Recollection Of The Turnabout
A man and a woman. Both on a bridge. A young woman clutched in his tight grip.
"Let her go... Now!" The woman shouted, with her gun trained steadily on the man. The man shot her a glare.
"This doesn't have to be difficult. Surrender the goods. Or else... I-I'll kill her!" The woman did not so much as flinch at the man's threat. She simply pointed her gun at him with a cold stare in her eyes, and said...
"Sorry... But you're not going to get the chance."
BANG!
February 16, 9:24AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No.7
"(Well... This is quite the situation I've found myself in, isn't it...?)" A young man mused to himself, sitting on the couch of the defendant lobby. "(From a personal point of view, I don't have any qualms with taking this case. And yet...)" He paused his thought, looking at the file in his hand. "(Objectively speaking, this case is a deathtrap. Not something a mere greenhorn such as myself should be getting near.)" The young man sighed, closed the file and stood up.
"(Well then, how should I begin? My name is Miles Edgeworth. I am a defense attorney. Although if you were to use the more colloquial term, I am what most would describe as a 'rookie'. As you've probably guessed, I am-)" Edgeworth's thoughts were interrupted by a tap on his shoulder, which reflexively caused him to jolt back and turn around. "Egads!" He shouted. The one who tapped his shoulder took a tentative step back.
"M-My apologies, Mr. Edgeworth. I didn't mean to frighten you." The man who tapped on his shoulder said meekly. Edgeworth rubbed the back of his head for a brief moment.
"O-Oh. No, of course not. I should be the one apologizing. I was just slightly startled, is all." Edgeworth looked at the man who got his attention. Terry Fawles. His client. In order words, the defendant of this case. He was dressed in a generic looking prison garb and carrying what appeared to be... A wrecking ball? Edgeworth wasn't quite sure why he was carrying THAT around. "(Perhaps it is a memento from his time in prison? Wait no, that's silly. Why would anyone want to REMEMBER being in prison?)" He mused. He shrugged and decided that such a thing is a waste of time to think about. He instead re-shifted his focus onto his client, Mr. Fawles. He was sentenced to death about 5 years ago, from what Edgeworth understands. And now... he is a prison escapee. "(I suppose I should address the elephant in the room...)" Edgeworth thought. "So then, um, Mr. Fawles... may I inquire as to why you escaped from prison, Mr. Fawles?" He asked. Fawles looked away for a brief moment, before turning back to Edgeworth with a serious look.
"The situation... Is more complicated than it looks." He started. "You know of my conviction 5 years ago, I assume?"
"Yes. I've read bits and pieces of the case file." Edgeworth responded.
"Then you know... it was that woman's testimony that cemented my conviction." Fawles said with an unhappy look.
"Do you refer to Police Sergeant Valerie Hawthorne?" Edgeworth inquired, whilst pulling out a photo of the woman. Seeing the photo didn't much help with Mr. Fawles's unhappy expression, but he nodded in response.
"Got it in one. That's why I met with her that day." He confirmed. Edgeworth crosses his arms in thought
"(So he at least concedes that he met with the victim...)"
"5 years ago, in this very court, I was sentenced to death." Fawles balled his hands into fists. "But that woman... She lied in her testimony!" Fawles exclaimed. "I did not kill anyone! I could never do something so atrocious! Especially..." He began to whimper at the last part of the sentence. "Not to her..." Edgeworth stared at the man for a brief moment. He genuinely seemed upset about what had happened. Of course, it could because he's just trying to trick him. But... He needed to be sure.
"Mr. Fawles, could you please tell me why you met with Ms. Valerie Hawthorne that day?" Edgeworth asked.
"I wanted to know the truth." He said simply. "I wanted to know why she lied in her testimony five years ago. That way, I could at least be executed with a clear conscience." He then shook his head. "I'll tell you one thing Mr. Edgeworth. I had nothing to gain from killing the woman. If anything, it would speed up the very short time I have left in the world."
"(Hmph... Well... I suppose what he's saying makes enough sense, but...)"
"Make no mistake, Miles. That's an innocent man you're defending." Said a voice that came from the direction of the lobby entrance. Edgeworth turned to look, and seeing the owner of the voice brought a smile to his face.
"Mr. Dumus! You came!"
"Seriously?" The man chuckled. "I recommend a case to my favorite pupil, and I don't even come to support? I'd be a damn fool to do that to you." The man said, smiling at Edgeworth.
