Chapter 16—Innocent or Guilty
October 19, 2016
At Miles's request, Lana went to see the second day of Powers's trial—for moral support, even if she couldn't do anything other than watch. She had nothing else to do that day, so Gant was willing to let her. She was waiting in the gallery for the trial to begin. Miles was already at the prosecution bench, looking over the files. Wright went in with Maya a few minutes before court was scheduled to convene. Lana had looked over the information on Maya herself. Considering how much she resembled Mia at the moment, Lana concluded that she was channeling Mia to help Wright.
Miles, of course, thought such things as spirit channeling and the paranormal were utter nonsense. Had Lana not once seen Mia channel her father during their college days, she would have thought the same. Judge Clous entered and banged his gavel.
"The court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Will Powers," he said.
"The prosecution is ready, Your Honor," Miles said.
"The defense is ready, Your Honor," Wright said.
"Very well," the judge replied. "Mr. Edgeworth, your opening statement, please."
"An unexpected fact has come to the attention of the court," Miles stated. "Yesterday, we learned that there were other people present at the studios! Today, I would like to show evidence proving they had nothing to do with the murder."
"Very well. You may call your first witness, Mr. Edgeworth."
"The prosecution calls Mr. Sal Manella to the stand."
A somewhat corpulent man with obvious acne and wearing a Steel Samurai souvenir hat took the stand. Sal Manella, the director of The Steel Samurai.
"Will the witness state his name and profession?" Miles requested.
"How r00d can j00 get!" Manella complained. "J00 don't know ME!? I'm the director! I make the Steel Samurai, n00b! ROFL!"
I'm willing to bet he's also an Internet addict.
Miles had his arms crossed calmly. Manella noticed his outburst had been frowned upon and started sweating.
"S… Sal Manella," the witness stammered. "I'm a director. Television."
"Were you at Global Studios on the day of the murder?" the judge asked.
"Y-yes, Your Honor."
"Hmm… Very well. Please testify to the court about the events of that day."
"Mia" said something to Wright. A briefing, no doubt.
"I was at the studios from around 9:00 that morning," Manella said, beginning his testimony. "During the morning, I was doing… umm… an action scene run-through. It took a lot more time than I thought it would. I hear that everyone else ate lunch in the Employee Area… But I had a meeting in the Studio Two Trailer, so I ended up skipping lunch. We were in the meeting until around 4:00… During the meeting, well, I'm pretty sure no one left their chairs. That's about it."
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "The time of Mr. Hammer's death was 2:30 PM. And according to your testimony, you were in a meeting at that time. Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination."
"Yes, Your Honor," Wright said. He looked at Manella. "So, in the end, you didn't get to eat?" he asked, grasping his chin.
"Yeah," Manella said. "No steak, at least! Can j00 believe it?"
"That must have been tough," Wright said, the sarcasm in his voice as obvious as the sweat running down his face.
"Phoenix," Mia said.
"Yeah?"
Mia asked another question, but Lana couldn't make it out. Wright said something in response.
"Mr. Manella!" he then said to the witness.
"H-hmm?" Manella stuttered, sweating. "W-what do j00 mean? sweats"
He is definitely an Internet addict. It's a sad, sad day when leet becomes a spoken language.
"When I went to that trailer," Wright continued, "I saw something on the table. There were two plates on the table—the same kind of plates as in the Employee Area." He pointed at Manella. "Who ate lunch there?"
"M-mmpf! No, er, ah, um, eh heh. Good call! sweats I, er, I was embarrassed so I didn't mention it… But I did eat, after all." Manella's tongue hung out and he started drooling a bit.
Disturbing…
"A t-bone steak, you mean?" Wright asked.
"Yeah, well, I mean the assistant went through all that trouble… I brought it to the trailer, thinking I could eat it later."
I'm guessing good behavior isn't one of the criteria for getting a job there…
"So, when exactly did you eat it?"
"We took one break during that meeting. I, er, wolfed it down then. drool"
Wright was sweating—understandably so; the witness was a very disgusting excuse for a man. Wright started tapping his chin, thinking.
