Edgeworth listened carefully. He intended to hear Atcher out and determine whether he was telling the truth or not.

"No natter what happens…"he thought. "I will find the truth. If he is lying, I'll just arrest him. But if he is telling the truth and didn't kill the victim…that really complicated matters. After all, all the evidence points to him."

Atcher took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Then he began.

Witness testimony

The truth

It's true. I did steal George's song.

We had an agreement. I would sell the song as mine and then we would split the profits.

But I got…greedy. I sold it without telling him.

He found out when he saw those CDs. I didn't expect they would be out so soon!

He came to find me here. He was furious.

He waved around that sheet music, saying he would sue me and get his song back.

I couldn't let that happen! He would destroy my reputation.

I shoved him aside. He fell onto that loudspeaker.

I took the sheet music and burnt it with my lighter.

After that, I stormed off. I needed to cool

I left George in the trailer. I have no idea what he did after that!

"Hmm. This could just be another lie." thought Edgeworth. "But for some odd reason, I'm getting the feeling he is telling the truth now."

"So you really did steal George's song!" said Vanessa. "I knew it! You monster!"

"Sorry. George was my friend. I loved him. I really did."

"And yet you tried to steal his song!" said Kay. "Why? Why do that to your friend?!"

Atcher lowered his head in shame. He only said one sentence:

"There was too much money."

"But wait! If you didn't kill him…then who did?!" asked Gumshoe.

"Yes! I believe he is telling the truth!" said Sebastian. "But George Mike is definitely dead. Somebody killed him! But who?!"

"I would like to cross-examine your testimony." said Edgeworth. "Don't think you are off the hook. Plagiarism is a serious crime. And the possibility you are the murderer is still up in the air!"

"O…okay. I have nothing to hide. Not anymore.

Cross-examination

The truth

It's true. I did steal George's song.

We had an agreement. I would sell the song as mine and then we would split the profits.

But I got…greedy. I sold it without telling him.

Hold it: "did you really expect he wouldn't find out?!" asked Edgeworth.

"I hoped a few months would pass before he did. I would have managed to find and destroy the sheet music in the process. I had…no idea he had made a copy."

"But that would have been the kiss of death for your friendship!" said Kay.

"I know. Believe me, it wasn't easy. But…I wanted the money. George had so many hits. He didn't need more of them. I did."

"But not everything went according to plan!"

"N…no…"

He found out when he saw those CDs. I didn't expect they would be out so soon!

He came to find me here. He was furious.

He waved around that sheet music, saying he would sue me and get his song back.

I couldn't let that happen! He would destroy my reputation.

I shoved him aside. He fell onto that loudspeaker.

Hold it: "that loudspeaker over there?" asked Edgeworth and pointed to the loudspeaker in the corner.

"Yes. That one."

"Is it yours?"

"No. It's from the flamethrowers."

"The band?"

"Yes. Kris Strings, my other friend is the one in charge of the band's equipment. He had no room for that one in his trailer and asked if he could put it in here."

"I see. Continue"

I took the sheet music and burnt it with my lighter.

After that, I stormed off. I needed to cool.

Hold it: "Where did you go?"

"Nowhere specifically. I needed to walk to calm down. Walking always helps. I just needed to get away from here. I wasn't afraid of what George would do without proof. But with that copy...he could have buried me if he was still alive."

"Fortunately for you, he didn't get the chance!" said Gumshoe

"I don't like what your implying! I told you I didn't kill him!"

I left George in the trailer. I have no idea what he did after that!

Hold it: "Are you sure you don't know?"

"Yes. I have no idea. I never saw him again. If you want to know what he did…you should ask Kris. He would know."

"Wait…what do you mean?" asked Edgeworth.

"Well…he was here. He was still here when I left. I bet he knows more than I do."

"Wait…Kris Strings was here?!" asked Sebastian.

"Yes. His fridge broke down, so he had stored his supply of Stella Andorf beers in mine. He was here to pick one of them before George came. I don't understand what he likes about that stuff. I tried it once a long time ago. Disgusting."

"He never told us that!" said Edgeworth. "So Mr. Atcher wasn't the last one to see Mr. Mike alive. Mr. Strings was!"

"Why would he hide that?" asked Vanessa. "You think…"

"Yes, I do. We need to have another word with Mr. Strings."

"But…Mr. Strings…he had no motive." said Kay. "No evidence points to him. I mean…he even tried to cover for Simon when we talked to him."

"Right. However…" said Edgeworth. As he spoke, he realized what had really happened. It was as if a lightbulb had lit inside his head. "Wait a minute…"

"What is it, Mr. Edgeworth?" asked Gumshoe.

"I thought it was too easy. His slip-ups were too obvious. He was the easiest opponent I've ever faced. And he cracked very quickly . I thought he was just bad at lying, but maybe…that was his intention. To lead us down the wrong road. By pretending to "cover" for Mr. Atcher, he would point suspicion towards him and away from himself. I thought I checkmated him…but he was letting me win. By sacrificing a few pawns, he was trying to save his king. He might be more crafty than I gave him credit for."

