June 21, 1:30 PM
District Court~ Defendant Lobby No. 3
"I'm sorry!" Ini shouted, bowing to Iris profusely. "I'm so really, really sorry, Iris!"
"I-Ini, it's okay," Iris said to her friend. "You don't have to apologize for anything."
"But I lied to the court about those photos," Ini pointed out.
"Because von Karma made you," Iris countered. "I take it she threatened to whip you if you didn't lie?"
Ini nodded. "Yeah, but still-"
"Just think nothing of it, Ini," Iris said. "It's fine. Besides, all you did was testify and I managed to get it to turn to my favor anyway."
Ini giggled at that. "Yeah, you, like, showed that psycho prosecutor who's the boss. Do me a favor and, like, kick her ass for me in the next trial, okay?"
Iris responded with an assuring nod.
"Woohoo!" Maya cheered as she suddenly appeared, wrapping her arms around Iris to give her a crushing bear hug. "Way to go, Iris! You showed that prosecutor a thing or two!"
"I-I'm just doing my job...Mystic Maya..." Iris wheezed out, gasping for air. "Can't...breathe..."
"Oh, sorry!" Maya chuckled nervously, letting Iris go and giving her time to breathe.
Ini giggled. "I know when I, like, need to go. See you around, Iris! Good luck, Maya!"
"See you, Ini!" Maya said, she and Iris waving Ini goodbye as she exited the lobby. Once Ini was gone, Maya sighed. "Boy, this trial sure was something..."
"I'm just glad we managed to buy enough time for further investigation," Iris said. "Still, I need to keep investigating to prove your innocence. So..."
Maya nodded but frowned once she thought of a certain detail. "Um, Iris, I hate to say this, but...I don't really remember ever leaving the Channeling Chamber, and I don't think anyone else could've gotten in."
"Perhaps, but there could be a way for the real culprit to do so...maybe they snuck in before the Channeling began? Stowed away somewhere that no one can see them?"
"The only hiding place I could think of is the Folding Screen, but...if someone WAS there, I'm sure I or Aunt Morgan would've noticed," Maya said.
"Hmm..." Iris paused in thought. "I suppose I'll just figure things out while I investigate in Kurain Village."
"I'm counting on you, Iris!" Maya smiled.
"But before I go, I need to ask you something."
Maya raised a brow. "Huh? What is it?"
"Why do you have Psyche Locks?"
"W-what!?" Maya gasped, taking a step back. Suddenly, Iris felt a warm glow from her Magatama as the chains reappeared, separating Iris and Maya. Three Psyche Locks followed soon after, but the one in the middle instantly shattered.
"H-how did you-?!" Maya stammered out, still shocked.
"Pearl placed spiritual energy in my Magatama yesterday and I've studied the Channeling Technique ever since I was a child," Iris explained. "This doesn't mean I think you're the culprit, Mystic Maya, but I'm going to need you to tell me the truth about this. Why were you and Sir trying to channel my dead sister?"
Maya's eyes darted around the room as sweat dripped from her brow. "I-I...um...?"
"Diego told you to keep it secret, right?" Iris asked, only to have it answered by the shattering of another Psyche Lock.
Maya hesitated for a moment. "Y-yeah..." she said nervously. "He wanted to protect you, Iris."
"But did he really have to keep it from me!?" Iris gritted her teeth, feeling offended. "It's my twin sister! If he wanted to keep me safe, he should've informed in all this!"
"I-Iris, it's just..." Maya trailed off, unsure of how to answer, only for the final Psyche Lock to suddenly break. "There's no use hiding this anymore...you'll just figure it out and...I suppose telling you now will help..."
Maya took a deep breath and began to explain. "When Diego heard that Dahlia died in a prison fire, he didn't believe it. He thought there was no way something like a fire would take out someone like her."
I can't disagree with that, Iris thought to was many things, and the one thing she had been the most was determined. She'd do anything just to live and get her way, so a fire killing her...I can't see that happening either.
