Authors Note: This is a fanfic on AO3 I decided to start crossposting here! If you want to read ahead, go ahead and check it out on Ao3! It has the same name. This fanfiction follows around the same plot as the original games, but it does have changes. Also, this fanfic will update semi regularly on Saturdays. Thank you for reading, and enjoy!
The blow had been enough to kill her, she collapsed on the ground with a thud. A dark red puddle formed at the woman's head, staining the floor of her cheap dingy apartment. The mechanical voice of the clock he was holding rang in his mind over and over again, becoming an unbearable constant ringing that hurt his ears. The man dropped the clock, and it let out a deafening thud as it hit the ground. There was no way the neighbors wouldn't have been able to hear that. The once lively eyes of the woman now stared at him, dead and lifeless.
It was proof that he was a murderer.
The man gasped, prancing around the apartment in panic. "Dammit…How could I have been so careless!" He cursed to himself, taking a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself. "I can't get caught! Not like this!" He looked at his black gloves, thankful he had the sense that he wore gloves off any kind. His fingerprints wouldn't be found on the clock. He frantically racked his brain, hoping to think a solution to his problem. "I-I've got to pin this on someone…"
The man thought back to him, a lanky man that had left the apartment a moment ago. As he stared into the dark black velvet of his gloves, the seed of a horrible idea grew like bacteria on rotting meat. "Someone like him…" The man laughed, a malicious grin on his face.
"I'll make it look like…HE did it!"
August 3, 9:47 AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 2
(Gee, I'm nervous!)
Maya sat awkwardly on one of the couches in the defendant lobby. She fiddled with the bag on her lap, her eyes locked to the ground. The courtroom was something that was familiar to her, so familiar she could navigate through it blindfolded without difficulty. This didn't seem to calm her worries though. What was usually the spacious and comfortable space of the lobby was now claustrophobic, like the walls were closing in on her. Maya sunk into the couch she sat on, attempting her best to calm her nerves.
(This is just your first trial. First, meaning you are a rookie.) Maya reminded herself, adjusting the badge pinned to her collar and sitting upright. (It's fine to make mistakes…Even if you make a lot…) She let out a shaky sigh, closing her eyes and counting from one to ten. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed the sound of footsteps gradually getting closer to her. The feeling of a hand on her back startled Maya, causing her to scream and almost face plant on the ground. She turned to face who the hand belonged to, and it was her older sister Mia. Mia looked apologetic, not that Maya could ever bring herself to be mad at her.
"Hey Maya, sorry for scaring you." Mia said, seating herself next to Maya. "Well, how does it feel to be on your first trial? A murder one at that, I'm impressed! Are you up for it?"
"Mhmm! I am." Maya reassured her. "It's just, I kinda get why people have stage fright now. Geez! How did you get used to this?"
Mia chuckled. "You kind of have to Maya. Remember, lives are at stake here."
(That doesn't help calm my nerves at all!) Maya gulped. "Yeah… I guess so."
Mia smiled and adjusted herself, crossing her legs and placing her hands on her lap. It was a sharp contrast compared to the anxious wreck that was her sister. Maya had taken her notebook out of her bag, having snuck a glance to stare at Mia in awe. Mia was beautiful, composed, her wits and bravery unmatched in the country. Maya loved that dearly, and so desperately wanted the same level of confidence in her own life. Everyone expected so much from her, especially after she had become an attorney at the mere age of 20. She had to win this trial, she had to do well for the Fey name.
Maya softly swatted at her head and groaned. Now was not the time for it, she had a trial to ready for. She opened her notebook, flipping through it and reading her notes. (The victim came back from a trip to Paris, and she was found dead in her apartment at 4:00 PM.) She subconsciously took her pen out, tapping it against her lip. (Died from blunt force trauma. She had brought the murder weapon with her. Murder Weapon: The Thinker Statue, Murder Victim: Cindy Stone…) The thought of some thing made Maya stop her in tracks, and she read the last line of her notes. (Murder Suspect: Larry Butz, Huh, Mia acted like she knew him when I asked about the case.)
"By the way Mia, I'm curious about something." Maya said. "When i asked about taking over the trial for you, you acted like you knew the client. Do you?"
Mia looked over at her and smiled, nodding. "Yes, I do actually. The client is a friend of a friend of mine. And I owe my friend a favor."
Maya hummed thoughtfully. "Larry Butz, right? The client that is."
Mia nodded again, which made Maya giggle.
"Hah, Butz."
"Be mature Maya."
The sound of sobbing suddenly interrupted the two, and they diverted their attention to who had made the noise. It was a man sprawled on the floor, eyes red from crying. "Everything is over, my life, my LOVE! IT'S ALL OVER!" Larry bawled, tears flowing freely from his face He put his hand to his chest and made a loud moaning sound of absolute anguish. Maya cringed hearing his devastated wails. "Ohhh! I'm gonna die! DIE!"
"And isn"t that my client… on the ground screaming?" Maya scratched her head. So this was who she was defending…What a great first impression, not.
