The LP Turnabout: A Documentary on Japanifornian Law with Phoenix Wright

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 2) - Part 1

: Uh… um, Mr. Wright! So…
: What’s going on with the case, anyway!?
: I… I’m a little confused.
: Huh!? W-well, um… let’s see. (What is going on?)

: He died in the Prosecutor’s parking lot… and the Police Department’s evidence room.
: What’s this “and the evidence room” part!?
: The Prosecutor’s Office and the Police Department are 30 minutes apart by car.
: … Well… that’s what we’re going to find out. (Or try to, at least…)
: …
: Alright! Let’s do it!
: (Glad she’s in good spirits, but I’m not sure she’s going to be much help with this…)
: Don’t be so sure, Mr. Wright.
: Huh?
: Would you mind coming with me?
: I’ll prove that these thick-rimmed glasses of mine aren’t just for show!
: Let’s go! Science awaits us!

And we are immediately jumped to…

: You know, I really don’t think we should worry about the Police Department murder!

: (Of course it was our victim who was killed at the Department…)
: And my sister would never do such a thing! I know it…

Sudden flashback!

: The oil drum kicked over by the Chief Prosecutor…
: was brimming with water!

: (Even though she says they don’t get along, Ema really likes her sister…)
: That’s not it at all!
: It’s just…
: We’re both professionals at what we do… and I trust her!
: (Big words for a high school student.) Well, whether there was blood stains or not… The water in that oil drum washed it all away.
: He he heh. Ignore the strength of my science at your own peril, Mr. Wright!
: Huh? What’s that grin for?

: L-luminol?
: Blood is sticky stuff, you know. You can’t just wash it away with a little water.
: Even if you can’t see it, it’s still there…
: But wouldn’t the police have already done those tests?
: Never trust anyone’s eyes but your own, Mr. Wright!
: Just give it a try!
: M-me? Why do I have to do it!?
: I’m a minor! I can’t even drink yet!
: (We’re testing blood stains with this stuff, not drinking it…)
: Here, look, I’ll lend you these glasses.
: Huh? You had an extra pair of those things?

Luminol testing takes place on the bottom screen, like examining.

: To test for a blood reaction, just spray the luminol on it.

: Touch the screen to spray it on.
: Okay! Let’s find us some bloodstains!

Once a bloodstain has been identified this way, you have to tap it.

: So, this is a bloodstain?
: Uhhhh… It’s so… ugh!
: Ema, you’re shaking.
: It’s just… this is my first time seeing real blood!
: (Scientific investigation in action…)
: O-okay, well, we definitely know this is a bloodstain.
: But, doesn’t something strike you as odd? Scientifically speaking, of course?
: (What’s odd about this… scientificallly?)

: Why, the blood stain’s location is odd! Elementary!

: I mean, I would think that if there was a fight, you’d expect some bloodstains here.
: … I suppose you might think that.
: C’mon, Mr. Wright! We’re all counting on you!
: (There is something odd about this bloodstain… But if it’s not the location of the blood, then maybe…) Maybe it’s the amount of blood that’s odd?

Or…

: The perpetrator and Detective Goodman fought here, right? Don’t you think there’d be a little more blood?

Convergence.

: I mean…

: (It’s strange! If they fought here, there’d have to be more bloodstains than this.)
: Uh, h-hey, Mr. Wright!

: See… I’m pretty handy to have around, right?

: I saved up my allowance to buy this!

The Luminol is added to our evidence list. I forget to actually look at it for a bit, though.

: We can’t be sure that the police will reveal all their evidence in court.
: Sometimes they fail to mention evidence that doesn’t fit with their view of the case.
: And we’ll drag that “hidden evidence” out into the light of day!
: Yeah!
: It feels like we’re really investigating a crime now, doesn’t it?
: (This luminol stuff is going to come in handy.)
: Hah!

: Ms. Starr!

: You only trust your own eyes, hm?
: Not bad, you two…

: Sorry, it’s just, that kind of lead in doesn’t really get my mouth watering.

And now we can look around or talk to Angel.

: So that’s where Ms. Starr saw the incident from.
: You can probably see quite a lot from up there. i[/i]

: Where’s the security guard, anyway?
: Well, this is just something I heard…
: But apparently he went out to buy coffee for Ms. Starr.
: (That woman is a force to be reckoned with…)

: So, this is the famous oil drum.
: Well, no time like the present! I’ll try to kick it over myself!
: Hii-yah!
: …
: Th-that’s okay. Don’t cry. (That Lana Skye must be a powerful woman…)

So let’s talk to Angel now.

: You certainly put me in a tight spot today.
: My apologies Ms. Starr, but…
: No, no, it’s okay. It was my fault.
: Oh, we know.
: I witnessed everything from that security room right there. But…I was afraid that wouldn’t sound convincing enough, you see…
: I was wrong to think that. I’m sorry.
: Sorry? You lied on the witness stand! That’s unforgivable!
: …

: Little girl, don’t forget what’s important here. Even if the place I witnessed the events from was different, I still saw what I saw.

: Ah…
: I swear it on my honor as a detective!
: She stabbed Goodman!
: …!

: So… you were a detective, weren’t you, Ms. Starr?
: Yes… It was a long time ago.
: Well, two years ago. No matter how hardened the criminal, when they faced me…

: They coughed it up.
: Coughed it… up?
: They confessed.
: They babbled like babies.

: I wouldn’t doubt it.
: Every day, I dragged the dirt out of the mouths of suspect after suspect…
: And before long, they called me…

: The Cough-up Queen!
: Oh, and here I thought someone had gotten food poisoning from your lunches.
: And… you were “let go”? Er… fired?

: And if these prim and proper prosecutors hadn’t let me go, I’d still be one today.

: Ess… el…? (Wait! She doesn’t mean…!)

If we present her photo…

: But… even I get flustered sometimes.
: So, you went straight to the scene of the crime?
: And climbed the chain link fence in an effort to stop the murder?

: In other words… five minutes after the crime?
: Those five minutes are the whole problem…
: The hole in my testimony, as it were.
: The five minutes weren’t the problem, Ms. Starr, you lying was the problem!
: Listen, little girl.
: I’ve had my testimony “disregarded” before… And I wasn’t going to have it disregarded again! Just like that time…
: (That time…?)

If we present either the SL-9 note or the SL-9 knife…

: Um… What do you think about this?

: Goodman…
: Goodman was the head detective on that case, you know.
: Really?
: That knife was evidence from that case… the murder weapon. It was due for transferal the very day that Goodman was killed.

: As I suspected… SL-9 isn’t over! Not yet!
: Do you think you could tell us more about the SL-9 Incident?

: That’s when I learned the truth.
: We’re nothing to them. Disposable.
: Disposable?
: Two years ago… it was the biggest case I’d ever handled.

: So… they didn’t solve it?
: On the contrary. It was solved quite cleanly. The criminal was caught and executed.
: i[/i]
: Yes, the criminal got what was coming to him. It doesn’t get any cleaner than that. The only problem was…
: they never did find decisive evidence. Not even a little.
: What!? But the criminal was executed, right?
: Evidence… of a sort. Made up evidence.
: Wh-what?
: You mean they executed someone with fabricated evidence!?
: …
: The best part came several months after the trial. Every detective involved with the case was dealt with.
: Some were demoted to patrolmen, others found themselves out of a job…
: And… you were one of those?
: Myself, and one other person you know well.
: (Wait, could it be…?)

: Exactly. Officer Jake Marshall. He’s on security detail in the Police Department, isn’t he?

: As professional detectives, we investigated that case from every angle.

: And then… it was over. And he was demoted.
: However…
: He hasn’t forgotten. And neither have I!
: You haven’t forgotten SL-9?
: There was another side to that case, a hidden side. That’s what we’re after now.
: And no one up in their fancy offices can stop us.
: Wait! Th-those lunches you sell…
: There is only one reason I come to sell lunches in this accursed office.
: I come here to meet old friends… boyfriends that can help me investigate.
: (Ms. Starr’s old boyfriends… How many does she have, anyway? Just when the detectives on the case have disappeared, we find new evidence…)
: There has to be a connection!
: So, Rookie…
: Wh-what!
: It seems like you’re serious about investigating this case…
: Yes.

: I know a certain guy who might help you if you tempt him with this treat…

And it goes into the inventory.

: I can almost hear the sound of steak frying on the grill!
: No doubt it’s all cold and tough by now.
: No, I’m sure it’s delicious!
: Ms. Starr poured her heart into making this!
: So long as she didn’t put any other organs in there…

: She must mean “beef.” She probably just wrote it generically.
: Uh… yeah. Let’s hope so.
: Of course, as a scientist I have to check what additives she used.
: Go to town.
: Huh? It says here… “Hours of sweat and labor.”
: So that’s why the sauce is so salty…

Anyway…

: Um, Ms. Starr…?
: Officer Marshall… is he your… uh, are you his…?
: Are you g-g-g-going out!?
: Why do you want to know?
: I was just wondering what happened to him?
: A long time ago, when he was helping my sister do cases, he was so nice. He got along so well with my sister, it made me jealous. And… he was nice to me too, back then.
: (This would be when Officer Marshall was a detective.)
: But now…
: now he’s so cold!
: …
: Jake and I are merely cooperating on this investigation. We’re putting the past to rest, as it were.
: Nothing more than that.
: I… I see.
: Thank you.
: (Officer Jake Marshall… Hmm…)

Next time: Getting out of this damn parking lot.

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 2) - Part 2

We begin by heading for the police station.

: It’s even busier here today than it was yesterday.
: The detectives are running around so fast they’re blurring.
: (I suppose it makes sense-- a detective did get killed in their own department.)
: So… the evidence room. The scene of the crime!
: According to the pamphlet we got at the front desk…
: Here it is!
: (She’s like a kid at an amusement park.)
: Ooh, a real crime scene! Let’s go take a look!

But first…

You may have remembered the evidence being kept in a room off of Criminal Affairs last time. That is, apparently, a different evidence room, because it has nothing to do with what we’re looking for at all.

: Wow, everyone looks deadly serious here…
: Well, there was a vicious murder of a detective in this department, after all.

: Ugh… It makes my head hurt.
: Well, first things first. I want to check out the crime scene here.
: Yes, you sound “dead”-set on investigating!
: But don’t mess up, or we could wind up… dead!
: I doubt anyone wants more mysteries or dead bodies around here right now. (But… it doesn’t look like anyone’s going to help us much, either.)

So, instead, we should check out that security guard office.

: What’s with the decor in this place? It’s very… eccentric.
: According to the pamphlet, this is the guard station for the evidence room.
: So, beyond that door is the evidence room… the scene of the crime?
: It sure seems that way…
: Oh. Ohhh…
: What’s wrong?
: It’s those cacti! They’re so prickly… so imposing! It’s hard to think straight.
: (If you can’t handle the cacti, stay out of the desert…) What I want to know is, if this is a guard station, where is the guard?
: I have a feeling I know who this guard is already…

Let’s take a look around.

: Look, on the floor, a lasso!
: Hmm… looks like it’s set up to trap something.
: A trap, here?
: Wait, I know!
: Maybe someone was trying to catch a wild bull in here…
: But the lasso missed!
: You sure have an active imagination.

: The evidence room is beyond that door.
: Let’s just walk in! …
: It won’t open.
: You thought it’d be open? (I think we’d need someone’s permission to go in there first…)

: It looks like there’s a video feed from the evidence room here.
: There’s a light blinking below the monitor.
: It says “Recording”!
: I bet we could use this computer to check on who went in and out of here!

: This swinging door makes the place look like some kind of saloon!
: But look, it’s nailed shut. You can’t get in that way.
: Of course not! If you went in through here…
: The cactus would fall over. Ouch!
: I’d say it’d be more of an “Yeeeeaargh,” myself.

: Yipes, that sure is prickly. It must be the real deal.
: I would think just one big one would be sufficient.
: This cactus…
: is a lot like my sister, actually.

: M-Ms. Skye?
: Encased in a cold, rigid shell, with thorns pointing in every direction…
: Just like her.
: … You know, I’ve been looking at this cactus a while now, and I don’t see the resemblance.
: …
: It’s more an attitude thing than a physical similarity.

: There’s a security guard uniform hanging here.
: It looks more like a costume than a uniform, honestly.
: A leather jacket, leather pants, a leather…
: What was that called again?
: A punchy? A paunchy? A pinchy?
: I know! A poochy!
: Hmm…
: Wait, maybe that wasn’t it.
: (It’s a “poncho,” but I think I’ll keep that information to my self for the time being.)

That’s about all we can do in here now, so it’s time to find someone who can get us past that door.

: (This place is charged with frantic energy, as always.)
: Please!!!
: Huh? Wasn’t that…

: Detective Gumshoe!
: Now’s no time for chit-chat, pal. I’m a busy man!
: What I really need is a steak lunch from Lunchland.

: …
: …
: (I think I just heard the sound of his heart breaking.)
: Now’s no time for despair!
: We’ve caught our criminal!
: Now we just need evidence!
: The criminal… you mean…?
: You heard about the stabbing in the Police Department evidence room, pal?

: Another detective… was killed at the Police Department!?
: And the perpetrator? Do you have a suspect?
: Well, there was a suspect.
: Just arrested 'em, in fact.

: But, Detective Gumshoe, who was it?
: Listen, pal, all I know is I need me a steak lunch, pronto!
: Standing around here talking isn’t going to fill my belly!

He goes to leave.

: W-wait! Don’t leave!
: If you want to know more, head on down to the detention center, pal.
: Questioning should be over, so I figure he’s down there having a good cry.
: Later!

And he leaves for real.

: He ran off to the evidence room…
: Well, this investigation is off to a running start.

To get to the detention center, however, we have to stop by the office.

Here, we can chat with Ema.

: Well… where should we begin?
: Oh, well, isn’t it obvious? We should begin with that, y’know… that thing.
: The mystery of the victim I guess. How could one man, Detective Goodman… be killed in two places simultaneously?
: Oh, well, you see…
: We should go to the Police Department… the evidence room, was it?
: Uh…
: I’m not being very useful here, am I…
: (No, no! You’re being very… helpful.)

: Poor Mr. Edgeworth…

: After all, you were in the defendant’s chair just last year…!
: …!

: Ah, about the killing at the Police Department, right.

: (But I can’t help but think… Someone at the Police Department doesn’t like Edgeworth…)

Now, to the detention center.

: Still, I do feel better about things. A little.
: I mean, they caught the person who stabbed Detective Goodman, didn’t they?
: Uh, yeah, I guess they did. (Best to not go too far down that road right now. Things will just get confusing.)

