Case 2: Turnabout Explosion

Chapter 5: Deal With the Devil

Phoenix paced in the defendant lobby, trying to connect all the clues he had gathered in his searches. Luckily for him, evidence law had slightly changed over the years, and he had successfully added the video of Dr. Brown's office in the court record. It wasn't technically an invasion of privacy, since it had to do with the case, the same thing had happened in the case against Vera, as Phoenix was forced to record evidence back then too. However, what he was left with was limited, a vial full of cocaine, which he got the lab results for the day before, a detonator for the chip, the chip itself, two autopsy reports at the same time of death, a mutilated bomb, a tape recorder that would surely get his defendant the guilty verdict, and a letter that The Five Eyes left behind at the bombing scene. 'How does it all fit together?' he thought.

"Nick, are you ok?" asked Maya from the red couch, "You should sit down with me."

Phoenix stopped and rubbed his temples gently, "I'm sorry Maya, I just… I'm really antsy, we don't have too much to go on, and we don't even know what the witness in there is going to say. I'm… nervous." He slowly walked over to the couch and sat down next to her.

"Hey," she said gently leaning her head on his shoulder, "I know you can do this Nick, you've pulled yourself out of tighter spots."

"I know… but it's been seven years, I don't know…"

Maya smiled gently, "You remember Apollo's first case?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You pretty much took it over; you could have defended yourself easily."

"Yeah but… I presented forged evidence then."

"Oh pish posh," she said with a pout, "I know you won't do that again."

"Yeah, I may have mocked him, but Apollo's got a mean punch," he said, rubbing his chin after remembering the pain.

"Nick, listen, just go in there and tear apart the testimony like you always do, I'll be right next to you the whole time, okay?"

Phoenix nodded, "Thanks Maya."

Phoenix closed his eyes and took a deep breath when the gavel hit its mark. He leaned forward and felt the hard wood of the defense desk under his hands and the court record to his right, just within reach. Seven long years since he had felt this feeling… he was ready. "The trial for Penny Nicholes is now in session."

"The defense is ready Your Honor," said Phoenix confidently.

"Well?" asked the Judge, turning his head to the right to look at Iris, "Is the prosecution ready Ms. Hawthorn?"

Iris blinked, then Phoenix saw her face turn a deep scarlet, "Oh… um… The prosecution is ready Your Honor," she said softly.

"Very well, it is my understanding that this is the prosecution's first case. We will try not to be too harsh on you, isn't that right Mr. Wright?" he asked fiercely.

Phoenix sweat dropped, 'How come I'm always the bad guy when it involves pretty women?' he thought.

Maya puffed out her cheeks, "Don't let it get you down Nick, the Judge is always a sucker for a pretty face."

"Ahem," said the Judge, "The defense will restrain itself from mocking me."

Maya blushed and grinned, scratching the back of her head.

"Anyways, does the prosecution have an opening statement?"

"Yes," said Iris. "The crime occurred June 24th at 3:00 PM. Just after the Pink Princess show on stage at the Gatewater hotel. At the same time a bomb went off in the building of Silver-Ploy Inc."

Phoenix nodded, "It is both the defense's and prosecution's beliefs that these two crimes are tightly connected."

"Is that so," said the Judge, rubbing his beard.

Iris continued, "The Prosecution calls Detective Ema Skye to the stand." Ema rose from her seat on the right side of the court and made her way to the stand, "Please testify the facts of each crime Ms. Skye."

Ema smiled, "Don't look so nervous Iris." Iris blushed again before Ema continued, "Anyways, the murder weapon was advanced technology. One victim was Heraldo Smith, the other was Michael Grey; 

both chips were implanted in the victims' brains for the purpose of self destructing their nervous system and effectively killing them."

The Judge frowned, "Technology these days! Hmph."

Ema continued, "We believe the bomb was meant to scare people. The terrorist cell we learned about in last month's case just so happens to be involved in this one as well."

Iris nodded and set her hands on the desk, "It is the prosecution's belief that the defendant is involved with this terrorist cell and helped carry out their plans."

'Just as I thought,' thought Phoenix, 'All the evidence points to Penny, but…

There's no way she would ever kill anyone!'

"Mr. Judge, I would like to present a piece of evidence before I call my witness."

The Judge paused, then replied, "Of course Ms. Hawthorn, what is this evidence you wish to present?"

"It is a tape recorder left at the scene of the bombing; I'd like the court to listen carefully." When she pressed the play button, Phoenix could feel the case slipping away from his grasp.

"Mr. Grey, until now The Five Eyes have deemed you an extremely valuable asset, however, times must change, and us with them. In your brain is a device that will kill you at precisely 3:00 PM on the dot, just after the Pink Princess stage show next door if I'm not mistaken. In the other building is a Five Eyes associate that will dispose of our little problem at that very same time. You know what you must do, oh, and to the policemen and investigators listening to this… the time for your reckoning has come."

By the time the recording stopped the Judge's eyes had widened exponentially, "So this associate mentioned."

Iris nodded, "Could, according to our witness, only be the defendant, Ms. Penny Nicholes."

Conversation erupted in the court room, and Phoenix felt a headache coming on, 'This is bad,' he thought, 'the trial has barely even started, and we're already getting reamed. If I don't do something fast, Penny will…'

"Well," said the judge, "That is quite decisive if I do say so myself, I'm almost ready to declare a verdict."