Mia rubbed her forehead, as though God himself was testing her patience. To be fair, with Larry as their client he probably was. "Yes, that's him. My friend has…eccentric friends, let's just say."
Maya softly groaned. (Today is going to be a long day…)
The man had spotted the two sisters, his mood seeming to lighten up when he saw Mia. He stopped crying, reluctantly dragging himself to them. He sniffled, leaning against the wall as he greeted sadly. "Hi Mia…who's this?"
Mia greeted him with a polite nod. "Hello Harry, and this is my younger sister Maya. She's going to be your attorney for today."
"Larry." Maya corrected. "And yup! I am! Nice to meet you."
"Oh, hello I guess… But dude! I'm so guilty! Tell them I'm guilty!" Larry babbled, nor noticing Maya's horrified expression. "Give me the death sentence! I ain't afraid to die anymore!"
"Excuse me but what?" Maya asked incredulously. "What's wrong Larry?"
"it's all over…I'm done for, done for I tell you!" Larry blew his nose on his sleeve. "I can't live in a world without her! Without my sweet baby angel! How could life do this to me?! Who did this? You're smart, right Maya? You gotta tell me! Who took my baby away from me!"
"Uhh, I dunno." Maya said shrugging. (This guy has no situational awareness, he does know that everyone thinks he killed her right?)
"Don't worry Larry, we're going to find the culprit." Mia had spoken up, placing her hand on Maya's shoulder. "Aren't we Maya?"
"You are?" Larry sniffled.
"Yep! We are!" She declared, flipping her hair back dramatically. "I'm going totally rock this case Larry, just you wait!"
"Ok…?"
"Wow, least be more enthusiastic about this." Maya said, her tone sarcastic.
Mia laughed. "Well, enthusiasm or not I'm glad at least some of your nerves have calmed now." She eyed the clock on the wall. "We should get going now, we don't want to be late for the trial."
"You two go first, I'm gonna fix myself up."
Mia nodded, motioning for Larry to follow her. Maya watched as they left, picking up her notes and placing them carefully in her bag. She slipped the bag's strap on her shoulder, taking out a mirror and fixing herself up as she walked. Every stray hair was smooth, her bandana and belt adjusted, and her loose hair tie tightened. All was good. As she was about to put her mirror away, her eyes met the ones in the mirror.
(Your name is Maya Fey, This is just your first trial.) Maya smiled at herself confidently, placing the mirror back in her bag. (Your job right now is to prove Larry's innocence, and you're going to do just that!)
August 3, 10:00 AM
District Court3
Courtroom No.2
The scene of the courtroom was one she had seen a few dozen times in her life, from times when she had been with Mia and her trials. She peeked at her sister, who stood with her posture straight and her hands behind her back. Graceful and confident, ready to take on anything the courtroom would throw at her. The loud thump of the gavel rang throughout the courtroom, signifying the start of the trial. Maya sighed, straightening her back and putting on a brave face for the court. This wasn't something she could win simply by studying, now she had to depend on her on wits.
"The court is now in session for the trial of Larry Butz."
"The prosecution is ready Your Honor." The prosecution said. Maya took this opportunity to examine him more closely. He was a middle aged man wearing glasses and a standard attorney's outfit. His name was Winston Payne, if Maya remembered correctly.
Maya stood awkwardly, deathly aware of the silence that was entirely her own fault and problem. She gulped, her hands playing with the magatama tied to her belt. "Uh, the defense is ready. Your Honor."
The Judge eyed her down curiously, as if grading her on appearance alone. "Ms. Fey, this is your first trial, isn't it?"
She hesitated for a moment too long for her liking, her mind momentarily drawing a blank. "Y-Yes Your Honor. I kinda uh, feel like really nervous right now. Sorry…"
The Judge had given her a sympathetic glance, Maya was thankful for that. "it's natural to feel a little nervous on your first trial. Especially with how young you are. However I want you to remember that murder is a serious charge. Keep this in mind for your client's sake." There was no malice in the way he said it, though it put Maya on edge more.
"Thank you, I guess…" Maya shifted uncomfortably, fiddling with her hands. The feeling of the entire gallery's eyes on her made her shrink into herself.
The Judge nodded. "Let us proceed. Mr. Payne, your opening statement."
"Of course, Your Honor." Payne said. "The defendant, Larry Butz, had killed the victim, Cindy Stone at 4 PM. She died due to blunt force trauma. The murder weapon was a statue of "The Thinker"."
"Very well. Mr. Payne, you may call on your first witness." The Judge had said.
"The prosecution calls the defendant, Mr. Butz to the stand." Payne said, a pompous grin on his face.
Maya immediately wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
"…Good luck Maya." Mia said completely unenthused.
(Wow gee, thanks Mia. I am sooo relaxed now.)
Maya watched as the bailiffs dragged a pitiful Larry to the witness stand. He simply stood there, sulking. At least he wasn't crying anymore, that was a saving grace Maya would take any day. However, some part of her knew this would go south very quickly. The guy seemed to like running his mouth, not exactly a good trait when being accused of goddamn murder. Not even the most incompetent of prosecutors wouldn't take advantage of that, and Payne was only subpar at worst.
