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

[morsrattus]

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]

[morsrattus]

(stop! filler time)

[morsrattus]

(…yeah, sorry about that.)

[morsrattus]

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]

[morsrattus]

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]

[morsrattus]

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.

@Lei No. 3.770

Article 1. Cell phone companies installed in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul must provide a 50% (fifty percent) discount on their rates to citizens suffering from disturbances in the timing and fluency of speech.

[morsrattus]

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]

[morsrattus]

(a little more filler now)

[morsrattus]

(technically we’re nearing the end but the next case is SO LONG)

[morsrattus]

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

: The defense is ready, Your Honor.
: … …
: Very well, apparently the prosecution is also ready.
: (Who is the judge here, anyway!?)
: Mr. von Karma, your opening statement.
: … …
: Er… very well, no opening statements so…

: Not so fast, Judge!
: I was taking a meaningful pause before speaking!
: R-right, of course.
: A prediction!

: Today’s trial will end three minutes from now!

: Order… order!
: Mr. von Karma! What is the meaning of your statement just now!?

: Bah! Must you question everything! It will be over in three minutes! We have no time to waste!
: I’ll call my witness now!
: R-right…
: I call my witness… my decisive witness to the stand!
: (It’s that mysterious boat shop owner.)

: Witness… state your profession.

: Mmph… zzzz… … I, er, am the proprietor of the restaurant the “Wet Noodle” at Gourd Lake.

: …
: And I, er, also rent boats.
: The night of the incident, you were in the boat rental shop, correct?
: Er… ayup, yup I was.
: Please testify.
: (Wait a second…)

: (On second thought, I guess it doesn’t really matter.)
: Doesn’t matter!? What are you thinking, Nick!? What if that old man had something to do with the DL-6 Incident? If we don’t find out who he is, we won’t be able to build a case here!
: (Hmm, she has a point.)

This drops us where the other choice starts.

: Wait a minute!
: The witness hasn’t stated his name yet!

: Because I did not ask him, Mr. Wright! Bah! I have predicted this trial will end in three minutes!

: Stop asking trivial questions and cooperate!
: (Yeah, right!)

: The witness will state his name.

: Zzzz… … Mmph! Well, er… I’m not really sure, ayup.
: What do you mean?
: My, er, memory…
: Your honor… The witness does not remember anything beyond the last several years…
: Ergo, he cannot recall his own name.
: Hmm… he can’t recall, you say?
: Yes, but the incident in question took place three days ago. He can testify.
: Very well.
: Let’s hear his testimony then, shall we. Witness?

: Hmm…
: Very well. I’d like to begin the cross-examination…

: There is nothing to question in my witness’s testimony! Ergo, no need for cross-examination!
: Besides, there are only 10 seconds left before our three minutes are up!

: Judge! Your verdict, now!
: Er… yes…

: (He’s right. That testimony sounded pretty solid. Maybe I should hold back.)
: B-but, Nick! You have to cross-examine him! This is your only chance to turn this trial around! Your last chance!
: (O-oh… right.)

Or we could go for the smarter answer.

: What are you saying!? Of course I’ll cross-examine the witness!
: Hmm…
: Very well, you may begin.

Convergence.

: E-excuse me? Mr. von Karma?
: Three minutes just passed.
: I see. Well then, let’s just take our time.
: You may cross-examine the witness.

: “Just after midnight,” you say?
: Ayup, just around then.
: Are you sure?
: Pretty sure, ayup.
: When I talked to you yesterday, you were rather vague about the time… I’m surprised you seem so sure about it today.

: I asked him, and he remembered. Isn’t that right!?

: Zzzz… D-don’t glare at me like that…!
: I, er… I remembered it clearly, I did. Ayup.
: You see? Continue!

: Is there anyone who can verify that?
: … Well, I guess Polly could.

: Th-that’s not good enough for a court of law!
: Mr. Wright… exactly what’s not good enough?
: Ah, uh, Your Honor, this “Polly” is a parrot.
: A… parrot?
: Don’t be so hard on the girl, Keithy-boy!
: Keith…?

: The prosecution concedes that we cannot prove the witness was in the shop. Witness… please continue.

: And where did the “bang” seem to come from?

: From the lake, I figure.

: Are you certain?
: A-ayup.
: Good. Continue.

: Was there someone in the boat?
: It was pretty far out there… I oculdn’t see clearly…
: But I figure there was two men out there, ayup.
: But you couldn’t see them clearly!
: Ayup… at the time, that is.
: (At the time…?)

: So you heard two gunshots total?
: Ayup.
: (That’s what Lotta said in her testimony yesterday.)

: “By your window”?
: Ayup, by my window. Right outside the window of my little shack.
: And, could you see the man’s face?
: Well, the fog was pretty darn thick, but he was right there in front of me. I saw him.
: This is a rather important detail! Please add it to your testimony.

: Tsk, tsk, tsk…
: (I have a bad feeling about this…)

: A-are you sure!?

: (Uh oh!)

: D-Dad!

: Dead certain, Keith! He said “I can’t believe he’s dead” as he was walking by, too.

: Witness! Are you sure that the person you saw was Miles Edgeworth!?

: This… sounds like decisive evidence indeed. I see no room for doubt.
: (von Karma… He lured me into cross-examining so he could set me up for a fall!)
: Tsk, tsk, tsk…
: N-Nick…! I don’t like the way things are going here! Everyone in the courtroom is glaring at us!

: (But… how can I raise an objection without any proof?)

: Judge! There is no room for doubt in the witness’s testimony!
: I demand that you declare your verdict!

Or…

: Your Honor! We proved in yesterday’s court that it could not have been Edgeworth who fired that gun!

: Mr. Wright. Are you referring to the fingerprints from Edgeworth’s right hand found on the gun, and the photograph showing a man firing with his left hand…?
: Exactly!

: That is easily explainable! He could have wiped his prints after he fired!

: You are ignoring the truth of the matter here! Everything in this witness’s testimony is true!

Convergence.

: Hmm…

: (I can’t see any room to raise an objection… I’d better hold back and see how things develop.)
: Nick! We have to do something! If we stay quiet now, Mr. Edgeworth’ll be found guilty for sure!

Or…

: Your Honor! This witness claims that Edgeworth said “I can’t believe he’s dead”…
: But his word is all we have!

: If he were telling a lie…

: Mr. Wright. In a court of law, the evidence tells all. Apparently, you have yet to realize even this basic fact.
: If you say his testimony is a lie, show us proof!
: Urk…
: Nick! Do we have evidence…?

Convergence.

: It’s no good! There’s nothing I can do.
: A… are you sure?
: To be honest… I don’t know what to do anymore.
: Please… Can you hear me, Sis? Please… We need your help… Nick needs you…
: Tsk, tsk, tsk… Three minutes was perhaps too high an expectation.
: However, fifteen minutes isn’t bad! This must be a new record.

: Enough! The witness may leave the stand.

: 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.
: (W-what!? No!)
: Hmph.
: 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!

: Me!!!
: Huh?

Next time: Wait, what?

@"The Laws of the Hittites

If anyone steals a door as a result of a quarrel, he shall replace everything that may get lost in the house, and he shall pay one mina of silver.

[morsrattus]

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

: Wh-what are you doing here!?
: Listen! Y-you gotta listen to me!
: I… I was…
: I was there, in the park, the night of the murder!

: B-but today I remembered it!
: Remembered what?
: The gunshot! I heard it too!

: O-order!

: What is the meaning of this!? The verdict has been decided! I call for adjournment!
: One moment, Mr. von Karma.
: So, you say you heard a gunshot?
: Yeah, I did! A gunshot! That night!
: I was sitting here in the audience, listening to the testimony… Then I realized, something he said was different from what I remember!
: A-anyhow, I can’t just sit here and let you call Edgey a murderer!
: It’s… It’s just not right! I’ll testify! Lemme testify!

