Here we go the second part of the second day of trial where J has to find contradictions in Kota's testimony to turn it around.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.
DM77's Ace Attorney Chapter 20
The Real Ranger and Crime Scene
October 19, 11:15 AM, District Court, Courtroom No. 4
The members of the court had regathered for the continuation of the second day of trial and J was looking calm but inside she was nervous, especially with the next witness a risk of proving his clients guilt with their testimony.
Maccadam bangs his gavel to quiet the members chatter and said "Court is back in session for the trial of Mr. Johnny Bravo."
"The prosecution has a concern." Hunter said and explained "As our witness is a grade schooler of tender years, and this is a murder case…we worry that the defence might cause unnecessary trauma with her cruel questioning."
'Nice to see Hunter taking the moral high ground…' J thinks deadpanned.
"However, we have no choice." Hunter added "The prosecution calls Kota Izumi to the stand."
Indeed Kota arrives but due to being a grade only the top of his head could be seen.
"Your Honor. Perhaps you could arrange a box for him to stand on?" Hunter suggested.
"Oh, r-right." Maccadama said nodding and looks to the Purge Trooper bailiff "Guard, please bring him a box. One of those donut crates should do."
The Purge Trooper nods and soon brings a crate and Kota stands on it so he was clearly visible to all.
"Will the witness state his name and grade in school." Hunter asks Kota. Kota remains silent but Hunter slams his hand on his desk "Witness!"
"What?! Just cause you're all grown-up don't mean you can push me around!" Kota told him rudely
"Mrph…" Hunter says in shock and leans down on his desk.
"Kota?" Terra said to the boy "Answer his question, okay?"
"H-hey, it's you! The cool man!" Kota said smiling. "I'm Kota Izumi. I'm in second grade!"
'I get the feeling this is going to be a long, long day…' J thinks sweat dropping.
"Mr. Deamonne. Please remember that you're speaking to a child. Try to be gentle." Maccadam told the Prosecutor.
"M-mrrrph!" Hunter said in frustration "Witness! Er, I mean, Kota."
'He's having trouble with this 'gentle' thing.' J thinks
"You were present, er, you were at Vox Studios on the day of the, er, incident?" Hunter asked him
"You got a problem with that?!" Kota asked him holding onto his Saba sword hilt.
"Please tell us what you saw that day." Hunter told him.
"What, gaptooth? You want me to tell you and old bot over there?" Kota asked him.
"Just Hunter or Mr. Deamonne is fine." Hunter told him.
"I prefer 'gentleman bot' myself" Maccadam said.
'A very long day…' J thinks sighing.
"Incidentally, photographic equipment is strictly forbidden in this courtroom." Maccadam points out.
"M-mpht!" Hunter responded to that with and said "M-my apologies, Your Honor. He said he wouldn't testify if he couldn't bring it…I'd like special permission if that's possible."
"Wait, so you're saying you had to bargain terms with a kid….and you LOST?" J said in shock.
"Hey! I just got this new camera!" Kota said holding the camera up. "Don't really know how to use it all that good yet! But I bring it with me wherever I go!"
"J. I wonder if he had that camera on the day of the murder…" Terra said thinking. "You'd better make a note of it in the Court Record."
J nods and adds Kota's Camera to the Court Record.
"Very well, Kota." Maccadam said looking at the boy "Please testify to the court about what you saw the day of the incident."
Kota nods and begins to give his Witness's Account saying "I wanted to see a White Ranger rehearsal, just once. I found a map on the Internet and went to the studios that day. I went through the woods, off the path, so that old man wouldn't catch me."
"I was going for the studio." Kota said grinning "I got kind of lost on the way, though. For about 30 minutes. When I came out by the studio there was the Steel Samurai! It totally rocked! Right before my eyes, out came the bad guy! Of course, the White Ranger took him down! Pow! If I had my camera with me, that would have been the time for a shot, I tell you. Anyway I couldn't get into the studio, so I went home."
"Hmmm…." Maccadam thinks and said "Very well. The defense may begin its cross-examination. But be gently. Remember you're talking to a child."
J looks at Kota and thinks 'This kid is tougher than most adults we see in here, honestly…' J decided to press on each statement just to get some more info starting with the first statement about Kota wanting to see a White Ranger rehearsal saying "Hold it! You really like the White Ranger, huh?"
