Episode 1: Turnabout Da Capo

Part 2: A Dog and Pansy Show

11:04 AM

Zootopian Central Courthouse - Defendant Lobby No. 3

"Oooooh, wow, this is not getting any easier," Eric gasped, nearly hyperventilating now. "Is there a nearby trash receptacle for me to stress vomit into?"

"Hey, you haven't lost your flair for needlessly long words yet, so it's not that bad," Delilah assured. "The only vomit we need to worry about is the metaphorical kind that just got dumped on us."

"Yes… You're right." After a few deep breaths, Eric steadied himself and stood up straight again. "We just need to take this one chunk at a time. Millie?"

"Meep?" the polecat squeaked, almost slipping back into her sweater before Eric's voice called her out.

"I think you need to tell us more about the sort of work you did for Tooth & Claw. It seems to hold some relevance here, at least according to Ms. Oinkbaum."

Slowly, Millie poked her head back out. "Well... I was really just an intern. I got food and coffee for everyone, delivered paperwork, stuff like that. But this time was different. They called me up to do something important overnight, recording evidence for a client of theirs. It was my first big task!"

"Record?" Eric asked.

"Yeah. Take some photos, jot down notes and details, the works," Millie replied.

"Do you still have that information?"

She paused. "Well... about that..."

(Such an innocuous set of words, yet so foreboding when used together.) "Yes?"

"They gave me this fancy company phone to document everything on, super high-tech. So all the data I gathered went onto that."

"Oh, is that all? Let's check it out then."

Company Phone added to-

"We can't!" Millie cut in. "Because I don't have it anymore! The cops confiscated it when I was arrested, and then a pair of Tooth & Claw lawyers came to the detention center to get it back from them. That's when I found out they weren't going to defend me."

"Wait a minute," Delilah said. "So these guys came to see you in detention, after you got arrested on a job they sent you on, and only stuck around long enough to get their phone back before they just left you to rot?! What a bunch of assholes!"

"That they may be, but their actions were legally valid. She was under contract," Eric remarked. "Though I imagine any sort of contract she had with them has now expired with extreme prejudice."

"Good riddance! She deserves better than them anyway!"

"So… this evidence," Eric continued, trying to stay on topic in their limited time. "I know you don't have official documentation anymore, but you must still remember it, right? What can you tell us?"

Millie paused. "Well... It was a set of tools. Surgeon or doctor stuff. They said all of it was from some serial killer. I dunno. I don't read the news. But it was all in an actual doctor's bag. Like an old-fashioned black one. There were some scalpels and stuff, but the spookiest thing was this little handheld ice pick. It was literally caked in stains."

"I see. So their client was accused of three or more murders, and the tools would presumably have incriminated them," Eric summarized.

Stolen Evidence added to the Court Record

"Ugh." Delilah shuddered. "Being jerks is one thing, but I didn't think Tooth & Claw were the types to associate with potential serial killers."

"You don't know the half of it," a nasally voice announced.

To everyone's mutual displeasure, Prosecutor Oinkbaum had decided to drop in, sashaying as obnoxiously as possible over to them. "Haven't you heard the rumors about them? That wasn't just idle gossip coming from the gallery in there."

(They DID seem pretty on-edge.) "And I'm sure you're a certified expert on the subject of idle gossip. What do you want?"

"Yeah! Don't you have some underpaid retail worker to yell at?" Delilah snapped.

"I'm just giving you all fair warning, since you seem so very uninformed." The look on her face was anything but courteous. "Do you want to know why Tooth & Claw has gained such notoriety? Crime lords, corrupt government officials, and yes, even serial killers. They believe that the best defense is a firm offense, and they don't have any qualms about who they defend. They just want to prove that they can."

Millie looked away. "I… I didn't hear anything about that..."

"Oh, of course you didn't, silly girl. They do have an image to uphold. While their choice of clientele may be unpleasant, it isn't illegal, and nothing beyond that has ever been proven. Still, rumors persist…"

"Firstly, my client has no obligation to speak with you," Eric replied. "Secondly, you didn't answer my question. What do you want?"

Oinkbaum glowered at him. "Watch your mouth. You kits these days are so disrespectful. But I mainly wanted to ask if you'd consider claiming this was a simple accident."

"An... accident?" Eric asked, raising an eyebrow. "On what grounds?"

"Well, if the victim was indeed just trying to stop the car rather than being a deliberate target, then your client's murder charge might just be dropped. Naturally, there would be some compromise..."

"Such as admitting that she did hit the victim." Eric glowered right back. "And also, I'm assuming, that she did so while stealing police evidence."

"You said it, not me," Oinkbaum said with a smirk. "I'll bring up the possibility at some point during the trial. So you have some time to think."

"Oh, go pork yourself!" Delilah yelled.

