Ace Attorney: Secrets beneath Secrets

The Falsified Turnabout, Part 8

April 3

Defendant Lobby No. 3

9:40 AM

Deirdre Brigit

I was the first of my group to arrive at the courthouse the next day. Not many people were lingering around in the lobby, which gave me free access to the couch. I took a seat and began to think over all that had happened the day before. 

I was going to be cross-examining 'Ms. Anderson' today alongside the other two. I wasn't sure how to feel about it, if I was being perfectly honest. I trusted we would find the culprit, but I still had a bad feeling about all of this. Perhaps it was my conversation with the witness that made me feel this way. I couldn't quite tell you for sure. I would just have to work my way through it before the trial officially kicked off. Otherwise, I would be at an inherent disadvantage.

I didn't see Mr. Morix around the lobby, but I knew he would be coming. Since he was so closely related to the witness of the day, he had to come. Lily and Cormous were still on agency-watching duty, which meant he was the only one who was able to come along. After all, Victoria, Yuri, and I were too occupied being on the defense team while our other member of the agency had unique obligations regarding her secrets to attend to. I just hoped she stuck to her promise and told the others about all she had been doing behind their backs. Well, behind our backs.

My mind was cast over to the prosecution. We hadn't been able to find them yesterday, but it seemed as if their labor had bore fruits. All it took was one little match up regarding the voice on the sound box and a person in the prison. From there, the trial would hopefully unfold in an advantageous way that allowed me and the rest of my team to find the culprit and release Detective Erikson.

I checked my watch briefly, a frown appearing on my face. It was fifteen minutes until the trial began. I had expected them to turn up sooner, but then again, Yuri was never really one to conform to any expectations. She was far too chaotic to bother trying such a thing. Even if I loved her unique outlook on life, it still caused a few issues from time to time, and I was going to go out on a limb and say this was one of those times.

I shook the thought off and focused my attention on the trial at hand once more. I just had to cooperate with Chief Prosecutor Bespoke and Mr. Burke. From there, things would hopefully get easier. They knew what they were doing. I just had to trust that they would be willing to help me once our primary suspect got up onto the witness stand. It was a lot of blind faith, but there wasn't much else I could concentrate on given the lackluster results of our unsuccessful investigation from the day before.

"Hello, Deirdre."

I looked up to see Mr. Morix standing above me. He sat down nearby before looking into my eyes once more. "I heard that you had a talk with the witness yesterday," he began. I could tell this was his subtle way of telling me not to say too much that could be seen as incriminating or negative.

I nodded slowly. "As a matter of fact, I did. She said she was going to open up to people and tell them about her recent endeavors that had previously been kept secret. Did she happen to pass the message onto you?" I asked.

Mr. Morix nodded as well. "She did... I appreciate your keeping it quiet, Deirdre. It really does mean a lot to us... I'm sure she'll be able to tell you all about that when the case comes to a close," he said.

"Yes... I hope so," I murmured, looking down at my hands. I was still anxious about Victoria and Yuri taking so long to get to the courthouse. Their lack of presence was shaking me before the trial even began. I was used to standing in court by now, but I had always been in the courtroom with someone at my side. Was I going to be forced to go at it alone for the first time today?