A/N: This chapter has a trigger warning for discussions of suicide, as well as depicting an attempt. Which just says everything about this arc in general. It's time for mystery!
Chapter 25: The dark abyss
The silence that followed Hugh's statement was suffocating. To be sure, it finally explained Logan's mindset all throughout the case. But suicide even as a concept was one that was so difficult to grasp. It also raised the question of just how this was related to the case at hand.
Ring of saliva added to the Court Record
Ema could tell that everyone had been badly surprised by this result. Still, she couldn't afford for the case to grind to a halt here. So she decided to be the first to keep the conversation going.
"While you're all here, I need everyone to follow me."
Ema lead the group into the alley, before stopping right in front of a side alley with an open gate.
"This is where the culprit is thought to have lost the police," Ema explained. "The gate you see on this opening was closed on the day of the crime, but glove markings were found on top of this gate. This likely means Athena's shooter climbed over this gate to get away. The new evidence I found confirms this."
This caught Apollo's attention. "So that's what you called us here for. Where did the culprit go after entering this side alley?"
Ema dug around in her bag, taking out a map and handing it to Apollo. "Beats me. This alleyway has so many side paths, as you can see on this map. All the shooter had to do was enter a few of them then choose an exit."
Observing the map, Apollo noticed that there were several openings into the alley along the same street.
Alley map added to the Court Record.
Next Ema gestured to a trashcan beyond the gate. "Previous investigation searched through this alley but couldn't find anything. On a hunch I searched through that trashcan and found something at the bottom."
She pointed to a large blue bag next to the trashcan. The bag was open, revealing a black hoodie inside.
"That jacket. Does it belong to the shooter?" Hugh asked.
"More than likely. The head area is soaked with sweat, and while I couldn't get any D.N.A from the sweat it does indicate the person wearing it was running a fair distance. More importantly, look inside the hood."
The defense team did as Ema said, finding a single blond hair with a green tip inside.
"Is that hair dyed?" Juniper asked.
"It is. It belongs to a man named Michael Brash," Apollo said.
Ema shuddered. "I recognized it as well. I ran a test on it and it is in fact Michael's. I thought I'd seen the last of the creep when he was arrested."
Large bag added to the Court Record
Blond hair added to the Court Record
"Ema, I think you can start to connect the dots here," Apollo said.
Ema nodded. "It's starting to look like Michael is the true culprit of this case, just like he was back then. Let's go find him. I'd really like to give him a piece of my mind."
Apollo grinned at his good friend. "Thanks for all your help. We couldn't have gotten this far without you."
"Is that so? You've been a b-a-d girl, Ema."
Robin and Detective Marsh stepped out from around corners on the other side of the alley, both glaring furiously at Ema.
"I was wondering how Detective Marsh could miss something like the footprints in the plastic strawberry," Robin said. "So I asked him if he could think of how that was possible."
"Then I remembered that Miss Skye was investigating the strawberry," Detective Marsh continued. "But her report never mentioned the evidence the defense found. So I decided to follow her a bit, and here I find her working with the defense."
"So what?!" Ema shouted. "Like you have any clue, so why should I listen to you?"
Detective Marsh stomped his foot at Ema. "Let's see if you keep that attitude when I get you to the precinct and have you reported." He snarled.
He snapped his fingers, and beat cops entered the alley, approaching Ema. On impulse, Apollo placed himself between the cops and Ema, then pointed at Robin and shouted, "HOLD IT!"
Everyone did indeed stop, with Robin looking right at Apollo. Slowly, Apollo raised his right wrist, upon which was his proof of friendship.
He could still remember the day that Robin gave him the clay bracelet. She had the widest grin on her face, one that made Apollo smile as well.
"Here ya go!" She had said that day. "This is proof that I consider you a really close friend. So make sure to always keep it with you!"
Indeed, much like the bracelet from his mother, Apollo wore the red band every day. But after the Shadow incident, Robin seemed to start drifting away emotionally. It was partially his own fault: for an entire year Apollo had been more focused on his family issues, and he just got used to not seeing Robin that often. Even so, every time he had seen Robin recently he could almost feel a wall between them.
Now he was going to get to the bottom of this. "I admit I don't know what's going on with you, Robin, but even I can tell that you're tearing yourself up inside. Say something! I'm your friend, aren't I?"
The prosecutor didn't say anything but was clearly listening. Next Hugh stepped up, showing his own band on his neck.
"Talk to us, Robin," Hugh pleaded. "Let us help you."
Robin's composure started to crack, her arms trembling.
