July 3rd 4:49pm

Dye Young Hospital

Second Floor Hallway

"Mr. Gerald Ergic, stop where you are. I have questions I need to ask you!" Franziska's words echoed through the hallway as she strode over to where to where Ergic was standing.

Ergic flinched at her sudden arrival. The ex-officer hung his head, still ashamed for his earlier actions. "What kind of questions?"

"Tell me where you were when Cassandra Washington was murdered," Franziska commanded, holding eye contact with Ergic.

Sims, who'd been standing next to Ergic, gasped. "Be sure to tell her the truth, officer! She could arrest you if you lie."

"Of course I could, Miss Maddy Sims. Lying to the police during an active investigation is an open and shut case regarding obstruction of justice. If I truly wished to punish you for the inconvenience you caused my investigation earlier, it would be well within my rights to press charges."

"Eep!" With that incoherent remark, the young nurse faded into the background once again.

"Wait, is that real? The police can really arrest witnesses for not cooperating?" Kay looked to Gumshoe for clarification.

"Eh. Technically yes, but we usually don't. The detention center would sure get crowded if we rounded up too many small time offenders, pal! We need to leave room for the real criminals!"

"Silence in the peanut gallery," Franziska ordered, then pointed to Ergic. "Talk. Now."

"You... you want to question me, Prosecutor? I already told you, I was-"

"Do not doubt my methods, Mr. Gerald Ergic. If you do not want your employment prospects to worsen, I suggest you follow orders from now on." Franziska kept her tone harsh to hide her growing nerves.

Truth be told, she was hesitant to see where this line of questioning would lead. It went against her nature to think that an officer of the law could stoop so low as to obstruct a murder investigation. But given the current situation, it seemed to be the only lead she hadn't pursued yet.

"What if I don't have anything tell you?" Ergic asked, wiping his forehead. His skin seemed to grow paler under the shade of his police hat.

"Nonsense. Of course you have information to tell me. Earlier, you said you left your charge without a guard because you wished to fetch lunch. Tell me about this time."

"Okay…" He still didn't look thrilled about the idea.

Now, even though I have evidence regarding this subject, it would be less than wise to present it right away. First, I must see if he provides a truthful explanation of his actions. If not, it will only serve to incriminate him further. With something resembling a strategy in mind, Franziska made sure she listened carefully to Ergic's first testimony.

-Witness Testimony-

"At Lunchtime"

"It's a shame to admit to someone like you, but the reason why I wasn't by Ms. Washington's door was because I neglected my duty as a police officer."

"I was told Ms. Washington was in the hospital due to an accident. I believed her placement into witness protection was only precautionary. That's why I didn't take my job seriously.

"So around noon, when I got hungry, I decided to see what restaurants were nearby. I guess I forgot to call for a replacement.

"I lost track of time, I admit it. When I came back to the hospital, I'd been gone for over an hour.

"I swear, Prosecutor, I never believed a murder would happen under my watch. I know this mess is entirely my fault and have already given up my job because of it."

Franziska waited to ensure he was done before criticizing. "And I'm sure you think you're being noble by admitting your mistakes? You are merely waking up to the reality of your own inadequacy as a police officer. Nay, a human being."

"Is… was there a question in there?" Ergic stepped away from Franziska until his back hit Washington's door. "Because if you don't want to cross-examine me, I can always leave."

"Not just yet. I do wish to question you further. Remain where you are."

Kay sniffed, her arms crossed. "What a sad apology! His behavior is the reason we're in this mess, and that's the best he's got?"

"It's worse than sad, it's vague. I'll need to question him carefully to obtain the information I need." Franziska kept her voice low when addressing the teen, then spoke up for Ergic's sake. "Repeat your testimony!"

"Y-yes, Prosecutor! Coming right up."

-Cross-Examination-

"At Lunchtime"

"It's a shame to admit to someone like you, but the reason why I wasn't by Ms. Washington's door was because I neglecting my duties as a police officer."

"I was told Ms. Washington was in the hospital due to an accident. I believed her placement into witness protection was only precautionary. That's why I didn't take my job seriously."

"HOLD IT! As you can see, Ms. Cassandra Washington's place in the witness protection program was more than justified. Or is being murdered before trial not enough of a reason to have required protection in your book?"

"No, I agree now, I do! I swear, if I'd known the threat against Ms. Washington was serious, I would never have been so careless. I wish every minute I could go back in time and prevent this whole situation. Maybe if I hadn't wasted so much time thinking about-" The sweating was back. "What happened to this woman was horrible. I-" gulp, "I've never seen someone have an allergic reaction that bad before! Her body, I mean. She… she must have been in so much pain."

Sims, once again interested in the conversation happening in front of her, coughed before interjecting. "Yes, indeed. Anaphylaxis is a painful experience for as long as the reaction lasts. It would have been several minutes before Ms. Washington was truly dead."

"The poor woman…" Kay turned her head up, eyes glistening. "To think: she died all alone with no one to help her." Both Ergic and Sims flinched at her words.

Feeling guilty, are we? Franziska planned to have someone declared guilty by the time this sideshow was resolved.

The urge to whip the two fools was like an itch. It only went away once she did so. The option to "Whip" was only available in that moment, but Franziska took the opportunity. "Now that you realize the appropriate level of guilt you ought to feel for this crime, Miss Maddy Sims, I ask that you interrupt this line of questioning no more."

"Eek! Yes, Miss." Once again, Sims faded away, never again to interrupt this cross-examination. Had Franziska not whipped her so, the nurse may have been inclined to speak where she was not welcome several times more.

"Continue your testimony, Mr. Gerald Ergic."

"..."

"So around noon, when I got hungry, I decided to see what restaurants were nearby. I guess I forgot to call for a replacement."

"HOLD IT!" Franziska held her arm out, doing her best to project an image of confidence. "Could you be more specific on the time at which you left the victim's door? Did you see anything or anybody approach this door as you left?"

"I… don't really remember the time. I knew it was a bit after noon though because a couple nurses were talking about it. I saw them getting their lunches out at the nurse's station and got hungry. I didn't see anything or anybody in front of Ms. Washington's door as I was leaving."

Now that was the sort of statement Franziska was looking for. Even if it was a bald-faced lie. "Very well, Mr. Gerald Ergic. Add your statements to the testimony."

"Er- yes, Prosecutor."

"I left the hospital floor only a few minutes after noon. I didn't see anything or anybody here when I was headed out."

"OBJECTION!" Franziska shook her finger, tsking as she did so. "You say there was nothing to see outside Miss Cassandra Washington's door at the time you specified? We were given a very different story earlier. From the patient across the hall, no less!" She held up the page in her Organizer that detailed "Hertz's Testimony", shoving it in the ex-cop's face. "He tells us he saw the killer enter the victim's room with the murder weapon in hand. That was roughly ten minutes after noon, if Miss Maddy Sims's account of anaphylaxis is to be trusted."

"Oh wow…" Ergic fell back, but he didn't look as concerned as he should have. "I must have just missed that. Really unfortunate, huh? If I'd have waited just a few minutes longer…"

"Wait a second, pal!" Gumshoe was getting impatient with this line of questioning. "Are you saying you left even earlier than 12:10?"

"I mean, I must have if I'd missed that. I had no idea the murder occurred so soon after I left. What was the killer doing, watching me to see when I got up?"

Franziska may have found that excuse believable... had she not possessed evidence to the contrary. "I see… You disappoint me, Mr. Gerald Ergic. Not content with being merely lazy or incompetent, you wish to reveal yourself as a liar as well."

"What? I don't know what you're talking about. I wasn't here when the murder occurred!"

