"You know what you're doing, right Dahlia?" Mia said.

"Don't worry, I can do this. There's got to be something," Dahlia said.

"Is this why you took this case to begin with?" Mia said.

"It may have influenced my decision," Dahlia, staring hard at her twin sister.

"Witness, your testimony if you please?" the judge said.

"Alright, Mr. Judge," Iris said.

Testimony

Well, I already told you pretty much everything I know.

Bat and Regina were talking, and then Bat stuck his head in the lion's mouth.

The pepper on Bat's scarf made the lion sneeze, making him bite poor Bat in the head.

Then I called the police.

The scarf was a gift from Regina, it was covered I pepper. That's really all I know, I'm afraid.

"That's all? Very well then," the judge said. "Ms. Hawthorne, you may cross-examine the witness. But remember my warning."

"Yes Your Honor," Dahlia said. Alright, can't turn back now.

Cross-Examination

Well, I already told you pretty much everything I know.

Bat and Regina were talking, and then Bat stuck his head in the lion's mouth.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "It was just like that, huh?"

"Pretty much. I certainly didn't see it coming," Iris said.

"And then Leon the Lion bit the acrobat in the head?" Dahlia said.

Iris gulped. "Yes, that was revolting."

The pepper on Bat's scarf made the lion sneeze, making him bite poor Bat in the head.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Do you know why there was pepper on that scarf?"

"I don't know, why?" Iris said.

"I was asking you," Dahlia said.

"Oh, were you? I just assumed you already knew and that you were asking a rhetorical question," Iris said.

Dahlia rested her elbows on the desk, rubbed her temples. "Well, I wasn't. So do you know why?"

Iris smiled and spoke in a voice drenched in honey. "Nope."

This is getting nowhere fast. Airhead. Dahlia sighed. "Okay… what happened next?"

Then I called the police.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Why did you call the police? I would think that a hospital would come to mind first."

"Someone else was already calling for an ambulance," Iris said. "I figured I should call the police."

"Again; why?" Dahlia said.

"It seemed like the right thing to do," Iris said.

"Do you know anything else?" Dahlia said.

The scarf was a gift from Regina, it was covered in pepper. That's really all I know, I'm afraid.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "That can't be all you know!"

"But it is," Iris said.

No! This is the end of the testimony, I can't stop! "Come on, you know more than that!"

"Nope, I have nothing else to say," Iris said.

It was then that Dahlia truly lost her patience. I need to get some kind of victory. "Stupid says what?"

"What?" Iris said.

Mia smacked her forehead. "Real mature Dahlia."

Dahlia didn't care though, she was smirking as she watched her twin sister piece together what had just happened. "Hey wait a minute!"

"Sorry, are we going too fast for you?" Dahlia taunted.

"Don't call me stupid!" Iris said. "I'm not stupid at all!"

"I didn't call you stupid, proved that to the court all by yourself."

"Did not!"

"Poor thing, you really don't know anything do you?"

"No, I knew all the stuff before you said it!" Iris said, irritated. "I already knew the scarf was a gift from Regina, and that the pepper made the lion sneeze. I even knew that the pepper came from the cafeteria. So there!"

Dahlia used her smugness to force back her laughter. "I guess you're right. In fact, I never knew the pepper came from the cafeteria. How did you learn that?"

Iris' face fell. "Umm… because I heard about it?"

"Iris, I didn't even have to listen to the words you were saying to know it was a lie," Dahlia said.

Iris was blown away, clutching parasol. "That was just mean, Dahlia!"

"Sue me," Dahlia said.

"You know, that really wasn't a tactic I'd recommend for future use," Mia deadpanned.

"Yeah, when the witness isn't my brat of a sister Fey," Dahlia said, feeling on top of the world. Dahlia slammed her desk. "So enlighten us, why would you know where the pepper came from? Is it possible that you are the one that put it on the scarf?"

"Objection!" Payne said. "This entire incident with the lion was merely an accident. Considering it was Ms. Berry who gave the scarf to the acrobat, I think it's much more likely that she put it there. But as the police already concluded, she had no reason to want the acrobat dead. Or in a coma. Same goes for the witness. She had never even met him."

Dahlia grimaced, because Payne was right. She had no idea why Iris would try to kill Bat. "Hey, co-counsel, any hints?"

"I honestly don't know," Mia said, disgruntled. "I thought you might have had it with pepper thing, but there really isn't a reason for Iris to set Bat up like that. Not to mention no one would have guessed an acrobat would try sticking his head in a lion's mouth. That's the animal tamer's job, after all."

Dahlia rubbed her temples, trying to think of an explanation. It's no use. They're right; you'd need a crystal ball to guess that the acrobat would try the animal tamer's stunt. Wait… animal tamer…

"I got it!" Dahlia said.

"Would you care to share it with the rest of the court?" the judge said.

"The witness has no reason to try to kill the acrobat; the tragedy that befell him was merely an accident!" Dahlia said.

