Chapter 20—Judgment
December 28, 2016 and December 29, 2016
Wright had managed to provide proof that there could have been another killer: the boat shop caretaker. Lana had no information on who the man was, but she believed that he was connected to DL-6. The only logical conclusion was that he was Yanni Yogi. Miles was the defendant, Hammond the victim, and von Karma the prosecutor. With Miles's father, Gregory, dead, the only possible person remaining with even a hint of a motive was Yogi. There was no proof, though, and Wright would be hard-pressed to establish the identity of a man who was feigning amnesia.
The judge banged his gavel to call court into session for the final day of Miles's trial.
"Court is now in session for the trial of Miles Edgeworth," he said.
"The defense is ready, Your Honor," Wright said.
"The prosecution… is ready," von Karma said after a "meaningful pause."
"U-uh… right, very well," the judge said. "We have reached the final day of our proceedings in this trial. I ask that the prosecution submit decisive evidence."
"Understood."
"Very well, Mr. von Karma, your opening statement."
"Right. Thanks to Detective Gumshoe's efforts, the boat rental shop caretaker has been arrested. In yesterday's trial, the defense asserted that the caretaker was the murderer. However, the caretaker has yet to confirm this. I would like to ask the defense to cross-examine him as much as necessary."
"Very well! Please bring the witness into the courtroom."
Yogi took the stand and pretended to fall asleep standing up.
Your act didn't fool me yesterday, old man, and it won't fool me today.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the court…" von Karma said. "I believe you all remember our witness. He lives in the boat rental shop on the lake, from where he witnessed the incident. In addition, he has currently lost memory of his name and identity."
"Witness!" the judge called. "Why did you run away yesterday?"
"Objection!" von Karma yelled. "The witness was not running away, as he will now testify."
"I-I see. Very well, please begin your testimony."
Yogi "woke up."
"Er, I'm really sorry about just leaving yesterday like I did," he said. "But, I wasn't running away or nothing. I, uh, went to buy some food for Polly, see… I figured I got nothing to do with this incident anyhow. Er… I mean, I'd need one of those 'motive' things, right? And I don't got one. So, my testimony yesterday stands as is."
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "Very well. Let's begin the cross-examination, shall we?"
"You've lost much of your memory, is that correct?" Wright asked.
"Er… ayup, seems like it."
Wright banged on his desk. "Then how could you know that you didn't have anything to do with this incident!"
"Uh…"
"Or… Or maybe you're lying about not having your memory, hmm? You know exactly who you are!"
"Objection!" von Karma shouted. "The witness has testified quite clearly that he has no memory of who he is. If you claim he's lying, then show the court proof!"
Wright didn't respond.
"Hmph! I'm glad you've come to your senses, Mr. Wright. Very well, witness. Please continue."
"Er…" Yogi trailed off. "I mean, I'd need one of those 'motive' things, right? And I don't got one."
"Hold it!" Wright interrupted. "How can you say you had no motive? I say you do! You had a grudge against Edgeworth and the victim, Robert Hammond! That's why you took revenge on them! Right?"
"Objection!" von Karma barked. "Please don't make me repeat myself, Mr. Wright! This witness has no memory of anything beyond several years ago! He can't hold a grudge! It's impossible!"
The judge banged his gavel.
"Might I say something, Mr. Wright?" he requested.
"Yes…" Wright said. "Yes, Your Honor?"
"You've been saying the same thing now over and over. You've been calling the witness's memory of the past or lack thereof into question. But, does this really have anything to do with the current case?"
Wright nodded. "Of course, Your Honor. The witness has said he has 'nothing to do with this case' and 'no motive'…" He hit his desk. "Both of these statements are lies!"
The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.
"Order! Order! Mr. Wright! There is a serious problem with your claim! Or… are you saying… Are you saying you know who this witness is!?"
He wouldn't be making that claim if he didn't. Looks like Wright has this all figured out.
"Of course, Your Honor!" Wright said. Von Karma snapped his fingers.
"Ho hoh!" he guffawed. "Now, this is interesting. I would like to know myself! So, who is he?"
Wright started sweating.
You're kidding! Von Karma knows!? And he's still… No word in the world can describe how horrible he is…
"Mr. Wright, please tell us this witness's name," the judge ordered.
"His name is Yanni Yogi, a former court bailiff!" Wright shouted, pointing at the witness.
"Yogi…?" the judge repeated after a pause. "That name sounds familiar. …Oh! Yanni Yogi! From the DL-6 Incident! But, what does this mean?"
Wright pounded on his desk, then pointed at Yogi. "Your Honor! If this man is Mr. Yogi, then he has a clear motive!"
"Objection!" von Karma interrupted. "Tsk tsk tsk…" He shook his head and wagged his finger at Wright. "Jumping to conclusions again, Mr. Wright! This man, this witness, is Yanni Yogi? Fascinating! However… How do you propose to prove this to the court?"
Wright was silent for a moment.
"This is a court of law, as you may recall," von Karma continued. "You need proof! And, allow me to repeat, once more, that the witness has lost his memory!"
"Nick!" Maya said. She whispered something to Wright. Wright whispered something back.
"Your Honor!" Wright called. "Please take this man's fingerprints! Then, we'll compare them to the fingerprints on file for Yanni Yogi 15 years ago…"
"I see… that makes sense," the judge agreed.
"Tsk tsk tsk!" von Karma chuckled.
"Huh?" Wright chirped.
"I'm so very, very sorry, Mr. Wright."
"Wh-why?"
"The witness… has no fingerprints!"
"What? What!? No fingerprints!?"
