Sept. 20
Several minutes before the second session of Engarde's trial
?
Inside her prison, Pearl stood up and spread her arms around, taking soft steps as she tried to maneuver herself through the blinding darkness.
I know you can't see anything, so I need you to rely on your other senses, Diego instructed her. What do you feel around you?
"Th-the floor is cold..." Pearl whispered, her toes touching the cold stone floor. Her arms were still spread out, her fingers reaching further to grab whatever was there. That was when she felt a smooth, glass object in front of her fingers.
"I-I think I found something..." Pearl said quietly to Diego, carefully snatching the object. It was a large, tube-like object that became slimmer at her hand went to the top. "I...I think I'm holding a bottle, Mr. Armando..."
A Bottle? Can you smell what's inside? Diego asked. Pearl tried to take off the cap or cork of the bottle (she wasn't sure), but couldn't as it was too stuck tight. Fortunately, she managed to catch a small whiff when she pressed her nose close to it.
"It's got a weird, dizzying smell...but it's also kind of fruity..." Pearl answered, to which she heard Diego's spirit hum in thought.
From your description, it looks like you're holding a wine bottle, kid, he said to her. Is there any more of it from where you got it?
"There's...there's a lot...!" Pearl said, motioning her hand to find there were more wine bottles on the wall.
I knew it! You're in a wine cellar! Diego exclaimed. But that still doesn't answer where you-
Suddenly, the sounds of a creaking door were heard before the lights turned on. Quickly, Pearl hid the bottle she held behind her back before turning to see Dahlia grinning evilly at her. Pearl felt her heartbeat fasten, her legs taking several steps back as she stared at Dahlia in horror.
"Oh, what's wrong, Pearl?" Dahlia asked sadistically, taking out a box cutter knife from her pocket. "You shouldn't be afraid of your own sister..."
"Y-You aren't my sister...!" Pearl managed to stammer out, still terrified of what was going to happen. "W-Why are you here?! I thought...!"
"That I'm not allowed here?" Dahlia chuckled evilly, brandishing her knife. "Oh, I'm not. But my 'partner' was busy dealing with our screaming boss right now, so I couldn't just let him leave the door he was guarding locked! Thankfully, I know how to pick them...!"
Pearl whimpered in fear, tugging the wine bottle behind her as Dahlia drew closer. Once she was close, she grabbed Pearl by the neck, choking the poor girl tightly.
"I know I can't kill you just yet. We have to make Rissy win that trial after all..." Dahlia mumbled before raising her knife high, a vicious sneer on her face. "But that doesn't mean I can't hurt you first-!"
WHACK!
With all her might, Pearl whacked Dahlia in the head with the wine bottle before she could react. The vile woman fell to the ground, clutching her head in pain while Pearl stood over her, breathing heavily.
Feeling her heartbeat fasten, Pearl glanced at the bottle with widened eyes. "D-Did I just do that...?!"
"Y-you...you little bitch!" Dahlia growled, grabbing Pearl by the leg, only to get whacked in the head again, which knocked her out this time.
Pearl could only look on in shock before realizing this was a perfect chance to escape. Without thinking, she rushed up the stairs and ran out of the wine cellar. She paused for a few seconds, turning back to the door and seeing Dahlia wake up.
Pearl's body was stunned in fear as the villainous twin groaned, clutching her head in pain before turning to glare at Pearl.
With a hateful shriek, Dahlia ran up to get Pearl, only for the door to slam shut in her face. Pearl quickly locked the door, trying to ignore Dahlia's hateful and angry cries, before running away to escape.
Pearl gasped for breath, running around what she guessed was a mansion with how fancy and large the place was. It felt like a maze as she desperately tried to find the exit. Going through from room to room, she managed to find herself in what seemed to be the living room. It was large and lavish, with a fireplace, an L-shaped purple satin couch, an exotic carpet, and polished floors. The most extravagant decor this living room had, however, was that red motorcycle that was suspended in the air. Pearl couldn't fathom why someone would put it up like that, but right now, she didn't care.
Frantically darting her head around, all hope seemed lost to Pearl until she spotted the front door to the mansion. Without thinking, she sprinted to the door, opening it and smiling with relief as she saw the large row of trees and flora outside the mansion. From the looks of it, it appeared she was in the woods. Pearl ran forward, hoping to finally get away from this nightmare...
...only for a pair of hands to snatch her and drag her back to the house. Pearl screamed, crying loudly she flailed her arms and legs in a desperate attempt to free herself. However, it was all for naught as she was quickly forced back into the wine cellar. Seeing that Dahlia was still locked up, Pearl saw that the one who caught her was De Killer.