: Order! Order! Well, this is the first time something has happened like this in my court.
: I’m not quite sure how to proceed…
: Judge! You’ve already given your decision!

: The trial is over!
: Nick! This is it! Larry’s given us one final chance at this!
: (She’s right! If only it wasn’t Larry… He could make things even worse…)
: Mr. Edgeworth was just declared guilty, Nick!
: It doesn’t get any worse!
: You’re right! Okay!

: Your Honor! If there is another witness, it is our duty to hear him speak!
: Right here! Right now!
: A waste of time!
: The verdict cannot be overturned!
: Hmm… … …

: Allow me to speak my opinion. In all court proceedings, it is our duty to prevent an inaccurate verdict. In order to make sure no mistake has been made, every witness should be heard!
: Wh-what is this!?

: I withdraw my previous verdict of “guilty”!

: Mr. von Karma! I order you to call this new witness to testify.
: Now!
: Whaaaat!

: The court will adjourn for a five minute recess.

: Court is adjourned!

: Whew… That was too close.

: Hmph.
: I’ve seen worse.
: (Yeah right, Edgeworth. You’re sweating bullets.) I just wonder what Larry plans to say in there.
: Larry was at the lake that night?
: Yes…

: Oh right. And he found the balloon and the air tank that night?
: Yeah.
: …
: Hey, Edgeworth.
: …
: Huh? You say something, Wright?
: Yeah, a lot of things. You seem out of it. What’s wrong?
: It… It’s nothing.
: Hmm?
: Umm… Mr. Edgeworth? There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.
: What’s that?
: Why are your fingerprints on the murder weapon?
: Oh.

: I couldn’t understand what had happened. I couldn’t think straight. Then I saw the pistol lying on the floor of the boat in front of me.

: I see…
: Wright…
: Yeah?
: This might be our chance.
: Our chance?
: von Karma has only ever run perfect trials.
: Perfect trials…?
: Perfectly prepared witnesses, perfectly complete evidence. That’s the secret to his success.
: This is the first time he’s ever had to deal with something unexpected! He has let someone he hasn’t even talked to testify before the court! And that someone… is Larry!
: What are you getting at?
: It’s likely his testimony will be full of holes, Wright.
: That’s right, Nick!
: No ten minute trial this time! We’ll milk this one for all it’s worth!
: Hey, it was fifteen minutes! Fifteen! (Everything depends on Larry now…)

: Court is now back in session.
: Witness… Please testify to the court about everything that you saw… on the night of December 24th.
: Right… leave it to me!
: (Please, Larry, don’t mess this one up!!! I hate to admit it, but you’re our last chance!)
: …
: (von Karma didn’t even have time to prep his witness. I just hope Edgeworth is right about this being our big break…)

: Hmm…
: That was an unusually vague testimony, even for this court.
: In any case, Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination.
: Yes, Your Honor…
: What’s wrong, Nick?
: It’s Larry! I have no idea what he’s going to say if I press him. I’m a little scared.
: Hmm…
: Well, we’ve come this far. There’s no way to go but forward, Nick!

: …
: Something wrong, Mr. Wright?
: There were so many things wrong I don’t know where to begin…
: Ah…
: Um, well, okay. First of all, what time was it?
: Oh, it was after 11:00 when I went out in the boat.
: By that time everyone had gone home for the night. So I waited until the coast was clear, so to speak.
: And why were you out on a boat at such a late hour…?

: “Looking for something”…?
: Er, yeah.
: Mr. Butz, what was it you were looking for?

: What the witness was searching for is irrelevant! Most likely he was hunting for this “Gourdy”!
: (You know, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if that was the truth.)
: This is all irrelevant! Let’s get it over with.

: Around what time was that?
: Uh… Well, let’s see… I figure I was out searching for about an hour…
: I guess it was around 12:00. Yeah.
: You’re not sure?
: Hey! Don’t give me that face! I’m not some sort of human sundial, okay!?
: (People use watches these days, Larry…)

: Where did the sound come from?
: Yeah, well, I wasn’t too sure about that. I looked around, y’know.
: Did you look at the lake?
: Yeah, I looked.

: Wasn’t there a boat on the lake!?

: Order! Order!
: Well? Mr. Butz!
: Whoa, whoa. Everybody just calm down, okay?
: I mean, it was real foggy that night.
: I’m not sure whether there was a boat out there or not.
: (Oh, okay, no problem. That’s just the MOST IMPORTANT PART of this case!!!)
: Hmph!

: So you only heard one “bang” correct?

Not my typo there.

: Yeah.
: i[/i]

And we loop.

: Well, Nick?
: Hmm… It was a pretty wishy-washy testimony, wasn’t it? I guess I should just start working on the contradictions.
: Sorry… I wish I could be more helpful. I wish I could call my sister…

Can you spot the problem?

: W-wait a sec, Larry!
: Wh-what!?
: You only heard one “bang”!? You’re sure!?
: That’s what I said!

: They both heard two gunshots that night!
: Huh?

: Were you even listening!?
: Were you paying attention at all to what they said?
: Yo, Nick, please!
: Huh?
: You know, something’s been bothering me.
: I’m a witness, see? I’m like a customer here!
: So you got to treat me nice and stuff, okay!?
: …
: Mr. Butz.
: What!?
: You only heard one gunshot? Are you sure?
: … Umm…
: Well, to tell ya the truth… I’m not sure.
: Eh…?
: Not sure!? H-how could you not be sure?
: Yeah, well… I, uh, I might have missed the other gunshot.
: I was, uh, listening to something else…
: Something… else?
: My radio, dude! On my headphones.

: Order! Order! And stop that booing!
: M-Mr. Butz! You were listening to a radio on earphones?
: Y-yeah! So what! That a crime!?
: I listen to my radio! Everybody listens to the radio! What’s the big deal!?
: Hmm…
: Mr. von Karma… your opinion?
: Waste of time. I do not accept this witness, nor his shoddy testimony.

: Hmm…

: (No, I think I’ve heard enough. This is all too embarrassing… In fact, I think we’ve all heard enough.)
: What are you saying, Nick!?
: If you stop now, Mr. Edgeworth will be found guilty!
: We have to turn this trial around now!
: Uh…

And we pick up where the right answer starts.

: Your Honor. Please… please allow the witness to continue his testimony.
: Bah!
: Nothing is more pitiful than a lawyer who doesn’t know when he’s lost!
: Very well, Mr. Butz. Please give your testimony, and be sure to include details like your RADIO.
: Right! Leave it to me!
: (I wouldn’t if there were any other way out of this, believe me.)

: You were listening to your radio… at a high volume!?
: Yeah, what’s the big problem? Can’t a man listen to his radio in peace? Isn’t this a free country!?
: (I truly believe Larry has no idea what the problem here is.)
: Judge. Can you believe a word this witness says?
: What he heard was probably nothing more than a drum beat from the radio!
: True enough, it is difficult to believe this testimony.

: Wait, Your Honor! The witness said he remembers exactly what the DJ said when he heard the gunshot!
: Excuse me? “Dee-jay”…?
: An announcer… the guy who says things on the radio.
: Anyway! What this means is, when he heard the sound, no music was playing!
: The DJ only talks between songs! So he could have heard the gunshot from the lake! I’d like to cross-examine the witness, Your Honor!
: V-very well, Mr. Wright.
: (I can’t believe I’m continuing this charade…)

Next time: Continuing this charade.

[quote=The Laws of the Hittites (translated), Subsections 187, 188, 199 and 200a]If a man have intercourse with a cow, it is a capital crime, he shall die.
[…]
If a man have intercourse with a sheep, it is a capital crime, he shall die.
[…]
If anyone have intercourse with a pig or a dog, he shall die.
[…]
If a man have intercourse with a horse or a mule, there is no punishment. But he shall not approach the king, and shall not become a priest.
[…]
If any man have intercourse with a foreign woman and pick up this one, now that one, there is no punishment.[/quote]

[morsrattus]

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

: So, you turned on the radio?
: Right!
: I just wanted to hear someone’s voice, y’know? You don’t know what it’s like out there, alone, on Christmas Eve! Alone!
: (I shouldn’t have said anything…)

: Do you by any chance remember the name of the program you were listening to?

