The whole group left the club and went to the parking lot behind it. There, there was one single car. It was red sports car."
"Nice car!" said Kay.
"Yes, but it does seem rather old." said Edgeworth. "I wouldn't be surprised if it had a few problems."
"I wish I could afford a car." said Gumshoe. "I always have to take the bus to work."
"Who does this belong to, Mr. Levertington?" asked Edgeworth.
"Levertington looked at it.
"Hmm. I think that it belong…to the manager of this club, Benedict Waterloo."
"The manager?" asked Edgeworth. "That's it! That's the loose end we needed!"
"What do you mean?" asked Kay.
"You haven't spoken to the manager at all, have you?" said Franziska. "I don't think I've even seen him today."
"That makes sense." said Levertington. "He is away tonight, trying to get arrange a new stock of wine bottles. Our suppliers are quite expensive, so he always take a long time trying to bargain over the price."
"If he's away, why is his car here?" asked Edgeworth. "Are the suppliers nearby?"
"No, quite the opposite." said Levertington. "They are on the other side of town. I can't imagine he would go all the way there without his car…wait, what are you suggesting?"
"Be careful, Mr. Levertington" said Hotshot. "It's a trap. They are trying to trip you up."
"Trip me up?!"
"Not at all." said Edgeworth. "We are not here to trick anyone. We are here to discover the truth. Now, here's an interesting question: if Mr. Waterloo is really with your suppliers as we speak, why is his car still here?"
"I have an idea!" said Kay.
"I know what it is!" said Oliver. "Maybe the car was tired of taking him there and went on strike, and so he had to go on foot!"
Everyone looked at him funnily.
"Okay…that's not what I was going to say at all." said Kay. "I was going to say that maybe the car broke down or something?"
"Detective! Examine the car!" said Edgeworth.
"But sir…I know nothing about cars."
"You don't need to. Just examine the tailpipe. Or muffler, as it is called."
"Um…okay." Gumshoe found that strange, but trusted Edgeworth's logic.
Flintson started sweating when she heard that.
"May I ask what your objective here is?" asked Hotshot.
"Yes. What makes you think there will be anything in there?" asked Levertington.
"A few years ago, I handled a case where a critical piece of evidence had been stuffed into a car's muffler. Therefore, ever since then, every time I handle a case involving a car, I always like to check its muffler."
"Fascinating story." said Hotshot. "But you should know not every story is the same."
"Maybe not. But some are very similar." said Edgeworth.
"Hey, you haven't told me about that story." said Kay. "I wanna hear it!"
"I promise, after this case is done, I'll tell you everything about it." said Edgeworth. "It's very interesting."
"But I'm afraid his experience from that case won't help us here." said Hotshot. "Your detective still hasn't found…"
"Think again, pal!" said Gumshoe and jumped in. He was holding a towel with bloodstains on it. "This was stuffed in there. You were right, as always, Mr. Edgeworth!"
"Huh? I'll be honest, that's not what I expected." said Edgeworth. "What is this?"
"Hey, don't you recognize it?" asked Kay. "This is just like the towels in the waiters' room .This must be the one that was missing!"
"Good work, Kay!" said Edgeworth.
"Wait…I deduced something before you did?" asked Kay. "Wow! That feels good! Is this how you always feel? It's great!"
"Let's just get to the point!" said Edgeworth. "How did this towel get here?"
"I don't know, sir." said Gumshoe.
"Me neither." said Kay.
"It is quite puzzling." said Franziska.
"Um…excuse me."
The one who spoke was Flintson.
"Yes, Ms. Flintson?"
"Actually…I didn't tell you the whole truth before. There is something I have yet to confess."
"And what is that?" asked Franziska.
"You see…I was the one who put the towel in there."
"What?!" said Edgeworth.
"You?!" said Gumshoe.
"Really?!" said Kay.
"Why?!" asked Franziska.
"After I struck him and thought I had killed him, I told you I went straight to my dressing room and called Malcom.
"Yes."
"That's not entirely true."
"What?!" Malcom seemed to be as shocked as anyone else.
"Yes. Sorry I didn't tell you, Malcom." said Flintson. "I didn't want you to have a part in this."
"But…what did you do, Angela?"
"I used this towel to clean his blood. That blood is his. After that…"
"Yes?"
"Using that same escape route through the attic, I came here. I wanted to dispose of it, but I couldn't risk going through the main hall with that in my hands."
"So you came here to throw it away?" asked Edgeworth.
"Yes. But that's where the problem appeared. As I got down on the ground, Some people were walking by. I panicked. If they saw me with the bloody towel, I was finished. So, I saw the car. It was my only option then. I quickly stashed it in that pipe. Then I went back inside through the fire escape. I went in my dressing room and called Malcom. He came ten minutes later. All the rest of the story is true."
"Angel…you should have told me!" said Malcom. "I could have disposed of it!"
