Phoenix walked into the defendant's lobby, breathing out a sigh. Jonathan soon joined him and Maya in the lobby. Phoenix immediately turned to him. "Jonathan, were you anywhere near Blue Mountain during Pearl's kidnapping?"

"No, I wasn't. I was at the Fey Manor. I'm not sure how anyone could have seen me at the mountain."

"Do you have any siblings that look like you?"

"…Yeah…I have a brother. However…he's not around anymore."

"Was he killed?"

"No…he just…disappeared one day. He just left a note saying don't look for him. I haven't seen him since."

"I think there's a chance that he could be back."

Jonathan shook his head. "I don't believe that's the case. He's been gone for years. I don't think he would return just to frame me."

"I don't know about that. As you said, he's been gone for years. You have no idea what he's like now, or what he's been up to. You can't take away the possibility he's involved."

Jonathan looked down and away from Phoenix. The bailiff entered the lobby. "Mr. Wright, the trial is about to resume."

Phoenix nodded. "We'll be right there."

He looked one last time at Jonathan before he walked into the courtroom.

Meanwhile, in an unknown location, Trucy slowly regained consciousness. As her eyes opened, the only thing she could see was the rocky sides of a cave with a faint glow at the end of the tunnel. She tried to move her arms, but some loosely tied ropes prevented her from moving them. Slowly, Trucy moved her wrists as to loosen the grip of the rope even more. After a few minutes of continuously pressing against the rope, the knot became undone and fell to the ground. Trucy quickly stood up and dashed to the faint glow, which led her to the entrance of the cave. Looking around, she spotted Kurain Village in the distance. She sprinted in that direction, hoping her kidnapper wouldn't find out she had escaped.

The judge slammed his gavel. "Court is back in session. Prosecutor Lortimor, have you prepared your witness?"

"Yes, I have, your honor. The prosecution calls Christian Lumarta to the stand."

Phoenix saw a brown-haired freckled man walk into the room and to the witness stand. The judge looked at Christian. "Mr. Lumarta, I understand that you saw what had transpired at the base of Blue Mountain?"

Christian nodded his head. "Yes, your honor. You are correct."

"Then tell the court what you saw that day."

"I was taking a leisurely stroll near Blue Mountain that day. I had heard about a murder that had occurred there years ago and wanted to check the place out. Suddenly, I heard a muffled scream as I saw the defendant put a cloth of some kind around the face of a blonde-haired girl. He then carried her off into the woods."

The judge nodded. "So you clearly saw the defendant?"

"Yes I did your honor."

"Very well. Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination."

I already know he's lying just by the hair color, though if he truly were there, he may have some more information that may be helpful. I should press him just in case.

"I was taking a leisurely stroll near Blue Mountain that day. I had heard about a murder that had occurred there years ago and wanted to check the place out—"

"Hold it! Why did you want to check the place out?"

"I'm a photographer Mr. Wright. I wanted to take some scenic pictures. Also, I was very curious about the place after I had heard about the murder."

"Weren't you afraid to go there alone?"

"Not at all. The murder occurred decades ago. The killer probably has never returned there afterwards. I had nothing to fear, except for what happened later."

"Suddenly, I heard a muffled scream—"

"Hold it! Which direction did the scream come from?"

"To my right, closer to the mountain."

Lortimor shook his head. "Was that really necessary Mr. Wright?"

"Necessary, no. However, I did want to get as much information as I possibly can."

"Hmph."

The judge nodded. "You may continue Mr. Lumarta."

"I saw the defendant put a cloth of some kind around the face of a blonde-haired girl—"

"OBJECTION!" Phoenix pointed at Christain. "Mr. Lumarta was it? I'm afraid that you made a very critical error in your testimony."

"What did I do wrong?"

Phoenix took out a picture of Pearl. "This, Christian, is the first kidnapping victim you're testifying about. As you can see, she doesn't have blonde hair, but brown. She's a brunette."

"What?!"

The crowd burst into chatter, some calling him a phony witness. The judge banged his gavel. "Order! Order! Mr. Lumarta, this court won't accept fabricated testimonies!"

