Ace Attorney Investigations: Haunting Memories

Chapter Four

February 25 11:45am

Fun Times Theme Park - Back Gates ~ Julia Kirigiri's POV

I had several objections to having a small child such as Kotoko join our investigation, but I felt like I had no choice but to let her tag along.

I used the time to inform Q of the current situation. By the end of my explanation, I could sense a hint of irritation in his voice. "He called you 'beauty'...?!" he asked.

I sighed in response. "I hate to admit it, but yes. He did the same to Kotoko. You have no idea how much I hate men with a flirty personality..."

"... I'll keep that in mind." Q replied. Several screams and cries from up ahead distracted me from any further conversation. About three different officers were trying to restrain a single man, who was struggling furiously. Such man had shaved black hair and wore a blue t-shirt with matching jeans and shoes.

"THIS is the 'suspicious man' that was seen near the crime scene...?" Griffin commented.

"Why's he fighting the other guys like that?" Kotoko asked. "He could really get in trouble!"

"He has yet to give us his name, although that won't be needed." Ms. Mercer replied. "Based on my research, his name is Ralph Upchurch. He worked in the same office as the victim Mr. Drake."

"And if he knew our recently dearly departed," Detective Smyth chipped in. "That means that he very well had a motive. Isn't that right, Mr. Upchurch?"

Mr. Upchurch had finally stopped struggling and was being supported to his feet by the other officers as they handcuffed his hands behind his back. "I would like to question him, before you take him away." I announced. "Rash judgements are the very poisons of this legal system."

"That's a good line." Q praised.

"Sure, do whatever you want." Detective Smyth shrugged. "Just good luck getting anything out of him."

"I-I didn't do it!" Mr. Upchurch yelled. "I-I'm being framed!"

"Please calm yourself, Mr. Upchurch." I said. "Please just explain to me what happened."

"O...Okay..." Mr. Upchurch nodded.

- Argument -

- I Didn't Do It! -

"I swear I didn't do it! I'm being framed! Framed, I tell you!"

"Theo had wanted to meet with me here, to discuss something, he said."

"It's true that I remember meeting up with him, but..."

"... the next thing I remember is seeing his body! I couldn't let myself be caught, so I ran!"

"This guy seems really suspicious!" Kotoko crossed her arms with a huff. "We can't believe him if he doesn't have the evidence!"

"E-Evidence...?" Mr. Upchurch repeated. "How can I prove something like that...?!"

"I agree that there is an absence in evidence." I said. "But that doesn't mean that it never existed, right?"

"You're saying that maybe the culprit took the evidence with them?" Q suggested. "But if that's the case, then who knows where it could be by now?"

"Not precisely." I responded. "You see, there's something at the crime scene that I noticed earlier, but I didn't think it had anything to do with the case. But now, I think we had better go back and check."

"Then let's goooooo!" Kotoko cheered, beginning to skip away. Her wrist was grabbed by Detective Smyth, who for once wore a serious expression on his face.

"Sorry, Candyfloss, you're staying here." he demanded. "Hey, Aquaman, take care of her."

"A-Aquaman-?!" Griffin repeated.

Kotoko pouted and lightly stomped her foot on the ground. "But, Mr. Manitoba-! I wanna investigate with you guys!"

"Just listen to me for now, alright?" he asked. "Stay here. Me and Violet Locks'll go and take a peek."

"Well technically he's wrong because your hair isn't exactly violet, it's lavender which is a lighter shade of purple-" Q rambled.

I rolled my eyes as I followed Detective Smyth, my arms crossed. "I never said you could come along, either." I pointed out.

"I don't think you realise, Miss Violet, but you and I have a somewhat common goal in all of this." Detective Smyth responded. "We both act for the conclusion of catching killers, right?"

"Yes, that's correct..." I nodded slowly. "Where are you going with this?"

"And we both commit ourselves to such a job for, I presume, personal reasons, right?" the detective asked, ignoring my own initial question.

I gasped, my eyes widening slightly. "Personal... reasons?" I repeated. I paused, glaring into his brown eyes before shaking my head and walking past him. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

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TFW SEBASTIAN IS JEALOUS

HE VERY JEALOUS

SO JEALOUS HE GOES ONTO THE FIELD AT SOME POINT I MEAN WHAT

AceAttorneyFan over and out!