July 1st, 12:03pm
Hakari Inc. Headquarters
Hallway A: Finance Sector
"Franziska, wait!" Edgeworth tried to stop the arrest. "Who is this man?"
"He didn't have any form of identification with him, but this," Franziska ripped an employee badge out of her Organizer, "is fake."
Edgeworth looked at the name on the badge. "Clarence Samson Steven?" He looked up at the suspect. "Is this your real name?"
The man glared at him. "What, you have reason to suspect otherwise?" he asked, his voice full of scorn. "Police and prosecutors these days, think they know everything. Well they don't! Now unhand me and leave me be! I have done nothing wrong!"
"He's been like this since I found him hiding. I tested his badge on one of the door scanners, seeking access to a different part of the building. I tried it several ways, and what do you know? It failed." Franziska explained, a condescending tone to her voice. "Quite suspicious, if you ask me."
Edgeworth hated to admit it, but he agreed with Franziska. His complete and utter disdain towards the law enforcement certainly wasn't helping their opinion of him, and, while it may have been subtle, the way the man's eyes darted back and forth seemed to imply that he was more than just annoyed; rather, very uncomfortable with their presence. He was bound to be hiding something.
Had Franziska really beaten him to the punch on this one? Illogical as it was, he didn't want to admit it. He didn't want to be prideful, but he did want to be sure.
"Before he's removed from the building, I wish to ask him some questions." Edgeworth declared.
"And what for, Miles Edgeworth? He's an obvious suspect. Why not talk to him at the Detention Center?"
"Because I'm the one in charge of this investigation, in case you've forgotten. If I say I want to interrogate him before he's arrested, that's exactly what I'll do."
"Hmph!" Franziska brandished her whip, but didn't strike. Edgeworth couldn't lie: it felt good to be on the other end of this dynamic. Especially after he'd worked so hard to get investigative authority on his cases last spring. "You're wasting time, Miles Edgeworth! Don't be a fool!"
"I will run this investigation as I see fit. Thank you for your assistance, Franziska." He bowed to her, risking getting himself whipped in the process. Lucky for him, she seemed too mortified to do so.
Edgeworth used her silence to approach the new suspect. "Clarence, was it? Mr. Steven? I'd like to ask you a few questions about some recent events here."
"And I refuse to answer them!" He shook his head so fast, it was a blur. The man's neck was so thin, it looked like his head could fall off at any moment. Edgeworth wasn't sure what to do with him.
"He seems really angry, Mr. Edgeworth," Kay commented. "Maybe try talking to him a little bit to calm him down?"
Judging by his reaction to me, I may have to. This man has quite the bias against my profession. Did something happen to him?
If he was going to get anything out of this man, he was going to have to get through to him. The suspect certainly had no problem talking. Edgeworth wondered what the man would do if he were to have his words used against him.
"Very well, then. Let's approach this from a different direction. Mr. Steven," he gestured at the tall, thin man. "If you consider our suspicion of you to be misguided, I will allow you to speak in your own defense. If you want to prove us wrong, your time is now."
It was a challenge, and the suspect sensed it. He froze, eyes darting from side to side. The police officers repositioned themselves to prevent the man from beating a hasty retreat.
With no other option left to him, the suspect put on a shaky bravado. He combed a hand through his curly brown afro, and began his argument.
-Argument-
"There's Nothing to Say"
"You find me here with a faulty badge and suddenly think I killed somebody? That's crazy.
"I showed up while the building was quiet and empty. I wanted to go to my office, but my card wouldn't let me through the door. So I started looking for somebody who could let me in.
"While I was searching, I found a flashdrive on the ground. Nothing wrong with that.
"Before I know it, that whip lady over there is after me, claiming I must be responsible for everything.
"If that sort of insanity is all you need for an arrest, there's just nothing else to say. It's a disgrace."
Edgeworth quietly listened to the man's explanation, pausing to make sure the man was finished before speaking. "I'm glad to hear your side of the story. I'd like to respond to some of your claims, if you wouldn't mind."
His eyes went wide for a split second, then went back to darting around the room. "You can't make probable cause appear out of thin air by talking, you idiot. Do whatever you want."
"Thank you," Edgeworth bowed, completely ignoring the taunts. "Now if you wouldn't mind repeating yourself."
He snorted. "Not like I care."
-Rebuttal-
"There's Nothing to Say"
"You find me here with a faulty badge and suddenly think I killed somebody? That's crazy.
"I showed up while the building was quiet and empty. I wanted to go to my office, but my card wouldn't let me through the door. So I started looking for somebody who could let me in."
"HOLD IT!" Edgeworth called out. "When exactly did you arrive at this building?"
He shrugged. "A couple hours ago." Was he shivering? "What's it to you people?"
"You're going to have to be more specific than that, I'm afraid. What was the time on the clock when you entered the building?"
"After ten. I don't spend all day watching a clock, you know. Why would I?"
"So you claim you arrived here well after the murder took place?" Edgeworth asked, a pointed glare in his eye.