: This has nothing to do with the case, Your Honor!
: Objection sustained. The witness was listening to the radio. That is all we need to know.
: Tell us, Mr. Butz, how loud was your radio set to that night?

: Real “booming” loud?
: Yeah, y’know.
: And you had headphones on?
: Yup.
: I wouldn’t think you could hear anything going on outside at all…

: Can you prove that…?
: No… no, of course you can’t.
: Nah, I can’t prove it. But I remember that moment real clear.
: I mean, while I was talking about it, it came back real clear to me, y’know?

: What did he say?

: Mr. Wright! Please cease these pointless questions!
: What possible good could knowing what a radio DJ said do us!?
: Indeed, Mr. von Karma has a point.

: (Hm… right. I didn’t really have a deep reason for asking, now that I think about it.)
: Understood, Your Honor. I withdraw my question.
: Continue your examination of the witness, then.
: (This is getting nowhere…)

Which brings us to the loop.

: (This is the most ludicrous testimony I’ve ever heard. But there is one gleaming ray of hope in there!)
: (I’ve got to press it until we get to the bottom of what happened!)

But if we take the other option…

: We should care, Your Honor! Of course we should!
: Why?
: Uh.
: W-well, how do you know if we don’t ask, hmm?
: Fine, very well.
: Mr. Butz, please testify to the court. What was the radio announcer saying when you heard the gunshot?

: Are you sure?
: Course I am!
: She had this real sexy voice…
: (Hmm… maybe von Karma was right. I’m not sure how that helped us at all.)

And we go back to the loop. Have you spotted the problem?

: Larry! Are you absolutely sure what you’re saying is correct!?
: Huh? What’s with the face? You look scary, dude.
: Hey, if you’re trying to scare me, you better know I don’t scare that easy!
: Is something the matter, Mr. Wright?
: Your Honor!
: Did you hear what the witness just said?

: Indeed… And…?
: “Almost Christmas” means it wasn’t Christmas! Do you realize what this means?

: When he heard the gunshot, it was still Christmas Eve!!!

: That would seem to be the case, yes…
: But that contradicts the two testimonies we have heard so far, Your Honor! Both Ms. Hart and the old man said it was after midnight when they heard the shots!
: In other words… When they heard the gunshots, it was already Christmas!!!

: Order! Order!
: What does this mean? The two prior witnesses heard gunshots after midnight. However, this witness says he heard a gunshot before midnight…
: Judge. The answer is quite simple.

: The current witness is plainly mistaken. Just look at him! Suspicious!
: Wh-whaaat!?
: Hmm…
: Well, Mr. Wright?

: Well…
: I guess, it had to have been Larry’s mistake.
: Hah!
: Very well.
: W-w-waaaaait!
: I come up here, I give you a riveting testimony… And you laugh it off as some kinda mistake!?
: What about me!?
: How can you call yourself a friend, Nick? How!?

: …
: Well, Mr. Wright?

This time, let’s not piss Larry off.

: Larry’s not mistaken, Your Honor!

: He heard that gunshot before midnight!
: …
: Intriguing. I’m assuming you have evidence for this wild claim?

Have you spotted it?

: This was taken by our witness yesterday, Ms. Lotta Hart, with her automatic camera. The timestamp on the photo reads “December 24, 11:50 PM.”
: Oh yeah? Hmm? But, there’s nothing on the lake in this picture.
: Your Honor. The real issue here is not why nothing is shown in this photograph.
: It is why this photograph exists at all!
: What do you mean?
: Your Honor… This photograph was taken by an automatic camera.

: Ahah!
: Correct! There was a loud noise on the lake at 11:50 PM.

: In other words…

: When Larry heard that gunshot, it was most definitely Christmas Eve!
: Indeed, it would seem that is the case!
: Then… where does that leave us? Ms. Hart testified that she heard the gunshots after midnight.
: Are you claiming she was mistaken?

: Not at all, Your Honor.

: Your Honor!

: Why would this be…?

: Don’t be fooled, Judge!
: That camera was set to respond to “loud noises”!
: Yes?

: There is no proof that the “loud noise” at 11:50 was a gunshot!
: Why, the witness could have sneezed, triggering the camera!
: H-hey, my nose was clear that night, man! Clear!
: Hmm…
: Well, Mr. Wright? There’s no turning back now. Can you prove that the “loud noise” at 11:50 PM was indeed a gunshot?

But what is it?

: The… murder weapon?
: Something about this pistol was bothering me, Your Honor.
: Both of the witnesses who testified yesterday heard two gunshots. However, the murder weapon was fired three times.
: When, then, was the last shot fired?
: Only now have I realized the truth.

: That third shot was the shot Larry heard just before midnight!

: Order! Order!
: Hmm…
: That would make sense of the evidence we’ve seen so far.
: …
: However… This leaves me wondering exactly what did happen that night on the lake.
: Exactly! If this is true, there were two sets of gunshots, separated by 25 minutes! One at 11:50, another at 15 minutes after midnight!

: Why, I ask you! Why!?
: (Uh oh, I’d better think of something quick!)
: i[/i]

: (Gunshots separated by 25 minutes…?)

: Wh-what’s wrong, Nick!?
: I have it! I have it!
: Huh?
: Remember the case with the Steel Samurai!?
: Huh? Yeah, of course I remember…
: The murderer in this case had the same idea as the murderer in that case!
: What do you mean?
: Maya!
: Yes!?
: If we don’t figure this out now, we’ll never overturn Edgeworth’s guilty verdict! I’ve got a hunch, and I’m going to run with it…
: Right! I mean… is this safe?
: Safe? We’ve already gotten a guilty verdict! We have nothing to lose!
: …
: You just watch and let me know if I say anything that sounds fishy, okay?
: Right, Nick!

: Your Honor!
: Y-yes, Mr. Wright?
: The testimony just now has cleared up this entire case!

: What do you mean, Mr. Wright!?
: Tsk tsk tsk… So, you’ve finally realized the truth? There can be no other murderer here than Miles Edgeworth himself.

: Wrong, von Karma!
: A man was shot that night, but it wasn’t Edgeworth who did the shooting!

: Listen, rookie. Take a deep breath, and consider the facts. At the time of the murder, one boat was on that lake.

: There was a gunshot fired on that boat, and Robert Hammond fell into the lake. The distance of the shooting was one meter. It couldn’t have been suicide! Well?

: The guilty party has to be the other man on that boat!
: I admit, it is hard to imagine any other possibility.
: Yes…
: But this assumes that the victim was shot at 15 minutes after midnight.
: … What do you mean by that, Mr. Wright?

: The timestamp on the photo says 00:15.
: But Larry heard a gunshot 25 minutes before that!

: Robert Hammond was killed then! 25 minutes before the shot on the lake! (That’s the only way that Edgeworth could be innocent!)
: …
: …

Next time: Trying to prove it.

@The Laws of the Hittites (translated)

If an ox spring upon a man for intercourse, the ox shall die but the man shall not die. One sheep shall be fetched as a substitute for the man, and they shall kill it. If a pig spring upon a man for intercourse, there is no punishment.

[morsrattus]

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

: It was the murderer and Robert Hammond!

: What are you saying!? That contradicts what you just told the court.
: You said that Robert Hammond had been killed 25 minutes before the gunshot!
: Y-yes, that’s right.
: Also, might I mention… The defendant, Mr. Edgeworth, has admitted to being on that boat.
: Er, right, Your Honor. (Crash and burn…)

: Mr. Wright! Your client has already been declared guilty once!

