Phoenix could hear the audible tick of the clock behind him as he read the case file in the defendant's lobby. Phoenix slowly closed the folder as he nervously ran his fingers through his hair. "Man, I'm more nervous than I usually am."

Phoenix knew Jonathan wasn't facing the death penalty if convicted but being convicted of a crime as serious as kidnappings isn't easy to live with moving forward. Maya nodded. "I know how you feel…I've never been this nervous before a case in my life, not even when I was on trial."

The bailiff entered the defendant's lobby. "Mr. Wright, the trial is about to begin. Please make your way into the courtroom immediately."

Phoenix looked at both Maya and Jonathan. "Well, it's time. Let's get this started."

The judge banged his gavel. "Court is now in session for the trial of Jonathan Crinkle."

"The defense is ready, your honor."

The prosecutor coughed and, in a highly nasally voice, said, "The prosecution is ready your honor."

The judge nodded. "From what I've been told, this case is concerning not one, but two kidnappings. Is that correct?"

Lortimor shook his head. "Yes, your honor."

"Do you know where the two victims are?"

"No, we don't. The defendant refuses to tell us their whereabouts, telling us that he wasn't responsible for the kidnappings. However, we have evidence that tells us otherwise."

"What evidence do you have to present?"

Lortimor brought out a sandal. "First, this sandal. It was worn by one of the victims, and it has traces that Jonathan had at the very least picked up the sandal."

"Why do you say that?"

"Fingerprints, your honor. There are plenty of fingerprints all over the sandal. There are only two pairs of fingerprints on the sandal, the victim's and Jonathan's. Secondly, there are also plenty of hairs from the defendant that the detectives found on the sandal."

"Couldn't the defendant have touched the sandal beforehand?"

"No, your honor. It's not possible. It was the victim's first time wearing the sandal. The only time Jonathan would have been able to touch it is during or after the kidnappings. The defendant, by his very confession, stated that he didn't touch the sandal after the kidnapping. If he is to be believed here, the only other time he could have is during. Even the detective in charge of the case agrees."

The judge nodded. "I see. So you intend to call the detective as a witness?"

Lortimor nodded. "Yes, your honor."

"Understood. You may call your witness."

"The prosecution calls Detective Gumshoe to the stand."

Gumshoe opened the door to the courtroom and walked right up to the witness stand. "Name and occupation witness."

"Dick Gumshoe sir! I'm a detective for the police!"

The judge nodded. "Can you tell the court the details of the case?"

"Yes sir!"

"While Pearl was picking berries, she was kidnapped, leaving her basket and sandal behind. We followed a set of footprints to a waterfall, but they end there. Now after Pearl was kidnapped, Trucy was alone at a clearing, hurt after what the defendant told her. This provides motive and opportunity, all pointing to Jonathan Crinkle."

The judge nodded. "I see. That does provide motives and opportunity for the defendant. Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination."

Alright, I just need to get as much information as I possibly can. I should press Gumshoe on everything I can.

Maya looked at Phoenix. "You've got this Nick!"

"While Pearl was picking berries, she was kidnapped—"

"Hold it! What kind of berries was Pearl picking?"

"Blueberries Pal! I even tasted one while I was there, so I definitely know it was blueberries."

"Wait, you tasted one?!"

"Sure did. My salary is…low, so I figured that since I was hungry, a berry or two would be great."

"If they weren't blueberries, they could have killed you!"

Gumshoe scratched the back of his head. "Yeah…well…I was willing to take that risk."

Someone should definitely increase his salary…for the sake of his life. But wait a minute…wasn't the basket that was found filled with boysenberries?

"Are you certain, Detective, that the berries were indeed blueberries?"

"Yes, Pal, I'm certain."

"I'm osrry to tell you, but you've made a mistake."

"What do ya mean Pal?"

"The berries that Pearl was picking…they were boysenberries."

"What?! Are you sure?!"

"I am."

The judge stared at Phoenix. "What proof do you of this Mr. Wright?"

"The basket that was found at the site of the kidnapping, it was filled with boysenberries, not blueberries."

"OBJECTION! Your honor, there are two things I would like to say about this. First of all, the berries in that patch were indeed blueberries. Secondly, what type of berries were picked is of no concern to the court as the berries aren't involved in any facet of the kidnappings."

"OBJECTION!" Phoenix slammed on the desk. "Your honor, I have an explanation about the berries that would make this critical in the case."

"Very well, Mr. Wright, what explanation do you have?"

Phoenix looked at Lortimor. "The place where the basket was found is not the same place where Pearl was kidnapped."

The crowd burst into chatter as the judge banged his gavel. "Order! Order! Mr. Wright, do you have any evidence to substantiate your theory?'

"I…don't, your honor, at least not yet."

Lortimor laughed. "Then perhaps you should have kept your mouth shut hm?"

The judge nodded. "I agree Mr. Wright. If you don't have proof, I can't accept your theory. Now, Mr. Lortimor—"

"Hold it!" The judge looked at Phoenix. "Yes, Mr. Wright?"

"Just give me one minute your honor, and I can prove my theory has some evidence supporting it."

The judge nodded. "Alright, you have one minute."

Phoenix quickly turned to Maya. "Is there any place near Kurain that has boysenberries?"

"Well…yes, there is, at the base of Blue Mountain, but access to Blue Mountain is forbidden after a murder occurred there thirty years ago."

"That has to be it!" Phoenix turned back to the judge. "Your honor, there is a place near Kurain where boysenberries were available to be picked."

"Oh? Where is that Mr. Wright?"

"At the base of Blue Mountain."

"Blue Mountain?"

Maya slightly raised her hand to get the judge's attention. "Blue Mountain is a mountain outside of Kurain. However, it's forbidden to go there after a murder occurred there thirty years ago."

"Hmmm…I see...well Mr. Lortimor, there apparently is the possibility of having Wright's theory actually being correct."

Lortimor chuckled. "Indeed, your honor. It appears my test of Mr. Wright's abilities is complete?"

"Excuse me?"

Lortimor looked at the judge and then at Phoenix. "I knew since yesterday night that the kidnapping took place at Blue Mountain, thanks to a certain witness that stepped forward."

"There was a witness to the kidnapping?"

"Yes, your honor, there was. Christian Lumarta was taking a stroll through the area and witnessed Pearl being kidnapped."

The court burst into chatter again as the judge banged his gavel. "Mr. Lortimor, prepare your witness. The court will take a ten-minute recess."

The judge banged his gavel. "Court is now in recess."