July 1st, 1:24pm
Hakari Inc. Headquarters
Control Room
Fifty-nine minutes left
"An hour left? What are we going to do, Mr. Edgeworth?" Gumshoe asked worriedly.
"Well, I'm done helping you." Franziska declared. "I may be here on vacation, but that doesn't mean I have nothing to occupy myself with, you know."
That's right. Her investigation into Hakari as a company had stalled when she ran into McLean. Edgeworth was grateful for her help, but it wouldn't do for him to hold her or Interpol back. Besides, what sort of prosecutor would he be if he had to rely on others to catch a suspect?
"I understand, Franziska. You've been a great help." Edgeworth bowed. "If you still want to speak to Ms. Washington, now may be your last chance."
And with that, the younger prosecutor left in a hurry. Edgeworth wished her the best, but could spare no further thought from his own predicament.
He took a moment to think. "An hour left to find the real killer. Best we know, it's none of our suspects."
"Yeah, how the heck did that happen?" Kay complained. "Isn't a rule the killer has to be someone we've encountered before or something?"
"I find it hard to believe we haven't encountered them before. Even if we didn't realize it at first, there's bound to be something," Edgeworth countered. "This building has been closed off since the murder. Whoever the killer is, they cannot escape. I'm sure if we sent the police searching every nook and cranny of the building, they would turn something up eventually, but there's no guarantee they would find find something before time runs out. Especially if they're searching blind."
"What are we supposed to do, sir? We don't even know what the killer looks like."
Edgeworth wanted to curse. "If only there was someone who saw our killer's face!"
Everyone instinctively turned to McLean, who somehow managed to look both cowed and defiant at the same time. I guess it's worth a shot.
"Mr. McLean. What do you remember about the man who carried you away from the scene?"
"Absolutely nothing!" The high-speed head shaking was back. "I'm telling you! I passed out before I even saw him. Never seen the man before in my life."
Well, that was one of the most obvious lies he'd ever heard. Edgeworth considered putting the pressure on the hacker, but once again: there was no guarantee he would crack in under an hour. Especially considering how long their last bout took.
No. They needed someone more cooperative. Without any new testimony from McLean, Edgeworth was forced to go over the man's old testimony once more.
He lied about when he entered the building and with whom the first time around. I proved he'd entered with Ployei easily enough, and then…
Wait a second…
"Mr. Ployei!"
"What? You think Mr. Ployei did it?" Gardems looked shocked. "But this morning-"
"No!" Edgeworth interrupted. "He didn't do it… but he knows who did. Detective!"
"Yes, sir?"
"Come with me. Officers, call into police headquarters and get as much information as you can on McLean and the operations of Toukai before taking him down to the entrance. If all goes well, we can take in both men at once."
"Yes, sir!" They saluted. Gardems was polite enough to offer them use of the Control Room's computer, but they didn't take him up on it.
Edgeworth, Gumshoe and Kay made their way to the last place Ployei was seen on camera. Edgeworth could only pray this was the fastest way to get results.
July 1st, 1:29pm
Hakari Inc. Headquarters
Main Lobby
Fifty-four minutes left
When the pair reached the main lobby, they searched all around for a sign of the young employee. Kay was the first to find him. He'd been sitting on a bench all along.
"What's all the running around for?" Ployei asked Kay, not noticing the prosecutor as he approached.
"So we meet again, Mr. Ployei." Edgeworth greeted him with a bow, trying to keep him calm after the incident early this morning. He found it was better to not remind people of how close they came to a false arrest, especially when seeking out further testimony.
"M-M-Mr. Edgeworth!" Ployei nearly fled the scene at the sight of the prosecutor. "What are you… you don't have more questions for me, do you?"
"I do." Edgeworth studied the young man's fidgeting before continuing. "I take it Prosecutor Von Karma's interrogation was hard on you?"
The man shivered at the mention of her name. "She was like a hurricane. One question after another, and if I didn't answer in a way she liked… wham!" Edgeworth assumed Ployei was referring to the whip.
"Well, I assure you. I have no intentions of battering you during my questioning. Instead, I would like to ask you about your arrival to work this morning."
"My arrival at Hakari?" The man's glasses bounced upward from sudden movement. "W-Well, I woke up at my usual time- about 6:45- and poured myself a cup of coffee…"
"Ah, perhaps I should have been more specific," Edgeworth interrupted. "I meant to ask you about your arrival, starting from your walk up to the building."
"Oh! O-Okay, Mr. Edgeworth."
How much coffee does this man drink every morning? He's positively quivering. But as long as he doesn't want seventeen cups in court, there shouldn't be an issue. Edgeworth remembered when the courthouse cafeteria filed a complaint over that very issue. The whole thing had been a mess on every side.
Edgeworth never had much of a taste for coffee, preferring Earl Grey tea himself. But he supposed that was none of his business.
"If you wouldn't mind testifying up to the point we've already heard- that is, when you discovered the body, it would be most helpful for our investigation."
"Sure, Mr. Edgeworth! I-I can do that right away! ...Don't hurt me."
-Witness Testimony-
"This Morning at Hakari"
"Well, like you already know, I entered the building at around 8:00am, using my card to get in.
"Some days, I'm the only one here this early. Other times, I see a few people. It varies.
"Before that, I parked my car in the company parking garage, on the top level. I'm told new employees aren't supposed to have the close spots.
"I went to my work station like normal. Until I remembered I had a meeting, that is.
"And honestly, I think you know the rest. It was a pretty normal morning until… y-you know."
Edgeworth listened to the young man's testimony quietly, ears zeroing in on the part he was curious about. I only need to ask him about one thing. That's all I have time for.
"You were forced to park at the very top of the parking garage?" Kay asked, mouth open. "Does it have an elevator?"
"No. Not yet."
"Wow, pal! Good on you for putting some extra walking into your daily routine. Just like Mr. Edgeworth here! He never takes the elevator."
That is nowhere close to the reason I don't take elevators. If it was, Edgeworth would have given in during his investigation of Grand Tower. But he didn't. He couldn't.
Perhaps Gumshoe had only been attempting to be polite. Edgeworth's past wasn't a story he wanted everyone to know, after all.
"Back to things that actually matter." Edgeworth closed his eyes,deciding not to say anything further on the matter. "Mr. Ployei, may I ask you a few questions about your testimony just now?"
"The same way you did it earlier?"
"The exact same."
-Cross-Examination-
"This Morning at Hakari"
"Well, like you already know, I entered the building at around 8:00am, using my card to get in."
