Truth be told, I wasn't sure if I was holding the gun or not.
(Happiness: 0; Sadness: 10; Surprise: 30; Anger: 0)

Or even if I was going upstairs or downstairs.
(Happiness: 0; Sadness: 10; Surprise: 30; Anger: 0)

But I did take a look out the window…
(Happiness: 0; Sadness: 30; Surprise: 30; Anger: 0)

and saw Hans sprawled out on the ground!
(Happiness: 0; Sadness: 50; Surprise: 70; Anger: 30)

Mercury nodded after the last statement. "You described her current emotions prior to the statement as a swirl of fear and surprise," he told Athena. "If that should be her state of mind, then something here doesn't quite fit."

Athena smiled, observing Anna carefully. Payne seemed to be impatient. "Then we just have to go back to that statement and find what doesn't fit – as you put it."

"This is pretty in the bag already…" Mercury muttered as Athena scrolled the screen to the last statement.

and saw Hans sprawled out on the ground!
(Happiness: 0; Sadness: 50; Surprise: 70; Anger: 30)

Got it! "Ms. Nuncer," Athena interrogated, "your current state of mind is that of fear and surprise even though you wouldn't outwardly show it. So this begs the question… why are you inhibiting signs of anger?"

Anna blinked, "S-Sorry…?"

"I'll make it clearer for the Court," Athena repeated his question. "Who or what are angry about?"

The witness took a deep breath. She was not one to hide details unless they were too incriminating, so it left the defense team some advantage. "When I peered out the window and saw Hans sprawled on the ground… I saw something – or someone – else."

Athena leaned forward. "What did it look like?"

Anna looked away, her eyes almost tearing up. Mercury did not want to pressure her but the issue remained. When Anna found her strength, she answered, "A person standing over him."

"D-Did you get a clear look at him?"

"That night, it was drizzling," she answered. "And since it was five floors down and the lighting outside was quite dim, I couldn't make out the details. I'm sorry."

"So why were you angry at this person?"

"My initial conclusion led me that since I couldn't have killed Hans, that other person down there could only have done it!"

NOISE LEVEL: 40%

("Wow… that was swift.")

"You've got to hand it to her," Mercury told Athena. "We have a truthful witness."

Objection! Payne yelled. "Our police report did not indicate the presence of any other person aside from yourself, the victim, and the witness."

Objection! Athena countered. "Unfortunately, she has already made clear of another person in the scene!"

"And how do you propose this matter?"

The defense attorney folded her arms and grinned. "The defense presents evidence that all three people were already transfixed in their positions on the time of the murder!" Take that! Athena held up the witness photograph and had the crime scene map projected on the large screen. "If we were to put their positions in the crime scene map, we would place their positions this way!" The defendant's (marked as D) position was on the fifth floor window to indicate that she was peering out. The victim's (marked as V) position was outside the control tower and just a distance beyond the window. The witness's (marked as W) position was on the staircase and situated behind D to show the exact moment the photograph was taken. Lastly, the killer's (marked as K) was beside the V.

Objection! "Take a look at the autopsy report," Payne told the defense team. "It said there that the victim suffered bruises after he was shot. Therefore, the killer would have to be at the fifth floor staircase to hurl the victim out."

Objection! Mercury countered, his gaze of confidence and a cool attitude piercing the prosecution. "All we have is a photograph of the defendant holding a gun." He bumped his fists and pounded the desk akin to Apollo. "If Ms. Nuncer were really the killer, this picture should have captured the moment she threw the victim out the window!"

"Yikes!" Payne recoiled.

On cue, the Gallery burst in murmurs of agreement. The Judge silenced the throng a few seconds later with his gavel.

"Therefore it is best to say that Ms. Nuncer couldn't have been the killer," Mercury said triumphantly.

("So why is there still some noise in her testimony?") Athena scanned the statements some more. "Ah! A new emotion has popped up!"

"Given the circumstances, it would seem that we need some more testimony," the Judge told the defense. "I am still doubtful, to be honest."

("The Judge is leaning towards our side… but we can't let our guard down just yet.")

INFO UPDATE

I was holding the gun only to defend myself if something happened.
(Happiness: 0; Sadness: 50; Surprise: 0; Anger: 0)

The window was shattered; I found it strange.
(Happiness: 0; Sadness: 30; Surprise: 30; Anger: 0)

I did take a look out the window…
(Happiness: 0; Sadness: 30; Surprise: 30; Anger: 0)

INFO UPDATE

and saw Hans sprawled out on the ground!
(Happiness: 0; Sadness: 50; Surprise: 70; Anger: 0)

There was another person there. They should be the killer!
(Happiness: 0; Sadness: 0; Surprise: 0; Anger: 70)

"Don't fret now," Mercury told Athena. "There's something there already too obvious to miss."

