.

CROSS EXAMINATION

-What I Saw-

"Like I said, I was clearing some things up with the police."

"I saw that the discussion ended earlier than I expected. I thought that if I hurried, I could actually keep Lex's appointment. Unfortunately, I didn't make it."

"However, when I DID get there, I saw two people out in the boat, way out on the lake. It looked like they were fighting."

HOLD IT!

"How long did you watch them fighting?" Julias asked.

"Well, It seemed like the victim had just woken up or something." Biffekell answered, "I saw it only for a split second."

(Would that mean he had seen the entire scuffle between the two?) "What happened then?"

"In no time at all, the killer whacked the victim's head against the engine."

HOLD IT!

"What happened then?"

OBJECTION!

"What do you THINK happened next?" Gaspen retorted, "The victim was knocked out cold!"

"The prosecution raises a good argument," The Judge validated, "I myself find no point why to nitpick over such a tiny detail."

(Both the judge and the prosecution are advising me to back off, would this be a good idea...?) "Your Honor, we have no idea which detail, however small-"

OBJECTION!

"Haven't you read the dictionary lately?" Gaspen taunted, stroking his hair, "Like maybe this century? Small means tiny, insignificant, hardly important! You're grasping at straws here, rookie!"

OBJECTION!

"A tiny slingshot was once capable of defeating a giant! This detail could very well be the weapon I need to bring down Prosecutor Goliath!"

"WaaHAA!" Gaspen gasped and reeled in shock from the insult, his hair flipping back, revealing the other half of his face. "Why you little...!"

"Did you hear that?!" Someone yelled from the gallery, where everyone was arguing in reaction to Julias' outburst.

"He's calling the prosecution a monster!" Someone else screamed.

It took The Judge three bangs of his gavel to restore everyone. "Order in the court! Order in the court!" He lowered his brow toward the defense; an expression he had mastered over the years, "Mr. Freedom, what is the meaning of this?!"

"Your Honor," Julias struck his desk, "I have to know if there's anything else the witness knows about that statement!"

"'Have' to know?" Adrian queried, "Be careful you don't go in too deep."

(Yes, Chief, I do indeed know what a penalty is!) Julias thought sarcastically.

"... Fine... If you insist, then," The Judge allowed, "just as soon as our witness recovers."

Biffekell seemed to have been struck dumb by the intense argument; the lenses on his phoropter spun lazily around, as if to articulate the silence.

"Um... Mr. Biffekell?" Julias named hesitantly. "Are you still with us?"

"What? Oh... Yes I am!" The witness replied, giving the lenses a good spin. "What is it you want to know?"

(Okay, I've got his attention, finally! But it took forever to regain control; I might not get another chance. What is it about Biffekell's statement that I need details on...?) "Um... How many times did the killer hit the victim's head on the engine?"

"Only once."

(Just as I suspected.) "Witness would you please add that to your testimony?"

"Oh, yes! Oh yes, of course!"

(Just add it, already!)

"No dilly-dallyin', the victim had his head whacked just one time and that was it."

OBJECTION!

"Mr. Biffekell... Um... should I call you 'Doctor'?" Julias asked, unsure if he knew what he was doing.

"Julias!" Adrian reprimanded, "Quit stalling already!"

(Yikes! Doctor it is, then!) Julias returned his face to The witness. "Dr. Biffekell, are you absolutely sure that the victim only had his head hit only once?"

"Absolutely!"

"Well, I'm afraid the evidence says otherwise!" Julias said with burning confidence.

"Ah!" The Judge sounded, as if enlightened on some deep matter. "Looks like Mr. Freedom, our rookie, has found something we should listen to."

"Heh heh," Gaspen chuckled, "Just watch! Failure in five, four, three-"

"The witness said the victim's head was hit ONCE, but the autopsy report shows us that it was hit TWICE" Julias explained before Gaspen could end his countdown.

OBJECTION!

"two, one, zero, and just as I expected, the rookie has fallen flat on his face."

"Get to the point, Prosecutor Payne!" Julias demanded. (Did I just fall for a trap?)

"Heh, heh, it's just so easy with the greenhorns! What I'm getting at is that would there really be any need to scramble all over the place, just to find the reason behind one, little contradiction? There could be millions of reasons to why that second bruise was there. Why, it could have nothing to do with the murder!"

"You forget, Prosecutor Payne," The Judge reminded, "any contradiction MUST be explained by the witness. Your objection is overruled."

"Yes... Your Honor."

"Witness, what can you say about this?"

"Well..." Biffekell began, stroking his chin, "It certainly is a mystery."

"Well... Then now what?" The Judge asked, unsure where to go. "Should we just continue?"

(It seems that way. I don't see why Biffekell would lie... But still!) Julias was disappointed that his contradiction had deflated already.

"I heard, but I didn't see the actual act of dropping the victim's body into the lake, because I had turned around to get to my phone in the office."

"I turned around again after a hearing a bang and a hiss. Before turning around, I also heard someone give a holler."

"All I saw then was the killer jumping out of the boat and then soaking himself with water from a pail."