"(Langely Dumus... My mentor back when I was studying at Themis Legal Academy. He was a great teacher, and he happens to be a family friend of my adoptive father...)" Suddenly a flash of images appears in Miles' mind.
The elevator... The trial... The shouts...
Edgeworth clutched his head. "(Stop it... That's the past... That's the past...)" Dumus looked at his student with concern.
"Miles? You okay? You look spaced out."
"A-Ah. Nothing. I'm quite alright..." He reassured, Mr. Dumus. "But, thank you for coming today. It's truly appreciated."
"Ah, it's nothin', kid. Anything for Robert's son." The man looked down sadly. "It's a shame he's not here with us anymore. I'd bet he'd proud to see you in that courtroom." Edgeworth nodded solemnly.
"Yes... I miss him quite alot."
"I'm sure you do." He said, patting his shoulder.
"Hey, Lang. Glad you're here..." Fawles said, looking at Langley with an intense expression.
"Hey Terry. I know you're innocent. I know you were innocent 5 years ago as well. And hopefully... Miles can correct my mistake." He said with a sad look. That reminded Edgeworth. His mentor had defended Mr. Fawles five years ago, during his trial. Unfortunately, he lacked the evidence needed to overturn the witness testimony, and Mr. Fawles was declared guilty. Edgeworth can only assume that's what Langley was referring to when he wanted Edgeworth to 'correct his mistake'.
"It wasn't your fault Lang. You did your best. That's all anyone can ask for, really." Fawles said, trying to reassure his friend. Langley still had a look of shame on his face. He turned to his student.
"Please Miles. I implore you to fix my mistake." Edgeworth looked at Mr. Fawles for a moment.
"(If Mr. Dumus believes that this man is innocent... Then I think I feel inclined to place the same trust in him as well.)" Edgeworth turned to Terry Fawles.
"Rest assured Mr. Fawles, if Mr. Dumus believes that you are innocent, then I will make sure that justice is served in the courtroom today."
"Thank you Miles. You have no idea how much this means to me." Langley said with a smile.
"Of course, Mr. Dumus." Edgeworth said, also responding with a smile. It was at that moment that Edgeworth glanced at his mentor's leg, to notice a little girl standing closely behind it. He wasn't sure how he hadn't noticed her before. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he was too invested in their conversation. The young girl appeared to be at least 6 years of age, and she was wearing a sort of lab coat, and her hair was styled in some strange top-knot. She also seemed to be wearing some strange glasses that had some odd tint to them. Edgeworth bent down to her level.
"Hello. Who might you be?" The girl flinched in response to Edgeworth's question, and she immediately started clutching Langley's leg. Langley looked down, and then chuckled.
"Ah, sorry, that was stupid of me. Allow me to introduce you. This is Ema, my daughter. I told you about her one time, remember?" Edgeworth paused in thought for a moment, before nodding.
"Ah yes, I remember now. You did mention her a few times if I recall. Hello, little Ema. It's very nice to meet you. I'm Miles Edgeworth." The girl simply nodded and mumbled a quiet 'hi'. Edgeworth raised an eyebrow, but Langley chuckled.
"Ah, sorry about that. She's a little shy, you see. Kinda like her mom when we first met, heh..."
"Ah, I see. That's alright." Edgeworth said. Just then a bailiff tapped Edgeworth on the shoulder.
"Mr. Edgeworth, the trial is about to begin. Please make your way into the courtroom." He instructed. Edgeworth nodded.
"Understood." He said simply.
"Do you want me to come along with you to the defense bench?" Langley asked. Edgeworth shook his head.
"That will not be necessary. While I may have taken this case on short notice, I have studied the required details and have got a general understanding of the case. I believe I am capable of making a good defense."
"Alright then. I'll be watching from the gallery. Knock em dead, Miles." Edgeworth nodded and turned to Fawles.
"Shall we, Mr. Fawles?" Fawles nodded.
"I am in your capable hands, Mr. Edgeworth."
The two stepped into the bright courtroom. Fawles went to sit in the defendant's seat, whilst Edgeworth took his place at the defense bench.
He felt his heart pounding. Despite this being what he had yearned to do for so long, he felt nervous. Why? He wasn't sure. Was it because his client was a deathrow inmate? Was it because it was his first actual time in court? He wasn't sure, but he did know one thing. He couldn't let such a disposition be seen by the court. He must remain professional. A person's life is in his hands, after all.
