May 12, 11: 45 AM
District Court~ Defendant Lobby No. 9
"Iris! You were so awesome back there!" Ini shouted happily, hugging the rookie lawyer. "Just when I thought I was done for, you, like, pulled through for me!"
"I-It's nothing, really," Iris said humbly. "I was just doing my job, and the trial isn't over-"
"Don't be so modest, Flower," Diego said, playfully nudging Iris. "Pat yourself in the back."
"But, sir-"
"Acknowledging your strength is key to brewing up a warm cup of confidence and success, Flower. That's one of my rules," Diego said before sipping from his cup of coffee. "Besides, you were quite the thinker, especially when you pointed out Ini and Mimi were of the same blend."
"Like, yeah, how'd you think Mimi and me being twins would help?" Ini asked.
Iris Hawthorne frowned as she went deep in thought.
"She was always the weakest sister..." a sweet-sounding yet malicious voice whispered repeatedly in Iris' head. She tried to stop thinking about it, but the more she did, the voice grew louder.
"Always the weakest sister..." Iris drooped her head, frowning at the thought.
"The weakest sister!" the voice mocked louder, causing Iris to shut her eyes.
"I'm not..." Iris mumbled under her breath, almost in tears.
"Iris?"
"THE WEAKEST SISTER!"
"IRIS!" Diego shouted in concern for his protégé, snapping her back to reality. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, I'm fine…" Iris mumbled solemnly. She then focused back on the case and turned to Ini. "The prosecution just mentioned a motive for you. Mind if you tell us about it? I mean...I know you didn't do it...but we have to analyze every angle and...well…"
Ini Miney sighed and smiled sadly. "It's okay, Iris, I get it..."
She then took a moment to take compose herself before explaining. "You know Mimi, like, totally didn't approve that I was, like, putting my time in parapsychology, but she at least put up with it...
"She was starting to come around with my college choice too...that's why she drove Welly and me to Hazakura Temple for our thesis."
"Welly?" Iris asked.
Ini perked up at the mention of that name and grinned. "Yeah! He's my thesis partner and the most amazing boyfriend ever!"
"Boyfriend!?" Iris asked, covering her mouth with her hand in surprise. "You never told me you had a boyfriend!"
Then again, I haven't seen you since I started taking law soo...
"He's such a sweetie! Not only is he, like, a total charmer, but he's also really interested in parapsychology! He's like...a Virtuoso in Parapsychology!"
"Eh…he sounds nice..." Iris muttered, smirking at her best friend's sudden enthusiasm.
"Ever since we started dating, we've been doing, like, EVERYTHING together! We've been studying together, watching movies together, and even sharing the same stuff! Wearing the same clothes, eating the same food, even having the same cellphone!
"Okay, we have different ringtones cuz he didn't want things to be, like, THAT similar, but still! A perfect romance!"
"Phone...?" Iris suddenly realized something. "Wait, Ini, may I ask what-?"
"Will the defendant and her attorney return to the court now, please?" the bailiff shouted from afar.
"Well, there's our queue," Diego said, sipping his coffee as he made his way back to the courtroom.
"B-but I haven't finished..." Iris tried to protest.
"No buts! The trial continues now!" the bailiff shouted at Iris as he dragged her and Ini back to the courtroom.
. . .
May 12, 11: 54 AM
District Court~ Court Room No. 3
"The court will now reconvene," the Judge announced after pounding his gavel. "Please present your next witness, Mr. Payne."
"Of course, Your Honor," Payne said, "but before I do, there is something I'd like to address."
The Judge nodded. "Of course."
"During the time we took to prepare the witness, the investigation team presented to me two important pieces of evidence," the prosecutor said as he took out two objects and presented them to the Judge: a pink iPhone and a list.
"You see, Your Honor, this phone was found at the scene of the crime. Looking into it, we found names and phone numbers of numerous con artists that the police have been currently investigating. Perhaps the defendant-"
"Hey, that's my phone!" Ini suddenly shouted, pointing at the iPhone Payne was holding. "I've been, like, looking everywhere for it! Thank you, Mr. Prosecutor!"
Iris' jaw dropped and her eyes widened in complete shock, while Diego facepalmed in disbelief. Ini, on the other hand, looked at the two of them confused.
"What?" Ini asked in genuine confusion.
"Oh, what's this?" Payne said in a mocking tone. "Has the defendant confessed to her guilt?"
"W-WHAT!?" Ini sputtered, now in a complete panic.
"OBJECTION!" Iris shouted. "That phone is a popular brand! It could've been anyone's!"