"Yes… wait!" He held his hands up, quivering. "I mean, it's not like I know when the murder took place, but I think it was after, or else there would be more people here."
He must have thought he was dodging a bullet with that remark, but he couldn't be further from the truth. Edgeworth saw the fear coursing through the suspect's veins. The man already knew he was cornered.
"Very well, then. Please add the time of your arrival to your argument."
"Um…"
"I walked in around ten am. I didn't mean to be so late, but I was really surprised when I showed up. Usually this place is crowded with people."
"OBJECTION!" Edgeworth flipped to the page in his Organizer labeled "Body Scanner". He shook his finger by his brow and smirked. "I'm sorry, Mr. Steven, but your claim doesn't check out. I have a record of everyone who entered the building since this morning. Nowhere on it is your card listed."
"Wait!" His eyes were bugging out now more than ever. His body vibrated like it was about to explode. "I didn't sign in, but… I know! I came in with someone else. That's what happened."
"And when was that?" Edgeworth questioned. "The only person to enter the building at the time you suggested was one Green Dyman, and he only had one guest at his side: a man who signed in as Kristoph Gavin. But I do believe you were telling the truth about one thing."
"What is that, sir?" Gumshoe, who had been watching their exchange with avid interest, asked.
"You did enter the building with someone else. And this security measure proves it!" Once again, Edgeworth called everyone's attention to the Body Scanner. "The device mentioned in this document isn't well known to the employees of Hakari, but it's a clever one. Not only does it mark who signs in, but it can also tell you if anyone else entered with them. And the person that this man entered with is…"
-Emil Ployei
-Cassandra Washington
-Green Dyman
"None other than our very first witness, Emil Ployei. And he entered Hakari around 8:00 AM, fifteen minutes before the murder took place. That's the only time you could have successfully entered the building!" Edgeworth pointed his finger at the suspect. "Admit it: you were here when the murder occurred!"
The suspect cringed, pulling on his head. "Aah! Delete, delete!"
"Not so unrelated after all, now are we?"
But Edgeworth knew it was a small victory, and naturally, Franziska was there to remind him of such a fact.
"Congratulations, Miles Edgeworth. You proved the obvious." Franziska's tone could not be more dry. "Now are you going to arrest him now, or must we suffer through more?"
"HOLD IT!" The suspect's interjection was more of a squeak than a shout, but it succeeded at getting everyone's attention. "Just because I s-showed up at a different time, doesn't mean I'm related to the case."
"You really expect us to believe this is all a coincidence, pal?" Gumshoe's eyebrows said it all.
"And the flashdrive you have on your person?" Franziska added. "Don't treat us like fools."
"Hm…" Edgeworth still wanted more information. And he might have just the way to get it out of this man. "If the man still wants to argue his cause, by all means, let him argue it. I just hope he'll be more careful not to lie this time around. Perhaps it's time he learned just what the right prosecutor is capable of."
"This is still a waste of time," Franziska insisted. "But let us hear it. The sooner he argues, the sooner it is over."
"Not a chance, whip lady." The man tried to remain brave, but Edgeworth could see him slipping. He took a few minutes, then put his argument together.
-Argument-
"Found by Chance"
"I came to Hakari to do something for a friend. He said he usually got to work on the early side, so I showed up early. Too early.
"Some guy saw me waiting outside and offered to let me in. I accepted.
"Next thing I know, police are running all over the place and all the doors are locked. Freaked me out.
"While I was running around, I saw someone drop something as they turned the corner. It was this flashdrive.
"But it isn't mine. I just found it by chance!"
Edgeworth paused to think. This argument was a bit different from the first one he heard. Unlike the last argument, Edgeworth wasn't sure he had anything direct to counter it with.
"So you simply wandered around for hours until the police found you?" Edgeworth wondered aloud. "If you really had nothing to do with the incident, why not come forward and say so?"
"Because I knew stuff like this would happen! You police officers are all the same."
Well, that wasn't helpful. It seemed Edgeworth was going to have to do a bit of talking before he could find a way to refute this man.
"...Very well. I am ready to respond."
-Rebuttal-
"Found by Chance"
"I came to Hakari to do something for a friend. He said he usually got to work on the early side, so I showed up early. Too early."
"HOLD IT! If you only came here to visit a friend, why do you have a non-functioning badge?"
"It's… uh…" He grimaced, clutching his head and letting loose a few computer terms. "Okay, I can't hide this anymore. I... used to work here, but then I quit. I refused to turn over my employee card, so Hakari just deactivated it."
Edgeworth wasn't sure if he bought that explanation, but he had other questions at the moment. "I see. Continue."
"Well…
"Some guy saw me waiting outside and offered to let me in. I accepted."
Hm… I'd ask Mr. Ployei if I could, but no one's seen him since this morning. If only this building wasn't so large.
"Next thing I know, police are running all over the place and all the doors are locked. Freaked me out."
"HOLD IT! You knew nothing about what had happened?"
