"Court is now in session," the judge said, slamming his gavel on the podium.
"The prosecution is ready," Larry said.
"The defense is ready Your Honor," Dahlia said.
"Very good," the judge said. "I believe we extended the trial on account of defense's claim that the crime scene was not, in fact, at the mall."
"Yes Your Honor," Larry said. "The police investigated Bluecorp and confirmed the defense's deduction to be true. However, the prosecution still stands by the belief that the defendant is the culprit."
"And why is that?" Dahlia said.
"Through our investigation of Bluecorp, we came across a vital witness," Larry said smugly. "I believe his testimony will obliterate any reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt."
"Is that so?" the judge said. "Then we shall see what he has to say immediately. Bailiff, bring this man to the witness stand!"
The courtroom doors opened, and the first thing Dahlia saw was a flash of reflected light. She almost gasped when the CEO of Bluecorp walked to the stand.
She glanced at Phoenix, who gently touched the skin above his eyebrow. The defense team turned to Kay, who gave them a smile. There was a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Go snatch the truth for me," Kay mouthed.
Dahlia touched the spot on her chest where her Magatama was hidden under her hoodie. She then placed her palms on the defense bench and wore an expression of pure determination. Kay, along with everyone in the courtroom, got the message that the defense truly was ready to go.
When Redd White got to the witness stand, he flashed his rings along with a smile.
"Name and occupation?" Larry said.
"You wish to apperceive the title…" Redd trailed off, unable to look away from Dahlia's death glare.
Dahlia cracked her knuckles.
Redd straightened his back and looked her in the eye. "My appellation was certifiably designated at my nascence as Redd White. I am currently the corporate executive officer at the company baptized as Bluecorp."
Dahlia was silent, shooting fiery daggers at the purple-haired business man. The rest of the court was silent too, but for a different reason.
The judge sighed. "Last time it was that code, now this."
"Mr. White," Dahlia said. "I commemorate requisitioning you the antecedent diurnal course to terminate the overindulgence of utilizing prodigious terminology."
There was another pause.
"What?" Larry said.
"Knowing her," Phoenix said. "In the simplest terms possible, I think she told the witness to put a sock in it."
"Perhaps we could stick to the simpler terms?" the judge said. "For the sake of clarity?"
"Of course," Redd said. "For those of you who may not have comprehended, my name is Redd White. I am the CEO of Bluecorp."
"Mr. White," Larry said. "Since the scene of the murder was, in fact, Bluecorp, the prosecution requests you testify about the company and its relation with the victim."
"Of course, I'd like to have a few things cleared up for the sake of the company anyway," Redd said.
Testimony
Bluecorp is somewhat of a detective agency, we specialize in collecting information.
The victim, Mr. DeLite, he was one of the security guards we hired.
He came to Bluecorp every afternoon from 3 to 8 if I remember correctly.
Personal speculation, he was taken out by a thief with villainous intentions.
"Mr. White, any and all opinions are to be left out of testimony," Dahlia said. You're not getting away with implicating Kay that easily.
"Indeed, that last statement will be subtracted from the record," the judge said.
"My apologies," Redd said, not looking at all sorry.
"Ms. Hawthorne, you may begin your cross-examination," the judge said.
Dahlia's eyebrow twitched. Fey. She nodded her head. "Yes Your Honor."
Cross-Examination
Bluecorp is somewhat of a detective agency, we specialize in collecting information.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Specifically, what kind of information? Give the court an example."
"Ms. Hawthorne," Redd said, knowing her was getting a rise out of the defense attorney. "Are you familiar with client confidentiality?"
"You don't have to use names, Mr. White," Dahlia said. The sentence had two meanings.
"I suppose," Redd said. "At Bluecorp we can research family history, or perhaps look into a client's stalker. Whatever the client requires from us."
The victim, Mr. DeLite, he was one of the security guards we hired.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Specifically, you hired him from KB Security right?"
"Indeed," Redd said.
"Ms. Hawthorne, is this important?" the judge said.
"Yes Your Honor," Dahlia said. "In fact, I'd like this clarification added to the testimony."
"Alright," the judge said. "Witness?"
Mr. DeLite was one of the security guards we hired from KB Security.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "How long had he been coming to Bluecorp?"
"About 3 months, I believe," Redd said. "I read his files before testifying to ensure maximum accuracy."
"Good for you," Dahlia said, leafing through her evidence. "Now tell me, Mr. DeLite was involved in some illegal information exchanges correct?"
"Correct," Redd said. "My good friend Mr. Bullard, the CEO of KB Security, hinted that Mr. DeLite was going to lose his job over those criminal actions."
