It's a bird! It's a plane! It's the next chapter less than a month after the previous one! Collective gasps can be heard around the world! Children dance in the streets! People faint in the streets from awe! Grown men are brought to tears of joy. Mutterings of "I can't believe the author updated in a timely manner" are heard, followed by "this is truly a miraculous day." Every world leader gets together to declare today a national holiday! World Peace is established!

Anyway, here's the next chapter, where we finally get back to the courtroom.

Enjoy!

March 18, 9:42 AM. District Court. Defendant Lobby No. 3.

"What?" Maya exclaimed, "So, you really think Lovino…"

"Yeah. He was acting too suspicious yesterday to have nothing to do with this case."

"But still Nick, aren't murders supposed to be the bad guys? Lovino was so nice…"

(He was only nice to you!)

"It wasn't Lovino," I turned around to see Alfred had showed up wearing his military uniform again, a rare, serious look on his face.

"I…never said it was…"

He looked away, "I know how you operate. You're going to accuse him of everything. And normally that's fine, because you pick the right guy, but Lovino didn't do it," Alfred looked back at me, "If you do accuse him, I'll, I'll…I'll confess! I'll plead guilty!"

(What?!)

"What are you saying?!" Maya asked, "You didn't actually…"

"No. No, I didn't kill him," his smile was back, even if it was a bit shaky, "But heroes don't let innocents take the fall, even if the hero didn't actually do anything wrong."

I was looking into his eyes, which were staring intensely back at me, when it clicked. Everything Antonio tried to explain to me yesterday just clicked.

"…Oh," was all I found to say.

Alfred looked confused for a moment before he figured it out and put a genuine smile on his face.

"Edgeworth showed you the file, didn't he?"

"Yeah…and Antonio tried to explain it, but…"

"Really?" he whined, "Oh man, I like it better when I tell them…"

"Well, I didn't actually get it or believe it until I saw you again. That has to count for something."

"I guess…"

"Nick, I'm lost," Maya admitted, "What are you talking about?"

"You told them?!" a British voice shouted, and managed to sound personally offended at the same time.

"Of course not Arthur," Alfred shrugged, "haven't you been listening? Antonio told them."

"No one told me anything," Maya pouted.

"You, you can't just go around telling people things!"

"I didn't, it was Antonio…"

"But you wanted to!" Arthur pointed, "I can see that look in your eyes!"

"Oh come now Arthur," a French voice added, "This is a new day and age. The way information is tossed around to and fro, it was only a matter of time before Monsieur Lawyer and his lady friend found out."

"I still don't know what you're talking about," Maya whined.

"I agree with Arthur," a German voice chimed in, "it was reckless to let them find out, but what's done is done, and we really can't change that, can we Herr Wright?"

"N-no…I guess not," (Does that mean you can stop glaring at me like that?).

"Ludwig," Francis commented, "Why do you feel the need to interrupt out conversation.

"I finished my handwriting analysis on those notes you gave me yesterday," he dove a hand into his suit jacket pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, "I thought you would like to see the results."

Preliminary Handwriting Analysis
Analysis of the Vaguely Threatening Notes done by Ludwig. Results are inconclusive, but they definitely weren't written by Alfred.

"So if Alfred didn't write them," Maya asked, "then who did?"

"Clearly the murderer," Arthur answered, "Who else could it be?"

"It's bugging me though," Ludwig went on, "I still have a feeling that I've seen that handwriting somewhere before."

(I know Alfred says otherwise, but it's the only lead I have…) "If it's not too much trouble, could you run another analysis with Lovino's handwriting?"

The four of them stared at me in silence for a bit before three of them burst out in exclamations.

"I told you it wasn't Lovino!"

"I knew it! I always knew Lovino was nothing but trouble!"

"Mon dieu, Lovino. I didn't think he had it in him!"

"It's not…" (How can I explain this without making the situation worse?) "It's true I have reason to suspect Lovino, but if he didn't do it, then I need to rule him out as a suspect, and this is a way to do it!"

"I agree," Ludwig said, "Yes, when I get back, I'll test it against Lovino's sample. He sends me plenty of letters telling me to stay away from his brother, so getting a sample is no problem. If you excuse me," he nodded politely and entered the courtroom.

"I told you; it wasn't Lovino," Alfred glared at me.

"I know that…I just need to make sure…"

Before anyone could say anything else, Detective Gumshoe had interrupted our discussion with a shout of "Mr. Edgeworth!"

"He's…not here," I answered, "This is the defendant's lobby."

"Oh, well, I usually find him in here, so I figured I might as well check, pal."