"Not until the whip lady found me, at least." He threw his hands up, clearly frustrated. "Question after question, and if you don't answer in time, she whips you. I can sue, you know!"
"And yet no one ever does," Franziska replied, brandishing her whip. "You were being uncooperative, and I used necessary force to open you up."
The suspect scoffed. "I can't believe that's allowed."
"Can we get back to the topic at hand, please?" Edgeworth asked before things could escalate. He almost regretted pressing this statement.
"Hmph!"
"While I was running around, I saw someone drop something as they turned the corner. It was this flashdrive."
...Shady, but not something I can contradict with evidence. What else is there?
"But it isn't mine. I just found it by chance!"
Well, I can't just stand here. "HOLD IT!"
"What is it now?"
I was hoping to come up with a question while I was interjecting, Mr. Steven. I didn't. "Oh! Er… you say you just picked up the flashdrive and kept it."
"Yeah. What of it?"
I have no idea where to take this line of questioning. What should I ask him?
-Did you know what was on the flashdrive?
-Why not try to return it?
-What did the person look like?
"If you saw someone drop something, why didn't you attempt to return it? Most people would."
"Are you stupid! That guy's a hacker and a murderer! I wasn't giving him his stolen information back!"
For a split second, Edgeworth bought his explanation. But only for a second. It's what he'd been looking for all along.
"OBJECTION!" Edgeworth shrugged, shaking his head. "And so your argument ends with your own words. I hardly had to do anything."
"Wait, what?!"
"Don't you see? Earlier, you told me you knew nothing of the incident until my colleague found you. Now, you say you wouldn't give the flashdrive back to the one who supposedly dropped it because they were a criminal. Your explanations contradict each other. What do you have to say to that, Mr. Steven?"
The look of pure shock on his face was worth all the hassle it took to reach this point. It was priceless.
"Mr. Steven, I frankly don't care what your opinion of law enforcement is, but I suggest you start cooperating with us. The whole building has been searched, and you are the only intruder we have spotted. What are you really doing here?"
"I… I…" he buried his hands in his hair, shaking and shaking and trying to pull it out. He fell to the ground, heaving. "Ctrl, Alt, Delete! Ctrl, Alt, Delete! Noooooo…"
Edgeworth watched as the man rolled over on the ground. Kay had to step back to avoid being run into. After a minute, the man released his arms, panting on the floor.
"I… I knew I wasn't cut out for this. I swear, I just wanted to help."
"Help?" Kay asked, helping him up off the ground. "What do you mean, Mr. Steven?"
"...McLean. My name is Howard Terrance McLean, not Clarence Samson Steven." He looked like he wanted to cry. "The lady is right. My card is fake."
"So the foolish fool is ready to admit how foolish he was," Franziska purred. "It didn't take much, did it?"
-"Fake Badge" added to Organizer-
No, it did not. That confrontation finished almost suspiciously quickly. But no matter. "Mr. McLean, I recommend you tell us what you know."
He sniffled. "It all started a few months ago. A bunch of news stories started coming out, and I… I wanted to do something about it. I wanted to find justice where the courts were too corrupt to. I... I spend all my life online. Guess I was bound to run into them sooner or later."
"Toukai, you mean?" Kay asked.
He nodded. "This guy approached me. Told me his name was Connor Piler. He asked me if I wanted to join. It took a really long time to get initiated, but I was finally in a few weeks ago. A man named Javelin Skript trained me."
"Do you know if Connor Piler or Javelin Skript were the Toukai members' real names?"
"What? Nuh uh!" He was back to his indignant self. "I'm only confessing to you coppers because I have no way out. I'm not about to drag people down with me! You want to hear this or not?"
Hm… do I push for more information, or leave him be?
-Push him for information about any accomplices
-Let him continue uninterrupted
...Even if I remain silent now, he can always be questioned after his trial, or be offered a plea bargain. Plea bargains require a lawyer, however, so it's best I stick with what I have.
"Very well, Mr. McLean. Please explain your role in this incident in full. Leave nothing out."
"Yeah, yeah…" he sighed, fingers tapping on his skin in a keyboard-like pattern. "Hacking Hakari was my first assignment. I staked out the building for a few days, and decided the best time to strike was at the end of the night guards' shifts, but before lots of employees arrived. Plus I needed a way in."
"Did you ever work for Hakari?"
"...No. Like I said, the badge is a fake."
"Noted."
-Non-Employee Hacker added to Logic-
"So you used a fake badge to trick Mr. Ployei into letting you in?"
"Yeah. Guy always showed up at the same time, and happy! What a weirdo. But he did let me in. And when I turned to the financial wing, he didn't follow me. I didn't know there was more security than that!"
"Wow. This is your first break-in," Kay commented drily. "From one thief to another, you should always expect security measures you don't know about. No way a place like this is going to put forth a minimum effort! Why, just last week, I was re-"
"Thank you, Kay." Edgeworth silenced her before she could say anything incriminating, then turned back to the confessed hacker. "So you were in the building. What did you do next?"