Being the quick professional he was, De Killer wasted no time in tying Pearl up and keeping her locked in the farthest corner of the wine cellar. He then turned to glare at Dahlia, who pouted indignantly.
"What?" Dahlia said before pointing at De Killer. "It's your fault that she wasn't tied up earlier!"
"We wouldn't need to tie her up if you left her alone!" he retorted, pushing Dahlia aside. "If it weren't for me, we would've lost the child, and with it, our bargaining chip on your sister!"
"She wouldn't have gotten far-!" Dahlia tried to say, only for De Killer to grab her by the neck and pin her against the wall. Dahlia motioned her arm to stab him with her boxcutter knife, but De Killer quickly snatched it away from her. Dahlia began to feel tense as De Killer pressed the blade against her cheek, producing a cut.
"Listen and listen well, Dahlia Hawthorne..." De Killer began with a cold hiss. "I've spent years upholding the De Killer name. Every client that has hired me has always been satisfied. Whoever I killed, whether be it man, woman, or child, I have done it and whoever hired me to do so was left satisfied with my deeds. Like the von Karmas, I have a perfect record to uphold and I will not let an impulsive fool like yourself ruin it!"
De Killer motioned the knife upward, enlargening Dahlia's cut from the cheek until it reached the knife. Dahlia sweated nervously, her heart racing as De Killer was only one inch away from stabbing her eye out.
"Now, I'll be willing to overlook the mistake you made if you this simple instruction," he said. "Until Mr. Engarde's name is clear, you will not touch the child. Is. That. Clear...!?"
"Y-Yes, yes, YES!" Dahlia cried out, the blade's tip was so close to her eye. "I-I get it! I won't hurt her! J-Just let me go!"
De Killer grunted before his expression softened as he let go of Dahlia, who fell to her knees, fear overwhelming her body.
"Learn to be more patient, my dear," he said, looking down at her. "You'll get revenge soon once your twin does her part. Once Mr. Engarde is declared non-guilty, you're free to kill Pearl Fey however you may wish."
Pearl's face blanched in horror. I...I'll die even if Sis wins the case!?
"So for now, keep your childish bloodlust in check," De Killer said, glaring at Dahlia with narrowed eyes. "Because I will gladly do it for you otherwise..."
With that, De Killer moved to the door, gesturing for Dahlia to leave. Dahlia took a few seconds before standing up. She glared at De Killer for a while before leaving in a huff. De Killer then left and closed the door, leaving Pearl alone.
The young girl began to cry as she now knew that no matter what will happen, she was going to die at the hands of a vicious monster like Dahlia...
Don't give up hope yet, kid! Diego's spirit shouted in her head. Things are dark now, but we can still get you out of this!
"B-but how...?" Pearl mumbled, crying. "Even if I do get out, D-Dahlia and that Killer person will get me..."
Actually, we don't need to get you out of here...we'll bring someone here to get you! Diego shouted. Tell me, kid, what do you remember seeing once you got out?
. . .
Sept. 20, 3:15 PM
District Court~ Courtroom No. 3
Back at the courtroom, Ms. Andrews had begun her testimony.
TESTIMONY
"From the moment I saw the crime scene, I had a feeling that Matt was the murderer."
"Matt had to kill Juan no matter what."
"And he didn't have an alibi for what he was doing at the time of the murder."
"My thoughts were confirmed by the evidence, of course; the button and the knife..."
"But I'm Matt's manager...so I felt that I had to protect him..."
"Well..." the Judge paused. "This does account for everything..."
"Well...I am the logical type," Ms. Andrews said, though she clutched herself in her nervousness.
We're finally seeing her true self, Iris thought upon noticing it. She's more nervous than a scared rabbit. I just need to keep pressing on her..."
"If there are no objections, I feel that I can pass a verdict based on this testimony," the Judge said before turning to Iris. "Now then, Ms. Hawthorne, if you please."
CROSS-EXAMINATION
"From the moment I saw the crime scene, I had a feeling that Matt was the murderer."
"Matt had to kill Juan no matter what."
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted. "So would you say this 'need' came from the press conference?"
Ms. Andrews nodded. "Do you know why Juan chose that event and that hotel for the conference? Because that was when he could cause the most damage to the public's beloved Matt Engarde."
"And you knew of this plan, didn't you, Ms. Andrews?" the Judge asked.
"Yes..." Ms. Andrews admitted hesitantly. "Because I was the one who set up the conference and prepared the costume."
"But..I'm sure Mr. Engarde himself didn't know anything about a press conference," Iris pointed out, earning a scowl from Ms. Andrews.