"Why do you need to see him, if I may ask, Detective," Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"He asked me to run some tests on this bullet for him, so I came by to give him the results."

"Ah," Francis exclaimed, "Those would be mine," he snatched the paper from Gumshoe's hand, "I used Miles's name to get it done faster. Hope you don't mind.

(Why am I Mr. Lawyer, but you're on a first name basis with Edgeworth?)

"You can't do that pal!" Gumshoe shouted, "That's impersonating a prosecutor!"

"I have diplomatic immunity," he waved the detective off as he looked at the results, "Take it up with my people in France you if feel the need to pursue that."

"But I don't speak Italian…" Gumshoe muttered.

(I think someone needs to look at a world map every once in a while. Or maybe a language map.)

"Is there anything useful?" Arthur asked, trying not to be curious but failing.

"Oui," he answered simply, "It was indeed fired from Alfred's gun, but the blood on it is not Alfred's, nor is it the victim's."

Second Bullet updated in Court Record.

"It must belong to the real killer!" Maya exclaimed.

(That means, if my theory is correct…)

"You're gonna see if it's Lovino's?" Alfred asked me with a glare.

"…Can you see if the blood belongs to Lovino Vargas, Detective Gumshoe?"

"I can try pal. It might take a while. The only reason I was able to test for Jones's is because he's, you know, the suspect."

"We are very well protected," Arthur stated, "You won't be able to run your tests unless you can somehow prove Lovino is involved."

"Which you won't," Alfred said, "Because he isn't."

(It has to be someone though, and right now it looks like it's either him or…you.)

The bailiff called everyone into the courtroom then, ending the discussion there.

March 18, 10:00 AM. District Court Room No. 3

Murmur murmur murmur.

BANG!

"Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Alfred F. Jones. We ended yesterday due to Mr. Kirkland's inaccurate testimony and Mr. Weillschmidt's need to recall his. Is the defense ready?"

"Yes your honor."

"And the prosecution?"

"Ready, as always, your honor."

"Ms. Von Karma, you may call your first witness."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Ms. Von Karma…?"

"The prosecution calls Mr. Jones to the stand."

(Wh-what?! What happened to Gilbert?)

Murmur murmur.

BANG!

"You want to call the defendant? Ms. Von Karma, I thought we ended yesterday because – OW!"

"Mr. Weillschmidt's testimony will make more sense after we hear Mr. Jones's own version of the events. I would like to hear the defendant's testimony, if that's alright with you, Phoenix Wright."

(Franziska doesn't know Alfred is America, does she? He has a natural charm that would be able to convince anyone of his innocence. Having him give testimony could only work to our advantage now, but didn't Edgeworth say that all of the prospective prosecutors had to meet with Alfred before taking the case? She should know about his charisma, why would she risk the whole case on it? Still, Alfred is innocent, so there's nothing to fear with him giving testimony…right?)

"The defense…has no objections."

"Very well. Mr. Jones, please state your full name and occupation for the court."

"Alfred Franklin Jones. I'm currently being accused of false murder charges."

"Before that, son."

"I work for the US government, I suppose."

"I have to ask, did you do it?"

"Nope."

"…I'm convinced. I'm willing to pass judgment on – OW!"

"Fool! As a defender of justice, it's your job to make decisions based on the evidence presented and that alone. If you let outside influences cloud your judgment, it makes mockery of the entire system!"

"You're right…I don't know what came over me. Mr. Jones, please tell us about what happened.

WITNESS TESTIMONY
-My Heroics-

"Well, Arthur and I had just gotten out of a meeting.
We had a small fight, I forget about what, something stupid probably, so we split up. Sometime after that I heard the first gunshot.
On my way to find out where the shot was fired, I heard the second.
When I got to the alley, I saw the Congressman slumped over on the ground, dying.
I went over to help him, but it was too late. The police showed up soon after and arrested me."

"Two gunshots? I thought yesterday there was only one."

"Well, I heard two. Arthur might have not heard one, but there were definitely two."

"Well, Mr. Wright, you may begin you're cross-examination."

CROSS-EXAMINATION
-My Heroics-

On my way to find out where the shot was fired, I heard the second.

"HOLD IT! Mr. Jones, you said you arrived after the second gunshot?"

"OBJECTION! The defendant is the only one to have heard this second gunshot. We don't know if it even happened."

"Of course it happened. I heard it, so it happened! And yeah, I got there after the shots were fired."

"Did you see who was holding the gun?"

"No one was holding the gun."

"Was anyone else in the alley with you?"