Finally, Juniper looked Robin right in the eyes, her hands over her heart, her proof of friendship prominently displayed. "These past few days have been so painful," Juniper said softly. "Because you haven't been around. Even so...I still want to work beside you. I still want to stay by your side, Robin."
At this, Robin threw her head back and screamed in pure anguish. Breathing deeply, Robin lowered her head and faced everyone, tears streaming down her face.
"I thought…. I thought I finally got it right this time," She finally said.
Apollo couldn't help but sigh in relief. Now that his friend was ready to listen to reason, they could get somewhere. First order of business, untangling Robin from her deep rooted despair.
"Do you know why you've been feeling the way you have, Robin?" Apollo asked.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Detective Marsh dismiss the other officers and then make himself scarce in turn.
"Remember all the accusations Logan made against me during my trial?" Robin began. "At the time, I thought I deflected them just fine. Yet after the trial was when it started. When I started hearing a voice in my head, calling me all kinds of horrible things. When I started to feel...THAT I COULD DO NOTHING RIGHT!"
"Why did you never say anything?" Juniper asked, naturally sounding confused.
"Because every time that happened, I would banish all those feelings. I didn't want to worry you," Robin explained. "They never went away for good. I always felt like I was a slip up away from becoming the person I was before. The awful cheater that Logan witnessed during Juniper's trial."
"So you're saying that because Logan was technically right in some of his accusations, they took root in you," Hugh said. "Poisoning you from the inside."
"Then this case happened," Robin continued. "My first ever case as a prosecutor! If I could solve the case and bring Athena's shooter to justice, it would give meaning to all the work I've done these past few years. But- But-!"
"We had our fight," Juniper finished, her lip trembling.
Robin gripped her proof of friendship. "Getting a guilty verdict became not just important- it became my entire world! Losing the case felt like it would cost me everything!"
Juniper knew what Robin meant with her words. Even now, she could feel their uncertain financial situation hanging them. Juniper had always felt that if the worst came to pass, they would fall back on their friends. Her heart ached at the fact that Robin felt she needed to carry the burden herself.
"And worst of all is how I feel about you, Apollo."
Apollo started in surprise at this but didn't say anything. He had a feeling that keeping his silence here would let him get to the bottom of his friend's emotions.
"I just don't know how to feel about you, Apollo," Robin said. "You're such an amazing defense attorney! I used to always look forward to seeing you because you provide such an exciting challenge! But now, whenever I look at you I see all my past failures. I wanted to beat you in this trial so badly, because you always seem to do better than me. I can't help but feel so small whenever I see you."
The last sentence had been spoken so softly Apollo had almost missed it. Now more than ever, he missed having Athena around. Athena, even if she somehow couldn't use her special hearing or the Mood Matrix, would likely know what to say to Robin. Apollo was still floundering mentally at being seen by Robin as some kind of insurmountable obstacle.
Even so, he had to say something here. "I think I understand, Robin. But there's something you have to know. As your friend, I want to help you. But as a defense attorney, I still believe in Logan! At tomorrow's trial I'm going to win him a not guilty verdict. So I want to ask you: what are you going to do after this trial, Robin?"
Slowly, Apollo could see a spark in Robin's eyes faintly start to glimmer as she mulled over the question.
"I don't plan to stop prosecuting," Robin said slowly. "I've come too far! Even if we start running out of money, I'll keep fighting."
"That's our Robin," Hugh said, smiling. "We'll fight right alongside you, even if you try to push us away."
No, know I remember that I know better. I'm so lucky to have you guys in my life!"
Robin met Juniper's unrelenting gaze with a regretful expression.
"I still want to walk by your side too, Juniper," She said, an undercurrent of affection in her tone. "In law and in life. So if you could find it in you to come back…."
The words hung in the air. These past few days, Juniper had missed Robin so badly. She could feel words of forgiveness bubbling on her lips-
"Can we save the personal drama?!" Ema interrupted. "We still have to find Athena's shooter, and until we do let's shelve everything else. Are we in agreement?"
Juniper opened her mouth to object, only for Ema to put a finger to her lips and shake her head. Upon seeing this, Juniper realized what Ema was trying to communicate. One thing was clear: Now really wasn't the time for this.
Robin, meanwhile, was at least slowly returning to her usual self. "Detective Marsh, you can come back n-o-w! And I don't think there's any need to take Ema down to the precinct. We can overlook what she did."
When Detective Marsh returned, it was with a noticeable smirk on his face. "Okay, then what will you have me do, Boss?"
"Answer any questions these defense attorneys might have, for a start." Robin said cheerfully.
Apollo immediately jumped onto a question that had been bugging him for quite a while. "So about that gag order on the mask the culprit used. Is there anything you can tell us about it?"
