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Chapter 13

Date: 18th June 2026, 10:15

Location: Courtroom 4, California

"But what if a different connection could be proven?" Apollo asked out loud. "A connection between the witness and the victim? We might find that she had a personal motive beyond wanting to help her fiancé."

"Hmm, that would put things in a slightly different light." Klavier replied. "What possible connection are suggesting here?" Emma, who had been listening to the conversation put her left hand on her hip while her right went up to her cheek. She tapped her cheek with her forefinger, her head cocked to the right.

"You know what Apollo, I'm starting to think that the police didn't even check inside the safe inside Meraktis's office." She said before looking over at him. "Do you have any evidence to show a connection between the witness and the victim?" She asked, shifting her weight from her right foot to her left. Emma looked at Apollo from over the top of her glasses. Apollo's eyes widened before he nodded and faced forwards.

"I have evidence showing a connection between the witness Ms. Tiala and the victim!" He said, and presented Wocky's medical chart. "TAKE THAT!" He said. Emma smiled slightly and nodded.

"That looks like… a medical chart?" The Judge asked." Apollo nodded.

"Found inside a safe at the Meraktis Clinic." He said. "I'd like to draw the court's attention to the names written on the chart." The Judge looked over the chart and gasped.

"…What!?" He exclaimed. "Ms. Tiala! Whatever… Why is your name on this chart!?" He asked. Alita tensed up.

"…!" Apollo used this silence to bang his fists on the desk again.

"Well, care to explain the meaning of this, Ms. Tiala?" He asked. Emma looked over at the witness. She could see the tension rolling off her in waves. Suddenly she relaxed slightly, causing Emma to lift an eyebrow.

"….." She was silent for a couple of seconds. "I'm not sure what you mean by 'meaning' Mr. Justice!" Alita asked. Apollo also noticed the change in her demeanour. "I was on the staff at that clinic until half a year ago. It was boring. So I quit. That's all. Is there a problem with that?" She asked.

"Ms. Tiala!" The Judge exclaimed. "You testified that you had no connection to the victim!"

"And I don't. Now." Was all Alita said.

"'Now'…?" Apollo asked.

"I quit half a year ago, didn't I? So there's no connection." She smirked slightly. "Let me guess, you're the kind of guy who can't rest until he knows every last detail of his girlfriend's past. Am I right?" The Judge sputtered slightly.

"Th-That's not true at all! Why, I… I embrace the ones I love, past flaws and all, no matte-" Emma rolled her eyes and spoke up.

"OBJECTION!" She shouted, slamming her hands on the table. The courts attention went directly to her. "'There's no connection now'" She said before smirking and crossing her arms. "Doesn't fly in a court of law."

"Doesn't… fly?" She asked. Emma shook her head.

"You left your job at the Meraktis Clinic, that part is true…" She then pointed at Alita with her right arm. "But you remained connected somehow!" The Judge banged his gavel.

"Very well Ms. Wright. Show us evidence that proves the witness is still connected to the Meraktis Clinic!" He asked. Emma presented the sandals from the clinic.

"TAKE THAT!" Emma shouted and looked over at Alita. "These sandals were found in the Meraktis Clinic lobby." Emma cocked her head to the side. "They're yours, aren't they?" She asked.

"Ah…!" Alita was startled only for a second before regaining her composure. W-Well, who knows? I'm sure there are lots of people with those sandals…" She said. Emma rolled her eyes and was about to reply when Klavier spoke up.

"So sorry, Fräulein, but your act isn't working." He said. Emma smiled. Alita was startled again. "Your moment of hesitation just now cost you."

"Wh-What's with you? I thought you were on my side!" Alita exclaimed. Klavier ignored this comment and carried on talking.

"…Perhaps you are unaware that toes leave 'tow prints"? A simple analysis of these sandals will reveal all." Emma smirked.

"…" Alita went silent before her demeanour changed once again. "Well, now we see your true colours. I was wrong to cooperate with you from the beginning." She then acted like she was an innocent woman. "I just wanted… I just wanted you to help get Wocky back on the straight and narrow." Emma narrowed her eyes at Alita while the Judge spoke.

