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

Case 3 - Turnabout Samurai
Trial (Day 4) - Part 4

: This photo reveals the motive in this murder!
: …!
: I’m right, aren’t I, Ms. Vasquez?
: Hrrrrrrm… hmph!

: With Dee Vasquez’s help, a terrible accident was swept under the carpet… Ladies and gentlemen, the case currently up for trial… It began on that day, five years ago!
: …
: Ironically enough, that accident precipitated Mr. Hammer’s fall… His fall from stardom!
: His guilt weighed him down, no doubt.
: However! You, Dee Vasquez, used Mr. Hammer.
: You made him work for you for petty change!
: Hmph.
: Bringing us to the present day… and Mr. Hammer’s last role as the Evil Magistrate!
: Yes! Undoubtedly, it was a constant source of shame for the ex-star…
: Hmm…
: One moment, Mr. Wright. We are talking about motives, here… yet you have only talked about Mr. Hammer.
: It almost seems as if… As if it was Mr. Hammer who had killed Dee Vasquez, not the other way around! What motive would Ms. Vasquez have?
: Y-yes, that’s right.
: According to what you say… I would have had no reason to kill Hammer. He was a good source of income for me!
: And I never get rid of useful men. It’s a policy of mine.

: Mr. Wright?

You could be forgiven for believing this is the right choice - the game’s certainly trained you to believe evidence can do anything. But think about it a little.

: Okay… Allow me to present to the court evidence proving Ms. Vasquez’s motive!

And it doesn’t matter what evidence you pick. None of it’s right.

: This is my proof!
: And… this tells us why Ms. Vasquez wanted to kill Mr. Hammer?
: I’d say all it proves is that the defense attorney has completely lost his marbles.
: i[/i]
: Mr. Wright! The court requests that you find your marbles immediately.

: Nick! We’re so close! Think this one through, please!
: Mr. Wright, I’ll ask you again. Please explain Ms. Vasquez’s motive for murder.

: She had no motive, Your Honor.
: What’s that now!?
: It was Mr. Hammer who was out for blood!

: What’s that now!?

: It’s simple!
: Mr. Hammer was intending to kill Ms. Vasquez!

: Wha-!?
: WHAT!?

: Your Honor!

: So, you did do it, didn’t you?

: I am guilty. It was me…

“Th-there’s blood everywhere! We’re too late!”
“Aah! Ms. Vasquez!”
“What…? What happened here!?”
“Manuel fell from the trailer stairs…!”

“Ms. Vasquez, please, try to remain calm…”
“No…! No! How could this…?”
“It was an accident…”
“Mr. Hammer was doing an action scene and…”
“No! Manuel! Manuel!!!”
“D-don’t touch him! Ms. Vasquez!”
“Nooooooooooooo!”
“Please… please don’t die.”
“Please…”

: Congratulations, Mr. Wright. I lose… again.

We fade out for a moment.

: Mr. Edgeworth… Where’s Dee Vasquez?
: In the waiting lobby, Your Honor. As calm and collected as ever…

: I see…
: Mr. Wright.
: Yes, Your Honor?
: It appears you have brought about yet another miracle.
: I… thank you, Your Honor.
: I think not, Your Honor. Will Powers was innocent. That he should be found so is only natural… not a miracle.
: … Yes. Yes, you’re right.
: Very well. This court finds the defendant, Mr. Will Powers…

: That is all. The court is adjourned!

: Thank you so much!
: I’m just glad you’re okay.
: Yes… but… it’s sad.
: I know now that Mr. Hammer stole my costume. It’s bad enough that he wanted to kill Ms. Vasquez… But to think that he tried to frame me for the murder! It makes me sad…
: Tell me why, Mr. Wright!
: H-huh?
: Tell me!

: Well, this is what I think.

: It’s because you were the Steel Samurai.
: Because I was the Steel Samurai?
: Mr. Hammer was a big star, once. But he was reduced to acting in a kids’ show… and as the villain, to boot! The kids love the Steel Samurai. And so, he hated you.
: I… I think I understand. H-he could have just told me. I would have changed places with him any time!
: (I think you’re missing the point…)
: …
: Thank you. I’m just glad it’s all over.
: (So am I… so am I…)
: Congratulations, WP!
: Oh? Oh! Heh heh. Thanks to you, I’ll be able to don the Steel Samurai outfit once more! I can’t wait to get back into that sweaty costume and…

: …?
: Is… something wrong?
: N-no! O-of course not…

: N-Nick! Edgeworth!
: …
: …
: …
: Say something, Wright. I’m not good at small talk.
: Huh? What? … Umm… that was too bad, Edgeworth!

: No… I really want to thank you. Vasquez would have gotten away if you hadn’t stepped in.
: Ah, uh, pleased to meet you. I’m Powers. sniff
: Ah, er, Edgeworth. I’m a big fan of your work, Mr. Powers.
: i[/i]
: … Wright. I must say, I hadn’t expected to meet you again after all these years.
: Meet “again”…?
: However.
: In retrospect, it would have been better had we not met. Thanks to you, I am saddled with unnecessary… feelings.
: Unnecessary feelings?
: Yes. Unease… and uncertainty.
: Aren’t those kind of necessary?
: They only serve to get in my way. You listen to me, Phoenix Wright.
: Don’t ever show your face in front of me again.
: That’s what I came here to tell you.

He leaves.

: Umm… Mr. Wright? Is… this guy your friend?
: What? Friends? As if!
: They’re rivals! Rivals! Right, Nick?
: For now we are… I guess.

: Why do I get the feeling I’m missing something?
: C’mon, Nick! Tell me! What’s the deal with you and Edgeworth?

: I caused quite a stir by revealing that accident from five years ago. It was the talk of the town. Thankfully, Global Studios rethought its programming change. They went back to making kids’ shows again.

: This is it! The new show starts today! You’re going to watch it with me, right?
: (I’ll admit, I was kind of surprised… I didn’t think they’d seriously go through with it…)
: You have to buy trading cards too, okay! We have to trade with Cody and that assistant!
: Fine, fine. I’ll do it.
: Isn’t it great that WP gets to play the lead again? I wonder if they’ll show his real face this time…
: I don’t think the world is ready for the real Will Powers…

Next time: Turnabout Goodbyes

(filler time! New case coming!)

(This next case will also mark the end of the weird laws at the end of updates. I ran out of weird laws I could actually cite sources for.)

(It’s a pity, that was a fun gimmick.)

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Investigation (Day 1) - Part 1

Click here to watch the introduction in video.

: About that, yes.
: 15 years is a long time to wait…
: You can’t imagine how much I’ve suffered…
: You… suffered?
: And now… the perfect opportunity presents itself.

: What!?

: Do you know if there’s any good waterfalls around here?
: Waterfalls…? Dare I ask why?
: Duh, Nick! Isn’t it obvious?
: I need a waterfall to stand under! Preferably a freezing one!
: … Oh… Is that part of your spirit medium training?
: Of course! Except, I’ve been slacking off lately… I need to brave the elements and be forged anew under the rushing spring waters!
: Umm… Okay… I don’t know about any falls per se, but Gourd Lake is pretty close…
: Oh. Darn.
: Sorry, but them’s the breaks. Couldn’t you just take a cold shower or something?
: …
: Good idea!

She heads off.

: (So much for the rushing spring waters…)

: A large, unidentified animal was sighted at Gourd Lake! The town is buzzing with excitement! Locals are calling it “Gourdy” in a tip of the hat to Nessie, the Loch Ness monster. Though its namesake, Nessie, proved to be a hoax… locals are confident their Gourdy is the real deal. …
: yawn Bor-ing. Can’t they show real news for a change?

: ?
: The water pressure’s kind of low in that shower.
: … You want more pressure, huh? Why don’t you go down to the fire department and have them spray you with the hose?
: …

She heads off again.

: (Apparently, E.S.P. is no aid in detecting sarcasm…)

: Strange occurences continue at Gourd Lake… But this time, it’s murder!
: (Gourd Lake again?)
: The body of a man was found in the lake early this morning. A suspect was apprehended. Sources inside the police department revealed… that the suspect’s name is Miles Edgeworth, age 24. Edgeworth was an up-and-coming prosecution attorney, known for his skill and connections. He was guaranteed a long and rewarding career… has he thrown it all away?
: (…? E-Edgeworth!?) What’s going on!? Edgeworth would never do something like–

: Yipes! M-Maya!
: The fireman yelled at me when I called him.
: We’ve got bigger things to worry about than that! They arrested Edgeworth!
: What? You mean, the prosecutor?
: Yeah, he’s a suspect… in a murder!

: When? Where? Whom? Why? How?
: I-I don’t know!
: Let’s go find out, Nick!

: Well, what should we do?
: What do you mean!?
: Let’s investigate! We should talk to Mr. Edgeworth, and check out the crime scene!
: (You’re right… We need more information! Save aimlessness and confusion for later!)

: Well? Got any good ideas?
: Not really. I do my best thinking when I’m standing underneath a waterfall.

Descriptions have changed again, incidentally.

: Mia’s favorite plant. Its name is “Charley.” Maya’s gotten the knack of watering it lately. Charley’s been perking up these days.

: Maya brought in a poster of the Steel Samurai the other day. We had a big fight over whether to put it up or not. I know she’s just waiting for a chance to sneak it up on the wall.

: Mia’s desk. If we had more clients, I would probably sit here more often. Lately, I’ve been spending more time on the couch, watching TV.

: Difficult-looking legal books stand in a formidable row. They mock me. I tried reading one, and it made my head hurt. When I closed it, it slipped out of my hand. Then my foot hurt too.

: Looks like it’s cleaning day again at the hotel across the way. I hear they’re planning a second branch outside the city. I can see the bellboy, getting hte angle of that screwdriver in the drawer just right.

Now, let’s go meet with Edgeworth.

: We’ve all been in here one time or another, haven’t we?
: I guess it comes with the territory.
: I’m not sure it’s something we should mention to too many people…

: Hey! Edgeworth! Come back!

: Nick, I don’t think he’s in a very good mood.
: Well, he is in detention. Were you in a good mood when you were here?
: So, you’ve come to laugh at the fallen attorney? Then laugh, laugh!
: Well? Why aren’t you laughing?
: Nick… Should we be laughing?
: Nah. It’s a trick. Laugh and he’ll get mad… or burst into tears. Edgeworth. We don’t have so much free time we can spend it coming down here to laugh at you.
: … Yes you do.
: (Actually, he’s right.)

: …
: I hoped you wouldn’t come. I didn’t want you to see me. Not like this.
: (Hey, I didn’t want to see you either, believe me.)

We can take a look around, but not much is new.

: This guard monitors the visitor’s room. He hasn’t moved an inch since I came in. A real pro. Or maybe he’s just nervous with Edgeworth in the room.

Instead, let’s chat with Edgeworth.

: Edgeworth. Tell me what happened.
: …
: Why should I? What are you going to do about it?
: Duh! we’re going to help you, that’s what!
: …!
: … Help me? You?
: Don’t be ridiculous.
: Sorry…?
: You’re a novice! You’ve only been in three trials!
: H-hey!
: Sure, you got lucky and won all three…
: But your luck’s bound to run out some day!
: You need real skill, Wright. Experience!
: …
: Nick! He’s insulting you! Nick? Why am I always the one who has to get angry!?

: The murder took place at Gourd Lake, correct?
: Yes… late last night.
: The lake is a long way away from your offices and the court… Why were you down there?
: … I see no need to tell you.
: M-Mr. Edgeworth! You… you didn’t really…?
: … Gourdy.
: Huh?
: I went to see Gourdy.
: “Gourdy”?
: What’s that!?
: I’ll… tell you later. (Why won’t Edgeworth talk to us?)

Maybe the badge will help.

: Edgeworth. Let me defend you.
: …
: Hah! Hah hah! Good one, Wright. But I’m not that hard up. Not yet.
: Wh-what do you mean by that?
: Me? Trust a wet-behind-the-ears lawyer with only three trials under his belt? Never!
: Wh-what!?
: My case is near hopeless, Wright. Every defense attorney I’ve talked to has turned me down.
: What?
: Simply put, they were afraid they’d lose. It occurred to me that it might be my fault that they lack confidence.
: After all, I did get every single one of their clients declared “guilty.”
: I don’t believe it!
: Regardless, I don’t want you involved in this. You in particular I cannot ask to do this.

Which opens a new question.

: Edgeworth… this is really hard for me to ask… But… you didn’t do it, right? Right?
: … Think what you will. I have only one request.
: Huh?
: Stay out of this case.

: B-but Nick is trying to help you!
: I know…! I know that!
: But I don’t want your help, okay?
: !!! Why not?
: …
: Look, just go away, and leave me alone!

And he leaves.

: Nick… Mr. Edgeworth did it, didn’t he.
: Maya! Let’s go investigate elsewhere.
: But, Nick…

You heard the man.

: Yeah. Gourd Lake is in the middle of this park.
: I can see some police walking around in there.
: Questioning people, probably.
: Hey! Isn’t that Detective Gumshoe over there?

: There’s enough of us here! Anyone found anything?
: S-sorry, sir… Nothing.
: Idiot! The trial’s tomorrow! We need clues, on the double!
: B-but, sir… There weren’t any clues… that’s why we arrested that attorney, Mr. Edgeworth! It’s clear, sir. He’s the one who–
: Shaddup! Just you try saying that again! I’ll… er… I’ll make you sorry if you do! I mean… just get outta my face, pal!
: Y-yes, sir!
: Detective Gumshoe’s kinda scary today!
: Recruits… peh!
: …
: Aah!
: Eek!

: Hey, you’re that Harry guy! Harry Butz!
: Wright! Phoenix Wright! (Will he ever learn my name!?)
: And just what are you doing here, pal? Investigating!?
: Huh? Um, well, yes. I suppose.
: Well, I’m here to help! Ask me anything you want!
: Bring it!
: He seems different than usual. I wonder what’s up?
: Umm… Mr. Edgeworth hasn’t actually asked us to defend him yet…
: Huh!?
: Oh? Y-you don’t say…

Let’s look around some.

: I feel winter’s chill from the bare leaf trees today… sigh What is it about winter that turns people into poets?
: I don’t know, but my toes are starting to feel numb.
: (Yes… my poetry has that effect on some people.)

: The sign says “Gourd Lake Nature Park.” This place is full of families picnicking on the weekend.
: But… no waterfall.
: Not many picnickers come here for spiritual training, Maya.

Question time.

: Detective Gumshoe? Do you know what happened here?
: Huh? You don’t know, pal?
: No…
: Wow, okay, Mr. head-in-the-fluff-pink-clouds Lawyer.
: Head-in-the… huh?
: Never mind, I’ll tell you.
: It happened last night, about 15 minutes after midnight.

: In that boat were two men.

: A cop who arrived on the scene arrested him.
: How did he get there so fast?
: Well…
: There was a witness. When the report came in, we raced to the lake.
: A witness?

: You don’t think Mr. Edgeworth is a… murderer!?
: Absolutely not! It’s impossible!
: I don’t care if there’s a witness either! I don’t believe a lick of it!
: R-right! Who cares what the witness says!
: (I care!)
: …
: You really believe in him, don’t you, Detective?
: Course I do!
: But… the police are pretty sure he’s the killer. Nobody’s even really taking this investigation that seriously.
: Oh no!
: After all the help Mr. Edgeworth has been to us… Hard to imagine that no one’s standing up to take his side.
: Well, at least you are, Detective. At least you are.