"Eh heh heh, nope!" Robin said. "I have a feeling that the mask is a crucial clue in this case, so my lips are staying sealed. Sorry!"
"I thought as much as well," Juniper added. "Which is why I decided to place my trust in Robin and abide by the gag order too."
"You still trust me?" Robin said in amazement.
"I never stopped," Juniper answered simply.
Hugh decided to ask the next question. "So Detective Marsh. I presume you will take the new evidence in for testing. Will you share the results with us?"
"I don't see why not," Detective Marsh said casually. "I can appreciate an even playing field. Just know that we will be using the results first. Come along, Miss Skye."
"So I'm not off the case after all," Ema said, deeply relieved.
"But another stunt like that and you're in a world of trouble," Detective Marsh said. "So don't push your luck, got it?"
"We'll be sure to let you know when the results come in!" Robin exclaimed.
With that, she, Detective Marsh, and Ema left the alleyway, the bag from the alleyway in tow.
Apollo, Hugh, and Juniper left the alleyway as well. All of them had significantly more relaxed looks on their faces: with Robin seemingly shaken out of her emotional turmoil, their chances of solving the case were looking a lot better.
Apollo scanned his surroundings, hoping to find a certain someone. Indeed, he spotted Michael Brash sitting by a nearby trash can. The defense team approached him carefully.
"Why are there so many of you?" Michael asked, his voice slurred. In his hands he held a bottle in a brown bag.
"Don't worry about that," Apollo said. "We just need you to tell us something. Where were you on the day of the crime?"
"This alley. What's it to you?" Michael answered. "I'm pretty sure I was other places. But my head's not cooperating with me. So all of you scram!"
"You heard the man," Hugh said, somewhat amused. "I doubt we'll get anything out of him right now. Besides, we still have to talk to our client about what we found."
Apollo snapped to attention. There were still many hurdles left to overcome in this case. Now that they had the needed evidence, they could at long last rip apart the shroud of mystery surrounding Logan.
September 25 2029
Detention Center, Visitor's Room
3:40 p.m.
"Why on earth have you been bugging me so much?!" Logan shouted as soon as he was brought into the room.
"Because unless you've fired us, we're still your defense attorneys," Apollo answered. "Why do you keep showing up when you can just refuse?"
Logan flinched at this, which confirmed to Apollo that a part of Logan did genuinely want to be saved. Now it was just a matter of getting there.
"So just to confirm, you arrived at Vitamin Square and no one was there?" Apollo asked.
"That's correct," Logan answered. "Before I even stepped on the playground I saw that the park was empty. I simply thought that Cykes was a no show, given that I arrived on time."
"What time was the meeting?" Hugh asked.
"It was about one thirty," Logan said. "Cykes was very insistent about the time."
The statement immediately struck a chord in Apollo. According to the hospital, Athena had been shot a few minutes after one. Which seemed to imply she deliberately showed up early to her own meeting. Apollo made a mental note to ask Juniper and Ema for details on Athena's actions on the day of the crime. Absolutely nothing about this case was straightforward, and Athena was at the center of it.
At least, one person at the center. Juniper, who had been hanging in the back, stepped forward to face Logan.
"We just learned something new about the weapon used to shoot Thena," She said. "Your traces were found on the muzzle, Logan."
At first Logan was shocked, but his expression soon shifted to resignation.
"I won't make you say it, Ms Woods. It's true. A little under a week ago, I tried to kill myself." He said, his tone lifeless.
"Please, tell us why," Apollo said firmly. "Even if it has nothing to do with the case, I don't think I can bear to leave you this!"
Logan sighed. "If you want to know that badly. I don't have anything to lose at this point."
Apollo, Hugh, and Juniper all sat in chairs close to Logan, to make sure they wouldn't miss a word of his story.
"In a sense, my life ended a long time ago," Logan began. "The moment that guilty verdict was passed."
"You mean your guilty verdict?"
Logan shook his head. "No. I meant my mother's."
She could still feel it, deep in her heart. The dark shadows that wanted to drag her under. But Robin was determined to last long enough to finish this case, for good or for ill.
In the meantime, there was some research she needed to undertake. In her father's old case files, she happened across a case that immediately caught her eye.
It read, "The State vs. Gianna Sullivan".
Robin opened up the case file and began to read through the details of when her father convicted Logan and Lisette's mother…
"Some of my earliest memories are also my happiest ones," Logan began. "Back when my family was whole. I teased my sister, cuddled with my father, and played with my mother."
"So what happened?" Juniper asked.
Logan bit his lip, emotionally anguished. "My mom used to be a professional baseball player. She was the primary breadwinner of our home. Then one day she met up with an estranged friend of her's from high school. When they talked, things got out of hand- and she murdered him."