He's right: I know this already…
"Some days, I'm the only one here this early. Other times, I see a few people. It varies."
"HOLD IT! Did you see anyone this morning, Mr. Ployei?"
"Uh… yeah, I did!" He looked as though he'd just remembered. "I forgot about them in the chaos earlier, but they showed up the same time as I did. I used my card to let us all in."
"They?"
"Two guys, talking to each other. The seemed to know each other pretty well. I only recognized one of them, but they were both wearing employee badges-"
"These badges?" Edgeworth presented the Fake Badge from his Organizer, followed by McLean's profile. "Is this one of the men you saw?"
Ployei adjusted his glasses as he looked. "Y-Yes! That's the one I didn't know so well. I see the other guy all the time."
-"Body Scanner" updated in Organizer-
"Why didn't you mention this earlier, pal?" Gumshoe raged. "This would have saved us a lot of arguing!"
"You didn't exactly ask me, you know! I was too busy getting accused of murder to mention it."
Edgeworth's heart was racing. This was it. The one person willing to tell them who the killer was. "What did the man look like? Do you know his name?"
Ployei shrunk back, uncomfortable at being put on the spot. "Um… Chuck something. He's not very friendly. He's kinda tall, with big arms… to be honest, he scares me a little. Surprised the other guy wasn't scared of him."
"That's not helpful, Mr. Ployei. We need to find this man."
"Urgh…" Ployei struggled to remember. "He was a bit shorter than the guy you showed me, with tanner skin. His hair is longer-er, maybe just straighter- too, and he wears a watch to work every morning." Ployei searched his mind to recall the details, watching as the detective wrote them down. "Did these two kill Mr. Atrol? And frame me?"
Something felt strange about that description. Almost… familiar. Did it remind Edgeworth of someone he'd met on another case? "To be fair, I'm not sure their framing of you was intentional. After questioning McLean, I don't think it was."
"If McLean wasn't smart enough to worry about security cameras, he wasn't smart enough to frame somebody." Kay quipped.
"Yes, we kn…" Edgeworth faltered.
Hold it! That's not right. For some reason, I remember someone being very suspicious of Ployei from the outset. It wasn't just Gardems. It's odd to consider now, but at the time...
As they were leaving, a muscular man waiting in the lobby shouted to them. "'Bout time someone caught onto that Ployei dude. He's been suspicious since the day he started workin' here!"
"...Who was that man?"
"What is it, Mr. Edgeworth?" Kay looked concerned. "Why'd you go silent?"
"The killer… I've seen him before." Edgeworth's mind was racing. "What was that man doing there? How did I not see this before?"
"You saw him, Mr. Edgeworth?" Gumshoe's face was serious. "Where?"
"Here. In this very lobby. Detective… you saw him too. And Gardems… we were all there. We just didn't find it suspicious." Edgeworth couldn't believe this. The killer had been standing right in front of him, and he did nothing. The killer stood there and spoke to him like nothing was wrong, and Edgeworth didn't even notice.
"Well, where is he now? We can't exactly catch him based on where's he's been." Kay argued. "And why was he hanging out that close to the entrance anyway? Didn't he know people would see him?"
He can't have escaped the building. Not with the lockdown in effect. But this building is so large. Is there any way to know where to search for him before deploying men?
"Maybe he wanted to beat a hasty retreat out of the building, only to find out the building had been locked down?" Ployei suggested.
"That's… actually plausible." Edgeworth said. "He stored the unconscious McLean far away from the crime scene, then went to scope out a way to leave the building without getting caught. When he saw me and Detective Gumshoe, he realized what was going on and hid."
"But how are we going to find this Chuckie guy, sir?" Detective Gumshoe lamented, feet stomping. "He could be anywhere in the building by now! We only have… forty-three minutes left, and the police have been searching the building for five hours!"
Edgeworth had to approach this logically. He couldn't get caught up in emotion. If he caught the killer before the time limit ran out, he could redeem himself for his embarrassing blunder of ignoring a suspect. "If what we know about this killer so far is anything to go on, I would guess the man is hiding…
-near the back entrance
-in the basement
-in Washington's office
"Near a back entrance of some sort. If he was hoping to slip out unnoticed after the lockdown ended, that would be the place to do it. That way, he could double back and enter with the crowd of Hakari employees, diverting suspicion from himself."
"That's pretty devious, pal." Gumshoe frowned. "But wouldn't the people outside notice he wasn't there before? Be kinda weird if a stranger just showed up in their midst."
Edgeworth ordered the police via radio to search near exits for someone matching Ployei's description and bring anyone they found to the main lobby. Upon hearing that, they radioed the command to everyone else in the building. Once that was done, Edgeworth addressed Gumshoe's concerns.
"There must be a way for the killer to stand among employees of Hakari and not arouse their suspicion. And their method is clear if we consider this evidence!" Edgeworth presented McLean's fake ba-
"They had badges!" Kay spoke before Edgeworth had a chance to explain. "Not to mention, Ployei's seen our killer before, so the killer must work here. Hey Mr. Edgeworth! Your thought about the culprit being an insider wasn't wrong after all."
It would also explain why McLean didn't know much about company security. He was relying on his accomplice.
"It would seem our killer was the more prepared of the two," Edgeworth mused, twitching with impatience. Assisting in the building search wouldn't help much at this juncture, but it would make Edgeworth feel productive. As it was, he could feel the time ticking away.
If they found the employee that matched Ployei's description after the lockdown ended, Edgeworth would lose his most damning evidence against the suspect: his presence (and lack of an alibi) in the building at the time of the crime. The killer could simply claim they came in with everyone else and that Ployei was mistaken. The way this case was turning out, Edgeworth found himself relying on circumstantial evidence more than he cared to admit. Everything had to line up just right for him to get a solid conviction.
Edgeworth was so lost in thought, he actually flinched when a walkie talkie went off. Gumshoe grabbed it before anything could happen.
"Gumshoe here. What? You found… what did you find?" Gumshoe's eyes went wide. "You found two sets of black clothes? That's awesome, pal!"
"They found the clothes used in the hacking?" Kay asked. "What about the killer?"
"This is vital evidence. Tell the officer who found it to bring it in for evidence." Edgeworth turned to Ployei. "Mr. Ployei! The two men weren't wearing black hoods and gloves when you saw then, were they?"
"...I think I would have said something if they were."
"Hey, it's hard to know with you, pal."
