Time to begin the second trial of the circus murder, where we cross-examine Hazel
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.
DM77's Ace Attorney Justice for All Chapter 23
Cross-Examining Hazel
December 30, 9:41 AM, District Court, Defendant Lobby No.5
J and Jaden were at the courthouse waiting for the trial to begin, they meet Trixie who enters the lobby. "Good morning, Trixie." Jaden said to her smiling.
"Oh…. Yeah…Good morning sweaties…" Trixie said looking nervous.
"You don't seem like your usual sparkling self today." J notes looking at Trixie.
"I'm always like this before I go in front of an audience…I'm working up to it." Trixie admits.
"Tee hee…" A familiar voice is heard and the three see in walking Fubuki holding some milk "Don't get nervous Trixie…Here, have a glass of milk."
"F-Fubuki!" Jaden said smiling
Trixie immediately geta a confidence boost and poses saying "How fabulous! My sweetie pie! My sweetie pie princess! You came to watch my performance today?"
"Of course I did!" Fubuki said smiling happily. "Krusty told me that I should come and watch this."
'Krusty said that…?' J thinks surprised.
"So, what kind of performance will you put on today?" Fubuki asked Trixie thinking "Let me guess, you'll fly at the end?"
"Uh…" Trixie said unsure how to answer that and said "It's not that kind of show…Isn't that right my sweeties?"
"Huh?" Jaden said to that confused.
"I think my sweetie pie princess doesn't…" Trixie begin to say.
J nods to her and said "Yeah. She doesn't seem to realize what's going on…Or even where she is…"
"Hmm…." Trixie thinks.
"Well, Trixie, it looks like it's time to raise the curtain." Fubuki said happily. "I'll see you later. Today, I'm just a member of the audience!"
"F-Fabulous! Enjoy yourself out there!" Trixie said nervous.
"Good luck, Trixie! You're the best!" Fubuki said smiling and then she takes her leave.
"Fubuki's different, don't you think, J?" Jaden said to the drone.
"Top of the morning, to ya!" A voice calls out as the figure to walk in next was Krusty laughing "Everybody…Let's get ready to get stuck in legal limbo! How low can you go?"
"K-Krusty." J said in surprise.
"Top of the morning to ya, guv'ner." Krusty said to her.
"Uhh…Top of the morning." J said confused.
"That's the ticket!" Krusty said nodding "Attacking the day starts with energy in the morning! The early bird gets the worm. But then again, worms lack higher brain function. Hoohoohoohahaha!" He then pulls out a carton of milk as well and hands it to Trixie "Here, Trixie! I brought you a present! Have some milk."
"Oh my! Th-Thanks…" Trixie said surprised at that.
Krusty then looks to J and asked serious "So how are you today, J?"
"Well…I've got the feeling that today I'm going to face off against the real culprit." J said to him thinking.
"You mean Hazel?" Krusty asked her.
"Huh?! You think he did it…?" Jaden asked surprised.
"Be careful…" Krusty tells J and explained "He's used to putting his life on the line. Literally. He's got guts to spare."
"If all I've got to worry about is how thin the tightrope is, I'm used to it already…" J tells Krusty. "It just means that I won't be able to press him like I can other witnesses…"
"What are you going to do then, J?!" Jaden asked surprised.
"I guess today we'll just have to do without our usual psychological warfare." J said with a shrug. "Today we rely on evidence. It's the only way we'll get past Hazel and to the truth."
"You're right…but's it's going to be tough…" Jaden said looking down.
"Anyways…I want you to make sure that Fubuki sees it all today. It's important." Krusty tells J. "Then she'll finally have to deal with the reality of what happened to her father."
"You want us to make sure Fubuki watches?" Jaden asked concerned.
"Yes. That's why I brought her here to court today." Krusty said nodding.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Trixie asked.
"She needs to know that when people die, they don't just become stars." Krusty explained "I may be an old-fashioned clown, but I don't believe in people becoming stars."
December 30, 10:00 AM, District Court, Courtroom No. 2
Everyone had gathered into the courtroom to begin the continuation of yesterdays trial. Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Court is now in session for the trail of Trixie Lulamoon"
"The prosecution is ready, Your Honor." Courtney said standing with her Camerupt.
"The defence is ready, Your Honor." J said with a nod.
"Very well, Miss. Wittebane, you may proceed with your case." Maccadam said nodding.
"The prosecution would like to revise its previous theory of events." Courtney states.
"What's the meaning of this?" Maccadam asked confused.
"We have discovered a new witness. Or shall I say, a new eyewitness." Courtney replies smiling "One that saw Trixie Lulamoon fly off from the scene of the crime."
This made the audience members to chatter in shock and Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Order! Order!" He shakes his head and said "I had a feeling something like this would come up…"
"Due to this revision, we are now prepared to explain how the defendant flew that night." Courtney explained. "An explanation the prosecution will present if the need so arises…In fact, my detective stayed up all night creating a mockup of the scene, on my orders."
'Poor N…' J thinks sweatdropping.