"I followed the signs to the financial wing and looked for the director's name."
"Ms. Washington's?"
"Yeah, hers. Thanks to earlier attempts to hack her from outside the building, I knew where I needed to go to get the files. I logged in, remembered to pull out Toukai's calling card, and got to work. Their new system was a breeze to get through."
Maybe Mr. Dyman has a case against FileLock after all. Not that it helps my investigation.
"Everything was going right according to plan until…" he gulped, "until…"
"Until Mr. Atrol showed up."
He nodded, face going pale. "He burst in right as I was finishing up. I didn't have time to safely eject, so I grabbed my flashdrive and ran for it. I made it all the way to this hallway before he caught up with me.
"I was scared out of my wits! He was huge, and he was coming right for me. I was about to run and hide in the closet when I tripped. He… he caught up with me. I tried to fight him off, but the knife flew out of my hands. And then… and then I…"
Here it comes. The final piece of the puzzle, the most important part…
"And then I passed out."
Kay's mouth popped open. Gumshoe pulled back, arms up by his chest. Franziska wrapped her arms around herself, flinching.
And Edgeworth? Edgeworth recoiled like he'd touched an electric fence. How could this be?
"You-"
"Didn't…"
"K-Ki-"
"Kill him?!"
"You fool!" Franziska lashed out with her whip, striking the hacker at least twice before Edgeworth could intervene.
"Franziska! I'm as shocked as you are, but we can handle this rationally."
"Why would you confess to one crime, but not the other? It's obvious whoever hacked Ms. Cassandra Washington was the-"
"Maybe we're wrong about that, Franziska." Edgeworth wasn't sure where he was going with this, but the idea was worth entertaining, if nothing else.
Franziska was having none of it. "What is it, Miles Edgeworth? You're going back on your own logic now?"
"Wasn't it you who said this to me earlier?
"You assume Mr. Owen Atrol was killed by the same man who hacked into the company, but where is your proof?"
Franziska tutted. "And weren't you the one who argued I was being ridiculous, Miles Edgeworth? Why would you turn back on your own logic?"
"Hey! Are you prosecutors gonna bicker among yourselves, or are you going to listen to me?"
They turned back to face Mr. McLean, who was thoroughly red in the face. "If you want to charge me with a murder I didn't commit, you should at least let me speak in my own defense. Isn't that right, Prosecutor Edgeworth? Or does that only apply when you need something to charge me with?"
Edgeworth shook his head. "No, it does not. And very well. We will allow you to argue your case one last time." He shook his finger, smirking. "Best make it good."
"Oh, you bet I will!"
-Argument-
"I'm Not the Killer"
"I admit to the hacking. But I didn't kill that guard!
"First of all, look at me! You think a scrawny guy like me can overpower that hulking monstrosity?
"He had me pinned down! No way I overpowered him. And it's true what I said earlier.
"After he chased me out of the director's office, I tripped. I pulled my gloves off and tried to fight back, but he knocked me out.
"All your proof against me involves the hacking! Are you so desperate for a win you'll throw in an extra charge for no reason?
"See, this is why no one likes the police. They always arrest you wrongly, and even when they're right, they overcharge you. If you ask me, you all are the real criminals!"
Edgeworth was getting really tired of the man's assault on law enforcement. A few bad apples should not be the spokespeople for an organization of thousands. He would show this man the true nature of the police force, from investigation to arrest to trial to sentencing.
"Let me guess. You want to 'respond' now?" Mr. McLean crossed his arms. "Good luck. I'm not lying this time."
"Hm. We'll see about that."
-Rebuttal-
"I'm Not the Killer"
"I admit to the hacking. But I didn't kill that guard!"
"HOLD IT! That makes no sense. Why would you admit to one, but not the other?"
"Maybe because I committed one, but not the other?" He wasn't shaking anymore. What was giving him this new bravery? "Ever think of that?"
"But every other witness we've questioned didn't have the opportunity. Only you did."
He shrugged. "Opportunity is useless if you don't have the means. And think about it:
"First of all, look at me! You think a scrawny guy like me can overpower that hulking monstrosity?"
"HOLD IT!" Edgeworth pounced before he had a chance to think. "You have a far smaller frame than the victim, I'll give you that. But that doesn't render you incapable of murder."
"Oh yeah? And how would I do it? I didn't have a gun. My knife flew out of my hands when I was trying to use it, and the guy was on top of me! Surely you've noticed the problem here? If I killed the guy from where I was, he would have landed on top of me!"
"That did come up in our investigation," Edgeworth admitted, thinking about the piece of Logic he'd acquired. Even with the discovery, something was still off about this scenario.
Mr. McLean is the Non-Employee Hacker… which invalidates the possibility of a Double Agent. There's a connection here, if a contradicting one.
"At first, I believed the camera wires were cut because the hacker was an insider wanted to get away. Are you saying that was all an accident?"
"My knife slipped out of my hand! I don't know where it went. And what's this about cameras?"
Kay had never looked more embarrassed in her life. "Oh, you are not cut out for the hacker lifestyle."
