The bailiff assisted Anna Nuncer from the defendant's seat to the witness stand. She was sworn in and ready for the prosecutor's questions.

"Please state your name and your occupation prior to your arrest," Payne instructed.

"My name is Anna Nuncer. I work as an air traffic controller in the International Airport."

"Thank you. On the night of the crime, you were spotted at the crime scene. Do you deny this?"

Anna looked down, unable to look at the prosecutor or her attorney. "No," she answered.

"And you were spotted holding the murder weapon," Payne continued.

"Excuse me," the Judge interrupted, "what was the murder weapon?"

"The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the heart," Payne answered as he presented his evidence, a .18 caliber Browning. The gun was sealed inside a plastic bag. "It would be too obvious already about the importance of this gun: her fingerprints were found on that gun."

("I learned from Mr. Wright that fingerprints on the murder weapon alone do not make them the murderer. But I have to know better to find out why they would be there in the first place.")

Browning added to the Court Record.

"Please describe the crime scene, Prosecutor Payne," the Judge told the prosecutor.

Payne flinched. "Y-Your Honor, given the nature of the sudden request from the chief prosecutor, I was unable to conduct a formal investigation."

("Even so, you should at least know the nature of the case.")

The Judge understood. "I guess we have to call the lead detective of the case then."

"I can explain that," came a voice from the courtroom doorway.

All heads turned to the confident newcomer who stepped forward down the stairs and approached the witness stand. He had blue ruffled hair arranged by a modest amount of wax. The newcomer had an overflowing and infectious enthusiasm drawn from his eager smile and twinkling eyes. In his black-and-white vertically striped vest over his pale blue polo and his navy blue slacks and his jet-black neatly polished leather shoes, the one feature that made him prominent in his confidence was the attorney's badge neatly pinned over his left collar.

"W-Who are you?" Gaspen Payne asked.

"My name is Mercury Thinker," he answered smoothly, showing no sign of nervousness or confusion. His enthusiasm, combined with his pose, irritated the prosecutor, though Gaspen Payne was not one to rant at inappropriate moments. "I am co-counsel and working with the Wright and Co. Law Offices."

The crowd broke into whispers of mixed impressions.

"Back already?" Athena asked him.

Mercury turned to him. "Yep," he answered.

("For a twenty year old, he sure has quite a childish voice. But I can't fault him there…")

"Mr. Thinker," the Judge addressed the second attorney, "do we have the pleasure of your interruption during the trial?"

Mercury frowned for a moment. "Well, Your Honor, the prosecutor is quite speechless in getting the trial going for failure to describe the crime scene." He smiled. "I'm here to keep the trial going."

Athena was hunched over. "Should you be on our side?"

"Don't worry Athena," Mercury told her reassuringly. "I'm on your side, but… I also want this trial to have a fair ending."

The whispers subsided when the Judge told Mercury to continue.

Mercury turned to Athena. "I'll be sending pictures and the crime scene map via Bluetooth to your Mood Matrix program now." He took out his cellphone and began working on the procedure. Though it was part of Courtroom protocol to put cellphones away, Mercury's use of the cellphone was helpful in the trial and uncovering the truth. His phone contained a handful of applications (called apps) that helped Athena and Apollo discover hidden sides of witnesses.

"Got them," Athena announced ten seconds later. She had Widget produce holographic images. "Let's see what the crime scene map shows."

The crime scene map was displayed on the overhead projector for the members of the Court to see. "The crime happened on the fifth floor stairway of the control tower," Mercury explained. "Just beyond the corridor is the control room where Ms. Nuncer and Mr. Semblar work." He used a laser pointer to direct areas as he continued describing the crime scene. "At this area midway the semi-circular staircase is a large glass window. That glass window was shattered."

"That we believe is the same glass window in which the victim was thrown through to the ground," Payne said.

"Did you find anything else?" Athena asked as she browsed through the photographs.

"Most of the photographs I sent you are just for visualization," Mercury told her. "The last photograph should contain something interesting."

Athena scrolled to the last photograph. "It's… the bottom of the window."

"Notice something unusual?"

("Hmm, not that I can see it but… wait, it's not that I can't see it. It's…")

"That's right," Mercury said, reading Athena's thoughtful then revealing expression like a book. "There's something in there that shouldn't be there."

"And what is that?" Payne asked.

