Chapter 19—Memories
December 27, 2016
"Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Miles Edgeworth," Judge Clous said with a whack of his gavel.
"The defense is ready, Your Honor," Wright said.
Von Karma was silent.
"Very well, apparently the prosecution is also ready," the judge said. "Mr. von Karma your opening statement."
Von Karma was still silent.
"Er… very well, no opening statements so…"
"Objection!" von Karma yelled. "Not so fast, Judge! I was taking a meaningful pause before speaking!"
"R-right, of course."
"A prediction!" Von Karma snapped his fingers. "Today's trial will end three minutes from now!"
The gallery was in an uproar.
I'll survive… I'll be acquitted…
The judge banged his gavel. "Order… order!" he yelled. "Mr. von Karma! What is the meaning of your statement just now!?"
"Objection!" von Karma barked. "Bah! Must you question everything! It will be over in three minutes! We have no time to waste! I'll call my witness now!"
"R-right…"
"I call my witness… my decisive witness to the stand!"
A man in his fifties took the stand.
"Witness… state your profession," von Karma ordered.
The man was asleep, a bubble near his nose. A moment later, the bubble popped and the witness woke up and started rocking from side to side.
"I, er, am the proprietor of the restaurant the 'Wet Noodle' at Gourd Lake," the man said. Von Karma snapped his fingers and glared at his witness. "And I, er, also rent boats."
"The night of the incident, you were in the boat rental shop, correct?" von Karma asked.
"Er… ayup, yup I was."
"Please testify."
"Objection!" Wright shouted. "Wait a minute! The witness hasn't stated his name yet!"
"Objection!" von Karma roared. "Because I did not ask him, Mr. Wright! Bah! I have predicted this trial will end in three minutes!" He shook his head and wagged his finger. "Stop asking trivial questions and cooperate!"
Trivial!? The witness's name is far from trivial! What if he's got a connection to Hammond!?
"The witness will state his name," the judge said with a whack of his gavel. The man was asleep again. A moment later, he woke up.
"Mmph!" the witness mumbled. "Well, er… I'm not really sure, ayup."
"What do you mean?"
"My, er, memory…"
"Your Honor…" von Karma cut in. "The witness does not remember anything beyond the last several years… Ergo, he cannot recall his own name."
"Hmm… he can't recall, you say?" the judge aksed.
"Yes, but the incident in question took place three days ago. He can testify."
"Very well. Let's hear his testimony then, shall we. Witness?"
The witness began swaying back and forth. "It was the night of the 24th, just after midnight, ayup. I was in the restaurant… where I er… rent boats, as usual. Then I heard a 'bang!' Ayup. When I looked out the window, I saw a boat just a' floating on the lake. Then I heard another 'bang.' Just about then the boat comes back to shore, and a man walks by my window."
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "Very well. I'd like to begin the cross-examination…"
"Objection!" von Karma interrupted. "There is nothing to question in my witness's testimony! Ergo, no need for cross-examination! Besides, there are only ten seconds left before our three minutes are up!" Von Karma snapped his fingers. "Judge! Your verdict, now!"
"Er… yes… M-Mr. Wright…?"
Wright slammed his desk. "What are you saying!? Of course I'll cross-examine the witness!"
"Hmm… Very well, you may begin."
"Raaaaaaaaaaaargh!" von Karma screamed.
"E-excuse me? Mr. von Karma?"
"Three minutes just passed."
"I see. Well then, let's just take our time. You may cross-examine the witness."
Wright was handed the testimony. "'Just after midnight,' you say?" he asked.
"Ayup, just around then," the witness replied.
"Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure, ayup."
"When I talked to you yesterday, you were rather vague about the time… I'm surprised you seem so sure about it today."
The witness fell asleep.
This is a waste of time, Wright. Press something more relevant!
"Objection!" von Karma shouted. "I asked him, and he remembered. Isn't that right!?"
The witness woke up and mumbled something. He noticed von Karma's glare. "D-don't glare at me like that…!" he begged. "I, er… I remembered it clearly, I did. Ayup."
"You see? Continue!"
"I was in the restaurant… where I er… rent boats, as usual."
"Hold it!" Wright yelled. "Is there anyone who can verify that?"
"Well, I guess Polly could."