Oinkbaum glared down her snout at Delilah. "I'm not rising to your petty barbs. I'll teach you a lesson in the courtroom."

And right on cue, "Court is about to resume!" the bailiff announced. "Everyone, please return to the courtroom."

"Hmph," Oinkbaum snorted. "Your friends at Tooth & Claw have the right idea, you know. In a court of law, there are no participation awards."

And with that, she stormed off, nose held high even as Delilah shouted after her. "It's because of your generation that we even have those!"

"Good to know she's just as much of a joy out here," Eric said. "But we're not giving in that easily. We're going to prove your complete innocence, Millie."

The polecat smiled, even over a slight sniffle that she couldn't quite hide. "T-Thanks, Stuffy..."

11:18 AM

Zootopian Central Courthouse - Courtroom No. 2

That heartwarming moment lasted up until they actually had to go back to the defense's bench, after which Eric's nerves returned with a vengeance. (Right. Still need to figure out HOW to prove her complete innocence.)

"Court will now resume," Judge Loggins announced with a bang of her gavel. Going by the bite marks now riddling the thing, she wasn't good at waiting around. "Prosecutor Oinkbaum, have you located your witness yet?"

"Yes, Your Honor," she replied. "There's a mammal close to her who knows her scent well, and he also happens to be a key witness. In the interest of time, I think it might be worthwhile to hear from both of them at once."

(Oinkbaum showing consideration for wasting the time of others? No, this has to be another ploy of hers. But it might be beneficial to us to hear from both of these witnesses as well.) "The defense has no objections."

"No one asked you!" Oinkbaum yelled.

"As a matter of fact, I was just about to," Loggins said, giving the pig a stern look. "Please summon both of your witnesses then."

Oinkbaum harrumphed. "The prosecution calls our next witnesses to the stand."

The witnesses slowly made their way in. Both wore uniforms that resembled those of the ZPD, but upon closer inspection were just for civilian security.

On the left was a diminutive sheep, with carefully sheared wool and a uniform that had been pressed so thoroughly that it nearly held her limbs taut. She stood up rigidly straight with her arms behind her back, like the slightest breeze could topple her over.

On the right was… a canine. Eric genuinely wasn't sure what kind. He was big, around the size of a wolf, with very long white fur that fell down over his eyes and a constant pant that made it look like he was always smiling. That somehow wasn't as frightening as it sounded.

Oinkbaum rolled a hoof. "Witnesses, names and professions, yadda yadda…"

"Bethany Woohlberg," the sheep greeted, giving a very slight smile. "I'm in charge of guarding the Coop down at Precinct 1."

"The… Coop?" Eric asked.

"Oh, sorry. That's the name some of us give to the evidence room." She gave a little wink as if she were sharing some deep departmental secret, but the confused mutterings Eric heard from the gallery told him this was news to them as well. "I have to watch over the evidence and keep careful track of what goes in and out, lest something escape."

She suddenly shrieked as the canine started barking in her face. Literally barking.

"ESCAPE?! ROWR RUFF RUFF RUFF!"

"No, I'm not escaping! I'm right here!" the sheep yelped, making the canine calm down.

"Ah… My apologies, denizens of the court." He gave a bow. "I am Sir Samson Shepard, loyal guardian of the underground outpost."

"He means he's in charge of the guard station," Oinkbaum clarified. "The one you can see on the diagram."

Delilah turned to Eric, her face deadpan. "I'm suddenly really glad I never became a cop. Are they all this nuts?"

(Mind our audience please, Delilah!)

"Erm... I have a question that may seem somewhat inappropriate," Loggins said, looking uncomfortable. "But... Mr. Shepard... What exactly are you?"

"Ah! Do not worry, good madam!" Samson assured. "I take no offense! I am a shepherd dog. We are a storied breed, our family selecting only the greatest stock from amongst our members to pass on their noble bloodline together."

There was total silence in the courtroom.

It was Delilah who spoke up first. "Wait, did he just say he was inbre-"

Objection!

"Relevance!" Eric exclaimed quickly.

"The prosecution agrees that this line of questioning is irrelevant!" Oinkbaum said with a vigorous nod.

"My sincerest apologies!" Samson said, bowing his head and putting a paw on his taser in respect. "I shall remain on course from here on. As shall my charge."

"...Is he talking about me?" Bethany murmured, confused.

"Glad to hear it. Now then, you're here to testify for us," said Loggins, managing a full recovery. "Please tell us what you remember from the time of the crime."

"Certainly," Bethany agreed with a nod. "We'll be sure to leave nothing out."

"LEAVE OUT?! ARR RAWR RUFF RUFF!"

"Eeeeeeek!"

(Two witnesses might not have been the best idea after all.)

Witness Testimony - Knights of the Round Precinct

Bethany: "I was in the Coop the whole time, so I'm not sure there's much I can tell."

