Good news! I finally got myself an account on deviantART! Which might also explain the short delay. So anyway, here you are!

Lex took the stand. He didn't look very pleased, in fact you could almost SEE the steam coming off his bandage-wrapped head.

The Judge, a bit intimidated by this behavior, asked, "My heavens, what happened to yo-" The judge then cut himself off. "Oh! I remember! You were burned from the engine that had ruptu-"

"TRASH CAN!"

"Mr Stisken, you will refrain from any disrespectful behavior toward the... Er... What trash can?"

"The defendant," Gaspen began, "stubbornly insists that his burns were from when he found a smoking cigarette butt on the ground. He says that he picked it up and tossed it in the trash can, somehow causing it to burst into flames. An utterly farfetched explanation in my opinion."

"He's got that right Julias," Adrian commented with his head down, "trash cans don't just burst into flames."

(No... But if he's telling the truth, then there must be a reason.)

"Either way," Gaspen rejoined, "will the defendant state his name and profession?"

Lex was silent for a moment, then almost miraculously, he dropped the glare of death and seemed to smile.

"Lex Stisken, professional skater!"

(...)

"Professional... skater?" The Judge quoted, a little unsure. "That's funny, I don't remember any 'Lex Stisken' popping up in the headlines."

(That's because his idea of 'professional' is filming wheelies with his phone's camera... And I STILL can't figure out how he does it!)

The Judge shook his head, dismissing the issue. "Well, I doubt that holds any relevance to this case, and speaking of which, I hope you are aware of the charges you're under?"

"Murder!" Lex chirped impatiently. "You think I wouldn't know after the cops getting in my face and asking the same questions over and over?!"

"Umm... No."

"Good!"

OBJECTION!

"This tangent has gone far enough!" Gaspen commanded.

"Yes it has!" The Judge seconded. "Any more outbursts from the Defendant and he will be under contempt of court!"

Gaspen grinned wickedly. Things were going his way. "Now, with that out of the way, a question. Why were you at Jontoon beach? Other than murdering the victim?"

OBJECTION!

Julias had had enough! He raised an open hand to head level and brought it down on the desk, as hard as he could, and as intimidating as he could!

Court Record:

Evidence:

- Attorney's Badge: This badge is a must for all attorneys. Taking the defense desk without one is a federal offense.
- Motor Photo: a photo of the speedboat's ruptured engine. This is apparently the cause for the burns on the Defendant's face.
- Admittance File: The file that was made for the Defendant's hospitalization for burns to the face.
- Appointment Memo: A memo from the dentist at Biffekell dental, apologizing for the cancelation of an appointment with the Defendant.
- Autopsy Report: Aside from drowning, the report also tells of two, nasty bruises on the victim's forehead.
- Crime Scene Diagram: A diagram showing the locations of witnesses, the killer, the victim, and other things.

Profiles:

- Adrian Hawkfenn: My mentor. He's about to guide me through my first case. Hopefully he knows when to stop me before I embarrass myself.
- Lex Stisken: The defendant. I've known him since high school, and is Irritatingly insistent that we be "friends".
- Gaspen Payne: The prosecutor for this case. Younger brother of Winston "rookie-killer" Payne, and ten times more tenacious.

Huh! That actually makes for a good cliffhanger, despite it's short length! Not to mention that last objection was on the spur of the moment! Well, anyway!

THX & God bless!

~RLS legacy