Yogi, who had been pretending to sleep, "woke up."
"Er… you see," Yogi started, "before I worked as a caretaker, I worked at a chemical plant. I burned my fingers working with the stuff. Ayup."
"Wh-what!?" Wright howled.
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "Well, if the witness has no fingerprints… I guess we will not be able to prove his identity."
No! There has to be some way…
"Tsk tsk tsk…" von Karma laughed. "Well, what will you do, Mr. Wright?"
"Uh…"
"Hmm? It seems that the case has been decided, no?" Von Karma snapped his fingers.
No! We're so close! It can't end now!
"There is no one who can testify as to who this witness is!" von Karma yelled. "No one!"
"Nick!" Maya almost screamed. "What are we going to do!?"
Wright said something in response.
"Tsk tsk tsk… Well, Mr. Wright?" von Karma taunted. "Perhaps you'd like to cross-examine the parrot for a little comic relief, hmm?"
Lana gritted her teeth. She realized she was shaking.
Maya said something to Wright.
"Your Honor!" Wright called. He hit his desk. "The defense would like to take Mr. von Karma up on his proposal!"
WHAT!?
"Take Mr. von Karma up?" the judge repeated.
"On his… proposal?" von Karma finished.
"Exactly, Your Honor!" Wright shouted. "I would like to cross-examine the witness's pet parrot!"
Cross-examine the parrot!? Are you out of your mind!?
The gallery was in an uproar. The judge whacked his gavel a few times.
"O-order!" he bellowed. The gallery was still fairly noisy. "Order!" They finally quieted down. "Uh… well, what do you think, Mr. von Karma?"
"Need you even ask!?" von Karma roared. "This is a farce! I object!"
"Objection!" Wright shouted. "Wait a second! You were the one who suggested I cross-examine the parrot, von Karma!" Wright banged on his desk. "I have a right to do as you suggested!"
"Mmph…" He paused. "Well, if you're so desperate, then please, be my guest. Of course, should you go through with this… And nothing comes of it, then I hope you're ready for the consequences."
Maya said something to Wright. Her voice was teeming with worry. Von Karma snapped his fingers.
"Well?" he demanded. "Still want to go through with your little game!?"
"Let the parrot take the stand," Wright said. "I will cross-examine her, Your Honor."
"This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!"
For once, I agree with you, von Karma.
The judge banged his gavel.
"Bailiff!" he yelled. "Bring in the parrot."
A very lovely red parrot was brought in. It must have been quite calm, because it didn't move from its perch.
"That's… quite a bird," the judge commented. "Please tell us your name?"
The parrot said nothing.
"Name!"
Again, nothing.
"The witness is ignoring me."
It's a parrot, Your Honor. It's not as if it actually understands the words it says.
The judge cleared his throat. "Very well, witness…" he said. "Who is your owner? Please, er… testify for us."
The parrot was silent. After a moment, it said "Hello!" twice, then squawked. Then it was silent again.
"Hmm… Certainly the most concise testimony we've had so far. Very well, begin your cross-examination."
"Right…" Wright said. He was sweating profusely. Maya said something. Wright said something in response.
Wright wiped the sweat from his brow, then slammed on his desk. His palms slipped a little from the sweat on them.
"Witness!" he barked. "You can't just say 'hello' and expect us to get anywhere! I want you to testify!" He turned to Maya. "Maya, you talk to her."
"R-right!" Maya said. "Uh… What do I say?"
Wright whispered something to Maya.
"Um, Polly?" Maya asked. "Have we forgotten something?"
The parrot was silent. After a moment…
"Hello! Hello!" The parrot then squawked again.
"Th-that's not what you're supposed to say!" Maya cried. "Forgot! Something we forgot!"
"Hello! Hello!" The parrot squawked.
"Uh oh. It's not working, Nick! She won't say it!"
"Tsk tsk tsk…" von Karma chuckled. "Something the matter, Mr. Wright?"
Lana thought she heard Wright growl. After a moment, he tried again.
"Witness!" he shouted. "You can't just say 'hello' and expect us to get anywhere! I want you to testify!" He turned to Maya again. "Maya, you talk to her."
"R-right!" Maya said. "Uh… What do I say?"
Wright whispered to Maya.
"Polly!" Maya called. "Polly! What's your name?"
"Pol-ly! Pol-ly!" the parrot replied. She then squawked.
"Mr. Wright…" the judge cut in. "I think we've established that this parrot is named 'Polly.' Does this have anything to do with her owner's identity?"
"Yes it does!" Wright said.
It does?
"Hah!" von Karma scoffed. "Fascinating! You claim that the parrot's name will prove her owner's identity? Then show us this proof!"
"Nick!" Maya snapped. "Don't you think you're taking the bluffing a little too far?"
Wright said something back to Maya. Lana heard him say "Yanni Yogi."
"Your Honor," Wright said. "The proof that the parrot's name reveals the caretaker's identity is… Take that!" Wright held out a file. It was handed to the judge.
"The DL-6 Case File?" he asked.
"Objection!" von Karma interrupted. "That's quite a large file you have there! Which page is this 'proof' on, then?" He snapped his fingers. "Show us, or stop wasting our time!"
"Hmm… Very well, Mr. Wright, please show us this page. Where in this file is the information connected to this parrot's name?"
"It's on the 'Suspect Data' page!" Wright replied.
The judge, as usual, looked confused.
"This page has all the information about Yanni Yogi! Right after he was arrested, his fiancée committed suicide, see?"
"Hmm…" the judge muttered. "Indeed, it does say that, yes."
"What was his fiancée's name?"
