly, this time it was wasn't Ema; she was busy overseeing the movement of the body and cussing out the official forensics team at the moment. But, as per usual, Apollo had arrived at the crime scene – which, in this case, was by the front desk in the defendant's mechanic shop – probably only moments after accepting the man's request to serve as his defense, with Trucy in tow. Klavier sighed, reread the names, time of death, and preliminary findings, and set out to rescue the annoyed detective.
"Ah, Herr Forehead," the prosecutor laughed the nickname, leaning over the shoulder of the detective to smile at the other attorney. "It has been awhile since our last case together, ja?"
Apollo looked away, brows furrowed and a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. It was not quite the expression of joy – or even of discomfort, given what he'd read earlier – that Klavier had been hoping for. "Prosecutor Gavin, I'm representing the defendant, Mr. Richard Gaylord."
"Of course you are. Well then, ask me what you like, and let the good detective get back to work."
"Let's start with the crime scene. Can you tell me what you think happened?" Apollo had pulled out his court file and a pen, preparing to take notes on the legal pad that he kept in there. Klavier straightened, tweaking his bangs a little as he answered:
"Oh, I think that this should be an easy one, Herr Forehead. The victim – Thomas Lionee – was found by the desk at about 3:15, dirty rag in his mouth, probably used as a gag, and tape around his wrists. The murder weapon is an adjustable socket wrench, and," he leaned forward again with a soft smile. Regardless of his feelings for the other man, Klavier was strictly business when on the scene. "It, of course, belonged to your client, and is covered with his prints."
Apollo jotted down the information regarding the weapon and then glanced over to the bloody desk. "So. . .death by blunt force trauma?"
"Or blood loss, maybe. The wrench hit Lionnee in the back of the head repeatedly, taking out a chunk of his skull. We won't know how many blows until after the autopsy's been completed. I think that it's safe to say that this was a crime of passion, though."
". . .of p-passion?" Apollo faltered, tapping his pen on the legal pad and looking up with some confusion.
"Ja, Herr Forehead. Only a blind and crazed passion would drive a man to beat another after he is dead. Something had to keep him from noticing that the struggle was over."
"That's speculation, Gavin," the defense attorney shook his head, as if trying to clear it of such thoughts. "Anyway, that chalk outline looks a little odd. . . Where was the body, exactly?"
Klavier turned his gaze to the desk and white outline in question. The chalk was drawn over the top and down the side of the desk, trailing out over the outline of feet on the floor. The prosecutor shrugged, opening the report and pulling out a crime scene photograph that had been paperclipped to one of the pages.
"The body was draped over the desk when the police arrived," the prosecutor handed the photo over, watching as Apollo carefully examined it. "We suspect that Gaylord pinned him there while beating him to death and –"
"Hold it!" Apollo shouted, pointing to part of the photo. "What is that in his hands?"
Klavier blinked, tilting his head a little. "It looks like a telephone."
"Then. . .where are the buttons?"
"Old telephones didn't have buttons, Herr Forehead; you put your finger in the little hole over the number that you wanted, and spun it around to the silver stopper there," Klavier explained, pointing out the pieces that he described. "Then, it spins back to its normal position, and you do the same thing with the next digit until you've dialed all the numbers and your call connects."
"His wrists are tied together with tape and he's holding the phone. You don't think that's a little odd?"
"Maybe the killer was using it as a weight to keep Lionnee from falling. It looks pretty heavy, ja?"
"Where is it now?"
Klavier smiled again, tucking his thumbs through the belt loops on the front of his pants. "I'm afraid that we'll have to call it a day, Herr Forehead; I've told you everything that I can. I'm prosecuting this case, remember? I'm certainly not going to help you build yours."
"Wait! What about witnesses?"
"You'll meet them at the trial tomorrow, of course. Auf wiedersehen, Herr Forehead."
