'I have no memory of the "light", I debuted in a world of darkness and sound..., My producer came up with my PR line before he knew this, So, silly as it may sound, I had to pretend I could see, Everyone on my staff knew, of course, but no others'
everyone in the courtroom went silent until the judge pointed out the obvious
'But... this is a murder trial!'
the judge cried out, lamiroir frowned underneath her mask
'I apologize. It was part of my contract, you see. I was to keep my blindness a secret, no matter what. Music is everything for me. I never imagined something like this would...'
she said, klaveir then chimed in
'She told us the truth in the beginning. When she said she "saw nothing"'
the judge nodded then looked over at apollo
'Very well. Does the defense have anything to add?'
Apollo thought for a very long moment before deciding
'...... I'd like to cross-examine'
trucy looked at him with unsure eyes
'But, what is there left to ask!?'
apollo honesty wasn't sure, but he had a hunch, he would just have to bluff and hope for the best
'There was one thing in her testimony that bothered me
he said, Klavier raised a brow at him
'Perhaps it is best we let you get it out of your system. Someday you'll come to understand... ...the importance of thinking for yourself'
he said, apollo shot him a glare, but before he could even think of anything back to say, the judge banged down his gavel
'Very well. The defense may proceed. However... Be aware this court will not tolerate any questions deemed too stressful to the witness'
apollo took in a deep breathe and nodded
'...OK'
"There was only one part that bothered me... Just let me ask about that and I'll be happy"
apollo looked back down at the testimony written out before him, all or nothing
'When you say your staff, do you include Mr. LeTouse?'
he asked, lamiroir nodded
'Of course. He was my manager'
"So he knew... and that's what's been bugging me!"
Judge noticed apollo's frowned and asked
'Something the matter, Mr. Justice?'
before apollo could respond with his usual "I'm fine", Klavier chimed in
'I believe I know what is bothering our young defense attorney. ...You are thinking of when you discovered the body, yes?'
he guessed, trucy looked up at him
'Is he right, Apollo?'
he nodded
'...Yes, I was, Mr. LeTouse told me to ask the witness, and he named you'
he said as he stated into lamiroir blind eyes
'Why would he do that? He knew you were blind!'
she frowned as she looked off to the side
'I... I don't know...'
klavier shook his head in dismay
'Tsk, tsk, What did I just say? You need to learn to think for yourself'
he said, grinning his usual smug grin at apollo, who glared daggers back at him
'Meaning what...?'
he said through gritted teeth
'There is no mystery here if you recall everything he said. Think of his last words once more'
'"The witness... siren"? We've heard them many times. Along with a little play-acting by our defense'
the judge said
'I remember them well myself, but that statement is not to what I refer. I mean what he said before that'
'...Before?, Ack!'
he yelped in sudden realization, klavier snapped his fingers together
'...That's right. He tried to tell you. When he said "can't see" he wasn't talking about himself. He was talking about the witness!'
the judge nodded, now understanding the situation somewhat better
'I see!'
'Too bad the defense did not. Well, Herr Forehead? Try relaxing and "looking" at the facts first next time'
apollo glared at him but didn't argue, the court started to murmur amongst themselves before the judge quoted them down
'Order! Order!'
Recall Lamiroir's earlier testimony..."I was on my way from the stage to the backstage exit. There were two shots... I couldn't do anything to stop it"
the judge gave the rockstar a confused look
'But she couldn't have heard those gunshots! I thought we proved that...'
'That is not the most important point here'
'Hmm?'
'The moment he was shot, Mr. LeTouse "witnessed" her through that window. ...Why else would he have named her as the witness?'
apollo now realized where klavier was heading with this
'Ah...'
lamiroir then spoke up
'But I really did hear them! Two gunshots... and the man's voice!'
klavier shrugged
'Unfortunately, such a thing was impossible. The window was closed. We have already run a simulation, of course'
'But it was so clear... If I heard that voice again, I would know it in an instant...'
'Hmm...'
the court doors busted open to a very frantic flustered looking Bailiff
'...Your Honor!'
'What is it, Bailiff? Can't you see we're in session here!?'
the judge snapped a little rudely
'We have the results back from the investigation!'
the Judge blinked at him
'The investigation...?'
Klavier snapped his fingers
'Ah, the Interpol number that Mr. LeTouse left us'
the Judge eyes widen
'...! Well let's hear it! ...We will continue this cross-examination afterward. Detective Crescend! Your report please!'
'I asked Interpol about that number. I'm sure you'll find their answer intriguing'
'...Quick work as always, Daryan'
the judge banged down his gavel
'Well, tell us about the number! Is the defendant a secret agent!?'
he demanded
"IPXX314206"... The agent registered under that number... ...was Romein LeTouse.
Klavier stared back at him in surprise but kept on his calm face
'What...?'
'Our undercover Interpol agent was Mr. LeTouse himself! He was apparently in the middle of an operation
Apollo:
So, when he wrote those letters...
'...He was trying to tell us his own identity. And a cautious killer tried to wipe them away'
daryan explained
'Mr. LeTouse was an undercover Interpol agent... So him being Lamiroir's manager...'
'...Was just a cover, most likely'
apollo finished off for her
'There's one other important detail I found'
Klavier motioned to him
'Well, out with it'
'It concerns that 45-caliber revolver, the murder weapon. Apparently, it belonged to Romein LeTouse. He had an Interpol permit to carry firearms. ...And the registration number on the revolver matched'
'So the victim was killed with his own weapon, which makes sense. It's hard to imagine someone who wasn't an Interpol agent with such a large revolver'
klavier concluded, apollo quickly hurried to his notebook
"So the victim was an Interpol agent on an undercover op... I wonder how that ties into everything"
'It's got to tie in somehow, you'd think'
trucy said, looking up at him, aopllo nodded, eyes still on his notebook, trying to make sense of all of this
'Yeah, somehow...'
'Thanks for looking into that for us, Detective Crescend. It's a great help'
the judge praised, daryan smoothed back his wired hair and grinned
'Oh, no problem at all, Your Honor. ...I'll be heading out...'
'Wait!'
lamiroir suddenly called out, everyone in the courtroom stared at her
'La-Lamiroir! Is something the matter?'
she frowned in concentration as if trying to recall something
'That voice just now...'
Klavier raised a brow
'Daryan?'
Lamiroir stared at the detective
'Mr. Daryan, is it...? ............ It was him. I am sure of it'
everyone in the courtroom lose their composure at once, even klavier lost his grin, he stared at Lamiroir as she she had just said the earth was flat
'It was "him"?'
'Y-You aren't saying--!?'
she nodded
'That voice I heard, talking to Mr. LeTouse... when I heard the gunshots fired. It was him! It was Mr. Daryan!'
Klavier shook his head as he covered his ears, completely in shock, it even took back apollo seeing him like that
'Is this some kind of a joke!?'
'What!!'
apollo yelled out, very careful to not summon his cords of steel, apollo sneaked a glance over at daryan to see his reaction, he looked just as shocked as everyone
'...No way...'
"The courtroom fell into such a chaotic state, the trial had to be suspended temporarily. I'd never seen that happen before. Of course, it's not every day that you get an accusation like that one. Lamiroir, fingering Daryan Crescend. Not only is he a guitarist, he's a detective! Could it really have been his voice Lamiroir heard? Things were changing fast, and frankly, I wasn't sure I could keep up with it"
Trucy nudged him lightly, breaking apollo out his panicking thoughts
'Hey! No wimping out now, Apollo!'
he nodded once, but he was still in awe at what had just happened
"what a turn-around that trial was"