"Course I do!" Kota said to that "I've taped every show! And I go to all the live performances!"
"That's impressive." J said nodding. "Have you been to the amusement park?"
"Course! Duh!" Kota said in response "My aunt always takes me!"
'Poor, poor, Aunt….' J thinks she then presses on the second statement on finding a map and went to the studio on the day saying "Hold it! Was that day the first time you'd been to the studio?"
"Uh, actually I've been a couple of times." Kota admits. "I never manage to get there on a rehearsal day! And that security man's always yelling…"
"Right, right. Let's continue." Hunter said nodding.
"Chill gaptooth! I'm getting to it!" Kota said "How am I supposed to talk with you cutting me off all the time? Geez!" This makes Hunter wince.
"Hold it! 'Off the path'…?" J asked on the third statement about Kota going through the woods.
"Yeah, you know how the studios are in a valley there?" Kota said and explained "If you go off the path a little, there's woods. That's where I was!"
"I see." J said nodding and presses on the fourth statement of Kota going to the studio asking "Hold it! Did nothing unusual happen on your way to the studio?"
"'Unusual'?" Kota asked confused.
J brings up an image of Woody Woodpecker's head on the screen and asked, "Did you see this woodpecker by any chance?"
"Oh, you mean Woody Woodpecker?" Kota said and nods "Yeah, I saw him, but his head wasn't busted!"
"So at this point you went straight to the studio?" Hunter said thinking.
"Hold it! You got lost in the woods?" J asked on the fifth statement about Kota being lost for 30 minutes.
"Yeah. I couldn't figure out which way I was walking." Kota said nodding. "Man, was I relieved when I saw the blue studio doors. But guess what happened next!"
"Hold it! The White Ranger?" J asked on the sixth statement of Kota seeing the White Ranger.
"Yeah, he was standing by the studio gate." Kota said smiling "It looked like he was thinking about something before going in. Then he opened up the gate and went inside."
"I see." J said thinking and presses on the seventh statement about the bad guy showing up. "Hold it! What sort of 'bad guy' was it?"
"A guy. A persona. Kind of tall. Regal." Kota said pouting.
"Are you sure it was a guy?" J asked him.
Kota remains quiet but said "I don't know. He was kind of far away."
'Huh, he's being awfully vague…' J thinks on it and Terra picks up on it. She then presses on the eighth statement on the White Ranger defeating the bad guy saying "Hold it! What happened to the bad guy?"
"Huh?" Kota said confused. "Well…Well, he kind of didn't move. Not a bit. Like he was dead. I-I guess he's a real pro! What a great actor!"
"Y-yes, I suppose he was." J said nervous. He then presses on the final statement about Kota not having his camera saying "Hold it! 'If' you had your camera? You mean, you weren't carrying your camera then?"
"N-no, I wasn't." Kota said pouting "I-it's not like I have it all the time!"
'Really…? I guess seeing the killing freaked him out and he went home…' J thinks but remember what Kota said contradicts what he said earlier and selects Kota's Camera in the Court Record and said "Objection! Kota, what you just said seems, well, a little strange. Didn't you say before that you always bring your digital camera wherever you go? You were quite clear about that."
"Huh?!" Kota said shocked.
"Kota, you shouldn't lie here. You understand that, right?" J said smiling.
"Miss. J! A word with you…" Maccadam said to her.
'Uh oh… was I putting the pressure on too much?' J thinks worried.
"What is this 'digital' camera contraption you're talking about?" Maccadam asked her.
"It's ummm… a digital camera, Your Honor." J told him. "It's kind of a higher version of old polaroid cameras." She then thinks 'How do I explain that?!'
"I see." Maccadam said.
"Anyway, Kota…" J said looking at Kota "I can't believe you wouldn't bring your camera on a trip to the studios! You did bring it, didn't you?"
"Ummm…" Kota said nervous and scared.
"Objection!" Hunter calls out "Miss. J! How cruel you are, to terrorize a poor child so!"
"I don't care if he's a child or a prosecuting attorney! No one should like in court!" J told him firmly.
"What do you mean 'or a prosecuting attorney'?!" Hunter asked to that.
"Well, Kota?" J asked looking at the boy.
