"So," I slowly start to ask Mr. Wright. "what you're saying is that you never touched murder weapon? The grape juice bottle, correct?"
"So I said," Mr. Wright answered. I swallowed and start to sweat, the spikes returning between eyes again after I made them straight the first time. I can't speak, and I'm keep asking myself...
Why did Mr. Wright lie? The judge eventually notices my silence. "Mr. Justice, is something the matter?" I hear the prosecutor laugh and see him flipping hair. He taunts me, but he and everyone else is drowned out as more questions linger in my mind. Did Phoenix Wright actually do it? What else was he lying about? He did plead silence. Is Mr. Wright hiding something? More questions that I don't have answers to enter my head.
I snap out of it in time to hear Payne say, "The defendant's fingerprints are all over the bottle!" The jury start to whisper, and I hear bad things being said out Mr. Wright. I straighten my hair out and quickly think of something to say.
"OBJECTION!" I shout at the top of my lungs, putting all my might into each syllable! Behold, this is the power of the 'Chords of Steel!'
"No need to shout, Mr. Justice! We can hear you perfectly!" His Honor fearfully yells back at me. I examine the courtroom. I find the judge cowering under his desk. Mr. Wright's eyes are widened and his mouth is agape. The prosecutor is sweating madly. The jury had many expressions and my boss is rubbing his ears. I can feel that my face is flushed red as I laugh while playing with my spikes. The courtroom slowly recovers. I smile in embarrassment the entire time.
"Excess yelling can hurt our ears... and our case, Justice," Mr. Gavin softly tells with friendly a smile and a killing glare. How does he do that? More importantly, what about my 'Chords of Steel...?' He's still looking at me. I think he's telling me to continue with the case.
I pound my bench dramatically. "A-Anyway!" Now, to come back with a counterargument. "What's so strange about fingerprints on a bottle in a restaurant?"
The judge nods in agreement (Ha! I did it!) and comments, "That is true. They wouldn't prove that the defendant-"
"OBJECTION!" Mr. Payne shrieks. Ow! My ears! "True, they wouldn't prove anything had they been normal fingerprints!"
"...Huh!?" I ask, partly for elaboration and partly because my ears hurt.
"However, the defendant's fingerprints were found upside-down on the murder weapon!" Payne explains.
"There were 'upside-down,' you say?" The judge questions. "What does that mean?"
"It means that the defendant was holding the bottle inverted! There is only one reason why he would do such a thing!" The prosecutor lets it sink in as he flips his hair. Stop that! "...Yes. To brain someone with the bottle!"
"Aaaaaaauuuuuggggghhhh!" I scream! The jury whispers again, and I break into a cold sweat again. I face Mr. Gavin, who's looking calm as ever. "S-Sir! I thinks things just took a turn for the worse!"
"I disagree, Justice." He says with his eyes closed and a smile. W-What? "As attorneys, the truth is the only thing that matters. Everything happens for a good reason. You'll see." I take in his words, feeling reassured. He always knows what to say. I made the right decision by working under him
"Defendant! Care to explain why your fingerprints on the bottle are upside-down to the court!?" His Honor forcefully demands. Mr. Wright, on the hand, is smirking.
"I stand by my plea of silence regarding the murder." He says at last. Oh man, why does my first trial have to be so stressful? "...For now." C'mon Mr. Wright! This is not helping out me out right now and I can't stand suspense!
"Hmm... You are not very cooperative, Mr. Wright." The judge remarks. My thoughts exactly. "This could hurt you case." Yes, please listen to His Honor and help me out here!
"I'm sure that he's not cooperating because there's something he wants to keep from us!" Stop making me feel that I can't trust Mr. Wright, Prosecutor Payne! "There must be some reason..."
"OBJECTION!" Mr. Gavin yells. "You seem to have forgotten one thing, Your Honor."
"That being what, Mr. Gavin?" The judge questions curiously.
"Who reported the murder to the police the night of the crime, three days ago?" My boss asks.
"Reported...?" The judge slowly says. Wait, I know this. The one who informed the police was-
"Well," Payne begins, with his back slouching. "it was the defendant, Phoenix Wright. But still, that..."
