Chapter 15—The Wicked Witch of the Witness Stand
October 18, 2016
"The court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Will Powers," Judge Clous said with a whack of his gavel.
"The prosecution is ready, Your Honor," Miles said.
"The defense is ready, Your Honor," Wright said.
Wright… This should be interesting. Miles could practically sense what the gallery—and even the judge—thought. Wright had ruined Miles's perfect record. He probably had revenge on his mind. For some reason, Maya Fey was there. No matter; her role was unimportant.
"Very well," the judge said. "Mr. Edgeworth, your opening statement, please."
"The prosecution will show the court that at 2:30 PM on October 15, the defendant, Mr. Will Powers, killed fellow actor Jack Hammer at Studio One of Global Studios. It is impossible for anyone else to have committed this heinous crime. The evidence presented during this trial will all point to this fact."
"Hmm. I see. Very well, I would like to move on to your testimony. Mr. Edgeworth, the prosecution may call its first witness."
"First, I would like to call a familiar face, Detective Gumshoe, to the stand," Miles said. Gumshoe took the stand. "Detective, if you would briefly describe this case to the court?"
"Yes sir!" Gumshoe said. "I'll explain with the guidemap here." Gumshoe reached into the pocket of his trenchcoat and pulled out a guidemap. "To understand this case, it's important to grasp the layout of the studios, see? This here is the Employee Area." He pointed to the Employee Area. "The actors did a run-through of their action scenes during the morning here." This is the main gate to the studios," he continued, pointing to the main gate. "The security lady that works at the studios was here at 1:00 PM on that day." He then pointed to the gate to the studios. "Past the security station there is a gate, see? Past that are the studios." He pointed to Studio One. "And here it is… Studio One. This is the scene of the murder, where the body was found!
"Now, on the day of the murder, October 15, there were only three people here. The victim, Jack Hammer, the defendant, Will Powers, and a young woman, the production assistant. All the production staff were in the Employee Area until noon. The after lunch, the victim, Jack Hammer, went to Studio One. Right after that, at 1:00 PM, the security lady got to the guard station. Now, jump ahead to later that day… 5:00 PM. The production staff came to Studio One to perform a rehearsal. Needless to say, the rehearsal was cancelled… The time of death was 2:30 PM. The 'Samurai Spear' found lodged in the victim's chest was the murder weapon. That's the case, in brief. Anyone like to hear that again?"
Amazing. He actually sounded like he knew what he was doing for a change.
"So the murder weapon was a 'spear'?" the judge asked. "How… medieval!"
"Your Honor," Miles said. "This case is quite simple if you ask one question: and that question is: 'What did the security lady at the guard station see?'"
"Understood."
"Let's call this security officer to the stand!"
Gumshoe stepped down from the stand, replaced by an elderly woman who appeared to be in her late sixties and relatively good health. She was in her security uniform.
"Will the witness declare her name?" Miles requested.
The witness didn't respond for a moment. She then began to blush.
"Hmm? My, aren't you a handsome fellow!" she commented. "I'm afraid I'm a bit flustered!"
Miles jerked back. Why do I always get the characters!? He recovered and placed his right hand on his desk. "Y-your name, please!"
"Oh, dearie! No need for you to be embarrassed! Just call me 'grandma.'"
"YOUR NAME, PLEASE!" Miles demanded, hunched over.
The only thing I'm embarrassed about is not having a normal witness!
"Wendy Oldbag, dearie. So just call me 'grandma.' It's practically my name! So even when I was young I was an Oldbag, but not really that was just my name dearie. Still how the other children would make fun of me and just because of my name can you believe it? But there was this boy, the captain of the chess club in junior high, and when he called me an old bag well I just cried and cried because I had a crush on him you see—"
"Objection!" Miles interrupted. "O-objection! I… object to the witness's talkativeness."
"Objection sustained!" the judge said in agreement. "The witness will refrain from rambling on the stand."
"I was just getting to the good part, dearie!" Oldbag complained.
"Perhaps we can get to the testimony?" Miles suggested, back to normal.
"Now, the witness was stationed at the main gate on the day of the murder, correct?" the judge asked.
"Yessey I was," Oldbag replied.
"And to get to the scene of the murder, someone would have to pass by you?"
"You know your stuff, dearie!"
"You may begin your testimony," the judge said after a brief pause. Wright was already sweating.
Just no rambling, please.