"Perhaps, but given that the defendant confessed to owning this type of phone, it wouldn't be impossible to say this phone is hers," Payne retorted, smiling cruelly at Iris, who grimaced in response to his statement.
"Yes, that does raise the possibility of the defendant's guilt," the Judge nodded in agreement.
Iris then turned to Ini and gave her an irritated glare. "Thank you so much, Ini..."
Ini giggled nervously. "You're like...welcome, I guess..."
"Now, perhaps you call your next witness to the stand to clear all of this up, Mr. Payne," the Judge suggested, which caused the prosecutor to frown uncomfortably.
"What's the matter, Mr. Payne?" the Judge asked.
Payne chuckled nervously. "Well, you see, Your Honor, this witness tends to rub people the wrong way. So I ask that the court might be a little lenient on-"
"There's no need to give a preface. Just hurry up and call your witness, please."
Payne sighed. "Yes, Your Honor. The prosecution calls its next witness; a college student who saw the murder with his very own eyes!"
What Iris then saw was probably the most over-the-top, flamboyant...person she ever met in her life. A guy-liner-wearing man with a slick pair of glasses, a fancy blue suit, and a white scarf wrapped around his neck. He had silky black hair that had a wavy strand of it dyed blond and his posture reeked of elitism and arrogance.
"Witness, please state your name for the court," Winston Payne said.
The witness chuckled. "Before I do, I'd like to clarify something."
"Of course, what is it?"
"Firstly, you introduced my wonderful self to the court, correct? Perhaps as a mere 'college student'?"
"D-did I?"
"That I will not stand! You've tinted the court's eyes and colored me wrongly!" the witness shouted pompously. "Sure, I suppose to calling me a university student would be true, but to only settle for that is just evil like death and I can't have that! Everything in my life is to be of the utmost, highest top-grade quality!"
"Y-Yes I understand. I'm very sorry," Payne stammered timidly. "I-I'll be more careful from now on."
Iris looked nervous, unsure whether she should be happy that the pompous prosecutor was finally getting a slice of humble pie, as Ini would say; or worry about the upcoming testimony she's going to deal with from someone who was even MORE pompous.
"MONEY! CARS! WOMEN! GLASSES! Everything about me is top-grade quality!" he shouted with a disgusting grin that made Iris cringe.
"He's just so full of himself..." Iris muttered with Diego sipping his coffee in agreement.
"That's why he's so dreamy..." Ini said, drooling and blushing romantically.
"Yes," Iris mumbled absentmindedly before her eyes slowly widened in the realization of what Ini had said. "What?"
"Witness!" the Judge shouted angrily. "Please do refrain from this nonsense and state your name this instant!"
The witness gasped in offense and turned to glare at the Judge. "Nonsense? Nonsense?! You dare accuse me of spouting nonsense! Tell me, Your Honor, have you ever been to an esteemed college such as Ivy University!?"
"Well, I-"
"OF COURSE NOT!" he shouted in a shrill tone. "So don't you think you can use your power and influence to keep young folks like me down, you got me!?"
"S-sorry, sir," the Judge stammered, his anger gone and replaced with nervousness. "It won't happen again."
Iris just stared at the Judge in utter disbelief. Oh, dear...
"I forgive you," the witness said. "Alright, I suppose I can tell you my name. I am Richard Wellington, Virtuoso in Parapsychology!"
As he proclaimed himself to be a 'Virtuoso', Wellington posed dramatically in front of the whole courtroom, which caused Ini to swoon romantically, looking as if she had passed out.
Iris, on the other hand, pressed her hands against her face, struggling not to repeatedly bang her head against the desk. "Am I even in a real trial right now…?"
Diego chuckled in amusement, taking another sip from his coffee. "No worries, Flower, you'll get used to it."
"Can we go back to the trial, please," Iris insisted, almost gritting her teeth. This unfortunately caused Wellington to focus his attention on her.
"Ah, hello there, young miss," he said, trying to sound charismatic. "What a beautiful sight you are to behold!"
Iris's eye twitched. Just what on earth does he think he's doing!?
"Say perhaps once this is all over, we can leave this place and go somewhere nicer?" he said slimily as he made his way toward her. "I am planning to head to an ultra-fancy restaurant on the upper side of town, you know."
Iris flinched a bit at how close he was getting to her, but she stood her ground. "T-that sounds promising, but no thank you..."
"Hey, Iris, what are you doing?!" Ini suddenly shouted. "Don't you dare be trying to steal my man!"
Iris quickly and sharply glared at her best friend. Are you serious!?
"Oh, just ignore her," Wellington said, regaining Iris' attention. "Why don't you-?"
SLAM!
Iris gasped in surprise while Wellington shrieked and stumbled back in fear as Diego slammed his coffee mug right in between them like a hammer hitting a nail.