"'Polly Jenkins'… 'Polly'!"
"Exactly, Your Honor! He remembered the name of his fiancée who committed suicide." Wright banged on his desk. "That's why he named his parrot after her!"
"I see! I guess that is possible."
"Objection!" von Karma yelled. "Bah! A mere coincidence, that's all! My granddaughter has a dog she calls 'Phoenix.'" He snapped his fingers. "Well, Mr. Phoenix Wright? Does this make you my granddaughter's fiancée!? She's only seven years old!!"
"Hmm… Indeed. Alone, it is a little weak for evidence in a murder trial. We would need some other corroborating evidence…"
I can't believe Wright is using such a ridiculous tactic…
Maya said something to Wright.
"Hmph!" von Karma huffed.
"Very well, witness," the judge said. "You may continue."
The parrot was silent.
"Witness!" Wright yelled. "You can't just say 'hello' and expect us to get anywhere! I want you to testify!" He turned to Maya again. "Maya, you talk to her."
"R-right!" Maya said. "Uh… What do I say?"
Wright whispered to Maya. Maya said something in response. It sounded like a question. Wright said something else.
"Polly!" Maya called. "What was the number of the safe in the shack?"
"1228…" Polly said. "1228…"
"My, what a reckless parrot," the judge commented. "Well, Mr. Wright? you aren't claiming that this number has something to do with the caretaker?"
"Actually it does!" Wright replied.
"That's why I had her say it!"
You've got to be kidding me…
"Hah!" von Karma guffawed. "Ridiculous! How can the number to a safe tell us who the caretaker is?" He snapped his fingers. "Show us your proof! What could possibly link this number to the caretaker's true identity!?"
"Take that!" Wright shouted, holding out the DL-6 file again.
"The DL-6 Case File? What is this obsession you have with that case?"
Look who's talking.
"Mr. Wright," the judge said. "Where in this file is something relating to that safe number?"
"It's on the 'Case Summary' page!" Wright exclaimed, pointing to the judge.
"The Case… Summary?" the judge repeated.
"Specifically, the date on which the DL-6 Incident occurred!"
"The date of the incident? December 28…? Why, that's today's date. Fifteen years ago!"
"And the number on that safe is 1228!"
"Ah!"
"He used the date of the DL-6 Incident as the number for his safe, Your Honor!" Wright pounded on his desk, then pointed at the judge. "That's how important that date was to him!"
"I see… It certainly is an interesting coincidence. People often do set their secret numbers to dates."
"Objection!" von Karma roared. "Bah! This is not tangible proof! I set my ATM card's number to '0001' because I'm number one!" He snapped his fingers. "This has nothing to do with a date! Nothing!"
The judge banged his gavel.
"That's enough!" he barked. "I think we've reached a conclusion here."
"This is a mere coincidence, that's all!" von Karma insisted. Lana could tell from the slight waver in his voice that he knew the caretaker's identity.
"True, that is a possibility. However, two coincidences at the same time seems more like a 'pattern' to me."
"Wh… what are you saying!?"
The judge whacked his gavel. "Summon the caretaker of the boat shop. Immediately!"
Yogi took the stand again and pretended to fall asleep.
"Witness…" the judge said. "Tell us your name."
"Objection!" von Karma shouted. "Wait! This witness, he doesn't remember…"
"No… it's okay," Yogi said. "I've accomplished what I wanted to do. I'm done."
"Nick!" Maya said. "He looks totally different!"
"This is the real Yogi, I think," Wright said. "Finally. He's been acting feeble to hide his true identity. Acting… for 15 years!"
"W-well…!" the judge stammered. "Let me ask you again. Please state your name for the court!"
"My name… is Yanni Yogi," Yogi said. "15 years ago, I served as a bailiff in this very court."
The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel to quiet them down, yelling "Order!" to emphasize his demands.
"Yanni Yogi!" the judge called. "So was it you who killed Robert Hammond…? And tried to frame Miles Edgeworth for his death?"
The court was silent. All eyes were on Yogi.
"Yes," Yogi said. "It was me. I did it. …They put me on the witness stand 15 years ago… Robert Hammond… he said I was mentally unsound. He told me it would make me innocent. Get me off the hook. So… I pretended to have brain damage… I was innocent, really! But he didn't believe me! We won the trial… But I lost everything. I lost my job, my fiancée, my social standing…
"…Then, this year, 15 years later… A package arrived. It was a letter… and a pistol. The plan was written out in careful detail. It was a plan for me to take my revenge on the people who ruined my life. I didn't care who had sent it. I thought this was my chance, after 15 years, this was it! Finally, a chance to have my revenge on Robert Hammond and Miles Edgeworth… I have no regrets."
"W-wait a moment!" the judge shouted. "Revenge… against Miles Edgeworth? What do you mean?"
"I'm not at liberty to speak on that matter. Why don't you ask Mr. Edgeworth yourself? Anyway, I admit it, I was the one who killed Robert Hammond."
Yogi was taken from the stand and escorted out of the courtroom.
"Von Karma…" the judge said. "Where is Mr. Yogi?"
"Under arrest, Your Honor," von Karma replied. "I saw no room for error in his confession."
"Then… the defendant, Miles Edgeworth is…"
"Innocent. In this case, at least."
"Hmm." The judge nodded. "Very well. Will the defendant please take the stand?"
It's over… Miles… God, if you exist, you have my eternal gratitude…
Miles walked up to the witness stand. He looked as though he had just seen Hell and been told he was going there.