"He started ranting about how that fire was a coverup and that Dahlia's out there somewhere, planning her revenge, so he thought up this idea," Maya continued. "I channel her spirit to see if she's really dead. If it was successful, then he was wrong and I was right for calling him a paranoid loon. If it wasn't..."
"Then he's right about Dahlia being loose?" Iris finished, to which Maya nodded. "Still, didn't you think channeling the spirit of a murderer he sent to prison was a bad idea?"
"That's what I told him!" Maya shouted, raising her arms in exasperation. "But he kept insisting and I really wanted to see how my training went, so I kinda...gave in..."
Maya then sighed, lowering her head in shame. "I'm sorry I didn't tell this to you sooner, Iris...it probably would've helped you earlier."
Iris paused for a moment, thinking about what Maya had told her. Did it hurt that she and Diego kept all of this from her? Definitely. But looking back at her late mentor, as well as Maya, she can understand their side in all of it. She placed her hand on Maya's shoulder and gave the medium an empathetic stare. "It's alright, Mystic Maya, I can understand. While I'm still upset about it...I can't fault you or Sir about it. I'll just make sure to gather enough evidence to prove your innocence."
She then bowed politely to Maya. "Thank you for the talk, Mystic Maya," she said as she turned to leave the courtroom.
"Iris, wait!" Maya shouted. "There's something I forgot to tell you! Diego didn't tell me much about his plans, but I know he has some info in his apartment. He had this whole bunch of papers and photos when I visited him months ago. I couldn't remember much about them, but maybe they can help you."
Iris smiled excitedly. A place filled with evidence?
"That's wonderful, Mystic Maya! I'll go there right away!"
"Don't freak out though," Maya added, twiddling her thumbs nervously. "It kinda looks...weird and...stalker-y."
"It's Diego Armando, Mystic Maya, how bad could it possibly be?"
. . .
Getting into Diego's apartment was easy enough. She had a spare key thanks to being so close with the man. Upon entering her late mentor's home, she took a moment to inhale the coffee-scented air of the place. The whiff of this wonderful odor brought her back to so many wonderful memories. However, Iris knew she couldn't reminisce now. She had a job to do and she couldn't waste any more time. Knowing she had to start her search, Iris went to Diego's room, to which she gasped upon entering.
"Oh, dear..." Iris mumbled, her eyes widened in shock as she stared at a massive corkboard filled to the brim with newspaper clippings and photos of Dahlia, Maya, and numerous others were pinned to the wall, with red strings tied around to many of the push pins holding the papers and photos, forming a web that all connected to one photo in the center.
A photo of Dahlia Hawthorne.
"Just what have you been doing, Sir...?" Iris murmured as she scanned the board for any useful information. She was thankful that the corkboard was organized; she would be stuck in this apartment all day if it wasn't. After several minutes of scanning, however, Iris managed to find a few useful clues: a newspaper clipping and a letter by...Maggey Byrde?
Forbidden Love Between Guard and Prisoner!
Prison Guard Maggey Byrde was found having a romantic affair with the prisoner and known murderer Dahlia Hawthorne. No further information has been found about this, but it has been shown that Maggey Byrde was fired from her position as a police guard, due to becoming romantically involved with the prisoner.
With a frown, she turned to read Maggey's letter, not liking where this was going but still needing the answers.
Dear Gumshoe,
If you're reading this, I regret to say that what the news had been saying is true. That girl I told you about. That sweet, kind, gentle Dollie that I kept talking to you about...it's the prisoner that I was told to keep watch. I don't know, but the way she speaks, the innocence I keep seeing every time I look at her, the kindness in her eyes...she doesn't sound like the killer that Diego Armando guy made her out to be. I'm thinking that it was a mistake she's in jail, you know...
I'm writing this to tell you that you had been a wonderful boss and friend. Thank you for being so kind and understanding...honestly, with the police department firing me and everything else that's going on, I feel that you and Dollie are the only ones I can trust...
Tomorrow, I'm going to pick up all of my stuff and make my leave. After that, I...
I just hope that despite everything that's happened...you and I can still be friends...
