Part 137: Episode 5, Day 2, Investigation: Roundabout Duster

Part 137: Episode 5, Day 2, Investigation: Roundabout Duster



Before we leave the evidence room behind, some of the examination scenes are a bit different without Gumshoe around.

A piece of white cloth is sticking out... looks like a shirt.



Hey, don't look at me! I didn't leave it hanging out like that!




^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Aren't you being a little dramatic?




^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Can't junk just be plain old junk?

I guess Phoenix doesn't recognize the metal detector this time.



Detective Goodman's evidence locker. It's empty.

Only Detective Goodman himself can open this locker.



(But why was it wrapped in the "scarf" muffler and stuck inside the "car" muffler?)

I'm still not sure how Lana fits into all of this. But that knife was definitely wrapped up in her scarf, so she had her hands on it at one point, and tried to hide it for some reason.





It was always my dream to push through the crowd and just step over the tape!



(I think maybe you're overreacting a little...)

Odd that this conversation doesn't actually mention the glove, but it's impossible for Gumshoe to have left without having already looked at the glove, so it still works.



There's blue and yellow paint here.



I am wearing a red necktie, you know...



We missed this one the first time, but it isn't any different after Gumshoe leaves.

That's the door we just came in through.

Looks like you don't need an ID card to get out.



...

(Let's hope he remembers we're in here.)



Another one we skipped over the first time, but isn't any different now...

Wow! Look at this big pile of junk in the corner!

That looks like... a car door.


^{Sound: Realization}

Maybe the guy they caught was some sort of escape artist and he got away.



Random stuff that was too big to fit in a locker?

He's been shot square in the forehead.

Better him than us.




All right, let's get out of here. Edgeworth awaits!



On the way here, I tried showing all our new evidence to Marshall, Meekins, Ema, and Angel Starr. No luck on any of them. Gant had taken off, so I couldn't check his reaction to any of it. Hopefully Edgeworth will have more to say. And actually be here this time.


^{Sound: Realization}

The hell? Why is the hotel bellboy here?

Ah, guests! My apologies.

Oh! It's you!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Have we met somewhere...?

Huh!?



That was a weird cameo.

(Is Edgeworth here...?)


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Wright.
^{Sound: Realization}


(He has the hotel bring him tea service!?)

Someday I'm going to make a map of this city. Phoenix's office is across from the hotel, which is apparently close enough to Edgeworth's office to provide tea service. And they're all a 30 minute drive from the Police Department and Criminal Affairs, which are in adjacent but separate buildings. Somewhere in there we also have a movie studio and a park featuring a lake.



I am.


By the way, Detective Gumshoe was looking for you.



Really? Was it helpful?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Apparently, a new French restaurant is opening near here.



(Um, the real info is on the other side, Edgeworth...)



Music: Investigation - Opening

It's interesting that despite being such a central character in the game, Edgeworth doesn't have his own theme music. Neither does Phoenix, for that matter. I guess they're well-developed enough to stand on their own without it?



We've already seen everything there is to see in Edgeworth's office, so we can get straight to the questions we want to ask him.

So, how did the inquiry committee go?



But as a communications error during the investigation.

"Concealing evidence"...?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Yes. Apparently, there are some who believe...

that I concealed evidence.


^{Sound: Realization}

"Again"...?

I've heard them say that so many times.

Ever since that case two years ago...



Maybe we can get him to open up more about SL-9 later.

Are you okay for the trial tomorrow?



Something happened?


^{Sound: Realization}

The Police Department!



Somewhat concerning considering how much this case smells like a police cover-up or frame-job.

I can do nothing but wait for his results...

I... see.

Why, I ask you? Why!?



A rare moment of honest emotion out of Edgeworth.

But still...

(Wow, I've never seen him this out of sorts...)



We have a lot of evidence to go through.

...

Wright, please. I'm the prosecutor on this case!


^{Sound: Realization}

I'll pass on the tea. Just tell me about the case...


^{Sound: Whack}

(Whose side are you on, anyway?)



So that's Edgeworth's reaction to most of our evidence. Phoenix is right; only a few things will get his attention.



SL-9 has been a hot topic today, so maybe one of these items will get Edgeworth talking?

...

Music: Silence



It all has to do with that case you were on... the SL-9 Incident.

And some "dark suspicion" you were wrapped up in.
^{Sound: Realization}



I figured I'd be telling you about this sooner or later.


^{Sound: Wipe}



Gee, you think?



Music: Investigation - Opening

Okay, Edgeworth. Why don't you tell me about it. Tell me the truth.



We probably have a new conversation topic, but we have one more thing to show Edgeworth. The SL-9 knife would've produced the same reaction as Goodman's note, by the way.

Oh, right! I'd better check this now...
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

As I was saying, I...

Music: Silence


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Edgeworth, you went into the evidence room that day, didn't you?