"Hmph. Your claims of leaving the hospital before the murder are helpless before this piece of evidence." Franziska pulled out the pages from the "Visitor's Entry Log" that she'd stored in her Organizer before yelling "TAKE THAT!"

Ergic took one look at the pages. That was all it took to turn his face ashen as beads of sweat fell down in heaps. "Wait. Is that-"

"The visitor's entry log in which you signed your name upon departure? Why yes, yes it is. And do you remember also signing the time at which you departed from the building? 12:21pm, was it?"

"I-I remember now! That… that was a mistake. It should say 12:12pm. I must have mixed the digits up while I was writing."

"If that were true, you would have missed the killer by a matter of seconds!" Kay's mouth popped open. She turned to Franziska. "Is it really possible? Could this be just another one of Ergic's mistakes?"

Franziska took a second look at the visitor's log before responding. Not just at Ergic's name, but at the surrounding signatures as well. "I believe Mr. Gerald Ergic's explanation just now was…

-sufficient

-insufficient

"This excuse he has presented is but another lie. The visitor log reveals it so."

"Wh-where does it do that? Is it that hard to believe I mixed two numbers up, Prosecutor?"

"The reason I do not believe your story, Mr. Gerald Ergic, is clear if you look… here!" Franziska pointed to the name written before Ergic's own. "This man supposedly signed out just before you at 12:16pm. Had you really signed out at 12:12pm, his signature should come after yours, not before!"

"That's right, pal! Unless you think he got his time mixed up as well." Gumshoe backed Franziska up, an assured smile on his face. That smile disappeared when he spoke next. "But wait… what does this mean?"

"It means, Scruffy, that our dear officer was still in the building at the time of the murder and that he wanted to hide that fact from us."

"But why hide that?" Kay asked, then gasped. "Unless he-"

"Unless indeed." Franziska knew exactly what Kay wanted to say. Part of her wanted to make the claim herself. But the other part of her, the part that had grown up believing in the virtues of the police force, was hesitant.

Before coming to this country to avenge her father and brother, Franziska had trusted in the police to always arrest the correct criminal without fail. It was why she'd been willing to give every case her all, even if it did mean resorting to a few unconventional methods. But ever since her first two losses, Franziska had come to accept that there was room for flaws in this country's police force. She knew now that the officers she'd trusted so much as a child could still be incompetent and even occasionally lazy. Not everyone possessed the perfection of a Von Karma, after all. It was why she needed to give their work a second look before agreeing to go forward with whatever case they brought to her. Doing so had since saved Franziska a great deal of embarrassment.

Today, however, was different. Today, she was on the verge of accepting that individuals who had taken an oath to uphold the laws could be the very ones breaking them. The crime she now suspected Ergic of commiting went far beyond sloth. If her current interpretation of the evidence was correct, this frail man had willfully led an innocent woman to a brutal and painful death.

To think that I didn't want to question this man at first. My respect for the police force was that great. Before today, I'd never have thought that an officer of the law could commit murder. Never in history did Franziska think she would wish her logic was false.

"Mr. Gerald Ergic. As I just explained to Miss Maddy Sims, lying to the police is a grave error. As a former police officer, you ought to know better. ...I will give you one last chance to explain yourself."

Ergic took his hat off, ripping the shoulder pads from his uniform. He handed both articles of clothing to Gumshoe before responding. "Take these. I don't deserve to wear any of it. I promise I can explain everything. I know what I did was wrong, but I didn't mean to let anyone die. I just… I didn't want to become a suspect."

Franziska was silent as the ex-cop made his confession. Still, an uncomfortable sound of squeaking had taken to the air. The gathered party turned all at once to see the source.

And the source of the sound? Hertz on his hospital bed. He was being wheeled about by one Karin Jenson, currently speaking to her patient in low tones. "Now that we're done with your injections, I'll go check on your dinner. You shouldn't be waiting too long in your room for it."

Hertz snorted, not even acknowledging the small crowd watching him in the hallway. "After making me wait so long for lunch? I'm not hungry again just yet!"

"Mr. Bruce Hertz. How kind of you to join us." Franziska's caustic tone caught Hertz's attention. Seeing the injured man had given the prosecutor an idea, if a half-formed one. If Mr. Bruce Hertz really saw the killer from behind in nondescript clothing… I wonder if he would recognize the same sight twice.

Hertz frowned when he saw the prosecutor. "Oh look. The crazy prosecutor lady. Who else are you accusing of the murder?"

"I never accused you of murder, if you recall. Mr. Gerald Ergic, before we continue with your explanation, could you fetch something from the victim's room for me?"

"I can do that. What do you need?" Ergic turned towards the crime scene, his back now to Hertz. The angle wasn't quite right, but it was close. Franziska saw the beginnings of redness in the injured man's cheeks. Ergic was just about to open the door when-

"Hey, prosecutor lady!" Hertz's eyes widened to the size of saucers.

"Mr. Bruce Hertz, I am trying to investigate a murder. Unless you have more to add to your testimony, I won't be needing you input." Franziska spoke with a creeping smile on her face. Did that mean her idea had worked?

"Oh, I have something I need to say. You'll want to hear this."

"What? What's going on here?" Ergic turned around, immediately on the defensive. "What does this criminal think he's doing?"

"Mr. Bruce Hertz, I think we've established by now that I am not a patient woman. If you happened to think of something that you did not tell me earlier, you need to speak now." Franziska demanded, though not harshly.

"That guy you're talking to. Him right there." Hertz tried and failed to gesture towards Ergic. His struggling only resulted in a wince of pain. "He's the one that brought a sandwich into the room your woman was in! I didn't recognize him earlier because of his police uniform, but now I see it." Hertz announced with a self-satisfied smile on his face.

"Well, isn't that an ironic twist. The police officer entrusted to guard Ms. Washington as the very man who murdered her. You sure know how to concoct some wild stories for the court."

Franziska whipped her head around in the direction of the elevators. Coming forward were Klana Dharless and her hired pet, Kristoph Gavin. Franziska didn't know what the rich meddler and her obnoxious attorney wanted now, but surely it couldn't be anything good. "And what is it to you which direction this investigation takes, Mr. Kristoph Gavin? Mr. Gerald Ergic is not an employee of this hospital. Your stated reason for interfering before holds no weight here."

Dharless sniffed, hand pulling on the chain of her gaudy necklace. "He was doing an important job for this hospital in protecting your dear witness from harm. I feel indebted to him even if he failed at his job. He was practically a staff member while doing his job here, and should be classified as such!"

"Please, Ms. Dharless. Your sentiments are well placed, even if your reasoning is... untested." Kristoph held his hand up to the side of his face, shaking his head as he did so. "Prosecutor Von Karma. I admit, my interest in this case has become something less than professional. A curiosity, if you will. I simply wish to know how someone so impulsive as you was ever able to earn a good reputation in our legal system. Surely it can't only be your youth."

"If you think Franziska is gonna let you weasel your way onto the case again just because you insulted her, you have another thing coming, mister!" Kay turned her nose up at the blond attorney, doing her best to project an air of indifference.

Franziska tutted once again, curtsying before Gavin to further sell the act. "Now, Kay Faraday. Don't you remember what Mr. Kristoph Gavin told us when we last spoke here in this hall? He has every right to stand in the hallway of a public hospital and speak with whomever he pleases. After all, if he stands here long enough, he may be able to uncover yet another case breaking detail through sheer coincidence. I suppose that's how he makes up for his utter lack of skill as a defense attorney."