Sincerely,
Maggey
"She really fell in love with her..." Iris mumbled, not in shock or dread, but rather pity. From what she can tell from this letter, Maggey was a kind, sweet soul that had been charmed by Dahlia, finding a soulmate in her.
Dahlia was always a charmer, having many ways to entice people into doing what she getting her what she wanted. An innocent act here, a sympathetic lie there, numerous individuals had fallen for Dahlia's traps and ended up as pawns for her amusement. Feenie and Iris herself were victims of it in the past, and right now, so was Maggey. And remembering all those times Dahlia used her, belittled her, took from her...
Iris gripped the papers she held, almost crumpling them, as she felt a mixture of empathy toward Maggey for falling in love with that monster she once called her twin and anger at Dahlia for charming this poor girl, manipulating her as she did to so many people.
"I swear Dahlia, if Sir was right and you're still alive, I'll-!" Iris angrily muttered under her breath but stopped. Iris, Focus...you still have a job to do...
She then glanced at a certain newspaper clipping, raising a brow in curiosity as she stared at the picture of a glasses-wearing man, most likely in his thirties. He had short greyish-brown hair, wore a light brown business suit, and had a permanent scowl on his face that made Iris question if he ever had felt any semblance of happiness. Looking at the name written in the photo, she saw his name was "Dr. Grey Turner".
Iris then glanced at the small notes of paper and the newspaper clipping next to the photo. "Dr. Grey Turner, on the run and missing due to medical malpractice in his clinic causing the deaths of 14 patients..." Iris grimaced upon learning that. "His whereabouts are currently unknown and if you see any sign of him, contact authorities immediately..."
Iris then turned to the stick notes and read: "Dr. Black N. Blu, the owner of Blu Clinic? Possible connection to Grey Turner and Dahlia Hawthorne?"
Iris then observed a picture of Maggey Byrde, looking over her shoulder as she entered the Blu Clinic, as well as a picture of Dr. Blu, a tall bald, bearded man who at closer inspection, looked oddly similar to Grey Turner. Just give him a full head of hair and remove the thick Charles Darwin-like beard, and you'd have the constantly scowling doctor from the previous family.
I'll have to check this out first, Iris decided, remembering having driven past Blu Clinic on her way to Diego's apartment.
After a final scan of Diego's research, Iris began grabbing all the useful information she had found-the newspaper clippings, the pictures, and Maggey's letter-to stack it all together with the newspaper she had about the prison fire.
She mentally thanked her late mentor, giving her this much information. However, in her clumsiness, she dropped one of the photos, prompting Iris to kneel and pick it up.
Once she did, however, she gasped as she stared at the corpse shown in the photo. It was charred to the point of being charcoal black, revealing layers of bone in various parts of the arm and torso. Its burnt state left the corpse unrecognizable, much to Iris' dismay. But looking down at the name written at the bottom of the photo, Iris was shocked to find it was her twin, Dahlia.
"This is Dahlia...?!" Iris shouted to herself. "Well, it did say she died in a fire..."
After a moment of pondering, Iris quickly placed the photo in the stack of evidence she had obtained and stepped out of her late mentor's home, ready to continue her investigation.
. . .
June 21
Blu Clinic
Iris knocked on the door of the clinic and smiled at the man who had answered the door. It was Dr. Black N. Blu, or perhaps Dr. Grey Turner? She'll look into it after a proper introduction.
"Good afternoon, good sir," Iris said politely, bowing to the man. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion, but I'm-!"
"I thought I told you not to come back here!" Dr. Blu (or Turner?) interrupted angrily, glaring at the lawyer.
"I beg your pardon?" Iris asked, taking a step back.
"And what the hell happened to the surgery I gave you?!" he added, accusingly pointing his finger at her.
Iris looked at the doctor in confusion. "Good sir, I'm afraid you mistake me for someone else. My name is Iris Hawthorne."
He blinked. "Iris Hawthorne...?"