"You are not making your position easier!" said Franziska and whipped him.
"Uouch!"
"Not to mention…" said Edgeworth. "it's good you didn't get to dispose of it. Because we now have the evidence we need."
"Wait…what do you mean?" asked Kay.
"Think about it: the towel was put by Ms. Flintson into the car's muffle just after the deed was done, so to speak. The car was still here. In other words…Mr. Waterloo hadn't left yet."
"It's true." said Malcom. "He came to me to tell me he'd go see the suppliers. That happened literally just before Angel called me. After that, I never saw him again."
"So…by the time he got to his car…" said Franziska. "The towel was already in the exhaust pipe."
"And that's why he didn't leave!" said Edgeworth.
"Um…you've lost me." said Gumshoe.
"Me too." said Oliver. "But I got lost earlier, on the part about the…"
"We don't care!" said Levertington. "So, Mr. Edgeworth, explain yourself."
"Indeed. We are all dying to hear your tremendous theory." said Hotshot."
"It's not just a theory." said Edgeworth. "It's a fact. You know a car can't function with anything stuck in its exhaust pipe."
"Maybe he tried to fix it." said Kay.
"There is a toolbox in the waiters' room" said Franziska. "He went there to get tools to try and fix his car! Maybe that's when he started talking to himself."
"And the victim heard what he wasn't supposed to!" said Gumshoe.
"So…you are not hiding it anymore, are you?" said Hotshot. "You are accusing the manager of this club, the property of my client, of murder."
"Benedict…no, it's impossible!" said Levertington "I refuse to believe it!"
"You don't need to." said Hotshot. "The fact that they are so good at putting their hypotheses together to make them sound more elaborate doesn't make them any more credible."
"We have made a logical legal argument." said Edgeworth. "And it will be enough…as long as we dig out Mr. Waterloo and have a word with him."
"I'm telling you, he isn't here!" said Levertington. "He is with the suppliers as we speak."
"I have serious reasons to doubt that." said Franziska.
"Do any of you know where he might be?" asked Edgeworth. "If you don't, I'm sure a search if the club will be enough to flush him out!"
"You are wasting your time." said Hotshot. "You have no warrant and no probable cause. Which means you need my client's consent to search the place."
"And your request is denied!" said Levertington. "Your scenario makes no sense and Benedict is not here! End of discussion!"
"You are making a mistake!" said Edgeworth.
"No, I'm not. You are! He is most definitely not involved in the murder!"
"How can you know that?" asked Franziska.
"Yeah, pal! How can you know who is capable of murder?" asked Gumshoe.
"I understand you are friends." said Kay. "But sometimes people just cross the line and become criminals without even realizing it."
"So, help us find him and we can piece everything together." said Edgework.
"He's innocent I tell you. Look, I'll prove it!"
He took out his cellphone and showed them a picture stored in it.
"This is a photo me, Oliver and Benedict took together. Look at him and tell me if he's a criminal.
They looked at the photograph. Edgeworth, Kay and Gumshoe were shocked. Franziska wasn't aware of what they had realized.
"What the…" said Gumshoe.
"No way…" said Kay.
"I…I can't believe it!" said Edgeworth. "How was I so blind?!"
"What are you all fools blabbering about?" asked Franziska. "I demand you explain at once!"
"This man…is Benedict Waterloo? Are you sure of that?" asked Edgeworth ignoring Franziska.
"Yes, it's him. Why do you act like that?"
"Because we've seen that man...earlier today!"
"What?!" exclaimed Franziska.
"I questioned him about the moment the chandelier fell. Only he concealed his true identity. Instead, he presented himself as a customer by the name of…Gerald Taylor."
"He what?!" exclaimed Levertington. "Why…why would he do that?!"
"Do you believe us now?" asked Kay. "He is the man we are looking for!"
"I…I can't believe it!" said Levertington.
"Let's not get ahead if ourselves." said Hotshot.
"Mr. Hotshot…you are not still denying his involvement, are you?"
"All I'm saying is we all need to take a step back and think over the facts. Just because someone lied, doesn't automatically mean they are killers."
"Then why did he hide his true identity?" asked Kay.
"I can't help you there. You need to ask him personally."
"Then we shall!" said Franziska. "Miles Edgeworth, where is he?"
"He was taken down at the station to have his testimony written down. I hope we are nto too late."
"Too late?"
"Detective! Call the police department and have them bring that man here at once! Now! Before they let him go!"
"Yes, sir!" Gumshoe pulled out his phone and called the station.
"I just hope we are not too late." repeated Edgeworth.
…
Half an hour after that, Taylor was brought back to the club. Only this time, they knew who he really. Was. He didn't like being dragged there. Edgeworth, Franziska, Gumshoe and Kays stood at the front entrance waiting for him. Levertington, Hotshot and Oliver were behind the corner. Edgeworth didn't want Taylor to realize their presence right away. Flintson and Malcom were with them.