Wright banged on his desk. "Th-that's not good enough for a court of law!"
"Mr. Wright…" the judge started, "exactly what's not good enough?"
"Ah, uh, Your Honor, this 'Polly' is a parrot."
"A… parrot?"
He's using a parrot to corroborate his alibi!?
"Don't be so hard on the girl, Keithy-boy!" the witness said.
"Keith…?"
"Objection!" von Karma interrupted. "The prosecution concedes that we cannot prove the witness was in the shop. Witness… please continue."
How can they let someone like this testify!? Did von Karma bribe the judge!?
"Then I heard a 'bang!'" the witness said. "Ayup. When I looked out the window, I saw a boat just a' floating on the lake. Then I heard another 'bang.' Just about then the boat comes back to shore, and a man walks by my window."
"Hold it!" Wright shouted. "'By your window'?"
"Ayup, by my window. Right outside the window of my little shack."
"And, could you see the man's face?"
"Well, the fog was pretty darn thick, but he was right there in front of me. I saw him."
"This is a rather important detail!" the judge commented. "Please add it to your testimony."
The witness nodded off. Von Karma chuckled evilly.
What have you done with this man's testimony, von Karma!?
"That man was the defendant…" the witness said, "he was saying 'I can't believe he's dead.'"
"Hold it!" Wright interrupted. "A-are you sure!?"
The witness was asleep. Wright slammed his desk.
"D-Dad!" he shouted.
The witness awakened. "Dead certain, Keith!" he yelled, shaking his fist. "He said 'I can't believe he's dead' as he was walking by, too."
No! No!
The gallery was in an uproar until the judge banged his gavel. Miles felt sweat pouring down his neck.
"Witness!" von Karma called. "Are you sure that the person you saw was Miles Edgeworth!?"
"It was him!" the witness cried. "That Edgeworth boy!" The man fainted, still shaking his fist as he went down.
I didn't kill anyone!
"This… sounds like decisive evidence indeed," the judge said. "I see no room for doubt."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk…" von Karma chuckled.
I… I feel faint…
Miles felt his vision fading.
"Nadikh!" a voice called. "I dolth lie dow eh thig zar kohn teer! Everun nun tuh korr troom isklering gat oss!"
"Objection!" Wright cried. It was no use figuring out what was going on. It was all gibberish to Miles's ears.
"Objection!" von Karma shouted. He gibbered something in response.
No… I'm innocent…
The conversation between Wright and von Karma continued. Miles heard von Karma snap his fingers and continue speaking. He realized he had closed his eyes.
"Objection!" Wright yelled again.
Miles heard a number of bells ringing in his ears amidst the talking. What were they? They were all off-key, but they sounded like they were trying to make music.
"Objection!" von Karma yelled. The voices continued. Images flashed through Miles's mind.
...
"Father, someday, I'll be a defense attorney, too! I'll be even better at it than you are!"
"Ha ha ha… Miles, I don't care what you become, just as long as it's an honest job that you enjoy doing."
...
"It appears this is good-bye. When I return, I'll be a full-fledged prosecutor."
"Just you wait, Miles Edgeworth! I'll become a prosecutor, too! I'll be perfect! I'll be more worthy of the von Karma name than you can even dream of being!"
"I look forward to seeing that day, Franziska. Ouch!"
"No pleasantries! We're rivals now!"
...
"I would like to marry you. Will you grant me that pleasure?"
"Oh… Miles… I-I… Yes… I will. I'll marry you…"
"Lana… My love… Thank you…"
"I love you, Miles…"
...
"…guilty. The accused will surrender to the court immediately, to be held pending trial at a higher court within a month from today's date. That is all. The court is adjourned!"
It's… it's over… I'm going to die…
"W-w-waaaaaaait!"
"Wh-who was that just now?"
"Me!!"
That voice… Lana? No… It's not Lana…
"Huh? Waaaaahhh! L-Larry!"
Miles opened his eyes.
What…? Larry…?
"Wh-what are you doing here!?" the judge demanded.
"Listen!" Larry screeched. "Y-you gotta listen to me! I… I was… I was there, in the park, the night of the murder! I… I wasn't sure about it until just yesterday. B-but today I remembered it!"
"Remembered what?"
"The gunshot! I heard it too!"