HOLD IT!

"Is there... Anything you can infer from that?" Julias wondered aloud.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, there's something odd about it." (Okay,) Julias took out the diagram, placing a killer token, (let's think about this: Biffekell says he saw the killer jump out of the boat, and into the water. I assume that was his reaction to getting hit from the engine rupturing. After that, he splashed himself with water left in a pail. What is it about this that I find strange...?)

TAKE THAT!

"Dr. Biffekell, I believe there is something crucial to your testimony that you left out."

"There is...?"

"Yes, there is. Between both times the killer met the water, you wouldn't happen to have turned your back, would you?"

"... Huh? Wait, WHAT?!" Biffekell blurted, his lenses spinning like crazy. "Yes! How on earth did you know?!"

(Yes, I was right!) "Just a bit of deduction." Julias stated, holding a paper in his hand. "According to the prosecution's claims, the engine had ruptured, though he claims that it had ruptured only once, correct?"

"Yes that's right." Gaspen confirmed.

"Yet, it seems that there was a second injury, as the killer then took the water from the pail."

OBJECTION!

"A second injury?" Gaspen challenged. "You've got to be joking!"

OBJECTION!

"Use your head for a change, rocket-mouth!"

"Use my... Urk!" Gaspen flinched.

"Looks like the prosecution knows exactly what I'm talking about!" Julias declared smugly. "See, the killer had already been soaked through and through when he jumped into the deep water, in the night air, no less. Though this implies a second injury, the Prosecution says the engine had ruptured only once. For someone to use the water in the pail, it can only mean... That there were two people at the crime scene!"

Again, the people in the gallery fell to murmuring, and again The Judge banged his gavel.

"I WILL have order! Order!" He bellowed. "Mr Freedom, are you insinuating that there were two perpetrators in the murder?"

"I highly doubt that, your Honor," Julias shook his head, "if this second person was an accomplice, he or she would've been in the boat along with the other. Dr. Biffekell testifies there was only one. I expect this second person was just a clueless bystander. And I'll bet my badge it was the Defendant."

"I see..." The Judge nodded, looking at the prosecution. "Any objections, Prosecutor Payne?"

"Heh, heh, heh," Gaspen chuckled, having recovered, "I have no objections, your Honor."

(If there's one thing I've learned about this creep, you know he's gonna be even more of a pain in the neck when he's snickering.) Julias reflected uneasily.

The Judge banged his gavel. "I believe that ends the cross examination for Blake Biffekell.

"Well," Adrian teased, "that was fun, wasn't it?"

"Chief, I'm not in the mood."

"you know, to commemorate your first trial, we could ask for Biffekell's testimony on paper."

"... Wait, what was that you just said?!" Julias asked, having an idea.

"Wait, you're actually gonna ask for that?"

(You bet I am!) "Your honor, my... Intuition tells me we might need Biffekell's testimony on paper."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Future reference... I guess."

"Hm... Sounds like a good idea. Biffekell's testimony is hereby added to the Court Record."

Biffekell's Testimony added to Court Record

The Judge shook his head. "So then it would seem that this trial is not quite over. Prosecutor Payne, is there any request you would like to make?"

"I have... A witness."

(Wait, another witness? Why is he just now telling us this?)

"I didn't know you already had another witness waiting in the lobby." The Judge responded to this development.

"Well," Gaspen twisted his hair, "I was hoping he wouldn't have to take the stand to testify. He told me himself he'd much rather avoid it if possible. Unfortunately, our greenhorn attorney has dragged this on for far too long, exposing different parts of the crime that are irrelevant. But, I suppose it's best to just give the boy what he wants, Hm?"

(Oh, put a sock in it! I won fair and square!)

"I understand, then." The Judge affirmed. "Prosecutor Payne, call your next witness."

"The Prosecution calls Ness Witry to the stand!"

At the stand stood a blond man, almost looked like the victim's photo, except for his blue eyes. The only clothes he wore were a pair of red lifeguard trunks. On his neck he hung a guard whistle, as well as a white swimming towel.

"State your name and profession." Gaspen instructed.

"Ness Witry, lifeguard at Jontoon beach." Nesstrit responded, not before blowing his whistle briefly.

"Well," The Judge began, struck by Ness' apparel, "I certainly agree with witnesses representing their profession as best as possible, but couldn't you have at least dressed a little more formal?"

"Well, think of it this way: say that this courtroom is suddenly flooded for some reason. If that were to ever happen, I'd be ready right away to save some lives!"

(That's the stupidest excuse in history, and that won't happen in a million years!) Julias screamed in his mind, already knowing this would be a very unpleasant testimony.

"Well," The Judge said, "it's alright, I guess." He closed his eyes in thought. "But enough about fashion sense I suppose. Witness, will you please testify what you saw of the victim's murder?"

WITNESS TESTIMONY

-Ness' Story-

"The story goes like this. Sprite and I are the only lifeguards at the beach."

"Every night, we take turns on watch. You know, make sure nothing gets vandalized."