"Mr. Edgeworth!" he said. "I don't appreciate being dragged back here. I told you everything I know. I go the station and repeat my testimony so it can be written down. And after I'm finally done and can go home to my wife, they tell me you want to talk to me again! They put me in a car without my consent and bring me here! Why?! What more do you need?!"
"The truth, Mr. Taylor. I'm afraid you haven't told us everything."
"Yes, I have. I told you everything I know."
"Don't lie!" said Franziska. "We do not tolerate liars!"
"Who is she?!" asked Taylor. "And why is she holding a whip? Did you bring all the way back here so I can get whipped? Because I can leave without that!"
"We brought you here, pal, because your lies have been exposed!" said Gumshoe.
"So be quiet and don't make this harder in yourself!" said Kay.
"I have no idea what you idiots are all talking about!"
Right then, Levertington, Oliver and Hotshot came out, followed by Flintson and Malcom. Taylor was shocked when he saw them.
"Benedict, what are you doing?" asked Levertington. "I wanted to trust you, but you…"
"Hey, I know him! We took a photo with him!" said Oliver. "Hey, man, long time no see."
"For once, that fool said something useful." said Franziska.
"M…Mr. Levertington. I…I…didn't expect to…see…you here…" said Taylor trembling.
"So, as you can understand, the jig is up…" said Edgeworth. "Mr. Benedict Waterloo!"
Waterloo seemed shocked. He didn't expect to be found out. However he soon composed himself and turned serious.
"So you figured it you, huh? To be honest, I didn't see this coming. You have to admit, I had you all fooled. Even you, the genius prosecutor, fell for it."
"I admit, your performance was indeed impressive." said Edgeworth. "However, even the best performances must end."
"Indeed." said Waterloo. "So, now that you know the truth…can I go?"
"Wait, what?!" said Edgeworth.
"I mean, it's not like I commited any serious crime. I did give a false name, but that doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. If you still wish to charge me for it, go ahead. I can live with a few months in jail."
"Oh, you are going away for far longer than that!" said Franziska. "You killed Mr. Mark Terry Tory!"
"Yeah, don't think you are slipping away!" said Kay.
"Kill him? Yours truly?" asked Waterloo. "My, I have no idea what you are talking about. The chandelier fell on him, remember?"
"It seems you have no idea of the developments." said Edgeworth.
"What developments?"
"You see…Mr. Tory had been knocked out in the waiters' room by Ms. Flintson. She thought she had killed him. She called Mr. Bush for help. Together, they tried to make it look like he had been crashed by the chandelier."
"Ms. Flintson…a killer? I can't believe it!" Waterloo obviously feigned surprise. "I never thought she had it in her. Though I'm not surprised Malcom tried to help her. He is willing to anything for her. She really has him wrapped around her little finger."
"Hey, don't talk about her like that!" said Malcom.
"Don't listen to him." said Flintson. "He is desperate and sis trying to throw us off."
"Desperate? Me? Why would I be?" asked Waterloo. "You have blood on your hands."
"No, they don't!" said Edgeworth. "I said she thought she had killed him. In actuality, he survived. Before Mr. Bush arrived at the scene, someone else got there and strangled the victim."
"Ah, the third person is brought into play." said Waterloo. "And I thought only defense lawyer used those tricks."
I am sticking to the facts." said Edgeworth. "Someone else is responsible for the death of Mr. Tory. You, Mr. Waterloo! You killed him!"
"Surely you jest! I had no motive to do that!"
"Let's put the motive angle aside for now." said Edgeworth. "First, testify about your actions. What did you do tonight?"
"Very well." said Waterloo, who seemed perfectly calm. "I have no secrets. Let's get this over with."
Witness testimony
My actions tonight
I didn't do anything strange today. Just some routine work.
I wrapped up my other matters pretty quickly, so I ended up going to see the suppliers earlier than expected.
I got back and wanted to relax, so I sat to enjoy the show.
Suddenly, that chandelier fell in front of me.
I panicked and hid under the table.
You know the rest.
…
"So you did go to see the suppliers?" asked Levertington.
"I did, sir. You should be proud of me. I managed to secure a big supply of wine bottles for a very reasonable price."
"I see." said Levertington. He was disappointed, as he knew what was going to happen next. "What a shame."
"Wait…what?"
"Don't worry about him, Mr. Waterloo." said Edgeworth. "Just let me cross-examine you."
"I see. It's the same old story again."
"Yes. Only this time, the game is much more serious." said Edgeworth. "Let's get started."
Cross-examination
My actions tonight
I didn't do anything strange today. Just some routine work.
I wrapped up my other matters pretty quickly, so I ended up going to see the suppliers earlier than expected
Hold it: "I understand your suppliers are pretty far away from here." said Edgeworth. "You used your car to go there?"
