Dahlia absorbed every word of the case file. This is what I've been looking for this whole time. I never would have guessed.

"Dahlia, you okay?" Phoenix said.

"Huh?" Dahlia said. "Er, yeah I'm fine. Why?"

"It's just that Larry's been here for almost 8 minutes and you've haven't even talked to him or hit him," Phoenix said.

"Yeah, wait, hey!" Larry said.

"It's nothing, I didn't get enough sleep last night," Dahlia said. Well, I guess that wasn't a lie.

Phoenix looked at her skeptically for a few moments. "Alright then."

Just then, the doors opened and Mia walked into the lobby.

"Hey Dollie, how are you doing?" Mia said.

"Just getting ready for the trial," Dahlia said, handing her the case file remorsefully. She deserves to know.

Mia leafed through the book, taking everything in. She finally looked up at her cousin. "This is..."

Dahlia nodded her head.

"Oh, Dahlia, it's alright," Mia said, and hugged the younger attorney. "Just remember what we always say, a lawyer doesn't cry until its all over."

"I know, I know," Dahlia said.

Larry gave Phoenix a questioning look.

Phoenix shrugged. "9 space 4-15-14-20 space 11-14-15-23."

"8-15-23 space 3-1-14 space 25-15-21 space 14-15-20 space 11-14-15-23? 25-15-21-18-5 space 8-5-18 space 1-19-19-9-19-20-1-14-20!" Larry said.

"18-8-5 space 14-5-22-5-18 space 20-5-11-11-18 space 13-5 space 1-14-25-20-8-9-14-7," Phoenix said.

"I can hear you 2-15-25-18," Dahlia said.

"Oh," Larry said.

"15," Phoenix said.

Dahlia detached herself from Mia and took the case file back. "Come, let's get this done."

"Court is now in session," the judge said. "Ms. Skye, are the results of yesterday's investigation?"

"A motorboat was discovered in Gourd Woods, damaged by what we suspect was a rough landing," Lana said.

The gallery murmured, much to Dahlia's delight. People are starting to see things our way.

"However," Lana said, cutting through the noise like sword. "That does not warrant the suspicion on the defendant to be lightened in any way. The prosecution has ample reason to believe the defendant is guilty. We claim that the boat-like shadow in the photo was merely a false lead Your Honor."

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "A boat in the photo and a crashed boat in the woods, you can't just label that as a coincidence!"

"Oh, but I can Ms. Hawthorne," Lana said. "For instance, how can you be sure the motorboat ending up in the woods the night of the murder?"

"Can you prove it wasn't the night of the murder?" Dahlia said.

"That will become clear in due time," Lana said. "For now, the prosecution would like to call its first witness of the day."

Soon after those words were spoken, a familiar boat shop caretaker took the stand.

"Witness, state your occupation," Lana said.

"I am the proprietor of the Wet Noodle, best pasta this side if the Pacific," the old man said.

Lana gave him a warning look.

"I uh, also rent boats," he added.

"Uh, Dahlia," Phoenix muttered. "Don't witnesses usual state their name?"

"Yes, they do," Dahlia said. She pounded her desk. "Hold it! Why hasn't the witness stated his name?"

"Ah yes, about that," Lana said. "You see, technically the witness has no name."

"What?" Dahlia said. She looked at the witness, who had decided to fall asleep for whatever reason. "He has no name?"

"As you may have noticed, the witness is rather... Confused," Lana said. "He doesn't know who he is, and our pursuit to find that out has no results as of now."

"Seriously?" Dahlia said.

"Yes," Lana said. "But he is still fit to testify."

"Not when he's asleep!" Dahlia said.

The caretaker snored peacefully. The judge pounded his gavel and he woke with a start.

"Who?" The old man said.

"Witness, testify about the events that transpired the night of the murder," the judge said.

"Uh, sure," the old man said.

Testimony

That night, these two men came in wanting to rent a boat.

One of them was the victim, the other was the defendant.

After that, things got pretty quiet. I just cleaned around a little.

I think it was around midnight when I heard a "bang."

A little while after that, I saw the defendant walk by through my window.

He was alone, muttering to himself.

"Is that so?" the judge said.

"Ayup," the caretaker said.

"And you're sure you remember this properly?" the judge said.

"Ayup," the caretaker said.

"Very well then," the judge said. "The defense may now cross examine the witness."

"Yes Your Honor," Dahlia said. There's got to be something wrong with this witness. I mean this testimony. Well, actually...

Cross-Examination

That night, these two men came in wanting to rent a boat.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Who were these 2 men?"

"An older gentleman and a younger looking fellow," the caretaker said.

One of them was the victim, the other was the defendant.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Were there any unusual qualities about them? Did you happen to see a gun on one of them?"

"Not really, but I wasn't really paying attention," the caretaker said. "The old guy was talking my ear off about how perfect the boat needed to be."