Miles, it's over. You're free. Don't look so sad…
"There are a few mysteries left unsolved," the judge said. "Still, you are cleared of suspicion for this particular case. So I would like to pass judgment on the murder of Mr. Robert Hammond. Any objections?"
Wright was silent, naturally. Miles said nothing. Von Karma kept his mouth closed. He must have been struggling to accept that he had lost.
"Very well," the judge said. "This court finds the defendant, Mr. Miles Edgeworth… not guilty."
The entire gallery was on its feet—even Lana. Lana said nothing, but she pumped her fist in the air, tears rolling down her cheeks.
After a moment, the judge banged his gavel again.
"That is all," he said. "The court is adjourned!"
"Objection!" a voice shouted.
What? No… That was Miles's voice…
"D-did someone just say 'objection'?" the judge asked.
"No…" Wright whimpered. "Edgeworth!?"
"Your Honor," Miles said. "I object to your judgment."
Miles, no!
"Wh-what do you mean?" the judge asked.
"I'm not innocent at all! As we have heard, Yanni Yogi killed Robert Hammond in revenge. But, revenge for what?"
"Nick!" Maya almost screamed. "Edgeworth is trying to confess! He's going to say he's guilty! He's going to tell them he was the murderer in the DL-6 Incident! He's going to tell them he killed his own dad!"
No! Miles couldn't have done it!
"Objection!" Wright shouted. "The judgment has already been passed! I object to Edgeworth's outburst…"
"Objection!" von Karma countered. "Didn't something like this happen yesterday, too? I believe a certain witness raised an objection after a guilty verdict was passed. We must hear this new statement!" He snapped his fingers. "We must hear Miles Edgeworth!"
"He's right," the judge agreed. "We have a duty to hear Mr. Edgeworth out."
Miles… What are you doing? You're innocent! You couldn't have killed your father!
"For fifteen years…" Miles started, "I have had a recurring dream. A nightmare… it's only a nightmare. That's what I told myself. But now I know, it wasn't a dream. Yanni Yogi wasn't the killer."
"You mean… in the incident where your father died?" the judge asked.
"From the distance of the shot, it wasn't suicide, either. Everything was as clear as day. The murderer… The criminal in the DL-6 Incident… It was me!"
No!
"Your Honor!" Miles continued. "I confess my guilt! I am guilty for DL-6, the statute of limitations of which ends today! The culprit… is me!"
The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.
"Order!" he screamed. "Order!"
Lana was speechless. Miles couldn't have done it. Why would he kill his own father?
"This is certainly unexpected!" the judge said. "The defendant, declared innocent, is confessing to a different crime! A crime for which the statute of limitations runs out today! I'm not really sure how I should deal with this…"
"Bah!" von Karma scoffed. "It's obvious. We hold a trial. Right here. Right now." He snapped his fingers. "We try this man for his crime of fifteen years ago!"
The judge banged his gavel. "I think… I think I would like to take a five-minute recess. During this time, I will consider the appropriate course of action to take. Court is adjourned!" He banged his gavel again.
After the brief recess, the judge banged his gavel.
"Then, I would like to resume our trial," he said.
"Judge!" von Karma snapped. "Miles Edgeworth has admitted his own guilt. He has confessed his crime. Let us begin by hearing his testimony. Then, though pointless, let the defense do their cross-examining. The statute of limitations on the DL-6 Incident runs out today. Though it's unconventional for me, I'd like to run this one by the book."
"I see. Does the defense have any objections?"
"No, Your Honor," Wright said, shaking his head.
"Very well." The judge banged his gavel. "Will Miles Edgeworth take the stand?"
Miles took the stand again.
Miles… You're innocent. Why are you torturing yourself like this?
"Will the witness state his name and profession," von Karma ordered.
"Miles Edgeworth…" Miles said. "I am a prosecuting attorney."
"Mr. Edgeworth. Fifteen years ago, you mistakenly killed your father, Gregory Edgeworth. Is this correct?"
"…It is correct."
"Then testify about this matter to the court."
Maya was whispering something. It sounded like praying.
"That day," Miles began, "I had gone to the courtroom to observe one of my father's trials. As we went to leave, an earthquake struck, trapping us in the elevator. My father and Mr. Yogi lost their composure, and began to argue. Just then, something heavy fell at my feet. I picked it up, and threw it at Mr. Yogi. I wanted them to stop fighting. A moment later, there was a single gunshot, then a scream. It was a terrible scream. I remember it to this day. That's all."
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "And, until now, you thought this memory was a 'dream'?"
"We were stuck in that elevator for five hours. The oxygen in the elevator ran out, and I lost my memory of the events."
"Bah!" von Karma spat. "The same claim Mr. Yogi has made!"
"Very well," the judge said. "Mr. Wright? Your cross-examination, please."
"Yes, Your Honor," Wright said.
It was just a dream… It's not suitable as evidence.
"Are you sure you only heard one gunshot?" Wright asked.
"Yes," Miles replied. "I'm sure of that. I heard the shot, and the scream… Then everything faded. I was unconscious until the rescuers came."
"I see…" the judge said. Wright shook his head.
"But that doesn't make sense!" Wright added. "Look at this file one more time."
The DL-6 File?
"This plainly contradicts the witness's testimony," Wright continued.
"Objection!" von Karma barked. "You do enjoy dragging out that file, don't you? I don't accept this evidence! Unless… you can tell us what page it's on! Which page contradicts Miles Edgeworth's testimony?"
"Look at the 'Victim Data' in this file!" Wright banged on his desk. "It says quite plainly: 'the murder weapon was fired twice'!"
The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.