"Oh really? Can you show me any proof that he didn't know about the press conference?" Ms. Andrews retorted, but Iris didn't respond aside from clenching her fists.
"A-Anyway!" he suddenly shouted. "The important thing here is that this information was not in your testimony!"
"Yes, I agree," the Judge said. "Ms. Andrews, please correct your testimony, if you please."
"Grasping at straws now, are we, Ms. Hawthorne?" Ms. Andrews remarked almost haughtily, prompting Iris to allude to it but not focus on it.
"I know what his motive was...but I don't have any way to prove I'm right."
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted. "Has Mr. Engarde done something to hurt or betray you personally?"
"...Why do you ask?" Ms. Andrews questioned hesitantly.
"You were the one who helped Mr. Corrida with his press conference," Iris pointed out. "And that event was supposed to bring down Mr. Engarde, yet you still helped out!"
Ms. Andrews' face blanched in horror as she was unsure of how to respond.
"OBJECTION!" Manfred shouted. "The person on trial right now is Matt Engarde. What the witness was thinking, helping the victim with his plan, is none of our concern. In any case, this means that the defendant had a motive to kill."
Iris tensed up, forcing herself into silence as Manfred glared at her intensely.
"And he didn't have an alibi for what he was doing at the time of the murder."
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted. "Didn't you already testify earlier that Mr. Engarde was taking a nap in his room!? Are you telling me that was also a lie so you could cover for Mr. Engarde!?"
"I'm not telling you anything of the sort," Ms. Andrews responded, narrowing her eyes at Iris. "When I went to get him for the show, he honestly was sleeping. However, as to whether he was sleeping the entire time, that I cannot say. I was too busy setting up the stage at the time."
"Hmm... I keep trying, but I can find no flaws with what Ms. Andrews has said," the Judge said before turning to glance sternly at Iris. "I can't say the same for some people here in this courtroom, however."
Oh, come on! Iris thought grumpily before continuing with the cross-examination. Maya stifled a giggle.
"My thoughts were confirmed by the evidence, of course; the button and the knife..."
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted. "You can hardly call the knife decisive evidence! The fingerprints on the knife could very well be a clever camouflage!"
"Then...what about the button?" Ms. Andrews countered. "It's clear from the crime scene that the victim and the murderer fought. And during the fight, the killer ripped the button from the Jammin' Ninja's costume."
"You're talking about this button, correct?" the Judge asked, holding up that very button.
"That button was found in the pleats of Matt's hakama, isn't that correct?" Ms. Andrews asked, to which the Judge nodded. "Then, yes it is. I would think that makes it very decisive evidence."
"Ugh...!" Iris groaned, while the Judge chuckled.
"Looks like you were out-foxed again, Ms. Hawthorne," the Judge said merrily.
Since when were you suddenly picking sides!? Iris thought bitterly. "Anyways...the knife doesn't prove a thing! Please fix your testimony!"
Ms. Andrews scoffed. "I can't stand the sight of someone who can't gracefully accept defeat."
Tell that to the von Karmas, Iris thought in frustration.
The Judge sighed. "Ms. Andrews, for Ms. Hawthorne's sake, please add this information to your testimony..."
"That button was torn off of Juan during his fight with Matt."
Iris pondered at the words for a moment before her eyes widened in realization.
"OBJECTION!" she shouted. "This is the victim's autopsy report. It clearly states that the cause of death was strangulation by a scarf."
Ms. Andrews gasped. "S...Strangulation...!?"
"The knife stab to the victim was done after the victim had already died," Iris began. "The button has the victim's blood on it. Which would mean that it was ripped off of the costume...when?"
Manfred hummed. "After the knife was stabbed into the victim."
"Exactly! This means it's impossible that this button was torn off during the victim's final struggle because the victim was strangled to death in that fight!"
Ms. Andrews took a step back, flinching as she tried to process this information.
"With this fact, there is no way this button was ripped off during the struggle," Iris added. "This button was consciously pulled off of the victim's already dead body!"
This caused an uproar in the gallery, prompting the Judge to pound his gavel. "Order! Order! Ms. Hawthorne, what is the meaning of-!?"
"OBJECTION!" Manfred shouted, gritting his teeth. "So what if the button was torn off the body after the victim had already died? What does that change!?
Iris slammed her palms against her desk, glaring back at Manfred. "Let me ask you one simple question, Mr. von Karma. Why was the button torn off? What purpose did that serve?"
"What purpose?" the Judge questioned.
"We now know this button was not torn off during the fight. So the murderer took the time and effort to purposely rip this from the victim's body. That would mean that the murderer had something in mind, wouldn't it?"