"Of course I did. I only use my car. I detest public transportation and it's too far away to go on foot. The car is the only possible way of getting there."
"I see. In that case…could you add that statement to your testimony?"
"If you wish…"
I took my car and drove to see our suppliers.
Objection
"Mr. Waterloo, you didn't expect us to know this…" sad Edgeworth. "And I understand why. However, we know."
"Know what?"
"That using your car would have been impossible!"
"What?! How do you…"
Edgeworth presented the towel.
"This was found inside the exhaust pipe of your car. It had been stuffed in there."
"What?! Why would…"
"Ms. Flintson used this to clean Mr. Tory's blood." said Edgeworth. "And she hid it there, thinking it wouldn't be discovered. I believe you truly intended to visit your supplier as you were supposed to. However, Ms. Flintson stuffing that towel in its exhaust pipe threw a spanner in the works for you. You couldn't get it to start. You probably thought it was some kind of problem with the engine, so it never occurred to you to examine the tailpipe. Which is how this crucial piece of evidence escaped your attention."
"Wh…what's your point…" asked Waterloo, who started sweating.
"My point is this: you never went to the suppliers! You stayed here!"
"No, wait! You are wrong! I did go!"
"Now you are clearly lying!" said Franziska. "You said you detest public transportation and the distance is too great to go on foot. You had no other way!"
"Indeed. I did go by car. Just not my own."
"What do you mean?"
"Mr. Edgeworth, allow me to testify again. I can explain this for good."
"Very well. Go ahead."
Witness testimony
Not my car
I tried to go there with my car, but it wasn't starting up.
I thought it had broken down. I didn't have the time to fix it.
"So, I ended up having a member give me a lift there.
That's what happened. See?
…
"Why did you hide that earlier?" asked Kay.
"I was…ashamed. I didn't want people to know I had to ask a member of staff to drive me somewhere. Especially not Mr. Levertington."
"You were right. Using a waiter to give you a lift?" asked Levertington. "I'm not sure I like such a waste of my personnel's time."
"Forgive me, Mr. Levertington. It was necessary. Besides, the deal I stuck with the suppliers will more than compensate."
"I hope so."
"For now, let's see if your testimony will compensate for your lies." thought Edgeworth.
Cross-examination
Not my car
I tried to go there with my car, but it wasn't starting up.
I thought it had broken down. I didn't have the time to fix it.
Hold it: "It didn't occur to you to check the tailpipe?"
"Of course not. How could I have thought if that? Would you have thought to check the tailpipe of your car if it broke down?"
"Yes, but…I have my reasons for that."
"I don't think you are going to find anything noteworthy here." said Franziska.
"You are right. Carry on, Mr. Waterloo."
So, I ended up having a member of staff give me a lift there.
Hold it: "Who was it?"
"Just a waiter. Don't remember his name."
"But it couldn't have been Mr. Tory or Mr. Bush."
"I know. It was someone else. Someone you don't know. I let him go home after that. He deserved it."
"Hmm. A third waiter…" thought Edgeworth. "He must think we are stupid. But then again, how would he predict we would know about it? He thinks he's in the clear, but I'll give him a reality check."
That's what happened. See?
Objection
"Mr. Waterloo, now you are the one dragging the third person angle in here." said Edgeworth. "And unlikely ours, yours makes no sense!"
"Really?! Then tell us, why doesn't it make sense, you perceptive piece of scum?!"
"The truth is…there are is no third waiter. Mr. Tory and Mr. Bush are the only ones working the night shift today. And you already said neither of them gave you a lift!"
"Ghaaaaaa!" shouted Waterloo. "What's your point?!"
"My point is…you are lying! You never left!"
"I never left, hu? Care to prove it?!"
"So, if you call your suppliers, they'll say they saw you today?" asked Franziska. "Because it's not hard to find out!"
"Ooooooffffff!"
"And besides…" said Edgeworth. "A bunch of boxes filled with wine and champagne bottles is in the waiters' room. According to Mr. Bush, they arrived yesterday. Why would you need to negotiate another supply so soon?!"
"uhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"Benedict!" said Levertington. "What have you done?!"
"N…nothing! This is all lies! Lies!"
"It's not lies! It's the truth!" said Kay. "You killed Mr. Tory."
"That's right, pal! You were in there!"
"Really? Why?! If, as you are saying, I was getting ready to leave, why would I go back to that room?!"
"It's very simple." said Edgeworth. "There is a toolbox in there."
"Yes" said Levertington. "I saw it too. But what does that…"
"Mr. Levertington." said Franziska. "Please recall that this man thought his car had broken down. He didn't check the tailpipe, so he thought the problem was with the engine. If you were in his place, what would you have done?"
"Well...I would have examined the engine and used some tool to…"
"No…" said Waterloo.
