Penny got bail at the preliminary hearing, thanks to her previous good character and service to HQ, and returned to live with Uncle Gadget and Brain. But Chief Quimby had no option but to suspend her from duty. There were a few weeks before her trial. The days felt very lonely and pointless, with Uncle Gadget going to work each day, though the ever-loyal Brain stayed to keep her company. Penny wondered how Uncle Gadget was handling missions, without her.
The three of them used what time they had to try to gather evidence for her defence. But the situation looked pretty hopeless. Every security camera in the bank had showed Penny at the centre of the robbery, and when they tried to access footage from the mall, all of its cameras had been exposed to a mysterious dose of electromagnetic radiation. Every recording of that afternoon had been wiped. They put out a public appeal online, but no one came forward to identify Talon. He seemed to be the only witness to his own crime.
Penny was seething. And she'd thought their relationship was getting somewhere! Just wait 'til she saw young Master Claw again...
When the first day of the trial arrived, they were no nearer to anything that would prove her innocence.
The Metro City courthouse was packed. The robbery had been all over the media, and everyone had come to see the teenage girl who'd robbed a bank. Penny felt very self-conscious in the dock, with everyone whispering and pointing at her. This was so unfair. This should be Talon, standing here.
Darren Dextrous from the DA's office was a tall, weasel-like man with very scary spectacles. He was wearing a swish suit, and gave an amused glance to Inspector Gadget in his wig and gown. Brain was sitting behind, ready to take a note. Judge Wisely was a blonde middle-aged woman with just the hint of an amused smile behind her stern courtroom face. Penny's spirits rose a little. Surely she would see fair play?
The jury consisted of twelve honest Metro citizens. They looked suitably shocked during Dextrous's opening speech, and were looking at Penny as if they couldn't believe this of such a good girl. Maybe that will help too, thought Penny.
She was shocked when the first witness was called, and Kayla entered the box. She looked very embarrassed, and quickly mouthed: "Sorry, Penn." Dextrous had her talk about the last time she had seen Penny.
"It was her birthday... but she seemed distracted... anxious. She stormed out. I asked her to get me a coffee. Then, when I went to see where she was, I saw her flying off, away from HQ. She had jet boots on."
"Thank you, Miss Kayla," said Dextrous. He sat down, and Gadget didn't move. Penny was near enough to whisper to him.
"Aren't you going to cross-examine her?"
"Oh. Yeah." Gadget literally sprang to his feet. "Go-go-Gadget Interrogation Lamp!"
Kayla covered her face as a huge lamp emerged from Gadget's head and shone in her eyes. The jury dodged as it spun round to face them. The judge frowned.
"That won't be necessary, Mr Gadget, we have perfectly adequate lighting. Just ask your questions."
"Oh, OK." Gadget beamed at Kayla. There was silence. "Er... I like your hair. Where'd you have that done?"
Everyone stared at him. Penny risked another whisper.
"Ask her if I was alone!"
"Were you alone?"
"No, was I alone?"
"No, was I alone?"
"No... look... ask if Penny was on her own!"
"Was Penny on her own?"
Penny breathed a sigh of relief. Kayla shook her head.
"Uh-uh. She was with that boy Talon. Dr Claw's nephew."
"Dr Claw?" Judge Wisely checked her papers. "Is it the prosecution's case that this was a MAD operation, Mr Dextrous?"
"We don't offer any such evidence at this time, Your Honour."
No, thought Penny. I was the only one who was caught!
Gadget couldn't think of anything else to ask, and he sat down again, looking bewildered. He was doing his best for her, but Penny was beginning to wish she'd hired a real lawyer.
The president of the bank was called next, and explained how the staff had been held up with gum guns, and the safe blown. He was sure the leader of the gang had been the girl in the dock. Then the court was shown the security tapes from the bank. Penny could hardly bear to watch. She might have been starring in her own TV show. She saw herself threatening the staff with Talon's horrible gum gun, then running off with the money. The jury was no longer looking unsure. There were no further questions from the defence. Neither Penny nor Gadget could think of any way to break this down.
Finally, Darren Dextrous rose to his feet again, and announced:
"Call Irving Goodchild."
Penny froze as Talon entered the court and the witness-box.