"At least we can safely say this is your first time breaking into a secure facility." Edgeworth threw the two pieces of Logic out of his head. "Please, continue."
"Fine. If you're done insulting me...
"He had me pinned down! No way I overpowered him. And it's true what I said earlier."
I already asked about this…
"After he chased me out of the director's office, I tripped. I pulled my gloves off and tried to fight back, but he knocked me out."
"HOLD IT! You removed your gloves during the struggle?"
"Yes, I have them right here." He pulled two black gloves out of his pocket while Edgeworth tried to think back to the security footage. He'd seen gloves when the intruder ran up, but he couldn't remember if the gloves were on the whole time. How did he miss this?
-"Black Gloves" added to Organizer-
Edgeworth had no choice but to accept Mr. McLean's statement. At least, until he went back to the Control Room and checked. "Did you put them back on after that?"
"No."
"But wait a minute, pal! That doesn't make any sense."
"What is it, Gumshoe?" Edgeworth was surprised. Gumshoe had been silent for quite a while.
"Well, remember when you and Prosecutor Von Karma were arguing about Mr. Ployei, sir? The way you proved Ployei couldn't have done it was the murder weapon. It didn't have any fingerprints on it!"
"But if Mr. McLean had removed his gloves to get a better grip on his knife, he would have had to put them on again to not leave prints on the murder weapon!" Edgeworth finished, then cringed.
"...No way."
Edgeworth couldn't believe it. Had he really lost this argument?
"See? I told you, and your own detective proved it! I can't be the killer!"
-"Army Knife" updated in Organizer-
"Not necessarily," Edgeworth made a last ditch effort to win. For pride's sake. "We couldn't see any camera footage after your botched attempt to stab the victim. For all we know, you put your gloves back on."
"You really think I had time to put my gloves on with a three hundred pound guy raging on top of me? You've got to be kidding me!"
"He has a point, Mr. Edgeworth." Kay, of all people, spoke up. "He's clearly not an experienced thief, and it doesn't sound like he knows how to fight either. You really think he could get away with all that under the victim's nose?"
"...Well, if he didn't kill the victim, who did?" This was driving Franziska nuts. On one hand, she's caught the culprit. On the other? They weren't even close.
"Don't look at me!" Mr. McLean shook his head at warp speed as he was handcuffed. "When I came to, I was nowhere near the crime scene!"
"But how? Why would the real killer move you?"
McLean paused. "...I've said all I'm going to. That was my part in this crime, and that's all that I know."
What was it he said earlier?
"I'm only confessing to you coppers because I have no way out. I'm not about to drag people down with me!"
Somehow, Edgeworth suspected this man had more information than he was letting on. But after such a brave show in his arguments, Edgeworth wasn't sure an extended questioning period would get him the information he needed. It would be faster to investigate himself.
"So you believe this man, Kay? You think he hacked Ms. Washington, but didn't kill Mr. Atrol?"
Kay nodded. "His argument makes sense. I know you want more solid proof, but right now, I don't think we have enough either way."
Edgeworth smiled ruefully. "What you're describing is called reasonable doubt. It isn't used much in cases anymore, but it can be exploited by defense attorneys to construct an alternate theory of the crime scene. Which Mr. McLean demonstrated rather well once he gained his courage."
He wouldn't admit it, but that last argument had brought Edgeworth back in time to years ago, when he first found his match as a prosecutor. The man in the blue suit had been his undoing temporarily, but it had been quite a ride. "Detective, your thoughts?"
"I don't know, sir. Did he really take his gloves off in the security footage?"
"Well well well, it all comes back to the cameras," Franziska broke in. "The knife belongs to Howard Terrance McLean, no? It would bear his fingerprints whether he took his gloves off or not."
Franziska was right. If Mr. McLean was lying about removing his gloves, the most decisive piece of his case was out. It was either the truth, or an incredibly clever lie.
But if the Events of the Struggle were as Mr. McLean says… the Victim Over Killer Contradiction could exonerate him. It's all connected.
"We need to watch the security footage one more time. Without it, our case will be murky no matter which way we argue."
"What are we waiting for, then? To the Control Room!" Kay took off before anyone else could say anything.
"Prosecutor Edgeworth, sir?" the police officer restraining McLean piped up. "Should the suspect come along?"
Edgeworth thought about it. "Yes. He deserves to know what he'll be charged with when he goes to court."
July 1st, 12:56pm
Hakari Inc. Headquarters
Control Room
"Mr. Prosecutor? What are you doing back here again?"
Stan Gardems was still here, it seemed. Good. Though he imagined the man was quite tired by now. "A few things. First of all, I need to send a messenger to Mr. Ployei. I'll be gathering his testimony for trial in a short while. Do you know where he is?"
"Yeah, he's hanging out near the entrance. See?" Gardems pointed to a monitor in the room. Edgeworth sent a police officer to inform the man. "Wait... trial? You mean, you found the man who killed my boss?"