The gallery filled the courtroom with noise. The judge banged his gavel.
"O-order!" he yelled.
"Objection!" von Karma shouted, snapping his fingers. "What is the meaning of this!? The verdict has been decided! I call for adjournment!"
"One moment, Mr. von Karma. So, you say you heard a gunshot?"
"Yeah, I did!" Larry barked. "A gunshot! That night! I was sitting here in the audience, listening to the testimony… Then I realized, something he said was different from what I remember! A-anyhow, I can't just sit here and let you call Edgey a murderer! It's… It's just not right! I'll testify! Lemme testify!"
The gallery started up again.
Larry… If you don't blow it, I owe you big…
The judge banged his gavel.
"Order!" he yelled. "Order!" The gallery quieted down enough. "Well, this is the first time something has happened like this in my court. I'm not quite sure how to proceed…"
"Judge!" von Karma roared. "You've already given your decision!" He snapped his fingers. "The trial is over!"
"Nick!" Maya called. "This is it! Larry's given us one final chance at this!"
Wright was sweating profusely.
Take the chance, Wright! I've already been declared guilty!
"Mr. Edgeworth was just declared guilty, Nick!" Maya cried. "It doesn't get any worse!"
Listen to the girl!
"You're right!" Wright admitted. "Okay!" He hit his desk. "Your Honor! If there is another witness, it is our duty to hear him speak! Right here! Right now!"
"A waste of time!" von Karma spat. "The verdict cannot be overturned!"
Yes it can!
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. After a moment, he banged his gavel. "Allow me to speak my opinion. In all court proceedings, it is our duty to prevent an inaccurate verdict. In order to make sure no mistake has been made, every witness should be heard!"
"Wh-what is this!?" von Karma hissed. The judge whacked his gavel.
"I withdraw my previous verdict of 'guilty'!"
The gallery began chattering. The judge calmed them down.
"Mr. von Karma!" he called. "I order you to call this new witness to testify. Now!"
"Whaaaat!"
"The court will adjourn for a five minute recess," the judge said with a whack of his gavel. "After that, we will hear this new witness." He banged his gavel again. "Court is adjourned!"
Miles followed Wright into the Defendant Lobby. After a moment, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Whew…" Wright sighed. "That was too close. Sorry to keep you on the edge of your seat like that, Edgeworth."
"Hmph," Miles huffed. "I've seen worse." The look on Wright's face told Miles that his lie had been caught.
"I just wonder what Larry plans to say in there," Wright continued.
This just might be our chance… Von Karma's had only perfectly planned cases. That imbecile caught him completely off-guard. But all that's happened… And that photo Wright showed me… What if this is all connected to my father's death? What if this is all some plan to get me to confess?
"Hey, Edgeworth."
Who was that? Oh!
"Huh? You say something, Wright?" Miles asked.
"Yeah, a lot of things," Wright replied. "You seem out of it. What's wrong?"
"It… it's nothing," Miles lied.
"Hmm?"
"Umm… Mr. Edgeworth?" Maya cut in. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you."
"What's that?" Miles asked.
"Why are your fingerprints on the murder weapon?"
"Oh." The scene returned to Miles's mind. "When he fell into the lake, I went into a daze. I couldn't understand what had happened. I couldn't think straight. Then I saw the pistol lying on the floor of the boat in front of me. I picked it up without thinking. I didn't have a reason, really."
Or did I? What if I did it because… Because it felt so familiar?
"I see…" Maya trailed off.
"Wright…" Miles said.
"Yeah?" Wright asked.
"This might be our chance."
"Our chance?"
"Von Karma has only ever run perfect trials."
"Perfect trials…?"
"Perfectly prepared witnesses, perfectly complete evidence. That's the secret to his success." He looked Wright in the eyes, now quite serious. "This is the first time he's ever had to deal with something unexpected! He has let someone he hasn't even talked to testify before the court! And that someone… is Larry!"
"What are you getting at?" Wright asked.
"It's likely his testimony will be full of holes, Wright."
"That's right, Nick!" Maya chimed in. "No ten minute trial this time! We'll milk this one for all it's worth!"
"Hey, it was fifteen minutes!" Wright corrected. "Fifteen!"