He could hear the doors open as the gallery entered the courtroom. The Judge entered and sat at his seat. Then, a woman who he assumed to be his opposition arrived as well, and stood at the bench across from him. All of a sudden, he could hear the sound of a gavel pounding.
"Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Terry Fawles." The Judge stated.
"The prosecution is ready to begin, Your Honor." The woman standing across the bench from him said. Edgeworth took a deep breath, and proceeded to his turn.
"The defense has been ready for some time, Your Honor." Edgeworth said. The Judge looked down at Edgeworth, with an intrigued look.
"Ah... I understand that the lawyer for the defense is a newcomer?" The Judge inquired. Edgeworth nodded.
"That is correct, Your Honor. My name is Miles Edgeworth." He responded. The Judge stroked his beard, a curious expression his face.
"Hmm... I see... Per chance, would you happen to be the student of a Mr. Langley Dumus?"
"Ah, yes. He is my mentor." Edgeworth confirmed.
"Ho ho, I see. Well then, I look forward to seeing what kind of case you plan to deliver." The Judge commented. Then, a chuckle echos across the courtroom, which prompted Edgeworth and the Judge to look over at the prosecutor's bench. "Is something funny, Ms. Fey?" The prosecutor, Mia Fey, flipped her hair and with a smug grin, said...
"Hmph. Forgive me, Your Honor. It's just... I thought I was here to prosecute. Not to babysit."
"Excuse me?" Edgeworth said with a raised eyebrow.
"To think that I'd be taking on this rookie as opposed to my regular competition..." The woman tutted under her breath. "You'll forgive me if I feel slightly disappointed."
Edgeworth glared at her. "Why you...!" He started, but the Judge interrupted.
"Please calm down, Mr. Edgeworth." The Judge turned to Mia Fey with a stern look. "Ms. Fey, personal attacks aimed at the defense will NOT be tolerated." The smug look on Mia's face disappeared and she shook her head.
"My apologies, Your Honor." Edgeworth took a brief moment to analyze his opponent.
"(Prosecutor Mia Fey... I've heard of her. She's known for her well-constructed cases, that some lawyers find almost impossible to break. Doesn't seem like the most pleasant person, but... she's really good at her job.)"
The Judge slams his gavel again.
"Very well then. Ms. Fey, please deliver your opening statement." Mia nods.
"Right away, Your Honor." Mia took out a paper and starts reading it. "The defendant is an escaped felon on death row. Five years ago, this man was sentenced to death in this very court. His crimes consisted of kidnapping, extortion, and murder." Mia slammed her hands on her desk. "What's even worse... was that the victim was Mr. Fawles' own lover!" The Judge stroked his beard in thought.
"Truly a most heinous crime... I believe my brother was the Judge presiding over that case." He mused. "There was no decisive evidence, and so the trial was long and protracted." Mia nodded in confirmation.
"It seems Your Honor is well-informed about that case." She said. "Then I think you should know that there was one factor that sealed the case shut." The prosecutor pointed her finger with vigour. "The testimony of the victim... Police Sergeant Valerie Hawthorne!" Mia picked up her paper once again. "As those who are familiar with that case should be aware, Detective Hawthorne was the one who arrested Mr. Fawles. She later testified against him during his trial. She claimed that she saw the exact moment in which the defendant threw his victim into the raging waters below."
"(And yet, Mr. Fawles claims that Ms. Hawthorne lied in her testimony...)" Edgeworth pondered.
"The river in which the victim was thrown into, Eagle River, is known for its powerful currents." Mia explained. "So, suffice it to say, if a body were to fall in there the chances of recovering it are next to nothing."
The Judge closed his eyes in thought. "I see... And the policewoman you just mentioned...?" Mia nodded in confirmation once again.
"Yes. The victim, Ms. Valerie Hawthorne." The prosecutor ascertained a smug look on her face. "As such, I think the defendant's motive is beyond obvious. He escaped prison with only one thing on his mind; revenge." Mia slams her desk. "Revenge on the woman who's testimony brought his heinous crimes to light!" The Judge nodded at her in acknowledgement.
"Hmm... Yes... I must say your case is quite compelling. I almost feel like handing down a verdict already, but..." The Judge turns to Edgeworth. "How do you respond to the assertions made by the prosecution, Mr. Edgeworth?"
Edgeworth stared at Mia for a brief moment. Clearly, what he had heard of her was no exaggeration. Even during the opening statement, her case already seems like the truth. If he were anyone else, he probably would accept that Fawles is guilty.