: I-is it true? No one will take Mr. Edgeworth’s case?
: Yeah… He’s a bit of a celebrity. If you defended him, and lost, your reputation’d be sure to suffer. What’s more…
: The case against him is… well, it’s pretty solid.
: (I suppose it would be if they have a witness.)
: Hey! Pal! Don’t tell me you’re going to turn your back on him too!? Remember the Steel Samurai! Mr. Edgeworth helped you get your client declared innocent!
: I… I know. I went to Edgeworth. I tried. He really doesn’t want us to represent him. Especially not us, he said.
: What!? W-well, that doesn’t make any sense, pal! You should have heard him talking about you after the Steel Samurai case! He kept saying “Wright, Wright, Wright” over and over.
: … Nick?
: I’m not sure that’s a good sign.
: Neither am I…
: Why wouldn’t he want your help? I don’t get it.

: Who was this witness?
: Er, sorry, pal. That’s confidential. anyway, the witness saw everything, apparently. I’m sure they’ll turn up at the trial tomorrow.
: Was there only that one witness?
: Yep. It was pretty cold out on the lake last night. And, it was Christmas Eve after all.
: Still, we’re being thorough. You never know when you’re going to turn up another witness. That’s why we’re here today, checking things out.
: So far, we’re coming up empty…
: Oh! It’s Christmas today! I’d forgotten.
: What are you getting me for Christmas, Nick?
: Talk to Santa.
: Detective Gumshoe, sir!
: What? Find something?
: Um, no, sir. Not yet. But there was a call from the precinct. They want to hold an investigation briefing…
: A briefing?
: Right! I’m off!
: Oh… Sorry, pal. I guess you heard. I gotta go.

: Well, yes. Do you have any information the victim…?

: Sorry…
: They haven’t worked up the autopsy report yet. I’m still waiting for it myself.
: Actually…
: Say, if you get the time, drop by the precinct! We can talk more there, pal!

And this leaves us off where the other thing starts.

: You’re not coming back, Detective?
: Erm… Probably not, pal.
: so, what should we do if we have something to talk to you about…?
: Ah, right.
: Here, I’ll show you how to get to the precinct. Come down and see me anytime.

And now we can visit the police station.

: Oh, hey! Detective Gumshoe!
: W-what!?
: Um, we’d like to take a look around in the park. Can we walk around?
: Yeah! No problem, pal. You got my permission.

He leaves.

: You know, Nick. I think there’s something to be said for talking to people when they’re busy.
: Yeah. They don’t have time to think about not giving you information…
: Right! Now, let’s get investigating!

Next time: Christmas In July

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Investigation (Day 1) - Part 2

First, checking our current profiles.

Now, on to the investigation.

: Yup. I’m not sure it warrants a “wowsers,” though.
: Hmm. Probably not.
: But hey, look at that snack stand!
: “Samurai Dogs”…?
: I wanna Samurai Dog! Please!
: I bet they’re great!
: With a name like Samurai Dog, how could they not be?
: They’re a little behind the times, though. The kids are all into “The Pink Princess” now.
: I mean, like, y’know!?
: i[/i]

Let’s look around.

: Wow. Gourd Lake is really big.
: Yeah.
: Say, Nick. Why is it called “Gourd Lake”?
: Oh. Well, a long time ago, they used to grow gourds here.
: Whoa! No way!
: I was sure it was because the lake looked like a gourd when viewed from above!
: You know, like an hourglass shape?
: Well, it is shaped like a gourd, actually. But that’s just a coincidence.
: Oh. Okay.

: The trashcan is empty. At least the place is well maintained.

: A lineup of plastic benches. I guess the idea is you buy a dog and eat it here. I doubt anyone would sit here and eat on a day like this. Except maybe Maya… if she had a Samurai Dog.

: …and it goes “pop.” Yeah, I know the ones. You see them a lot around New Year’s.
: Hey, Nick! It might be a clue!
: Let’s take it.
: C’mon, admit it. You just want to pop it, right?
: Was it that obvious?

: I suppose it couldn’t hurt. Huh? Where’d it go?
: I already put it in my pocket.

: A hotdog stand. It’s closed… The Christmas fringe looks a little half-baked. The banner reads “Samurai Dogs”… Somebody needs to redecorate.

That’s all we can see here for now.

: Look… someone’s camping!
: They’ve got guts, camping at the scene of a murder.
: Hey, hey, Nick!
: If they were camping here last night, they might know something about the murder!
: (That’s true…) Good call, Maya. Let’s go talk to them.

Well, first we look around.

: Hey, Nick!
: What, don’t tell me you’re hungry again?
: No, no.
: I was just wondering, why are camping pots and pans made of aluminum?
: … They didn’t talk about that in any of the law books.
: So, there’s no law saying they have to be made out of aluminum, then!
: (I’m not having this conversation…)

: This SUV has seen better days. It’s dented all over. I can’t believe anyone would drive their car down here.

: The trees grow quite thick here. Further back, the trees fade into the shadow where the sunlight can’t reach them.

: The sign says “No Camping.” Funny place to pick to pitch your tent.
: Wait, what if the sign said “No Setting Tents on Fire”?
: … I don’t think they have signs like that.
: Oh…

: There’s food and some magazines on the sheet. It takes a pretty tough skin to camp in this cold.

: This camera has a mic and some sort of attachment. It must take pictures when triggered by a noise.
: Wow! Cool! Let’s try it out!
: cough
: “Hi, I’m Nick!”
: … Maybe I’m not saying it loud enough.
: “HEY! I’M NICK!!!”
: … Huh.
: NIIIIIIIIII… …IIIIIIIIIICK!
: Will you stop that?
: Maybe it’s broken?
: D-don’t kick it! Maybe it isn’t set to respond to voices?

: The party popper…?

: … Yep. It responded.
: Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw!

: Eek!

: Look what ya done now! There goes a whole roll of film!
: Ah? Wha… huh? S-sorry!
: Sorry’s nice but it don’t pay my bills! Y’all know how much a roll of that film costs!?
: I-I’ll pay you back!
: What were ya’ll thinkin’ settin’ off a party-popper in a place like this?

Not my fuckup, that ya’ll.

: Uh… well…
: What!

: Yeah, I know how y’all Yanks think! “I say, those southern folks talk with that exaggerated drawl, why they must be dumb!”
: Well let me tell you, just because I might be dumb don’t mean we all are!
: N-Nick, help!
: And who are you, now? Her chaperone?
: Yeah, uh, no, rather, uh… we’re sort of… friends?
: Jus’ figure out what y’all are gonna say and say it for bejeezum’s sake!

: (Oh boy… I guess we should pay her for the film…)
: Watch it!
: Yes ma’am. (On second thought, I’ll pay later…)
: I’m really sorry!

We can ask her stuff, but all the responses are the same.

: Umm…
: What!? Can’t ya see I’m changin’ the film on my camera here!
: Someone–I’m not namin’ any names–but someone used up a WHOLE ROLL.
: Sorry…
: (That didn’t work… I wonder if I have anything to show her that would get her attention…)

So we get out our badge.

: Huh? Aren’t badges supposed t’ be all shiny and impressive? You a cop or something?
: Umm… I’m a lawyer.
: Wh-what!? Y’all ain’t gonna try and pull one o’ them lawsuits on me over that film now?
: Cause I’ll have y’all know I’m a fighter and I wrassled meaner lookin’ things’n you!
: N-no, that’s not it at all. We’re here investigating a murder that took place here, on the lake.

: …

: (Finally! Some cooperation!)
: You too. Y’all can come out of hiding now. I won’t bite. Hard.
: (Come to think of it, where did Maya get to?)
: S-sorry… I-I was feeling a little overwhelmed. The culture gap and all…
: Never you mind, honey. I kin’ talk Yank for ya if… ahem… if it pleases you?
: Th-thanks. I think I’ll be okay.
: Great then! I’m Lotta. Lotta Hart, but y’all can call me Lotta! I’m here photographing meteor showers for a research project.
: Mighty pleased ta meet ya!

Now we can ask her questions.

: Oh yeah, when was that murder, anyway?
: I ain’t seen much television lately.
: It happened late in the night on Christmas Eve.
: That so? Christmas Eve?
: A man on a boat was shot… Did you see anything?
: Well, lemme see. A boat, ya say? I reckon I mighta seen one… not sure though.

: I seen enough boats to choke a mule. Kinda hard to remember which I seen when.

: So, what is it you do, Lotta?
: Huh? Me?
: Hah hah. Y’all don’t really want to know that, do ya?
: Actually, I’m a research student at Country U., right in the heart of the heartland.
: Wow! Neat!
: Nick! She’s a research student at a university! Country U.!
: Uh… so I hear.
: So, when did you come up here?
: Hmm, lemme see… I guess it was 'bout three days ago.
: What are you photographing?
: D-didn’t I tell y’all that already? Meteors! Yep, meteor showers!
: (Falling stars…?)

: Y’all better know it! It’s German-made. A genuine Solingen!
: (Isn’t that where they make knives…?)
: Umm…
: So, what’s that device you have stuck to the camera?
: Huh? Device?
: It started moving all by itself when I fired my party popper…
: Oh that? That triggers the shutter whenever it detects certain sounds. It’s programmed to pick up loud noises right now.
: A programmable camera! Neat!

We can immediately present the camera, too.

: Lotta?
: Yeah?

: Ayup.
: Actually, the victim in the case we’re researching–he was shot with a pistol.
: A pistol…?
: Right. Now wouldn’t a gunshot make a similar noise to our party popper…?
: I guess it would.
: Your camera… didn’t get a picture of the murder, did it?
: …
: Hey! Y’all are pretty bright!
: Huh?
: I see what yer sayin’…
: Tell ya what, I’ll have a look-see at my film.
: It would have been a photo taken late last night…
: I checked 'em once, don’t remember if there was anything on ‘em though.
: But what if I got sumtin’! I could be witness to a genuine murder! Yeehaw! I’ll go check that film. Y’all come back now, y’hear?

She leaves.

: She went inside her SUV.
: I guess we should come back later…

So let’s find somewhere else to poke for a bit.

: A boat rental shop. Closed for Christmas it seems. I guess a murder taking place on one of the boats won’t be good for business, either.
: Boats… I’ve never ridden on a boat.
: Really? Well, how about we go out on one when the trial is finished?
: Hey, good idea! You bet!

Let’s look around a bit.

: There’s more forest off that way. I doubt I’d find any helpful clues in there.

: A small boat rental shop. Doesn’t look like anyone is around. They’re probably closed because it’s Christmas.

: There are some boats floating at the dock. Was one of these boats used in the murder, I wonder?
: Nick?
: Huh?
: I changed my mind. I don’t really want to go for a boat ride.

…and that’s all there is to see in this area! So let’s go visit the cops.

: I guess Detective Gumshoe is still in that meeting.

: Thanks for coming down, pal!
: Detective Gumshoe!
: We just finished the meeting. For better or for worse…
: (I get the feeling we’re in for some bad news…)

We’ll look around to delay the bad news.

: These are the detectives’ desks. There are computers and files on each one. Funny, they’re a lot tidier than I’d expect. I guess the detectives don’t spend a lot of time at their desks.

: Hey, is that the police department’s mascot…?

: It was my idea! I made it! It’s my mascot!
: I… see. How nice.
: I’ll get him assigned mascot of the Criminal Affairs Dept. if it’s the last thing I do!
: Um, good luck!

: That must be the chief of the detectives here. He’s glued to his computer screen.
: Wha…!? “Gourd Lake…!” “Gourdy sighted”!!! I don’t believe it!
: (Shouldn’t you be reading something more important…?)

: A poster of a female police officer… Wait, no. That’s the latest “Babes in Uniform” calendar. My bad.

: That must be one of the detectives. He’s mumbling something to himself.
: “All right, hands against the wall, all o’ you… Don’t even think about escaping! I got eyes in the back of my head!”
: … He must be doing image training for arrests.

So, let’s talk to Gumshoe.

: Do you know anything about the victim yet?
: No, no… Still can’t I.D. him.
: Has Mr. Edgeworth said anything?
: Not a word.

: So, how did the meeting go?
: I can’t tell you, pal! You’re a lawyer!
: T-true…
: … Y’know… I don’t know what to believe anymore. Sure, Mr. Edgeworth’s human like you or me.
: Still…
: I get the feeling that if he’d done something wrong, he wouldn’t go hiding it. That’s just the kind of guy he is.
: Why can’t anyone else see that?
: So, they think that Mr. Edgeworth did it…?
: Well, the trial’s starting tomorrow, as scheduled.
: I see…
: …
: Umm… hey, in the end you did tell us about the meeting!
: … Don’t got telling anyone else, pal.
: Y-yes, sir!
: And… do me a favor! Stand by Mr. Edgeworth!
: He needs help, and you’re the ones to help him! I’m sure he’s got some reason why he won’t talk to us.
: Thanks, Detective Gumshoe.

: Detective Gumshoe… How come you trust Mr. Edgeworth so much?
: Well, I’d think that was obvious. We got a strong working relationship, us two. We trust each other, and that’s how it works.
: A “working relationship”?
: See, Mr. Edgeworth always gets his defendants declared “guilty” every time.
: Yeah, his methods might be a little extreme at times. But… there’s a reason!
: He trusts our investigation, see? He trusts us to get the right man! That’s why I work extra hard, pal. We’ve got to earn that trust he places in us.
: I see…
: Mr. Edgeworth is a man you can trust… And you have my word on that!

: I was wondering, did you ever get that autopsy report?
: Oh, that? Yeah, I made a copy for you.

: Thank you.
: …Nick?
: Huh?
: CAn you show me that photo of the victim?

: That face…!
: Someone you know?
: I… I don’t know.
: I just have this feeling that I met him somewhere a long time ago. …

The badge has been surprisingly useful lately, so we try that, too.

: Sorry, I’m drawing a blank right now.

Next time: Backstory.

[quote=“Portland, Oregon, Code chapter 8.36.160”]8.36.160 Cleaning Skeletons.
It is unlawful to scrape or clean the skeleton of any dead body in any burial ground within the city, except in a suitable building erected thereon. It is unlawful to deposit any scrapings or dead matter from any skeleton or dead body in any burial ground in said City in such manner as to expose the scrapings or dead metter to public view.[/quote]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Investigation (Day 1) - Part 3

We’re heading back to the office to regroup.

: What is it?
: Oh.
: Nothing… just, something’s been bothering me.
: …

: … … …
: Hey! I-I remember now!

: This is a lawyer that was at that office Mia worked at!

: I met him once when I went there to hang out with Sis!
: That office…? Wait!

: Right! That guy!
: (That was the last name I expected to come up… Maybe I should go talk to him… for old time’s sake.)

But first, let’s ask Maya for advice.

: Well, what should we do?
: Hmm… The police have pretty much made up their minds that Mr. Edgeworth did it. And Mr. Edgeworth won’t tell us anything.
: I guess we could go look for clues down by the lake?
: Right.

: Well? Penny for your thoughts?
: Thoughts… Thoughts… Yeah, why won’t Mr. Edgeworth tell us anything? And… and…
: And why did he refuse to ask for our help?
: What a jerk!

: It’s been a while since I was here last. Mr. Grossberg is out as usual.
: Hey, Nick. Look at the wall.
: (That painting is still missing… Mia must have known about the deal with Mr. Grossberg and Redd White… She kept track of all of White’s extortion and blackmail rackets.)

We can still look around, though.

