"What?" Dahlia put her arms around her chest and took a step back.

"The defendant had been painting before the murder occurred," Larry said. "He used quite a lot of red, as you can see. Maybe even all of it."

Dahlia rubbed her temples. "You painted the entire canvas blood red. Why on Earth…"

"Hey, it's not finished yet!" Phoenix said defensively. "It's just a background. I was going to make it a red night sky surrounding this patch of flowers I saw nearby. I think they're called Dragon's Blood Sedum, cool name right?"

"If we could get back to the trial," Larry said. "The defense has yet to explain why there was no blood on the defendant."

Dahlia racked her brain. What could it be?

"Sorry, Dollie," Mia said. "I had no idea he used all the paint."

Is that really it? Think Dahlia! Wait a minute… Dahlia pounded her desk. "There was still paint in that jar when the defendant was done with the background!"

"You can't prove something like that," Larry said.

"Oh can't I?" Dahlia said. "Recall what the defendant had just said. He was going to paint a patch of flowers, Dragon's Blood Sedum. I know which patch of flowers he's talking about, and those flowers are red. He would have saved at least some of the red paint!"

"Or he accidentally ran out!" Larry said. "It happens."

"There's a way to find out for sure," Dahlia said. "Luminol testing fluid."

"Luminol?" Larry said. "You mean the spray the forensic investigators use to find blood…?"

Larry broke into a cold sweat, much Dahlia's pleasure. Ha! Wasn't expecting that, were you?

"Don't start celebrating," Mia said; her tone emotionless. "Think about what just happened."

Dahlia rubbed her temples. Oh right, if there wasn't a lot of blood splatter it would explain why Phoenix wasn't covered in blood. Meaning he could have… Dahlia straightened herself. "Of course, we can't be entirely positive until a Luminol test is done."

Larry pitched his head back and smirked. "I'll send a forensics team over to test this theory of yours Ms. Hawthorne. Of course, if you're right then it means it was possible for the defendant to kill the victim without soiling his clothes."

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "You said that forensics confirmed that he was standing close to where the victim died. If there wasn't much blood spray, it simply solves the mystery of why the defendant's clothes were blood-free."

Larry broke into a cold sweat again, his face pale. He snapped back into his normal, cocky attitude and slammed his desk with both of his palms. "His hands were still covered in blood! Furthermore, there is still the matter of the knife with the defendant's fingerprints and the victim's blood. How do you explain all of this?"

"Someone set him up!" Dahlia said. "Someone else covered the knife in the victim's blood then put in the defendant's hand so his fingerprints would get on it!"

"How would someone else do that?" Larry said. "The defendant was fully conscious when the police arrived!"

"Err… maybe someone forced it into his hands?" Dahlia said, beginning to feel unsure of herself.

"Objection!" Larry said. "Fingerprints from both of the defendant's hands were found, meaning the defendant held the knife in both hands! Is it really likely that someone would force a knife into both of his hands?"

Dahlia was taken aback. "But the knife wasn't what killed the victim!"

"However, it certainly implies murderous intent!" Larry said. "Why else would he have a knife?"

Dahlia could feel herself being forced into a corner. I don't know! Phoenix! You're not making my job very easy!

"We seem to be locked in a stalemate," the judge said. "So, I am declaring a 10 minute recess. In that time, the defense will talk with the defendant and the prosecution will send a forensics team to run a Luminol test on the crime scene. I will look for my gavel."

"Pardon me, Your Honor?" Dahlia said.

"I think I lost it," the judge said, looking at the floor around him.

Dahlia paused for a minute, searching for the right words to say. "… Yes Your Honor."

"Yes Your Honor, I'll even prepare my next witness," Larry said, apparently unfazed. "The one who saw the crime as it happened."

"Very good," the judge said. "Court in now in recess!"

When Phoenix walked into the defendant's lobby, Dahlia grabbed him by the collar. "What is wrong with you? You just happened to paint an entire canvas blood red before a murder happened right next to you!"

"Sorry!" Phoenix said, scared out of his wits. "How was I supposed to know? Just please let go of me!"

"What the heck happened that night?" Dahlia said, seething with frustration. Impulsively, she noogied Phoenix. "Why didn't you tell me about the blood, or the knife, or the stupid painting?"

"Stop that!" Phoenix said, uncomfortable with being noogied by a girl who was nearly 8 inches shorter than him.

