Klavier knew he was doing all he could to keep his cool and his image pristine, but he could not shake the sinking feeling that nobody in court was buying his act.

It was him at the prosecutor's stand, and Kristoph was facing him from the other side of the room. Klavier stood his own ground, but Kristoph simply paced around his own stand, never losing the soft grin at the edge of his lep. Daryan Crescend was sitting in the defendant's seat. Just days before, he would have raised ruckus after ruckus, would have shouted down anyone he could. But he was slouched in his chair. his face passive and his eyes downcast. Klavier did not want to look at him. To think, just a week before they were planning the next big concert for the Gavinners...

Above him, the Judge was scratching his head and fiddling with his gavel.

"I must say, Mr. Gavin, you have proven your worth again as a prosecutor. You have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the defendant had a map hidden inside his guitar."

"I would have expected no less from the man who took down Phoenix Wright." Kristoph readjusted his sparkling glasses. "I'm proud to have you as my little brother."

Klavier chuckled curtly. "Don't lay it on so thick. You and I both know what this means. We all saw the map. A detailed list of every spot in this city that the Red Carnation ring was smuggling those artifacts, both original and fabricated. And there's no way you can deny your client's possession of the paper."

"That is true." Kristoph gave his pacing a pause and folded his arms. "Now let's hear my client speak. Mr. Crescend, did you know at first that you were possessing that which you possessed?" As if on cue, Daryan shook his head.

"OBJECTION!"

Klavier's jaw tightened. "You cannot be serious!"

"Oh, but I am." Kristoph broke out a wide grin. "It's not so inconceivable. Just picture it. A third party finds a convenient way to move his information around with less risk to himself. Instead of carrying it on his own person, he finds someone else to do it, someone who does not see the full picture and is not allowed to. An unwitting pawn. Your Honor," he turned, and Klavier could not help but notice as the Judge himself became stiff and alert.

"To be honest, I cannot think of my client as a truly innocent and good person. When he discovered what was in the secret compartment, he panicked and tried to get rid of it. It was only through the interference of one Machi Tobaye that he was caught. But...at least on the charges of assisting a criminal organization, Daryan Crescend can be found innocent."

"OBJECTION!"

Klavier slammed a fist down. "You cannot possibly be overlooking what I think you're overlooking!"

Kristoph shook his head. His smile seemed to stretch even farther. "Oh, but I have overlooked nothing, dear brother. He extended a hand as he faced the gallery. "Ladies and gentleman, the map is not in dispute. It was planted. But if it was not Daryan Crescend who used his guitar to conceal the contraband, then who did? Is that not the question we all have in mind?" He turned again to Daryan Crescend. "Now, sir, what possible reason could Machi Tobaye have to walk in on you when you pulled the map from your guitar? How could he have known when to check?"

For the first time in a while, Daryan's face changed. His lips pulled back to expose the gleaming teeth beneath.

Behind him, Klaire Gavin shook her head.

As much as he tried, Klavier could not stop his mind from recounting the details of that court case, even as he stood entangled in another case against the rookie defense lawyer. Oh, he had "won" against his brother in court. He, Prosecutor Klavier Gavin, had successfully proved that Daryan Crescend had sensitive information on his person, and had tried to conceal this fact when discovered. But perjury was not too serious a charge, even in a scenario like this, just so long as there was someone else in the picture. And Daryan had Machi.

He testified that both he and Machi had been involved in the smuggling, but that it was Machi who had asked him for a favor and had refused to explain the contents of the paper, saying it was a secret. Machi would not reveal the identity of the one who had ordered him to smuggle the map, or as his own defense lawyer claimed, he could not. It did not matter. Machi was sentenced to detention, and...

"OBJECTION!"

Apollo slammed his fists on the table. "We're...we're not done yet! Sure, you might have said that the hotel's security cameras did not capture the moment of the crime! But that does not mean the scene of the crime has not been captured!"

Klavier blinked. "What are you proposing?"

Apollo folded his arms. "Surely, Mr. Gavin, you're not saying the police didn't examine the crime scene after the explosion? Didn't snap a photo or two?"

There was silence. Apollo took advantage and seized his moment.

"Your Honor! The defense requests that any photos taken by the police at the Gatewater Hotel be submitted to the court!"

Klavier shrugged. "I have no objections, Herr Forehead. But don't expect to see much more than soot and slop inside."

Apollo shook his head. "I will take my chances. If nothing else, count on that."

"Er...yes." The Judge coughed, and slammed down his gavel. "The court will examine the photograph!"

It was Klaire who came in from the lobby, opening a manilla folder and handing out copies of the photograph. Apollo, Klavier, and the Judge all studied their copies.

It was as Apollo expected. Half of the room, close to the door, was ripped apart beyond repair. Ash covered the broken floor, the crumbling wall, and the split roof. The other half of the room had an overturned table and a fallen chair. Only the distant window seemed untouched.

Or was it?

Apollo blinked and studied the photograph again. The clue was there!

-A multi-chapter story; Chapter 18; story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.