"We were in the meeting till around 4:00…" Manella said, restating his testimony. "During the meeting, well, I'm pretty sure no one left their chairs."
"Hold it!" Wright interrupted. "You didn't take a single break?"
"Er… well… Y-yeah! Not a one! sweats"
Even Gumshoe could see the contradiction there.
Wright started thinking. He then slammed on his desk.
"Wait a second!" he demanded. "Mr. Manella, you've just contradicted yourself! Didn't you just tell the court that you ate that t-bone steak during a break?"
"Oops!" Manella blurted. "ROFL!"
It is way too easy to picture this fellow's home life.
"Well?"
"Umm…"
"Mr. Manella, what's this all about?" the judge asked.
"W-well, yeah, I guess we did take a little break."
"Phoenix!" Mia exclaimed. "Great job!" She continued by saying something else, but it wasn't loud enough for Lana to hear.
"Your Honor!" Wright said. "I call on the witness to testify to the court about this break!"
"Very well," the judge replied. "Mr. Manella, your testimony, please."
"Urk!" Manella yelped.
"Heh heh heh…" Miles chuckled. Wright started sweating. He had learned to fear the Demon Prosecutor.
"Yeah, FWIW, we took a break…" Manella said. "ROFL! But it was only 15 minutes! 15! That's only 13 in Base 12! Not enough time for someone to, say, commit murder in Studio One! LOL! That's only just enough time to eat a t-bone steak, if you ask me! steams"
"Hmm…" the judge muttered. "I don't think it would even be enough time for that, but that's just me. Very well. You may begin the cross-examination."
"What time exactly did you take this break?" Wright asked, sparing no time.
"Hmm…" Manella mumbled, trying to recall. "I'd say it was from around 2:30 or so until 2:45."
Wright started flicking the testimony. He had seen the coincidence. Miles didn't say anything. It was only a coincidence, after all.
"But it was only 15 minutes!" Manella insisted, apparently recalling the time of the murder. "15! That's only 13 in Base 12!"
"Hold it!" Wright shouted. "What were you doing for those 15 minutes?"
What do you think, Wright?
"Eating my t-bone steak!" Manella replied. "What else!?"
"There were two plates on the trailer table…?"
"Oh, right. The other one was Diva's… sorry, Dee Vasquez's plate."
"To eat a t-bone steak in 15 minutes…" Miles commented, "that's quite a feat."
"Not enough time for someone to, say, commit murder in Studio One! LOL!"
"Hold it!" Wright yelled again. "Why is that?"
"Objection!" Miles interrupted. "Haven't we had enough of this pointless line of questioning? Your Honor! The testimony to this point has made one certain fact painfully clear: The people in the trailer had nothing to do with this murder! It was impossible for any of them to go to Studio One!"
"What!?" Wright barked.
"Something wrong, Mr. Wright?" Miles taunted. "Surely you aren't suggesting one of the people in the trailer went to Studio One!"
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "Well, Mr. Wright?" he asked.
Mia said something to Wright.
"Do you claim someone from the trailer went to Studio One?" the judge continued.
"The victim was murdered at 2:30, the exact time of the break in the meeting," Wright said. "With 15 minutes, murder is certainly a possibility!"
"Hmm… I suppose you might say that…"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk…" Miles laughed. He shook his head in amusement. "Never a dull moment with you, Mr. Wright!"
"What's your point, Edgeworth!" Wright hissed.
"You've been doing your homework, haven't you? Look at the Court Record."
"The Court Record…?"
"Surely, you knew that from 2:15 to 4:00 the path between the studios was blocked?"
It was?
"Mrs. Monkey's head had fallen across the path!" Miles continued.
"Whoa!" Wright yelped. "You're right!"
"True, the break in the trailer meeting came right at the time of death… However! The path from there to the scene of the crime was blocked!" Miles hit his desk. "The fallen Mrs. Monkey head barred the way!"
Wright was hunched over in a cold sweat. Lana thought she heard Manella whisper "Pwnt."
"No counter-argument, Mr. Wright?" the judge asked. "Then I'm afraid you lose this round." The judge wrote something down on his record: a penalty.
