Welcome back to Turnabout From The Dark. Last time, Phoenix and company examined the scene of Sparx's murder, and came up with very little. Just some suspicious scratch marks and a smear of ink on a windowsill. There's not much to go on, so how is Phoenix Wright going to get out of this jam? Read on to discover...
District Court Defendant Lobby No. 5
Monday March 22
09:00hrs
(The scene is set, one we've seen a thousand times over, the lobby just outside a Phoenix Wright style courtroom, and there, pacing the floors, is Phoenix himself, Cynder and Trucy not too far away, nervous as hell)
Phoenix: Come on, there's got to be something I can use here!
Cynder: Phoenix, you seem much more nervous than yesterday
Phoenix: Don't let the other side know, but I couldn't come up with anything from the evidence we found yesterday. I can only hope there's going to be information revealed during the trial that makes what we've got worth something.
?: I wouldn't expect anything of the sort, attorney.
(And just like that we see the source of the voice, an elderly looking red dragon, keeping himself aloft with a purple gem topped staff)
Phoenix: Who are you exactly?
Red: Those who know me just call me Red.
Phoenix: And what makes you say that nothing will come out during the trial?
Red: My investigation was quite thorough. I'm not the Chief Prosecutor for nothing.
Phoenix: Wait a second, you're the Prosecutor?!
Red: What were you expecting?
Phoenix: Well, I...
Red: (Bangs his staff against the ground, shutting Phoenix up in surprise) Don't answer that. And besides, that is such a rookie move, expecting the Prosecution to slip up like that. This trial won't last long at all, and that purple pest will face justice for his crimes.
Phoenix: Not to sound rude, but this doesn't make any sense! Spyro would never do this, especially not to his own brother!
Red: You clearly underestimate what the purple whelp is capable of. He must've started suppressing his murderous rage when I defeated him for the position of Fire Guardian.
Phoenix: Wait, you're a Guardian too?
Red: Yes, the worthy successor to Ignitus. But we're getting off track. I understand you pulled off a miraculous defense when you were here nearly a decade ago. But do not expect such a miracle today, attorney. I am undefeated in the courtroom.
Phoenix: (With a slight hint of fear in his voice) In that case, I like my odds.
Red: Bravado will not save you, attorney. I await with great anticipation the sight of you struggling to even pull together a case. Such is the sweetest morsel a prosecutor could feed upon. (Remembering something) Oh yes, before I go, you were supposed to have received this yesterday. Some sort of mix up delayed it. I doubt it will do you much though.
Autopsy Report added to Court Record
(And just like that, Red leaves, vanishing like a phantom to the Prosecutor's bench, leaving Phoenix Wright standing there, still paralyzed with the fear of a familiar adversary, a sight that worries Cynder and Trucy quite a bit)
Cynder: Phoenix? Are you okay?
Phoenix: (Recovering slightly) Forget what I said about Elora a decade ago. THAT is the scariest prosecutor I've ever seen.
Trucy: Really? He's got to be like 70! How could he be that scary?
Phoenix: (Remembering Manfred von Karma) Let's just say he reminds me of an old adversary. I only faced him once, and it was the toughest trial of my life.
Cynder: You still proclaimed that you liked your odds.
Phoenix: I still do. The other guy was undefeated as well, before facing me. I can only hope we can pull that sort of miracle off again.
Cynder: (Checks the clock) Well, it's about time we find out. Trial's about to start.
Phoenix: Well, here we go.
District Court Courtroom No. 5
Monday March 22
09:30hrs
(The courtroom is as fraught as it ever was. Phoenix, Trucy, and Cynder on the right against Red on the left, the familiar green clad faun Elora sitting high above them in the center of the room. As the murmuring in the court is just getting underway, Elora bangs her gavel and calls court to order)
Elora: Court is now in session for, and I can't believe I'm saying this, the trial of Spyro.
Phoenix: The Defense is ready, Your Honor.
Red: As is the Prosecution.