Samson: "As for myself, I remained stationed down at the outpost."

Bethany: "There were a few visitors though, including the defendant over in the chair."

Samson: "I don't really get visitors, but I did hear a fierce battle of words that night. Kept me on edge, it did!"

Bethany: "I didn't even notice that the evidence went missing. I should've been more mindful."

Samson: "Indeed! But don't be too hard on yourself, fair maiden, for not everyone can be as vigilant as I!"

"Finally, a decent testimony today," Loggins remarked.

Eric was similarly relieved. (Hm. Definitely some interesting subjects there. But my trap senses are still tingling. I need to keep my guard up.)

Loggins banged her gavel. "The defense will begin his cross-examination."

Cross-Examination - Knights of the Round Precinct

Bethany: "I was in the Coop the whole time, so I'm not sure there's much I can tell."

Hold it!

"Well, you could tell us where in the ZPD building the Coop is located?" Eric asked.

"Oh! It's on the top floor!" Bethany replied. "We wanted it to be hard to get to, and take a long time to get out of the building after you go there. Don't want anybody getting away with stolen evidence!"

"GETTING AWAY?! RUFF RUFF ROWR RUFF!"

"Ah!" Bethany squeaked, holding up her hooves in a vain attempt to block Samson's slobber. "No! I'm still here!"

"That does make a degree of sense." (And to be fair, I suppose it didn't QUITE get away.)

Samson: "As for myself, I remained stationed down at the outpost."

Hold it!

"Meaning the guard station," Eric translated, thankfully without difficulty this time. "Considering its placement on the diagram, anyone coming in would have to pass by you first, correct?"

"Or going out, to be more accurate, Sir Lawyer," the canine corrected. "But yes, I did spot the little squire passing by my outpost. As well as Sir Oates and Lady Wellington."

"Did you see anything else?" he pressed. (Like something murder-related?)

"Ah, I'm afraid not. These eyes, they aren't what they used to be." He reached up and pulled apart the furry bangs obscuring his face.

Beneath them were a pair of very large, almost sparkling brown eyes that looked unfocused but also filled with unconditional love. For his job.

(Why is he adorable?) "...That's a shame. And a bit worrisome given your position."

"I know. I'll be retiring soon. But don't think this old dog is going down without a fight!"

(Please cover your eyes again.)

Bethany: "There were a few visitors though, including the defendant over in the chair."

Hold it!

"So you can confirm that Ms. Muskerson was indeed up there?"

The sheep nodded. "That's right. She was doing a lot of sifting over evidence from one particular case."

"No points for guessing which evidence," Oinkbaum remarked.

"But you mentioned there were others as well," Eric said, staying on-point. "Who else came in during your shift?"

"That early in the morning, I'm amazed there were any," she admitted, giving a dry chuckle. "But the victim came in at one point, as did Detective Oates."

(That could explain why both of them were present at the scene.) "Do you have a record of this?"

"Of course. I figured it might be useful." She passed out copies of a small chart to the defense and prosecution, showing a simple log of names and times.

Guest - 3:32 AM

B. Wellington - 3:46 AM

B. Oates - 3:55 AM

(Millie really did finish her work fast. Good on her! Though I'll save the hearty slap on the back for after she's free.)

Evidence Room Log added to the Court Record

To the side, Samson suddenly furrowed his brow in thought.

(What does HE seem so puzzled about?)

Samson: "I don't really get visitors, but I did hear a fierce battle of words that night. Kept me on edge, it did!"

Hold it!

"You heard an argument?" Eric asked, interest immediately piqued. "Involving who, over what, and when?"

"Hm... Very good questions, Sir Lawyer!" Samson said. His back leg kicked up to scratch his ear thoughtfully. "It had to be a little before the time of death. Because I'd stake my noble bloodline on the fact that one of the brave combatants was the victim."

"Detective Wellington? Are you sure?"

"I wasn't before, but this maiden's recollections sparked some of my own. I can remember her voice clear as the night sky now!"

"And the other voice?" Eric pressed. "What were they arguing about?"

Samson immediately looked very troubled, closing his mouth and frowning.

"Something wrong?"

"Well... That's the rub, Sir Lawyer. You see, the other mammal was speaking so quietly, I couldn't quite hear them. My memory just isn't as good as it used to be. 'Tis the curse of every knight, growing into his twilight years. But if something else were to jog my memory, I'm certain I could recall more. I stake my bloodline on it!"

(With the competence you've exuded thus far, I'd be more careful with your bloodline, Sir Screwpooch.)

Bethany: "I didn't even notice that the evidence went missing. I should've been more mindful."

Hold it!

"Just to clarify, this evidence you refer to was a doctor's bag of some sort? Filled with surgical tools?" Eric probed, hoping Millie's info had been accurate.