Everyone in the room gasped. They had no idea Logan had a past like this. But then, he had spent so long deliberately hiding it. Juniper and Hugh remembered how reclusive Logan had been back when he attended Themis.
"I always knew my mom was guilty," Logan continued. "The prosecutor's case proved it beyond doubt."
"So then why did your mom commit the crime?" Hugh asked.
"Mom said that the man wanted to hurt me and my sister," Logan said. "Take us away forever, so she had to kill him."
Robin read through the victim data. A young man that had once known Mrs. Sullivan, only to be killed by her when she beat him with a baseball bat.
His file was of a man like most others, a construction worker that was well liked. All details were mundane- a job, some hobbies, a family.
Then her eyes lay on next of kin. Along with the victim's parents, one of the people listed was the victim's boyfriend. Further reading revealed that Mrs. Sullivan had attempted to pin the murder on him, until one Richard Newman foiled that plot.
"My mom was found guilty of second degree murder," Logan continued. "She actually finished her sentence recently and came back home. She took a job at Themis to watch over me."
"But back then, my mom's arrest changed everything. I was only seven and our family fell into poverty. We lost our home, and moved into that hovel that I told Juniper about. Each day we all struggled to scrape by."
The three of them all thought back to the house they had visited. That was where Logan had grown up. The image of the circumstances that shaped him were slowly coming into focus.
Logan became contemplative. "My family kept me on my feet in those days. I was already close with Lissy, and we only became closer. My dad made sure that we didn't go completely under. Even Mom wanted to stay in our lives despite being in prison, so we visited her every weekend."
"And you didn't care that your mom had killed someone?" Hugh said.
Logan shook his head. "I told you, she did that to protect us. Mom gave us all kinds of advice, like how to behave at school or good cleaning habits. One thing she told us over and over again was that in this world, there are some people that are inherently bad. Selfish, amoral creatures that grab you and destroy you. The man my mom killed was one of those."
"And let me guess. Robin is another?" Apollo finished. It all finally made sense. If Logan grew up listening to that, then it was no wonder that he had seemed so self-righteous in his crusade against Robin.
Logan looked down. "Newman….she more than anyone embodied the kind of person Mom always talked about. It cannot be denied she sunk low, once."
"Yet it never occurred to you that she might have changed," Juniper said. "Or that maybe she wasn't as bad as you thought she was?"
Logan scowled. "Given her presence in my life, that's a little hard. Hugh, you asked earlier why I wanted to become a prosecutor?"
Hugh nodded. Logan had mentioned the Nickel Samurai case as part of his motivation, but now he was going to hear the rest of it.
"I knew I wanted to dispense justice," Logan explained. "But my mom's arrest locked my path. I chose to become a prosecutor because I wanted to purge the streets of the scum that prowled them. So that what happened to my family could never happen to anyone else ever again."
Hugh decided to clear something up that had nagged at him for a long time. "Is this related to the promise you mentioned before?"
"So you still remember that. Yes, it's the reason behind the promise." Logan said. "After Mom was arrested, Lissy and I made a promise. I would become Chief Prosecutor, Lissy would become Chief of Police, and together we would work to change the world."
No one said anything, but many different thoughts ran in their minds. Apollo decided to reserve judgement until Logan finished his story.
"Lissy and I dedicated our lives to that promise," Logan said. "I threw away everything to make sure I would stay focused. I never made any friends, I dropped all my hobbies, I clawed my way into Themis Academy. If it meant fulfilling that promise, I would do it."
"Including destroying Robin," Hugh said, restraining his anger at the memory.
"I admit, that was my fatal mistake," Logan said. "My first illegal act. I was desperate to knock Newman off her pedestal, show everyone the threat she posed. But she dismantled my scheme, and just like that it was all over. An entire lifetime's work, dashed in an instant."
Juniper decided to speak up here. "You had to be stopped, Logan. Before you did something that could never be taken back."
"As much as it hurts to hear that, I can't really say anything in my defense either," Logan said, looking away. "While I was in jail, all I could do was think. Think about how I could no longer be a prosecutor like I'd always dreamed of. Those thoughts became a dark abyss that started consuming me from the inside. After all, without my goal, I was nothing. Completely empty inside."
"Bringing us to what you told us when we first met," Apollo said, making the connections in his head. "That after you were released from jail, you haven't done anything besides try to become a prosecutor."
"Because without my aim, I was completely lost," Logan said. "Then one day, my family and I were watching the news and a report came on."
Juniper's eyes widened. She knew what Logan was about to say. She could have never imagined something like this would happen.
