Ace Attorney: Mask of Deceit

Chapter 24: The Defensive Turnabout - Investigation 2 ~ Part 2

May 3 11:45am

Kenway Law Offices - James Devine's POV

Yes! I was on the case! Finally I could help catch the person who got Mr. Kenway arrested!

I bet Dad felt like this when he was investigating a case... I've never admitted it before, but I've always dreamed of being a lawyer like him. Stood there, helping to investigate a murder... I knew I was feeling what he must have felt.

Ms. Tenniswood, however, didn't seem to share my enthusiasm. "Where is Mrs. Rivera?" she asked with a frown. "I was hoping to ask her some questions."

"She's in questioning as of now." Prosecutor Bloom explained. "She should be out soon."

"Are you talking about me?"

Mrs. Rivera herself was stood in the doorway, her hair shining in the light. Stood next to her was a girl with red hair that was tied into two braids, looking rather nervous. "I've just come out of questioning." Mrs. Rivera explained. "Was there something that you wanted from me?"

"Yes, there is." Ms. Tenniswood nodded. "I would like to confirm with you something that came up in the trial earlier: your suspicious discord."

"Not this again..." Prosecutor Bloom muttered, rolling her eyes. "What does this have to do with anything?"

"... No. Ms. Tenniswood is correct." Mrs. Rivera sighed. "I already have high suspicions on who the murderer is."

"Who is it?!" I cried. "Who framed Mr. Kenway for murder?!"

"I have no direct evidence to back up my theory..." Mrs. Rivera hesitated. "But I suspect that the one behind this crime was my co-worker, Xavier Thurman."

"Mr. Thurman?!" I gasped. "No way! Why would he do something like that?!"

"... Would it, by any chance, have anything to do with that case you mentioned in court?" Ms. Tenniswood asked. "CT-2..."

Before Mrs. Rivera could respond to the question, the front door flew open and an alarmed looking man stormed in. "I've just heard about his arrest!" he cried, most likely addressing Mrs. Rivera. "What happened here?!"

I couldn't stop myself from glaring. This man... Xavier Thurman... According to Mrs. Rivera, he was most likely the killer. I couldn't believe it; in the time that I've known this man, he didn't seem like the type to commit murder. So why...?

"Allow me to introduce you." Mrs. Rivera said. "This is Xavier Thurman. Xavier, this is the defense and prosecution teams for Mr. Kenway's case."

"It's a pleasure to meet you all." Mr. Thurman smiled, although by the way that Ms. Tenniswood was glaring at him, his smile was entirely faked.

"Where have you been all this time, Mr. Thurman?" Yuri asked. "For you to have no idea that your boss had been arrested for murder..."

"I was out of town visiting a friend yesterday, but most of my absence can be accounted for business reasons." Mr. Thurman explained. "More importanty, what exactly happened here?!"

I stayed silent as Ms. Tenniswood and Mrs. Rivera explained the entire case to him, his face growing paler with every sentence. "I-I don't believe it..." he muttered. Faking liar.

"Do you believe the defendant to be guilty?" Ms. Tenniswood asked.

"Oh, heavens, no!" Mr. Thurman shook his head violently. "Mr. Kenway isn't a murderer!"

(That's what I thought about you, Mr. Thurman... I guess I was wrong...)

I wasn't sure I could handle staying there for much longer, standing in the presence of a killer, a person I once trusted and respected. I slipped out of the office while no one was looking. I appeared to be good at that.

May 3 12:30pm

Wintermarble Village

Once I got home, I wasted no time in running up to my room. I reached the landing and froze, glancing to my left. Albert's old room.

I peeked inside, the door creaking open slowly. The room was bare, save for a bed and the stack of boxes in the corner. I always asked my grandparents if we could keep the room as it was, but they always declined. They had given up. They thought he was dead.

I trudged out of the room and into my own. My eyes immediately fell on the picture frame that was resting on my bedside table. It was a picture of two boys, both with bright blonde hair and green eyes. One was me, the other was Albert who had his arm around me. Both of us were smiling.

I sighed. I missed those days. I missed him. He was the best big brother I could have asked for: strong, brave, kind... and just like that, he was gone.

"I'll be back in a few days." he had said. "I'll bring Dad back and we can all be happy again."

A few days turned into a few weeks. That turned into a few months. Six years later, still nothing. No Dad, no Albert.

And now the Masked Gentleman has told me that they're both dead. But I refuse to believe that. They're both out there somewhere, just waiting to be found and brought home.

I often thought of leaving home to look for them, just as Albert had done for Dad. But the possibility of not coming home scared me. What if I ended up in the same situation as them...?

I set the picture back onto the table and stood up, unable to sit still. I peered out of the window, trying to find something else to focus on. But no matter how hard I tried, the same thoughts clouded my head.

When will Albert come home...?

Will he have Dad with him...?

Will he... come home at all...?

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#PROTECTTHEJAMS2K15

JAMS IS MY PRECIOUS SON NO EVIL SHALL TOUCH

HWA

AceAttorneyFan over and out!