"On the day of the murder, I arrived at the guard station at 1:00 PM. Poor old Hammer and the rest had been doing a run-through there since the morning. I, well, I had some errands to run that morning. Anyway, it was 1:00 when I got to the guard station. I was at the main gate from then until 5:00! Now, the murder happened at 2:30 PM, right? Interesting to me, because a certain man walked right by me at 2:00 PM. It was Powers! That man right there, and he was heading toward the studio!"
"You saw the defendant, then?" the judge asked. "Hmm… Very well. Let's begin the cross-examination. Mr. Wright?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Wright said. He slammed his desk almost instantly. "Let me get this straight, old bag! Er, Ms. Oldbag! You've been saying since yesterday that you 'saw Mr. Powers,' correct? But you're talking about the man in this photo, aren't you!" Wright showed Oldbag a photograph.
I had a feeling that photo would come up. How Wright got his hands on a copy is another question entirely.
"J-just a moment, Mr. Wright," the judge interrupted. "Let me see that photo!" The judge took a look. "What is this, exactly?"
"None other than the Steel Samurai, defender of Neo Olde Tokyo." Wright hit his desk. "Ms. Oldbag! Is this the 'Mr. Powers' that you saw!?"
"Of course!" Oldbag replied. "Didn't your momma teach you any sense, sonny? Anyone can plainly see that's Powers! Right?"
"Um, yeah," Miles said, hunching over. Her line of logic is almost as bad as the judge's… He paused, regaining his composure. Don't fight blind, Miles. "Umm… well. I wonder?"
"True, Mr. Powers does play the role of the Steel Samurai!" Wright said. He pounded on his desk and then pointed at Oldbag. "But that doesn't mean Mr. Powers IS the Steel Samurai!"
"I… I know that!" Oldbag yowled. "I wasn't born yesterday!"
She's missing the point completely. I wonder if she's related to the judge…
"No one in this court is accusing you of that, Ms… er, witness." the judge hesitated to say. "However, you do not have proof that the person in this photo is Mr. Will Powers, do you?"
"Humph! Nosey old man! Of course I have proof!"
"What!?" Wright yelped.
"Huh!?" Miles added. I was never told this! "The prosecution would like to ask the old… the witness. Please make known all the information in your possession ahead of time!"
"How was I to know everyone would be so nosy! You should be ashamed, all of you! Anyway, I showed that photo to the young detective. He told me 'this isn't any good as evidence, pal.' He didn't even give it a second look!"
Miles jerked back and broke his fall with his arms. And you still used it to support your argument!?
"Let's hear about your proof, then," the judge said.
"I never say anything I don't mean, mind you!" Oldbag explained. "That morning, during the run-through of the action scene… I saw Powers trip and fall! He broke one of the props, it was a big mess. Apparently, he sprained his ankle pretty bad. Now, look at that picture! You can see he's dragging his leg! See? Clear as day! That's how I knew it was Powers. Happy?"
"Hmm. So he had sprained his ankle…? Very well. Mr. Wright, you may cross-examine the witness."
Wright looked over the testimony. "Umm…"
"Whippersnapper!" Oldbag yelled. Wright began to sweat. "I'll have you know I'm not pointing fingers at anyone behind their backs! Everything I've said is on the straight and narrow! The up and up! Youth today! Always whining about each other, pointing fingers this way and that! It's enough to make an old lady want to cry…"
Miles slammed his desk, cutting the witness off. "Mr. Wright!" he demanded. "Please, for all our sakes, try not to upset the witness!"
Wright had a stupid grin on his face, his hand behind his head. He put his hand back and returned to his normal expression. "Who was present at the run-through?" he asked.
"Well, let's see…" Oldbag said, trying to jog her memory. "There was Powers, he's the Steel Samurai… Then poor old Hammer, the Evil Magistrate. And… me."
"And what exactly were you doing?" the judge asked.
"Observing! Just… observing."
"What about the assistant?" Wright asked.
"Oh, she was off moving backdrops around and such. I saw Powers trip and fall!"
"Hold it! 'Trip and fall'…?"
"Yes! And to think, he's supposed to be the Steel Samurai! What a laugh! So Powers sprained his ankle. I helped make it better for him, of course."
"You… helped make it better?" the judge asked.
"I kissed it where it hurt," Oldbag said.
She may be in decent physical health, but I wouldn't say the same about mental health…
"L-let's just skip over that part, shall we?" the judge insisted.
"Where was the assistant then?" Wright asked.
"Oh, her?" Oldbag confirmed. "She was cleaning up backdrops, I think. She didn't know about Powers's ankle."