"Right there on the screen was Newman and Juniper," Logan said. "Looking so happy about Newman becoming a prosecutor. It was everything I've ever wanted in life, and someone I hate so much had it all instead. At that, I felt the will to live leave me."
Logan took a deep breath as he started the end of his story. "That night, I took my dad's gun from it's case and loaded a bullet in it. I had it in my mouth and was about to pull the trigger when Lissy came home."
Once again, Lisette's name popping up in something she never mentioned. It could just be a coincidence; one wouldn't blame her for not talking about something so personal. Yet at the same time this would have gone a long way to exonerating Logan, so why keep quiet?
"Lissy didn't ask, or even say anything. She just held me in her arms for the rest of the night," Logan said. "I did tell her everything the next morning. She was so clearly worried about me that I decided to get some help. So I called Cykes and asked her to help me."
"So you wanted to talk to Thena for the Mood Matrix?" Juniper asked.
"It felt like hitting rock bottom, having to got to her after she helped put me away in the first place," Logan said, scowling. "Though I will admit that Cykes was very understanding about the whole thing. She said she would do what she could for me, and as I said before she even arranged all the details of the meeting. That's everything that's happened to me."
"Thank you, Logan." Apollo said, already processing the details. "I can't imagine how hard that was to talk about."
"It does feel easier to breathe now that it's all out," Logan said. "I'll- I'll only say this one more time. I didn't shoot Cykes. So please find out what really happened!"
Robin closed the case file. It was a lot to take in all at once, but it did give her a new direction to take the investigation in. It involved finding new witnesses and waiting on the results from the new evidence. In the meantime, it might do her some good to talk with Logan.
"Detective Marsh! I'm going to the detention center. Keep the investigation going while I'm out, kay?"
Leaving the detention center, Hugh immediately asked Apollo, "So do you see Lisette as a potential suspect?"
"So you noticed, Hugh," Apollo said. "She could have an alibi for the crime. On the other hand, I'm starting to doubt her."
"I don't know. I haven't really seen Lisette," Juniper said softly. "But from what I've heard she really loves her brother. She has no reason to frame him."
That was the same feeling that Apollo got. As fishy as some of Lisette's actions were, her bond with Logan was without dispute. They needed to step up the investigation.
September 25 2029
Wright Anything Agency
4:00 p.m.
The defense team regrouped at the agency at Apollo's request. With three of them currently working the case, they needed to hit as many points as they could. First of all, clearing up more questions.
"Juniper, do you remember talking with Athena at any point this past week?" Apollo asked.
Juniper thought this over carefully. "We talked over the agency phone a few days ago," She said, pointing to the old fashioned phone on Mr. Wright's desk. "Because Thena's cell phone had run out of battery. But she never mentioned meeting with Logan. We just talked about whatever came to mind, like the date I had planned with Robin at Tres Bien."
Ema had only been told by Athena that the defense attorney planned to meet with someone, and Juniper hadn't been told anything at all. "She really didn't say anything? Why was Athena being so secretive about her meeting with Logan?"
"I-I don't know…"
Apollo pumped his fists. "Okay, we need to cover as much ground as possible. Hugh, you go to the police department and talk to Lisette if you can find her. Juniper, follow Hugh and see if you can't get an escort to the Sullivan house. I'll stay behind here and keep Trucy company when she comes back. I want to look through the agency anyways."
September 25 2029
Detention Center, Interrogation Room
4:00 p.m.
"So you know about my mom now," Logan said, determined to not look at Robin seated across from him. "So then why are you here? Doesn't it just add to my motive?"
"It does. But I'd like to hear what you have to say about all this," Robin said, keeping a cheery demeanor.
Logan sighed. "I've been doing a lot of thinking. I talked with my defense team, and I figured something out. So Newman. When you were planning your schemes that fateful October, what was going through your head? That victory was worth a few unscrupulous acts?"
"...! M-maybe I did think that," Robin said. "But why are you bringing this up now?"
"Just as I thought," Logan said bitterly. "I always wondered why I hated you above anyone else I've ever met. It's because I understand you."
Hearing those words coming from Logan was beyond terrible, but Robin decided to let him keep talking. There was a reason she was questioning him.
"It's so easy, isn't it Newman?" Logan continued. "To justify anything we do in the name of doing the right thing. Just like when I plotted to bring you down. I didn't care that I was breaking the law, if it meant bringing you to justice. But we're both just a pair of truly wretched people, aren't we?"
Robin started chuckling. "You know, lately I've been feeling so awful. I kept hearing your voice reminding me of my crimes."
Logan looked interested at this. "You don't say? So are you saying I'm your conscience?"
