"Sir! You think the owner of the diner did it?" asked Gumshoe.
"Maybe." said Edgeworth. "I don't know anything about him yet, but Marshall sounded pretty confident."
"Maybe he is right" said Kay. "I mean, aside from his whole…cowboy thing…he seems pretty serious .I don't think he would joke about something like that."
"I agree" said Edgeworth. "He must have had some evidence. Naturally, to say whether it is enough or not, we must see it for ourselves."
"Then what are we waiting for?" asked Kay. "Let's go!"
"Next stop: the dinner!" said Gumshoe.
…
They aske for directions to the diner and found it. As soon as they walked in. They saw only two people standing there. One of them was Marshall. The other one was a slightly obese man with a white chef's hat and an apron. He was holding a ladle and a knife.
"Ah there you are Pardners." he said ."Mr. Fricassee and me were having very interesting conversation. Glad you are here for it."
"Define interesting." said Edgeworth.
"I think you already know this, but Marla, our victim, worked here. She was a waitress. I don't think she and her boss over here were on very friendly terms. In fact, I believe they had a big argument a few days back.
"I am telling you, I don't know anything!" said fricassee. "Yes, Marla worked here, but I hadn't seen her in days. I have no idea where she went or what happened to her. But I know I had nothing to do with it! Tell your cowboy pal to stop accusing me!"
"First, let's hear his case." said Edgeworth. "What do oyu base your accusation on, sheriff Marshall?"
"Glad you asked. Come with me."
"Where?"
"In the kitchen. The answers are there."
"What?! You…you went in my kitchen?!" asked Fricassee and started sweating. He was nervously clinging the ladle and the knife together.
"You're darn straight!" said Marshall. "I snack in through the back door. Excuse me. I would have asked for your okay, but I wasn't confident you'd show me everything."
"Sheriff/" said Edgeworth. "You do realize that whatever evidence you may have found like that is inadmissible in court."
"That's right!" said fricassee, whatever you have up your sleeve is useless!"
"Hold your horses, everyone" said Marshall ."I didn't touch a single thing in there."
"What?"
"I merely observed everything with my eyes and noticed a few oddities. A taco is not rotten as long as it's not touched."
"Um…what?" asked Kay.
"I haven't touched a single thing. I will let you see them right now. They are still in there. And I'm sure you'll agree there is enough things in there to make one suspicious."
"Then lets' go" said Edgeworth.
"Wait, wait, wait!": said fricassee. 'Thi…this is my shop! You have no warrant to search my dho like that! I know the law! I have rights!"
"Good for you, pardner" said Marshall. 'But we are going in that kitchen. You can't stop an express train with branches .You need logs. And you go no logs."
"Um…now what does he mean, sir?" asked Gumshoe.
"He means that the chef cannot stop him from going inside." said Edgeworth.
"You don't get to tell a Texan what to do." said Marshall. "I'm not good with following orders. So, will you let us in? Or will the desperado have to draw at high noon!"
Fricassee seemed very scared.
"O…okay. Th…this way."
He led them to the kitchen.
"He seems really shaken." thought Edgeworth. "That's weird, because it means he understood what that phrase meant."
He opened the door. They all walked inside. The kitchen seemed very organized. The utensils, the supplies the aprons. Everything seemed perfectly in place The whole kitchen seemed neat and tidy."
"I don't see anything strange." said Gumshoe.
"Me neither." said Kay. "If anything, this kitchen is the cleanest I've ever seen."
"Indeed. I find I hard to understand what would make you find this place suspicious." said Edgeworth.
"Wait for it, pardner." said Marshall. "That was my first impression too. The sand takes time to settle after the storm."
"Meaning?"
"It takes time. After you start getting used to the kitchen's…unusually clean status…you begin to notice the flaws."
"Flaws?"
"They are hidden well, but I've spotted them. The eye that's been trained in the desert is the sharpest. You were not careful enough, Mr. Fricassee."
"W…what do you mean?"
"I won't spoil the fun. Mr. Edgeworth, I'm leaving this to you. You can spot the flaws. Look around."