"That's it!" said Edgeworth. "You went in there to get the toolbox! You needed it to try and fix your car!"
"All you have is conjecture after conjecture! You can't prove a thing!"
"I believe I can!" said Edgeworth. "But if you have a defense, I will gladly hear it."
"Fine! One more argument. That's all I need to take you down!"
"Me too." thought Edgeworth. "One rebuttal is all I need to take you down."
Argument
A bunch of baloney
You are seriously accusing me of murder? You have no proof.
Fine! I didn't go to the suppliers! My car wouldn't start up, so I had no choice!
I went back inside through the main entrance.
I tried to watch the show, but all then all Hell broke loose. That's it.
You accusation of me bring a killer is a bunch of baloney!
…
"So you didn't go to the suppliers after all?" asked Edgeworth.
"Yes! Thank you for exposing me in front of my boss! You are a great pal!"
"Hey, we are not your pals!" said Gumshoe.
"Not even your buddies!" said Kay.
"You still haven't explained one very important thing!" said Franziska.
"What?!"
"Why when they first interrogated you, you gave a false name?"
"I didn't realize those two bozos had made the chandelier fall. I thought it was an accident. If they found out I was the manager, they could hold me accountable. I wanted to avoid that."
"And yet, you've only ended up deeper in hot water." said Edgeworth.
"Just make you rebuttal and get this ridiculous show over with!"
"Gladly."
Rebuttal
A bunch of baloney
You are seriously accusing me of murder? You have no proof.
Fine! I didn't go to the suppliers! My car wouldn't start up, so I had no choice!
Hold it: "Why did you lie about that?"
"I didn't want my boss to know I had messed up. And yet, thanks to you prosecutors, he knows! I'm in trouble because of you and your annoying shenanigans!"
"You are in way more trouble than you think." thought Edgeworth. "Just give me a few more minutes and I will corner you for good!"
I went back inside through the main entrance.
Objection
"Mr. Waterloo."
"What now? Can't I finish my argument in peace?!"
"Not when you are saying so many paper-thin lies!"
"What did you say, scum?!"
"I mean, it's impossible you came in through the front entrance."
"And why?"
"Mr. Bush was standing there the whole time." said Edgeworth. "Isn't that right?"
"Y…yes" said Bush. "After Mr. Waterloo saw me, he told me he was going to talk to the suppliers. Immediately after that, I got called from Angela. I went in the room and saw the scene. I told her what we were going to do and ran back to the entrance before anyone noticed I wasn't there. I wasn't gone for more than five minutes."
"And you never saw your boss in the time you were standing at the door?"
"No. I didn't."
"Shut up!" said Waterloo. "No one is going to believe you, you dirty scumbag!"
"Don't you dare talk to him like that!" said Flintson.
Franziska whipped Waterloo.
"Be quiet! Or there are more lashes to come!"
"Th...That's no legal!"
"Neither is threating a witness!" said Edgeworth. "The truth is, Mr. Bush is more trustworthy than you right now. He was gone for five minutes. There is no way, you got to your car, saw it wouldn't start up, examined the engine and came back in that time. And he never saw you afterwards. You never went through the main entrance! You came in another way!"
"Really?! And what was that?!"
"Do you even need to ask?" asked Kay. "It's obvious. "You came in through the attic. You climbed up the emergency ladder, through the window, down the ladder and into the waiters' room!"
"You….insolent little brat! You can't prove that!"
"We can and we will, pal!" aid Gumshoe. Unidnneitified fingerprints were found on that window. You wanna give us yours so we can compare them?!"
"Grrrr…noooooooooo!"
Edgeworth was impressed.
"Wow! The investigative skills of those two have improved. I am so proud of both of them."
"Fine! I did come in through there! This still proves nothing!"
"What do you mean, nothing?" asked Franziska. "That places you right in the crime scene!"
"Ah, but here's the catch:" said Waterloo. "You cannot prove the victim was not already dead, nor that I killed him."
"Then how did you not see him?" asked Edgeworth.
"I was too distracted. I was thinking about my car. It constantly breaks. Down. I had no mind for anything else!"
"So you didn't even notice the body?" asked Kay.
"I didn't! There you go, your little theory has fallen apart!"
"Not so fast!" said Edgeworth. "We have the evidence we need!"
"Oh my God! When will you ever give up, you stubborn mule?!"
"Not until killers like you are behind bars!" said Edgeworth. "The evidence I hold can clearly link you to the crime!"
He presented the nail with the blood on it.
"What's that?!"
"This nail was found near to where the victim's body was. And the blood on it indicates the victim used it to wound the killer!"
"Or maybe it's just the victim's!" said Waterloo. "It's a possibility!"
"Maybe." said Edgeworth. "But one which can be easily disproven."