"More like my guilt kept coming back to me with the voice of someone that would say these things to me," Robin answered. "So I ignored it every time. Yet I didn't realize I became so desperate to prove myself that I started sliding back to the me you saw that October. The underhanded liar you hate so much."
"So what are saying this for, Newman?" Logan asked.
"Just wanted us to understand each other better," Robin said. "You said it yourself, didn't you?"
Logan glared at Robin. "I'm not exactly happy about understanding you, Newman. After all, you still insist on prosecuting me for something I didn't do."
"But it didn't have to be this way," Robin said. "Detective Marsh and I questioned you about your actions and all you did was yell insults at us. What else were we supposed to think about you?"
"Well, Newman. You might be right about that," Logan admitted. "But are you ready to confront even the worst at tomorrow's trial?"
"You know what? I think I might be. So I'll see you then, Logan!"
She sent Logan back to his holding cell and exited the detention center. In interviewing Logan, learning that he saw a bit of himself her put in sharp relief Robin's warped view of herself. In pushing away her guilt but never actually confronting it, it indeed festered inside her just as Hugh said.
Robin didn't quite know what to do about herself. Yet she knew the first step was to learn how to like herself again. Despite everything she wasn't the same person she was all that time ago. Now she just needed to prove it to herself.
September 25 2029
Wright Anything Agency
4:15 p.m.
"Why are you looking through the Agency, Polly? Did you forget something?"
"You could say that," Apollo said as he checked through the bookshelves. He had sweeped most of the agency and found nothing suspicious so far. A few days ago, the agency's lock had been broken, but nothing had been stolen and there were no fingerprints on anything. Now Apollo felt it might be related to this case.
Checking the agency's phone, he found a note from Athena. "There's an odd buzzing in the phone. Check it out for me, Apollo," It read. It was dated the day of the crime, and Apollo knew he missed it because he hadn't stopped by the agency very often these past few days.
He grabbed a screwdriver and opened the phone, revealing a wiretap sitting inside the phone's wiring. "Trucy, get a camera and come look at this."
Wiretap added to the Court Record.
September 25 2029
Criminal Affairs Department
4:30 p.m.
Hugh handed Juniper to a police escort arranged by Ema, then went looking for Lisette. He managed to locate her talking to the chief of police.
"Hello, Lisette? I'd like to talk to you." Hugh said.
Lisette swung around, her hand already on her nightstick. She relaxed once she saw it was Hugh, saluting him.
"Hello, Mr. O' Conner! How's the investigation going?" Lisette asked.
"It's taken an interesting turn," Hugh said carefully. "So now I have some questions. Where were you on the day of the crime?"
Lisette scratched her head. "I was patrolling my assigned beat. If I remember correctly, it was a stretch near a place called Tender Lender."
Hugh measured the distance of the crime scene and Tender Lender. If Lisette was being truthful it would give her an unshakeable alibi. He moved on to his next question, this time to the chief.
"So why have you been working Lisette so hard these past couple of days?"
"Because she's too close to the shooting, so we can't let her work the case," The chief answered. "What's more, she's still being punished for slipping up that day."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Hugh asked curiously.
"Officer Sullivan here didn't answer her pager right away," The chief said gruffly. "It's an unusual breach from what's otherwise been a stellar work record."
"But I did answer my pager in the end," Lisette said sheepishly. "I just...lost track of it."
"So why were you paged the day of the crime?" Hugh asked next.
Lisette snapped to attention. "To chase after Miss Cykes' shooter! My fellow officers will vouch that I gave chase with the rest of them."
Pager added to the Court Record.
Hugh considered the information. It all certainly suggested that Lisette was innocent. Yet something just didn't sit right about the explanation. He filed the information away in his head for later.
September 25 2029
Sullivan Household
4:45 p.m.
At the Sullivan house Juniper looked around with her police escort in tow. When the officer started inspecting the parents' bedroom, Juniper quickly went into Logan and Lisette's room.
It didn't take long for Juniper to find what she was looking for. Or rather, she saw that something wasn't there that was a critical clue to the whole case. Her initial suspicions were quickly being shown to be valid, but she decided not to voice them for the time being.
"Hello? I'm done looking around. Could you please take me back to the precinct?" Juniper called out to her police escort.
September 25 2029
Alleyway
5:00 p.m.
Ema called the entire defense team at around this time, and they all met her in the alleyway. On the other side of the alley were Detective Marsh and Robin.
"I managed to convince them for a short chat as long as I don't spill anything," Ema explained. "But let's talk quietly all the same. That means you, Apollo."
"Hey!"
