Ace Attorney: Fading Bloodlines

Turnabout at Midnight, Part 5 (Joe)

"What?" I echoed. "What's so weird about that weapon?"

"The weapon used against the victim was a knife, specifically the knife used against the victim in a case sixteen years ago," Ms. Shield explained. "We don't know much about this case because of the urges of the witnesses then to keep things secret, but what we do know is that the weapon used on Ms. Pandora Rell was, as a matter of fact, the same weapon from that case!"

"How can you be so sure of this? It's not like you were there to see it," I scoffed.

"Maybe we weren't but the male victim to this case was the detective back then, and I'm sure that if we asked him, then he would say that it is the very same knife," the Devine kid said.

"Just cut to the chase already. Tell me why you felt the need to object to my statement already," I demanded, wanting nothing more than to roll my eyes.

"We believe that the culprit from that case is the perpetrator in this case as well," Ms. Shield declared.

The people in the gallery began to chatter, their supposed whispers echoing throughout the courtroom.

"Order!" The judge slammed his gavel down and whirled to face Ms. Shield. "What is the meaning of that proposal?!"

"Yeah! Do you have any proof to back it up?!" Prosecutor Jack yelled angrily.

"I do, actually. Think back to that case. The case went unsolved," Ms. Shield began. "If the culprit wanted to get rid of witnesses, they most certainly could, and due to the string of murders involving this case recently, I believe that the culprit is trying to get rid of witnesses from that case."

"Doesn't the culprit know that the statute of limitations expired last year? There's no reason to get rid of witnesses since the case can't get reopened," I frowned.

"This means that we know one thing about the culprit: they aren't involved in the legal world because if they were, they would know that they didn't have to panic anymore," Prosecutor Shield said. "But regardless of that, I have another witness who can prove the defendant's guilt crystal clear."

"Please call your witness now, Prosecutor Shield," the judge nodded. I made my way into the gallery so that I could continue watching the trial. Drew had saved me a seat. He squeezed my hand as I sat down, making me smile.

"Mukkie!" Prosecutor Jack cried.

I wasn't sure who this 'Mukkie' was, but I chose to go with it. A black haired girl with red, puffy eyes walked into the courtroom, playing around with her gloves mindlessly.

"Witness, name and occupation," the judge instructed.

"M-Mukuro Erikson... I'm a detective in training..." 'Mukkie' answered. "I guess I should begin my testimony now..."

"Go right ahead," the judge nodded.

WITNESS TESTIMONY: MUKURO ERIKSON- WHAT I SAW

-I was in the evidence room of the precinct with my dad and Detective Stanhope...

-A gunshot rang out, so I followed my ears to see my dad...

-He was slumped over on the ground, blood spilling from his shoulder...

-Detective Stanhope turned to me and told me to call the police, so I did...

"Please begin your cross-examination now, defense," the judge said.

"We'll get right onto that, My Lord," Ms. Shield declared.

CROSS-EXAMINATION: MUKURO ERIKSON- WHAT I SAW

-I was in the evidence room of the precinct with my dad and Detective Stanhope...

-A gunshot rang out, so I followed my ears to see my dad...

-He was slumped over on the ground, blood spilling from his shoulder...

-Detective Stanhope turned to me and told me to call the police, so I did...

"HOLD IT!"

"Did you happen to see any blood on the witness when you found her at the crime scene?" Ms. Shield asked.

"N-no... Why do you ask?" Ms. Erikson questioned.

"That proves the defendant's innocence crystal clear," Ms. Shield smirked.

"What do you mean?" Prosecutor Shield asked. "How does one question show that the defendant didn't do it? It seems like a bit of a stretch, if you ask me."

"It's simple: if you stab somebody, then what happens to their blood?" Ms. Shield asked.

"There's a backsplash that gets all over you!" Prosecutor Jack cried.

"The same applies to if somebody is shot. The fact that the witness found the defendant without any blood on her shows that she didn't do it," Ms. Shield announced.

"OBJECTION!"

"She could have easily discarded any clothes that had bloodstains!" Prosecutor Shield cried.

"OBJECTION!"

"There wouldn't have been any time to get rid of it. The witness here ran to the crime scene as fast as she could, so there wouldn't have been any time to get rid of any bloody clothes elsewhere!" Ms. Shield yelled. "And don't try to tell me that there was something at the crime scene, because there wasn't anything there. I checked every inch."

"So you think that the defendant wasn't the culprit, but rather, the killer in the case of attempted murder from sixteen years ago?" Prosecutor Shield questioned. "That does make sense..."

"The defense requests for more investigation time to look into this case further," Ms. Shield declared.

"Are there any objections from the prosecution?" The judge fiddled with his gavel while he waited for an answer.

"No objections here," Prosecutor Jack declared. "I think that we need to go find the evidence that could prove Stannaegi innocent."

"In that case, court will reconvene tomorrow for the trial once again," the judge announced. "Court is now adjourned!"

I took Drew's hand and led him out of the courtroom. Time to go and look for more evidence...

For Vera.

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Gdi Joe I thought you were with Drew and Vera was with Toby so that they could give Mukuro a little sibling-

I mean what

-Digital