"What did you…"
"Detective! Send the nail for analysis at the crime lab! We shall know if the blood belongs to the victim soon enough!"
"Yes, sir!"
"This still won't prove it's mine!" said Waterloo.
"No. But I've noticed you have a band-aid in your finger."
"So?! it was from another time! I told oyu I got cut while making a salad! That's it! I certainly didn't get it from this nail!"
"We can find out: said Edgeworth. "That band-aid creates the probable cause we need to get your DNA for testing. Then a comparison at the lab will be child's play.
"Grraaaaaaaahhhhhhhgggggg!"
"Detective, do as I said." said Edgeworth. "The crime lab awaits the evidence!"
"Got it!" said Gumshoe. Gumshoe turned to leave. But before he could, a voice made him stop.
"No need."
It was Waterloo.
"What do you mean?" asked Franziska.
"No need to examine the blood. It is mine."
"We did it!" said Kay. "A confession, finally!"
"Oh, no, no, no!" said Waterloo. "This is not a confession. Not in the slightest!"
"What's that, pal?" asked Gumshoe.
"Yes, I did get injured with that nail. However, that was yesterday."
"Yesterday?!"
"Indeed. I got injured with that nail. That's why I have this band-aid right ow. I left the nail there."
"Nonsense!" said Franziska "Such foolish dribble! The victim wounded the killer with this!"
"And how do you know? Just because there is blood on it doesn't necessary mean it has anything to do with your murder."
"That…that's the lamest excuse I've ever heard!" said Gumshoe. "It's blood, pal! Of course it's related!"
"And if it's yours, I ties you to the crime!" said Kay.
"Can you prove when I was injured by it? If not, it's irrelevant!"
"Grrr! I…I need something stronger to corner him!" thought Edgeworth.
"Not to mention…you are still lacking something very important."
"What's that?"
"The murder weapon! You are saying I strangled him? With what?! Where's your damn evidence?!"
"He's right!" thought Edgeworth. 'The weapon still hasn't bene found. I must concentrate. Is there anything that could have served as a murder weapon? Anything at….wait…no…no, it couldn't…that's it!"
"Eureka!" shouted Edgeworth. "I have it!"
"Have what?"
"The murder weapon!" said Edgeworth. "All this time…it's been right here, in front of our faces!"
"What?!" shouted Gumshoe.
"It…" said Kay.
"Speak up, Miles Edgeworth! What is it?" asked Franziska.
"Mr. Waterloo…can you hand over your tie?!"
"What?! Are you insane?!"
"No. I noticed…when we first met, your tie was very creased and wrinkled.. You seem like a gentleman, so that fact seemed very strange."
"You…you can't be saying…" said Franziska.
"Yes, I am. You used your own tie to kill him!"
"You madman! You are out of your mind!" said Waterloo."
"Then had over your tie and let us examine it!" said Edgeworth.
"Never! You have no right…"
"Detective, get that tie!" said Edgeworth.
"Yes, sir!"
"N, don't come near me!"
"Don't try to stop me, pal!"
Waterloo turned to Levertington.
"Boss…do something! This is wrong! Make them shut up!"
Levertington seemed very torn. Eventually, he said:
"Give them your tie, Benedict!"
"What?!"
"I wanted to believe in you. I really did! But I feel I no longer know who you are! I want the truth! Give them your tie!"
Gumshoe wrenched it out of his neck.
"Got it!"
"Get it to forensics." said Edgeworth.
"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" shouted waterloo.
…
Eventually, the results were in. Waterloo had been squirming like a cat on a hotplate all that time.
"Sir! We got the results!" said Gumshoe
"Finally! What is it?!"
"The tie has examined. M. Waterloo's fingerprints, as well as the victim's saliva, have been found all over it."
"No…it…can't be…" said Waterloo.
"But it is!" aid Franziska. "You are finished, Mr. waterloo. And now, how about you save us al the time and break down so we can move on. I feel this has been dragging on for too long."
Waterloo clenched his fist. He then let out a scream so big it echoed all around Los Angeles. He screamed for so long, he ran out of breath, He then turned blue and passed out.
"No." he said, as he lay on the floor. "Nobody was supposed to know. Where…where did it all go wrong?"
"It went wrong when you decided to take another man's life!" said Kay.
"And thought you get away with it!" said Gumshoe.
"Now then.." said Franziska. "This has to do with the drugs, hasn't it?"
"Drugs?!" exclaimed Levertington. 'What are you…"
"Don't act like you don't know, Mr. Levertington." said Franziska. "You already know the manager of another one of your clubs has been arrested for drug trafficking.
"Yes, I know." said Levertington ."And, sadly for me, there were rumors I was the mastermind of the operation. Me?! How could I ever…"
"What happened Mr. Waterloo? Why did he have to die?" asked Edgeworth.