Imagine this accompanied by an annoying megaphone feedback squeal sound effect.

: Wh-what was that!?
: Sir! That’s what I’m saying! Me, a perpetrator? I-I-I’d say I-I-I was the perpetrated against, sir! That’s whaat I’d say!

: Wait, I know who you are…

: I’m here, sir, at the request of the Chief, sir! I’ve got your report, sir!

: No, sir! I’m not, sir! I’m a little lost patrolman, like a little lost lamb, sir!
: Oh, I get it.
: You’re here to deliver a report?
: No, sir, I, uh, how should I say this…
: (Wait… he isn’t… is he?) You… Officer Meekins… You didn’t… did you?
: Err…

This is why I hate Officer Meekins. Every time this sprite shows up, the same annoying whine sound effect plays. Be happy that I am not subjecting you to it.

: What…!? Whaaaaaaaaat!?
: (Now this is an unexpected turn of events…)

But still, we may as well question him.

: Sir! I’m a patrolman with General Affairs, sir! SIR!
: Ow. I can hear you fine, Officer Meekins.
: I had some business that day, sir, and so I went to the evidence room, sir… The guard office in front of the room was empty, sir!
: So, normally there’s a guard at the evidence room?
: That’s right, sir! Because evidence is kept in the evidence room, sir! Now, the security officer…
: was none other than Officer Marshall!
: i[/i]

: That’s when I saw him, sir!

: (What the heck is this guy doing?)
: So what happened then?
: After that, sir, I… I…
: everything went white! I saw red! I blacked out! And… when I came to,
: I was here. In the detention center.
: (How long were you out!? Days!?)
: Um, might I ask… what happened to your hand?

: Sir! There was no one to bandage me, sir! So I did what I could to wrap it up, sir!

: Yet another similarity between this case and the one at the Prosecutor’s Officer…
: First things first… tell us how you hurt your hand!

: Um, I don’t mean to pry, but you are the perpetrator, correct? You killed Detective Bruce Goodman in the evidence room… right?
: Sir…
: Please don’t look at me with those sad puppy dog eyes, sir! If oyu have to label me as perpetrator or victim, sir…

: Um, I would, but you happen to be in detention. And alive and well at that.
: Ah, yes, well, that’s true, sir. I suppose you could say that.

: Well, sir, if I had to label him as a “stranger” or a “total stranger”…
: Then I’d say he leans heavily on the “total stranger” side!
: So… you didn’t know him?
: Sir! I work in a tiny department, devoid of light or other creature comforts!

: I don’t know any detectives!
: So, if he was a total stranger, why did you stab him?
: Sir! I had n-no intention of killing him, sir! None!
: N-nor do I have any recollection of k-killing him, sir!
: (At least someone around here is more confused than I am.)

: And your hand… that happened when Detective Goodman was stabbed?
: Well! You see, sir,
: I, er…
: Don’t you think that you should just confess?
: But, sir! Sir! But! There was nothing I could do!
: “Nothing you could do”…?
: Sir, to tell the truth, sir, when it happened…
: When the detective pointed that knife at me, I just hollered, sir!

: And the next thing I knew, I was unconscious!
: The next thing you knew you were… huh?
: Then, when I opened my eyes…

: I was alone in the evidence room, sir! All alone! Alone because…
: Because Detective Goodman had disappeared!!!
: What!?
: Then when I looked down, I was gushing blood from my hand, sir!
: Oh, the shock! Oh, the sorrow, sir! Can you imagine how I felt?
: (The victim’s body… disappeared…?)
: Hmm… That’s some story.

If we present the switchblade knife…

: Officer Meekins, this is for you!
: Eeeek! I-I’m scared of knives, sir!
: It’s okay, I just wanted you to take a look at it.
: That’s it, sir! Last night, sir! That’s the one!
: I was an apple, sir, in my dream, sir, and I was… I was being peeled!
: On second thought, you don’t have to look at the knife.
: (Hmm… He’s overreacting to the knife, but I guess he’s been through a lot.)

…yeah, we’ll give him a break. I need a break from that goddamn megaphone anyway.

Next time: Slightly fewer annoying sounds.

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 2) - Part 3

Back to interrogating Meekins. If we present him with the ID card…

: …
: Hey! That’s it, sir! That’s it!
: That’s it!!!
: That’s what!?

: My head was a blank until this very moment! But, sir, now I remember! I remember, sir!
: You mean you remember what happened?

: Correct! That card, that card was the cause of it all!

: Exactly, sir! That’s exactly it!
: Nothing could be more exact, sir! Nothing!
: (I’d better pry into this one a little deeper.)

: Can you tell me what it is you do “remember”?
: Well sir, you might say I’m a lost little patrolman. A lost little lamb, if you will!

: And that’s why you thought he looked suspicious…

: Well, that sounds pretty much by the book so far.

: Th-that’s right, sir! That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!
: So you asked Detective Goodman to show his ID card. What did he do?
: That’s the thing! Suddenly he pointed a knife at me!
: What…!?
: Sir, I assure you I was as flustered as you are right now!
: So I whooped and leapt at him!
: (Detective Goodman pointed a knife at him?)
: “Do unto others before they do unto you”!
: My own father’s words, sir!
: Wh-what happened then?
: Well…
: My eyes, sir… everything went white.
: When I awoke, I was here.
: i[/i]

: So, Officer Meekins, why was it that they arrested you?
: What do you mean, Ema?
: Let’s look at what we know.

: And the “victim” whom he met at the scene of the crime didn’t show his ID card.
: In other words, we have no way of knowing if the victim was really the victim!
: And if this “body” just “disappeared” from the evidence room…
: We don’t even know if anyone actually died!
: That’s it, sir! That! That’s what I wanted to say! That is…
: I did say something along those lines.
: Huh?
: But you still ended up here…?
: They told me that it had to be him, sir.
: “On that day, at that time…”

: But… you don’t remember the events clearly?
: No…
: but the video tape is quite clear.
: Huh? Video tape…?
: From the security camera.
: The crime, my crime, the crime I swore to stamp out! It’s there! It’s me! It’s on tape!
: …
: …
: …
: And you wait until now to tell us this!?

: I’m sorry, really sorry, sir! I’ll hand over my badge! I don’t deserve it!

: N-no thanks, I have my own. (Well, guess we’d better go check out the crime scene.)

And so, we finally get to leave this megaphone-bearing asshole alone.

: H-hey, Mr. Wright! Look who’s standing at the Head Detective’s desk!
: (It’s Chief Gant!)
: Are you sure this is all, hmm?
: You know what it means if there is anything missing!
: Sir! I’m sure it’s most likely totally perfect! We checked the drawers, the lockers, the garbage cans, the coat pockets… the pillowcases, behind the computer monitors, the coffee machine…

For right now, this portrait is standing in for the chief of detectives, who doesn’t have one.

: I see. Well, if anything does turn up, you call me right away, deal?
: Y-y-y-yessir!!! We’ll scour the place again, sir!
: (The Head Detective looks a little flustered…)
: Ah hah! Wrighto, my boy! How you been? Swim much?
: Oh ho ho, Chief Gant! Reporting for duty, sir!
: Why are you saluting him, Mr. Wright!?

But before we chat with Gant, let’s look around.

: That must be one of the detectives. He’s mumbling something to himself.
: “I know! The killer used a cassette tape! What a crafty trick! That gunshot was a fake!” This is good! No one will expect a cassette tape in this day and age!
: … He’s not writing a report… he’s writing a novel.

: Ooh, sorry you had to see that.
: Uh… what exactly did the Chief of Police want you to do?

: He wanted me to check it for anything that might be a clue… They took away every last piece of garbage in the trash can.
: So nothing belonging to Detective Goodman is still here?

: What!? You kept something!?
: Sure, why not? It’s not important. He didn’t even finish writing it! It’s a lost item report but it’s only half complete.
: A lost item?
: Did Detective Goodman lose something?
: The date on it is February 21. (I’ll make a note of that just in case.)

And so we get a new item for the court record.

: (I should probably get a quick look around the crime scene…)

: So this is the police mascot, is it?
: The Blue Badger! The future star of the police force!
: The design’s a little changed from the one outside…
: Ah, well, the Dancing Blue Badger™ is still under development, you see.
: You have it trademarked?
: Absolutely! It’s cutting edge stuff. Very “now.” I showed this doll here to my daughter and she burst into tears!
: (Don’t show her the moving mock-up outside then, you’ll give her nightmares.)

Okay, back to Gant.

: Um… is Edgeworth going to be okay?
: Oh, Worthy?
: Oh, you know, they’re doing a little inquiry committee with him.
: Sounds like an inquisition…!
: Yep, well, we’ve had no end of trouble with the boy since last year…
: You mean… the incident on Gourd Lake?
: It doesn’t look good having one of our top people sitting in the defendant’s seat.
: Now, you got someone else found guilty in that case, right, Wrighto?

: A legend he was, undefeated in his forty year career! But in court you fixed it so he was caught for forging evidence…
: W-wait! I didn’t do anything wrong! He did forge evidence.
: In any case, the Prosecutor’s Office is in a bit of turmoil, you might say. Why, they’d do just about anything to restore their reputation.
: Now, depending on what that inquiry committee decides…
: It could be bad for Worthy.
: Wh-what!?

: It’s downright odd, I tell you. I mean, it happened at exactly the same time!
: (The murder at the Prosecutor’s Office…)
: Scientifically speaking, it’s impossible!
: Yes, but that’s what the evidence is saying.
: “Goodman was stabbed in two locations at the same time!” That’s what it says.
: What evidence is this…?
: Now, now, Wrighto, I can’t give away all our secrets just like that!
: And this in particular, well it’s a little sensitive… and I can’t talk about it.
: (I wasn’t expecting much anyway.)
: You know, one thing I hate most of all is hiding stuff. Secrets. Can’t stand 'em! But you know…
: It’s a full-time job just keeping the Head Detective’s trap shut!
: Ah, he was the one you were picking on earlier?
: Huh? You saw that? Whoops!
: (I wonder what it was that he wanted the Head Detective to do?)
: Let’s see if we can kind of discreetly ask him.

Yeah, they don’t notice if you sequence break this bit.

: Actually, I was wondering if I could ask you a favor?
: Hmm? Well, I never thought the day would come when Wrighto asked me for help!
: I was wondering if we could investigate the evidence room?

: Now, Wrighto…
: A-actually, I’m sorry, I d-don’t need to investigate after all!
: Wrighto, please, do I look like a selfish man?
: Huh?
: Heck, if anyone asked me “sir, can I borrow $50?” I’d give them $50, no problem.
: So, go ahead! Investigate that room to your heart’s content! Knock yourself out!
: It just goes to show, you never know until you ask!

: Huh… hey!
: This is a detective’s ID card, isn’t it?
: That’s a special card for guests, so don’t lose it.
: Y-yessir!
: It’s an honor!
: You just run along and do your best, now. Later, folks!

He leaves.

: Heh heh! It looks pretty cool on my lapel, doesn’t it?
: Just think, a real ID!
: You seem… happy.
: Yes, sir! Because, sir, we get to go into
: the evidence room now, sir!
: (I think this place is a bad influence on the girl.)

So, we head to the evidence room guard office.

: The evidence room is beyond that door.

: Let’s just walk in! …
: It won’t open.
: Ah hah! The card reader is turned off, see?
: What is that security guard thinking?
: Howdy, pardners. Well, well, what’s made my bambina’s skies so gray?

: What’s that “somehow I knew” look for?
: As you may have surmised, this here’s my saloon.
: Um… we’re here to investigate the crime scene.
: … Yeehaw! That card you got there on your chest.

: Y-yeehaw?
: Well, what ya standin’ there for? Get along, little dogies. The crime scene’s a waiting!

: (Looks like the card reader’s on again.) While we’re here, I was wondering if we could ask you some questions?
: Sorry, cowboy, but I got no mind to tangle with you hombres.
: You’re… busy, then?
: Did I say that?
: I only said I didn’t wish to speak with you.
: (Actually, you said you had “no mind to tangle with us hombres.”)

And, indeed, anything we ask gets the same response…

: Um, I was wondering if we could talk to you…
: Sorry, bambina.
: But I’m off to roam the lands, like a tumbleweed on the wide prairie.
: Like a gunslinger loading his six-shooter, I say a little prayer.

: What was that all about, Mr. Wright?
: I think he was just too hungry to talk.
: You’re just saying that because his stomach was growling!
: You have no idea what he was talking about either!
: (Well, in any case, we need to get cracking on this investigation, pronto!)

But…hey, someone gave us something for Marshall, anyway, right? If we present it…

: That smell…
: Ah! Reminds me of Texas!
: So, Officer Marshall…
: You’re from Texas?
: No, I just saw a special on television the other day.
: Is this from my baby?
: Uh, yeah, Ms. Starr…
: Wh-what’s this!?

: What? What’s wrong?
: A filet steak lunch!
: I see… I see!
: I don’t see. I wonder what it means?

We give the lunch to Marshall.

: Alright, bambina. You win.

: (Finally, it seems like…)
: He’s willing to talk!

And, indeed, we can ask questions of him.

: Officer Marshall, you’re in charge of security for the evidence room, right?
: You got good eyes, pardner. It’s an easy job, and I’m grateful for it.

: Ah, that poor little dogie? Poor guy, I keep getting his name wrong and calling him “Meekly.”
: He told us something. He said that, when the stabbing occurred… you weren’t at your station.
: … Well, maybe I shouldn’t be telling you this… But since I got demoted from detective two years ago…
: Well, it might not look it, but I lost my fire for the job, you know?
: So… what were you doing around 5:15 when the murder took place?
: Well… I reckon I was galloping down the highway on the back of my steed, Zippy.
: Note: he was riding down the highway on his horse named “Zippy.”
: There’s no need for people here, anyhow.
: These newfangled machines do a bang-up job of keeping an eye on the place.
: You mean the security camera system?
: I don’t take to machines much.
: Kinda like that stewed broccoli they sneak in next to your steak, you know?

Next time: Slightly less confusing metaphors. Or perhaps just slightly fewer.

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 2) - Part 4

We left off questioning Marshall.