"Pesky insects are always waiting to get crushed," Diego said, giving Wellington a cold glare.
"W-what was that?!" Wellington snapped at Diego. "Don't you know who I am?!"
"Don't you know who you are, Smellington?" Diego retorted casually, causing Wellington to grind his teeth.
"It's WELLington, you mediocre peasant! I am a Virtuoso of Parapsychology! A top student in-!"
"Trash. All I'm hearing are just trash statements not at all important to this trial," Diego stated calmly. "If you're going to present information, make sure it is important to what's going on now. That's one of my rules."
Wellington's face reddened, steaming in anger. He opened his mouth to protest, but Diego cut him off again.
"Now we want you to testify what you saw on the day Mimi Miney was murdered," he told him. "Now since you're a 'Virtuoso', I'm sure it wouldn't be hard for you, Smellington."
Wellington growled at Diego, who was grinning mockingly at him, his eyes seething with murderous rage. "GAH! FINE! This trial has been a waste of my time anyway!"
Iris grinned happily at her mentor, failing to suppress her joy. Thank you, sir!
Diego just raised his mug to Iris before savoring a wonderful sip of coffee.
Wellington took a deep breath to calm himself down. "Now, for what I saw during that day...Ini Miney and I were research partners who spent almost the whole day interviewing the nuns on our thesis."
TESTIMONY
"During our interview with one of the nuns, I suddenly had a bad stomach ache and excused myself to go to the bathroom.
"I couldn't help but get lost due to the Temple being almost like a maze!
"And just when I was on my rigorous search, I was shocked to discover Ini murdering her sister!
"When she ran away, I immediately called the police to report the crime."
"It was 2:30 when I called them, but they must have had plenty of free time since they showed up too late."
The Judge stroked his beard in thought. "That certainly was a decisive testimony."
"Of course it is, what else can you expect from the great Virtuoso of Parapsychology!" Wellington said arrogantly. "And with my word, there's no question about it..."
He pointed at Ini accusingly. "She's the murderer!"
It was then Iris expected Ini to let out an uproar in shock and anger. For her to overdramatically bawl her eyes out and proclaim her innocence. But instead, Ini stayed uncharacteristically silent as her face morphed into a look of complete and utter betrayal.
"W-welly, I..." she whispered, tears slowly dripping down her face.
"Don't you dare talk to me!" he shouted at her. "I don't associate myself with murderers like you!"
Iris balled her hands into fists as she glared at Wellington with murderous intent. Sure, Ini can be clueless at times, but...this...
How dare you...?
How. Dare. You!?
"Your Honor," she said to the Judge in a deep tone, catching him off guard. "I would like to cross-examine the witness now..."
"Oh, of course, Ms. Hawthorne."
CROSS-EXAMINATION
"During our interview with one of the nuns, I suddenly had a bad stomach ache and excused myself to go to the bathroom.
"I couldn't help but get lost due to the Temple being almost like a maze!
"And just when I was on my rigorous search, I was shocked to discover Ini murdering her sister!
"When she ran away, I immediately called the police to report the crime."
"It was 2:30 when I called them, but they must have had plenty of free time since they showed up too late."
"OBJECTION! Mr. Wellington, you have a terrible perception of time!"
"W-What?!" Wellington exclaimed.
"I once again present to the court Mimi Miney's Autopsy Report," Iris continued, "and it clearly states here that the time of the victim's death was at 2:10 PM. You have a twenty gap, Mr. Wellington.
She slammed her fist against the desk before pointing at Wellington. "What could you have possibly done during that amount of time?!"
"I...um...I..." Wellington stammered, sweating profusely as he tightened his grip on his scarf.
"OBJECTION!" Payne shouted back. "H-he just saw his girlfriend committing murder! Surely he must have been in shock!"
"For twenty minutes?! That's highly unlikely!" Iris snapped at the prosecutor before turning back to Wellington. "Answer the question, Mr. Wellington. What were you doing between 2:10 PM to 2:30 PM?"
"I...I...was searching for a telephone!" he suddenly shouted, glaring at Iris.
"Searching for a telephone?" Iris repeated, completely skeptical. "Why not use your cellphone-?"
"BECAUSE IT FELL OUT OF MY POCKET WHILE I WAS WALKING AROUND THE TEMPLE! THERE, ARE YOU HAPPY?!" Wellington cried out furiously, nearly scaring the rookie lawyer
"You lost your cellphone?!" the Judge said. "That's incredibly irresponsible of you, losing such an important item like that!"
"Are you saying that first-rate people aren't allowed to lose things?! Haven't you heard that all geniuses have a strange quirk or-!"