"I believe we have seen enough evidence," Miles said. He took a bow. "I would like to relieve Mr. Manella from the stand."
"It's over?" Lana heard someone in the gallery say.
"Looks like it," another person said. "If no one else had an opportunity to kill Hammer—"
The judge interrupted the chatting with his gavel.
"Very well," he said. "The court's opinion on this case is as follows: We have found that there were several other people in Studio 2 on the day of the murder. However, it is also clear that none of these people could have gone to Studio One. They therefore have no relation to this case. Furthermore, with regards to the photo of the Steel Samurai… Given the size of the costume, no one other than Mr. Powers could have worn it that day. All that is lacking is decisive evidence that he is the one who did it. If we had that, I'm afraid I would have to find Mr. Powers guilty."
"Your Honor," Miles called. "The prosecution is pleased to announce that we indeed have decisive evidence: a witness."
That boy Gumshoe found, no doubt.
The judge silenced the gallery mere seconds after they had started talking.
"Who is this witness, Mr. Edgeworth?" the judge asked.
"My witness saw the very moment when the Steel Samurai skewered the victim!"
"Looks like Edgeworth's gonna have his revenge," someone in the gallery said.
"Yeah, it's over now."
The judge banged his gavel.
"Order!" he demanded. "I will have order!" He looked at Miles. "I see. The court will take a 10 minute recess, after which we will hear your witness. Court is adjourned for recess!" He whacked his gavel.
The judge banged his gavel right on time for the recess to end.
"Court is back in session for the trial of Mr. Will Powers," he said.
"The prosecution has a concern," Miles said. "As our witness is a grade schooler of tender years, and this is a murder case… We worry that the defense might cause unnecessary trauma with his cruel questioning!"
That's Miles for you. Whenever he has an opportunity to look the hero, he uses it.
"However, we have no choice," he continued. "The prosecution calls Cody Hackins to the stand."
A boy garbed in all manner of Steel Samurai memorabilia walked up to the stand. He was so small that little more than his head was visible.
"Your Honor," Miles said. "Perhaps you could arrange a box for him to stand on?"
"Oh, r-right," the judge said. "Guard, please bring him a box. One of those donut crates should do."
The ones his brother keeps in his chambers?
A moment later, the guard came in with a crate that previously had donuts in it. The boy waited impatiently for the box to be placed at the stand and then stood on top of it.
"Will the witness state his name and grade in school," Miles requested.
The boy did not respond. Miles hit his desk.
"Witness!" he barked.
"What!?" the boy replied defiantly. "Just 'cause you're all grown-up don't mean you can push me around!"
"Mrph…" Miles hunched over his desk. He probably had a very negative opinion of his witness at that point.
"Cody?" Mia called. "Answer his question, okay?"
"H-hey, it's you!" the witness chirped. "The nice lady!"
Nice lady? I can't say Mia's particularly nice in court…
"I'm Cody Hackins," Cody said, now cooperative. "I'm in 2nd grade!" Wright was sweating again.
"Mr. Edgeworth," the judge said. "Please remember that you're speaking to a child. Try to be gentle."
"M-mrrrrph!" Miles grunted, annoyed. He regained his composure. "Witness! Er, I mean, Cody."
Sometimes I wonder if Miles would make a suitable father… He'd do fine as a husband, but a father? No, he'd be fine as a father. After all, he was very kind to Ema when he met her. Then again, Ema's much nicer than this boy.
"You were present, er, you were at Global Studios on the day of the, er, incident?" Miles asked Cody, interrupting Lana's train of thought.
"You got a problem with that!?" Cody snapped.
I don't think there's any need to be gentle with him…
"Please tell us what you saw that day," Miles said, still calm.
"What, pops? You want me to tell you and gramps with the beard over there?"
"Just… Mr. Edgeworth will be fine," Miles said, now a tad frustrated.
"I prefer 'bearded gentleman' myself," the judge chimed in. "Incidentally, photographic equipment is strictly forbidden in this courtroom."
"M-mpht!" Miles blurted. "M-my apologies, Your Honor," he said, regaining his calm. "He said he wouldn't testify if he couldn't bring it… I'd like special permission, if that's possible."