: Ms. Starr told us something… She said that you were a detective until two years ago.
: It was always my dream to be a rawhide wrangler on the scene of the crime…
: That’s all gone now… Like a drinking hole in a prairie fire.
: You’re still investigating the SL-9 Incident with Ms. Starr, aren’t you?
: That was my case… It’s all “solved” on the record books. But it smells like a bad game of poker. I can’t let it go…
: That’s all there is to it.
: What kind of case was it, anyway?
: We’ve heard the name so many times, but no one tells us what actually happened.
: …
: There are some things you’re better off not knowing, Bambina. Anyway, that case is officially dead as of two days ago.
: Two days ago… the day of our case!
: That’s right…
: The evidence transferals.
: (Edgeworth was talking about the transferals, too.)

: I know what maybe two of the machines in here do.
: O-only two of them? There must be a dozen!
: Like I said, bambina, Me and machines, well…

I have no idea if that’s a period/comma error or a capitalization one.

: I like them about as much as I like stewed cauliflower with my steaks.
: The easiest ones to understand are these here security cameras.

: If nothing happens, the tapes are automatically erased every few hours.
: And Officer Meekins and Detective Goodman, are they on one of those tapes?
: I reckon they might be.
: (You’re the security guard and you “reckon”!?)
: One more thing.

: (Thus the card reader by the door.)

: Hey! I’ve seen that somewhere before!
: Sorry, Bambina. I can’t show you more than that.
: Huh?
: I haven’t heard whether this is related to the case, yet.
: Mr. Wright! I saw a number on that record just now!
: I’ve seen that number before!
: (Maybe there’s some way I can prove that record is tied to the stabbing.)

: Sorry, but could you explain what this whole “transferal” thing is about?
: We keep only evidence from solved cases in this room. They’re kept here under the presiding detective’s supervision for two years.
: So we can re-investigate them if it turns out there was a mistake, see?
: So what happens to the evidence after two years?
: It goes to sleep forever in the underground vault at the Police Station.
: That’s what we call “transferal.” We do it every February.
: I see now…
: “Transferal” is like a funeral for old cases. Two years after a case is solved… it’s closed forever. Dead. Never to be reopened again. Never to be reinvestigated.
: (And that happened to SL-9 two days ago…)

Now, we can present Goodman’s ID card.

: Ah, the one that was on the ground in the parking lot?
: The number on this is… “5842189.”
: Officer Marshall!
: Show us the ID number on that ID card record!

: It was used at… 5:14. Right before the stabbing!
: What’s more, there’s only one of them cards in the world!
: So, when the incident occurred, Detective Goodman was in the evidence room!
: (But wait, wat did Officer Meekins say?)

: So you asked Detective Goodman to show his ID card. What did he do?
: That’s the thing! Suddenly he pointed a knife at me!

: (Why would he have pointed a knife at Officer Meekins?)
: Alright, compadre, you win.

: (I’ve got an idea… Maybe I should show this list to other people with IDs here…)

Marshall has nothing more for us, so…

: (It’s quiet… the investigation must be over here.)
: So this is the evidence room?
: It really is kind of like a graveyard.
: Graveyards are supposed to have grass and trees. This feels more like a morgue.
: N-nice try, M-Mr. Wright. Y-you can’t scare me!

: Eeeeeeek!
: Whoooooah!

: I wouldn’t recommend going around smacking ghosts on the head, pal.
: So, is it true what I heard?

: Heck, if anyone asked me “sir, can I borrow $50?” I’d give them $50, no problem.
: So, go ahead! Investigate that room to your heart’s desire! Knock yourself out!

: So, Chief of Police Gant…
: will loan anyone 50 bucks?
: Even me!?

: Oh, so that’s what you were talking about…
: Actually, I was put in charge of the investigation for today.
: Just for today?

: But guess what!? You got permission from the Chief…
: So now you’re boss for a day!
: (Gee, thanks.)

We receive a copy of the floor plan for the evidence room.

Now, we’re going to question Gumshoe before we explore, because exploring is going to be time-consuming.

: So, Detective Gumshoe, you’re boss for the day?
: That’s right! It’s an honor!
: After all, the murder took place right here, in the Police Department!
: But, if you’re the boss…
: why are you all alone!?
: Where are your underlings?
: …
: They’re using our findings from yesterday’s investigation to prepare for the trial.
: (In other words, Detective Gumshoe got kicked out of the investigation again…)
: I’m adamant, though!
: I’m going to take control and put this case to rest!
: And in my own evidence locker, pal!
: You have a locker in here, too, Detective Gumshoe?
: Hah hah, of course!
: I am a detective, after all.
: They gave me a locker that only I can open, pal!
: “Only you can open”…?

: I’ll always believe in Mr. Edgeworth, no matter what happens.
: So… Mr. Edgeworth is with the inquiry committee now, right?
: They’re trying to figure out who’s responsible for the mess-up in court today.
: I see…
: I guess this is what you call “fate.” Mr. Edgeworth just can’t get away from that case…
: That case…?
: Yeah, that case!
: The SL-9 Incident, of course!
: That was the beginning of the end for Mr. Edgeworth.
: (Maybe we can get him to tell us more about the case…)

: This place is more high-tech than you might think.
: Every locker is fixed so that only one detective can open it.

: Well, that’s the thing, pal. ID cards can be lost.
: Why, I’m on my third card since entering the force already.
: That sounds like a lot.
: Yes, but even I can’t lose my own right hand!
: “Right hand”…?
: Oh!
: You mean, your fingerprint?
: Exactly, pal! The lock for each locker is coded with a fingerprint!

: Funny, they look like normal lockers…
: These are the latest model!
: There’s a trick to the handles, see?
: The handles?
: On the other side of the handles is a sensor,
: and if the wrong person touches it…
: Bzzzap! You get a shock!
: If that’s what happened, my hand would be black and smocking every day!
: In any case, the locks aren’t that obvious.
: There’s even some people in the force that don’t know about the fingerprint locks!

Now we can show Gumshoe the ID card records. Maybe he’s on them.

: This is the ID card record of the people who came in here on the day of the stabbing.
: Ah, I heard the rumors.
: So, it was Goodman who came in here at the time of the murder…
: Whoooooooooah!!!
: Wh-what is it?
: Th-th-th-th-th-th!
: That second number…
: It’s not your ID number is it, Detective Gumshoe?
: Mr. Edgeworth!
: What…?
: The second number on this list…
: belongs to Mr. Edgeworth!

: What… Whaaaaaaaaat!?

We note his name down on the list.

: (Why would Edgeworth have come to the evidence room!?)

Next, we present the safes, to learn more about them.

: If you can open it…
: they’ll give you 50 cents!
: Note: the Police Department lacks faith in its lock system.
: After all, Detective Goodman was stabbed here after opening his locker…

We can also present either the SL-9 note or the switchblade.

: I bet Edgeworth was the most surprised of anyone.
: Because of the SL-9 connection?
: That was Mr. Edgeworth’s first big case you know, two years ago.
: That was the first time the world knew Edgeworth was a man to be feared!
: But, why would evidence from that case turn up now?
: I guess it’s not over, pal.
: Maybe there are some loose ends left on that case…

Presenting Edgeworth’s knife or parking stub…

: What would drive Chief Prosecutor Skye to do such a thing?
: …
: W-wait, I didn’t mean…
: I mean, sure, of course someone else really did it!
: Someone who must have, um…
: Someone who must have a grudge against Mr. Edgeworth!

Now, let’s start to look around.

: Wow! Look at this big pile of junk in the corner!
: That looks like… a car door.
: There’s a pair of handcuffs attached to the frame.
: Maybe the guy they caught was some sort of escape artist and he got away.
: Hey, that’s one of those human profiles for range testing.
: He’s been shot square in the forehead.
: Better him than us.

: There’s something sticking out of here.
: Looks like a shirt. I guess it must be evidence for some case.
: I wonder if Detective Gumshoe put this here.
: There you go, pal, making me out to be some kinda slob!
: I’m not responsible for the evidence here.
: That said…
: I bet that evidence locker was opened recently.
: How do you know?
: If you leave things hanging out like that, the evidence gets dirty or ripped. The guard checks on that kind of stuff and notifies the detective responsible.
: How many times have I had him breathing down my neck about some silly evidence…
: Sounds like Detective Gumshoe leaves evidence hanging out a lot, too.
: I bet he doesn’t tuck in his shirt under that trench coat, either.
: If you’re going to talk behind someone’s back, don’t do it right in front of them, pal!

: This place is stuffed with evidence… stuffed with dreams.
: I’m not so sure about the dreams.
: Mmph!
: It won’t open.
: I guess I should have known.
: Hey, pal, our security is high-tech around here!

: Some sort of bulky equipment is gathering dust here.

: Ah! That’s my personal pole!
: I never did get around to using it…

: Right, pal. That’s that metal detector!
: The one that led to the solving of that case out on Gourd Lake, remember?
: Oh, right! Wow, that feels like it was ages ago.

: Oh, that! That’s a radiolocator!
: I’m sure it will come in handy in solving some case sooner or later.
: (That cheap-looking box?)
: You can’t judge a person or a machine by their cover! You gotta look at their heart!

Next time: More exploration.

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 2) - Part 5

This room has a whole second half to explore!

: What is a saw and paint doing here?
: Since the dawn of time… True art has always been a war against oppression.
: True art…?
: I noticed that there’s blue and yellow paint here.

: Well… You might say this is
: my studio…
: (Here? In the evidence room!?)

: Detective Gumshoe, perhaps?
: There you go, pal, making me out to be some kind of hooligan!
: That’s apparently from “the” case.
: “The” case?

: I wonder what shape these pieces were in before whatever it was broke?
: You want to try to put it back together?
: Hah! Good luck, pal. That’s no job for amateurs.
: Why, I spent a good three hours on that before I had to give up!
: That’s why I always carry around a tube of glue!

This is a new kind of puzzle. We have to put the item back together by matching the edges up. We can rotate the broken pieces to try and make them match the jagged edges, and we can swap between pieces to find the ones that match, like this.

Let’s skip ahead to the completed puzzle.

: H-huh?
: Well, I think we did it.
: But some of the pieces are missing.
: That only took me two minutes to do!
: The problem is finishing it!
: Were some pieces stolen?
: I bet they were missing to begin with.
: Still…

: I kind of understand how it got broken.

It gets added to evidence.

: Hey, look here! It’s hard to make out, but there’s a dark red stain here.
: Hmm… Looks like blood.
: Do you think Detective Goodman’s blood somehow got on it when he was stabbed?
: Not likely. This blood looks like it’s been here for months, maybe longer. (This jar was evidence in the SL-9 Incident… That might be when the blood got on it.)

: Huh? This thing doesn’t have a bottom!
: That’s weird.
: I wonder which side is “up”?
: Better yet… What’s the purpose of a bottomless jar?
: …
: At least it doesn’t collect dust inside, right?

Back to looking around.

: Detective Gumshoe, maybe?
: There you go, pal, making me out to be some kind of absent-minded detective!
: That’s evidence from “the” case, you know.
: You mean SL-9? (It does have a tag on it…)

And we add it to the record.

: I guess this is another piece of evidence from that case.
: You know, I never did care for the word, “tag.” It’s confusing.
: Huh? What’s so confusing about that?
: Do you know how many other words sound like it? “Bag,” “Gag,” “Nag,” “Lag,” “Xag”…
: “Xag”…? Is that a word?
: Do you challenge me…?
: What, are we playing a word game now?

: Look, this one’s open! And there’s a indicator tag stuck on it still!

A indicator tag, really?

: That locker is coded with Detective Goodman’s fingerprint.
: (Detective Goodman’s locker!)
: Are you sure it’s okay to leave it open like that?
: Well, it’d be hard to get it open again if we closed it.
: (It’s empty… they must have taken the contents elsewhere.)

: Wh-what’s this…!? Blood!
: It’s a little worn… but there’s definitely a handprint here!
: It looks like someone tried to wipe it off.
: Mr. Wright!
: What if there are other bloodstains left in the room!?

And we will, after I catch up on some stuff I forgot to get earlier. First, we can examine the Luminol bottle.

: “Eme Skye” Don’t tell me you bring this with you everywhere you go.
: Well, you never know where something might go down!
: (Just what kind of a world do you think we live in…?)

Second, we can present Angel’s photo to Gumshoe.

: Anything you can tell us about it?
: That Ms. Starr is quite the lady.
: Why, I remember it was winter… I was 16.
: She was the only one who ever got me to talk about what happened.
: 16… that’s how old I am now!
: I wonder what happened?
: (I wonder if Detective Gumshoe wore a trench coat in high school, too.)

Now, the Luminol. It took me a while when I first played this game to figure out how to use it. While examining the scene, you have to open the court record and select the Luminol. While accessed this way, the button that would normally present it instead reads ‘Spray.’ Hit it and we begin the Luminol…well, minigame, I guess?

: WHAAAAAAT!!?
: What’s the matter, Detective?
: Th-this locker…
: It’s mine!
: It’s yours?
: Please! You have to help me…
: When they come to take me away… Promise you’ll testify that I wouldn’t harm a fly!
: You’ll do that for me, won’t you, pals!?
: (This is an important clue! I’ll jot it down on the floor plans…)
: I’m counting on you guys! Believe me, you can’t trust the police!
: What? But you’re a detective!

: I’m not a professional. What’s your opinion, Detective?
: Hmm… Pale blue blood… Maybe Detective Goodman… was actually an alien?
: This proves that something really happened in front of this locker.
: I’ll make a note of it on the floor plans.
: Hey! If you didn’t want my opinion, you shouldn’t have asked!

: There’s no reason for the murderer to touch this spot if he fled out the door. (This just might be something significant!)
: Hey…
: That’s some pretty amazing stuff you got there, pal!

: It’s called “Luminol Testing Fluid”!
: Where’d you get your hands on that!?
: Huh?
: I’d like to get some too!
: I’ll just borrow 50 bucks from the Chief!
: Where do you get this, Ema?
: I always buy it by mail order.
: (Well, I’d better jot this down on the floor plans.)

: Was there something you needed to be going to?
: It’s just that Mr. Edgeworth’s inquiry committee should be letting out soon.

: It might help, you know…
: R-report? You mean the note written on the back of that flyer?
: The one that says nothing but “No problems”!?
: Hey, it’s Mr. Edgeworth we’re talking about! I’m sure he can use a report like this.
: I believe in him!
: (Who needs enemies when you’ve got friends like Detective Gumshoe…)
: I’m off, pal! Later!

He leaves.

: (I should probably see what Edgeworth has to say, too.)

Good idea.

: Oh! It’s you!
: Have we met somewhere…?
: Huh!?
: Mr. Edgeworth! I beg your leave. So long!

He leaves.

