Apollo walked through the doors of the police department and immediately asked for Ema, Trucy following close behind him. He knew that Ema couldn't stay forever in the park, and he had checked the park before, and found out that the grumpy detective had moved to the police department to pick some scientific tools for her to play with at the crime scene. Soon the irritated detective emerged in front of them and started snapping, "What?! I'm busy…" all the while munching Snackoos all the time. She stopped munching as soon as she saw Apollo, though. With much difficulty, she swallowed and asked, "Apollo? Apollo Justice?"

"Yes?"

"What happened to your hair?"

Apollo groaned. "Trucy threw away my hair gel, but that's not important."

"Alright. Why'd you come here? Make it quick, I'm busy."

"That case in People Park," Apollo rushed, "Please give me some details."

"What? We don't even have a suspect yet," Ema frowned. "As long as you're not concerned in this, you're just a civilian. I can't just let out some information like that."

"I'm related to the case," Apollo said cryptically.

Ema raised a brow. "Alright." She took more Snackoos from her bag. "Care to elaborate?"

"She's a… relative… of mine…?" Apollo fumbled. Being an orphan for so long, the prospect of having a family still felt weird to him.

Ema was obviously taken aback. "She was?" she asked. "I thought you were an orphan."

Apollo looked at her suspiciously. "How do you know that?"

It was Ema's turn to tumble between her words. "I, uh, might have run a background check on you. Sort of. I guess."

Apollo sighed. "Alright. Don't ask any question about my past again, and I'll never ask about this background check you ran on me, deal?"

"Deal," Ema agreed instantly. "So let's get back to the topic. She was a relative of yours, right?"

"Yes," Apollo answered. "I only knew her earlier this day."

"Alright," Ema nodded. She didn't like the lack of information in Apollo's answer, but she would press on that later on. "According to the witness, she was strolling down the park when a man came to her. You heard the news, the witness said he looked about forty or so. The witness saw them arguing, and she caught them yelling about money, loan sharks, and riddles." Ema's eyes fixed themselves on Apollo's. "She also heard them saying your name, if I remember correctly."

Apollo's face became a mask of expressionless mannequin. "Oh."

"You know something," Ema said. It wasn't a question, and Apollo knew it.

Behind him, Trucy pulled out something from her pocket and shoved it into Ema's hands. "Hera visited us earlier this day, and she gave Apollo this."

Ema lifted the black cube in curiosity. "A cube?" she muttered. "Hm. Scientific investigation indicates that this is a Rubik's cube, but this looks unusual. What is this, exactly?"

"Hera told us that it's the key to the vault containing money my father left me before he died," Apollo answered. He kept the expressionless mask in place, but he felt his insides doing back-flips. How much money had he left, really, to make someone kill others to obtain it?

Ema scowled. "You're more related in this case than I originally thought," she said. "Oh great. The fop's going to love this. Be careful, he might even call you as a witness."

"I don't mind being a witness as long as I'm not the defense attorney," Apollo stated.

"Yes, but what if the defendant chose you as his attorney? What if he's actually guilty? Would you help a guilty man walk away from the punishment he deserves, or would you do the right thing and throw him to jail and suffer a loss in your case?"

It was a question Apollo couldn't answer.

Apollo had decided to do the same thing Hera did; take a walk in the park. Of course it wasn't People Park; he didn't want any cop who was his age telling him to 'play lawyer' somewhere else. And besides, he knew Ema wouldn't appreciate it much. Though he was related to the victim, he was still a civilian, and he wasn't supposed to take part on the investigations unless he was concerned (as the defendant's lawyer, which he wasn't).

Instead, he took a walk in a park near the police department. The government had built the park sometime after he got his badge, stating that the town needed 'more entertainment'. It was filled with laughing children, dog walkers, and some old couple reminiscing on old days, but Apollo doubted that the efforts the government had put in the park was really fruitful.

He sat on a park bench and took out the black wooden cube from his breast pocket and started playing it. His mind, however, wasn't in the puzzle which was currently sitting in his hands, but instead at the words Ema threw to him.

"The witness saw them arguing, and she caught them yelling about money, loan sharks, and riddles. She also heard them saying your name, if I remember correctly."

"You're more related in this case than I originally thought."

"Would you help a guilty man walk away from the punishment he deserves, or would you do the right thing and throw him to jail and suffer a loss in your case?"

Apollo closed his eyes, grunting as he twisted the cube with an almost audible snap. Truthfully, he didn't need another thing to occupy his mind. His head felt almost physically heavy with all the money, hidden vault, and riddles Hera told him. And now other problem had joined in the fray in his mind. He sighed. Life had never been easy with him, and he didn't expect it to start now.

