A/N: This will be the final chapter for the first trial day. That's all I'm going to say. because I want the readers to experience the central twist awaiting them on their own. Enjoy, my readers!

OBJECTION!"

Robin's voice cut through the Judge's verdict, as she shouted at the top of her breath, her entire body shaking intensely. "Your Honor, you can't! You can't pass a verdict just yet!"

The Judge narrowed his eyes. "I do not understand why the prosecution's assistant is objecting to a guilty verdict."

"Indeed, my daughter," Mrs. Newman said, speaking through gritted teeth. "You are not making any sense, so it would be best if you stop."

"But there's a hole in your case! We can't call this a successful prosecution if we don't address this contradiction!" Robin exclaimed.

"What contradiction would that be?" Mrs. Newman asked with a venomous tone.

Robin stiffened, her eyes darting around. "You're a much better prosecutor, so you could explain it better than I could!"

Juniper finally caught on. Robin's bluffing to stall for time! But all the stalling in the world can't do anything if I can't follow it up. And… I can't keep relying on Robin to save me.

Juniper reviewed the evidence in her head. I'm pretty sure we've discussed just about everything at least once. Except for a certain piece of evidence. But that's only because I'm unsure what it has to do with anything.

"If the prosecution does not elaborate further, I will go back to passing the verdict," The Judge said, his patience thin.

I don't have a choice! I need to present the evidence now and worry about the consequences later.

"TAKE THAT! This evidence exposes the contradiction in the prosecution's case!"

"That is the chocolate wrapper found in the trash can at the crime scene," Mrs. Newman said. "So you've decided to present literal garbage to the court."

The Judge shook his head. "Against my better judgement, I will listen to this. However, for the defense's sake, I hope they are not bluffing."

"That's because you haven't understood the significance of this evidence." And I only hope I can understand very soon. "You have to consider the events of the crime."

At the witness stand, Bailey put her hand on her chin. "I delivered that piece of chocolate to Detective Smokes, and left the room. At some point between that and the body being discovered, the candy was consumed."

"Exactly! And since it's been established that the victim would not eat chocolate, then that means this wrapper has no explanation!" Robin added.

"Still, I do not see why it would matter that a chocolate was eaten at some point," The Judge said, his eyes closed. "Are we sure that it didn't happen before the crime?"

"Not possible. I empty the trash in the morning and in the evening. On the morning of the crime, there was no chocolate in the trash can when I emptied it," Bailey said. "So the wrapper in question could have only been placed there after."

Wait, the more I'm thinking about it, the more it really doesn't make sense. Where did this chocolate wrapper come from?

"I believe… it would be for the best if you testified about the nature of this chocolate," The Judge said. "So we can know for sure if this evidence is related to the crime."

"Your Honor, the defense is not going anywhere with this," Mrs. Newman said, a nervous tone creeping into her tone. "We know that only the victim and the defendant could have been at the crime scene. We don't need further evidence besides that!"

"There is no such thing as a useless piece of evidence, Prosecutor Newman," The Judge said sternly. "Until we deliberate every last possibility, a verdict cannot be passed!"

"Urgh… ahhh!" Mrs. Newman cried out, putting her hand to her head in a dramatic motion.

I'm still in this. But what will be revealed once we discover the truth behind the chocolate wrapper?

Witness Testimony

About the piece of chocolate

"As I stated previously, I took out the garbage first thing in the morning," Bailey said. "Soon after, Detective Smokes called me to order a single chocolate."

"He would never have eaten the chocolate himself, so that could have only been for someone else," Bailey added, shaking her head. "However, I cannot say who entered the room before I was called the second time."

"When the police investigated the crime scene, we did find the wrapper in the trash. So it must have happened before the crime," Ema said, swaying from side to side. "But all that means is that someone ate it."

"That is correct. Someone ate the chocolate before I arrived at the crime scene," Bailey said. A small grin crossed her face. "Though, that fact alone is significant."

End Testimony

"OBJECTION!" Mrs. Newman smacked her newspaper against her bench. "Oh, is the defense really dredging up the tired 'there was a third person' theory? Because I will repeat it until you finally understand. There was no third person!"

As much as I want to say otherwise, it runs into the same problem as before- the only other suspects are people I can't indict as the culprit. Must I consider the possibility that one of them could be the killer?