"Why... yes," Bethany replied, visibly surprised he'd known even that much. "I assume the defendant must have told you about it."

"Surgical tools..." Loggins muttered. "Why does that sound familiar?" A few voices from the gallery were also starting to gossip, spreading unease.

But Eric tuned that out for now. "That she did. But from my understanding, this was a hefty load of evidence. Far too much to easily sneak out I'd imagine."

"Ah, I see your confusion. Not all of the evidence was stolen, just the most important piece. A little bloodstained ice pick."

The unease grew much, much heavier. Eric felt like ice himself with the chills he was getting. (What IS it with this thing?) "So… Where is this ice pick now then?"

"We haven't found it yet," Oinkbaum said bluntly. "The incident only happened this morning and it's a small item. We're still looking."

"You what?!" Eric slammed both paws on the bench, leaning in to glare at her. "You're accusing my client of stealing this evidence and you don't even know where it ended up?!"

"Hmph. Blame her for being uncooperative. Unfortunately for you, this trial isn't about the theft, now is it? That's merely a motive, and there's plenty of time to deal with it later."

Stolen Evidence updated in the Court Record

(She's right. They might not have concrete proof that Millie is a thief, but they've got plenty that points to her being a murderer.)

That didn't mean he was out of angles to pursue though.

"Who would've thought that little thing could cause such a big mess?" Bethany remarked, not making it clear if she was talking about the ice pick or the defendant.

From the corner of his eye, Eric noticed Samson once again looking puzzled, stroking his chin fur thoughtfully. Now was the time to act on this.

Pardon me!

Samson jumped and gave a small bark, startled by his outburst.

"It appears something Ms. Woohlberg said meant something to you, Mr. Shepard," Eric observed.

"Oh!" Samson's tail wagged. "Why yes! Her words have given another spin to the mighty, yet cobwebbed cogs within my mind. Cogwebbed, if you would!"

"You remember something else?"

"Verily! It was her declaration about the ice pick. You see, I distinctly heard Ms. Wellington yelling something about an ice pick. She seemed quite incensed."

"Then… She knew it had been stolen," Eric guessed. "And was confronting the perpetrator."

"Yes, I believe so too," Oinkbaum said, smirking to herself.

(Uh oh. She's agreeing with me.) "Could you alter your testimony to reflect that?"

"I shall!" Samson said eagerly, actually giving a salute.

"I remember now! The victim was yelling something about an ice pick!"

Hold it!

"Do you remember anything else?" Eric asked. "This could be crucial testimony!"

"Hmmm…" The old dog looked to be seriously straining his brain for new tricks. "Ice pick… Wellington… That's all I've got, I'm afraid. If I knew what a commotion it would lead to, I would've checked it out myself. The curse of hindsight!"

(Sounds to me like you're not exactly blessed with any kind of sight.) "You didn't think to investigate this?"

"Well, it's not like they announced there was going to be a murder! How else would I possibly know?"

Bethany seemed to have some idea, as she was now looking off to the side and muttering in confusion.

Pardon me!

"Waaaah!" The sheep flailed back, her hooves waving wildly before she fell to the floor.

(Might have overdid that one.)

"Will you knock that off?!" Bethany yelled, managing to pull herself back up to the witness stand. "I'm jumpy enough as it is working with this loose cannon!"

"LOOSE?! GROOOWR RUFF RUFF RUFF!"

"AHH! NO! PLEASE! I'M NOT GONNA RUN AWAY!"

"Order!" Loggins ordered, banging her gavel.

Eric joined in, slamming a fist on the bench. "I'm afraid not, Ms. Woohlberg. Letting up isn't an option right now. What was that you just muttered?"

"Oh. You saw that. Sorry." She poked her hooves together in a literally sheepish fashion. "Well... I was just wondering why this is even a discussion in the first place."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I-It's just... There are security cameras on both floors of the parking garage," Bethany explained. "I know Samson can't see very well, but they record everything. Surely we caught the entire thing on video?"

That gave Eric some pause. (Now that she brings it up, that WOULD make sense. Too much sense. If that evidence existed, why hasn't it been presented yet?)

Samson yelped, recoiling as if he'd just had his nose stuck in something nasty he'd done.

Eric's glare was on him in an instant. "Something to add, Mr. Shepard?"

"W-Well… The young woolmaiden is correct. I do have footage from that night. Somewhat."

"Somewhat?"

"I have part of it," he clarified, holding his fur over his eyes even more than usual. "From the lower level. The corresponding footage from the upper level appears to be… missing."

The gallery erupted in disapproval and Eric was right there with them this time. "You can't be serious! How could you lose something that important?!"

"Yeah! That's super irresponsible!" Delilah chimed in.

"I have to agree with the defense," Loggins said sternly. "This is a serious breach of protocol, Mr. Shepard."

