A/N: Here we are! Yet another chapter! I don't know how much this trial day will change from the game to be honest, but I DO know the next two chapters will be "non-case" chapters before we jump into Turnabout Serenade, which will be different, thanks to people from Apollo and Trucy's past and everything.
I've also decided I am going to do Dual Destinies, because… well… I played the last two cases, and… Apollo… Clay… feels… so much to play with there…. GAH!
Review Reply to Guest: I'm glad you're enjoying it! I'm going to have a lot of fun writing that meeting, to be honest. Three more chapters until that point though!
Alright, enough talking for me. ONWARD!
…
Chapter 17: The New Kitaki Leaf
June
"So, this is it, the big day!" Trucy said, flopping down on the couch next to me while I was going through the evidence we managed to collect yesterday. I had an idea of who the real perpetrator was, and even motive, but I was missing the means. How did the real killer do it without being seen by Wocky or Stickler? "Did you get any sleep?"
"Yeah," I hummed. "I went to bed at one or so."
"Oh?" Trucy asked, looking at me curiously. "What time did you wake up?"
I hesitated before answering.
"Three…"
"That's only two hours, Apollo," Trucy said a little worriedly, before shrugging. "But, at least you have me!" she said brightly, jumping to her feet and fiddling with something behind her back. In a blur of blue, her large puppet spun into view, swiping her hat. "And the Amazing Mr. Hat!"
"Here's looking at you, kid," Mr. Hat said brightly, before vanishing again.
"Good luck today, Apollo," a familiar voice said from the door. I looked up and grinned.
"Hey, Dad!"
"Heya. Get any sleep?" he asked, ruffling my hair. I huffed, fixing it, before looking away.
"Eh…"
He laughed, shaking his head. "I was going out of my mind with boredom, so I signed myself out earlier today," he admitted. "Somehow, that place makes fake piano playing at the Indochine past joint seem almost fun," he said, talking about his new job (after the Smith case, the Borsht Club had to let him go).
"Daddy!" Trucy said brightly. "Do you know who Prosecutor Gavin's witness is today?" she asked. Dad grinned.
"Take a guess!"
"Hmm… how about Little Plum?" Trucy asked. Dad laughed at that.
"That Sherman tank of a mom?" he asked, before shaking his head. "Nope, guess again."
"That's too bad," Trucy sighed, before looking at Dad with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know, speaking of moms… you need to find us a new mommy one of these days, Daddy!"
"It's barely morning and you're at it already, Trcuy!" Dad laughed, before looking at me. "Apollo, control your sister!"
"You should know by now that's impossible," I replied, shaking my head. I knew exactly who Trucy had in mind for our 'new mommy.' "So, Dad. Do you know who the prosecution's witness is?" I asked. Dad sighed.
"Alita Tiala. Your client's fiancée," he said. I gasped softly.
She's going to be a witness!?
"But that seems odd…" Trucy mused. "Why would she testify against her own fiancé?" she asked.
"You have to wonder what Gavin's up to," Dad said, catching my eye. I nodded slightly, both of us remembering that trial from seven years ago.
Something's going down today, that much is clear!
"Well, not to worry," Trucy said brightly. "I've got my panties back. If we can't find a killer, I'll pull one out of there!"
I chuckled, wrapping an arm around her.
"See, this is why I keep you around, little sis. You're good for a laugh every now and again," I said, steering her into the courtroom.
"Thanks!" she said brightly, before frowning. "Wait…"
…
"Court is now in session for the trial of Wocky Kitaki," the Judge announced once everyone was settled in their places.
"The defense is ready, Your Honor," I announced.
"Prosecution is warmed up, and it's a sold-out house," Gavin said, snapping his fingers to a song in his head. I rolled my eyes slightly at that.
"Very well, to recap…" the judge began, glancing down at his notes. "While yesterday's witness seemed more guilty than any other party…" he began.
"Guilty of panty-snatching!" Trucy said.
"We did find out one thing for certain," the Judge continued as though she hadn't said anything. "There were three people in the park at the time of the murder: The witness, the victim, and the defendant."
"Correct, Herr Judge. And today, I'd like to do something a little new age," Gavin announced. "I'd like to look at this horrible crime… from the outside."
"The 'outside'?" I asked.
"The acquisition of the murder weapon, the preparation for the act…" the prosecutor shook his head before leaning forward with a smirk. "Our poor defendant told all, you see… to his betrothed."
"His… bee trove?" the Judge asked in confusion. It took a large amount of self-control to keep from face-palming at that.
"His fiancée, Herr Judge," Gavin clarified. "His partner for life… with no chance for parole."
"Very well, you may show the erm… 'lucky' lady to the stand," The Judge granted. Alita stepped up to the stand.
"Your name an occupation, Fräulein," Gavin said.
"Alita Tiala. My occupation…" she hesitated before smiling. "Is future wife."
"Ah, traditional values!" the Judge sighed. "I respect that. Too many brides these days can't even weave baskets blindfolded… underwater." Um… What…? "Yet you're here today as a witness for the prosecution?"
To be honest, I didn't want to testify at first," Alita sighed, looking away sadly. "But… I couldn't hide the truth…"
"Hmm. Honesty!" the judge said brightly. "Another admirable trait."
"Fräulein, is it true that, on the day of the crime, the defendant, Wocky Kitaki confessed his plans?" Gavin asked. "His plans… for murder?"
Alita hesitated for a moment, before sighing, looking down. "Yes," she sighed.
"The witness will please give her testimony to the court!" the Judge announced.
"It was the day that the family health check-up results came back," Alita started. "When Wocky found out that Dr. Meraktis had lied, he flew into a rage. 'I'll teach him!' he said. He took one of the Family's pistols…" Alita sighed. "And you already know what happened that night. I… just don't see how anyone but Wocky could have done it…" she finished.
"So, the pistol did belong to the Kitaki Family, then," the judge asked.
"Yes. With regards to this, an investigation is underway at the Kitaki mansion… on charges of the possession of illegal firearms," Gavin announced.
"And the bullet that took the victim's life?" Was it…?" the judge began. Gavin nodded.
"Fired from the pistol the defendant procured? Yes, this has been proven."
"How can you prove something like that?" Trucy asked.
"Bullets carry marks from the barrel that fired them," I explained. "Called 'rifling marks' or 'ballistic marks.'"
"Rifling marks? Balistic marks?" Trucy asked.
"Think of them as being a gun's fingerprint, left on every bullet it fires," Gavin explained. Trucy nodded, and I turned to the witness.
"And when did you first hear about Wocky's plan?" I asked.
"It was the day of the murder," Alita admitted. "I… I should have stopped him!" she cried. "I just didn't think he would actually do it!"
"Very well. The defense may begin the cross-examination," the Judge said. I nodded, thinking back over the testimony.
"When the results came back… that was the day of the murder, correct?" I asked.
"Yes. Everyone in the Family received their check-up results that day," she said, before shaking her head, looking down. "When Wocky looked at his, his face went so pale…"
"But of course," Gavin said. "He had just found out he had a bullet in his chest!"
"So, you were there at the time?" I asked.
"Yes… Poor Wocky," Alita said softly.
"So, is it easy to take a pistol out from the house?" I asked.
"Not really, I think," Alita admitted. "There's a system in place to limit access. But Wocky's a special case, being the next-in-line."
"Perhaps his treatment was a bit too special, ja?" Gavin asked.
"Well, maybe he is a bit spoiled… I hear he got amazing presents for his birthdays. Last year was a switchblade made out of chewing gum and a chocolate gravestone!" Alita said brightly.
I crossed my arms. Sounds like he has a taste for sweets… and danger, I thought, wondering where one would even find presents like that. Unless his birthday was Halloween…
"The point here being that Wocky had access to a pistol," the Judge said, returning my thoughts to the trial.