He however, was not anyone else. He was the only man in the defendant's corner, and he wasn't about to let him down. He still had a case of his own to present, after all. Edgeworth slams one hand on his desk in determination. "Your Honor, the defense believes that Mr. Fawles is innocent of this crime. And not only that..." He smirked and pointed his finger. "I also intend to show that the verdict handed down 5 years ago was nothing short of a sham."
Edgeworth's words stirred the gallery, causing the Judge to bang his gavel three times in a row. "Order! Order!" He demanded. "My, quite a tall order for a rookie, isn't it?" The Judge said with a curious expression. Then all of a sudden, a condescending chuckle was heard from the other side of the room.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... Poor misguided rookie... You should've plead Guilty when you had the chance. It would've saved you alot of embarrassment." Mia said whilst flipping her hair once again in a conceited manner. "Well then, I suppose you'll have to learn things the hard way."
"(Well, we'll have to see about that, won't we?)" Edgeworth thought whilst rolling his eyes.
"Very well then. The prosecution would like to summon Detective Dick Gumshoe to the stand."
With those words, a large, bulky-man wearing a long beige overcoat approached the stand, with a pencil on top of his left ear and a bandage on his left cheek. "Witness, state your name and occupation for the court." The prosecutor requested. The detective nodded in response.
"Name's detective Dick Gumshoe. I work on homicides down an the precinct." The detective said in a gruff voice.
"Very good. Now, the court would like to hear a summary of the basic facts of this case, if you wouldn't mind." The prosecutor said. She then pulled a smug look. "And do it in a way that our young upstart can understand." Edgeworth glared at her for that. Why is it that the most talented folk nowadays always end up being the most conceited? Although, it seems the detective didn't really agree with the woman's egotistic behaviour either.
"Hey, no need for that pal." He said in a stern voice. "Now then... The victim was Sergeant Valerie Hawthorne, a veteran in the police force. She was stabbed in the back which resulted in her dying from excessive blood loss."
"(That much is already stated in the autopsy...)" Edgeworth thought, reviewing the autopsy documents. The detective, seemingly reading his mind, continued.
"If you could please take a look at this aerial map here..." Gumshoe said whilst displaying a plan of the bridge. "This is a sketch of Dusky Bridge, an old suspension bridge. Running under it is a river dubbed 'Eagle River'." Gumshoe explained. "The defendant and the victim met up there, on top of the bridge. The killer murdered the victim, and then transported her body to his car. He was recaptured at a police checkpoint while trying to make his getaway." Gumshoe presented a copy of the map to the court, and Edgeworth promptly added it to his Court Record. He looked it over, analyzing it. It was a simple sketch, but Edgeworth determined that it was good enough for now.
The Judge had his eyes closed in thought, processing all the information. "Was the victim's blood found on the bridge?" Gumshoe shook his head.
"Unfortunately, no Your Honor. The victim was wearing a thick, large overcoat. We couldn't find any traces of blood on the bridge." The Judge blinked in surprised.
"What? But if there were no traces of blood on the bridge, how can you be sure they met there?"
"I'm sure if you listen to the testimony we have prepared Your Honor, you'll be convinced that the defendant and victim did indeed meet there." Mia said with a confident look on her face. The Judge nodded.
"Very well then. Detective Gumshoe, will you present your testimony to the court?" Detective Gumshoe saluted the Judge.
"Yes, Your Honor!"
-WITNESS TESTIMONY-
-Summary Of The Incident-
"On the day of the incident, the victim was called to Dusky Bridge by the defendant."
"Sergeant Hawthorne went to meet with Mr. Fawles at the designated time."
"Unfortunately, this sealed her fate. She was brutally murdered."
"The victim was stuffed into the trunk of the criminal's car, and he attempted to escape."
"Mr. Fawles was arrested at the checkpoint that was set up at the base of the mountain."
END OF TESTIMONY
"Hmmm... Well, you certainly have established the bridge's importance to this case." The Judge commented. Mia flipped her hair in her usual smarmy manner, with a smug look on her face.
"Of course. Did you expect anything less of me, Your Honor?"
"Hm, I suppose not." The Judge responded. Edgeworth simply tutted in his head. It was a strong testimony, he'll admit. But if there's anything he learned from Mr. Dumus, it's that there is no such thing as a perfect case. This woman's was no exception to that.
The Judge bangs his gavel. "Mr. Edgeworth, you may begin your cross-examination."
Edgeworth nods at that. "Yes, Your Honor." Edgeworth places his hand on his desk. His heart began pounding like a jack-hammer. His first cross-examination. "(Just remember everything you learnt...)"