Manfred stayed silent, only responding to Iris with an intense glare.
"Does this mean...does this mean you know what the murderer wanted to do with this button!?" the Judge asked Iris. "What was it!?"
"There is only one logical reason for doing something like that. It was to pin the crime on Mr. Engarde!" Iris declared, causing an even larger stir in the gallery. "There is no way anyone would put a bloodied button in their own pants! So it only makes sense that Mr. Engarde was set up by the real killer of this case!"
Manfred hummed, only crossing his arms. "Then do enlight us, Ms. Iris Hawthorne? Who is this real killer of which you speak?"
Iris hesitated for a moment upon seeing the scared face of Ms. Andrews. How helpless she looked as she held herself for comfort.
I don't want to do this...but I need to save Pearl...
"Mr. Corrida's killer is none other than Ms. Adrian Andrews!" Iris shouted, jabbing her finger at Adrian.
"Wh-What!?" Adrian shouted as the gallery uproared even further.
"Order! Order! Order!" the Judge shouted, pounding his gavel. "Ms. Hawthorne! This is a very grave matter! Do you have any evidence that supports your charge!?"
Iris scoffed. "Any evidence? ALL of the evidence points to Ms. Andrews!"
"Wh...how preposterous!" Ms. Andrews shouted angrily. "You can't stick any of that on me!"
"I can't, can I? Would you care to test me?" Iris dared the manager, who was trembling.
"Then...then what about the knife!?" Ms. Andrews pointed out.
"The knife was used to stab the victim after he had already been strangled to death. It was used to throw suspicion onto Mr. Engarde, naturally." Iris began. "A knife covered in the defendant's fingerprints could only be taken from his room. And the only one who had dinner with him, and knew which knife to take, was you."
Ms. Andrews cringed, her eyes darting about as she desperately tried to think up something else. "Th-Then...what...what about the button that was found in Matt's hakama!?"
"The button was removed from the victim's body after he had already died," Iris easily explained. "The only people who could've done so were the person who found his body or the killer. However, if Mr. Engarde was the real killer, there is no way he would have put such incriminating evidence in his own hakama!"
"Then...then...!" Andrews stammered, her words turning incoherent as the pressure overwhelmed her.
"The only person who could have put this button into Mr. Engarde's hakama is the person who went to wake him from his nap," Iris added. "Once again, this is you, Ms. Andrews."
"What about the empty guitar case?" the Judge asked.
"That is also another piece of evidence that incriminates Ms. Andrews," Iris answered. "That costume was used to hide the real killer's identity as they fled the crime scene. Now, who could have known that there was just such a costume inside the guitar case? It could only have been the person who prepared the costume for the victim. And that person is... you, Ms. Adrian Andrews!"
Ms. Andrews' face turned pale, her entire body shivering in fear. "N...No...I...I didn't-!"
"HOLD IT!" Manfred shouted. "But Ms. Andrews' fingerprints were nowhere to be found on the guitar case! And it was you who proved that she was not wearing gloves at the time!"
"Th-That's right!" Iris hastily added.
Iris shook her head. "That's because she did not intend on leaving any prints," she said. "If anyone had found out that she had touched the case, they would have asked her why. So to avoid leaving any prints, she used a towel or something else to open it.
"The glass of tomato juice is a different story! Ms. Andrews purposefully left her fingerprints on the glass to show that yes, indeed, she was the classic 'dazed discoverer' of a dead body!"
"T-This...this can't be happening...!" Ms. Andrews whimpered out, clutching her head and hyperventilating.
"And to top it all off, there is this photo!" Iris added, showing Ini's photo again. "A photo of the killer as they exited the scene of the crime. No reasonable person on Earth can believe this Nickel Samurai is Mr. Engarde! He would be much too short for his own costume if it was him! Speaking of how tall people are...Ms. Andrews, you're also kind of short in stature, are you not?"
Ms. Andrews sniffed, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "P-Please...stop..."
"Well, how about it, Ms. Andrews!?" Iris shouted, leaning close to the manager. I've got her this time!
Ms. Andrews stayed silent, clutching her own arms as she continued to feel overwhelmed by what was happening.
"Ms. Andrews...?" the Judge asked, raising a brow.
"I...I...I refuse...to testify," Ms. Andrews stuttered out, shocking Iris and Maya. "Th-There's a law...it says I can't be forced to testify about something...if it can incriminate me!"
"Wait, that's a thing!?" Maya shouted in surprise.
"Well, yes," the Judge answered. "The law does provide us with a way to avoid self-incrimination by allowing a witness to not testify if the testimony can cause damage to themselves."