"I tried to stop him, I really did!" Alita said. "But Wocky wouldn't listen…"
"Our defendant was nothing if not determined, it seems," Gavin added.
"The last thing you should do is blame yourself, miss!" the Judge said soothingly.
"So, you say you don't see how anyone other than the defendant could have done this? How can you say that for certain? How!?" I demanded.
"Ah…" Alita said, unsure of how to answer.
"Objection!" Gavin yelled. "Her Forehead, you will refrain from badgering the Fräulein. It was the defendant… erm, Wocky, was it… who took the pistol from his home. We know this for a fact now."
"I supposed we do," the Judge conceded.
"So, how could anyone else have used this pistol to shoot the victim? They could not. Simple logic, ja?" Gavin said.
"That does seem to be the case. Does the defense have anything to say regarding this point?" the Judge asked, turning to look at me. I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts.
"Based on the testimony, there was clearly another…" I began. "One other person had access to that pistol!"
"What's this?" Gavin asked, surprised.
"Hmm… Interesting!" the Judge said brightly. "Let's ask the defense then… Tell the court who this other person with access was!"
I nodded, before turning and looking the witness straight in the eye. "Well, of course, I mean you, Ms. Tiala," I said. She gasped.
"M-me? But why…" she demanded. I shook my head.
"You were quite clear when you told the court: you heard about the pistol from the defendant on the day of the murder. In other words, you knew what he was planning," I reasoned.
"Objection!" Gavin yelled. "Let me get this straight… you intend to tell us that this lady stole the pistol from her fiancé… and killed a man in cold blood on his behalf? I've heard of people doing strange things for love, but this…" he trailed off.
"It does seem a bit… unfathomable, to be sure," the Judge agreed. "I'm all for romance, and supporting your partner in life, to be sure. But I think I would hesitate at murder!"
I'd hope you'd do more than hesitate! I thought in surprise. "But what if a different connection could be proven? A connection between the witness and the victim? We might find that she had a personal motive beyond wanting to help her fiancé," I said.
"Hmm, that would put things in a slightly different light," Gavin agreed. "What possible connection are you suggesting here?" he asked.
"You know what I'm starting to think?" Trucy suddenly said. "I'm starting to think that the police never looked inside that safe."
You're right! I thought with a smirk. "I have evidence showing a connection between the witness Ms. Tiala and the victim!" I announced, pulling out Wocky's medical chart. "Take that!" I announced, presenting it.
"That looks like… a medical chart?" the judge asked.
"Found inside a safe at the Meraktis Clinic," I explained. "I'd like to draw the court's attention to the names written on the chart," I said as it appeared on the monitors. The camera zoomed into where I indicated.
"What!?" the Judge gasped once he spotted it. "Ms. Tiala! Whatever… why is your name on this chart!?" he demanded. Alita's eyes widened, but she didn't answer.
"Well, care to explain the meaning of this, Ms. Tiala?" I asked.
Alita hesitated a moment longer before frowning, crossing her arms and glaring at me. "I'm not sure what you mean by 'meaning,' Mr. Wright!" she countered coldly. My eyes widened, and I even took half a step back, bringing my arm up to protect myself from the force of her glare.
Our warm little fiancée just froze over!
"I was on staff at that clinic until half a year ago," she said. "It was boring. So I quit. That's all. Is there a problem with that?" she demanded.
"Ms. Tiala! You testified that you had no connection to the victim!" the Judge gasped.
"And I don't. Now."
"'Now'…?" I asked.
"I quit half a year ago, didn't I?" she asked. "So there's no connection." She turned and looked at the judge with an icy look. "Let me guess, you're the kind of guy… who can't rest until he knows every last detail of his girlfriend's past. Am I right?"
"Th-that's not true at all!" the judge said, sounding hurt. "Why, I… I embrace the ones I love, past flaws and all, no matt—"
"Objection!" I yelled. That was getting nowhere fast... "'There's no connection now' doesn't fly in a court of law!" I said.
"Doesn't… fly…?" she asked, looking at me
She's one touch nut. She probably feels right at home with the Kitakis! I thought. "You left your job at the Meraktis Clinic, true," I conceded. "But you remained connected somehow!"
"Very well, Mr. Wright," the Judge said. "Show us evidence that proves the witness is still connected to the Meraktis Clinic!"
I nodded, pulling the next item I needed from my bag of tricks. "Take that!" I yelled, holding them up. "These sandals were found in the Meraktis Clinic lobby." I turned my eyes on her. "They're yours, aren't they?"
"Ah!" she gasped, before quickly trying to cover it up. "W-well, who knows? I'm sure there are lots of people with those sandals," he replied.
"So sorry, Fräulein, but your act isn't working," Gavin cut in before I could answer. I looked at him, surprised. I wasn't the only one. "You moment of hesitation just now cost you."
"Wh-what's with you?" Alita demanded. "I thought you were on my side!"
"Perhaps you are unaware that toes leave 'toe prints'? A simple analysis of these sandals will reveal all," Gavin said with a smirk. I glanced in the sandal, where the toe print still was, surprised at Gavin's words.
"Well, now we see your true colors," Alita snapped. "I was wrong to cooperate with you from the beginning! I just wanted… I just wanted you to help get Wocky back on the straight and narrow."
"Hmm…" the Judge hummed thoughtfully. "This court thinks you need to worry less about Wocky and more about yourself. It sounds as though we need to hear a bit more about your story."
"Your sandals were found in the entrance to the clinic… which means you went there on the day of the murder!" I announced.
"Well, there's little point in denying it," Alita snapped.
"Very well. The witness will tell us about this visit. Why did you go to the Meraktis Clinic that day?" the Judge asked.
"I did go to the clinic that day. My first time in half a year, since I quite in January. I went to warn him. After all, I knew Wocky had the pistol. The doctor always was a timid man," Alita said in disgust. "Too timid to admit his own mistake. Why else would I have gone? I'm not hiding dark secrets. I wanted to tell him to be careful, as an old friend," she testified. I pulled out my deck and began shuffling it, the movement helping me to focus my thoughts.
"By 'mistake,' you mean… the mistake we heard about from the defendant? The botched operation?"
"He was a timid, small man… but I never wished him arm. I just thought I should let him know, you know?"
"Hmm… that does make sense," the Judge hummed.
"Yes, but there is still one thing which does not," Gavin suddenly said, before I could speak up.
"What's that, Prosecutor Gavin?" the Judge asked.
"The sandals left in the lobby, of course. We can assume she wore these sandals to the clinic, ja? Then why did she not wear them home? If it were me, I would have worn them home," Gavin pointed out.
"I would have worn those sandals home, too," the Judge agreed.
"So, why were the sandals left behind?" Gavin demanded.
Ack! I thought, nearly dropping my cards. He pointed out the contradiction before me!
"There's probably a good explanation for this. Right, Ms. Tiala?" Gavin asked. "Say, for instance… there happened to be a similar pair of sandals there which you wore home by mistake?" Alita looked at him in surprise for a moment before smiling.
"Actually, that's right. I'm impressed, Mr. Gavin," she said in a honey like voice. I narrowed my eyes.
"Oh, it is nothing," the man laughed. "There is, after all, no other possible explanation. Ja, Herr Forehead?" he asked, turning his eyes to me. I narrowed my own eyes coldly.
Oh. I see what he's doing. He's filling the holes in her testimony…
"The defense may begin the cross-examination," the Judge announced.
I nodded, deciding to not beat around the bush anymore, but to cut straight to the heart of the matter.
I had the evidence, after all.
"That's the only reason you went?" I demanded.