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Very well…Please call your witness to the stand!"
'Time to get to work! Or shall I say, time to walk the courtroom tightrope...' J thinks to herself.
Soon Hazel arrived and was helped up to the stand where he was visible without needing to come out of his wheelchair.
"Name and occupation." Courtney said arms folded.
"Hazel Rainart, but I also go by the stage name Hansal." Hazel said in response. "I'm employed as an acrobat at the Clockford Big Circus."
"Where were you the night of the crime?" Courtney asked him.
"I was in my room that night." Hazel replied with.
Courtney brings up the map of the circus on the screens and said, "If you look at the map, you will see the witness's room is near the crime scene."
"My room is on the third floor. The crime scene is below my window." Hazel explained.
"Hmm…" Maccadam lets out thinking.
"The night of the crime, the witness saw something quite shocking." Courtney states to the court. She smiles and asked "Would you tell us what you witnessed?"
"Okay…" Hazel said to that and testified 'What I Witnessed' saying "It was just after 10:00 PM, and I was resting in my bed. Around that time, I heard a large 'THUMP' noise from outside the window. Then, a few moments later, I saw someone…flying…Right by my window. It was Trixie Lulamoon…I only saw her from behind, but that's who it looked like. To be honest, when I saw that, I thought I was dreaming…"
"Hmm…This witness's testimony matches up exactly with that of the clown." Maccadam said processing the testimony.
"If that's the case, there is very little the prosecution need add…" Courtney said. "All that's left is to explain how the defendant disappeared into the sky that night."
"Hold it!" J calls out and said, "Before we get that far, I'd like to cross-examine the witness."
"A foolish choice by a foolish fool who wishes to feel the foolish sadness of a sad fool." Courtney said petting her Camerupt. "A drone must know the proper timing for things, Miss. Serial Designation J. Just like your old friend, Mr. Hunter Deamonne did."
J remains silent and Maccadam asked "Miss. J. Do you have a problem with the witness's testimony?"
"In the words of Miss. Wittebane, may I quote yesterday's proceedings…" J said to that and then slams her hands down and said "'There's no way that actually happened!'"
"Very well…You may proceed with your cross-examination." Maccadam said nodding.
J looks at the recorded testimony and presses the last statement about Hazel thinking at the time was a dream saying "Hold it! When did you start thinking that what you saw 'wasn't a dream'?"
"Objection!" Courtney called out and said "That's not important…"
"Objection!" J countered and said "I believe that the prosecution has done a bit of maintenance on the witness's memory!"
"Hmm…Just to make sure, let's ask the witness." Maccadam said but is then whipped "OWWW!"
"Objection…" Courtney said with a glare.
"S-Sustained…." Maccadam said nervous.
'Don't sustain that!' J thinks sweat dropping. She then presses the fourth statement about Hazel stating the figure was Trixie and said "Hold it! The light in your room was turned off then, right?"
"That's true. I was going to bed after all…" Hazel said with a nod.
"So with the lights off, you were still able to clearly see a human fly by your window?" J asked thinking.
"The safety lights lit things up enough for me to see." Hazel explained "But honestly, there was only enough light for me to see the silhouette outside my window. It was the person's back, so I couldn't see the white roses on the front."
"Did you see any of the other symbols?" Maccadam asked.
Hazel looks serious and said "I clearly saw the silk hat, as well as the cloak wrapped around her body." He looks down "I'm convinced that the person I saw was Trixie Lulamoon."
"Hmm…" Maccadam thinks.
'The more I press him, the less results I seem to get…' J thinks worried 'But maybe there was something fishy with his latest bit of testimony?' She thinks and knows there is a contradiction and slams her hands down saying "There is a huge contradiction with the testimony that was just given!"
"Objection!" Courtney calls out and said, "If there's a contradiction, then prove it with evidence!"
"Hmm…She's right. Let's see some evidence." Maccadam said nodding "Do you have any evidence to support your claim of a contradiction?"
"Take that!" J calls out as she readies the evidence saying "You claim to have seen the exact same thing Krusty saw that night. Do you stand by that?"
"What do you mean…?" Hazel asked confused.
"The silk hat." J tells him
"What about the silk hat? I saw it on Trixie's head as she flew by my window." Hazel explained.
"Well…You should have tried looking down out of your window that night." J told him.
"That would have been quite difficult considering the state that I'm in." Hazel said chuckling. "Just looking outside of the window was a tough enough challenge for me."
J then shows on the screens and holds up the Silk Hat and said, "That's a shame, because you would have noticed the silk hat found on the scene."
"That…That's the Ringmaster's hat…Right?" Hazel asked surprised.
J shakes her head and says "Afraid not. No matter how you look at it, this is Trixie's silk hat."
"Where are you going with this, Miss. J?" Maccadam asked her. "Are you saying that Trixie has two silk hats?!"
"No. This is handmade, one-of-a-kind model made only for Trixie Lulamoon." J explains. "Which mean, Hazel…" She slams her hands down "That you've been fibbing on the stand!"