"Do you want me to apologize or something?" Ployei snapped, jumping up and down. Whatever the amount of coffee in this man's system was, Edgeworth could guarantee it was too much. Even after being cleared of suspicion, Ployei was still jumpier than a cornered culprit.
-"Black Clothing" added to Organizer-
As the witness and detective argued (with intermittent contributions from Kay), Edgeworth checked the time. The ticking of the clock was making him feel a bit cornered himself. Just over a half hour left left.
What if the killer had found a way to escape? What if Edgeworth and everyone else were waiting around for something that was never coming? What would happen to the investigation?
It wasn't in Edgeworth's nature to leave a case half-finished, not to mention the absolute hell Dyman would put the Prosecutor's Office through for failing Hakari. If asked to stir up a lawsuit, Edgeworth knew Gavin wouldn't hesitate. All due to Edgeworth's shortcoming.
Seconds stretched into minutes, and Gumshoe and Ployei grew tired of arguing. Everything settled into a charged silence, ready to erupt at the slightest radio static.
…
… …
… … …
Crack!
Everyone flinched. Kay and Ployei actually screamed.
Gumshoe was the first to react. "Gumshoe here. What do you have for us?"
"We have a suspect! He was hidden in the HR Department, near an emergency exit. He matches the- Hey you! Come here, you-"
"Ow!" the officer stopped speaking for a moment. Sounds of a struggle broke out. Something made of glass broke. "Backup! I need backup!"
A different voice came through. "Headed your way! All men, converge at the suspect's location."
"When you have him restrained, bring him here on the double!" Gumshoe ordered. "We don't have much time."
This confrontation was going to be tough. If Edgeworth couldn't break the man in thirty-plus minutes, he wouldn't have enough to arrest him, and the case would end prematurely.
But what could he say? He would find the truth, no matter what it took. Anything else was not an option.
July 1st, 1:50pm
Hakari Inc. Headquarters
Main Lobby
33 minutes left
When Edgeworth and company arrived to the main lobby, they saw a group of officers restraining a man. But this time, it wasn't just the traditional handcuffs. No, these were heavier, made of cuffs three inches long and chains as wide as two fingers. The only time Edgeworth had seen those before was on uncooperative prisoners.
He'd given the police a lot of trouble.
So it was with a degree of caution that Edgeworth walked up to the new suspect. When he saw the man's face, the prosecutor was sure: this was the man from earlier. Maybe it was fate the two of them met here once more.
"Suspect. State your name and reason for resisting arrest," he said firmly.
"Resisting? What kind of-" he spat off to one side. "I was in my own workplace minding my own business when some idiot comes at me for no reason. Of course I'm going to defend myself."
Edgeworth turned to the officers who arrested the man. "Did you inform the suspect of why he was arrested?"
"I tried," the officer, who was developing a black eye, replied. "He attacked first. Almost put me in a chokehold."
They'd have to solve this dispute later, then. "Alright, I'll tell you. You have fallen under suspicion for the murder of Owen P. Atrol, Mr…?"
"...Huld." He spit it out, not looking happy in the slightest to be saying his name. "Can't read a badge?"
"Well, perhaps you can answer some questions," Edgeworth said, not looking the man in the eye. "As of now, we have only a few minutes left to wrap this investigation up."
"..."
"...Mr. Huld?"
"...No."
"No?"
"Why should I? You suspect me, don't you?" He pointed at Edgeworth, a suspicious glint in his eye. "But... if you really had the evidence, you would take me in, right? I read the news. I know about you. You just want me to slip up so you don't have to investigate no more. Am I wrong?"
Unfortunately, no. Edgeworth had to get this man to talk, and quickly. He didn't have time to run around in circles. Time to crack open the chessboard.
As the prosecutor narrowed his eyes, he felt his surroundings fade away. Soon, all that was before him was his opponent and a blue chess board. He could only hope this was the quickest way to an arrest.
"Now, let's analyze the situation."
"Never thought I'd see the day police and the courts stooped so low. All these years…tch. How did people miss the signs?"
It seemed Huld and his accomplice had a lot in common. Edgeworth didn't reply, preferring to set his sights on the four chess pieces guarding Huld's secrets.
"The man himself may not be impatient, but I'm operating under tight time constraints here. If the timer below runs out during my questioning, it's time the investigation won't get back.
"I need to be swift in my movements. Swift, but not too reckless. Persistence is key. If the suspect goes silent, I have to get him talking again.
"With that strategy in mind, let us begin!"
-Begin Logic Chess-
"..." The game began with the suspect completely silent.
"I need to get the man talking. It doesn't have to be what I need, it just needs to be a start."
-How dare you assault a police officer!
-What were you doing when you were found?
-Wait and see
...Hm. Perhaps I should get him a bit riled first. "Mr. Huld, I'm sure you're aware that assaulting a police officer is a crime in and of itself. I could take you downtown right now."
"I told you! It was self-defense. I don't attack people for no reason."
"Be that as it may, your loose fists will undoubtedly warrant a second investigation. If that investigation concludes that you are responsible for the altercation, it will be a few years added onto your sentence."
"Grrrr…" he spit off to the side once again. "Take me away, then. What are you waiting for?"
-A confession of murder.
-Time to run out.
-Wait and see
Hm… I seem to be getting somewhere. I should let the man speak.
"You think I'm the murderer? Why not arrest me know and trump up more evidence later? Ain't that what your friend did?"
"...You seem awfully eager to leave the building." Edgeworth observed. "Any reason for that?"
"Nn! No…" Huld flinched, then fell silent.
"Well, that didn't go as planned. Still this might be an important clue. I'd do well to remember it.
"What should I do now?"
-What do you do here?
-Did you know the victim?
"Mr. Huld, I have a witness who confirmed you work here. What is it that you do, exactly?"
"...Assist in accounting. Low level job. Can only access what I'm assigned to work on."
Accounting? That was a financial job. "You work under Ms. Washington, yes?"
Huld nodded, not looking Edgeworth in the eye.
He had to admit: he wouldn't have taken this man to be an accountant. Though it made sense, to a degree.
"About your job, Mr Huld. I've heard from… varying sources that the financial records of Hakari may have something suspicious contained within. Any truth to the rumor?"
"I wouldn't know," Huld said through gritted teeth. "What I look at is only a small part of a large company."
"That's odd," Edgeworth crossed his arms, thinking. "People who have seen less are far more suspecting than you. Do you really believe there's nothing to found out about this company?"
"Dig deep enough, and there's something to find about everyone! I can't be expected to know all of Hakari secrets in a year! And I'm not helping anyone else find them after this!"
