A/N: Bailey Courte is testifying on the stand, and Juniper has to find the truth in her testimony! However, Bailey can only talk about what she knows, nothing more and nothing less. Enjoy, my readers!

June 6th, 2029

District Courthouse, Courtroom #4

11:00 a.m.

As Bailey took the witness stand, she evenly studied the courtroom around her. Yet even past the stoic facade, Juniper could see a helpless look in her eyes.

I am sorry I had to bring you to the witness stand, Bailey. But whatever you testify, I will find a way to defend you!

"State your name and occupation, defendant."

"My name is Bailey Courte. You know me as a servant of the Smokes Household," Bailey answered. "Yet I am known in other circles as a quiet protector of the courtroom."

"I believe you are a court bailiff," The Judge said. "You restrained the witness that got out of hand in a previous case."

That underplays everything that happened with that certain "witness", but I won't correct the judge.

"You are correct, Your Honor. Yet I am here to tell a tale about my time as a servant," Bailey said. She bowed at the waist. "Please listen to what I have to say until the end."

Witness Testimony

Bailey's Account

"I had been summoned by Smokes to his room. As is my duty, I went there posthaste."

"The moment I opened the door to the room, everything went pitch black. I stepped inside, feeling it would be prudent that I not move anywhere."

Bailey took out a feather duster, sweeping it over the witness stand. "I stood still the entire time, and certainly never attacked my employer."

"When the lights returned to the room, Detective Smokes' body lay in the bed, exactly as seen in the crime scene photo." Bailey looked down. "That sight was a nasty surprise."

"I did not get a chance to check the wardrobe before I was apprehended." Bailey crossed her arms. "And yet, I do remember that the trash can already had blood by this point."

End Testimony

"So you claim that you had nothing to do with the blood in the trash can. That seems very convenient for you," Mrs. Newman said.

"All it means is that there could be another explanation for it!" Juniper quickly cut in.

"That's why we must cross-examine Bailey. So we can figure out the truth hidden here!" Robin declared. "Because there is something more in that testimony. I just know it!"

I do agree with Robin. There has to be a way to explain all the contradictions that have surfaced in the case so far.

Juniper saw that Ema was still at the witness stand, and so made a mental note to keep an eye on her during the testimony.

"I did want to ask, Bailey. You mentioned that the key to the wardrobe went missing. When did you notice?"

"To explain this, I must explain my residence in this Smokes manor," Bailey said. "My room is in the eastern wing, and that is where I have been entrusted with the spare keys of various important locations in this room. To give an example, Detective Smokes has the keys to his own room, and the front door. But I have spares, should I need to let myself in when he is not around."

"In other words, the defendant is in a unique position to be able to access areas that no one else would, outside the victim," Mrs. Newman said, giggling delicately. "Which brings us back to this."

Mrs. Newman showed the case file she presented previously. "Now, under normal circumstances, it seems that Bailey could have accessed this at any time."

"But why would Bailey be so desperate to get the case file now?" Juniper asked urgently. They had discussed this question before, but she wanted to see if Mrs. Newman had an actual answer.

"Because as has been discussed previously, Tony planned to leave the country," Mrs. Newman said. "Which would mean that the defendant would lose access to the file she wants to get so badly."

"I do remember this being brought up. The prosecution suggested that the defendant would have been left behind," The Judge said.

Mrs. Newman slammed her rolled up newspaper on her bench. "As such, Bailey had no choice but to kill Tony on that day, otherwise the file she wanted would slip out of her hands forever!"

So this is where Mrs. Newman has been leading up to the entire time! She's tying the motive into the day of the crime!

This left one question hanging in the air. "What is in that case file? If we're to believe that Bailey would kill for it, the court should know why."

"I would explain, but…" Mrs. Newman sighed, and shook her head. "The contents of this file are sealed by the prosecutor's office. I couldn't say what it was even if I wanted to."

"Then it's that case file, then!" Robin suddenly exclaimed. She covered her mouth in her hands. "Ignore me! I'm not going to say anything that would break the gag order!"

So there's even a gag order about this case file? That makes me want to know even more badly what's in it.

Mysterious Case File updated in the Court Record

"The prosecution's stance has been established. The defense will continue their cross-examination," The Judge said. "However, I am leaning more towards the defendant's guilt."

