"Well, this is it," Dahlia said. "My last trial day."
"Good luck… Dahlia Fey," Viola said, in her usual creepy manner. Somehow Dahlia had managed to grow accustomed to it.
"Yeah, I'll either see you later today or not again," Dahlia said.
Viola's shoulders shook. "You're right. It was nice… having a friend here."
"I'm still amazed you can call me your friend," Dahlia said.
"What I did… is not your fault, Dahlia Fey," Viola said. "I know that."
"If I see Lotta again, I'll let her know you said hi," Dahlia said.
"Thank you," Viola said.
"Well, later Viola," Dahlia said.
"Good bye…" Viola said.
"Yeah," Dahlia said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. And thanks."
As she rode in the back of a police car, she reflected on the night before in her cell.
"Hello again, Dahlia," Viola said, turning on the sink.
"Hey Viola," Dahlia said. "What are you doing?"
Viola turned around, and her hands were coated in scarlet red. "Come here… Dahlia."
"Oooookaaay," Dahlia said, a little put off. She peered at the sink and was startled to find it was filled with a dark crimson liquid.
"I'm not always proud… of my heritage," Viola said. "But sometimes… it comes in handy."
Dahlia adjusted her hat. "Uh, yeah."
Viola turned her head, and her shoulders shook as she silently laughed. "Want to hear a secret?"
"Sure," Dahlia said.
"There are… Cadaverinis all… over the detention center," Viola said. "They're very good at making things… happen."
"Uh-huh…" Dahlia said, beginning to wonder where April May was.
"Aren't you… happy?" Viola said.
"Happy?" Dahlia said.
"I got red hair dye… just for you," Viola said.
Dahlia released her nervous energy through a breathy laugh and a wide grin. "Seriously?"
Viola nodded.
Just then, what Viola said sank in. "Red hair dye… Oh, thank you Viola!"
Dahlia ran her fingers through her scarlet hair. Man, it's good to be back.
A little while later, she was escorted into the defendant's lobby.
"Hey guys," Dahlia said.
Phoenix turned her. "Hey- Dahlia!"
"Yay!" Pearl cheered, jumping up and down. "Your hair is red again!"
"How did you…?" Maya said.
"Turns out there are advantages to bunking with a gangster's granddaughter," Dahlia said.
"So I guess that means your red-dy for the trial," Phoenix said.
The lobby was silent.
Phoenix rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "So…"
"When does the trial start?" Dahlia said.
"We have a few minutes," Maya said. "You sure you're ready?"
"I'll be fine," Dahlia said.
"You really mean it this time?" Pearl said.
Dahlia nodded. "Yes, I really mean it. If I wasn't the one to kill Mia, I'm going to be the one to take that person down."
"That's the spirit!" Kay said.
"What!" Dahlia jumped back and looked at Kay. "When did you-?"
"Just now," Kay said. "I wanted to wish you good luck."
"Oh, thanks," Dahlia said.
"You know, I always thought you were a natural redhead," Kay said. "It's pretty… you."
"As in Fiery Fey, right?" Dahlia said.
"I guess," Kay said.
"Thanks for stopping by," Dahlia said. "But you should probably get back before Uncle Edgey has a heart attack."
"Well, there was one more thing," Kay said, with a glint in her eye. "This Great Thief Yatagarasu has something for you. Uncle Edgey gave me the backhanded okay, or at least that's how I interpreted it."
"Ooh, is it some really awesome evidence?" Maya said.
"Yep!" Kay said. She searched through her side pack and pulled out a plastic bag with something in it.
"What's that?" Phoenix said.
"It's some of the victim's hair," Kay said. "They found something really important on it."
"They did?" Dahlia said.
Kay winked. "Good luck."
Then, like a raven in flight illuminated by the pale moon, the Great Thief spread her wings and pranced out through the door.
"Well that was random," Phoenix said.
"And useful," Maya added.
Dahlia smirked. "Just the way I like it."
Kay popped her head back in. "Oh by the way guys, you should probably get to the courtroom like right now."
"Thanks," Dahlia said. "We're on our way."
In the courtroom, Dahlia stood opposite of Larry with Phoenix by her side.
"Fey!" Larry said, looking surprised. "Your hair."
"Magic," Dahlia said.
"What's this about magic?" the judge said.
"Nothing, Your Honor," Dahlia said.
"Are we ready to start the trial?" the judge said.
"Yes, Your Honor," Larry said, looking at Dahlia.
Dahlia felt the red flower in her pocket. "Yes, Your Honor."
"Excellent," the judge said. "Mr. Butz, was there any progress on the latest investigation?"
"We uncovered a few things, Your Honor," Larry said. "Including a new witness."