"HOLD IT! Detective Skye, I have a question for you. When you took Bailey into the station, what was she like?"

Ema put her hand on her hip, glaring at Juniper. "Way too calm, for one. Like, almost creepily so. She surrendered herself into police custody immediately."

Bailey bowed at the waist. "I did not wish to cause trouble. It is my nature to make life easier for those around me, after all."

"Well, I guess I can't complain about it. You were the easiest suspect I've ever dealt with," Ema said. "I can appreciate that."

"How would you say Bailey is compared to most other suspects? Like, how was questioning her?" Juniper had a purpose for her current line of questioning, and hoped that Ema would follow along.

"Fairly pleasant, all things considered. You would not believe the bad breath some suspects have," Ema said, wrinkling her nose. "Miss Courte's breath was completely clean in comparison."

"Thank you, Detective Skye. Because now, we have eliminated one possibility," Juniper said. "It cannot be claimed that Bailey herself could have eaten the chocolate!"

Mrs. Newman had a pained grin on her face. "I wondered why you were suddenly rambling on about nothing. But you seem to have picked up some talent as a defense attorney after all."

"Of course I am going to do everything possible to defend Bailey," Juniper said quietly. "Which is why I must eliminate any possibility that would hurt her!"

"The cross-examination has not ended yet, Junie. So do not declare victory yet!"

She's right, of course. Which means that I have to learn more. "HOLD IT! So, why are you so convinced that Detective Smokes could not have eaten the chocolate? Could he have not decided to have some just this once?"

Bailey shook her head. "I did not get to explain it last time, because Mrs. Newman interrupted."

"This is true. So I hope that the prosecution will let the defendant finish their explanation," The Judge said. "Unless you have good reason why it should not be heard."

"...I suppose I have no cause to stop it." Mrs. Newman said, standing ramrod straight.

"This information would normally be private, but if it helps get to the bottom of the case, it seems I will not have a choice," Bailey said, gripping the hem of her skirt. "The reason why Tony Smokes will never eat chocolate is because he's allergic to it. You need only check his medical records to confirm this."

"Oh! Come to think of it, that does explain something," Juniper said thoughtfully. "The chocolate cabinet in the manor is labeled 'for guests only'. So the victim only stocked that candy for other people, despite being unable to eat it himself."

"So it has been established that the defendant could not have eaten the chocolate, and neither did the victim," The Judge said. "Which seems to indicate that it could have only been a third person."

This is the chance that I've been waiting for! "As such, we must consider that this person could have killed Tony Smokes!"

"OBJECTION!"

Mrs. Newman smacked her palm against the gallery behind her. "So it's come to this. If you are truly insistent on pursuing this line of questioning, then there is something you must answer. Who is this third person that you allege ate the chocolate and murdered Tony?"

Mrs. Newman held up a single hand. "The people on the west side of the manor, besides Bailey, were Prosecutor Gavin, Detective Skye, Mr. O'Conner, my daughter… and you," Mrs. Newman said, counting it off on her fingers. "And since Prosecutor Gavin was guarding the door to the east side, that leaves four suspects. Are you going to confess to being the killer, Junie?"

"Of course not! I would never do something like that!" Juniper exclaimed, tugging at her pigtails.

"Or are you going to accuse your friend, Hugh? Or the detective in charge of this case? Or would you even…" Mrs. Newman drew her arm back, and pointed at Juniper. "Be so brazen as to accuse my daughter?!"

"Of course I wouldn't!" Juniper cried out, snapping her pigtails into her eyes.

"Then the defense's theory makes no sense, because there would be no one left to eat the chocolate," The Judge said. He raised his gavel. "Is this really all there is to this piece of evidence?"

"It can't be! The fact that there is no explanation makes the evidence even weirder!" Robin called out. "It couldn't have come out of nowhere!"

No, it couldn't have. But suggesting a third person is just going to cast suspicion onto my closest friends. Are those really the only options?

In that moment, Juniper saw Athena in her mind's eye.

"I can't wait until you see me in court as a judge, Junie! I am going to flip things on their head in no time flat!"

That's right, what Athena always does at times like these… is turn things around. In this case… instead of trying to force a scenario where someone ate this chocolate, I need to think about who could have eaten it given the circumstances.