"Wait, so you're saying you had to bargain terms with a kid…" Wright started, "and you LOST?"
Why is he so surprised? Children like Cody do tend to be rather stubborn. It's not as if they fully understand the world of adults.
"Hey!" Cody bragged. "I just got this new camera! Don't really know how to use it all that good yet! But I bring it with me wherever I go!"
Sounds like Miles's mention of how Franziska almost never goes anywhere without her whip…
Mia said something to Wright. Wright opened up his files and wrote something down.
"Very well, Cody," the judge said. "Please testify to the court about what you saw the day of the incident."
"I wanted to see a Steel Samurai rehearsal, just once," Cody said, beginning his testimony. "I found a map on the Internet, and went to the studios that day. I went through the woods, off the path, so that old lady wouldn't catch me. I was going for the studio. I got kinda lost on the way, though. For about 30 minutes. When I came out by the studio, there was the Steel Samurai! It totally rocked! Right before my eyes, out came the bad guy! Of course, the Steel Samurai took him down! Pow! If I had my camera with me, that woulda been the time for a shot, I tell you. Anyway, I couldn't get into the studio, so I went home."
"Hmm… Very well. The defense may begin its cross-examination. And, be gentle. Remember you're talking to a child."
Wright was still sweating. He looked over the testimony.
"Objection!" he shouted. "Cody, what you just said seems, well, a little strange. Didn't you say before that you always bring your digital camera wherever you go? You were quite clear about that."
"Huh!?" Cody yelped.
"Cody, you shouldn't lie here. You understand that, right?"
"Mr. Wright!" the judge interrupted. "A word with you…"
Wright started sweating. He probably feared a penalty for piling on too much pressure.
"What is this 'digital' camera contraption you're talking about?" the judge asked.
"It's umm… a digital camera, Your Honor," Wright tried to explain. "It's kind of a new sort of camera."
I'd hardly call it new. They've been around longer than Ema.
"I see," the judge said.
"Anyway, Cody… I can't believe you wouldn't bring your camera on a trip to the studios! You did bring it, didn't you?"
"Umm…" Cody was hunched over like Wright, but not sweating.
"Objection!" Miles shouted. "Mr. Wright! How cruel you are, to terrorize a poor child so!"
"I don't care if he's a child or a prosecuting attorney! No one should lie in court!"
Now that's not very nice, Wright.
"What do you mean 'or a prosecuting attorney'!?"
"Well, Cody?"
"Wh-what!" Cody snapped. "Yeah, so I had my camera. So what!? You got a problem with that!?"
"Yeah, why is the camera important?" someone in the gallery muttered.
The judge banged his gavel.
"So, you did have a camera?" he asked. "And did you use this camera?"
"W-why would I use it?" Cody lied. It was obvious he was hiding something. Why? "I… I was too busy watching."
"Hmm… Very well. Please testify to the court about what you were so busy watching."
"Y-yeah, I had my camera with me. But I was glued to the action! I couldn't take my eyes off it! The Steel Samurai, he goes for the bad guy… wham! Then… then the bad guy stopped moving! He's so strong! The Steel Samurai rules!"
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "Ah? Is that all? Well, that was brief. Mr. Wright, your cross-examination."
"So you were watching the Steel Samurai," Wright pressed. "Did you watch the whole fight?"
"Y-yeah, of course!" Cody stammered.
"You didn't turn away, not even once?"
"N… no!"
"Okay, then tell us exactly what happened."
"Y-yeah! I'm getting to that! The Steel Samurai, he goes for the bad guy… wham! Then… then the bad guy stopped moving!"
"Hold it!" Wright interrupted. "Why?"
"Huh? Whaddya mean, 'why'?"
"Why wasn't the bad guy moving?"
Because he was dead, Wright.
"W-well 'cause the Steel Samurai brought him to justice!"
"And how exactly did he do that?"
"H-how did he do it? With a Samurai Kick! And a Samurai Punch! Samurai Chop! …Samurai Slap! S-something like that."
What about the Samurai Spear, boy?
"What!" Cody snapped. "Don't gimme that look, pops!"
"Cody."
"Wh-what!?"