: i[/i]
: Bah! I’ll ask you again! Explain who is standing on the boat!

: Miles Edgeworth and Robert Hammond!

: Yes, I believe you are mad! That is exactly what I’ve been telling the court this whole time! You’re agreeing with me! And yet, what did you just say?
: That Robert Hammond had been killed 25 minutes before the shot on the boat!?
: Y-yes, that’s what I said!
: I was just testing you, von Karma!

: Mr. Wright! Your client has already been declared guilty once!

: i[/i]
: Bah! I’ll ask you again! Explain who is standing on the boat!

: Of course, it was Edgeworth and the murderer!

: After the murderer killed Robert Hammond at 11:50… He assumed the guise of Mr. Hammond and met Edgeworth!

: Wh… What!? Are you serious?
: Yes. Edgeworth won’t tell us why he went to the lake that night. However, I have a hunch.
: That night, Robert Hammond called Edgeworth to the lake. Now, Edgeworth didn’t know Robert Hammond’s face that well.

: That’s why he didn’t suspect anything when the murderer took Robert Hammond’s place!
: … I’m not sure what to make of all this.
: L-Ludicrous!
: Mr. Wright. Tell us the name of the murderer then!

: (On second thought, that’s a really dumb answer…)
: (I might get a laugh or two out of the crowd, but that’s about it.)
: Uh, Nick? Something on your mind?
: Huh? Oh, uh, nothing. Hah hah. groan

: Y-yes, Your Honor!
: The murderer’s name…? Right! It’s…

: The murderer is none other than Lotta Hart!
: … The investigative photographer…?
: Um, yes.
: You’re saying that young lady dressed up like Robert Hammond and fooled Mr. Edgeworth?
: Y-yes, well, she did look sort of manly.

: I am ashamed I actually listened to this utter nonsense.
: Listen!
: You came to this conclusion based on a piece of evidence.

: If you didn’t have this photograph, you never would have made this claim!
: Correct? And just who was it who went out of her way to give you that piece of evidence?

: It was… Lotta Hart.

: Why would the murderer go to all that trouble just to deliver you decisive evidence!
: …
: I guess… they wouldn’t.

: i[/i]
: Mr. Wright! Can you really tell us the name of the murderer!?
: (Uh oh, he looks suspicious! I’d better bluff and bluff good!)
: The murderer’s name…? Right! It’s…

: Actually, I don’t know the murderer’s name.
: Y-you don’t know!?
: Bah! Again, you waste my time!

: I don’t know because he never told us!

: …!
: The murderer is the caretaker of the boat shop, that old man!

: At 11:50, he was the one who killed Robert Hammond.
: The caretaker of the boat shop!?
: Wh-where did he do this!? There weren’t any boats on the lake then!
: Why would he have to go all the way out on the lake just to shoot someone?
: May I suggest… That was the real scene of this crime was not in a boat!
: What!?
: W-well then, where did the murder take place!?

: Here, of course! The boat shop, where he lives.
: That way he could meet with the victim without anyone seeing!

: Do you have proof that the boat shop was the scene of the crime!?
: Recall Larry’s testimony if you will.

: He heard a gunshot, Your Honor! Even though he was wearing headphones at the time! In other words, the gunshot was very, very close by! And where would that be if he had just returned a boat?
: The boat shop…!

: Mr. Wright! What happened that night on Gourd Lake!? Please tell the court, from the beginning!
: Y-yes, Your Honor.
: Nick, are you sure about this…?
: Um, not really. But, I think if I start at the very beginning… And I take it slow, I might just be able to figure this out…

: That night… The caretaker of the boat shop called Robert Hammond to his shop.

: That was when the gunshot that Larry heard was fired. After that, the caretaker put on Robert Hammond’s coat… He became Robert Hammond!

: It was Miles Edgeworth…
: N-Nick! How could that be!? Wasn’t that old man holding the pistol!?
: Uh, yeah. Good thinking!
: That was easy, Nick! What I’m worried about is what you’re thinking!

This drops us off right where the right answer would.

: He shot twice. Both missed Edgeworth, on purpose.
: Wait a minute…
: Y-yes?
: Why would he shoot twice if he didn’t mean to hit anyone?
: Uh… (Details! Details!)
: Know this, Mr. Wright. The moment you run out of explanations is the moment you lose.

: B-because the first shot missed?
: Missed?
: Yeah, he was aiming for Edgeworth, and he missed…

: What are you saying?

: Huh? Oh, uh, right.
: (Uh oh… I’d better figure out just what it is I’m trying to prove here.)

Which leaves us at the correct answer.

: I believe he shot twice to create a witness, Your Honor.
: Create a witness…?

: That ensures that anyone who heard the shot would be look at this lake. Indeed, Ms. Hart did exactly that after hearing the first gunshot. Next! The murdere waits a bit and he fires again. Then…

: Leaving the pistol in the boat behind him.
: … I see!
: To someone looking from the edge of the lake… It would appear that one of the men on the boat had shot the other! The murderer didn’t know about the automatic camera, of course.

: That’s why he shot twice to draw attention to the boat!
: Hmm…
: Once you realize that, everything else falls into place!
: The boat shop caretaker swam back to his shop. Then he put Mr. Hammond’s wet coat back on the body. And threw the body into the lake!
: This is what happened, Your Honor.
: These are the events that transpired that night on Gourd Lake.

: …
: Bailiff!
: Bring out the witness from before! The boat shop caretaker! Quickly!

: Very well. While we are waiting for the caretaker… I would like to ask the defendant, Miles Edgeworth, a few questions.
: Mr. Edgeworth. Please take the stand.

: Mr. Edgeworth… You heard what the defense has said?
: Yes.
: Well? Why did you go to the lake last night?
: …
: What Wright has said was mostly correct. Astonishingly so, actually. Yes…

: The letter was signed, “Robert Hammond.” He asked me to come to the boat shop by the lake at midnight on Christmas Eve. He said he had something very important to discuss with me.
: Something important?
: … I’m sorry. I can’t say what it was.
: Hmm…

: Bailiff! We are conducting a trial here, I ask that you remain quiet…
: The witness has disappeared! He isn’t at the boat shop, either!
: What!?
: What should I do?
: F-find him, quickly! We cannot allow him to get away!

: Mr. von Karma! Your witness has disappeared!
: … A search warrant has already been issued.
: Hmm…
: It goes without saying that I cannot declare a verdict under these circumstances.
: I will extend the trial until tomorrow, the final day allowed. I request that the police department utilize all its forces to find that witness! Am I understood?
: …
: One more thing. Just who is that boat shop caretaker?
: I think his identity has become very important to this trial. I want him, and I want to know who he is.
: …
: Very well. Court is adjourned!

: Yay, Nick! You did it!
: Yeah… Well, at least we got out from under that guilty verdict…
: And what about Larry! That was something else!
: Even von Karma didn’t know what to do with his testimony!
: Larry really helped us out!
: Sure, once I sifted through his “unique” testimony. Still… he did save us. I just wish our cases weren’t so down to the wire all the time.
: I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like it’s us on trial instead of our clients!
: Hey, Edgeworth…
: …
: Umm… Mr. Edgeworth?
: ! D-did you say something?
: Don’t look so pained! I mean, it looks like you’re probably going to get off the hook!
: You could try to smile just a little…? Relax!
: … I’m sorry… But… I fear it’s not over for me yet.
: Wh-what do you mean?
: Wright… There’s something that’s been troubling me for a long time now.
: And I don’t know whether or not to tell you…
: Edgeworth?
: No… there’s so little time left. I want to tell you, to get it off my chest, but… …
: Hmm. I can’t make up my mind. …
: What is this about, Edgeworth?
: … It’s… a nightmare I’ve had. A memory of a crime… that I committed.
: A crime you committed?
: A memory… of a murder.

Next time: Many mysteries remain.