"Dahlia, stop harassing your client," Mia said when she walked into the lobby.

Dahlia let go of Phoenix, who backed away. "I'm not the only one here who neglected to mention a few things. What was all that Fey-Hawthorne stuff about anyway? Why did you change your last name?"

Dahlia shoved her hands in her pockets. "It's a long story."

"I've got time," Phoenix said.

"Actually, you don't," Dahlia said. "Tell me what happened that night."

"Oh, right," Phoenix said. "Well, I have no idea what started it. I was just painting that evening when that woman, Maggey Byrde, walked up and sat on a nearby bench. I didn't really think too much of it at the time. But then this person appeared out of nowhere and shot her."

"What did this person look like?" Mia said.

"It was getting dark out, and they were wearing something that covered their face," Phoenix said. "It all happened so quickly. I got kind of scared, so when I saw this knife on the ground I picked it up."

"For self-defense?" Dahlia said.

"Yeah, I guess," Phoenix said.

"Where did the knife come from?"

"Afraid I don't know. Maybe the killer dropped it."

"What happened after that?"

"The killer ran away, so I ditched the knife and went over to Maggey. I tried to stop the blood from coming out, but I think she had already died."

"So that's why your hands were bloody!"

"You believe me?" Phoenix said, looking touched.

"What do you mean?" Dahlia said.

Phoenix scratched the back of his neck. "I just figured after all that evidence and stuff, you think I was the murderer for sure. I mean, it was enough to convince Miles and Larry right?"

"Is that why you never told me?" Dahlia said.

"Sorry," Phoenix said.

"Nick, I'm your lawyer and I know you're innocent," Dahlia said. "But you have to trust me, alright? Is there anything else you haven't told me yet?"

"I don't think so," Phoenix said. "But I promise I'll trust you. Anything you need to know I'll tell you."

Great, who actually murdered Maggey Byrde? Dahlia sighed. "Thanks Nick. I think that clears a lot of things up."

"Is it enough to convince the judge?" Phoenix asked.

"In due time with the right evidence," Mia said, smiling encouragingly.

There were no Psyche-Locks, so that must be the truth. Dahlia felt her Magatama against her chest. But it doesn't explain everything. Like that photo Lotta took. Hmm, if I'm right then Lotta is going to testify next. Just what did she see? She wouldn't lie; there must be an explanation for all of this.

When court reconvened, the judge pounded his recently found gavel to silence the court. "Court is back in session. Mr. Butz, are there any results from the Luminol test?"

"Indeed there is, Your Honor," Larry said. "Just as the defense had suggestions, much of that blood is merely red paint."

The judge looked deep in thought. "Interesting."

"This explains why there was no blood on the defendant's clothes," Larry said. "Now that that mystery is solved, I'd like to call my next witness."

"Very well," the judge said. "Bring them to the stand."

Soon after those words were spoken, a boisterous young woman with red hair and brown eyes stood behind the witness stand.

"Name and occupation?" Larry said.

"I'm investigative photographer Lotta Hart," Lotta said.

"Lotta Hart?" the judge said. "Have we met before?"

Lotta smiled sheepishly. "You know, I think we have. I was on trial a couple months ago."

"Ah, now I remember," the judge said.

And yet he still can't get my name right! Dahlia huffed, but didn't say anything.

"You were at Exposé Park when the murder occurred, correct?" the judge said.

"Reckon course!" Lotta said.

"Pardon me?" the judge said.

"It's slang for "I reckon, of course," Your Honor," Dahlia explained. She had reacted the same way when she had first heard Lotta's word-smithing. "Or in other words, yes."

"Oh," the judge said. "So you saw the murder when it happened, then?"

"Yep," Lotta said.

"Please testify to that effect," the judge said.

Testimony

Well like I said, I'm an investigative photographer. But I'm still a college student.

I went to the park to get some shots for my class.

While I was taking some photos, I heard a commotion.

The instant I turned around I snapped a photo of the scene. That's probably why it's blurry.

When I put my camera down, I saw a woman slumped on the ground, bleeding.

Then I noticed a man with the murder weapon in his hands. That's the second picture I took.

"Alright," the judge said. "Ms. Hawthorne you may cross-examine the witness."

Stupid prosecutor's got the judge confused. Dahlia rubbed her temples. You know; whatever. It's not worth the fight right now.