"I…" said Waterloo. "I didn't know he was there. After my car wouldn't start, I used the emergency ladder to get to the toolbox faster. As I did, I spoke out loud. How foolish."
"I figured as much." thought Edgeworth.
"I was complaining about my employer."
"The drug lord?"
"Yes! He doesn't pay me enough. Which is why I've been sutckj with that ancient car for so long. And in my utter stupidity…I said his name."
"And Mr. Tory heard it?"
"Yes, that fool!"
"You were afraid he would go to the police, weren't you?"
"That's not the issue. Mark…was also in on it."
"Mark…was involved with drugs?!" asked Malcom.
"Yes. But he didn't know the boss' name. Nobody apart from a few of us was supposed to know it. If anyone found out, we had been specifically told to silence them. So, when I saw Mark standing there, looking at me, having heard the damn name…I had to. There was no weapon nearby. I wasn't even thinking. I pulled my tie and tackled him. But he…he managed to grab that nail and wound me! Cruse him! He had to ruin everything!"
"I…I can't believe it!" said Levertington. "My own manager, who I trusted like family, a drug trafficker. It…it's…"
"I wonder about your role in this, Mr. Levertington." said Franziska.
"W…what do you mean?"
"There are too many suspicious things lurking around you and your businesses" said Franziska. "I wouldn't exclude the possibility of illegal activities."
"I assure you my client would never do that!" said Hotshot, "He is not a criminal, something to which I can attest!"
"Me too!" said Oliver. "He doesn't have a bad body in his bone!"
They all looked at him strangely.
"No, that wasn't it. It was…he doesn't have a bad bone in his skeleton. No, not that either…he doesn't have bad bones, or bad bodies…"
"What the hell is he trying to say?!" asked Franziska.
"He doesn't have a bad bone in his body, there I got it!"
"Mr. Waterloo is not the mastermind." said Franziska. "Nor was the other manager. Somebody just made them the scapegoats."
"Ms. von Karma." said Hotshot. "My client and I would appreciate it if you would take those accusation and direct them somewhere…not here."
"This is not over!" said Franziska.
"Why don't we ask him ourselves." said Edgeworth. He turned to Waterloo, who was being handcuffed by Gumshoe. "Mr. waterloo, can tell us who you are working for? What's that damn name?"
He didn't say anything.
"It's for your own good. If you cooperate, we can give you some leniency."
"I don't want leniency!" said Waterloo. "I just want to remain alive. Even in prison."
"If you help us, we will put you in witness protection."
"Yeah." said Waterloo, scornfully. "Graveyards are filled with protected people."
"You may be reluctant now." said Franziska. "But once I get you down on the station for a nice, long chat…"
"That's enough!" it was Mr. Levertington. "This is not the place to discuss the identity of a drug lord! Please talk about this elsewhere. I truly appreciate you help, all of you. And good job. However, I must now ask that you vacate the premises. I have a mess to clean up here."
"Mr. Edgeworth." said Hotshot. "I must admit…your performance was indeed inspiring. "I must congratulate you. You really did find the true culprit."
"See?!" said Kay. "And you doubted his abilities!"
"Yeah, pal! How do you like us now?" asked Gumshoe.
"Detective, Kay, be more professional!" said Edgeworth. "There is no room for celebration here. A man is still dead."
"Indeed." said Levertington. "And thank you for clearing this scandal up before it got blown out of proportion. Now then, We must bid you farewell. We have matters to attend to."
"God luck on your next endeavours." said Hotshot.
"And always look before you leap." said Oliver.
"How the hell does that tie in, pal?" asked Gumshoe.
"It…it doesn't. I just want to say something profound."
"Oliver! Keep walking!"
"Yes, sir!"
The three men left.
"I'll take this punk downtown." said Gumshoe. "See you later, guys."
"Good luck, Gummy!" said Kay.
Gumshoe left with Waterloo.
"Mr. Edgeworth." Said Flintson. "I want to thank you…the thought of killing a man…it almost drove me insane. Thank you…for proving it wasn't actually me. I can rest easily now . I don't think I would ever have slept again with that thought plaguing my consciousness."
"And I thank you too." said Malcom. "You saved Angela from prison and exposed that fraud! I appreciate it!"
"Thank you!" said Edgeworth. "But I couldn't have done it alone! Your help proved vital!"
"Glad to be of service."
"Thank you!"
"I just have a couple more questions for the two of you."
"Yes?"
"Ms. Flintson. What was in those letters? The ones Mr. Tory found? Why couldn't you let him expose them?"
"I…I'm sorry. I can't tell you that. It's a secret of mine. If it gets out, I…I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I understand. But there is something else. Kris Strings. Do you know him?"
"The singer? Yes, I had heard about him. He died recently."
"Yes, but…we found a note in his body. It told him to come here and meet the lady in the blue dress."
"M…me?"
"I think so. Do you know anything about that?"
She thought about it.
