'It was the day that the family health check-up results came back, When Wocky found out that Dr. Meraktis had lied, he flew into a rage, "I'll teach him!" he said. He took one of the Family's pistols..., ...And, you already know what happened that night, I... just don't see how anyone but Wocky could have done it'
apollo took a little longer to fill in any gaps and information he might have missed, the judge seemed very deep in thought
'So, the pistol did belong to the Kitaki Family, then...'
klavier answered
'Yes. With regards to this, an investigation is underway at the Kitaki mansion... ...on charges of the possession of illegal firearms'
'And the bullet that took the victim's life? Was it...'
'...Fired from the pistol the defendant procured? Yes, this has been proven'
klavier comfirmed, trucy however, didn't understand how that could be possible
'How can you prove something like that?'
'Bullets carry marks from the barrel that fired them, called "rifling marks"'
apollo explained
'Rifling marks...?'
klavier just happened to overhear their conversation and chimed in
'Think of them as being a gun's fingerprint, left on every bullet it fires'
he suggested, after apollo finished writing everything, he looked up at alita for more questions
'And when did you first hear about Wocky's plan?'
'It was the day of the murder. I... I should have stopped him! I just didn't think he would actually do it!'
she said with a frown, putting her hands to her chest, the judge then banged his gavel
'...Very well. The defense may begin the cross-examination'
apollo tested her on her last statement, how could she be so certain it was her fiance
'How can you say that for certain? How!?'
he demanded
'Ah...-'
'OBJECTION!!'
klavier yelled, grinning as always
'Herr Forehead, you will refrain from badgering the Fräulein. It was the defendant... erm, Wocky, was it... who took the pistol from his home. We know this for a fact now'
apollo pouted but he had a point, the judge murmured to himself before he spoke up
'I suppose we do'
'So, how could anyone else have used this pistol to shoot the victim? They could not. Simple logic, ja?'
'...That does seem to be the case. Does the defense have anything to say regarding this point?'
the judge asked, apollo looked at his evidence
"Could someone else have used that pistol...?, wait-"
'Based on your testimony, there was clearly another... One other person had access to that pistol!'
apollo insisted, klavier leaned foward, very interested
'What's this...?'
the judge too was intrigued
'Hmm... Interesting! Let's ask the defense then... Tell the court who this other person with access was!'
apollo was a little hesitate at first, but he pushed down his fears, it was his job to serve justice and truth
'Well, of course, I mean you, Ms. Tiala'
he cried out, alita eyes widen as she put one hand on her chest in shock
'...! M-Me...? But why...'
apollo semi-glared into her eyes
'You were quite clear when you told the court: You heard about the pistol from the defendant on the day of the murder. In other words, you knew what he was planning'
'OBJECTION!!'
klavier slammed his head on the wall
'Let me get this straight... You intend to tell us that this lady stole the pistol from her fiancé... ...and killed a man in cold blood on his behalf? I've heard of people doing strange things for love, but this...'
he pointed out, the judge had to nod in agreement
'It does seem a bit... unfathomable, to be sure. I'm all for romance, and for supporting your partner in life, to be sure. But I think I would hesitate at murder!'
"I'd hope you'd do more than hesitate!"
apollo thought to himself before he spoke up
'But what if a different connection could be proven? A connection between the witness and the victim? We might find that she had a personal motive beyond wanting to help her fiancé'
klavier took that in
'Hmm, that would put things in a slightly different light. What possible connection are you suggesting here?'
he asked, just then turcy casually chimed in
'You know what I'm starting to think? I'm starting to think that the police never looked inside that safe'
she guessed, her father did always tell her some cops just weren't good at their jobs, and often missed a lot of details, apollo took her words into consideration, then it hit her, the sandals!!, of course!!
'I have evidence showing a connection between the witness Ms. Tiala and the victim!'
he said, as he took out the sandals from his bag, the judge cocked his head to the side in confusion, studying the evidence
'Why, those are... flip flops?'
'"Sandals", actually. Ms. Tiala, do these look familiar to you?'
he asked, alita acted as though she never saw them
'...Should they?'
was all she said, apollo gave her a knowing look
'I would think so. These sandals were found in the Meraktis Clinic lobby'
he insisted, the judge looked down at him surprised
'You don't mean to say those are the witness's sandals?'
alita started to sweat a little nervously
'He doesn't. Those sandals could belong to anyone...'
