(A:N: Okay then, let's do this. The next court installment to The gambling Turnabout. Alex: It's time for REVIEWS!
Elchikaah Haly:Thanks! Yep, there will be some side effects to the amnesia. So yeah, the side effects will be sorta big.
Nateklah: Thanks, I speak German too. It's probably my favorite. XD
Me: Let's get this started, the next part of the court case. Alex, DISCLAIMERS! Alex: THE real assistant doesn't own Capcom, so she doesn't own anything Capcom owns, this includes Ace Attorney.
*Kinda Important announcement: I had to change some characters last names. The changes are documented on this chapters court record and have been changed in other chapters.)
Profiles
Trucy Wright: Age 16. My adopted daughter, she will be assisting me in this case for now.
Real Check: Age 18. The detective on this case. She seems a little aggressive towards us...
Macintosh Healer: Age 20. An upcoming boxer who is blamed of murder. I somehow never heard of this man until now...
Kev Meat: Age 27. The victim in this case. He was an actor about to show up in a new Steel Samurai movie.
Prosecutor Versteckt: Age ?. A strange man with a strange getup. He apparently doesn't know who he is, and dislikes Trucy for some reason.
Skenz 'Skinny' Chance: Age 34. A man who works part time in as a waiter in the Lucky Shot casino. Sadly, from what I saw, he gambles more then he should...
Evidence
Attorney's Badge: It feels good now that I have it back after all those years...
Autopsy Report: Cause of death was one bullet to the skull, killed instantly from a close distance due to the fact that he unwittingly shot himself.
Room Map: A map of the room the victim died in.
Key Data: A key is needed to open the room to the crime scene.
Strange Message: A message I found on the ground. Currently, it's in my pocket, I'm going to have to check it later for who's writing it is.
Door info: The door was locked when the cops entered the crime scene, but was unlocked when the witness called the cops.
Crime Scene photo: A photo of a man with lengthy, blond hair laying in a pool of blood. He was wearing a blue hoodie and black jeans at the time.
Blue hoodie: A garment that the prosecution claims the defendant wore to swap the ammo for the gun from powder to bullets. The victim was found wearing it after his death. It also seems to have baking powder on the sleeves.
Table Data: The table seems to be hollow for some reason, how could this be?
Mini Pistol and gun info: This mini pistol is very different from a real gun because of the re load. There was also traces of sugar on the gun.
District Courthouse: Defense Lobby #1
January 28- 11:46 PM
Phoenix paced in front of Macintosh, who was sitting on the couch watching him with an apprehensive look on his face. Phoenix's eyes were shut tight, a hand to his chin in thought.
(Oh god, where's Trucy? I'm kinda worried, I didn't see her much after we visited Versteckt...)
At that second, the doors leading to outside the courthouse bursted open. Trucy ran into the courtroom defense lobby, not wearing her hat or her cape. Phoenix's eyebrow rose when he noticed his daughter's slight wardrobe change. "Trucy, where's your hat and cape?" Trucy smiled sheepishly, brushing her brown hair out of her eyes. "I was kinda late on account that Athena came back from her trip..."
(Oh! So she's back from the space center...)
"Where is she now?" Trucy shrugged, finally giving up on her hair. "Last time I checked, she was passed out on the agency's couch." Phoenix laughed slightly when he heard that, but he was relieved nonetheless when he found out his daughter was okay. Macintosh grunted, getting up from the couch. "So, what's the game plan today Mr. Wright?" Phoenix put a hand to his chin in thought.
(There was... A game plan?)
Trucy giggled slightly when she saw the confused look on her father's face. "We go with the flow, that's the game plan!"
"Court is about to be in session! The defense may enter the courtroom!" Phoenix nodded towards the bailiff at the door, then looked towards Mac. "Whatever happens today, it's the final day in court. Your verdict will be decided today." With those final words, he walked into the courtroom, Trucy following close behind.
Trial Day 2
Court Is Now In Session. All Rise
The judge cleared his throat, banging his gavel against the wooden desk. "Court is back in session for the trial of Macintosh Healer. Is the defense ready?" Phoenix nodded his head, tapping his pointer and middle finger against his desk. "Yes your honor." The judge nodded and looked towards Versteckt, who was leaning against the wall, his eyes closed. "Is the... Is the prosecution even awake?" There was a brief silence which felt like hours. Then Versteckt stood up straight, he looked towards Phoenix, his eyes narrowed and his mouth in a slight smile. "Mr. Wright, you are aware that you can't hold nothing back, no matter how awful it is..." Versteckt slammed his desk with his right arm, fist clenched. "An honest tale speeds best being plainly told." Trucy put a hand to her chin in thought, "Where have I heard that before..?"