[quote=Table X, Sacred Law, Subsections 1-8, Rome (Translated)]3. Expenses of a funeral shall be limited to three mourners wearing veils and one mourner wearing an inexpensive purple tunic and ten flutists[…]
4. Women shall not tear their cheeks or shall not make a sorrowful outcry on account of a funeral.
5a. A dead person’s bones shall not be collected that one may make a second funeral.
5b. An exception is for death in battle and on foreign soil.
6a. Anointing by slaves is abolished and every kind of drinking bout […] there shall be no costly sprinkling, no long garlands, no incense boxes […]
6b. A myrrh-spiced drink […] shall not be poured on a dead person.
7. Whoever wins a crown himself or by his property, by honor, or by valor, the crown is bestowed on him at his burial […]
8. No gold shall be added to a corpse. But if any one buries or burns a corpse that has gold dental work it shall be without prejudice.[/quote]

[morsrattus]

(did you know that there was a french dog that was pushed for sainthood? it’s true!)

[morsrattus]

(saint guinefort the greyhound. catholic church didn’t allow it, of course. dogs do not have souls. but the french cultus to the dog lasted into the 1900s!)

[morsrattus]

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

: A memory… of a murder.

: … I don’t believe it. Not Edgeworth. Some painful memory has been troubling him recently… But he’d never take someone’s life! Never!
: Nick…

: Whaddya think of my performance today? I had 'em swooning in the ailes! Huh, Maya?
: S-swooning? Me?
: Oh… Oh, yes.
: I do remember feeling faint.
: Right on! Tell me the truth, it was like love at first sight, right?
: Right, Nick?
: H-huh? Me!? I… uh, well, maybe my heart skipped a beat or two…
: … I think you can do better than that!
: C’mon! I saved Edgeworth in there, dude! Edgey!
: You guys should be bowing before me! Yeah! Bow before your hero!

We should probably find out what happened between scenes there.

: Larry… You really helped out in the trial today.
: You did! If you weren’t there, Larry, I’m sure Mr. Edgeworth would have been found guilty!
: Hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah!
: But, seriously, Nick. That boat shop caretaker guy is pretty suspicious… But Edgey ain’t off the hook yet!
: Way to spoil the mood, Larry.
: Hey, I’m just a guy sitting in the audience, you know? But from where I was sitting, Edgey seemed pretty… edgy. I mean, can you really know he’s telling the truth about that night?
: …
: Nick?
: I don’t know. But… what I do know is… I’m going to believe in you two until the end.
: Us two?
: Edgeworth and… who else? You mean me right?
: Nah! He means me! Right, Nick?
: Yeah, you, Larry.
: Not… me? …
: B-but why you, Larry!?
: Huh? Um, actually, yeah. Why me, Nick?
: …
: Hmph. Enough with the silent treatment!

: Nick… Why do you trust Mr. Edgeworth so much?
: I mean, he’s changed recently, true.
: But when we first met him, he was kind of a jerk, don’t ya think?
: … You didn’t know him back then. Back when he wanted to become a defense attorney.
: Wait…
: Was that when you two were classmates?
: Yes. In grade school…

: They saved me… Miles… And Larry. They saved me and I’ll never forget it. That’s why I became a defense attorney, you know.

: Hey, hey, Larry. What’s he talking about?
: Huh? Uh… umm…
: Er, sorry. I kinda forgot.
: Hmph.
: Okay, Nick. Out with it! I’m going to hear this story today, and that’s final!
: Okay, okay. It’s kind of a long story, so hang in there. … It was the beginning of Spring, 4th grade. I was on trial. A class trial.
: A c-class trial!?

: You remember, Larry? Spring, 4th grade? A kid in my class got his lunch money stolen.
: Lunch money?
: Our school was really small.

: Huh, I see.
: Anyway, this kid’s envelope disappeared. With $38.00 still inside.
: Oh… Yeah, now that you mention it, I do remember that!
: I can see why you’d forget, though. You were out of school that day. Anyway, the envelope had been stolen during PE class. I was coming down with a cold, so I’d skipped PE that day. I was the only one not in class.
: So… they thought you did it?
: Yeah. The kids in class said I should be put on trial.
: Trial…?
: So the next day we held a classroom trial, with me as the defendant.

: “Guilty!”
: “He did it!”
: “Guilty!”
: “It was you!”
: “Thief!”
: “Give me my money back!”
: “You’re suach a meanie!”
: “No one play with him!”
: “Just admit you did it!”
: “You can’t hide the truth!”
: “Tell us the truth!”
: “We’re not gonna play with you any more!”
: “Yeah, and no borrowing my eraser!”
: “He shouldn’t be allowed in the relay race!”
: “Or on the library committee!”
: “Gimme back my 50 cents I loaned you!”
: “Hey, did you rob that bank the other day?”

: In the end, even the teacher thought I’d done it.
: “Apologize to the class, Phoenix.”

: I was so sad… I couldn’t stop crying. Everyone was staring at me like I’d done it… I tried to apologize. I went over to where the boy was sitting… … That’s when it happened.

: “He shouldn’t have to apologize! The only thing that belongs in a trial is evidence! Anything else has no place! You should all be ashamed… amateurs!”
: “M-Miles?”

: “No…”
: “Then you shouldn’t apologize! Everyone’s been shouting you did it, but no one has any proof! That is why, Your Honor, this boy is innocent!”

: “Yeah yeah!”
: “He did it! He’s the one!”
: “We don’t need proof!”
: “Make him say he’s sorry!”

: “Just think how he feels! He said he didn’t do it, so he didn’t do it!”

: “Very well. I will replace the money myself. This class trial is over.”

: After that, the three of us were always friends.

: Yeah… I had no idea, either! I mean, I forgot.
: That’s when I learned what it meant to be alone. Totally alone, without a friend in the world.
: You did a good thing, Larry!
: Um, yeah, well… I was just lucky that I took the day off from school. If I’d been there they would have thought I’d done it!
: So I took it kind of personally, see.

: (“When something smells, it’s usually the Butz.”)

: Anyway, Edgeworth and I talked after that class trial. That’s when I heard his father was a defense attorney. I remember, his eyes would shine when he talked about his father.

: “A famous defense attorney!”

: Right. I’m not sure, but the transfer probably had to do with his father’s death.
: That’s so sad!
: … It was several years later when I heard Edgeworth’s name again. There was an article about him in the newspaper. The headline was something like “Dark Suspicions of a Demon Attorney.”

: But why? What happened!? I mean, that’s not the Edgey I used to know at all!
: That’s what I thought too. I tried to get in touch with him I don’t know how many times… He never replied.
: I guess he didn’t want to see his old friends…
: I couldn’t just drop it, though. I wanted to meet him, to learn why he had become who he became. That’s when I decided.

: Wait… You don’t mean…? That’s why!? That’s why you became a defense attorney!? To meet Edgeworth!?
: If I was a defense attorney, I knew he’d have to meet me whether he wanted to or not. In court.
: …
: Edgeworth believed in me, and I believe in him. He’s in pain… And no one’s on his side. I’m the only one who knows the real Edgeworth. I’m the only one who can help him.
: Whoa… Nick. S-so, is that why you helped me out for free?
: Uh… yes. I helped you because I believed in you. (Except I don’t remember saying I’d do it for free…)
: Aww, Nick! Nick!!!
: Nick! We have to save Mr. Edgeworth if it’s the last thing we do, okay?
: Right. (It very well may be…)
: First, there’s that rental boat shop caretaker.
: We need to find out who or what he is!
: I’d settle for who. (I guess I can clean out some of this evidence I no longer need… …)

And he does - the Court Record loses about a quarter of the items within it.

: Okay, let’s go!

And we’re off to check in with Edgeworth.