"S-Seriously!?" The judge asks in shock. Don't tell me that he didn't know. What has our legal system come to!?
"Erm, yes, well... um, uh." Prosecutor Payne stutters. "According to the case file, the murder was reported from near the scene, but a phone call from the defendant's cell phone."
Wait, what was that just now? "What do you mean 'near' the scene?" I inquire.
"Let us take a look at a diagram of the murder scene, shall we?" Mr. Payne directs, bringing up a hologram. It shows a diagram of the murder scene like Payne said. The diagram is split in two by a line, most likely a wall, with the right side taking up about three-quarters of the whole thing. On the right side are two rectangles in the top-right corner, probably the cabinets, and the poker table with two chairs on opposite sides and an extra chair on the left side of the table. Only one chair is occupied, that being the victim. On the line (wall) is the tiny window and an exit leading to the other side of the diagram, which only has stairs. Prosecutor Payne starts to explain. "The victim was murdered in a small room in a basement two floors down from ground level. Of course, cell phones can't get reception so far down. The defendant used the stairs in this hallway," Mr. Payne points to the left side of the diagram. "to go above ground. The call came from the first floor of the restaurant."
"I see," the judge nods. "This is the phone that made the call?" He picks up a piece of evidence on his bench, which is blue, old-fashioned cell phone. Ah, I guess as long as it calls, it's fine for Mr. Wright.
Wright's Cell Phone added to the Court Record.
"The defendant could have just merely fled the scene of the crime had he felt like it," Mr. Gavin starts to enforce our case. Why did Mr. Wright hire me again, not that I'm complaining. "However, he fulfilled his civic duty and reported the crime to the authorities. Yet, you claim that he is 'not cooperating'...?"
"Urk," goes Mr. Payne. Thank you, Mr. Gavin! I better not waste this opportunity!
"I believe that the prosecution has toyed with our client enough for the time being," Mr. Gavin announces.
"T-Toyed?" Payne repeats the word in question. "I assure you, no one is more serious about-"
"Didn't you say something earlier?" Gavin rhetorically asks. Back up, I object to that last part Mr. Payne! I am the most serious here! I'm just a little nervous and my client is... mysterious, is all. "About the defendant being in the room the very moment the crime occurred? How, I ask, can you possibly know this?"
"A great question!" The judge declares. He looks at Prosecutor Payne, and I can tell that His Honor's eyes are filled with intensity. Hah! Point for me! Or, is it Mr. Gavin? I sigh in confusion. "How indeed!"
"That question has a rather simple answer, Your Honor." Gavin states. "The prosecution has a decisive witness." He faces me as he says this. WHAT!? A-A-A w-w-w-witness!?
Payne laughs and compliments, "You're as skilled as they say you are." There. That confirms that someone else was in the basement room the night of the crime! Well, it makes sense since there were three chairs... But, back to the topic at hand, this person witnessed the crime.
"Justice," Gavin calls me. "Everything up until this point has all been a warm-up. It's time for the main event." He lets the words sink in. "Are you ready?" I shake my head yes.
The gavel bangs. "Very well," the judge speaks. "The prosecution may call upon its first witness to the stand." A while later, a blond woman gets up to the witness stand.
...And she is cowering under it. "The witness will state her name and profession." Payne states.
"H-Hold on just a moment!" The judge performs his own version of "HOLD IT!" "Why is the witness underneath the stand?"
"I believe that she is petrified by the defense attorney's demonic-looking horns." Prosecutor Payne insults. OH C'MON! One tube of hair gel, and people start treating you like The Devil. You all need to calm down!
"Do not be afraid!" The judge declares this, who is, for some reason, glaring at me. "Should any horns point in your direction this court shall cut them off." Wait, he's glaring at me.
"A-A-Are... you sure?" The witness fearfully asks. If he's glaring at me, that means...
"I swear it on my gavel! So please, come on out." His Honor assures. That means he will REALLY cut my hair off!
"HOLD IT! Isn't violence against hair a crime, Your Honor?" I plea.