Gumshoe did his best to disguise his laugh as a cough. He sobered his expression before addressing Gavin. "What's going on with you, pal? First you bothered Mr. Edgeworth on his investigation two days ago, and now you're here. Most defense attorneys wait until there's a judge in the room before attacking the prosecution's case. If you don't mind, we have an accusation to look into."

"An accusation? Wh-what accusation?" The mini confrontation between Franziska and Gavin had done nothing to distract Ergic from the situation at hand. "You're not really taking this criminal at his word, are you? He's a hitman for the gangs!"

"He's a what?" Jenson threw her hands back, sweat escaping from underneath her nurse's cap. Her face, however, remained completely unaffected. "His patient occupation was listed as 'store clerk'!"

"Hitman? Says you people! Your cop buddies have no proof to incriminate me. We've been over this, Prosecutor Lady!" Hertz was getting red again. Franziska was worried she might copy him if this case got any further out of hand. "You aren't going to discard my testimony just because of some baseless accusations, are you? Again: I have no reason to lie. If some… comments about my outside life are enough for you to ignore the truth of what I'm saying, then you're more of a fool than anyone you've insulted today."

Franziska flinched, arms wrapping around her as she fell back. Her teeth clenched as she gnawed on the witness's words. While it was true she would have trouble convincing a court of Hertz's credibility (should he ever be called to testify), did that mean she shouldn't take his word as evidence? As had been so crudely pointed out, Hertz was the closest thing Franziska had to a witness in this case. He was the only one who had ever claimed to have seen the murderer, and now he was offering her a positive ID on the very man she'd begun to suspect. Given the circumstances, what more could Franziska possibly ask for?

Franziska had been the one to set this trap. She had no room to complain when it sprung the way it did. "Mr. Bruce Hertz. I will take your accusation seriously, but please understand that you are accusing a former police officer of murder. The police department is very protective of their own, and they will attack with a vengeance if they see that this case has a weakness."

"It's true, pal! Our chief does a wonderful job looking out for his men. Even whenwe screw up every now and then." Gumshoe smiled, oblivious to the greater implications of Franziska's statement.

Hertz didn't look intimidated. "So you're telling me the police force operates the same way as every other gang in this city? You agree with what I said about this place being a hotbed of corruption?"

Franziska could feel her hand leaving wrinkles on her necktie, but as of now, she couldn't make herself relax the grip. "Er, no. I'm only admitting that it is natural for them to feel as if their reputation is being called into question by accusations such as these. People can react poorly when they fear their organization's honor is at stake."

"You speak from experience, I presume?" Gavin interjected, followed by a dark chuckle. "I must admit, it's good to see you exercising caution in a case for once. Perhaps you are teachable after all."

"I have learned nothing from you!" Franziska objected. Feeling her cheeks glow again, she turned away from the attorney and back towards Ergic. "Mr. Gerald Ergic, did you bring the murder weapon into the room of my witness?"

"You're seriously taking the words of a hitman over mine?" Ergic's hackles were raised. "How do you even know he's telling you the truth? He was peeking through a crack in the door!"

"I saw enough to know it was you, you dirty cop! You think you're better than me because you were a cop until a few hours ago? You're as much of the bad guy as you think I am."

"Don't you get it, Prosecutor? Mr. Hertz has no idea who he saw, even if his earlier testimony is true. He's just saying he saw me now because my former squad is after him. He wants to discredit us as police officers!"

"Now that would be a good reason to lie, wouldn't it?" Gavin mulled it over. "Hmmm…"

"I want silence, you foolish fools!" Franziska cracked her whip across the floor, not happy with the childish arguing taking place in front of her. The conversation came to a halt. "Now… Mr. Gerald Ergic. I am not necessarily taking Mr. Bruce Hertz's word over yours. His testimony is something that I need to consider. Evidence is evidence, regardless of who it indicts." Franziska glared at the officer, whip raised over her head. "I am still waiting for your explanation from earlier, if you recall."

"I still can't believe that you would suspect such a thing... the last thing I would think about doing is killing someone." Ergic tried to sound convincing, but the pause between words showed he was rattled.

"You may say that, but a prosecutor that prides themselves on perfection ought to be willing to investigate from any angle. You may not be happy with the current state of affairs, but is that not all the more reason to cooperate and clear your good name? Wouldn't you like to go back to being negligent instead of malignant?" Franziska was still not over the fact that Hertz had used the word "fool" in reference to herself. She would not tolerate any further humiliation lest it reflect on her case.

"Prosecutor Von Karma, if you would allow me a word, I think I may be able to offer a more logical explanation for the events that have occurred here. It would certainly better than sifting through these witness' bickering." Gavin ignored the glare Kay fixed him with as he continued. "You said it yourself: a perfect prosecutor ought to be willing to examine a case from more than one perspective."

"I wouldn't listen to him." Kay's warned. "The one time he had anything to offer this case, it was a complete accident. What could he possibly have to tell us this time?"

"I agree, sir!"

Dharless spoke up for the first time in a while. Franziska could honestly say she'd forgotten the woman was here. "Why, you ridiculous police officers! And you, Prosecutor. I have no idea why this nurse here spoke highly of you. What good is your case if you can't even argue it before an attorney on this side of the courthouse doors?"

"I didn't ask for your input," Franziska snapped, then gestured towards Gavin. "Fine. Mr. Kristoph Gavin. I offer you one last chance. What groundbreaking conclusions have you come to with regards to this case?"

Gavin smirked, his head tilted slightly back. "Thank you, Prosecutor Von Karma. Now be silent and allow me to enlighten you on the flaws inherent in your argument."

-Argument-

"Kristoph Gavin's Logic"

"First you pursued that nurse, then Mr. Hertz… your only witness. And now you seem fixated on Mr. Ergic, it seems. You certainly switch quickly between suspects.

"Do you have any other reason for suspecting him besides the fact that you have questioned so many already? I haven't heard of any evidence against the ex-officer.

"You may think the victim's guard is a logical suspect, but has Mr. Ergic not confessed to his crime already? I would think losing his job would be sufficient punishment for his negligence.

"He was not guarding this room at the time of the murder. Dozens wandered this hall while he was gone.

"Your only testimony comes from one who saw the killer through a crack in the door from behind: inconclusive regardless of the witness's potential motives.

"If I were Mr. Ergic's attorney in court, this case would be won easily in my favor. You fail again, Prosecutor Von Karma."

Franziska scoffed as Gavin finished his argument. "That blustering bluff you gave just now is your argument? I'm not sure I would dignify it as such, Mr. Kristoph Gavin!"

"Call it what you must, Prosecutor Von Karma. I know valid arguments against your case can scare you, but please refrain from lashing out with cheap intimidation tactics. I assure you, they do nothing to distract from your lack of a comeback. If you ask me, they leave you looking rather undignified. I would prefer to face a rebuttal of substance, if that is possible." He shook his head once again. "That is, if you intend to rebut me at all. I suppose you could always hide out at the crime scene."

Franziska scoffed at the attorney's pretension. "Now I certainly don't recall asking for your assessment of my methods. My status and record speak for themselves. I have nothing to prove to you." If he wants a rebuttal, then I will give him the perfect rebuttal to prove his wrongness to him.

"You know…" Kay spoke out the side of her mouth, "He wasn't here for our entire investigation. There might be something we have that he doesn't know this time around."

"Yes, I did think of that." Franziska kept her voice just as quiet. "I suppose I ought to start there."

-Rebuttal-

"Kristoph Gavin's Logic"

"First you pursued that nurse, then Mr. Hertz… your only witness. And now you seem fixated on Mr. Ergic, it seems. You certainly switch quickly between suspects."