: …
: You look as grim as always.
: Hmph.
: Um, Mr. Edgeworth? I heard the story about the class trial…
: Class trial? What do you mean?
: You… don’t remember?
: No, I don’t.
: Your lunch money was stolen, wasn’t it? In 4th grade…?
: Lunch money…? … Oh… Oh, right. Yes, I seem to remember something like that.
: Nick. I think you’re the only one who really remembers.
: Well, it probably only really mattered to me anyway.
: Mr. Edgeworth, didn’t you know? The trial was the reason Nick became a defense attorney!
: … Ridiculous!
: (Gee… thanks.)
: That said… It does sound like the kind of thing you’d do.

: You haven’t changed a bit, have you, Wright? So… simple. To a fault, even.
: Well, maybe yeah, but… I think you changed too much, Edgeworth.
: … Perhaps.

: Hey, Edgeworth. Why did you become a prosecutor, anyway? You used to look up to your dad… You said you wanted to be a defense attorney, right?
: … I couldn’t let myself deny reality like you.
: What do you mean?
: My father was taken from me, and you want me to defend criminals?
: I’m sorry, Wright, but I’m not that good of a person!
: One suspect was apprehended in your father’s murder, right?
: Yes. The man trapped in the elevator with my father. His name… was Yanni Yogi.
: He had to be the shooter, any way you look at it! Yet… he was found innocent. That defense attorney got him off the hook!

: When we were rescued, we all suffered oxygen deprivation. I had lost all memory of the murder.
: Lost your memory?

: He claimed Yanni Yogi had been “not of sound mind” due to the oxygen deprivation. Yogi was released due to a lack of evidence… innocent.

: I started to hate defense attorneys.

: What’s your relationship with von Karma?
: He’s my teacher, and a man who deserves respect. I learned everything I know of courtroom techniques from him.
: So, he’s like my sister was to you, Nick.
: He is a perfectionist in all things. In court… In his personal life… He is obsessed with doing everything perfectly.
: Perfectly, huh?
: In all the cases he has taken on, none were left unsolved. And not one suspect was declared innocent. Ever.
: But… but that’s…
: I know. It’s possible some of the suspects were indeed innocent.
: However, it is impossible for us to accurately determine that in every case. All von Karma does is his job, to find the suspect guilty, perfectly.
: In any case… It’s nigh well impossible to find a weakness in him. Should a weakness appear, he would do everything in his power to make it go away.
: Um, Edgeworth? If what you’re saying is true, you’re headed for a guilty sentence tomorrow!

: Now’s no time to praise the enemy, Mr. Edgeworth!
: Mmph…
: It’s a strange situation in which I find myself, I’ll admit.
: (No kidding.)

If we try to show Edgeworth the photo of his dead father from the DL-6 incident…

: N-Nick! No!
: Th-that’s a photo of his father! Don’t show him that!
: (You’re right… Now probably isn’t a good time to dredge up those memories…)
: What is it?
: Uh, um, n-nothing.
: Huh?

If we show him Lotta’s picture of the gunshot going off…

: Um, uh, no reason.
: … You know, I was impressed by your deduction in the trial today. Granted, you were at the end of your rope, but still.
: Nick, he noticed.
: Hah hah.

We should probably check in with Gumshoe, too.

: (Hmm… Looks like Detective Gumshoe hasn’t gotten back yet.)

: Oh… really?
: He said there was some guy he had to arrest by tomorrow.
: (The boat shop caretaker…)
: He shouted something about “catching him if it’s the last thing I do, pal!”
: (Good luck, Gumshoe!)

So, to the lake!

: Oh! Detective Gumshoe!
: Close one today, eh!
: I got so worked up, I snapped my tie in half!
: Uh… Sorry about that.
: No prob, pal! Thanks to you, we now know who really did it!
: You mean, the boat shop caretaker?
: Look, I’ll make you a promise. I’ll have that scoundrel in my custody by trial time tomorrow! Come what may! It’s my duty to you as a police officer!
: Now, I’m off to catch me a criminal!
: …
: Detective Gumshoe sure is… active today.
: Oh, one other thing!
: Eek!
: No one can go into the woods today.
: The woods?
: (Where Lotta was camping?)

: The woods are off-limits to camping, and apparently the park ranger found out. He got pretty mad. No one can go in for a while.
: I guess Lotta’s in a ‘lotta’ trouble…
: Anyway, I’ll be seeing you tomorrow!

And he leaves.

: Huh? The Steel Eyesore is missing…
: “Eyesore”!?
: Looks like the hotdog stand is closed, too.
: I guess Larry’s been too busy with the trial to show up for work…

Next time: Visiting the boathouse.

@Code of Justinian

But if the violence of a river should bear away a portion of your land and unite it to the land of your neighbor, it undoubtedly still continues [to be] yours. If, however, it remains for long united to your neighbor’s land, and the trees, which it swept away with it, take root in his ground, these trees from that time become part of your neighbor’s estate.

[morsrattus]

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

: Yep.
: I never imagined he might be the real murderer! …
: Ah-HHHHEM!
: …! (I’d know that clearing-of-the-throat anywhere!)

: Ah hah, hello! What might you be doing here? Out for a walk, hmm? “Ahh… the days of my youth… like the scent of fresh lemon…” you see.
: Mr. Grossberg!
: This is no time for idle reminiscing! Mr. Edgeworth’s trial ends tomorrow!
: Er… that is true, yes.
: But from what I saw of today’s trial, Edgeworth should be fine, right?
: Well… I’m not so sure about that.
: Ho ho! What do you mean by that?
: Well… I’m not sure.
: Hmm…
: If you find anything out, come by my office at once. I may be able to offer you some assistance.

He leaves.

: Thanks… i[/i]
: What do you think Mr. Grossberg was doing here anyway?
: Who knows…

The shack was apparently left unlocked, so we head in.

: …
: Nobody’s home.
: “Hello! Hello!” squawk
: Hey! It’s Polly!
: I wonder where your owner’s gone, Polly?
: “Hello! Hello!” squawk
: I can’t believe he’d run off and leave his poor parrot to fend for herself!
: “Hello! Hello!” squawk

There was something we couldn’t check out yesterday…

: That reminds me, Nick!

: Yeah, that’s right.
: Polly, what’s the number to the safe?
: “1228”! squawk
: Let’s open it, Nick! C’mon!
: I’m sure there isn’t any money in there.
: Aww…
: But, hey!

: I’m not so sure…
: Okay, Nick, let’s see what’s in there!
: (I guess there might be a clue or two…) …

: A letter? Aww… boring!
: (Hmm… There’s no name or signature on this thing. It’s handwritten in very precise, clear letters…) … “Get your revenge on Miles Edgeworth…” Edgeworth!

: N-N-Nick! Why would Mr. Edgeworth’s name be on here…?
: How should I know!? I’m going to read the whole thing…!

It also says: “This is your last chance! Now is your time to get revenge on the two men who ruined your life!” …

: (The rest of the letter goes on to describe the murder plot in detail! How to kill Robert Hammond, and frame Edgeworth… …Calling Edgeworth out to the lake, getting on the boat… firing twice! This is exactly what I figured out today in court! It’s all here… in perfect detail!) …

: I don’t know… but it looks like these are instructions for that caretaker.

: But who could have written that letter?
: And… what does it mean, to “get revenge on Miles Edgeworth”…?
: Look, I don’t know, okay? But one thing’s for certain. This letter is an amazing clue!

Now that we have this letter, maybe we should let Edgeworth know about the conspiracy against him.

Now, we get out the letter.

: Hmm?
: This came out of the safe in the shack where that boat rental caretaker lives.
: I see…
: …!

: Revenge… on me?
: Who is that old guy, anyway!?
: I… I don’t know.
: Could he be an innocent defendant you got declared guilty or something?
: Nice, Wright. But I don’t remember that old man. Not at all.
: So, he was following this letter, then?
: Which means there was someone else behind it!