He looked around the park and sighed. The green trees and grass looked decidedly springy, but he supposed it was a usual sight in the late April. He put the cube back in his breast pocket and took a deep breath. Maybe it was a good decision for him to take a break in this park. It felt rather relieving to get off from work for once in a while. In the agency, all he did was sit and did his paperwork, or maybe stare blankly at the wall in front of him. He was sure that kind of thing wasn't healthy to do, especially if he did it in a daily basis.

Deciding that he had gotten enough fresh air for the day, Apollo stood up to get back to the agency. He had promised Trucy he wouldn't be long, and he wouldn't want her panicking over him. Casting the green trees a final glance; he decided to bring Trucy here when he had the chance, probably Phoenix and Thalassa too. Besides, Trucy would probably be thrilled to see the park. If he was lucky, maybe she'd decide to pull a sudden magic show. As weird as the tricks Trucy usually used, her shows were still very entertaining.

He had just taken a step when a man suddenly stood in front of him, nearly colliding with him.

"Whoa!" he yelled. "I'm sorry," he apologized curtly before dropping his gaze to the ground and hastily walked away.

"Aren't you Apollo Justice?"

Apollo stopped and turned cautiously on his heels. "Yes," he said. "And who might you be?"

"Don't tell me you don't remember your own uncle."

Uncle, Apollo rolled the word soundlessly in his tongue. He frowned at the man in front of him, racking his memory to find out who he was, but no one came to mind. He shook his head in confusion. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I know you."

A disappointed scowl appeared on the man's face. "Oh, you broke my heart," he said playfully. "Don't you remember Uncle Cain, the fun loving, game playing uncle?"

Apollo blinked. There was one time that his uncle came to play with him, but the memory was too fuzzy for him to remember. But then again, how much time had passed since that time?

Seeing Apollo's still-confused face, 'Uncle Cain' sighed. "Oh, you broke my heart."

A realization dawned on Apollo. "Wait, you're really my uncle?"

"Yes! Do you remember me?"

Ignoring the man's question, Apollo strode forward, "So you must be my father's brother, right? I don't remember my mother having a brother."

"Yes…"

"Then, you are Hera Winters' brother too?"

His smile faltered ever so slightly. "Yes," he answered. "A shame, really, what happened to her. Who could do such an inhumane thing to her?"

"I was hoping you could tell me," Apollo sighed. "If she had an enemy or something." He looked away. He didn't have a family for years, and it had been really great to actually have one. Apollo didn't want to lose them.

"Unfortunately, I have no idea," Cain shrugged. "I didn't even hear about her until I heard the news."

A soft tug on his wrist made Apollo frown a bit. He was sure Cain wasn't lying; the bracelet didn't tighten like usual, but a vibe was more than enough for him to set off an alarm in his head.

"Ah, really?" Apollo played along. "But I don't think so. I think you know more than you let on."

"Oh, of course not! Why would I lie?"

That did it. The bracelet instantly tightened, clenching at Apollo's wrist like an anaconda killing its prey. Apollo's face contorted in pain, and Cain suddenly looked like he realized that he had done something stupid.

"You can tell when someone's lying, can't you?" he said, but it was more of a statement than a question.

Apollo nodded. "Yeah."

"I see."

"I want to ask you something," Apollo asked after a moment of silence. "Why'd you suddenly approach me like this? Why not from years ago?" Another moment of silence passed. "Is it because of the money my father left me before he died?"

"What? No!" Cain yelled, and Apollo's bracelet tightened painfully. Apollo hissed. Not realizing the pain he caused to Apollo, Cain continued, "Alright, maybe. Yes."

The bracelet stopped tightening. Apollo sighed. "So it's about the money, after all."

"Yeah. The thing is, Apollo, I need you to help me a bit. I have some financial problems. Hera wouldn't help me, so…" He let the sentence hang in the air as he looked at Apollo hopefully.

Apollo looked at him. "I'm afraid I also have a financial problem. I don't think I can help you."

"Come on, you have hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of dollars left by your father, I'm sure Hera told you, she told me myself – " Cain stopped rambling. "Just, lend me some money."

"I can't. I really don't have much money, and I haven't found the money Father left me. Hera only gave me a riddle and I haven't solved it yet. I know nothing." Suddenly, Apollo realized that Cain's words implied that he had seen Hera before. "Um, may I ask something?"

"Sure. Ask away."

"Did you by chance see Hera earlier this day?"

"Psh. No."