Dr. Blu...Grey...whoever he was seemed to calm down in response, muttering something under his breath. He then turned to Iris with a sharp glare that made her squeak in fright.
"What do you want?" he demanded, crossing his arms.
Iris was startled by the question but quickly composed herself. "I came to interview you about a murder case that has happened recently. The research I've made says that you have some valuable information, so I'd like to request a moment of your time to-"
"Not interested," the Doctor interrupted, immediately shutting the door.
Iris let out an irritated groan as she knocked on the door, but there was no answer.
She knocked on the door again. "Good sir, I'm only asking a few minutes of your time."
"I said I'm not interested," he growled from behind the door. "Go bother someone else!"
Iris's eye twitched but took a deep breath to compose herself. Anger wouldn't get her anywhere. "Sir, please, I'm only asking for an hour of your time. I'll only ask questions involving my case and you won't see me again-oh god...!"
The doctor slowly opened the door and pointed a pistol at Iris, making the lawyer cautiously take a few steps back.
"Listen here, you nosy little bitch," he muttered with gritted teeth as he cocked the gun. "I've had it with everything your insane sister put me through! I'm already in deep shit as it is, and I don't want you and your screwed-up family to dig me deeper!"
"I-I..." Iris stammered, barely able to form coherent words as her eyes focused on the Doctor's gun. "S-s-surely there m-must be some w-way to-"
"Leave. NOW!"
Iris gulped and made a mad dash to her car, but the Doctor already fired a warning shot, which made her scream as she practically jumped into her car and drove off as if she never drove before.
"That's right, you better run!" the Doctor shouted, raising his gun in triumph...unaware of the fact that Iris had dialed 911 as she drove off from his clinic.
. . .
30 minutes later...
"I'm sorry for what you had to go through, ma'am," the police officer said to Iris, "but I'm afraid Dr. Blu had already gotten away before we arrived."
Iris' head drooped in disappointment. Not only did she not get information, now a gun-toting mad doctor was on the loose!
The police officer mistook this disappointment with nervousness over a loose criminal and placed his hand over Iris' shoulder. "But I promise we won't rest until we get the perp that caused this ruckus."
"That's very comforting, Officer," Iris said politely. "I hope you don't mind, but I need to get to work."
She turned away from the police officer and headed back to her car, wherein she let out a frustrated groan as she slammed her head against the steering wheel.
With Dr. Blu out of the picture, the only person left with a possible connection to Dahlia is Ms. Byrde, Iris thought to herself before sighing. She turned the keys to her car and then began to drive back to Kurain Village. Hopefully, she's still around in Kurain Village. I don't want to ask Mother if she knows her address.
. . .
June 21
Kurain Village
By the time Iris got to Kurain Village, she was surprised and confused to see a police car at the entrance of Fey Manor, as well as Detective Gumshoe and Morgan having a conversation, with Pearl nervously standing by her mother's side.
Morgan looked as regal and traditional as she always did, but Iris couldn't help but take notice of Pearl. She seemed quieter than she was originally and from the look of her face, she could see a sense of fear coming from her.
"You'll just need to come with me for a while, ma'am," Gumshoe said. "We need you to be a witness for tomorrow's trial."
Morgan nodded. "Ah, I see, if it helps bring the truth, then I shall gladly do so, good sir."
She then turned to Pearl, knelt, and placed her arm on the child's shoulder. "Now, Pearl, I'll be out for a short while with the police. I need you to stay here and guard the manor while I'm gone, alright?"
Pearl looked at her mother anxiously, before obediently nodding.
Morgan smiled affectionately as she gently stroked her daughter's hair with her hands. "Good, now be a good little girl and do as Mother wishes…"
Pearl hesitated at this, glancing away from Morgan. Morgan frowned and pressed her bony fingers against Pearl's cheeks, holding her face tightly as she forcefully moved her daughter's head so the both of them can have eye contact.
"Do you understand what I'm requesting, Pearl?" Morgan demanded harshly.
"Y-yes, m-mother…" Pearl whispered out, her voice shaking.
