Hey people! I'm back! No time right now, just read the story!
"Impossible, huh?" Thiffing's eye twitched, "Still have air in your lungs after that?"
...
Julius maintained his posture.
...
And then, "*huhff* *huhff*"
The Judged bowed his head in thought. "You... couldn't hear... Oh! I see what he says! That does sound suspicious! Any comments on this, witness?"
"Other than that the squeaky lawyer is hounding me, like thinks he knows everything, everything's just fine!" Thiffing answered.
Julius ignored the remark, "Witness, what did you see-"
"I TOLD YOU BOY!" Thiffing snapped, "I WAS SITTIN' OUTSIDE THE CASINO! I HEARD THE KILLER SNEAK INSIDE! END OF STORY!"
"You'll do nothing to change your testimony?" Julius sook his head.
"*sigh*... Fine, there might've been a few things I left out."
(Oh, I bet there's PLENTY you left out.) "Then that means we need new testimony. Your honor?"
"Witness-" The Judge began.
"Yes, yes, you'll get your fancy testimony." Thiffing cut in.
"Oh! Very well. Begin, please."
WITNESS TESTIMONY
-Starting My Shift-
"The call from an anonymous source was unexpected and I was the only one available."
"So I left my apartment to make my way to the casino."
"I had already been hearing someone booking it, even before I got out of my car..."
"So who knows how long that guy was running?"
"Hmm." The Judge reflected. "You were already hearing footsteps, even as you were driving. Yes, I guess that would explain it. Very well, Mr. Freedom. You may cross examine the witness."
"Yes, your honor..." (... Odd. I can't get over it; is it just me or is there something... missing from his testimony...?)
"I know what you're thinking," Orbis admitted, "I also think something's off."
CROSS EXAMINATION
-Starting My Shift-
"The call from an anonymous source was unexpected and I was the only one available."
HOLD IT!
"Where did this call come-"
OBJECTION!
"What now?!" Julius cried in disbelief.
"Do you even know what 'anonymous' means?" Contammis asked plainly.
"What does... Oh..." Julius tugged his collar, "Eh heh... Heh heh... S-so, carry on..."
"So I left my apartment to make my way to the casino."
"I had already been hearing someone booking it, even before I got out of my car..."
HOLD IT!
"Umm... Witness, I apologize but... I just get this nagging feeling that there's something-"
"Missing from that statement?" Contammis finished, "Then leave it be. There's no use looking for something I know you can't find."
OBJECTION!
Julius hit the bench, "Wha-? Why... You... You... Don't even know what I'm looking for!" (And yes, that did indeed sound better in my head.)
"Hmph!" Contammis crossed his arms, "Very well, embarass yourself, I don't care; what is it that the witness forgot to mention...?"
"The sounds, I believe, are the answer." Julius Nodded.
"Sounds?" The Judge asked, puzzled.
"Yes." Julius looked over a document, "In Thiffing's previous testimony, he said that he heard the gunshot and and the screams, which were likely the victim's as well as Hawkfenn's. But now, in this testimony, he omits that detail." Julius leaned on his desk, "Witness, you did hear the gunshot, didn't you?"
"Oh, right!" Thiffing confirmed, "That's right, I heard 'em. NOW can I go?"
"Not just yet." Julius shook his head, "I still find it very questionable that you didn't react in any way, even if you were on your shift."
OBJECTION!
"Mr. Freedom!" Contammis demanded, "You are travelling in no more than a loop! The witness was incapable of rushing to the scene! He had a casino to monitor! We've already gone through this!"
OBJECTION!
Julius struck his desk, "It's different now! Remember his original testimony; first, he heard the gun shot and the screaming, and that was all on his shift. Then he heard someone running. But now, he says that he heard footsteps while still in his car."
"...!" Contammis saw what was amiss.
"And so, witness," Julius nodded, "it appears to me that when you heard the gunshot, it was BEFORE you started your shift. Care to explain that?"
"Pshh!" Thiffing scoffed, "I-I was making a turn. Big deal! Besides, even if I wasn't, I was late for my watch."
"Making... a turn...?"
"What, now you even question the witness' sense of direction?" Contammis prodded with sarcasm.
(Sense of direction...? What if I do?) "I believe I do."
"What?! ... You can't be serious!"
OBJECTION!
Julius struck his desk, "Would I take it this far if I weren't?"
"Very well!" The Judge consented, "If Mr. Freedom is serious, this court has no choice but to humor him. What is wrong with the witness' sense of direction...?"
TAKE THAT!
"Hmm? What's this?"
"This," Julius explained, "is a note provided by Detective Bulder. It tells you how to get to Thiffing's apartment building." Julius smirked, "But what direction could you possibly need when the building is a straight shot from the casino?"
"Huh- WHAAAT?!" The Judge's eyes bulged, and the gallery chattered endlessly. Finally...
HOLD IT!
The entire court looked toward the witness stand. Thiffing's eye was now twitching erratically. He had his arms crossed in such a way that the sleeves in his shirt threatened to tear if his fingers dug any sharper. "So that's it, huh?" He hissed, "I'm the killer, just because of a stupid slip-up?"