Which means if someone was posing as the Steel Samurai, it couldn't have been the assistant.
"You may continue your testimony," Miles said.
"He broke one of the props, it was a big mess."
"Hold it!" Wright cut in. "He broke a prop?"
"Sure did! His own Samurai Spear. Luckily I was there with my duct tape to fix it."
Hence the tape and her fingerprints on the murder weapon…
"Was Mr. Powers's ankle badly sprained?" Wright continued.
"Not so bad that he couldn't walk around," Oldbag answered. "He went to his dressing room to rest up after lunch. Anyway, I saw him dragging his foot when he walked."
Miles hit his desk with his right hand. "I think we've heard enough!" he said. "Haven't we, Your Honor?"
"Well, there is one thing that bothers me," the judge responded.
"Which is?"
"Where is this 'Steel Samurai' costume now?"
"Umm… hmm. Actually, well… We couldn't find it."
Which is always a possibility with Gumshoe handling the investigation.
"We're looking, though," Miles continued.
"Hmm…"
"Anyway, that's not important! The witness did see the Steel Samurai, yes." He put the testimony transcript down and shrugged, shaking his head. "And it is clear that the person in the Steel Samurai suit was Mr. Will Powers!"
"Hmm… I suppose that's right."
I think I know what's next, Miles thought, looking at Wright.
Right on cue, Wright pounded on his desk. "Hold it right there!" he ordered. "We keep talking possibilities, but we have to agree that this photo shows the Steel Samurai!" He pointed at the judge. "Nowhere in this photo can we see Mr. Will Powers!"
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "The defense has a point. I also wonder if someone else not caught on camera could have killed Mr. Hammer. We have to consider that possibility, also."
Miles did his "evil smile." "Then allow me to remove that doubt from your mind, Your Honor…" he said. "Will the witness continue her testimony, please?"
"No need to ask twice!" Oldbag chirped. "The time of poor Hammer's death was 2:30 PM, true? The only person I saw go to the studio before then was Will Powers! No one else went there! If they had, I would have seen them!"
"Hmm…" the judge muttered. "So, if no one else went to the studio… Then it would have to be this 'Steel Samurai' who did it. Mr. Wright, you may cross-examine the witness."
Wright looked at the testimony, then at the photo he had a copy of. He slammed his desk. "Hold on!" he shouted. "Look at this photograph one more time. This photo was taken by the camera at the gate for the studios, correct?"
"Yesiree, sonny," Oldbag answered.
"So, whenever anyone passes by here, it automatically takes a picture?"
"And here I thought you didn't know your head from a hole in the ground."
"Right… Anyway! It's also true that the computer in the guard station records all security cam data."
"Ooh! You know, if you wanted to work at the studio, we might have an opening."
"That very computer printed out this photo. Note that on the back of the photo are printed the words: Oct 15, 2:00 PM, Photo #2"
Photo number two!? What's the meaning of this!? Gumshoe has some explaining to do…
"Even I know that means it was taken at 2:00 PM on October the 15th! Really, sonny!"
"Actually, I knew that too," Wright said. "The issue here is the bit at the end where it says: 'Photo #2'…"
"'Photo #2'…?"
"The computer only held data for one photo on that day. Don't you think that's odd?" He slammed his desk. "Shouldn't this photo be 'Photo #1' if it really was the ONLY photo!?"
The gallery started up. The judge restored order.
"Order! Order!" he ordered. "Please tell the court what you mean by this, Mr. Wright!"
"Actually, that's what I want to ask the witness," Wright said, a confident smile on his face. He started flicking the photograph. "This evidence shows that not one, but two people went to the studio that day. Yet there is only data for one of the photos! Who could have erased the data for the other photo?" He banged on his desk and then pointed accusingly at the witness. "Only someone with access… the security lady herself!"
"Eh!?" Oldbag yelped. "You watch your mouth, whippersnapper! The only person I saw that day was Will Powers!"
"But the camera on the gate fired twice! That means two people went by!"
"Umm… well, yes… that's what it would seem to mean…"
"Can the witness explain this to the court?" the judge asked.
"Umm… ahem. I-I don't understand these new-fangled computer things… Umm… E-Edgey-boy! Help!"
"Huh!?" He jerked back, then regained his composure and hit his desk. "B-believe me, I want to, but I don't know what this means either."
"Humph! Some help you are! You're a whippersnapper too!"
How I wish I had Franziska's whip right now…
The witness was quiet for once. Something must have clicked in her mind.