Eric could tell he was feeling guilty because he didn't even get set off by the word 'breach'. "I know, I know. I don't deserve this post. I can't even keep watch of my own stock."

He pulled his bangs away, revealing his overly large and sad eyes once again. "Can you ever forgive me?"

The disapproval died down in an instant with cooing voices from the gallery.

"Awww. He's so cute though."

"I'm sure he didn't mean it."

Eric's fist slamming into the bench was loud enough to silence them. "No, Mr. Shepard. I don't forgive you."

"Y-You don't?" he said worriedly.

"No. Because of your negligence, it's very likely that my client has been fra-"

Objection!

"Conjecture!" Oinkbaum yelled. Her face grew sinister. "And besides... We do have some footage, right? From the lower floor."

Which she had clearly known about this entire time. Eric could feel a cloud of dread looming over him. (She's been leading us here from the beginning! Should I object to this?)

"I don't think we have a choice, Rick," Delilah said, as if reading his mind. Something that happened on a fairly regular basis actually. "There's no way the judge would turn down something like this, especially after that knight in shining blues wasted everyone's time."

"She's right, I won't," Loggins confirmed. "Bailiff, bring in a TV! I think the court needs to see this."

"I couldn't agree more, Your Honor," Oinkbaum said, practically bobbing in excitement.

(I'd say I have a bad feeling about this, but that would imply I felt good at some point.)

The anteater bailiff wheeled in a widescreen television on a cart, positioning it close to the front so that the lawyers, judge, and most of the gallery could see it clearly. Then he pulled out the security tape and inserted it into-

"Wait, you're still using VHS?" Delilah asked. "What year is this?!" She turned to Eric. "Seriously, what year is this? I lose track sometimes."

But Eric couldn't answer, too focused on the footage now playing.

It was dark and somewhat grainy, as to be expected, but more than sufficient enough to see what was going on. There were even helpful timestamps for every step of the way.

4:12:26 AM

The camera showed the bottom of the ramp on B2, currently empty. It seemed to be positioned almost directly in front of it, to catch sight of any cars coming or going.

4:12:29 AM

Millie's car suddenly came careening down the ramp, headlights flared. The driver could not be seen, but Detective Wellington was clearly visible clinging to the hood.

4:12:32 AM

The car reached the bottom of the ramp and slammed Wellington into the junction box on the wall, causing a huge spark.

4:12:33 AM

After that, the entire tape blacked out for several seconds, the brief outage caused by the impact before the backup generator kicked in.

4:12:43 AM

The power came back on, showing the gruesome aftermath of the crashed car and Wellington's dead body. While the windshield and front windows were now smashed, the seats were visibly empty.

4:12:48 AM

Millie stumbled out of the vehicle through the driver's side door, looking dazed but otherwise unharmed.

4:12:51 AM

Millie suddenly turned and raised her paws as Detective Oates came running down the ramp, holding her up with a tranq pistol.

The footage ended there.

(Well shit.)

Security Tape added to the Court Record

"I think the footage speaks for itself," Oinkbaum said smugly.

Millie hid fully inside her sweater, driven there by the intense glares and muttered accusations from what felt like the entire courtroom. Eric wanted desperately to go over there and comfort her, to tell her this would all be okay, but there was only one thing he could do to truly help her now.

Loggins nodded. "I'm inclined to agree. Does the defense have anything to say, before I hand down my verdict?"

"I-I absolutely do!" Eric snapped. "There is a glaring contradiction in this video. What it shows doesn't match up with the evidence available. At several points, actually."

"It doesn't?" Delilah said in mild surprise. She squinted at their evidence list. "Ohhh. I think I see what you mean!"

"Really?" Eric had been bluffing to buy time to think, so if Delilah had spotted something, it needed to be big. "The defense demands the right to examine the video more closely!"

"Do you hear that?" Oinkbaum asked, tilting an ear to the sky. "It sounds like the call of the desperate. How majestic. But instead of embarrassing yourself further, Mr. Badge, don't you think now would be a good time to reconsider your stance?"

"Meaning?" Eric asked, having a pretty good idea what she meant. After all, she had warned him of just this.

"Mr. Shepard overheard an argument between the victim and an 'unknown' evidence thief, the results of which can now be plainly seen. This directly ties the theft to the murder. However, you may recall that the victim's body suffered surprisingly little injury, as we suspect that she leapt onto the car's hood rather than being deliberately struck. That would make the victim's death an accident, albeit one caused while committing another crime. If you wish to argue for an accidental death, I will not oppose you." Oinkbaum gave a serene little smile, as if she were actually trying to pass herself off as noble for doing so. "That is my offer."

"What do you think, Mr. Badge?" Loggins asked, turning to him now. "Will you argue for an accidental death? I warn you, it's already a stronger case than you've made so far, and I won't ask again."