This made the audience chatter in surprise. Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Order! Order!"
"Objection!" Courtney said and then says with a small grin "As always, it looks like someone just had to open their mouth before thinking…"
"Are you okay, J?" Jaden asked her.
"Well, I opened my big mouth, and now I have to back it up…" J tells him.
"How about it, Miss. J?" Maccadam asked the drone lawyer. "What would cause this witness to commit perjury in this court today?"
J slams her hands down and said "…Your Honor! On this occation, the defence accuses Hazel himself!" She points right at Hazel.
"'On this occation'…?" Courtney said confused.
"'A-A-Acusses Hazel'?! What in the world are you accusing him of?" Maccadam asked confused and shocked.
"Obviously, we accuse him of the murder of Mr. Harvey Clockford!" J tells the court making the audience chatter in shock.
Maccadam bangs his gavel to silence them and said "Miss. J, are you serious?!"
"Deadly serious, Your Honor." J said looking serious.
"Ha, ha, ha…I think your trips to the circus have served you well…" Courtney said chuckling "You seem to have learned how to try and grab at an audience's hearts and minds." J was surprised at that as Courtney said "Your Honor. Don't allow yourself to be swayed by theatrics. Trying to wow the crowd with smoke and mirrors is the oldest bluff in the book."
"R-Really…?" Maccadam asked.
"If you don't believe me, just look at the witness." Courtney said motioning to Hazel who was still his usual calm self "He's calm enough for it to almost be scary…"
'Hmm…He is staying rather calm and collected…' J thinks sweating
"Mr. Rainart, do you have any response to the defence's accusation?" Maccadam asked Hazel.
"I don't really need to say a thing, do I?" Hazel asked smiling.
"What do you mean?" Maccadam asked.
"Everyone, take a good look at me." Hazel said motioning to his wheelchair. "I can't even stand up by myself, let along leave the lodging house."
"T-That's true…" Maccadam said nodding.
"I understand that Miss. J is just trying to help her client." Hazel said nodding but looks down "But to do this by accusing me of a murder of all things…"
Courtney whips the bench and says "See! Even a sliver of common sense makes it clear the accusation is ludicrous!"
The audience murmur in anger at J, one person call out "She's right! Way to pick on the disabled you heartless, cruel drone!"
A kid in the audience said, "J is a poopyhead!"
"See that, Miss. Serial Designation J?" Courtney said grinning as she pets her Camerupt. "If you're trying to drum up support form the peanut gallery, that's how you do it."
"Uhh…" J lets out sweating.
"I think that's enough of this little game." Courtney states "I've got a doctor's not to confirm that Hazel is unable to stand under his own power. Maybe the defence is planning on making a claim to counter this as well? I can hear the defence now… 'Hazel had an accomplice!'"
"What do you say about this, Miss. J? Did Hazel have an accomplice?" Maccadam asked. J however knew how to answer.
"Now then, this must be when we get to hear the name of the mystery accomplice!" Courtney said guessing what they were about to hear.
J however smirks and said "Not this time, Courtney."
"Wh…WHAT?!" Courtney said surprised.
J shakes her head and said "You're not going to sucker me into this one."
"What are you blabbering about, Miss. J?" Maccadam said surprised.
J slams her hands down and states "There was no accomplice! Hazel planned and committed this murder all by himself!"
Shocked the audience murmur in surprise and Maccadam bangs his gavel and said in shock "O-Order! Order! What the…What are you getting at?!"
"Way to keep them on their toes, J!" Jaden said with a smile.
"Now I'm going to have to prove how it all fits together…" J said nodding. "I have to show how Hazel murdered Harvey Clockford."
"Can you do it, J? Can you really do that?!" Jaden asked her.
"I know what I can't do." J said thinking "I can't stop now…If I stop attacking, I'm doomed!"
"Alright! Then let's do it!" Jaden said nodding.
"Miss. Serial Designation J…" Courtney said arms folded "If this witness is the killer, then his eyewitness account is all lies, right?"
"Hmm...Miss. J, I'd like you to clear something up for me…" Maccadam said thinking and brings up on the screens the circus map "When the crime was being committed, where was Mr. Rainart?"
"Take that!" J said and pointed the cursor right on Hazel's Room and added "He was obviously here the entire time."
"That's…Hazel's room?" Maccadam said surprised.
"Pretty simple, eh?" J said smiling her LED eyes turning into shades for a moment "Hazel wasn't able to leave the lodging house by himself. In that case, there can be only one correct answer!" She slams her hands down and points to Hazel saying "Hazel didn't leave his room to kill the Ringmaster!"
"What?! Are you nuts?!" Courtney said shocked as she held herself and Camerupt comforts her.
"What say you, Mr. Rainart?" Maccadam asked
Hazel remained quiet for a moment then said "It's an interesting theory.
J surprised and said sweat dropping "Umm…That's it?"
"Considering that what you proposed is impossible, yes, that's it." Hazel said with a smile. This makes the audience murmur at that.