Hmm, maybe I need to take a different approach. Dahlia put her hands in her pockets. "Was there anyone else who rented a boat that day?"

The foggy old man pondered it for a moment, swaying from side to side. "I don't think so. Not many people come to the lake this time of year."

"Your Honor, I'd like that added to the testimony!" Dahlia said.

"I don't see why not," the judge said. "Witness?"

"Okey-doke," the caretaker said.

Those two were my only customers that day.

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "Someone else must have rented a boat that day! There was a motorboat crashed in the woods and an empty space in the dock!"

"Objection!" Lana said. "We've been over this already. I hate to repeat myself, but as I said before it is more than possible that motorboat was lost days before the murder!"

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "Prove it!"

"Objection!" Lana said. "The defense has yet to provide any evidence to support their theory. I'm not going to waste time debunking those desperate claims!"

"Dahlia, I don't think you're going to get anywhere with this," Phoenix said. "Maybe you should look for another lead. There's got to be something, right?"

Dahlia huffed. "I guess."

"Witness, continue with your testimony," the judge said.

After that, things got pretty quiet. I just cleaned around a little.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "So you were in the shop the whole time?"

"Yeah, you got to keep a restaurant clean or no one will want to eat your food," the caretaker said.

"Right," Dahlia said. "But do you have any way to confirm this?"

"Well, I remember this one time I went into town and stopped by an old diner," the caretaker said.

"I meant your alibi!" Dahlia said. "Can you prove you were in that old shack the entire time?"

"Oh, sure I can," the old man said. "Just ask Polly, she was with me the whole time."

"Polly?" the judge said.

"His pet parrot, Your Honor," Lana said, dully. "Ms. Hawthorne, I don't suppose you'd like to have the parrot testify?"

Phoenix snickered. "Have a parrot testify. As if anyone would think that's a good idea."

"Squawk! Don't forget DL-6."

Maybe… Just maybe…

"Uh, Dahlia?" Phoenix said.

Dahlia pounded her desk. "Alright, I'm game!"

"Game for what?" Lana said.

"I'd like Polly to come to the stand!" Dahlia said.

"You WHAT?" Lana smacked her palm against her desk, a bead of sweat forming on her face. "You can't seriously be requesting t cross-examine a bird!"

"I meant every word!" Dahlia said. "Her testimony will be vital to understanding this case!"

"This is crazy!" Lana said. "Are we NOT in a courtroom?"

"We are and the defense formally requests this court here what Polly has to say!" Dahlia said.

"Why?" Lana said.

"She has a few things to say that I think the court should hear," Dahlia said.

"Uh, does the prosecution have any objections?" the judge said.

Lana sighed, clearly brooding. "You're not going to let this go, are you Ms. Hawthorne?"

"Mm-mm," Dahlia shook her head.

"I'll humor you this one time," Lana said. "The prosecution requests a 30 minute recess to get the parrot."

"Alright then," the judge said slowly. "In that case, this court will reconvene in 30 minutes."

Dahlia and Phoenix rejoined Larry in the defendant's lobby.

The suspected prosecutor looked depressed. "Ms. Hawthorne, I need to ask you something."

"Shoot," Dahlia said.

"ARE YOU INSANE!" Larry said, raking his fingers through his hair.

"Maybe, maybe not," Dahlia said. "Trust me; I know what I'm doing."

"I'm dead," Larry face palmed. "A parrot, my attorney is going to cross-examine a parrot. I knew this wouldn't end well."

A hand lightly shoved Larry.

"Ms. Hawthorne, is this Make Your Client Have A Meltdown Day or something?" Larry said.

Dahlia crossed her arms. "That wasn't me."

Larry looked up at Phoenix.

"Give Dahlia a break," Phoenix said. Underneath his encouraging smile was a serious tone. "She deserves a little blind faith. Just trust her."

"Just trust her?" Larry said. "But… she's calling a parrot to the stand."

"Remember my trial?" Phoenix said. "It got pretty out there at times, didn't it? But here I am; all because I trusted her. And now, because of her, I can finally pay you back."

"Pay me back?" Larry said.

"Don't you remember?" Phoenix said. "Technically, that murder trial wasn't the first time I was the defendant."

Dahlia and Larry tilted their heads like confused puppies.

Before anyone could say anything else, a court bailiff came in and told them the trial was about to resume.

"Come on, let's go cross-examine a parrot," Dahlia said.

9 space 4-15-14-20 space 11-14-15-23. = I don't know

8-15-23 space 3-1-14 space 25-15-21 space 14-15-20 space 11-14-15-23? 25-15-21-18-5 space 8-5-18 space 1-19-19-9-19-20-1-14-20! = How can you not know? You're her assistant!

18-8-5 space 14-5-22-5-18 space 20-5-11-11-18 space 13-5 space 1-14-25-20-8-9-14-7. = She never tells me anything.

2-15-25-18. = boys

15. = O