Chapter 10: The Great Final Trial
HoboSeven was positioned outside the tall tower across from the courthouse. It was an apartment building that used to be the most populated building in Los Angeles, but now it was the private residence of the one man who bought it all out, John Phoenix. Fortunately, it still had the security measures it had when it was an apartment building, which is to say, Seven could stroll in whenever he wanted. But first he had to wait.
It was 9:55AM when the front door finally opened and the man Seven knew as John Phoenix stumbled out then stomped over to his car and got in.
"I CAN'T believe I have to drive ALL THE WAY TO WORK, on a Saturday!" John Phoenix loudly ranted from inside his car as he revved the engine.
Seven stepped back into the darkness.
"All the way to work!" Seven heard as the car drove past and went across the street to the courthouse where Storm would be fighting for Phoenix's life.
Before John Phoenix could spot him, Seven ran through the gate and went into the building. The inside of the building was luxurious, the lobby was shiny and the floor, ceiling and walls were made of gold. There was but one thing in here that was not of a rich nature and that was the man trying to break into one of the flats.
"Hey," said Seven.
The man turned around and it was Argus Hakan!
"You're the victim from Phoenix's trial!" said Seven.
"...And you are?" asked Argus.
"I'm Hobo Seven, you're a friend of Storm's and therefore a friend of mine, let's run this place to the ground!"
Meanwhile in court
The trial started immediately.
"The court is in session for the trial of Phoenix Wright," said the judge.
"The defense is ready," said Storm.
"...I'm also ready," John Phoenix sighed at this needless procedure.
"O-Oh!" the judge quivered. "Please don't shoot me this time, John Phoenix!"
"I won't, as long as you SHUT UP and KEEP QUIET!" John Phoenix aimed his gun at the judge, who whimpered and stared at his feet.
"Now then," said John Phoenix. "Phoenix Wright was found guilty of murder the other day and now he's done it again, let us hear from the detective in charge of the investigation for more details."
Gumshoe came to the stand.
Testimony: The Second Murder
"Phoenix Wright was in Richard Wellington's house when Wellington died. He was strangled to death. There was no way for anyone else to have escaped from the crime scene unseen."
"Objection!" shouted Storm. "Detective Gumshoe, I present the DNA report!"
"What could that do?" snorted John Phoenix.
"According to forensics, there are signs that a third person was in the living room that wasn't Wellington or Phoenix."
"So?"
"So... they must have left the crime scene somehow!"
"Objection!" shouted John Phoenix. "If you are going to accuse them of murder... you must present evidence!"
"I'm not," said Storm. "All this means is that it was possible for an extra culprit to come in, kill him and leave."
"OBJECTION!" shouted John Phoenix. "A meaningless theory. Gumshoe, present the note!"
"Yeah, pal!" said Gumshoe. "According to this note that was definitely written by the victim, his killer must have been the one who killed Argus Hakan! And we know who THAT was..."
"It was Phoenix Wright!" shouted John Phoenix. "I proved it myself."
The judge banged his gavel.
"That seems to be the case. I declare Phoenix Wright..."
"HOLD IT!" shouted Storm Sente. "Too hasty, Your Honor! Don't you realize? We still have to put Phoenix on trial for the murder of Argus Hakan!"
"Oh, that's true," said the judge. "We can't say he's the culprit in that case if he hasn't been declared GUUUUIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH" screamed the judge because he had been shot, but he tried to hang in.
"You weak-minded neanderthal," shouted John Phoenix. "It's obvious that only Phoenix Wright could have done it!"
"Why," said Storm. "There could have been a fourth person there!"
"Wait that can't be!" said the judge. "The trees are unclimbable!"
"Can you CONFIRM the trees are unclimbable?" said Storm.
"Uh, no," said the judge. "But John Phoenix said they were so..."
Storm slammed his fists on the desk. "Isn't it possible that John Phoenix lied to us?"
John Phoenix crushed his desk in anger.
"HOW DARE YOU? Are you implying I'm the murderer?"
"It's the only thing that makes sense!" said Storm. "In order for a third possible culprit to exist, someone must have entered and left the crime scene by climbing the trees! That is the only way they could have not left footprints! But you, John Phoenix, cleverly abused your position as the prosecutor to cover this escape route up... by lying!"
The court gasped.
"Silence, civilians!" roared John Phoenix. "Storm Sente is merely spouting rubbish to save his client who saved him. But it's all useless. I call a witness to explain why!"
John Phoenix called Ana who witnessed what he wanted her to witness. Secretly, though, Storm was hoping Ana would follow the plan and testify exactly how he wanted her to to reveal the true culprit.
Testimony: The Confession
"Okay, so basically Argus Hakan was killed in the forest. It was impossible for anyone but Phoenix or Storm to commit the crime. We know it was Phoenix because he confessed."
"Hold it!" shouted Storm. "What if Argus wasn't actually dead then?"
"Hm, maybe, the time of death isn't 100% accurate," said Ana.
"Idiotic Sente," said John Phoenix. "The victim was bleeding so of course he had been stabbed!"
"But what if there wasn't really blood?" said Storm. "We didn't get too close to the body so his suit could have made it harder to see if he really did have blood!"
"OBJECTION WHAT IS THIS?" yelled John Phoenix. "The victim was wearing green you stupid fucking idiot, how could the blood have blended in?"
"...Got you, John Phoenix." Storm grinned.
"Wh-What's with the atmosphere in here all of a sudden?" John Phoenix looked around nervously. Of course, he had no idea of the mistake he had just made, and Storm was about to rub it in his face.
"John Phoenix... your words have just gravely contradicted the evidence," said Storm and he produced a photograph of the corpse they thought to be Argus Hakan... the one wearing red. "Does this man look like he's in green to you?"
"Who is that!" yelled John Phoenix. "That's not Argus Hakan! That's..."
"...someone completely different, yes!" said Storm. "Because you see, it turns out the victim in that case, Argus Hakan, survived! His body was then replaced by this imposter and nobody had any idea! Except you! How could you have known Argus was wearing green?"
John Phoenix was sweating bullets and Storm glared at the man. It seemed this "John Phoenix" was NOT the legendary defense attorney after all!
"John Phoenix..." said the judge. "I command you to take the stand to testify."
"Wait I can't!" said John Phoenix. "Who will be the prosecutor in my place?"
"Hmm..." thought Storm.
"I WILL!" came a shout. And then a man swung open the doors to the court... it was Argus Hakan!
"I will prove without a doubt that Phoenix Wright is the true murderer behind these cases!" announced Argus.
To be continued...