"Not exactly." Kay crossed her arms. "We need to see the footage of the crime scene one more time."
"And after that, we will collect it as evidence, Mr. Stan Gardems." Franziska wasted no time. "Can you put it on a CD for us after?" She'd noticed earlier that the facility didn't use video tapes.
"Sure," Gardems replied, pulling up the footage everyone had seen before. "Ready for me to press Play? Do you need any other CDs? I can record everything from today on a few, if you- ow!" He was whipped.
"Just play it."
He gulped. "Yes, Miss Prosecutor."
And the video played once more. This time, Edgeworth was careful to keep his eyes on the hands. When Mr. McLean ran on screen, they were clearly covered with black. But when the victim arrived and a struggle ensued, it became hard to tell. Right as the last frame of footage played, Edgeworth ordered Gardems to pause the video.
"Look at his hands and tell me what you see."
Kay pushed her way to the front to get a closer look. "They're… white!"
"Skin colored, you mean," Edgeworth corrected his young assistant. "It would seem Mr. McLean was telling the truth."
"I told you!" came a voice from behind. It was Mr. McLean, who was struggling against his arresting officer to go up to Edgeworth. The police officer looked nonplussed by his efforts.
"Who is that?" Gardems asked.
"One of the men in the video," Edgeworth explained. "But as we all can see, he was not the one to kill the victim."
"But… but he was right there!" Gardems argued, pointing at the screen. "This guy! Wait… where did your clothes go?"
"I woke up without them on. It was just a jacket and a black hat anyway."
"But if the man right here didn't kill Mr. Atrol, who did?"
Hm… a fair question. Emil Ployei is the first to come to mind, but his fingerprints aren't on the murder weapon, not to mention he had neither gloves nor motive. I suppose Ms. Washington could have run up to the two men, but you'd think that would have shown up in the security footage if she came after them.
Wait… the security footage! "Mr. Gardems. There's one other thing I need to examine. There's one more thing about the new sequence of events that still doesn't make sense."
"What doesn't make sense?"
In McLean's final argument, he made a statement that I didn't question at the time, but that I've been questioning this whole investigation. And the issue lies with…
-the office he entered
-who chased who out
-Hakari's secrets
"In Mr. McLean's final stand, he insisted he was chased by the victim out of Ms. Washington's office. But in Ms. Washington's testimony and the security footage, it's the other way around!"
"You mean there's still more to this contradiction?" Kay groaned. "One didn't just pass the other in the hallway or something?"
"Can you prove that was the case? If not, I'd like to continue investigating. So far, this contradiction is the only thing that's remained constant in this investigation."
Gardems sat back down at the computer. "So, what do you want me to do about it? Do you want me to play the video again?"
Edgeworth nodded. "Yes, please."
Everyone watched as Gardems rewound the footage. He ended up going a little too far and had to press fast forward. They were almost to the moment Ms. Washington saw when-
"Wait, what was that?"
"Huh?" Gardems paused the footage, going back frame by frame. A skinny man in a black jacket, hat, and gloves was seen running out of the door. When Gardems pressed play, they saw Atrol chasing after him…
Plus a third man, dressed completely in black. His build was stockier than McLean's, and he kept his face down the whole time.
"...There was a third man?"
"How did you not see this before, pal?!"
"I don't know!" Gardems was turning red. His taser fell out of his pocket. "I just… skipped past it on accident."
-"Security Footage" updated in Organizer-
"I can believe that happening once, but multiple times?" Edgeworth narrowed his eyes. "Are you trying to hide something from us?"
"What?! No!" Gardems was freaking out. "I swear, I'm not the guy in the video. I was in this Control Room the whole time until I saw the struggle. Here, I can prove it."
Before anyone could say anything, he pulled up footage from the hour before the murder showing Gardems entering the Control Room. As he scrolled through the footage at the way to eight fifteen am, the only time Gardems left was at the very end.
"So it wasn't you, and it can't be Washington or Ployei. What about your shift partner?"
Gardems thought about it. "I had to call Meekins in from another area of the building when the murder happened, and he approached from the opposite direction. I don't think so. Need me to find the footage?"
"Not at the moment." Edgeworth was lost in thought. If it wasn't any of those four, who could it possibly be? No matter how many times he racked his brain, Edgeworth couldn't think of anyone else who'd been in the building at the time. Not even from the moment he walked in.
"It seems there's one more suspect in the building at this time. One more man who remains unaccounted for."
"Still hiding in the shadows, is he? Well hmph!" Franziska brandished her whip with gusto. "I dug one criminal out of this building's depths. I can find another. Even if I was hoping to approach this case from a different angle." She cast a meaningful look at Edgeworth.
"For the last time, I'm not telling the whip lady what's on the USB! Those files were meant for Toukai!"
And with McLean's statement, he caught on right away. "If you want to go over testimony with Ms. Washington, I'm sure she'd be happy to assist the investigation. We're getting down to the wire, here."
"Well, isn't that good to hear!"
The door burst open, letting two more men into the already crowded Control Room.