The world faded to black around Eric before he closed his eyes. He shut it all out. (If I agree that the death was an accident, it means I would be agreeing that Millie stole the evidence. I would be calling her a criminal.)

From far, far away in the past, five words echoed into Eric's mind. A memory from long ago.

"You saved me... Thank you."

Eric could feel a pair of eyes on him. Millie wasn't giving up yet, and neither was he. The badger was stirred from his trance by his own fist slamming onto the bench. The noise was so loud, it made everyone in the courtroom jump.

Oinkbaum glared at him. "What's gotten into you?!"

Eric stood up straight, loosening his tie slightly. "No."

"No?"

"The defense asserts that this was no accident, and reasserts the innocence of our client." Eric smoothed out his blue suit jacket. "You have no idea the kind of insult you've just offered me, Prosecutor. I am not one for threats, so I'll settle for a promise." He leveled a pointed finger at Oinkbaum. "You will regret that."

The entire courtroom was stunned by that one, even Oinkbaum.

Eric's finger lowered slightly. "...Too much?"

"No," Delilah said, shaking her head vehemently. "That was badass. Don't ruin it."

"Very well." He pointed again with extra gusto. "I would like to examine the footage now!"

Oinkbaum finally shook it off, adjusting her shades in a way that made them glint menacingly. "Fine. Feel free. But when you fail to find anything of value, just remember that I gave you an out, rookie."

"Bailiff, play the tape again!" Eric ordered.

Loggins slammed her gavel. "Hey, I'm the only one who orders the bailiff around! Bailiff, play the tape again!"

The anteater bailiff sighed, but rewound the footage as requested.

"You can do this, Rick," Delilah encouraged him.

"Of course I can. I just have to spot what you did earlier."

At that, she started to sweat a little. "Oh… Right. That. Go for it."

(Wait, were YOU bluffing too?)

Eric quickly decided that it didn't matter. If there was something here, then he was going to find it.

(Time to take a closer look at this supposed decisive evidence. There has to be something to prove Millie wasn't the driver.)

4:12:26 AM

Bottom of the ramp on B2, currently empty.

4:12:29 AM

Millie's car careening down the ramp, the driver unseen but Wellington visible on the hood.

4:12:32 AM

The car slamming Wellington into the junction box, huge spark.

4:12:33 AM

Several seconds of black.

4:12:43 AM

Power back on, car crashed, victim dead, windshield shattered, no visible driver.

Eric squinted. Millie really couldn't be seen anywhere, but that was sadly not enough to prove she wasn't driving. That wasn't the only angle he could approach this from though. He had another in mind.

4:12:48 AM

Millie stumbled out of the vehicle through the driver's side door, looking dazed but otherwise unharmed.

Got it!

The bailiff jumped, fumbling the remote for a second before he caught it in his tongue and managed to pause.

"You... got it, Mr. Badge?" Loggins asked. "What do you 'got', exactly?"

"Not much, I'm sure," Oinkbaum snickered.

"Only the first of several blows to come to your flimsy case," Eric assured. "I advise you to stay on the mat and take your ten count with grace."

"Okay, now you're kinda overdoing it," said Delilah.

"This frame contradicts an important piece of evidence!"

Take that!

"The photos of the defendant's car?" Loggins asked, gnawing on her gavel in thought.

Eric nodded. "As you can see, my client in this footage is mostly unharmed. If what Prosecutor Oinkbaum claims is true, she had to have been driving the car, correct?"

"Yes?" Oinkbaum said testily. "If you're going to assert that she wasn't really in the car, don't bother. The footage shows her getting out. She's just too short to be seen. Probably weighed down the pedals."

"Not where I'm going with this," Eric assured, folding his arms with a grin. "However, you'd agree that in order to keep the car going straight down that ramp, she would need a hold of the steering wheel, yes?"

"Of course!" Oinkbaum turned her snout up.

"I see. Then may I ask..." He pointed dramatically. "Why was my client not shredded by broken glass?"

She reeled back, clutching her pearls. "W-What?"

"Just look at those photos and you'll see that both of the front seats are covered in glass shards from the shattered windshield. If she had really been in the driver's seat at the time, she would have been lacerated! Cut to shreds and bleeding all over the place!"

Over in the defendant's chair, Millie whimpered and hid inside her sweater. "Meep!"

"But she wasn't! And if you need further proof of her condition, just look at this!"

Take that!

"The medical report on the defendant?" Loggins scratched her head with her gavel.

"Yes! An official assessment of the defendant's health from a trained medical professional on scene. And it says..."

Eric looked down at the 'report' in his possession. All he saw was a note with a big smiley face and 'I'm A-OK!'. (Oh. Right.) "Well, it doesn't actually matter what it says, does it? Just look at her! Does she look like she was in a car crash this morning?"

She was certainly timid enough, but clearly not covered in scars and bandages.