"Yes. Like I said, I'm not hiding any dark secrets," she repeated.
"Objection!" I yelled, whipping the medical chart out again. "This chart was found inside a safe in the doctor's office," I said.
"Yes?" Alita said.
"Why would this one chart be in that safe. Ms. Tiala, you know why it was, don't you?" I demanded. Alita jerked back with a soft gasp.
"Mind filling me in?" the Judge asked.
"Dr. Meraktis didn't have the leisure of making 'mistakes,'" I explained. "That's why he wrote up a false report, and kept the truth locked away."
"…Bad Herr Doktor," Gavin muttered.
"And this is where you come in, Ms. Tiala," I said, turning to the woman. She glared at me, but I ignored it. "The nurse who filed this chart was you, which means… you knew about Wocky's failed operation!"
"Interesting…" the Judge mused.
"You were in the same position as Dr. Meraktis! Kind of makes it hard to claim 'no connection,' doesn't it?" I demanded. The woman scoffed.
"You're bold for a novice, I'll give you that," she said coldly. I narrowed my eyes, wondering where he was going with this.
"Mr. Wright, you must know I was only a nurse. The doctor is responsible for the cart's contents," she explained. I noticed something, before dropping my eyes to my bracelet, feeling it tighten.
"Hmm… this cart business seems to be quite important. Please amend your testimony accordingly," the Judge demanded.
"Too bad, little attorney," the woman smirked. I dragged my eyes away from my wrist and met her smirk with one of my own, which unnerved her slightly.
"Apollo?" Trucy asked.
"You mean you didn't see it, Trucy? She was lying," I explained. "Her nervous habit gave her away."
"No… I didn't see anything, Apollo," Trucy admitted. I looked over at her curiously, and she huffed in an annoyed little sister way. "This sucks. Your senses are sharper than mine," she pouted. I smiled at that with a shrug.
"Whoops?" I laughed, before turning back to the woman. "Alright, let's find this weak spot in her testimony," I said.
"Why would I go to the clinic now for a half-year-old chart?" Alita demanded, adding the statement to her testimony. My senses narrowed in on her, and as she said now, I noticed her twitching her engagement right.
"Gotcha!" I yelled, pointing at her. "Why go to the clinic for a half-year-old cart now, you ask? But, you know why you would go 'now,' don't you?" I demanded.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Alita replied.
"It was quite clear, Ms. Tiala. You have a nervous habit. The moment you said the word 'now,' you used you right thumb to fiddle with your ring," I explained.
"Wh-what?" Alita gasped.
She was unsure. I saw it. 'Now,' that's the key word! "The chart wasn't a part of your past," I explained. "It was a clear and present threat!"
"That's ridiculous. Why, if that were the case… I would have had six months to do something about it!" Alita argued. I nodded.
"Indeed," I agreed.
"Eh?" Alita asked, thrown off guard.
"Which means something happened quite recently… something to make that cart a proplem for you now," I pressed. Her eyes widened slightly at that.
I've got her hooked now, I can feel it! Time for the grand finale! "Ms. Tiala. There's no use trying to hid it. The chart became a threat to you now… because of this!" I announced, holding up Wocky's check-up report. It appeared on screen for all to see.
"A health check-up report.. belonging to the defendant," I explained. "The Kitakis are trying to get out of the business. The health check-up this month was their first ever... What did you think when you heard about this?" I asked.
"Eh? Oh, n-nothing. Why should I think anything?" Alita asked.
"Oh? I would think you were positively beside yourself. Because you were afraid," I explained. "You knew what Wocky's chest X-ray would reveal!" I said. Alita gasped, and I pressed the point. "A full half year had passed since the operation. You thought you were home free… when the chart came back to haunt you!" I drove the last nail in her coffin, and she gasped, her eyes wide with fear. With a nod to myself, I stood up straight, having not realized I was leaning over the bench, and looked up at the judge. "That's all, Your Honor," I concluded.
"Wh-what just happened?" the Judge asked in confusion. "Did… the witness just admit to lying?" Alita's eyes widened as though she just realized this herself.
"I sensed it," Gavin said in slight awe, looking over at me. "There was a great 'aura' emanating from Herr Forehead." He smiled. "Very cool." "He looked over at the witness. "So, the lady was lying, it seems."
"That's correct," I said. "She said she had no connection to the Meraktis Clinic. But her connection was deep indeed. A bit too deep. If the Kitakis got a hold of this chart with her name… she'd be finished. Isn't that right, Ms. Tiala?" I asked, looking over at the woman. She shook her head, glaring at me coldly.
"You guessed it." The court erupted as everyone in the gallery began talking.
"Order! Order!" the Judge yelled, slamming his gavel in an attempt to get everyone quite.
I did it! I broke her testimony! I thought gleefully. Trucy gave me a huge grin.
"Amazing, Apollo! I didn't see it at all! You have a true gift!" she said.
"Wait!" Alita suddenly yelled once everyone was quite. I looked over at her in surprise, and dread.
"Ms. Tiala?" the Judge asked.
"It's true, that chart was bad news for me. That's why I went to meet the doctor that day!" she admitted. "But that's all! I told him about Wocky and went home!"
"It appears this cross-examination is far from over," Gavin mused. I gasped.
"Wh-what!?"
"She hid the truth from us, this is clear, yet… it is not clear that this truth has anything to do with the case at hand!" Gavin explained. I frowned.
"Hmm… very well. The witness will add this to her testimony. And… we'll have a bit more cross-examination," the Judge agreed.
Grr! I was so close! I thought.
"You're still close!" Trucy hissed, seeming to read my thoughts. "Keep on her, Apollo!"
"Nothing happened at all. I warned him, and left," Alita said, adding it to her testimony.
"Objection!" I yelled, suddenly realizing something. "You say 'nothing happened' in the doctor's office. I disagree. Take a lok at this," I said, pulling out my chosen piece of evidence.
"What's that?" Alita asked, peering at it. "It looks like a squished-up ball of clay." She smirked. "Kind of like you, actually."
"This bullet was found in the Meraktis Clinic office," I explained, ignoring her insult. "Something did 'happen' in that office, Ms. Tiala!"
"Objection!" Gavin yelled, slamming his fist into the wall behind him before pointing at me. "Enough of this joking around. The police investigated that clinic!" he reminded me.
"Objection!" I yelled, before smirking. "Ah, but his was stuck inside the doctor's safe," I explained.
"Inside the safe…?" Gavin gasped.
"We guessed correctly about the police not checking that far," Trucy said brightly.
"Objection!" Gavin yelled. "But there is a problem. How can you say that bullet was fired on that day?" he demanded.
"Objection!" I yelled, before crossing my arms with a smirk. "We could always check the rifling marks, couldn't we?" I suggested. Gavin winced back in surprise, staying quite, and I pressed my advantage. "The pistol was taken from the Kitaki Mansion that day. If the marks on this bullet match the murder weapon… then that proves a firearm was discharged in that office on the day of the murder!"
"Not bad, Herr Forehead," Gavin conceded, smiling at me. I just gave him a curt nod in acknowledgement for the compliment.
"Bailiff!" the judge yelled. "Have this bullet analyzed immediately!"
We waited half an hour for the report. In this time, since we couldn't press further with the trial, I showed Trucy a new card trick I had devised, and she spent the rest of the time trying to figure it out (with no success).
The bailiff finally reentered the room and took the report straight to the Judge. He read it before nodding.
"The rifling marks on both bullets are identical," he announced. "Well, it seems as though the bullet in the safe was fired from the murder weapon." He looked at. "Perhaps the defense would like to state their position?"
"The bullet in that safe proves one fact: a pistol was fired in that office on that day," I started. "And at the time of the firing, the safe was open. The safe which contained the top-secret chart," I explained.