Juniper considered the amount of people in Detective Smokes' room when the chocolate was delivered. When I consider it that way, the person that ate it could only be…

A jolt ran through Juniper's body, as she considered the implications of the answer she arrived at. Is this really what happened that day? What does it mean?

"The defense must answer the prosecution's question. Who is the third person that consumed the chocolate?" The Judge asked.

"The answer is simple, because the prosecution is right: there was no third person."

Mrs. Newman's eyes narrowed. "The defense is agreeing with me? That's rather unusual."

"We must consider who was inside the victim's room in between the time that the chocolate was delivered and when the body was discovered," Juniper said, even as her voice was shaking. "Which was only Detective Smokes himself. That means that…"

Juniper smacked both her palms against her bench. "The person that ate this chocolate could only be him!"

"IMPOOOOOOSIIIIBLE!" Robin yelled, rearing back.

"Now you've done it. You've suggested something completely incomprehensible!" Mrs. Newman snarled.

"Juniper, far be it from me to question my defense, but I have already stated that Detective Smokes has a chocolate allergy," Bailey said, confused. "So how could you make such a suggestion?"

"But let me return the question back to the prosecution: who ate this chocolate? Mrs. Newman has been really insistent that there was no third person at the crime scene," Juniper pointed out. "Logically speaking, that leaves only the victim."

"It has been proven that it could not be the defendant herself, and that this candy was consumed during the day of the crime," The Judge said. "Unless further proof is provided, it appears that the defense's current scenario is the most likely."

"Your Honor, if you are looking at it logically, then you have to consider something: why would Tony eat something he knows for a fact that he's allergic to?" Mrs. Newman asked.

Why would he eat something that he knows he's allergic to? Eyes closed, Juniper considered that question in her mind. Detective Smokes ordered the chocolate from Bailey. Only a single piece of it.

Juniper's eyes flew open, and her face went pale as a sheet. This might be the most insane idea that I've ever come up with! Will anyone believe me if I suggest it?

She knew that if she hesitated, she wouldn't be able to get it out. So taking a deep breath, Juniper called out, "OBJECTION! I've figured out what really happened!"

"Then you've found the culprit, Juniper? Someone that isn't one of us?" Robin asked, her expression pleading.

I suppose that's not wrong. "I maintain that Detective Smokes ate the chocolate. After all, he personally ordered it. Which means that this case wasn't a murder… it was a suicide!"

Juniper's words echoed through the courtroom, into stunned silence as Bailey, Ema, Robin, and Mrs. Newman processed it.

The Judge's mouth was wide open, but he managed to get out, "Defense, please explain this so that we may understand it."

"It comes back to the circumstances before the blackout. Detective Smokes was completely alone in his room, with that piece of chocolate," Juniper said, her voice trembling. "And he ate it, ending his own life."

"But, what could possibly give you the idea that he would want to take his own life?" The Judge asked.

"That, I cannot say yet," Juniper admitted. "But I think that we have to consider this, because that's where the evidence and testimony has led me."

At the witness stand, Bailey looked as if someone had punched her in the gut. "They say that the truth can be cruel, but… this is beyond cruel. This is devastating."

"...Your Honor, can you give me twenty minutes? There is something I'd like to check," Ema said, a serious expression on her face. "And I believe it would answer the question at hand."

"The court will grant your request. Please, Detective Skye, enlighten us on what happened once and for all," The Judge said.

What does Ema have in mind? Will it really prove this theory that we've unearthed?

Twenty minutes later, Ema entered the courtroom with a sheaf of papers in her hands. Morosely, Ema said. "I will now give my report. Forensics have done a secondary test on the blood found at the bottom of the trash can. We have detected traces of stomach acid mixed with chocolate in the blood, indicating that it was… vomited by the victim."

Robin looked horrified. "Then Juniper was right? Detective Smokes ate the chocolate and died?"

"He really did commit suicide?" I wish I wasn't right. But if I am, then why? Why did he decide to kill himself?

"When I received the autopsy report, it stated that the cause of death was loss of blood." Mrs. Newman clutched at her chest, breathing unevenly. "Explain, Detective Skye!"