"We need to have another chat with him!" said Sebastian. "He holds the remaining pieces to the puzzle."

"He is performing right now. You can wait backstage for him." said Atcher.

"Don't think it's over!" said Vanessa. "I'll send this sheet music to the press as soon as this case is done."

"I figured. Then that was all for my performance. Hope you liked it. It was fun while it lasted. Now…go."

And with that, he collapsed on his couch, defeated.

Edgeworth, Kay, Gumshoe, Sebastian and Vanessa were waiting in the backstage area. They could hear Strings performing on stage.

"He is really good with that guitar!" said Gumshoe.

"It doesn't matter if he is a killer!" said Kay. "I never liked that guy anyway! He always seemed suspicious!"

"Let's not be rush, Kay." said Edgeworth. "He is our prime suspect…but we cannot accuse him until we hear his side of the story."

Eventually, The performance ended. Strings rushed backstage, his guitar still in his hands. He was surprised when he saw Edgeworth and his party.

"Mr. prosecutor? You are here? I never pictured you as the guy who likes to wander backstage. I guess you are full of surprises, huh?"

"I could say the same about you." said Edgeworth stiffly.

"What?!"

"Mr. Strings…" said Sebastian. "Where were you last night at around 21:00?"

"Oh? I was…in my trailer. Sleeping. I always sleep early before a concert. But…I'm curious. Why do you ask?"

"Don't lie to us!" said Edgeworth. "We know exactly where you were! Inside Simon Nicolas Atcher's trailer!"

"What?! Simon's trailer? What gave you that stupid idea?!" asked Strings.

"Mr. Atcher says so himself!" said Gumshoe. "Do not try to deny it, pal! We know you were there! All alone with Mr. Mike!"

"And that gives you the perfect opportunity!" said Sebastian. "You were the last one who saw the victim alive!"

"And you tried to hide it!" said Kay. "You are very shady!"

"Did you do it?!" asked Vanessa. "Did you kill my boyfriend?!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" said Strings. "Wait a darn minute…are you accusing me on murdering my friend?!"

"Yes!" said Edgeworth. "I'm not sure how or why, but I know the when. Right after Mr. Atcher stormed off. You were left alone with him. Something happened between you two. I don't know what, but I know you are hiding something."

"Excuse me, but…what are you basing that ridiculous accusation on? On the words of a petty thief unable to write good this on his own merit? A man suspected of murdering his best friend?!"

"He is your friend! How can you talk about him like that?!" asked Kay.

"Friend or not, I cannot overlook his faults. He made mistakes. And he has to pay the price."

"I agree." said Edgeworth. "He commited a serious crime. That of plagiarism. And he will face justice for it. But for murder…I believe he is innocent. I believe he told me the full truth this time!"

"Oh, yes. Let's trust the man who constantly lies and has nothing to lose, why don't we?!" asked Strings.

"You are starting seem much more suspicious to me right about now." said Edgeworth. "I would like to find out about your presence at the trailer last night…if it happened, of course.

"Is that so? In that case…it's on!" said Strings. He dropped his calm facade and put on a stern face. He started tuning up his guitar. "If you want a sample of my rocking stardom…I'll give it to you! Right here and right now!

"You think you have covered your tracks perfectly?!" asked Edgeworth. "No matter how much you lie, I will expose you!"

"If that is your wish. But make it quick! Clock's ticking."

"What?!"

"I have 25 minutes before I have to return onstage for my final song. If you haven't proven anything conclusive by then…I'll have to bid you goodbye."

"Grrr! If he goes on stage…he is sure to make his escape afterwards!" thought Edgeworth. "I have to corner him now!"

"Well then…the stage is set. Let's rock this out!" said Strings.

Argument

Last night

I don't understand your logic. You have no evidence to accuse me.

Simon told you I was there? Of course he did. He is trying to save himself.

Honestly, which one is more reliable right now?

Last night I was sleeping in my trailer by 21:00.

The last time I saw George was before he went to see Simon

You have no evidence I've ever even been inside that trailer.

"So, you are claiming Mr. Atcher is lying?" asked Edgeworth. "I feel you are just afraid."

"Honestly, I cannot comprehend your mindset." said Strings. "That guy lied to you again and again. He has means, motive and opportunity to commit the crime. Then he just puts in a few crocodile tears and you believe he is telling the truth? Some prosecutor you turned out to be! You might have to reconsider your career choices!"

"I can tell when I'm being lied to!" said Edgeworth, who felt insulted.

"Hey, man. If you have a reason to trust that guy, that's cool. But I can promise you there is not a judge in this country who has any reason to believe him over me."

"In that case, will you let me rebut your argument?"

"If you want. But make it fast, time is running out."