Franziska despised Gavin's tone as he repeated those words, but she held her tongue. She suspected the best way to silence this defense attorney was to attack his argument precisely. It wouldn't do to waste time on petty interjections.

"Do you have any other reason for suspecting him besides the fact that you have questioned so many already and found nothing? I haven't heard of any evidence against the ex-officer.

"OBJECTION!" Franziska presented the "Visitor's Entry Log" for a second time. She tutted before speaking. "Mr. Kristoph Gavin. I was told by that scruffy detective that you were present by the front desk when I sent him on an errand to collect evidence. Tell me: did you know the contents of the evidence in question?"

"You wished to possess a record of every individual who entered or exited the building in the month of July. A gross overreach with no basis, especially where the hospital staff is concerned. Why do you ask?"

"As I thought. You are ignorant to the specific contents of the evidence I hold. Had you known what was written on this page in particular, you would not have claimed my accusation has no evidence." Franziska allowed Gavin to take the slip of paper from her. He read it as she continued. "Mr. Gerald Ergic lied to this investigation about his movements at the time of the murder. If you would recall our earlier discussion regarding the victim's time of death-"

"-then I would realize that Mr. Ergic was still on the hospital grounds at the time of the murder, a fact he hid from your investigation," Gavin finished for the prosecutor. He sighed. "Is this not the same argument we had earlier this afternoon? Just because someone lied about their whereabouts at the time of the murder does not mean they are the one who committed it."

"It still means that the investigation has a responsibility to uncover the truth, however." Franziska pressed on. "I was about to question Mr. Gerald Ergic further before I was interrupted."

Gavin smirked, the light hitting his glasses at an odd angle as he lifted a hand to adjust them. "And what would be the point of that? If you think this man has lied before, what evidence will you use to draw the truth out of him now? How will you be sure you can trust his word when he and the witness have argued at length over their respective credibility? Both sides had fair points."

Franziska accepted the evidence as Gavin returned it to her. "Hearing those two men bicker has made me realize something. At this stage of my investigation, I have grown tired of words. Pitting two men's words against each other will amount to little more than a screaming match if I am not able to present evidence to the court."

"Evidence is everything in court," Gavin agreed, though he didn't look enthused by the prospect.

"But Prosecutor Von Karma, sir! Where would we find this evidence?" Gumshoe asked. "We've already searched so many places."

Franziska considered her answer. If I'm to present decisive evidence against Mr. Gerald Ergic in court, I shall have to narrow my search. Forensic evidence is ideal, as it would be the most difficult against which to argue. Seeing as most such searches have been failures, I should now look for evidence that the suspect may have handled or touched…

-the murder weapon

-the crime scene

-the victim's body

Only one avenue on the list had yet to be pursued. And that was the matter of the murder weapon. Being a typical food item, the killer was unlikely to be questioned for having a peanut butter sandwich on hand. Because the hospital cafeteria had not made any, the killer would have brought it to the scene with them, likely within a container of some sort.

The whole group was silent when Franziska spoke next. "Scuffy. I have one last errand for you to run."

"What is it, sir?"

"Mr. Gerald Ergic was here for a long shift. I'm confident he brought some of his personal belongings with him to the hospital, even if they weren't kept on his person. Find them and bring them to me."

"Got it, sir!" Gumshoe stomped off.

"Are… aren't you ask me where they are? It's my stuff. I could tell you." Ergic's eyes followed the scurrying detective. He didn't look back at Franziska when he spoke. "Wouldn't that be easier?"

"That assumes you intend to tell us the truth, Mr. Gerald Ergic. Your reputation in that field leaves much to be desired at the moment."

"It's probably at the nurse's station still." Jenson spoke up for the first time in several minutes. "That's where he put his bag when he came here. It's got the police seal on it and everything."

Sims's eyes lit up at her fellow nurse's description. "Oh, that's right! I remember that bag. I saw him walk over to the station to get it when I was on my way to… um…" her voice grew too soft to be heard.

Franziska didn't have to, but she took the option to whip Sims again when it appeared. "You foolish nurse! The two of you could have mentioned such things hours ago. Miss Karen Jenson, go tell the scruffy detective what you told me. It will shorten his search considerably."

"Of course!" Jenson was about to walk off when, "but is it okay for me to take Mr. Hertz back to his room first? You won't need any more of his testimony, will you?"

"Very well. Do that first." Franziska dismissed the pair, but not before a few parting words. "Mr. Bruce Hertz. While I am unlikely to call you to testify and your injuries mean you are currently unable to appear in court, there is the possibility of a police officer with a video camera being sent to collect your live testimony during the trial, should the need arise. I want you to be prepared for such an eventuality."

"Trials are held a few days after the investigations, right?" Hertz barked a laugh when Kay nodded. "I'm not gonna even gonna be walking by then. Send however many police officers you want, though. If they don't murder me or pry into my personal business, I guess I might cooperate."

"That is all I ask for, Mr. Bruce Hertz." Though if a murder case with him as the hitman ever came to her desk, Franziska was certain she would prosecute without mercy. "A speedy recovery to you."

"What do you hope to uncover in this search of yours, Prosecutor Von Karma?" Gavin's voice lacked its earlier antagonism, now expressing a genuine curiosity. "I trust this isn't another ploy to justify rash charges."

Franziska didn't feel like explaining herself just yet. "Why don't you sit and wait patiently with the rest of the peanut gallery? All will be revealed in due time."

Dharless scoffed, shaking her head. She was the only one who made any noise while they waited.

July 3rd 5:52pm

Dye Young Hospital

Second Floor Hallway

"Ms. Von Karma sir! I have it for you! I have Mr. Ergic's bag of belongings!" Gumshoe charged in, interrupting the charged silence that had fallen over the hallway. The prosecutor wished Gumshoe could have entered more professionally, but if he truly had important information, she could forgive the detective this one time. Jenson followed behind the detective, saying nothing.

"For as long as you made me wait, Detective, you better have the perfect evidence for me to continue this case," Franziska threatened, more impatient than irritated. "What did you find inside that clothsack?"

"Clothsack? That was a commision gift from the police force! Don't toss it around like it's worthless." Ergic's voice went up in pitch when he saw his bag presented to the investigation. If he'd been sweating before, he was practically swimming in it now.

"Don't worry pal, I'll be nice to it. Why, I have a bag just like this at home!" Gumshoe smiled, then remembered where he was. "Here you go, sir." Franziska took hold of the item while Gumshoe explained his search. "There wasn't much in there, sir. Most of it was standard police equipment. The only other items were his job assignment list, a few letters, and a piece of trash."

"Please don't go through my letters. They're… personal," Ergic protested, reaching out to grab them.

Franziska, however, was utterly disinterested in Ergic's mail, at least for the time being. She allowed the ex-cop to take them from her. "This piece of trash you describe. What is it, Detective?"

"An empty plastic bag, sir! There's a little food stain at the bottom, but I can't tell what was inside it. It looked like it'd been there a while, sir."

"Surely you aren't interested in the officer's discarded snacks, Prosecutor Von Karma. That trash could be days old."

It wasn't as immediately decisive as Franziska had wished, but it was the best she had. If Ergic had brought the murder weapon to the hospital, then a plastic bag was as good a container as any until the time to commit murder was right. Franziska raised her voice to call for forensics. "Check that piece of evidence for signs of the murder weapon."

A forensics officer had been stationed at the crime scene. He burst the door open when his services were called for. "Yes, ma'am! We'll get on that right away." The door closed behind him after he walked off with the plastic bag.