Ah, just the people Edgeworth wasn't hoping to see.
"Mr. Dyman, Mr. Gavin. How go the civil suit preparations?"
"We've collected all the necessary evidence, I believe. All that's left is for my client and I to contact the courthouse and request a date. That said, I do hope FileLock will find it in their best interests to seek a settlement outside of court. They likely know how damaging this will be for their company."
"And that's exactly why I don't want them to settle! I want them to feel the media attention and pressure and scrutiny that Hakari is already getting for being a target of Toukai! You!" Dyman turned his attention towards Edgeworth. "Tell me you've figured out who's responsible."
"For the hacking?" Edgeworth asked. "That man is already in police custody. As for the murder…"
Dyman waved the thought away before Edgeworth could finish. "Oh, murders happen all the time! No one bats an eye at those anymore! Hakari's insurance providers will give the guard's family some money and no one will look twice. Now a hacking, that's what gets people's attention. That's what's put Hakari in the news and buried us in bad press right before the big convention! I was just telling two of my employees about this in the entrance area, and they agree. For the sake of my boss and this company, I want to declare this business resolved immediately. Tell me I can do that."
Why did Edgeworth had to be the bearer of bad news? "Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Dyman, but this investigation isn't over just yet."
"What the-" Was he turning purple? That… didn't go well with the man's green suit. "How are you not done? You have had all morning and lunchtime! I have hundreds employees out there who have work to do that they won't finish in time and it's all your fault!"
"With all due respect, Mr. Dyman, I believe someone's life is bigger priority than a company deadline."
"Sure, I might have agreed with you. Five hours ago. If you worked for me, you wouldn't last a day, punk! Hakari has been generous enough to put this building on lockdown for you, but clearly that wasn't as helpful as I thought it was going to be. My subordinates need to get to work, and they need to do it now."
He whipped out his cell phone. Edgeworth feared for the worst. "Mr. Dyman, please. We still haven't captured your employee's killer. If you let people enter the building, the murderer could escape in the crowd."
"Come now, Mr. Dyman," Gavin soothed. "Mr. Edgeworth is a well known prosecutor for good reason. I'm sure he's almost done."
Dyman scoffed. "You sure, Mr. Gavin? Because I'm not impressed."
"I assure you Mr. Dyman. This isn't something you want plaguing the company later."
Was Mr. Gavin helping them? Edgeworth certainly hadn't expected that.
The blonde lawyer whispered something into his client's ear. They all waited for the man's response.
"...Bah!" He threw his hands in the air after putting his cellphone away. "You all have one more hour. After that, the only thing you can block off is the crime scene itself. I know the law. And I'll be watching that clock. Gavin!"
"Just a minute. Mr. Edgeworth wants to thank me." The prosecutor and attorney watched as Dyman stormed out of the room with a huff.
Gumshoe was the first to break the silence. "Well, that was-"
"Just in case you take after your old rival, I have some information for you." Gavin focused his eyes squarely on Edgeworth. "I have been with my client since almost eight this morning. Both myself and the Hakari CEO can testify to his alibi."
"Thank you for the tip, Mr. Gavin. Be sure to send your brother my regards on his first tour." Edgeworth didn't care for the man's brother, but it sounded polite.
Unfortunately, the attorney saw right through him. "I'll send them to someone else, if you'd like. I do seem to be the only person he's talking to nowadays."
Edgeworth was careful not to react to the implications of that statement. "That would be most helpful. Now I wouldn't want to keep your client waiting."
"Nor your investigation. Good luck with the final stretch."
The room was silent as the blonde lawyer left. This time, it was Kay to speak up.
"Wow. That is the politest stand off I've ever seen. What's going on with you two?"
Nothing. Or so Edgeworth thought.
Not that it mattered. He had more important things to do.
To be continued…
Organizer:
Profiles:
Miles Edgeworth
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Description: Me. What else can I say? Currently High Prosecutor for my local district.
Detective Gumshoe
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Description: A homicide detective, one of the many assigned to this district. How I nearly always end up working with him, I cannot say.
Franziska Von Karma
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Description: ...Franziska. How else can I describe her? Last I heard, she was an international prosecutor, overseas on a case with Interpol.
Stan Gardems
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Description: A security guard, one of the three assigned to guarding Hakari Headquarters at the time of the murder. Was watching from the Control Room when the murder occurred.
Owen P. Atrol
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Description: Senior security guard at Hakari, was in charge at the time of the murder. Was electrocuted with his own taser by an intruder to the building.
Emil Ployei
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Description: Relatively new employee to Hakari Inc., working as a junior software developer. Was suspected of the murder by company security because they found him hunched over the body.
Cassandra Washington
Age: 39
Gender: Female
Description: Head financial advisor for Hakari Inc. Had her computer hacked directly before the murder by intruders to the building.
Kay Faraday
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Description: My self-styled assistant, best known for her claim of being the second Yatagarasu. Was supposed to be attending a college tour when she appeared on the crime scene.
Toukai
Age: ?