"He is right. I have nothing concrete." thought Edgeworth. "This is basically Atcher's word against his. But if he really did commit the crime, there is bound to be something to prove it."

Rebuttal

Last night

I don't understand your logic. You have no evidence to accuse me.

Simon told you I was there? Of course he did. He is trying to save himself.

Honestly, which one is more reliable right now?

Lat night I was sleeping in my trailer by 21:00.

Hold it: "Do you have any proof?"

"No. But I don't need it."

"What?"

"The question here is not if I can prove it happened. The question is: can you prove it didn't happen? I'm not the one on trial here. If the burden of proof is on anyone, it's on you."

"Oh, I assure you I have evidence!"

"Oh, and I thought only defenses attorneys used such easy to see through bluffs. But I guess prosecutors do as well."

"He saw through me! I'll need hard evidence to corner him!" thought Edgeworth.

The last time I saw George was before he went to see Simon.

Hold it: "He told you why he was going there?"

"Yes. He told, me about the CD. About Simon stealing his song."

"So, if you knew, why didn't you do anything?" asked Kay.

"Not my business. I decided to let those two sort it out themselves. You know what they say: the middleman always gets it."

"Arrgg! That guy is getting on my nerves!" said Gumshoe. "He is so cocky because he thinks we have no way of trapping him!"

"Relax, detective. I plan to expose him. One step at a time. His cockiness will prove to be his downfall."

You have no evidence I've ever even been inside that trailer.

Objection

Edgeworth was happy to have found something, even though it seemed insignificant.

"You have been in there." said Edgeworth. "Recently."

"Another bluff? Nah, I'm not feeling it this time." said Strings. "It gets old too fast."

"It's not a bluff. I have evidence!"

Edgeworth presented the broken beer bottle he had found in the trailer.

"Look at this! Recognize it?"

"Looks like a beer bottle. Oh, yeah! Stella Andorf. My signature beer!"

"I'm glad you are admitting it." said Edgeworth. "You are saving us from a lot of trouble."

"What do you mean?"

"This bottle was found inside the trailer. The place were George Mike was most likely murdered at! We have information there is an entire supply of those bottles of yours in there. You must have gone in there at some point!"

Strings didn't seem at all flustered.

"Ha! Nice try. But it's not good enough. I never took them there myself."

"What?"

"I gave them to Simon and he took them there himself. I never set foot in here."

"What a lame excuse!" said Vanessa. "Come on, Mr. Edgeworth. Just arrest him already!"

"Arrest him without proof? How could I do that?" asked Edgeworth.

"Then…how do you explain the broken bottle?" asked Sebastian "Someone was drinking that. And you are the only one who drinks that!"

"Says who?"

"E…excuse me?"

"It's my signature beer. That doesn't mean I'm the only one who drinks them. Maybe Simon popped a bottle open for himself. Friends can share stuff after all."

"That can't be true!" said Edgeworth, "He said he hates it and wouldn't drink it!"

"And the man suspected of murder is reliable because…why again?" asked Strings.

"Th…that may be the case, but…" said Sebastian. "There…there is something else that points you were there!"

"T…there is?" asked Edgeworth.

"No." whispered Sebastian. "I'm bluffing. Help me."

Edgeworth started thinking.

"There must have been something he left behind. Something he shows he's been there, even briefly…that's it!"

"Well, Mr. prosecutor? Is there evidence or not?" asked Strings. "You wouldn't be bluffing again, would you?"

"There is evidence, Mr. Strings! And this is it! There is loudspeaker in that trailer."

"Really? I wasn't aware."

"Don't play dumb! That loudspeaker belongs to the flamethrowers! Your band!"

"Hrrrrrrrr!" Strings nervously pulled his guitar's strings.

"That's right!" said Vanessa. "And you are in charge of the band's equipment. You must have gone in that trailer!"

"And don't try to claim you had Mr. Atcher transfer it again!" said Sebastian. "Or are you really so incompetent that you trusted your band's loudspeaker to someone else?"

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!" he pulled the strings tighter.

"Just admit it! You went there!" said Kay.

"Okay, okay." said Strings in a calm voice. "You got me. I've been in there."

"Strange…why does he seem so relaxed?" wondered Edgeworth.

"But…that is irrelevant."

"What's that, pal?!" asked Gumshoe.

"I did go to the trailer to put that loudspeaker there. But I went there long before the murder."

"What?!"

"Yes. That loudspeaker has been there for a couple of days. I had no reason to go back there in the intervening time."

"What a lame, excuse, pal!"

"Now you are just spouting lies!" said Kay.

"You think we are really dumb, huh?!" asked Vanessa.

"You are a very evil man!" said Sebastian.

Strings seemed unaffected. He managed to silence all their protests with just three words.

"Burden of proof."

"Grr! The loudspeaker alone is not enough to prove he was there when the murder took place!" said Edgeworth

"Indeed. And honestly, I have no idea why I'm even being suspected here. Look at all the evidence. It all points to Simon."