: (Is Edgeworth here…?)
: There, standing by the window, a teacup in his hand!
: Ah, it’s you.
: (He has the hotel bring him tea service!?)
: Mr. Edgeworth… you’re back from the District Prosecutor’s Office inquiry?
: Precisely.
: By the way, Detective Gumshoe was looking for you.

: Really? Was it helpful?
: Apparently, a new French restaurant is opening near here.
: I think he was trying to console me, somehow.
: (Er, I think the report is on the other side, Edgeworth…)
: Poor Mr. Edgeworth… I think this whole thing is really taking a toll on him.

Now we can question Edgeworth a bit.

: So, how did the inquiry committee go?
: Actually, they decided to treat this not as a case of concealing evidence…
: But as a communications error during the investigation.
: “Concealing evidence”…?
: Yes. Apparently, there are some who believe…
: that I concealed evidence. They gave me a warning.
: “You were lucky this time… again.”
: “Again”…?
: I’ve heard them say that so many times.
: Ever since that case two years ago…

: Are you okay for the trial tomorrow?
: Well, I’m still the presiding prosecuting attorney. However…
: Something happened?
: They gave control of the investigation over to the Police Department.
: The Police Department!
: Yes. Any further investigation for this case will be directed by the Chief of Police Gant. I can do nothing but wait for his results…
: I… see.
: Why, I ask you? Why!? All along, I’ve done only what I believe is right. I have nothing to be ashamed of! But still…
: (Wow, I’ve never seen him this out of sorts…)

We present the ID entry list.

: Oh, right! I’d better check this now…
: As I was saying, I…

: Edgeworth, you went into the evidence room that day, didn’t you? Just before the incident occurred, no less.
: Yes, that’s true.

: W-why,
: Mr. Edgeworth?

: The Chief of Police…?

: He told me he wanted me to keep it here in the Prosecutor’s Office.
: But… it was solved, right? It would have to be if the evidence was already filed…
: The Chief is never one to explain himself.
: In any case, on the day of the stabbings, I brought this back here.
: Can I ask what kind of case it was?
: I… can’t say.
: It really has nothing to do with the current case.
: (Now I’m curious about this other case. I’d better make a note of it.)

: What’s that got to do with anything?
: Nothing, apparently. At least, that’s what Edgeworth said.
: Hm. That makes it seem all the more suspicious.
: Who knows? This might turn out to be the clue that breaks the case!
: Wouldn’t that be nice…

: Stubborn as always. I told you this has nothing to do with the current case.

If we present the switchblade (or, I am fairly sure, any SL-9 evidence)…

: …
: I know you. You’ve probably got a hold of some information already, right?
: It all has to do with that case you were on… the SL-9 Incident. And some “dark suspicion” you were wrapped up in.
: You were the man who revived the worst memory of my life, as I recall.
: I figured I’d be telling you about this sooner or later.

: Okay, Edgeworth. Why don’t you tell me about it. Tell me the truth.

: The SL-9 Incident was a heinous serial killing case. The head of investigation was the Deputy Chief of Police at the time…

: (That wacky old coot was involved in the case two years ago too then…)
: He was the best we had, and it was my first time working with him… I was nervous.
: Wow, you get nervous, too, Mr. Edgeworth?
: (What I want to know is why was a Deputy Chief of Police on the investigation?)
: In truth, I used slightly more… extreme methods than normal. We were dealing with a vicious murderer. If I let him go, the blood would be on my hands.
: We won our guilty verdict, and the killer was executed.
: Wait, you didn’t…
: Of course not!
: I didn’t touch the evidence.
: Yes, I will do anything in my power to win a trial. However…
: I do have a code, and I follow it faithfully.
: By the way, Ema.
: The Chief Prosecutor wanted to know something…
: M-my sister? What?
: You still working on that
: scientific investigation?
: Huh? Y-yes! Of course!

: Luminol testing fluid… Hm?

: Aluminum powder for taking fingerprints!
: It’s been chemically treated for better adhesion.
: F-for me? Are you sure?
: We are the “enemy” you know.
: I’ve no say in today’s investigation… do as you will.
: Edgeworth… I’m really–
: No need to thank me.
: Here, take your powder and these fingerprint files for everyone involved.
: I, uh, th-thanks! (How about giving these to Detective Gumshoe as well!?)
: Well, let’s get going!
: One last investigation!
: Right! (I do seem to remember seeing a suspicious handprint somewhere…)

Next time: The science of deduction.

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 2) - Part 6

We’re starting off heading back to the evidence room with our new toy.

: (Our investigation turned up a suspicious handprint.)
: Here, in this blood on the detective’s evidence locker.

: A finger…?
: Each finger leaves behind a slightly different imprint.
: So let’s choose the finger that will have left behind the clearest print!
: I really can’t tell the difference at a glance…
: Quit procrastinating and choose a finger!

Selecting it brings us to the next new minigame.

: Let me show you how it’s done.
: (Ema’s starting to get that sparkle in her eyes…)
: First, we sprinkle the aluminum powder around.
: Huh? How do you do that?

: Ah… it looks like that did the trick.
: The aluminum powder adheres completely to the print.
: Once the powder is well spread…
: just blow away the excess.
: Huh? How do I do that?
: You just blow. With your breath.

: Wow… that looks like fun! (It might take some getting used to though…)
: It’s fine! It won’t go up your nose or anything.
: You just pour the powder on thick, and blow away the extra!
: Those are the basics of fingerprinting, Mr. Wright!
: (I guess I’d better give it a try…)

So yeah, drop powder, then blow into the microphone.

: But… this looks nothing like a fingerprint.
: Hmm… Now that you mention it, I guess it doesn’t…
: What does it mean?
: It think it means…

…it?

: we’re out of luck.
: Out of luck…?
: The person who left this handprint must have worn gloves.
: … Don’t tell me we’ve been wasting our time here!
: Hey, calm down. That’s just the way it goes sometimes with scientific investigations.
: But… it does seem a shame.
: While we’re at it, why don’t we look for other prints?
: Other prints…?
: Looking at the locker door again closely…

: Let’s see if we can find a clear print!
: (Hmm… fingerprints outside the blood…)

: D-dazzling…?
: Anyway, this print took a lot of effort to find.
: Let’s match it up right away!
: So we’re not done yet? This is quite a process…
: Well, there’s no point in finding a fingerprint…
: and not knowing who the owner is, right?
: (I guess she’s right…)
: Look at the fingerprint data we got from Mr. Edgeworth…
: and point out the person you think left these prints!
: Huh? How am I supposed to know who it was?
: I could make a pretty good guess.
: The bloody handprint and the fingerprints are in different places right?
: That means that the prints probably don’t have anything to do with our case.
: So, whose fingerprints would we most likely find on this evidence locker?

: …
: Something wrong, Mr. Wright?
: You gave me this “so what?” look.
: I guess that’s probably because I was thinking “so what?”
: Okay, so we came up with nothing this time, but there’s always next time!
: Sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss!
: You gotta roll with the punches, Mr. Wright!
: Thanks for the sympathy. (Wait… If I remember correctly… there was one other handprint in this room. Let’s check it out!)

There is indeed.

: This is where we got a luminol fluid reaction, right?
: Right!
: There was a handprint here!

: Okay, let’s check for prints!
: That’s the spirit!
: Oh! But I have to warn you about something first.
: What?
: The area with the blood was wiped away, right?

: Any prints in that area will have been wiped away too.
: Oh… right. So… that means no prints.
: Would you say that the probability of your hypothesis is
: high?
: D-don’t ask me!
: Anyway…
: We must try to find prints that weren’t wiped away.
: (Prints other than the ones left by the bloody hand…)

: Whgose are they? Whose!? Is it someone I know?

: It’s Officer Marshall!!!
: Huh? O-Officer Jake Marshall!?

The fingerprints are added to our evidence, but I forgot to check them.

: Th-that’s got to be a coincidence!
: He’s not involved in the crime!
: Ema. This are decidedly different from Detective Gumshoe’s prints.

…this are?

: …!
: The luminol reaction. The blood and the fingerprints are in the same place.
: Oh… Oh!!!

: But why would Officer Marshall…
: It looks like our investigation is finally turning up some results!
: …!
: I guess this is what you’d call “decisive evidence”!
: I… I don’t believe it!

Next time: The long-awaited return to court!

(this is one of the last filler sets)

(it is almost the present day)

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Trial (Day 3) - Part 1

: So, what do you think, Mr. Wright?
: I think the prosecution is as confused as we are. After all…

: and a different suspect was arrested at the other crime scene.
: Lana!
: Good morning, Mr. Wright. I apologize for yesterday. I was… indisposed.
: I hope they didn’t hold you too long for questioning.
: We just finished, actually. I’m used to all-nighters, though.
: So, how’d it go?
: It’s as Mr. Wright suspects. The police are clueless.
: I figured as much,
: so I struck a plea bargain.
: A plea bargain? What do you mean by that?
: We agreed that if I told them the truth behind this “simultaneous murder,” they wouldn’t seek capital punishment.
: That’s what I mean, Ema.
: But Lana!
: Don’t tell me you…
: Much to my regret,
: I’m as much in the dark about this as they are.
: Ms. Skye.
: Hmm?
: We discovered traces left by a certain person in the Police Department’s evidence room. They belonged to Officer Jake Marshall.
: You found Officer Marshall’s… traces?
: Blood-stained fingerprints, to be exact.
: !
: That’s the trump card I have up my sleeve today. You do understand what this means, don’t you?
: In order to defend my sister, you’re going to accuse Mr. Marshall?
: We have to play the cards we’re dealt. Isn’t that right, Ms. Skye?
: …
: Do what you have to do, Mr. Wright.

: Court is now in session for the trial of Ms. Lana Skye.
: The defense is ready, Your Honor.
: The prosecution is…
: Hmph.
: …
: Hmph?
: I’m afraid you’ll have to clarify.
: It takes 30 minutes by car to reach criminal affairs from the Prosecutor’s Office.

: But that’s not physically possible, is it?
: What’s more, I hear the victim from the evidence room just “disappeared”!
: Yes, and the body eventually reappeared in the trunk of Mr. Edgeworth’s car.
: (Wow… this is one messed up trial…)
: One of my duties as prosecutor is to present impartial evidence.
: Today I will present evidence relating to the murder at the Police Department.
: In so doing, I believe the way in which we should proceed will reveal itself.
: Now that’s what sets Mr. Edgeworth apart. He sounds so on top of things…
: even thought he doesn’t know what’s going on himself!
: And that’s supposed to be an admirable trait?

: Very well, let the trial resume. On the day of the crime, what exactly transpired at the Police Department?
: Mr. Edgeworth, you may call your first witness of the day to the stand.
: For its first witness, the prosecution calls…
: the suspect of the murder that occurred at the Police Department!
: The suspect!? You mean, the so-called
: murderer!?

: (Hoo boy.)

: Will the witness please state his name and occupation.

: Yes, sir! I am Officer Mike Meekins, sir! My occupation is, um…
: that would be murderer, sir!
: …
: …
: …
: Er…
: So you’re telling us you’re a “professional killer”…

: Sir. It was me, sir! I’m the one who did it! I’ll never kill anyone again, sir!
: You’ve got to believe me, sir!
: Uh… Actually, what we’d like to hear from you is…
: Sir! I’m what you would call part of the “younger generation,” sir!
: A person whose actions adults can’t possibly comprehend!
: Please, Mr. Edgeworth, sir! Help me, sir!

: Officer Meekins.
: Y-yes, sir!
: Give us your report of the crime.
: Consider that an order.

: Yes, sir! As you wish! After all, I am a part of a generation that must be told what to do, sir!
: You can’t fault him for a lack of enthusiasm.

: Hmm. So the victim,
: Detective Goodman,
: attacked you?
: “Do unto others before they do unto you”!
: That’s the Meekins family motto, sir!
: I see. Then you fainted, and a colleague helped you regain consciousness.

: Yes, sir! He knocked me upside the head, sir!

: Very well. The defense may begin its cross-examination.
: (What I need here is)
: (more info to work with!)

: Mr. Meekins. You work in the General Affairs Department, do you not?
: Yes, sir!
: I am in charge of hiring new recruits, sir!
: (Yikes! Now there’s a scary thought.)
: Evidence transferal was taking place on the day of the crime, which meant many officers were given special tasks not ordinarily performed.
: I was in charge of guarding the Blue Badger, sir!
: The Blue Badger?

: Yes, sir. The lovely police mascot created by the Head Detective, sir!

: That was my sole mission for the day, sir!

: I see. Sound like a very… uh, important mission.
: After the award ceremony finished that day, there were so many people running around

: that I relocated the Blue Badger to the evidence room!

: Oh… So that’s why you went to the evidence room.
: Tell us… what did you see when you got there?

: In order to enter the evidence room…

: Precisely, sir! I have one right here around my neck!

: There it is! I found it!
: This is the one right here.
: Could you please read us the number?

: Yes, sir! It’s “4989596.” That’s my number, sir!
: I see… Huh?
: But the number 4989596…

: Please explain, witness.
: It’s n-no real mystery, sir!

: and the second time is when I went to go get him after everything settled down.
: I see.
: So it was during that second time when?
: Yes, sir! That was when I spotted the man on the security screen!

And our ID record is updated.

: So you were attacked… Can you please tell us exactly what happened to you?
: It was a knife, sir! A knife!
: Detective Goodman pulled a knife on you?
: What happened then?

: (You aren’t exactly the kind of person someone would want to run into…)
: That’s when I reacted, sir!

: I swung my arms like an octopus, struggling to detain him! That’s how I got this gash on my hand.
: Maybe if you’d just kept your cool your hand wouldn’t be…
: When I saw the blood trickling down my arm, I panicked!
: I grabbed the man by his collar!

: What exactly do you mean when you say you, “did it”?
: I know I don’t look like the type, but I’m really into kung fu films, sir! The man let his guard down for just an instant,
: so I snatched his knife from him!
: You took his knife?
: I spun him around and performed a disarming maneuver! I made sure to close my eyes like a man!
: I, uh, see… (He must have been desperate.)
: The next thing I knew, his white coat was drenched in a sea of my blood, and then… Then, the next thing I knew…
: Yes?
: He punched me right in my face, sir!

: About what time did you regain consciousness?

: No offense, sir, but how am I supposed to know that? I was unconscious!
: Oh… right.
: According to the report from the officer that woke up the witness, it was about 5:30.

: I woke up crying tears of pain!
: That’s nice…
: Er, I mean… it’s nice that you recovered, that is…
: When I came around though, I made sure to finish my mission, sir!
: Your “mission”…?
: Yes, sir! The Blue Badger, sir!