Just before the incident occurred, no less.
^{Sound: Realization}

Yes, that's true.

Music: Suspense



Please don't look at me like that.
^{Sound: Stab}



Hmm. More signs of a setup. Edgeworth is lured to the evidence room... right around the time that Goodman would have had to have been stuffed into his trunk, to get transported to the parking garage.

The Chief of Police...?


^{Sound: Realization}

He told me he wanted me to keep it here in the Prosecutor's Office.

Thus also getting Edgeworth to unknowingly transport Goodman to the parking garage. Gant is looking pretty suspicious, but this case also feels like a police-wide conspiracy at this point. What I still don't get is how Lana got caught up in all of it instead of Edgeworth.

But... it was solved, right? It would have to be if the evidence was already filed...

The Chief is never one to explain himself.



Can I ask what kind of case it was?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

I... can't say.
^{Sound: Realization}



Despite Edgeworth's shifty eyes, I'm inclined to believe him here. The whole request feels more like a scheme to move Edgeworth around the game board; the actual evidence itself doesn't matter.

(Now I'm curious about this other case. I'd better make a note of it.)

Music: Silence


^{Sound: Select Jingle}

Music: Investigation - Opening





We do get a third page of evidence with this screwdriver.



Another evidence tag...

The tag says, "AI-16."



Nothing, apparently.

At least, that's what Edgeworth said.

Hm. That makes it seem all the more suspicious.



Wouldn't that be nice...



Back to talking to Edgeworth...

The SL-9 Incident was a heinous serial killing case.



Damon Gant.
^{Sound: Realization}

(That wacky old coot was involved in the case two years ago too then...)

It feels like Gant is at least the third person the game has claimed to be in charge of that case.



Wow, you get nervous, too, Mr. Edgeworth?

(What I want to know is why was a Deputy Chief of Police on the investigation?)



We were dealing with a vicious murderer. If I let him go, the blood would be on my hands.

For the first time, we get a pretty good view into the ethical dilemma that prosecutors face. What if you knew that you had a serial killer, knew they were guilty, but couldn't prove it in court? And if you let them go, you'd know they'd be killing again before you could do anything about it?



Wait, you didn't...
^{Sound: Realization}

Of course not!

I didn't touch the evidence.

Yes, I will do anything in my power to win a trial.



Maybe. I haven't forgotten Mia's "updated" autopsy report.

Music: Silence



This sudden change of conversation pops up once we've presented the ID record and cleared all three of Edgeworth's topics.

M-my sister? What?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}




Huh? Y-yes! Of course!



Luminol testing fluid, hm?


^{Sound: Realization}

Ooh. Looks like fingerprint powder?


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

It's been chemically treated for better adhesion.

F-for me? Are you sure?

We are the "enemy" you know.



I heartily approve of Edgeworth's subtle "fuck you" to Gant.

Edgeworth... I'm really--

No need to thank me.



Edgeworth also comes through with a way to identify any fingerprints we find.

I, uh, th-thanks! (How about giving these to Detective Gumshoe as well!?)


^{Sound: Select Jingle}

The police should have already gone all over the crime scene for fingerprints. But if they're really involved in this crime somehow, we can't trust that they actually did that, or that they'd share the true results with anyone. So let's hope we can go recover some fingerprint evidence ourselves!



Right!

(I do seem to remember seeing a suspicious handprint somewhere...)
^{Sound: Realization}

Music: Investigation - Core



Unlike with the luminol, we can't just dust for prints everywhere we go. Instead this evidence must act more like a plot flag, similar to the metal detector last episode. Examining it doesn't reveal anything of interest, either.



A timeline is starting to come together here. I'm assuming that multiple people can access the evidence room with a single card swipe, here, but what I think happened:

1. At 4:20 PM, the killer enters the evidence room with Goodman, and stabs him there after getting him to open the locker.
   
2. At 4:40 PM, Edgeworth enters the evidence room -- likely a separate area, not noticing the murder scene -- and the killer uses the distraction to put Goodman's body into Edgeworth's trunk, sending it to the Prosecutor's Office as a result.
   
3. At 5:14 PM, the killer uses Goodman's ID to re-enter the evidence room, and then is confronted by Meekins. Is Meekins the other ID at this time and 24 minutes earlier? Why did the killer go back? Was it just establishing an alibi, confusing the murder timeline, or something else?
   
4. At the same time, 30 minutes across town, Edgeworth arrives at the parking garage and goes up to his office. Lana somehow gets into Edgeworth's trunk, discovers Goodman, and is seen "stabbing" him. During the five minutes where Angel Starr is running into the garage, Lana wraps the SL-9 knife inside her scarf and stuffs it in the exhaust pipe of Edgeworth's car. I still have no idea how Lana got the knife.