"Another witness?" the judge said.
"This person came forward yesterday, saying they had something to testify about concerning Fey," Larry said.
"Hmm?" Dahlia couldn't imagine who.
"Well then, let them take the stand," the judge said.
The defense attorney's jaw dropped when she saw the witness, drinking from her mug of tea.
"Mother?" Dahlia said.
"Hello, dear," Morgan said.
"What are you doing here?" Dahlia said, dreading the answer.
"I'm here to testify sweetie," Morgan said.
"Don't call me that," Dahlia grumbled.
"Don't go crazy on me, Dahlia," Phoenix said. "You'll make it."
"Yeah, but someone's not getting out this with at least a scar," Dahlia said.
"Me, right?" Phoenix said.
"Well, if you insist," Dahlia said.
"Would the witness please begin her testimony?" the judge said.
"Of course, good sir," Morgan said.
Testimony
I know my daughter gets a little angry, but please don't jump to conclusions.
She was, well, she was rather close to Mia Fey.
Mia Fey was the reason my daughter left the village to become a defense attorney.
I couldn't believe it when I discovered my daughter had been accused of murdering her.
"I see," The judge said.
"I have to cross-examine that?" Dahlia groaned.
"Come on, this might be exactly what you need," Phoenix said.
"Really?" Dahlia said.
"Yeah, sure," Phoenix said. "There's got to be something useful in this testimony."
"Alright then, let's see where this goes," Dahlia said.
Cross-Examination
I know my daughter gets a little angry, but please don't jump to conclusions.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "What are you talking about?"
"Well, um, dear," Morgan said.
"Objection!" Larry said. "Your Honor?"
"Objection sustained," the judge said.
"Hey!" Dahlia said. "Why does everyone think I have anger problems?"
"Dahlia," Phoenix gasped. "Can you let go of me?"
"Oh," Dahlia said, letting go of her assistant's shirt collar.
"Please continue," Larry said.
"Of course," Morgan said.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Phoenix mumbled, rolling his eyes.
She was, well, she was rather close to Mia Fey.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Of course I was, and you always hated that didn't you?"
Larry gave a low whistle. "Family drama."
"Dahlia, dear, this is not the time for that," Morgan said. "I did not hate your cousin, though."
"To quote Diego," Dahlia said. "Ha!"
"And to quote that caffeine addict," Morgan said. "Be quiet."
"So that's where she gets it from," Phoenix muttered.
"Kiddo, would you mind disciplining your assistant?" Morgan said.
"Yes," Dahlia said. "You're not in charge of him."
"Yeah!" Phoenix said.
Dahlia flicked his forehead. "Not now."
"You really need to learn when not to talk, Wright," Larry said.
"Like you're one to talk!" Phoenix said.
Dahlia rapped her assistant's shoulder and threw a crumbled ball of paper at Larry. "Be quiet, both of you."
"The defense seems quite… fiery today," the judge said. "But you seem better, Ms. Fey."
I almost was. Dahlia glared at her mother. "You were saying?"
"Where was I?" Morgan said.
"Mia Fey," Larry said.
"Ah, yes," Morgan said.
Mia Fey was the reason my daughter left the village to become a defense attorney.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "I kind of already knew that!"
"Yeah, I kind of already knew that!"
"Uh, Wright," Larry said. "I think your girlfriend is-"
"I am not his girlfriend!" Dahlia said.
"You sure?" Larry said, genuinely curious.
"Care to knock some sense into this guy later?" Phoenix said.
"Love to," Dahlia said.
"Aw," Morgan said.
"Mother!" Dahlia said.
Morgan smiled. "But Pearl told me he is-"
"Don't say it!" Dahlia snapped.
"I see we're back to getting completely off topic," the judge said.
"Yep, we're back in Wonderland," Phoenix said.
"Wonderland?" Larry said.
"Because we're all mad here," Dahlia said.
"Some a little madder than others," Phoenix mumbled.
I couldn't believe it when I discovered my daughter had been accused of murdering her.
"Objection!" Dahlia said. "I-"
"Will retract that ludicrous statement," Morgan said sternly. "What is there to object to?"
"Simple," Dahlia said. "You knew Mia was going to die, didn't you?"
"How could I have known that?" Morgan said, clearly getting angry.
Dahlia closed her eyes, feeling ashamed, and presented the letter.
She heard Morgan gasped.
"You wrote this," Dahlia said plainly. "I know you wrote this, don't bother denying it."
"I…" Morgan trailed off.
"A handwriting analysis is all it takes," Dahlia said, unable to look her mother in the eye.
Morgan sighed. "I suppose that's true."
