Ace Attorney Investigations: Haunting Memories

Chapter Ten

February 29 1:10pm

Nava Research Center ~ Julia Kirigiri's POV

"Kotoko," I began. "Could you please show me that underground area you told me about just now?"

"Do you think it has something to do with the culprit?" Q asked. "It's kind of a stupid place to hide after committing a murder."

"I agree." I nodded. "Now it's just the question of: who would be stupid enough to make that mistake?"

Kotoko led me to the back of the building, where she pointed to a small crawlspace in the ground. "Here it is!" she cried with a gleeful smile.

I, however, gaped at the small entrance. How would someone be able to fit through this gap? Only a child would be capable of such a feat. But I knew deep down that, no matter what, I would have to try. "Kotoko, keep a lookout for anyone, got it?" I instructed.

"You got it!" Kotoko agreed, nodding her head and sending her pink locks flying. I knelt down and pressed myself into the passage. "Oh, and be careful!" I heard Kotoko cry from behind me. "There's a drop into the room!"

"A drop-?" I repeated, but it was too late: the ground underneath me gave way and collapsed, sending me with it. My back made contact with cold, hard stone, earning a small groan of pain from me.

"Are you alright...?" Q asked, in somewhat of a panic. I pictured him feverently stroking his cats in an attempt to calm himself down. Judging by the meowing from the other side, my assumption had been correct.

"Yes, I'm fine..." I told him, rising from the floor. It was a dark room, with only candles hanging from the wall for dim lighting. In the corner was a pile of black cloths and fabrics of many different kinds.

I wandered closer to the pile and pulled out a random selection. It was a long black cloak with a hood. One I had most definitely seen before...

"It looks like the killer uses this little room to store his disguises." I remarked as I examined the other capes. All of them were exactly the same; some covered in blood, some clean.

"This means that he can't hide anything related to his crimes in his own place of residence." Q deduced. "Perhaps because the risk of a family member discovering them is too high?"

"That may very well be the case." I remarked. "Furthermore, the culprit must be quite nimble. No other kind of person would be able to access this place."

I took some photographs of the small area, for use later. I then clambered out of the cave. As promised, Kotoko was waiting there for me.

"It's pretty cool, huh?" the girl asked, a wide grin on her face.

"I wouldn't exactly describe a killer's hiding place as 'cool'." I responded, brushing away a small speck of dirt from my jacket collar. "Actually, there's something I'd like to ask you, Kotoko..."

"What is it?" Kotoko questioned, tilting her head slightly.

"Did you see anyone while you were here?" I interrogated, crossing my arms. Q had often told me that I was rather intimidating while questioning witnesses. Here's hoping the intimidation factor worked in my favour of gathering information easily...

Kotoko's yellow eyes widened, her fingers twitching slightly. "D-Did I see anyone?" She repeated, pausing before nervously pushing her index fingers together. "N-No..."

I frowned at the girl, controlling my temper, trying not to let my frustration get the better of me. "Kotoko, you know that lying is bad, don't you? You should never lie, especially not in a crime investigation, and especially never to me."

Kotoko paused before sighing. "Okay... I did see someone..."

"Who was it?" I questioned. "Who did you see?"

Kotoko hesitated again, twirling a strand of her pink hair over her finger before looking up at me with slightly tearful eyes. "It was-"

"Detective!! There's been another one!!"

I turned on my heel to face an officer, an expression of fear on his face. "What do you mean 'another one'...?!" I interrogated.

"A-A murder...!" The officer responded. "There's been another murder!"

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Lesson learnt: if a kid lies to you, say that they should never lie to you especially. That'll scare 'em.

Or just give them the Interrogative Julia Glare that works too-

AceAttorneyFan over and out!