-CROSS EXAMINATION-
-Summary Of The Incident-
"On the day of the incident, the victim was called to Dusky Bridge by the defendant."
HOLD IT!
"How do you know this?"
In response to that, the detective pulled out a note. "This note, pal. It was left by the victim on the day of the incident. She was a very meticulous person. She left this note to let us know where she was going." Gumshoe explained. "If you read it, it states that the defendant was the one who summoned the victim there." The Judge nodded at that.
"That seems like very strong evidence. The court accepts it." Edgeworth studies the note for any clues. It reads:
February 14 / 1:21 PM
Fawles. 4:30 PM "that" bridge.
Wear white scarf for identification.
Talk to Dahlia. Tell her this time, the whole truth must come out.
"(Dahlia...? Who's Dahlia...? The whole truth comes out...? What truth?)" Edgeworth wondered. He pondered if he should bring this up, but then again, without knowing what this 'truth' or who this Dahlia is, the prosecution will probably just claim that it's irrelevant. "Thank you detective. You can continue your testimony."
"Sergeant Hawthorne went to meet with Mr. Fawles at the designated time."
"Unfortunately, this sealed her fate. She was brutally murdered."
"The victim was stuffed into the trunk of the criminal's car, and he attempted to escape."
HOLD IT!
"About this car, detective..." Edgeworth inquired. "Where exactly did it come from? Does it belong to Mr. Fawles?"
"Ah, no pal. He stole it from a young couple that were waiting at a red light." Edgeworth blinked at that. He knew Mr. Fawles was desperate for answers, but to go as far as to steal a car? One thing's for sure, if Mr. Fawles is proved Not Guilty for this crime, he's still got quite a few more to answer for.
"Incidentally, we have a photo of the body in the trunk." Gumshoe presented the photo of the victim's body to the court. It was not a pleasant sight, to put it lightly. The victim's position wasn't looking very comfortable, and the lifeless expression on her face wasn't helping. "You can't tell, but the victim was stabbed in the back. The knife was stuck in there pretty nice and firm."
The Judge nodded. "Hm, I see. The condition of the body seems to be very important... Detective, was there anything strange or noteworthy in the trunk of the car?"
The detective shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Your Honor. There doesn't really seem to be much else too look at in this picture." Edgeworth looked at the picture again. Then, something within it resonated within him. As if something that should be there is missing...
"(Wait... That's it!)" Without a second thought, Edgeworth pointed his index finger and shouted...
OBJECTION!
He could feel it. The exhilaration. The adrenaline. The feeling of poking a hole in the prosecution's case... He was finally experiencing all of this for the first time.
Finally, it begins.
Edgeworth slams his hand down on his desk. "Detective Gumshoe!"
The detective was surprised by the defense's sudden outburst. "Y-Yeah pal?!"
"You claim 'there is nothing much to look at' in this photograph... Are you absolutely certain?"
"Uh... Yeah..."
"Get to the point, rookie. We haven't got all day." Mia said impatiently. Edgeworth tutted, while wagging his finger at her.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk Ms. Fey... Impatience isn't an admirable trait to be found in a prosecutor." Edgeworth stated. Mia glared at him for that, but he simply ignored her and continued. He pulled out the note from earlier. "Your Honor, this photograph, taken into correlation with this piece of evidence reveals a most glaring contradiction."
The Judge looked at Edgeworth curiosity. "I'm afraid I don't understand, Mr. Edgeworth. How exactly does this note contradict the photograph?"
"It's quite simple Your Honor. Something that should be there... Something that should be front and center is missing from this photo." Edgeworth reads the note to the court. "It says here: 'Wear white scarf for identification.'" Edgeworth puts the note down and crosses his arms in thought. "Due to the long period of time it has been since the victim and Mr. Fawles last met, it is likely he had forgotten what she looked like. Thus, he requested Ms. Hawthorne wear a white scarf so he could identify her."
"Hmm... Yes, that would make sense. But what exactly is your point?"
"I have but one question to pose to you, Detective Gumshoe." Edgeworth said before smirking. "Where exactly is the white scarf mentioned in the note? Unless my eyesight is failing me, it doesn't appear to be anywhere in this photograph." The detective started sweatdropping at that.
"Ah... Well, uh... We didn't find it in the trunk, sir..." He replied, scratching the back of his head.
Edgeworth slammed his desk once again. "And you stopped there?! You should've looked for it!" He shouted.