: A table for clients. Hmm… an elegant ebony case, and if I’m not mistaken, that lighter’s made of solid gold. Even I can tell someone here’s got money to burn.
: We should put things on our client table too.
: I’m not really into smoking.
: We could put out candy, or gum.
: Classy…

: An expensive potted plant. No idea what kind of plant it is, but it’s probably the most expensive one available.
: I think our Charley is cuter.
: Right. He’s a really cute… plant.

: A solid mahogany desk. The wood’s been polished to a deep luster.
: Hey, Nick! I want a desk like that in our office too!
: I don’t know. I don’t think I’m ready to sit at a desk like that yet.
: Huh?
: I meant for me!
: You’d better start saving your allowance, then.

: Why is the wall there a different color?
: A big painting was hanging there until recently.
: Huh. What happened to it?
: Uh… well, he gave it to someone.
: I bet he gave it to some romantic interest! Love blooms eternal, Nick!
: Uh… yeah.

: Expensive-looking mahogany bookshelves, filled with expensive-looking books. Hmm… funny… They don’t look like they’ve ever been read.
: Well then let’s take them back to our office! He won’t miss them!
: Uh, we don’t need them.
: Then, can we take that wooden bear?
: (Hmm. It is kind of cute.)

And now, back to the lake.

: Lotta!
: Wait up a sec! We got bingo!
: Bingo…?
: My automatic camera took two pictures last night!
: Hey!

: See? See? He’s shooting him with that pistol!
: I-it looks like that, yes.
: But you can’t really tell who that is shooting.
: Yeah, well there was enough fog out there last night t’ strangle a bullfrog.
: But, y’know…

: What…?
: I saw the murder happen. I’m a witness!

: A-are you serious!?
: Course!
: (How do you forget… never mind.)

: I… reckon so!
: What’s that? Now don’t y’all go tryin’ to mock my accent!
: I’m a sensitive lady!

Or…

: I… reckon no!
: What’s that? Now don’t y’all think y’all can pull one over on me just cause you speak the lingo!
: I know enough to know that when you see a murder, you’d best tell the cops! It’s my obligation as a citizen!

Convergence.

: Hey, so, I’m off to talk to the cops.

: Later.
: W-w-wait! Lotta!
: What? Can’t y’all see I’m kinda busy?
: T-tell us what you saw, too! Please?
: Nice try, honey, but I wasn’t born yesterday. I’m a witness, and that means I’m on the side of justice, and that means the cops! I’d sooner eat the south side of a north-bound skunk than tell you!
: L-Lotta!
: Don’t let it get your skivvies in a bunch. Friends today, enemies tomorrow! Or was that the other way round? No matter. I’m gone!
: Hey! Maybe they’ll let me do some testifying! Hot darn!

She leaves.

: She left… … Well, that’s one more witness. What do we do now, Nick?
: (Well, if she saw something, there’s not much we can do about it. The question is: what exactly did she see…? I guess we’ll find out in the trial tomorrow.)

We get this evidence, at least. We start making our way back.

: Hey!

: Aah! N-Nick! I think Santa’s mad at you!
: Long time no see, Nick.
: Nick… you know Santa!? Wow… Nick and St. Nick… Hey! I see the connection!
: Don’t be ridiculous!
: Dude, it’s me!

: What are you doing here!?
: Isn’t it obvious? I’m working my day job! I sell Samurai Dogs! Want one? Gotta get money for dates, you know. My girl Kiyance deserves the best!
: (K-Kiyances…? Not another model, I hope…)
: Oh, Kiyance’s a fine, fine woman, Nick. It was her idea that I wear this costume! She was all “You go girlfriend!” Y’know? She bought this costume for me!
: That’s… that’s great, Larry.
: Wow! A Santa costume! She must be really nice!

: Nick! Who’s she? She’s not your…?
: Not my… what? N-no, she’s not!
: I’m his partner, Maya Fey. I’m, uh, the little sister.
: Sister…? …

: Working nine to five, having to take care of a little sister…
: N-no, I’m not Nick’s sister, I’m my older sister’s little sister…
: Huh. Sounds great!
: (Don’t worry, Maya, he’s not listening…)

: Hey, Larry. There was a murder here last night… You work here. Have you heard anything?
: Nick, you’re wasting your time. Last night was Christmas Eve!
: He was with Kiyance, obviously!
: He wouldn’t have been standing out here in the cold!
: Oof!
: ?
: I think what you just said caught him off guard, Maya.
: N-no, it’s just… Kiyance’s not in town right now. She… she’s in Hawaii on a photo shoot.
: (A model. I knew it.) Well, anyway, there was a murder here on the lake. The trial’s tomorrow.
: Huh. Neat.
: The defendant is Edgeworth. Miles Edgeworth.
: Um, Nick?
: Why would Larry know Edgeworth…?
: Whoa, Nick! You don’t mean THAT Miles Edgeworth!? Old Edgey!?
: Yeah. He’s a murder suspect.
: Wh-whoa! Murder?
: Huh? You know Mr. Edgeworth, Larry?
: Yeah! Of course!
: Edgey was in the same class as us in grade school!

: Umm… umm… tell me about the dogs!
: Huh? Oh, you mean the Samurai Dogs?
: W-why are they Samurai Dogs?
: I… I mean they kind of look gourd-shaped.
: Oh, well originally, they were Gourd Dogs! Y’know, like “guard dogs”?
: Ouch…
: The Samurai thing was Kiyance’s idea. Oh, she’s my woman, y’know. She was all “change the name and you go girlfriend!” She made me that banner! Man, the kids can’t get enough of those Samurai Dogs!
: Erm… Something about that just seems… wrong.
: Oh, and guess what? We’re getting a ton of customers here at the lake, what with the big news!
: The “big news”…?
: Yeah! Gourdy!
: G-“Gourdy”…?

: So, Mr. Edgeworth was your classmate, Larry?
: Yeah, Nick, him, and I used to hang out all the time.
: Wow… I never knew.
: Don’t get me wrong. He’s always been kind of a stick in the mud. Studying all the time, trying to “be like father.”
: Like his father…?
: Yeah. Edgey’s pop was a famous defense lawyer back in the day.
: Wow.
: Wait… You said “defense lawyer”?
: Yeah.
: Wait a second!
: But Mr. Edgeworth is a prosecuting attorney!
: What? Edgey’s got a proboscis on his knee!?
: No, no–he’s a “prosecuting attorney.” That’s like the total opposite of a defense lawyer!
: …
: Huh. Go figure! He always used to talk about defending the “weak” who were “unable to defend themselves.” Man, he used to go on and on about man’s duty to society and all that. What a bore! I wonder what changed his mind, though?

I feel I should point out that this took place when everyone involved was, like, ten.

: Do you know, Nick?
: … Nick…?

: Umm… what’s “Gourdy”?
: Huh? You mean you don’t know? It’s here, in this very lake! A giant, mysterious monster! Gourdy!
: A… monster?
: Yeah.

: Wow! It’s r-really real!

: Nick! A monster! A real monster!
: Umm… yeah. (It’s probably just a log or something… right?) Hey… there’s a quote here from the person who took the photo. Hmm? What’s this? “I set the camera to automatic, and when we got into the frame… I heard a loud ‘bang’! Like an explosion… followed by the sound of something slipping into the water…”

: I wish I could have seen it!
: (Why would there be a sound like an explosion…?) Larry. Could I borrow this article from you?
: Sure, no problem. That’ll be one million dollars!
: O-one million…?
: (Grow up, Larry.)

Oh, and we use the badge, of course.

: Dude, you really helped me out back in that trial.
: S-sorry, I can’t really pay you.
: (Cause you blow it all on “Kiyance”…!)
: But… you can have all the dogs you want!
: R-really!?
: Larry… If you let her at your dogs, you won’t have any left for the other customers.
: Hey, no problem. If that’s what makes her happy, y’know?
: (How many times do I have to remind you that it was ME who got you off the hook!)

And now, back to visit Grossberg.

: (Ah, that old familiar clearing of the throat!)

: Ah hah! You’re Mia’s… something, are you not?
: I was her understudy, yes. Phoenix Wright.
: Ah hah! And you, you’re Mia’s… something too, are you not?
: Her little sister, yes!
: You’ve grown! You’ve come to look a lot like your sister, you know? It takes me back. “Ahh… the days of my youth… like the scent of fresh lemon…” you see.
: Um, Mr. Grossberg, sir?
: Hmmm…?
: Ah, yes. I beg your pardon. Of course you came here to discuss something.
: What is it then? Something the matter?

: There was a murder last night…
: A murder?
: You haven’t heard…?
: I, er, just got up, you see.
: Well, Miles Edgeworth shot someone with a pistol.
: Edgeworth!? What!? W-who!?
: Well, the identity of the victim is still unknown.
: T-this is terrible news indeed!
: (I guess he hadn’t heard anything…)

: Mr. Grossberg? Whatever happened to that painting?
: Oh, yes…
: I do not think it shall ever be coming back home to this office. I can’t exactly claim it as stolen…
: I suppose it’s my just desserts. Old, bitter desserts.

First, badge.

: How proud Mia would be if she could see you now!
: She said she was more worried about me than anything.
: Aw, just go on and take the compliment, will you?

But next we present the autopsy report.

: I feel as though I’ve seen this man somewhere before! …
: Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!
: Did you remember!?
: He was a lawyer! Here, in my office! That’s Hammond! Robert Hammond!
: Mr. Hammond…?
: And you say this is the man Miles Edgeworth shot?

: Who is this Hammond guy, anyway?
: Mr. Hammond… He was the defense attorney in that case…
: “That case”…?
: Yes, the “DL-6 Incident.”
: “DL-6”…? (Why does that sound so familiar?)
: Perhaps you remember?
: (I’m sure someone mentioned it during the trial for Mia’s murder.)
: That was the incident where the police were so at a loss they used a spirit medium.
: …! Wait… you don’t mean?
: Was that medium my mother?
: Yes, my dear. The spirit medium, Misty Fey, your mother, contacted the spirit of the victim.
: But… the case was at a loss. No conviction was made.

: The DL-6 Incident, yes… Happened 15 years ago. A very strange case, indeed.

: They never caught the criminal, right?
: Correct. Misty Fey used her powers to talk to the spirit of the late victim. Her testimony led to charges being laid against one man.

: … And the police blamed my mother, calling her a fraud.
: You were the one who helped her out then, right, Mr. Grossberg?
: Er… y-yes. Yes, quite.
: Thank you!
: N-no… please. D-don’t mention it.
: … (DL-6… Never thought I’d hear that name again…)
: But wait…
: What does that case have anything to do with Mr. Edgeworth?
: It has everything to do with Mr. Edgeworth, my dear! The victim in the DL-6 Incident was none other than his father, Gregory Edgeworth!
: Wh-what!? His father!?

: …
: If you want to know more, you should ask him yourself.

: Wait…
: This is a photograph of my mother!

Next time: Defense.

[quote=“Walnut City, California, Municipal Code Section 17-31”]17-31 Male dressing as female.
No man or boy shall dress as a girl or woman without a permit from the sheriff, except for the purpose of amusement, show or drama.[/quote]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Investigation (Day 1) - Part 4

: I was hoping you’d gotten my message the first time.
: Edgeworth, what about your defense?
: …! It’s no concern of yours.
: (Guess he hasn’t found anyone yet.)

: Can I ask you about the murder?
: Wright. I’ll ask you again, just leave me alone.
: …
: Please try to understand.
: I’m not doing this to prove I’m tough, or because I look down on you. I just don’t want you anywhere near this case. Understand?

: Why did you go to Gourd Lake?
: I have no intention of telling you.
: Nor, apparently, would you tell Detective Gumshoe.
: !
: Detective Gumshoe was really worried about you!
: …

But hey, what if we present that photo of Misty Fey we got from Grossberg?

: …
: Edgeworth?
: It’s only been a matter of hours since you last visited. Yet you’ve made incredible progress in your investigation.
: I’ll admit it, I’m impressed, Wright. You were always singleminded in your work, though. Once you start on something, you always see it through, don’t you?
: About the “DL-6 Incident”…
: Right… DL-6.
: I didn’t want you to find out about it. That is why I refused your offer to defend me.

: I just wanted to keep you away from DL-6.
: So… do you still think it would have been better for me to stay away?
: I don’t know. But… I see no point in hiding anything from you now.
: Very well. Ask whatever you like, and I will answer to the best of my abilities.

: The “DL-6 Incident”… was when my father died.

: He was shot and killed, and I saw it all.
: …!
: My memories from that time are… foggy. I suppose it’s a self-defense mechanism.
: In any case, a suspect was arrested… a man. It’s pretty clear he was the only one who could have killed my father. The spirit medium they used to talk to my late father said the same thing.

: And Hammond… is the victim in the Gourd Lake murder?
: Correct.
: Umm…
: That spirit medium… that was my mom.
: What? You mean you’re…?
: …
: It’s strange. I thought that terrible incident was about to end, and now… this.
: “About to end”?
: The DL-6 Incident happened 15 years ago. 15 years ago… on December 28.
: December 28?
: The statute of limitations on the case runs out in three days.
: What!?
: Um, Nick? What does that mean?
: When a case’s statute of limitations runs out, legally, the case never happened.
: Three days from now, DL-6 will be closed… forever.

: What happened to the suspect? The one who got off innocent?
: I don’t know… He disappeared from public view. Nobody knows where to. If he’s still alive, he’d be about 50 years old now.
: (I guess I can understand why he’d go into hiding… It’d be hard to live a normal life after being a murder suspect in such a big case.)

: Umm… so, was your father a lawyer?
: He was… Gregory Edgeworth. He was quite famous at the time, apparently.
: So, you were sort of trying to follow in his footsteps.
: … I’d rather not talk about it.

We present the badge again.

: I can’t say I really want to see one of those right now.

No dice. Maybe the photo of the shot?

: Who would have thought there’d be a photo…?
: Edgeworth… Did you shoot him?
: … What do you think, Wright?
: I don’t think you’re the kind to point a gun at anyone, no.
: So you didn’t shoot him?
: No, I didn’t. It wasn’t me.
: … Wright.
: ?
: It pains me to ask you this now…
: I know! You want us to defend you!

: Sorry, charley! No way!
: Wright…
: Nick…!? …
: H-hey, don’t look so serious, guys! I was kidding! Just a little joke!
: There was nothing little…
: …or joke-like about it!
: (I thought it was funny…)
: Nick! Do it over!
: Yes, Your Honor. How could I refuse you, Edgeworth?
: Thank you, Wright.

And this leaves us where the correct path would.

: Ah, who could have guessed this day would come?
: Not me.

Convergence.

: This is my chance to finally pay you back.
: Pay him back…?

: For what? I don’t remember ever doing anything for you.
: Never mind… I guess you don’t really need to know.
: Huh… My letter of request. Please give it to Detective Gumshoe.

: Well, I guess we should…

The scren keeps rumbling and shaking for the next bit.

: It’s a big one! Whaaaaa!

It slows, though.

: I-it’s calming down… … Whew… that was scary!

And it stops.

: …? Huh? Where’s Edgeworth?
: …
: There. He’s on the floor in a ball, shivering.
: I guess he doesn’t do so well with earthquakes.
: (I’ve heard of running, but curling up in a ball?)
: Well, I guess we’re done. Mr. Edgeworth doesn’t seem like he’s going to stand up any time soon.
: Let’s go, Nick!
: Uh… right. We have to give Edgeworth’s letter of request to Detective Gumshoe.