"You know…lately, I had been given an extra assignment by Mr. Waterloo."
"What was that?"
Once a month, he told me to go to the parking lot. A man would come there in a car. He would give me a package."
"Was it Mr. Strings?"
I...I'm not sure. Sorry. He had his face covered. But it could have been.
"Did the package contain drugs?"
"Maybe. I was to deliver it to Mark. I didn't know what he would with it. Bu seeing what we now learnt…it must have been drugs."
"Thank you. And you, Mr. Bush."
"Yes? What is it?"
"When you were posing as Mr. Tory, you wore a scarf with the insignia of an eagle. But the one you planted in his body was different. That was a basic contradiction that led us to unravel the whole case. But why did you do that?!"
"Well…that eagle…it's actually Mr. Levertington's sign."
"Wait…what?!" asked Franziska.
"Yes. He doesn't just own the Labanter clubs. That's his main business, but he has a few side businesses. One of them is the factory that makes those scarves."
"It is?"
"Yes. He puts that insignia, the eagle, on every products his side businesses make. But you won't find it in his clubs. I feared if the police saw the eagle on the scarf and found out its meaning…they might suspect Mr. Levertington."
"You thought that?"
"Yes. I didn't want it to happen. He is such a nice guy. And also, he gave me the scarf as a gift. He does that to all new employees. I didn't want to throw it away. That's why I switched them."
"Interesting." said Franziska. "Thank you very much."
"So what happens to us now?"
"Nothing." said Edgeworth. "Mr. Hotshot pointed it out earlier too. You didn't murder anyone. If it hadn't been for Mr. Waterloo, he would still be alive. If he was, he could have pressed charges for assault, but he isn't, so you are free to go. But the police will still want to question you. And you will be needed as witnesses in the upcoming trial. So don't leave the city."
"We won't."
"Thank you for everything."
They left the room leaving Edgeworth with Franziska and Kay.
"Woo-hoo!" exclaimed Kay. "Another day, another case solved! You were awesome, Mr. Edgeworth."
"Thank you, Kay. But you did well too. Without your help, especially the use of little thief, the case would have been unsolvable."
"Awww, come on! You are making me blush."
"I mean, it Kay. You should consider studying to become a police officer. You have a knack for this things and little thief can really breathe new life into the police investigations."
"Hmm. I'll think about it."
"And you too, Franziska" said Edgeworth. "You really helped. And I appreciate your assistance."
Of course you do! I was perfect after all!" said Franziska. "But…I cannot deny…you did most of the work. Well done, Miles Edgeworth. Perhaps you are worth of the von Karma name after all."
"My value I not determined by my name. It's determined by what I do. My actions make me who I am. And the same goes for you."
"What do you mean?"
"You are Franziska von Karma, prosecuting prodigy. What does that mean? It's up to you to figure it out. What do you choose to be? What do you choose to do?"
"I…" Franziska was not sure about the answer.
"You don't have to answer right now." said Edgeworth. "I'll give you time. I'm sure by the next time we meet, you will have found the answer."
"Right now, I am only hoping for one thing." said Franziska.
"What's that?"
"That I can get Levertington! I know he's the mastermind! I just need to prove it!"
"Franziska…" said Edgeworth. "Be careful.
"What do you mean?"
"You are obsessed with the idea that Mr. Levertington is the head of the drug trafficking. I'm not saying you are wrong, you may be right. However, you need to keep an open mind. That obsession of yours might cause you to overlook critical evidence…that could lead us to the actual mastermind."
"Ha! I don't advise form you of all people. I now my job! And now I have what I need."
"I think I know what you mean."
"You do?"
Edgeworth took out the threatening letter Franziska had given him earlier.
"This is one of the threatening letters you've been getting."
"I know. I gave it to you."
"On the top corner…there is an eagle. Just like on the scarf. The eagle which, as we just heard, is the insignia of Mr. Levertington's side businesses. That does look suspicious. Maybe you are right."
"Indeed. And not only that. I had seen that eagle again before that."
"Where?"
"The boxes with the drugs…the ones we recovered from the car accident in France…the had that same eagle on them.
"Th…they did?!"
"Yes. I'm telling you, he is involved. And with this evidence, I hope I can finally get my superiors to change their mind. Good luck, Miles Edgeworth."
"You too. And if you need help, we'll be here."
"I know."
She then walked away.
"So, what now?" Mr. Edgeworth.
"I don't know." said Edgeworth.
"Hey, it's too late now, but tomorrow you wanna go out for food with me and Gummy. It will be fun."
"Why not?" said Edgeworth. "After the excellent investigative skills you both showed today, you deserve it. I will gladly join you in a celebrative lunch tomorrow."
"Great!"
The two friends left the club, ready to tackle anything in their way, not realizing what they had already set in motion. Something they couldn't stop anymore.
End of episode