"You raise an interesting point, Mr. Badge," Loggins admitted, chewing and contemplating. "How then do you explain this contradiction?"

"It's quite simple, Your Honor. Millie?" The polecat raised her cloth-covered head. "When you took this nap in your car, I assume you weren't wearing a seatbelt, correct?"

Her head popped out. "Of course not! That would just be uncomfortable."

"And did you also turn the car on?"

"Yeah… I like to listen to the radio as background noise when I sleep. It was too creepy down there otherwise. So I turned it on and then curled up in the front seat for a nap. When I woke up, I was on the floor."

"As a result of the impact," Eric concluded. "I assert that my client, still asleep at the time, was taken for a joyride just as much as the victim. When the car hit the bottom, she was thrown from her seat and rolled under the dashboard, thus avoiding the glass completely!"

Objection!

"A very nice claim, rookie!" Oinkbaum spat. "But she could've just as easily thrown herself to the floor of the car, to avoid getting hurt. Besides, what exactly are you suggesting as an alternative? That someone else was in the car and drove it without her noticing? They would've practically been sitting on her!"

"It could have been pushed!" Eric countered. "As long as the car was on and unlocked, someone else could have reached inside and put it into neutral gear. If my client could sleep through a radio, it would be reasonable to assume that action wouldn't wake her up. Then it would just be a matter of getting it to the ramp and letting it be carried to the bottom with momentum!"

"And I suppose the victim just stood there and watched this all happen?"

"I… did not think that part though." (So much for momentum.)

She shook her head, tut-tutting. "Kits these days and their wild fantasies. Back in my day-"

Objection!

"Relevance!" Delilah said with a smirk.

"Sustained," Loggins agreed. "Though she makes a very good point, Mr. Badge. While curious, this contradiction is far from decisive."

Eric grit his teeth, his claws digging into the desk. (Bloody hell! I thought I finally had something there!) "Play it back again," he requested. The bailiff, after getting approval from the judge, rewound the tape.

"Yo, Rick?" Delilah gave him a nudge. "I had a thought. Maybe you should focus on more than just Millie here. I know how important she is to us, but proving she wasn't the driver might not be the only way forward."

He pondered that for a moment before nodding. "Yes... I think you're right. Thank you, Delilah."

She shrugged. "Hey, I'm the co-counsel here. Gotta help sometimes."

(Alright. One more look. I'm on the right track, I can feel it! I know I can find something decisive this time!)

4:12:26 AM

Empty ramp

4:12:29 AM

Car careening, cow intervening

4:12:32 AM

Crash, boom, spark

4:12:33 AM

The void

4:12:43 AM

Power back on, car crashed, victim dead, windshield shattered, no visible driver.

Eric's eyes narrowed on the image of the victim, then suddenly widened. There it was.

Got it!

"What nooow?" Oinkbaum whined. "Are you going to say aliens did it?"

Eric shook his head. "Nothing so out of this world. But certainly out of the ordinary." He grinned. "I warned you to stay down. Now you're in for a proper row. How's THIS for unusual?"

Take that!

"The autopsy report?" Oinkbaum said, frowning.

Eric tapped the document in question as he nodded. "Yes. As you recall, contact with the broken junction box supposedly caused electrical burns on the victim's face and back. They aren't visible, thanks to the angle and her clothing. However, the truth is often found in the things we can't see."

He leaned forward nonchalantly, examining his claws, before suddenly pointing heroically at the video. "...Like even a single moment when the victim's face made contact with the offending junction box!"

Oinkbaum was again on the defensive. "T-That doesn't prove anything! It could've happened... during the blackout! When the footage goes dark!"

He shook his head, still grinning. "Not likely. You can see even from the crime scene photo that you presented at the start that the victim's face never came anywhere close to those hanging wires. They're simply not long enough to reach."

"Grrrrr, alright then, smart guy! When do you think she got those facial burns?!"

"I have a pretty good idea," he said, pointing back at the video. The bailiff just rolled his eyes and rewound it again. "Due to the angle, the video never shows a clear shot of the victim's face. Yet it clearly wasn't burned at any point we can see here. Which leads me to suspect one thing. That she received those burns prior to this footage."

"You can't possibly be suggesting-!"

"Oh, but I am!" Eric slammed both paws back on the desk. "What I'm suggesting is that by the time this video was taken... Detective Wellington was already dead!"

Oinkbaum's clenched hoof shook her pearls violently as she let out a squeal so loud that it cracked her shades. "SOOOOOOOIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Judge Loggins winced, rubbing at her ear. "The prosecution's violent reaction aside, what exactly do you propose, Mr. Badge? If your assertion is correct, then our understanding of this case just got flipped like a flapjack."

"That it has, Your Honor," he agreed. (I'm on a roll. Don't make me hungry now.) "I propose we consult the coroner on this matter and ask for a reexamination of the body, in light of this new possibility."