Elora: I will admit, I was surprised to see your name on the court documents, Mr. Wright. But then again, this is your sort of case, ones that would bewilder any other lawyer I've come across in the last decade.
Phoenix: What can I say? I can't stand by and watch while the innocent face trial for crimes they didn't commit.
Elora: Ever your spirit, Mr. Wright. I look forward to seeing that same legal prowess...
Red: (In the most demonic voice imaginable) OBJECTION!
(The entire courtroom sits in stunned silence at the mere sound of Red's proclamation)
Red: If I may remind you, there is a murder needing to be solved at this moment. So if we could please cut this friendly parlay and get to the trial, that would be greatly appreciated.
Elora: (Slightly unnerved) Of course, you're completely right, Prosecutor Red. You may make your opening statement.
Red: There is not much need to say anything. The evidence has spoken for itself, and has declared the defendant guilty.
Phoenix: There was barely any evidence to be found! What there is speaking to you enough to immediately declare Spyro guilty?!
Elora: Quick and to the point as ever, Prosecutor...
Red: Very well, the Prosecution calls it's first witness, Lieutenant Flame of the Warfang Police Department.
Elora: Hold it, I'm the one calling the shots here, Prosecutor.
Red: Please, my dear, your only job is interpreting facts. As it is mine to present them. And I don't tell you how to interpret the facts, do I?
Phoenix: Isn't that kind of a prosecutor's job? To get the judge to interpret the facts as proving guilt?
Red: So if you please, my dear, allow me to do my job so that you may do yours.
Elora: (Sighs) I'll let it go this time, but another even brief usurpation and I will hold you in contempt.
Red: Of course, my dear.
Phoenix: I have never heard anything more pretentious as a prosecutor calling the judge "my dear". (Sighs) Let's hope Flame can clear things up
(With that the courtroom doors swing open, and Flame steps up to the witness stand)
Red: State your name and occupation for the record.
Flame: Lieutenant Flame of the Warfang Police Department.
Red: Now, testify as to what you saw on the night of the murder. Swiftly if you would.
Witness Testimony: The Night of the Murder
Flame: Admittedly the day was running kind of slow for the night shift. Then we got a call at around 2:52 am that a murder had occurred at the Sheila, Bentley, and Sparx Law Offices. We got held up a bit by the city guards on our way in, and it was already 3:00 am by the time we arrived. When we got there, Sparx was already dead, and Spyro was cradling him in his arms. As much as we didn't like it, everything we saw pointed in Spyro's direction.
Witness Testimony Concluded
Phoenix: Okay, not near as much as I'd hoped to garner from his testimony. (Thinks about it) I think I may be able to do something with it.
Red: So you see, my dear, the evidence is clear. I move for a summary judgement.
Phoenix: OBJECTION! Don't think you'll be able to pull that trick on me. The Defense hasn't had a chance to Cross Examine the witness.
Red: OBJECTION! The Lieutenant's testimony was clear as crystal, there is no need for such a waste of the court's time.
Elora: And I'm going to have to disagree with you there, Prosecutor.
Red: (Sighs) Very well then. Let us see if the legends of this attorney are true. Show is this "legal prowess" everyone was going on about.
Elora: The Defense may begin it's Cross Examination
Phoenix: Right away, Your Honor.
Cross Examination: The Night of the Murder
Flame:
Admittedly the day was running kind of slow for the night shift.
Then we got a call at around 2:52 am that a murder had occurred at the Sheila, Bentley, and Sparx Law Offices
Phoenix: HOLD IT! You say the call came in around 2:52 am?
Flame: Yep. And we headed over to the law offices as fast as we feasibly could.
Phoenix: An admirable move. But I would have to say it's a bit too fast.
Red: OBJECTION! This is nothing but baseless conjecture. What relevance could that possibly have?
Phoenix: OBJECTION! It's the one thing that's always bothered me about this case. How were the police able to respond so fast to the murder?
Elora: You know how this works, Mr. Wright. What evidence do you have that proves this is suspicious?