"Yeah, I found it already," Athena said confidently. "All I just have to do is press her on that detail."

("It's amazing that you know a lot about the Mood Matrix in such a short time.")

There was another person there. They should be the killer!
(Happiness: 0; Sadness: 0; Surprise: 0; Anger: 70)

Got it! "Compared to the previous testimony, you're exhibiting an immense amount of anger," Athena told Anna. "Any thoughts?"

"When I think about it," Anna started and swallowed as if she was about to say something disastrous, "there's one person who would harbor a motive to kill Hans."

"R-Really?" the Judge said.

"What is this motive?" Athena asked.

"I can't say just yet," Anna answered apologetically.

"She saving it for the right time," Athena said. "We're bound to find some motive as the case progresses." He turned to the Mood Matrix screen. "And it looks like the noise is all gone!"

NOISE LEVEL: 0%
BYE BYE

("In sum, she has a level of anger towards someone who would stoop so low to kill Mr. Semblar. Don't worry there – we'll catch them in the end. The overwhelming anger suggests that she knows who may have killed him and why. But we don't have the evidence yet.")

Athena slammed a palm. "Our client has no motive to kill Mr. Semblar, Your Honor. There is nothing in the evidence that suggests even a slight bit."

"Unfortunately, the prosecution isn't faltering."

Payne was fiddling with his hair, a malicious grin formed on his mouth. "Hee hee hee. Now there's an interesting piece of the trial to be explored: a motive."

("We're treading on thin ice – and it looks like it's about to crack.")

"All ears on the prosecution, already? Good." Payne stood up straight and cleared his throat. "While I concede that she may not have thrown the victim out the window, there is still another theory that she may have done the killing blow." He took out something from underneath the shelf and presented pieces of laminated newspaper clipping. "Here is another piece of evidence that will solve the remaining riddles once and for all."

"A newspaper clipping?" Athena inspected the clipping given to the defense team. The headline of the article read, "Pilot found GUILTY for plane crash killing fifty."

("This article is dated three years ago when a jury found a pilot guilty in a plane crash causing fifty deaths. The pilot and the air traffic controller miscommunicated and the pilot was negligent. And Hans Semblar… was that air traffic controller. And the pilot… Dennis Nuncera?")

"W-What are you…?" Anna started but Payne cut her off.

"I'll sweat the details," Payne said generously. "The pilot found guilty in that trial was the defendant's father, Dennis Nuncer. Just a few weeks ago, Dennis Nuncer committed suicide in prison. Not hard to spot a motive, eh?"

Anna clutched her fists tightly and looked as if she was ready to land a hard jab across the prosecutor's face.

"Dennis Nuncer was a revered pilot," he continued, absolutely showing no mercy for the defendant. "He flew the skies most of his life – until he was caught in an incident that broke him. And knowing this, his daughter could possibly seek an all-out revenge for her fallen father… giving rise to our current case that we have."

"That's not true!" Anna snapped.

Payne's shades lowered a bit, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"My father may be responsible," Anna admitted. "But I would never go so low to kill the person who put my father in jail!"

"I will not allow you to badger my client," Athena warned Payne. The Judge was also watching the prosecution sternly. "Besides, this is the case centering on the death of Mr. Semblar."

The Judge struck down his gavel. "Mr. Payne, this motive is plausible – but to introduce a previous case into the trial will require more investigation. Unfortunately for now, I cannot accept your clipping as evidence."

"There won't be any need for that, Your Honor," Payne said smugly, not slightly disappointed that his evidence wasn't accepted. "I have already prepped the next witness."

("The witness who took the photograph, right?")

"He's done quite the damage to our client," Mercury said to Athena concernedly. Anna was already in tears and gripping the witness stand as if she was about to collapse.

"Your Honor, the defense requests a break to soothe our client," Athena requested.

The Judge was sympathetic to emotions but he was not one to falter to the eyes of deception. "Very well," he granted the request. "I will also allow a break for the prosecution to prepare their witness. Court will convene twenty minutes from now." He struck down his gavel and the spectators started filing out. Payne made his quick exit while Athena and Mercury rushed over to comfort their emotionally shattered client.


August 12; 10:42 AM
District Court; Defendant Lobby No. 3

"He really had us there," Mercury told Athena once they retreated into the lobby. Anna sat on the sofa and tried to regain her composure.