: (Well, we can all rest easy now…)

: I believe we now have a fairly accurate picture of what happened.
: Yes, Your Honor. Only one thing remains unclear.

: (He’s got a point…)
: Um…
: Yes, Officer Meekins?
: With regard to that, sir…

: Chief Gant delivered it to me just this morning sir!
: The Chief?
: Delivered it…?

: Yes, sir! That’s absolutely right, sir! A videotape, sir!
: It contains footage from the security camera in the evidence room.

: What!? But I specifically asked if there was such a tape,
: and was told it had been mistakenly erased!
: That’s quite a mistake.
: I just do what I’m told, sir. It’s the only thing I’m really good at.
: (Looks like communication with the Police Department is as good as ever…)

: Well then, let’s have a look! Show us the video of you murdering the victim!
: Oh… Please stop using that word, “murder,” sir! It scares me!
: (A video of a real murder… Just what are we getting ourselves into…?)

Next time: A video of a real murder…

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Trial (Day 3) - Part 2


You’re going to want to watch this video. It’s too long for a gif and totally wordless.

: …
: …
: …
: Well, I believe we’re all thinking the same thing.
: How can we deal with these unsettling feeling stirred within us…?

: What the hell was that wriggling piece of plywood!?

: Sir! That is the pride and joy of the entire Criminal Affairs Department, sir!
: It’s the Blue Badger, sir!
: (Why am I not suprised this isn’t going smoothly?)

And the prints, while we’re in here.

: Yes, well anyway…
: this tape seems to prove that the witness did indeed encounter… er, “someone”
: in the evidence room, and some sort of… er, “activity” did take place…

: Your Honor… instead of relying on clearly incomplete footage,
: the witness’s testimony will suffice.
: Is that alright with you, Officer Meekins?
: Yes, sir! As you wish, sir!

: What’s this about a fingerprint?
: Each detective has been given a locker, equipped with a fingerprint-activated lock. These locks ensure that each locker can only be opened by the detective it belongs to.
: Intriguing…
: That would mean…
: the victim at the crime scene would have to have been Detective Goodman.
: Very well! The defense may begin its cross-examination!
: (I don’t know where this cross-examination will lead,)
: (but everything begins with contradictions. That’s where I have to start!)

: Tell me, were you able to get a good look at him?
: At the face of the man who attacked you with a knife?
: S-sir! If you must label people as having “seen” or “not seen” the man’s face… I believe I would be classified as… the latter?
: The latter? But you were standing right in front of him, were you not?
: More to the point, you are the person who fought him, aren’t you?
: Oh, yes sir! But… I didn’t get a clear look at his face, sir. I’m not the kind of guy who looks directly at people when talking with them, you see…
: (Yeah, that’s a good trait for a police officer…)
: Still, I’m sure it was him! I’d bet my badge on it!

: But you don’t know that for sure, do you?

: Well… I suppose you might say that. That is, if you must label people as having “seen” or “not seen” it.
: Since his face can’t be identified in the video, only you can verify it.
: ! W-w-why is everyone l-looking at me? If I had to label your stares as “disturbing” or…

: Meekins!

: Having been shown a questionable video at best, we are not in the best of moods.
: Now please be more certain when you testify!
: Y-y-yes, sir!

: Tell us why you are positive it was him!

: About thesel ockers… Is there no other way to open them?
: No, sir! I myself tried all kinds of methods in the past!
: They only respond to registered fingerprints, sir!
: (I wonder what kind of methods he’s tried…?)
: If the man opened the locker’s lock, which only responds to its registered fingerprints,
: then he must be the person the locker was assigned to.
: Exactly my point, sir! And this too!

: How do you know that information?
: I’ve heard rumors, sir! From people in the know, sir!
: “People in the know”?
: The workers in the department cafeteria, sir! They keep me informed!

: They also listen to my… romantic troubles, sir!
: …
: For the record… the opened locker did indeed belong to Detective Goodman.
: I verified this information through a more… reliable source.
: Hmm…
: So the victim opened the locker with his own fingerprint.

: S-sir!
: If I may say something, sir!
: Please do. After all, you are the one being examined.
: I don’t understand why the man’s face is so important in this case, sir! I mean, it was his hand that opened the fingerprint lock…
: and it was his hand that tried to thrust his knife into my body, sir!

: Yes, you have a point.
: The footage doesn’t lie.
: That is…

: Mr. Wright! Let’s check the Court Record again!

: The tape was provided by the Police Department, so there’s no problem with it.
: I admire your trust in the Police Department
: Mr. Wright.
: But if you ask me, I think there’s a problem with what’s shown on the tape…
: rather than with the actual tape itself.

: (This all sounds true enough, but the victim’s body was found at the Prosecutor’s Office.)
: (There has to be a mistake somewhere…)

: Here, you can use the player to watch it as much as you’d like.
: The security video… (Maybe I should take another look at the footage…)

And loop. But what if there is a problem with the video?

: there is one thing in particular that seems rather strange.
: Strange?
: This contradiction leads to the possibility that…

: the man may not be Detective Goodman.

: What? This video contains such a contradiction?

: Interesting… Your Honor, I have a proposal.
: Yes, Mr. Edgeworth?
: I propse we have the defense…
: point out to us this alleged “contradiction” in the video.
: (He would want me to point it out…)

: Very well, proposal accepted. Let us further inspect this piece of evidence.

: I will now play the security tape.
: Mr. Wright. Please show us this contradiction you speak of.
: (I have to point out a problem in the video?)
: (This is the first time I’ve ever had to do that.)
: You can do it, Mr. Wright!
: It’s set up so you can Fast Forward, Rewind or Pause the video. Just take a good look and be sure to point out the right thing!

: Please don’t play it too many times. I-I can’t stand watching this video!
: (How did this guy ever become a police officer?)
: Now then, Mr. Wright. Please enlighten us!

We can select anywhere on the video, and as noted, we can advance or reverse it to any frame we want. If we pick just a random spot, like, oh, here…

: The thing that’s strange about this video…
: would have to be… uh, this?
: …
: Hold on a second. I need to use my eye drops.
: …
: Well, I don’t get it.
: …
: Um, would you mind if I borrowed your eye medicine?
: Don’t look at me with those bleary eyes!
: Before your eyes get too teary, perhaps you should think this through again, hmm?

So, back to the video. You know, that falling thing early on is kind of weird…

: The thing that’s strange about this video…
: has got to be this!
: Hmm… Yes, that is strange.
: Something certainly seems unnatural about that.
: What could it mean?

: Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Wright…
: but you seem to have forgotten the point of this exercise.
: The point…?
: What you are looking for is one thing and one thing only:
: Something that indicates the man may not be Detective Goodman.
: Oh, yeah.

: Whew… I almost walked right into the defense’s trap!

: I’ll place him under arrest, sir!
: (Rats… I need to slow down and tackle these things one piece at a time.)

So, back to the video. Something’s still funny early on…

: The thing that’s strange about this video…
: has got to be this! Officer Meekins.

: Sir! D-do you mean me, sir?

: A-according to my very limited experience, that’s the way I understand it, sir!

: If so, then something is seriously wrong with this picture!

: Let’s rewind to a little earlier…

: What’s this!? It’s… already lit!

: Precisely my point, Your Honor.

: Order! Order!
: What’s the meaning of this!?
: It’s very simple, Your Honor.

: But the locker locks are controlled by an electronic system. When a door is shut, a sensor is triggered…
: and the locker is automatically locked!
: Oh, I know! It must have broken down!
: Of course, I’m not an expert in this…
: That’s not likely, Your Honor. The sensor would detect and report any malfunction.
: Oh well. It just goes to show novices should keep their mouths shut.
: So then, Mr. Wright. Do you have an explanation?
: Me, Your Honor?
: Yes. Why wasn’t the locker locked?
: Me, Your Honor?
: …
: Yes, well. You see… This isn’t exactly my field…
: What do you think, Miss “Scientific Investigator”?
: Huh? Oh, um…
: Maybe something, like, jammed the electronic system?
: (Something… jammed the sensor? Say…)

: Yeah, I thought so too!
: There’s got to be another clue somewhere in this footage!

: Very well. Let’s inspect the video once more. The locker wasn’t locked…
: Mr. Wright. Please point out the cause for this!

Next time: Understanding.

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Trial (Day 3) - Part 3

: Please watch closely.
: This is the continuation of the part I showed you earlier.

: Something white fell out of the locker!

: But sir!
: It’s been my experience that things fall out when doors are opened!
: I often fall out and roll great distances when I open my car door, sir!

: We can’t be sure
: that item was in the locker to begin with.
: What do you mean?
: The sensor triggers the lock when the door is shut… What if something was inserted, say,
: between the sensor and the door?
: In… Inserted…?

: It was stuck between the door and the sensor!

: Oh, I understand now, sir! It’s just like my tie!
: Two out of three times it gets stuck in the door when I get out of my patrol vehicle, sir! Instead of the door closing, My tie chokes me!

Oh, capitalization errors…

: But the object would have to be extremely thin to fit in the door.
: Not only that, it would also have to block electrical currents…
: It would need to be an insulator.
: Yes, an insulator!
: But at the crime scene…
: there just might have been something that fits the description.

Capitalization errors!

: But s-sir!
: By “insulator,” you don’t mean…
: (I think I’ve finally got this figured out.)

: Very well! Will the defense please present the relevant evidence!

Can you guess?

: But we can’t be sure that was in the victim’s locker.
: It has a tag that says, “SL-9 Incident.”
: !
: The video seems to depict the victim opening the locker,

: On the day of the crime, even I could have opened that locker!

: Sir…

: Order! Order! Order!

: witness stabbed in the evidence room… was not Detective Goodman?

: Do not be misled, Your Honor.
: What do you mean, Mr. Edgeworth?
: The defense has merely demonstrated that possibility, and nothing more.
: The “victim” in the video was indeed Bruce Goodman.
: The prosecution will offer one more testimony to prove this!
: What!?
: Officer Meekins,
: please testify about this.
: Sir! M-me, sir!?
: I’m not sure what you’re referring too, sir…

…too, really?

: …

: O-oh! You mean that, sir! Of course, sir!
: (Is this a joke…?)

: Very well, begin your testimony!

: An ID card record. I see…

: Just before the crime, hmm?
: Yes, without a doubt this is the victim’s ID! However,
: one thing does strike me as unusual…
: Several hundred cases should have been due for transferal.

: This particular evidence room is only used for storing certain special cases.
: “Special” cases…?
: Extremely violent cases involving police staff.
: Just hearing that makes
: my hair stand on end!
: (Me too, althought it doesn’t make much of a difference…)
: There were only a few cases up for transferal there, and most were cleared up by noon.

: Right… I see. Now, Let us move on to the cross-examination.

This part’s just full of those, huh?

: So, unlike your earlier testimony, you believe this to be rock solid, do you?
: Yes, sir! Solid as stone, sir! If my hand wasn’t wrapped in bandages…
: I’d even give you the ‘V fo Victory’ sign, sir!
: Couldn’t he just use his right hand for that…?
: Let’s hear him out.
: The witness can’t afford to make any more mistakes.

: Is that card hanging from your neck one of these ID cards?
: Yes, sir! This card right next to my cuffs, sir!
: I keep it here so I won’t ever forget it!
: But what if someone were to steal it from you, keeping it out in the open like that?
: …
: Maybe I shouldn’t wear it around my neck… Remember when I said two out of three times my tie gets stuck in my car door when I
: get out? Well, the remaining time my ID card gets stuck. Instead of the door closing, My ID card chokes me!

…again? Really?

: (Maybe I should just leave this one alone…)
: At any rate, each police officer has only one ID card.
: Both the Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office can attest to this.

: Please proceed with your testimony.

: Let me see… yes, that would be it.
: Detective Goodman…
: ? (What’s the matter?)
: A-according to this…

: So it is, Your Honor.

: (You’ve got the wrong color, kid.)

: It would seem…
: the inquiry committee will want to speak with you again today.
: I have nothing to be ashamed of regarding my actions, or their consequences.
: For now, let us continue with the cross-examination.
: Poor Mr. Edgeworth…
: It must be so difficult for him…

: Earlier I believe you testified that when you asked the man to show his ID card,

: Yes, sir! He didn’t show me any ID card, sir!
: Don’t you think that’s odd? I mean, if he had his ID card,
: all he had to do was show it to you.
: There wouldn’t be any reason to draw a knife!
: …

: M-maybe he just panicked?
: (Everything stems from contradictions. Let’s point them out…)

And loop.

: Mr. Wright! What do you think?
: I’m… confused.
: What?
: (The problem with this ID card testimony is far too obvious.)

: You’re thinking too hard about it. Come on, let’s show them what we’ve got!

Can you spot it?

: Wait one moment, Officer Meekins.
: I-I’m not good at waiting, sir!

: I found it at the crime scene.
: That makes sense.

: When I say, “crime scene,”
: I’m not referring to the evidence room at the Police Department. I mean the “other” crime scene…
: The underground parking lot at the Prosecutor’s Officer!

: …
: Your Honor…
: I have one more piece of evidence to present.

: A… Lost Item Report?
: It’s only half completed,
: but it shows that Detective Goodman had lost “something” on the day of the crime.

Yes, they really do switch who’s talked mid-sentence.

: Something important enough to fill out this report.

: I can’t say for sure…
: but there is a high probability!

: Order! Order! So now…
: what does this all mean?
: It can only mean one thing.
: It doesn’t require much thought!

: Order! Order! Order!
: Does the prosecution have a response?
: … I have only one thing to say
: to the defense.
: …?
: Bravo, Mr. Wright.
: B-bravo…?

Next time: Oops.

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Trial (Day 3) - Part 4

: At 5:15 PM on the day of the crime, the man Officer Meekins encountered

: There are two grounds to support this.

: Am I correct so far, Mr. Wright?
: Yes… (What is he up to?)
: That being the case, we must inevitably arrive at a single conclusion:

: then the murder in the evidence room is also fake! In other words, the security camera
: does not show the instant of the murder.
: Uh… Th-that is…
: Well, I guess that’s right…
: Is something wrong, Mr. Wright?
: Only moments ago you seemed content to be pointing your finger around.
: This isn’t good…

: Well, well…
: It seems you’ve finally realized…
: exactly what you’ve gone to such lengths to prove!
: Explain yourself, Mr. Edgeworth!
: The defense has already done the explaining for me.

: at the Police Department at 5:15 on the day of the crime.
: So…

: So the real crime could only take place at one location: the underground parking lot

: The evidence is compelling!

: (I knew that testimony was way too shabby.)