"Do you think someone was threatening Dr. Meraktis? In order to open the safe?" the Judge asked.
"Only one person was in a position to do such a thing," I confirmed, before looking towards the witness stand. "Our witness, Alita Tiala!" I announced, pointing at her. She jumped slightly, and the court erupted.
"Order! Order! Order!" the Judge yelled. "Mr. Wright! Where are you going with this? Are you accusing the witness!?" the Judge demanded.
"Alita Tiala knew about Wocky Kotaki's botched operation!" I began. "She got engaged to him without telling him about it! As long as that bullet remained in his chest, his days were numbered. What if she married him, and then the bullet finally reached its destination?" I said.
"Wh-whaaaat!?" the Judge gasped.
"That reminds me," Gavin suddenly said. "Apparently, the Kitakis have been asserting themselves in lawful business practices… they're making quite a great deal of money… a fortune, if you will."
"Nefarious! So she planned to marry him just to get her hands on this fortune?" the Judge asked.
"Objection!" someone yelled before I could answer. Looking around, I spotted Wocky standing at the defendant's chair, glaring at me. "You keep talking trash about my Alita… and I'll sue you, lawyer-man!" he yelled.
"Huh…? Me!?" I demanded.
"Yeah!" he growled. "You said… you said you'd… you'd abuse my Alita!
"Um, I think you mean 'accuse'…!" I corrected him.
"Same difference!" he snapped. "Well you can't have her! She's mine!" He turned to the judge. "It was me! I shot that doctor! Me!" he yelled. "He left me to die, so I left him to die, too, there in that park!"
"W-Wocky!" I yelled, trying to get through to the distressed boy. "Just cool down a second, please!"
"You keep your hands off my Alita!" he snapped, whirling on me again. "Or I'll—"
Giggling cut off his threat. Looking around, I spotted the source coming from the witness stand. Alita Tiala continued to giggle, wrapping an arm around her stomach.
"M-Ms. Tiala?" the Judge asked. She took a deep breath and stood, shaking her head.
"I-I'm sorry. I just… it's been so long since I've laughed so hard," she admitted.
"Something funny?" I demanded.
"Wocky," she snapped, a cold, condescending look on her face. "Wake up and smell reality!"
"A-Alita-baby?" Wocky asked, his eyes wide.
"The signature on the chart, the engagement… I mean, come on!" Alita said, shaking her head. "It's so obvious. Even for a brainless, spoiled brat such as yourself."
"Alita…" Wocky gasped, both his voice and the look on his face shattered.
"Your honesty is like a breath of foul air, Fräulein," Gavin commented. The woman scoffed.
"Hey, I wasn't getting out of this clean, anyway," she said.
"So… the Family fortune is what you're really after!" I said.
"That's right. I wanted the money," she admitted.
"No way!" Wocky gasped. "That's wack! I ain't trying to hear that!"
"Should have done the wedding earlier," Alita shrugged. "Oh well. By the way," she said, turning to look at me. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Who, me?" I asked.
"I believe you said you were going to abuse me?" she asked. I frowned at her.
"Accuse."
"Of what crime, might I ask?" Alita asked.
"Huh?" I asked.
"Oh, I'm a bad girl. Sure. I got close to that brat because I wanted his money. But he was the one with the pistol. He could've fired it into the safe after I'd already left the clinic," she pressed.
"What…?" I demanded, thrown off guard.
"I would never do a thing like that. It was definitely that silly brat," she continued.
"Wait, but…" I began, trying to gather my thoughts for an argument.
"What are you talking about!?" Trucy suddenly snapped. I looked at her, surprised at the anger etched in every line of her body.
"T-Trucy…?" I asked.
"You had the most to lose if that chart was found!" Trucy pressed. Alita quirked an eyebrow at her.
"But I didn't have a pistol, now did I?" she asked.
"W-well, you could have taken Wocky's!" Trucy countered.
"You' think he'd have mentioned that, no? All I've heard him say is, 'it was me! I shot him!'"
"Objection!" I yelled. "That's only because he was trying to protect you!"
"Sorry to intrude in this lovely conversation," Gavin suddenly said, gaining all three of our attention. "But the two of you are forgetting one critical point."
"What… what point!?" Trucy demanded.
"Certainly, the Fräulein wanted that chart. You assume she threatened the doctor into opening that safe. But then… wouldn't she have taken the chart?" Gavin asked.
"Oh…" Trucy mumbled.
"You see? That chart wouldn't have been left in that safe!" the prosecutor said.
"Ack!" Trucy gasped.
He… he's right!
"Ms. Tiala," the Judge said.
"Yes?" Alita asked.
"It is clear to this court that you are not a very good fiancée," he said.
"Oh, I'm flattered," Alita replied sarcastically.
"Perhaps it's time you told us the truth? Tell us about yourself, including your actions and whereabouts on that day," the Judge demanded.
"Don't forget! We've proven that you were at the Meraktis Clinic on the day of the crime!" I reminded her. She rolled her eyes at me.
"Yes, I went to the clinic that day to speak to the doctor. I wanted that chart, but I failed to get it. So I went back to the clinic later. In any case, I didn't shook him. You don't even have proof I stole that pistol, do you?" she demanded. "And that brat was spotted in the park at the moment of the crime! Frankly, I don't think it matters if Dr. Meraktis was shot in the temple or not," she concluded.
'Don't think it matters if he was shot in the temple or not'…? Why bring that up? Unless—!
"You went back 'later'…?" the Judge asked, cutting off my thought.
"That chart was dangerous, you understand. I needed to get rid of it, that's why I went that day," he explained.
"But you couldn't get the chart then, could you?" Gavin asked.
"…And later that night, Dr. Meraktis was shot. I heard about the shooting, waited a day, but then I had to go back… No easy feat with cops all over the place," she admitted. I gasped.
"Th-that was you!?" I demanded, thinking back to how Trucy and I nearly caught the burglar at the clinic yesterday. "So you were the burglar…"
"That was you two?" Alita asked, looking over at us. "If only I had one more minute… then I could have opened that safe and gotten the chart!"
"What!?" the Judge gasped. "That's trespassing! And brazen, at that!"
"Oh, is this a trial for trespassing now?" Alita asked. "Besides… you can't blame a girl for wanting to protect herself… they are gangsters, you know," she said.
"In any case, Mr. Wright, your cross-examination!"
Admitting a little crime to avoid the big one, eh? I thought, remembering Dad once had a case like that. I then turned my focus to her testimony.
"Why 'that day'?" I asked.
"That brat was uncontrollable. He was ready to kill! And that would bring in the polie… and that cart would become evidence… and I'd be hung out to dry…" she sniffled, a classic case of crocodile tears.
"But the police didn't check the safe, did they?" Trucy asked.
"Well, they thought the crime was the park," I reminded her.
"I'll make sure the responsible parties feel the heat… such sloppiness won't be tolerated, ja?" Gavin added.
I'm kinda thankful for that sloppiness myself, actually…I thought. Sloppiness… that last line of her testimony! That's right! I returned to my earlier thought, gathering the case I was about to put forward, before beginning.
"The doctor was shot in the right temple, yes?" I asked.
"So it seems," Alita replied.
"Let's review the facts again, shall we?" Gavin said as a diagram of the crime scene appeared on screen. "If the killer shot from this location," he started, pointing to where Wocky stood. "The bullet would've struck our victim square in the forehead. However! The entry wound… was in the right temple."
"Yes, we heard testimony on this yesterday," the Judge said. "At the time of the shooting, the witness was standing here," he motioned to the spot south of the victim. "Just before the gun was fired, he shouted. The victim turned his head to look… and was shot."