That was a demoralizing declaration, and Juniper wasn't sure where to take things next. "Um, then… is there any chance that someone could have taken the wardrobe key from your room?"

Bailey adjusted her headband. "If the question is 'is it possible', I suppose it technically is. They would need only to go to my room and take the key. And on the day of the crime, I was not in my room."

At this moment, Juniper realized that there was a contradiction in the testimony. But what does it mean for my case?

Yet, Juniper's morals demanded that she pursue this contradiction. "OBJECTION! Bailey, there is something you need to know about the day of the crime."

"Speak freely, Juniper. The truth is neutral, and I do not fear it." Bailey said.

"About your claim that someone could have taken the key from your room. It's on the east side of the house, right? Well…" Juniper recalled the day of the crime. "On the day of the crime, the door that led to the east side was guarded by Prosecutor Gavin."

"Ugh, that glimmerous fop? Why am I not surprised that he's turning up like a bad penny," Ema said, letting out a noise of disgust. "What did he do?"

"He told me that he did not move from that door the entire time of the blackout. Which means that during that time…" Juniper slammed her hand on her bench. "No one could have entered the east side of the house."

"Oh. I suppose I had no way of knowing that." Bailey said flatly. Her tone was belied by how she rapidly was dusting the witness stand.

"In other words, there is no way for anyone to be able to steal the key from the defendant's room," Mrs. Newman said. "My thanks to the defense for pointing that out."

"I'd like to continue the cross-examination!" Juniper quickly said. "We haven't established a full picture of what happened that day!"

So far, it seemed like the biggest issue was that only Bailey and the victim were witnessed in the crime scene. "HOLD IT! You say that the trash can already had blood in it? When you entered the room?"

"That it did, Juniper. Although, something tugs in the back of my mind," Bailey said. "It feels like there was something in the trash can that I can't remember."

"Come to think of it…"

Ema's words hit Juniper's words, and she saw that the detective seemed to be contemplating something.

"HANG ON! Detective Skye, did you have something on your mind?" Juniper asked.

"If we're discussing this trash can, Prosecutor Newman did make me run a test on the blood," Ema said. She took out a file from her carrier bag. "And I can confirm that it belongs to the victim."

"I naturally wouldn't have presented the trash can if I wasn't completely sure about it's value as evidence." Mrs. Newman added.

Trash Can updated in the Court Record

Juniper could feel her heart racing. "But wait! Bailey testified just now that it already had blood in it when she entered the crime scene. So wouldn't that mean-?"

"OBJECTION! I am not going to allow this to stand without proof!" Mrs. Newman yelled.

" Both the prosecution and the defense seem to agree on the evidence. So what's the issue?" The Judge asked.

"It's about when the blood stained the evidence in question," Mrs. Newman said. "The defense would like the court to believe that it was somehow before the defendant even entered the room."

"Is that idea really that much more unlikely than the prosecution's mystery cloth that they haven't produced?" Juniper asked, annoyance seeping into her tone.

"Wow, Juniper! I haven't seen you this stern since your time as the Themis student council president!" Robin exclaimed.

The Judge closed his eyes. "That the trash can found at the crime scene has blood in it is an irrefutable fact. The question is: when did it become stained?"

"I believe in Bailey. It must have been before she entered Detective Smokes' room," Juniper insisted. "Which means there is more to debate in this trial."

"As the prosecution, I must point out that there was no one else in the crime scene," Mrs. Newman said. She smacked the newspaper she was holding against her hip. "And since the victim never left the bed, only the defendant could be responsible for the blood in the trash can."

"Defense. If you are to claim this happened before the crime, then you must substantiate it with proof," The Judge said. "How is this possible?"

There could only be one possibility. Yet, once I speak it, they'll ask me to provide evidence to prove it, and I'm not sure if I can do that.

"The only thing I can think of… is that the crime occurred before Bailey entered the room," Juniper finally said.

"Wait a moment, Juniper! There's a contradiction in that reasoning!" Robin cried out, her fists shaking. "If Bailey walked into the room after the crime happened, she would have seen the victim's dead body for sure!"