"Now, Mr. Butz." Payne started. "Is it true that you had been recently dumped by the victim?"
That seemed to trigger Larry's fight or flight response, and he chose fight. "Eh, dumped? Not a chance! We were like Romeo and Juliet, Jack and Rose, soulmates!" He said, oblivious to the fact that both couples had one or both of the partners die. Maya stopped herself from pointing it out. "What does it matter to you anyway huh?! Ok, maybe she never returned my calls or refused to see me…BUT I WASN'T DUMPED!"
Payne shook his head. "That's usually what getting dumped is, Mr. Butz. Not that it's too surprising, given that the victim had been seeing other men. She had just returned overseas after a trip with one of her lovers."
"Oh yeah?!" Larry yelled, forcing Maya to cover her ears with her hands. "It's all lies! I don't believe a goddamn word!"
"Your Honor, I would like to submit the victim's passport as evidence." Payne said, as the passport was added into the court record. "According to this, the victim was in Paris until the day before she died. The victim was a model, but it appears she didn't have a large income. She got most of her money from her Sugar Daddies."
Larry gawked for a few moments, unable to talk. A miracle, one Maya would have appreciated were she not defending him.
"Clearly, we can see the kind of woman this Ms. Stone was." Payne sighed in faux sympathy. "So tell me, Mr. Butz. What do you think of her now?"
(Dammit, I need to stop this!)
Maya slammed her palm on the desk. "Hold on a second! My client had literally zero idea about this, even before the murder! Thus rendering this line of questioning irrelevant!"
"Oof!" Payne winced.
"IRRELEVANT? Dude! How could you be so heartless Maya?" Larry interrupted, and he added before Maya could even get a letter in. "How could she?! I'm gonna drop dead right here right now! Ohh man! If I see her in the afterlife, I'm getting to the bottom of this!"
"I believe the defendant's motive is clear to anyone now." Payne stated, a little too smugly for Maya's liking.
The Judge seemed convinced, and he nodded in agreement. "Let us continue on with the trial."
"Mhmm, certainly." Payne said. "For my next question. You were in the victim's apartment building on the day of the murder, no?
"Oh! Errr…" Larry pulled on his collar and laughed nervously. "Maybe I did and maybe I didn't. Who knows?"
(…Oh my god, he went there!) Maya internally screamed bloody murder, ironic given the situation. (Maybe having him tell the truth would be best? I'll send him a signal!) That was a good plan, she had decided. Maya whistled at Larry, gesturing to herself wildly to get hiss attention, "TELL, THE, TRUTH!" She mouthed to him. "NO LIES, TRUTH!"
Larry cocked his head at Maya, and winked at her…not a good sign. "Oh yeah, I was there. Totally 100% went there."
(Oh god, I am doomed.)
"Whaaaat?!" The Judge gasped, flabbergasted. "What is the meaning of this Mr. Butz?"
"Dude, just chill won't you? She wasn't even home when I was there. Soooo, couldn't have killed her." Larry shrugged, looking so fucking proud of himself. Maya sure as hell wasn't.
"Your Honor, the defendant is lying!" Payne rebutted. "We have a witness who can prove that Mr. Butz was indeed there on the day of the murder…and killed her!"
"W-Witness?" Maya stuttered, feeling faint.
"Well, that simplifies things…" The Judge paused for a second. "Very well. The prosecution may call on its witness."
"On the day of the murder, my witness was selling newspapers in the building. Please, bring Mr. Frank Sahwit to the stand."
Larry stepped out of the witness stand and went back to the defendant's chair, and he was soon replaced with someone else. It was a man of average height, holding his hands together and swaying slightly. The man had a wide smile plastered on his face, his voice a plasticky friendliness. There was something about it that made Maya feel uneasy.
"So , Mr. Sahwit." Payne said, catching the attention of the witness. "You sell newspaper subscriptions, correct?"
"Huh…? Oh yes! Newspapers, yes I sell newspapers."
"Hm, Mr. Sahwit, you may proceed with your testimony." The Judge said. "Please, tell the court what you saw on the day of the murder."
"Of course, Your Honor."
Witness Testimony
—Witness's Account—
"I was at the apartment building selling newspapers like I usually do, when I saw a man running out of an apartment. He must have been in a hurry, as he left the door half open." Sahwit said, rocking back and forth on the witness stand.
(Nothing weird about that, and Larry did go to the apartment…) Maya thought to herself, bitterly adding. (Not good for me, damn.)
"I thought it was strange, so I looked inside." Sahwit paused dramatically. "Then I saw her…a woman…on the ground dead! I was frightened! I refused to go inside! It was a ghastly sight." Sahwit had paled slightly, holding his hands tighter and fidgeting. "I immediately tried to call the police, however the phone in her apartment wasn't working. I decided to go to the nearby park and use the public phone."
Maya wrote down each detail meticulously in her notes. There weren't any contradictions yet, not any that she could see at least. Though after rereading her notes, she did find it odd why Cindy would carry a very heavy clock to a trip to Paris. Maya played with the magatama in her fingers, racking her brain for anything odd about his testimony.
