A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the longer then normal wait for the next chapter. I know the first three chapters went up in pretty much two days. You see, I work this job that's twelve hours a day. Some weeks I work Monday and Tuesday, have off Wednesday and Thursday, and work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Then, the next week, I have off Monday and Tuesday, work Wednesday and Thursday, and have off Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The weeks alternate. So, I only write on the days I have off. Also, this was the hardest chapter to write so far, mainly because I had a hard time thinking up testimonies and how I wanted this trial day to go, haha.
By the way, be happy that I had all that time to think about this chapter. I think it made it that much better. Many of you will probably recognize the prosecutor. ;)
Enjoy!
The Phantom Turnabout
Day 1 – Trial
Danny's POV
July 21st, 9:30 AM
Distract Court
Defendant Lobby Number 3
I looked around the room the police officer lead me into. The door had said it was a Defendant Lobby. I guess that's where I have to wait until the trial starts. I spotted Mr. Wright and Maya sitting on a couch, talking. I walked over, smiling weakly.
"You two make a cute couple," I said in an attempt to hide my nervousness. Mr. Wright and Maya both looked up in alarm, their cheeks turning red.
"D-Danny!" Maya exclaimed, ducking to hide behind her bangs. Mr. Wright just kept his face hidden in his hands. I looked between the two and chuckled.
"And Sam and Tuck call me 'Clueless'," I said softly, before looking at the two of them. "So, how'd the investigation go?" I asked hopefully. Mr. Wright and Maya glanced at each other, and the looks on their faces made my heart sink.
"Not so good, but hey, today's only the first day. I've won cases that were more hopeless before," Mr. Wright said, giving me a confident grin. I just nodded.
"Right. Well, okay," I said with a sigh.
Just then, a chill shot up my back, and I saw my breath. Maya's necklace flashed as well, though her and Mr. Wright didn't seem to notice either. Instead, they were talking about who the prosecutor might be. I crossed my arms, quickly glancing around. I didn't see anything ghosts though.
That worried me even more, especially since I couldn't even deal with it, not being under constant scrutiny…
"Mr. Wright? Court is starting," an officer said. Mr. Wright looked over at him and nodded, before turning and smiling at me.
"Time to go," he said.
Phoenix's POV
July 21st, 10:00 AM
District Court
Courtroom 3
"Court is now in session for the case of Daniel Fenton," the Judge said. I only half listened, however. I was studying the man across the room, behind the prosecutor's bench.
When I first looked at the man, my heart crawled into my throat, and I thought I was looking at Detective Bobby Fulbright, aka the international spy, Phantom. Like the spy, this man wore mostly white. That's where the similarities ended though.
This man had broad shoulders which tapered down into a slim waist, and his arms bulged under his suit with muscle. His suit had no color, just a white jacket and undershirt with a black tie and black gauntlet like gloves. He wore a black fedora, hiding the color of his hair. The only skin visible on him, his face, was almost as pale as his suit, and he had piercing green eyes.
"Is the prosecution ready?" the judge asked.
"Ready, your honor," the man said in a smooth, silky voice that gave me the creeps. The Judge looked at him for a minute, seeming startled.
"And you are?" he asked.
"Prosecutor Warden Walker," he said, his arms crossed. I saw Danny shift from the corner of my eye and looked over. He looked paler than normal, and agitated. I got the feeling that he knew Mr. Walker. "I've been a prosecutor for some years, working in Illinois." Walker then turned and looked at me. "And I have never lost a case."
I sighed softly at that.
(Oh great. Another one.)
"Ah. Welcome to my courtroom," Judge said before turning and looking at me. "Is the defense ready?"
"Yes, your Honor," I said.
"Okay. Your opening state—" the Judge suddenly cut off, his eyes looking ready to pop out of his head when he looked at the defendant's chair. "My, he's just a kid!" he gasped.
"Yes, your honor. But due to the violence of the crime, he is being tried as an adult," Walker said, crossing his arms and casting a smirk in Danny's direction. The judge didn't seem to notice, however, as he looked back down at his files with a concerned look.
"You mean he's dangerous? And he's in my courtroom!?" he gasped. I just stared at the judge for a minute.
(You deal with violent criminals every day, and you're scared of a kid!?)
"Your honor… can we just, you know… start?" I asked. The judge looked at me for a minute, still looking scared. I sighed. "I promise my client isn't going to fly out of his chair and attack you."
"Well… Okay," he said before looking back at Walker. "Your opening statement please."
Walked nodded, picking a green book up and opening it. He leisurely thumbed through the pages until he found the one he was looking for. On the front, I noticed purple writing. It didn't look like any law book I've ever seen before.
"Murdering another human being?" he said, before looking up at Danny over the top of the book. "That's against the rules." He snapped the book closed and put both hands behind his back, falling quiet. The judge stared at him for a few minutes, waiting. Walker didn't say anything however.
