Kings Gambit

Sicilian Defence - Part 2

It's us against the world. We only have one more chance at proving George's innocence. If we mess this up again, our opinion will become invalidated for the rest of this trial. And Tristan will get what he wants... We have to think carefully.

"Can we go over everyone's alibis one more time?" I announced.

"Sure, Elizabeth and I were talking in the games room when the announcement went off." Matt started; Elizabeth nodded her head.

"Obviously, I was with you and Jasper at the time of the announcement." Claire stared at the platform below her.

"I was just hanging out in my room, honestly. Not much I can say." Leo scratched the back of his head.

"I was just coming out of my room when I heard Angel's scream, then I ran up to the library." Alex pushed up his glasses.

"I was at the pool when the announcement went off, if that helps." Annie tapped her finger on her arm. I glanced over at Tristan.

"Angel and I already secured each other's alibi, of course," Tristan smirked, glancing over at Angel, who looked down at her platform in shame.

"I-I know it doesn't mean much given the state of this trial, b-but I was searching the new floor when the announcement went off. It took me a bit of time to get to the scene because the hallway from the library to the prison is quite a distance." George sweat bullets.

"Prison? Is that what this mysterious floor is like?" Leo commented.

"Yeah. it's not the most friendly place imaginable." Jasper added.

"Jeez... The mastermind couldn't be any more obvious." Claire sighed, slightly depressed.

"How is this information relevant?" Tristan crossed his arms.

"It just clarifies where everyone was during the murder. As far as alibis go, the only people who aren't fully cleared are George, Alex, Annie, and Leo. As Matt and Elizabeth were together. Jasper, Claire, and I were in the dining room. Then Tristan and Angel have each other's alibis." I spoke in a neutral tone.

"How am I not cleared?" Alex grunted.

"Why should you be? Just because you triggered the announcement doesn't mean that it's impossible. I am only clearing people based on eye witness." I elaborated.

"But I do have eyewitnesses. Tristan even stated that he saw me run up the stairs just after Willow fell. How in the world could I have caused that?" Alex seemed a bit agitated.

"It seems like you're pulling at anything you can find, Hank," Tristan spoke with confidence. I chose to ignore it.

"Are we sure that there aren't any secret ways back to the central hall from the library?" I asked Jasper.

"Oh, come on!" Alex's eyebrows farrowed. Jasper took a moment to ponder.

"Truthfully, It is improbable." Jasper crossed his arms, glancing at the chessboard below...

"Of course it is. We searched that library up and down." Annie spoke up.

"Yet we missed the hidden entrance. It is entirely possible for there to be some kind of hidden escape route that we don't know about." I argued.

"This is farfetched, Hank; I'm not sure if I can trust your judgment after your last lie." Matt avoided looking at me directly as he spoke.

"No! H-Hank has a point, does he not? There could very well be another hidden door that either Alex, Leo, or Annie could have taken! I-I mean, I found the hidden floor through sheer luck, so who knows what someone else could have found!" George jumped on the idea.