In the meantime, Franziska logged the contents of Ergic's belongings into her Organizer. One never knows the importance of certain evidence until its moment comes. Best to make a note of all items now.

-"Plastic Bag" added to Organizer-

-"Ergic's Assignment List" added to Organizer-

-"Letters to Ergic" added to Organizer-

"I don't know what you think your case stands to gain from this endeavor," Gavin put a hand up to adjust his glasses. "As I said: days old trash. More than likely bearing no relation to this case."

"That's right!" Ergic burst in with a fervor. "I don't even remember what I used that bag for in the first place."

"Then perhaps forensic testing will bring your memories back."

"About that… I've been thinking." Ergic seemed calmer than before, somehow. Or perhaps the man was now so desperate, his body had given out on showing it. "You only really suspect me because of the time in the visitor's log, right? What if I told you where I was?"

"I'm listening, Mr. Gerald Ergic."

"The truth is… I was in the bathroom. I'd… eaten some bad eggs from the hospital cafeteria. I'd been in there since a little bit after noon."

"And you didn't say anything before… why, again?"

"Well, first it was because I didn't know it mattered. No one told me the exact time of the murder. And after that, well," Ergic shrugged, "no one left me alone long enough for me to get the words out."

"Trust me, you got plenty of words out earlier." Kay kept her arms crossed, clearly unconvinced. "And if your stomach hurt so much, why go out for lunch right after?"

"Well…" the sweating from earlier was back, "you know how it is when you eat something bad. Once it's out of your system, you feel better."

"I'm sure." Franziska kept her voice measured throughout. "Unfortunately, I'm also sure there's no way for you to prove this alibi of yours."

"Then what more do you want?" Ergic snapped. "That's the only real thing you have to incriminate me right now, and I can think of a few more reasons your accusation makes no sense."

"Oh, can you now?" Franziska had to admit, she preferred to spend her time crushing arguments rather than merely waiting for the results of forensic tests. And if the test didn't go well for her, she would need to uncover more evidence against Ergic if she were to ever charge him in court. "Why don't you tell me about these reasons you have?"

"Fine! I guess I will." Ergic's hand went up to straighten a nonexistent cap, wiping sweat off his brow before his argument could begin.

-Argument-

"Why I Can't be the Killer"

"I wasn't there to protect the witness when I should have been. That much is on me.

"But I didn't kill this woman! Please, you have to believe me.

"When the witness was admitted to the hospital, all I knew was that she got ill during questioning. I had no idea she was allergic to peanut butter!

"If I didn't know that, then why would I use peanut butter to kill her? Why not my police issued handgun or pocket knife?

"Not to mention, this is my first time visiting this hospital! I wouldn't know the first thing about hiding a murder from the dozens of nurses on this floor.

"Finally, I have no reason to kill this woman. She and I never met, never spoke, nothing! If you're looking for a hired gun, he's recovering across the hall.

"You have two shaky reasons to suspect me, and a thousand reasons not to. I didn't kill her!"

"A thousand reasons?" Franziska repeated, slightly bemused. "I only counted three in your argument just now."

"Three arguments against our logic are just three holes to fill with the right evidence." Kay adjusted her gloves, a growing smirk on her face. "You ready, Franziska?"

"Don't forget about me, sir! I've contributed everything I can to this case. I hope it's all useful this time." Gumshoe added, though not as confidently.

"I wouldn't be so arrogant, Prosecutor Von Karma," Gavin warned. "The issues this officer raises are not minor. I would argue these points myself, were we in court."

"Thank you Kay Faraday, Scruffy." Franziska chose to ignore the defense attorney this time around. A brief glance out the side of her vision showed Dharless visibly upset about it. "Mr. Gerald Ergic, do not expect to win an argument against a Von Karma. To do so would be claiming an undue amount of skill on your part."

Three points to counter, three interjections to make. I have to make sure I address each necessary issue before this Rebuttal can be over. Franziska doubted the order would matter, but messing up on one could increase her frustration, making successive penalties higher than the first. Fail three times, and the Rebuttal would be over... against her favor.

-Rebuttal-

"Why I Can't be the Killer"

"I wasn't there to protect the witness when I should have been. That much is on me.

"But I didn't kill this woman! Please, you have to believe me.

"When the witness was admitted to the hospital, all I knew was that she got ill during questioning. I had no idea she was allergic to peanut butter!"

In the third statement lay Ergic's first bone of contention against Franziska's case. While Franziska didn't yet know how she intended to counter this line of reasoning, she knew it would be necessary later if she were ever to pull off a conviction. Time to examine the evidence.

The first place Franziska searched for answers was in Ergic's personal items, the ones Gumshoe just brought to her. She chose to Examine "Ergic's Assignment List". Gumshoe was immediately by her side as she did so.

"This is a list of that foolish fool's work assignments. He's been transferred twice in the past week."

"That's highly irregular, sir." Gumshoe must have been waggling his brows behind her. Franziska couldn't imagine him doing anything less. "I've never seen this happen to an officer before. Not in the same week, anyway."

Ergic had spoken the truth when he'd told her this was his first time guarding witnesses. A week ago, this man had been a regular patrol officer. Then, two days ago, he'd been placed in the Detention Center. An overseer of the visiting room, it seemed. Visitor's Room number...

"That's odd. I was using that room yesterday when I…" Franziska voice trailed off. Once she had read through the officer's assignments, she turned to glare at the officer. If looks could kill, the officer would have been a goner.

"OBJECTION! Gerald Ergic, you are a foolishly foolish fool if you thought you could hide your earlier work from me." Franziska whipped the ex officer. She continued to speak even as his mouth made a half formed excuse. "You were watching Ms. Cassandra Washington and I in the interrogation room yesterday. You saw the initial reaction that put her in the hospital."

"I- uh… yeah, that was my job until yesterday. My schedule has been a bit hectic recently." Ergic scratched the back of his head, trying to look nonchalant. "Wait! That doesn't prove I lied about anything."

"No, it doesn't. Mr. Ergic already admitted he knew the victim became ill during questioning. How he became privy to such information is irrelevant." Gavin came to Ergic's defense, then laughed. "But if the two of you were in the same room before, I'm shocked you didn't notice sooner. Are you truly so unobservant, Prosecutor Von Karma?"

"That's not fair. You know all police officers look the same in their uniforms," Kay protested. "I don't how how they do it."

"Back to a matter that's relevant…" Franziska forced her hand off her cravat, reaching out to gesture at Ergic. "You were there when Ms. Cassandra Washington suffered her first allergy attack. It's perfectly plausible for you to know the victim had a deadly allergy!"

"And the doctor just told you what the allergy way as soon as this patient was admitted?" Dharless rubbed her necklace between her fingers, causing the jewels to flash. "I didn't think that was allowed under Dye Young's privacy policy."

Jenson caught Franziska's eyes, then looked away to share a look with Sims. "I have a patient who needs his dinner," Jenson announced, leaving the blockage in the hallway for professional duties.

"My shift is almost over. I need to collect my things," Sims added, departing for the nurse's station. Neither nurse was willing to challenge Franziska on this point, it seemed. As for Franziska, she felt no need to elaborate either way.

"Look, I don't know what the doctor told you, but he didn't say anything to me about what the witness was allergic to," Ergic tried to protest, then frowned. "But you're just gonna say I don't have any evidence, right?"

"Indeed. I have presented a viable possibility to be argued in court as to how you would know the necessary information along with evidence to support. Any counter argument you present must have evidence of its own to stand." Franziska didn't want to linger on this point. It was one more thing that she would have to investigate further before trial. For now, she just wanted to arrest the true killer.