"Well, if you are sure it is okay...," the woman says, and I hear her Russian accent. I don't care what happens in Soviet Russia, BACK OFF MY HAIR LADY! She gets up on her feet, and I see her articles of clothing are odd for court. She's wearing an apron over her full body poncho and on her head is one of those Russian hats. She's also wearing mittens and holding a pink pot of something on a pink plate. There is also a strange rhombus-shaped necklace around her neck.
Moving on, the prosecutor asks for the witness's name and occupation. She ignores it, takes out a camera, and takes a picture. Ah, the flash! My eyes! "W-W-Wait a second!" The judge yells. Agreed. I need some time to see again. "Will the prosecution explain the witness's... um... what's the word... paraphernalia?"
Winston Payne does so. "Yes. She is a professional, Your Honor. Those are just the tools of her trade." The judge asks what the tools of her trade are.
"My name... is Olga Orly," The witness states. Oh really? "I am employed as waitress in Borscht Bowl Club restaurant." I'm pretty sure you're missing an 'A' after the 'as' and before the 'waitress.'
"Then... why the camera?" His Honor questions.
"Of course, it is my pride to serve borscht that is naming restaurant," Orly answers. "However I also perform-" She looks to the side. "-How is it said? Other...service."
"I assume that one of these 'other service' is taking the pictures of customers?" The judge concludes. She takes His Honor's picture. Keep the camera away from me if I have to pay.
"Dah, dah," Orly...uh...'dah's.' "For instance...this one." She takes out a colored photograph. On it is Mr. Wright... talking with the victim, Shadi Smith! Gah! The sweat returns!
"T-That's the defendant!?" The judge recognizes. The prosecutors confirms this and says that it was on the night of the murder.
"Man in white hat," the witness addresses. "is one who has gone kaput."
"Yes," says the judge. "That is indeed the victim." Murmurs fill the courtroom once again. The judge silences them once again. My spiked hairs fall between my eyes once again. I refocus in time to hear the judge say something about casually accepting the photo.
Olga's Photo casually added to the Court Record.
"Now, witness. Where were you at the time of the murder?" The prosecutor asks.
"In Hydeout." She answers. Spellcheck, where are you? "We call room that." I inquire more about this 'Hydeout' nonetheless. "It is room where famous gangster 'Badgai' was arrested." I faintly recall his trial (he was found guilty) and think about how uncreative his name is. "Is room where murder happen."
"Whaaaaaaaaaat!?" I scream! Suddenly, a blinding flash appears.
"Your look of utter surprise... It is lovely," Ms. Orly tells me as she holds her camera. Oh man, I must have looked so stupid when I screamed, and she has a photo of it! "It will be posted later by courtroom door for you!" I relax and think things over as she talks some more. So, three people were inside that room when the murder occurred. Shadi Smith, the victim, Mr. Wright, the defendant, and Olga Orly, our witness. The victim didn't commit suicide, and it there is no way that Mr. Wright killed Mr. Smith. So the only logical explanation is...
I snap out of my thoughts when I hear that the testimony is about to be given. I listen intently.
Witness Testimony
- - That Fateful Night - -
That night, customer asked me to deal cards for game.
It was cold... Both players played with hats on, dah.
The victim, he plays whole time with his hand on locket at his neck.
Then, last hand is done! But, something terrible has happened, dah!
That man flew at victim, and is strangling him to death!
I see the judge also take in the words. He asks, "Out of curiosity, who won the game?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Pain, er, Payne butts in. "The winner was the victim, Shadi Smith!"
"OBJECTION!" I yell before I slam my bench dramatically. "That's ridiculous!" I stay silent. Crap! I've got nothing to say. Quickly, think of something! Anything! "Um, because..." C'mon! C'mon! C'm-Aha! I got it! I point my finger to look cool. "Because Mr. Wright can't lose!"
"Ahem. Justice?" Mr. Gavin coughs. I face him. "It wouldn't hurt to think of a more... legitimate objection. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Mr. Wright hadn't lost in seven years! Don't you remember that?" I remind him.