Edgeworth got an idea when he heard that.

"Wait a minute…could you repeat that?"

"What?"

"You are saying all the evidence points to Simon. Could you expand on that? What makes you think he is guilty?"

"Um…is that necessary?"

"Yes. We must cover every single angle. If Mr. Atcher is guilty, I will arrest him. But I want to know your rationale for this."

"Very well. I have 15 more minutes to spare. Okay, round 2 it is!"

"Honestly, I have no idea how this will help us." thought Edgeworth. "But I have to keep him talking. It's the only way."

Argument

Simon is guilty

I have to admit it, but Simon is obviously the killer.

It's hard to say this about my friend, but all the evidence is clear.

The string used to lock the door to the porta-potty belongs to him. So does the gun.

He has a motive: he didn't want his reputation to be trashed.

He killed George so that he couldn't reveal the song was stolen.

No evidence points to anyone else, least of all me.

"Hmm. You seem quite informed about the case."

"Word travels fast around here. Remember that."

"So you just heard rumors?"

"That's it. It's not like you can prove otherwise."

"Sir, come on! You have to get that slime bag!" said Gumshoe.

"I plan to." said Edgeworth. "But I didn't spot any contradictions. I'll have to press him on every detail."

"Then press him until he breaks!" said Kay. "Press like you've never pressed before. You might not get another chance."

Argument

Simon is guilty

I hate to admit it, but Simon is obviously the killer.

It's hard to say this about my friend, but all the evidence is clear.

Hold it: "You don't seem too affected by it." said Edgeworth. "It's almost as if you don't care that your friend is accused of murder!"

"I assure you I do care! I don't like showing my feelings. I am freaking out internally right now."

"Sure doesn't look like it." said Sebastian.

"I don't care about your opinion, kid!" said Strings, looking at the metal stick in Sebastian's hand. "Adults are talking here. No room for kids. Why don't you take that metal stick of yours and…"

"Okay, okay. We have strayed from our topic significantly." said Kay. "Let's get back to it."

"Don't tell me what to do, little girl!" said Strings.

"Mr. Edgeworth, that guy is mean!" said Kay, who was very scared.

"Oh, is the little girl afraid of me?" asked Strings. "Or do you need someone with authority around you to make you feel important?"

Kay was so shocked she didn't know what to say.

"Don't talk to her like that!" said Sebastian.

"Why? Is she your girlfriend?"

"N…no! I…I…"

"Sebastian…are you okay? "asked Kay.

"Oh! Looks like I hit a nerve!" said Strings. "Good to know, good to know."

"Stay out of this, Kay." said Edgeworth. "I'll handle him."

He has a motive: he didn't want his reputation to be trashed.

Hold it: "A motive alone is not enough for a murder case."

"And yet, you are accusing me. I don't even have a motive. Why would I kill my good friend?"

"I…don't know."

"Exactly. Who should your investigation focus on? The man with a motive or a man without one?"

"He has a point." thought Edgeworth.

"You won't get away with this!" said Vanessa. "You must have had a motive! And we will prove it!"

"I see you've put all your faith in this man." said Strings. "I can't say I understand why."

"Because I believe in him! He can discover what happened! He can find the truth!"

"The truth? Let me tell you, nobody gives a damn about the truth! Here's an interesting fact about the legal system you all cherish so much: it is never about what happened. It's always about if you can prove what happened. Evidence is everything. As long as no evidence points to me, no court on earth has any reason to find me guilty."

"Mr. Edgeworth. You can do this." said Vanessa. "I trust you."

"Can I…really do it?" wondered Edgeworth. "Or has he covered his tracks so well that…what am I thinking? Now is not the time to doubt myself! Ms. Finalle and everyone else has put their faith in me. I have to keep going!"

The string used to lock the door to the porta-potty belongs to him. So does the gun.

Hold it: "Those could very well have been taken by someone else."

"Ah, but you can't prove it, can you? And no, the word of Simon alone won't cut it here!"

"It seems strange though, doesn't it?" said Edgeworth. "All the evidence left in plain sight, easy to find. Mr. Atcher doesn't see so careless."

"But he is. He never was renowned for his smartness. I mean, he even left the lockbox for his gun in plain sight and open. Do you really think he is a shrewd man?"

"Wait a minute…what did you just say?"

"What did I just say?"

"That last bit of information. Add it to your argument."

"Okay. It won't help you out, though."

Simon left the lockbox for the gun open. That shows he is not very clever.

Objection

"Finally! I have you now!"

"Excuse me?"

"You said the lockbox where the gun is kept was left open."

"Yes. What about it?"

"How did you know that?"

"Yes, that's right!" said Vanessa. "We know it is because we've been at the trailer."

"But you said you never set foot in there at the time of the murder!" said Gumshoe.