: The activity in the evidence room still leaves many questions unanswered:

: And where did this person disappear to…? However…
: This trial’s purpose is to examine only the murder of Detective Goodman.

: Just so, Your Honor.
: Mr. Wright! You have to do something, or else Lana…

: (I’d better pace myself. If I rush ahead,)

: But Mr. Wright! If you don’t do anything…

: It seems the defense is out of ammunition.
: The surrender flag has been raised.
: Your Honor, may we have your ruling now?
: Don’t give up, Mr. Wright! Get up and fight!
: !

Which drops us where the other option begins.

: One moment, Your Honor!
: What now, Mr. Wright?
: Don’t tell me you’re objecting to what you’ve just proven.

: Of course not.
: But I almost walked right into the prosecution’s trap!
: What are you talking about?
: This cross-examination has proven one thing and one thing only.

: However! It cannot be said that it is unrelated to the murder in the parking lot.

: …
: The defense demands further examination into the truth of the matter!
: …
: Mr. Edgeworth.
: Yes, Your Honor?
: If this court were to examine this further, other witnesses will be necessary.
: Is the prosecution prepared?
: I’m sorry, Your Honor… The prosecution considered the incident at the Police Department to be unrelated.
: We have not prepared any other witnesses for this incident.

: Mr. Wright…
: Do you mean…
: Your Honor. The defense would like to request a specific witness.
: Oh?
: Whom do you have in mind?
: Someone we have reason to believe knows the truth…
: The truth behind the activities that took place in the evidence room.
: The prosecution requests to hear this person’s name
: before deciding whether or not to comply.

: Very well, then. Mr. Wright! This person whom you would have testify…

: Why him?
: (I can’t let him know everything just yet…)
: He’s in charge of the evidence room. I feel we should hear what he has to say.
: The prosecution agrees to the defense’s request.
: Since he was responsible for guarding the room, we should hear his testimony. Fortunately, he works in the Police Department.
: We shouldn’t need longer than 20 minutes to prepare.

: Very well. The court will take a 30 minute recess while the witness is subpoenaed.
: Will the prosecution please prepare the witness during this time?
: We will, Your Honor.
: Court in recess!

: … There’s no stopping you is there, Mr. Wright?
: Huh? What do you mean?
: You called for Jake Marshall.
: It seems you’ve figured everything out.
: Uh… (I haven’t figured anything out…)
: Lana…
: You’re the one who knows everything!
: Ema…
: You always know everything!
: Why don’t you just tell us!?
: Mr. Wright is trying his hardest to protect you!
: I…
: I don’t recall ever asking for his “protection.”
: How can you be so cold… Don’t you trust us? Don’t you trust… me?
: …
: Hope I’m not interrupting anything, pals.
: …
: …
: Oh…
: Guess I am.
: I’ll come back later.

He fades away briefly.

: Oh, Detective Gumshoe! What is it?

And fades back.

: You’ve got a lot of nerve, pal! Making a detective run all around while on duty,
: and to top it off you call me here… I’ve seen happier people at funerals!
: Sorry, Detective.
: You better be, pal…
: Hey…
: Hey!
: Hey!!
: Hey!!!
: Hey!!!
: I didn’t see you there, Ms. Skye!
: That’s ok. So…
: Have you brought what I asked?
: Oh…
: Oh ho!
: Oh ho ho!
: Oh ho ho ho!
: Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho!

: My apologies, Detective. Due to my present circumstances,
: I was forced to use Mr. Wright’s name when making my request.
: My name!?

: Never in a million years would I have thought it was you who asked me,

: “I’ll need them by noon.”
: Talk about crazy…
: The “SL-9 Incident”?

: I thought Mr. Wright might need them, so I had them brought here.
: Here. You might do well to read them.
: I can’t believe you, the Chief Prosecutor, were a witness in that case!
: Ms. Skye… was a witness?

And we get the file in our evidence.

: Take it from me, you don’t want anything to do with serial murders.
: …
: Oh, what? Now that I’ve brought you your stuff, you’re just gonna ignore me?
: E-Ema! But why… Why is your name in here?
: What? My name’s in there!?
: I don’t know…
: Unless… No, it couldn’t be… Lana! This “SL-9 Incident”… Is that…
: … That’s the classification number the police filed it under. Two years ago, the rest of the world knew it as…
: the “Joe Darke Killings.”

: The… Joe Darke… No… No, Lana! That’s over with!
: No!!!
: Ema, wait! (She ran away…)
: Uh, ya know what?
: I just remembered… I gotta be somewhere.
: Sorry pal, but I’m outta here!

He also leaves.

: (Not to mention Lana and Ema…) Everyone involved in this case is connected to those killings two years ago… This can’t be just a “coincidence.”
: Knowing you, you just might be able to figure it out.
: Time to get back to the trial, Mr. Wright. Best of luck.
: (I’d better take a good look at this file…)

Next time: Jake Marshall.

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Trial (Day 3) - Part 5

: The court will now reconvene for the trial of Ms. Lana Skye.
: (Ema didn’t come back…)
: Allow me to call the next witness to the stand: the officer in charge of guarding the evidence room on the day of the crime.

: Witness, please state your name and occupation.
: Me, pardner? Oh, I’m just a man, same as you, wanderin’ the trails of civilization.

I’m unsure if this is Edgeworth burning Marshall or a mislabeled textbox.

: Oh, I know! You’re a
: “patrolman”!
: As for my name, if you listen hard 'nuff, you can hear the howling wind calling it out.
: To be exact, it’s Jake Marshall… Your Honor.
: (“Howling wind”…? I’ve never heard Edgeworth described that way before…)
: Now, Mr. Marshall. Let me ask you something. You were in charge of guarding the evidence room on the day the crime took place.
: Is this correct?
: According to the papers, pardner.
: What do you mean?
: A desperado’s soul is as boundless as the desert sands. No “paper” can sum it up.

: Maybe it’s best we get on with this quickly. Please share with us your testimony of the day of the crime…
: in English!

: I can’t say I particularly care for your attitude…
: I can’t say I care for your beard, but you dont’ see me complainin’.
: Wait a minute…
: What do you mean by “two security systems”?
: I mean the security cameras and the ID card reader.
: I reckon even a cowpoke like you knows about those.

: Fingerprint activated locks?
: What kind of new-fangled doohickeys are those?
: (He’s not being very helpful…)
: He’s not that good with machines… or with following orders.
: Everyone’s got their weaknesses, now don’t they, Mr. Prosecutor?

: This one seems like trouble.
: Okay Mr. Wright, he’s all yours.

: How exactly did you “keep an eye” on the evidence room?
: I just made sure nothing moved in the security camera monitor. That room’s so still,
: even time dies in there. I was just a caretaker who interred the recordings.
: You “interred” them?
: Videos of nothing aren’t that useful. When the time would come, I’d erase the tape.
: If nothing unusual is recorded, tapes are to be erased every six hours.
: Each time I’d erase a tape, it felt like I was erasing a part of my life.
: (This guy has a flare for the drematic, but it isn’t going to do him any good.)
: So, in actuality you don’t physically enter the evidence room?

: But you made your rounds on the day of the crime, right?
: Ain’t you heard a word I said, pardner?
: I told you that ain’t my style.
: …
: Um, I’m afraid I don’t understand.
: No desperado I know lets “rules” get in his way.
: (No desperados I know join the police force…)
: So, Officer Marshall. On the day of the crime…?
: Just between you and me I didn’t set foot in the evidence room that day.

: Sorry pardner, can’t say I do.
: I haven’t been in that crypt in weeks.
: (How does this guy avoid being fired…?)

: You used to be a detective,
: so you’ve used the evidence room in the past, correct?
: Of course. Back in the day my locker was a goldmine of evidence!

: And yet… you didn’t know about the fingerprint locking mechanism?
: Sorry, pardner. I ain’t good with machines.
: I couldn’t even tell you how a bike works.
: That’s quite, uh… incredible.

: It’s well known that some detectives are unaware of their presence.
: (Now that he mentions it, Detective Gumshoe said something like that too…)

: At any rate, it doesn’t seem that this is relevant to the crime.
: Can you tell us what you were doing when the crime took place?

: What were you doing in a place like that?
: I was eating spaghetti.
: Not even Angel’s steak lunches can beat that parlor’s vongole sepia pasta.
: Do you mean to tell us…
: you abandoned your police duties to eat some noodles?
: Not all desperados eat tacos, pardner.
: That’s not what I meant…
: I hope this has at least taught you a lesson!
: (That’s strange…)
: (This is usually where Edgeworth says,)

: Out of “ammo,” officer Marshall?

Capitalization errors are everywhere.

: That’s right, pardner. Or as you’d call it, “evidence.”
: If you plan to pin me to this crime, then you’d better draw. Otherwise, you’re just wastin’ my time.
: My steel horse is waitin’ to carry me back west into the sunset.
: Hmm…
: One thing seems clear.
: Despite being responsible for guarding the evidence room,
: the witness doesn’t appear to have seen anything.
: Texans don’t take orders from anyone. Everyone knows that.
: (Apparently your superiors don’t…)

And loop.

: (Okay… I have a trump card up my sleeve, so I’d best keep my cool.)
: (Before I use it thought, I’d better up the ante…)

You shouldn’t overthink this one.

: Officer Marshall. Doesn’t it strike you as odd?
: That is, you being claled in to testify like this?
: …
: After all, you weren’t in the security room at the time of the crime.
: And yet you dragged me down here.
: Explain yourself, pardner.

: It’s quite simple.
: You left a very large trail behind at the scene. Or, to be exact…
: a handprint.

: Hmph! Listen real good, pardner. Like I said, I’m the caretaker of that crypt. I pay my respects… that is, I make my rounds, about once a month.
: It’s only natural my fingerprints would be in there.

: I only wish it were, Officer,

: but you see…
: your fingerprints were covered in blood!

: Witness! What’s the meaning of this!?
: Your bloodstained fingerprints were at the crime scene…!?
: The blood was wiped away. However!

: Well, Officer Marshall?
: … It seems to me…
: there ain’t a person in this room with a head on his shoulders.
: !
: I take it you have an explanation then, Officer Marshall?

: Very well, you may begin your testimony about your fingerprints,
: found at the scene of the crime!

: Hmm…
: The witness’s explanation appears valid,
: although there’s room for doubt.
: Life wouldn’t be fun without any doubt, pardner.

: The defense may now cross-examine the witness.
: (This guy’s hiding something, I can feel it!)

: That’s because you… how did you put it… “pay your respects,” once a month?
: Yeah, that’s right. That, and one more thing…

: What!? What do you mean?
: I mean what I said.

: All that’s in there now though is a heap of broken dreams.
: I see…
: It’d be very strange if my prints WEREN’T all over that locker.
: (Apparently his fingerprint data was never changed.)

(The handprint data is updated to reflect the locker ownership.)

: Wasn’t mine. It’s no mystery.
: Please explain.
: My locker is covered with my fingerprints. It just so happened…

: The chances of that happening are a million to one!
: On the contrary, one could argue just the opposite.
: The chances of that not happening are a million to one! Get one thing straight, pardner.
: You ain’t gonna get no reward for me with a mere fingerprint. You wanna know why?

: Unrelated?
: They’re as different as night and day.
: Kinda like “cereal” and “serial.”
: One’s got to do with breakfast while the other’s a type of murder.
: He’s right…
: although seemingly alike, they’re totally different.
: (I don’t see what homonyms have to do with this…)

: How do you know that!?
: I may be a loner, but I still do my job. I keep up on the reports.
: There was a bloodstain at the scene, thought to be left by the murderer.

: However,
: no fingerprints were detected on that handprint.
: (Oh yeah, I think we tried that too.)
: Hmm…
: So that would mean…
: the murderer, wearing gloves,
: happened to place his hand on top of Officer Marshall’s fingerprint.
: That’s the only logical conclusion.
: Are you starting to get the picture, pardner?
: The picture…?

: !

: (The security tape…)
: So long as my trail isn’t in there… you can’t say otherwise.

: This isn’t getting us anywhere, Mr. Wright.
: Please consider carefully where you’re going with this cross-examination.
: Y-yes, Your Honor.
: Now then, continue your testimony, Officer Marshall.

: What do you mean by that?
: You want to tie me to this crime, isn’t that right, pardner?
: …
: If so, that video is the only direct evidence you have.

: But that video is next to useless!
: It’s full of blind spots!
: Blind spots?
: Places you can’t see!

: If someone was familiar with the camera’s position, he could leave the room without being caught on tape!

: We don’t have time for your speculations, Mr. Wright.
: Well, Mr. Wright. If you can show us evidence in this video that indicates

Next time: But what evidence could there be?

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Trial (Day 3) - Part 6

: Well, Mr. Wright. If you can show us evidence in this video that indicates

: (I might be walking right into Officer Marshall’s trap.)
: (I’d better try and find out a little more information.)
: It seems we should be moving back to the testimony.

: Very well. Officer Marshall, can you please give your testimony again?

And that would loop us. Clearly the wrong answer.

: Very well.
: Allow me to point out your mistake, Officer Marshall!
: Tread carefully, Mr. Wright,
: or you might wind up being the one making the mistake.

: Now then, let’s have another look at the video. Show us this incriminating evidence of the witness…
: Officer Jake Marshall!

: Bringing our attention back to the security camera…
: is a mistake I’m afraid you’ll soon not forget, Officer Marshall.
: …
: The days are short in Texas… and so are our tempers. Could you sum up what you have to say in eight words or less?

: Very well.

: You can clearly be seen in this video!
: Exactly eight words…
: Not bad, pardner.
: The key…
: lies in a certain locker shown in the video.

: Now then, let’s rewind the video a bit.

: What’s the meaning of this, Officer Marshall!?
: When the crime took place… The white cloth wasn’t there.
: Then… it suddenly appeared! There’s only one explanation:

: Officer Marshall! You were in the evidence room at the time of the crime!
: What’s more, you opened your locker when the camera was turned away!

: Order! Order!
: It would seem that’s the only-
: Hold your horses! Sorry, pardner…
: but you got the wrong man.
: …
: So what if my locker was opened?
: That doesn’t mean I’m the one who opened it!
: …
: The murderer needed to hide something, so he opened a locker and stuck it in.
: It’s not my fault he happened to choose mine!
: …
: …
: Why’s everyone staring at me like I’m a wanted man?

: (He really doesn’t know!)

: but you’re the only person who can open that particular locker.
: Oh yeah? I call your bluff.

: We talked about this earlier today.