"Hmm…Miss. J." Maccadam said thinking.
"Yes, Your Honor." J said at attention.
"As the witness has stated…Your assertion is impossible." Maccadam said thinking. "As he is in a wheelchair, there is no way he could go to the scene or be the killer."
"Hmm…You've got a point." J said thinking.
"It seems you've forgotten once again, Miss. Serial Desgination J." Courtney said grinning "The defendant was clearly spotted at the scene of the crime."
"That's true!" Jaden said worried remembering yesterday's trial "Krusty said he saw Trixie, didn't he?"
"But Jaden, it's still impossible for humans with no actual magical abilities to fly." J told him.
"Do you mind if I ask a question, Miss, J?" Hazel asked
"What is it?" J asked.
"I understand some of your logic…" Hazel began saying but then asked "However, how do you think that I killed him? If I can't leave my room, I obviously couldn't wear Trixie's costime…"
'Hmm…How did he do it? That's the next course of this legal buffet…' J thinks to herself.
"Be careful, J. If you mess up here…" Jaden said worried.
'He's right. I can't mess up here. I've got to give this one some serious thought!' J thinks 'I'm sure that Hazel killed the Ringmaster…And he did it while he was in his room…No doubt about it!'
"Time to enlighten us as to how Mr. Rainart committed the crime, Miss. J!" Maccadam said.
"I'm going to present some evidence!" J said to the court.
"So, what did Mr. Rainart use to commit the crime of murder against Harvey Clockford?" Maccadam asked
"Take that!" J said as she shows on the screens the picture of the Trixie Bust.
"What's that? A picture?" Maccadam asked surprised.
"It is indeed." J said nodding and explained "The problem is with the item that's shown in this picture."
"The bust?" Maccadam said.
"It's quite a large bust." J said explaining "And because it is life sized, it is also very, very heavy."
"Heavy…?" Courtney asked at that.
"Heavy enough to guarantee a certain death." J said with a nod. "Especially if it was dropped from a third-story window."
"AHHH!" Courtney lets out surprised holding herself and Camerupt comforts her. Hazel at this looks serious and remains silent.
"See! This is how Hazel was able to kill the Ringmaster!" J said firmly and points adding "With the force of gravity and Trixie Lulamoon's ample bust!"
This made the audience chatter in surprise. Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Order! Order! So you're saying the bust fell onto the Ringmaster?!"
"A rather simple crime…Even if you were stuck in a wheelchair, it would be incredibly easy to commit…" J explained.
"Objection!" Courtney calls out worried and said "How could you possibly wheel a wheelchair with something so heavy?! It's impossible!"
"Objection!" J countered with saying "Well, Hazel is an acrobat!" She slams her hands down and points "He should have more than enough upper body strength to carry something like the bust!"
Maccadam bangs his gavel and asked "Mr. Rainart, how do you respond to these charges?!"
Hazel still looks silent remains quiet for a bit then said "Well…"
"Hazel's at a loss for words!" Jaden said to that.
'He should be…He knows that I'm getting close to the truth!' J thinks nodding. She slams her hands down and said "Well, well, well, Hazel. You can't run away from things this time…" She was then whipped "OWWW!"
"I'd watch what I say, if I were you, Miss. Serial Designation J." Courtney said whip at the ready.
"Wh-What?!" J said sweating.
"Your Honor! The physical heath of the witness is material to this case!" Courtney announces "I demand that we get proper testimony from the witness himself!"
"Hmm…Testimony you say…" Maccadam said thinking
'Courtney…She's just using this 'testimony' as a rouse to stall for time!' J thinks to herself and says "Objection! There is absolutely no need for such testimony!"
"Objection!" Courtney calls out and countered with "The defence has its version of the murder. The prosecution has the right to respond!"
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "The defence's objection is overruled…"
'Why can't he see things my way once in a while!' J thinks annoyed.
"Mr. Rainart, I'm sorry, but we need you to testify about your physical condition." Maccadam states. "If you have any doubts about your ability to testify, we can request expert testimony."
"The witness will have no problems; however, let's all be respectful towards him." Courtney adds on.
"Thank you…" Hazel said smiling.
'Argh! That woman will sink to any low to win a case!' J thinks annoyed
Hazel then testifies about 'Hazel's Physical State' saying "I suppose I could have lifted something the size of that bust. I have a strong upper body from working as an acrobat, and only my legs were injured. However, lifting the bust and looking out of the window would've been impossible. There's no way I could have exerted that kind of force on my lower body. That makes it impossible for me to have known the location of the Ringmaster's head. Thus, it would be unrealistic for me to drop the bust on him. Don't you think?"
"Hmm…I have no doubts in regards to this witness's testimony." Maccadam said with a nod.
"It was impossible for him to lift the bust and stick himself out far enough to look." Courtney said smiling. "Not to mention that he could not have known the location of the Ringmaster's head. A single false step would have lead to even more severe injuries."
"That's what I was thinking." Maccadam said nodding "What is your opinion on the matter, Miss. J?"