"Aaaaargh!" The detective shrieked, as if Edgeworth's voice was a powerful gust of wind. This stirred the gallery, who had to be silenced by the banging of the Judge's gavel.
"Order! ORDER!" He demanded. "I believe that the defense has a point! If Ms. Hawthorne was told to wear a scarf to identify herself, I imagine she would've done so!" The Judge turns to Mia was a stern look. "Well, Ms. Fey? What have you got to say about this?"
Mia simply stared at the Judge for a few seconds before sighing, and shaking her head. "Hmph. Why are you getting so worked up over something so trivial, rookie?"
"And what do you mean by that, exactly?"
"The scarf that you're making such a big stink out of..." Mia pulled out a muddy scarf from her pocket, showing it to the court. Edgeworth looked at it in surprise.
"Ah...!" The detective however, looked even more surprised than Edgeworth.
"W-What the...?! Ma'am! Where did you find that?! I didn't hear anything about this!"
"On Dusky Bridge. I was there first, and I decided to conduct my own investigation." The detective gave her a look of disbelief.
"Why didn't you tell me about this?!"
"Don't take offense, detective. I simply prefer to keep vital pieces evidence in my personal stash." She answered smugly. "It's not exactly a white scarf, but given what the victim intended to use it for, I'd say it's close enough." The Judge took a look at the scarf, giving it a thorough inspection.
"Hmm... It seems to have spent some time in the mud."
"Well, that's no surprise given that it was drizzling on the day of the crime."
"(I don't get it. What was the point of hiding that scarf? She could've just presented it and saved us all this time...)"
Mia said "Well, if our young upstart is done making fool of himself... I'd like to proceed with the testimony." Mia looked at him with the most conceited expression he's ever seen, it makes his brother seem humble. "That IS alright with you, isn't it, Mr. Edgeworth?" Edgeworth gritted his teeth at that.
"(Grrr... You are lucky I'm a gentleman, or so help me I would wrap this scarf around your pompous neck...)" He thought grudgingly. "Fine." He responded simply.
"Very good. Now, putting this mud-covered scarf business aside..." Mia continued. "The prosecution will now present testimony. Testimony conclusively proving that the defendant and victim met on that bridge, and the events following that." The Judge nodded at that.
"This sounds promising. Very well. Detective Gumshoe, please testify to this effect."
"(I guess what I've heard of Ms. Fey was no exaggeration. She really is as good as they all say, despite her conceited disposition.)" Edgeworth mused.
-WITNESS TESTIMONY-
-Events On Dusky Bridge-
"There was an eyewitness that was present when the incident took place."
"This photograph was accidentally taken by the witness. It shows her wearing the scarf."
"It was drizzling that. Unfortunately, it's a little hard to see what's going on."
"Anyway, the criminal shoved the victim from behind and stabbed her in the back!"
"That's probably when the scarf fell off."
END OF TESTIMONY
"Hmmm..." The Judge pondered, looking at the photograph detective Gumshoe presented. "Looking at this photograph, it would appear that this bridge is really high up."
"From the bridge to the river, it's about a 40 feet drop down below." Mia explained.
"I see... And who, pray tell, took this photograph Ms. Fey?" Mia paused for a brief moment, as if hesitating to say who this person was, before stating...
"A... well-intentioned third party, shall we say." A well-intentioned third party...? That was way too vague for Edgeworth's taste.
"Who exactly is this 'well-intentioned third party'? If they took this photo, that means they are a potential witness. Why aren't they testifying?" Edgeworth inquired. The Judge nods his head in agreement.
"I believe Mr. Edgeworth is correct. Well, Ms. Fey?"
"Uh, you see sir..." Detective Gumshoe interjected. "The witness said they absolutely do not want to testify." He explained. Edgeworth raises an eyebrow.
"And why is that, detective?" Edgeworth pressed. The detective looked like he was about to answer, but was interrupted by an...
OBJECTION!
Mia slammed both of her hands onto her desk. "Listen, why the witness doesn't want to testify is irrelevant."
OBJECTION!
"It is our duty to see that all testimony is scrutinized to the satisfaction of the law, Ms. Fey." Edgeworth fired back. "We can't leave a potential witness like this uncross-examined."
"I have to agree with Mr. Edgeworth, Ms. Fey. Well?" Mia stumbled back for a bit, before glaring at Edgeworth and said...