It felt much longer to me…
The judge called court back into session with a whack of his gavel. Miles scanned the gallery and saw Lana in the same spot she had been in yesterday. The redness on her face suggested she had cried recently.
Lana… Please don't torture yourself like this…
"Court is now back in session," the judge said. "Witness… Please testify to the court about everything that you saw on the night of December 24th."
"Right…" Larry said, "leave it to me!"
I wouldn't if anyone more reliable were available…
"That night," Larry started, "I was out in a boat on the lake. I was looking for something, and I, er, found it. So I quietly slipped the boat back in at the rental shop dock. Then, just as I was thinking about going home, I heard this 'bang'! I looked out over the lake, but I didn't notice the boat. So after I heard that single gunshot I went home."
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "That was an unusually vague testimony, even for this court. In any matter, Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination."
"Yes, Your Honor…" Wright said.
"What's wrong, Nick?" Maya asked.
"It's Larry! I have no idea what he's going to say if I press him. I'm a little scared."
"Hmm… Well, we've come this far. There's no way to go but forward, Nick!"
She's right. Besides, the contradiction in that testimony is obvious enough for even Gumshoe or the judge to notice.
Wright was given the testimony. He looked over it and took out a white envelope—the transcript of Hart's testimony from yesterday.
"Objection!" Wright shouted, pointing at Larry. "W-wait just a sec, Larry!"
"Wh-what!?" Larry replied.
"You only heard one 'bang'!? You're sure!?"
"That's what I said!"
"But Ms. Lotta Hart testified yesterday that she heard two 'bang's! And the old man just now said the same thing! They both heard two gunshots that night!"
"Huh?"
Wright slammed his desk. "Were you even listening!?"
I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't…
"Were you paying attention at all to what they said?" Wright continued.
"Yo, Nick, please!" Larry almost shouted.
"Huh?"
"You know, something's been bothering me. I'm a witness, see? I'm like a customer here! So you got to treat me nice and stuff, okay!?"
He makes Gumshoe look smart…
"Mr. Butz," the judge said.
"What!?"
"You only heard one gunshot? Are you sure?"
Larry crossed his arms and seemed to do what little thinking his brain was capable of. "Umm… Well, to tell ya the truth… I'm not sure."
"Eh…?"
"Not sure!?" Wright cried. "H-how could you not be sure?"
"Yeah, well…" Larry started, "I, uh, I might have missed the other gunshot. I was, uh, listening to something else…"
"Something… else?"
"My radio, dude! On my headphones."
"Whaaaaaat!?"
The gallery began jeering at Larry—or possibly at Wright. The judge banged his gavel.
"Order! Order!" he demanded. "And stop that booing! M-Mr. Butz! You were listening to a radio on earphones?"
"Y-yeah!" Larry snapped. "So what! That a crime!? I listen to my radio! Everybody listens to the radio! What's the big deal!?"
"Hmm…"
This guy's behavior warrants much more than a "Hmm…," Your Honor.
"Mr. von Karma… your opinion?" the judge asked.
"Waste of time," von Karma replied. "I do not accept this witness, nor his shoddy testimony."
"Hmm… Well, Mr. Wright? Should he continue the testimony?"
It's the lesser of two evils.
"Your Honor," Wright said. "Please… please allow the witness to continue his testimony."
"Bah!" von Karma huffed. "Nothing is more pitiful than a lawyer who doesn't know when he's lost!"
"Very well, Mr. Butz," the judge said. "Please give your testimony, and be sure to include details like your RADIO."
"Right!" Larry exclaimed. "Leave it to me!"
I wouldn't if there were any other way out of this, believe me.
"It's lonely, being alone on Christmas Eve!" Larry commented, beginning his testimony. "That's why I was listening to an all-requests show on the radio, see? I was listening to it real booming loud, like. But I'm sure I heard that gunshot! I remember exactly what the DJ was saying when I heard it, too."
"You were listening to your radio… at a high volume!?" the judge spat.
"Yeah, what's the big problem?" Larry screeched, his voice cracking. "Can't a man listen to his radio in peace? Isn't this a free country!?"
And we're free to think poorly of you, which I guarantee you almost everyone in this courtroom is doing.
"Judge," von Karma said. "Can you believe a word this witness says? What he heard was probably nothing more than a drum beat from the radio!"