: Eek!
: W-what’s wrong, Detective?
: This wild lady comes in here just a while ago… Says she came “to talk to y’all after hearing what Mr. Wright had to say”! What’s this all about, pal!?
: (Lotta Hart…)
: Why are you going around finding more witnesses!? You want to give Mr. Edgeworth the death sentence, pal!?
: N-no, not at all… Just… I mean, she did see something. There’s nothing I can do about that. I can’t go around covering up evidence!
: Er…
: You trying to say something about the way I do my job?
: No sir!

: So… what did Ms. Hart say?
: She says she saw Mr. Edgeworth fire the pistol.

: She even had a photograph to prove it.
: Right. I saw it too…

: That’s why she said she’s going to enlarge the photo. She said “it’ll drop the quality a mite, but should let us see who’s who!”
: She can do that!?
: (Okay, so there’s going to be an enlarged photograph that shows Edgeworth in the act. Great. Just great.)
: In any case, she’s going to be the one testifying tomorrow.
: Huh? What happened to the other witness?
: Well… Apparently, there was a cancellation.
: (A “cancellation”…!?)

: I’m afraid tomorrow is going to be life or death for poor Mr. Edgeworth. We got a witness who says she saw the very moment of the murder. And we got a photo taken when the shot rang out.
: (I’d say that sounds like a pretty unwinnable case… But wait… What did Mia used to say? If he’s innocent, there’s got to be something I’ve overlooked…)

: It sounds like Mr. Edgeworth is going to ask the state to assign a public defender. I was just asked to file the paperwork.
: But you still got time, pal!
: Go talk to him again, for me, please! You have to convince him!
: You have to make him let you defend him! Please! I know you’re the only one who can do it, pal. You’re the only one who can save Mr. Edgeworth!

We present the Request, to let him know we have him covered.

: … Hey, you did it, pal! Glad I waited till the last minute to file those papers! I’ll rip 'em up and start new ones for you!
: Thanks, Detective. Well, see you in court tomorrow, then.
: Good luck, pal.

: Hey!
: You guys feel that earthquake a little while back?
: I was worried!
: Worried?
: We’re fine! I’ve lived out here my whole life. I’m pretty used to them by now.

: Oh, I wasn’t worried about you two.
: I was worried about Mr. Edgeworth!
: (Oh, right…) He did seem to over-react a little, now that you mention it.
: Yeah, well, I’m not surprised. It was a pretty big quake.
: I’m going to go check on him. You two go eat and get your rest for tomorrow’s trial.
: Later!

He leaves.

: … I wonder what it is with Mr. Edgeworth and earthquakes?
: I wonder… He was never that scared of them when he was in school.

: (He transferred to another school after that. I wonder what happened to Edgeworth…)

Next time: Trial.

[quote=“Skamania County, Washington, Ordinance 69-01”]WHEREAS, there is evidence to indicate the possible existence in Skamania County of a nocturnal primate mammal variously described as an ape-like creature or a sub-species of Homo Sapian [sic], and
WHEREAS, this creature is generally and commonly known as a “Sasquatch,” “Yeti,” “Bigfoot,” or “Giant Hairy Ape,” and
WHEREAS, publicity attendant upon such real or imagined sightings has resulted in an influx or scientific investigators as well as casual hunters, many armed with lethal weapons, and
WHEREAS, the absence of specific laws covering the taking of specimens encourages laxity in the use of firearms … and poses a clear and present threat to [citizens] as well as to the creatures themselves,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that any premeditated, wilful and wanton slaying of any such creature shall be deemed a felony punishable by a fine not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) and/or imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed Five (5) years.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the situation existing constitutes an emergency and as such this ordinance is effective immediately.[/quote]

(interchapter filler time!)

(I hope at least I don’t have too many more posts that break character limit here)

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Trial (Day 2) - Part 1

: That’s right, Manfred von Karma. He’s the best prosecutor there is. He hasn’t lost a case in his 40-year career. He is a god of prosecution, Wright! A god!
: Not a single case?
: He’ll do anything to get a guilty verdict, anything.
: Hmm. Sounds like someone else I know, Edgeworth.
: Hmph.
: You don’t understand. I mean he’ll really do anything. Manfred von Karma is a man to be feared.
: (That’s quite a claim coming from someone who forges evidence…)
: He taught me what it really means to “prosecute.”
: Wh-what!?
: Just picture a prosecutor as vicious as me… multiplied by a factor of ten.
: Ugh…
: So… so was he your teacher, then, Mr. Edgeworth?
: Something like that…
: And now he’s trying to get you found guilty!? What a creep!
: Oh, wait…
: Maybe he’s planning on losing on purpose to help you out!
: Not a chance… He hasn’t lost once in 40 years. 40 years!
: He’s as ruthless as me, times twenty!
: That’s pretty ruthless…
: Like I said. He’s a god among prosecutors.
: (I guess that’s something like Mia was to me. Speaking of Mia…) Um, Maya?
: Uh huh?
: We could really be using Mia’s help right now… don’t you think?
: Oh…
: ?
: I can’t.
: Sorry. I tried, I really tried, but I couldn’t reach.
: You couldn’t “reach”?
: I think it’s because I haven’t been training.
: My powers are weak again…
: Oh man, what bad timing! I’m really sorry. I’ll try my best!
: I hope so!
: What are you whispering about?
: O-oh, it’s nothing. Well, it’s time. Let’s head in…

: Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Miles Edgeworth.
: The defense is ready, Your Honor.

: Erm, Mr. von Karma? Is the prosecution ready?

: Fool…

: R-right, my apologies!
: (He’s even got the Judge scared!)
: Very well, your opening statement, please.
: … Decisive evidence… A decisive witness…
: What else could possibly be required?
: Ah… er, nothing of course. That should be fine. The prosecution may call its first witness.
: What’s with this guy? Is he royalty or something?
: How am I supposed to fight against this!?
: I call the detective in charge of this case, Detective Dick Gumshoe.
: (Okay, Gumshoe’s first… Let’s see how this goes.)

: Describe the incident. Now!
: Y-yessir!
: (Detective Gumshoe looks nervous…)
: Er, please take a look at the map.

: There were two men on the boat.

: At 12:10 AM, she heard two pistol shots. Then the boat started to move.

: Hmm.

And while we’re in here, our new profiles.

Anyway…

: Testify to the court about your arrest. Now!
: W-w-wait! Mr. von Karma…
: Yes?
: Actually, I’m the one that’s supposed to be handling these proceedings…

: Wrong. There is only one thing you need to do here.
: You will slam down your gavel and say the word “guilty.” That is your role!
: Y-yes, of course. You’re quite right.
: (No he’s not!!!)

: Hmm… I see. Very well…
: Begin your cross-examination, attorney. Now!
: …

: You received a call from a “man”?
: Er… yup.
: But you said there was a woman camping there?
: She was the one who heard the two gunshots, right?

: That woman and the “man” who called in the report are two different people, obviously!
: Different people?
: There were two witnesses!

: Their testimonies were quite similar however. Today I’ve summoned the woman who was camping.
: (The woman who was camping… Lotta Hart.)
: What happened next, Detective?

: How long was it between receiving the report and your arrival at the lake?
: Er, well… I’d say it was about three minutes.
: That’s pretty fast!
: Our motto for the month is “get there quick.”

: Y-yessir! Sorry, sir!
: Do that and you’ll be able to look forward to your next salary review.

: So much to look forward to, these days…
: This is no time for daydreaming! Continue!
: Y-yessir!

: What was Mr. Edgeworth like when you saw him then?
: Well… From what I saw, he looked pretty relaxed. Not like a murderer at all, really.

: Detective! The court requires the facts, NOT your opinion! How many years have you been on the force!?

: Facts only, Detective! Hard, cold, objective facts!
: Y-y-yessir!
: (Man, he’s got his share of objections…)

: Why didn’t you think he was suspicious?
: You should know! We have a deep, trusting relationship with the prosecutors.

: Detective! The court isn’t interested in your musings! “Deep”? “Trusting”? Poppycock!

: I’ve never heard so many flippant comments from an active detective on the force!
: Mmph!
: (Detective Gumshoe doesn’t look so good…)
: Continue! Now!

: Did you find any clues on the body?

: He was shot through the heart… fatally.
: Judge! Here’s the bullet… It didn’t strike bone, so its shape is well preserved.
: Very well. The court accepts this bullet into evidence.

: W-why is that?
: Well, we found the murder weapon in the boat.
: The murder weapon…?

: Detective Gumshoe… That is a vital piece of information. Please revise your testimony.
: Right! S-sorry, Your Honor.

: What about the pistol made it “decisive evidence”?

: (Ack! He has the same evil laugh as Edgeworth…)

: They were clear prints from Mr. Edgeworth’s right hand.

: Order! Order!
: So Mr. Edgeworth’s fingerprints were found on the murder weapon!?
: Y-yes, Your Honor.

: A-accepted into evidence.

: Members of the court… We now have the pistol used in the murder, and the bullet found in the body!

: Detective!
: Y-y-yessir!

: …
: Hey, Nick!
: What does he mean, “ballistic markings”?
: Shocking! To imagine someone here does not know something as basic as ballistic markings!
: N-Nick! He’s glaring at me!
: Tsk… very well, I’ll explain. Actually, Judge! You do it.
: Eh? M-me? …
: Erm, ahem.

: Ballistic markings are like the “fingerprints” of a gun. The barrel leaves distinctive marks on each bullet it fires. You can examine these “ballistic fingerprints” to see which gun fired the shot. It’s quite accurate.
: Indeed.

: This pistol which, as you may recall, was covered with the defendant’s own fingerprints!

: O-order! Order!
: (This is bad… This makes it look like Edgeworth did it!)

: Well, Judge?
: I’d say it’s almost decisive, yes. Honestly, I could declare a verdict at this point. However…

: You wish to hear the witness speak, no doubt. Very well.
: I am somewhat fatigued, and so I will take a brief break. I will call my witness after the recess. Which will last ten minutes.
: Judge!
: Y-yes?
: What are you doing? A ten minute recess! Now!
: B-but, wait, I…

: Just bang your flimsy gavel and get on with it, man!
: Y-yes!

: Ahem. The court will take a ten minute recess.
: (Who’s running this court, anyway!?)

: Your fingerprints were on the murder weapon!
: Uh… hmm…

: The only one who could have shot that man was the person in the photo!
: True…
: Was that you in the boat?
: … Yes. It was me.
: What!?
: But… you must believe me. I didn’t shoot him.
: Th-then who did!?
: I… don’t know.
: You don’t know!? Weren’t you right there!?
: … I heard a gunshot from very close by. Then… the other man fell from the boat. I can’t say why, but…
: I thought, at the time, that he had shot himself!
: Y-you mean it was a suicide!?
: …
: That’s the only explanation I can come up with.
: Huh… (How am I going to convince anyone of that!?) Say, Maya?
: Huh? Wh-what?
: Any progress with Mia?
: Oh… Sorry. It’s no good.
: Ugh…
: I know… I’m no good for anything, am I, Nick?

: Um, well, actually… (You don’t know law, you don’t have any trial experience or techniques… Yeah, you’re pretty much useless… but I can’t say that!)
: It’s okay Nick. You don’t have to say anything. Your face said it for you.
: i[/i] N-no, o-of course we… I’m sorry.
: It’s okay, Nick.

Or…

: No, of course not, I need you here! I can see you’re always trying to help out. Even if oyu don’t actually help… it’s the thought that counts, right?
: It’s okay Nick. You don’t have to make me feel better.

Convergence.

: I don’t know anything about trials, or defense… What’s more, I’m a spirit medium who can’t even contact spirits…
: Aww, everyone has their off days! I mean, I’ve just been getting lucky lately… But you never know when my luck is going to run out!
: Really…?

: Don’t jinx this case any worse than it already is!
: It’s bad for my heart…
: Oh? Oh! S-sorry… i[/i]

Next time: The Curse of Draculawyer.

[quote=Goods and Services Tax Act, Australia, section 165.55 (1999)]The [Australian Tax] Commissioner may:
[list][]Treat a particular event that actually happened as not having happened;
[
]Treat a particular event that did not actually happen as having happened, and, if appropriate, treat the event as having happened at a particular time and having involved particular action by a particular entity; (or)
[*]Treat a particular event that actually happened as having happened at a time different from the time it actually happened, or having involved particular action by a particular entity (whether or not the event actually involved any action by that entity).[/list][/quote]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Trial (Day 2) - Part 2

: Court is back in session.
: Mr. von Karma, call your witness.
: Yes.
: Will Ms. Lotta Hart take the stand?

: Lotta Hart, you are a research student at a university?
: That I am.
: Good. Begin by telling us what you saw the night of the incident. and don’t add anything trivial or subjective.
: Understand?
: … Y’all need to learn some manners.

: UNDERSTAND?
: Y-yeah, I understand, I understand!
: Er… very well. Your testimony, please.

: Enough.
: Huh?
: Judge! She happened to take a photo of the incident!

: W-well! This is a surprise!

: O-Order! I will remove you from the court if I do not have order immediately!
: As the witness testified, she looked at the lake when she heard the shot. There were no other boats on that lake! So, the man in the boat with the victim must have been the one who shot him…

: Yes. It was the defendant, Miles Edgeworth!!!

: Order! Order! Order…! I will have order!
: …

: The evidence is… decisive.
: I have very little doubt about this case.

: Very well, this court finds the defendant…

: W-wait! Your Honor!
: I haven’t cross-examined the witness yet!
: A cross-examination?

: This photo is worth a thousand words… and they all read “guilty”!
: You lose. Or…
: Do you claim to have found a contradiction in her testimony!?

: …!
: Very well. If you have to, you may cross-examine the witness. You will only flounder and ask meaningless questions!
: You will fail to find anything!

: And then, I will have you held in contempt of court!
: Uh, Nick… contempt…?
: “Contempt of court,” you know?
: I… guess I understand.
: Well… what are you going to do?

: I… think I noticed one little thing…
: Wow, I’m impressed, Nick! I didn’t notice anything!
: Right! Let’s take him on!
: Y-yeah… (I got a bad feeling about this…)

: Honestly, I found nothing.
: I dunno, I thought her testimony was strange. She was so vague about everything!
: I bet von Karma probably fed her her lines.
: But…
: But if you don’t cross-examine her, the judge will…
: He’ll bang down that “flimsy gavel” of his and declare Edgeworth guilty.
: I guess we’ll just have to bluff it.
: But if we mess up… contempt of court.
: Hey, if we lose we’ll be held in public contempt!
: Er… right.

Convergence.

: I understand… I will cross-examine the witness!
: Tsk tsk tsk… Very well!
: I pray for your sake this isn’t a waste of time.

: “Just after midnight,” you say?
: In other words, it was no longer Christmas Eve… but Christmas Day!
: Huh? Uh, yeah, well, yes.

: I know you want to find contradictions, but really!
: Mmmph.
: I hope your next contradiction is a little more relevant to the trial. Witness, continue your testimony.

: Why were you camping there, anyway?
: I’m a research student at my university.
: I was taking pictures to use in my research.

: Ms. Hart. Could you be more specific about your “research”?

: What does the witness’s motive in camping by the lake have to do with this case!? The answer is “nothing”! I object to this line of questioning! Objection sustained!
: W-w-wait, now, I’m the one who says that!
: Well, then say it already!
: Objection sustained.
: (Thanks for nothing, Your Honor…)

: So, you weren’t looking at the lake at that time?
: Nope. I looked after I heard that noise.

: She’s said that already! I asked you to find “contradictions”!
: Not leisurely chat with the witness!
: i[/i]

: Could you clearly see the two men?
: Just look at the picture! Clear enough for you?

: Wait a second! I wasn’t asking you about the photo!