"Is that… it?" the judge asked.
"That's all that's needed," Walker said, like it should be obvious.
"Oh, um… okay."
"I will call my first witness," Walker said, not waiting for the Judge's permission as he picked up a piece of paper in front of him. "Detective Gumshoe."
The detective stepped up to the witness stand., a sad look on his face.
"Full name and occupation," Walker said.
"Dick Gumshoe, head detective of the homicide unit," Gumshoe said.
"OBJECTION!" I yelled, slamming my hands on the bench in front of me, horror written all over my face. "Since when!?" I demanded.
"I got promoted just yesterday. Isn't it great, pal?" Gumshoe said with a huge grin. I glanced at Maya and found sympathy etched on her face.
The Wright Anything Agency was about to get a lot more clients. I could just feel it.
"Why don't you start by telling us about the night of the murder?" Walker said.
"Yes sir!" Gumshoe said before clearing his throat. I took a deep breath and focused, pushing my horror about the detective's promotion aside for now.
"The defendant, Mr. Fenton, and the victim, Ms. Fey, had dinner with some of their family," he began.
"Hold it," I said. Gumshoe looked at me. "Where did they eat? And who was the family?" I asked.
"Well, with Mr. Fenton's parents and sister, and Ms. Fey's cousins. And in the dining room in Fey Manor," he said.
I nodded. "Continue."
"Afterwards, the two went into the Channeling Chamber, where Mr. Fenton stabbed Ms. Fey!"
"Hold it! What evidence is there that Mr. Fenton stabbed Ms. Fey?" I demanded. The look on Gumshoe's face clearly said that he wished I hadn't asked that.
"The murder weapon," he said, holding up a baggy. Inside was a steak knife covered in blood. "It was found in Mr. Fenton's hand, and is covered in fingerprints. Only his. And…" he held up another bag. Inside, folded neatly, was a white shirt with a red circle and trimming around the collar and sleeves. And splattered with blood. "This is the shirt Mr. Fenton was wearing at the time of the murder. The blood is the victim's."
"Oh," I said softly, before taking a deep breath and adding both the knife and the shirt to the Court Record.
"Admit it, Mr. Wright. There's no way you can win," Walker said. I threw a frown in his direction before turning back to Gumshoe
"Continue, please," I said.
"Time of death is estimated to around 7:15 PM."
"OBJECTION!" I yelled, pulling out Danny's medical records. Gumshoe looked a little alarmed at the sudden interruption. "If time of death was around seven at night, then why wasn't Danny admitted to the hospital until almost three hours later?" I demanded, slamming the folder onto the desk. On the top was a sheet of paper that stated:
'Admitted at 10 PM July 19th, only one injury to the back of his head, caused by a blunt object. Suffered a minor concussion, but healed faster than normal. Released around 7 AM July 20th into police custody.
Gumshoe stared at me for a minute, not knowing the answer to that.
"OBJECTION!" Walker yelled. I turned my attention to him, only to find him smirking. "Isn't it obvious, Mr. Wright? Mr. Fenton wasn't admitted until then because it wasn't until then that he was discovered. Detective. Around what time did the call from Fey Manor come in, reporting the murder? And from whom?" Walker asked.
"8:58, sir! I remember so clearly because I had only two more minutes until I got to go home," Gumshoe said. I face-palmed at how readily he admitted to watching the clock. "Ms. Maya Fey was the one who reported the murder. However, it takes quite a while to get from the precinct to Kurain Village…"
"Right," I sighed, knowing better then pretty much anyone in this courtroom, except Maya. "Continue."
"Finally, we found no signs of a struggle."
"Hold it! Detective, wouldn't you say the fact that my client ended up with a concussion counts as a struggle?" I asked. Gumshoe looked at me for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face.
"You know… I never thought of it that way…" he said.
"OBJECTION!" Walker yelled. "If there had been signs of a struggle, then the defendant or victim would have defensive wounds on them. And the room would have been messed up.
"OBJECTION! What if the room was cleaned up before the police got there?"
"OBJECTION! Who would have cleaned it up, Mr. Wright? The defendant was knocked unconscious!" Mr. Walker yelled.
"Um… excuse me," Gumshoe said softly, interrupting our shouting match. We both turned on him.
"What!?" we demanded.
"Well, I thought you might want the autopsy report," he said, holding up three folders. Copies for me, Walker, and the Judge. Walker looked furious.
"Why didn't you hand it over sooner, you idiot? I look forward to your next salary assessment," he threatened, snatching the folder from the bailiff who handed it to him.
"But I can hardly afford those instant noodles!" Gumshoe whined.
"You should have thought about that sooner," Walker snapped. I couldn't help but feel bad for the detective. Seems even being the head of a department doesn't pay.
Shaking my head, I quickly scanned the report, hoping for ammunition.