(U-um... I think I know what comes nex-)
"WHERE DO YOU GET OFF, HUH?!" Thiffing rammed his hands down hard on the witness stand. "ACCUSING A COP?! IF MURDER WASN'T ILLEGAL, I'D HAVE THIS LAWYER SHOT ALREADY!"
Julius jumped back at the threat, "WHAT?! NO! I reeeally don't want that right now!"
"Prosecutor Contammis!" The Judge yelped in fright, "Get your witness under control! Quick, before he starts frothing!"
"NO!" Thiffing returned, "I DON'T NEED YOUR BOOT-CAMP-REJECT BAILIFFS! I CAN WALK PERFECTLY ON MY OWN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" Nothing more to say, Thiffing marched out of the court room.
The Judge remained dumbfounded. After regaining his composure, he closed his eyes, "Well... Ahem, what with the witness already leaving the courtroom, I suppose this is an appropriate time to call for recess. We will reconvene in 20 minutes." He banged the gavel and announced, "Court dismissed! Bailiffs, make sure you keep the witness inside the courthouse!"
(Move fast, bailiffs! He's my only hope of avenging Adrian...)
Court Record
Evidence:
- Attorney's Badge: This badge is a must for all attorneys. Taking the defense bench without one is a federal offense.
- Recall Ring: Apparently, a ring that allows me a glimpse of someone's past. A souvenir from my first trial.
- Adrian's Bloodstain: A bloodstain on the sidewalk. This is where Adrian was shot in the right shoulder.
- Lester's Footprints: Found near the cemetery's northeast exit. Another set was found near a grave stone. Turns out they belong to the victim.
- Lester's Autopsy Report: Time of death was around 4:45-4:55 AM. Death was caused by loss of blood due to a bullet wound in the left shoulder.
- Cemetery Diagram: A map of the cemetery, showing killers, the victim and other things.
- Casino Ad: A flyer advertising the Nerio Casino. It provides, for lack of a better word, a small map of the casino.
- Thiffing's Vest: A vest dropped by Snipe Thiffing, near the Nerio Casino.
- Thiffing's Address: Apartment 13, Direct Apartments. The building is a straight shot from the casino.
- Adrian's Letter: Adrian's last words to me before he died. Right now, I don't have time to read it.
- Handgun: A .38 handgun. It's been proven to be the murder weapon.
- Ballistic Report: The report for the rifling marks on the murder weapon.
- Sunflower: This is the flower that Mr. Rigget claims to be allergic to. He asked me to get rid of it.
- Evidence Vault Security Footage: Apparently, Thiffing's had business at the police station just before the murder. It shows him walking by the evidence vault. The camera was disabled immediately afterwards.
- Evidence Vault Lock: A very complicated lock. Even when successfully picked, the tool won't escape without a special mark.
- Evidence Vault Entrance Photo: Someon had broken into this vault. The only theft we confirmed is a handgun from 'VH-5'.
- Nerio IOU: Thiffing owes the Nerio Casino well over $900, placing the casino itself in bankruptcy.
- Twisted Coat-hanger: This was likely the tool used to break into the evidence vault. Found in Thiffing's apartment.
- VH-5 Ballistic Report: The ballistic report from a past case three years ago. The gun in this report is the same as our current murder weapon; a .38 caliber.
- Empty Evidence Bag: This must've been what held the murder weapon identified by the 'VH-5' ballistic report.
Profiles:
- Adrian Hawkfenn - Age 36: My former mentor... He died just recently, and I have reason to believe he was the intended victim of this case.
- Casey Nerio - Age 41: My client for this case. Currently runs the Nerio Casino.
- Homer Lester - Age 29: The victim of this case. Was homeless before his death.
- Gaten Bulder - Age 39: The detective for this case. As far as detectives go, he certainly wasn't what I was expecting...
- Gray Rigget - Age 37: The grave-keeper, though a bit confused with his occupation. A witness to the murder.
- Snipe Thiffing - Age 27: A firearm consultant. Recently part of Detective Bulder's investigation.
- Phoenix Wright - Age 37: A legendary attorney. Apparently a very good friend of Adrian's.
- Apollo Justice - Age 26: Another attorney. Employee of the Wright Anything Agency. Sub-ordinate of Phoenix Wright.
- Athena Cykes - Age 21: Another attorney of the Wright Anything Agency. Energetic co-worker of Apollo Justice.
- Orbis Fey - Age 17: The same kid that gave me my ring. Apparently banished from Kurain.
- Vera Misham - Age 23: Close friend and former client of Apollo. Currently working with police as crime scene sketcher.
- Director Hotti - Age ?: So-called "director" of Hickfield Clinic. Certainly not someone I'd make friends with...
- Brutus Contammis - Age 25: The prosecutor for this case. Practicing law for three years, he has earned the nickname "Prosecutor Hades".
Hi there! As I promised, I managed to get some work done on the next Turnabout during the summer. I didn't get nearly as much work done as I wanted to. I wanted to at least finish this next one but, yeah, I was flippin' lazy. :/
Anyways, I'm happy to be back with you guys. :)