"Something's bothering me. Before you said that you 'couldn't take your eyes off' the action."
"Y-yeah? So what?"
"Yet you missed the most important part!"
"Objection!" Miles interrupted. "What is the meaning of this? The witness has stated what he saw quite clearly…"
"Objection!" Wright countered. "You know as well as I do that he's being vague!" He slammed his desk. "Tell me, what kind of murderer uses a 'Samurai Slap'!?"
"M-mmph!"
"My point is this: Cody, you may have seen some of the Steel Samurai's fight…" He slammed his desk again. "But you missed the most important part: the killing blow!"
The judge silenced the gallery with three whacks of his gavel.
"Order! Order!" he shouted. "Mr. Wright! How could this be? Can you explain how he might have missed something so vital?"
"Um, well… er, that's the thing…" Wright had his hand behind his head and was grinning stupidly.
"Phoenix!" Mia called. She said something else to him.
"Mr. Wright, your answer!" the judge demanded. "We have ascertained that this young boy is a great fan of the Steel Samurai… Why wouldn't he watch the climax of the fight?"
"Your Honor, I have evidence," Wright replied.
"'Evidence'…?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
"Why did Cody look away from the fight?"
"Take that! Here's my proof!" Wright indicated the camera.
"What's that? The camera…?"
"The witness stated that he recently received this camera."
"Yes, I'm aware of that."
"He wasn't entirely familiar with its operation."
"I'm aware of that, too. Ah!"
"Correct! Why would Cody be looking somewhere else at the critical moment? Because he was looking at his camera!" Wright pounded on his desk. "He was trying to take a picture!"
"Hey!" Cody yelped.
"Bullseye!"
"W-what's your problem, pops! You got a thing for picking on little kids!?"
This from a boy with a toy sword on his back…
Mia said something to Wright. Wright said something in response.
"Cody?" he called. "There was only one reason why you would have looked away from the fight. And that was because you wanted to take a picture. But having just received your camera, you weren't used to using it yet! So, you missed the climax of the fight. Correct?"
Cody didn't respond. After a moment, he said "Yeah."
Mia said something to Wright. Wright said something back to her.
"Your Honor," he said. "The defense would like to request that Cody Hackins testify once more."
"V-very well," the judge replied. "Cody? Could you please tell us about your camera… And about why you didn't take a picture of the fight?"
"Umm…" Cody squeaked. "Yeah, you're right, pops. The Steel Samurai had just escaped from the clutches of the villain. So I held up my camera to take a picture! But the lens wouldn't open in time, so I missed it. Th-that's all that happened. Yup."
"Hmm… Anything strange in that testimony, Mr. Wright?"
"I'm not sure…" Wright replied, shaking his head. "But I'd like to proceed with the cross-examination anyway."
Wright re-read the copy of Cody's testimony.
"That's all?" he asked Cody.
"Y-yeah!" Cody stuttered. "I told you, I didn't take a picture!"
Wright grasped his chin, thinking.
Cody's definitely hiding something.
"Cody!" Wright called. "Listen up, Cody Hackins. I know exactly what happened that day. You took a picture!"
"Hey!" Cody shouted after a pause. Wright smiled, confident he was on the right track. "H-how did you know!?"
"I see through all your lies Cody Hackins. It's one of my powers!"
"W-wow! Y-yeah… Yeah, I took a picture."
"Perhaps you can change your testimony to reflect this, Cody?"
"I took a few shots, but it was too late, so I erased 'em."
"Objection!" Wright shouted. "Cody!"
"Wh-wh-what!? Man, every time you say 'Cody' you follow it with something bad."
"I just wanted to thank you for giving me this the other day." Wright had a notebook of some sort in his hand.
"Huh? O-oh… right."
"What was it you told me then? Cody. Did you really get a picture of the Steel Samurai standing victorious over his foe? If you did, I find it hard to believe that you would just erase it!" He hit his desk. "Wouldn't you keep it for your album?"
"Ah!"
"Mr. Wright…" the judge cut in. "What exactly is this album?"
"It's called 'Path to Glory,'" Wright said. "It's a collection of pictures of the Steel Samurai, all taken by Cody Hackins. He claims it's a perfect collection of every battle the Steel Samurai has won!"