"So, enlighten us! How did you know?!" asked Edgeworth.

"I…I…"

"If you are having trouble speaking, I'll do it for you." said Edgeworth. "You knew because you were there! You took the gun from the box and used it to stage the scene!"

"Hey, hey, hey now! You have no proof of that! How did I even take it? The box was locked!"

"I'm sure Mr. Atcher must have entrusted you with the password. That's how you took it. You were the only one here who knew he had a firearm! You also knew about his unique guitar string! Taking it was easy. The guitar case is always unlocked. And naturally, you were in the perfect position to borrow the firecrackers and plant them at the porta-potty! You had everything you needed. Mr. Mike's death would either be declared a suicide or Mr. Atcher would be blamed. Either way, you were off the hook! Or so you thought!"

Strings seemed nervous! However, he soon relaxed and started playing his guitar.

"Ah, the good ol' tactic of speculation. The desperate trick cops use to scare people when they have no evidence."

"What is that supposed to mean, pal?" asked Gumshoe.

"Just listen to yourself for a second. Think about what you are saying: I killed him, I took the gun from the box, I took the string, I took the firecrackers…all of that is related to items belonging to Simon. Why am I any more likely to have taken them? Why are we abandoning our initial conclusion that he used them himself? Too obvious or not, he is still the only suspect."

"But then…how did you know about the box?" asked Sebastian.

"Lucky guess."

"Lucky guess? That's all you have to say for yourself?" asked Kay.

"I don't care what you think. Just because I said the box was left open doesn't prove I took the gun from there. If you want, examine it for my fingerprints."

"He must have worn gloves!" thought Edgeworth.

"The truth is Simon did all that you are suggesting. I had nothing to do with it. So, suck it Mr. Edgeworth. Unless you can prove me wrong."

"I…I must prove him wrong! I must!"

"Are you done? Great. That leaves me 7 minutes to get ready for my finale."

"Wait!"

"Oh, don't tell you want more. Even the greatest performances must end. If you stretch a rope too much, you'll break it."

"I know you are guilty! And I won't allow you to escape!"

"You still refuse to give up? Then, I shall proceed to crush the final remnants of your hope."

"Anything that will get you to talk." thought Edgeworth.

Argument

Give up already

I didn't kill anyone. Why can't you just accept that?

Just consider one think: the porta-potty George was found in.

I've never been there. That's one toilet I've never used.

Even if I've been there, you have no way of proving it.

So, to put it simply: let it go and move on!

"So you think I can't prove you've been there?" asked Edgeworth.

"I don't think. I know. There is no way. Because I am innocent."

"We will see that. But for now, let's review your argument."

"Okay. But time is not on your side. So. I'm afraid I'll have to forbid you from pressing."

"What?"

"No more coaxing information out of me. Find a clear contradiction, or I'm outta here!"

"Can I do this without pressing? Is it possible?" thought Edgeworth. "Do I have the evidence I need? It doesn't matter! Evidence or not, I have to prove it! It's not just an option. It's my only option! I won't give in!"

Argument

Give up already

I didn't kill anyone. Why can't you just accept that?

Just consider one think: the porta-potty George was found in.

I've never been there. That's one toilet I've never used.

Even if I've been there, you have no way of proving it.

So, to put it simply: let it go and move on!

Objection

"Mr. Strings." said Edgeworth. "It is impossible for me to "let it go and move on." Not when a murderer like you is on the loose! I will be damned if I don't do anything in my power to stop you!"

"Ha! And what is your plan? To forge evidence?"

"No. I will simply use the evidence at hand."

"What?!"

Edgeworth presented the green glass shards he had found in the porta-potty.

"Do these look familiar?"

"No. Should they?"

"They should. After all…they came from you!"

"What do you mean, sir?" asked Gumshoe.

"I mean that the connection these shards have to the case becomes clear…when you look at this piece of evidence!"

He presented the broken Stella Andorf bottle.

"The bottle?"

"Look at the color. It's exactly the same. They definitely came from this bottle. And we can prove that very easily by comparing them at the crime lab. Right, Mr. Strings?"

"I fail to see your point, Mr. Edgeworth." said Strings. "Even if those shards are from that bottle, what does that prove?"

"There is something that had been puzzling me." said Edgeworth. "The cause of death."

"What do you mean? Wasn't it the gunshot?" asked Vanessa.

"Oh, right. You weren't there." said Edgeworth. "No. The gunshot wound was inflicted post-mortem. Before that, the victim suffered internal hemorrhaging."

"Wait…" said Sebastian. "Are you suggesting…"

"Yes. The actual murder weapon…was this bottle!"

"You can't be serious!" said Strings!