-What do you mean "after this"?
-Wait and see
"After this, you say?" Edgeworth conjured an attack pawn in his mind. "What role did you have in the incident following the murder?"
"Crap!" It was a hit in one. Huld's pawn was out of commission. But he still had three more pieces to go.
"You may not have been that high up, but you had what was needed to participate. You can't possibly claim you're unrelated now!"
"..." When McLean had grown frustrated, his jaw came unhinged. When Huld grew frustrated, it clamped shut.
"I'll have to go back to provoking him if I want to take any other pieces. Time is running out quickly."
-I saw you earlier. Should have known something was wrong.
-Your accomplice told us everything about you.
-How can you betray your employers this way?
"You know, I saw you earlier. When the investigation had just begun, you were right here in this room. I admit, that should have caught my attention."
"...I remember." Huld wouldn't look at him.
"Do you remember what you said to me?"
No response. Should Edgeworth push harder?
-You tried to frame another man.
-Wait and see.
"You claimed that you always knew Ployei was suspicious. But I have a question for you, Mr. Huld."
"What is it?"
-Why didn't you confess?
-How did you know to implicate Ployei?
"How did you know we were after Ployei at the time?" Edgeworth conjured another pawn.
It was a swing and a miss. "Well… Isn't it obvious? I overheard you and that guard. The new one."
How did I not think of that? Edgeworth was momentarily caught off guard.
But only momentarily.
"Hold it! That still doesn't explain one thing."
"...And what is that?"
-Why you want to leave so soon.
-Why you tried to throw suspicion onto Ployei.
-Why your watch is made of plastic.
This time, Edgeworth was sure his pawn wouldn't miss. "Even if you knew we already suspected Ployei, that doesn't explain why you would make him out to be the murderer. What motive did you have to do that to him?"
"Well-!" It was a hit. All that remained on Huld's chessboard was a knight and a king. "Ployei always weirded me out. It wouldn't have surprised me, is all."
"Ployei might be odd, but he isn't the murderer. And yet, you wanted the police investigation to believe that he was. Why?"
"I-I don't have no more to say! Nothing, I tell you."
"I'm getting closer to the truth. He can't clam up now.
"What should I do next?"
-Alright buster! Time to confess.
-How do you know Mr. Ployei?
-Wait and see.
"Earlier, you said you found Ployei odd. How exactly do you know each other?"
"Ain't it obvious? We work in the same building. Different wings, sure, but I see him around. He's one of the only suckers who willingly shows up early, so we all think he's a weirdo."
"We?"
"Me and some other employees. Even the guards used to get annoyed with him. Trying to come in at six in the morning! Drove Atrol up the wall and everyone knew it."
"Did you know the victim well?"
"..." He paused. Edgeworth must have been getting closer. "Only by reputation."
"And what is his reputation?"
"He's a brute who'll attack any intruder he sees until they're unconscious or dead." Huld delivered his line in complete deadpan. "If he ever got involved in a murder, he would have been the culprit. Not the victim."
That sounded a bit extreme to Edgeworth, but it had gotten Huld to look him the eye. Should he push harder or let the man continue?
-You don't sound sorry he's dead.
-So why did Hakari employ him?
-Wait and see
"Forgive me for being blunt, but you don't sound very sorry the man is dead." Edgeworth braced to attack. "Why is that?"
"I barely knew the guy!" Darn. Flew right past. "What am I supposed to do, mourn?"
"It just seems odd, is all. Makes you seem unrepentant."
"Again with the murder business! Why would I kill a guy I barely know, huh?"
-Oh, I know exactly why!
-Wait and see.
Edgeworth didn't need to provoke the man further this time. Not when he was already struggling in his chains. So he let Huld continue.
"So what if I heard the guy was a brute? He didn't even know my name, I'll bet. Why would I ever fry his brain with a stun gun? I-"
"Hold it!" Edgeworth cut his rant short. "Where did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"About how the victim died. I don't believe I ever told you."
"What?" Huld was sweating now. "No, you said it. I… overheard you! This morning."
Edgeworth shrugged, shaking his head. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Mr. Huld. I was called to scene mere minutes after the murder occurred. I couldn't have mentioned how he died because I didn't yet know."
"Nnnnnn…"
"No, the only way you could know is…"
-The real killer told you.
-You witnessed the crime.
-You are the killer.
"Mr. Huld, I believe you may be the only one who could have killed the victim. No witness I've spoken to saw the exact moment of the crime, and yet you know the most important detail."
"No!" His knight was demolished. "This… you're just guessing."
"I wouldn't have arrived at this conclusion had there not been sound reasoning and logic at every step. Now admit your defeat and tell us what happened."
"..."
"Mr. Huld. I'm afraid your silence won't be enough to save you."
"Either I talk and you accuse me of murder, or I don't and you get me arrested for hitting a cop. I can live with a few years in jail." He threw his arms up. "So just take me!"
Well, this was odd turn of events. Even if he didn't arrest him for being a murderer, he could always charge him later. But something didn't feel right here…
"Hm. Now would be a good time to use that clue."
-Why so eager to leave?
-Way to trivialize assault, I see.
-Wait and see.
Edgeworth conjured the rook in his mind. "Why are you so eager to leave, Mr. Huld? So much so that you were found hidden near an exit?"
"...!" It was a close call, but Huld's king was still intact. "I've been trapped in here all day. Not like I can work with all these cops around. Is it any surprise I wanted to get out?"
"Well, lucky for you, the investigation is almost over." Edgeworth reassured him. "It ends with you, Mr. Huld. All you have to do is give in."
"..." For a second, the man looked conflicted. But the expression disappeared before Edgeworth could act on it.
Instead, the conflict was replaced with rage. "Give in!? To hell with that!"
"You said you wanted to get out of here," Edgeworth replied. "That's a way out."
"Yeah, straight into prison or death!" Huld shot back.
"You're the one who seems eager to leave. How else did you think you were coming out of this?"
He hasn't broken yet. But what is there left to break? What does he think he can hide by us taking him away at this juncture? Is there more evidence we have yet to find?
"So I went for the neck on your officer. I admit that. But there's no direct proof that links me to Atrol's murder! But I welcome you to try, Mr. Prosecutor," Huld said condescendingly.
I need to end this. And soon. I have him in a check position, but he can still slip out. How do I end the game?
-Keep pushing in the same direction.
-Change tactics.
Perhaps I should approach this in a different angle. At the rate I'm going, I'll never find the truth of what happened.