J thinks then said, "I'd still like to proceed with my cross-examination."
"He's simply stalling. It's shameful, really." Courtney said to that.
'Grr…I can't let her get to me…I've got to focus…' J thinks sweatdropping then presses the first statement about how Hazel could have lifted the bust saying "Hold it! Have you ever lifted up the bust before…?"
"No, I've never actually lifted it up with my own two hands…" Hazel said shaking his head and smiles adding "But I should get to it, don't you think? I can't let Ukiki outdo me on this."
"Ukiki…?" J said and thinks 'That crazy monkey has lifted Trixie's bust before?' She then presses the following statement about only his legs were injured saying "Hold it! So, what have you been doing to keep in shape?"
"Well, honestly, I've given up on training." Hazel admits "I don't have any plans to return to the trapeze or the tightripe."
"You don't say…" J said thinking.
"But, no offense, I'm not worried about losing to you in a race or anything." Hazel said with a smile.
Courtney whips the bench and says whip at the ready "Neither am I, Miss. Serial Designation J!"
"I wouldn't lose either, slow poke!" Jaden said at that "…I mean J!"
'Whoa, whoa, whoa! How did the discussion turn to me all of a sudden?!' J thinks surprised
"I suppose you could say that I'm stronger then the average bear…" Hazel said with a chuckle
J then decides to present evidence on the fifth statement about not able to know the Ringmaster's head location readying on the Wooden Box and said "Objection! Hazel…You didn't really neex to lean out of the window, did you?"
"What are you driving at, Miss. J?" Hazel asked her.
"You already knew ahead of time where the Ringmaster's head was going to be." J tells him and adds smiling "Quite precisely, I may add."
"Objection!" Courtney called out and said annoyed "Your silly hinting at things is pointless! Miss. Serial Designation J! Enough stalling! How about you show us some evidence!"
'But…But I did such a good job hinting…' J thinks sweatdropping.
"Yes, yes, yes! Hurry up and explain things, Miss. J!" Maccadam said.
"Maybe you should take a look at this…" J said and shows the crime photo of the victim "The key point here is the 'wooden box'." She brings up the image of said box in evidence as well.
"The same wooden box that the victim was found hunched over…?" Maccadam asked.
"The same." J said nodding. "The question is, who placed the wooden box here?"
"Who…?" Courtney asked.
"When Whisk and company saw the Ringmaster, they didn't see him holding the box." J explained. "Which means…That this wooden box was already placed at the scene of the crime."
"I have to admit that your theory makes a lot of sense…" Maccadam said thinking.
"The moment that the bust came falling down…Was exactly the same moment that the Ringmaster lifted up this wooden box." J explained and slammed her hands down "Which means that the answer to all these questions is now crystal clear!"
"You…You mean!" Courtney said worried.
"If the bust were to fall upon the point marked out by the wooden box…" Maccadam said figuring it out.
"There would be no way that it could miss the head of the victim!" J states firmly.
"N-No…!" Courtney winces nervous and Camerupt comforts her. The audience murmur at this in shock finding it hard to doubt this.
Maccadam bangs his gavel to silence the audience and said "Order! Order! Order! This is unbelievable!"
J in her mind palace thinks 'Finally! Some of these loose ends are starting to tie themselves up! Now I just got to keep going! And there's only one way to go from here…Forward.'
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "So the next question I have is, who placed that wooden box at the scene?"
"It was Mr. Rainart, of course." J said with a smile. "He connected it to a rope, and then all he had to do was lower it down." She was then whipped "OWWW!"
"Allow me to whip some sense into you!" Courtney said annoyed and whips her and said between whips J again "Miss. Serial Desgination J!" She whips J three more times and said "The Ringmaster's head could have been anywhere when he lifted the box!"
"That's why the box was so specially made!" J tells her.
"S-S-Specially made?" Courtney said surprised.
"Indeed!" J said nodding. "It had the most peculiar feature…" She slams her hands down and points saying, "The box has a remarkable weight!"
"Weight…?" Courtney asked.
"According to the Court Record, it weighs 20 pounds…" Maccadam said looking at the entry.
"Just to lift up this wooden box would have required…" J began to explain.
"Ohh…I see!" Maccadam said getting it "One would have to squat down, then lift it up with their body, wouldn't you say?"
"That's exactly what I was trying to point out!" J said nodding "The box is also very large."
"The box also has carrying handles on either side, doesn't it?" Maccadam asked.
"That is correct!" J said with a nod. "To lift up the box, you'd have to squat down!" She slams her hands down "Which means…That no matter who you are, your head would be in approximately the same place!"
"Fool!" Courtney says wincing at that. The audience murmur in shock at this.
J notices however Hazel not even reacting to it and sweat drops thinking 'Does he even bother to listen to me anymore…?'
"I've heard what you had to say…" Hazel said to that which gets J's attention as he adds "I must admit, I'm shocked at your imaginative skills."