"I remember the time exactly, it was 1:00 PM, and the defendant without a doubt was the man who ran."
(…That can't be right.) Maya pursed her lip, thinking deeply about the statement. She turned to The Judge, who seemed as deep in thought as she was.
"Hmm…" The Judge's eyes were closed, and he opened them to inquire. "Why wasn't the phone in the victim's apartment working?"
"There was a blackout at the time of the murder, Your Honor. While phones usually work during a blackout, some cordless phones don't function properly. Incidentally, the victim's phones was one of such phones." Payne explained, presenting the blackout report. "Here is a record of the blackout, Your Honor."
(A black out in the building during the day of the murder…I should write that down.) Maya took out her pen from her pocket and wrote it down in her notes. (I feel like that'll be important… but how?) She rubbed her cheek in thought. If Larry was innocent… then Sahwit would have lies in his testimony. And she would have to expose those lies, right here in court.
"Now, Ms. Fey." The Judge started. "You may begin your cross-examination."
Cross Examination
—Witness's Account—
Maya was unsure of where to start, after all it was her first cross-examination. She tried to recall all the cross-examinations Mia had done any time she went on a trial with her. Mia always seemed to ask random questions, even if they were unrelated to the trial. She supposed that was a start. "So did you go inside the apartment?" Maya had asked first.
Sahwit shook his head. "No, I didn't. I was too frightened."
(I guess that makes sense.) Maya tried to imagine herself in his situation, and she shivered at the thought of it. (So he didn't enter the apartment, and saw Larry leaving it. Which honestly isn't that weird, he is her boyfriend…Ex, I mean.) The thought had compelled Maya to ask. "Why did you find my client leaving an apartment strange? I mean, isn't that kinda normal?"
"Er…heh!" Sahwit laughed nervously. "Well, he was a strange man! Running away, mad and almost frightened, like he was afraid of being caught. He was just like… a criminal running away from a crime scene!"
Maya rolled her eyes, not impressed at all. "You know that's conjecture right?" She realized the much too casual tone, as she quickly corrected. "Err! I mean, the defense requests that the witness refrain from conjecture."
"Maya, remember to stay professional." Mia scolded.
"Sorry sis…"
"Of course. What the witness meant to say was that the thought the defendant was suspicious." Payne corrected.
"Right right, kay." Maya said, continuing on with her cross-examination. "So the phone in her apartment wasn't working, so you went to use a public phone, correct?"
"Yes, oh no…yes? Yes to the phone not working." Sahwit stammered, fidgeting with his hands.
(Wow geez, how confusing.)
"How did you know the phone wasn't working? You said you didn't go inside."
"Oh, I can explain that!" Sahwit said, suspiciously too fast. "There was a cordless phone on a shelf in the entranceway. I reached inside and tried using that to call."
"And you didn't touch anything else in the apartment, right?"
Sahwit glared at her, as if personally offended by her question. "Yes! I mean no! I didn't touch anything in the apartment, why would I?"
"I wasn't insinuating anything, I was just asking." Maya said, holding her hands up defensively. She skimmed through her notes, quietly reading each line to herself (The victim came back from a trip from Paris…) She stopped dead in her tracks as she noticed a line on her notebook, something suddenly clicking in her mind. (And she was found dead in her apartment at 4:00 PM! Mr. Sahwit said she died at 1:00 PM!)
"I'm taking it that you've found a contradiction in his testimony?" Mia asked, smiling when Maya nodded. "What are you waiting for Maya? Stick it to him!"
Maya needed no further convincing, and she banged her palms on the desk. Once she caught the attention of Sahwit, she asked. "So, Mr. Sahwit, I wanna ask about the time. So you found the body at 1:00 PM, correct?"
"Yes, I did." Sahwit nodded.
"So you're sure that the time was 1:00? Like sure sure?"
Sahwit nodded again, now much more irritated. "Yes. I'm certain."
"Well, that's just straight up impossible! Your claim goes directly against the autopsy report we were given. It states that the estimate time of death was around 4 PM. So tell me Mr. Sahwit, how could you have found the body of someone who at that time wasn't dead yet?" Maya then added, in a sarcastic tone. "We'd all love an explanation for this three hour time gap."
"Oh! Um…funny that err…um…"
"Objection!" Payne shouted. "This is trivial! It is likely that the witness merely forgot the time!"
"Really huh? Why was he so sure then? In his own words, "I remember the time exactly."." Maya rebutted. "That's a bit weird isn't it?"
The Judge nodded in agreement. "I have to agree with Ms. Fey, especially after his testimony. Why were you so certain you found the body at 1:00 PM Mr. Sahwit?"
"Err, cause I um, it's! Umm…" Sahwit stumbled on his words for a few moments, and then he just shrugged. "That's a good question?"
"Great job Maya! You're doing so well, way to put him on the spot." Mia beamed at Maya. Maya beamed back.