"…Just the victim. Certainly no one who could give proper testimony."

"Mr. Wright, was that important?"

"Yes, very," POINT! "I want it added to the testimony!"

"Tsk."

(I…don't like the way she's smiling…)

"No other witnesses were in the alley at the time."

I went over to help him, but it was too late. The police showed up soon after and arrested me.

"HOLD IT! How exactly did you try to help the victim?"

"Just like, check his pulse, make sure he was still breathing, try to keep all that blood inside of him, you know things like that. That's why there's blood on my jacket, because I had to touch him and stuff."

"But in the end, it all amounted to nothing, isn't that right, Mr. Alfred Jones?"

"If you have to put it that way, I guess so."

"Fool, he died! What other way would you put it?"

"It didn't work out quite like I planned." WHIP! CATCH! "This can hurt, you know."

"Insufferable moron! Let go!"

"I think your English is a bit off. The phrase you're looking for is 'optimistic hero.'" RELEASE!

"What I'm confused about is why you tried to help in the first place, Mr. Jones. Surely the normal reaction in these situations is to call the police and get as far away as possible."

"Well, your honor, I'm a hero, and it's the hero's job to help out whenever he can, whether people want him to or not! HAHAHA!"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"If you say so, Mr. Jones…"

(I don't know what Franziska is planning with Alfred's testimony, but I have no choice but to find the contradictions and smoke it out. Alfred didn't do it, so I have nothing to fear…right?)

"You know Nick we still need to relate Lovino to this whole mess, if you still think he did it."

"Yeah, but he's not going to make that easy for us…"

"Well, if he's really involved, the contradiction should make itself, right?"

(I hope so…)

No other witnesses were in the alley at the time.

"OBJECTION! You say there were no witnesses, but did you forget about the trial yesterday?"

"What about it?"

"There was a 911 call. Mr. Weillschmidt also admitted to witnessing the crime. So clearly there were others in the alley!"

"Right. Yes. But…I didn't see them…so I left them out…"

"Mr. Jones, you are on trial for murder. I suggest you don't leave things out of your testimony."

"Sorry your honor."

"Well, be more careful about it next time son – OW!"

"He said so himself: There was no one else in the alley other than himself and the victim, and since we're not dealing with a suicide, the murder can only be," POINT! "Alfred Jones!"

"Wait what?"

"OBJECTION!" SLAM! "The 911 call and Mr. Weillschmidt's statements place at least three other people in the alley! Mr. Jones didn't know about them at the time…who's to say there weren't others in the alley unbeknownst to him as well?"

"Good one Nick."

"The police arrived only moments after the gunshot! If your phantom killer was there, where did he go?"

"Uh…well, that is…"

"He ran away."

"No one asked you Mr. Jones!" WHIP! CATCH!

"No, really, he ran away. I didn't mention it before because I didn't get a good look at him, but there was someone else there too." RELEASE!

(Is he actually going to admit that Lovino was there? He was adamant about making sure he had nothing to do with this case before…what changed his mind?)

"Mr. Jones, I believe this is one of those things you shouldn't leave out that we talked before."

"…Sorry your honor."

"Well as long as you know your mistake. Let's hear about this other person."

WITNESS TESTIMONY
-That Unheroic Guy-

"There was someone else in the alley, other than me and the victim I mean.
I…I didn't really get a good look at him. I was more concerned about the bleeding Congressman at the time.
He was definitely a guy, I saw that much.
He must have escaped down the side alley before the police showed up…
I didn't bring it up before because I didn't think you'd believe me."

"I don't believe you now, foolish boy."

"But it's the truth!"

"And how is this court supposed to believe that, fool?"

"Because I said it was!"

"Mr. Wright…"

"Yeah, I'll do the cross-examination now…" (Before this reaches a new level of ridiculousness)

CROSS-EXAMINATION
-That Unheroic Guy-

There was someone else in the alley, other than me and the victim I mean.

"HOLD IT! What about Gilbert and his friends? Weren't they in the alley too?"

"Well, the way I see it, they were more on or above the alley rather than in it, you know? Because they were on the roof…"

"But still – OW!"

"Stop wasting the court's time Phoenix Wright! By now everyone knows they were there. You're the only one obsessing about it."

(Just covering all my bases…no need use the whip.)

He must have escaped down the side alley before the police showed up…

"HOLD IT! Side alley? What side alley?"

"There's a small gap between the two buildings. It's really small and can only fit one person, but a grown man could squeeze through if he wanted too."

"Where does it go?"

"To the next street somewhere. I use it myself sometimes as a shortcut when I'm running a bit late."