"Take it from me, kid," the voice of the prosecutor tells me. "I didn't lose a case my first seven years as a prosecutor, either." Right. If I remember correctly, his mentor gave him his first loss. "Incidentally," Payne adds. "I have in my hand a piece of evidence." Mr. Payne brings up a hologram, revealing his evidence as a colored photograph. On it is a table with poker chips, poker cards, with a blue deck on the side, and a 'grape juice' bottle. "These are the poker chips as they lay the very moment of the crime." Payne directs us to the left side of the table with one hand of cards and chips. "This side here is the defendant's, Mr. Wright," He points to the other side. "while this one is that of the victim's, Mr. Smith."
"Chips?" The judge asks.
"Dah. I mean yes!" goes the prosecutor. I snicker. I stop when a small sudden pain appears on my arm. Thanks Mr. Gavin. "Please imagine that poker is war. Your hand is your army, and the poker chips are the spoils."
"I-I knew that! After all, when I was young, I had been known as," the judge pauses for dramatic effect. "the 'Poker Head of Courtroom No. 3'!" Doesn't he mean 'poker face?' I raise an eyebrow and turn to my boss. He simply shakes his head. I know what that means. It means that the judge is serious and that he is just making this up. "Hmm... Looking at this picture, it does seem that most of the chips are on the victim's side of the table." I look at the picture, and the victim does have a majority of the chips.
Chips Photo added to the Court Record.
"Alright then," His Honor faces me. "The defense may cross-examine the witness."
"Did you find any contradictions in the witness's testimony earlier?" Mr. Gavin asks me. I nod.
"Something did seem off, but I'm going to press everything before I point it out," I tell him my plan. "It's best to get as much information as possible."
"A wise decision," Mr. Gavin agrees.
Cross Examination
- - That Fateful Night - -
That night, customer asked me to deal cards for game.
HOLD IT!
"Do you deal cards often?" I ask her.
"Dah, I am doing this," She answers. "If customer wishes it, I serve anything. Borscht, cards, more borscht," She grabs her camera again and snaps a photo. "It is my work."
"It's a relief to hear of a place that has not forgotten the meaning of service!" The judge says as he nods his head.
"Welcome you to Borscht Bow Club, where borscht is as warm as the waitresses!" She says as she, all of a sudden, takes out flyers and, somehow, passes them to me, Mr. Gavin, Mr. Payne, the judge, and the audience.
"Thanks for NOT handing out flyers during the cross-examination," I mutter.
"Don't be so negative, Justice," Gavin tells me. "The restaurant does have excellent service. I suggest you bring ear plugs, though. Wright's skill in piano playing is... lacking." Don't worry Mr. Gavin. I wasn't planning on going anyway.
It was cold... Both players played with hats on, dah.
HOLD IT!
"It's April, though," I remind the witness. "How can it be cold?"
"At Borscht Bowl Club we have pride on authentic rustic Russian restaurant theme," She informs. "Outside it is city in Spring, but inside it is always as cold as Mother Russia!" Yeah, I don't do cold. "When it comes to hot borscht, cold is best seasoning, dah?" I'm not a chef, either.
The victim, he plays whole time with his hand on locket at his neck.
HOLD IT!
"Locket?" I question.
"I think it was for good-luck, dah?" Ms. Orly says. "He gripped it many times when he played that night."
"Yes, he must have felt that that good-luck charm might carry him all the way to the moon and the stars." His Honor gives his thoughts. I raise any eyebrow. "Though, since it was small enough to be worn around his neck, I don't think it would have much lift..." I scratch my face as I look at the judge oddly. He finally faces me and, after a few seconds, he gets uncomfortable. "I-Is something wrong, Mr. Justice?"
"Yes. I want a clarification. We are talking about a 'locket,' right?" He stares at me strangely. I begin playing with my hair with a sheepish smile. "Uh, you know, a pendant... with, hum, a picture inside? As in, not a rocket?"
"Y-Yes, of course! I know exactly what we are talking about!" The judge says this really quick. "It was just that it was probably in the shape of a rocket. That is why the witness called it that."
"Uh, no, Your Honor. A locket's a locket, no matter the sha-"
"Justice," Gavin calls me. "Did you know that it's considered bad form to poke fun at the hard-to-hearing in our society?" Hard of understanding fits more, Mr. Gavin.
"So," The prosecutor gets back us all back on track. "What happened after?"