"Y-You…Did you, do it?" Maccadam asked Hazel "Did you place this wooden box in the plaza?"
"Miss. J may have a vivid imagination, but I could never have done what he's proposing." Hazel said smiling.
"What…?!" J asked surprised.
"Miss. J…Do you recall the original location of Trixie's bust?" Hazel asked her.
"Of course I remember." J said nodding "It was on top of the table in the cafeteria."
"Hmmm…Then what happened to it?" Maccadam asked.
"I'd like you to remember one important fact, Miss. J…" Hazel said beginning to explain "I could not possibly leave the lodging house by myself."
"Ah! That means…" Jaden said realizing what Hazel was getting at.
"You understand what I mean, don't you?" Hazel asked and said sadly "I may very well have been able to drop the bust from my room. However, how would I have gotten the bust from the cafeteris to my room?" The audience murmur at this unsure how to explain that.
"You see, Miss. Serial Designation J! Explain that!" Courtney said nodding and smiles "Don't forget…You said, 'There was no accomplice!'"
"Arrrggghhh!" J yelps out remembering she did say that.
Courtney whips her bench and having it ready said "Tell us exactly how the witness would have carried the bust from the cafeteria!"
'Yep…We definitely have a problem here…' J thinks to herself. 'But this is no place to get perplexed! I've got to get my wits about me and prove how things happened once and for all!'
"Alright, Miss. J. Let's hear your explanation." Maccadam said "How did the witness get the bust from the cafeteria back to his room?"
"Take that!" J called out as she presents on the screens the image of Ukiki the monkey.
"A monkey?" Maccadam said confused
"Everyone knows Ukiki…He loves shiny objects of any size." J said proudly.
"Oh, like when he stole the ventriloquist's ring…" Maccadam remembering Ukiki from yesterday's trial.
"So? Are you saying the witness had a monkey steal the bust?" Courtney asked grinning.
"Of course he didn't order the monkey to steal it!" J told her then added grinning "The monkey stole it on his own and then brought it back home." Hazel looks serious as he knew what J was getting at
"'Home'…?" Maccadam asked confused.
"Ukiki lives in Hazel's room." J explained.
"HAZEL'S ROOM?!" Macadam said in shock.
"Objection!" Courtney called out concerned and said "But the bust was bronze, wasn't it? Bronze isn't all that shiny…"
"Objection!" J said and countered with "Maybe you should put the whip down sometimes and read the Court Record!" She shows the picture of the Trixie Bust
"My, those are some very nice cards she's holding." Maccadam notes looking at the image.
"Yes, and they are made of platinum…which is very shiny!" J said with a smile.
"GWWWAAAAHHH!" Courtney winces and holds herself as Camerupt nuzzles her.
"Hazel!" J called out and slams her hands down "Ukiki is a strong monkey, right?! It's be easy for him to bring the bust back to your room!"
Hazel remains silent then said smiling "If he wasn't able to handle that himself, I'd be on the market for a new roommate."
The audience murmur at this and Maccadam bangs his gavel saying "Order! Order! I SAID ORDER! MISS. WITTEBANE! Where is the bust in question at this moment?!"
"Umm…Umm…Umm…I…Umm…I don't know." Courtney admits worried. "We're searching for it as we speak…!"
"Hmm…This is a rather strange turn of events." Maccadam said thinking. "But let's say that the monkey had not stolen the bust…What would have happened then?"
"Well, in that event…Something else would've been used as the murder weapon." J said thinking about it.
"Hmm…Wait…!" Jaden said realizing something "Then you mean this bust was the murder weapon…purely by accident?!"
"It's possible." J said nodding. "Maybe Hazel saw Ukiki's mountain of stolen goods and thought to use one of them." Hazel looked serious but remained silent "Anyways…I think we've more than proven one critical fact." She slams her hands down "Namely, that it was entirely possible that Hazel was the murderer!"
"MORON!" Courtney lets out wincing.
The audience murmurs at this in shock and Maccadam silences them banging his gavel and said "Miss. J's argument was so circular, I'm still a bit dizzy! However…His argument does hold water…There's no denying that." He was then whipped "OWWW!"
"Don't seem so flamboozled!" Courtney said whip at the ready "Especially by this fraud of an attorney!"
"Fraud…?" J asked sweat dropping.
"You've forgotten the absoulute, most important thing, Miss. Serial Designation J!" Courtney told her.
"And what is that?" J asked.
"You should know!" Courtney said whip at the ready then whips as she said, "You forgot that your fraud of a magical client was spotted at the scene of the crime!"
"AHHHH!" J lets out and sweats as that did slip her mind.
"There is no reason to doubt the clown's testimony!" Courtney told her.
"T-That's true!" Maccadam said and looks to J "How do you respond to that, Miss. J?"
"J! Don't let her beat you now!" Jaden tells J.
'I won't! This is my chance to turn this trial around!' J thinks to herself.
"When the murder occurred, there were two people at the scene of the crime!" Courtney said "One was the victim, Harvey Clockford, and the other was the murderer themself! Answer this and only this, Miss. Serial Designation J! Who was the murderer the clown saw?!"