"True enough, it is difficult to believe this testimony," the judge agreed.
"Objection!" Wright shouted, banging on his desk. "Wait, Your Honor! The witness said he remembers exactly what the DJ said when he heard the gunshot!"
"Excuse me? 'Dee-jay'…?"
"An announcer… the guy who says things on the radio. Anyway! What this means is, when he heard the sound, no music was playing! The DJ only talks between songs! So he could have heard the gunshot from the lake! I'd like to cross-examine the witness, Your Honor!"
"V-very well, Mr. Wright."
Wright was given the testimony. "So, you turned on the radio?" he asked.
"Right!" Larry replied. "I just wanted to hear someone's voice y'know? You don't know what it's like out there, alone, on Christmas Eve! Alone!"
If this fool ever met Franziska, his skin would be reduced to ribbons.
"That's why I was listening to an all-requests show on the radio, see?" Larry continued. "I was listening to it real booming loud, like. But I'm sure I heard that gunshot! I remember exactly what the DJ was saying when I heard it, too."
"Hold it!" Wright shouted. "What did he say?"
"Objection!" von Karma interrupted. "Mr. Wright! Please cease these pointless questions! What possible good could knowing what a radio DJ said do us!?"
"Indeed, Mr. von Karma has a point," the judge said. "I'll allow the question only if you see some reason why we should care…?"
I don't see any reason. They were probably just saying some stupid piece of gossip about a celebrity.
Wright hit his desk. "We should care, Your Honor!" he half-shouted. "Of course we should!"
"Why?" von Karma asked.
"Uh. W-well, how do you know if we don't ask, hmm?"
Great. He's grasping.
"Fine, very well," the judge said with a sigh. "Mr. Butz, please testify to the court. What was the radio announcer saying when you heard the gunshot?"
"Just when she said 'Hey! It's almost Christmas!' I heard the gunshot!" Larry said.
"Objection!" Wright barked, slamming on his desk. "Larry! Are you absolutely sure what you're saying is correct!?"
"Huh? What's with the face? You look scary, dude. Hey, if you're trying to scare me, you better know I don't scare that easy!"
"Is something the matter, Mr. Wright?" the judge asked.
"Your Honor!" Wright called. "Did you hear what the witness just said? The DJ said 'Hey! It's almost Christmas!' when he heard the gunshot!"
"Indeed… And…?"
"'Almost Christmas' means it wasn't Christmas! Do you realize what this means?" Wright banged on his desk. "When he heard the gunshot, it was still Christmas Eve!!"
What!?
"That would seem to be the case, yes…" the judge admitted.
"But he should have heard that gunshot after midnight!" Wright continued, taking out the photograph. "This photograph is irrefutable proof of this fact!"
"Let's see what the time was on the photo taken when the gun triggered Ms. Hart's camera. 12/25 00:15 …! Fifteen minutes after midnight, on Christmas Day!"
Wright pounded on his desk. "This is a clear contradiction, Your Honor!"
The gallery started up, silenced by the judge's gavel.
"Order!" he demanded. "Order!" The gallery calmed down. "What does this mean? The two prior witnesses heard gunshots after midnight. However, this witness says he heard a gunshot before midnight…"
"Judge," von Karma said. "The answer is simple." He snapped his fingers. "The current witness is plainly mistaken. Just look at him! Suspicious!"
"Wh-whaaat!?" Larry screeched at the prosecutor.
I doubt a radio show would be more than fifteen minutes off…
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "Well, Mr. Wright? What do you think about Mr. Butz's claim he heard the gunshot before midnight?"
"Larry's not mistaken, Your Honor!" Wright replied. He slammed on his desk, then pointed at Larry. "He heard that gunshot before midnight!"
"Intriguing," von Karma said after a pause. "I'm assuming you have evidence for this wild claim?" He snapped his fingers. "Show me evidence there was a gunshot before midnight!"
"Take that!" Wright shouted, holding up a picture of the lake. "Look at this photograph! This was taken by our witness yesterday, Ms. Lotta Hart, with her automatic camera. The timestamp on the photo reads 'December 24, 11:50 PM."
"Oh yeah?" the judge asked, taking a look for himself when the bailiff handed it to him. "Hmm? But, there's nothing on the lake in this picture."