'Died at 7:15 PM on July 19th. The cause of death was one stab wound to the chest. Death was instant. Other injuries include a nonfatal head injury that would have knocked her unconscious and minor bruises on her arms, chest, and back.'
"Hm…" I mused, glancing back at Danny's medical report. Almost all of his injuries seemed to heal faster than normal, for whatever reason. If the two got into a fight before Jade was killed, and Danny only suffered minor injuries, would they have healed fully in the three hours it took to get him to the hospital?
"Your honor," I said before Walker could say anything. "I still stand by my belief that there was a struggle."
"Do you have any evidence to back up this claim?" the judge asked. I grinned.
"But of course, your honor! When have I ever said something and not had the proof to back it up?" I said.
"Um… every time you bluff. Which is like, ninety percent of the trial most of the time," Maya said from next to me. I frowned slightly at her.
"Not helping," I hissed.
"Well, let's see this evidence of a struggle that never happened," Walker demanded. "But remember, Mr. Wright. Presenting false evidence is against the rules." He smirked. I scowled at him.
"Yes, Mr. Walker. I am fully aware of that," I growled. Maya put a hand on my shoulder, prompting me to take a deep breath. I then pulled the baggy full of shattered wood chips.
"Take that!"
"Um… what is that?" the judge asked.
"Wood chips. Detective, do you remember where we found these?" I asked, looking at Gumshoe.
"Oh! At the scene of the crime! Right near the alter, where Mr. Fenton was found," he said, brightening up at being asked a question he knew the answer to.
"And whose blood is on it?" I asked.
"Mr. Fenton's—OH!" Gumshoe seemed to realize what I was driving at.
"Exactly." I turned to look at Walker. "Put together, these wood chips are no bigger then my hand. They came from something bigger. Which means, the crime scene was tampered with before the police arrived!" I yelled, slamming my hands down on the table. "And, as you pointed out before, Mr. Walker, it couldn't have been my client who did it. He was knocked out the entire time!"
Mr. Walker frowned deeply at me as the courtroom erupted into muttering.
"Who could have done it?"
"Do you think it was the police?"
"No! Don't say that! The Dark Age is over!"
"ORDER! ORDER IN THE COURT!" the judge yelled, slamming his gravel down until muttering quieted down.
"You honor, I believe this evidence in circumstantial and has been taken out of context," Walker said.
"You want more evidence?" I said, gaining the attention of everyone in the room. "Fine." I slammed both Jade's autopsy report and Danny's medical report down in front of me. "Jade had more injuries on her then just the fatal one. Bruises, and a blow to the head that would have rendered her unconscious. Mr. Fenton heals faster than most people for some strange reason. In fact, it says right here that he's healing much faster from the concussion he sustained that night then the doctors would have guessed."
"Get to the point, Mr. Wright," Walker said. He sounded bored, but I noticed a twitch in his eye.
"My point, Mr. Walker, is that Jade does have defensive wounds, and Mr. Fenton very well could have the same, but healed from them in the three hours it took to get him to the hospital. They would have been very minor anyway, and if he's already healing from a concussion, then it's possible. All of this, combined with the wood shards and the fact that Mr. Fenton was rendered unconscious points to signs of a struggle!"
The courtroom erupted again, but the judge quickly quieted them, a concerned look on his face.
"Mr. Wright, even if there was a struggle, is it really that important?" he asked. I thought about it for a moment before nodding.
"Yes, your honor. You see, if my client was knocked unconscious during the struggle, then there is no way he could have stabbed the victim. Also, that means someone was trying to hide the fact that there was a struggle in the first place. That person could be the real culprit," I explained. The judge nodded.
"Very well. Both the defense and the prosecution will investigate this manner further. Until then, court is adjourned until tomorrow." He beat his gravel once. I gaped softly, surprised.
Danny's POV
July 21st, 12:30 PM
Distract Court
Defendant Lobby Number 3
"Wow Nick! That's the first time you've got court adjourned after only the first witness's testimony!" Maya said. I smiled weakly, watching the two as Mr. Wright laughed. My heart was hammering in my chest, however.
"Is court always that… nerve wracking?" I asked. Mr. Wright looked over and smiled sympathetically.
"Actually, it can get a lot worse, really. And I get the feeling this is one case that'll get worse before it gets better. Do you remember anything yet?"
"No," I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I wish I did though. That would make everything so much easier!"
"Yeah," Mr. Wright sighed, before smiling at me. "Don't worry though. We'll get to the bottom of this. I just know it."
I looked up at the confident smile he wore, and couldn't help but smile back.
"Thanks, Mr. Wright," I said, before thinking about the prosecutor.
What the hell was Walker doing here, anyway? And since when was he a licensed prosecutor?
...
A/N: Yay! So originally, the prosecutor was going to be Franziska (one of my favorite Prosecutors from the game, but then I thought Walker would make it better. And add more Danny Phantom to the story, haha.
Well, let me know what you think!