"Wait, I remember now." Sahwit said, scratching the back of his neck and giving an apologetic smile. "My mistake Your Honor, I uh…temporarily forgot."
(Temporarily forgot my butt! He's going to try and weasel out of this…not on my watch!)
"I see, would you care to give your testimony again?"
Sahwit nodded. "Certainly, Your Honor."
Witness Testimony
—Time of Discovery—
"When I found the body, I actually heard the time from the television. The victim was watching a video tape, if I had to guess." Sahwit said, his hands wrung together tighter than before.
(…What?! But wasn't there a blackout? How could she have watched the television?) Maya took a peek at her notes to confirm. (Yeah, I'm right!)
"There was a voice saying it, but it must've been recorded since it was three hours off. That's why I thought the time was 1:00 PM." Sahwit gave an extra wide apologetic smile, though it was just as fake. "I am terribly sorry, I apologize for the misunderstanding."
"Hmm, so you heard a voice saying the time from the television…well that clears things up." The Judge said, completely convinced. "Ms. Fey, you may cross examine the witness."
(No, it does not, Your Honor! Are you even paying attention?!)
"Maya." Mia whispered. "You know what to do."
"Yup, don't need to tell me twice sis."
Cross Examination
—Time of Discovery—
"You heard the time…from the television, right?" Maya asked, choosing her words carefully.
"I did. When I found the body, I heard the television say it was 1:00 PM"
"Are you 100% certain on that? That it came from a television, yes?" Maya repeated.
Sahwit quietly grumbled to himself. "I just said I'm sure, what is it with you and your constant incessant babbling? You're asking about petty useless things such as a television-"
"Hold it!" Maya smacked her palm on the desk, cutting him off. "I'm asking because what you said makes no sense at all given the evidence we have! How could you have heard the television…when there was a blackout during the time of discovery?"
Sahwit gasped in shock. "Gah! Well…you see…urk!"
The Judge looked over at Sahwit, now much more skeptically. "The defense has a point. Do you have an explanation, Mr. Sahwit?"
"No…I'm…trying to remember, this is quite puzzling for myself too…" Sahwit stood in silence for a few moments, and then he suddenly blurted out. "Ah! I remember now!"
"Hmm… Mr. Sahwit, the court would have preferred hearing an accurate testimony from the very beginning. All of these constant contradictions only harm your credibility…"The Judge then added, a little uncertainly. "That, and um…you look rather distracted?"
"A-Ah! My apologies, Your Honor…the shock of finding the body must have made me forget."
"Very well, Mr. Sahwit. Your testimony once more, if you will."
Witness Testimony
—Hearing the Time—
"Actually, I didn't hear the time…I more so saw it. There was a table clock in the apartment…" Sahwit closed his eyes as if to see if he remembered properly. "Yes, there was! The murder weapon, which was the table clock. I must have seen the time from there."
(Murder weapon?!) Maya swiftly took a look at her notes and frowned when she had confirmed her suspicions. (The murder weapon was a statue, not a clock!).
"The table clock was used to murder the poor woman. I must have seen the time from there." Sahwit clicked his tongue and sighed. "Again, I'm terribly sorry for the misunderstanding."
The Judge hummed, deep in thought. "So you saw a clock stating the time…I suppose that explains it."
(That explains things even less! This is getting ridiculous, can nobody here even read?!)
"The defense may continue to cross examine the witness."
Maya nodded. "Gladly, Your Honor."
Cross Examination
—Hearing the Time—
"Your Honor, if you want to have my opinion on Mr. Sahwit's testimony. I think it's utter horse shit." Maya cut both Payne and Sahwit off before they could protest. "The witness testified that he heard the time from the clock, the murder weapon. However, the murder weapon is a statue!"
"Urk! Why you!" Sahwit snapped, beginning to shake slightly. "You with your pathetic objections and "evidence"…Just who do you think you are?"
"Irrelevant!" Maya snapped back. "Now answer the question."
Payne cleared his throat, catching the attention of everyone in the court. "Your Honor, if I may offer an explanation."
"Yes, Mr. Payne?" The Judge asked.
"As the witness has said, this statue is indeed a clock. The neck is a switch, you just tilt it and it says the time out loud. Since it doesn't look like a clock, I submitted it as a statue. My apologies." Payne explained.
"I see. So what we thought was a statue was actually a table clock. Well, Ms. Fey? It appears his testimony is still correct. Do you have any problems with it?" The Judge inquired.
Maya hesitated, allowing herself to think for a bit. She glanced at Mia, who simply gave her a wordless but approving nod. (…Mia has this figured out, so it must mean there's something I'm missing.) Maya began scratching her cheek. (…Hold on a minute, there's no way to see the time with this clock! You have to hear it!) "I've got it!" She blurted out, a little too loudly for her liking.
"Go for it Maya." Mia said.
"Your Honor, there are still major problems with his testimony!" Maya shouted, emphasizing it with a smack to the desk. "Even if this statue is a clock, the only way to even know that is to hold it in your hand. However, the witness testified that he never went in went in the apartment. Which means the witness indeed went into the apartment at the time of the murder!"