Just as she meant to mentally shelve the subject, a horrible thought came to mind. Before now, I never investigated the true cause of Ms. Cassandra Washington's first exposure. But if her suspected killer was present in that room as well…. Was it really possible that Ergic had known all along? Could he have made use of such knowledge to silence Washington's testimony back then as well? Just how well-planned was the attack on the victim's life?

But Franziska couldn't let paranoia run away with her. She needed evidence first. Evidence she would collect after arresting the ex-officer here. "Mr. Gerald Ergic. Continue with your argument."

"..."

"If I didn't know that, then why would I use peanut butter to kill her? Why not my police issued handgun or pocket knife?"

Laziness. Lack of desire for physical contact with the victim. Next question.

"Not to mention, this is my first time visiting this hospital! I wouldn't know the first thing about hiding a murder from the dozens of nurses on this floor."

"OBJECTION! Hiding Ms. Washington's murder was a simple business for our killer. It could be done with the push of a button." Franziska presented her notes on the "Patient Alarm" from her Organizer. "All you had to do was disable this alarm. Then no nurses would be alerted as the victim struggled."

"Are you certain that would have been enough, Prosecutor Von Karma?" Gavin asked with less hostility than before. "I've heard death by allergic reaction can be quite violent. Surely the victim would have made noise as her body made contact with its allergen."

Franziska shook her finger at the insolent attorney. "I encountered this question earlier. The investigation concludes that the walls in this hospital are thick enough to prevent the noise from being a disturbance. The door was closed at the time of the murder. If one was not standing by the door of the crime scene, they could have easily missed the commotion."

"But wait! How would I have known about that alarm to start with? Like I said: this is my first time in this hospital. I don't know how anything works in here."

"But this knowledge was easy for you to obtain. Mr. Gerald Ergic, you…"

-read about the alarms

-weren't the one to disable the alarm

-found out from someone else

"You know about the alarm because of someone else you encountered while standing guard in this hallway." Franziska was thinking back to a conversation she had earlier in the investigation, back before she ever suspected Ergic as a suspect. "And that person was... this individual!" She flipped to the Profile section of her Organizer, stopping at the page with Hertz's information. "TAKE THAT!"

"Hertz," Ergic practically growled, sending a furtive glance towards the door of the other patient. It was closed for now.

"Yes, Mr. Gerald Ergic. As you well know, Mr. Bruce Hertz would trigger his alarm every time he wanted something because of his inability to use a nurse call button. You would have known all that you needed to about the alarm from his antics alone."

Not even Gavin had a way to refute that. Victory, if a small one.

"Was there anything else you wished to argue, Mr. Gerald Ergic? Or is that enough for you?"

"N-no. There was more."

"Let's hear it." For the first time since this investigation had begun, Franziska was feeling confident. After hours of pointless struggle, she could see each piece falling into place. Just a few more to go.

"Finally, I have no reason to kill this woman. She and I never met, never spoke, nothing! If you're looking for a hired gun, he's recovering across the hall."

Franziska didn't know if she had anything direct to present on this statement, so she chose to press instead. "HOLD IT! Mr. Gerald Ergic, for how many years had you been a police officer?"

"Several. Why do you ask?"

"You've worked investigations before. In how many arrests have the police made was the suspect's motive unclear at first?"

"There have been a few that I know of," Ergic admitted, then fell back. "But wait! That doesn't mean I have a-"

"We don't know for certain that you've never met the victim before. There's even a possibility the motive didn't exist until minutes before the murder. Regardless, this final argument is a weak one. If a motive exists, it will be uncovered in successive investigations."

"Is that it? Do something, Mr. Gavin!" Dharless's voice was shrill all of the sudden. Gumshoe and Kay both turned to her with raised eyebrows.

Gavin, however, just shrugged. Holding a hand up as if in defeat. "There's not much I can do on this front, unfortunately. It seems the prosecutor is capable of issuing true statements, if not fully reasoned arguments."

Was that it? Had Franziska really addressed every issue necessary before performing an arrest? She'd met her own standard (and Lang's standard) a while ago, but her little brother was a bit stricter. As was this city, nowadays. Franziska was about to go in for the kill when-

"But even with all those words, her argument will never stand in court. Her chances of a conviction while facing even a half decent attorney are hopeless."

"What are you talking about?" Kay's mouth popped open. "Why would you say that?"

"I believe I know why," Franziska answered with her eyes closed. "I still lack decisive evidence. That is your claim, no?"

"It is indeed," Gavin tilted his head back. "Even after all this work, you still don't have a complete picture of events. I have another engagement that prevents me from continuing this debate in the courthouse with you, but I will tell whoever gets this officer's case to rip your argument to shreds."

Gavin probably thought his gloating would annoy Franziska, but for once, the prosecutor was grateful for it. It bought the investigation time to put the last piece of the puzzle in place. A piece that Gavin had either forgotten about himself or wanted his audience to forget about. He could certainly try, but it was a matter that had been on Franziska's mind the whole argument.

I've done a foolish thing again. I've pinned all my hopes on one piece of evidence. If the tests didn't come back beneficial to Franziska's case, she didn't know what she would do. Transfer the case in shame, most likely.

Gumshoe objected to Gavin's bluffs as soon as he finished voicing them. Kay was quick to enter the fray, and Ergic's stuttering could be heard soon after. But for once, Franziska was not engaged in the shouting match taking shape. Instead, she waited with bated breath until she heard a forensics officer say-

"Prosecutor Von Karma, sir! We have the results of that test you ordered."

Everyone immediately went silent as an unassuming forensics officer stood tall in the doorway to the crime scene. In his hand were a collection of handwritten papers. "We would normally have to go down to Criminal Affairs to perform tests like this, but Dr. Young had the tools we needed. Her autopsy will be sent to your temporary office, Prosecutor Von Karma."

"Very well." Franziska couldn't care less about the autopsy report. She raised her whip above her head as a warning. "Tell me what you found in the suspect's plastic bag."

"Traces of peanut butter mixed with crumbs of bread. Both the type of bread and the composition of the peanut butter are consistent with the murder weapon. Only Officer Ergic's prints were found on the bag."

"...And there you have it. Your decisive piece of evidence." Franziska curtsied before Gavin and Ergic, a vindicated smile gracing her features. She turned and pointed to the detective. "Scruffy. Arrest this disgraceful man at once."

"I… I… No. I can't do this anymore." Ergic ripped his police badge off of his belt, throwing it across the room. His eyes shone with unshed tears as he surrendered to Gumshoe as he was detained with the very handcuffs he'd kept in his bag. "I haven't deserved to be a cop in a long time… I should have known there was no such thing as a clean break."

-"Plastic Bag" updated in Organizer-

That was a calmer reaction than Franziska had been expecting. Was it just her, or did Ergic seem relieved to be caught? "And what sort of 'clean break' could you be referring to, Mr. Gerald Ergic?"

"You don't have to tell her," Dharless reminded the ex-cop, a pleading set to her eyes. "Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Isn't that what you police types always say?"

"Mr. Gerald Ergic. You've seen the case I have against you. The only way your words can be used is to provide a fuller picture of your murderous actions. Such a confession will likely shorten the length of your trial… and possibly your sentence, as well. That is dependent on what you reveal to us, however."

"Now that I think about it, there is still one thing we don't know about this case," Kay added. "It came up in his argument earlier, but we didn't have a real answer for it."

Franziska nodded. "The motive. We still would like an explanation, Mr. Gerald Ergic."

"What do you say, Mr. Ergic? Care to tell us why you killed Ms. Washington?" Gumshoe asked, dropping his usual mannerisms for a more serious demeanor. "Anything you don't confess now will come up in a private interrogation with Prosecutor Von Karma. And she doesn't hold back on suspects."