"Wh-what!" Kota said. "Yeah, so I had my camera. So what?! You got a problem with that?!"
The members of the court murmur at the and Maccadam bangs his gavel asked "So, you did have a camera? And did you use this camera?"
"W-why would I use it?" Kota asked nervous "I… I was too busy watching."
"Hmmm…" Maccadam thinks and said "Very well. Please testify to the court about what you were so busy watching."
Kota nods and testifies 'What I Saw' saying "Y-yeah, I had my camera with me. But I was glued to the action! I couldn't take my eyes off it! The White Ranger he goes for the bad guy… wham! Then… the then bad guy stopped moving! He's so strong! The White Ranger rules!"
"Hmmm…" Maccadam thinks on this and said when he realized Kota stopped "Ah? Is that all? Well, that was brief. Miss. J, your cross-examination."
J thinks and presses on the fourth statement about the bad guy stopping moving saying "Hold it! Why?"
"Huh? What do you mean, 'why'?" Kota asked confused.
"Why wasn't the bad guy moving?" J asked.
"W-well because the White Ranger brought him to justice!" Kota said in response to that.
"And how exactly did he do that?" J asked him.
"H-how did he do it?" Kota asked nervous. "With a Ranger Kick! And a Ranger Punch! Ranger Chop! …..Ranger Slap! S-something like that."
'He's still being vague about this…' J thinks on this.
"What! Don't gimme that look, bot!" Kota said to J.
J decides to press him harder and said firmly "Kota."
"Wh-what?!" Kota said a bit nervous.
"Something's bothering me." J said and explained "Before you said that you 'couldn't take your eyes off' the action."
"Y-yeah? So what?" Kota asked nervous.
"Yet you missed the most important part!" J points out.
"Objection!" Hunter called out and said "What is the meaning of this? The witness has stated what he saw quite clearly…"
"Objection!" J said to him and explained "You know as well as I do that he's being vague!" She slams her hands on the desk "Tell me, what kind of murderer uses a 'Ranger Slap'?!"
"M-mmph!" Hunter winces at that question.
"My point is this: Kota, you may have seen some of the White Ranger's fight…" J said and slams her hands down "But you missed the most important part: the killing blow!"
The members of the court murmur in shock at this and Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Order! Order! Miss. J! How could this be? Can you explain how he might have missed something so vital?"
"Um, well… er, that's the thing…" J said awkwardly.
"J!" Terra said looking at her "I believe you're on the right track with this! Think: why didn't Kota see the climax of the fight? I know you! You can figure this out!"
"Miss. J, your answer!" Maccadam told her "We have ascertained that this young boy is a great fan of the White Ranger…Why wouldn't he watch the climax of the fight?"
J decided to show evidence and said "Your Honor, I have evidence."
"'Evidence'…?" Maccadam said surprised.
"Yes, Your Honor. Why did Kota look away from the fight?" J said and selects the right evidence Kota's Camera and said "Take that! Here's my proof!"
"What's that? The camera…?" Maccadam asked.
"The witness stated that he recently received the camera." J explained.
"Yes, I'm aware of that." Maccadam said nodding.
"He wasn't entirely familiar with its operation." J added.
"I'm aware of that, too." Maccadam said to that then realizes J's point "Ah!"
"Correct! Why would Kota be looking somewhere else at the critical moment? Because he was looking at his camera!" J states firmly and slams her hands down "He was trying to take a picture!"
"Hey!" Kota said in shock.
"Tauroseye!" J said smiling.
"W-what's your problem, bot! You got a thing for picking on little kids?!" Kota said to her.
'Pressing, not picking…' J thinks sweat dropping.
"Good job, J!" Terra said smiling "Kota was lying clearly. Smart of you to realize there was no way he could just stand there, watching his hero and not take a picture!"
"Right!" J said nodding. "Kota? There was only one reason why you would have looked away from the fight. And that was because you wanted to take a picture. But having just received your camera, you weren't used to using it yet! So, you missed the climax of the fight. Correct?"
Kota pouts remaining silent for a bit then said "Yeah."
"Well, J. I'll bet you anything he's hiding more than that." Terra said to her. "Have him testify again!"
"R-right." J said nodding and thinks 'Terra means business!' She looks at Maccadam "Your Honor. The defense would like to request that Kota Izami testify once more."