"I-I'm sorry your honor, but sometimes I misspeak when I talk. That's why I like to be alone and photograph landscapes, no talking required. I think one thing but say another. Please, let my revise my testimony!"

The judge furrowed his brow in thought before he banged his gavel. "Very well, the court will hear your revised testimony. Be sure to say exactly what you think though Mr. Lumarta."

"Thank you, your honor."

"I swear I saw the kidnapping! The defendant drugged the brown-haired girl who clawed at him. However, the defendant overpowered her and flung her on his back, dropping her shoes in the process."

The judge nodded. "Are you sure this is the correct testimony?"

"Yes, your honor. I am."

"Alright. Mr. Wright, your cross-examination."

"I swear I saw the kidnapping! The defendant drugged the brown-haired girl who clawed at him—"

"OBJECTION!" Phoenix slammed on his desk. "Mr. Lumarta, if the victim had indeed clawed at the defendant, we would see scratch marks all over him. However, we see none. How do you explain this?"

"Simple. The drugs were starting to have an effect, so as she scratched, they didn't leave any marks behind."

Lortimor nodded. "Indeed, that would be possible."

Phoenix sighed. "Yeah…it is possible."

The judge looked at Christian. "You may continue Mr. Lumarta."

"The defendant overpowered her and flung her on his back, dropping her shoes in the process—"

"OBJECTION! Mr. Lumarta, there's two errors in your testimony right there."

Lortimor shook his head. "Really? Mr. Wright? Is this another bluffing attempts I've heard so much about?"

Phoenix shook his head. "No, it isn't. Mr. Lumarta, you clearly stated her shoes were dropped near the base of Blue Mountain, correct?"

"Yep."

"Well then, I'd like you to take a look at this sandal, found in a blueberry patch some distance away from Blue Mountain. This sandal was the victim's. She wore it on the day of her kidnapping." Phoenix slammed on his desk. "Not only did you get the location wrong, but you got the footwear wrong as well."

"What?! How is that possible?!"

"Mr. Lumarta, you've been lying to the court!"

"OBJECTION! Lortimor pointed at Phoenix. "The witness meant shoes in general, and not specifically wearing shoes!"

"OBJECTION! In a court of law, the witness needs to be very specific!"

"OBJECTION! The victim didn't know about this rule, so he didn't know he was breaking it!"

"OBJECTION! That's your job to prepare him! You should have told him all the rules necessary!"

"Urk…"

The judge banged his gavel. "Order! Mr. Lorimor, you have failed to adequately prepare your client! I will be forced to penalize you!"

Christian meekly raised his hand. "Um…your honor, I just remembered something I should have said in my earlier testimonies. I…followed the defendant from a safe distance so that he wouldn't hear me."

"You…followed him?"

"Yes…I did."

"Very well, you may testify once again."

"After the defendant picked up the victim, I followed him through the forest until we got to a waterfall. I couldn't find him anywhere so I went back."

"Hmmm…I see. Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination."

Cross-examine what? It's a simple, solid testimony.

"After the defendant picked up the victim, I followed him through the forest—"

"Hold it! How long did you follow him for?"

"About five minutes? It really wasn't that long to be honest."

"Nick, that's not right."

"What do you mean?"

"It takes about twenty minutes to get to the waterfall from the mountain."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

"OBJECTION!" Phoenix stared at Christian. "You have lied yet again Mr. Lumarta."

"What do you mean?"

"It takes about twenty minutes to get to the waterfall from the mountain, not five! You can't possibly have gotten that far in just five minutes!"

The crowd burst into chatter again as the judge banged his gave. "Mr. Lumarta! What is the meaning of this?! I'll have you arrested for perjury if you keep lying to the court."

Christian looked around the room, sensing all the glares directed at him. "I…I…I'm sorry…but…I….can't tell…"

The judge leaned forward. "Can't tell what?"

"I…promised I wouldn't tell. My life…would be in danger. The real kidnapper….would kill me if she knew I told."

The crowd burst into a frenzied chatter, unable to be calmed by the judge. The trial was postponed until the next day as Christian Lumarta was placed into protective custody.