Hmm. He seems to know what is wrong here." thought Edgeworth. "Now that I look at the room again, something does feel odd about it. But I need to look carefully. Not much room for error here.'
He began looking around. Kay and gumshoe also looked, hoping to find something.
"Do you see anything, Gummy?'
"Nothing at all. Maybe he's just been dirking too much cactus juice."
Marshall heard that .But he didn't get mad. He simply said:
"That will have to be seen after the final hand has been drawn. Poker is nto always about the cards, but about the bluff."
:So you were just bluffing?"
"Maybe."
"Are you bluffing again?" asked kay.
"Bluffs won't help you here." said Fricassee, who started feeling relieved
"I think…I see it." said Edgeworth.
"What do you mean, pardner?" asked Marshall.
Edgeworth was now standing in front of the counter with the knives.
"The knives here…they seem normal at first, mostly because they cover all the available spots. But it's wrong."
"What is?" asked Kay.
"Look here" he pointed. "The knifes hanged on the wall are separated in categories. The one with the blue handled, green handles, red handled and orange handles."
"Yes. Mr. Fricassee is kind of a perfectionist." said Marshall. '"He wants everything to be in order."
"But here's the mistake." said Edgeworth. He pointed to a knife with a red handle. "This knife…it has a red handle. And yet, it placed on the section where all the orange knives are. Since orange and red are similar colors, it's hard to notice unless you look carefully."
"Indeed. The devils' in the details." said Marshall. "Now then…I'm sure we are all dying to know why a man as passionate about order and cleanness as Mr. Fricassee would place this knife on the wrong place."
"I…it doesn't matter!" said Fricassee. "It is meaningless!"
"Meaningless? I hardly think so." said Marshall. "After all, there is a vacant spot on the red knives section as we can see. It almost feels like it was done on purpose."
"On purpose? What purpose would that serve?" asked Gumshoe.
"You lack imagination, Gummy" said Kay. "The questions is not why it was done. The question is: what would change if it hadn't been done. There is something that would not be good for Mr. Fricassee if he hadn't done this very thing."
"Ha, looks lie the little bambina has the draw on you." said Marshall.
"The only way to know." said Edgeworth. "Would be to remove the knife. That way we can see what would be different."
"NO, don't do it!" said Fricassee."
"Hmmm. I don't know why but that reaction is making me wanna do it even more" said Kay.
"I know, bambina!" said Marshall. "After all, if Mr. Fricassee has nothing to hide, there should be no objections here."
"Say no more!" said Gumshoe. He removed the knife from the wall and the secret was instantly revealed. There was a small reddish stain hidden behind is.
"Is that…"
"Blood. That's right." said Marshall. "I know that smell, stronger than the smell of adulterated wine! It seems there has been some nasty shenanigans in here."
"Wait…wait…wait!" said Fricassee. "The blood…it's mine!"
"Y…yours?"
"Yes. I…I got cut. I go cut with a knife and my blood fell on the wall."
"Hmmm. That does make sense." said Gumshoe.
"Yeah, it is possible." said Kay.
"You are seriously falling for that?" asked Marshall. "He has the worst poker face I've ever seen. Maybe you are not as great as I thought."
"What?"
"He's lying! He's lying like a coyote under the desert sun."
"Lying? I..I would never…"
"Then what is this?"
He took out a knife with an orange handle. And it had a small amount of blood on it.
"W…where did you…" asked Edgeworth.
"You…you said you didn't touch anything" said Fricassee."
"Nope. I said I never touched anything in the kitchen. This wasn't in the kitchen. It was outside, inside the dumpster. Thus, it was in public property and as the sheriff, I have the right to seize it. After all, it is a critically piece of evidence."
"I understand your logic." said Edgeworth. "However there is a large gap in it."
"Really? Fire away, what is it?"
"The amount of blood on the knife, as well as the one on the wall, is extremely small. I don't think it could have come from someone being killed."
"I never said that." said Marshall.
"What do you mean?"
"This blood is not the result of murder. Quite the contrary, it is the result of the victim's attempt to fight back against her killer."