"V-very well." Maccadam said nodding. "Kota? Could you please tell us about your camera…And about why you didn't take a picture of the fight?"
"Ummm…" Kota said hesitant.
'Welcome to the real world, kid!' J thinks to Kota.
Kota upset testifies on No Photo? saying "Yeah, you're right, bot. The White Ranger had just escaped from the clutches of the villain. So, I held up my camera to take a picture! But the lens wouldn't open in time, so I missed it. Th-that's all that happened. Yup."
"Hmm…" Maccadam thinks on this "Anything strange in the testimony, Miss. J?"
"I'm not sure…" J said thinking "But I'd like to proceed with the cross-examination anyway." J presses the first statement saying "Hold it! 'Bot'…?"
"Yeah, I called you 'bot,' you twin-haired scrap pile!" Kota said to her.
"S-scrap pile…?" J said sweating.
"I'm 'Mr. Deamonne.'" Hunter said.
"And I'm 'Gentleman bot'…" Maccadam added.
"That's what I hate about grown-up. You're all so self-concious!" Kota said.
J slams her hands down and said "Okay, off with the kid gloves! Testify, witness, testify!"
"Yipes!" Kota said shocked.
J presses the second statement on the White Ranger escaping the clutches and said "Hold it! So you did see the beginning of the fight?"
"Yeah." Kota said sadly.
"Did you notice anything unusual?" J asked.
"Ummm…well…uh…." Kota thinks on it "I guess the White Ranger was moving a little strange…"
'Moving…strangely?' J thinks and then presses the final statement about that being it saying "Hold it! That's all?"
"Y-yeah! I told you, I didn't take a picture!" Kota told her.
'Hmmmm… I would have, once I got that lens open…I doubt he didn't even take one photo' J thinks on it and presses Kota harder saying "Kota!" She smiles "Listen up Kota Izumi. I know exactly what happened that day. You took a picture!"
"…Hey!" Kota said in shock.
'Tauroseye…?' J thinks smiling
Kota upset asked "H-how did you know?!"
"I see through all your likes Kota Izumi. It's one of my powers!" J said smiling.
"W-wow!" Kota said to that.
'This feels great!' J thinks smiling.
"Y-yeah… Yeah, I took a picture." Kota said nodding.
"Perhaps you can change your testimony to reflect this, Kota?" Maccadam suggests.
Kota nods and changes her testimony saying, "I took a few shots, but it was too late, so I erased them."
J presses this new statement saying "Hold it! You 'erased' them?"
"Y-yeah!" Kota said nodding.
"Why would you erase a picture of your beloved White Ranger, victorious?" J asked him.
"Well… you know." Kota said to her. "W-why would I want to keep a picture like that?"
'Hmmmm… he's becoming less and less cooperative.' J thinks on it 'I better find a clear contradiction soon… or some solid evidence.' She thinks and knew what contradicts this and selects the thing in the Court Record and said "Objection! Kota!"
"Wh-wh-what?!" Kota asked her upset. "Man every time you say 'Kota' you follow it with something bad."
J presents Kota's scrapbook 'Path to Glory' on the screen and said "I just wanted to thank you for giving me this the other day."
"Huh? O-oh…. right." Kota said to that.
"What was it you told me then?" J said thinking
She remembers past Kota saying "I go to every live performance! I always take a picture when the White Ranger lands the final blow! Whizzam! I got'em all! I never missed one! A perfect collection!"
"Kota. Did you really get a picture of the White Ranger standing victorious over his foe?" J asked when we returned to the present. "If you did, I find it hard to believe that you would just erase it!" She slams her hands down "Wouldn't you keep it for your album?"
"Ah!" Kota yelps at that.
"Miss. J…." Maccadam said and asked pointing to the screen "What exactly is this album?"
"It's called 'Path to Glory.' It's a collection of pictures of the White Ranger, all taking by Kota Izumi." J explains to Maccadam. "He claims it's a perfect collection of every battle the White Ranger has won!"
"I…I see." Maccadam said nodding.
"Don't you find this very odd, Your Honor?" J said to him "Among all his pictures of the White Ranger, none were taken that day!"
