Ace Attorney: The Returning Past

Chapter 33: The Reopened Turnabout - Trial 2 ~ Part 1

September 13 9:30am

District Court

Defendant Lobby No. 1 ~ Niamh Tenniswood's POV

"Did you guys hear the news?!" James asked upon crashing into the lobby. "Niamh is awake!"

"What?!" Chief Prosecutor Bespoke exclaimed. "How is she?! Is she okay?!"

"She's fine! She just needs a little more rest and she'll be good to go!"

Chief Prosecutor Bespoke let out a sigh of relief, brushing a hand through his hair. "I've been so worried this whole time...!" he murmured.

"Is she able to testify yet?" I asked.

James shook his head. "Even if she was, Niamh also doesn't remember a thing."

I remembered a certain event from yesterday, and frowned at the memory. "James, will you still not tell me a possible motive for someone wanting Prosecutor Wood dead?"

James hesitated, glancing around at Chief Prosecutor Bespoke and Mr. Morix. "Can... we talk privately first?" he requested.

We left the room and James had a stone-cold expression on his face. "Why are you so insistent on knowing?" James demanded. "It's not like it's going to help in court!"

"What do you mean?" I asked, mildly curious.

"Niamh's secret... If you say anything, she'll be in extreme danger!"

"Extreme danger?!" I repeated, unsure of how to react to such a statement.

"I-I can't say... for her sake, and yours, and everyone in that courtroom!"

(I don't understand... Why is he so agitated?)

"You don't understand!" James continued. "If you - anyone else, for that matter - finds out about it, you'll regret it! There's a chance they are still out there somewhere! You don't want to mess with them!"

"Who is 'they' and 'them'?!" I cried. "I won't know unless you tell me, James!"

"That's the point!" James shot back. "You can't know! Because... because...!"

"Because what?!"

Before we could argue further, Mr. Morix's head poked through the gap between the door and the wall. "Court's about to go into session, you two."

James shot one final glare at me before storming into the courtroom. "Just drop it, okay?!"

"What was that all about?" Mr. Morix asked. I hesitated before shaking my head. "I... I don't really know. But you were right, Mr. Morix: Niamh and James are holding some kind of secret relating to the motive behind this crime."

September 13 10:00am

District Court

Courtroom No. 1

"Court is back in session." the judge announced. "Have any new facts about this case come to light?"

"Before that, Your Honour," I said, a plan formulating in my mind. "I'd like to question Mr. James Devine one more time."

"The assault victim? Why?" the judge asked. "Did he remember something new?"

I shook my head. "No, but he seems to know something about a possible motive: a reason for this crime taking place."

"And he didn't say anything about it to anyone, much less to me..." Vito muttered. "Anyway, the prosecution agrees with the defense. Let's hear from him again."

The judge nodded. "Very well. Bailiffs! Bring Mr. Devine to the witness stand!"

James didn't exactly go quietly: he was struggling, attempting to make the bailiffs lose their grip on him, but he wasn't successful in escaping.

"Mr. Devine," the judge began. "It has come to my attention that you know something about a motive. Is this accurate?"

"N-No, that is NOT accurate!" James cried. "I don't know anything about a motive!"

"It's been proven that you do know something." Mr. Morix said from beside me. "If you could please testify as to what you know..."

"Fine! I'll talk, but I still don't know anything!" James yelled.

- Witness Testimony -

- The Nonexistent Motive -

"Look, I said I don't know anything! And I'm sticking to that statement!"

"There's no kind of evidence that points to a motive..."

"... so how am I supposed to know why someone attacked her?!"

"Please... just forget it already... For your own good."

"See?!" James cried when he had finished his testimony. "Nobody knows anything, let alone me!"

"You're fighting back a little too hard, witness." Vito commented. "Not to worry: we've still got the cross-examination to do."

(That's right: the way in which we'll prove he does know is through cross-examination.)

"Then by all means proceed-"

*THINK AGAIN!*

The judge was interrupted by a voice and loud banging on the door. Everyone jumped slightly as the knocking continued.

Eventually, the door was broken down entirely and someone stormed their way to the stand. "You don't have to cross-examine him!"

"P-P-?!" I stammered.

"N-N-?!" Chief Prosecutor Bespoke stammered.

"Ms. Wood?!" the judge cried.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I MADE THIS PART A LITTLE SHORTER THAN THE OTHERS SO I COULD PUT THAT CLIFFHANGER THERE

DO YOU APPRECIATE THAT

HAVE A GOOD CLIFFHANGER

YAY

AceAttorneyFan over and out!