"So, you are saying…"
"The blood actually belongs to Mr. Fricassee?" asked Gumshoe.
"And that Mr. Haik injured him to fight back?" asked Kay.
"You're darn tootin' I am! It's the only logical conclusion."
"But why would he kill her?" asked Edgeworth.
"Before we consider that, let's tackle another issue". said Marshall.
He pointed to a small notepad on a counter.
"What is that?"
"See for yourself." said Marshall. "I already know, but I don't want to spoil it for you."
Edgeworth approached and read a few pages.
"What does it say?" asked Kay.
"It appear to be some sort of…daily program." he said. "It appear to belong to Ms Haik, her name is on the front page. It is a diary and on every day she has listed her activities Work schedule, times for hiking. She had a full program."
"Bingo!" said Marshall ."Now then, Ms. Haik was missing for three days. Nobody thought to look for her. Mainly because they thought she had gone hiking and was maybe camping out there."
"A perfect way to cover it for a while." said Gumshoe.
"Yeah, everybody would take time to notice anything." said Kay.
"Yes. And who could arrange that?" asked Marshall. "Only someone who know of her program and when she was supposed to be away hiking. And you were in a perfect passion to know that, Mr. Fricassee, seeing as her plan has been left right here in your shop!"
"I..I never read that!" said fricassee."
"So if we examine the fingerprints ,we won't find yours?"
"Well…Maybe I skimmed through it once or twice. But…but I would never do anything of the sort! This is ridiculous!"
"mr. Marshall" said Edgeworth. "The evidence is not enough. If we are hoping to get any results, we need to get him to open up."
"How do you plan to do that?"
"I have my ways. Just let e handle him. Alone."
"Okay then. You are free to do what you need."
Marshall stepped behind. Edgeworth was left alone, facing fricassee. He imagined a chessboard as the one pawn and his king came into view.
"This man is very careful." thought Edgeworth'. "But he can get tripped up if put under too much pressure And there are only too pieces guarding his secret. Strange. I would expect more. Anyway, time to dive into this game."
Logic chess begin
"First of all, Mr. Fricassee, can you tell me about your relationship with Ms Haik."
"Th general employer-employee relationship Nothing strange."
"So you weren't close."
"Well…we talked about some things, but…no."
"Wy is that?"
"Well…she wasn't the most sociable person. She didn't have that many friends. That's why I tried to keep my distances, you know."
"I see. Now then, why do you seem so nervous."
"N...nervous?"
"See? You are literally shaking."
"Well…you are all accusing me of murder. This is not right! How can I be calm?"
"But if you are innocent, you have nothing to fear."
"Yes, but…you keep pulling out random evidence. You keep trying to use anything to accuse me of murder! Isn't this supposed to make me nervous."
"I can see your point." said Edgeworth. "But as long as you are innocent, you have no fear."
"O…okay."
"Now, can you help us?"
"Help you? With what?"
"Do you have any suspects? Anybody who might have wanted the victim dead?"
"No. No. Nobody would want her dead. She was great. That's why she had so many friends."
"Friends? But didn't you say she was not very sociable and didn't have many friends?" asked Edgeworth. "Are you lying to me?"
"L…laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
The first attack destroyed his pawn. Only the king remained.
"Now then, do oyu have anything tell me? Why did you go to such lengths to leave your relationship with the victim vague?"
"I…I just wasn't on friendly terms with her. She was a great person and very friendly, but…not all people match."
"That's true. But why would she keep working here if she didn't like you."
"She needed the money, clearly. And I never said she didn't like me. WE just weren't friends."
"So you talked?"
"From time to time?"
"About what?"
"About…a lot of things. Sports, fashion, politics…you know."
"Very well. How long had she bene working here.
"About two years. She had just finished school and needed the money. She was planning to go a big university in the city and need the income."
"What did she want to study?"
"I…I don't know that. It's not like we talked about everything. WE were working here."
"Is that so?" Edgeworth conjured a rook in his mind ."But didn't you just say you talked about sports and fashion and even politics. Between all those generic topics of conversation, you really wouldn't talk about her future career. You expect me to believe that?"