"Objection!" I yelled. "But that testimony was proven to be a lie!" I reminded them. "Our egregious panty-snatcher, Mr. Stickler, did witness the crime… but he was standing to the north, next to the trash can where he tossed those panties!" I said, motioning to the spot. If. Mr. Stickler shouted from this location, the bullet couldn't hit his right temple!"
"Silly, silly attorney…" Alita cooed.
"Wh-what!?" I demanded.
"Do you remember what you had for breakfast that morning?"
"Frozen waffles." Well, freezer burnt waffles. It's the same thing I have every morning.
"I always have a glass of milk for breakfast," Trucy added.
"Wait, why does it matter!?" I demanded, realizing she managed to derail my thought process.
"What matters is one thing: The doctor was shot in his right temple. If that's the case, there can only be one explanation! The panties guy was mistaken."
Clay would have loved to hear that nickname…
"Objection!" I yelled. "His location was proven! You can't write that off as him being 'mistaken'!" I countered.
"Objection!" Gavin yelled. "Then why don't you show us, Herr Forehead?" he challenged.
"Show you… what?" I asked, still thrown off by the breakfast question.
"Must I explain everything?" he sighed. "Very well, let's recap: If the witness, panties guy, was standing to the north… then where was the shooter standing? From what location did the killer shoot the victim?" he asked.
"But wait!" the Judge gasped. "If the witness was standing there… how could anyone shoot the victim in the right temple?"
Gavin laughed. "I merely laid out the facts for us. It is up to the one possessing the shiny forehead to show us." I scowled at him. "If you can, that is," he added.
Wocky Kitaki was standing at the 'killer' mark… I thought, turning to the diagram. Wesley Stickler at the 'witness' mark… and of course, Pal Meraktis was at the 'victim' mark…
"Let's hear what the defense has to say. Where was the killer standing when they shot the victim?" the Judge asked. I studied the diagram hard, going over everything, until suddenly, I saw the truth. I turned to the Judge.
"As the facts stand now, we can't explain this crime… without contradicting ourselves at some point. But I know why. The real killer shot from an entirely different location then what's marked on the diagram!" I announced.
"What are you talking about!?" Alita demanded. "I don't see any other place…"
"Apparently, Mr. Wright does. Let's hear it. Where in the park did the killer shoot the victim from?" the Judge asked. I took a deep breath, readying my answer.
"Objection!" Gavin suddenly yelled. "It's time to raise the roof! And the stakes."
"Eh?" I asked.
"Penalties are such frightening things; don't you think?" he asked. I didn't like where this was going. "But what if they were a bit more… terrifying! I propose if Herr Forehead gets this wrong… he be held in contempt of court for wasting our time.
"Wh-what?" the Judge gasped.
"Herr Forehead wishes to take us in a new direction?" Gavin smirked. "Then he must be ready for the challenges ahead!"
I closed my eyes for a moment in thought before nodding. "Challenge accepted." My name's not 'Wright' for nothing!
"A-are you sure, Apollo?" Trucy gasped. I ignored her, deep in thought, my hands busy shuffling my deck.
The key is the witness, Mr. Stickler's testimony! If we believe that, and we know where he stood… and the victim turned when he shouted… there's only one place the killer could have been! I opened my eyes, my hands falling still on my deck. "The killer shot the victim from… here!" I announced, pointing to the noodle stand. I then turned to Alita before anyone can answer.
"I believe we all ow a debt of gratitude… to Ms. Alita Tiala," I said.
"Wh-what do you mean?" she demanded.
"Thanks to you, we had a chance to review the crime… and this time, we were prepared. We know that Wesley Stickler was telling the truth! We should have listened to him from the beginning. Wesley Stickler was standing next to the trash can when he saw the two men. He shouted, just as he told us in his testimony. And the victim turned to look in his direction. A shot was fired! The victim was hit in the right temple," I said, laying it out for everyone.
"Oh no…" the Judge groaned, catching on. I smirked.
"Oh yes! Which direction was his right temple facing at that moment? That's right! Towards the noodle stand!" My words were greeted with an uproar from the audience—I mean, people of the gallery.
"Order! Order! Order!" the Judge yelled until all was quite again. "S-so you're saying… the killer was inside the noodle stand!?" the Judge demanded.
"Objection!" Gavin yelled. "Let's think about this a bit more, shall we? You say the killer was 'inside the noodle stand.' Which would mean the victim, Dr. Meraktis came to the park… wheeling his own murderer in the cart behind him!"
"This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" Alita snapped. "I'd think you'd notice if you were pulling someone along!"
"Objection!" I yelled. "There's something we should worry about before that! Why was he pulling the noodle stand in the first place!?" I demanded, bringing up the one question everyone seemed content to ignore.
"Objection!" Gavin countered. "Let's deal with our problems one at a time, shall we?" he said, proving my thought that everyone was ignoring that question. "Someone was hiding in the stand… we have not come this far to talk about 'possibilities.' Let's talk about 'proof,' baby. Show us evidence that proves someone was in that stand!"
Can I prove that…? I thought, going over everything in my head. "You want evidence that someone was in the stand…?" Wait! That's it! "Well, I've got it right here!" I said.
"Intriguing! Let's see what you've got. Show us proof that someone was hiding in the noodle stand!"
"Of course. Take that!" I yelled, pulling out the slippers and presenting them. Moments later, they appeared on screen. I motioned to the words on them. "'The Meraktis Clinic,'" I read. "And they're covered with paint. These slippers were found in a trash can near the crime scene," I explained.
"And…?" Gavin asked.
"A single slipper print was found at the scene… right next to the noodle stand!" I announced.
"Ack!" Alita gasped.
"Oh, and Ms. Tiala. Your toe print was found in the left slipper!" I added, causing her to gasp again. "In other words… this is proof you were inside that noodle stand!" I concluded.
"No!" she gasped.
"Objection!" Gavin yelled. "Yet there was only one slipper mark found at the scene… can this be called a footprint, in good faith?" he demanded.
"Objection!" I countered. "Observe the diagram!" I pointed to the monitor as it appeared back on screen. "A park pathway runs right nect to the slipper mark! A slipper wouldn't leave a trace on a cobblestone path!"
"Objection!" Gavin replied. "Yet you still cannot say this is a 'footprint,' ja?" he asked.
"Why not!?" I demanded.
"You have an impression left by a single slipper… what if it was on the stand and simply fell to the ground?" he asked.
"Objection!" I yelled. "That's…" I was grasping at straw now. "That's just dumb!" I countered as seriously as I could. I could almost feel Dad face palming at my reply up in the gallery.
"One more thing. A noodle stand is typically cluttered with the tools of the noodle-making trade. There's no room for a person to ride in there!" Gavin pressed.
"Hmm… you have a point," the Judge said. "Could someone have hidden in that stand?
Suddenly, something we saw yesterday made sense. I smirked.
"I can prove one thing," I announced. "Someone did scheme to clear space in that stand!" I pulled a picture of one of Eldoon's bowls out from my court record. "Take that! This is a noodle bowl from the stolen Eldoon's Noodles noodle stand," I explained.
"Yes, and what about it?" the Judge asked.
"We discovered a large quantity of these bowls yesterday… in the lobby of the Meraktis Clinic!" I announced. Alita's eyes widened in surprise.
"La large quantity of noodle bowls in the victim's clinic?" the Judge asked. I nodded.
"Mr. Eldoon was very clear about those bowls. They all went missing, along with his cart." I slammed my fists down on the bench. "Yet the bowls were removed! That night, there was space inside that noodle stand! Space created at the Meraktis Clinic, no less. Right around the time that you were there, Ms. Alita Tiala!" I concluded.