"I didn't even need to say anything. Good job, my dear," Mrs. Newman said, ruffling Robin's hair. Robin's face turned red from the unexpected attention. "I would think it would be impossible for the defendant to miss the knife sticking out of the victim's chest."

"No, it's not as impossible." For once, Juniper felt as if she had a firm grasp of the situation. "Not when we recall prior testimony."

"Ah. It is said that light cannot exist without dark, and vice versa," Bailey said, smiling mysteriously. "Darkness could be responsible for bringing forth the light of truth."

"Bailey, there are times when that obscure speaking style isn't charming," Mrs. Newman said, drumming her fingers on her bench. "Now is one of those times, so please cut it out."

"Then let me clear it up. Bailey testified that before she opened the door to the victim's room, the lights went out," Juniper said. "So in fact, it's backwards. There was no way for Bailey to have seen anything!"

"That would be true, wouldn't it!" The Judge exclaimed, his eyes widening. "Then the crime could have committed before the defendant entered the room!"

"OBJECTION!" Mrs. Newman smacked her rolled up newspaper against her bench. "If you are going to suggest something that goes against the very premise of the case, then you must provide a basis for your claim!"

I knew that Mrs. Newman would say something like that. This is the biggest flaw in my case: if this theory can't be proven, I have nothing to stand on.

Juniper opened her mouth to respond, but found herself short of breath. "Um… *cough cough* if we listen to Bailey's account… *cough cough* of what happened before the blackout… we'll learn the truth *cough cough cough*."

"You don't sound very sure, Junie. Are we really going to learn anything from events that happened before the crime?" Mrs. Newman asked.

"An account of what was my ordinary life, before that was shattered," Bailey said, closing her eyes. "Could there be a kernel of truth that even I don't know hidden in there? I admit, I had not considered that."

"Then are you going to testify, Bailey?" Robin asked.

"I am here, am I not? If this is what is asked of me, then I will acquiesce." Bailey curtsied. "I only ask that everyone listen to me until the end."

Witness Testimony

Ordinary Morning

"If I were being honest, this morning did not seem too different from most mornings in the household," Bailey said. "I attended chores as I became aware of them."

Ema looked over at Bailey, her eyebrow raised. "I question your definition of normal, Miss Courte. You had a lot of people in the house for the first time, myself included."

"As far as I am aware, you were all guests to me." Bailey reached into her dress pocket, and took out a mint, which she offered to Ema. "Even you, Detective, received my usual level of service."

"Oh, thank you very-" Ema almost took the mint, but she snatched her hand back. "Wait a minute! This was supposed to be about you! Don't try to bribe me!"

"That was not my intention, but a demonstration. In the course of that morning, Detective Smokes called me to his room for a request," Bailey explained. "This was earlier in the morning. I was called again, and this was the request before the blackout."

"So in other words, you were called twice," Ema said thoughtfully. "But the first time wasn't discussed because it happened before the crime. I still don't see if it's related, honestly."

End Testimony

"Defendant, why did you have a mint on your person?" The Judge asked.

"I am always ready to accommodate the task I need to do. Either as a maid, or a bailiff," Bailey said. "I offered it out of impulse."

"I guess that was pretty nice of you. Still, be more careful in the future," Ema said. "You don't want people to misunderstand you."

"The defense may start with… is the defense okay?"

Juniper was not okay. She felt light-headed, because no matter how she considered the testimony, there didn't seem to be anything wrong with it.

Bailey is testifying that she noticed nothing unusual in the course of her morning. Which means that…

"As the defendant is currently outlining that day, there doesn't seem to be an opportunity for the murder to happen," Mrs. Newman finished out loud, grinning. "At least, not before the blackout."

"If the murder happened during the blackout, the defendant remains the sole suspect," The Judge said. "This will be your final chance, defense."

If I can't find anything in this testimony, Bailey will be found guilty. Even though Mrs. Newman still lacks direct evidence, she has the judge on her side!

Robin didn't look like she was faring much better, gripping her arm she muttered desperately, "Maybe someone entered before… but not, I don't want to believe that either…!"

"HOLD IT! Bailey, who were the people that were in the house that day? Besides me, Robin, and Hugh?" Juniper asked.