"I assure you I am quite serious. Something happened between you and the victim after Mr. Atcher left. I don't know what yet, but…you had to silence him. You were holding this beer bottle, drinking from it. You then used it an impromptu murder weapon by smashing it against Mr. Mike's head! You then carried his body to the porta-potty. You wrapped his head bandana to the gun, which you had already taken from the trailer, to muffle the sound and shot him in the head! You were trying to disguise the actual cause of death! But our mortician was an expert. These shards must have been stuck on the victim's head when you struck him. And then they fell down as you moved his body into the porta-potty. And now we know the whole truth!"

"Yeah! Good luck talking your way outta this one, pal!"

Strings seemed nervous. He started pulling the strings of his guitar fiercely. However, he then calmed down and burst into laughter.

"Hahahahahahahahahhahahhahahahhahaha! Oh, how good! Really, thanks guys! It's very good to be on a good mood before you start a performance!"

"What's so funny?" asked Sebastian.

"How your friend over here thinks he can achieve a guilty verdict on such shaky evidence."

"Shaky?"

"Say your precious crime lab cronies proved the glass shards match that bottle. What would that accomplish? I'll tell you: it would make every single person who has ever bought a bottle of Stella Andorf a suspect. All those bottles are the same. There is no way to prove these shards are from that specific bottle!"

"Grrrrrr! He's right!" thought Edgeworth.

"Furthermore, there is no way you can even prove that bottle was used by me in any way. And don't threaten that will dust it for fingerprints. I was the one who bought those bottles. It would be natural if my fingerprints were on them. It still doesn't prove I struck George with it. With such flimsy evidence, I can get an acquittal even if I hire the worst lawyer in the country."

"Dammit! He is right! That evidence is enough for an arrest, but definitely not a conviction!" thought Edgeworth.

"And there is something else. Something apparently all of you have collectively forgotten. Something Simon has and I don't."

"You mean a motive?" asked Kay.

"You bet! Why would I kill my good friend? I didn't steal any of his songs, nor did I ever argue with him. Ask anyone. They'll vouch for me."

"I forgot about that!" thought Edgeworth. "Motive…motive…what was his motive?!"

Strings looked at his watch and said:

"Hey, look. Right on time. Seven minutes just passed."

A voice was heard.

"Kris! It's time for your final song!"

"Right on cue!" said Strings. "It was fun, friends, but I must bid you farewell. And as the curtain falls on my concert, so will it fall on your case!"

"Noooooo! This was my last chance!" thought Edgeworth. "He will ran away the moment he get down from that stage. And without evidence, I'll never get a warrant for him! Think, Miles! What could have been…"

As he spoke he remembered something. Something detective Gumshoe had said back at the trailer, when they were still questioning Atcher.

"Why do you look so messy, Gummy?" asked Kay.

"I just got in a fight with a guy."

"Why?"

"As I was walking past him, he called me a "Junkie!" Can you believe it?! I didn't like it and gave him a piece of my mind!"

It was a big stretch. Possibly the biggest one he'd ever take in his career. Edgeworth knew that. But it was a risk he had to take. If it was actually true, however slim the chances, he couldn't afford to ignore it. So, he prepared for the greatest bluff of his life.

"Hold it!"

"No time, Mr. Edgeworth." said Strings. "You had your chance. Now I must…

"Detective Gumshoe!" said Edgeworth. "You said earlier you got into a fight with a guy who called you a junkie. Do you remember that?"

"Yes, sir! How could I forget it?"

"Why did he call you that, do you remember?"

"I don't know. I asked him and he said: "I know that smell. Don't try to hide it." Then we starting duking it out and…"

"That's all I needed to hear." said Edgeworth, with a cocky smile on his face.

"Mr. Edgeworth! Now is not the time for idle banter!" said Vanessa.

"Yes, Mr. Edgeworth! There is murderer here!" said Kay.

"And this is how we will bring him down" said Edgeworth. "Detective, remember that loudspeaker?"

"The one in the trailer, sir?"

"Yes. We examined it. You found some white powder on it."

"Oh, yes. I remember that."

Strings started sweating and fidgeting.

"What are you getting at?" asked Sebastian.

"Wait here. All of you." said Edgeworth and pointed a look at Strings. He took Gumshoe aside and gave him a few instructions.

"Got it, sir! "said Gumshoe and ran off.

"What is going on here?" asked Vanessa.

"We just found our motive." said Edgeworth.

They were interrupted by loud booing sounds from outside.

"That's my audience!" said Strings. "Please! They are booing me! You have to let me go now!"

"Don't worry, Mr. Strings. They will be doing a lot more booing once they find out what you are."

"What do you mean?' asked Kay.

"Kris Strings, the famous singer…is a drug trafficker!"

"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" shouted Kris.

"Kris…with drugs?" asked Kay. "I…it's…"

"The truth!" said Edgeworth. "The white powder gumshoe found on that loudspeaker was some kind of drug. That's what the guy who called him a junkie smelled! There must be some secret compartment inside that loudspeaker. And probably more of them. They are used to move drugs around the world. And how would be in a better position to do that…that the one in charge of the equipment, Kris Strings!"