"I… I see."
"Don't you find this very odd, Your Honor? Among all his pictures of the Steel Samurai, none were taken that day!"
The gallery started muttering, silenced by the judge's gavel.
"Order!" he demanded. "Mr. Wright. Have you an explanation? If the Steel Samurai had just defeated his adversary, I certainly would expect to see a picture of it in this album…"
"Exactly my point, Your Honor!" Wright paused. After a moment, he jerked back hard, then slumped into a cold sweat.
Mia said something to Wright. Wright replied. Mia nodded, then said "Yes." She continued with something else.
"Mr. Wright!" the judge ordered. "Please explain to the court what is going on here! Why was there no picture in the album from the day of the murder? Why would the boy have erased the photos he took?"
"I can think of only one reason, Your Honor," Wright said. He hit his desk. "The Steel Samurai didn't win! That's why Cody deleted those photos."
"You mean the Steel Samurai… lost?"
"Well, Cody? I'm right, aren't I? Tell the truth. The bad guy defeated the Steel Samurai!"
"N-n-n-no way!" Cody stammered. "No! I-it's impossible! Th-the Steel Samurai never loses! He never loses to anyone! Ever!"
Judging by your reaction, I'm thinking he did lose this time. But where does that take us?
"Your Honor…" Wright said. "The witness has revealed everything with his words. There was a reason why he lied and told us he didn't take a picture. The same reason he erased his precious photos! For Cody, it was inconceivable that the Steel Samurai could be defeated." He slammed his desk. "However, Cody witnessed the impossible! He saw the Steel Samurai lose! Yet to admit what he saw would destroy everything he believed in! That's why he lied and said the Steel Samurai won." He hit his desk again. "He couldn't handle the truth!"
"What? But then where's the Evil Magistrate in all of this?" someone in the gallery asked.
"Hammer's the victim, not Powers!"
The judge banged his gavel.
"O-Order!" he shouted. "I will have order! W-witness! I mean, Cody! Is this true!? W-what did you see? Tell the court what you saw!"
"I…… Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!" Tears poured out of Cody's eyes.
"Cody…" Wright began. "That day, you saw the Steel Samurai lose a fight. Right?"
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Cody cried. "Okay okay! Y-you're right! Th-the Steel Samurai f-fell down… Th-then he didn't m-move… Waaaaaaaaah!"
"You're kidding me!" the person sitting next to Lana blurted. Before he could continue, the judge whacked his gavel.
"Order! Order! Order!"
Miles slammed his desk. "What kind of stunt are you trying to pull, Wright!?" he demanded. "The Steel Samurai was the murderer, not the victim!"
"Yet according to your witness's testimony, the Steel Samurai was the one who fell!"
"What the hell is going on!?" someone in the gallery cried. The judge hit his gavel.
"Mr. Wright!" the judge yelled. "What's going on?"
"Apparently, we have all made a serious error," Wright replied.
"An… error?" Miles asked. "What's this all about!?"
"If you understand what really happened, it's actually quite simple. At the end of the fight, the Steel Samurai fell to the ground, and lay still. In other words, the Steel Samurai was not the killer, he was the victim! Don't you see?" He slammed his desk. "Jack Hammer was the Steel Samurai!"
It… is possible… Lana thought amidst the gallery's yammering. He is the right size to wear that costume… But then who did he fight?
The judge whacked his gavel.
"Order! Order! Order!" the judge shouted, getting a tad hoarse. "So, the Steel Samurai in this photograph… You're saying the man in his costume was the victim, Mr. Jack Hammer?"
"That's what I'm saying, Your Honor," Wright replied. "Jack Hammer was present at the action scene run-through that morning. Thus, he obviously knew about Will Powers's foot injury."
"B-but wait! Hadn't Mr. Hammer gone to Studio One already?"
"That's what everyone thought! But remember what Ms. Oldbag said in her testimony? Mr. Jack Hammer left the Employee Area after lunch. However, no one saw him going to Studio One. Nor was there a picture of him. He waited for Mr. Powers to take a nap in his dressing room. Then he snuck into the dressing room and stole the Steel Samurai costume."