"The person in question is very 'delicate' or so they claim..." She grumbled. "Anyway, it doesn't really matter. As long as we have this photograph, there is no reason to compel her to testify."
"Hmm... Well, if you say so."
"You see, Your Honor? The defendant had both motive, and opportunity to commit this crime. What happened on that bridge should be obvious." She said smirking.
"Yes... If I'm being honest, I could declare my verdict right now."
"H-Hold on!" Edgeworth intervened. "I still need to perform my cross-examination!"
"O-Oh. My apologies." The Judge responded. "Begin, Mr. Edgeworth." Mia shook her head at this.
"Tsk... Kids these days. They simply don't know how to respect their elders."
"(Oh, please. I'm 26 years old. I'm hardly a 'kid'.)" Edgeworth thought sarcastically.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
-Events On Dusky Bridge-
"There was an eyewitness that was present when the incident took place."
HOLD IT!
"May I inquire as to who this witness is, exactly?"
"She's a retail worker!" The detective said, with a sheepish grin.
"A female retail worker...?" Edgeworth pressed.
"Yep. Which means she's female AND a retail worker!"
"Yes, detective, I'm pretty sure anyone could've figured that out." Edgeworth replied sarcastically.
"Uh, right... Anyway, she doesn't do well in front of other people, so I came to testify in her place." He stated.
"Yes, I understand that. But as the attorney for the defense, I have a right to cross-examine her..." Edgeworth insisted. Mia rolled her eyes, and simply said...
"Look, the prosecution has more decisive evidence to present. We don't intend to rely on the vague statements of some retail girl. If you want to hear her testimony, you'll have to give us a valid reason. Otherwise, we'll be moving on from this point."
"Grrr..." Edgeworth growled under his breath. Must this woman make his job so difficult?
Detective Gumshoe continued.
"It was drizzling that. Unfortunately, it's a little hard to see what's going on."
"Anyway, the criminal shoved the victim from behind and stabbed her in the back!"
"(Pushed her...? Hmm...)" Edgeworth reviewed his evidence. "(Drizzling, huh...)" He pulled a smirk, as he found his next contradiction. "(Gotcha.)"
OBJECTION!
"So, at the time of the crime, there was a drizzle coming down. Is that right, detective?" Gumshoe nodded.
"Yep. And fog too. Overall a really soggy atmosphere."
Edgeworth sighed and then shrugged. "Well detective, I've got evidence that doesn't correlate well with that soggy atmosphere." Edgeworth pulled out the photograph of the victim's body to the Judge.
"I'm afraid I don't understand. This a picture of the victim's body, no?"
"Consider the conditions of the crime scene that day, Your Honor." Edgeworth explained. "It has been stated that it was drizzling and basically all around wet at the time. Yet, if we look at the victim's coat..." Edgeworth said, directing the attention of the court onto the photograph. "The victim's coat is pristine! Untouched! And yet, according to the testimony, she supposedly fell on her stomach." Edgeworth slammed his desk vigorously. "So tell me, if the victim really DID fall on her stomach, as you claim..." He pointed his finger triumphantly. "Why is the victim's coat not covered in mud?!"
Gumshoe and Mia both stumbled back in surprise, whilst the Judge looked flummoxed. "Why... You're absolutely right!" The Judge exclaimed. "Why, I fell on a muddy street the other day, and my gorgeous beard was besmirched with mud!"
OBJECTION!
"Let's not jump the gun here." Mia interjected. "I'll admit the crime scene was quite wet that day... But that doesn't mean that the bridge itself was muddy! Your Honor, if you fell in the shower, your beard would be wet, sure. But muddy? I don't think so."
"Hmmm... You pose a good point Ms. Fey. Although, I have actually yet to test that assertion..."
"So you see, rookie? Your so-called 'contradiction' doesn't exist. You can't prove that the surface of the bridge was muddy." Mia said with a smirk. But when she looked over at her opponent, he was surprisingly calm. Unfazed. In fact, he was smirking at her.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Edgeworth tutted as he wagged his finger at her. "You underestimate me, Ms. Fey. I can most certainly prove that the bridge surface was indeed muddy."
"Y-You can...?!" The Judge asked.
"I-Impossible!" Mia fumbled.
"A-Alright then. Mr. Edgeworth, what proves that the surface of the bridge was muddy at the time of the crime?"
"Very well then..."
TAKE THAT!
"The evidence... is this scarf!"
"The... scarf, Mr. Edgeworth?"