Then, last hand is done! But, something terrible has happened, dah!
HOLD IT!
"Something terrible!?" I (loudly) repeat. Not a second later did the witness scream in terror and cower under the stand.
"W-Will the defense refrain from needless shouting?" The judge tells me wide-eyed with a face filled with fear. I apologize in a low voice. Should I reconsider this vocal training thing? No, I can't let years of 'Chords of Steel' training go to waste. The prosecutor, sweating for some reason, urges Ms. Orly to go. The witness gets back up for the rest of her testimony.
That man flew at victim, and is strangling him to death!
HOLD IT!
"The defendant would never do anything like that!" I shout at her. There's no way that Mr. Wright would murder someone! The witness cowers again and the judge shakes his head.
"Hmm, I would be lying if I said that I've seen defense attorneys perform this tactic in the past," the judge says.
"If possible, Apollo Justice," Mr. Gavin speaks to me. Crap, he said my full name. "Please, refrain from causing me further embararassment." There's a hint of anger in there. I look away from Gavin and play with my spikes.
"However," His Honor begins. "Although I dislike what the defense did just now, I can't seem to understand why anyone would resort to murder because of a simple poker game."
"Maybe it's is because it's defendant who lost game?" Ms. Orly shares her two cents.
"Yes! An undefeated champion facing his first bitter defeat!" The prosecutor agrees. "It's the same with all people like him. Winners turning into sore losers. Oh, how the mighty fall!" I grind my teeth, clenching my fist as I do so.
"Well, Mr. Justice, you've gotten all the information you can get, some results unfortunate," Gavin tells me. "I believe that it is time to expose the contradictions in the witness's testimony."
"Leave it to me, sir! I'll do just that!" I assure with full confidence. I know where the contradiction is. I just have to reveal to the rest of the court. I recall my thoughts earlier. There were three people in the room at the time of the crime. I believe in Mr. Wright and the death was not suicidal. I smirk. Watch out, Ms. Orly.
That night, customer asked me to deal cards for game.
It was cold... Both players played with hats on, dah.
The victim, he plays whole time with his hand on locket at his neck.
Then, last hand is done! But, something terrible has happened, dah!
That man flew at victim, and is strangling him to death!
OBJECTION!
Man, that feels good. Back on topic, I begin with, "Really, Ms. Orly? You say that the victim was 'strangled?' I find that strange."
"Dah," Ms. Orly... agrees? "Normal customers usually choke on borscht." I turn to Mr. Gavin.
"I'm not going to that restaurant now." Not that I wanted to in the first place.
"Shame. They have some delicious dishes too," My boss says with a smile. I sigh, reach for the autopsy report on beside, and remove its contents. I face the witness.
"Anyway, that is not the problem," I tell her. "The victim's autopsy report clearly states that he died from a blow to the head!" The woman gasps in realization. "Really now, Ms. Orly... Did you truly witness the crime!?" She shrieks, throwing the pot and the plate in the air. I watch as they all fall back down, with Ms. Orly catching the plate, the bowl falling onto the plate, the lobster originally inside the bowl returning to its place, and the lid dropping atop the bowl.
...
I feel a tap on my shoulder, and I face Mr. Gavin. "Close your mouth, Justice. Also, stop staring at the witness." I feel my face heating up. "You seemed to be zoning out, so I'll recap what happened." Mr. Gavin brings up the Court Record and enlarges the first Crime Photo. "The judge looked at this photo and don't think that the victim was hit." Mr. Gavin minimizes the photo, scrolls through the Court Record, and enlarges one that I haven't seen yet.
Crime Photo 2 was added to the Court Record moments ago.
"This is a photo of the victim without his hat on, and, as you can see, blood is running down to the back of his head from his forehead," Mr. Gavin informs. "The witness still claims that the defendant lunged at the victim's neck, however." He leaves it at that, and I smirk and cross my arms. I seems I caught Ms. Orly in her own lie now. "Seeing your expression, you seem enthusiastic, and I admire that, but really Justice. You should thinks things through once more."
I turn to him, confused. "Wh-What are you talking, sir?" I ask. "I exposed the contradiction in the witness's testimony!"