"Good," Morgan repeated before standing up to face Gumshoe. "It's time to go, Detective."
"Uh, sure, ma'am," Gumshoe said, giving the woman a suspicious glance before gesturing to the officer in the driver seat of the police car. "My associate will escort you. I gotta stay here to continue investigating."
As soon as Morgan went inside the police car and drove off, Iris stepped out from the bushes to approach Pearl and Gumshoe.
"Good afternoon, Detective," she said cordially to Gumshoe before giving a warm smile to Pearl. "And good afternoon, Pearl."
Pearl made no response, only staring back at her older sister warily. Iris frowned upon noticing this.
"Um...Pearl?" Iris asked. "Are you okay?"
"I…" Pearl whispered, looking down to her feet in shame and fear.
"Foolish child, I disowned that woman because she was DISGRACE TO THE FAMILY! AND IF YOU KEEP TALKING TO HER, YOU'LL BE A DISGRACE TOO!"
Pearl trembled as Morgan's harsh voice rang in her head. "I…"
"I..." Pearl choked, tears starting to shed in her eyes. She opened her mouth, desperately forcing herself to speak to Iris, but many thoughts in her head prevented her from doing so. Would mother do if she did? Would she hurt her? Disown her like she did Iris?
"IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?! TO DISAPPOINT THE FAMILY!? TO DISAPPOINT ME!?"
Without realizing it, sweat poured down rapidly from Pearl's forehead as she hyperventilated, the anxiety towards Mother making her pale.
"Pearl?" Iris knelt to Pearl's height and placed her arms on her little sister's shoulders. "Pearl, what's wrong?"
Pearl snapped back to reality, staring at the concerned expression on Iris' face. The face of her older half-sister...
The face of the woman hated by her mother...
"You are the pride of the branch family, Pearl..." the voice of Morgan whispered in Pearl's head like a ghost and for a moment, Pearl saw Morgan's face staring down at her in disapproval instead of the concerned look of Iris.
"Remember to not associate yourself with those beneath you..."
"I..." Pearl's head dropped down in shame, her body trembling in fear. "I...shouldn't talk to you..."
"What?" was all Iris could say as, without warning, Pearl turned and ran back into the Manor.
"Pearl?" Iris called out, extending her hand. "Where are you going? Pearl?!"
Worried and panicked for her little sister, Iris stood up and was about to give chase, only for a large hand to grab her by her the collar of her purple blazer.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, pal," Gumshoe said behind Iris. "I think you should leave her alone for a while."
"What gives you the right to say that?!" Iris snapped, slapping Gumshoe's hand away and glaring at him. "She's my sister!"
"And from the looks of things, something's eating up at her, pal!" Gumshoe said. "Look, I've seen cases like this. Just give the kid some space for a while before talking to them, is all."
Iris took a moment to understand his words. "I see...thank you, Detective. I hope you don't mind if I can ask why you're here."
Gumshoe chuckled nervously. "Prosecutor von Karma got really mad at what happened yesterday and blamed me for it, so she sent me here to look for more clues..."
"I'm sorry," Iris apologized, but Gumshoe shrugged it off.
"Don't be. We're all just doing our jobs here."
"Yes, about that..." Iris remembered what she came here for. "Is it alright if I can ask about something?"
"If it's about evidence, I-"
"No, it isn't about that, Detective. Can you tell me what you know about Maggey Byrde?"
Court Record:
Evidence:
1. Iris' Attorney Badge
2. Magatama
3. Diego Armando's Research (formerly Newspaper about Dahlia)
4. Black Key
5. Folding Screen
6. Diego Armando's Autopsy Report
7. Floor Plans
8. Knife
9. Chloroform Cloth
10. Robe
11. Headpiece
Profiles:
1. Diego Armando
2. Maya Fey
3. Pearl Fey
4. Ini Miney
5. Dahlia Hawthorne
6. Morgan Fey
7. Detective Gumshoe
8. "Maggey Byrde"
9. Franziska von Karma
10. Dr. Grey Turner/Dr. Black N. Blu