Phoenix: There's only one piece of evidence I need... (Presents the Autopsy Report) And the coroner just so happened to provide it!
Elora: The autopsy proves this is suspicious?
Phoenix: (Takes out the autopsy report and taps his finger against it) Specifically, the time of death is what caught me off guard. In that it's listed as 2:55 am. (Slams his hands down on the desk) Three full minutes after the police were called!
Red: OBJECTION! This still proves nothing! The victim could have bled out slowly over those three minutes!
Phoenix: OBJECTION! I wouldn't be so sure, Prosecutor. Have another look at the Autopsy Report. It clearly says that death was instantaneous. Meaning there was no way Sparx could have been killed three minutes earlier! Now I just have to hope Red doesn't pull some outdated autopsy report nonsense like Edgeworth did.
(At the introduction of this evidence, the courtroom erupts into murmuring, until Elora bangs her gavel to silence them)
Elora: Order! Mr. Wright, it seems you have uncovered a discrepancy in events, but one that raises more questions than it answers. Namely, who called the police?
Phoenix: There can be only one person. (Slams his hands down on the desk then pointing forward dramatically) The real killer!
Red: OBJECTION! And as of yet, you have done nothing to prove there was another person there.
Phoenix: OBJECTION! You may not believe me, but I have evidence that proves someone else was there.
Red: Well then don't just stand there leaving us all in suspense. Present this "evidence"!
Elora: Indeed, Mr. Wright. What do you have that proves someone else was there?
Phoenix: Let's hope this works. (Presents the Suspicious Marks) These markings should provide all the proof I need!
Red: OBJECTION! Those markings could have been left by anyone with claws! That office is known for having soft stone for flooring!
Phoenix: OBJECTION! While that may be the case, no matter how soft the stone, something struck me as off about these markings. Namely, just how deep they're dug into the stone floor. Almost as if whoever left them was taking part in a struggle. (Slams his hands down on the desk) Like the kind of struggle one would have when trying to murder someone who was fighting back!
(With this revelation, the courtroom murmuring hits a fever pitch, until Elora bangs her gavel again, calling for order)
Phoenix: Your Honor, the defense poses a further investigation into the true identity of the killer. Beginning with a test of Spyro's claws on the stone making up the crime scene's floor.
Elora: Wait, why would we need to test Spyro's claws?
Phoenix: To provide a comparison against the markings found at the crime scene.
Elora: I will allow this testing and continued investigation, assuming the prosecution has no objections.
Red: (Clutching his shoulder a la Manfred von Karma) The Prosecution has no objections, so long as one condition is met.
Elora: That being?
Red: Should the Defense's testing have gone nowhere and proven nothing, he will accept an automatic guilty verdict and a charge for contempt of court on himself.
Phoenix: This is dredging up some bad memories of Khura'in. Let's just hope there's no Defense Culpability Act here.
Elora: I'm not sure if the system will allow for that.
Phoenix: No need to worry, Your Honor. I will take the risk.
Elora: Very well then. On that note, I encourage both sides to take the resultant time to investigate thoroughly. Court is adjourned for today and will resume at 10:00 tomorrow. (Bangs her gavel, ending court for today)
Phoenix: Apparently all those poker games paid off after all, that was my most successful bluff yet. (Looks over at Red) Looks like Spyro and company were right, this guy's no slouch. Only Edgeworth has ever tried this automatic guilty verdict nonsense before. But I've pulled out of it before. Let's just hope history can repeat itself. (Looks to Spyro in the Defendant's chair) I can only hope I've bought Spyro enough time for me to find someone else who could have done this. Because at this point, I've got nobody else who it could be. In reality, I kind of need a miracle here. Let's just hope I can find one.
To Be Continued...
And that looks like a good spot to wrap up for now. So, looks like Wright managed to bluff his way to the next stage of investigation. Let's hope this time we turn up something more... useful. I doubt this much bluffing will work twice. But what is there to find in this impossible trial? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!