"You don't think I've found evidence that can convict you? I've already found what you've hidden away. One look, and I learned the whole story." Edgeworth thought of what had transpired earlier in the investigation, and the evidence they had found. Maybe showing the man something of his would set him off. "If you want to save yourself, words aren't going to be enough."
"Whaaaaat?" Edgeworth didn't think that line would send the man over the edge. But unexpectedly, that's what caused Huld's last piece to fall apart. "No… no way. I would never do that to…No!"
"It's an odd victory to be sure, but regardless, it's checkmate."
-Logic Chess Complete-
Huld started to lose his composure. Sweat was coming off him in bullets, and a line of spit fell from his lip. "Y-You don't really think I'm the one, do you?"
"At this juncture, we have reason to doubt that it's anyone else." Edgeworth declared. "Court will be easier if you confess now, but if you drag things out-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Huld threw his shackled hands up. "Suspecting me because there's no other suspect isn't the same as having evidence. Your average news reader could tell you that. For a guy so hesitant to arrest that Ployei idiot, you sure seem ready to arrest me. What's up with that, huh?"
'What's up' is I have fifteen minutes left of an arbitrarily imposed deadline thought up by a crazed businessman and his lawyer, Edgeworth wanted to snap. Instead, he forced himself to reply calmly with "If you don't believe there's evidence against, you, I'm more than happy to let you argue your case. I might not be able to end an argument in three minutes, but fifteen is a fair goal."
Now that I have him talking, I should be able to find something decisive to arrest him with. But I have to be careful- needless presenting will only waste time and damage the investigation. If I make a mistake in my objections, the penalty will be twice as severe.
"Fine! I'll show you just how thick-headed you're being." he was back to spitting off to one side. "One argument. One rebuttal. After that, we're done here."
"Deal." Edgeworth agreed, not flinching away from the raised stakes.
-Argument-
"You're All Idiots"
"So what if I said something I shouldn't have? Can you prove that being the killer is the only way I could know it?
"What about me being at the scene? I may work in the finance sector, but that hallway isn't on the way to my cubicle.
"People found Atrol instantly after the murder, and I wasn't there. There's nothing indicating I was.
"The police searched me after they caught me. There's nothing connected to the murder on my person.
"Far as you can prove, I had no opportunity and no motive. What would I be doing killing a stranger?
"I don't attack without cause, and I don't know the first thing about hacking.
"Face it: if you all had proof I was the killer, it wouldn't be down to this. You wouldn't be arguing with me about the incident six hours later if your case was solid.
"No, you just want me to incriminate myself so you don't have to. But I won't fall for it.
"It's a cheap trick, you know. You're all idiots, and you think we are, too!"
Edgeworth flinched as Huld finished his rant. That's quite a damning testimony. I have to find a way to refute it, and I have to find it fast. If this man wasn't so against law enforcement, he might have made a decent defense attorney.
I only have time to go through his argument once. I better get him to talk as much as I can before I present any evidence.
"...Very well, Mr. Huld. If you would repeat your argument just one more time, I'm ready to respond."
"Go ahead. The man was quite confident in himself. That only made it worse.
Still, Edgeworth had to focus. This was his last chance.
-Rebuttal-
"You're All Idiots"
"So what if I said something I shouldn't have? Can you prove being the killer is the only way I could know it?"
"HOLD IT! How else could you possibly how the victim was killed?"
"I've been in the building since eight, remember? Your cops aren't exactly quiet. What's preventing one of them from mentioning it where I can overhear?"
"I'd like to believe my officers would notice if a suspicious person were lurking nearby while they're conversing."
"...Why would they? You didn't."
"N- Enough about me!" Edgeworth let loose before he could stop himself. Can I prove something like that didn't happen?
-Yes, I can.
-No, I can't.
...I don't have anything solid at this juncture. If I do get this suspect, this won't be how.
"Very well, Mr. Huld. Please continue, if you would."
"What about me being at the scene? I may work in the finance sector, but that hallway isn't on the way to my cubicle.
"People found Atrol instantly after the murder, and I wasn't there. There's nothing indicating I was."
"HOLD IT! How do you know when Atrol's body was found?"
"If you showed up fifteen minutes after the murder, that means someone called the police at least ten minutes before that. We aren't exactly close to Prosecutor's Office, after all. The latest they could have found the body is five minutes after the guy died. Even that's a stretch."
"You could have escaped in five minutes," Edgeworth argued. "Both the remaining guards are newer to Hakari than you are. If you wanted to evade them, I believe you could have."
"Mr. Edgeworth!" Kay stepped in. "I have an idea."
"Hm?" He hadn't heard her speak in a while. "What is it, Kay?"
"The army knife! The one we found in the closet." Kay got a hold of Edgeworth's Organizer, pointing to page where he'd taken a note. "Remember your theory?"
Edgeworth took his Organizer back. "Ah yes, I do remember. Ployei showed up right after the murder happened, and Gardems soon after. But we have traces of the victim's blood on a knife we found in the closet. I suspect you hid in the closet when you heard Ployei coming, and waited until the coast was clear to make your escape."
Huld's eyes had gone wide at the mention of the army knife. Did he recognize it? "...Was there any proof that I was there, though? Are my fingerprints on the knife?"
"Well, not yours, but-"
"Then it doesn't have anything to do with me!" He insisted. "Your argument is irrelevant."
No, Edgeworth supposed not. So far, the only one Edgeworth could tie to the scene was McLean. "Very well, I suppose. Carry on, Mr. Huld."
"The police searched me after they caught me. There's nothing connected to the murder on my person."
"HOLD IT! Mr. Huld, you said it yourself. You've been in this building for six hours. You could have hidden away evidence anywhere in the building."
"Oh yeah? Like what?"
"Like… this!" Edgeworth flipped to his note about "Black Clothes" in the Organizer. "TAKE THAT!"
"Clothes?"
"Clothing used in the incident to disguise the perpetrators. It was recently found for officers searching the building." Edgeworth smiled. "If you'd like us to prove they belong to you, a fingerprint test will only take a moment."
He was quiet for a moment. "Did your officers find these at a cubicle in the financial wing?"
Edgeworth turned to the officer who'd reported the discovery, who nodded. Much to Huld's delight.
"I thought so. These are my jogging clothes."
"What?" Gumshoe was first to react. "You expect us to believe that, pal?"
"You can buy this brand at any old store. Can you prove these are the clothes the perpetrators wore?"
-Of course!
-Not at this moment.