"Whippersnapper…" she muttered, probably not realizing she was thinking out loud.
"Something the matter, Ms. Oldbag?" the judge asked.
"Ah! That's right! I… I just remembered something!"
"Let me guess… Someone else passed by the gate… someone other than the Steel Samurai?"
"Er… well, yes, I suppose you could put it that way."
The gallery started up, mostly complaining about the decrepit old hen Wright had the misfortune of having to cross-examine. The judge banged his gavel with a sigh.
"I see," he said. "Your testimony, please."
I actually feel sorry for Wright. It's at times like these that I'm glad I chose to become a prosecutor.
"Every day," Oldbag started, "after I finish my guard duties, I have one other important job to do. I go through the photos recorded on the security computer and check them. I throw out any photos that aren't suspicious lookin', you see. Come to think of it, now I remember throwing out one photo that day!"
"M-Ms. Oldbag!" Miles complained, slumped over his desk. "This is the first I've heard of this!"
"Well, of course, sonny! I've only just remembered it."
"Right… anyway," the judge said, "Mr. Wright, please begin the cross-examination."
Maya said something sarcastic-sounding to Wright. At least I'm not the only person fed up with this hag…
Wright looked over the testimony, clearly exasperated. "Well, who in the heck was in that photo you erased!?" he demanded.
"Humph," Oldbag scoffed. "A fanboy."
"F-fanboy?"
"Steel Samurai fanboys. Real freaks, if you ask me. They get information about the rehearsals from gosh-knows-where. They're always hanging out. One was there that day."
"Objection!" Wright shouted. He slammed his desk hard. "W-wait a second! Didn't you just say no one else could get in!? 'I locked the main gate so no one could get in'… Those were your words!"
"Well! If you must know, there's a drain that goes into the Employee Area. The grate has been loose for a while. It leads outside, and well, that's where they come in."
"They come in through the drain?" Wright confirmed, sweating.
"I told you they were freaks. Oh, and…"
"And…?"
"They're kids. Children. Whippersnappers."
"K-kids!?" Wright repeated as he jerked back in shock. He returned to sweating after that. "So, on the photo that you erased…?"
"It was a boy. Probably 2nd or 3rd grade."
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaat!?" Wright screamed.
She's as lousy of a guard as she is a witness…
The gallery had a field day discussing that until the judge silenced them.
"O-order! Order!" he demanded. "Let me get this straight. You saw two people pass by the gate on their way to the studios that day? One was the Steel Samurai, dragging his leg. The other was a boy who looked to be in about 2nd or 3rd grade?"
"Oh yes, well we see his type there every day," Oldbag said. "Can't stop 'em. Can't catch 'em."
"A boy in 2nd or 3rd grade?" Miles confirmed. "Hmm… I assume it would be hard, if not impossible for a young boy to wield the Samurai Spear?"
"Impossible, I'd think," the judge said. "It's quite heavy."
"Right!" Oldbag chimed in. "As I said, I didn't pay him much mind. That's why I erased the data."
Maya asked Wright a question. Wright said something in response. The judge banged his gavel.
"I'd like to take a five minute recess," the judge said. "I want the defense and the prosecution to consider this new information… And no forgetting vital information this time!"
"Consider this new information"? What is there to consider? A boy couldn't properly wield the Samurai Spear! The only possibility if Powers is innocent is that someone stole his costume!
Miles did not even bother to return to the Prosecution Lobby. After five minutes, the judge banged his gavel to silence the gallery.
"The court will now reconvene for the trial of Mr. Will Powers," he said. "Mr. Edgeworth, will you present the prosecution's thoughts on this matter?"
"The prosecution's thoughts are simple," Miles said. He shrugged and shook his head in amusement at the waste of time. "Nothing has changed. The other person who went to the studios was a boy of roughly 10 years of age. The photo we do have may not be hard evidence…" He pounded on his desk. "But there is still no one else that could have committed this crime! I call for a verdict of 'guilty' for the defendant, Mr. Will Powers!"
"Hmm… Very well. Mr. Wright, your thoughts?"
"The defense disagrees with the prosecution's claim," Wright said. How predictable. He slammed on his desk. "There IS another person who could have committed this crime!"
The gallery started up, promptly silenced by a whack of the judge's gavel.
"Order!" he shouted. "Interesting… Let us hear who you have in mind! However… Be aware that this court does not look kindly on accusing the innocent. If you accuse someone who is obviously innocent, you will be penalized."