"Miles Edgeworth only heard one gunshot!" Wright said. "Yet, the murder weapon was fired twice! The first shot was the accidental firing when the pistol was thrown." He slammed on his desk. "So… who fired the remaining shot!?"
Again, the gallery started chatting. The judge restored order.
"Hmm…" he mumbled. "Was there, perhaps, another shooter who fired that second shot?"
"Objection!" von Karma shouted. "Your Honor. As I'm sure you're aware… This incident occurred fifteen years ago. The evidence is dated… The pistol did fire twice. However, we do not know WHEN that second shot was fired." He wagged his finger at Wright. "It might have been fired the day before the incident!" He snapped his fingers. "There is no proof that the second shot had anything to do with this incident!"
There's also no proof that it had nothing to do with the incident!
"Hmm… see, I see," the judge said. "You do have a point. Mr. Wright? The murder weapon was fired twice, as we have heard. One of those shots was fired by the defendant, a boy at the time. Do you have any proof that the other shot fired had something to do with the case?"
Wright hit his desk, then pointed at the judge. "Your Honor," he said. "I think I will be able to show you proof."
"Wh-what!?" von Karma snapped. "Impossible!"
"Now, now, Mr. von Karma," the judge said. "Save your surprise for after you've seen the evidence. Very well, Mr. Wright. Show us your proof. Do you have evidence that the second firing of the pistol is related to this incident?"
"Look at this photograph," Wright said, taking out a photograph. It was handed to the judge.
"This is a photograph of the scene of the crime, fifteen years ago," the judge said. I can see that the victim lying there is Gregory Edgeworth…"
"This proves the murder weapon was fired twice, at the time of the incident! This photo proves it!"
How? I can't see any… The bullet hole…
"So let me get this straight," the judge said. "This photo proves two shots were fired? Where?"
Stupid…
Wright banged on his desk. "As should be obvious," he said, "the contradiction is here."
"I see… a bullet hole in the door…" the judge replied. Wright pounded on his desk.
"Your Honor! Gregory Edgeworth was killed by a shot from the pistol! Yet, there is also a bullet hole in the elevator door! We also know that the murder weapon was fired twice! Thus… Someone other than Edgeworth fired that second shot!"
The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel.
"O-order!" he shouted. "Order! Mr. Wright! What are you driving at?"
"It's simple, Your Honor," Wright replied. "At the time of the incident, two shots were fired. One went into Gregory Edgeworth's heart. The other hit the elevator door." He slammed on his desk. "Remember that the defendant lost consciousness after the shot he fired rang out. In conclusion… We must agree that the second shot was fired by someone else!"
"M-Mr. Wright! But who could that someone else be!?"
"The murderer, of course!"
"Objection!" von Karma roared. "…I knew I should have stepped in before your wild fantasies got out of hand. Mr. Wright… Look once more at the DL-6 Incident case file. Look closely. Try the 'Case Summary' page. Look what is written there! 'Not a single clue was found on the scene.' If the pistol had indeed been fired two times… Then the other bullet would have been discovered on the scene!"
"He does have a point," the judge agreed.
"That second bullet has never been found!" He snapped his fingers. "Why? Because the second bullet does not exist! The bullet that claimed Gregory Edgeworth's life was the one fired by his own son! That is the truth of this matter. The whole truth. It was undoubtedly something else that made that bullet hole in the door."
Prove it, von Karma! Lana thought as the judge tried to silence the again noisy gallery.
"Order!" he bellowed. "I will have order!" He paused. "Mr. Wright has proven one thing to us quite clearly… That the murder weapon was fired twice at the time of the incident. However! As Mr. von Karma says, the second bullet fired was not found. It is highly unlikely that the police merely overlooked this second bullet." He banged his gavel. "So, all we have is the single bullet fired. I'm afraid I have to discount the defense's claim."
"Tsk tsk tsk…" von Karma snickered. "I praise the judge for his wisdom in this matter."
No… No! We've gotten so far!
"What are you doing, Nick!?" Maya yelled. "Why aren't you raising an objection!?"
"…I'm sorry, Maya," Wright said.
"What?"
"I… It looks like I was wrong."
"Nick…?"
No! Don't give up, Wright!
"If the second bullet wasn't there," Wright sobbed, "then all my conjectures are for nothing!"
"N-no… But you said you'd do it, Nick! You said you'd get Edgeworth declared innocent!"
What would Mia think of you, Wright!?
"I'm sorry…" Wright sighed. "It's just, when I saw the photgraph, I thought that two shots had been fired. I was so certain of it. I thought I'd won! I thought there was another person, someone else who fired the killing shot. But now… I was wrong to think it could be that simple. This case has stood unsolved for fifteen years!"
"Nick…"
The judge banged his gavel.
"Well, it seems that we have finally cleared up this incident," he said.
NO!!
"Only one bullet was found at the scene of the crime," the judge continued. "That shot was fired by Miles Edgeworth."
"Precisely," von Karma sneered.
"I would like to ask one thing of Miles Edgeworth before passing my verdict. Have you been paying attention to the trial so far?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Miles replied.
"Do you have any objections?"
"No… No, I do not."
NO!! MILES!!
"So you killed your father, though that was not your intention?"
"…Yes, I did."
Maya said something. She sounded on the verge of tears.
"Very well," the judge said.
Miles…
"The statute of limitations on the murder of Gregory Edgeworth runs out today," the judge said. "Therefore, I must pronounce my verdict on the defendant today, right here…"
Von Karma snapped his fingers. "Right now!" he ordered.
"Indeed. Does anyone have any objections?"
