Chris spoke up. "Your Honor, I believe the witness will be able to answer all of this... Emi."

Emi looked up at him, confused.

"You saw the crime scene before Iris and I did, didn't you?"

She tensed up.



"That's ridiculous!" Dahlia spat. "She clearly said that she saw the crime scene after you and my sister left! Why would she lie about that?"

"She didn't." said Chris plainly.

"Wha...!?"

"It's simple..." He pointed at Emi. "The witness saw the crime scene before and after Iris and I investigated!"

The gallery erupted.



"T-That... that... that's impossible!" said Dahlia. "You don't have proof! None! She's lying!"

Chris turned to Iris. "It's time to spin this case on its head. We have our lead, and we're not about to lose it. There's one piece of evidence that'll prove Emi is not lying. It's not much, admittedly, but it's enough. She's hiding something... and I think I know what it is."

((OOC: Makes better sense now? :D She wasn't lying when she said she witnessed it after... she was just hiding the fact she saw it before. Also, Evidence List:

Autopsy Report (Victim: Suzumi Aogirl. Was murdered in her own room by a stab to the heart at 8 PM.)

Knife (Knife resembling a sharp kitchen knife. Used to stab the victim. Contains Meghan's fingerprints.)

Student's Testimony (A student's testimony that said that Suzumi was in her room prior to the murder.)

Jade's Photo (Jade's photo of Meghan chasing the blond-haired girl. No knife spotted in blond girl's hand.)

Second Knife? (Jade saw a second knife at the scene that had a V-shaped blade. No other evidence can support this at this time.)

Dorm window (Was closed when investigated. Bore a few streaks across the sill, no fingerprints detected.)

Also, I really do hope it's making better sense, because I'm starting to worry that it's only making sense to me. =\))

---

(OOC:)

"I...I really think you should be here instead of me, Chris..." Iris whimpered. "I'm no good at this..." She stopped herself and shook her head firmly. No, I have to keep it together! she scolded herself. Meghan needs us!
"W-well...yes...the evidence is, of course...the window?" she tried. "Miss Brown said it was open, but it was closed when we investigated. There's no reason to make something like that up...r-right? Which would mean...someone else entered the room after Miss Brown but before us, altered the scene of the crime, and closed the window on the way out...?"

---

Chris nodded. "Most importantly, the streaks we found prove that fact. The window was used, but the real killer was smart - covering up the fingerprints by resmudging them, and dragging off the sill itself!"

The gallery again erupted.



"The real killer!? Are you mad!? Did you forget who is on trial here? Miss Rose!" Dahlia found herself snarling, angry by now. "You can't possibly tell me there was another person!"



Chris pointed outward. "I have the proof..." His voice softened, and he turned to Emi. "Emily... you have a drawing with you of the scene before we investigated, don't you?"

Emi stayed silent for a few seconds, before nodding, her face again showing no contemplation or emotion. "I have it." She reached in her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it, proving it to be a page from her sketchbook, and showed it to the courtroom.

It looked exactly as she described it: The switchblade was on the floor, the window was open, and Suzumi's body was still lying on the bed!

Second Knife = Switchblade Knife (Believed to be the actual murder weapon. Has a V-shaped blade.)

Dorm Window updated in the Court Record. (Window was open at the time of the murder. It was shut before the investigation.)

((OOC: What do you think of the case so far? Some of it I'm pulling out of the blue, but most of it I've had planned from the beginning. The main point's been planned from the beginning too, and I think you'll find what happens in my next post very... interesting. We're about to enter the second investigation day, which won't be very long at all. It'll give you more ammunition in court.

Also, LSH will have much more of an active role during the second day. You'll see why... very soon.))

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(OOC: It seems good so far...but I'm lost as to what to do. I'm starting to think playing the defense and judge was a mistake...)

---

((OOC: I think both their reactions would be a good reply - the trial's going to end, so you can have him declare that there needs to be another day's investigation, and court is dismissed.))

---

"Your Honor, if I may?" Iris said. "Under these circumstances, we can't possibly declare a verdict on Miss Rose! There are still too many unanswered questions. The defense requests another day to further investigate this case."

The judge nodded solemnly. "Agreed. Who is this blond-haired girl, and what really happened in the victim's room that night? The trial will continue tomorrow morning. I expect both the defense and prosecution to find the answers to these questions by then. Court is adjorned!" he announced, slamming his gavel.

"Dahlia!" Iris raced after the prosecutor storming out of the courtroom. There were so many things she wanted to say to her, but they all seemed to have gone into hiding by the time she caught up with her in the lobby. "I...um...it's nice to see you again, big sister," Iris mumbled shyly to the floor. "I've really missed you..."

(OOC: Slight character hijack, sorry )

---

((OOC: Sorry for the delay! D: I was busy with a crappy workweekend and a test which I took this morning. I'm back though, so let's get this back on track.))

Dahlia stopped mid-walk in the Prosecutor's Lobby, not even turning around as she heard her sisters' words. Was she really following her? Dahlia had figured that her cold demeanor would have driven anyone off, but not her sister. She didn't turn around as she spoke in response: "Why did you defend her? And why allow that boy to help? I thought it was pretty obvious that she was guilty..."

"That's what you want everyone to think," said Chris, who stood behind them.

Hearing that, Dahlia turned around, glaring. "You. I warned you... I told you not to defend her, or you would pay the price... you know what secret you're hiding, and I'll bring it out if you don't stop now."

Chris shook his head. "I don't plan to."

Twitching, Dahlia turned around and stormed off, forgetting she was in a conversation with her sister. He had made her angry now. Tomorrow, she thought, tomorrow would be the day everything turned in her favor...

---

"W-wait!" Iris cried, reaching out towards her departing sister in futility. Once the prosecutor had passed out of eyesight, Iris pulled her hand back. She looked at it for a moment, then dropped it to her side and sighed deeply. Why is she so certain Meghan is guilty...and why is she treating me like a stranger? she wondered sadly.
After moping silently for several seconds, she turned her attention back to Chris with a weak smile on her lips. "Let's...go back to the Detention Center. Meghan could probably use the company, and she might have remembered something helpful after seeing today's trial..."

---

"Hmm, yes... that would be the best option," Chris responded, beginning to walk off. As he did, thoughts began to swirl in his mind. He knew Dahlia would be as hostile as she was in court, but he didn't expect to be able to help Iris get this far in the trial. Well, he thought, it was time to go talk with Meghan. He really wanted to make sure she was alright.

((Hint: It might be wise to have Iris ask Chris why in the world Dahlia was telling him that she 'warned him not to defend Meghan or he would pay the price'.))

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(OOC: Actually I was going to save that for later, but since I can't think of anywhere else to go... Also, slight hijack again.)

As the two left the courthouse, Iris spotted a taxicab sitting conveniently along the sidewalk. She rushed down the steps, waving at the driver to keep him from leaving. She let Chris in the back first, then followed suit and gave the cabbie their destination. Once they were on their way, Iris turned her head to her partner and questioned him cautiously. "Um...Chris? I know it's not any of my business, so you don't have to answer if you don't want, but... My sister said something about a secret and paying for it... What did she mean?"

---

"Hmm?" Chris turned to face Iris as he heard the question, but after she was finished, he turned back to face out the window. "Ah, I'm not sure what she meant... Maybe she's confused?" As he said this, however, he felt his heart 'lock up', knowing he was keeping information from her. Three Psyche-Locks... He turned back to face her. "For now, we need to worry about investigating again. This time, primarily outside the dorm to see about the killer's escape."

As the Taxi came upon the Detention Center, Chris walked out first and went inside. He had to make sure Meghan was alright.

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