"Glass shards," Athena answered before giving Mercury a chance to answer, although Mercury would let Athena take the opportunity. The answer gave her an idea. ("Wait… if glass shards are missing, then there should be…") She reviewed the autopsy report once more and took another hard look at the photograph.

"There are glass shards on the victim," Athena said, helping the Court recall the state of the victim. "However, there do not seem to be any glass shards on the surrounding area." She inspected the rest of the photograph. There was a small path that circled around the perimeter of the outside area that led to a ladder leading down to the ground.

"Now that's mysterious," Mercury said thoughtfully. "How did the glass shards disappear?"

The Judge struck down his gavel. "I believe you have provided the Court valuable information about the crime scene."

Victim's Autopsy Report updated in the Court Record.

Windowsill Photograph added to the Court Record.

Mercury bowed like a gentleman. "Thank you, Your Honor."

"Thanks a bunch," Athena flashed a thumbs up. Mercury joined her in the defense's seat.

"Let's return to the questioning," Payne told Anna. "Mr. Thinker was generous to lend his assistance in describing the crime scene. We go back to the issue. You were spotted at the crime scene while holding the murder weapon. The question is: what were you doing at the staircase?"

Anna straightened up and turned to the prosecutor. "I was at the staircase because Mr. Semblar hadn't returned after he called for Captain Hugo."

"Where is Captain Hugo's office?"

"He works at a separate area just near the control room. On that evening, he told us that he would be going to the entrance."

"Did he say why?"

"No."

Payne twirled his hair as he fished for more questions. "So if Mr. Semblar did not return and you went to find him – all during the duration of the call for mayday – why bring the gun to the crime scene?"

Athena leaned forward. ("They're poking on the issue of the Browning. Why would she have a Browning in the first place?")

"Maybe she witnessed something that seemed way off for her," Mercury said softly.

"Ms. Nuncer, please give the Court your testimony about going to the crime scene," the Judge told her.


WITNESS TESTIMONY: THE CRIME SCENE

The flight recording had ended when I heard that loud bang in the transmission.

I realized that Engr. Semblar did not return after calling Capt. Hugo.

We were all issued a Browning gun for safety purposes in cases of threat.

When I arrived from the top of the stairs, the window was already shattered.

"That loud bang, could that have been another of the explosions that we keep hearing in the recording?" Payne inquired as soon as Anna finished her testimony.

Anna shook her head. "It was very much different than an explosion. If you ask me, it was a short sharp noise – compared to the explosions with a long loud boom."

"As of this moment, the Aviation Board is continuing their investigation on the other sounds found in the recording," Athena told her. "Conclusions are yet to be drawn."

"Your witness," Payne tendered the defendant.

"Cross-examination, Ms. Cykes," the Judge said.

("Right… cross-examination. The part where I find contradictions and rub it to their faces.")

"Doesn't seem like there's any contradiction though," Mercury shared his thoughts. "Guess, we'll have to press for information."

CROSS-EXAMINATION: THE CRIME SCENE

When I arrived from the top of the stairs, the window was already shattered.

Hold it! Athena projected the windowsill picture Mercury had sent her. "This windowsill in the fifth floor staircase was already shattered as you put it. Does this mean that the victim was already thrown out of the window?"

"I can't be too sure."

"Did you take a look out of the window?"

Anna looked down and clasped a hand to her chest. Athena and Mercury didn't need to probe that she did witness a terrible sense of sight.

Payne took his chance as he presented a new photograph. "Your Honor, this is a photograph that describes her presence at the crime scene." He had the photograph projected on the screen. The photograph was caught at an angle but it did capture Anna from behind walking up the staircase as she held the Browning on her left hand. Beyond Anna was the shattered window. It could only have been Anna since there were no other female controllers that night.

"Who took this photograph?" the Judge asked.

"One of the witnesses," Payne answered. "I shall call the witness after we find some answers from the defendant."

("There's no other way out of it… I can't present evidence otherwise. Though something about this picture bugs me.")

Witness Photograph added to the Court Record.

("I might need to go back to that statement to present the contradiction.")

When I arrived from the top of the stairs, the window was already shattered.

Objection! Athena had her arm outstretched, her finger pointed at the witness. She took a deep breath. ("How long have I waited to say that word while cross-examining?") She folded her arms and curved a smile. "Witness, there's one thing I would like to clarify. Where exactly were you when you saw that the window was shattered?"

