Chapter 10: Finally pt. 2

Time: 10:00 a.m.
Date: October 17th 2006
Location: District Court
Courtroom No. 1

The judge banged his gavel, and the trial began.
"Court is now in session for the trial of Iris Hawthorne!" the judge stated. "This trial will decide whether Iris should be released early or deserves to serve her full sentence!"
"The defense is ready your honor!" I said
"Eh hehe…the prosecution is also ready." Payne said.
"Mr. Wright!" James whispered. "I just thought of something!"
I turned to him. "Huh?"
"I think Payne is going to try to pin you as a biased lawyer who is affiliated with the defendant!"
"What?" I asked, astonished. "Oh no! I didn't think of that!"
"Urk…" I muttered, but then shook my head. "Let him do what he wants, we're here to free Iris!"

James nodded back. "Alright! Let's do this!"

"Mr. Payne, please give your opening statement." The judge ordered.
"Indeed." He agreed. "As you all know, the last trial of Ms. Maya Fey concluded with her being acquitted and the real murderer of Misty Fey was really Godot, or Diego Armando as his real name. However, the case wasn't exactly closed then, because he had a malicious accomplice by the name of Iris Hawthorne…"

I gritted both my fists. "Why you…!"

Payne continued: "In essence, she had tampered with the crime scene, and since we all know this is a very serious crime in of itself, she is just like any other criminal and deserves to stay in jail and finish her ENTIRE sentence…"
By the time he was done, I was infuriated.

"How dare he insult Iris like that?" I thought frustrated. "Oh Payne, you asked for it!"

"Unfortunately, since this is not a murder trial there is only one witness, and all we have is the old evidence from the first crime as well as the main points of the last trial that is tied to this one."
The judge nodded. "Very well, we will being this trial by picking off where the last trial ended. We ended this trial saying that Maya Fey was innocent of murder and Diego Armando was guilty of murdering Misty Fey, however we need now to sort out the facts and determine whether Iris Hawthorne was a true accomplice to the crime. Prosecution, you may begin."

"The prosecution calls Detective Gumshoe to the stand!" Payne commanded.
The old detective in the green overcoat came to the stand.
"Name and occupation." Payne requested.
"The name's Dick Gumshoe pal!" he boomed. "I am a detective for the police department!"
"Please explain the situation to the court." Payne said.

WITNESS TESTIMONY

"Well as you know, Misty Fey was murdered by Godot (Diego Armando) and was killed by a hidden blade in her staff, but when she was found, she was found impaled by the shichishito in the Courtyard at Hazakura Temple. It had already been established that the real crime scene was actually at the Inner Temple. We also know that the body of Misty Fey was transported from Iris's side of the bridge to the other side of the bridge so as to find a new place to put the victim. In the end, our opinions point out that Iris Hawthorne would have had to be freely involved with changing the crime scene."

"Well, it looks to me that most of the doubt seems erased that Iris did indeed act out of free will." The judge said. "Mr. Wright, you may now start your cross-examination.
I nodded. "Already it looks bad. Iris herself even claimed that she knew the risks, however, just because she was well aware of the dangers, does not necessarily mean that she acted freely…"
"Good luck Mr. Wright." James said.
"Thanks, oh and from now on, call me Phoenix." I said.
"Of course." He nodded.

CROSS-EXAMINATION

"Well as you know, Misty Fey was murdered by Godot (Diego Armando) and was killed by a hidden blade in her staff, but when she was found, she was found impaled by the shichishito in the Courtyard at Hazakura Temple.

"Well that's already true, nothing strange there…" I thought.

It had already been established that the real crime scene was actually at the Inner Temple. We also know that the body of Misty Fey was transported from Iris's side of the bridge to the other side of the bridge so as to find a new place to put the victim. The only reason that Iris would even be there was the fact that she freely took part in the crime."

"Hmmm…" I thought

In the end, our evidence points out that Iris Hawthorne would have had to be freely involved with changing the crime scene."

"Wait a minute…" I thought. "Normally these two phrases separately would have been acceptable testimony, but together they don't fit…Ah ha! That's it!"

"OBJECTION!" I yelled.

"There's a large problem I have with your testimony Gumshoe."
"Really pal? And what's that?" Gumshoe wondered.
"First of all, how can you be so sure that was the only reason Iris was there at the bridge to receive the body?" I asked
"Well…most likely!" Gumshoe pleaded.
I shook my head. "No, it can't. Because Iris had been forced to take part in this plot with Godot and Misty Fey. Don't get me wrong, she wasn't threatened with murder or anything like that, but had she not taken part of this plot she would have had awful repercussions later!"

"Objection!" Payne yelled. "That's just baseless conjecture! If you claim that what you say is true I want proof!"

