Ace Attorney: Mask of Deceit

Chapter 26: The Defensive Turnabout - Trial 2 ~ Part 2

May 4 10:45am

District Court

Courtroom No. 1 ~ James Devine's POV

I averted my gaze away from Mr. Thurman and towards the floor, eager to hide my eyes welling up. I couldn't give up now... I had to do whatever I could to prove Mr. Thurman's guilt.

"You're just trying to copy your father, but you're failing!" Mr. Thurman continued to taunt. "You have no right to call yourself his son!"

"S-Stop it...!" I heard Anton squeal from the opposite side of the courtroom. "S-Stop saying a-all of th-those things...! Y-You're h-hurting him...!"

"He's stalling for time..." Yuri muttered. "He knows that he's beaten."

"Mr. Thurman!" Ms. Tenniswood exclaimed. "You have yet to prove that we are wrong about our theory! Does this mean you confess your guilt?" she added with a smirk.

Mr. Thurman had turned away from us, silent. After a few moments of complete silence, he let out a sigh. "I suppose I have no choice... You're right. I did it. I killed her."

"Xavier..." Mr. Kenway murmured, his eyes wide with shock. "Why, Xavier? Why would you...?"

"I-I don't know!" Mr. Thurman suddenly yelled. "She was asking me... about CT-2... about my one and only failure as a lawyer... she made me remember that I got an innocent man killed!"

"So, in a state of blind rage..." Prosecutor Bloom concluded. "You hit her."

Nothing more was said as Mr. Thurman was handcuffed and taken away. Mr. Kenway still looked shocked while I... well, I didn't know how I felt at that moment.

"It seems that this case has come to a close." the judge commented. "In that case, I shall hand down my verdict. This court finds the defendant, Edward Kenway...

NOT GUILTY

Court is adjourned!"

May 4 11:00am

District Court

Prosecution Lobby 2

I didn't stick around to talk to Mr. Kenway or his lawyers. As soon as the verdict had been handed down, I left the courtroom. This case had brought up all kinds of painful memories. I passed by one of the prosecution lobbies on my way out.

"J-James...?"

I heard a light voice call my name. It was Anton, his blanket tightly wrapped around him like a cocoon. He looked slightly nervous to talk to me. "I-I'm sorry about wh-what h-happened in th-there..."

"It's fine." I replied, dismissing the matter with a wave of my hand. "He's probably right, anyway... There's no way I can be like my father..."

"Y-Yes, you c-can...!" Anton's voice raised a little. I guess he can't really shout. "If y-you want t-to be a l-lawyer like y-your father, th-then I believe th-that you can d-do it...!"

"Anton..." I muttered, a small smile on my face. Nobody had ever believed in me before. I'd gotten sighs of disapproval and eye rolls, but not belief. I liked this feeling; the feeling that someone is supporting you, no matter who you are.

"Thanks." I said after some silence. "Thank you, Anton..."

He giggled in reply. Feeling considerably better than before, I waved goodbye to Anton before leaving the courthouse, a slight spring in my step. He's right, I made myself think. I can achieve my goal of becoming a lawyer. I'll become as great as my father, and even greater than that!

I wonder if Niamh knows any good lawyers I could get some first-hand experience from... I'll ask her later!

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Date: ????

Time: ????

Location: ????

"This will not do..." the Masked Gentleman muttered to his servant in an agitated tone. "They are slipping further and further away from my grasp!"

"Do not fear, Master." the servant responded. "I have a plan. A plan that will give you the information you need."

"A plan...?" the masked man repeated.

"Yes. GatherLaw Incorporated: the business that collects information on all kinds of legal matters. I will infiltrate the building and steal the necessary information that we can then use to locate the villains we seek."

"Yes... that is a brilliant plan." the masked man agreed. "Then go! Set your plan into motion and report back with the results immediately!"

"Yes, Master."

The servant bowed to his master and left the room, eager to prepare for the scheme they were about to pull off. The Masked Gentleman, meanwhile, removed his mask and gazed upon an old photograph. The picture was of his family; the family he missed so much. He focused on the youngest person in the picture, a small boy of ten years old, and felt tears begin to form in his eyes and looked away from the photograph.

"Someday..." the gentleman whispered. "I will find you..."

CASE 3: THE DEFENSIVE TURNABOUT

THE END

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CASE 3 IS DONE YAAAAAAAY

SO NOW ONTO CASE 4

WE'RE GETTING NEARER TO THE END NUUUUUUUUU

AT LEAST THERE'S A SEQUEL

MANY SEQUELS

AceAttorneyFan over and out!