I should have asked forensics to look for clothing fibers from the scene. Edgeworth thought to himself. It's evidence, but in order to nail the coffin shut, I need something stronger. I guess I have to keep going.
This wasn't looking good.
"Far as you can prove, I had no opportunity and no motive. What would I be doing killing a stranger?
"I don't attack without cause, and I don't know the first thing about hacking."
"HOLD IT!" Edgeworth couldn't let this go on any longer. "I don't know if you're aware, Mr. Huld, but a clear motive isn't required to arrest an individual. It's helpful to have for a case in court, but killers have been convicted without their motive being clear. You claim you knew very little about the victim, but we have no proof of that. You claim you have no hacking knowledge, but that doesn't render you incapable of killing Atrol. You even say you had no opportunity, but I have recently proved a plausible escape route does indeed exist. Do you really think that isn't enough to take you court?"
Edgeworth would have thought his speech intimidated Huld, had he not shook it off after a moment of silence. "...Enough for you to lose, maybe. Isn't this how you were defeated a few years ago?"
Edgeworth didn't honor that jab with a response. I wish this case wasn't so murky. With the evidence I have, it's possible it can go either way in court. And with the way things are now, I'm not about to find any more evidence.
I need to break through with what I have. The question is… how?
"...Allow me to hear the rest of your argument."
"Sure."
"Face it: if you all had proof I was the killer, it wouldn't be down to this. You wouldn't be arguing with me about the incident six hours later if your case was solid."
We just went through this...
"No, you just want me to incriminate myself so you don't have to. But I won't fall for it.
"It's a cheap trick, you know. You're all idiots, and you think we are, too!"
"HOLD IT! Just what are you insinuating, Mr. Huld?"
"I've seen your type in the news. You and lawyers both like to try and use tricky words against honest people just to slip them up. One honest mistake and you try and put them behind bars! Just because you were too lazy to complete your jobs and get the evidence you need doesn't mean we'll fill in the blanks for you. I ain't the type to fall for it, you know?"
Well, that was the end of the argument. And Huld realized it too. He looked at his watch and mocked: "Oh look. It's been fifteen minutes. I guess your 'fair goal' didn't work out for you after all."
This isn't good. Do I have anything decisive that can make his conviction in court certain?
-Yes, I do.
-Not this time, no.
Edgeworth felt his surroundings fade to grey. Here, I have two suspects: Howard McLean and Chuck Huld. Both are clearly suspicious and have confessed to lesser crimes, but neither have strong evidence against them for being the killer. If I were to charge either one for the crime, I would fight an uphill battle in court clearing up any reasonable doubt.
But does that truly mean I shouldn't charge them? Does that mean I should give up on seeking out the truth of Atrol's murder? Is it what the man would have wanted, to let his case remain unsolved? Or is there another way?
It was then that Edgeworth remembered:
"I'm only confessing to you coppers because I have no way out. I'm not about to drag people down with me!"
That was McLean. And then, when he was interrogating Huld. Huld had tried to hide the presence of another person as well. That was the only thing that made sense.
"You think I'm the murderer? Why not arrest me know and trump up more evidence later? Ain't that what your friend did?"
"...You seem awfully eager to leave the building." Edgeworth observed. "Any reason for that?"
"Nn! No…" Huld flinched, then fell silent.
The more he thought about it, the more his suspects had in common. Could they be more than mere partners in crime?
Ployei, at least, thought so.
"Two guys, talking to each other. The seemed to know each other pretty well."
Both are equally stubborn in their desire to protect the other. At first, I believed this was a hindrance to my investigation. But could it save me in these final moments?
With no more time left on the countdown, Edgeworth took the biggest bluff he'd make in this case. "Mr. Huld. I acknowledge your case, and I agree. There's too much room for doubt to arrest you for murder."
"What?!" Kay screamed.
"Mr. Edgeworth, sir! You don't need to do this."
"He tried to frame me!" Ployei insisted. "He's trying to cover his tracks!"
"No, I'm afraid there's more evidence to be used against Mr. McLean. He did confess to the hacking, after all. He was seen on the security camera with the victim, and we have fingerprints proving he was at the scene. Detective," Edgeworth turned to Gumshoe. "Check on Mr. McLean. They should be done looking him up in the databases by now."
"What?" Huld's eyes bugged out of his head. One wrist was clutching the other, watch cutting off circulation to his hand. "You're gonna arrest hi- someone else? Just like that?"
"You're still going in for assaulting an officer, no doubt." Edgeworth did his best to remain casual. "But don't worry: your jail sentence will be nothing compared to that of Mr. McLean."
"I'd worry about that guy in prison," Kay added, though it was unclear whether she'd caught on to what Edgeworth was doing. "He's so skinny, and it wasn't hard to frighten him. Do you really think he'll be okay, Mr. Edgeworth?"
"Nnnnnnn…" Huld was thinking about it. All he needed was a little push.
Edgeworth shrugged. "It's no concern of mine. If Mr. McLean is unable to withstand prison, he should have taken that into consideration before he killed a man."
"...!"
"Come now, Detective. Let's inform Mr. McLean of the charges he's facing."
Gumshoe looked defeated. "Yes, sir."
"..."
"Mr. Edgeworth, are you sure we should-"
"Yes. There can be no more questions. This investigation is over, and McLean is our killer."
Kay hung her head, and trudged along. Even as Edgeworth walked away, he waited.
And waited.
Had he made the wrong move? Did Ployei overestimate the relationship between the two men? That would certainly be-
"...No."
"Hm?" Edgeworth pretended to be confused. "Did the two of you hear something?"
"No… HOLD IT!"
The three of them turned as one. "Mr. Huld!"
His face was red, hand going blue. He looked torn apart. "I can't let you do this. It… it ain't right."
"What do you mean, Mr. Huld?"
"...You can't charge Howard with murder. He… he didn't do it."
"What makes you say that?" Edgeworth strung him along. "The evidence against him is all there. Besides, shouldn't you be happy you're off the hook?"
"Not if it means someone else gets blamed." Huld took a big breath, then exhaled. "Howard didn't kill Atrol. I… I didn't realize until later, but… it was me. I admit it.
"I didn't mean to kill him. It all just… it happened so fast! He burst into the office without warning. I ducked. Howard didn't. He was chased… I ran after them. When I got there, Atrol was screaming! Howard was on the floor. I thought the guy might have killed him! Howard fell unconscious. He couldn't defend himself!
"I didn't know what to do. That stupid guard… he wouldn't let up! I don't think he even heard me over himself. I was able to sneak up on him. And that's when I saw it."