"Enough!" the Judge shouted angrily, having lost his patience.
"Tch-!" Wellington tensed up, growling viciously at the Judge.
Did he lose his phone? Iris wondered before standing up and showing the pink iPhone Winston Payne presented earlier. "Mr. Wellington, by any chance have you found your missing cellphone?"
Wellington then turned to Iris and gave her a confused look. "What? Well if you must know, I found it a little while after the incident. Here it is."
He took out his cellphone and showed it to the entire courtroom. It was a pink iPhone, just like the one Payne presented.
"Oh..." Iris muttered in disappointment.
"You hoped that the phone was his, right?" Diego asked.
Iris nodded. "It would have ended this case instantly."
Diego just shrugged in response. "Who knows..." he said, sipping his coffee. "The trial isn't over yet..."
"Well then, it appears we have cleared this issue then," the Judge said. "At the time of the murder, the witness did not have his phone, which prompted him to find it. Therefore, explaining the delay in his call."
"Well, that's the gist of it..." Wellington said, calming himself down. "We can just leave it at that then..."
The Judge then turned to Iris. "Do you have any further questions, Ms. Hawthorne?"
Iris rubbed her chin. Hmm...him losing his phone does seem to be the logical conclusion...
Diego nudged Iris and whispered to her ear, "Flower, the most useful things are hidden at the strangest of places. They might even save your life at the end."
Now, what did he...oh!
"Your Honor, there's a large gaping hole in the witness' testimony!" Iris said, surprising Payne and some of the people in the Gallery.
Wellington growled. "W-what!? Why you little-!"
"OBJECTION!" Payne exclaimed. "Y-you can't just make outrageous claims like that without proof!"
"Oh, but I do have proof!" Iris retorted, pointing at the photo of the crime scene. "Your honor, please look closely at the crime scene photo!"
The Judge then observed the photo and gasped at what he saw, "There's...there's a telephone in there!"
Iris smirked. "Yes, Your Honor. All Mr. Wellington needed to do what take a few steps and he would've had the police there in no time!"
"HOLD IT!" Payne exclaimed feebly. "T-that phone's located in a storage room! Surely, it can't work!"
"OBJECTION!" Iris retorted. "The storage room's entrance tended to keep itself shut, trapping the nuns inside. So they installed that telephone there in case of emergencies!"
I can never forget the time I was trapped in there when I was young!
"Of all the convenient-OOOOOUUGH!" Wellington groaned in frustration.
"OBJECTION!" Payne shouted, sweating nervously. "W-why does it matter to you that the witness reported the crime at a late time?!"
"Because it leaves a large hole in what happened during that gap! Not only do we NOT know what happened in between the time of the murder and the police's arrival, but we also have enough reason to doubt the validity of his testimony!"
"Oh come on, how was I supposed to know that telephone was functional!?" Wellington protested. "It was in a room full of junk for Pete's sake!"
"A room full of junk, old relics, and a sacred treasure, Mr. Wellington," Iris corrected. "Did you forget that the room contained such objects? If such items were stolen, it'd make sense to call the authorities as soon as possible."
"Grr-GRRAAAAGH!"
"Order! Order!" the Judge said. "Ms. Hawthorne, you have raised a good point. This throws suspicion toward the witness' testimony."
Iris smiled in relief, but it quickly turned into a frown once Payne cried out, "OBJECTION!"
"T-this still doesn't mean the defendant is innocent, Your Honor!" Payne said. "After all, the police had found her phone in the middle of the crime scene!"
"Hmm, yes, you do have a point," the Judge said.
Iris opened her mouth to speak but hesitated and closed it.
"You keeping something in your mind, Flower?" Diego asked.
"I-It's a silly idea, sir," Iris said to him. "There's no way it can be true..."
Diego frowned. "I can tell from the look in your eyes that you think otherwise, Flower."
"But sir-"
"But nothing. Do you have any idea of how to solve this case? Go for it! You've kept this train rolling, and there's no point in stopping now."
"Sir..." Iris thought about it for a moment before smiling. "Thank you..."
She then turned to the Judge with a look of determination. "Your Honor, I believe I have one explanation for the phone..."
Court Record:
Evidence:
1. Iris' Attorney Badge
2. Magatama
3. Mimi Miney's Autopsy Report
4. Iris' iPhone
5. Shichishito
6. Hairpins
7. Crime Photo
8. Gloves
9. Mysterious iPhone
Profiles:
1. Diego Armando
2. Ini Miney
3. Winston Payne
4. Detective Gumshoe
5. The Judge
6. Mimi Miney
7. Richard Wellington