The members of the court murmur on this and Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Order! Miss J. Have you an explanation? If the White Ranger had just defeated his adversary…. I certainly would expect to see a picture of it in this album…"
"Exactly my point, Your Honor." J said thinking then realizes why no picture exists and thinks 'No…. wait… no way!'
"J?" Terra said and adds "I think we've finally discovered the truth. And what a truth it is!"
"T-Terra… are we sure about this?" J asked nervous. "Did she actually…?"
Terra nods and said "Yes. I'm pretty sure you're thinking is right. Tell them, J. Tell them what the truth is."
"Miss. J!" Maccadam said "Please explain to the court what is going on here! Why was there no picture in the album from the day of the murder? Why would the boy have erased the photos he took?"
J sighs as the reason was something no child worshiping a hero wants to see and said, "I can think of only one reason, Your Honor." She slams her hands on the desk and said "The White Ranger didn't win! That's why Kota deleted those photos.
"You mean the White Ranger…lost?" Maccadam asked shocked.
"Well, Kota? I'm right, aren't I?" J asked the boy. "Tell the truth. The bad guy defeated the White Ranger!"
"N-n-n-no way! No!" Kota said defiantly "I-it's impossible! Th-the White Ranger never loses! He never loses to anyone! Ever!"
"Your Honor…." J said smiling "The witness has revealed everything with his words. There was a reason why he lied and told us he didn't take a picture. The same reason he erased his precious photos! For Kota, it was inconceivable that the White Ranger could be defeated." J slams her hands down and said "However, Kota witnessed the impossible! He saw the White Ranger lose! Yet to admit what he saw would destroy everything he believed in! That's why he lied and said the White Ranger won." She slams her hands down and states "He couldn't handle the truth!"
The members of the court murmur at this surprised and wondering what this means. Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "O-Order! I will have order! W-witness! I mean, Kota! Is this true?! W-what did you see? Tell the court what you saw!"
"I…" Kota said sadly and bursts into tears crying.
"Kota…" J said looking at the boy sadly "That day, you saw the White Ranger lose a fight. Right?"
"Okay, okay!" Kota said through the tears "Y-you're right! Th-the White Ranger f-fell down…Th-then he didn't m-move…" He cries again.
The audience chatter about this and Maccadam bangs his gavel again "Order! Order! Order!" He said.
Hunter slams his hand on the desk glaring and said "What kind of stunt are you trying to pull, J?! The White Ranger was the murderer, not the victim!"
"Yet according to your witness's testimony, the White Ranger was the one who fell!" J argued back at the Golden Prosecutor.
The members of the court chat on this until Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Miss J! What's going on?"
"Apparently, we have all made a serious error." J said simply.
"An… error?" Hunter asked confused. "What's this about?!"
"If you understand what really happened, it's actually quite simple." J said smiling "At the end of the fight, the White Ranger fell to the ground, and lay still. In other words, the White Ranger was not the killer, he was the victim! Don't you see?" She slams her hands down and said "Malty Melromarc was the White Ranger!"
This made the members of the court chatter in shock at this revelation, Maccadam bangs his gavel repeatedly and said "Order! Order! Order! So, the White Ranger in this photograph..." He shows the picture of the White Ranger passing the security camera "You're saying the man in this costume was the victim, Miss. Malty Melromarc?"
"That's what I'm saying, Your Honor." J said nodding. "Malty Melromarc was present at the action scene run-through that morning. Thus, she obviously knew about Johnny Bravo's foot injury."
"B-but wait!" Maccadam said thinking "Hadn't Miss Melromarc gone to Studio One already?"
"That's what everyone thought!" J said smiling "But remember what Mr. Pines said in his testimony?"
We flashback to Stan the other day who said "On the day of the murder, I arrived at the guard station at 1:00 PM. Did I see poor sweet Malty? Nope. He'd already gone to the studio before I got back to the guard station."
"Miss. Malty Melromarc left the Employee Area after lunch." J explained "However, no one saw her going to Studio One. Nor was there a picture of her."
We see a new flashback image this one showing Johnny sleeping on the couch while Malty was quietly slipping into the White Ranger costume.
"She waited for Mr. Bravo to take a nap in his dressing room. Then she snuck into the dressing room and stole the White Ranger costume." J explained.
Hunter and Maccadam were stunned but the judge asked "But why would the victim do such a thing?"