"You….you…" said Strings, fiercely pulling the strings.

Right then, Gumshoe burst in, followed by three officers.

"Detective, give us your report."

"We found a secret compartment inside that loudspeaker, sir. And inside it…was a whole bunch of cocaine!"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" shouted Strings.

"You know, Mr. Atcher told us something very interesting. He said he shoved mr. Mike onto that loudspeaker. Is that when it happened? Is that when he discovered your dirty secret? Is that why you killed him?!"

"I…I…I…"

"The jig is up, Mr. Strings!" said Edgeworth. "We have proof of your wrongdoing. Now then, someone will have to go up on the stage and tell the anxious crowd that your final song has been cancelled… permanently! So, how about you confess?"

Strings was at the end of his rope. But he refused to give up.

"Confess? Are you mad?"

"What?"

"Yes, I am transferring drugs. I was forced. I owe some money to people in the underworld. if I didn't do this, I would be finished. But that has nothing to do with George. Sure, you have reason to arrest me now, however, your claim that George discovered it and I killed him for it…that's going to be mighty difficult to prove. How can you know he even fell onto that. Maybe Simon is lying again. I sure don't recall that."

"Don't think you are slipping away." said Edgeworth. "Now that I secured your arrest, I have managed to rethink everything with a calm mind. And as I did, I recalled something. Something that can tie you to the murder for good!"

"Ha! I'd love to hear it!"

"Very well." said Edgeworth. "Here is my final evidence: Detective, go to dr. Stockings' stall. Get that needle she had inside the plastic bag."

"Yes, sir!" Gumshoe ran off again.

"Oh, so that's what you're doing." said Sebastian.

"Yes, that's what I'm doing." said Edgeworth.

"Oh, and I was wondering what. you were doing." said Kay.

"What?! What are you doing?!" asked Strings.

"We talked to dr. Stockings before." said Edgeworth. "She told us she examined Mr. Mike this morning. She said he even picked up a needle that fell from the table."

"Gaaaaaaaaaah!"

"I see you finally realized it. Based on what we now know, that needle was not touched by Mr. Mike, but by you! You were pretending to be him to throw off the time of death!"

"So, the sunglasses…" said Vanessa.

"He left them at the trailer when he took us there. Remember, that table was right next to the door, where he was standing. And since you were the George Mike the doctor examined, that means…your fingerprints will be all over that needle!"

"No! No, no, no, no, no!"

"You thought you had covered your tracks perfectly." said Kay. "You didn't expect the doctor to put the needle inside a plastic bag, did you?"

"Of course she did." said Vanessa. "It has been touched by the great "George Mike" after all."

"And if your fingerprints are on it…it will prove that you were impersonating the victim!" said Sebastian.

"And that, combined with the drugs, will seal your fate and ensure your conviction!" said Edgeworth. "So, is your show done? Or do you want to have an encore?!"

Strings was having a mental breakdown. He pulled the strings of his guitar very fiercely. Eventually, the all broken loose and flew around. Some of them struck him on the face. He collapsed from the pain and fell down.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Simon Nicolas Atcher was sitting in his trailer alone. Suddenly, Kris Strings walked n.

"Hey, man."

"Hey! What brings you here?"

"Just want to pick up one of my beers. Won't stay long."

"Okay, man."

Strings went to the kitchen. Suddenly, George Mike burst into the room.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, yeah? This might jog your memory!" He took out the CD "The girl of my dreams" and threw onto the table.

"What about it?"

"You betrayed me! You said if I let you sind that song, you would split the profits with me! We had a deal!"

"I know we did! But the deal is off!"

"Why?"

"Don't take this the hard way! You are a nice guy. But you have no idea how this biz works."

"You can't just cut me out! You will not get away with this!"

"Come on, man. Don't make this rougher on yourself. Just let it go. There is nothing you can do."

"We'll see about that." he pulled out the sheet music. "I have the proof I need here. I'll call my lawyer and…"

"You will do no such thing. You will not ruin my big chance!"

Atcher jumped at Mike. He pushed him onto the loudspeaker. He tripped and fell on the floor. Atcher grabbed the sheet music, pulled out a lighter and set it on fire. He then threw it into the waste basket.

"There. Your evidence is gone! Good luck proving your case!"

After that, Atcher stormed off. Then, Strings walked into the room, holding a beer bottle.

"Hey, what the heck happened in here?"

"Ow! Simon! That slimy…"

George stopped. He smelled something. He examined the loudspeaker and found the now opened secret compartment.

"What is this…Kris! Are you…"

"D…don't get the wrong idea. I…I'm not…"

"You?! Drugs! How could you?!"

"I..I had no choice! I…"

"Don't try to justify it! I'll never understand!"

"Have you ever borrowed money from the underworld?! Do you even know how it feels to owe money to them?! Don't pretend you do!"

"I have no choice now." said Mike and pulled out his phone.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Calling the police."