"Oh yeah? How the hell are you going to prove something so ludicrous huh? Prove it!" Sahwit demanded.
"Oh, I am going to prove it. And I'm going to prove that the murderer was you!" Maya pointed her finger at Sahwit accusingly. Head held high and arm outstretched, like she had seen so many lawyers do before her. "When you struck the victim with the clock, the shock of blow must have triggered the was the sound you heard!"
The gallery all whispered to each other in awe. Though they were interrupted by the sound of the Judge's gavel. "Order in the court!" He demanded, and everyone had immediately shut up. "Please continue, Ms. Fey."
"Of course Your Honor! The voice must have left a huge impression on you Mr. Sahwit. I mean, you had just murdered someone and then the very same murder weapon you used talks? That'd burn into the mind of anyone, and it did. Which is why you were so certain about the time." Maya explained.
"Objection!" Payne stuttered for a few moments, and then shouted. "T-This is just baseless conjecture!"
"Baseless? I disagree Mr. Payne!" Maya gestured to Sahwit. "Look at the witness' face!"
"…Nggh!" Sahwit clenched his suit tightly, and he suddenly burst. "Shut up shut up shut up! I…I saw him! I tell you! He- that man killed her!" He had started to shake, becoming louder and louder with each shout. "He killed her! And he should burn in fucking hell for it! Burn! Give him death!"
"Y-Your Honor! A moment please!" Payne pleaded. "There isn't even a single thread of evidence supporting the defense's claims!"
(Is him telling Larry to burn in hell not enough evidence for you?!)
The Judge turned to Maya. "Ms. Fey! You claim the sound the witness heard came from the clock…Do you have any evidence for this?"
Maya breathed in and out, and she calmly stated. "Your Honor, the sound Mr. Sahwit heard was the clock, that's clear as day. Why, it'd be pretty obvious once we try sounding the clock ourselves. So, may I have the clock? I implore the court to listen very carefully."
The Judge gestured at the bailiffs, and they brought over the clock to Maya. They seemed to be struggling with it, the clock must have been heavy. The bailiffs dropped it on her desk, causing a loud thud. The clock was beautifully detailed, carved out of stone and carefully thought out. No wonder Sahwit had mistaken it for a statue. Maya put on a pair of gloves, and struggled with the statue for a bit, figuring out how it even worked in the first place. Once she did she tilted the neck, smiling when she heard a soft click coming from it.
"I think it's 8:25." The clock said in a mechanical voice.
(Bingo bongo bango.)
"…What an odd way to tell the time." Said The Judge.
Maya chuckled. "It isn't called The Thinker for nothing, Your Honor."
"So we've heard the clock. What are your conclusions Ms. Fey?" The Judge asked.
"Mr. Payne?" Maya looked at Payne, making sure to smirk as wide as she could. "What time is it right now?"
"Huh? It's 11:25…Ack!" Payne winced again.
"Woah! The clock is three hours slow, precisely the time discrepancy between what Mr. Sahwit heard and the actual time! What a coincidence, not." Maya laughed mockingly. "Got anything else to say Mr. Sahwit?"
Sahwit had laughed back at her, which had made her stop dead in her tracks. "Hah! Hah hah! You forgot one thing little girl!"
(Uh oh, I have a bad feeling about this.)
"While the clock seems like it's running three hours slow, it proves nothing! How do you know it was running three hours slow on the day of the murder?" Sahwit let out a mocking smirk when he saw Maya's horrified face. "If you can't prove that, you don't have a case!"
(He's right! I can't prove that! Dammit!) Maya gasped, covering her face with her hands. (Nobody can!)
"Ms. Fey? It seems you lack the evidence to support your claims." The Judge asked, looking down on her like so many others have before him. It made her feel like a helpless child again, just like 7 years ago.
"I-" Maya choked on her words, whimpering. "Yes, Your Honor."
"Unfortunately, this means I cannot let you indict the witness…." The Judge sighed. "This ends the cross-examination of Frank Sahwit."
Sahwit scoffed. "I come all the way down here to testify and get treated like a criminal! You lawyers all are goddamn fucking scum."
(…This is all my fault.) Maya realized, a horrible awful truth she hated with every fibre of her being. She glanced at Larry, small and helpless, someone she had failed. (If I had just let Mia, or hell anyone but me defend you, you wouldn't-) She gulped, guilt washing over her as the very threat of failure loomed over her, about to consume her very being. Her first trial had been lost, even with how much she had fought in it. All her efforts wasted, only for an innocent man to go to jail. (I was so close Larry…I'm so sorry.)
"HOLD IT!" A voice next to Maya suddenly shouted. It was Mia, sternly glaring at everyone in court. It rendered everyone silent, and Sahwit stayed in place. "Not so fast, Mr. Sahwit!"
"M-Mia?"
"Don't throw this away Maya! You're not a quitter, you never were." Mia placed both of her pointer fingers to her temples. "Think Maya! Think!"
"But…" Maya stammered, her chest heavy with shame. "The trial is over. I can't prove that the clock was slow during the time of the murder. That's impossible!"