Come on, think, Lana! If Wright can't find anything, do it yourself! There has to be a way! The second bullet… What if it fell into the elevator shaft? Or what if the killer took it!?
"Mr. Wright?" the judge asked.
"Objection!" Wright shouted.
YES!!
"Your Honor!" Wright barked, slamming on his desk. "I… I object!"
"Tsk tsk tsk," von Karma chuckled. He shook his head and wagged his finger at Wright. "Mr. Wright, on what grounds do you object, hmm?"
"Oof!"
What!?
Maya said something to Wright.
"Grah!" Wright spat. Wright suddenly jerked back in shock at something. "Wh-what?" he asked Maya. "What did you just say?"
"N-nothing!" Maya said.
Say something, Wright! Find something—anything!
"It seems waiting is not going to produce any answers from Mr. Wright," the judge said. Wright banged on his desk.
"Wait, Your Honor!" Wright begged.
"Hmm?"
"I, uh… Th-the second bullet! It, uh, it exists!"
"What!? But we've just heard proof that it did not exist!"
"I-I realize that, Your Honor."
He sounds just like Mia when she's cornered… So persistent until everything's accounted for…
Wright pounded on his desk. "I-it's just, someone took it from the scene of the crime! That's what happened!"
"But… Who!?" the judge asked.
"Th-th-the murderer!"
"Objection!" von Karma roared. "The murderer? Then tell us, just who is this 'murderer'?"
"I'm… still thinking about that one."
"Hmm…" the judge mumbled. "So the criminal took the second bullet? Why would he?"
"Huh?"
"First of all, how would he have found it? It's not easy to find a stray bullet, Mr. Wright! Was there some pressing need for the murderer to search for that bullet?"
Wright said nothing, but he slumped over his desk, forming a puddle of sweat beneath him.
Think, Wright! THINK!!
"What's wrong, Mr. Wright?" the judge asked.
"Uh… Um…" Wright stuttered.
"Bah!" von Karma scoffed. "The murderer had no reason to take that bullet! You don't want to admit it, but it's true!"
"Urk…"
NO!!
Wright suddenly jerked back again. He grasped his chin.
"Mr. Wright?" the judge asked again.
"Y-yes, Your Honor!" Wright replied, his voice shaking. "U-uh, well, the murderer had no intention of taking the bullet from the scene. But… uh, the murderer HAD to take that bullet."
"'Had to,' Mr. Wright? What do you mean?"
"Well, for instance…" He paused. "Uh. maybe the bullet, uh… hit the murderer?"
"The bullet… hit the murderer?"
THAT'S IT!! IT WORKS!!
"J-just saying, for instance," Wright stammered. "I mean, if it hit you, you would have to take it with you, wouldn't you? It's not like you could perform surgery right there. Y-y'know?"
The entire courtroom was silent.
Come on, Wright! Run with it!
"Let me get this straight," the judge said. "So at the time of the murder, the murderer himself was shot? And he left with the second bullet still inside!? Thus leaving only one bullet at the scene of the crime?"
"Uh, yes…" Wright stuttered. "I guess that's how it would work, yes."
"But there's a problem with that! The other two people rescued from that elevator… Miles Edgeworth and Yanni Yogi were both unharmed! So that would mean…"
"The murderer came from outside, yes."
The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel repeatedly.
"The two men fight inside the elevator," Wright said. "Trying to stop them, the boy picks up the pistol at his feet and throws it. The pistol discharges, and the bullet…. The bullet goes through the elevator door and hits the murderer outside! The boy loses consciousness… Then the murderer opens the elevator door and sees the men inside…"
"Hmm," the judge mumbled. "Mr. Wright. You are truly the most unpredictable defense attorney I've ever known. I can tell you're grasping, yet I cannot deny the possibility of what you say."
"Objection!" von Karma roared. He snapped his fingers. "What are you saying! Deny it! Deny it! No one involved in the incident was wounded! There was no 'murderer'!"
"Hmm…"
Because the murderer fled!
Maya and Wright began whispering. Lana had trouble making out the beginning, but as they apparently got an idea, they got louder.
"But took it because he was injured!" Wright said.
"Which would mean…" Maya trailed off.
"It could only mean one thing!"
"He was the murderer in the DL-6 Incident!"
"He was the man who shot Gregory Edgeworth!"
"It was… von Karma!"
Von Karma!? HE'S the killer!?
"Something wrong, Mr. Wright?" the judge cut in. "You seem… dazed."
"Uh, n-no, Your Honor," Wright said.
"Well? You have indicated the possibility that the murderer came from outside. Can you give us the name of your suspect?"
Wright slammed on his desk.
"Your Honor!" he shouted. "There is a suspect… one lone suspect!"
"Well, this is certainly interesting news. Very well, Mr. Wright. Who is your suspect?"
"V-V-V…"
Say it, damn it!
"V-what?" the judge asked.
Wright banged on his desk. "Von Karma!" he shouted.
"Von Karma!?" Miles yelped.
Everything was silent. Von Karma was smiling.
He's… smiling? Why would he…?
"You mean, THE von Karma?" the judge asked, breaking the silence. "The prosecutor? Sitting right there?"
"Bah," von Karma scoffed.
"You… don't object?"
"Hmph. I see no need. Why honor this ridiculous outburst with my objection?"
Wright pounded his desk. "Because you took a vacation for several months starting the day after the incident!" he shouted. "Yet you pride yourself on a perfect record! Why would you take such a long vacation without any reason!?"
"So you're claiming that I took a vacation to heal my 'injury' from the incident? Fascinating! Prove it. I would have needed surgery, no? Where did I go under the knife at, Mr. Wright!?" He snapped his fingers. "Bring the doctor that operated on me! Have him testify!"
