"Ms. Hawthorne," the judge said. "We're waiting to hear your explanation."
"The witness has no reason to lie about the side effects of the poison," Dahlia said. "But that doesn't change the fact that she got it wrong. The only explanation I can think of that the witness got the side effects wrong because she never saw them happen."
"Are you claiming that the witness didn't see the victim die?" Payne said.
Dahlia shook her head. "The witness did see the victim die, but not from the poison. In actuality, the electrocution happened first!"
Payne recoiled, "What? But why would the witness say the poisoning happened first?"
Dahlia bit her lip. Should I go for it?
"Dahlia, you've wanted to say it since you first saw her face," Mia said. "You know you're right. Just get it out of your system."
"I didn't need the sarcasm, Fey," Dahlia shot back. She turned back to the courtroom. "The witness lied because she didn't want us to find out the truth! She lied because she killed the victim!"
Iris was blown back, protectively holding her parasol. "What? I would never kill Max-Waxy! Why would you think that?"
"I can't think of any other reason you would lie about such a thing!" Dahlia said.
"That's not fair! You can't call me a murderer because of that!" Iris said, tearing up.
"I agree; the defense is grasping at straws if they're making such suggestions. I see no reason to incriminate the witness," Payne said. "She lacks a motive, for one thing."
"That's right. Why would I kill my Maxi-Waxy?" Iris said.
"To answer that question, the defense requests that the witness testify about her relationship with the victim," Dahlia said. "Specifically, how they first met."
"I suppose if it's relevant," the judge said. "Witness?"
"Okay Mr. Judge," Iris said.
Testimony
Maxi used to work at the Berry Big Circus. That's where we met.
His performance was spell-binding, he really caught my eye.
I got to chat with Maxi after the show; I thought it was too good to be true when he said he was single.
It was true love, I'm sure of it. Maxi was like a magical Prince Charming!
He even protected me when the lion did something really icky and scary.
"It sounds like the victim was quite the romantic," the judge commented.
Iris nodded and a tear streaked down her cheek. "I can't believe he's gone."
"I don't any kind of motive in this testimony," the judge said.
"Objection!" Dahlia said. "I have yet to cross-examine this testimony, Your Honor."
"If you really feel the need to," the judge said. "Ms. Hawthorne you may begin your cross-examination."
Cross-Examination
Maxi used to work at the Berry Big Circus. That's where we met.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "The Berry Big Circus?"
"Yes, it's really fun," Iris said. "They had lots of performances. Clowns, animal tamers, even acrobats. Maxi was a magician."
"You go to the same college, though, do you not?" Dahlia said. "Are you saying the two of you had never met before then?"
"Well, maybe we saw each other a couple times," Iris said. "But I never really met him until I saw his act."
His performance was spell-binding, he really caught my eye.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "What was his act?"
"Maxi-Waxy was a magician," Iris said. "He did all kinds of magic tricks, but flying was his trademark."
I got to chat with Maxi after the show; I thought it was too good to be true when he said he was single.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "So he had already broken up with the defendant?"
"I think so. But he was really suave and kind," Iris said. "He gave me a backstage tour, just for me!"
It was true love, I'm sure of it. Maxi was like a magical Prince Charming!
He even protected me when the lion did something really icky and scary.
"Objection!" Dahlia said and presented to the court her newspaper clipping. "A few months ago, the famed "Leon the Lion" caused quite a stir when he bit one of the performers. When you said the lion did something "icky and scary," were you referring to this incident?"
"Let me see that," the judge said. Once he had the newspaper in his hands he read it out loud. "Berry Big Circus in Very Big Trouble. Leon the Lion's last performance ends with a bang."
Dahlia nodded her head. "One of the circus performers, an acrobat nicknamed "Bat," was bitten when he stuck his head in the lion's mouth."
"Why on Earth would he do that?" the judge said, stunned.
"It is a circus, Your Honor," Dahlia said. "The animal tamer, Regina Berry, did this quite often with Leon. Apparently, Bat wanted to try it. In the end, Leon got shot and Bat is currently in the hospital in a deep coma."
"Objection!" Payne said. "I don't see how to this relevant to the case at hand."
"It is very relevant and I request the witness testify in greater detail about it," Dahlia said.
"If you're absolutely sure, I suppose we should hear this testimony," the judge said. "Witness?"
"Okay," Iris said.
Testimony
Maxi-Waxy was showing me around backstage, and he let me into the big top.