The bracelet tightened. Apollo grimaced. It seemed that Cain had forgotten that he could see through people's lies. Bracing the pain he was likely to have to face, Cain asked again, "Please don't lie. Did you kill her?"

"Of course I didn't!" Cain yelled, getting defensive. "Why do you think I did it anyway?!"

"Because I can tell that you're lying," Apollo answered somewhat nervously, lifting his hand to show Cain his bracelet.

His mask of happiness vanished almost instantly. Chuckling darkly, he glanced almost sinisterly at Apollo. "So you did. So I killed her. So what?"

"I want you to go to the police and –"

"– turn myself in?" he cut Apollo off. "Come on, Apollo. You know people better than that. I won't turn myself in. Besides, is there any evidence that I did kill her?"

"Not yet," Apollo answered, trying to sound confident, even as he wished with all his heart that Ema would eventually find the said evidence.

Cain snorted. "You sound very confident for a man who has no backing of his words."

"Maybe I do," Apollo bluffed. "The police are probably trying to find you even as we speak, now."

Cain laughed and kicked the park bench next to him. "They won't find me," he said, but Apollo could hear the desperation edging his tone. "They will never find me."

Unsure of what to say, Apollo chose to stay silent.

Cain whirled to him, his eyes now looked wild. "Listen," he said forcefully. "I know you know about the money. I need it."

Apollo narrowed his eyes. "The money? The money my father left me? Is that what this is all about?"

"Of course it is, it's always about the money!" Cain laughed at him. "How naïve of you. In this world, money means everything. You're a nobody without it. And I need it right now. So give me the money."

"I can't," Apollo refused. "I don't know where it is."

"Don't lie to me, boy."

"I'm not lying! I don't know where it is. Hera wouldn't tell me. And besides, even if I know, do you think I'll tell you just like that?"

Ares nodded. "Fair enough," he said. "But believe me when I say this, Apollo Justice; you will eventually tell me about the money." He smirked, an all too knowing smirk that made Apollo's stomach clench uneasily. "You'll regret not telling me from the very start."

"I doubt it," Apollo said.

"Let time tell."

Apollo watched the man walk away. Any other time, he would have yelled at him with such certainty that he was wrong, that he would never regret his decision. But something in his tone, in his last line, made Apollo feel that something was wrong; horribly wrong. He shook his head, trying to shake away the feeling, and walked home. He needed time to think about all of it alone. He always felt better thinking about cases, shouting all of it at the top of his lungs in his apartment, working the cogs in his brain until his ears puffed out smoke. Though since Thalassa came he had managed to stop shouting (she hated loud noises, more so if the noise was right next to her sensitive ears), thinking alone always helped. He still bumped to dead ends, but at least he had tried.

He jumped onto a bus that would lead him to his home, taking out his phone and texting Trucy; Trucy, can you tell Mr. Wright that I'm not going back to the agency this afternoon? I don't feel so good. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I'll get back to work tomorrow, promise. And don't worry, I'm fine.

The response came almost instantly; Alright, Polly! Take some rest and cheer up!

A smile made its way to his lips. Okay, he replied.

Once the bus arrived at his apartment, Apollo walked out of it. But before he could get in, his phone rang. Frowning slightly, he answered the call, "Justice speaking."

"Polly, come to the agency."

The urge in Phoenix voice was surprising to Apollo. "Mr. Wright? But I thought Trucy told you I'm not –"

"Polly, please. Just get in here. I'll explain everything as soon as you're here." And with that, Phoenix disconnected the call.

Apollo frowned. What was that all about? The last line Phoenix said… he sounded tired, and traces of panic could be heard in his voice. What was wrong, exactly?

Just then, Thalassa came out of the door and exhaled loudly. "Apollo," she said. "Thank goodness you're safe. Now come with me to the agency."

"Wait, what happened, really?" Apollo asked. "Mr. Wright had just called me, but he didn't give me a clue about what happened."

Thalassa sighed. "Apollo," she began, sounding troubled, and Apollo felt his stomach churn, bad feeling gripping his heart tightly without any means to let go, "They've been attacked."

A/N: And there's chapter four for you.

I'm happy to say that my exam has finished (YESSS!) and so I don't have anything that will keep me away from writing. However, here's a teeny tiny speck of bad news... the updates for the story might be stalled. These days I usually post my story in a few days to a week interval but it might get longer than that, probably more than a week, at most a fortnight. I promise it wouldn't be longer than that. Don't worry, it's not anything big, just a small personal problem that I need to take care of myself. (And in case someone's wondering, it's not a writer's block.)

I have written the next chapter, though, and I'll be posting it in a few days. Just think of it as an early Christmas gift.

And, as usual... review please?