"WHAT!?" Maya cried out in shock, while Iris clenched her fits and gritted her teeth.
Pleading the fifth is not something most people would think to do on the spot! Iris thought. Wait...yesterday, she and Franziska were talking at the interrogation room. Franziska told her to think hard about something...could she have told Ms. Andrews to not testify if things looked bad!?
Maya remained silent as she clasped her hands together, closed her eyes shut, and prayed.
Come on, please, Diego! she thought loudly. We need you!
Manfred chuckled sinisterly, which unsettled everyone in the courtroom.
"What is so humorous, Mr. von Karma!?"
"I'm sure you realize this as well, Your Honor..." Manfred said. "But everything Ms. Iris Hawthorne has proven up to this point is meaningless."
Iris gasped. "Wh-What!?"
"Everything you have proven is circumstantial," Manfred explained. You have yet to provide a single piece of definitive proof. Proof that Ms. Andrews, did in fact, harbor a wish to murder Mr. Corrida!"
Upon hearing this, the Judge turned to Ms. Andrews. "M-Ms. Andrews, you...did you want to kill Mr. Corrida...?"
"I believe this may lead to me incriminating myself, so I will abstain from answering," Ms. Andrews said.
"But Ms. Andrews...if you do that, it would be the same as admitting your guilt, don't you think...?"
"Maybe so, or maybe not," she said defiantly. "There is nothing to prove it either way. Besides, you don't even know what crime I would be 'guilty' of due to my silence."
No, no, no, this is bad...!? Iris shouted in her mind. W-What am I going to do!?
Maya's closed eyes tightened as she prayed harder for Diego's spirit to be summoned.
"I think we have reached a certain conclusion at this point," the Judge sighed. "Ms. Adrian Andrews has refused to testify. And the defense's theory that she is the actual murderer...has not been fully substantiated with solid definitive proof. In this situation, there is only one thing this court can do. And that is to declare a recess."
"R-Recess...!?" Iris whispered, her eyes widening.
"I request that both the prosecution and the defense look further into this matter. And at tomorrow's trial-"
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted, sweating nervously. "Please wait, Your Honor! Th...That's not necessary! The trial... Please continue the trial!"
Manfred scoffed. "What are you sweating for? Your client is getting one more day to live, isn't he?"
"That...That's not it! This isn't about that!" Iris cried out, on her knees as she was on the verge of breaking down. "Please...let the trial continue! If I don't get the verdict...then P-Pearl..."
Manfred raised a brow at this, but the Judge shook his head.
"It's impossible to continue as long as the witness refuses to testify," the Judge said, raising his gavel. "Now then, this court is-"
"OBJECTION!"
Iris, Manfred, the Judge, and everyone else in the courtroom gasped as they heard a familiar deep voice echo all around them. Iris turned to where Maya stood and couldn't contain her joy as she saw the spirit of her dead mentor, Diego Armando, channeled by Maya.
"Sir...!" she shouted, almost hugging him. Diego turned to Iris and gave her a reassuring grin before turning to the surprised Judge.
"M-Ms. Hawthorne, what has happened to your assistant?!" the Judge asked, but it wasn't answered.
"Your Honor, this trial can continue," Diego said, surprising everyone. "It's true Ms. Andrews holds the right against self-incrimination; however, if the topic of conversation were something unrelated to whatever she may be guilty of, then she has no right to withhold testimony!"
Iris looked confused for a moment before grinning in glee as she realized what her mentor was implying.
"Y-Yes, that is very true, but-" the Judge stammered out, but Diego interrupted when he pointed at Ms. Andrews.
"Ms. Andrews!" he shouted. "From what I heard, when you found the victim's dead body, you poured yourself a glass of juice."
"Y-Yes...and...?" the manager questioned.
"I can't help but think how unnatural that is. Usually, when one finds a body, they are shaken up, not stirring a glass of juice."
Ms. Andrews scoffed. "So my actions were unusual? They're no more unusual than you suddenly turning into a man! Besides, I've already-!"
"HOLD IT!" Diego shouted. "Before you speak, I want to state that if you have a reason behind your actions, I would like you to testify to that effect."
T-testify...!? No, I told you I won't-"
"Actually, I would like to hear this as well," Manfred said, surprising both Diego and Ms. Andrews. "Your Honor, I would like to request that the witness testify again as to what happened when she first discovered the victim's body! Whatever we find out in this testimony should in no way implicate the witness."
The Judge stroked his beard in thought. "Hmm...the court acknowledges the prosecution's request."
"D-Damn it...!" Ms. Andrews muttered.