"Much less suspected police officers who betray my trust and murder my witnesses." Franziska raised her whip over her head, fire returning to her eyes.

"Now there's a threat if I ever heard one," Gavin commented, but kept his eyes on Ergic.

"Stop it! All of you, just… stop talking over me!" Ergic walked over to Franziska, lowering his voice. "I want to confess. I wish I had earlier… but I was scared. Can… can we do this in private?"

Franziska spared a glance at her surroundings. It didn't seem like anyone else could hear what Ergic was saying to her, though they all wanted to. She kept her voice equally low as she responded. "What could you possibly have to be afraid of, Mr. Gerald Ergic? Other than my wrath as a prosecutor?"

"I'm scared that the people who roped me into this scheme will come after my former squad. I'm afraid if I talk about them, they'll still reveal some things I've done to the press even though I did what they told me to. I… haven't always been a good cop, but everyone else on my team was clean. I know it. With all the stories going around right now, I couldn't risk being public outrage to my team. So I went with what I was told."

"You're saying someone told you to commit these crimes?"

"What are you doing, sir?" Gumshoe tried to butt in, but Franziska's whip kept him away. "Yowch!"

Franziska turned back to Ergic as he replied. "Yes. Before you ask, I can prove it. But… not here."

"I may know just the proof of which you speak. The people who contacted you to commit this crime. They used… this!" Franziska was careful not to shout this time around as she showed him the "Mysterious Cell Phone". She had only the corner of the Organizer open as she did so. "This piece of evidence… it's yours, is it not?"

"It was given to me, yes. I received instructions through it. Before that phone came, though, I got roped in with these." Ergic discreetly handed the letters written to him to Franziska. The same ones he'd taken out of his bag. She tucked them away before anyone else could see. "I thought if I gave that phone to Bruce Hertz, he would go down as the criminal he is. But I didn't realize just how bad his injuries were until you questioned him."

"Enough!" Franziska pulled back, voice raised louder than before. "Mr. Gerald Ergic, I have no more time for your petty excuses. You will offer your full confession to me in a private interrogation. One where there are no guards possessing ulterior motives." She whipped the air above him for good measure. "Take him to detention!"

"Yes, sir!" Gumshoe led the ex-cop out of the building. She wished he could have taken her thoughts as well.

-"Mysterious Cell Phone" updated in Organizer-

-"Letters to Ergic" updated in Organizer-

"Time for us to depart," Gavin declared. "Congratulations on finally arresting an actual murderer, Prosecutor Von Karma."

"You surprise me, Mr. Kristoph Gavin," Franziska couldn't resist getting one last jab in, "Are you truly willing to concede to my version of events in regard to this case?"

"Had I been willing to do that, the nurse would still be in your custody, now wouldn't she? No, I am simply glad to see this murder resolved in a way that pleases my true client: Ms. Dharless."

"Oh, I'm not your client, darling. The hospital is. And you," Dharless turned to face Franziska, "thank you for... eventually solving this tragic case. I will talk to the hospital administrator about improving our patient surveillance. Know that I only got in your way to protect this important public service from taint."

Gavin just had to bring that up again, didn't he? Franziska was done giving the attorney the satisfaction of a response. "Very well, Ms. Klana Dharless. I will forgive you for your interruptions of police procedure. Please carry on with your business." And never interfere with mine ever again.

"We should depart as well. Come along, Kay Faraday."

July 3rd, 8:16pm

Dye Young Hospital

Second Floor Waiting Area

It was only the two of them now. Once she could be sure the rest were gone, Franziska whipped out the letters Ergic had returned to her.

Kay noticed them right away. "What's that?"

"According to Mr. Gerald Ergic, these are blackmail letters. If he did not comply with their demands and use his position to kill the victim, his blackmailer would reveal his shoddy deeds as a police officer to an all too hungry press… or so he said."

"What do you mean, 'or so he said'? We have the letters right here, don't we? Let's open them right now and take a look."

"No. Mr. Gerald Ergic seemed paranoid about who may be watching him. I want to examine this evidence in my office."

Kay instantly understood. "Okay. But we should still check the letters for forensic evidence. See if we can catch his blackmailer as well."

"And for forensic tasks that I wish to keep away from police record, my little brother told me of just the woman." First, Franziska would leave the hospital for her temporary office in the Prosecutor's Building. Once there, she would make a few calls and get the evidence tested. By then, it would be too late to interrogate Ergic alone. She would have to request a July 5th trial date if she were to be sure all her evidence was in order. A sloppy end for a sloppy day.

"...Kay Faraday, I'm sorry you had to see that. My investigation today was… far from perfection."

"What? No it wasn't." Kay dismissed Franziska's concerns out of hand. "You think Edgeworth never struggles with a case or suspects the wrong person at first? Nah, it happens all the time."

"But I am a Von Karma. I should be beyond such basic mistakes. My… assumptions left me blinded to the truth at critical junctures in the case." A dirty cop for a suspect went against every predetermined notion Franziska had about the world she worked in. If she couldn't trust the police to heed and obey the law to the best of their human abilities, how could she ever investigate with them? Need she worry about the evidence they handle as well? At least she could always trust Scruffy to remain true… if incompetent.

"But you did it! You pushed through, you found the evidence, and I just know you're going to give Mr. Ergic the verdict he deserves. You're an amazing prosecutor, Franziska. Never doubt that."

"Indeed, Prosecutor Von Karma." Jenson had returned with Hertz's dinner. "I called for you because I know you and Mr. Edgeworth are the best this city has to offer with their prosecutors. After the way you helped me with my situation a few months ago, I had no doubt you would succeed. Thank you for your service." Jenson bowed, not giving Franziska a chance to respond before she left.

"You're so lucky," Kay admitted. "I thought you were so much older than me when we met last spring, but you're really not. When you showed up in this country as a teenager, you knew exactly what you wanted to do with your life. And here I am with no idea. I know Mr. Edgeworth wants me to go to school again, but I don't want to! I wish I could be his assistant forever!"

So Franziska had heard. "I'm not certain 'lucky' is the correct word for it, Kay Faraday. My path was destiny from the moment I was born a Von Karma. I do not resent my career, but I understand that it was not a choice I made. You are the blessed one, here. You have options.

"If investigation is the path you desire, you can train for it. Scruffy could tell you about his days at the police academy. After all the connections you've made and experience you've gained, your life would change little with the addition of a formal title. You might enjoy the addition of a salary as well."

Kay laughed at that. "If I get paid, I hope it's enough for me to buy my own noodles. I feel bad asking Gummy for some. I mostly bother Mr. Edgeworth, but-" she gasped, "Mr. Edgeworth! He doesn't know!"

"Hm? Doesn't know what?"

"When Ms. Washington landed in the hospital, Mr. Edgeworth had his first trial postponed for tomorrow. He went on vacation to a gaming convention today. Franziska, we have to tell him!"

"A gaming convention?" Franziska may be going out on a limb, but she suspected that chess wasn't among the sort of games being celebrated at this convention. What possible interest could Edgeworth have in such a pointless waste of time? "What would my little brother be doing there?"

"A lady he knew had an extra ticket and Gummy and I convinced him to go with her. If you need to stop by your office first, we can, but someone needs to tell Mr. Edgeworth before the trial tomorrow."

"Indeed," Franziska mused. "Very well. I will secure the more vital evidence in my office, then we can find my little brother. I can't imagine he is still attending that ridiculous festival at this hour."