Anna blinked, caught unaware. "I… I was at the top of the staircase as I already testified."

Athena shook her head and pointed to the witness photograph still at the screen. "Then why were you photographed going up the stairs instead of going down?"

The witness jerked but regained her composure after a brief moment.

"I… Your Honor, may I explain?"

"Please do."

"After I peeked out of the window, I panicked and I decided to call Captain Hugo," she answered. "In the middle of the call for mayday, there were so many things happening in my mind… I couldn't think straight."

"And your hand was on the Browning the entire time?" Athena asked.

"You know when you're panicky, things get to spiral out-of-control," Anna answered, her voice raspy. "I couldn't tell if I was holding the Browning or if I was going up or down the stairs."

Mercury was smiling. "Looks like her thoughts are going out-of-control. We'll have to use that app if we want to get back in track."

("We still don't have a good foundation for her spiraling thoughts.")

"True," Mercury frowned. "I guess we'll need more testimony."

"One thing is sure," Payne said. "Ms. Nuncer was photographed going upstairs while she had the murder weapon in her hand. If you'll take a look at the Court Record, you'll see that the Browning was fired once. And the bullet retrieved from the victim did match to the Browning presented earlier."

("This does make her look like the murderer.")

"It's too early to throw the towel," Mercury advised. "There are still so many gray areas to explore. For example… the murder weapon itself."

("Hmm, the records say that her right hand was on the Browning… so… wait!")

Athena slammed a palm on the desk. "Prosecutor Payne, there's something about the murder weapon that doesn't make sense."

"Oh, what is it?"

She fiddled with her earring. "If we compare the weapon data with another piece of evidence, it will present a big contradiction."

Payne scoffed. "Contradiction? Show the Court the contradiction that you speak of!"

Athena smacked her fist against her palm. ("Let the energy come into action. Now what piece of evidence contradicts the data presented in the murder weapon?")

Take that! "The Browning has the witness's right handprint," Athena said. "So why is it that the witness photograph shows her holding the weapon in her left hand?

Payne was taken aback. "Urk!"

The members of the gallery burst into murmurs. The Judge quickly silenced the throng with his call for order. "It seems we have a problem with our piece of evidence," the Judge told Prosecutor Payne, bursting in sweat at the sight of the contradiction. "What is the meaning of this?"

"W-Well, Your Honor… let's recall what Ms. Nuncer said a few minutes ago."

FLASHBACK

"After I peeked out of the window, I panicked and I decided to call Captain Hugo," she answered. "In the middle of the call for mayday, there were so many things happening in my mind… I couldn't think straight."

"And your hand was on the Browning the entire time?" Athena asked.

"You know when you're panicky, things get to spiral out-of-control," Anna answered, her voice raspy. "I couldn't tell if I was holding the Browning or if I was going up or down the stairs."

FLASHBACK END

"So she panicked," Payne continued. "That could also have happened that she held the Browning in both of her hands but didn't realize it. After all, she wasn't in the right state of mind!"

Hold it! Anna's hands were shaking.

"Is there something you want to say?" asked the Judge.

Anna looked away. "W-Well, truth be told, I wasn't sure if I was holding the gun or not… or even if I was going upstairs or downstairs." She turned to the Judge, this time with a more determined expression. "But I did take a look out the window… and saw Hans sprawled out on the ground!"

The Judge closed his eyes, apparently deep in thought on what to consider about Anna's statement. "Well…"

Objection! Payne shrieked. "Isn't it obvious, Your Honor? That statement cannot be trusted. Her fingerprints on the gun are conclusive, enough!"

Objection! Athena countered. "Mr. Payne, I will not have you badgering my client."

Payne did not look pleased. "Badgering?"

Athena activated her Widget. "Your Honor, the defense would like to conduct a short therapy session."

The Judge blinked. "Th-Therapy session? You mean…"

"Psychoanalysis," finished Mercury excitedly.

"That contraption again?" Payne sneered. Athena chose to ignore this, deciding not to let his insult get the better of her.

"What does the Mood Matrix have right now?" Mercury asked Athena.

Athena scanned the images from Widget's screen. ("Hmm, a swirl of fear and surprise.") "We'll need to find some conflicts in her emotion if we want to continue." She explained to Anna and the members of the Court about psychoanalytical therapy. In summary, Athena would extract some sources of conflicting emotions and draw out conclusions backed with evidence.