Iris sighed in relief. "Thank you so much, sir. Pearl would've been a goner by not if it weren't for you..."
"Don't just thank me just yet, Flower," Diego said. "The more we prolong this case, the more time we have in rescuing Pearl. She says hi by the way."
"That's nice-wait, what do you mean?"
Diego chuckled and showed his signature smile. "How do you think I found out about this situation? I know you have a lot of questions about it, but I'll answer all of them after we finish this case."
TESTIMONY
"That glass of juice...I didn't really pour it for myself."
"I was surprised when I walked into the room and saw it in that messy state."
"And Juan...he was sitting slumped over and tired-looking in the corner."
"When I saw him sitting like that, the thought that he was dead didn't cross my mind."
"To be honest, I thought he had just fainted or something. So I went to pour him some juice."
"When I realized that he was dead...That's when I knocked the flower vase over."
"Hmm...so you poured that glass of juice for the victim. Why didn't you say so in your earlier testimony?" the Judge asked.
Ms. Andrews shrugged. "I didn't think I needed to include something so trivial."
Diego turned to Iris. "Be careful, Flower. If you can't find anything wrong with this testimony, then there's nothing left..."
"I know..." Iris said. Luckily, I already know what's wrong with this testimony...
CROSS-EXAMINATION
"That glass of juice...I didn't really pour it for myself."
"I was surprised when I walked into the room and saw it in that messy state."
"And Juan...he was sitting slumped over and tired-looking in the corner."
"When I saw him sitting like that, the thought that he was dead didn't cross my mind."
"OBJECTION!" Iris shouted before sighing. "Okay, if the idea of him being dead didn't cross your mind, then what about the knife sticking out of his chest!?"
Ms. Andrews gasped in shock, curing herself for such a stupid mistake. "Ah...um...that's...well, you see...
"I doubt a single person in the world would mistake this for someone who fainted and then so nonchalantly go pour something to drink!"
"Y-Your point is...?" the Judge asked.
"My point is Ms. Andrews' testimony just now isn't just flawed...it was one giant lie!" Iris declared, which caused Ms. Andrews to flinch. "And your lie has proven one thing very clearly...that you are the real killer!"
"N-no...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" Ms. Andrews screamed, tugging at her own hair.
There was a moment of silence afterward as the Judge thought about Iris' words. "It looks like the defense has somehow brought the ugly truth to light. The defendant, Mr. Matt Engarde, is not guilty after all..."
"That...but that's impossible! You're wrong..." Ms. Andrews shouted hoarsely, her voice strained. Her body shivered, her skin was sickly pale as sweat poured down from everywhere in her body. The poor girl was a mess.
"Ms. Andrews, try to have some composure!" the Judge shouted.
Andrews shook her head wildly, tears streaming from her eyes. "It...it wasn't me...it wasn't me, I tell you! It was Matt! I swear it! He's the one who killed Juan!"
"But you were the one who refused to testify!" Iris pointed out. "And your reason for not doing so was that you might end up incriminating yourself!"
"Th-that's because..."
"Ms. Andrews, I will give you one last chance," the Judge said. "What exactly are you hiding that may incriminate you?"
Ms. Andrews flinched again. "I...I...I refuse...to testify..."
"Then there is no need for this court to continue any further," the Judge said, shaking his head. "Mr. Matt Engarde's innocence has been clearly demonstrated."
Iris sighed. Is...is it...over...? Have we found the truth at last...?
Iris was so sure she was. However, when she turned to look at Ms. Andrews, she began to have doubts. The poor manager looked scared, defenseless, alone...just like she was in the past.
"What's wrong, Iris?" Diego asked, taking notice.
"Usually...well, usually, the real killer confesses his or her guilt..." Iris said. "And now that I think about it, this is the first time someone hasn't..."
"Now then," the Judge said. "I would like to hand down my verdict for Mr. Matt Engarde-"
"OBJECTION!" Manfred suddenly shouted. "Your Honor. The prosecution feels that it would be premature to pass down a verdict at this time. This witness has yet to speak the truth of the matter."
"T-The truth of the matter...?" both the Judge and Ms. Andrews stammered in unison. The latter squealed in fright when Manfred suddenly turned to her.
"I know my daughter planted this stupid idea that silencing yourself will protect you, Ms. Adrian Andrews," he said, glaring at her. "But through your silence, Matt Engarde will go free and in his place, YOU will become the guilty party!"
Andrews gasped. "Th-That's...that's a lie! I...I don't believe you!"
Manfred raised a brow at this. "Oh?"
