Chapter 2: Meeting The Defendant

October 21, 2019

12:00 PM

Detention Center

Visitor's Room

Maya: Well, we're here.

Phoenix: And our client isn't.

Maya: Well, she might still be in questioning.

Phoenix: I suppose it's possible. It'll probably be best to just wait here till they're done. Wait, what's that sound?

Guard: Here we are, Ms. Callista. You've got some lawyer who wants to talk to you. Oh, and I'm sorry that those detectives were so rough with you.

Donna: Oh, it's okay, Chuck. I understand why they did what they were doing. After all, I am under suspicion for murder.

Guard: Well, I'm sure you didn't do it, Ms. Callista. I doubt you could hurt a fly.

Donna: Please, call me Donna. And thanks for your reassurance, Chuck, but I've gotta talk to this lawyer now. I'll see you later.

Guard: Bye, Donna.

Phoenix: (Wow, I think that's the first time I've ever seen that guard move, let alone speak. And his name's Chuck!)

[With this, Donna walks over and sits, so Phoenix can properly talk to her.]

Donna: Oh my! I never thought I'd get to meet the Phoenix Wright.

Phoenix: (Wow, she's... she's... really something.)

Donna: Mr. Wright?

Maya: You know, Nick, most girls don't like being drooled over.

Phoenix: Oh! Erm, sorry about that, Ms. Callista. I'm Phoenix Wright.

Donna: Hee Hee, I know that. Didn't you hear me before?

Phoenix: [blushes] Oh, well, yes, of course. Anyways, I'm here to defend you, if you'd like.

Donna: Oh my! You're going to defend little ol' me?

Phoenix: (Gah, she's looking right at me. Must stay strong) Well yes. You know, someone actually came to pay for your defense

Donna: Aww, really?

Maya: Yeah, totally. Do you happen to know someone by the name of Chris Diener?

Donna: Aw, Chris? Of course I know him. He's a total sweetheart. I'm not surprised he'd do something like that for me.

Phoenix: Yeah, he does seem to be nice. Now, before we get down to the meat of things, will you let me defend you in court?

Donna: Well, of course you can defend me, Mr. Wright. I'm honored to have someone like you defend someone like me.

Phoenix: Oh, well, it's no problem. Now that we got that out of the way, do you mind if I ask you a few questions about the actual incident in question. There's a lot that I don't know.

Donna: You'd probably be better off asking the Detective in charge of the investigation, but I'll tell you what I know. Apparently, around 12:00 PM, my boyfriend, Arnold Amante was murdered by well, me.

Maya: WAIT! So you're admitting it?

Donna: Oh no! I'm just saying what the police think happened. I didn't kill Arnie, I wouldn't dream of harming him.

Phoenix: (The Magatama isn't reacting, so she must be telling the truth.) How did Mr. Amante die?

Donna: Well, the cause of death was falling. You see, apparently, he was pushed off the top of the Metro Accounting building, where he and I worked together.

Phoenix: I see. Well, why do they think you did it?

Donna: [with a dejected look on her face] Well, there are a few reasons. One, I was on the rooftop of the building during the time of the murder. Two, they found fingerprints of mine on his jacket that match the act of a shove or a push. Three, they found a break up letter meant for me that would give me motive. Fourth, they have a witness that can testify to hearing the struggle shortly before his death.

Maya: Oh, well, that doesn't sound like anything concrete to me.

Phoenix: I don't know, Maya. Maybe those things individually don't hold up, but as a group of evidence, it does give the prosecution quite a bit of ammo to work with.

Donna: Oh, Mr. Wright, please don't tell me you doubt me too?

Phoenix: (With a look like that, how could I?) No, it's not that, but you have to admit, you can see why you're under suspicion.

Donna: Yeah, I suppose so. But I can explain most of it. You see, I was on the rooftop when it happened, but the thing is, I saw the killer.

Phoenix: Wait, what! You saw the killer?

Maya: What are you doing under arrest? You should be the witness, not the suspect.

Donna: Oh, well, I agree, but the thing is, nobody believes me.

Phoenix: Why is that?

Donna: Well, first, I should tell you what I saw.

Phoenix: Oh, of course. To be honest, I'm curious as to what you were doing up there in the first place.

Donna: Well, it's a long story, but two nights ago, Arnold and I got in a nasty fight. It was actually the morning after when I saw the breakup letter he wrote me. I guess he didn't feel comfortable telling me that to his face. I thought it would be best to try and make things up with him at work, but he avoided me the whole day. I suppose it was silly on my part, but it got to the point where I was actively chasing him around just trying to talk to him. At one point, around 11:55, I believe, I saw Arnold go up to the rooftop and after taking a few minutes to catch my breath, I followed him there to confront him. By that time, well, the act was just being committed. If I had just been a bit faster, I might have been able to stop his murder from happening. [sobs]

Phoenix:(Hmm. I can't help but feel sorry for her, but if she is telling the truth, then it shows that the struggle and subsequent murder was a quick one, given the difference.) You said, you saw the killer, right? What did he look like?

Donna: Well, honestly, I couldn't tell you anything important about him. Whoever it was had on a full mask and hat, and they were fully clothed as well. I couldn't tell if the person was a man or a woman, to be frank. And that's why nobody believes me. The investigators checked in with everyone who was working on that day, and nobody claimed to see a masked person the whole day. But, I know what I saw, and that was a masked person.

Phoenix: Hmm. Is there anything else useful you can tell us?

Donna: Oh! I almost forgot. The reason my fingerprints were found on Arnold's jacket like they were is because of the fact that during our fight the previous night, I had shoved him once after he said something particularly hurtful to me.

Maya: Well, did you tell the investigators that?

Donna: Yes, but it didn't do me much good. There's no way to prove when those fingerprints were made, and for all they know, I could be lying about the fight we had just to explain, though trust me, I wasn't lying.

Phoenix: Don't worry, we believe you, Ms. Callista. We're just going to have to find some more definitive proof that you weren't the killer.

Donna: Oh, thank you so much, Mr. Wright. It's good to have someone who really believes me. And I'm sorry for having all this happen. I'm sure cases like this must be tough on you.

Phoenix: Well, it's what I do and I'm happy to do it.(Though, I do wish some of my cases weren't murder.) But don't worry, We'll make sure you're found innocent, no matter what.

Donna: Well, thank you. If you need anything else from me, just ask me, and I'll be happy to help.

Phoenix: That's good to know. Thanks for your help, but we've got to start investigating the crime scene. Now, where was it again?

Donna: Oh, it's at Metro Accounting. I'll give you the directions, if you'd like.

Phoenix: It's much appreciated.

[afterwards]

Maya: Well, let's get going, Nick. The Crime scene awaits.

Phoenix: (Sometimes her cheerfulness is disturbing.) Goodbye for now, Ms. Callista. We'll let you know if we have any more questions later.

Donna: All right, Mr. Wright. And please, call me Donna.

Phoenix: …

Maya: Aw, you're blushing again.

Phoenix: Let's get out of here, Maya.