"From a conversation?"
"No Daddy, English class."
(Wh-what?)
The judge banged his gavel against his desk again. "Now then, I believe I asked the prosecution and defense to answer a few questions for the court. Prosecutor Versteckt, do you have any answers to either one?" Versteckt leaned on the wall behind him, crossing his arms. "Of course I did your honor." He tapped his desk with his right knuckle, making the holographic screen appear in front of him. "The hoodie was of course used to hide the killers traces, it was kept hidden in the table's safe while the three friends were talking. When the deed was done, the killer took the hoodie out of the safe, and then put it on the victim so that we wouldn't suspect that the hoodie was used. Hmph..." Versteckt laughed slightly, "I don't know how stupid the killer thinks we are..." He leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms once again, closing his eyes, but frowning. "Sadly, we can't answer why Mr. Healer locked the door to the game room after the crime was committed due to him not saying anything about it." He opened his eyes and glared at Macintosh. "Isn't that right?" Macintosh remained silent, but shuffled in his seat in discomfort. Versteckt slammed the wall with his fist, not moving from his position. "Well?!"
(This isn't going well, and it seems Macintosh doesn't want to share. Should I object..?)
Phoenix slammed his desk, "HOLD IT! Your honor, the prosecution is badgering the witness!"
"OBJECTION! Didn't you hear, even the truth isn't just light! There will be a slight darkness."
"OBJECTION! That doesn't mean you force it out by threat fully slamming a wall." Versteckt leaned forward, gripping the front of his desk while he gritted his teeth. "Then how about I threaten you instead Wright..?" Phoenix slouched forward, sweat beading down his face. "Wh-what?" Versteckt laughed, turning his glare to the judge. "Your honor, I request that the defendant take the witness stand to testify." The judge attempted to nod, but was stopped when Versteckt leaned back. He slammed the wall with his fist. "Macintosh, the stand, now!"
(10 minutes later)
Macintosh was standing behind the witness stand, pulling on his boxing gloves while chewing his straw. Versteckt straight, but was looking towards the cieling. "State your name and occupation for the record witness." Macintosh gulped, looking helplessly at Phoenix. "M-Macintosh Healer. I'm a boxer." Versteckt nodded his head, now looking right at Macintosh. "Please tell us why you locked the door to the game room after your friends death." Macintosh began to sweat, his teeth making deep gash marks in his straw. "A-alright..."
Witness Testimony
-The Right State of Mind-
"After I saw Kev shoot himself in the skull, I was in a panic. I didn't notice Skinny running of the room to get the cops, it was all a daze. Skinny must have dropped a key, because I remember picking it off the ground. I locked the door because I was afraid that the killer would get out, even if Kev shot himself..."
Phoenix placed a hand to his chin in thought, his eyes wandering slightly. "So, you were in shock?" Macintosh nodded his head slowly, easing his grip on his gloves and straw. "Yes, I was in a state of-"
"OBJECTION!" Versteckt scowled, slamming his desk with his arm. "You just lied..." Macintosh looked surprised, letting go of his boxing gloves. He moved his head slightly at the last second, so they missed his head. "I don't know what you're-"
"HOLD IT!" Everybody looked around the courtroom in confusion. The person who said that didn't sound familiar at all, but then all eyes landed on Trucy. Trucy was looking at Macintosh, pointing at him. "I don't see how Versteckt knew but..." Everything around Macintosh grew blurry, different colors surrounded Macintosh in eye piercing jumbles. "You are lieing!" Trucy looked towards her father, a small smile on her face. "Uhm, I know it's a little late, but..?" Her father nodded his head, smiling slightly. "Knock yourself out. Mr. Healer, please re state what you just said!" Macintosh rose one of his eyebrows in confusion, but repeated it anyway.
"I locked the door because I was afraid the killer would get out, even if Kev shot himself..."
Trucy looked at Mac closely, checking his arms first. Not finding anything, she moved to the head, from the forehead to the mouth. When she got to his mouth, she noticed that his jaw clenched slightly, moving his straw. "GOT IT! Mr. Healer, when you mention the part about Kev shooting himself, your jaw clenched slightly in agitation. Why would you do that if you might have been relieved there was no killer?" Macintosh tugged on his boxing gloves, his single hair spike drooping slightly. "W-well... I was..." He made a gulping sound, gasping for air. "It... It's... It's complicated..." The strange aura surrounding Macintosh faded, going back to the original courthouse. Phoenix put a hand to his chin in thought. "It's complicated?" Macintosh nodded his head slowly, "I can't really say anything right now..."