"Hmm… This court thinks you need worry less about Wocky and more about yourself. It sounds as though we need to hear a bit more about your story." Emma then spoke.

"Your sandals were found in the entrance to the clinic…" She turned slightly to the side so her right side was nearest the desk and bent her arm. She pointed at Alita with 2 fingers and her thumb out. "Which means you went there on the day of the murder!"

"Well, there's little point in denying it." Alita said. The Judge then spoke.

"Very well. The witness will tell us about this visit. Why did you go to the Meraktis Clinic that day?"

**Witness Testimony**

-The Meraktis Clinic—

"I did go to the clinic that day. My first time in half a year, since I quit in January."

"I went to warn him. After all, I knew Wocky had the pistol."

"The doctor always was a timid man… too timid to admit his own mistake"

"Why else would I have gone? I'm not hiding any dark secrets."

"I wanted to tell him to be careful, as an old friends."

**End of Testimony**

"By "mistake", you mean…" The Judge said. "…the mistake we heard about from the defendant? The botched operation?"

"He was a timid, small man… but I never wished him harm." Alita said. "I just thought I should let him know, you know?" The Judge nodded in agreement.

"Hmm… That does make sense." Klavier then spoke up.

"Yes, but there is still one thing which does not." The sandals… Emma thought, arms crossed as she looked over at Klavier.

"What's that, Prosecutor Gavin?" The Judge asked.

"The sandals left in the lobby of course. We can assume she wore these sandals to the clinic, ja? Then why did she not wear them home? If it were me, I would have worn them home."

"I would have worn those sandals home, too." The Judge commented.

"So, why were the sandals left behind?" Klavier asked. Emma raised an eyebrow. Why is he pointing out this contradiction? She thought and glanced quickly over at Apollo who looked slightly surprised. Unless… She looked over at Alita who was stunned in shock. "…There's probably a good explain for this. Right Ms. Tiala? …Say for instance…" Klavier leant forward. "There happened to be a similar pair of sandals there which you wore home by mistake?" Emma eyes widened before rolling them and groaning silently while crossing her arms. Are you kidding me?! The chances of that happening are next to nothing… Alita then spoke up.

"Actually, that's right. I'm impressed, Mr Gavin."

"Oh, it is nothing. There is, after all, no other possible explanation. Ja, Forehead?" Klavier replied and looked over at Apollo. This time Emma groaned out loud and bent her head, her right hand on her forehead.

"Is everything alright Ms. Wright?" The Judge asked.

"Yes, everything is fine…" She said looking up and smiled weakly. The judge nodded.

"Well then, the defense may begin the cross examination."

**Cross-Examination**

-The Meraktis Clinic—

"I did go to the clinic that day. My first time in half a year, since I quit in January."

"I went to warn him. After all, I knew Wocky had the pistol."

"The doctor always was a timid man… too timid to admit his own mistake"

"Why else would I have gone? I'm not hiding any dark secrets."

"OBJECTION!" Apollo shouted. He presented Wocky's chart. "This chart was found inside a safe in the doctor's office" Alita froze up slightly.

"…Yes?" She asked. Emma smirked and crossed her arms. Apollo continued.

"Why would this one chart be in the safe?" Apollo crossed his arms as well. "Ms. Tiala, you know why it was, don't you?" Alita stayed silent. The Judge spoke up.

"Mind filling me in?"

"Dr. Meraktis didn't have the leisure of making 'mistakes'." Apollo said. "That's why he wrote up a false report, and kept the truth locked away." Klavier interrupted.

"…Bad Herr Doktor." He said. Emma nodded slowly in agreement.

"And this is where you come in, Ms. Tiala." Alita was quiet again. "The nurse who filed this chart was you, which means…" He pointed at her. "…you knew about Wocky's failed operation!" He said. Emma smiled a proud smile.

"Interesting…" The Judge said. Apollo banged his fists against the desk once again.

"You were in the same position as Dr. Meraktis!" Apollo said before pointing at Alita again. "Kind of makes it hard to claim 'no connection', doesn't it?" Alita huffed.

[To be continued]

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