August 1, 10:39 A.M. District Court, Parking Lot

The area around the two crashed cars was cleaned up and spray paint was used to mark the lines where the tires were at the point of impact.

The judge sighed, "I have decided that the trial of Ms. Jamie Patterson will be suspended until the investigation of the accident is finished. Court is adjourned!"

Phoenix sighed, "And yet you can't really say that 'court is adjourned' when we aren't in a courtroom to begin with!"

Jamie sighed, "I guess we might as well search the area before the detectives show up on scene." The defense attorney agreed. He peered in through the window of the Camry.

He said, "It seems that only the airbags on the driver's side deployed. Strange. Also, look at the windshield. The glass looks as if it was blown inward by the force of the impact." Moving to the front, he examined the pieces of glass in the passenger seat. "Shards of glass... just as I thought. But usually, windshields don't fracture; usually, they just crack and protrude inwards or outwards."

Jamie gasped, "So you're saying that... this car was tampered with by someone?"

Phoenix replied, "Not exactly. But it is a possibility. Perhaps if it was, it was tampered with by the person who set out to kill Reggie. But how could there possibly be a connection between the murder and this crash?"

Phoenix continued, "I suppose we should check out the other car now. That should be our main focus for the time being, since it was likely the one that caused the incident." He walked over to the truck. Peering in through the driver's window, he noticed several more cans of of beer inside, some of which were on the floor.

He figured, "There's no way a normal person would have two dozen cans of beer inside of their vehicle. That guy must be a binge drinker." Jamie called out, "Mr. Wright, I found something near where Reece did that field sobriety test!"

He got down on his knees and examined the box. He focused on a small label on the side of the box that contain fine print. It read: SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: CIGARETTE SMOKING CAUSES LUNG CANCER AND HEAR DISEASE.

Phoenix groaned, "Where in the world did that kid get these things from?! First, the beer, and now, cigarettes! At his age, the use of both are illegal!" Jamie added, "The last time I was in a store, it said on a label that anyone younger than today's date in 2001 couldn't use tobacco, and 1998 for alcohol."

"I am getting concerned," uttered the defense attorney, "because it is not easy to explain how that one kid got both cigarettes and alcohol. They'll have to find who gave it to him, why, and also find out why the kid was using them in the first place! It's gonna be two weeks before the case gets back in session!"

A smooth voice with a moderate Spanish accent interrupted, "Not if we find why the crash happened."

Phoenix's head darted upwards. He yelled, "Helado! Why are you snooping around? This is a crime scene! Don't you see the yellow tape?" Helado argued, "You're not an investigator, are you?"

The defense attorney sighed, "I suppose I can't stop you, then." Helado went on, "So, Mr. Wright... it seems you have a predicament en tus manos. It appears that you won't be easily able to investigate this, since Detective Gumshoe should show up any minute now."

Phoenix refuted, "I still have time. And besides, unless he tells me I can't investigate the incident any further, I can at least make a logical guess as to why this mess occurred!"

Helado sneered, "I'd like to see you try, idiota!" Just then, a police cruiser pulled up near the scene. Detective Barry Snodgrass got out of the driver's seat and approached the area. Phoenix thought, "Snodgrass, eh? That's new."

Snodgrass said, "Sir, you are interfering with a crime scene, which is a federal offense. Therefore, I will require yourself and the other guy near you to please step behind the marked barricade." Helado remarked, "I am Maximiliano Helado, ace prosecutor."

Phoenix said, "I am a defense attorney, and I am simply trying to prevent false accusations. I didn't tamper with anything!" Snodgrass pressed, "You're a defense attorney, remember. Why should I start to believe that you are trustworthy? You're lucky I didn't put you under arrest right then and there! GET OUT!"

As he trotted away, Phoenix thought over the whole incident. "Damn. The police should really stop hiring people who think they can force other people to do what they say; and furthermore, how was I almost sweeped off to prison by that guy? He sounds like he was just put on the force a week ago."

Jamie asked, "Mr. Wright, will the car crash impede the progression of the case?"

Phoenix sighed, "I suggest you go back to the Detention Center and wait for further developments. I'm going back to my law office, where I'll have some time to think about what I should do."

The teenager smiled and headed for the sidewalk. Meanwhile, it started to rain. The defense attorney thought, "I surely hope Helado and Snodgrass don't team up to form a wall that will decimate what little support my case has. I know Jamie is innocent, but I can't prove it! And besides, who was the real killer? Without that, I can't convince the judge!"

The wind picked up speed and a few leaves blew into the defense attorney's face as he made he walked away from downtown. A few minutes later, he pulled open the door for the Wright and Co. Law Offices, and looked back down the street. Phoenix could just barely make out the District Court. With his hair spikes falling apart and his socks like wet sponges, he entered the door and closed it shut.