: I was asking if YOU saw the two men!
: Uh, yeah, well, of course…

: The witness has testified that she saw them! There’s also a photo! You’d best look elsewhere for your precious contradictions!
: (He jumped in quick… He’s hiding something!)

: Were you watching the very moment the shot rang out?
: Well, yeah, sure…

: You’re asking meaningless questions! Meaningless!

: “Contradictions,” Mr. Wright. Not meaningless babble!
: (von Karma, I think I hate you. He’s trying to keep me from talking to the witness… To what end…?)

: Are you sure about that?
: Yeah, sure as a country gal can be!

: How come you’re so sure?
: Well, heck, I scanned the whole lake.
: (“Scanned the whole lake”? It almost sounds like she was more interested in the lake than the boat…)
: Ms. Hart… you–

: Mr. Wright! The witness has answered the question in full.
: Mmph!
: No need for further questions! Objection sustained!
: U-uh, that’s what I’m…
: Sustained!
: Y-yes, of course.
: (Oh great…)

: Enough!
: I think we’ve heard all we need to hear, Mr. Wright. It seems you are unable to find a contradiction in the testimony worth noting.
: B-but, Your Honor!

: You keep your promise!

: Mr. Wright. I am afraid that I will have to penalize any further outbursts…
: By holding you in contempt of court!
: And if that happens, you will have to leave the courtroom immediately!
: Understood…?
: Uh… uh huh.
: Nick…! Lotta’s testimony is fishy, Nick! Real fishy!
: I… know what you mean. But… If I can’t say anything, what can I do?

: I believe we’ve covered the evidence sufficiently to make a decision.
: Then, pass your judgment!

: Very well. Mr. Miles Edgeworth, please take the stand.

: i[/i]
: I-is something wrong? D-do you need to use the facilities?
: No, I do not! Lotta Hart! Your testimony stinks! It’s unclear whether you were actually looking at the lake! It’s highly doubtful that you actually saw Mr. Edgeworth! Tell us the truth! This is a matter of life or death!

: Lotta! Did you really clearly see Mr. Edgeworth that night!? Did you see him fire that pistol!?

: You will stand down!
: The court does not acknowledge the defense’s outburst!
: Answer me, Lotta!
: What’s the big idea, treating me like some kind of criminal!? I saw him! I swear it! I saw Edgeworth…

: Enough! Judge…
: Declare the defense in contempt of court!
: Y-yes… yes, of course.
: I’m sorry, but you WERE warned.
: Guard! Escort Mr. Wright out of the courtroom! He is in contempt of court, and must leave.
: (No… No…!)

: I-I was the one who made the outburst, Your Honor! Nick is innocent!

: Hah! What’s the difference? All that remains is for the guilty verdict to be declared!

: (Dammit, he’s right…)
: N-Nick! There must be something we can do!
: I… don’t think there is. The cross-examination is over already!
: B-but… but didn’t Lotta just say she saw him? She did, Nick! She just said that she saw Mr. Edgeworth!
: She didn’t say that in her testimony, did she?
: …! Y-you’re right!
: Your Honor!

: Wrong!
: What!?

Convergence.

: Did you hear what Ms. Hart just said?
: She said she clearly saw Mr. Edgeworth!

: That was not in the testimony! That changes her testimony, and I have a right to cross-examine her again!

: Order! Order! Order! Order! Order! Order!
: You’re in contempt of court! It’s too late for wild claims! Judge! Sustain my objection!
: …
: I’m sorry, Mr. von Karma, but I cannot.
: What!?
: Ms. Lotta Hart has made a new testimony.
: The defense does have a right to cross-examine her again.
: B-but he is in contempt of court!
: No, I am! If you’re going to arrest someone, arrest me!
: Hmm…

: Very well. Maya Fey! You will leave this courtroom immediately.
: Nick!
: I did what I could…
: You have to do the rest! Good luck!
: M-Maya…!

: Peh! I care not for this melodrama! Listen well, Mr. Wright!
: I do not tolerate badgering of my witnesses!
: (I’m running out of time… I’d better find a contradiction in here or else…)
: Mr. Wright! Begin your cross-examination!

We can press, but that may not be the best plan.

: Well, what about the other man?

: You cannot expect to be allowed to blithely ignore your promise, Mr. Wright! I believe you claimed there was a contradiction in the witness’s testimony! Well, find it!
: If you can!

: i[/i]
: (That’s it…? Uh oh. I don’t know if I can find anything in that…)
: (What will Maya say…?)

Can you spot it?

Next time: Objection.

[quote=R.S.N.S., chapter 269, section 3 (Nova Scotia)]Every keeper of a public eating place where margarine is served shall
(a) where a menu is used, cause to be displayed thereon in a conspicuous manner the words “margarine is served here”;
(b) where a menu is not used, cause to be displayed in a conspicuous manner in each room or place where food is served a sign or placard bearing the words “margarine is served here” in letters large enough to be distinctly seen from all parts of each room or place.[/quote]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Trial (Day 2) - Part 3

: Got you, Ms. Hart! Finally!
: Wh-what!? You got what?

: The photo I took…?
: The very same.

: The fog, Ms. Hart.
: So… so?
: This picture was taken with professional, high quality film, correct? Yet even it could not capture the faces of the men on the boat!

: Yet you claim you saw Mr. Edgeworth!

: How!?

: Mr. Wright has a point!

: That’s why I told her not to say that in her testimony! Please!
: Yet, now she has said it, Mr. von Karma.
: How could you possibly see Mr. Edgeworth!? Explain yourself!
: Ms. Hart.
: What!
: Could you see the defendant that night?
: O-of course! I said I could and I meant I could!
: Then, please testify as to the circumstances of your sighting.
: (I did it! I finally found a hole in von Karma’s carefully vague testimony!)

: Hmm… You used binoculars?
: Very well. You may begin your cross-examination, Mr. Wright.
: (This one’d better be good!)

: So? How could you see Edgeworth!?
: Now, just hold your horses for a second!
: You hasty Yankee types’d never find a gal where I’m from.
: Defense attorneys have trouble with that as it is.
: (Nobody loves me…)

: Your “camera”…?
: Yeah. It’s got an automatic…

: The issue we are concerned with here is Ms. Hart seeing Mr. Edgeworth!
: The camera has nothing to do with this at all!

: Objection sustained.
: (Argh! He’s not letting her answer any of my questions!)

: “Binoculars”?
: Yeah, binoculars.
: Yesterday, you mentioned that you were out looking for shooting stars, correct?
: Well… yeah.

: Wouldn’t you need a telescope, not binoculars, for that?

: I’ve got doubts about your camera, too!
: Was that really to take pictures of meteor showers?

: The camera is irrelevant to this case!
: You can’t say that for certain!
: Hmm… Mr. Wright.
: Is the camera really relevant to this case? If you believe it is, you may continue with this line of questioning.
: But know this!
: If you find nothing with this, there will be consequences!
: Well, Mr. Wright?

: (This is make-it-or-break-it time!)

: The camera is of utmost importance, Your Honor. It is, perhaps, the key to this entire case!
: Therefore, I will continue my line of questioning! (Wow! Maybe I went a little overboard there…)

: Very well! Ms. Hart! You will testify to the court about the camera!
: Yeah, yeah, I hear ya.

: Ms. Hart. What made you choose that lake to photograph meteors?
: You know the fog gets thick on that lake. It’s not very suited to stargazing.
: Yeah, well… Y’see, I…
: I guess I wasn’t thinking too straight! Har!

: Mr. Wright!
: I will not have you badgering my witness because of her challenged intellect!
: Now wait a minute!
: Continue your testimony. You were saying how it was that you saw Edgeworth?
: Grr…
: No unnecessary comments, please.

: If there was a heavy fog, how would binoculars change that at all?
: What do you mean?
: Even binoculars can’t see through fog! But… you say you clearly saw him?
: Er…
: I did… yeah.

: Enough! There is no room for doubt in her testimony!
: (Hmm. She sounded pretty doubtful to me!)
: (But… I have to find a clear contradiction first. I don’t care how many von Karmic objections I get… I’m going to find a hole in this testimony if it’s the last thing I do!)

And loop. Do you see the contradiction?

: You were photographing shooting stars? That’s a lie!

: S-says who!?

: I saw the camera you set up yesterday. It was pointed directly at the lake!
: You have to point a camera upwards to take photos of the stars, Ms. Hart!

: Mr. Wright! What are you driving at?
: The witness was not at the lake to photograph shooting stars, Your Honor!
: …!

: Well… that I don’t know.

: What the witness takes photos of is entirely her business! This has nothing to do with the case!
: Not to mention that you can’t even show us another reason why she might have been there.

: Mr. Wright… If you are out of material, I suggest we end this mockery of a cross-examination.
: (Uh oh… I can’t let the trial end like this! I have to show them something!)

Which drops us at the other choice.

: Your Honor! Take a look at this…

: Ms. Hart.

: What’s this? A newspaper article?

: Ah, the sighting at Gourd Lake…
: Well, Ms. Hart?
: I… I never heard of no lake monster! You got proof or something?

: Well, I don’t have proof…

: Bah! Your ineptitude is entertaining, Mr. Wright, but enough is enough! I’ve had enough of baseless claims without a hair of evidence to support them!

: Well all right, if that’s how you want to play… I’ll show you evidence!
: Mr. Wright! Are you sure about this?
: (I’m sure sick of that smarmy prosecutor putting me down!)
: (Or… did he taunt me so I’d get mad and make a mistake?)

: I have it! Proof!
: Hmm… Intriguing!

Convergence.

: Very well, let’s see it. And… no joking around this time, please.

: Your camera was set to take photos in response to loud noises, correct?

: …

: Gourdy made a loud noise when it emerged!

: Well? You were trying to photograph Gourdy, weren’t you!
: That’s why you had set your camera to respond to loud noises!

: Order! Order!
: I see…
: I, too, thought it was a little strange.
: (Yeah, sure!)
: Well, Ms. Hart?

: You were camping there to try and take a photo of Gourdy, weren’t you?
: … Yeah.
: Not bad. Are all you lawyers that smart? So, smart boy, I was down there trying to photograph Gourdy, you got me.
: So what?
: Huh…?

: That doesn’t change what I saw, does it?
: Exactly! What you just used several precious minutes of our time to prove…
: is nothing more than that the witness is an idiot who thinks monsters exist!
: H-hey!
: But, as she so succinctly said, so what!?
: It changes nothing!
: (Not true! You were hiding the whole thing about Gourdy for some reason, I know it!)
: (But what could it have been…? Whatever it is, I’m getting to the bottom of this!)
: Ms. Hart. Why did you hide the fact that you were searching for Gourdy from the court?
: Please revise your testimony.
: …
: Right. Fine, I’ll testify. It won’t change nothing, though.
: (Something will change… it has to! And I’m going to spot it!)
: …

: Hmm…
: Well, Mr. Wright. You may cross-examine the witness.

: The witness’s testimony is unchanged from before! Whether she is a research student or a photographer has no bearing on this case!

: There is no need to waste more of our time with another pointless cross-examination!
: Er… hmm.

: I claim the defense’s right to cross-examine the witness, Your Honor! (von Karma’s up to something, I know it! He doesn’t want me to cross-examine her because… why? Was there a contradiction?)
: Very well. You may begin the cross-examination. You seem sure of yourself, you must have something in mind.
: Hah! That would be a first!
: (Hah hah, very funny.)
: You understand that this is your last chance at a cross-examination, Mr. Wright?
: If there is no problem with the testimony this time, we will let the witness leave. I will announce my verdict at that time, Mr. Wright.
: Understood?
: Yes, Your Honor.

Next time: The last chance.

[quote=Beef Cattle Marketing Act, R.S.O. (1990), Chapter B.5.3, Ontario]Licenses
(1) Except under the authority of a licence, no person shall sell cattle.
(2) Every person who sells cattle shall be deemed to be the holder of a licence.[/quote]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Trial (Day 2) - Part 4

: Then what manner of person are you!?
: I’m not sure I’m high-falutin’ enough to be called a “manner” of anything.

: An “investigative photographer”?
: Yep. You get your photo, and sell it to the press. It’s that kind of business.
: Hey, I was taking pictures at my sister’s graduation last year…
: N’ guess what!
: Umm… what?
: There was a yoofoh just a’ hanging in the sky!
: A “yoofoh”…?
: You know, an “Unidentified Flying Object”? A yoofoh! That’s when I had sort of a revelation.
: I knew I should become an investigative photographer!
: I… I see. (Kind of a shaky basis for a career…)

: Is “Gourdy” really all that newsworthy?
: Heck yeah! They even had him up on the TV!
: (I’m not sure that appearing on the local news “rumor of the month” show qualifies. Last month’s show was “Bigfoot Sighted on Acorn Hill,” I believe.)
: Hey! They also had a picture of him in the newspaper! For real!
: Mr. Wright. This is one fight I do not believe you can win.
: Let’s keep moving, shall we?
: Yes, Your Honor.

: That’s why you put the automatic sensor on your camera?
: Yep. Borrowed it from a friend at a university. It analyzes every sound it picks up, and when it gets a “bang!” …
: It snaps a shot.
: Yep.
: So, how many pictures has it taken so far?
: The only time the camera triggered was that night.
: i[/i]

: I think it’s time you told us why you felt you had to hide your true purpose at the lake.
: Heck, if word got out what I was up to, the lake’d be swarmin’ with competitors!
: Competitors…?
: Yeah! Second-rate shutterbugs trying to steal my scoop!
: Ah… Is that the only reason you were hiding the truth?
: W-well, actually…

: Mr. Wright! I’ll not have you asking questions with no relevance to this case!!!
: (Whatever you say, von Karma. I know you told her to keep quiet.)

: Exactly what sort of sound was it?
: Well, I never heard one before so I can’t say for sure… but it sounded like a gunshot.
: It was a lot sharper a sound than I would have expected.
: i[/i]

: There wasn’t “much else to look at”?
: Yep.
: (I dunno. If she heard a bang… and she thought Gourdy was out there…)
: (I kind of doubt she’d waste any time looking at a boat.)
: What? What did I do now? What’re you giving me that look for?
: (Definitely suspicious… Maybe it’s time for some evidence…)
: Witness! Continue.
: Hold your hushpuppies, pops, I’m getting there.

: Was there nothing on the lake but the boat at that time?
: Huh? Wait, so you’re thinking maybe he was shot from some other place? I don’t think so, nope.
: The lake was smooth as glass, and nobody was on the shore, neither.
: i[/i]
: (I’d better find some sort of contradiction in this testimony…)
: (I won’t be able to beat von Karma any other way… There has to be something!)

And we loop. Can you spot it?

: Ms. Hart!
: Were you REALLY looking at that boat!?
: W-what’s with you!? Course I was looking at it! It was the only thing out there! Any normal person’d be looking at it!
: I agree, any normal person would.

: But you are far from normal!
: Wh-what!? Y’all wanna step over here and say that!?
: You were camping at the lake to take a picture of Gourdy!

: Thank about it-- What would you do if you heard a loud noise?
: You’d be scanning the lake for any sign of Gourdy, that’s what! You wouldn’t give the boat a second thought!

: Order! Continue, Mr. Wright!
: You testified that you were watching the boat through binoculars! However, you wouldn’t need binoculars to watch that boat!
: You needed them to search for Gourdy… and that’s what you were doing!

