I meant to get this out earlier, but I was kind of working on some other stuff for this story (I'm getting a little ahead of myself, really). But here's the first day of the trial.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Ace Attorney series characters!

Chapter 11 – Turnabout Secrets

The testimony is in italics, thoughts are in parentheses, and actions are in brackets.

Judge: Court is now in session for the trial of Apollo Justice.

Phoenix: The defense is ready, Your Honor.

Athena: You bet we are.

Judge: And what about the prosecution?

Kay: The prosecution is also ready, Your Honor.

Athena: (I didn't know Kay was going to the prosecutor. This should be interesting.)

Judge: Ah, yes Ms. Faraday. This is your second trial, isn't it?

Kay: It sure is, Your Honor!

Judge: Very well. Your opening statement, if you will Prosecutor Faraday.

Kay: Yesterday, a 911 call was made from People Park. The defendant, Mr. Apollo Justice, was the one who called in to report that he had found a dead body near the lake at the park. An officer, Mr. Mike Meekins, was the first one at the scene, and he immediately arrested the defendant.

Judge: And who was the victim?

Kay: The victim was one Mr. Dwayne Huntley. He was a psychiatrist who worked downtown in his own office. He ran a private practice.

Judge: Hm…I see. Very well then. The prosecutor may call its first witness.

Kay: The prosecution calls Mr. Mike Meekins to the stand.

[Meekins is brought to the stand.]

Kay: Please state your name and occupation please.

Meekins: Yes, sir! My name is Mike Meekins! I'm a police officer, sir!

Phoenix: (Why hasn't anyone confiscated that stupid megaphone from him?!)

Judge: Officer Meekins. Please refrain from using your megaphone. Some of us are already hard on hearing.

Meekins: Sorry sir!

Kay: Officer Meekins. Could you please testify to the court as to what happened when you reached the lake?

Meekins: Sure thing sir!

Kay: Teehee! You don't have to call me sir, you know. Just Kay is fine, or Prosecutor Faraday, if you want get fancy.

Meekins: Alright Prosecutor Faraday.

I heard about the 911 call made from People Park on my radio.

It just so happened that I was in the area, so I told everyone that I had it covered.

Arriving at the scene, I found Apollo Justice near the man's body.

There was no one else at the crime scene, so I arrested him.

Athena: Boss. That's almost exactly the same thing he told us yesterday.

Phoenix: You're right. I guess we're gonna have to press him like we did yesterday, too.

Athena: Great. Just great. This is going to be so much fun.

Judge: That's…all, Officer Meekins?

Meekins: Yes sir!

Judge: …Very well then. The defense may begin its cross-examination.

Phoenix: Officer Meekins. When we met with you yesterday, we had asked about why you arrested Apollo, when he was the only one at the scene of the crime. What was your response?

Meekins: I told you that he was the only one at the crime scene.

Phoenix: Then we asked you how you could possibly arrest Apollo when he was the one who made the 911 call.

Meekins: And I suggested that he did that in order to make it look like he wasn't the murderer.

Judge: Mr. Wright. What is the point of this questioning if you already know what the witness is going to say?

Phoenix: I was just making sure he remembered what he had said yesterday, and that he didn't change his story.

Judge: Then please move along with the cross-examination.

Athena: Boss. Press him on his second statement!

Phoenix: (His second statement…he said he was in the area.) Officer Meekins. You said that you were in the area when you heard the 911 call. Why exactly were you near the park?

Meekins: Sir! Someone came up to me and told me that he had spotted something very odd at the park, and he suggested that I go take a look over there.

Kay: Who was this person?

Meekins: …I don't know.

Athena: You don't know? What do you mean, you don't know?!

Meekins: Well, I was sitting in the police car with my window down, and he just kind of came up to the window and told me about it.

Judge: Didn't you see the man's face or any distinct characteristics?

Meekins:…No, I didn't.

Phoenix: Did you at least inquire about this man's identity?

Meekins: No sir! As soon as I heard what he said, I thanked him and drove off.

Phoenix: (Seriously. How does this guy still have a job as a police officer?!)

Athena: Your Honor! Clearly, this witness made a rash decision in arresting Ap…our defendant!

Judge: So it would seem.

Kay: You're right. Officer Meekins definitely did jump to conclusions way too fast; however, when the police took the defendant in for questioning, they found something…interesting. [Presents a piece of paper.] They found this note in the defendant's possession. According to it, the defendant was supposed to meet the victim at the park.

Phoenix: WHAT?!

Athena: HUH?! Boss! Why are we only learning about this now?!

Phoenix: … (Apollo never told us about that note.)

Kay: The note says, "Apollo, please meet me at the lake near People Park to learn more about it. –D.H." Now, this is obviously not clearly not conclusive evidence against the defendant, but it's evidence nonetheless. The prosecution would like to have the defendant testify to the court about this.

Judge: Hm…that sounds like a good idea. Does the defense have any objections?

Athena: No Your Honor!

Judge: Then Bailiff! Please escort Mr. Justice to the witness stand.

[Apollo is brought to the stand.]

Kay: Please state your name and occupation.

Apollo: Apollo Justice. Defense Attorney.

Kay: Please testify as to what you were doing at the park.

Apollo: … Okay.

I dropped my girlfriend off at her house and walked to People Park.

I was just going around when I saw that man's body near the lake.

I went up to him to see if he was okay, but he was already dead.

I called 911, and not too long afterwards, Officer Meekins came and arrested me.

Kay: Why did you go to People Park?

Apollo: I had some time to spare, so I figured I'd take a little walk there.

Judge: The defense may start its cross-examination.

