Ace Attorney: Web of Mistrust

Turnabout Masquerade, Part 8 (Cotoli)

"Mr. Morix, I want you to tell me the truth," Yuri frowned. "What was your relationship with the victim? I can tell it's more than just 'acquaintances' like you say."

"I wish not to say," I told her, tightening my grip on the black charm in my fingers. "All I will say is that we met once. Four years ago. It was about the time of year of the Natasha Young murder case. Have you heard of it?"

"The GC-9 incident?" Yuri echoed, cocking her head slightly. "Yeah. Your sister led me to the evidence room with all her fancy stuff last year. That's when I heard of it the first time. But there wasn't an 'Eileen Liyle' mentioned anywhere in those files..."

"She just watched the trial, that's all. She spoke with me after the trial about what happened in court. Ever since then, we'd talk every once in a while," I explained. "But we weren't the closest of companions."

"...I wonder..." Yuri whispered.

"Huh?" I asked.

"Nothing," Yuri said, shaking her head. "I suppose I should continue on with my investigation. If I could just figure out what to do..."

Yuri's phone beeped, as if one cue. Yuri gave it a confused noise before pulling the device out of her pocket. Yuri checked the phone with her good arm and gasped. "The witness is awake and we're free to question her!" she exclaimed.

"Could I go with you?" I asked. "I have a few questions for Ms. Lesa myself."

"I don't see any harm in it," Yuri shrugged. "Let's get going."

//December 10, 2029. Hickfield Clinic, 3:07 PM//

We crept into Ms. Lesa's room quietly. Nobody was in there, surprisingly enough. Ms. Lesa was just messing with something in her fingers. Her hood was down for some reason, though Yuri and I could only see the back of her head.

"Ms. Lesa?" I asked.

Upon hearing us, Ms. Lesa gasped and pulled up her hood before turning back to us. "You're... The defense team assistant... Co-council...? And you're the one... Who tried to save me..." Ms. Lesa rubbed her eyes, a glassy shine reflecting back into my vision.

"Could we ask you a few questions?" Yuri questioned.

"Go right ahead... Though my memory hasn't gotten much better from when we met in court..." Ms. Lesa warned us.

"The news mentioned that you had been assaulted! Is this true?!" I exclaimed.

Ms. Lesa let out a small shriek. "Y-yes..." She pointed to her right temple.

"Just what happened during the fire?" I questioned solemnly.

"Well... Somebody grabbed my hand... I think it might have been you... I followed until... Somebody hit me in the head..." Ms. Lesa answered, pointing to her bandaged head ever still.

"Wait... The right temple..." Yuri whispered, looking lost in thought. "That's where the victim got hit!"

"That's also where my attacker hit me during Chrysalis' trial," I realized. "The same applies to Satoki and Shane."

Ms. Lesa gasped and her hands flew to her head. "Yes...! I remember something...!" she murmured.

"What is it?!" Yuri questioned in excitement.

"I saw a trial... Before I lost my memory... A white haired defendant... The assault victim got hit the same way... The culprit was never found..." Ms. Lesa continued.

"That was the trial where Polly was attacked!" I said with a gasp. "This means that..."

"The unfound culprit there may be the culprit here as well," Yuri finished her eyes wide. "This would mean they attacked you, Satoki, and Shane as well."

"The motive was some... Old case... I can't remember the name..." Ms. Lesa next said.

"RB-7," I told her. "The first trial of Yuri here from two years ago."

"Wait!" Yuri suddenly cut in. "The motive of that case was RB-7... Niamh was involved in that case and got hit in the same spot as Prosecutor Bloom..."

"That means the culprit is targeting people involved in RB-7," I concluded grimly. "Polly was the prosecutor, Niamh the defense... I had witness potential, but why Satoki, Shane, the victim, and Ms. Lesa?"

Yuri leaned in towards my face. "If Shane is involved with Satoki, Satoki with the project, the project with RB-7, they're connected."

"I spoke with the victim about the project shortly after it was invented, but Ms. Lesa still doesn't fit into the puzzle. Unless..." My voice trailed off. Could it be true? Was it possible Eileen was still alive?

"What?" Yuri prompted.

"Huh...?" Ms. Lesa interrupted. "If you guys are... Done talking to me... Could you maybe leave me to rest...?"

"We should go talk to Niamh anyways," I nodded. "Come on, Yuri."

Yuri nodded and led me to Niamh's room. Niamh was staring out the window silently when we walked in. "Niamh?" Yuri questioned.

Niamh turned to us. "Are you done investigating, Yuri?"

"Yeah," Yuri replied. "We found a couple of things. Things that could finally reveal the truth behind the assault case back in October."

"Really?!" Niamh exclaimed.

"There's one more thing," I frowned.

"What is it?" Niamh asked.

"We've determined that everybody who got assaulted during our recent cases was somehow, indirectly or directly, involved with RB-7, also known as my first trial," Yuri finished. "Well..."

"Well what?" Niamh questioned, getting more and more curious by the minute.

"The only person who doesn't fit in this puzzle is the assault victim. I believe that it would be best to figure out who she was before she lost her memory," Yuri said.

"Or..." I whispered.

"Or what?" Niamh demanded, obviously getting impatient with Yuri and I's constant hesitating.

"You remember how you determined that the victim was alive in court today?" I asked. Niamh nodded wordlessly.

Yuri gasped. "You mean...!?"

Niamh's eyes went wide as well. I suppose that she was starting to catch on to what I was implying. "I suppose it could make sense..."

"But...! How in the world could that be possible?!" Yuri exclaimed.

"There isn't any other explanation," Niamh answered.

"The witness' real name is not Razi Lesa, but rather Eileen Liyle," I finished.

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why do you guys even read these author's notes anymore they're complete and uttar (mistry) trash

-Digital