"…Ok yes, but that doesn't mean you still can't win! Maya, stop wasting your time doubting the evidence. There must be a reason the clock is three hours slow." When Maya hadn't answered, Mia said. "Think of it like this, don't ask how the clock is three hours slow but why. Try to piece it together. Then you'll have your proof."
(Not how, but why…) Maya closed her eyes, trying to steady her breath. She replayed the trial in her head, holding on to her magatama while she thought about the evidence she had. (Murder weapon, blackout, passport…from….Paris!) Maya opened her eyes wide, covering her hands with her hands and gasping. (She just came back from a trip to Paris! That explains the time discrepancy!)
"Wait…I can prove it!" Maya exclaimed
"Of course you can, as soon as you look at it from a different angle it's so obvious." Mia said, chuckling. "Now explain why the clock was three hours slow. I know you can do this Maya."
(Yes I can do this… I can!)
"Well, Ms. Fey?" The Judge piped in. "You're saying that the clock was running slow on the day of the murder… Have you fond the evidence that supports these claims?"
"Of course Your Honor! I've got it all figured out! There's a piece of evidence that can without a shadow of a doubt prove my claim!" Maya had said it so confidently she surprised herself, and she had to take few deep breaths to collect herself.
"Hah! Tough words for a little girl like you." Sahwit sneered. "Let's see how you pull this off."
(I can do this…) "Your Honor, if I may. Before I present my evidence, I'd like to ask only one question." Maya stated simply, a plan carefully formulating in her head. She only hoped it would work.
"Oh?" The Judge said, his tone quizzical. "What is it Ms. Fey?"
Maya's gaze landed on Sahwit. She narrowed her eyes at him, making sure she was making direct eye contact. "How long is the time difference between here and Paris?"
"Hmm…" The Judge closed his eyes in thought. "Nine hours, if I'm right. How is this relevant to the trial Ms. Fey?"
"What are you…" Sahwit's face paled, contorting into a grotesque amalgamation of fear and anger.
The Judge's face went from quizzical to full on baffled, his eyes wide in shock. "What are you getting at, Ms. Fey? Please, explain!"
"It's funny really. We never even considered the possibility that the clock wasn't three hours slow, but…" Maya paused dramatically, letting herself enjoy the calm before the storm of chaos she was going to create. "Nine hours fast, and wouldn't you know? It's still the exact time discrepancy in Mr. Sahwit's testimony."
The entire courtroom erupted into a chorus of chaos. Perplexed gasps and gallery members talking amongst themselves filled the air, accompanied by the loud banging of the Judge's gavel. "Order! Order in the court I say!" He demanded, and it took quite a while for everyone in the courtroom to quiet down. "Ms. Fey! You make quite the good point!"
Maya put her arms to the side and bowed, her hair brushing against the desk. "Thank you, Your Honor."
"O-objection Your Honor!" Payne shouted, rather weakly. "Whether the clock was three hours slow or nine hours fast is irrelevant! It doesn't prove that the clock had a time discrepancy during the time of the murder!"
"I disagree. It does prove it, with this." Maya presented the passport with a flourish of her hands. "There's a reason I asked about Paris specifically, because the victim just come back from Paris on the day of the murder. She hadn't been able to reset her clock, hence the discrepancy. After all, you can't exactly reset a clock if you're dead."
Sahwit glared at Maya, pure rage burning in his eyes. Normally this would scare her, but now? She knew he was cornered, and no amount of anger could ever change that.
(Heh! You don't scare me, you're just a coward!) Maya leaned over, raising her eyebrows at him. "What do you have to say for yourself Mr. Sahwit? Or would you prefer a cute little nickname I made up for you, Mr. Did it!" She felt a light jab on her arm from Mia, but she ignored it.
"Nnggh! You…!" Sahwit began shaking, much more violently than before. The color from his face had started to drain, and he was panting so heavily that he had started to foam at the mouth. The court had watched in horror, many in the courtroom gasping as Sahwit fell over on the ground. Maya simply stood calmly, next to her sister who beamed proudly.
"Order, Order in the court I say!"
It had taken a few minutes for everyone in the courtroom to collect themselves. Maya had watched as they took Sahwit away, glad that she had managed to catch him red handed. Now that the excitement in her veins had run its course, she soon realized that she was starving. (I could go for a really good burger right now…)
"Well…" The Judge paused for a few moments, thinking of what to say. "This case has turned out very differently than expected… Mr. Payne, your witness?"
"He's…um.." Payne looked defeated, utterly demolished. Maya would have felt bad for him, if he wasn't a total douche that was. "He's been arrested and taken away, Your Honor."
"Well, Ms. Fey" The Judge said, catching Maya's attention "I must say, I'm impressed. I don't think I've seen someone turn a trial around to their favor so quickly… and find the culprit at the same time!"
"Aw, um." Maya felt her face heat up. She grabbed at her bandana, using it to cover the lower part of her face. "Uh, thanks Your Honor! I appreciate it.'
"At this point, this is only a formality, but… The court finds the defendant, Larry Butz, not guilty."