Athena: He didn't mention anything about the note, Boss.

Phoenix: Yeah, he didn't. But before we ask him about that, let's press his statements and see what he says. (Apollo…I really hope you have a good explanation about that note.)

Athena: Apollo. Could you elaborate more about your first statement?

Apollo: Um…I dropped my girlfriend, Juniper Woods, off at her grandmother's house.

Judge: Juniper Woods? That nice young lady from the Themis Legal Academy who's studying to be a judge? I didn't know you were courting her, Mr. Justice! When did this happen?

Apollo: Er…a little while ago.

Judge: Ah, young love. It feels like only yesterday I was your age and asked the apple of my eye if I could court her.

Kay: Oh! Would this "apple of your eye" happen to be Mrs. Your Honor?

Judge: Why yes it is!

Athena: Wow! Was she the first one you asked out on a date?

Judge: Yes! I fell madly in love with her the moment I first laid eyes on her.

Athena: Aw!

Kay: That's so cute!

Phoenix: (It seems like Prosecutor Faraday and Athena forgot why we're really here, along with His Honor.) Um…Your Honor? As much as we'd love to hear more about that, we kind of sort of have to get back to the trial at hand.

Judge: Ahem. Mr. Wright is right. The defense may continue cross-examining Mr. Justice.

Athena: Heh, heh. Sorry, Mr. Wright!

Phoenix: It's fine. Now, Apollo. Why did you go to the lake?

Apollo: I like going there sometimes. It's nice and peaceful.

Phoenix: Is that the only reason why you went there?

Apollo: …Yeah.

Athena: [whispering] Boss! He's lying! He probably went there because of that note!

Phoenix: Yeah, but we'll ask him about that soon. Let's finish pressing him and see if he'll tell us. (Hm…) So about the victim. Tell us about when you first saw him.

Apollo: Like I said, I was walking to the lake, and then I noticed this man's body was at the edge of the lake. His legs were in the water, but his whole body was wet. I called him and tried to shake him to get him to wake up, but he was already dead.

Athena: What time did you arrive at the park, Apollo?

Apollo: Around five-thirty.

Athena: Well then. Let's check the autopsy…wait. Where is the autopsy report?

Phoenix: That's a good question.

Kay: I'm afraid the autopsy report is still being written up. There were some technical difficulties, apparently. But we do know that the victim was stabbed in the back, and he was in the water, but cause of death is still unknown.

Athena: Well that's just great.

Phoenix: Apollo. There's an obvious contradiction in your testimony. You said you just went to the park for no real reason, but you've also yet to mention anything about this note the prosecution has shown the court. Can you explain what that note is all about?

Apollo: …

Judge: Mr. Justice. Please do tell the court about it.

Apollo: I…got that note yesterday morning. It was in my mailbox.

Athena: Wait. So…you knew the victim?

Apollo: …Sort of. I hadn't really talked to him much. He had just only recently started contacting me.

[Bailiff comes in]

Judge: What is it, Bailiff?

Bailiff: The police found this nearby the supposed crime scene, and they had a report written up about it.

Judge: Hm…According to this police report, this is…the knife that was used to stab the victim!

Phoenix: What else does the police report say, Your Honor?

Judge: Hm…It says that the owner of this knife…is Mr. Justice!

Phoenix: No way!

Athena: How can they determine that?!

Judge: Fingerprint analysis confirmed this. Well Mr. Justice. What do you have to say about this?

Apollo: I didn't kill Mr. Huntley! I didn't!

Kay: But that knife…is it really yours?

Athena: No way! It can't be…right Apollo?

Apollo: …

Phoenix: (Uh oh…I don't like that pause there.)

Judge: Well Mr. Justice? Is this knife indeed yours?

Apollo: …Yes, it is.

Athena: Apollo!

Apollo: But I swear, I don't know how it got to the crime scene. I usually keep it in my bag, which I keep in the basket of my bike! My bike's at my apartment building!

Judge: It would seem that we don't have much information about this case, especially with the pending autopsy report; therefore, I believe court should adjourn for today so that more investigation can be done by the police, the prosecution, and the defense. Any objections?

Kay: Nope!

Athena: None whatsoever.

Phoenix: No, Your Honor.

Judge: Good. Court is adjourned.

"What's up with you, Apollo?! Why didn't you tell us about that note?!" Apollo didn't respond to Athena's question, aggravating her. "Come on, Apollo! What are you hiding from us?!"

"Apollo," Phoenix began. "What's going on? Why did Mr. Huntley contact you?"

"I…" He sighed. "I'm sorry, Mr. Wright, but…I can't tell you."

"Why not, Apollo?!" Athena demanded.

Apollo didn't say anything. The police then took him away to the detention center.

Phoenix shook his head, then turned to Athena. "Alright Athena. I need you to go and take a good look around the crime scene."

"What about you, Boss? Aren't you coming with me?"

Phoenix looked away. "I…have something I need to take care of. I'm sure you can handle it just fine."

Before Athena could argue, the defense attorney walked away. What is going on?! First, Mr. Wright is keeping secrets, and now Apollo! She couldn't help but feel miserable. Yes, she didn't like being left in the dark, but that wasn't what bothered her a lot. It seemed like rather than be a team, they were growing apart from each other.

Athena shook her head and stood up straight. "I can't worry about this now. I need to go to People Park and find anything I can to help prove Apollo's innocence." She exited the courthouse. "But first, I need to do a couple of laps around here, to get myself more hyped." And run around the courthouse she did.

Not the best trial, I'll admit. But it took me forever to finish it up. Hopefully, it'll be getting better soon. Feel free to leave a review or private message me. Thanks!