Wright was sweating, an obvious sign that he was going to try to bluff his way into a suspension.
"So, who was this person other than Mr. Powers that could have committed murder?"
Wright pounded on his desk, then pointed at Oldbag. "It was the security lady! Wendy Oldbag!"
"W-who!?" Oldbag screeched.
"The Steel Samurai is dragging his leg in this picture. That means whoever was in the suit knew about that morning's injury. Maybe because… they had been watching the action scene run-through! There was only one person other than Powers and Hammer who knew about the injury. The security lady, Oldbag!"
"W-what!? Whippersnapper!"
The gallery began muttering again until the judge restored order.
"Order! Order!" the judge demanded. "I-is this true, Oldbag!?"
"Oldbag!?" the witness repeated. "That's Ms. Oldbag to you!"
"Ms. Oldbag was standing guard alone at the main gate," Wright said. "She was by herself… in other words, she has no alibi! She could have briefly left her post to steal the Steel Samurai costume…" He slammed his desk. "Then slipped into Studio One, the scene of the murder!"
"W-why would she go through the trouble of wearing the Steel Samurai costume!?" the judge asked.
"Simple, Your Honor. She knew the camera at the gate would take her picture. If she was in his costume, she could point the finger at Mr. Powers!"
"I see! Excellent deductive reasoning, Mr. Wright."
Wright had an extremely confident smile on his face. He then stopped smiling, looking at Miles. He started tapping on his chin. Obviously, he expected an objection.
"Well, Mr. Edgeworth?" the judge asked. "Does the prosecution have an opinion on this matter?"
Miles had his arms crossed, thinking. Wright has a point, though I imagine he's incorrect. Best not to object until I have some evidence. "The prosecution has no meaningful objections at this time," he said.
"W-w-what!?" Oldbag screamed. "What's that supposed to mean!? Oh, so you all think I did it! Is that it!? Edgey-boy! Don't just sit there, do something!"
Miles said nothing as Wright slammed his desk.
"The very same reasoning that makes Mr. Powers a suspect in this case…" Wright started, "can be used to cast doubt on Ms. Oldbag's actions on that day!"
"B-but why would I do something so horrible to poor hammer!?" she cried. Wright shook his head.
"You forget that Mr. Powers lacks a clear motive, too."
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "Indeed."
I suppose it is possible that Oldbag is the killer. There's no proof that she's innocent, after all.
"Wait just a minute!" Oldbag shrieked. "What about the other person who went to the studio!? The boy! The one whose photo I erased!"
There's no way a boy that age could kill anyone with the Samurai Spear.
"He's only a grade schooler though, as you said," the judge replied. "2nd or 3rd grade, was it?"
"Th-that doesn't matter! When I was that age, I could pin my old man in 10 seconds, tops!"
"Hmm… Your thoughts, Mr. Wright?"
"That boy is not the killer," Wright said.
"What!?" Oldbag yelled. "How can you be so sure! Oh, or is it be nice to the kids and mean to your elders day? Whippersnapper!"
This woman is pathetic…
"I have proof," Wright said.
"P-proof!?"
"Indeed?" the judge asked. "Then let's see this proof, Mr. Wright. You have proof that shows the boy could not have committed this murder?"
Amazing… Well, he is Judge Clous, after all.
"Your Honor!" Wright called. "The murder weapon was the Samurai Spear. That very spear is shown here in this photo." He slammed his desk. "How could the boy have taken the spear? It's impossible!"
"I see!" the judge said. "Well, would the witness care to comment on this?"
"Mrph," Oldbag spat.
She's actually quiet for once… Next we'll see Gumshoe thinking…
"Very well!" the judge said. He banged his gavel. "This court will suspend proceedings on the current trial for today. Mr. Edgeworth, please find out more about your witness, Ms. Windy… what was her name?"
"Something 'Oldbag,' Your Honor," Miles said.
"Then the prosecution will look further into this Oldbag before we continue! That is all. The court is adjourned!" He banged his gavel.
"W-wait a second!" Oldbag yelled. "I'm not going to just sit here while you run off barking up the wrong tree… me! I'm talking!"
You almost always are.
"Oh, great, stop the presses!" Maya sighed, almost inaudible. "The windbag wants to talk!"
"Ms. Oldbag!" the judge barked. "What is this all about? Have you omitted something from your testimony?"
"Actually," Oldbag started, "if you must know, there's something I was told not to talk about."
"N-not to talk about!?" Wright cried.
