Ace Attorney: Fading Bloodlines

Turnabout at Midnight, Part 3 (James)

Lily and I began to search the crime scene while Prosecutor Shield growled angrily at M and N about why they hadn't arrived at the crime scene sooner. It looked pretty normal for a crime scene: blood where there was supposed to be blood, no messages in blood or anything, and other than a fallen table and vase, everything was clean.

"I don't see how in the world we're supposed to find any clues in this crime scene," I frowned.

"The culprit sure did keep things clean, which I admit is odd. I really expected a fight to take place," Lily told me.

"Yeah," M cut in. "But for both of the victims, unconsciousness was triggered instantly after they were attacked. There's no way that either of them would have been able to put up a fight."

"What about the knocked over table?" Lily questioned.

"Since it was found so close to Ms. Rell, we believe that she stumbled into it after she was stabbed, making it fall over," N explained.

"You know... I wonder... Why are Interpol agents getting involved with this case? It seems like it's just a normal case, so why would the heads of Interpol get into it?" Prosecutor Shield asked.

"It's because M was working with the defendant up until he got promoted to be the head of Interpol!" N cried. "W-wait... You weren't romantically involved with her or anything, right?"

"O-of course not!!" M yelled, his face flushing. I couldn't tell if he was just shocked or if he had really dated her at one point...

"Either way, why was the defendant arrested?" Prosecutor Shield asked.

"She was found at the crime scene by a witness and the gun belonged to her," N explained.

"Hm... I heard that this case was involved with an attempted murder sixteen years ago. Does this mean that you think her to be the culprit of that case as well?" I questioned.

"No. Not at all. She would never do this, much less something back when she would only be a teenager," M said sternly, as if he hated me for merely suggesting it. I gulped. He could be pretty scary if he tried...

"What's the whole deal with the knife, anyways?" Lily asked.

"It was the attempted murder weapon from a case back in October of 2016. The culprit wasn't caught, and even the victim is unknown to police. The victim wasn't in police files and we didn't have any fingerprints to help identify them," N explained. "And the only witness who knew the truth refused to say anything, and since the statue of limitations is up and the witness disappeared, the case is going to be unsolved forever."

"That sounds really ominous," Lily said.

"Either way, we should try and figure out who shot and stabbed the victims. If it really is the culprit from sixteen years ago, this means that we can put them in prison for their crimes," Prosecutor Shield declared.

"Let's go to see the witness now," I told them.

//April 26, 2032. Hospital Room No. 5111, 3:21 PM//

"M-Mukuro?" I stammered once we got to the hospital. "You're the witness in this case?"

Mukuro nodded. "Y-yeah... I wish I wasn't a witness to this case, though..." Her eyes were red and puffy, so I could tell that she had been crying. Such a beautiful flower as her doesn't deserve those tears that fall from her beautiful eyes...!

"It's going to be okay, Mukuro," Lily assured her. "We aren't going to let the culprit to this case go free! There's no way that they can get away with shooting one of our friends on our watch!!"

"T-thanks, Ms. Shield... Saying that really means a lot to me..." Mukuro said, rubbing her eyes.

"So... You saw the defendant at the crime scene with the victims?" Prosecutor Shield asked.

Mukuro nodded. "Yeah... She was leaning over my dad, feeling for a pulse. Once she found one, she stared at him blankly... I didn't know what to do, though some officers in the area had heard the gunshot and come running. Since it was her gun that shot Dad, she was arrested... But I know that she would never do this! She and my dad are the best of friends!"

"We're going to prove that she isn't the culprit for sure! You can count on it!" I assured Mukuro.

"Thanks... But where did Niamh go?" Mukuro asked.

"Nevada came out and requested defense. But when the detectives turned out to be members of Interpol, she panicked and ran off. I wish that they could just leave her alone," Lily pouted.

"Poor girl... She's a good egg, but when Interpol shows up, she always panics and runs off..." Mukuro sighed, shaking her head. "Anyways, I guess that I'll be seeing you guys tomorrow at the trial."

"Yeah," I nodded. "Are you going to be testifying?"

Mukuro sighed. "I wish that I wasn't, but I have to... The truth won't be found if I decide not to testify, so I'm going to do this! For Dad and for Detective Stanhope!"

It pained me to see her faking this so much... She didn't deserve this. And because she didn't deserve it, we were going to show that criminal what for. I doubt that Nevada will let them get out of this unharmed...

She always was the defensive type... Just imagining her makes me so happy... Maybe this trial will be my breakthrough! Maybe she'll finally notice me for real!!

"Come on, James," Lily said, snapping me from my trance. "We should head back to the agency to get ready for the trial."

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OKAY

GUYS

HI

I NEED TO GO

STUPID SCHOOL

BUT I GET OUT SOON

CHEERS

I MIGHT BE OUT WHEN THIS IS POSTED THOUGH

PROBABLY

BYE

-Digital