(It's over…) Maya let out a satisfied sigh. (I…I did it!)
"And with that, court is now adjourned."
August 3, 2:32 PM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 2
As Maya had discovered, it turned out that Frank Sahwit was just some common burglar, he pretended to be a newspaper salesman to draw away suspicion from himself whenever he went to see if anyone was out of the house. When he saw Cindy return while he was searching her apartment he got flustered… and then killed her! At the prospect of getting caught, he had framed the person who he knew would seem most suspicious, who had happened to be Larry. Maya was glad she was able to stop him though, very glad.
(That trial was insane, I can't believe I won!)
"Maya!" Mia squeezed her sister in a tight hug, almost knocking the air out of her. She was beaming, Maya hadn't seen her this happy in a long time. "I'm so proud of you! I knew you could do it!"
"Ack!" Maya squealed in surprise, and returned the hug back. "Course I could! I couldn't have done it without you sis, thanks for all the help."
Mia let go of her sister, her face full of pride and joy. Maya's heart swelled at the sight of it. "Not at all! You fought your own battles there. I've never seen a trial end on such a satisfying note!"
(I've never seen Mia so happy! If she's this glad, imagine how Larry must feel.)
Pretty shit Maya had soon discovered, as she spotted Larry laying on the couch and crying his heart out. He sniffed, looking like he was about to cry, again "My life… it's all over…"
"Larry…?" Maya walked up to him cautiously, reaching out her hand to pat him on the back. "You ok?"
"You don't have to worry about me Maya…I'll be dead and gone soon."
"Wh-what? But you're innocent!" Maya sighed, exasperated. "I literally defended your ass out there. You'll be fine"
"B-But… My Cindy-Windy is gone!" He wailed, crying into the cushions of the sofa. Maya stopped herself from pointing out how probably insanitary they were. "I loved her so much, and she played me like some fiddle! Doesn't that make you want to cry?"
"Larry…I think Cindy cared about you more than you give her credit for." Maya put her hand on Larry's shoulder, and she squeezed it gently. "I mean, she took the clock you made for her. It must have meant a lot to her."
"You don't have to sympathize with me…" Larry sniffed, using his sleeve as a handkerchief as he blew on it again. "It's ok, really. She probably just needed some random clock and grabbed mine…"
"Well, it's a pretty heavy clock you know? She wouldn't have carried it with her to Paris of all places if the clock didn't at least mean something to hear." Maya pointed out, smiling when Larry's expression softened.
"…Hey Maya, thanks. I'm glad you were my lawyer." He said, adding with a nervous scratch of his neck. "Uh, I made two of the clocks…You can have one, I kinda owe you."
Maya was about to open her mouth to ask, when he had procured a clock identical to the one Cindy owned. She held her breath, still in awe at the beautiful detail of it. "Wow… Larry that's really sweet of you! Thanks!"
"Heh! You deserve it, especially with how pretty you are."
(…Looks like Larry's back to normal. Heh!)
"Glad my charms work on someone." Maya said, snorting. "I'll be sure give it to Mia to keep as a memento."
"Larry." Mia spoke up suddenly. "Maya and I are going to celebrate her first trial tonight, you're welcome to join us."
"Woah seriously? Of course man! I'll drive you two, no worries!"
"Oh, that isn't necessary!" Maya put her hands up and shook her head. "We can just walk."
"No really, it's cool! I'm gonna go ahead first, I'll wait for you two outside in my car. Bye!" Larry waved to them and walked off, whistling to himself all the while. Maya shook her head as she watched him go, but fond smile was on her face. Larry was an idiot, but he was an idiot that Maya wouldn't mind sticking around in her life. Though, Mia did mention something about him that Maya was curious about.
"Hey sis, you said that Larry was a friend of your friend right?" Maya asked.
"Yes, he is, why do you ask?" Mia replied.
"Can you tell me about them some time soon?"
"Ah, that's a story for another time…"
"Aww, lame." Maya let out an exasperated sigh. "Anyway, let's go now! Larry's probably waiting for us outside, and I'm starving!"
"Burgers?" Mia asked with a knowing smile.
"Of course! And you're paying." Maya struck an overly cutesy pose, giving Mia the best puppy eyes that she could manage. "I mean, you are super duper proud of me right? So proud you'll pay for it?"
Mia laughed."Maya, you know you don't have to convince me. Yes, I'll pay for it. Next time though, you're paying/"
A groan escaped Maya's lips. "Fine."
"Promise?"
"…Promise." Maya said reluctantly.
And with that, Maya's first trial came to a close. When they went out for burgers that night, Larry had given her a pat on the shoulders with a cheeky smile on his face. "Gee, I'm lucky to have such a pretty girl as my lawyer!" he had said. He didn't pay them, and Maya didn't consider the compliments or the clock as payment. Though Mia had kept it proudly in her office, as a memento of her sister's first victory. Maya didn't know at the time, especially while celebrating with Larry and Mia, but that same clock was going to be in the center of another incident. And the promise she gave her sister… was one promise she would never be able to keep.