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggggggggggg!"
The attack flew past.
"I need to get closer." thought Edgeworth. "He is on his last legs."
"Okay, we didn't talk that much." said Fricassee. "You got me!"
"Why not admit it from the start? You are just making yourself look more suspicious."
"I…i…"
"Is it possible that she had a reason not to want to talk to you? That there is something you had done to her?"
"I…I could never hurt her. I…I loved her…"
"But love can lead one man to madness" aid Edgeworth. "Is that what happened here?"
"I…I didn't want to…"
"You didn't want to kill her? Is that what you are trying to say?"
"I…"
"Just tell me the truth. Then we'll know what we have to do. Did you kill Marla Haik? Yes or no?"
Fricassee lowered his head. Tears started coming out of his eyes. He then said:
"No. But I am not innocent. I cannot hold it in anymore. I have to tell the truth."
And with that, his king was shattered.
"That felt strange" thought Edgeworth. "He lost his king, but I didn't do anything. Did he…surrender? This feels unusual. But technically, it is checkmate."
End logic chess
"So, are you ready to spill the beans?" asked Marshall.
"Y…yes." said Fricassee, who seemed ridden with guilt. "She was…so beautiful. And I loved her. I loved her ever since the first day I met her. I was…so happy when she came here. I was so happy I could see her every day. I was hoping that, little by little, I could win her."
"But it didn't work, did it?" said Kay.
"No. She wasn't interested. She only saw me as a friend. One day, I told her how I felt."
"And?"
"She turned me down. Said I wasn't her type and he could never date me. "
"Ouch, that's rough" said Marshall.
"I know. Things got really awkward after that. She kept working here for the money, but…she didn't talk to me. I wasn't a friend to her anymore. Just a necessary evil. A guy she had to put up with to get money. I couldn't take it anymore. Which is why I decided to take aris hand make a move."
"Move?"
"I…I cornered here. I tried to kiss her."
"Kiss her?"
"I thought it would help her see me in a different way. To give me a chance. But it failed."
"She felt assaulted and grabbed the knife to defend herself." said Edgeworth.
"Natural reaction." aid Gumshoe. "I would have done the same.
"A wild animal never goes down without a fight." said Marshall. "That how you were wounded, right?"
"Yes. She ran away, taking the knife with her. I assume that's when she threw it in the dumpster. I…I feel terrible about it now. I never should have done it. I…"
"Quite the tear-jerker you've got there." said Marshall, who seemed unaffected. "A nice sob story indeed. But you're need something better than that to fool a sheriff."
"What do you mean?" asked Edgeworth.
"Let me make my positions clear, pardner: I still don't buy it."
"What?!" sad fricassee.
"How can you be so cold, pal?"
"I am not being cold. I just don't eat gullible soup! He tried to kill her and she fought back. Who's to say things ended there? Why isn't it possible things got out of control right in here and…"
"Sheriff, I think we need to talk about this" said Edgeworth.
"NO problem, pardner. I can take the heat."
"Then what are your arguments? I want to hear what your logic is."
"Very well. I will show you my logic. More resistant than a cactus under the burning Sun. More solid than a rock. More undeniable than…"
"We get it!" said Kay. "Just get to the point!"
"Right. No need to get all flustered, bambina.
Argument
The chef who lost control
it's clear what happened here. The chef's words tell the whole tale.
He was in love with Ms. Haik. He was determined to get her to love him back.
He was prepared. When she came that day, he would kiss her.
If she pushed him away, he was prepared to kill her. He probably had the weapon at the ready.
After that, he dumped her body at the desert, waiting for her to be found.
That's what happened.
…
"Hmmm. And you think that's really how things went down?"
"Darn certain. The evidence speaks for itself."
"The evidence itself is very flimsy. And his explanation seems perfectly logical to me.
"You need to learn to be more suspicious of people, pardner. If you believe anyone, people will just walk all over you."
"And if you don't believe anyone, you cannot get to the truth."
"The path o the truth ain't straight pardner. There are many roads there. Which one you choose determines what kind of man you are. What kind of man are you?"