"By whom!?" Miles blurted.
"W-well, testify!" the judge ordered.
Miles pushed himself off of his desk. The right elbow of his jacket probably had a stain on it from the polish.
"Global Studios wanted me to keep quiet about something," Oldbag said. "There were… some other people at the studios on the day of the murder. They said they had 'nothing to do with it,' see? So they told me to just pretend they 'hadn't been at the studios that day.' But if you're going to go accusing me, I'm not letting them get away scot free!"
"M-Ms. Oldbag!" the judge shouted. "This is crucial information! Why did you keep this from the court until now!?"
"Ain't you been listening? They told me to shut my trap, and I always do what I'm told."
Somehow, I don't think you'd do as you're told if I told you to be quiet…
"Mr. Wright… Your cross-examination."
"So, you were told not to talk?" Wright asked.
"That's right!" Oldbag chirped. "By the studio and TV bigwigs, no less!"
"Why didn't I hear about this!?" Miles demanded through gritted teeth.
"Don't be too hard on yourself; sonny. We were all in on it."
This woman makes Gumshoe seem like a genius!
"There were… some other people at the studios on the day of the murder," Oldbag continued.
"Hold it!" Wright shouted. "W-who were these people!?"
"Well, the director and the producer, for starters…"
"The… director?"
"We should have known something was fishy!" Miles said. "How could they have done a run-through of their action scene without a director?" He hit his desk in annoyance at his own failure to notice beforehand. "Of course!"
"Yes, well, I was surprised no one asked about it."
"So, where were these people?" Wright asked.
"The director was in the Employee Area all morning for the run-through. He joined the producer around lunchtime and they had a meeting after that."
"Where!" Miles demanded.
"Oh, in the Studio Two trailer."
"S-Studio Two…!?" Wright asked.
"Well, if you look at the guidemap…" She took out her own map and pointed at Studio Two. "Here it is. You go through the gate and all the way to the left."
"Well, Mr. Wright…" the judge said. "Would you like to continue the cross-examination…?"
"Your Honor," Wright said. "We have learned there were others at Global Studios on the day in question. The director and the producer and, er, some bigwigs, were all present." He hit his desk. "Yet, as we stand here, they have not been questioned! I hold that it is impossible to declare a verdict on the defendant, Mr. Powers!"
"Hmm…" The judge banged his gavel. "The court acknowledges the defense's point. The prosecution will gather more information about the witness, Ms. Oldbag… and more information about these other people we have just been told of!"
This cursed woman… How could she have kept all of this from me!?
"I understand, Your Honor," Miles said, hunched over his desk.
"This ends the day's proceedings in the trial of Mr. Will Powers. That is all. The court is adjourned!"
Miles entered the Prosecution Lobby and saw Gumshoe waiting there with two paper cups of coffee from some coffee shop: one for himself, and one for Miles, no doubt.
"Coffee, sir?" Gumshoe asked. Miles took a cup in his left hand and removed the lid. Gumshoe took his own cup and did the same, taking a large gulp. He jerked almost an instant later. "Hot! Hot!" He started pounding on his chest with his free hand. He gasped a few times.
"That is why you should sip, Detective," Miles said, taking a sip of his own coffee. At least he remembered that I prefer my coffee black.
"So, how'd it go, pal?"
"We had to suspend."
"Why, sir? I thought Ms. Oldbag would seal the case shut." Miles felt his hand tighten at the mention of the witch.
"Aaaaarrrggh!" Miles cried in pain, dropping the cup he had crushed in his hand.
"Aaaaah!" Gumshoe screamed, no doubt caught off-guard by Miles's cry.
Miles shook his left hand vigorously, doing all he could to get the scalding coffee off. After a few seconds, he held his hand still so he could roll up the sleeves of his jacket and shirt so the wet parts were not touching his skin. He then resumed whipping his hand around as he reached into his coat pocket and took out a handkerchief to wipe off the remaining coffee.
"That woman was anything but helpful!" Miles spat. "There were several other people who had an opportunity to commit the crime, and she had kept silent about it on their orders!"
"What!? R-really, sir!?"
"Yes, really. Gumshoe, I want you to get as much information as you can on these people."
"Yes, sir!" Gumshoe gulped down some more coffee, shuddered at the heat, took another gulp, shuddered again, took a fourth gulp, shuddered, and dropped the now-empty cup on the floor. He saluted and ran out the door.
Idiot. Still, can't fault him for a lack of enthusiasm…