: Two men… meaning myself and Robert Hammond?
: It also says: “This is your last chance!”
: Last chance…? Wait, maybe… Maybe he’s talking about the statute of limitations on the DL-6 Incident!
: … Wait… Wait, that old man…!
: Wh-what is it!? Do you know who he is!?
: Yogi… Could he be Yogi!?
: Yogi?

: The suspect in the DL-6 Incident. The one who was found innocent.

: Yanni Yogi was a court bailiff at the time. We just happened to be in that elevator together 15 years ago.

: We were there for so long, it felt like forever. The air thinned… and the darkness closed in on us in that little box. We became… unsettled.

“Quiet! I said quiet! You’re not making this any easier!”
“I want to get out! Help! Get us out!”
“Don’t shout! You’ll just use up more oxygen!”
“…!”

: When I came to, I was in a hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling.

: They claimed the oxygen deprivation and stress had caused temporary insanity. In the end, the claim passed the ocurt, and Yogi was found innocent.

: Why would he want to take revenge on you?
: … Wright.
: Yeah?
: There’s something that’s been troubling me these last few days. I… didn’t know whether or not I should tell you.
: You mean the nightmare?

: A memory of a crime… that I committed.
: A crime you committed?
: …A memory… of a murder.

: I think the time has come to tell all.

: For the last 15 years, I’ve had the same dream almost every night. I wake up in a fearful sweat, every time.
: What kind of dream?
: It’s a dream about my father’s killing… in the dark.

“Quiet! I said quiet! You’re not making this any easier!”
“I want to get out! Help! Get us out!”
“Don’t shout! You’ll just use up more oxygen!”
“I… I can’t breath! You… you’re using up my air!”
“Wh-what!?”
“Stop breathing my air! I’ll… I’ll stop you!”
“Aaaah! Wh-what!? What are you…!?”
“Stop breathing my aaaaair!”
(No! Father! He’s attacking Father!)

: I don’t know if it was evidence from that day in court, or the bailiff’s… In a daze, I pick up the pistol…

: It’s a bone-chilling scream. A scream that has rung in my ears for the past 15 years.
: … B-but…
: That’s just a dream, right? Right?
: … That thought is the only thing that has kept me sane for the last 15 years. But what if I’m wrong? What if it’s real? They say that sometimes people shut out memories in self-defense.
: Maybe it was I who killed my father!
: What!?

: “Get your revenge on Miles Edgeworth.”
: Think about it. Yogi was really innocent. That’s why he wanted revenge against me!
: Wait, Edgeworth! You… you mean…!
: It was me.
: I was the true criminal of DL-6. I shot my father!
: This is bad…
: What are we going to do, Nick? What can we do!?
: I don’t know… I don’t think there is anything we can do. Like it or not. If there’s someone else who knows a lot about the DL-6 Incident, maybe…
: …!
: There is, Nick!
: There is someone else who knows about DL-6!

And we’d better go visit him.

: Ah, hello there. What’s wrong? You look troubled.
: No kidding! I can’t believe you’re not!
: M-my my my… Just calm down and tell me what’s happened, hmm?
: It’s M-Mr. Edgeworth! He… He… sob

Fade out and in again as we explain what happened.

: I see… So, Edgeworth dreamt he shot his own father?

: It’s o-only a dream! Only a dream!
: … I wonder…
: W-what…?
: If that’s the case, then why do you two look so troubled, hmm?
: W-well…
: Also, consider this. Yogi quite certainly holds a deep grudge against Miles Edgeworth. So deep he’d want to frame him for murder. This leads me to surmise… That Mr. Edgeworth’s dream was NOT a dream. It was real. As you imagined.

: the pistol fired… and the deed was done. …

: I don’t believe it!
: Yogi was suspected of murder, and his career as a bailiff was irrevocably wrecked. Thus, he sought revenge on Miles Edgeworth. This was his last chance, of course, with the statute of limitations so close.

: What do you know about Edgeworth’s father?
: … He was a defense attorney without peer. It sounds trite, but it’s true. Well, he may have had one peer now that I think about it. Your mentor, Mia Fey.
: My sister…?
: Gregory Edgeworth was very disapproving of Mr. von Karma’s techniques.
: (That’s no surprise…)
: von Karma is an extreme man. Forged testimonies and evidence are nothing to him. The result: he has a perfect win record in court. To beat him, Gregory Edgeworth tried to call attention to his methods.
: And…?
: He lost. And died in despair, as it were.
: I see…

: When Gregory Edgeworth was killed, the police called on a spirit medium.

“The one who shot me… was the bailiff… Yanni Yogi.”

: That’s when my mother left us.
: Everyone called her a fraud.
: That’s right. Everyone thought she was, you see. Yet… now that I think about it. It seems the one who lied was Gregory Edgeworth’s ghost… Gregory Edgeworth must have known who shot him.
: I don’t believe it… So you’re saying he falsified his “testimony”? That Edgeworth’s dad lied to protect his son…?
: It’s only a possibility, mind you. But… a possibility nonetheless.

We show Grossberg the caretaker’s letter.

: It does seem that Yogi was following this letter… when he killed Hammond.
: But, why kill Robert Hammond?
: Hammond was a skilled defense attorney. But… he defended clients not for their sake, but for his own.
: Huh? His own sake?
: He never trusted his clients, that one. The only thing he trusted was his own ability.
: But, he got his client found innocent. So why should it matter?
: Actually, my dear, it’s quite different.
: He won that innocent verdict for no one but himself. Yogi was a free man, but socially, he was ruined.
: i[/i]
: You’ll understand soon enough.
: … Wait!
: What is it?

: I’ve seen this handwriting somewhere before… a long time ago!
: Whose handwriting was this…?

: Miles Edgeworth?
: Wh-wh-whaaat!? Why in heavens would he write something like this!?
: Why, this letter is an attempt to destroy Miles! Think before you speak, greenhorn!
: (Uh oh. He’s angry.)
: Think again! Do you have any idea who wrote this?

: Maybe it was Yanni Yogi?
: Yanni Yogi!? You claim he wrote himself this letter… then followed his own instructions?
: Uh… Yeah, I guess that would be what happened.
: Harumph! Perhaps you think Mr. Yogi has a split-personaltiy, hmm?
: I think that’s definitely a possibility, yes…
: Hmm… No, I think not. I do not know this Yogi, in any case. There’s no way I would recognize his handwriting.
: Oh, right…
: Yes, Wright. I’ll ask you again.
: Do you have any idea who wrote this?

: Hmm… could it be Manfred von Karma?
: von Karma? Why would he have something to do with this?
: Um, well, I’m not sure…
: … Hmm? von Karma… von Karma…
: W-wait! You’re right, my boy! This is von Karma’s handwriting, I’m sure of it! I used to see it all the time on court reports…

: But… but that means…! Th-the one who told Mr. Yogi to kill was…
: Correct. Manfred von Karma, himself!
: What does this mean, then? Why would von Karma want to frame Edgeworth…?

Next time: Is there more!?

[quote=Pactus Legis Salicae XVII (circa 500 CE) (translated)]Concerning Wounds
4. He who hits another man on the head so that his blood falls to the ground, and it is proved against him, shall be liable to pay six hundred denarii.
5. He who strikes another man on the head so that the brain shows, and it is proved against him, shall be liable to pay six hundred denarii.
6. If the three bones that lie over the brain protrude, he shall be liable to pay twelve hundred denarii.
[…]
8. If a freeman strikes another freeman with a stick but the blood does not flow, for up to three blows, he shall be liable to pay three hundred sixty denarii, that is, for each blow he shall always pay one hundred twenty denarii.[/quote]

[morsrattus]

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

We left off still talking to Grossberg about von Karma.

