Case 3 - Turnabout Samurai
Investigation (Day 3) - Part 2
: Think back, Nick, to the day of the murder… Mr. Hammer put on the Steel Samurai costume. Then he left from here to go to Studio Two…?
: Right.
: But why? I wonder if someone called him…? Like the director, or the producer…?
: Hey, Nick… It’s Ms. Vasquez!
: Hello?
: …
: H-E-L-L-O!
: …
: M-Maya! You should at least try to be polite…
: … I’m watching the clouds. …
: (That’s all she had to say, apparently…)
: Um, excuse me? Mr. Hammer came here on the day of the murder, and…
: Shh.
: ?
: Perhaps you didn’t hear me. I’m watching the clouds. I’m not interested in talking to you.
: Do something, Nick! She’s really ticking me off!
: (Oh dear…)
: Umm… Mr. Powers wasn’t the killer!
: You don’t have to cancel the Steel Samurai!
: I think I’m tired of the Steel Samurai.
: You… you did it!
: Nick! She did it! She’s the killer! My Fey blood speaks to me! I know it! I know it!
: (Oh dear…)
: Um, I was wondering if you could tell me about Mr. Manella?
: … If you must talk about that man… Perhaps you could talk about it in the trailer? By yourselves?
: (Oh, oh dear…)
: (She’s not even looking.)
: Where.
: Wh-what?
: Where did you get that?
: I, well…
: Oldbag.
: O-Old…?
: She means the security lady, Ms. Oldbag, Nick.
: Right… anyway… Ms. Vasquez. You hid this incident from the press, didn’t you? And you used it to control Mr. Hammer!
: … The wind.
: The… huh?
: It’s gotten stronger, don’t you think? The wind. … Your conversation interests me. Let’s talk about it more, inside the trailer.
And she’s off.
: Nick. She went inside the trailer.
So we will, too.
: Well then, what was that you were talking about?
: (…! Why is she so eager to talk all of a sudden?) Ms. Vasquez.
: You were blackmailing Mr. Hammer so you could control him, weren’t you? That’s why he was doing kids’ shows for petty change!
: Hmph… So I’m a blackmailer now?
: Well, that’s what it was, wasn’t it?
: I mean, sure, it was an accident…
: But you used it to drag Mr. Hammer down from his rightful place as a star!
: Oh…? I haven’t pulled anyone down from anywhere. Mr. Hammer’s career went sour of its own accord.
: B-but!
: You were the cause! You pressured him…
: And to think it was just an accident…!
: What is this all about? You keep saying “accident,” “accident”…
: What do you mean?
: Must I spell everything out for you? Think: what would it be if it wasn’t an accident?
: …! No… No way! You mean Mr Hammer did it… on purpose?
: Wh-where’s your proof! Can you prove it!?
: Hmph! Just think! Would he have let me run his life for five years… over a mere accident? And I ran him hard, believe you me!
: B-but, the security lady said it was an accident!
: Oh. Well, she was a big fan of Hammer’s, you see. She jumped on the reporter who brought that photo into the studio. She wrenched it out of his hands, she did. Gave him a few bruises, too.
: (… So that’s why she had the photo…)
: She’s an old fool. Of course, all the reporter would need is the negatives. He could have made a copy. But he didn’t. The only copy of that photo is the one you hold.
: Give it to me. Now.
: W-what? This is valuable evidence!
: U-umm… Who are they…?
: Professionals. They’re good at erasing… various things.
: What do you think…? Would you like to be erased?
: Wh-what!?
: The trial ends tomorrow? How unfortunate. It’s a shame you’ll have to miss it!
: … Tell me why.
: This is Mr. Hammer’s “dirt”… no? Why should Dee Vasquez care about it at all?
: … I’m sure you’ll have plenty of time to think about that where you’re going.
: So long, friends.
: Boys, erase away.
: Dee Vasquez! You’re coming down to the precinct with me, now!
: Hmph.
: Not bad. …
: Very well. It appears this contest will be decided tomorrow then. In court. I’ll be looking forward to it.
And Dee and her boys are taken away, courtesy the police.
: Sorry I was a little late with my entrance.
: I don’t get many chances to practice that sorta thing.
: Detective Gumshoe…
: Thank you thank you thank you!
: I was really scared…
: Huh? Don’t mention it, pal. Just doing my job. … …
: Detective Gumshoe?
: Sorry, it’s just… I’ve wanted to say that line ever since I became a detective. …
: Okay. I’ve got one more job to do today.
: I’m sure we’ll run into each other again soon!
He heads out.
: Well, Nick. It looks like we’re getting close ot the bottom of this.
: (And who’s at the bottom…? Dee Vasquez!)
Next time: The Steel Samurai’s final battle.