"His taser."
Huld nodded. "I grabbed it. Before the guy could react, I put it on his back and shoved him to the side. I didn't want him to fall on Howard."
"How long did you have the taser on his back?" Edgeworth asked.
"I don't know. When I ran for Howard, he was still twitching. I tried to wake Howard up, but I heard someone coming. I didn't want them to see us."
"So you hid in the closet, huh?" Kay filled in the gap.
"Yeah. I hid in the closet until I couldn't hear anyone, then I hid Howard and went scouting. I wanted to find us a way out." Huld hung his head. "That's when I ran into you. And when I got back, Howard had woken up and wandered off. We were separated."
"I see," was Edgeworth's only response.
It was right then that Mr. McLean was led down by a band of police officers. His eyes landed on Huld right away.
"Chuck!" He tried to run over, to no avail.
"Howard!"
The policemen allowed them to reunite. Lawrence burst into tears almost immediately.
"Chuck, they caught you, too? I'm sorry. I didn't think this would happen. I promise, I never said anything about you to-"
"Hey, hey. Calm down," Huld reassured the lanky man, trying to calm him down. "I know. You'd never do that, would you?"
"No!" He sobbed, then turned to Edgeworth. "Prosecutor Edgeworth, you have to believe me. This is all my fault. It was my idea to do this. Chuck didn't even want to at first!"
"Dude, don't say that!" Huld turned to Edgeworth as well. "I've been friends with this guy since we were fourteen. If he was going to pull a stunt like this, I wasn't about to let him do it himself."
"Awwww…" Kay cooed at the two men's friendship. "I can only dream of having partners in crime like this!"
"Kay, you don't need partners in crime. You don't need to get involved in crime at all." Edgeworth looked back at the two criminals. "You two carried out this operation together?"
Huld nodded. "Howard needed a way in to help Toukai. I didn't want to let him at first, but he convinced me."
"But we never planned for anyone to die. Prosecutor Edgeworth, you have to believe us!"
"...I believe you." Edgeworth decided. "I believe that neither one of you meant to kill Mr. Atrol. But that doesn't change the fact that he died at your hands."
"I know," Huld acknowledged. "I still can't believe it. Who would have thought company-issued tasers had the power to kill people? I only thought I'd stun him. Knock him out, if anything."
Wait a minute. Could it be…?
They didn't know, did they? They didn't know something very important about a certain piece of evidence.
"TAKE THAT!" Edgeworth presented the murder weapon to Huld and McLean. "It may not have been known to you at the time, but the victim's taser was malfunctioning today. The shocks would have been much more intense than intended.
"It nearly slipped my mind, but… all this time I've been investigating this case as a murder. Maybe that was a bit presumptuous of me."
"What are you saying, Mr. Edgeworth?"
"Mr. Huld… If you didn't know the taser was defective when you used it, a defense attorney could easily argue your charge down to involuntary manslaughter, a far less serious crime. I'll be sure to bring it up over the course of your trial."
"Really?"
"Yeah, pal! It isn't all your fault. If anyone should take the blame, it's Hakari. If the police went on the job with defective equipment, why you know we'd be in trouble!"
"I'm not sure I would go that far, Detective."
Who was that? Edgeworth turned around, watching as Dyman and Gavin emerged from a side room.
"Sixty-seven minutes! Sixty-seven minutes and you still haven't removed this filth from Hakari's building. You!" Dyman's eyes landed on Huld. "Don't you work here?"
So much for watching the clock, huh Mr. Dyman?
"Not anymore," Huld snarked. "I got so tired of your constant yelling, I was willing to help a guy hack this place. What does that say about you, eh 'boss'?"
"Mr. Dyman, it is my strong suggestion you don't allow your security team to carry any more broken equipment. Had the victim's taser been working properly, perhaps he could still be with us."
"Yes yes, very well. Must I be expected to look after everything around here? Is it not enough that I keep this company running while my boss lounges in his comfy office off in another building while I do his job for less than a quarter the pay? Is it not enough that I so generously put this building on lockdown for over six hours so you could investigate uninterrupted? So I was a little impatient with you earlier. It motivated you to catch the killer, didn't it?"
"Wow, Mr. Edgeworth! This guy's got a deeper brow than even you do! Just think: this could be you in a few years."
And I thought my stress levels were concerning. "Is that an apology I detect, Mr. Dyman?"
He snorted, looking away. "Very well. I suppose it is." He grasped Edgeworth's hand for the briefest of shakes. "Thank you for coming out, Mr. Edgeworth."
"You're most welcome, Mr. Dyman." May we never meet again.
"Pardon me, Mr. Edgeworth, but where is your colleague?" Gavin spoke up. "Surely she has no reason to be wandering around at Hakari now that the investigation is over?"
"Gardems!" Dyman snapped before the prosecutor could say anything. "Fetch that female prosecutor and bring her back here. Let her know the investigation is over."
"Yes, sir!" Gardems took off.
Surely Franziska shouldn't be hard to find. She was likely with Washington as they spoke. In the woman's office, perhaps. Edgeworth hoped she'd had enough time to conduct her own investigation.
He turned to the perpetrators. "I'm sure the two of you understand what has to happen next. Your attempts to deliver justice to the world should have been left to the police."
"I know we messed up, but… I don't believe that. Even now." McLean looked Edgeworth straight in the eye as he spoke. "The end of an era is coming, Prosecutor Edgeworth. Individuals like you aren't enough to fix a corrupt system. Soon there will a be a day when people stop looking to the courts for justice. It won't be long before they look to each other instead."
"Yeah, punk? Where'd you get that? Toukai's website? Get out of here!" Dyman dismissed the two, watching as they were carted off to a police car. "What a headache!"
Edgeworth, however, wasn't so quick to ignore the hacker. He'd seen the headlines just like anyone else. But the media was merely exaggerating. With the corrupt higher ups being removed, things were better than they'd been in years. Surely the people knew that?
"I don't envy the sap who defends those two," Gavin spoke to Edgeworth out the side of his mouth.
"You don't intend to, Mr. Gavin?" Edgeworth raised a brow. "I heard you've been seeking a high profile case to put your name on the map. Surely this one is bound to get press."
"You might have a point, Mr. Edgeworth, if I didn't already have my civil suit. Hakari is a wonderful client. I wouldn't want anything more to happen to them."
"I suppose."
Gavin wasn't done. "Speaking of Hakari, I have a bit of a request for you."
"A request?" Edgeworth wasn't sure he liked where this was headed. "What is it, Mr. Gavin?"