"Take that!" J said as she then presents the picture of Trixie's bust again and said "He saw Trixie's bu…" She was then whipped "OWWW!"
"I asked who was the other person Krusty saw on the scene!" Courtney tells her annoyed. "That evidence has nothing to do with the question!"
"Objection!" J said to that "Au contraire, mon frere! It does indeed have something to do with the question!" Hazel remains silent as J explained "Krusty said he saw Trixie's silhouette…" She slams her hands down "But he did not actually see the woman herself! It wasn't a human being he saw!"
The audience murmur in surprise and Maccadam bangs his gavel several times and asked shocked "H-H-How is that possible?!"
"It's simple, really" J said and explained "What Krusty actually saw that night was Trixie's bust!"
"Objection!" Courtney said to that "What are you talking about?! Have you tried using your brain at all in this case?! The silhouette he saw was wearing a cloak!" She bangs her fist on the bench.
"Objection!" J said and countered with "There's no reason why you couldn't attach a cloak to the bust!" She slams her hands down and said "It would be easy to hang one off of the cards in the bust's hands!"
"Idiot! Who in their right mind would put a cloak on a bust?!" Courtney asked annoyed
"It doesn't matter who put it on the bust!" J said to that.
"Just wait a minute now, Miss. J!" Maccadam called out "Who put the cloak on the bust? That question is of the utmost importance to this case, don't you agree?!"
'Doh! He caught me…' J thinks wincing at that, she walked herself into that one.
"So, let's have it, Miss. J," Maccadam said "Who put the cloak on the bust?"
"Take that!" J said as she presents on the screens Harvey Clockford's profile.
"F-F-FOOL! H-HIM…?!" Courtney said in annoyed shock.
"You are saying it was the victim himself?! Harvey Clockford?!" Maccadam said just as shocked.
"That's what I'm saying!" J said nodding.
"He…I mean, the victim himself, place the cloak on the bust?!" Courtney asked still shocked.
"'Place the cloak' isn't really the right way of putting it…" J said thinking on it
"Then what would be the right way of putting it, Miss. J?" Maccadam asked.
"Explain yourself!" Courtney asked annoyed.
"J! Do you really have a handle on all of this?" Jaden asked her.
"I'm fine, Jaden. I'm finally putting all the pieces together…" J said nodding. "There's really only one picture I can paint, anyways." She turns to the court "Alright…So you want to know what really happened that night? Let's step back in time."
J then explained as we flash back through various images we've seen before "Hazel used a rope to lower the wooden box onto the scene. Then he attached that rope to the bust, and dangled the bust out of his bedroom window, directly above the wooden box. At the same time, the Ringmaster told Trixie to wait in his room, and went to the scene. Of course, at the time, the Ringmaster was wearing Trixie's costume. Perhaps he didn't want anyone to recognize him that night."
"But just as he feared, he was spotted at the entrance of the lodging house." J continues to recap "By none other than a ventriloquist and her puppet, Whisk and Pup-Mon. When the Ringmaster arrived at the scene, he bent over to lift the wooden box." We then see an image of Havery bent directly below the trap and also see Hazel by his window holding the rope as J said "And that's when Hazel took his chance and released the rope! Now this is when the magic hapopens…"
We see Harvey bent over, the hat fallen off his head as he prepares to pick up the box "At the very instant that the bust hit the victim…" The bust hits Harvey killing him and the cloak he was wearing flies off the Ringmaster and attaches onto the bust making it seem like Trixie was there at the scene and was the culprit.
"You wait just a second there, Miss. Serial Designation J!" Courtney said annoyed. "As much as you try…As much as you scheme…This just isn't true! It can't be!"
"It's still a little early to be getting so upset, Miss. Wittebane…" J tells her. "This circus isn't over yet."
"What…?" Courtney asked concerned.
"The impact of the bust on the victim threw the cloak up, which snagged onto the bust." J explained "That impact also caused the sound a certain witness heard, prompting him to take a look. That witness was, of course, Herschal 'Krusty' Krustofsky the clown. When Krusty looked out of his window, the cloak had already snagged onto the bust."
"Now…" J said as she continues "Having completed the crime, Hazle naturally went about pulling up the murder weapon. Of course, he had no idea that Krusty saw the bust being raised with the cloak dangling on it. Primarily because, in his wheelchair, he couldn't see out of his window. So, he just kept pulling the bust up. And that is how the 'magical murderer disappearing into the sky' came to be."
Everyone was shocked and stunned into silence at that explanation. J finished saying "So you see, the only person who could've pulled this off…" She slams her hands down "Is the one person who was able to drop the murder weapon from about the crime scene! Hazel! It could only have been you!"
Hazel keeps smiling and remains silent and Jaden deadpan said "Hazel's been playing mind games with all of us!"
'He sure has…But he has come to the end of his rope now.' J thinks sweat dropping.
"So…?" Courtney said looking at J.