: W-what kinda crazy talk is this!?
: (Well, Detective Gumshoe did mention something about this…)

: There’s even some people in the force that don’t know about the fingerprint locks!

: So, sheriff!

: I only got one word for you, pardner.

: Order! Order! Order!
: Witness! Explain yourself!
: If this is a joke, it’s the worst I’ve ever heard…
: I assure you this is no joke, Officer Marshall.
: Now then, please tell us what you were doing in the evidence room at the time of the crime?
: …
: Olé! Please answer the question!
: (What is he now, a bullfighter?)
: That’s alright, Officer Marshall.
: I believe we can figure othe rest out from here.
: We can?

: If that’s so, then…
: where was the witness?
: It seems Mr. Wright has an answer.
: (That’s right. The only possible conclusion!)

: Well then? Let’s hear it.

: Officer Marshall was standing right here!
: There? But that’s…

: Correct… unless the man wasn’t Detective Goodman.

: I believe the “victim” in the video is… Officer Marshall!

: But that’s preposterous! Officer Meekins witnessed the detective at the crime scene!
: Once he saw the man’s face, he’d know for sure!

: May I point out though, that Officer Meekins did not know Detective Goodman.
: He also testified about the man’s reaction when confronted.

: Yes? And how did Detective Goodman respond?
: He suddenly pulled a knife on me!

: If the man had his ID card, why didn’t he just show it?
: Yes, he would have needed it to enter the evidence room, so he must have been carrying it.
: The answer is simple.
: He couldn’t show it.
: !

: Oh, I get it.
: If he showed that, his cover would have been blown!
: Officer Meekins would have realized the man wasn’t Detective Goodman.
: Do you have anything to say to this, Officer Marshall?
: …

: You’ve got quite an imagination, pardner.
: We got a term for that. It’s called “circumstantial evidence.”
: Circumstantial evidence…? (He’s still denying it!)
: You’re gonna have to do better than that to break a detective.
: Unless you have hard evidence proving I dressed up as the victim…
: Hmm…
: I can’t say I particularly care for your uncooperative disposition…
: I can’t say I care for your beard, but you don’t see me complainin’.
: Well, Mr. Wright? Do you have any evidence? Any evidence proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Officer Marshall dressed up as the victim?
: Well…
: (Who am I kidding? I don’t have anything like that…)
: I can see the fear in your eyes, pardner.
: Seems you’re the one who couldn’t take the desert heat!
: Ack! (This can’t be happening!)
: (It’s so obvious he’s the one! What can I do…?)
: …

: Hmph.
: It looks like your lack of experience has finally been exposed.
: !
: I’ll pass onto you what someone told me when I was just starting out. When you’ve run into a wall with no place to go, return to the basics.
: The basics… (For me, that would be what Mia used to tell me!)

: (I shouldn’t look for proof that Officer Marshall was in disguise…)

: What do you mean?
: There’s no reason for Officer Marshall to open his locker at the time of the crime.
: Yet he did, despite the chance it might be discovered later as it has been.
: (Which means he didn’t originally plan to open his locker…!)
: According to the defense’s argument,

: Then, after the crime was “committed,”

: The fact that a white “cloth” is sticking out of the locker seems to indicate that
: he opened it in order to put the cloth inside.
: So…
: just what exactly is this piece of cloth?
: Perhaps…

: (I don’t have any evidence, so this video’s my only shot!)
: …

: Very well.
: Let’s take yet another look at the security tape. After committing the crime, the witness opened the locker to put away the white cloth.
: Please show us why the witness had to open his locker!

: For some reason, you disguised yourself as Detective Goodman,
: and entered the evidence room. I don’t know what that reason was… yet.
: “Yet”?
: However, something unexpected happened.

: When asked to show your ID card, you pulled a knife on him. However!

: and the white coat you were wearing was soiled with blood!
: A bloody white coat…
: You couldn’t just walk out like that,
: so you hid the coat in your locker.
: …
: Not bad, huh “pardner”?

: Now then, Officer Marshall.
: Are you ready to tell us the truth?
: Looks like I underestimated y’all.
: I hope you’re happy now, Mr. Edgeworth.
: …
: Two years ago… If you were only half as persistent then as you are today,
: we all wouldn’t have to be here, now would we?

: Officer Marshall!
: Tell the court what you did… all of it.
: Alright.
: It seems the time has come.

: So the supposed “victim” was really you…
: But there’s one thing I still don’t understand. Large quantities of blood traces were found on the floor of the evidence room.
: If no one was murdered, then how could that be?
: Officer Meekins managed to cut his own hand.
: My guess is he’s the donor.
: (It looked like too much blood for that…)

Next time: Cross-examination.

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Trial (Day 3) - Part 7

: When you say “it,” you mean…
: Do you even have to ask, pardner?
: (The SL-9 Incident…)
: Two years have passed since that case was closed.
: It was going to completely end with the transferal that day.
: Not if I have anything to do with it.
: That incident’s not over!
: But what did you hope to accomplish by sneaking into the evidence room?
: When a case is closed, only the detective who was in charge of it can look through the evidence. I wanted to have a look at it myself one more time…
: no matter what the cost. I don’t care what anyone says, pardner.
: That case is mine.
: (But Officer Marshall wasn’t in charge of that investigation.)
: (Why does he care so much about it?)
: That day was my last chance. That’s why I…

: Why did you disguise yourself as Detective Goodman?
: If I didn’t make it look like Goodman was carrying out the evidence transferal… I’d be arrested for stealing evidence, which wouldn’t get me anywhere.

: I stole that the morning of the incident.

: I returned his ID card. I left it on the floor in
: the Prosecutor’s Office parking lot.
: (The ID card I found was left there)
: (by Officer Marshall!)
: So essentially…
: You managed to succeed despite your lack of foresight.
: What do you mean… pardner?
: I mean the fingerprint-activated lock, of course.
: No matter how well you disguise yourself, you can’t change your fingerprints.
: Normally, that locker shouldn’t have opened.

: You pulled a knife on Officer Meekins and tried to drive him off?
: Let’s just say I was a little surprised. I only planned on being in the evidence room for no more than five minutes.
: I didn’t think anyone would actually come in during that short time.

: Officer Meekins… certainly is a one-in-a-million type of person.
: Mistaking a detective for an intruder and demanding to be shown his ID…
: I’ll have to think a little more about his raise this year…
: (When did Edgeworth get so much influence…?)
: Anyway, he threw himself at me, and I ended up cutting him slightly. I’m sorry it had to turn out that way…
: with me knocking him out and everything.
: By the way, what happened to your knife?
: Oh, you mean this one?
: … (I don’t know what to say…)
: Hmm…
: So, what happened next?

: So you did your research beforehand.
: Those who go into the desert unprepared don’t live long, pardner. I didn’t think it would make a difference though. The security tape is erased every
: six hours. If all had gone as planned, no footage would have been left.
: However…

: If someone was in the security room when I came out, the jig would have been up.
: I opened my locker and stashed it in there.
: What was Officer Meekins doing during that time?
: What else? He was sleeping like a baby.
: So what you’re saying is, on that day…

: But the blood found at the scene certainly indicates a crime took place!
: What are you, blind?

: So, you stole the evidence from the locker?
: Actually…
: no, I didn’t.
: Why not?
: When I opened the locker,
: the evidence was already gone.
: What!?
: Mr. Edgeworth. Where is that evidence?
: It’s still missing, Your Honor.

: (Detective Goodman’s locker was already empty…)
: (Someone else stole the evidence!)

: Officer Marshall. May I ask you one thing?
: Fire away, pardner. It’s a free country. Just remember,
: I’m also free to decide whether or not to answer.
: Why did you do this?
: Stealing a detective’s ID, injuring a police officer…
: This is no small offense!

: Moreover, you’re an officer yourself.
: This will have serious consequences.
: It can’t just be forgiven with a simple cut in salary.
: (Not that salary cuts are ever a valid solution…)
: …
: Like I said. This isn’t your case.
: This one is mine. And I’ll do anything it takes to get an answer I’m satisfied with.
: Hmm…
: The witness has an unusual amount of zeal. Let’s hear more.

: But that case was solved two years ago, wasn’t it?

: That’s the reason the evidence was stored in the evidence room.
: Joe Darke was convicted for those crimes.
: One thing I can say for sure, he deserved his sentence.
: I remember the Joe Darke case…
: It involved serial murders, didn’t it?
: I don’t intend to complain about how it turned out, but there’s something that still bothers me. Something went down at that trial.
: Something no one will talk about.
: What happened?
: I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to find out.
: …
: (Why is he so concerned with that incident?)

Loop.

: (I had a feeling we’d wind up here sooner or later…)
: (Everyone involved here is related in some way to that case…)
: (I’d better take another look at the files.)

This one isn’t hard.

: Officer Marshall. I think I understand.
: I think I know why you care so much about the SL-9 Incident.
: Sounds like you’ve been sipping too much cactus juice, pardner.
: I have the SL-9 Incident file here. The name
: “Marshall” is mentioned in here…
: !
: in a list of murder victims.
: “Neil Marshall”… Are you related to this man?
: Neil Marshall…?
: Yeah, I’m sure you’ve heard the name. Two years ago…

: What!? A prosecutor…?
: (He must be talking about)
: (the King of Prosecutors award.)
: Now I remember…
: Prosecutor Neil Marshall.
: He handled the SL-9 case before I did.
: That’s right. He was killed…
: and the case fell into your hands.
: But what’s his relation to you…?

: He was investigating the murders with Damon Gant, Chief Detective at the time.

: We were desperate to prosecute the killer.

: My brother fought Darke and was killed. That was the first time Darke left behind any evidence. That was all we needed. He was arraigned and incarcerated. The case was finally closed… at least, according to the public records.
: What do you mean?
: My brother couldn’t have been killed by Joe Darke. I knew my brother better than anyone… No one could have beaten him in a fight.
: And that’s it? That’s your reason for your insane actions?
: There’s more to my brother’s death than what the records say.
: No matter how much you try to hide it, you can’t fool me.
: …

: Well…
: at least one thing’s for certain.
: Now we know what happened at the Police Department on the day of the crime.
: That was the last day the SL-9 case could be reopened. Not satisfied with its resolution, Officer Marshall planned to steal the evidence.

: Yes, this mystery has finally been cleared up. No murder took place
: at the Police Department that day!
: !

: The things that happen by chance never cease to amaze…

: this fake murder was going on at the Police Department.
: (Chance…? It’s got to be more than just that…)

: So if no one was murdered at the Police Department on the day of the crime,
: that means the murder in the Prosecutor’s Office’s parking lot was the real one.
: Which, in turn, means…
: only one person could have committed the crime:

: B-but wait! A verdict wasn’t reached in yesterday’s trial!

: Which is why we examined the incident at the Police Department today.
: But…!
: There’s only one reason the defendant was not convicted yesterday:
: there yet remained the mystery of the simultaneous murder at the Police Department.
: It seems to me…
: this boy’s got the draw on you, pardner.
: All the mysteries at the Police Department have been uncovered. No contradictions

: remain. The murder took place at the Prosecutor’s Office! The only suspect is Lana Skye.

: If you have a response…
: make it one word or less.
: …
: ARRRGHHHH!!!

: I rest my case.

: It seems this trial has reached its conclusion. There’s no room for doubt.
: Well done, Mr. Wright.
: Thanks to you, I didn’t need to waste my time…
: disproving the alleged “murder” at the Police Department.

: (The apparent murder on the security camera’s tape really was fake! But I didn’t realize…)

: Now then, the time for the verdict has arrived. This court finds the defendant…

: Y-your Honor! Wait!
: Ema!
: The defense has
: an objection.
: A scientific objection!
: Right?
: What do you mean, “right?”
: Mr. Wright.
: Are you this girl’s guardian?
: Your Honor!
: Oh, uh, in a sense…
: Please, Your Honor. All I’m asking is for a minute of your time! Please hear me out!
: Mr. Edgeworth, please…
: …
: I don’t want to leave any loose ends.
: You want a minute? I’ll give you three.

: I… I was kind of in shock. I mean, finding out the SL-9 incident referred to the Joe Darke Killings!
: (Now that she mentions it…)

: But that’s when I figured it out.
: I mean, what Office Marshall was trying to do that day… So I knew his fingerprint had nothing to do with the crime.

: You mean the traces of blood found on Detective Gumshoe’s locker…
: But no fingerprints were found on it, right?
: No, but I figured if I examined it scientifically… I’d be sure to find a clue! So
: I ran over there and looked at it again!
: !
: So did you find something?
: Um…
: No!
: Huh?
: Sorry. I guess I’m not much of a scientific investigator after all.
: …
: …
: Um…
: Is that all?
: Please don’t be mad. I’m just a high school student!
: (And I’m just an attorney…)

: If we can’t find something wrong with them…
: Please, Mr. Wright. You’re a professional.
: If anyone can save Lana, it’s you!

: Time’s up.
: Now then, Mr. Wright. With regard to the incident at the Police Department…
: Does any reasonable doubt remain?
: Um…

: Is there a problem with this?
: Mr. Wright!
: I’m sorry I can’t be of more use… But still! If you can’t find anything wrong with that blood mark,
: Lana will be…
: Please answer my question, Mr. Wright. We don’t have all day.
: Y-yes, Your Honor. (If ever I’ve needed to concentrate, it’s now!)

: (I’ve got to be honest… I don’t see anything wrong with it! Still…)

Which leaves us at the right choice.

: clearly
: shows a contradiction!

: The only thing that seems clear is you’re grasping, Mr. Wright.
: You’ve been staring pretty intently at those floor plans.

: …
: (Yes, this is strange…!) Take a good look at these floor plans.

: “Missing”…?
: You mean, something hasn’t been drawn on there?

: Yes. Something that, when drawn,
: will completely change the meaning of the blood mark!

: Let us pray the defense isn’t simply trying to buy time.
: Very well, Mr. Wright!
: (With all this evidence here…)
: (there’s got to be something I can use!)

Next time: Salvation?

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Trial (Day 3) - Part 8

: What about that piece of plywood?
: The Blue Badger!
: Mascot of the police force!
: Defender of truth, guardian of proof!
: Explain yourself, Mr. Wright.

: So?
: So watch what happens when we put him in.

: Well…?
: Well… what?