"But why would the victim do such a thing?" the judge asked after a pause. All eyes were on Wright.
"I… don't know."
"I get it!" Cody said after a pause.
I forgot the boy was even there…
"I thought that the Steel Samurai was moving strange," Cody continued. "So it was a different person inside the suit! Pops!"
"Huh, me? What?"
"Actually, there was one piece of data I saved."
"Data?"
"Yeah, a photo on my digital camera!"
Wright slammed his desk. "W-what!?"
"Show us, quick!" Miles ordered.
"No way man, not if you're gonna look at me like that!"
"Now!" the judge barked.
"Here…" Cody said, on the verge of crying again. He took a photo out of his backpack. "This is it."
The judge looked at the photo. "Well, looking at this it's still a little hard to say. I'm afraid that it could be anyone in that costume. Your opinion, Mr. Wright?" The judge passed the photo to Wright.
"I agree, Your Honor," Wright said. "This isn't decisive evidence."
"I'm sorry, this doesn't look like it's the proof we need. I'll give it back."
"Wait, Phoenix!" Mia interrupted. Wright said something in response. Mia said something else.
"Wh-what!?" Wright exclaimed. "Y-Your Honor! May I see that photo once more please?"
"C-certainly," the judge said. "I don't see why not."
Mia said something more to Wright.
"Your Honor!" Wright shouted. "Look at this!"
"I see… a gate?" the judge replied, confused.
"Might I draw your attention to the number on that gate?"
"The number? Ah yes. Well, it's hard to see, but it looks like a '2.'"
"Clearly not a '1,' Your Honor, correct?"
"Aaaaaah!" Miles screamed.
Studio… Two?
"I believe Mr. Edgeworth sees what I'm getting at," Wright commented. Poor Miles was hunched over his desk.
"B-but… Th-that's impossible!"
"Hmm?" the judge chirped. "Eh? What's this all about? Please explain so that I might be shocked along with the rest of the court."
"I'll use the studio guidemap," Wright said. He took out the map. "The body was found here, in Studio One. However, what do we see in this photo taken at the time of the murder? It does NOT say '1' on that gate in the photo. Your Honor! Here is the true scene of the crime!" He slammed his desk. "Here, at Studio Two."
"I see! That would explain the '2' on the gate in the photo."
"Your Honor, I find it very significant that the murder took place in Studio Two! As you may recall, there is a trailer in Studio Two. Now, on that day, a meeting was held in that very trailer. There was a break in the meeting corresponding to the time of death. During that break, Mr. Sal Manella and Ms. Dee Vasquez were outside, eating steak." Wright slammed his desk. "They were at the scene of the crime!"
The judge stopped the gallery's chattering with his gavel.
"The path to the trailer was blocked!" Wright continued.
"So we have heard," the judge said.
"The path was blocked at 2:15…" Wright hit his desk again. "In other words, the victim went to Studio Two before that time!"
"Yes… yes, I suppose that would be the case."
"Remember Mr. Sal Manella's testimony? Allow me to remind the court: He said no one in the trailer was guilty because they could not have gone to Studio One. Yet, in actuality, the reverse was true! Only someone in the trailer could have committed this murder!" Wright hit his desk. "They were the only ones with access to the scene of the crime: Studio Two!"
The gallery started up, silenced by the judge's gavel.
"O-order!" he demanded. "Order!"
"The defense makes the following claims:" He slammed on his desk. "The scene of the crime was Studio Two! The person that the security guard, Ms. Oldbag saw was the victim, Mr. Jack Hammer! Mr. Hammer, for some reason, stole a Steel Samurai costume. Then he went to Studio Two!"
"Objection!" Miles yelled. "This is madness! Jack Hammer is the victim! The victim! Why would he steal a Steel Samurai costume!?" He pounded on his own desk. "Are you suggesting he did so to cover up the details of his own murder!?"
"W-well, no, of course not…" Wright replied, sweating.
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled.
"Or do you have proof!?" Miles asked. "Give me proof that the victim, Jack Hammer, stole the costume!"
"I have proof!" Wright said. Miles hit his desk.