Edgeworth nodded with a smirk. "It's blatantly, obvious, isn't it?" Edgeworth crossed his arms. "If the scarf fell on the bridge, and got this muddy..." Edgeworth pointed his finger vigorously once again. "Then this means that the surface of the bridge was most certainly muddy!"
Mia reeled back in shock. She couldn't believe this. This rookie was actually poking holes in her case! "No... No, I can't be outwitted by this stupid upstart...!" Edgeworth glared at her for that comment.
"(Why you...!)"
"You have to admit Ms. Fey, Mr. Edgeworth makes a valid point." The Judge said. Mia glared at the Judge.
"Yes, I'm well aware of that, Your Honor." The Judge winced in response to that. "Okay, fine... I admit there's a bit of a contradiction here... So then rookie, why is there a contradiction?"
"Huh?" Edgeworth said, puzzled.
"Well, since you seem to be so good at figuring these things out..." She said sarcastically. "Then tell us, genius. What's the reason for this contradiction?"
"(Is she attempting to pressure me...?)" Edgeworth wondered. "(Hmph. Well, I suppose I'll have to explain this now, won't I...?)" Edgeworth looks over his evidence. "(This shouldn't be a problem. Mr. Dumus taught me that a contradiction always boils down to a lie. So then... Let's review.)" He thought. "(It's either the victim in the trunk... The witness's photo... Or the witness's claim that she saw the crime...)" Edgeworth looks over his options. The victim being discovered in the car was something the police found out, so that's indisputable. Looking at the witness's photo, there's nothing really out of place in it that would suggest that it was tampered with or whatnot. So then... That leaves only one option.
"It's quite simple." He stated.
"Oh? Well then, let's hear this 'very simple' answer then." Mia asked. Edgeworth turns to Detective Gumshoe.
"Detective, there's something I'd like you clarify for me."
"Oh, what is it pal?"
"You stated that the witness was afraid to testify, and so you stepped in to testify in her place." He said. "So, would I be right in assuming that your testimony just now was that of the witness's account?"
The Detective scratched the back of his head. "Well... Yes. Everything I just testified about was basically what the witness told us when we questioned her."
Edgeworth shrugged, and said... "There you have it, Your Honor. A false piece of evidence has been slipped into this court... And that false evidence is the witness's statement!"
The Judge stared at Edgeworth in curiosity. "False evidence...? The witness...? Mr. Edgeworth, on what grounds do you make such a claim?"
"It's quite simple, Your Honor." Edgeworth stated. "The testimony presented before us has holes. 'The victim was shoved onto the ground and stabbed in the back...' Yet, as I've pointed out, the victim's coat is as clean as my cravat."
"Hmmm... That's true..."
"Where are you going with this? Are you trying to say my witness lied?" Mia asked. Edgeworth nodded in response.
"Yes, exactly. Truth be told, Ms. Fey, I've been wondering about something." Edgeworth said. "If this witness is truly as decisive as you claim, why did you simply not call them in the first place? It would've saved us alot of trouble." Mia glared at him for that. There's a reason why this woman was hiding the witness. Edgeworth needed to get to the bottom of it, immediately. "Your Honor, the defense demands to cross-examine the witness! The testimony we've been presented with is not only vague, but contradicts the facts as we know them!"
The Judge thinks for a brief moment before nodding. "Agreed. I believe we need to hear from this witness. Well, Ms. Fey? It appears we will need to hear from your mystery witness after all." Mia looks at the Judge, and then turns to Edgeworth. Seeing the unwavering fire in his eyes, she sighs.
"...Hmph. Fine then. If you want to hear from this witness so badly, I'm not going to stop you." Mia flips her hair. "...However. Once you hear the cold, hard truth, don't say I didn't warn you."
Edgeworth raises an eyebrow at that remark. The 'cold hard truth'? What could she possibly mean by that? Well, whatever she meant, he had best steel himself.
After all, the real battle was about to begin.
Annnnnd that's the first one. Quite a long first chapter, I know. But hey, I hoped you enjoyed it regardless.
Now to give you a bit of insight of this AU, this won't purely be a 'swapped roles' universe. To clarify; not all characters will get a role swap. To avoid spoilers, I won't say who will keep their roles and who won't, but I'll just say that not everyone is going to have a different role in this universe.
Not only that, but some people will have certain characteristics adjusted. One is already evident in this chapter. Edgeworth is 26, Ema is only 6. That's the sort of thing you can expect to see in this AU.
In any case, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Miles Edgeworth: Ace Attorney. Stay (tuned?) for more.