"What now?!" J asked at that.
"You've graced us with a rather long-winded tale…" Courtney explained petting Camerupt "But do you have any evidence to prove that your fairy tale is true?!"
"…E-Evidence…?" Maccadam asked.
Courtney whipped the bench and said "In this court, only two things matter. The power of evidence, and the power of my whip."
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Don't forget the power of my gavel as well! Miss. J, the prosecution brings up a good point. Can we seem some evidence?"
"J…They say they want evidence…" Jaden said concerned.
"I just explained how there can only be one possible murder method." J explained thinking "But there is still something unusual about Krusty's eye-witness account."
"'Unusual'?" Jaden asked.
"A contradiction, actually." J states.
"Okay, then!" Jaden said smiling "Use that and get out of this jam!"
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "That's enough talking amongst yourselves. Proceed, Miss. J. Present some evidence to the court that backs your claims. I want hard proof that you have unravelled the trick to this magic case…!"
"Take that!" J said as she readies to present on the screens the Silk Hat. She then said "The problem is Trixie's three symbols…You know…The silk hat, the cloak, and the blue roses."
"Those symbols were a problem numerous times durin yesterday's proceedings." Maccadam points out.
"Yesterday, there were two contradictions in Krusty's testimony." J explained.
"The silk hat was one. The blue roses were the other." Courtney said thinking about it.
"But the theory I just presented explains all of these contradictions!" J said smiling.
"You fool! Do you ever shut up?!" Courtney said annoyed.
J brings up the silk hat and said "Trixie's silk hat was found at the scene of the crime." She slams her hands down "However! Remember what Krusty said yesterday. He testified that the criminal he saw fleeing the scene was wearing a silk hat! There's only one explanation for that! The 'silk hat' that Krusty saw was actually the bust's!"
The audience murmur in this and Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Makes sense…If you look at it that way, then he did see the silk hat, well, sort of."
"Objection!" Courtney called out "Fine, you've got one, but what about the other contradiction?!"
"The other contradiction…?" Maccadam asked.
"Remember what that ventriloquist said in court!" Courtney said annoyed. "She said that she witnessed 'blue roses' on 'Trixie's' chest that night! But the clown's testimony doesn't match! The clown said that there were no 'blue roses'! I'd like to see you try and explain that one away!"
"Can you do it, J?!" Jaden asked concerned.
J nods and said smiling "Of course! I can explain all of it!"
"What was that…?!" Courtney said concerned.
"Please recall the instant when the cloak snagged onto the bust!" J explained "If the cloak snagged onto the bust, what happened to the blue roses? Do you get it yet? If the cloak got snagged onto the front of the bust…" She slams her hands down and points "It means that the blue roses would end up on the back of the bust!"
"AHHHHH!" Courtney winces at that.
"Which explains why Krusty didn't see them!" J added to that. "The blue roses were not visible because they were on the back side of the bust!"
The audience chatter loudly in shock at all this and Maccadam bangs his gavel "Order! Orderrrrrrr!" it takes a while for the audience to quite down and he said thinking "…This is quite the shocking state of affairs. Miss. J's theory still sounds a bit absurd to me. However…Let's just keep going down this road for a while and see where it leads!"
"Let's do this, J!" Jaden cheered "Then maybe Courtney will finally throw in the towel…" Courtney however was looking at them smiling leaning on her Camerupt and wagging her finger and Hazel was looking a calm and collected as always. Jaden deflating said "Well…So much for that theory."
"Miss. J…Do you mind?" Hazel said speaking up for the first time in a while.
"What is it?" J asked
"You took the time to research our circus, didn't you?" Hazel asked.
"Well…Yes, I did…Is there something making you think that I didn't?" J said thinking.
"If you did, then maybe you'll understand why I think you're off track." Hazel said smiling.
"Umm…Why is that?" J asked sweating nervous feeling she is not going to like the answer.
"Motive." Courtney said simply. "This witness feels an incredible debt of gratitude towards the Ringmaster. Anyone with any relation to the circus is well aware of this." J's eyes widen in realization "Thus, there is absolutely no way someone like this would kill the Ringmaster!"
The audience murmur at that understanding. Maccadam bangs his gavel and thinks "Hmm…"
"Your Honor. I'd like you to hear Hazel's story!" Courtney tells him. "Learn about his relationship with the Ringmaster, and his life up until now…"
"W-What do we do?!" Jaden asked J concerned. "There's no doubting that Hazel deeply respected the Ringmaster!"
'Hazel's motive…Hmm…' J thinks to herself, she didn't really fully think on the reason for that.
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "It seems that this case isn't over yet…Very well. However, I feel this is a good place to take a break. I will listen to the rest of Mr. Rainart's testimony after recess." Hazel remains silent "This court will now take a 10 minute recess." He bangs his gavel.
Well we are so close to the reaching the truth, but J need to figure out the why for why Hazel would want to kill the Ringmaster or was the Ringmaster the true target in the first place? Find out soon.
Please Read, Review and Suggest. Thank you.