"Stooooooop!" Alita yelled, grabbing her head. The wings on the front of her dress seemed to flap. "I won't listen to any more of these wild fantasies! No… not fantasies… they're worse lies than that spoiled brat's pickup lines!" she yelled.
"I would like to remind the witness of her current status," the Judge said. "This court does not consider you entirely innocent."
"Sho me an innocent… I'll show you a fairy tale," the woman spat. The Judge shook his head.
"In any case. The defense has, somehow, made its point. The witness had both a motive and an opportunity to kill Dr. Meraktis," the Judge conceded.
"More fairy tales!" the woman snapped. "This whole trial is a fairy tale!"
"Then please, pull us back down to reality, Ms. Tiala. I'm giving you one last chance to explain yourself."
This is it! Why was Dr. Meraktis pulling that stand that night…? And what was Alita Tiala doing inside it? Time to get to the bottom of this case!
"That night, I went to ask Dr. Meraktis for the chart," Alita began. "I had no intention of ever letting that chart fall into the Kitaki Family's hands. But Dr. Meraktis didn't understand… For some reason, he thought the Kitakis had sent me! So I gave up and went home… all I did was talk to him!" My eyes narrowed as my bracelet squeeze. I immediately found her nervous habit, but first, I wanted to draw more information out of her.
"You knew about the botched operation… So you tried to get rid of the chart, to save yourself!" I asserted.
"I won't make excuses. And I did warn the good doctor. I gave him a chance. I told him that brat got his health check-up report. And that he was coming to settle the score," she explained.
"Hmm… I see. Very well. Mr. Wright, begin your cross-examination," the Judge said.
"Yes, Your Honor," I said.
"If the Kitakis had gotten that chart, it would have put a damper on your wedding plans, I'd say," I said.
"Not only that. If the Kitakis had gotten that chart… I'd probably be with Dr. Meraktis now, pulling that great noodle stand in the sky."
Um… well, that's one way to put it…
"It seems our witness was in a fix as well," Gavin mused.
"Who would want to die pulling a noodle stand?" Alita muttered.
"When I die, it will be by disappearing mysteriously in the middle of a magic act!" Trucy said brightly from where she stood at my elbow.
"Could we be a little less morbid!? Please!?" I demanded, before realizing exactly what she said. "And no more disappearing acts from you!"
"Listen to your brother, Trucy!" Dad yelled from the gallery.
"Order! Order!" the Judge yelled. I groaned, mildly embarrassed. Realizing I wouldn't be able to get any more useful information from her, I just decided to move on.
"Could you repeat that last part of your testimony?" I asked.
"I gave up and went home… All I did was talk to him!" Alita said.
Instantly, my eyes snapped to her hand, where she reached up to scratch her neck as she said those magical words.
"'All I did was talk'…" I repeated. "And lie."
"Wh-what? Show me proof!" she demanded.
This is just too easy. A little slip in confidence, and the give it all away. And sometimes, the habits and tics are related somehow to whatever they're lying about! "The proof… is you, Ms. Tiala," I said. Her eyes widened. "'All I did was talk to him,' you claim… yet you can't hide your own nervous twitch when you say those words!"
"My 'twitch?' What are you talking about!?" she demanded, and I was surprised she didn't remember from earlier.
"You have a habit of scratching the area of your neck around the edge of your scarf," I pointed out.
"Wha-! Wh-what!?" She demanded.
This is working better in court than I'd hoped! Her unconscious actions tell the truth she won't say. Habits and lies… two dots… connect the dots and find the truth!
"D-don't look at me like that! I t-told you the tr-truth…" Alita snapped, scratching her neck again.
"It seems that when you recall what really happened in that office… you can't keep your hands off your neck, can you?" I said. She frowned, forcefully dropping her hand to her side.
"You can't hide behind your scarf, Ms. Tiala!" I pressed. "Something happened between you and the victim in the Meraktis Clinic office! And I've got proof that shows exactly what happened!" I announced, pulling a picture out of the lamp Trucy and I found in the office. Almost immediately, Alita's hand was back at her neck.
"Wh-what's that…?" she asked.
"You're touching your scarf again," I pointed out. She scowled at me, but I turned my attention to the picture. "There's something unusual about this lamp. The bulb is broken… and there's a red splotch on the cord."
"Eh…"
"Seeing how you hide your neck… I think I can come up with a plausible explanation for the lamp's state," I said.
"Well, spit it out! This talking in circles nonsense is killing me!" Alita snapped.
"Very well. The answer is very simple. Ms. Alita Tiala… please remove your scarf!" I demanded. Alita's eyes widened, and she let out a distressed noise.
"Objection!" Gavin yelled. "This trial is to determine what happened in that park. Yet we seem to have drifted off target."
"Objection!" I countered. "We'll find out soon enough if we're drifting… as soon as the witness removes her scarf!" I argued.
"I… I won't do it!" Alita cried. "This is insane! I'm a… an unrelated third party! You can't order me to remove my clothing!"
"Ms. Tiala, I'm afraid you've forgotten what's already been proven," the Judge said.
"What…?"
"You're hardly 'unrelated'… Please remove your scarf," he commanded.
"No… NOOO!" she cried, but after a moment, pulled the green fabric from her neck. Despite expecting it, even I had to gasp as the dark purple line encircling her throat.
"I knew it. So I was right, wasn't I, Ms. Alita Tiala!"
"Your neck… that isn't what I think it is, is it!?" the Judge gasped.
"Something did happen that night at the Meraktis Clinic! You needed to get that chart back, no matter what it took. Even if you had to steal your fiancé's pistol to do it!" I said.
"B-but wait! Looking at this lamp, and the witness's neck… it looks like the very opposite happened!" the Judge said.
"Exactly. The victim in the clinic that night… was this witness! Specifically, you tried to threaten Dr. Meraktis and he attacked you! That's what happened that night at the Meraktis Clinc!" I reasoned.
Alita sobbed, confirming it to be the truth.
"Order! Order! Order! Will someone please tell me what really happened!?" he demanded.
"I told you the truth already! I went to the clinic that night to warn Dr. Meraktis!" Alita cried.
"And what happened next!?" I demanded.
"He jumped at me, and knocked me to the floor! Then, he took that cord… Pal Meraktis was serious. Deadly serious. He really tried to strangle me. I… I must have blacked out," she said.
"So… you were the victim!" the Judge gasped.
"And the red splotch on the cord… was your lipstick," Gavin added.
"I… I didn't want to remember that night," Alita said softly, before looking up at me. "That's why I didn't bring it up. There… are you happy now?" she demanded.
"Eh…" I muttered.
"I was out cold, almost killed! And you claim I then snuck into that noodle stand… but how could I!?" she pressed.
"Ack!" I gasped.
"Well, one thing is clear. We now know what happened at the Meraktis Clinic. And it would seem that our victim was not entirely without blame himself!" The Judge concluded.
"I… I'm sorry. I get so nervous just thinking of it, it's hard to breath. I've told you everything. Can I go home now?" she pleaded.
"Hmm… you bear some responsibility for events that day, true. Yet, if you were also a victim… this court would owe you some sympathy. Well, Mr. Wright? I believe this clears up the remaining questions for Ms. Tiala," the Judge said.
When did this happen!? Suddenly, everyone's sympathizing with her! I thought, knowing it was partially my fault.
"I don't know what to think, Polly…" Trucy sighed. "I mean, is that it? Do we know everything we need to know about Ms. Tiala?"
"Very well!" the Judge decided. "This finished the cross-examination of this—"
"Objection!" Gavin suddenly called, before laughing. "Not so fast. This party's just getting started!" he said. "Now, we rock!"
"W-what!?" I gasped.