"Hmm, that could be done. Is the coroner here in the gallery?"

"If I may, Your Honor…"

Samson cleared his throat, making himself known again. "She isn't present this morning. She's dedicated to her craft, that one, and is likely still with the slain knight at this very moment."

"Works for me." She gave a slam, raising her voice. "Most of you here are cops, right? Someone phone the coroner and request the reexamination! In the meantime, we'll hold a thirty-minute recess. That okay with everyone?"

The gallery muttered in agreement.

Eric nodded in approval.

Oinkbaum seethed in rage.

"Good. Then for now, court is adjourned!"

SLAM

To Be Continued

Court Record:

Attorney's Badge

Symbol of my profession, icon of my status, brand of integrity, and marvel of justice. The one back in Great Bitein is nicer though.

Crime Scene Photo

Shows the victim, Detective Wellington, sprawled facedown across the hood of Millie's car. The smashed junction box is visible on the wall behind her, wires hanging down. I'll resist the urge to call her death 'shocking' out of taste.

Wellington's Autopsy Report

Cause of death was electrocution. Severe electrical burns on the back and face. Also suffered bruising in the back and torso, but injury was lessened due to not being a direct impact. Would be a lucky break if she hadn't died anyway. Estimated time of death is between 4 and 4:30 AM.

Parking Garage Diagram

Split between two levels. B1 houses the guard station in the upper-right corner, with nearby stairs leading up to the main building. The lower-left corner leads to the exit. In the center of the floor is a ramp leading down to the lower level, and someone seems to have added a little 'V' marker at the top of it. Cute. B2 shows the bottom of the same ramp, directly across from the junction box at the crime scene.

Car Photos

What's left of Millie's oversized automobile. The windshield and front windows are shattered, covering both of the front seats in glass. The only thing in the back seats are jumper cables and a bunch of unread car manuals. The vehicle itself isn't as damaged as one would expect though, for reasons I'd rather not recall.

Junction Box

Technically the murder weapon, I suppose. There's a poetic irony in something so small being the true danger. Was struck by both car and victim at roughly 4:12 AM, causing a brief outage.

Millie's Medical Report

Wait, this is just a note that says "I'm A-OK!" with a big smiley face. Did she lose the actual report?

Stolen Evidence

I can't believe they think Millie would steal some bloody ice pick. Using the word 'bloody' literally in this context. Well, I'll use it the other way too because I have some really strong opinions about this.

Evidence Room Log

A list of everyone who came to the evidence room this morning. I don't envy anyone who gets up this early for anything, but in this case I'll be thankful.

Guest - 3:32 AM

B. Wellington - 3:46 AM

B. Oates - 3:55 AM

Security Tape

Sadly our most reliable account of what happened thus far. Technology doesn't lie, even if it IS outdated. We only have the footage from B2 though, as the B1 footage seems to have disappeared on us.

Profiles:

Eric Badge

Age: 24

Species: Badger

I used to be a fairly-competent civil lawyer and now here I am taking a murder case! Wasn't my first choice, but if it's for a friend then there's really no choice at all.

Delilah O'Possum

Age: 24

Species: Opossum

My legal co-counsel and most trusted partner. She's far from a conventional lawyer, or the most hygienic, but underestimate her at your own peril.

Millie Muskerson

Age: 22

Species: Polecat

Old friend, current defendant. She has a penchant for getting into trouble but she's really outdone herself this time. Also likes to flirt with me, and I'm not one of those clueless anime protagonists too dim to notice it.

Judge Loggins

Age: 45

Species: Beaver

The judge presiding over this case, and for some reason most of the cases we end up taking, no matter what kind. I guess we're not the only ones branching out. Ugh, did I just make a wood pun?

Marge Oinkbaum

Age: 40

Species: Pig

The prosecutor, regrettably. I wasn't sure mammals like this really existed until today. I can't shake the feeling that she's just waiting to call my manager on me, and I don't even have one!

Bea F. Wellington

Age: 31

Species: Cow

The victim in this case, of homicide and arguably fashion. That nose ring manages to be both rebellious AND stereotypical.

Bailey Oates

Age: 46

Species: Horse

No one can talk like this horse, of course, for this horse is the famous Mr. Fed. Seriously, I have no earthly clue what this guy is trying to say half the time.

Bethany Woohlberg

Age: 30
Species: Sheep

This slightly-neurotic ewe is in charge of the evidence room. She seems like a nice enough girl, so I feel a little bad for her getting dragged into all this, even though it's also sort of her fault it happened in the first place.

Samson Shepard

Age: 79

Species: Shepherd Dog?

The guard of the parking garage. Now, I don't like to discriminate against anyone's age, but I think there is perhaps a point when retirement should be less of a suggestion and more of a "Fetch, boy!"