"It was Sprite's turn that night. I was at home, on my porch."

"That's when I saw the motor boat on the water."

"I didn't really see anything different than what the Doctor told you."

(... Ugh! Another dead end.)

"Well, greenhorn?" Gaspen mocked, "Happy now?"

"Oh shut up, you disco reject!" Julias snapped.

"Disco reject?!"

"Mr. Freedom!" The Judge yelled, "That was more than uncalled for! What do you have to say for yourself?!"

(Don't you EVER take the defense's side?!) "Um, well, I DO have a right to cross-examine, don't I...?" Julias was still sweating.

"Hm, that's true. But that does not justify any immature outbursts! Watch your words carefully, especially when directed at the witness!"

CROSS EXAMINATION

-Ness' Story-

"The story goes like this. Sprite and I are the only lifeguards at the beach."

"Every night, we take turns on watch. You know, make sure nothing gets vandalized."

"It was Sprite's turn that night. I was at home, on my porch."

"That's when I saw the motor boat on the water."

HOLD IT!

"And you saw all this from your porch?"

"That's what I just said."

"Well Still... Perhaps you could tell us where your house is?"

"Well, I'd need some kind of map or something."

"Will the diagram do?"

"Of course! See?" Witry confirmed. "My house is right here." He pointed to a house that lined up perfectly with the boat's location. "I had the perfect view to the whole thing!"

"I see," Julias nodded, "Perhaps you could add that to your testimony?"

"Sur-... Err..." Witry suddenly tensed up, he tugged the string that his whistle hung on. He pulled the string taut against his neck.

"Witness...?" Gaspen ventured, sweating.

"I-it's nothing!" Witry reassured, relaxing. "I'm just shocked at my friend's death."

"That's fine," Julias mentioned,"but you were adding something to your testimony?"

"Yeah, sure."

"I saw the entire murder! Though..."

OBJECTION!

"You saw it all... From your porch you say?" Julias asked.

"Yeah... What about it?"

"Well then you must have X-Ray vision then," Julias joked, "because this trailer would've gotten in the way!"

"What?" Witry asked, then... "WHAT?! A TRAILER?!" The lifeguard then proceeded to give a sharp cry with his whistle.

"P-p-perhaps there's some explanation?!" Gaspen pleaded.

"Explanation... Oh yeah!" Witry cried. "Isn't it obvious? That trailer wasn't there before."

"Wasn't there?" Julias asked. "You mean it came between the murder and when this diagram was made?"

"Yeah, that's it!"

The Judge remained silent. Until... "Witness, would you excuse me if I accepted your claim with a grain of salt?"

"You mean you don't believe me?!"

"I didn't say that!" The Judge looked to the bailiff in the back. "Bailiff, investigate this trailer business immediately. See whether or not the owners agree with the witness' argument!"

"Yes, your Honor!" The bailiff saluted as he left.

"In the meantime, this court is in recess for thirty minutes. Court dismissed!" The Judge banged his gavel, and that was the end of the trial.

June 19 11:00 AM

District Court Defendant Lobby No. 1

(Yeesh! I feel like I'm gonna faint!) Julias collapsed onto the leather couch.

"What's with the long face, Julias?" Adrian asked.

"Let's put it this way: Now I know what it feels like to walk into a torture chamber." (I don't care if I'm exaggerating!)

"Y'know," Adrian began, "perhaps there's something you and I could talk about...?"

"Yeah..." Julias agreed, glancing at Lex, who had just walked in, "Half the time I was in there, I could hardly remember just who it was I was defending. Has that happened to you?"

"On my first year, yes." Adrian nodded. "Like I said, some would describe it as an awakening. Those on their first case would completely forget about the defendant's faults and concentrate entirely on the good aspects of the one they're protecting, and how they do not deserve to be imprisoned by deceit."

Julias stared wide-eyed at his mentor. (I had no idea Adrian was so fond of philosophy.) "Then... I guess that's what I'm doing for Lex, huh?"

"And more often than not, that... Effect would stay with you for years to come. And sometimes, it would make you forget... Other things." Adrian finished glaring at nothing in particular. Just like the look he gave Gaspen back at the start of the trial.

Adrian Hawkfenn. My mentor. He's been... Different, these last three years. I've only been his apprentice for two years, so I don't really know what changed him. I mean, before his sudden change, it took him a lot more to get him upset than what I've seen today. If it wasn't for my respect for him, I'd already have brought up the matter a few times, but I haven't not once done it. Perhaps, if I win this case, maybe then I'll ask him...

"The trial will reconvene soon." The bailiff interrupted. Julias's feet began carrying him back to the courtroom.

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.

- Biffekell's Testimony: Written copy of Dr. Biffekell's testimony. If nothing else, it's more of a good luck charm.

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.

- Blake Biffekell: An eccentric dentist who also works as an optician. He witnessed the murder from his office.

- Ness Witry: Former co-worker of the victim. Claims he saw the crime from his porch.

If there's any mistakes, don't hesitate to tell me.

THX & God bless

~RLS legacy