"HOLD IT!" Versteckt leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, smirking slightly. "Mr. Healer, you know getting held in contempt of court is worse than getting blamed for murder, correct?" Macintosh gulped for air again, then sighed, looking down. "I-I can't say..."
A clapping sound was then heard, fast and erratic. "Mac, I never knew you could be this responsible!" A man wearing a green suit appeared, his undershirt a lighter green. His hands were adorned in crimson rings, while his eyes had glasses that were balanced on his pointed nose. The smiling man took out a phone, and began typing into it. "If you were always this responsible, I believe I wouldn't have been that harsh about your debts!" Phoenix slammed his desk with both of his hands, a determined look on his face. "HOLD IT!" Phoenix slumped over, sweating slightly. "Uhm, if you don't mind me asking... Just who are you..?" The man clicked his tongue, waving a finger in front of his face. "Tsk tsk tsk, I don't blame ya, after all, even if I'm the lovely Sir Gerald Tree the second, I'm not that well known." Phoenix noticed Versteckt flinching a lot while Gerald spoke, seemingly not amused at all.
(Wait a minute, on the first investigation day, Versteckt put 'lovely' in air quotes when he described the witness, if that's true...)
"Mr. Tree, are you by any chance the second witness to the murder of Kev Meat?" Versteckt flinched, and opened his mouth, but was stopped when Gregory slammed the witness stand, an upset look on his face. "First off, call me Green, it's way easier then Gerald, and unique too! And second off, Versteckt, how could you? I thought you would call me to the witness stand today!" The judge looked at Gerald, then Versteckt, in surprise. "Prosecutor Versteckt, what is the meaning of this?" Versteckt was leaning on his desk, his head facing the ground as his hair covered his face. His hands were gripping the Prosecutions's desk like a life line. There was a very brief silence following, everybody just watching Versteckt. "Uhm... Is the Prosecution..?"
"INSOLENCE!" Versteckt looked up, looking right towards Gerald, his hazel eyes containing rage. "Mr. Tree, you weren't at home from anywhere when I called you as a witness. And you dare accuse me of this..? This..?" Phoenix and Trucy stared in shock at the man on the opposite side of the courtroom. "Daddy, is this the same man from yesterday..?" Phoenix shrugged his shoulders, watching as Versteckt slowly stood up straight. "Your honor..?" The judge nodded towards Versteckt warily. "Your honor, I would like to see this man testify for two reasons... One... Well, I'll keep a secret, the other..." Versteckt laughed bitterly, "I want to see him fall from the thing he likes to do, running his mouth..." Green seemed unfazed by Versteckt's little speech, but Phoenix was slumped over his desk, sweat pouring down his face.
Witness Testimony
-A Collector's Woes-
"On the night the murder happened, I decided to get debts from one of my clients at the casino. When I got there, a man confronted me, asking me for some sugar. I didn't have any on me, so I chased him off. The man ran towards the gun room, and the thing was, he was wearing a blue hoodie the whole time!"
Phoenix tapped his desk with his pointer and middle finger.
(This is easy... Way too easy...)
Cross Examination
-Wright VS Versteckt-
"On the night the murder happened, I decided to get debts from one client at the casino."
Trucy tugged on her father's sleeve. "Daddy, even if there is an obvious contradiction, maybe we should press him about that?" Phoenix put a hand to his chin before slamming his desk. "HOLD IT! This client at the casino... Who was it?" Green took out his phone again, typing it in random places before putting it back in his pocket. "Dear sir, it wouldn't be nice to say my client's name... Oh!" Green swiped back his slicked, black hair in one quick motion. "I guess I can make an exception."
(Something tells me you've made this 'exception' more than once...)
"Why, it was that Skinny fellow, Skinz I believe?" Phoenix put a hand to his chin in thought. "So, why did he owe you money?" Green splayed his hands in front of him, examining his nine crimson rings. "Now that, kind sir, is a secret I can't tell." Phoenix sighed, shaking his head. "Please continue with your testimony please."
"When I got there, a man confronted me, asking me for some sugar."
(Alright, time to point out this contradiction!)
"OBJECTION! Mr. Tree, you said that the man asked you to give you sugar, correct?" Green nodded his head, examining his rings again. "That ruffain probably didn't know what kind of disrespecting-"
"HOLD IT! That's not the point Mr. Tree, the point is this. The mineral found on the hoodie wasn't sugar. It was baking soda, how could baking from the hoodie somehow turn into sugar?"
"INSOLENCE! Mr. Wright, that contradiction means nothing." Versteckt crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "Unless, you know why it did?"