: That’s right. So long as the Blue Badger is dancing here…

: So that means…
: Uh… just exactly what does that mean!?
: It means it can’t be done!
: What are you saying? Blood traces were undeniably found on that locker!
: Don’t look at me, I didn’t put it there!
: Mr. Wright! Think it through scientifically!
: Ema!
: On that afternoon…

: …! So that must mean this blood mark… was left there before the Blue Badger was brought in…?
: Just one moment! I will not allow such farfetched balderdash in my courtroom!
: It may sound farfetched, Your Honor…
: but it’s the only possible explanation! On February 21st… in the Police Department’s evidence room…

: blood was spilled not once, but twice!

: B-but how…!
: One time was captured on this tape, taken by the security camera.

: The problem is… the “other” time.
: Someone bled prior to the struggle shown on this tape.

: It had to have been…

: That’s ridiculous! I refute you!

: The murder portrayed in the security tape has been proven to be a fake.
: However!

: So then… assuming this “murder” you purport really happened.
: When did it take place!?
: I demand you show evidence that proves it occurred!
: (When did the first incident occur…)

: To surmise, the defense claims that…

I think you might mean summarize, Judge.

: Goodman, another “incident” took place in that evidence room.
: The blood mark on the locker proves this.
: Very well. Then tell us…
: When did this “first” incident occur?
: Proof must be presented.
: (Proof that shows when the murder took place…)
: (There’s only one piece of evidence that can show that!)
: Now then. Will the defense please present its evidence?

: If the crime took place inside the evidence room, then the perpetrator would had to have

: An ID card…
: Oh!
: The ID Card Record!

: Let’s see here… 4:50 PM. If the crime took place before that time, then it would be… 4:40 PM… Ah!
: AAAAAAAHHH! M-M-M-M-M-M-M-Miles Edgeworth!
: Just what have you done!?

: I never figured you had nerve, boy.
: Put off the act, witness.
: It doesn’t take a lot of thought to figure out it couldn’t have been me.
: Hmm…
: Nope, I ain’t gettin’ it…
: Hmm…
: I’m afraid I don’t understand either.
: It’s clear from the luminol test that blood was there. However, when the “second” crime took place…

: That means…
: the blood from the first crime was wiped away…
: by the real murderer.
: I would have had just ten minutes to murder the victim, carry his body away,

: That would mean…
: the crime must have taken place before Mr. Edgeworth entered the evidence room.
: Let’s look at the chart again.
: There’s only one other card number remaining: “7777777”!
: Talk about a lucky number…
: But wait…
: That doesn’t make sense!
: How could Officer Goodman have entered the evidence room?
: Since there’s no record of his card being used beforehand…
: he must have entered along with the real murderer.

: That’s the only plausible explanation.
: He went in with “7777777”!

: Mr. Edgeworth!
: Please look into this ASAP!
: Find out whose ID number is “sevensevensevensevensevensevensevenseven”!
: That’s one “seven” too many, Your Honor. Unfortunately…
: I’m unable to look up the owner of that ID card. At least, at present.
: What!?
: Explain yourself, son.
: The ID number “7777777” belongs to someone with a rank of Captain or higher… Someone who is a so-called “executive officer.” We don’t ahave the authority to inquire into such a person’s identity.

: But that’s ridiculous! Just how…
: I’m not finished talking, Mr. Wright.
: There is one situation in which we can be granted such authority.
: If an official charge filed against an executive is accepted.
: An “official charge”…
: You’re all alike, aren’t you? With your “cover-ups” and your “forgeries”…
: That’s how the Prosecutor’s Office operates!

: I take pride in my work, Officer Marshall.
: I would appreciate it if you would keep your slander to yourself.
: “Slander,” is it? Okay.
: Let me ask a question.
: Yes?
: No, not to you. To her, the defendant sitting over there.
: Your own little “executive.”
: i[/i]

: Don’t be stupid. She’s been charged with murder.

: Don’t play me for a fool, pardner.
: That’s not what I want to ask. All I want to know is one thing… about the incident.
: The SL-9 Incident?
: Answer me this, Chief Prosecutor! In that trial two years ago…
: Did you really only use legitimate evidence!?

: Do you need the witness to repeat his question, Chief Prosecutor?
: I heard him fine, Mr. Edgeworth.
: Two years ago… I was in charge of the prosecution for that trial.
: At the time, we…
: Occasionally… we felt the powerlessness of the law.

: At least… I did.
: …!
: L-Lana…
: I became a prosecutor in order to suppress crime with the law. But before I realized it,
: we were the ones being suppressed by the law.
: Defendant!
: Just what are you saying!?
: I’ll ask you again, Chief Prosecutor. During that trial two years ago… did you really present all the evidence in court?
: Can you look me, an investigator in that crime, in the eye and say that you did?
: Chief Prosecutor! You didn’t…
: …
: I don’t have to, Officer Marshall.
: !
: Why don’t you answer him!?
: Drastic crimes require drastic measures…

: But Lana!
: Even if it involved “forging” evidence.

: See? That’s what I’m talking about.

the chaos in the courtroom could not be quelled. The conclusion of the trial… would have to wait until the following day…

Next time: Well, shit.

(now, the final filler)

(after this, it will be now)

Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes
Investigation (Day 3) - Part 1

: I’m so sorry, Mr. Wright. I’m so sorry for what my sister said…

: That’s just the way it is. We did what we had to…
: in order for him to get the verdict he deserved.

: I never knew that the “SL-9 Incident” was just another name for…
: the “Joe Darke Killings.”
: (Sounds like everyone’s heard about these killings but me…)
: Lana wanted Darke convicted so badly! That’s why she used me…
: That’s why she used what happened to me.
: What do you mean, “what happened” to you?

: Joe Darke’s last victim was Prosecutor Neil Marshall.

: he left behind an incriminating piece of evidence.
: But what did you have to do with those killings, Ema?

: What? He tried to kill you!?

: So that means you…
: Yes.

: I was a witness in the Joe Darke trial.
: (I didn’t see that one coming!)

Now we can start asking Ema some questions.

: It happened two years ago… it was right about this time of the year, too. There was a terrible thunder storm that day… Unusual for the season.
: I was alone in my sister’s office. We were planning to eat dinner together once she finished her work.

: Joe Darke…
: It seemed like he was running from someone. He pulled out a knife and screamed at me. I didn’t know what what was going on.
: Just then, Prosecutor Marshall showed up.

: Joe Darke tried to take me hostage,
: but before he could… Mr. Marshall tackled him.
: Then…
: What happened?
: I-I’ll never forget it!

: a bolt of lightning flashed outside the window, lighting up the office for an instant. What I saw burned a permanent picture in my mind.
: I… I can still see it now…
: (A permanent picture…?)

: I don’t remember the moment when Darke stabbed Marshall.
: So you weren’t able to testify about that?
: No, I was only asked about when I was attacked. That must be why Lana…
: why she “made up” the crime.
: Made it up? You mean, provided bogus evidence?
: The Prosecutor’s Office wanted that guilty verdict so badly.
: Lana forged the evidence, and Mr. Edgeworth used it…
: Edgeworth!?
: Yes.
: But I’m sure he didn’t know anything about it!
: He couldn’t have known he was being given false evidence. Even so…
: that’s when it all started. The rumors about Mr. Edgeworth, I mean.
: It’s all my fault… If I could have just testified properly, none of this would have happened!
: (So it’s true. Even though he may not have known it… Edgeworth really was involved in falsifying evidence!)
: After that case ended, Lana was never the same. She became cold, like she is today.
: (She must not have been able to face up to what she did… Especially not to Ema.)

: What did you see in the instant that crime occurred?
: …

: (Neil Marshall was stabbed right in front of this poor girl!)

: Poor Ema… You’ve been through so much.

: I drew a picture, but it wasn’t any good.
: Two years ago… You must have been 14. That’s understandable.
: Once it was all over… I made up my mind. I decided that when I grew up, I’d become a scientific investigator.
: I want to be able to fight crime with my testimonies! And find the evidence to make an airtight case…
: That way, Lana would never have to forge any.
: I see… (I think I’m finally starting to understand what makes Ema tick. But there’s still something that bothers me about that crime.)

: There’s something that’s puzzling me, Ema.
: What is it?
: You said you were in Lana’s office at that time, right?
: That’s right.
: Why then would a serial killer come running in there?

: Oh, there’s no mystery there.

: Taken in for questioning? You mean by the police?
: Of course. This happened at the Police Department. He tried to run away halfway through the interview, and fled into my sister’s office.
: But why did he run all the way over to your sister’s office?
: Because the detective offices and the questioning room are right across from the elevator.
: … Across from the elevator? But Lana was the Chief Prosecutor, wasn’t she?
: No, silly!
: Didn’t I tell you? Two years ago…
: Lana was a detective. She was the best in the entire force!
: Whaaaat!? (That’s news to me!)
: After the Joe Darke case, she was transferred to the Prosecutor’s Office and made Chief Prosecutor.
: (Lana used to be… a detective? I’d better have another talk with her!)

We can present the case file to Ema now, too.

: What was it labeled, again? The “SL-9 Incident”?
: Yes. The name of everyone connected to this trial is listed in here. All that’s left… is to figure out just what role everyone plays in this case. If we search hard enough, I think we’ll find our answers. (What exactly did, or didn’t, Lana do?)
: I’m not sure I want to know everything…

Now, it’s off to see Lana.

: Mr. Wright. It seems I keep causing you trouble.
: Falsifying evidence… I didn’t think you were the type.
: Criminals don’t mind playing foul, why should we?
: But Lana! If you’re wrong…
: an innocent person might be found guilty!
: Believe me…
: I understand the risks.
: Lana. Ema told me about you.
: Oh?
: About how you were a detective two years ago, and how the SL-9 Incident was the reason for your transfer to the Prosecutor’s Office.
: That’s right.
: Could you fill me in on the details? Especially about that unusual change of jobs.
: …
: I suppose you have a right to know, Mr. Wright.

: A lot of revelations were uncovered at the trial today, not the least of which was the fact that this case is largely connected to another one, two years ago.
: Evidence from that case was stolen…
: I expected as much. I know how obsessive Officer Marshall can be.
: That trial… it really wasn’t “fair,” was it?
: …
: I believed in you, Lana!
: I believed that no matter what happened, you’d always stick to the truth!
: It couldn’t be helped, Ema. At that trial two years ago…
: I sold my soul.
: Well, all drama aside, the fact of the matter is at 5:15, there was no murder at the Police Department.
: Tell me it’s not true, Lana! What the withness… Ms. Starr said!

: …
: Lana! I don’t understand!
: Why won’t you tell us?
: Ema… This
: doesn’t involve just me.
: (I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lana look so fazed before…)

: It’s true. I was a member of the police force two years ago.
: She was amazing!

: Chief Gant?
: Then he was the Vice-Head of Criminal Affairs, but he still worked the crime scenes. Damon Gant… he was everything I aspired to be.
: They were the best team ever! They solved crimes before the reports could even be filed!
: (Ema really idolizes her big sister.) But now you’re Chief Prosecutor… What happened?
: I always planned on becoming a prosecutor. The reason I became a detective was…
: to gain experience investigating crime scenes, so you could later use that experience in court.
: Gant’s help in the SL-9 case was critical in its resolution. After that, he became Chief of Police,
: and arranged my transfer to the Prosecutor’s Office.
: (Maybe I should ask more about this “investigation” of theirs two years ago.)

: Two years ago I was second-in-command of the detectives investigating Darke.
: “Second-in-command”? That means the Chief Detective was, no doubt, Damon Gant?

: (They even had the same office…!)
: We led a team of the best detectives on the force:

: It was the first time Marshall worked with his brother. He was quite… “gung ho.”

: We asked him to come in for questioning. We were desperate for evidence.
: That was when the last murder took place.
: (When he tried to murder Ema…)
: Prosecutor Marshall was trying to save me from Darke…
: You see, the first person who happened upon the scene of the crime… was me.
: …! (Now you tell us…)

: Detective Gant and Prosecutor Marshall were the ones questioning Darke that day.
: The investigation was in its final stages, when Darke must have panicked. He waited until Gant and Marshall let their guards down,
: then fled the room. From there, he ran straight too… the office shared by Detective Gant and myself.
: That’s where he found me.
: So you were the first person to run to the scene, Lana?
: It appears so. I was filing some papers while Gant and Marshall were questioning Darke.

: Three bodies? Prosecutor Marshall, the victim, Ema, who had passed out,
: and the suspect, Joe Darke. During the struggle, it seems Mr. Marshall struck a final blow before he died. Joe Darke had incurred a minor concussion, and lay unconscious.
: What did you do?
: To be honest, I panicked.

: (Can’t blame her, after all her sister must have gone through.)
: After that, I placed Darke under immediate arrest.
: Let me get this straight. You were all involved in the SL-9 Incident?
: That’s right. Quite a coincidence, hmm?
: I don’t buy it.

: W-what are you saying?
: There’s no way everyone involved in this trial was also involved in that incident just by “chance.”
: But that case was solved two years ago!

: Officer Marshall… Yes, his actions came as a surprise to me as well. Ever since his brother died, he’s changed completely.
: I guess he wasn’t convinced with the ruling against Joe Darke.
: … Life doesn’t end with the closing of a case.
: Everyone has to live the rest of their lives with their memories.
: That “case” just might not be over yet.
: !
: Ema was assaulted by Darke at the Police Department, right?
: Yes, in the office that Damon Gant and I shared. The office that Mr. Gant now occupies by himself:
: the Chief’s office.
: (Maybe we should have a look at the Chief’s office - the site of the final SL-9 murder!)

So, off to the police department.

: I don’t see Detective Gumshoe anywhere.
: Things seem kinda quiet around here today.
: You’re right. (The head of the department seems the same though.)
: Why don’t we go look for some other people to talk to?
: Right. We can come back here later.

So we head outside.

: Howdy, Bambina.
: Oh, Mr. Marshall!
: I never thought things’d turn out this way when I woke up this morning.
: Que será será. You never know where life’ll lead you, eh Bambina? I should’ve known my luck had run out when ol’ Billy dried up this morning.
: Billy…?
: Must be his pet cactus. Say, where are you headed?
: Just over to the Prosecutor’s Office for a little interrogation. It’s a “voluntary” appearance,
: but we all know I won’t be coming back. Sorry, but you can’t go in the evidence room today, pardner.
: But Mr. Marshall…
: Why did you do it?
: Why do prospectors head west?
: If ever there was a case I needed to know the truth about, it was that one.
: Before you turn yourself in, Mr. Marshall… would you mind telling us exactly what happened?
: Hmph…
: Looks like I won’t be getting a steak lunch today.

Next time: Questioning Marshall.

We are now at the present! If you spot any misspellings or typos and I don’t call them out as being the game’s, please do point them out so I can go back and fix it.

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