"The information that man attempted to steal. You don't need the details to support your case, do you?"
"...I suppose not. Why do you ask?"
"That information is the private property of Hakari," the lawyer explained. "It's my client's desire that the details of what was taken are not revealed to the court or public. The fact that Hakari was a target of a Toukai operative is damaging enough for the company. Surely they don't need their private information released to the world as well?"
When Gavin put it that way, the request sounded perfectly innocent. Reasonable, even. So why was Edgeworth suspicious?
"I assure you, Mr. Gavin, I have found no reason to damage the reputation of Hakari over the course of this case. I will only present the evidence needed to reveal the truth in the courtroom."
"Good. It seems we understand each other. Now, what's taking your sister so long?"
Did Gavin know about Franziska's ulterior motives? He couldn't, could he? Surely Franziska was more cautious than that.
"She's likely on her way. It can't be long now."
Right on cue, Franziska and Washington approached the scene, heads together and speaking in whispers. Edgeworth only caught a small part.
"...to my coworker. He has plans tonight, but I'll ask him to bring them to your office."
"Thank you, Ms. Cassandra Washington. Your assistance will no doubt be vital to this case."
"There you two are!" Dyman snapped. "Don't you know the investigation is over? This mess has put us all behind! Ms. Washington?"
"Yes, Mr. Dyman?" Washington flinched when she spoke to him.
"Get back in your office! We have a lot of work to get done!"
"OBJECTION!" Franziska cried out. "Mr. Green Dyman, this woman is an important witness. I need to take her down to Criminal Affairs and get her statements. Isn't that right, Miles Edgeworth?"
"Indeed. I will also need Mr. Gardems and Mr. Ployei." In all honestly, Edgeworth probably wouldn't need Ms. Washington for the courtroom. The security camera had captured everything the woman had seen. "This should only take a few hours."
"A few hours? This is lunacy! How dare you take my employees away from their precious work. Did I not mention we have an important-"
"Mr. Dyman, please. It is far from Hakari's best interest to obstruct a police investigation. Besides, you'll hardly miss a few employees," Edgeworth insisted.
Dyman relented, though reluctantly. He tried to send Gavin along to help the witnesses, but they all refused him.
Edgeworth didn't call Franziska out on what she was doing, but he wasn't in a position to help her, either. If she wanted the information from McLean's flashdrive, she was going to need a warrant of her own.
July 2nd, 10:11am
Prosecutor's Office
Room 1202- High Prosecutor's Office
"...And that is what I did all of yesterday," Edgeworth finished the story. "I was headed home for the night when your case came crashing into me."
"So that's what happened?" The younger prosecutor (Blackquill) asked him. "How does this connect to my case?"
"I can't say for sure." Edgeworth admitted. "But I do know one thing: something wasn't right that day. Whatever happened that day, it led to last night. And the common link is somewhere within those papers."
Blackquill had a grave expression on his face. "What could they have in store, Edgeworth-dono?"
Edgeworth sighed. Rest had not come easy to him last night. Getting back at two am hadn't helped. "It's impossible to know. At this point, everything is baseless conjecture. But if it's a matter of importance to you…" he leaned in. "I'm certain Prosecutor Von Karma would be delighted to aid you in sorting the evidence."
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.
Chuck Huld
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Description: A strong, silent man who resisted capture by police. Has worked at Hakari for roughly a year as an assisting accountant.
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. Has yet to be found.
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.
Update: There were three people at the time: Ployei, Huld, and McLean.
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 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. The knife and fingerprints belong to Howard McLean.
Fake Badge
Type: Evidence
Description: Used by McLean 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.
Black Clothes
Type: Evidence
Description: Two sets of hoodies, hats, and pants, used by the perpetrators to commit their crimes. One belonged to McLean, the other Huld.
A/N's: All three writers had a hand in the creation of this chapter. PTV and AA want to leave notes.
PTV: After this, I'm sure you all can guess why we usually split chapters like this into two or three. It's an endeavor to write and an endeavor to read. I feel bad for procrastinating. We waited until a time when all of us were busy with going back to school, and because of that, I was doing things like writing the last half of the chapter in one go at one am in the morning. AA and KS couldn't tune in as much, though I'm eternally grateful for them doing what they could.
As for the case itself, it's time to give credit where credit is due. The OCs Emil Ployei and Green Dyman are my creation, Howard Terrance McLean and Chuck Huld (our crime-committing vigilante duo) were the creations of AA, Connor Piler and Javelin Skript (the Toukai recruiters) came from KS (he wasn't on board yet when the outline for this case was made, so his characters were written in later. I believe he was also the one who gave Toukai their name), and Stan Gardems and Cassandra Washington were taken from the ideas doc, courtesy of one Golden Darkness. The concept for this case was dreamt up by myself and Golden Darkness in the ideas doc, and the outline was stitched together by myself, AA, and our beta, Emmy. Writing was the three of us, and the betas who turned our coal to diamonds are Emmy and the Scollard.
If you want to contribute characters, plot ideas, or anything else of the sort, remember: the ideas doc is still open. There's a link for it in an earlier chapter and on my profile page.
As for anyone who is curious about the third case… KS is working on the opening, but don't expect much beyond that. At least, not anytime soon. The outline hit a wall around End, Part 1 and needs to be reworked. We're also all off to school, and it was enough of a pain pushing out the rest of this in the summer. We got it done, but the future is somewhat uncertain. You want to tell them, AA?
AA: Yeah. School is starting up and this year I'm off to a… university, for lack of a better word. So, updates are going to be slow (but really, what's new when it comes to school, right?) but they will be there. And I'll be trying my hardest to help out as much as possible.
That being said, I do want to give you a little hint about the next case. Expect it to be kinda meta. Oh, and a familiar face will be showing up to help Edgeworth this time. I'm curious if you guys can guess who it will be, but I'm not sure you can. I'll give you a hint. They've been plenty around Ace Attorney, but not so much Investigations. That's all I'm saying.
You want to end things here PTV?
PTV: The exact title isn't decided upon, but I'll give you three names that are in the running: Game for the Turnabout, The Gaming Turnabout, and Play of the Turnabout. Got a favorite? Let us know.
Also, since neither AA nor myself can commit as much time to this, I was hoping to find another cowriter. Won't break my heart if I don't, but things would definitely move faster. Just let me know in the reviews/comments or PM me. And that about wraps it up.
Hope you enjoyed the case, thanks for sticking around, and I'll see you on the far side!