Robert Hammond let out a long, deep sigh, leaning forward over the witness stand. He gripped the edges of the top, as if for dear life. The Judge looked down upon him from his seat, still not quite comprehending what had happened. No one in the gallery was daring to make a peep.
"So, I'm to understand that…." The Judge blinked, still not quite sure he had really, truly heard what he had heard. "You are Robert Hammond, attorney at law. You have been channeled by one Maya Fey. That is to say, she has called upon your spirit and is allowing you to act and speak through her."
Hammond nodded, and pulled the purple kimono around his body closer to it. He winced as he considered once more what he had said. Even he could not quite comprehend the situation he was in. But he gave his testimony as clearly and with as much detail as possible.
On the night of his murder, he had recieved a phone call from someone claiming to be Polly Jenkins. He had been surprised to learn that his old client, Yanni Yogi, had committed suicide. He had been even more suprised to learn that Yogi had omitted suicide fourteen years prior, just a year after securing his freedom. The voice had claimed that he had committed suicide as a result of the ostracization he had been subject to after his plea of insanity became front-page news.
It had occurred to him that he had not spared a thought for Yogi after the trial was over, and he allowed himself to be persuaded to go to Gourd Lake. He had gone to the boat shop, but Polly was not there. He had been accosted instead by the woman who had escaped from the courthouse. He had sworn that she had taken out a gun and had fired once, right through his heart.
The courthouse was silent. The Judge rubbed the bridge of his nose. Manfred von Karma stood completely still, but one vein in his neck and one in his forehead almost seeming to bulge from his tight skin. Franziska was leaning over the gallery railing, holding her whip with both hands. Polly Jenkins was still enough to be mistaken for a statue. Phoenix stood next to Hammond, his face consumed with cautious optimism.
Miles Edgeworth had not dared to move from the defendant's chair. He still sat upon it, and despite his years of strict lessons of etiquette, he had brought his legs up upon it. He was just short of being in a fetal position. Memories were coming back to him...the elevator, the gunshots, the blood, the trial, the spirit medium, the spirit medium's testimony in his father's name, the death certificate….
But above all, the dream of his younger self tossing the gun in the air, then the loud gunshot, and then the scream.
"This is the first time in fifteen years," The Judge said slowly. "That a spirit channeling has been attempted in court. It was not successful testimony then."
Phoenix stepped forward. "But Officer Iller escaped, Your Honor, and as soon as she saw Maya-er, Mr. Hammond. You yourself ordered the bailiffs to search the building for her and to notify the police." He paused. "The conclusion is obvious."
"I see." The Judge turned his attention to Hammond again. "Thank you for your testimony….witness."
"You are welcome, Your Honor."
"Are you, uh, ready to depart?"
Hammond's face turned wistful as he shook his head. "No, Your Honor. But…" He sighed. "I do not have much choice. This girl cannot hold me here for much longer." He turned to look at Polly Jenkins in the gallery. The woman's face was motionless, her eyes bland.
"As I will most likely never get a chance to do so in the future...I must say that I am sorry for your fiancée. I….I apologize."
And then Hammond was gone, and Maya was back.
The young Fey brushed the black hair out of her face and looked up at Phoenix. She smiled hopefully.
"Did it work?"
Phoenix smiled. "I would say so. I can't thank you enough." He cleared his throat and walked back to the defense' stand.
"As you can see, Your Honor, the case is as good as solved. Robert Hammond is yet another victim of the Daffodil Killer, and Miles Edgeworth has no role in the slaying. Not as the direct perpetrator, or the indirect perpetrator. The prosecution cannot prove the latter, and our penultimate witness is, of course, totally unreliable."
The Judge nodded. "Very well." He raised his gavel. "Then, if there are no further objections, this court finds the defendant-"
"OBJECTION!"
All eyes turned to Miles Edgeworth, who stood up from his seat. His eyes were hollow. "I...am guilty. Perhaps not for this murder. But I am responsible for DL6!"
The gallery burst into a sea of voices that the Judge barely managed to silence with his gavel.
"Order! Order! Mr. Edgeworth, are you claiming that you committed the murder of DL6? That you murdered your father?"
"By accident." Edgeworth winced and shuddered. "But as any attorney would know, accidental murder is still murder."
Franziska was openly gaping.
How is this possible? Why on earth would he...how could he walk into a murder charge after escaping one? And willingly!?
"I submit myself to the court's judgement." Edgeworth's voice was low, but resolute.
And in that moment, Phoenix saw Manfred von Karma's face break out into a wide, open-mouthed smirk.
"OBJECTION!"
Phoenix flung an arm out.
"Your Honor! The trial is-"
"OBJECTION!"
Manfred von Karma snapped his fingers. "Miles Edgeworth is on trial for murder! All clues and statements must be scrutinized!"
"But not by you!" Phoenix was shouting now. "Not after what you did!"
"If I recall," von Karma's eyes narrowed. "It was agreed that no action would be taken against me until judgement was made against Mr. Edgeworth. I still stand as Prosecutor."
Phoenix looked hopelessly up at the Judge. Beside him, Maya clenched her fists together.
"Your Honor! The defense holds that this accusation puts on an undue burden upon my client's right to due process! I request a day of investigation to address this!' His voice cracked. "It's the only fair thing to do!"
"Hmmm...I suppose. Very well." The Judge nodded. "Court will reconvene tomorrow for the second and final time." He slammed with his gavel.
"Court adjourned!"
-A multi-chapter story; Chapter 24; story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.