"OBJECTION!"

Phoenix slammed his hands on the desk in front of him, 'This is it,' he thought, 'I haven't felt this rush in a long time.'

"Your Honor," continued Phoenix, pointing at Iris, "There are still issues which need to be addressed!"

"What are these issues Mr. Wright?"

Phoenix leaned forward, "One, there is no name mentioned on the recording, only that there was an 'associate'. This could have been someone else entirely; after all, not every witness' account is reliable. Two, the issue that we still have not examined all evidence accordingly. And finally, number three, where did the defendant get such connections to this terrorist cell?

"If these issues are not addressed properly… then a fair verdict cannot POSSIBLY be declared!"

The Judge nodded, "Point taken Mr. Wright, your statements are superb, as I expected, you haven't lost one bit of touch since you last entered this court room."

"Thank you Your Honor."

When Phoenix looked back over at Iris, he saw something in her eyes, admiration maybe? "That was way too close Nick," whispered Maya, "If you hadn't said anything Penny would've been locked up for sure."

Iris cleared her throat, "The Prosecution would like to call its witness to the stand."

Phoenix noticed Dr. Brown stand up from his seat on the left side as Ema returned to hers. He made his way slowly to the witness stand. "Please," said the Judge, "Testify about the events that transpired the night of the murder."

"I will try to make this quick," said Brown, "I have a flight I need to catch."

"I was sitting at a table close to the stage and watching the Pink Princess performance with my niece. When she came out to do her speech she told the audience that the show would be coming to an end, and that the Steel Samurai would make one final appearance, yes, I remember it clearly. Then, she hit that switch, and the bomb went off next door just as she did, to feign ignorance, she called for help. End of story…"

"Your cross examination Mr. Wright?"

Phoenix nodded, "Yes Your Honor. Witness, what did the switch look like?"

"It was small and black, and had a red button on top of it."

"And you say that the bomb went off precisely when she hit the switch?"

Brown nodded, "I do believe that is exactly what I said, yes."

Phoenix slammed his hands on the desk, "Funny," he said, "Because when that bomb went off the room's power fluctuated. At that time you wouldn't be able to see anything at all, there are no windows in Viola Hall!"

"Objection!"

Phoenix's eyes widened, 'Wow,' he thought, 'Was that really Iris just now?'

Iris shook her head, "Feenie, the power fluctuated after the bomb shook the building, the lights were on for a second before they cut off, giving the witness plenty of time to see the defendant hit the switch."

The Judge shook his head, "The court does not condone pet names…

"But in your case it's okay Ms. Hawthorn."

Iris smiled and Phoenix sweat dropped, 'Man,' he thought, 'She's got him wrapped around her pretty little finger.' Then he began to ponder what Iris stated.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked, tilting her head.

Phoenix nodded, "There is one small problem with your theory Iris. You may be right, the witness would have plenty of time to see the defendant hit the switch, but would he really be looking that way?"

"What are you getting at Mr. Wright?" asked the Judge.

"Just now… the prosecution said it herself, 'the power fluctuated after the bomb shook the building', isn't it strange that Dr. Brown just kept looking at the stage instead of being shocked that a bomb had gone off and shook the entire foundation?"

Again, conversation erupted, and the Judge slammed his gavel, "Order! Order! The defense's argument holds water."

"Witness," said Phoenix, "Please elaborate for the court, were you not shocked that a bomb had just exploded next door?"

The doctor grasped his right arm and squeezed, gritting his teeth, "Of course I was shocked, I just happened to see her hit the switch is all."

Phoenix shook his head, "But that doesn't make sense, were you just staring ahead while the building shook, any sane person would at least wonder what was happening and look around, and I'm not questioning your sanity, so don't even ask."

"I… I…"

"Lies only beget more lies Doctor Brown; I suggest you learn that well before testifying to a court of law."

"Witness, tell the truth this instant, or you will be extracted from this court room!" shouted the Judge, slamming his gavel again.

"I didn't see her hit the switch, but I saw her holding it," said Dr. Brown, "I swear it to you that's what I saw."

Phoenix sighed and shook his head, "You may have patched up your little contradiction, but I have you on the ropes Dr. Brown. While we're still on this subject, I'd like the court to watch a video I filmed in Dr. Brown's office the day that I went to see him."

Dr. Brown grasped his right arm again, "You what!"

The bailiff brought in the small TV and Phoenix immediately hooked his camera to it. He pressed play, and when it reached the envelope he paused it, "Now take a good long look at that," said Phoenix, "I believe that envelope is labeled The Five Eyes, a terrorist organization known all too well in this court by now."

"Why yes it is," said the Judge, "What is the meaning of this witness?"

"That recording is an invasion of privacy!" shouted Dr. Brown.

Phoenix shook his head, "I'm afraid not, the moment you agreed to testify, your right to privacy was null and void so long as it was related to the case, and that is the specific reason I brought my camera with me that day."

The Judge nodded, "The defense is right." He slammed his gavel, "Witness, explain yourself."

'There's nowhere to hide now,' thought Phoenix, 'I'm going to tear this guy apart!'