"I... was told...If I spoke..." Ms. Andrews stuttered out. "If I spoke, then it would be all over...and Matt would never be declared guilty..."
Wh-what does she mean!? Iris wondered.
"I... I can't speak about it...I'm too scared...b-but it wasn't me! I'm begging you, please believe me! I didn't kill Juan! Help... Please... Someone... Help me...!"
Ms. Andrews then kneeled to the floor, crying profusely. Iris and Diego looked at her with concern, the former feeling especially guilty for driving her to this point.
T-This...this can't be right! Iris thought. Ms. Andrews is the killer...isn't she?
"How disappointing..." Manfred sighed. "It appears I have no other option. Your Honor..."
"Wh-What is it, Mr. von Karma?"
"Since the witness vehemently refuses to testify, it falls on my shoulders to disclose this to the court."
"W-what do you...?" Ms. Andrews' eyes widened in horror. "No...how did you...!?"
"What do you mean, Mr. von Karma?" the Judge asked.
"How should I put this?" Manfred began. "The witness has an illness.
"What!?" Iris and Ms. Andrews exclaimed.
"And because of this illness, she has tried to commit suicide in the past."
"S-Stop...please stop...!" Ms. Andrews pleaded.
"No matter how much you want to hide it, it's no use," Manfred said, smirking evilly as he showed a file to the court. "I have the evidence right here."
Iris gasped. That's the second part of the suicide report; the attempted suicide report!
"What will you do now, witness?" Manfred asked Ms. Andrews. "You know what I am about to do, don't you? I will now reveal to the court, the true nature of the pitiful woman known as Adrian Andrews!"
"Please! Please STOP! I beg you!" Ms. Andrews cried out. "If people find out...if people find out... I... I'll..."
"Kill yourself?" Manfred scoffed. "Go ahead. Your death holds no concern to anyone in this court."
Iris and Diego gasped in shock. Iris then glared at Manfred intensely.
How...how can you be so cold, Manfred von Karma!? she exclaimed in her mind.
"So, will you tell the court yourself, or shall I?" Manfred pressed the poor manager. "It won't matter for you in the long run..."
"I... I'll talk..." Ms. Andrews said shakily, feeling nothing but absolute defeat. "N-Nothing matters anymore..."
TESTIMONY
"When I first saw him... I really thought he had fainted. Honest."
"When I realized he was dead...that was when I formulated my plan."
"Once I made sure there was no one in the hallway, I dashed back to Matt's room."
"And then...I stabbed Juan's dead body with the knife and ripped off the button."
"Just when I finished and was returning to Matt's room...I had a bit of an inconvenience."
"And that's why... That's why I ended up using the Nickel Samurai costume."
The Judge gasped in shock. "S-Stabbed the body!? With the knife!? But why would you do that!?"
Ms. Andrews chuckled humorlessly. "Isn't it obvious? To pin the blame on a certain person...a certain cowardly man"!
Everyone looked confused, so the manager continued to speak.
"The real killer is Matt! That scumbag of a man!" she hissed, venom dripping from her voice. "I'll never forgive him! He's trying to escape his guilt again! Just like last time!"
Last time? Iris wondered, taking note of those words.
"So, Ms. Andrews stabbed the victim, Juan Corrida, in the chest with the knife," Manfred said. "However, she didn't do it with murder in mind. She did it with the intent of framing Matt Engarde for the murder. This is her true crime."
Wh-WHAT!? How is this possible!? Iris thought. I mean...wasn't Ms. Andrews supposed to be the real murderer!?
"Ms. Iris Hawthorne, cross-examine the testimony now," Manfred said. "Enough time has been wasted as is."
CROSS-EXAMINATION
"When I first saw him... I really thought he had fainted. Honest."
"When I realized he was dead...that was when I formulated my plan."
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted. "What is this plan you had?"
"...I knew right away the murderer was Matt" Ms. Andrews answered. "I knew because Juan...was going to expose Matt's secret to the world. So Matt did this to stop Juan, and silence him for good. That's when I thought I should forge some evidence and pin this crime on Matt..."
"So the forged pieces of evidence were the knife and the button..." Diego concluded.
"The first thing that came to mind was to plant the knife..."
"Once I made sure there was no one in the hallway, I dashed back to Matt's room."
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted. "That was so you could get the knife, correct?"
Ms. Andrews nodded. "The knife Matt used at dinner had his fingerprints all over it. I thought if I used that, then the police would certainly turn their eyes towards him. Matt was napping with his costume on at the time. I slipped in, took the knife, and returned to the scene of the crime."
"And then...I stabbed Juan's dead body with the knife and ripped off the button."