"The one who is ready for a rebuttal." said Edgeworth. "Are you ready to repeat your argument?"
"I was born ready."
Rebuttal
The chef who lost control
it's clear what happened here. The chef's words tell the whole tale.
He was in love with Ms. Haik. He was determined to get her to love him back.
Hold it: "If he loved her, why would he plan to kill her?"
"Because she didn't. He couldn't stand the thought that she would be with someone else. That's why he wanted to kill her."
"Isn't that a bit farfetched?"
"Maybe. But is within the realms of possibility. It's not like there isn't precedent for this."
"That's a fair point." thought Edgeworth. "Love can indeed lead people to madness. But is that what really happened here?"
He was prepared. When she came that day, he would kiss her.
If she pushed him away, he was prepared to kill her. He probably had the weapon at the ready.
Objection
"Sheriff Marshall" said Edgeworth "Forgive me for saying this, but…your logic is completely unfounded."
"Explain yourself, son."
He presented the diary
"It's not your fault. After all, you didn't read through that diary of hers did you?"
"No, I told you that."
"That's why you missed this. Three days ago, when the events in question transpired…Ms. Haik had a day-off!"
"What?!" shouted Marshall. He was so shocked he felt as if he had been shot in the chest.
"It says it here. She had planned a full-day excursion in the mountains. She wasn't planning to come here!"
"Aarrrrrrrrrrggggggggggg!"
"But wait, sir!" said Gumshoe. "That creates a problem. A contradiction!"
"It does!" said Kay. "If she had a day-off and she wasn't supposed to be here…why was she here?"
"Um…" said Fricassee. 'It was because of that diary. She had left it here the previous day. She came that morning to take it back before leaving. That's when I decided to try my luck."
"There goes your theory, sheriff Marshall!
" said Edgeworth. "Mr. fricassee did not expect her that day. Three is no chance it was premeditated!"
"Hey, pardner, don't let your horse take you too deep into the desert" said Marshall. "That alone is nto that big a deal. Maybe he just di d it on the spot."
"On the spot?"
"Maybe my assumption that he had a weapon at the ready was off-base. Maybe he just strangled her with his own hands when she rejected him. Isn't that possible?"
"Is it, Mr. Edgeworth?" asked Kay.
"it is" said Edgeworth.
"Sir!" said Gumshoe. 'You…"
"I cannot deny it, detective. It is a possibility. But that doesn't matter."
"What?"
"Sheriff Marshall. It seems a critical fact has slipped your mind."
"And what is that, pardner? Let me tell you people at Texas have long memories."
"Remember what you told us over the phone earlier: the victim's cause of death is not known yet! The body is still being examined at the morgue!"
"Oh...that…" said Marshall.
"If that's the case, accusing Mr. Fricassee or anyone else is presumptuous and unacceptable. Until the mortician has made his verdict, the case will remain open!"
"N…nooooooooooooooooooooooo!" shouted Marshall. "My…my case…"
"Don't worry about it." said Edgeworth. "We explored this possibility and found a dead end. Now's the time to scrutinize this case from scratch. There is clearly more to be found."
Righ then, Marshall phone rang. The ringtone sounded like music from an old western.
"Oh, that's mine.
"hat kind of ringtone is that?" wondered Edgeworth.
"I feel like I'm about to be surrounded gunmen on horses!" said Kay.
"it's like a duel is about to take place." said Gumshoe.
Marshall had been talking to his pone all that time.
"Alright, pardner. Thank for the tip. We'll shot over there and see the gold ourselves. Later."
What gold?" asked Gumshoe. "Where's' the gold? Tell me where the gold is!"
"I think he is being metaphorical." said Edgeworth.
"Ah, crud!" said Gumshoe. "And I was really happy there."
"So, what's up" asked Kay. "What's the gild strike?"
"The mortician probably heard your prayers. He is done."
"He's done?"
"Yes. The morgue is near here. We can shot over there to hear the results. We can even look at the body. Wanna come?"
"You bet!" said Kay.
"You seem way too excited to want to see a dead body." thought Edgeworth. "But it will be good to finally make some progress."
To be continued.