"You know Pearly can't read right?" Dahlia said.
Morgan didn't respond, and the courtroom fell into a deep silence.
I'm sorry, Pearly. Dahlia took a deep breath, audible throughout the courtroom.
"Let me see that letter," the judge said.
The judge was handed the letter, which he read silently while looking deep in thought. "I see… a contradiction."
"A what?" Larry said.
"This is a very interesting letter," the judge said. "But in this plan, the victim's name is Maya Fey."
The crowd went into an uproar.
"My mother here is a crafty woman," Dahlia said, silencing the gallery. "For whatever twisted reason, she wanted Mia dead."
"Now hold on," Morgan said. "Dahlia Fey do not go-"
"Quiet," Dahlia said, testily. "You planned everything, don't bother saying otherwise. You know Pearly can't read, which is why you suggested that if she had trouble understanding something to go to Mia."
The crowd started chattering again.
"Isn't that woman that crazy lawyer's mother?"
"What is going on? What does that letter say?"
"What's wrong with that lady?"
Finally, Dahlia looked up at Morgan and glared at her.
"You can't say Mia Fey was my target," Morgan said.
Something snapped inside Dahlia. Her eyes flashed with a burning white intensity of a devil's fire.
"Don't you have any guilt?" Dahlia seethed. "After all you've done?"
Morgan was silent, glaring back at her daughter.
"You gave Pearly, a sweet and innocent child, a murder plot!" Dahlia said. "Then you used that innocence on Mia, who channeled Iris just so Pearly wouldn't have to! Then she got killed! You think that's just a coincidence?"
"Wait, channeling?" a gallery member shouted. "What's that letter say, anyway?"
"It's details a murder plot," Dahlia said. "Iris Hawthorne, a woman who died recently, was to be channeled by a Fey spirit medium so she could kill the victim!"
"Are you nuts?" Another gallery member shouted.
"Hey! Who's the attorney here?" Dahlia said.
"Well, I'm an attorney too so let me ask," Larry said. "I'm still a little skeptical about this whole channeling thing, so can you prove any of this?"
"Of course I can!" Dahlia said.
"No, just stop," Morgan said.
"Huh?" Dahlia said.
"… I wrote the letter," Morgan said. "I admit it."
"You do?" Dahlia said, surprised.
"Yes," Morgan said. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, of course you are," Dahlia said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
"I really am, Dahlia," Morgan said. "I didn't want you to go through this, I didn't want to hurt you."
"You know, that's a little cliché," Dahlia said.
"I'm serious, Dahlia," Morgan said. "She changed the plan. You weren't supposed to get in trouble for anything."
"Are you done?" Dahlia said.
Morgan sighed. "I see I'm not going to get through to you. Maybe in time…"
"Just go," Dahlia said.
"… Very well," Morgan said.
A bailiff came up to the witness stand to escort Morgan out of the courtroom.
As they walked away, Morgan spoke up again. "There is one thing, though. Dahlia, you really weren't supposed to be framed. And Mia wasn't supposed to be killed. Iris was supposed to murder Maya, the next in line for the title of Master."
"And I'm supposed to believe that?" Dahlia said.
"Why would I want Mia Fey dead?" Morgan said. Without another word, she walked out of the courtroom.
Silence filled the courtroom.
"Uh… what now?" Larry said.
"I'm… not sure," the judge said. "So, who killed the victim?"
"Iris Hawthorne, Your Honor," Dahlia said.
"The dead woman?" the judge said.
"Yes," Dahlia said.
"Because she was channeled?" Larry said.
"Duh," Dahlia said.
"Because your mother wanted her to?" Larry said.
"Uh, yeah," Dahlia said.
Larry was silent for a moment. "… Ignoring the most obvious argument, why would Morgan Fey want Mia Fey dead?"
"Well, uh…" Dahlia bit her tongue. "… She confessed, didn't she?"
"Uh, Dahlia," Phoenix said. "Didn't she say she wanted Maya dead?"
"What on Earth happened that night?" the judge said.
Dahlia was silent. Argh! So close, but I just can't…
"Hold it!"
Everyone stared at the young girl who had taken the witness stand.
Dahlia spluttered. "Maya?"
"As in, Maya Fey?" the judge said.
"Yes, Your Honor. Maya Fey at your service," Maya said. "So let me see if I got this right. You're all at a standstill because you don't know what to do next, right?"
"Yeah, that about sums it up," Dahlia said. "We're still not entirely sure exactly what happened. I know my mother got Mia to channel Iris, but I just can't say why or how Mia ended up dying."
"Well then why don't we just ask Iris?" Maya said.
The gallery went into an uproar of confusion.