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted. "So you were the one to stab the victim with that knife."
"It gives me goosebumps to think about it now..." Ms. Andrews said, shivering. "What a horrible thing I did. But at the time, I couldn't control my own body. It moved on its own. Then, when I stabbed Juan's dead body...I suddenly realized something. If I used the button somehow, I could make Matt look even more suspect."
"So you thought to rip one of the buttons off and then plant it in Mr. Engarde's hakama," Manfred said, humming in thought.
Ms. Andrews sighed. "Yes... That's what I had planned to do. ...But things never go that smoothly, do they?"
"Just when I finished and was returning to Matt's room...I had a bit of an inconvenience."
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted. "An inconvenience?"
"There was a woman with a camera at the ready, loitering in the hallway," Ms. Andrews said.
That's probably Ini, Iris thought.
"There was also a woman with a ray gun at the ready pacing back and forth..."
That's Ms. Oldbag for you...
"I had already been caught and made into a big scoop for a certain weekly tabloid once, so I couldn't very well go out looking like myself and get caught again."
"And that's why... That's why I ended up using the Nickel Samurai costume."
"HOLD IT!" Iris shouted. "You were the one who prepared that costume, weren't you?"
"Yes. I took it from Global Studios..." Ms. Andrews said. "I also put it into Juan's guitar case the day before the award ceremony."
"You did this in preparation for the press conference, correct?" Manfred questioned.
"Yes, Juan wanted to wear that costume and hold a press conference in it. He was going to disclose Matt's big secret there."
"And what is this secret?" the Judge asked.
"...That, I don't know. I thought that if I were to leave Juan's room in the Nickel Samurai costume...then people would think that Matt was the real murderer. I was very careful not to leave any fingerprints when I opened the guitar case. I absolutely did not want anyone to know about the costume..."
There was a moment of silence as both the defense and prosecution took the information in. Manfred took the information with apathetic intrigue, while Iris and Diego looked on in shock.
"Hmm...I think we've heard enough," the Judge said. "So, after that, you went back to Mr. Engarde's room and planted the button?"
"Into Matt's hakama? Yes," Ms. Andrews admitted. "After that, I folded up the costume I was wearing and put it into a bag. Then I snuck it out of the hotel and got rid of it."
"M-My word...what does all this mean...?" the Judge asked.
Ms. Andrews then turned to Manfred. "Mr. von Karma, is it?"
Manfred did not answer and just stared back at Ms. Andrews with disinterest. However, that did not stop her as she continued.
"The real criminal...is Matt Engarde!" she said. "Yesterday...your daughter sat me down for a talk. She said that I should under no circumstances confess to what I had done. That if I just kept quiet, then Matt would be found guilty for sure. I...I had no choice but to believe in her words..."
Iris and Manfred remained silent. The former was unsure of what to say, while the latter simply didn't care.
"What this witness has done is clearly unlawful," the Judge said. "However, as long as her testimony stands, we can be certain she is not the real killer!"
Iris' face paled. "W-Wait, Your Honor!" she cried out. "The defense still-!"
"OBJECTION!" Manfred shouted. "It's pointless, Ms. Iris Hawthorne. At this point, it is not possible to indict Ms. Andrews on anything."
"Yes, exactly," the Judge nodded. "There isn't a single piece of evidence that points to her as the murderer. The cross-examination of this witness is over. And so is today's trial. You couldn't establish that the witness was the culprit. Please let it go, Ms. Hawthorne!"
"B-But...!" Iris stammered, her voice and arms quivering.
"Mr. von Karma, please place Ms. Andrews under arrest for further questioning," the Judge requested.
"Understood, Your Honor," Manfred said. "The prosecution will arrange for her detention immediately."
"That's all. Court is adjourned for today!"
Court Record
Evidence:
1. Iris' Attorney Badge
2. Magatama
3. The Nickel Samurai
4. Press Conference Ticket
5. Radio Transceiver
6. Guidemap
7. Crime Photo
8. Guitar Case
9. Wine Glass
10. Autograph
11. Magazine Clipping
12. Suicide Report
13. Attempted Suicide Report
14. Autopsy Report
15. Knife
16. Button
17. Ini's Camera
18. Ini's Photo
Profiles:
1. Pearl Fey
2. Maya Fey
3. Viola Cadaverini
4. Ini Miney
5. Wendy Oldbag
6. Dick Gumshoe
7. Dahlia Hawthorne
8. De Killer
9. Matt Engarde
10. Juan Corrida
11. Adrian Andrews
12. Franziska von Karma
13. Celeste Inpax
14. Manfred von Karma
15. Diego Armando