.

WITNESS TESTIMONY

-We Had Business!-

"So what if I'm not on that note?!"

"I DID have something to do with him! I'm not lying!"

"Besides, the killer had his FACE burned!"

"Is MY head wrapped up like a mummy?!"

Julias started in response to the fury of this testimony, (We're dealing with a time bomb here!)

"Heh," Gaspen clucked, "perhaps if you're fed up being abused by attorneys and beach-goers, you could always join the prosecutor's office. Just think, your own chance to pummel some lawyers."

('Gaspen Jr.'? The thought makes me want to puke!)

"Well, then," The Judge announced, unfazed by the witness, "Now the defense will cross-examine the witness. Though I warn you, Mr. Freedom, tread carefully."

(You don't have to tell me twice!)

CROSS EXAMINATION

-We Had Business!-

"So what if I'm not on that note?!"

"I DID have something to do with him! I'm not lying!"

"Besides, the killer had his FACE burned!"

OBJECTION

"WHAT NOW?!" Witry snapped.

"Mr. Witry," Julias reminded, "for all we know, our killer could be walking around with a roasted belly-button. Perhaps the court should look back on Dr. Biffekell's testimony...

"Before turning around, I also heard someone give a holler."

-Blake Biffekell

"In other words, Dr. Biffekell still had his back turned when he heard the killer yelling in pain. Presumably from the engine. This means that we have no idea where the killer was burned!" Julias jabbed an accusatory finger into the air. The gallery was arguing once again until...

OBJECTION!

"Greenhorn," Gaspen began, "it is as simple as this: Is Ness Witry burned?"

"What do you mean?!"

"We all see his bare chest after all. Is any of that burned?"

(Any of that... What?!) Julias recoiled from this, (He's right! There's not a scratch on him! B-but... There's gotta be something!)

"... Julias..." Adrian whispered, "How about something I heard from a detective? 'Even a speck of dust can become a crime-scene.' You should know what that means..."

(What's he telling me? Is there anything in the Court Record I overlooked...?) Julias picked up the gold chain, turning it over. One on spot, the chain seemed a little... Deformed?

TAKE THAT!

"What's this?" Julias boasted, "I believe I know exactly where the witness was burned!"

"No, you don't!" Witry shouted.

"Then prove it." Julias nodded, "Take that towel off and show us the back of your neck!"

"... FINE!" Witry balled up his towel and hurled it at the defense. It landed square on Julias' face. Witry turned his back, revealing burn marks on his neck. "It doesn't prove a thing! I got that burn at my house!" He roared, cocking his head, "Besides! Isn't there something you're forgetting?"

Julias didn't answer.

"That second bump on Sprite's head! You said yourself you'd like to know how that happened! Well?! Have any idea how I could've done that?!"

"The Prosecution said that the second bruising was irrelevant..." (Wait...)

"There could be millions of reasons to why that second bruise was there. Why, it could have nothing to do with the murder!"

-Gaspen Payne

(That's it! The fact that Witry just now mentioned the autopsy report is the very reason for my suspicion! That does it, I just know he's the real killer! But he's not cracking until I figure out what he used for a murder weapon! Think Julias...)

TAKE THAT!

"Um, Mr. Freedom..." The Judge pointed out, "You've presented Blake Biffekell as your murder... Er... Bruise weapon...?"

"Exactly! Your Honor, what does Dr. Biffekell wear?"

"He wears..." The Judge thought hard, "A phoropter!"

"That's right your honor, now if the court would recall one, important detail about this phoropter..."

"I leave the phoropter at the office and don braces for my dentistry."

-Blake Biffekell

"And we all know that Dr. Biffekell was out of the office at the time, which means he had left the phoropter at Jontoon beach, the scene of the crime! My theory is that the witness struck the victim with this murder weapon! What do you say now, Ness Witry?!"

"I can..." Witry faltered, blowing his whistle, then again, and again... Finally, the lifeguard snapped, blowing his whistle as hard as he could, as long as he could! By the time he ran out of breath, half the gallery had been deafened! "I can... explain... ..." Ness Witry, now wheezing for breath, passed out cold. His head clunked on the top of the witness stand...

"Has our witness recovered, Prosecutor Payne?" The Judge proceeded.

"Yes, Ness Witry is awake and has confessed to everything." Gaspen answered, still quivering from the eventual verdict, "And just as Mr. Freedom suspected, Dr. Biffekell's phoropter is a perfect fit to the second injury on the victim's head, and that the bailiff's have also lifted Witry's fingerprints from the tool. He is now being treated for his burns."