"Exactly!" Payne said.

"However, his tragedy saved the life of another!" Dahlia said. "The witness didn't want Bat to get bitten, but Regina Berry!"

"What?" Payne said, recoiling.

"Think about it, no one could have guessed Bat would stick his head in the lion's mouth," Dahlia said. "However, it's hardly a stretch to assume that the animal tamer would attempt such a stunt. Especially if you had just seen her perform."

Iris gripped her parasol and gulped.

"Objection!" Payne said; desperation in his voice. "The witness has no reason to kill Ms. Berry either!"

"Are you sure?" Dahlia said. "Regina Berry might say otherwise. I'd like to request she testify about the scarf. She's still in the witness lounge, is she not?"

"Yes, she is," Payne said. "However-"

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "We can't know the truth for sure until we hear what she has to say on the matter."

The judge put his head down, thinking. "The defense proposes an interesting theory. However, do you have any evidence to back this claim?"

Dahlia searched through the court record, looking for anything to support her theory. There must be something! She checked the case file for the lion incident, and found exactly what she was looking for.

"Take that!" Dahlia said. "The scarf that caused the lion to sneeze was dusted for fingerprints. Found on the scarf were Bat's fingerprints, Regina's fingerprints, and an unidentified set! This more than implies that someone else was involved."

"Is that so?" the judge said. "Well, I suppose it is our duty to hear every side of the story. Does the prosecution need a recess to prepare the witness?"

"That would be appreciated, Your Honor," Payne said.

"Very well, this court will reconvene in 10 minutes," the judge said.

Everyone left the courtroom, and the defense team met with Lotta in the defendant's lobby.

"Why didn't you tell me that evil snob was your sister?" Lotta said, miffed.

Dahlia put her hand behind her head and smiled nervously. "Never came up, I guess."

Lotta crossed her arms, pouting. "Whatever, so you really think she's the killer?"

"Without a doubt in my mind," Dahlia said. "What can you tell me about her?"

"Wouldn't you already know anything I could tell you?" Lotta said.

Dahlia looked away, casting a shadow over her dark, sad smile. "I don't know much about her life at Ivy U. Besides, I want to hear your opinion of her."

"Can't say I think to highly of her," Lotta said. "It's like if you're not telling her she's the most beautiful thing in the world, she throws a fit. Why Max would date her I can't imagine."

"You never got along, right?" Dahlia said, remembering Regina's testimony.

"You got that right," Lotta said. "We never could stand each other. No wonder she's saying I poisoned Max."

"What about Regina?" Dahlia said.

"Regina's a good kid," Lotta said. "She never liked Iris either, so we got to be friends pretty quickly."

"Go on," Dahlia said.

"Well, like I told you before, reality really kicked her in the face when she came to the university," Lotta said. "Then that incident with Bat… they were close, you could tell. It tore her to pieces when she found she was at least partially responsible for what happened to him."

"Poor girl," Mia said.

"Tell me about it," Lotta said, sighing. "Regina really didn't trust Iris around when that happened, come to think of it. I think she was on to something."

"Interesting," Dahlia said, thinking with a smile on her face.

After the recess, the judge resumed the trial. "Mr. Payne, you have the witness ready?"

"Yes, Your Honor," Payne said.

"Very well, bring her in," the judge said.

Moments later, Regina was standing behind the witness stand.

"Ms. Berry, you know why you were called as a witness I take it?" the judge said.

"Yes, Your Honor," Regina said.

Dahlia noted the animal tamer didn't seem to be as nervous as the first time. Regina looks… ready. Like she's wanted to testify for a long time.

"In that case, testify about the lion incident and the scarf you gave the acrobat," the judge said.

"Yes, Your Honor," Regina said.

Testimony

It happened a few months ago, we had just finished a show.

I went into my dressing room and I saw a blue scarf on the table.

I didn't think it belonged to me, or anyone else in the circus, but I thought Bat would like it.

I gave it to him right before rehearsal that night.

While I was practicing with Leon, Bat came up to me and made a bet.

He stuck his head in Leon's mouth like I always did, except Leon suddenly closed his mouth on Bat.

"So you're saying you just found the scarf in your dressing room?" the judge said.

"That's what happened," Regina said. "The dressing rooms don't really lock. Just enough so that no one comes in accidentally. Anyone could get in, though, if they wanted to."

"Meaning anyone could I have left the scarf," the judge said.

"Objection!" Payne said. "This seems a little too convenient. This witness just happened to find a scarf and decided to give to the acrobat?"

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "The scarf being there was no coincidence. What happened afterwards, however, was an accident. A murder plot failure."

"Objection!" Payne said. "You have yet to prove that!"

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "You're forgetting that I haven't done a cross-examination yet. Aren't you supposed to get more patience when you get older?"

Payne recoiled, but before he could say anything the judge slammed his gavel. "Enough bickering, let's just start the cross-examination shall we?"

"Yes, Your Honor," Dahlia said.