"Catching Ms. Nuncer off-guard with that kind of information," Athena said. "If we win this case, I'm going to give him a piece of my fists."

"There won't be any need for fist-fighting," Mercury told her sheepishly.

"Thanks for being my defense attorney," Anna told Athena. She was smiling again.

"Are you okay, Anna?"

Anna nodded, relieved that she was also referred to her first name. "I'm okay. But what the prosecutor did… I can't forgive him of what he did."

The two attorneys exchanged looks. Just like telepathy as if Athena gave mental instructions, Mercury nodded and left the defendant lobby.

"Somehow, this environment feels more relaxing," Anna said.

"Anna, as much as it pains you to recall those moments and as much as it pains me to bear your burden for innocence, I have to know the story."

Anna nodded. "This was never raised during our meeting and I hoped it would never lead to this."

Athena decided to stay silent and let Anna tell the full story.

"That day, three years ago, was my high school graduation. Not to boast, but I graduated top ten of the batch. I was going to tell my parents proudly of my award when I received a phone call from my mother… saying that my father was found guilty. At that moment, I didn't know how to feel: happy for my education, sad for the news, surprised at my thoughts, or angry at the circumstances. I was overwhelmed."

Anna continued, relieving vivid images of a plane crash, the smile and laughter of a father who will never see her to the very end, and the shock caused by the ripples of ill news.

"I joined the crew to find out the cause of my father's barring. He loved the skies and was always jolly with his friends, my family, and even the staff. It was a huge shock to all of us when he was tagged responsible for that plane crash. As I continued to learn about the profession, I became close to many people – especially veteran captains who shared their sympathy and even their beliefs that my father was innocent. And then I met Hans Semblar.

"At first, I was hostile towards him. He was five years older than me and more experienced. But when he opened up and deeply apologized on what happened…" At that point, tears flooded her eyes. Anna however had strength to continue while Athena gave her soft pats on the shoulder. "… I couldn't forgive him. But Hans was so dedicated to his work. He gave me peace offerings, took me out to dinner once or twice, and he admitted he wished that he was the one jailed instead of my father. Slowly, my views began to change. I moved on. And instead of harboring hostility, I picked up the pieces where he left off. Hans and I visited my father in the detention center. They had a talk and made peace with each other. My father said that 'it would be better off for you to continue what you love doing the most – the fault lies in mine alone and mine only.'"

Athena too wanted to cry, but she had to stay strong for her client.

"And then… three weeks ago, I received news that my father… committed suicide. You could imagine how much I screamed that night – and even Hans could do little to comfort me. At once… I even blamed him for putting me in this level of anguish." Anna paused. "But he shocked me with his patience. He was calm, collected, tolerant, sympathetic… I went out of line with my emotions."

Athena focused on the necklace Anna was wearing. The necklace was specially crafted to form an airplane. She never saw it on any jewelry store so Athena concluded that the necklace was custom-made and one-of-a-kind.

"When I got over the shock of my father's death, Hans told me something… incredible and dangerous."

Athena's full attention was once more on her client. "He told me… that he kept something from my father that implicated someone else as the one responsible for the plane crash. But just as he was about to hand it over…" Anna took a deep breath. "The call for mayday… then his death."

The two of them were silent. Anna buried her face in her hands while Athena looked away. ("Now I see the circumstances of this case. The victim must have a piece of evidence so incredible that it cost his life.")

The defendant lobby doors opened and Mercury stepped in.

"What is it?" Athena asked for news.

"Some intel on the next witness," Mercury told her. "The next witness is the very same one who took the photograph and the very same person in the flight recording…"

"Captain Hugo?" Anna spoke, sniffing.

Mercury nodded. "That's him."

"Do you think you can share anything about Captain Hugo?" Athena asked, being careful with her choice of words.

"Captain Hugo and my father were very close," Anna said. "They knew each other even when I was still small." She sighed, understanding the situation. "He would come over to our home during Thanksgiving and Christmas – since he did not have a family. We would treat him as a family friend. Other than that, I don't think he would be one to harbor a grudge to kill Hans."

Athena grimaced at the thought that a family friend would testify against the deceased's daughter. ("That's one tough cookie we'll be facing… and not the chocolate-and-chip kind of cookie.")

"It's gonna be tough alright," Mercury commented. "We'll need a strategy."

"We'll pick up most of the details during the trial," Athena told him. "Ears open, minds in motion…"

The bailiff called for the defense and the defendant to return to the Courtroom. As they headed back to the trial, Athena continued to stand by her sworn promise of exacting revenge by getting a victory at the end of the day.

To Be Continued