I stopped. "Urk…How am I supposed to prove Iris was forced into this plot if there's really no si—wait there is!"
The Prosecution makes a good point Mr. Wright, proof is needed to back up your claim." The judge said. "Do you have evidence?"
I nodded. "Indeed I do."
"Hey Phoenix." James whispered. "Do you think that fake threatening note Larry wrote to Iris could be a possible scenario on why Iris had little to no choice?"
My eyes widened. "Because of that phony letter, she ended up staying in her room because of that."

"That's a great point! Your honor, I have two pieces of evidence to present!" I said.
"W-what?" Payne stuttered. "TWO?"

"Yes! First is the very cause that Dahlia had been channeled!" I started, holding up a copy of the last case. "Iris and her sister Dahlia were always together before. Whenever Dahlia had orders, Iris was always there and would not disobey. She didn't really have a choice, as Dahlia was a sociopath. If Iris disobeyed her orders, then it wouldn't be a very good prospect for Iris, so she always followed Dahlia's demands, even at a time like now when she wasn't really alive, just channeled by Misty Fey. I can even bring up both the Terry Fawles case and Mia Fey's 2nd case where I was accused of murder to relate!"

Payne's jaw dropped, as did James's.

"Whoa!" James thought. "He really thought this out in such a short time?"

The judge himself was surprised as well. "Well…that was…impressive Mr. Wright. And you said you had a 2nd piece of evidence to show us?"

I nodded and brought out Larry's fake threatening letter. "This letter was sent to Iris that night the murder took place. Even though this letter was irrelevant to the murder case, it brings about another possible scenario!
"What? Another scenario? How can that be!"? Payne scolded.
"Iris was horrified at what this letter said, and she was so horrified she stayed in her room."

"OBJECTION!" Payne yelled. "Well I have proof that she did act willingly towards moving the body of Misty Fey!"

"What?" I wondered. "How is he gonna explain this?"
"Behold! I present the shichishito!" He brought out a picture of the fake crime scene with Misty Fey impaled by the legendary sword.
"Eh he he." He grinned. "Mr. Wright, you have brought up a point, but you've also made trouble for yourself!"
"You're bluffing!" I yelled.

His grin grew wider. "You said it yourself that Iris followed Dahlia's orders like a servant. If that is true, than that means she could have willingly helped Dahlia cover up the murder!"
I gasped. Oh man! Since Iris follows Dahlia's orders nearly all the time, this could be a great reason to act freely…
"Is it just me, or is there something wrong with that logic?" James asked.
"Wait a minute…James is right!" I thought.

A smile broke out over my face.

"What's so funny?" Payne demanded.
"Your reasoning is off Payne." I replied smugly.
"How!" He asked flustered.
"Simple, you said that she 'willingly helped Dahlia cover up the murder.'" I repeated. "But that is incorrect!"
"Eh!" Payne stuttered.
"I said that 'she had no choice'." I responded. "I never said she followed her sister willingly like you said. You were trying to twist my words around and make me look like the guy that implicated Iris!"

"Grrr…" Payne grumbled.

"What's more," I continued. "Even if what you said was true, you have no proof that it was acted out of malice like you claim she did in your opening statement!"
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Payne screamed.
"Finally, the Defense claims that the defendant DID NOT act out of free will, but instead was FORCED to be included in this plot because of Dahlia Hawthorne being a threat to kill Maya Fey!"
The room grew silent. Payne was struggling to find a comeback, but unfortunately was unable to find one.

"Well Mr. Payne?" the judge asked. "Do you have a response to the Defense's claim?"
"W-well I-I'm…still thinking about one…" Payne stuttered.
"Unfortunately Mr. Payne that will not be good enough for an answer, and I will have to rule in favor of the Defense."
I looked at James, who looked back at me beaming.

"I believe it has become pretty clear on my verdict." The judge said. "I rule in favor of the Defense, and so I hereby release Iris Hawthorne from her sentence!"

He slammed his gavel.

"That is all, court is adjourned!"

Time: 12:00 p.m.
Date: October 17, 2006
Location: District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 1

James fist pumped in excitement

"Alright! Awesome job Phoenix! You did it!"
"We did it." I corrected. I hi fived him and shook hands.
"This is great! Iris is now free! And that was a fun trial!" James said happily
I exhaled. "Finally! All that paperwork, all the meetings I've had to go to, all the appointments, visits to the detention center, finally it pays off!"

"Feenie!"

I looked, and saw Iris running towards me. Just like before the trial, I embraced her, but this time, our lips connected in a passionate kiss. We kissed for God knows how long as it felt like years.

I didn't see James looking at us together.
I also didn't see the tear that ran down his eye as he watched us…

Well that wraps up parts 1 & 2. Finally! Phoenix and Iris are together! And this is just beginning, trust me, this is nowhere near over! Like it? Hate it? You decide!