"Y-you do!?"
"You do, Mr. Wright?" the judge chimed in. Wright began sweating.
"Here's my proof that Jack Hammer stole the costume!" Wright said, his voice shaking a little. He held up a little bottle. "This is it."
"An empty… medicine bottle?" the judge asked.
"I found this on the table in the Employee Area. The same table where Mr. Hammer and Mr. Powers ate. The label reads 'sleeping pills.'"
"'Sleeping pills'…?"
"The defendant, Mr. Powers, spent that entire afternoon sleeping. He was drugged… by Mr. Hammer!"
Gumshoe can be expecting a salary cut for overlooking this… Lana thought while the gallery chattered. The judge banged his gavel to restore order.
"Wait a moment…" the judge said. "That bottle does raise some suspicions, yes. But there is no proof that Mr. Hammer used it."
"Your Honor, I have an idea," Wright said.
"An… idea? Very well, let's hear it."
"I want to check this bottle for fingerprints! If my claim is true, Mr. Hammer's fingerprints should show up on this bottle!"
"Hmm…" Miles growled. He was either angry that he was losing to Wright again or angry that Gumshoe didn't find that bottle during the investigation.
"I suppose you're right," the judge said. "Very well. The court will take possession of the bottle." Wright tossed the bottle to the judge, who fumbled with it upon catching it. "This court will suspend proceedings on the current trial for today. Cody Hackins's testimony has revealed new possibilities in this case. In fact, things may have happened very differently than we previously thought. The Steel Samurai seen by Ms. Oldbag may have been the victim, Jack Hammer. the scene of the crime was not Studio One, but Studio Two. And those in the trailer did have time to commit murder. Mr. Wright?"
"Yes, Your Honor?" Wright asked.
"Your homework is to find the answer to the following question: Why would Mr. Hammer steal the Steel Samurai costume? Also, who killed him, and why? Find the answers for me by tomorrow."
Wright was sweating.
That's quite a bit of homework.
"Mr. Edgworth," the judge called.
"Mm?" Miles replied.
"You will need to reconsider your stance in this case. Above all, you will need to reconsider your suspicion of Mr. Will Powers."
"As you say, Your Honor."
He seems rather calm…
"This trial will be extended until tomorrow. This is the last extension!" The gallery started up, silenced by the gavel. "Very well… Court is adjourned!"
Lana saw Miles sitting on the sofa in the Prosecution Lobby.
"You did well today, Mr. Edgeworth," she said to him, joining him on the sofa.
"It's not over yet," Miles replied.
"You seem rather calm for someone who could very well lose this case."
"If Powers is innocent, he's innocent."
"So do you intend to drop the charges?"
"Not until I know for certain. If Powers is guilty, I will prove it."
"I don't think you needed my support today."
Miles didn't say anything. Lana opened her mouth to say more.
"I thought about what you said to me," Miles finally said.
"What I said?"
"In my office. You said I could only hope the investigators arrest the right person. That's true, to some extent. But I'm starting to wonder if that's really all I can do. I can't stand by and do nothing as an innocent person is convicted. But what if I helped the defense acquit a criminal?"
"Mr. Edgeworth…"
"I need to answer this question for myself. I don't know what I'll do if Powers is innocent, but as long as I believe he may be guilty, I will fight to prove it."
Lana closed her eyes. She could not think of anything to say.
"Ms. Skye, could you please leave me? I need some time to think."
"Of course," Lana said, opening her eyes.
"I'd like you to be here for the last day of the trial, too."
"If I can be there, I will." She walked toward the door, then stopped. "I believe you'll make the right choice when the time comes."
Miles said nothing. Lana walked out.
Wright had proven the possibility of someone else killing Hammer. However, it was only a possibility. It was still possible that Powers was the killer, and as long as that possibility remained, Lana believed Miles would fight for a guilty verdict. He was changing, though; she could see it in him. The Mia Fey case had had an effect on him. He was going to truly be tested if Powers was innocent. Still, Lana believed in him. After how much he regretted trying to prove Maya and Wright guilty, he would never push for a guilty verdict if he believed the defendant was innocent.