"Which, for a fool such as yourself, is more often than not, I assume."

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

(Why am I not surprised?)

"Do you think he means Lovino Nick?"

"If so, why not just say it?"

"He's been covering for him this whole time…maybe he's coming out of it in baby steps."

"I don't think this is the kind of thing done in baby steps Maya. This is all assuming he's even telling the truth about this guy in the first place."

"Of course he is! You heard him before. Why would he lie about him?"

"Same reason he's been lying this whole time: to cover for Lovino."

"Well, then you're just going to have to drag the truth out of him! Kind of like you're fishing… metaphorically speaking, of course."

(What do fish have to do with…never mind, I don't want to know.)

He must have escaped down the side alley before the police showed up…

"OBJECTION! You said he escaped down the side alley right?"

"Yeah, I did. Because that's what happened."

"I'm sorry Mr. Jones, but that's impossible!"

"What?"

"Have you seen this diagram of the alley? It shows the layout of everything in the alley at the time of the murder, including all of the big, heavy boxes."

"…That's kinda cool."

"Did you notice this box? The one right in front of the side alley you mentioned? The one making it impossible for anyone to use it?"

"Wh-what?"

"The side alley is blocked by a box! There's no way anyone could have escaped down it."

"But…that box wasn't there the night of the murder!" WHIP!

"A likely story, fool. Do you really expect us to believe that?" CATCH!

"But it wasn't! I'm telling the truth! The box wasn't blocking the side alley that night!"

"A foolish excuse from a foolish fool on the end of his rope. Let go." TUG!

"I'm not making things up! It's the truth!"RELEASE! "Mr. Wright, you believe me don't you?"

(It's not a matter of whether I believe you or not, it's a matter of if I can back it up…and I think I might be able to.) "I do. Mr. Jones is telling the truth. The box wasn't there the night of the murder, it was moved sometime after. OW!"

"You're just as foolish as your client. The crime scene was locked down as soon as Mr. Jones was arrested. No one but police and investigators were allowed in the alley after that."

(But Arthur was able to get in wasn't he? And Francis and Ivan and Kiku, and they all have something in common.) "Maybe whoever moved it had enough clearance to get access."

"Nonsense, it is more likely Alfred Jones's is lying. Where's your proof it was moved at all?"

"Right here!" POINT!

"The crime scene photo?"

"Yes. It was overlooked when it was first presented to the court, but as you can clearly see, there is no box blocking the side alley here. The alley actually looked like this."

Alley Diagram updated in Court Record

Murmur murmur murmur.

BANG!

"Who could have moved it Mr. Wright?"

"Well, it would have to be someone who could have gained access to the alley, whether they are involved in the case or because they have a high level of security clearance…" (Like Lovino.)

"Those crates are big too, and heavy. Whoever did move it would have to be pretty strong, wouldn't you agree Phoenix Wright?"

"Y-yeah, I guess that would make sense." (What is she getting at?)

"I wonder if there is anyone in this courtroom that has a high level of security clearance and the physical capabilities to move the crates. Mr. Jones, Gilbert Weillschmidt tells me that in the past you have put on, and I'm quoting him here, "an awesome show of super strength, enough to rival even someone as awesome as me." Is that true?"

"I, uh…it's not untrue…"

"OBJECTION! Mr. Jones couldn't have moved the crates! He's been in jail since the night of the murder."

"But that picture was taken right before his arrest. He didn't have to move it after that night, just after that picture."

"He was arrested right after the picture. It would have required a feat of superhuman strength to move it between when the picture was taken and when the police put cuffs on him."

"From what I've come to understand, feats of superhuman strength are right up Mr. Jones's alley."

"Y-you can't prove that!" (It would be impossible for Alfred to have super strength, but I'm still not sure just what America is capable of…)

"No, I cannot. However the possibility is still there. I think we need more solid evidence than the murderer's word of the existence of this mysterious other man. Mr. Jones's testimony was able to establish what we needed to hear from him, that he was alone in the alley at the time of the murder. We are done with him, and I would like to bring in Gilbert Weillschmidt now."

"HOLD IT! He didn't say he was alone! There was someone else with him, this mysterious man. And if there is one mysterious man, there might have been even more that escaped Mr. Jones's notice."

"If they did escape his notice, then his testimony on them would be worthless, Phoenix Wright, and either way, we need a fresh perspective."

"I'm going to agree with Ms. Von Karma. The court will take a ten minute recess and then we will hear what Mr. Weillschmidt has to say."

BANG!

To be continued…