"Your Honor. The real issue here is not why nothing is shown in this photograph. It is why this photograph exists at all!"
"What do you mean?"
"Your Honor… This photograph was taken by an automatic camera. That camera was set to go off in response to loud noises!"
"Ahah!"
This… is a stroke of incredible luck. If that photo was the result of a gunshot, then it's possible the victim was shot somewhere other than the boat!
"Correct!" Wright said. "There was a loud noise on the lake at 11:50 PM. That is why this photograph was taken! In other words…" Wright paused and slammed on his desk. "When Larry heard that gunshot, it was most definitely Christmas Eve!"
"Indeed, it would seem that is the case!" the judge commented. "Then… where does that leave us? Ms. Hart testified that she heard the gunshots after midnight. Are you claiming she was mistaken?"
"Not at all, Your Honor. It is a fact that the camera also triggered at 15 minutes after midnight!" Wright hit his desk again. "Your Honor! That night, there were two sets of gunshots, with a 25 minute pause between them!"
The gallery poured comments into the courtroom until the judge's gavel told them to be quiet.
"Why would this be…?" the judge asked.
"Objection!" von Karma cut in. "Don't be fooled, Judge! That camera was set to respond to 'loud noises'!"
"Yes?"
Von Karma shook his head and wagged his finger. "There is no proof that the 'loud noise' at 11:50 was a gunshot! Why, the witness could have sneezed, triggering the camera!"
"H-hey, my nose was clear that night, man!" Larry barked. "Clear!"
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "Well, Mr. Wright? There's no turning back now. Can you prove that the 'loud noise' at 11:50 PM was indeed a gunshot? Please show the court evidence if you have any."
"This is my evidence," Wright said, pointing to the murder weapon.
"The… murder weapon?"
"Something about this pistol was bothering me, Your Honor. Both of the witnesses who testified yesterday heard two gunshots."
Only one of them testified yesterday!
"However," Wright continued, "the murder weapon was fired three times. When, then, was the last shot fired? Only now have I realized the truth." Wright banged on his desk. "That third shot was the shot Larry heard just before midnight!"
The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel once to restore order.
"Order! Order!" he yelled. "Hmm… That would make sense of the evidence we've seen so far. …However… This leaves me wondering exactly what did happen that night on the lake."
"Exactly!" von Karma added. "If this is true, there were two sets of gunshots, separated by 25 minutes! One at 11:50, another at 15 minutes after midnight!" He snapped his fingers. "Why, I ask you! Why!?"
Because I was framed, that's why!
"Aaaaaaaaah!" Wright screamed.
"Wh-what's wrong, Nick!?" Maya asked, panicked.
"I have it! I have it!"
"Huh?"
"Remember the case with the Steel Samurai!?"
"Huh? Yeah, of course I remember…"
"The murderer in this case had the same idea as the murderer in that case!"
"What do you mean?"
"Maya!"
"Yes!?"
"If we don't figure this out now, we'll never overturn Edgeworth's guilty verdict! I've got a hunch, and I'm going to run with it…"
"Right! I mean… is this safe?"
"Safe? We've already gotten a guilty verdict! We have nothing to lose!"
Maya didn't say anything.
"You just watch and let me know if I say anything that sounds fishy, okay?"
"Right, Nick!"
Wright slammed on his desk.
"Your Honor!" he shouted.
"Y-yes, Mr. Wright?" the judge responded.
"The testimony just now has cleared up this entire case!"
The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel three times.
"What do you mean, Mr. Wright!?" he demanded.
"Tsk tsk tsk…" von Karma snickered. "So, you've finally realized the truth? There can be no other murderer here than Miles Edgeworth himself."
That tone of voice… I've heard it before… That time he spooked that horse and got Franziska hurt… He said repeatedly that it was me… He knows it! He knows I'm innocent! This… I can't believe I once respected this monster! This isn't something petty! It's murder! He's knowingly trying to prove me guilty of murder!
"Wrong, von Karma!" Wright replied. "A man was shot that night, but it wasn't Edgeworth who did the shooting!"