'OBJECTION!!'
apollo yelled as he slammed down his fists o the bench
'But the fact is that they don't. They belong to you. We found toe prints on these sandals'
her eyes widened
'Requesting permission to match the prints with the witness's feet, Your Honor!'
he asked, the judge looked back at her
'Ms. Tiala, are those your sandals!?'
alita gritted her teeth as she tried to think of something to save herself
'...... What if... What if my sandals were at the Meraktis Clinic. So what?'
apollo narrowed his eyes at her
'...So what!?'
'You know, I've just remembered something. I hurt my hand a few days ago, and visited that clinic. I must have forgotten them then!'
she said, the judge raised a brow
'Hmm... So you were there as a patient?'
apollo however, wasn't through yet
'Nice try, Ms. Tiala. But the defense is in possession of evidence... ...that proves a connection between you and that clinic!'
her eyes widen again in worried fear
'Wh-Whaat!?'
the judge banged down his gavel the silence the court form murmuring
'Evidence? Very well, Mr. Justice...'
he trailed off, leaving apollo to finish off the rest, he nodded
'The evidence that connects her to the Meraktis Clinic is...!'
he took out the medical chart papers from his bag
'That looks like... a medical chart?'
'Found inside a safe at the Meraktis Clinic. I'd like to draw the court's attention to the names written on the chart'
the judge squinted his eyes at the paper
'...What!? Ms. Tiala! Whatever... Why is your name on this chart!?'
Alita frowned as she started to sweat bullets again, apollo grinned at her knowingly again
'Well, care to explain the meaning of this, Ms. Tiala?'
'...... I'm not sure what you mean by "meaning", Mr. Justice!'
she finally chocked out, apollo went silent, seeing her gaining her composure again
"Our warm little fiancée just froze over!"
'I was on staff at that clinic until half a year ago. It was boring. So I quit. That's all. Is there a problem with that?'
she said simply, the judge eyes widen at her, thinking she was just messing with everyone
'Ms. Tiala! You testified that you had no connection to the victim!'
'And I don't. Now'
she added
'"Now"...?'
apollo said
'I quit half a year ago, didn't I? So there's no connection. Let me guess, you're the kind of guy... ...who can't rest until he knows every last detail of his girlfriend's past. Am I right?'
the judge stuttered on her words as he shook his head
'Th-That's not true at all! Why, I... I embrace the ones I love, past flaws and all, no matte--'
'OBEJECTION!!'
Apollo cut in before the judge could turn this trial into a mushy love play
'"There's no connection now" doesn't fly in a court of law'
he insisted, alita raised a brow at him
'Doesn't... fly?'
"She's one tough nut. She probably feels right at home with the Kitakis!"
he thought bitterly to himself
'You left your job at the Meraktis Clinic, true... But these sandals prove that you remained connected!'
she slipped up again before re-gaining her mask
'Ah...! W-Well, who knows? I'm sure there are lots of people with those sandals...'
to her and apollo's surprise, klavier was the one who spoke up against this
'So sorry, Fräulein, but your act isn't working'
Alita look at him stunned, as did apollo, ...was klavier, actually siding with them?!
'Your moment of hesitation just now cost you'
he said in his usual laid-back cool tone that usually make girls swoon, apollo didn't understand why he felt like too a little, alita put a hand on her hip as she snarled at him
'Wh-What's with you? I thought you were on my side!'
he simply shrugged
'I'm afraid there is no side but that which the evidence supports, Ms. Tiala'
she thought carefully on her words before she spoke up
'... Well, now we see your true colors. I was wrong to cooperate with you from the beginning! I just wanted... I just wanted you to help get Wocky back on the straight and narrow.
Judge:
Hmm... This court thinks you need to worry less about Wocky and more about yourself. It sounds as though we need to hear a bit more about your story'
'Your sandals were found in the entrance to the clinic... Which means you went there on the day of the murder!'
apollo pointed out
'Well, there's little point in denying it'
she complied, the judge then banged his gavel
'Very well. The witness will tell us about this visit. Why did you go to the Meraktis Clinic that day?'