: …
: …

: Well!?
: Hmph… Well, now that y’all mention it…

: I mean, Gourdy might be out there, n’ all…
: M-Ms. Hart! A-are you saying that you were NOT watching the boat, then?
: …
: S-sorry, y’all. I wasn’t fibbing, really.
: I was, just… I thought y’know, I could be witness to a murder n’ all! I kinda got excited.
: I was sure I was watching that boat… till now.
: …
: This… this is totally uncalled for–
: B-but hey!

: Hmm…
: Still, we can’t see who is shooting who in this.
: Right! Right!
: That’s why I took this photo n’…

: Witness… That’s enough.
: You’ve had a long day. Shut your pie-hole.
: Sh-shut my what!?
: (What was she going to say? She took the photo… and what? Wait a second…)

: But you really can’t tell from the photo who is shooting.

: She said “it’ll drop the quality a mite, but should let us see who’s who!”

: (Why won’t von Karma let her show it?)

: (I bet that enlarged photo shows something bad for von Karma! This is my chance! If I’m wrong, though, it’ll mean prison for Edgeworth… or worse.)

: (If this is a trap…)
: (I’d better hold back and see how things go. But… if I wait now, the cross-examination will be over!)

A second chance to back out is because the game really wants you to know you’re being an idiot.

: This hereby ends the cross-examination of Ms. Lotta Hart.
: And none to soon. That was a flagrant waste of my time.
: Mr. von Karma, do you have anything to add?

: I stated everything I needed to when this trial began. Decisive evidence. A decisive witness. What else could possibly be required?
: Nothing, of course.
: (Oh no! I should have pressed further!)

: This court sees no reason to further prolong the trial. Nor is there any need for more time to decide the case against the defendant. This case is extremely clear. I see no room for misinterpretation of the facts.
: This court finds the defendant, Mr. Miles Edgeworth…

: The accused will surrender to the court immediately, to be held pending trial at a higher court within a month from today’s date.
: That is all. The court is adjourned!

Game over! So…don’t do that.

: Ms. Hart! Look at this photograph.

: Y-yeah! I did!
: Why has that enlargement not been presented to the court!?

: B-because it does not exist!
: What’re y’all talking about!? You were the one who told me not to show it in court in the first place! You old fool!

: What’s the meaning of this, Mr. von Karma!
: Er… erm…
: Ms. Hart!

: Show the photo to the court! Show us the enlargement!

: The prosecution objects to the submission of this evidence!
: Objection… denied.
: The witness will show the enlargement to the court.
: Here it is.

: It could be the defendant… or maybe it’s not.
: Regardless, I’ll accept this as evidence.

: Happy now, Mr. Wright?
: Hmm… (There has to be something!)
: You asked for the enlargement, you got the enlargement.

: And little good it has done any of us! That’s why I requested she not show it!
: Hmm…
: I suppose this means that the cross-examination…
: Is over! Obviously!

: Then I would like to close the cross-examination of Ms. Lotta Hart.
: And none too soon. That was a flagrant waste of my time.
: Mr. von Karma, do you have anything to add?
: I stated everything I needed to when this trial began. Decisive evidence. A decisive witness.
: What else could possibly be required?

: Nothing, of course.
: Then, I believe it is time for me to declare my verdict.
: (Wait… it’s not supposed to go like this!)

: (Uh oh… think of something! No good… I guess I’ll just sit back and see how this turns out.)

And we go directly into the game over sequence again.

: W-wait!
: Your Honor, This evidence…

Yeah, they miscapitalize that.

: I believe we have spent enough time talking about evidence!
: Hmm… indeed.

: I see no point in retracing our steps.

Which leads us back to the choice.

: Your Honor!

: W-what might that be?

: Mr. Wright… You will show the court what you mean! What about this photo is “strange”?
: (Okay… here goes nothing!)

Can you spot it?

: Here, Your Honor!
: The shooter…?
: I’m not sure I understand. What about the shooter is strange?
: Look at the hand holding the pistol, Your Honor!
: The hand…?
: That hand directly contradicts another piece of evidence!

: Let me show you.

: The evidence is clear.

: However!
: The prints on the murder weapon were from Edgeworth’s “right hand”!

: Ergo!

: Now that everyone in the courtroom has quieted down… I would like to reconvence this court of law!
: Mr. Wright.
: Yes, Your Honor.
: You have given us definitive proof today. We now know that it was not Mr. Edgeworth who fired the pistol that night.
: However…
: This leaves us with a rather large problem.

: Precisely!

: Who else but the witness, Ms. Lotta Hart!
: Wh-what!? Do you have proof of this!?

: (Proof-shmoof! Always with the proof! Oh… wait, I do need proof, don’t I.)

: (Uh oh. The Judge is mad.)
: Let me ask again!

: (Wait, wait,–I can’t do that. Sacrifice one friend to save another? What’s the point!?)

: There is only one explanation remaining!

: The main who shot the victim was none other than… the victim himself!!!

: Order! Order!
: So… you are saying that the victim committed suicide?
: Yes, Your Honor. I can think of no other explanation.
: Hmm…
: Indeed, that does seem to be the only remaining option.

: I’m so very, very sorry, Mr. Wright.
: But suicide is out of the question.
: Wh-what!?
: An examination of the victim’s wound reveals the distance at which he was shot.
: The… distance?
: The victim was clearly shot from further than a meter away!
: A meter! Th-that’s three feet!

: There is no way it could have been suicide!

: Order! Order!
: Mr. von Karma! Are you sure of the accuracy of your data!?
: Of course! I had already considered the possibility of suicide, you see.

: Hmm…
: I see.

: Very well, allow me to state my opinion. Considering the situation, the shooter had to be the defendant, Mr. Edgeworth. However!
: The prints on the gun reveal that the shooter was not Mr. Edgeworth.
: This is a conundrum. Therefore, I would like to suspend proceedings for this trial for the day. The court orders the defense and the prosecution to further investigate this matter.
: Understood?
: Yes, Your Honor.
: …
: That is all. The court is adjourned.

: Whew, that was a close one.

: Hey! Don’t you have anything to say!?
: No. I have yet to be declared innocent, Wright.
: Well, yeah, but… What happened out there on that lake, anyway!? If he didn’t commit suicide, then who…? The shooter was about a meter away, too!
: … W-what? Don’t give me that look! I did not kill him!
: I was just kidding around.
: Hmph.
: Look… I’m going to go check on Maya.
: Oh… Wright.
: What?
: Tell her something from me.
: What?
: …
: … Tell… Tell her to watch what she says in court.
: That’s all.
: (Yeah, I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear you say that, Edgeworth. Jerk!)

: I thought it might give me ammunition for the trial tomorrow. Of course she didn’t see the shooter… So the only part of her testimony that stood was the “bang” she heard.

Next time: So, what the hell even happened?

[quote=R.S., chapter C-34, Section 323 (Criminal Code of Canada)]365. Every one who fraudulently
(a) pretends to exercise or to use any kind of witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment or conjuration,
(b) undertakes, for a consideration, to tell fortunes, or
© pretends from his skill in or knowledge of an occult or crafty science to discover where or in what manner anything that is supposed to have been stolen or lost may be found,
is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.[/quote]

(stop! filler time)

(…yeah, sorry about that.)

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Investigation (Day 2) - Part 1

: Hey! Nick, it’s you! I’m glad Mr. Edgeworth made it through the day okay. It’s a relief…
: Hey. Why’d you do that, anyway?
: … I don’t know.
: I… just knew I had to do something.
: I know I’m not the lawyer my sister was…
: … I’m sorry.
: Well, you did save the trial… Just, behave from now on, okay?
: O… okay.

Now, let’s chat with Maya.

: Have you been questioned yet?
: No… not yet.
: Detective Gumshoe was here just now. He said “seeing as this is your first offense, we’ll let you go after questioning.”
: Whew…
: Oh, and he wanted me to get bail money ready.
: You can pay for me, okay?
: Huh? How much?
: I don’t know. I guess they’ll send you a bill or something.
: (Why do I picture giant bales of money every time I hear the word “bail”?)

: Any luck with Mia…?
: None… I can’t get through to her at all. I tried… I really did!
: I don’t know what to do… … I think I probably shouldn’t have stopped my training.
: (Hmm… she sounds like she really did do her best. I should check and see if there are any waterfalls in the local area…)
: I wonder if I’ll ever see my sister again…

And, of course, the badge.

: It must be nice, Nick.

: But, spirit mediums, well…
: I dunno, with your clothes, I bet at least some people would recognize you…
: But these are medium-in-training clothes… I wonder if I’ll ever be a proper medium…

We should probably go see Gumshoe about getting her out of there.

: (Detective Gumshoe’s not here…)

: Huh? Oh, really?
: He’s a live wire that one. Got into a fight with the chief for not following protocol…
: (Not following protocol…? I bet he wouldn’t help them build the case against Edgeworth…)

So, off to the lake.

: There are fewer than there were yesterday, but the cops are still around in the park. I wonder if Detective Gumshoe is here today?

: Haven’t seen Larry around today at all. Probably off paying through the nose on a date with the lovely Kiyance…

: Hey, pal!
: The trial today, it, er… …
: Yes? What about the trial?

: Well, I was going to say “good show,” but it wasn’t really all that… Though you did save Edgeworth, I guess…
: I just wasn’t sure how to thank you… you know?
: Er… thanks.

Now, let’s see about getting Maya out.

: Detective Gumshoe? Any idea what strategy von Karma is planning for tomorrow?
: It sounds like he’s bringing in another witness!
: Another witness!? Oh, right, he said something about that in the trial today…

: I was wondering who that other witness was! Er… who was it?
: S… sorry, pal. As much as I’d like to, I’m not at liberty to divulge that information.
: i[/i]

: Oh, right… I wanted to ask you something about Edgeworth.
: What’s up?
: Is he afraid of earthquakes? I never heard anything about that before.
: … Mr. Edgeworth doesn’t talk about himself too much, see.
: But there’s one thing that’s clear as day…
: Him hating crime the way he does… And him becoming a lawyer… And him being scared of earthquakes…
: It all started with that incident.
: The DL-6 Incident?
: Yep, that’s the one.
: Fifteen years ago… when he saw his father shot befgore his very eyes! He still feels the pain now, you can see it in his eyes.

: I wanted to talk to you about Maya Fey…
: Huh? She’s not out on bail yet? That’s strange. I told 'em to let her go as soon as they had their report written up.
: Man… I don’t know what would have happened in that courtroom today if it weren’t for her. Seeing her getting dragged out by the bailiff…
: I’ll be honest with you, pal. I shed a tear or two. Edgeworth, he was so moved I saw his lip trembling.
: Really!? (Cold-as-ice Edgeworth!?)
: He was really grateful for what she did, you know.
: I’m going to head back to the station. I’ll get the report on Maya and get her out of there as soon as I can.
: Thank you. Oh, wait! Umm… I was wondering, how much is bail going to be?
: Don’t worry about that. Mr. Edgeworth is posting the whole amount.
: What? Edgeworth…?
: Didn’t I tell you? He’s grateful to her for what she did.
: Alright, pal. Well don’t forget to go pick her up, okay?

And he leaves.

: (Hmm… Maybe I can get Edgeworth to pay this month’s rent, too…)

So, back to the detention center.

: They just finished the paperwork, I’m free to go.
: Free at last, eh?
: Those interrogators were really mean! They were like “okay, what did you do THIS time?” Like I was some kind of criminal! Can you believe it?
: Well, they let you out in the end, didn’t they?
: Mmm…
: Oh, that reminds me…
: Thanks for bail.
: Thank Edgeworth.
: Huh?
: He posted bail for you. Said he was grateful for what you did.
: Mr. Edgeworth did that…? …
: I have to make it up to him! We’ve got to win this case, Nick!

: What do you think we should do next?
: We’re kind of lacking in the clues department.
: We could go to the park and look for Gourdy.
: …
: I-I was kidding!
: Still, if there are any clues out there, the park’s as good a bet as any. What do you say? Shall we head down there?
: Sure!

: Have you noticed anything lately?
: Hmm… You know, I did notice one thing while I was here in detention.
: It’s really pretty comfortable here. It’s warm, and they keep it very clean.
: I meant have you noticed anything about the case…?
: Well… Not much more than that, no.
: (She’s probably still upset about Mia. I should leave her alone.)

And back to Gourd Lake.

: They’re probably back at the precinct, working up the case against Edgeworth.
: Mmm…

: Hey, it’s Lotta!

: Y’all really did it today…
: Wh-what did we do now?
: Naw, I’m not complaining! See, I did a little thinking. A little… self-reflection, you might say.
: I realized that bein’ a witness is a mighty big responsibility. But I just went up there and started blabbing any old thing that came to mind.
: Lotta…
: So, you see, I want to make it up to y’all.
: “Make it up”…?

: What did you think of the trial?
: To be honest, I was doin’ it half just to say I’d been a witness… Even though I didn’t really see anything.
: I kinda convinced myself I had though…
: I’m sorry, I know I caused y’all a lot of trouble.
: Well, memory is a tricky, vague little thing.
: Yeah, I sure know that now. I’ll be fine the next time I witness a murder!
: Right!
: (You mean the FIRST time you witness a murder…)

: What about Gourdy?
: Right! Well, the way I figure, the trial’s only stoking the flames of Gourdy fever!
: I’ll get my exclusive photos and rocket to stardom!
: All right, Lotta! You go, girl!
: I wish I could be an investigative photographer too!
: (Finish your spirit medium training first!)

: Lotta, what do you mean by “making it up to us”?
: Well, ya see…
: Actually, I got a bit of information for you.

: That von Karma didn’t want me to say nothin’ about it.
: Wh-what information!?
: Now we’re getting to the heart of it!
: See, I reckoned we might be able to do ourselves a little “exchange.”
: E-“exchange”? Umm… I thought this was to “make it up to us”…?
: Right!
: I propose a little exchange, to make it up to you!
: …
: What!? Information don’t come cheap, my friend!
: Uh…
: Hey!
: I see you thinking “my, how unsophisticated these southern folks are”!!!
: It’s written all over yer face! Let me tell you, most southerners are WAY more sophisticated than you…
: I’m just the exception, okay?
: Well, what’ll it be? We gonna deal, or not!?

: (We don’t have any other leads so I don’t think we have a choice here…) Okay. How much?
: Huh?
: You completely off your rocker?
: I may not be sophisticated, but I’m not trying to rob the poor!
: Huh?
: The only fair exchange for information is… information!
: Listen good–
: What I need from you is information about Gourdy!

: G-Gourdy!?
: B-but Gourdy doesn’t… I mean, Gourdy might not exist!
: Then bring me proof that shows he don’t!
: Uh…
: I’ll be keepin’ watch from the car, okay?
: You see something, y’all come to me first, got it?
: O-okay…
: Right! See y’all later!

She leaves.

: …
: Okay, Nick, let’s get hunting!
: H-hunting…? You don’t seriously mean…
: Gourdy? I sure do!
: What about Edgeworth!?
: We’re searching for Gourdy for him, Nick! Don’t you get it!?
: (Okay… and how exactly do we search for a make-believe monster…? Maybe we can find a monster myth specialist?)

Might as well check out the beach.

: Wh-what’s that?

: Th-the Steel Samurai, Nick.

: Larry! What the heck is this!?
: Oh, it was my girl Kiyance’s idea… She was all “if you like, put this here, it would be, like, really cool!” Dude, she gave it to me along with the banner!
: Wow! That’s real impressive she could find those for you!
: Well, she knows a lot of people. And that show’s finished now, so she got 'em for free.
: Right…

How could we not check this out?