Von Karma shook his head and wagged his finger at Wright. "Listen, rookie. Take a deep breath, and consider the facts. At the time of the murder, one boat was on that lake. This was shown by the witness's photograph. The defendant, Edgeworth, and the victim, Robert Hammond were on that boat. There was a gunshot fired on that boat, and Robert Hammond fell into the lake. The distance of the shooting was one meter. It couldn't have been suicide! Well?" He snapped his fingers. "The guilty party has to be the other man on that boat!"
"I admit, it is hard to imagine any other possibility," the judge agreed.
"Yes…" Wright admitted. "But this assumes that the victim was shot at 15 minutes after midnight."
"What do you mean by that, Mr. Wright? We have photographic evidence of the time of the shooting. The timestamp on the photo says 00:15."
"But Larry heard a gunshot 25 minutes before that!" Wright pounded on his desk. "Robert Hammond was killed then! 25 minutes before the shot on the lake!"
That… makes perfect sense…
The judge was speechless.
"Mr. Wright," von Karma said after a moment. "Are you quite mad? Explain who this is sitting on the boat!"
The only mad one is you, von Karma.
"Of course, it was Edgeworth and the murderer!" Wright replied. "After the murderer killed Robert Hammond at 11:50… He assumed the guise of Mr. Hammond and met Edgeworth!"
The gallery started up, silenced by a few whacks of the judge's gavel. He was going to break it at this rate.
"Wh… What!?" the judge stammered. "Are you serious?"
"Yes," Wright answered. "Edgeworth won't tell us why he went to the lake that night. However, I have a hunch. That night, Robert Hammond called Edgeworth to the lake. Now, Edgeworth didn't know Robert Hammond's face that well." Wright hit his desk, then pointed at the judge. "That's why he didn't suspect anything when the murderer took Robert Hammond's place!"
That's… possible, I suppose. The only proof I had that I was meeting Hammond was that he told me he was Hammond.
"I'm not sure what to make of all this," the judge said.
"L-Ludicrous!" von Karma barked.
But you know!
"Mr. Wright," the judge said. "Tell us the name of the murderer then!"
"The murderer's name…? Right! It's… Actually, I don't know the murderer's name."
"Y-you don't know!?"
"Bah!" von Karma hissed. "Again, you waste my time!"
Wright hit his desk as though it was a drum. "I don't know because he never told us!" he shouted. "The murderer is the caretaker of the boat shop, that old man!" He banged on his desk again and then pointed at von Karma. "At 11:50, he was the one who killed Robert Hammond."
"The caretaker of the boat shop!?" the judge asked. "Wh-where did he do this!? There weren't any boats on the lake then!"
"Why would he have to go all the way out on the lake just to shoot someone? May I suggest… That the real scene of this crime was not in a boat!"
"What!? W-well then, where did the murder take place!?"
Wright pointed to the boat shop on the map.
"Here, of course!" he said. "The boat shop, where he lives. That way he could meet with the victim without anyone seeing!"
"Objection!" von Karma shouted. "Do you have proof that the boat shop was the scene of the crime!?"
"Recall Larry's testimony if you will. That night he was out on the lake in a boat, searching for something. He finds it, and returns the boat. Then, just as he's starting to head for home, he hears a gunshot! He heard a gunshot, Your Honor! Even though he was wearing headphones at the time! In other words, the gunshot was very, very close by! And where would that be if he had just returned a boat?"
"The boat shop…!" the judge finished.
The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.
"Mr. Wright!" he called. "What happened that night on Gourd Lake!? Please tell the court, from the beginning!"
"Y-yes, Your Honor," Wright said.
"Nick, are you sure about this…?" Maya asked.
"Um, not really. But, I think if I start at the very beginning… And I take it slow, I might just be able to figure this out…" He looked out to the court. "That night… The caretaker of the boat shop called Robert Hammond to his shop. This was around 11:50. That was when the gunshot that Larry heard was fired. After that, the caretaker put on Robert Hammond's coat… He became Robert Hammond! Then he got in the boat with Edgeworth, and went out into the middle of the lake."
"Then… who fired the pistol on the boat, Mr. Wright?" the judge asked.
"Of course, it was the murderer who shot the pistol. He shot twice. Both missed Edgeworth, on purpose."
"Wait a minute…"
"Y-yes?"
"Why would he shoot twice if he didn't mean to hit anyone?"
"Uh…"
That's… a good question…
"Know this, Mr. Wright," von Karma taunted. "The moment you run out of explanations is the moment you lose." He snapped his fingers. "Tell us why the murderer had to fire twice!"