"Urk…"
"Nick!" Maya barked. "Let's find out who his doctor is!"
"It's no use," Miles said.
"E-Edgeworth!?"
"I know von Karma. Perhaps too well. He's perfect. He wouldn't leave clues. He probably didn't undergo surgery. That would leave a doctor as a witness."
Wait… Miles… So you think von Karma… Then I'll believe it, too. I trust you, Miles.
"So… so what, Nick?" Maya asked. "Did von Karma pull the bullet out by himself!? That's insane!"
"No… he couldn't have," Wright replied. "You can't just pull bullets out of yourself!"
Then...?
"Tsk tsk tsk…" von Karma chuckled. "Well, Mr. Wright! Can you produce evidence to prove that I was shot?"
Wright hit his desk. "Alright, von Karma, I'll prove it," he said. "And I'll even use evidence… I know how you like it so much."
"Wh-what!?"
"The evidence that proves von Karma was shot is…! Take that! Von Karma is perfect… He wouldn't risk surgery, leaving an evidence trail. So then, I ask, where is that bullet now? I think it unlikely that von Karma performed surgery on himself!"
"You… you don't mean!" the judge stammered. Wright nodded.
"I do." He banged on his desk. "There is the possibility that the bullet is still inside von Karma!"
The court filled with noise. The judge banged his gavel.
"I-is that even possible?" he asked. "For all these years!?"
"Well, there's one way to find out." Wright took a metal detector out of his bag. "We could use this metal detector! Well, von Karma? I'm going to run this over you, and see what we find."
"Objection!" von Karma shouted. He was sweating. He looked nervous.
He DID do it! Von Karma… You deserve a punishment that could not even be found in Hell!
"I… refuse!" von Karma spat.
"Y-you refuse…!?" the judge asked. "But, refusing this means… You acknowledge that the bullet is still inside you?"
The gallery started up again. The judge silenced them somewhat with his gavel and three shouts of "Order!"
Wright slammed on his desk. "Your Honor!" he called. "The defense requests that we be allowed to use the metal detector!"
"Objection!" von Karma screamed. "Judge! I call for a suspension of this trial! This is an invasion of privacy!"
"Objection! The statute of limitations runs out on this case today!" He hit his desk. "It was you who said we had to end it right here, right now!"
"Mm… mmmph!"
The judge whacked his gavel. "Enough!" he barked. "I permit the use of the metal detector. Mr. von Karma, you will submit yourself to testing!"
Maya said something to Wright. Wright said something in response.
The bailiff took the metal detector and ran it over von Karma. Near von Karma's right shoulder, it went off loudly.
There is something in there! It must be the bullet!
"Mr. von Karma…?" Wright called.
"You!" Miles growled. "It was you!"
"…I was afraid this would happen," von Karma said. "And so, I remained silent."
What do you have up your sleeve now, beast!?
"Indeed, there is a bullet in my shoulder," von Karma continued. "However… it has nothing to do with this incident!"
"What!?" Wright snapped.
"I was shot in the shoulder long before the DL-6 Incident!" Von Karma snapped his fingers. "I claim that the bullet in my shoulder has no relation to DL-6!"
The gallery started up. The judge banged his gavel.
"B-but, Mr. von Karma!" he stammered. "Can you prove that?"
"'Prove'?" he repeated. He wagged his finger at the judge, an evil grin plastered on his face. "I have no obligation to prove anything! It is you who must prove something here, Mr. Wright! Not I."
"M-Mr. Wright? Well? Can you prove it? Can you prove that the bullet in von Karma's shoulder was from DL-6?"
"Of course he can't!"
Liar! All we need is the bullet from the victim's heart! If its ballistic markings match those of your bullet, you're the killer!
"You don't have any of the DL-6 evidence!" he taunted. He wagged his finger at Wright. "With no proof, you cannot convict me of any crime! So sorry, Mr. Wright."
Wright shook his head. "No… I'm the one who's sorry, Mr. von Karma," he taunted back.
"Wh-what!?"
"You were close… one day away from freedom." He pointed at von Karma. "You see… I have proof!"
"Wh-what!?"
"Who would have thought you would have dug your own grave trying to convict Edgeworth! I can link that bullet in your shoulder to the DL-6 Incident…" He slammed his desk and pointed at von Karma. "And here's my final proof! Take that!" Wright took out an evidence bag with a bullet in it.
"Th-that's…" the judge stuttered. "A bullet?"
"Where did you get that!?" von Karma demanded.
"This is the bullet used in the DL-6 Incident," Wright explained. "This was taken from the heart of the victim, Mr. Gregory Edgeworth." Wright pounded on his desk. "The bullet is preserved quite nicely, with all the ballistic markings intact."
"Ballistic markings…" Miles muttered.
"You may recall the term. It came up in the first trial, two days ago. We have two bullets in our possession. One, the bullet removed from Gregory Edgeworth's heart. The other, Mr. von Karma, is the bullet buried in your shoulder. We could analyze both bullets… Then, it the markings matched…" Wright slammed on his desk. "We would know that both bullets had been fired from the same gun! The very same pistol… in other words, the murder weapon that killed Gregory Edgeworth!"
"Mmmph… mmmph!" von Karma spat.
"Mr. von Karma? You will let us remove the bullet from your shoulder. Then we'll compare the ballistic markings to those on this bullet…" Wright hit his desk. "And solve this case once and for all! Well, Mr. von Karma!?"