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger! A second autopsy is being performed as we speak, with this new information taken into account," Ema said, still shaken. "But the preliminary investigation does point to suicide."

"I still can't believe it. Why? Why? Why? WWWWHHHY?!" Robin cried out, sobbing.

"How utterly tragic. Yet, if the victim really did take his own life, then the defendant certainly couldn't have killed him," The Judge said, shaking his head. "While abrupt, it appears that this trial has come to an end. Do the defense and prosecution have any objections to this?"

"Any objections…?" This does decisively proof Bailey's innocence, so… why does it still feel like something is still bugging me?

"I do have something on my mind, actually. A phrase that goes 'you miss the forest for the trees'," Mrs. Newman said. Silent tears streamed down her face. "And a pair of questions to go with it. The first if which goes to Bailey: did you know what Tony planned to do?"

"Of course not! My very purpose for being a maid was to serve his well being," Bailey said, pointedly looking away from everyone in the courtroom. "I truly believed that he meant to give it to someone else."

"Which brings us to my second question. If this truly was a suicide, then suddenly a key piece of evidence is massively contradictory." Mrs. Newman presented the photo of the crime scene. "One that becomes immediately obvious the moment you see it!"

"There's a knife in his chest. Wait, there's a knife in his chest!" Juniper exclaimed. "Why is that there?"

"As the prosecution, I must adapt to new information presented in a case. As such, I have arrived at a single conclusion. Bailey put together a murder plan that day and carried it out. She stabbed Detective Smokes, not knowing that-" Mrs. Newman smacked her newspaper on the bench. "He was already dead!"

"Then the prosecution asserts that the defendant had every intention of killing the detective? If this is true, they could be found guilty of attempted murder," The Judge said. "They did not kill the victim, but they had the intent."

"Wait a moment!" Mrs. Newman is still pushing Bailey as the culprit. Where does she find the determination to keep going?

"Defense, you have proven the truth behind the victim's death. So the defendant's charges will be greatly reduced," The Judge said. "This late into the trial, there is nothing further that could be proven."

"After all this time, are we seriously back where we started?" Robin asked disbelievingly. "Convicting Bailey because she was the only person at the crime scene?"

No, that's not quite right. We've learned a lot over the course of this trial. Mrs. Newman is right- the fact that Detective Smokes killed himself revealed one new contradiction. If we just think about it a little more…

"Your Honor, there is another contradiction that we have to consider. One that is exposed by this piece of evidence."

Juniper slammed her palms on her bench. "TAKE THAT! On the day of the crime, Bailey described her day like this: She received one summons, to deliver the chocolate. Right before the blackout, Bailey received a second summons."

"I did not realize it would be the last summons I would ever receive, because…" Bailey stopped. "I delivered the chocolate first."

"Yes. And if we believe that Detective Smokes wanted it for the purpose of suicide, then he would have eaten it right after," Juniper continued. "But that raises the question- if he was dead, then who rang the bell that summoned you?"

"The only fingerprints found on the button were the victim's," Ema reminded them. "However, I see what you were saying- as long as we can say for sure when the victim took his own life, then we can't say that he pushed it the second time."

"And remember, the blackout happened before even Bailey entered the room. We can't say when the victim's body was stabbed." Juniper drew her arm back, pointing at Mrs. Newman as she declared, "It's clear that there is more in this case to investigate!"

Juniper wasn't sure what sort of reaction she was expecting from Mrs. Newman, but it certainly was not for the older woman to put a single finger up to her mouth. "So you really are determined to pursue this until the end. Perhaps you really will find the true killer."

The Judge slammed his gavel down on his bench. "Enough. We have reached a point where further deliberation is impossible. I will grant the defense's request, and give them and the prosecution another day to investigate."

"Thank you very much, Your Honor!" Juniper exclaimed.

At the witness stand, Bailey still would not look at anyone. "Am I but a fool, dancing for the whims of a destiny that has left me ignorant of everything?"

"Bailey…" Robin said, looking at her helplessly.

Hang in there, both of you. I don't know what's waiting for us at the bottom of this case. But I will find a way to protect the both of you!

To be continued

A/N: At last, we have reached the second half of this case. Because we have only just begun to scratch the surface of the mystery behind the victim's death. So next time, we start the investigation fresh. See you next time! Please review.