"Hmmm..." The Judge shook his head. "If that is not damning evidence, I am not sure what is." He turned his head. "Me. Edgeworth, have you anything else to share?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." Edgeworth snapped his fingers. "Would you excuse me, witness?"
Reina waved a hand dismissively. "Be my guest."
Edgeworth gave a pseudo-courtsey to the stance. "We searched Manny Coachen's room thoroughly, and he struck us all as a man who knew he was in for trouble. He kept his quarters well-supplied, with enough food and water to last a couple months. There was a closet, which we found him hiding in. He even had a handgun hidden away, complete with ammunition."
"Is that so?" The Judge began to toy with his gavel. He was staring to lose his focus, despite the status of the defendant. That meant his mind was made up, or that it was close. Apollo slammed his fists on his stand.
"Mr. Edgeworth, do you have a record of everything examined in my client's room?"
"What sort of attorney would I be if I did not?" Edgeworth pulled a piece of paper from his suit jacket's pocket. "I quite literally have the records in my hand. I can have copies made, if you wish. The list is completely accurate."
"Then why, Prosecutor Edgeworth, did my client use a frying pan when he already had a loaded gun?"
Edgeworth smirked, and Apollo realized a second too late that he had anticipated the trap.
"Why, there are several different reasons." Edgeworth raised his pointer finger. "One, he could wield an improvised weapon more easily than a firearm, considering that he was trying to lay low. Two," he raised his middle finger. "His intention may not have been to kill Mr. Gramarye, but to take him prisoner. Third," he raised his ring finger. "Who's to say he actually knew how to use a gun? The boss should not have to handle his own dirty work, so to speak."
Apollo cringed. The reputation of Miles Edgeworth was certainly deserved. The gallery chattered, and the Judge silenced them with a swing of his gavel.
"In any case, you have made quite the compelling case, Mr. Edgeworth."
Apollo made his move before the Judge could address him next. He had to prove his resolve.
"Your Honor, I believe my client is entitled to explain himself next."
Coachen stared blankly. Edgeworth shook his head. "Mr. Justice, surely you..."
"You helped present a testimony!" Apollo cut him off. "I can do the same!"
Edgeworth was quiet for a few seconds, then nodded grudgingly.
Coachen was escorted to the witness stand. He dared a glance towards Edgeworth, who mustered his coldest gaze.
"Name. Occupation. Now."
"Manny...Coachen. Currently unemployed."
"Officially, yes." Edgeworth began to tap his fingers on his stand. "If you want to save yourself some trouble, you can tell us everything I want you to say."
Coachen gulped, but looked back at Apollo. "I'll take my chances."
"Then, witness," Apollo responded. "Please provide your testimony."
Coachen fidgeted. Then he did his best to raise his voice.
"I was in my room all that day. During the afternoon, someone kicked the door open when my back was turned. They put something over my mouth, and it knocked me out. When I woke up, I was inside the closet. The police found me there."
Apollo's brow furrowed. Edgeworth took a step towards the witness stand.
"So let me see if I heard that correctly, Mr. Coachen. You were attacked during the day. You were not abducted, but you were hidden in the closet for so long that you had no means to grab the frying pan and attack the victim."
"Yes, sir."
Edgeworth glared at Apollo, but his lip twisted into a smirk. "Is that convenient, or is that convenient?"
"I don't really care about this whole business," Reina flipped her hair back as she leaned on the lowermost gallery wall. "But I wouldn't bet a penny on your chances right now."
Apollo tensed, blinked.
"I have another question...for the first witness."
Reina looked mildly amused. "What?"
"When Mr. Edgeworth asked you for the security footage, he asked for the section just shown, correct?"
"Are you trying to catch me in a riddle?"
"Your Honor!" Apollo looked up at the Judge. "If my client is correct, then some of the Ivory Motel video footage could confirm another individual reached his room!"
"OBJECTION!"
Edgeworth pointed at Apollo. "We do not have such footage, Mr. Justice!"
"Then where would it be?"
Edgeworth fell silent. "Er..."
Reina shrugged. "At my place, naturally. But I only looked where I was supposed to look. And even if he's an old fossil, it's up to His Honor if it's worth looking into."
"Hmmm..." The Judge pondered. Then he swung the gavel down. "The court demands that the full record of the video footage be delivered to the courtroom!"
Edgeworth was aghast. "But Your Honor...I will have to send for someone to go there and come back!"
"Then you better act fast, Mr. Edgeworth." Apollo grinned. "If you want this trial to get along."
-A multi-chapter story; Chapter 29; story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.