"I believe he shot twice to create a witness, Your Honor," Wright said.
"Create a witness…?" the judge repeated.
"The murderer lifts his pistol and fires one shot. That ensures that anyone who heard the shot would look at the lake. Indeed, Ms. Hart did exactly that after hearing the first gunshot. Next! The murderer waits a bit and he fires again. Then… The murderer jumps from the boat himself! Leaving the pistol in the boat behind him."
"I see!" the judge said after a pause. "To someone looking from the edge of the lake… It would appear that one of the men on the boat had shot the other!"
"The murderer didn't know about the automatic camera, of course." Wright slammed on his desk. "That's why he shot twice to draw attention to the boat!"
"Hmm…"
"Once you realize that, everything else falls into place! The boat shop caretaker swam back to his shop. Then he put Mr. Hammond's wet coat back on the body. And threw the body into the lake! This is what happened, Your Honor. These are the events that transpired that night on Gourd Lake."
The court was silent. The judge banged his gavel once, simply to hear something. He didn't say anything, though.
"Bailiff!" he finally ordered after realizing the court's eyes were on him. "Bring out the witness from before! The boat shop caretaker! Quickly!"
The gallery started up, silenced by the judge's gavel.
"Very well," he continued. "While we are waiting for the caretaker… I would like to ask the defendant, Miles Edgeworth, a few questions. Mr. Edgeworth. Please take the stand."
Miles walked to the stand.
"Mr. Edgeworth…" the judge said. "You heard what the defense has said?"
"Yes," Miles replied.
"Well? Why did you go to the lake that night?"
Miles was silent for a moment.
"What Wright was said was mostly correct," he said. "Astonishingly so, actually. Yes… Several days ago, I received a letter. The letter was signed, 'Robert Hammond.' He asked me to come to the boat shop by the lake at midnight on Christmas Eve. He said he had something very important to discuss with me."
"Something important?" the judge asked.
To think it was all a trap… And that man used my father as a lure…
"I'm sorry," Miles said. "I can't say what it was."
"Hmm…"
"Your Honor, sir!" a voice cried.
"Bailiff!" the judge barked. "We are conducting a trial here, I ask that you remain quiet…"
"The witness has disappeared! He isn't at the boat shop, either!"
"What!?"
"What should I do?"
"F-find him, quickly! We cannot allow him to get away!"
The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel repeatedly until the courtroom was silent again.
"Mr. von Karma!" the judge shouted after everything was calm. "Your witness has disappeared!"
"A search warrant has already been issued," von Karma said.
"Hmm… It goes without saying that I cannot declare a verdict under these circumstances. I will extend the trial until tomorrow, the final day allowed. I request that the police department utilize all its forces to find that witness! Am I understood?"
Von Karma was silent.
"One more thing," the judge continued. "Just who is that boat shop caretaker? I think his identity has become very important to this trial. I want him and I want to know who he is." There was another pause. "Very well. Court is adjourned!" The judge banged his gavel.
The thought of his father's death plagued Miles as Wright and Maya escorted him to the Defendant Lobby.
That letter… The old man must suspect that I killed my father. I know that it's entirely possible that I did… But… How did he know? I've told no one… not even Lana…. That man must know something about DL-6. But… What if I really did kill my father?
"Umm… Mr. Edgeworth?" a voice said
Miles realized Wright's and Maya's eyes were on him.
"D-did you say something?" Miles asked.
"Don't look so pained!" Maya said. "I mean, it looks like you're probably going to get off the hook! You could try to smile just a little…? Relax!"
If only you knew…
"I'm sorry…" Miles said. "But… I fear it's not over for me yet."
"Wh-what do you mean?" Wright stammered.
"Wright… There's something that's been troubling me for a long time now. And I don't know whether or not to tell you…"
Should I tell him?
"Edgeworth?"
"No… there's so little time left. I want to tell you, to get it off my chest, but…"
But what if it really is just a dream?
"Hmm," Miles sighed. "I can't make up my mind."
"What is this about, Edgeworth?"
I need to tell him…
"It's… a nightmare I've had. A memory of a crime… that I committed."
"A crime you committed?"
"A memory… of a murder."