The defense team decided to report on their findings. Starting off, Apollo explained about the wiretap at the agency's phone, much to Juniper's horror. Hugh reassured her that if the culprit did put it there, it was only by pure chance that they caught anything.
Next, Hugh reported on what Lisette told him. Ema agreed that she was now a lot more likely to be innocent, but would double check just to be sure. Neither Apollo or Juniper had anything to add, so now it was Juniper's turn.
"Um, I checked through Logan and Lisette's room," Juniper said nervously. "And I did find something. But I'm pretty sure it falls under Robin's gag order, so I'm not going to say what I saw."
"Is that so? Fair enough," Ema said. "After all, just that little bit is telling all on it own."
Apollo quickly caught on. It meant that Juniper saw something regarding the culprit's mask. There was just enough wiggle room for it to not be an actual breach, while narrowing down what the mask could be to just two options. Whichever one it was would have be dug up later.
With that, Ema called over Detective Marsh and Robin. They both walked down the alley with rather happy looks on their faces.
"I hope you weren't counting on getting an easy trial tomorrow," Detective Marsh said. "Because you're going to be sorely disappointed if you were."
"John and I have been hard at w-o-r-k," Robin added cheerfully. "Our case for tomorrow is almost ready. Just waiting on some important paperwork to go through, and to find a certain someone. But I'm not telling who!"
Detective Marsh pointed to the trash bin where the bag had been found. "Contrary to what you might have thought, Miss Skye, we did search that trash bin. We didn't find anything inside, which raises the question of who put the bag in there and why they waited until after the initial investigation."
Everyone started at this. Given how cases usually went they had assumed the police had simply missed it. Ema considered the question carefully. "Well, obviously the shooter put the bag back inside. As for why...maybe they didn't think anyone would look there after the initial investigation."
"Unfortunately, that's likely not the answer," Detective Marsh said. "At least, not when you consider the results of the analysis of the evidence. The jacket and the bag are genuine evidence. But the hair found in the hood is dry, and at least a week old. In other words, this is forged evidence."
"The hair is fake?!" Apollo screamed in surprise.
"The hair is real enough," Detective Marsh explained. "As evidence, however, it's clearly engineered to frame its owner for this shooting."
Blond Hair updated in the Court Record
"In this case, the reason someone would do that is to get suspicion off Logan," Robin said. "Since Logan is in detention it's not him. So there's only one other person that would benefit from doing this."
If Lisette had merely been suspicious before, she was now the primary suspect. Apollo started feeling angry at himself that it was possible that she had been manipulating them this entire time.
"Well, we're going to go finish our preparations. B-y-e!" Robin said, waving at the defense team as she and Detective Marsh left the alleyway.
Ema turned to leave as well. "I need to process all the evidence we've found for court tomorrow," She explained.
"Wait!" Apollo called out. "Before you go, tell me something. When Athena told you she was meeting with someone, what did she say?"
Ema paused. "I tried to stop her, but she said she wasn't expecting the person she was meeting to be a danger. She did say that if something did happen, she would call the police right away." With that, she left the alleyway.
The defense team let all the new information sink in. The more they learned, the more it seemed that Athena had her own agenda that she was working on up to the day of her shooting. What that agenda was, and how Lisette's own actions lined up with it was still unknown.
Then Apollo's cell phone started ringing, and he promptly answered it.
"Hello, Lisette here!" Lisette said on the other end. "I got your cell number from your records. Hope you don't mind!"
"What do you want, Lisette?" Apollo asked.
"Come meet me at Tres Bien. I think I've finally made a breakthrough. Make sure to bring Hugh and Juniper with you!"
Apollo agreed to the meeting, then hung up. "Juniper, go back to the agency. I need you to prepare our case for tomorrow. Hugh and I will keep investigating."
"Got it. I'll go right away."
After Juniper left the alley, Apollo explained to Hugh about the phone call. "Chances are, Tres Bien is going to be full of people so Lisette won't try anything. It would be good to interview her for information."
Hugh closed his eyes, deep in thought. "I see. So then why did you send Juniper away?"
"Because if something does happen, one of us has to be able to go to court tomorrow."
September 25 2029
Tres Bien
5:25 p.m.
Entering Tres Bien, Apollo and Hugh immediately noticed Lisette sitting alone. No other customers were anywhere to be seen, which made Apollo nervous. On the other hand, there absolutely had to be staff somewhere. Although the only thing Apollo could remember regarding the case file on this place was to avoid the chef at all costs.
The defense attorneys seated themselves across from Lisette. The police officer smiled at them, almost dancing in her seat. This did not make either defense attorney feel any better.
"I heard around the precinct that Logan's defense is going well!" She said cheerfully. "In fact, I heard you both might have a new suspect?"