"That you did," my boss nods. "There's just another part of her testimony that... troubles me, is all." Another contradiction!?
"Alright then," the judge says, apparently hearing Mr. Gavin's last bit. "We shall continue this cross-examination. Mr. Justice, please proceed." I start to think about Ms. Orly's recollection of the events. I already proved that the victim didn't die from strangling, so I can stop beating that dead horse. I guess I should find the part that "troubles" Mr. Gavin.
"You know, Justice," Mr. Gavin smiles as he I turn to him. "There is such a thing as thinking aloud too much." I sweatdrop and play with my spikes, embarrassed. I look at the still-enlarged, second Crime Photo. Huh, there's nothing around his neck.
That night, customer asked me to deal cards for game.
It was cold... Both players played with hats on, dah.
The victim, he plays whole time with his hand on locket at his neck.
OBJECTION!
I guess this was the peculiar part of her testimony that "troubles" Mr. Gavin. Now, what does mean? I close my eyes and poke my forehead in thought. C'mon, there has to be a logical explanation for this! I think/poke harder. "Mr. Justice!" I hear the judge call me. "Would you please enlighten the court of what it is you're thinking so intensely about?"
Oh, right. "Recall what the witness stated earlier, Your Honor. The victim played with 'his hand on locket at his neck,' is what she said."
"This better not be an objection about this witness's grammar!" The prosecutor remarks. I shake my head no and direct everyone's attention to the second Crime Photo.
"Does anyone see a locket around the victim's neck?" I (loudly) ask this question. "Because I don't!"
"Impressive, Justice," Gavin compliments. "Very well done. I knew that you were able to handle this."
"No you didn't," I murmur.
"Accept the compliment," he says really quickly. I let it go and ask him what exactly I proved earlier means.
"If we are to believe the witness's testimony as-is," the judge starts to tell us. "Then the locket, 'disappeared' following the victim's death."
I immediately say, "Lockets don't just 'disappear,' Your Honor!" Unless I'm missing something here.
"It rather quite simple when you think about it," Mr. Gavin comments. "If the locket is gone, then someone must have taken it off. Simple, see?"
"Wait, sir," I start to piece things together. "I-If it was just taken off.. then that means-"
"Exactly, Justice. The defendant did not strangle the victim at all. He was just taking off his locket!" A moment of silence falls. "That would easily explain it, no?" I see the judge let out an 'ah' while the prosecutor is sweating. The jury also the begins to whisper. It stops after a gavel bang.
"D-Defendant!" The judge calls to Mr. Wright. "What do you have to say to this?" His incredible, breathtaking response is... silence. We all stare at Mr. Wright for a short moment before we come to the conclusion that he's isn't going to say anything. "Say," the judge seems to realize something.
"Yes, Your Honor?" Mr. Wright responds (gasp!).
"I just noticed this now, but," the judge points at him. "You have something hanging around your neck, right?" Wait, what!? I turn to Mr. Wright, look at his neck, and see-!
"Oh, you mean this?" He takes off the item (it's gold, by the way) and holds it in his hand. "Yes, it's a locket... with a photograph inside." Oh no. I'm getting a bad feeling. "It's a photo... of my daughter."
Wait, "C-Come again!?" I question.
"Mr. Wright!" The judge looks at him at a loss for words. Me too, Your Honor. Me too. "Y-You have a d-d-daughter!?"
"We confirmed it at the time of the arrest," Mr. Payne states. "The picture in the locket in fact, the daughter of Mr. Wright." So, Mr. Wright has a locket, as well...? That just can't be a coincidence. There's gotta be something missing, but what?
"Welll then, if the results of this game of poker led to the murder, maybe we should listen a bit more about the outcome of the game?" The judge suggests.
"Further testimony really isn't necessary," Payne tells him. "It is clear that the defendant lost. Badly." No, I can't let it end here! I look to the witness. There must be something that she isn't saying. Something that only she knows. And I have to find out what it is if I want to acquit Mr. Wright.
"Ms. Orly!" The judge addresses. "You shall testify to the court about the game played between the victim and the defendant!" Alright, this is my opportunity!
"D-Dah..."