"I… don't know" J admits.
Kota having calmed down said "I get it!" J looks at him confused "I though the White Ranger was moving strange. So it was a different person inside the suit! Bot!"
"Huh, me? What?" J said sweat dropping at her nickname.
"Actually, there was one piece of data I saved." Kota admits.
"Data?" J asked.
"Yeah, a photo on my digital camera!" Kota told her.
J's eyes widen and she said "W-what?!"
"Show us, quick!" Hunter told the boy glaring.
"No way, not if you're gonna look at me like that!" Kota said nervous.
"Now!" Maccadam told the kid.
Kota sniffs and hands over the picture saying "Here…. This is it."
The image was given to Maccadam and put on the screen and shows the White Ranger standing before some gates as Kota was in the bushes.
"Well, looking at this it's still a little hard to say." Maccadam admits looking at it. "I'm afraid that it could be anyone in that costume. Your opinion, Miss. J?"
"I agree, Your Honor. This isn't decisive evidence." J said nodding though something about it seems off she wasn't sure though.
"I'm sorry, this doesn't look like it's the proof we need." Maccadam said sighing. "I'll give it back."
"Wait, J!" Terra said suddenly.
"Terra? What?" J asked confused.
"Look at that photo once more!" Terra told her. "That's it J! That photo is all the evidence you need to win this trial!"
"Wh-what?!" J said shocked and looks to Maccadam who was about to hand the picture to the Purge Trooper "Y-Your Honor! May I see that photo once more please?"
"C-certainly. I don't see why not." Maccadam said and puts the picture back on the screen.
"J! Show him!" Terra told her. "There's a glaring, decisive inconsistency with the fact as we know them in that photo!"
J nods and looks at it and notices something, the Studio's number was a 2 not a 1 she then points to it on the screen saying "Take that! Your Honor! Look at this!"
"I see… a gate?" Maccadam said trying to see.
"Might I draw your attention to the number on that gate?" J told him.
"The number?" Maccadam said confused and looks "Ah yess. Well, it's hard to see, but it looks like a '2.'"
"Clearly not a '1,' Your Honor, correct?" J asked him.
"Aaaaah!" Hunter lets out getting at what J was getting at.
"I believe that was the sound of Mr. Deammone seeing what I'm getting at." J said proudly.
"B-but…" Hunter said in shock. "Th-that's impossible!"
"Hmmm? Eh? What's this all about?" Maccadam said confused. "Please explain so that I might be shocked along with the rest of the court."
"I'll use the studio guidemap." J said and brings it up, she points to Studio One marking with the V marker "The body was found here, in Studio One. However, what do we see in this photo taken at the time of the murder? It does NOT say '1' on that gate in the photo. Your Honor! Here is the true scene of the crime!" She points at Studio Two and said "Take that! Here at Studio Two."
"I see! That would explain the '2' on the gate in the photo." Maccadam said nodding.
"Your Honor, I find it very significant that the murder took place in Studio Two!" J said and added "As you may recall, there is a trailer in Studio Two. Now, on that day, a meeting was held in that very trailer. There was a break in the meeting corresponding to the time of death."
"During that break, Mr. Roshi and Miss. Stella were outside, eating steak." J continues and slams her hands down "They were at the scene of the crime!" The members of the court chatter at this in shock and Maccadam bangs his gavel to quite them down. J continues "The path to the trailer was blocked!"
"So, we have heard." Maccadam said nodding.
"The was blocked at 2:15..." J said slamming her hands down "In other words, the victim went to Studio Two before that time!"
"Yes… yes, I suppose that would be the case." Maccadam said thinking.
"Remember Mr. Roshi's testimony?" J asked. "Allow me to remind the court: He said no one in the trailer was guilty because they could not have gone to Studio One. Yet, in actuality, the reverse was true! Only some in the trailer could have committed this murder!" She slams her hands down and said firmly "They were the only ones with access to the scene of the crime: Studio Two!"
The members of the court murmur and Maccadam bangs his gavel again to silence them "O-order! Order!"
"The defence makes the following claims: The scene of the crime was Studio Two! The person at the security guard, Mr. Pines saw was the victim, Miss. Malty Melromarc! Miss. Melromarc, for some reason, stole a White Ranger costume. Then she went to Studio Two!"