"We do have a new suspect," Apollo said, deciding some misdirection was in order. "We checked the alley just as you said, and found very strong evidence."
"It's Michael Brash, isn't it," Lisette said immediately. "From the moment I saw him, I knew he was up to no good. That's why I asked you to look into him."
"Is that really the only reason?" Apollo glared at Lisette. "I wasn't finished. The evidence we found is a forgery created to pin the crime on him."
Lisette immediately lowered her head in such a way that obscured her eyes with the bill of her police cap, but otherwise didn't respond.
"And it doesn't take a genius to realize the meaning of this," Hugh continued. "After all, there's only one benefit from an act like this. So we ask you, Lisette. Did you forge this evidence? If so, why do so if you truly believe in your brother's innocence?"
Lisette slowly lifted her head, revealing that her eyes had gone cold. "I am under no obligation to answer that question," She said, her tone just a frosty. "Neither should you be prodding into this line of questioning. You're defense attorneys. Focus on exonerating my brother."
Apollo slammed his fists onto the table. "I'm not about to send an innocent man to jail! That is not how I defend my clients!" He yelled.
"Innocent? Logan's innocent of this shooting," Lisette said, giggling in an unbalanced manner. "That's all you need to know. And even if you found fake evidence, why does that say Michael is innocent? Maybe a concerned party wanted to make sure justice is served."
"And what kind of justice is that?" Hugh asked.
Unexpectedly, Lisette looked Apollo in the eyes. "Mr. Justice. You have a sister, don't you? Miss Trucy Wright. I'm sure you must care deeply for her."
"If that's supposed to be a threat, it's not going to work!" Apollo exclaimed.
"It's not a threat. Just that you of all people understand my position," Lisette said, smiling. "Logan means the world to me. Which means I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep him safe."
Lisette stood up and started walking towards the exit. "I will not be making it to court tomorrow either. However, if I hear that my brother has been found guilty, rest assured that your law firm will be torn down by my fury, down to the last brick."
Immediately Apollo and Hugh dashed to stop her, but Lisette moved towards them abruptly, ducking under their guard and punching them both in the gut. The defense attorneys sank to the ground, badly winded.
"Oh, by the way? This place is empty," Lisette said, giggling at the sight of the men on the ground. "Even the chef is gone. It's why I choose this as the meeting place. Goodbye!"
With that Lisette strode right out the doors, and all Apollo could do was berate himself for his stupidity. He had walked right into a trap, and now the truth of the case was going to be lost forever….
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
"Hold it right there, Lisette!"
At the sound of voices outside Hugh and Apollo managed to gather outside to hobble out the doors. And right outside-
Robin Newman stood, with a virtual wall of police officers behind her blocking Lisette's path. Robin immediately pointed at Lisette, and officers detained her. Lisette stared at the prosecutor in utter horror.
"Just where do you think you're going, Officer Sullivan?" Robin asked, grinning triumphantly.
"Well, I don't believe I have anything to do with this case, so I'm going home," Lisette answered nervously.
"That's not very nice of you," Robin said, wagging her finger in Lisette's face. "You're my s-t-a-r witness in tomorrow's trial. I can't have you leave on me!"
Lisette tried squirming away from the cops who held her, to no avail. "I don't want to testify in court tomorrow. What would I even talk about?"
"Ah ha ha ha! You really don't have a choice," Robin said, thoroughly enjoying herself. "Just a few minutes ago I finished processing the subpoena to summon you to court. So you're going to shine a light on your brother's actions whether you want to or not. If you will, officers."
The police officers dragged Lisette off, with Lisette devolving into frothing anger.
"You vile slime! I expect nothing less from a scum sucker like you!" She screamed before disappearing into the distance.
Unphased by the cursing, Robin turned to Hugh and Apollo, who had witnessed all this with mouths agape.
"I got the impression that you wanted to question Lisette too," Robin said. "But I had a feeling she'd tried to slip away. So I made sure she'd have no escape from either of our questions!"
"Thank you very much, Robin," Hugh said. "We really owe you one."
"Don't thank me quite yet, Hugh. I still plan to press my case against Logan," Robin said seriously. "So you and Apollo better have a case ready as well."
"Then we'll be waiting for you in court, Robin." Apollo said.
Robin grinned, then walked off towards the directions the cops had left. Apollo turned to Hugh.
"Let's go back to the agency. We need to be ready to confront Lisette tomorrow. And she's not going to get away!"
To be continued.
A/N: Longest. Chapter. Yet. Just two more chapters left in this arc! The final trial starts tomorrow. Until then, this has been Orion Fowl, and thank you for visiting my Corner of Romance.