: Those flags look sadly out of place here. Flapping listlessly back and forth in a cold wind under a cold sky…
: I dunno, I think it gives the place a kind of festival atmosphere. It reminds me of the “War of the Eyeglasses”!
: …? The war of the what!?
: Huh? What? You mean, you don’t know the War of the Eyeglasses?
: What the heck is it?
: Our local fair used to do it every summer… Huh, I guess we were the only ones.
: (I ask again, what the heck is it!?)

: Doesn’t that Steel Samurai look a little out of place? I mean, it’s so huge… I guess it’s good advertising.
: … Something about this Steel Samurai just doesn’t work for me.
: Huh? Really? It looks pretty well made to me.
: Hmph. Still a novice, aren’t you, Nick. Really… True connoisseurs like Cody and me don’t fall for this kind of stuff.
: (These Steel Samurai fans are obviously in a league of their own…)

So, let’s talk to Larry.

: Yo, Nick! What happened with Edgeworth?
: Well, we made it through the first day in court all right… I don’t know how good our prospects are from here on, though.
: Huh.
: Hey, Larry, did you know Edgeworth’s secret weakness?
: He’s terrified of earthquakes! He acts like a little boy!
: Huh? That’s weird. I don’t think he was ever like that in school.
: No? Really?
: Well, we were only in the same class for a year. He transferred schools pretty quickly…
: Transferred?
: (Right… when the DL-6 Incident happened. Doesn’t look like Larry knows about it, though.)

: Hey, Larry. What was that big… thing up there before?
: Huh? Oh, the big guy? I’ve had that for about a month, yeah.
: It’s a big hit with the kids!
: Why wasn’t it there yesterday?
: Huh? Huh!? Oh… right. Th-the compressor was busted.
: Compressor?
: Yeah–it’s that little unit by my hotdog stand. That what I use to put air in the Steel Samurai!

Yeah, that’s the game’s weird phrasing/typo there.

: It broke a little while ago so I sent it in for repairs.
: Oh.
: And here I thought you’d inflated it by yourself.

If we show him the Gourdy article…

: Do you think Gourdy really exists?
: Nah, I think somebody probably saw something else that they just thought was Gourdy.
: But I’ll keep selling Samurai Dogs until the truth’s out!

And some quickie checking of the area revealed new dialogue!

: I can’t get over the Samurai Dogs…
: The “Original” Samurai Dogs, no less.
: Hey, man, whoever calls their product the “original” first wins!
: Why don’t you add “world-famous” to the sign?
: Hey, good idea!
: (What have I done…?)

We take a quick hop over to the Boat Rental Shop to look for Gourdy.

: …
: It’s always so quiet, here. I wonder if the boat shop is closed for good?
: Well, with the murder on the lake and all… They’re probably just taking a vacation till it blows over.
: I get it.

But there’s nothing else out here.

Next time: The Gourdy hunt continues.

[quote=State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No. Five (2007), China]Article 1: These measures have been formulated in accordance with the “Regulations on Religious Affairs” in order to guarantee citizens’ freedom of religious belief, to respect Tibetan Buddhism’s practice of inheriting living Buddha positions, and to regulate the management of living Buddha reincarnation affairs[…]
Article 5: Reincarnating living Buddhas should carry out application and approval procedures. The application and approval procedure is: the management organization at the monastery applying for the living Buddha reincarnation where the monk is registered, or the local Buddhist Association, should submit applications for reincarnations to the local religious affairs departments[…]
Article 7: Once an application for a living Buddha’s reincarnation has received approval, […] the corresponding Buddhist Association shall establish a reincarnation guidance team [and] establish a search time to look for the reincarnate sould child[…]
Article 9: Once a reincarnating living Buddha sould child has been recognized, it shall be reported[…]
Article 10: When the reincarnating living Buddha is instlaled, a representative of the approving authority shall read out the documents of approval, and the correspnding Buddhist Association shall issue a living Buddha permit[…]
Article 11: Persons and units who are responsible for being in contravention of these measures and who without authority carry out living Buddha reincarnation affairs, shall be dealt administrative sanction[…][/quote]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Investigation (Day 2) - Part 2

So, who better to ask about Gourdy than our resident Gourdy expert?

: Well? Y’all find anything out about Gourdy?
: Umm… no, nothing.
: Well, keep moving! It gets cold out here at nighttime.
: It is a little chilly…
: I… I think I have to sneeze!
: Wh-whoa! No you don’t! No sneezing!!!

: …
: I told y’all NO SNEEZING! See, I set the camera to respond to things a little sofer than a “bang.” It’d trigger on one of von Karma’s finger snaps now!
: Oh… I’m sorry.
: Yeah, well, sorry’s nice but what about my film!?
: Nick… pay the lady.
: i[/i]

: I learned something in today’s trial, that’s for sure. Testifyin’ is serious business!
: That’s why I decided not to talk about that case any more.
: Huh?
: Whoa–didn’t you say you had information about the case!? Tell us that, at least!
: Like I said…
: I’ll trade it for the dirt on Gourdy!

: What are you going to do if Gourdy doesn’t exist?
: I’ll quit being an investigative photographer.
: What!?
: After all, I only have one photo to my name so far…
: Was it a good one?
: You bet… a yoofoh!
: A y-yoofoh…?
: Anyway, if I can’t get a career-making photo this time around… Then that’s it! I’ll quit and go back to school.

: Yeah, well, I’m takin’ a break for a bit.
: Right…

If we show her the enlarged photo…

: No kidding. If we didn’t have that, Edgeworth would be in prison now, or worse!
: There’s never a lack of drama when you’re on a case, is there, Nick?
: What, are you always on the verge of horrible failure like this!?
: Umm…
: Careful or the stress’ll send you to an early grave.
: (Thanks for the cheerful message of support!)

If we show her the Gourdy article…

: Umm… uh… You know, I was wondering…
: Yeah?

: and it turns out like this enlargement did?
: Y’all crazy!? A blurry picture like this doesn’t make a hit story! I need a picture that screams “I am Gourdy! Hear me roar!” I can’t turn something like this into the paper! What kind of a fool do y’all think I am?
: (The kind of fool that would turn a blurry picture in as evidence in a murder trial? Not to mention claiming she saw something she didn’t see!)

We head back to the office to regroup.

: Behave yourself in the courtroom tomorrow, okay?
: Heh heh heh. Misbehaving’s much more fun.
: It’s not going to be so much fun when Edgeworth refuses to pay your bail again.
: …
: Right. I’ll behave.
: (Oh dear…)

: Well, what should we do?
: I don’t know! I’ve been in detention this whole time. I think I’ll let you decide what we should do. Deal?

: Well? Any thoughts you want to share?
: Well, I was in detention all day.
: I think I’d like more time to think.
: (Poor Maya, she probably thought about Mia the whole time she was in there…)

Maybe Edgeworth knows something!

: Looks like Edgeworth is in questioning.
: Let’s come back later.
: Guess so…

Or not! Maybe Gumshoe will know something.

: What’s up? You look out of sorts.
: Wait… you didn’t go and do something that’s going to hurt Mr. Edgeworth’s case again!
: What do you mean, “again”!?
: Whatever, have a seat, pal. I’m here for you if you need anything. Besides money, that is.

: How is the investigation proceeding?
: It’s not, really. We have another meeting coming up…
: We’re supposed to talk about Mr. Edgeworth’s motive…
: His motive?
: See, Mr. Edgeworth’s father died in the DL-6 Incident… And the guy who got the lone suspect declared innocent was the victim in this case… Robert Hammond.
: They’re saying that’s why Mr. Edgeworth shot him.
: (And Edgeworth never talks about his past… I bet they’ll drag that out and hit him with it in court tomorrow, too…)
: Poor Edgeworth…
: I gotta admit, it doesn’t look good, pal.

: Say, Detective Gumshoe. Do you know “Gourdy”?
: The monster down in Gourd Lake? Not personally, no.
: Well… we’re looking for him.
: Huh!? Are you out of your minds!?
: Eeek!
: You got time to go wild monster hunting!? How about doing a little questioning for me then!?
: Oh…
: Detective Gumshoe is scaring me, Nick.

: Nick! Try telling him sooner next time!
: Er, sorry.

: I see, pal. Sorry for shoutin’ at you.
: …
: Okay!
: I, Detective Gumshoe, will aid your search for Gourdy!
: H-huh!?
: I’ll loan you one of our newest secret weapons for finding evidence!
: Really!?
: You can take whichever one you like!

: Okay, give us the goods!
: Hold on now, everything in due time. First, let me show 'em to you!
: These are our best and brightest!
: Introducing Secret Weapon No. 1: “Missile”!
: M-M-Missile?
: He’s a K-9 police dog, still in training!
: Missile! Missile! Here, boy…

: Here he is.
: Hey, he’s cute! Look, Nick! Cute dog!
: (A cute dog… And this will help us… how?)
: Woof.
: Next, Secret Weapon No. 2… A fishing pole!

: Detective Gumshoe… we’re looking for a monster…
: Yeah!
: How are we supposed to catch a whole sea monster with a fishing pole!?
: Never know 'til you try, pal!
: …!
: Okay, this next one is the last one.
: (No, please, I’m already overwhelmed by our choices.)
: Secret Weapon No. 3! A metal detector!

: Detective Gumshoe… we’re looking for something alive.
: Right!
: How are we supposed to find it with a metal detector!?
: Hey, you never know! It might have been eating soda cans!
: Well, which will it be!?
: Umm…
: I can’t make up my mind, Nick. They all seem so perfect!
: I can’t make up my mind, either… for the totally opposite reason.

: Can we borrow Missile?
: Sure thing, pal. Be good to 'im!
: Woof.
: He’s sooooo cute!
: (Oh boy…)

And so we acquire K-9 unit Missile.

Back to the lake!

: Hmm?
: Missile’s been acting strangely…
: “Missile”? Oh, oh right.

: Hey, I love lil’ doggies! Good boy, good boy.

: Wh-what’s wrong, Missile?
: …

: Missile! Missssssssssile!

: Wh-whoa! S-stop that thing! C-cannibal! It’s eating my Samurai Dogs! …!

: My Samurai Dogs… sniff
: Wow. He ate every single one.
: I’m sorry, Larry…
: “Sorry”!? “Sorry” don’t pay my bills, Nick!
: Ah hah hah… (It’s going to have to this time…)

If we then present Missile…

: Isn’t he cute?
: K-keep that mutt away from me!
: What am I going to tell the big boss?
: There’s a “big boss” in charge of your hot dog stand?
: Nick! Maybe the stand is a front for a mafia money laundering scheme!!!
: Maya… I think you should probably try to look a little sorry about what happened.
: Oh, right!
: Heh… My poor dogs…

Okay, so Missile was a bust.

: Detective Gumshoe, can we borrow one of the other things?
: Hmm? Yeah, sure, pal! But I have to take back the last one I lent you, department policy.

: Can we borrow that flimsy-looking fishing pole?
: Sure thing, pal. Oh, if it breaks, be sure to dispose of it properly, okay?
: Er… right.

Back to the lake, to show Larry the rod.

: I’m not after small fry.
: I’m after the biggest fry of them all… Gourdy!
: …
: You really going to try to fish out a monster?
: To save Edgeworth, yes!
: …
: Brings a tear to my eye, in more ways than one.

And now, into the woods.

: Okay, Nick, this looks like a good spot!
: A good spot… for what?

: (She’s serious…) Umm… What are you going to use for bait?
: Oh…
: Yeah. “Oh.”
: Mmm…
: I figured something like this would happen.

: N-Nick…! How could you!
: I’m kidding! I’m kidding!
: Hmph! Some jokes are better left untold.
: (Oof! She hit me!)
: Okay…
: Watch this, Nick!
: Just try not to reel in any empty cans or boots, okay?
: Here we go! Ack! M-my leg!

: Hey! Wh-what are you doing!
: Sorry, Lotta…
: Don’t tell me y’all are on some film company’s payroll!
: Nick, pay her.
: (Dear, dear…)

Well, that didn’t go so well. But perhaps that last one…?

: Can we borrow that metal detector?
: Sure thing, pal.
: I’m not sure what we’re going to find with this…
: Remember: you’re hunting for a monster. Anything is possible! Anything!

And now, off to the park. Specifically, the boat rental.

: N-Nick! It’s beeping! The metal detector’s found something!
: Sure is loud enough about it. (Whatever it is, it must be in those bushes…) Go check it out, Maya.
: Why do I have to check it out?

But she does.

: … Nick.

: Huh…? An air tank? Huh. The valve looks broken.
: I thought it was Gourdy…
: Maya, first of all… Why would Gourdy be in the bushes!? And second of all, why would a metal detector react to a sea monster!?
: Oh.
: Huh?

: (It looks like… a string of flags…?)
: Well, we might as well take it with us now that we’ve found it.
: (It’s heavy…)

I don’t normally share these images, but this one was great.

Next time: We continue to fumble around like idiots.

[quote=Short Titles Act 1892 (long version), 55 ^ 56 Bict. c.10, England]An Act to facilitate the Citation of Sundry Acts of Parliament.
Be it enacted, &c., as follows:

(1.) Each of the acts mentioned in the first schedule to this act may, without prejudice to any other mode of citation, be cited by the short titles therein mentioned in that behalf.
(2.) Each of the groups of acts mentioned in the second schedule of this act may […] be cited by the collective title therein mentioned in that behalf[…]
2. This act may be cited as the Short Titles Act, 1892.[/quote]

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Investigation (Day 2) - Part 3

We should probably go talk to Larry about that air tank we found, given the flags.

: What about it?

: Have you ever seen this before?
: Huh? Me? N-no. Never. Who the heck would go diving in the middle of the winter!
: (There’s something about the way his eye twitched when I showed him the tank… I think I’d better pursue this line of questioning a little further…)

: Say… is this air tank yours?
: Wh-why would I have a thing like that?

: It’s just like the string of flags around your Steel Samurai there.

: …!
: M-must be a coincidence! There’re strings of flags everywhere these days!
: L-like elementary schools! A-and used car dealerships!

: You used this to go diving in the lake, didn’t you?
: Wh-why the heck would I go diving in the lake!?
: Wait!
: You… you’re not…
: You’re not saying I had something to do with that murder!?
: N-no, not at all, just…
: Hey, you watch it buddy! I’m not saying anything until my lawyer gets here!
: Larry… Nick is your lawyer.
: Well, Larry? She’s right.
: Bah! A-anyway, I never seen that air tank! Okay?
: (Yeah, right… Larry is hiding something, I can tell…)

: You used this to inflate that, didn’t you?
: I-inflate what!?
: What else? That big puffy Steel Samurai!
: !!! …
: N-now why would you go asking me a question like that.
: (Looks like I hit the nail on the head.)
: …
: Right… right… Actually, umm…
: See, the compressor I always use was on the fritz. So I tried using the tank to inflate it, just once. And, er, it didn’t go so well.

: It “didn’t go so well”?
: Er, yeah.
: Do you think you could be a little more specific?
: C-c’mon… Look, it’s embarrassing so I really don’t want to talk about it…
: Tell us! Tell us!
: …
: Fine.
: Whatever. It’s like what I said, the compressor was busted. So I took the tank and tried to fill the Samurai up with that.
: And then…

: And that tank there took off like a rocket. And it took my poor deflated Steel Samurai with it!

: It sure scared me out of my gourd, that’s for sure.

: Umm…
: So, the tank and the Steel Samurai you were trying to fill up flew away…
: What happened next?
: Well, all that happened on the 20th or so.
: (The 20th… a week ago.)
: Now, as far as I could see, the tank went flying out into the lake. So I went out every night in a boat looking for it. I mean, Kiyance gave me that Steel Samurai after all!
: And when did you find it?
: Just the night before last!