"Those spikes on your head are softer than they look," Gavin taunted. "Or do you not have the stomach to go all the way?"
"Prosecutor Gavin?" the Judge asked.
"Pal Meraktis choked Alita Tiala… she fell unconscious. But what happened next?" the prosecutor questioned.
"He's right!" Trucy gasped. "There is more we don't know!"
"But… she was choked hard enough to leave that mark…" I mused. "She would have been out for a—" But what if she was in that stand? Alita Tiala, half-dead… Dr. Meraktis pulling that stand… and a bullet fired from inside the noodle stand! That's it! "Ms. Alita Tiala, as you can see… we're not through with you just yet," I said, slamming my fists down on the bench in front of me. Alita narrowed her eyes.
"You really want to blame me for this murder, don't you? You, too, 'Prosecutor' Gavin," she demanded.
"Me?" Gavin asked. "Fräulein, I only wish to know the truth."
"Well, let's go back over what we've learned up till now," I proposed. "On the day of the murder, Wocky saw his check-up report… from which he learned about the bullet still inside him. So, he took a pistol from the Family stash… with the intent to give Dr. Meraktis some of 'his own medicine.'"
"And Ms. Tiala heard about this from Wocky. So she went to the Meraktis Clinic ahead of him! In order get rid of the chart with her signature!" Trucy continued, picking up where I left off.
"But then… something happened," I continued.
"Sounds like you've figured it all out," Alita scowled. "But remember, I was the victim! I was out cold."
"But, what about Dr. Meraktis?" I asked.
"That does seem to be the problem..." Gavin mused. "He had just strangled Alita Tiala, perhaps, he thought, to death. What did he do after his crime?"
"I was just knocked out! Not dead!" Alita retorted.
"From the state of his clinic, and the scene in the park… I think it's clear what the good doctor did next. Well, Herr Forehead? Care to guess?" Gavin suggested. I jolted slightly at that.
"Well, Mr. Wright?" the Judge asked. "What did Dr. Meraktis do!?"
Maybe he did think he killed Alita Tiala… do I have evidence to show what he did next?
Wait! That's it!
"As his next move, Dr. Meraktis… stole Guy Eldoon's noodle stand!" I announced.
"What, 'killing' me disturbed him that much?" Alita snorted. "So much he randomly stole a noodle stand!?"
"It wasn't so 'random.'" I countered. "Remember all the bowls in the clinic's foyer? Bowls that belonged inside that stand? I think it's pretty obvious, don't you? That stand was at the clinic. However, the question is why did he remove the bowls?" I asked.
"Maybe… because the stand was heavy?" Trucy asked. I smirked.
"Or he wanted to put something in the stand in their place…" I revealed.
"Ah!" the Judge gasped. "Wait, you don't mean…!"
"I do," I confirmed. "Dr. Meraktis did replace those bowls with something… your 'corpse,' Ms. Tiala!" I announced.
"M-my 'corpse'!?" she gasped.
"Dr. Meraktis panicked. He thought he'd killed you!" I told her.
"His next move would be to dispose of the body!"Gavin added.
"Th-that's crazy talk! You're all crazy!" Alita gasped.
"Objection!" I yelled, cutting across her rant. "Then let's think about it… logically. The doctor had a place to dispose of you in mind… but on the way there… who should he run into but the defendant, Wocky Kitaki!"
"Objection!" Gavin countered. "I question your 'logic,'" he said.
"What's this, Prosecutor Gavin?" the Judge asked.
"The park is a dead end. Why would he head in that direction to begin with?" the prosecutor asked.
"That's right!" Alita said, latching onto his reason. "He had no reason to go there! Oh, now I get it! It was a trick! That spoiled brat made him do it! He made the doctor steal the stand!" Alita reasoned, sounding a lot like Trucy yesterday.
"Objection!" I yelled. "Tell me… why would someone go to a 'dead end?'" I asked. "Unless the park was his destination!"
"Wh-what…?" Alita asked.
"Apparently, the defense has an idea. Tell us where Dr. Meraktis was heading with the stand!" the Judge demanded. I smirked, crossing my arms.
"Is it really that hard to guess?" I asked, looking at the map of the park. "There's a river in the park. That's where Dr. Meraktis was headed with the cart." I slammed my fists on the bench. "I hardly need to explain why."
"A perfect place to dispose of a body," Gavin agreed.
"H-he was going to throw me into that river!?" Alita gasped.
"He didn't have many other options, Fräulein," Gavin said with a grin. Alita simply stared at him with dismayed eyes.
"I believe this clears up all of the remaining questions," I said. "The victim pulling the stand, and the defendant before him. And inside the stand… you, Ms. Alita Tiala," I said.
"Urk…" Alita muttered.
"And then, the denouement. Wesley Stickler, of panty-snatching fame, walks up. Seeing the two men, he shouts! In that instant… Bang!" I continued, getting caught up in the story. I even managed to get Trucy to jump slightly, a feat in itself.
"So… I shot him?" Alita asked.
"You were the only one who could have stolen Wocky's pistol. It had to be you!" I announced.
"Well, Ms. Tiala?" the Judge asked.
"Hmph. Nice work…" she said coldly.
"You mean, I'm right?" I asked.
"I mean you've done a fine job dreaming up a story… to get that spoiled brat off the hook!" Alita snapped.
"You're the one who's dream!" Trucy countered. "Polly's backed up everything he's said with facts! If you're so sure he's making it up, give us another reason! Why was Dr. Meraktis pulling that stand through the park!?" she demanded.
"Who knows? But there's one gaping hole in your logic. I think Mr. Gavin knows whereof I speak!" Alita replied.
"Whereof what!?" I demanded in disbelief.
"Is this true, Prosecutor Gavin?" the Judge asked. All eyes turned to the prosecutor, where he was snapping to a tune of his own.
"Must I always be the one to point out Herr Forehead's errors?" Gavin asked with a smirk. I scowled at that. "I believe the Fräulein speaks of… Herr Doktor's car."
"His car?" I asked.
"That's right! The Meraktis Clinic has that big garage!" Alita said.
"In which sat… a green sports car, was it?" the Judge asked.
"Why would he steal the stand in the first place!? If he wanted to carry a body, he would have used his car!" Alita pointed out.
"And so we find our victim without probably cause to steal that stand… and our defense without a case," Gavin added helpfully.
"Objection!" Trucy yelled while I tried to figure out this new riddle. "Um… I have an idea! You know that green car? I bet it wouldn't run! It was broken!" she said.
"Ah, what an excellent counter-argument, Fräulein. Too bad you're quite wrong," Gavin said.
"Eh…?" both of us asked. I had actually thought Trucy's idea was pretty good.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten what happened to your father?" he asked the two of us.
"Daddy…?" Trucy asked.
"Dad?" I said at the same time, before realizing. "That's right! That night, the car that hit Dad… was that green sports car!"
"Oh, yes! I-I'd nearly forgotten about it!" the Judge admitted.
"Afterward, he drove it back to that garage. It ran fine," Gavin said.
"That's right. So why didn't he use his beloved sports car, hmm?" Alita demanded.
"Um…"
"Well, Mr. Wright? Why didn't Dr. Meraktis use his car to carry the 'body?'" the Judge demanded.
"Uh… umm…" I hummed, stalling for time while my brain stalled in thoughts.
"Is that a groan of surrender I hear?" Gavin asked with a smirk. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he shook his head. "Some advice: Now's a good time to review all you know. Everything you've learned over the last two days," he said, staring me straight in the eye. I hesitated a moment, before gasping, realizing what he was talking about.
"Mr. Wright, this contradiction casts doubt on your entire case! This is truly your last chance! The defense will explain to us what happened that night!" the Judge demanded. I glanced once more at Gavin, who smiled, before looking at the Judge.