"No man! Please! You can't do this to me!"

"I have to! You are a good man, Kris! But you have strayed from your right path. You can find your way back there through punishment."

"Hey, wait! Wait, let's talk about this…"

Mike turned around as he called the police. Strings, after a moment of hesitation, broke the bottle he was holding on his head. Mike fell on the floor, dead.

"I didn't want to do this. You made me."

Edgeworth, Kay, Vanessa and Sebastian were waiting in the central area of the venue. Strings was with them, handcuffed. Then Gumshoe arrived.

"Sir! The results are back! The fingerprints on the needle are clear as day! And they belong to Kris Strings!"

"In that case, we can make an official arrest."

"Mr. Edgeworth. Tank you for everything." said vanessa. "Maybe George's soul can rest now.

"I hope so. I appreciate your assistance, Ms. Finalle. It proved crucial to solving the case."

"Thanks. But it was mostly you. I just lent in a hand at one time."

"Neverheless, I thank you sinscrely. And I hope we can meet again in te hfuture."

"Me too. I think you are a very nice and honorable man."

"Hey, maybe we can go out to celbreate our victory!" said Kay.

"I'm sorry, but I can't." said vanessa. "I have to…arrange George's funeral. But one of the following days, I will gladly join you in a celebration."

"You gave me your word!" said Kay. "You can't take it back now!"

"Okay. Goodbye!"

Vanessa then left.

"Another case solved." said Gumshoe with a proud smile on his face. "What else is there left to do here?"

"Um…Detective." said Sebastian. "The killer?"

"Oh, right!"

Gumshoe started pushing Strings towards the exit.

"Listen, pal. Drug trafficking and murder are serious charges. However, if you cooperate and talk to us, we could show some leniency."

Strings didn't say anything.

Meanwhile, Edgeworth turned to Sebastian.

"Prosecutor Debeste."

"Y…yes?"

"I truly appreciate your assistance today. You truly proved to be very capable."

"Oh, come on. I…I didn't do anything. It was all you."

"Not really. I would have arrested Mr. Atcher. If you hadn't convinced me to listen to him again, Strings would have gotten away. You remined that the truth is above all else. I am proud of the progress you've made…and I'm honored to say I had a part in helping you."

"I'm honored too. For getting to work alongside you again. You are a great man, Mr. Edgeworth. And an even greater prosecutor. May we meet again."

"I hope so."

As Gumshoe was shoving Strings towards the exit, a bunch of people had gathered around. The police officers were trying to keep them away. They kept asking questions:

"Mr. Strings, did you really murder George Mike?"

"Mr. Strings, are you really involved in drug trafficking?"

"Mr. Strings, Are you really guilty of murder?"

Strings didn't like that. He stopped walking and said:

"Open your eyes, people! I have done no wrong! These coppers are trying to set me up! It's because of who I am! Because of what I represent!"

The crowd was swayed and they started shouting.

"Let him go! He is a hero!"

"How dare you accuse him?!"

"Dirty coppers!"

"Shut it! All of you!" shouted Gumshoe. "This man is guilty of murder and drug trafficking. If you don't believe me, come see the trial. All the evidence speaks for itself! Don't open those mouths of yours if you don't know!"

The crowd was stunned into silence.

"Hey, listen here." said Strings. "This is all a misunderstanding. I can totally explain…."

However, Strings was interrupted by an arrow. The arrow was shot from an unknown location and pierced his chest. He fell on the ground. The crowd panicked and starting running around.

"Dammit! Who did this?! Get them!" shouted Gumshoe.

Two officers ran into the direction the arrow came from. Edgeworth, Sebastian and Kay heard the commotion and came running. Sebastian was shocked whne he saw Strings.

"What…what happened?!"

"I don't know, sir! This arrow came out of nowhere! I sent officers to find who shot this!"

"Call an ambulance!"

"it's too late." said Gumshoe. "I can't feel a pulse. He's dead."

"What?!"

"The arrow pierced his heart. He is already dead."

"No…no…no…" Sebastian fell onto his knees, broken under the pressure. To have a suspect die under their care was too much for anyone, But for a newbie like Sebastian…

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Why?! I…I failed! I caused this!"

Kay crouched and gave Sebastian a hug.

"No Sebastian. It's not your fault! Don't blame yourself!"

The officers came back from the chase.

"Sorry, sir. We couldn't find them. They are gone!"

"Dammit! We just lost our suspect!" said Edgeworth. "They knew he would give us details that could allow us to trap the whole gang…and they made sure to silence him! What can we do now! We know have two bodies and nobody left to answer for them."

"Sir…" said Gumshoe. "I don't know what's it's worth now, but…I found this in his pocket. Maybe it can lead us to the gang."

He gave him a piece of paper. It said:

"Delivery tonight at 22:00

Labanter club

Meet the lady in blue. She knows what to do."

End of episode