"Objection!" Hunter called out and said "This is madness! Malty Melromarc is the victim! The victim! Why would she steal a White Ranger costume?!" He slams a hand down and asked "Are you suggesting she did so to cover up the details of her own murder?!"
"W-well, no, of course not…" J said taken aback.
"Hmmm…" Maccadam thinks on this.
"Or do you have proof?!" Hunter asked her. "Give me proof that the victim, Malty Melromarc, stole the costume!"
"I have proof!" J said to him firmly
Hunter glaring said "Y-you do?!"
"You do, Miss. J?" Maccadam asked surprised.
'Now that they're so surprised suddenly I'm much less confidant…' J thinks sweatdropping 'I think I'm right, though!' She then said "Here's my proof that Malty Melromarc stole the costume. She then holds up the Empty Bottle and said "Take that! This is it."
"An empty…. medicine bottle?" Maccadam asked confused.
"I found this on the table in the Employee Area." J explained. "The same table where Miss. Melromarc and Mr. Bravo ate. The label reads 'sleeping pills.'"
"'Sleeping pills'…?" Maccadam asked surprised.
"The defendant, Mr. Bravo, spent that entire afternoon sleeping." J explained. "He was drugged…by Miss Melromarc!"
The members of the court murmur and Maccadam bangs his gavel "Wait a moment…That bottle does raise some suspecions, yes. But there is no proof that Miss Melromarc used it."
"Your Honor, I have an idea." J said nodding.
"An… idea? Very well, let's hear it." Maccadam said.
"I want to check this bottle for fingerprints!" J told him. "If my claim is true, Miss. Melromarc's fingerptrints should show up on this bottle!"
"Hmm…" Hunter winces as that would indeed prove the theory true.
"I suppose you're right." Maccadam said nodding. "Very well. The court will take possession of the bottle."
A Purge Trooper comes and takes the bottle from J so it can be processed for fingerprints.
"The court will suspend proceedings on the current trial for today." Maccadam states. "Kota Izumi's testimony has revealed new possibilities in this case. In fact, things may have happened very differently than we previously thought. The White Ranger seen by Mr. Pines may have been the victim, Malty Melromarc. The scene of the crime wat not Studio One, but Studio Two. And those in the trailer did have time to commit murder. Miss. J?"
"Yes, Your Honor?" J asked.
"Your homework is to find the find the answer to the following question: Why would Miss. Melromarc steal the White Ranger costume?" Maccadam told her. "Also, who killed her, and why? Find the answers for me by tomorrow."
'That's a lot of homework!' J thinks sweating.
"Mr. Deamonne." Maccadam said looking at Hunter.
"Mm?" Hunter looks at the judge.
"You will need to reconsider your stand in this case." Maccadam told him. "Above all, you will need to reconsider your suspicion of Mr. Johnny Bravo."
"As you say, Your Honor." Hunter said nodding.
"The trail will be extended until tomorrow. This is the last extension." Maccadam told the court. The audience murmur and he slams his gavel "Very well… Court is adjourned!"
October 19, 2:47 PM, District Court, Defendant Lobby, No. 1
"Whew!" J lets out sitting on the couch sipping some oil, for the entire of that trial she felt her back against the wall. "That was a close one!"
"We were saved by a hair, but that's all that counts." Terra said nodding. "I thought seriously about going home about three times during the trial."
"M-me too!" J admits nodding.
"Really?" Johnny asked arriving. "You both seemed so…so confidant!"
"Hah! Maybe I should take up a career in acting?" J joked smiling. "I was ready to pronounce you dead about three times back there."
"Me too!" Terra said smiling.
"D-dead?!" Johnny said concerned.
"Hahaha. Of course, we're kidding." Terra said smiling.
"Are you sure?" Johnny asked.
'I wasn't kidding…' J thinks and said "Now, Mr. Bravo. We have to go make our final investigation. But I promise you, we'll find the true killer by tomorrow's trial!"
"R-right! Thanks!" Johnny said sniffing.
J stands up and begins to head out, determined to get to the truth of this Ranger case once and for all.
Well J managed to turn it around, now she has to get to answers on Malty's motivations and who could really have killed her.
Please Read, Review and Suggest. Thank you.