(Alright Phoenix, here's your chance, how could Baking powder turn into sugar? Or was there some kind of switch? Wait a minute..?)
"Mr. Tree?" Green looked up from examining his rings. "Indeed, Mr. Lawyer." Phoenix held out a hand towards Green, open palmed. "Do you mind if I examine one of those rings?" Green dropped his big smile, replaced by a startling frown. A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead. "Wh-why's that?" Phoenix shrugged, putting his hands to his hips as he smiled broadly. "Do you have a problem with that Mr. Tree?" Green thought, slicking his hair back as he did so. He scowled, taking one of his crimson rings off his right hand. "Fine!" He walked over, and handed it to Phoenix. First, Phoenix flipped it over. There was nothing but the engraved name of 'Green Tree'. Then there was a little slit. "Wait a second..."
Phoenix mumbled as he stuck his fingernail into the slot, the red gem on the front popped open. In the area the gem occupied, there was a white bag full of... "What is this?" Phoenix held up the bag of the white substance, a confused look on his face. Green blushed slightly, leaning forward as he slicked back his hair. "Ha ha, y-yeah... I sell baking supplies as a side job... Gotta make a living... Ha ha..." Versteckt shrugged his shoulders, looking towards the ceiling. "Well, Wright, do you think this is important? The substance in the ring?" Phoenix nodded his head, a small grin on his face. "Of course I do!"
(I hope.)
"First off, Mr. Tree, I think it's obvious that you're supposed to have ten rings. But excluding the one I've just taken, you have only nine on you. So, who has your ring? Cause I have a feeling these debts come from you giving your baking supplies rings to people." Green was sweating heavily now, he grasped his hands together, rubbing them. "It was... It was..." There was a sudden click noise, and all people could see now around the witness stand was white dust. The dust cleared, and Green was standing there, all his rings opened, and covered in a white substance. "Skinny." He then fell to the ground, people around the gallery murmured, but Phoenix's thoughts were elsewhere.
(It was Skinny huh? Well... I think we can see the culprit now, let's review the facts.)
Revisualization
(First off, sometime before the murder, Skinny somehow got one of Mr. Tree's powder rings. The next day, according to the order of events, Skinny was asked by Kev to look over the guns. And during the time Kev wasn't looking, Skinny and Mr. Tree all saw a man in a blue hoodie swap the ammo or run into the ammo room. Afterwards, when Macintosh, Skinny, and Kev played Russian Roulette with the supposedly fake gun, resulting in Mr. Meat shooting himself in the skull. There were two problems so far that have yet to be solved though...)
-Why are their different types of powders and the gun mix up-
-Where the powder came from and the hoodie-
(The gun and the powder)
(The powder is pretty easy to explain really, Skinny must have asked Mr. Tree for sugar, but instead got a ring full of baking soda. How could he have tricked Kev into thinking the real gun was really the fake gun?)
-He never showed him the guns-
-He was too drunk to notice-
-The guns were swapped in the table safe-
(Kev was too drunk to notice the difference)
(Traces of alcohol was found at the crime scene, meaning one person was drunk at the time. The tow people there can remember it well enough to at least draw some scenes, so it must have been Kev. The motive though, what was Mr. Chance's motive?)
-Revenge-
-Money-
-Power-
(Kev Meat was killed over money)
*Skinny Chance killed Kev Meat to help repay his debt*
(According to Mr. Tree, Skinny was in debt to him. What if Mr. Chance was in debt to other places too, but couldn't repay them because Kev Meat cheated all the time? That's it, I got it!)
Revisualization complete
Phoenix grinned slightly, placing his hands to his hips. "Your honor, the defense request that Mr. Chance to take the stand please." The judge looked towards Versteckt, who seemed to be sleeping on the wall again. "I'll allow it. Mr. Chance, please come to the witness stand."
*Powder ring and Green Tree's confession added to the court record*
(10 minutes later)
Skinny was sweating slightly, his knife bouncing between his fingers as he hummed slightly. Phoenix tapped his desk with his pointer and middle finger, bring up two pieces of evidence. "Mr. Chance, do you know why you're here?" Skinny grinned broadly, speeding up the knife. "You finally figured it out? So Mac really is the..."
"HOLD IT!" Phoenix tapped a few things on his holographic screen with his left pointer finger. "Mr. Chance, could you look at this ring, cheating record, and testimony for me?" A screen appeared infront of Skinny, and when he saw it, his pace with the knife somehow quickened. "I now what the ring is, it belongs to that guy who got powdered bombed by his own rings."
(Please tell me that's a term you made up on the spot and not something else...)