July 3rd, 10:51pm

Prosecutor's Office

Room 1202- High Prosecutor's Office

"There you have it, little brother. The story of how Ms. Cassandra Washington was found dead in her hospital room, betrayed by the very man I entrusted to protect her. And her nurse, another individual entrusted with the care of this vulnerable woman? Nowhere to be found when her patient needed her." Franziska maintained a vice grip on her shoulder as she spoke. It was all she could do to prevent her voice from shaking. "I shouldn't have encouraged her to come forward."

"So that's how it was," Edgeworth noted. She and him were alone in his office. Even Kay Faraday had gone home at this late hour. "You aren't to blame, Franziska. There are forces at work here that seek to undermine our respective investigations. We won't let them get away with it. Once this spate of trials have received their verdicts, I can assist your investigation in earnest. If that is your wish, of course."

"Do what you wish, little brother. Of course these scoundrels won't escape me! When I finally drag the people behind this into the courtroom, I will ensure that the guilty pay. Not just Gerald Ergic, but his blackmailer as well." Franziska curtsied one last time, ready to make her exit. "Best of luck in your trial tomorrow, Miles Edgeworth."

"Good night, Franziska. Good luck to you as well."

Organizer:

Profiles:

Franziska von Karma
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Description: The Prosecuting Prodigy, also known as myself. Need this file contain any more information?

Detective Gumshoe
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Description: The scruffy detective who is always in need of a whipping. Why I must always work with him while in this country, I'll never understand.

Kay Faraday
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Description: My little brother's assistant whom he acquired a few months ago. Her obsession with thievery makes them an odd pair. Now she wishes to work with me.

Karin Jenson
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Description: A nurse for Dye Young. I encountered her on a case a few months ago. Asked for me personally when the victim was found dead.

Cassandra Washington
Age: 39
Gender: Female
Description: Head financial advisor for Hakari Inc.. A key witness in the current investigation. She fainted during interrogation, then died in the hospital the next day. Foul play is suspected.

Maddy Sims
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Description: The nurse in charge of the victim's care at her time of death. Was meeting with her boyfriend while her patient lay dying.

Kristoph Gavin
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Description: An obnoxious defense attorney I've encountered more than once now. Outside of court, this is very unusual.

Klana Dharless
Age: ? ? ?
Gender: Female
Description: Some rich local woman who wants to protect the hospital from bearing any blame. I don't know who she is.

Gerald Ergic
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Description: An incompetent police guard who was assigned to guard the victim. Unfortunately, he says he was too busy getting lunch when the murder happened.

Bruce Hertz
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Description: The patient located across the hall from the victim. His injuries are critical, and his temper worse. Gerald Ergic is claiming he is a hitman of some kind.

Shi-Long Lang
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Description: An Interpol agent, one I've worked with several times in the past. Though his investigative prowess is far superior to Scruffy's, he's on the other side of the world at the moment.

Evidence:

Prosecutor's Badge
Type: Other
Description: The token of my noble profession. It is to be safely stored away in my pocket at all times.

Time of Death
Type: Evidence
Description: The heart monitor says the victim's heart stopped at exactly 12:15pm. It has not been touched since.

Patient Alarm
Type: Evidence
Description: Meant to alert the hospital if their patients experience any difficulties. However, it was turned off at the time of the fingerprints were found on the device, none were clear enough to be lifted.

Peanut Butter Sandwich
Type: Evidence
Description: Left on the victim's side table by an unknown party. Residue on the body indicates the victim touched it, causing the fatal reaction.

Care Provider List
Type: Evidence
Description: The nurse in charge of the victim at her time of death was Maddy Sims. Sims had no other patients at the time.

Sims's Outing
Type: Evidence
Description: This foolish nurse was visiting her boyfriend for twenty-two minutes while the murder was in progress, from noon to 12:22. She did not discover the body until after that.

Hertz's Medical Papers
Type: Evidence
Description: Describe the patient in the room across the hall from the victim. His name is Bruce Hertz, and his nurse Karen Jenson. Papers also describe Hertz's injuries, complete with his limited range of motion.

Mysterious Cell Phone
Type: Evidence
Description: A burner phone with no identification and only one number in the call log. Despite being found in Hertz's hospital room, there are no signs the phone belongs to him.
Update: Phone was provided to Ergic as a way to communicate with his supposed blackmailer.

Hertz's True Occupation
Type: Evidence
Description: By Ergic's account, the patient across the hall is a professional hitman. He may have gotten his injuries on the job a few weeks ago.

Hertz's Testimony
Type: Evidence
Description: Hertz claims he saw a man carry a sandwich into the victim's room around the time of the murder. So far, no one has been able to corroborate his story.

Visitor's Entry Log
Type: Evidence
Description: A detailed account of every hospital visitor from the beginning of the month to now. Contains time and date of visit in addition to names. Check

Ergic's Assignment List
Type: Evidence
Description: A slip of paper outlining Ergic's jobs as a police officer. Has several duties listed. Check

Plastic Bag
Type: Evidence
Description: A discarded piece of trash found among Ergic's belongings. Contains traces of food even still.
Update: The food traces match the murder weapon. Only Ergic's prints were found on the bag.

Letters to Ergic
Type: Other
Description: Ergic's personal mail, or so he claims. Right now, they appear to be irrelevant to the case.
Update: Ergic claims these are blackmail letters that coerced him committing the crime.

A/N's: Like last chapter, PTV and RJ wrote while Ajani acted as a beta. Unlike last chapter, RJ would like to leave notes in addition to PTV and Ajani's.

RJ: Turnabout on Life Support has come to a close. This was a fun case to write for, with a different perspective since we had Franziska instead of Edgeworth as the main protagonist for this case, but that in a way is part of what it made it such a cool case. Also have returned back to write an A/N for this chapter, have had a lot of stressful things going on personally and because of that, just haven't been up to writing, but now, I'm finally starting to feel ready to get back to the keyboard again, and it was great putting this last chapter with PTV and AA, again. Do you either of you want to step up to the keyboard?

PTV: Sure. Since we've reached the end of the case, I have a few announcements to make. First, I wish to credit the people whose ideas we used to compile this case together. Let me pull up our ideas doc…

Ah, yes. For the characters, Klana Dharless was my creation, though not every detail I included about her on the ideas doc was utilized. Cassandra Washington, Maddy Sims, and Bruce Hertz were thought up by Golden Darkness. Our killer, Gerald Ergic, was RJ's invention. All non-OC's are obviously Capcom's.

As for the case itself, Golden Darkness proposed the use of a hospital setting, but most of the other details were proposed by myself on the idea doc and expanded upon by us three cowriters. Things like the exact nature of Ergic's motive were discussed at length between us, as I initially wanted him to come off as more sympathetic and Ajani didn't find that appropriate. We have a rising Dark Age to convey, after all. What better culprit than a dirty cop who killed to hide his tracks?

Keeping in line with our "Rise of the Dark Age" theme (and this work's full title), the name of our finale episode is less literal than it is thematic. It took the longest for us to settle on, and even now it feels me with a sense of foreboding. I hope it isn't too corny for you all.

For this AAI3, the finale's title is… Turnabout Towards Darkness.

Writing for the finale begins tonight, and the opening will be up shortly. As for when we'll be finished… who even knows at this point?

AA: If anyone asks, we're like an actual game studio: Taking a few years to provide the finished product. On the plus side that at least means it's been thought out and, hopefully, well written.

PTV: At least we'll have all our writers on board. That's all I can ask for.

Thank you all again for reading (even when our chapters are insanely long), don't forget to leave your thoughts in the box below, and I'll see you on the far side!