All the performers were there practicing, then one of the acrobats stops and joins the animal tamer.
They talked for a bit, then the acrobat stuck his head in the lion's mouth!
The animal tamer had been just fine when she did it during the show, but the acrobat…
The lion closed his mouth on that poor man's head! It was gross!
The ringmaster didn't want me to, but I called the police.
The circus closed for a couple weeks while the police investigated the murder.
"That must have been quite a shock for you," the judge said.
"It was so scary," Iris said.
"Ms. Hawthorne, you may cross-examine the witness," the judge said.
Cross-Examinatinon
Maxi-Waxy was showing me around backstage, and he let me into the big top.
All the performers were there practicing, then one of the acrobats stops and joins the animal tamer.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "You mean Bat and Regina, correct?"
"Yeah, it was them," Iris said.
"What happened?" Dahlia said.
They talked for a bit, then the acrobat stuck his head in the lion's mouth!
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Why did he do that?"
"I didn't hear the whole conversation," Iris said. "But I think it they made a bet, Regina and Bat."
The animal tamer had been just fine when she did it during the show, but the acrobat…
The lion closed his mouth on that poor man's head! It was gross!
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Do you have any idea why the lion bit the acrobat?"
"I don't know," Iris said. "It was weird though, it was like the lion smiled when he did it!"
"He smiled?" Dahlia said.
"Well, that's what it looked like," Iris said.
"How did you react?" Dahlia said.
The ringmaster didn't want me to, but I called the police.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Why wouldn't the ringmaster want you to call the police?"
"He said that it was just an accident," Iris said. "That he would deal with the Leon and get Bat proper medical treatment. But I couldn't just ignore it, I had to say something."
The circus closed for a couple weeks while the police investigated the murder.
"Objection!" Dahlia said. "You just called the incident a murder, but that is not the case! According to this record, the incident was filed as an accident! Plus, nobody died!"
"Objection!" Payne said. "I believe it was you that said the acrobat was put in a deep coma. He might as well be dead in that state! The witness simply made a mistaken."
Dahlia shook her head. "I don't think so. This whole time we've been calling it an "incident," yet suddenly the witness decided to call it a murder. I think this implies that she knows more than she's letting on."
"What?" Iris said. "How does that make sense?"
"As I'm sure you already know, there's more to this incident," Dahlia said. "Before it was classified as an accident, it was suspected of being an attempted murder."
"Attempted murder?" Iris said, grimacing.
"Yes, recall what the witness said earlier," Dahlia said. "She said that the lion appeared to be smiling when he bit the acrobat. The police investigated this and determined that the lion had not smiled, but sneezed."
"It sneezed?" the judge said.
"Yes, the acrobat was wearing a scarf when he was bitten," Dahlia said. "For some reason, this scarf was covered in pepper. It was concluded that the pepper made the lion sneeze when Bat put his head in the lion's mouth."
"That certainly sounds like someone was trying to murder the acrobat," the judge said.
"Yes it does, Your Honor," Dahlia said."However, since it couldn't be proven that anyone would know Bat planned to put his head in the lion's mouth it was determined to be a tragic accident."
"Where are you going with this, Ms. Hawthorne?" Payne said.
"Remember why I objected in the first place?" Dahlia said. "The witness called it a murder!"
"Are you accusing the witness of attempted murder?" Payne said, about to laugh. "We've gotten way of topic, Ms. Hawthorne. Besides, you just said it yourself. No one could have known the acrobat would stick his head in the lion's mouth!"
"Yeah," Iris said. "I'd never even met Bat. Why on Earth would I try to kill him?"
"You all keep interrupting me," Dahlia said, flipping through the contents of her manila envelope. "There's more."
"How much more do you have?" Payne said.
"See! You just did it again. Allow me to tell you everything," Dahlia said. "Naturally, the Bat didn't coat the scarf in pepper himself. The scarf turned out to be a gift. That day, the scarf was given to him by Regina Berry."
"Objection!" Payne said, once he knew Dahlia was finished. "I still don't see where this is going!"
"The defense requests that the witness testify again, keeping this new information in mind," Dahlia said.
"Ms. Hawthorne," the judge said. "So far I've seen no connection between these two cases. If you do not find something in this next testimony we will forget about this and move on with the case at hand. Are we clear?"
I've got no choice. It's abandon this now or risk abandoning it later. "I understand, Your Honor."