Phoenix slammed his desk, pointing towards Skinny. "Mr. Chance, I have a couple of questions. Are you upset about Mr. Meat's winning streak?" Skinny slowed down with his knife slightly, a small smirk forming on his lips. "Everybody was, the players, the referees, the-"
"Phoenix." Phoenix looked towards Versteckt. For once, the man actually had a smile in the court, not some smirk or hateful sneer, but his eyes still held slight malice. "I believe you've drawn to the conclusion too." Versteckt slammed his desk with his arm, fist clenched, "Well, stop beating around the bush! The climax will be the next words you say." Phoenix stood there, mouth agape slightly in surprise, but then shut his mouth, turning towards Skinny. "Skenz 'Skinny' Chance..." He drew back his right arm, and then pointed dramatically towards Skinny. "I accuse you of killing one Kev Meat. The motive, for money!" The courtroom exploded in murmurs, Skinny almost stabbed his finger with his knife, but caught himself. "Wright, I don't know what's wrong with you, but that's insane!"
"OBJECTION! Mr. Chance, you were upset with Mr. Meat's winning streak because of the amount of debt you owe, showed by Mr. Tree's testimony!" Skinny started to speed up his knife's movements again, sweat beading down his throat. "Then explain about the hoodie being on Kev, and the gun too! How could I have tricked Kev into thinking the real gun was the fake one?" Phoenix smirked, placing his hands on his hips. "Too easy! Kev was being heavily influenced by drugs to even depict what was real and what wasn't! And the fact that Mac was in a state of shock after the gun fired gave you enough time to put the hoodie on Mr. Meat!" Phoenix pointed towards Skinny again, a small smirk on his face. "What do you have to say about that?" Skinny's knife began to make really frantic movements, spiraling so fast, and humming under his breath. When he tune seemed to end, he slammed his knife towards the center of his palm, but didn't move his hand away fast enough, stabbing his hand. "GAH!" Skinny pulled the knife out of his hand, and looked at it, his eyes dropped, and he fell to the floor.
(25 minutes later)
The judge cleared his throat as he banged his gavel against the wooden desk. "Prosecutor Versteckt, how is Mr. Chance doing so far?" Versteckt leaned against the wall behind him, staring at the ceiling. "He's perfectly fine for someone who just stabbed himself, he had someone write him a written confession. In summary, it stated that he did indeed kill Mr. Meat over his debt issue, but never meant to blame it on Mr. Healer due to him being his brother in law. He had no choice though, and decided to 'go with the cops.' As he put it." The judge nodded, then turned to Macintosh, who was standing behind the witness stand. "Well, I believe I can now deliver my verdict. This court finds the defendant, Macintosh Healer..."
-Not Guilty-
"Court is adjourned."
Wright Anything Agency
January 30- 6:37 PM
Athena sighed as she sat at her desk, listening to Trucy as she told the rest of the story. "Awh man, I miss all the good stuff when I'm gone!" Trucy laughed, grabbing her magic rings off the sawing box in her little work space. "C'mon Athena, I think excitement is the thing we need the least right now!" Athena stuck her tongue out towards Trucy, making the young magician laugh once again. "Besides Athena, I have a feeling something big is about to happen! You happy to hear that at least?" Athena nodded, opening up Widget. "Sure, why not? ... When do you think Mr. Wright will get back from his errand?" Trucy shrugged, trying to pull the magic rings apart. "I don't know really, he didn't say anything..."
Location: Unknown
January 30- Time Unknown
"I'm sorry master..." I shake slightly as I finish my tale, aware that he was one of us, and I just failed to free him. There was a brief silence, I was slightly afraid he already hanged up, already plotting my death. But then I heard him cough lightly. "It's alright, you gained Wright's trust, and besides, it was that pesky powder man's fault... Hmm..." I awaited his orders, ready to help the man who was my savoir. "Versteckt, you're about to have a new assignment in three..." I heard a squelch sound outside my window. I slowly got up to look outside. "Two..." I looked out the window, and smirked slightly at what I saw. "One..." The cops appeared to the scene, the sirens showing Wright holding a body attached to Poesiden's trident.
(A:N: I'm so sorry if this case's ending felt a little rushed, I really wanted to get to the next case as fast as I could, and had to think up a good ending to this case at the same time. Don't hesitate to ask me questions! Pun names!
Macintosh 'Little Mac' Healer: Little Mac from Punch out!
Kev Meat: He has two really, dead meat, and a famous actor named Kevin Bacon...
Skenz 'Skinny' Chance: His nick name and last name make slim chance.
Gerald 'Green' Tree: Green tree is sorta a similarity to money. XD
R&R, and remember, your flames warm my family)