"That would be Prosecutor Gaven, Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth, Detective Skye, Miss Scuttlebutt, and the elder Newmans," Bailey recited effortlessly. "Of this group, Edgeworth, Scuttlebutt, and the elder Newmans were in the eastern wing of the manor, and did not leave."

"Which means it can't be suggested that someone from the east wing could have stolen the key from Bailey's room," Mrs. Newman pointed out. "Because it runs into an earlier problem: Prosecutor Gavin would have known if anyone passed by him."

As long as no one could have passed by Klavier, I'm stuck! "Bailey, are you absolutely sure that nothing strange happened?"

"I am sure. Now matter how I recall that day, I cannot think of anything out of place that happened," Bailey admitted.

This is bad. This is very, very bad! "What about the first time you were called by Detective Smokes? We haven't heard why he called you."

"That was for a simple task. To bring a piece of chocolate," Bailey answered. "Very likely for someone else."

We found a chocolate wrapper in the trash can. So that's where it was from.

"Why wouldn't the chocolate be for himself?" The Judge asked.

"Tony Smokes cannot eat chocolate under any circumstances," Bailey said. "Because-"

"OBJECTION!" Mrs. Newman shook her head. "I do believe that my friend's distaste in chocolate isn't related."

Mrs. Newman interrupted Bailey before she could say something. Maybe if I follow this logic…

"If the victim would never eat chocolate, then it had to have been intended for someone else," Juniper said. She pointed at Mrs. Newman. "And if that's the case, then it's possible that this person is the true murderer!"

"If the person entered the Detective Smokes' room between Bailey dropping off the chocolate and the blackout…" Robin's eyes widened. "Then it would change the entire case!"

"The logic follows, yes. But I would like to ask a question, Robin," Mrs. Newman said, looking at her daughter. "To both you and the defense. Who is the person that you allude to eating this chocolate?"

"Oh! Oh no! OhhhhhHHHH NNNOOOOOO!" Robin screamed, crashing to the floor in a dramatic faint.

"The people at the west side of the house at the time were… Prosecutor Gavin, Detective Skye, myself, Hugh, and Robin." Juniper said, feeling cold sweat run down her face.

"It wasn't me!" Ema immediately cut in. "And don't you dare suggest otherwise!"

Ema flicked a snackoo at Juniper, nailing her on the forehead. But Juniper barely noticed, because she was trying to think of another possibility and failing miserably.

I'm not the culprit, and Prosecutor Gavin never left guarding the door, which leaves Robin, Hugh, and Ema. I don't want to believe that any of them are the killer! But where does that leave me?

"Since the defense seems to have been stricken silent, let me explain," Mrs. Newman said, grinning smugly. "The chocolate was likely intended for the Chief Prosecutor, who intended to visit Tony later. However, the blackout hit, and the murder right after."

"The defense has failed to indicate another potential suspect. Therefore, it seems as if the defendant is the only possible culprit." The Judge reached for his gavel. "Do the defense and the prosecution have any closing remarks?"

The judge is going to pass a verdict! I need to say something, anything. But I can't get my voice to work!

"As the prosecution, I will restate my earlier position. It has been established that it's impossible for another person to have visited Tony. The defendant entered the room, with intent to murder the victim for the case file. In the course of the murder the blackout occured, they struggled, and Tony was fatally wounded."

With a severe expression, Mrs. Newman smacked the wall behind her with an open palm. "Even in pitch black conditions, the defendant had to get the victim into his bed. Yet before Bailey could cover up further, she was caught red-handed."

"And what of the lack of blood on the defendant's clothes?" The Judge asked.

"I admit, I do not have physical evidence. However, I have outlined that the defendant's position as a maid allowed her to conceal evidence." Mrs. Newman pointed at Bailey. "Especially because it was established that no one could have stolen the wardrobe key!"

"Then there is no more room for doubt in this case."

Juniper clutched her hands to her chest, hyperventilating, staring blankly ahead of her. I'm sorry, Bailey. I'm sorry, Robin. Most of all, I'm sorry, Professor Courte. There's nothing else I can do.

The Judge raised his gavel. "This court finds the defendant, Bailey Courte…"

A/N: If you were in Juniper's shoes, what would you do? Can you see any possible path forward? A contradiction in the facts yet unexplored? Because we are at the cusp of the worst possible scenario. See you next time! Please review.