: He would know that Miles Edgeworth had accidentally killed his own father.
: …!
: He’ll say as much tomorrow in court, I should think. He’ll press the point until the court finds Miles Edgeworth “guilty.”
: Oh no!
: B-but how could von Karma know about Mr. Edgeworth’s past like that? Even Mr. Edgeworth thought it was just a nightmare!
: Hmm… That, I do not know. Yet I do know that von Karma is both persistent… and a perfectionist.
: He may be seeking to satisfy a grudge against Gregory Edgeworth by hurting his son.
: What do you mean?
: It was fifteen years ago… von Karma met Gregory Edgeworth in court, and von Karma did win… But he didn’t make it through the trial unscarred.

: What happened in the trial between Edgeworth’s dad and von Karma?
: von Karma got the “guilty” verdict he wanted. He won the trial. But Gregory Edgeworth accused von Karma of faulty evidence. And though he lost the trial, Mr. Edgeworth’s accusation stood.
: Faulty evidence?

: It was the only penalty von Karma has ever received in his career as a prosecutor. Gregory Edgeworth dealt a blow to his perfect trial record.
: Wow.
: It must have been quite a shock for von Karma. He took a vacation for several months after that, you see.
: A vacation…?
: Yes, an unusual event for the man. That was the first, and the last vacation he’s taken in his many years of prosecuting.

: Like… go to the sea, or, uh, to the mountains?
: Don’t tell me he’s never been to Europe!?
: You have strange ideas about vacations, Maya.
: In any case… That was the only time he took a vacation from work. I believe the penalty upset him quite a lot.
: (Odd… If he wanted to keep a perfect record so badly… why would he take such a long vacation?)
: What do we do, Nick? von Karma is going to bring up DL-6, you can bet on it!
: What if Mr. Edgeworth pleads guilty to DL-6!?
: I won’t let him!
: Erm, yes, Mr. Wright… I hate to say this… But even accidental murder is murder, you know.
: I know that! … I… I just believe in Edgeworth’s innocence! I can’t believe he’d kill someone!
: B-but, Nick! Mr. Edgeworth admits it himself! His father must have lied to protect him, from beyond the grave…
: I don’t care! I know he’s not guilty!
: … Mr. Wright… If you say so, I suppose I could go check again. The police files might hold something of interest.
: Mr. Grossberg… thank you!
: I can’t promise anything. In fact, I think the chances of finding something are slim.
: I understand. (The police materials… hmm.)

We should check those out…but let’s stop back at home first and regroup.

: Yeah… I know.
: Well, no time to waste! Let’s get going!

: What do you think we should do now, Maya?
: You would know best, Nick!
: Just do what you do! That should work.

: Well? Had any good ideas?
: This is all tied to the DL-6 Incident… We’d better find out as much as we can about that murder before tomorrow!
: (Something that happened back then has a hold on Edgeworth and it won’t let go.)

So, to the station!

: There’s hardly anyone here…
: Everyone must be out looking for the old guy… Yogi.

: I don’t think Gumshoe’ll be coming back today. He’s staying out late looking for someone.
: Sounds like Detective Gumshoe is pounding the pavement for real!
: Um, we were wondering if we could check out the Records Room again…
: Well, now, I can’t have just anyone wandering around in there. But… I guess Mr. von Karma is in there now, anyway. You can go in as long as he’s there.
: von Karma…?
: Yes. He just arrived actually.

: N-Nick! Let’s hurry!

: Dusty as always!
: We were only here just yesterday. I’m sure they just haven’t had time to clean… …
: What’s wrong, Nick?
: Nothing. I was just noticing that he isn’t here. von Karma…

But something has definitely changed…

: Huh? One of the drawers here is open.
: Someone must have been looking in it recently.
: The label says, “Unsolved Cases: Evidence”

Yeah, they forgot a period.

: Hmm… “Unsolved cases”?
: Nick! The file for DL-6… it’s completely empty!
: Wh-what!?

: v-v-von Karma!
: You…! … How do you know my name?
: Huh?
: Have we met?

: We see each other every day, don’t we?
: We’re Miles Edgeworth’s defense team!
: Defense team…?

: They are like bugs to me. Needless things, to be crushed.
: (I can see how this guy was Edgeworth’s mentor.)

Hey, he seems friendly enough! Let’s chat.

: Uh, umm… Mr. Edgeworth was your student, right?
: … A romanticist who could never shed that veneer of amateurism. Just like his father. Always second rate.
: Mr. von Karma… You had an axe to grind with Mr. Gregory Edgeworth, didn’t you?
: Me? A grudge against a mere defense attorney? Why?
: Because he dealt a blow to your otherwise perfect trial record?
: Hmph.
: So you did… but what I don’t get is… Why did you take his son under your wing afterwards? The son of your most bitter rival?
: … That, my dear attorney, is none of your business.

: Tomorrow will be the last day of this trial. It’s been a while since I’ve had a defense attorney last this long. Still, you will lose in the end. Miles Edgeworth will admit his own guilt.
: His guilt of 15 years ago, you mean?
: … You’re quite the researcher. If you’ve done your homework so well, then certainly, you must understand. You know what Miles Edgeworth will tell the court tomorrow.
: (We were right… So von Karma is going to bring up DL-6 in court tomorrow.)

We can show him things, but with one exception, they don’t do anything helpful.

: You think I, a prosecutor, would give you, a defense attorney, information? Bah!
: i[/i]

But hey, maybe we should confront him with that letter he wrote…

: …
: This was you, wasn’t it? You instructed Yanni Yogi to commit murder.
: … Yanni Yogi… How many years has it been since I’ve heard him called by that name.
: He’s a fool. I told him to burn it after he read it.

: …!
: S-so you admit it! You… you wrote Mr. Yogi this letter!
: Yes, my dear defense attorney. Thank you for taking the trouble to bring it to me. You’ve saved me from a lot of needless hassle.
: Wh-what!?
: N-Nick! What is that thing!?

: A stun gun. For self defense… usually.
: Indeed. 600,000 volts will course through your body like a dog touching an electric fence.
: Six hundred thous…!?
: Oh, don’t worry. People don’t die from it, usually. Now, give me the letter.
: i[/i]
: Nooooooooooo!

: M-Maya!
: Out of my way!

: (Ugh… He got us. The letter’s… gone, of course. And he took the DL-6 evidence… all of it. Back to having no clues. Wait… Maya jumped first. Maya…! Is she okay? …)

The letter is gone from the Court Record, though at least the DL-6 files we got yesterday are not.

: Maya! Open your eyes!

: Maya!
: … The letter! Did he take it?
: Huh!? Oh… yeah. A-are you okay!?
: …

: I… I couldn’t stop him. I jumped as fast as I could, but one shot from that thing knocked me out cold. I’m useless. I’m no good as a lawyer, or a medium! I can’t even call my sister. Not even now, when we need her the most. I wish I hadn’t woken up at all.

She fades back into unconsciousness.

: (Grr! There has to be some way I can help her! I’d better do something about her self-confidence, first.) …? (Maya… she’s holding something!)

: “DL-6 Incident, Evidence No. 7 Taken from the heart of Gregory Edgeworth.” I remember… von Karma was holding this when Maya jumped him.

: (I’ll prove it to you, Maya. You’re most definitely not useless! I’ll prove it to you in court tomorrow!)

Next time: Well, shit.

[quote=Pactus Legis Salicae XX (ca. 500) (translated)]1. The freeman who touches the hand or arm or finger of a free woman or of any other woman, and it is proved against him, shall be liable to pay six hundred denarii.
2. If he touches her arm below the elbow, he shall be liable to pay twelve hundred denarii.
3. But if he places his hand above her elbow and it is proved against him, he shall be liable to pay fourteen hundred denarii.[/quote]

[morsrattus]

(the story of saint guinefort: there was a dog named guinefort guarding a baby, and a snake came in. dog kills snake before it can eat baby.)

[morsrattus]

(dad comes home, finds dog with bloody jaws, assume it attacked baby, kills it. dad then finds baby and dead snake, realizes his error, and throws dog down a well, which he builds a cairn around. people begin to venerate dog as sainted martyr.)