"Then that would mean that the defense's assumption was correct from the beginning."

"Assumption?" Julias repeated.

"Your so-called line of logic, theorizing that the killer would be too afraid to report himself to the hospital."

"Well, hey! Heh, you just have to try everything I guess." Julias replied cheekily, with Adrian rolling his eyes humorously.

"For a motive," Gaspen explained, "turns out that Witry was our man behind all the burglaries in the area. He approached the victim, insisting that he take that night's shift. This was a ruse that he tried so that he could have free reign over the area, without risking his co-worker detecting him."

"Then that brings this trial to an end." The Judge perceived, "Prosecutor Payne?"

"Yes, your honor," Gaspen announced, "The Prosecution finds the defendant, Lex Stisken..."

NOT

GUILTY

The people in the gallery cheered as if in a football stadium. Confetti and streamers descended like snow, as if from an unknown source.

June 19 12:30 AM

District Court Defendant Lobby No. 1

"Hahaha!" Adrian laughed loudly in celebration!

"Jeez, that came out of nowhere!" Julias reacted.

"What? The verdict or me laughing?"

"Umm... Both?"

"Well good then. You enjoy that?"

"Define 'enjoy'." It was then that Julias realized something, "Wait, isn't there something we couldn't... Figure out?"

"Let's see... That would be the issue of the trash can."

"AHEM!" It was not necessary for anyone to turn around to know Biffekell had joined them, "Perhaps I can explain. Understand that as one practicing medicine, I would occasionally have to work with incredibly flammable materials. Up until now, I had been using that trash can to dispose of the items once used up."

"Are you joking?!" Lex glared intensely, "You just got me framed for killing someone! I hope you break a mirror, get seven years of black cats, buster!"

"... Whoopsy-daisy..." Biffekell's lenses spun slowly but restlessly.

"Either way," Lex brightened, "I'd be getting hauled away if it wasn't for Jules here! And I know exactly where we can celebrate! How 'bout I take you to the shop where I got Thomas?"

"'Thomas'?" Julias quoted, "You mean your old snowboard? Shouldn't you be getting rid of that moldy piece of wood?"

"Where do you get off, buddy?!" Lex lectured, "I'm never gettin' rid o' that thing! It's my lucky charm!"

(Says the guy wrapped in bandages.)

Hello?

"Actually, we could go somewhere fancy." Adrian suggested.

Hey!

"Actually, I ate during the recess." Julias said.

"What?" Adrian joked, "Lack of a second stomach? On a special occasion? Who ever heard of-"

HEY!

The group turned around to see a young man, perhaps seventeen. He had black hair, of which a small bang hung just low enough to barely cover his right eye. He wore a white suit coat, with a light blue dress shirt underneath, completed with white dress pants and black shoes. His posture made his aparrel appear much more casual than it truly was. Hands in his pockets, he faced Julias, "Congratulations!" He drew out his right hand to pump his fist. On every finger, he wore at least two rings.

"Do I know you?" Julias looked confused.

"No, just thought you'd like a souvenir." He answered, fanning his hand out to display his rings as openly as possible.

"Here we go!" Adrian smiled, "Something to remember the trial by."

"You mean you're selling those?"

"Exactly! How about this one?" The boy pulled off one of his many rings. The frame held a sparkling amethyst, with steel lining forming the outline of the profile of a human head. It certainly looked elaborate.

"This one...? Well, okay then." Julias slid the ring onto the finger just next to his left pinky.

Amethyst Ring added to Court Record

Julias suddenly grew suspicious, "Wait a minute! This isn't some trick, is it?"

"I can pay!" Adrian offered, "You just concentrate on doing that ring justice."

Julias looked to thank the boy, but he had already left the lobby. "Where'd he go?"

"I didn't even pay him yet. Well... Don't think about it too hard." Adrian advised, "Now, on to celebrate!"

We had won the case. Even if it was Lex, I was relieved that we had the whole incident wrapped up right away, instead of being left to linger... Like what happened to me... Well, at the time I was sure that was the last time I'd have to think about that... Except what I didn't know is that I was just entering this maze of a story...

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.

- Trailer Affidavit: The affidavit confirming my suspicions about the trailer's location during the crime.

- Witry's Chain: A gold chain of Witry's that was left at the beach.

- Amethyst Ring: A ring offered to me by a peddler. A souvenir for my first trial.

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.

- ? ? ?: Some kid peddling rings for some reason...

Next up: Turnabout Deception

THX & God bless

~RLS legacy