: (The night before last… was the night of the murder!)

: Actually, I was here on the night of the murder.
: But, you see, I went home before midnight.
: So you didn’t know about what happened?
: No…
: That’s too bad…
: It’s not all bad. We’ve solved one mystery at least.
: A mystery…?
: (Maybe we should go tell her…)

Good plan, Nick.

: Well, Mister Lawyer? I’ve got the info y’all need!

: It’s not going to be that easy to find him, you know.
: You’d better hurry or you won’t have that info in time for the trial tomorrow!
: (Uh oh…)

Either of the other two works, though.

: Huh? Gourdy? Oh, we found him already.
: What!? I haven’t seen any monsters yet!
: Y-y’all for real!? Gourdy really exists!?
: Wait!

: Lotta… There is no such thing as Gourdy.
: Wh-what!? How can y’all be so sure!
: R-really, Nick!?
: Y’all got some proof Gourdy don’t exist!?

We’ll be going from the ‘We found Gourdy’ option but they’re essentially the same. If we say we have proof…

: Of course I have proof.
: No fair, Nick! It was when I went to the bathroom, wasn’t it!?
: That’s when you made contact with Gourdy!

: What’re y’all doing with an air tank?
: This… is Gourdy.
: Umm… scuze me?
: Wh-what exactly are you saying, Nick?
: There’s a stand near here… a hotdog stand.

: About a week ago, an idiot, who happens to be a friend of mine, tried to fill it.

: Apparently, it made a pretty loud “bang” when it flew…
: A “bang”…?

: At the same time…

: This photo!
: Wait… So… you’re saying that Gourdy…

: …
: …

: Well, that’s a fine way to ruin a gal’s dreams.
: I’m sorry, Lotta.
: Nah, it’s okay, you win. I’ll give you your info, like I promised.
: Poor Lotta…

: So, tell us this “information” you have.
: A promise is a promise, I guess…
: I overheard the cops around here saying something about the witness tomorrow… They said he’s the caretaker of the boat rental place up the path here.
: Boat rental…?

: Just an old guy, living all by himself. Y’all should go check it out.
: Thanks, Lotta! We will!
: Let’s get cracking, Nick!
: Hold on.
: Something else?
: Yeah… the night of the murder. My camera clicked twice, you know.
: …!

: Well…

: I figured it wouldn’t be much use as evidence, so I kept it to myself.
: Well, it might not be helpful at all, but…
: Here, take it.

: Bye now. Y’all take care.
: Time for me to pack up and leave.

She leaves.

: Poor Lotta…
: It’s all Larry’s fault. The legend still lives on, I guess.
: The “legend”…?
: Yeah, the legend of Larry, familiar to all who know him for any length of time… “When something smells, it’s usually the Butz.”
: Hmm.
: Someone should whip that Butz into shape.

So, let’s check out that boat shop.

: Hey. Nick!
: This is the boat shop that Lotta was talking about!
: You’re right. Doesn’t seem to be anyone around at all.
: Well, let’s go check it out anyway!

There’s nothing new to look at, but there’s somewhere new to go.

: Eeek!

He sways back and forth constantly when he isn’t talking.

: Where have you two been! I’ve been worried sick.
: …
: N-Nick… you handle this.
: Uh, I think I’ll leave this one up to you, Maya.
: Meg!
: Y-yes!?
: Finally made up your mind, have you?
: M-my mind?
: You’ll run the pasta shop when I’m gone?
: P-pasta?
: Glad to hear it, glad to hear it! You make your old man proud.

: How’m I supposed to keep this place running, an old man like me?

: N-Nick! What was that!?
: A parrot… the one on that perch.
: Keith!
: Y-yes!?
: I leave the “Wet Noodle” in your capable hands, sonny.
: N-Nick? What’s the “Wet Noodle”?
: Um, based on the available evidence, I’d say it’s the name of his pasta shop.
: That’s a relif, isn’t it, Polly?
: “Hello! Hello!” squawk
: Ayup…
: …

: He fell asleep…
: I guess he’s relieved.

While he’s napping, we can look around.

: Looks like a kitchen unit. It’s pretty clean. Funny, he doesn’t look like the type who’d keep things tidy like that.
: You’re forgetting, Nick…
: He’s running a pasta shop, here!

: Wow… what an amazing parrot that is.
: Good morning!
: “…”
: Hello!
: “…”
: He ignored me!

: What, you forgot, Meg? You gotta call her name first!
: Her name?
: Polly! How ya been!?
: “Hello! Hello!” squawk
: See?
: Neat! So the parrot’s name is “Polly”!

: Too bad all she can say is “hello”…
: Har har har! Old Polly can say lots of things!
: You just need to know the secret words!
: The “secret words”…?

: Look, Nick, he has an electric blanket on his table! Looks warm!
: That’s a great idea, we should do that at the office.
: We can sit down with our clients, snug and warm, and drink hot cocoa!
: And what, talk about murders?
: Aw, you’re a party pooper, Nick!

: Wow, there’s a lot of various fish in Gourd Lake, aren’t there!
: …? Something’s funny, Nick. All these fish are saltwater fish.

: This fishing pole looks expensive.

: Wow, he has a television in here, too.

: Look, a little safe! Hmm…
: …
: It’s locked.

Next time: Trying to talk to the crazy old man.

Case 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
Investigation (Day 2) - Part 4

So, today we get to question the crazy old man.

: Umm… a pasta shop?
: Ayup! To think, the “Wet Noodle,” will live on when I’m gone. My father started it you know. So that makes you two the third generation!
: Meg…
: Y-yes!
: Tomorrow, we’ll start with the secrets of dough tossin’!
: D-dough tossing?
: You, too, Keith.
: Y-yes?
: You’ll be the best pasta wrangler the west has ever seen!
: P-pasta wrangler? The west? I-isn’t pasta from Italy?

: Y-yes!
: You know the best pasta’s always been made west of the Rockies, don’t you?
: R-right, of course. Everybody knows that.
: Nick…?
: Huh?
: How long do we have to keep up this all-in-the-family charade?
: (This old man must know something about the murder…? We’re not leaving until we find out what that is.)

: Umm… this is a boat rental shop, right?
: What’re you talking about!? This here’s the palace of pasta, the “Wet Noodle”!
: Though, now that you mention it, we haven’t gotten many orders for spaghetti lately. All the kids come up and say “Yo dude, we wanna ride in one of your boats!” That’s why I keep them boats out there.
: Youngsters these days… Darned if I understand 'em!
: I’m pretty confused myself.
: Nick… This isn’t going anywhere.
: But this old man is the witness tomorrow, right? We’ve got to find some way of getting information out of him!

: Ack, my memory’s gotten worse of late. That’s why I just tell everything important to old Polly here.
: Everything… important? Hmm, I wonder…
: Polly! What’s the number of the safe!?
: “…1228!” squawk
: Alright!
: H-hey! Polly! Watch it, will ya!
: Heh heh. See, Nick? All it takes is a little clever thinking!
: (And a criminal mind…)
: Quick, Nick! Write that number down!
: H-hey! Don’t get me involved in your little heist schemes.

We can present stuff, but most…

: Now, listen here, Keith. Remember that tricolor pasta we were talking about? Our “Rainbolioli”! I figured out the last color we should use! Indigo Blue!
: Indigo… Blue?
: (That didn’t seem to work the way I thought it might.)

But the badge…

: That a lawyer’s badge?
: Y-yes, it is! (I don’t believe it! This old guy is the first person to recognize my badge!)
: … I get it.
: Huh?
: Ayup… I got you figured out now!
: You’re not Keith!
: …
: N-Nick!
: Now’s our chance to clear things up!
: Umm… sir. No, I’m not Keith.
: And I’m not Meg, either!
: …
: We’re here investigating a murder that took place on this lake the other night.
: Please, help us!
: …
: Hm… a lawyer, huh?
: Please, mister…
: Alright, I’ll help.
: But, on one condition.
: What’s that?
: When this case is over and done…

: I can’t make that promise.
: …
: I-is that any way to treat your old man!?
: Bah! You want my help? You’ve come to the wrong man!
: Uh oh… now he’s grumpy.
: Not to mention he still thinks we’re his kids. (Maybe we should just say we’ll run his shop?)

This drops us at exactly the point of the correct answer.

: Okay, we promise.
: N-Nick! Are you sure about this?
: Hey, anything to get this case solved. Also… Who wouldn’t want to eat “Phoenix Noodles”?
: I… guess so.
: That’s my boy! Good for you, Keith.
: W-wait, didn’t I just say…
: You too, Meg!
: Y-yes!?
: I forget the time, but it was pretty dark outside… probably night, ayup.
: (It was after midnight, but okay…)
: Then I heard this “bang!” So I looked outside.

: Then I heard another one. “Bang!”

: A little while later, this boat comes back. Then a young man walked by my window here.
: He was mutterin’ something to himself, ayup.
: What did he say?
: … Ayup… …

: I forgot. I’ll remember tomorrow by court time, promise.
: We need to know earlier than that…!
: You know what? Eh? Little Terry was just here.
: “Terry”…?
: Ayup, that kid next door. You always used to make him cry, remember? He was wearin’ this tattered old coat. Got himself some whiskers growing out of his face.
: (He must be talking about Detective Gumshoe…)
: He comes up and tells me to come down to court tomorrow.
: Really…?
: (Somehow I don’t think we’re going to get much useful information from this guy.) Maya… maybe we should be leaving.
: I think you’re right.
: Oh, wait–I had one more question.
: Huh?
: Polly! Polly! Have we forgotten something?
: squawk “Don’t forget DL-6!” squawk
: H-huh!? What did she just say, Nick?
: One more time, Polly!

: (What!? The DL-6 Incident?) Hey, mister! I-I mean, Dad!

: (This is getting weird… Who IS this old guy!?)

We are shunted outside.

: We have to figure out who that old man is.
: Oh…
: What?
: He locked the door, from the other side.
: (… Who could that old man be…?)

: (I think I need to do a little more research on this DL-6 Incident… Maybe I should ask Detective Gumshoe.)

And we are indeed off to see the Detective. Incidentally, we are in fact now unable to go back into the shack.

: …
: You don’t look so happy. What’s wrong this time?
: Actually, we wanted to ask you something…
: Yeah?

: You know the boat rental shop down at Gourd Lake?
: Oh, yeah…
: The old man who runs it is appearing as a witness in court tomorrow, right?

: Huh…!? How’d you–Hmm. That was supposed to be top secret.
: Do you know who that old man is, Detective?
: …
: Actually… I don’t. He’s a bit of an odd bird… I haven’t been able to get a straight answer out of him.
: I decided first that he wans’t persuasive enough to stand and testify as a witness. That’s why we called Ms. Lotta Hart yesterday.
: As for who he is… We have absolutely no idea.
: Hmm… sounds suspicious!

: Hmm…

: Detective Gumshoe, please, help us…
: H-huh?
: We need to know about the DL-6 Incident!
: …!
: That was when Edgeworth’s father died. I can’t help but think that it has something to do with this current case.
: … To tell the truth, I don’t know much about DL-6 either. Mr. Edgeworth forbade us from reading the file.
: So… I’m afraid I can’t show them to you, either, pal.

: However… If you can convince me somehow that the DL-6 Incident is related to this case… Well, I guess I’d consider opening the file up.

Obviously this means presenting evidence. Specifically, Polly.

: The old man at the boat rental shop’s parrot. The parrot knew about that “incident”…
: That incident?
: DL-6.
: Wh-what!?

: squawk “Don’t forget DL-6!” squawk
: H-huh!?

: Yeah, but how would that old man know about the DL-6 Incident?
: Wait! What if… What if that old man was connected to DL-6?
: N-Nick! You think he might be!?
: …
: …
: I get ya. Sounds like you need information on the DL-6 Incident.
: Through there is the Station’s Records Room.
: I’ll give you special permission to go in and find what you need.
: All right! Way to go, Detective Gumshoe! Okay, Nick! To the Records Room!
: (I guess it’s time we faced Edgeworth’s past…)

: It’s amazing…ly dusty.
: Ten years of files and ten years of dust, I guess.
: Let’s find that DL-6 stuff quick!

: (Fiften years ago… both me and Edgeworth were nine years old. We were almost through with fourth grade when he suddenly transferred. Because of DL-6…?)
: Nick! I found out where the file is!
: O-oh, thanks!
: Just let me know what you want to know about the DL-6 Incident! I’ll go get the right file!

But first, we’ll look around.

: It looks like there are files inside that glass case. The case is so dusty I can’t see what’s inside.
: Nick… it’s locked.
: They must keep important case files in there.

: This cabinet is where they keep evidence for current cases. Some of the things are obviously murder weapons. Others are… who knows what. Most of it just looks like random junk.
: Nick… what do you think this clothespin is for?
: Don’t touch that! It’s evidence…

: Here are files of collected case reports. There’s quite a large volume of reports here.
: Wow… these are all case reports!?
: Yeah. It’s like a graveyard of police cases.
: I guess my sister’s case report is in here too… quietly gathering dust.

: There are shelves stuffed with case files in the back of the room, too. Forgotten cases, rotting away for eternity…
: Nick, let’s get what we need and get out of here.
: All the dust is getting to me!

Now, about those files…

: Well, first I have to get a handle on the main facts… like a summary.
: Right. Summary… summary… Found it!

: That’s exactly 15 years ago from the day after tomorrow!
: (So in two days, the case is closed…) The incident took place in the elevator of the district court.
: What!? Is this the same district court where we’re holding the trial now!?
: Looks like it.

: Part of the court building collapsed, and all of the lights went out.

: It took five hours for them to be rescued… Five hours!

: The survivors…?
: One of the three in the elevator had been shot… in the heart.
: That was Mr. Edgeworth’s father… wasn’t it.

: (So Miles Edgeworth was one of the other passengers in that elevator.)

: Do you have data on the victim… Edgeworth’s father?
: Yeah, hold on… Victim… victim… Here! Found it!

: He had lost that day’s case in court, and got in the elevator with his son, Miles.
: “Miles”…!
: Miles Edgeworth, of course.
: So he was on the elevator with his father!

: The murder weapon, a pistol, was found in the elevator. The pistol had been fired two times.

: (Huh…! It sounds just like this current case! What’s going on here?)

: Got any data on the suspect in there?
: Hmm… that would be the guy that my mom got arrested. Hold on… this is it.

: He was a clerk in the court, apparently.

: Well, then he had to have done it!
: But… he was found innocent. Thanks to his defense lawyer, Robert Hammond.

: Right.

: He lost all memory of being in the elevator. After he was declared innocent, he disappeared.
: Hmm… where could Yogi have gone to, I wonder?
: (He may be closer than we think…)

: I still don’t know what sort of impact the whole thing had on Edgeworth…
: Nick. Are we going to take the whole file? There’s too much! We’ll never get it out.
: Y-you’re right. How about we just take what we think we’ll need…

: That’s probably all we’ll be able to find here. Now, all that’s left is the trial tomorrow… I wonder how “Dad” will do testifying in court…

Next time: The trial’s ahead.

[quote=“Victoria Gambling Regulation ACt 2003, Section 3.8.11, Victoria, Australia”]3.8.11. Offences relating to obstruction of Minister or authorised persons
A person must not assault, obstruct, hinder, threaten, abuse, insult or intimidate the Minister or an authorised person when the Minister or authorised person is exercising or attempting to exercise a power under section 3.8.7, 3.8.8, 3.8.9 or 3.8.10.[/quote]