"Mmmrrrrrrgggh! Uuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! Uuaaaaarrrr… aaa …oooh. Wooooooorgh… aaa… oooooh…"
It's over… Finally, it's really over…
Miles looked as though the entire disaster had come back full force in his memory. "It's that scream I heard in the elevator!" he gasped. "Fifteen years ago…" He pointed accusingly at von Karma, his face an effigy of hatred. "Von Karma!" he roared. "It was you who screamed!"
The gallery was in an uproar. The judge banged his gavel to restore order.
"Mr. von Karma?" he called.
"Wooorrrrrooooooggggh…." the villain wailed. "Ehhh… Edgewoooooth……. Ehhh… Edgewooooorth… Only… you would… dare… defy me…!"
"So… it was you!" Miles shouted through gritted teeth.
Von Karma grabbed onto the wall behind him and began slamming his head against it. "You an your father are my curse!" he hissed. "Your father shamed me with a penalty on my record! And you… you left a scar on my shoulder that would never fade!" He hit his head harder, more rapidly. "I... I'll bury you! I'll bury you with my bare hands! Death! Death!
"It was a shock like none I had ever known. Me? Penalized!? It took hours for me to regain my composure. Suddenly, I found myself in the darkness… I was in the court records room. I must have wandered in there without thinking where I was going. The room was pitch black. The lights must have gone out. I went out in the hall and felt my way to the elevator. I pressed the button, and nothing happened. Then… there was a noise!
"I was in pain! A horrible, burning pain in my shoulder! Just then, the lights came back on. The elevator door opened before my eyes. I saw three people inside, all lying unconscious from oxygen deprivation. Much to my surprise, a pistol lay at my feet. I knew then… it was destiny. In his last moments, Gregory Edgeworth was still unconscious. He died, never knowing who had shot him Later, he spoke through a medium, blaming Mr. Yogi. He was fooled! It was the perfect crime!
"Tsk tsk tsk… Who would have thought another man would come to open that elevator door?" He snapped his fingers. "Judge!"
"Wh-what?" the judge blabbered, shocked by the sudden end to von Karma's tale.
"What are you doing!? Do your job! Bring an end to this miserable charade! Now! End it!"
"V-very well." He whacked his gavel. "It appears that we have come a very long way to the end of this maze. Fifteen years later… Mr. Miles Edgeworth?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Miles said.
"You were innocent. You are innocent. As you said, it was all a 'nightmare.'"
"Yes, Your Honor."
The judge banged his gavel again. "This court finds the defendant, Mr. Miles Edgeworth… not guilty."
It was over. Miles's trip through Hell was over. He was free.
"That is all," the judge said after banging his gavel again. "The court is adjourned!"
Lana stood at the door to Miles's office the next day. She heard music coming from the other side. She listened.
Поднялася с полуночи… a tenor voice cried out. A men's chorus joined in.
Поднялася с полуночи
дружинушка хрестьянская
молилася, крестилася,
молилася, крестилася,
на смертный бой готовилась.
Прости, прощай, родная весь,
прости, прощай, родная весь!
Не плачь же ты, семеюшка:
нам смерть в бою написана,
нам смерть в бою написана,
а мёртвому сорома нет.
Нам смерть в бою написана…
Нам смерть в бою…
Lana knocked on the door.
"I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone," Miles said from behind it.
"Not even to me?" Lana asked. She had decided beforehand that if she was going to talk to him, she would have to be herself, not Ms. Skye. As such, concern poured from her lips.
"Not even you."
Lana sighed. "Is this how you're going to be when we're married, too? We've been through this before. You're not invincible."
"I'm fine."
"No you're not, Miles. You sound as if you're going to cry."
"Everything's okay now. I'm free."
"Miles, your voice is breaking."
"I said I'm fine."
"You saw me during the trial, didn't you? I was so worried…"
"I saw you."
"I even cried a few times. Even though I did all I could to contain my emotions, they broke out a few times."
"I saw signs of it."
Lana waited for Miles to say more. All she heard was his music, though.
"Don't you trust me?" she pleaded.
No response.
Lana sighed again. "Miles, if you can't even trust someone who agreed to marry you, who can you trust? Do you really want to keep all your thoughts to yourself?" She closed her eyes. "You can trust me, Miles. I may not be worthy of your trust as a co-worker, but what about as your fiancée? Yes, I broke it off, but I still think of you as the gentleman I'm going to marry. …I believe in you, Miles. I know you're a wonderful person on the inside, so please show that side of yourself to me."
No response.
"…I see. You still think you need to handle everything alone. Do you really want that? There's no shame in needing help. I'm here for you." She sighed again. "And, frankly, I need proof that you're fine. I'm not going to stop worrying until I'm sure. Closing yourself off from me like this just makes me more convinced that you need help."
Is this how Ema feels? Whenever she needs me, I close myself off. She must be worried about me…
Miles's music stopped. Lana heard the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door. The instant Miles opened the door Lana threw herself into his arms.
"You need to stop being this way," Lana said, still holding onto Miles. "I'm not marrying Miles von Karma."
Lana felt Miles's arms tighten around her. She felt something touch her ear. Tears. Miles's tears. She could feel his broken breathing. He was crying.
"Please, let it out," Lana continued. "The only weak thing to do here is keep it all pent up inside. I'm here for you."
Lana closed her eyes and held onto Miles. He needed someone to trust, someone he could turn to when he couldn't handle everything on his own. Lana recalled that the door to the office was still open. She tried to move to close it, but Miles wouldn't let go. With a small sigh through her nose, she decided to ignore it. She tightened her embrace.
"Whenever you need someone, I'll be there for you," Lana said, closing her eyes again.