"That night, Dr. Meraktis couldn't use his car. It wouldn't run," I asserted.
"Hah!" Alita snapped. "Now you're making even less sense than usual!"
"Not according to my information, Ms. Tiala. Put one and one together, and the explanation is simple!" I replied.
"If it's so simple, perhaps you can show us some evidence? Show us proof why the car wouldn't run that night!" the Judge asked.
I nodded, presenting my evidence.
"Let's see now… Panties!? Again!?" the Judge gasped, taking in the sight of Trucy's magic panties. She gasped, searching her pockets, before rolling her eyes at me.
"I don't even know when you took those," she hissed, before grinning at the court. "All sorts of things come out of my panties! Even the truth."
"Another crime was committed the night of the murder," I said. "The theft of these panties! The latest in a string of similar thefts, actually."
"But that night, the snatcher was caught in the act!" Trucy said, picking up the story. "The noble, older brother of the victim chased the thief until he hid… in the Meraktis Clinic garage."
"Wh-whaaaat!?" Alita gasped.
"The snatcher hid the panties there before running… perhaps someone in this court remembers where he hid them?" I asked.
"Why… weren't they found in the car's exhaust pipe?" the Judge asked.
"Exactly," I said. "By the way, I learned something yesterday. A very important piece of information. And I learned it… from you, Prosecutor Gavin!" I announced. "After all, it was you who told me that an engine cannot run if the exhaust it clogged."
"My, how interesting," Alita hummed.
"While Ms. Tiala and the doctor were struggling… the panty-snatcher snuck into the Meraktis garage. From that time, until the time we found these… that car wouldn't start," I explained.
"Wh… what!?" Alita gasped.
"That's why Dr. Meraktis had to use the noodle stand!" Trucy added. "It was the next closest thing he could think of!"
"Well, Ms. Tiala?" I asked with a smirk. "This wraps your doubts up quite nicely, I think!"
"So it does…" Alita sighed, finally admitting defeat. "Funny. This isn't the way it was supposed to turn out. Oh well. Too bad," she said.
"There's still one mystery," the Judge suddenly said. "How did you manage to disappear from that stand?"
"In the silence after the shot, I heard the witness running," the woman said.
"I believe we heard as much from Wesley Stickler. He went to use a public phone to inform the police," Gavin reminded the court.
"Which is when I made my escape," Alita said.
"Which is when you left that slipper print!" I added.
"Dr. Meraktis didn't bother taking my slippers off. I threw them out after I stepped in that paint, though," Alita finished.
"That was your mistake," I said.
"No. My biggest mistake… was coming to you for help, Mr. Wright!" she said accusingly.
"Eh…" I muttered in confusion.
"I believed in you! You and your 'Anything Agency'… if anyone could get Wocky declared guilty it was you!" she snapped. I stayed quiet, trying to work that statement out in my head and make it make sense while Alita was lead from the court room.
"I believe we've reached a conclusion of sorts…" the Judge said. "Prosecutor Gavin. How is Ms. Alita Tiala doing?" he asked.
"She's confessed to everything. We're processing her arrest now," he replied easily.
"Prosecutor Gavin sure seems calm for someone who just lost…" Trucy mused.
"Yeah," I said. He figured out the killer the entire time, and held my hand through that last part of the trial. As much as I REALLY hate to admit it… I owe him for this.
"Hmm?" Gavin hummed, noticing my eyes on him. "Something the matter, Herr Forehead?" he asked.
"Looks like it's time to announce a verdict…" the Judge said before I could answer. "NOT GUILTY! Court is adjourned!"
…
"Great job, Polly!" Trucy said brightly, looping her arm through mine as we entered the Defendant Lobby. "You did it!"
"Yeah, we did, somehow…" I chuckled, thinking about a nap.
"Wocky's off the hook… free to become the gangster he's always wanted to be!" Trucy continued. "And he has you to thank!"
"Hey! Attorney-man! You're gonna pay for what you did to my Alita, homes!" Wocky yelled, bursting into the lobby. I stepped away from Trucy.
"Or blame, I guess," I heard her mutter.
"You give my Alita back!" the enraged boy yelled, grabbing my collar and pushing me into the wall. "Stupid pointy-head attorney with a death-wish!"
"Enough, Wocky!" a deep voice suddenly snapped from the doors Wocky just came through. I looked up.
"Ah! Mr. Kitaki…" I said, surprised at the relief flooding my system.
"It's high time you opened your eyes, Wocky," the man said in that commanding voice. Wocky dropped me and whirled on his father.
"What do you know, old man!" he yelled. "I think it's 'bout time you opened yours! Givin' up the life, tryin' to become some kinda businessman!" he spat.
"Don't talk about what you don't understand, Wocky!" Mr. Kitaki snapped.
"I'm afraid the guard is going to throw them both out," Trucy muttered, coming closer while I fixed my collar.
"If not in jail. Wouldn't that be a happy ending," I added sarcastically.
"Hey, maybe we can help them out! We know why Mr. Kitaki needs to make so much money… maybe we should tell Wocky," Trucy said, before looking up. "Oh, Wocky?" she called. "Polly has something to tell you!"
"Huh? I do?" I muttered to her. Way to put me on the spot…
"Eh? Whazzat?" my former client demanded.
"Tell him the reason why, Polly!" Trucy muttered to me.
"Wocky… think about it. Think about your condition," I reminded him. His eyes widened slightly. "I talked with your mother, Little Plum, yesterday. They need money. Clean money."
"She doesn't mean…" he turned to his father. "You aren't really… are you?" he asked.
"I searched the globe. And I found one. A doctor who can take that bullet out of you, Wocky. But it's an expensive procedure," Mr. Kitaki explained.
"M-man! B-but you got plenty of money already, don't you?" Wocky demanded.
"I won't use it."
"Wha-!?"
"It was the gangster life that did this to you, Wocky. I want to help you, and I want to do it clean," the big man sighed. "Please understand. Wocky…"
"D-Dad…" Wocky muttered, his eyes welling with tears. "M-man, I see how it is, old man! Always you looking out for… out for…"
"Wocky?" Trucy asked softly. Wocky wiped his face on his sleeve, before pointing at his father.
"Listen good, old man! One day… One day… I'm gonna take you out! Then we'll see who's the O.G.! You try to hide in your business suit, I'll find you! Stupid ol' geezer!" he yelled, before rushing out of the lobby.
"My! Wocky!" Trucy gasped, stepping forward as though to follow him.
"No… It's as it should be," Mr. Kitaki said, finally looking me straight in the eye. I was shocked to find a pair of puppy-dog, brown eyes under his bushy eyebrows.
"Mr. Kitaki!" I gasped in surprise. I liked him more without the puppy dog eyes…
"I'm glad… to have met you," he said. "I'm not so good with words… but I know a professional job when I see one. Thank you," he said, and I finally felt the weight of that target lift from my back.
"Who? Me? I don't think…"
"Someday… I'll bake you one of our latest… the Kitaki Lime Pie," he said.
He's opening a pie shop!?
"So long," he muttered, turning away.
And he was gone…
"Well, let's head back, Polly! To the Wright Anything Agency!" Trucy announced. I frowned slightly.
"What about our reward?" I asked.
"Oh yeah!" she said brightly. "Come one!" Trucy grabbed my wrist and dragged me forward. I was left with no other choice but to follow, laughing at her antics.
…
A/N: And another completed chapter…
Dude, that part with Phoenix interrupting had be giggling the entire time I wrote that part. I hope you all enjoyed it too!
Apollo's a natural showman, by the way (he is in the game, I just enhanced it here).