Gender: ?
Description: A vigilante hacking organization, potentially consisting of several individuals. Has publicly taken responsibility for the hacking attempt.
Green Dyman
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Description: Assistant of the Hakari CEO. Quite high strung and difficult to talk to. Is seeking to pursue a civil suit against Hakari's cybersecurity company, and arrived after the murder.
Kristoph Gavin
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Description: A defense attorney, known for staying calm during his trials. Is helping Mr. Dyman with his civil suit. Arrived on the scene after the murder.
Howard Terrance McLean
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Description: A young, easily angered intruder found by Franziska Von Karma. Has confessed to the hacking and Toukai membership, but is unlikely to be the murderer.
Evidence:
Prosecutor's Badge
Type: Other
Description: My badge. It allows me to do my job, and is to be kept in my pocket at all times.
Taser Marks
Type: Evidence
Description: Area where taser came into contact with the victim's clothing. Left slight burns.
Crime Scene Photo
Type: Evidence
Description: Body was found face down on the floor with minimal injuries. Appears to have been attacked from behind with a taser. Check
Search Report
Type: Evidence
Description: After company security discovered the body, they conducted a search of the entire wing, finding no one but Washington. However, there is a chance it wasn't thorough. Check
Victim's Taser
Type: Evidence
Description: Taser issued to Owen Atrol as a defensive weapon. Killed him when it was used behind his back. No prints found.
Security Cameras
Type: Evidence
Description: Capture surveillance footage from various places in Hakari Headquarters. All footage can be viewed live from the Control Room.
Hacking Attempt
Type: Evidence
Description: Directly before the murder, an unknown hacker was attempting to forcibly enter Washington's computer. After hacking occurred, the vigilante group Toukai took public responsibility for the attack.
Preliminary Autopsy
Type: Evidence
Description: Victim died of electrocution from a single taser blast at approximately 8:15am. Check
Washington's Testimony
Type: Evidence
Description: She saw the intruder and the victim run out the office as she approached. The intruder was chasing the victim, and had a hood covering his face. Also describes how finances are handled in the company.
Hacker's Flashdrive
Type: Evidence
Description: Hacker downloaded information from Washington's computer onto it. Was found on a McLean's person by Franziska Von Karma.
Toukai's Calling Card
Type: Evidence
Description: Left at the scene of every victim of Toukai, regardless if they performed the hacking on site. Was found on the floor of Washington's office.
Body Scanner
Type: Evidence
Description: Detects the number of bodies entering the building, regardless of how many signed in. This device isn't known to most employees, and detected several bodies entering with Ployei at the time of the murder.
Security Footage
Type: Evidence
Description: Video of the the chase scene before the murder, ending with the victim standing above the fallen, masked intruder. Cuts off before the actual murder. A second footage taken from outside Washington's office shows the same victim and intruder, but in reversed positions.
Update: The footage from Washington's office also shows a third man in black, meaning there was a man both in front of and behind Atrol. This is not shown in the other footage.
Army Knife
Type: Evidence
Description: Description: A knife found in a broom closet near the crime scene. Forensic testing reveals small traces of the victim's blood, as well as a set of unknown fingerprints.
Update: The knife and fingerprints belong to McLean.
Fake Badge
Type: Evidence
Description: Used by Eten to trick Ployei into letting him in the building. Contains a fake name and doesn't actually work
Black Gloves
Type: Other
Description: Used in the hacking by Howard McLean. Were removed during a struggle with the victim.
A/N's: PTV and AA wrote this chapter, and both wish to leave notes.
PTV: So yeah, we took the "write the entire part in a single shot and post it as one" route. It's my fault. I wrote, like, 5K of this 7K-something chapter in a day. Don't ask me how. I don't know if I'll ever be able to do it again.
But it wouldn't have been possible without AA. McLean as a character was his creation (the other originals here are a mix of mine (Ployei, Dyman) and Golden Darkness (Washington, Gardems), though AA has one more, and the Toukai members are from KS), and he was the only one with any ideas about how to characterize the guy. Once he stepped in and made McLean come to life, the biggest hurdle to finishing this chapter vanished.
Also, McLean went through a few name changes. Our beta (The Scollard) came up with the puns (CSS and HTML) in both his names. Now the guy has a name that actually fits his character.
But like Edgeworth said, this case is down to the wire. You can kinda see the inspirations behind this case (Turnabout Visitor, mainly.) more than ever now. I hope we weren't too subtle with the hints about who the killer was. If I'm honest, most of them were really minor. All I'll say now is that the person you think has the least role in this case actually has the most. Go back to the very beginning and you'll see something very strange.
Do you think that's too much, AA?
AA: Not at all, and you give me too much credit. I may have been able to get a fix on his character, but you were the one who spent more time writing this than me. Other than that, I don't have much to say, seeing as you've pretty much covered everything else.
PTV: You're sweet. Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to review, and I'll see you on the far side (in a few weeks or so when we have the final piece of the case done because IT WILL HAPPEN before school starts).