"So I've been told," Dahlia said. "You wouldn't happen to know where that information went would you?"
"Mr. Bullard didn't know, and neither did the press," Redd said. "So naturally I haven't the foggiest notion."
Dahlia looked up from her evidence list. "I request that be added to the testimony!"
"For what reason?" the judge said.
"That statement is vital to understanding the truth behind this case!" Dahlia said, pounding her desk. There was a fire in her eyes.
"You've got that look again," the judge said wearily. "Witness, add that statement to your testimony please."
"Alright," Redd said.
I do not know what Mr. DeLite did with his stolen data.
"Objection!" Dahlia said. "I don't think that's the case Mr. White!"
"Objection!" Larry said. "You have no evidence to support your wild goose chase of an objection!"
"Wild goose chase?" Dahlia said incredulously. "I'll have you know everything leading up to this has been relevant. And I do have evidence!"
"What?" Larry said, shocked.
"Take that!" Dahlia said, presenting the surveillance tape.
"What's that?" the judge said.
"There is a security camera in the storage room that became the scene of the victim's murder," Dahlia said.
"But the police checked that!" Larry said. "There was no tape inside the camera!"
"That's because someone got to it before the police did!" Dahlia said. "The defendant, Kay Faraday!"
"What are you doing?" Larry said. "If she hid the tape, that implicates she was the one who murdered the victim!"
"Objection!" Dahlia shook her head. "If the defendant was the killer, than it makes no sense. The defendant was arrested far away from the scene of the crime; why not take the video with her? Or destroy it? Why go through the lengths to hide it and risk it getting discovered?"
"Well then why did she hide the tape?" the judge said.
"She wanted the police to find this tape," Dahlia said. "However, she didn't want killer to get to it first. So she hid it under the shelves!"
"Under the shelves?" Redd said. He was leaning on the witness stand, fists clenched and sweating bullets.
"That's right!" Dahlia said. "She hid it there because this tape reveals the 'who' and 'why' of the murder of Ron DeLite!"
"What? How?" Larry looked surprised, confused, and enraged at the same time. It actually created a rather interesting facial expression.
"Just to make things official, I am accusing the witness of murder," Dahlia said. "His motive? The illegal KB Security information dealing!"
"What does this man have to do with the illegal data trade?" the judge said.
"I don't have any physical evidence, but here's my line of logic," Dahlia said. "A security guard from another company is sent to work at an information company. He goes to that same company everyday for 3 months, then one day the security company the guard is employed to find that important information has been sold. Giving those circumstances, doesn't the information company seem suspicious?"
"Are you accusing Bluecorp of illegitimate deals?" Redd said, looking horrified. "Preposterous! Have you even watched that video?"
"Actually, no, I haven't," Dahlia said. "However it is my belief that if we play this tape right here right now, it will show everyone in this courtroom a meeting about the KB Security scandal between the victim and witness. Followed by the victim's death!"
Redd began panting. Members of the crowd murmured to themselves, ultimately creating an indistinguishable and deafening noise.
The judge slammed his gavel and brought the gallery to order. "We will watch this tape immediately! Bailiff! Bring in the video player!"
Minutes later, a bailiff came into the courtroom wheeling a tape player and projector so the entire courtroom could see. Dahlia handed the bailiff the security tape and the courtroom was dead silent as the video began playing.
An empty storage room appeared on screen. It was definitely inside Bluecorp. A minute later, a man wearing with tightly curled red hair wearing a security guard uniform walked into the room. Dahlia glanced down at the autopsy report. Yep, that's definitely Ron DeLite.
Ron looked around the room and checked his watch. Suddenly, he looked up. The video was silent, unfortunately, so no one could say why. That is, until Kay jumped down into view. It's okay, I knew she was there. She's just going to talk to him for a few minutes.
Kay and Ron did indeed discuss something. However, while the conversation could not be heard, it was clear that Ron was getting edgy. Kay said something, and Ron recoiled. The curls on the side of his head sprung out as if they were spring-loaded. Whoa, what kind of conditioner did he use?
They seemed to be yelling at each other now, Ron flailing his arms about. Suddenly, Kay kicked him in the head and he flew off screen.
Dahlia's jaw dropped.
"What the heck?" Phoenix said, stunned.
"Pause the video!" Larry said.
What? Why did, she…? But where's…? Dahlia looked at Kay, who smiled self-consciously.
Dahlia turned her head to the witness stand and felt sick to her stomach.
Redd White stood proud and tall, flashing his confident, signature smile.