Music: Silence



After two days of investigation, we have a lot of the "what happened", but not a lot of the "why" yet. I think identifying these bloody handprints in the evidence room will help answer some remaining questions.



I did stop by the other locations first. Meekins and Ema don't care about our new evidence. Angel Starr and Jake Marshall have both vanished. So here we are.

(Our investigation turned up a suspicious handprint.)


^{Sound: Realization}

Let's use the secret weapon we just borrowed!


^{Sound: Photo Snap x 3}

We don't have to select the locker or the handprint or anything, we're zoomed straight in.

Music: Logic and Trick



A finger...?
^{Sound: Realization}

Each finger leaves behind a slightly different imprint.



I really can't tell the difference at a glance...


^{Sound: Light Bulb}



The cursor lights up in five places; four fingers and a thumb. This one looks like it could be pretty clear?



Let me show you how it's done.
^{Sound: Realization}

(Ema's starting to get that sparkle in her eyes...)



Huh? How do you do that?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}



Ah... it looks like that did the trick.
^{Sound: Realization}



Once the powder is well spread...

just blow away the excess.

Huh? How do I do that?
<sup>Sound: Light Bulb




Sound: Light Bulb</sup>

This entire mechanic screams of something shoehorned-in to take advantage of / show off the Nintendo DS features. I'm guessing there was a screen-tap to shake the powder out and then blowing into the microphone to blow it away?

Wow... that looks like fun! (It might take some getting used to though...)
^{Sound: Realization}

It's fine! It won't go up your nose or anything.



Those are the basics of fingerprinting, Mr. Wright!

(I guess I'd better give it a try...)



We're left with a blank screen. Time to spread some dust around...



Uh, that doesn't look much like a fingerprint.


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

But... this looks nothing like a fingerprint.
^{Sound: Realization}




What does it mean?

I think it means...

we're out of luck.
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Out of luck...?



Right, gloves. Shit. Won't be so easy to identify the killer, then.

...

Music: Silence

Don't tell me we've been wasting our time here!
^{Sound: Whack}



But... it does seem a shame.



Other prints...?

Looking at the locker door again closely...

Music: Logic and Trick


^{Sound: Realization}

Let's see if we can find a clear print!

(Hmm... fingerprints outside the blood...)



We're looking at this smudge here.



Here's the most annoying part of this mechanic. It sure looks like a fingerprint was revealed here, right? Yet we're still stuck on this screen. I have to put multiple layers of dust over the entire print and blow it off over and over until almost all of the pixels of the print itself are actually covered.



The final result.

Yay! A print so clear it's dazzling!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Music: Silence

D-dazzling...?



Let's match it up right away!
^{Sound: Realization}

So we're not done yet? This is quite a process...



and not knowing who the owner is, right?

(I guess she's right...)

Music: Logic and Trick



and point out the person you think left these prints!

Huh? How am I supposed to know who it was?
^{Sound: Light Bulb
Sound: Stab}

I could make a pretty good guess.



That means that the prints probably don't have anything to do with our case.



Probably the owner of the locker then.



But being right the first time is no fun. We have eight profiles to choose from here (Lana is also an option, scrolled off the screen).


^{Sound: Scan x 2}

Some computer noises as we search for matches between the prints. I'm guessing "2" isn't enough matching points...


^{Sound: Whoops}

Hmm... no match.
^{Sound: Realization}

C'mon! How am I supposed to guess whose they are?

Isn't it obvious?



That means that the prints probably don't have anything to do with our case.


^{Sound: Realization}

...

S-something wrong?

I was just thinking, if you're so sure who it is, why don't you match the fingerprints?

Mr. Wright!
<sup>Sound: Whack


Sound: Damage 2</sup>

It's a tutorial, after all!

F-fine, fine!

(Let me think... who could have left these prints...?)



Ema spelled it out pretty explicitly for us. The only tricky part is remembering who owns this locker.


^{Sound: Scan x 3}

Looks a lot more promising.



We get a happy-sounding chime with the match, though I couldn't find the wav file for it to convert/upload it. You'll just have to imagine it.

Ah hah!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Music: Silence


^{Sound: Realization}

Well, it is his locker.

...

Something wrong, Mr. Wright?
^{Sound: Realization}

You gave me this "so what?" look.

I guess that's probably because I was thinking "so what?"


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss!



Thanks for the sympathy.

(Wait... If I remember correctly...)


^{Sound: Realization}

Music: Investigation - Core



We don't have to go spray the luminol around again, but it's an option if you forgot where it was. We just have to look at this locker again.

This is where we got a luminol fluid reaction, right?
^{Sound: Realization}

Right!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

There was a handprint here!
^{Sound: Whack}





Let's do it!

Okay, let's check for prints!
^{Sound: Realization}

That's the spirit!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}



What?
^{Sound: Realization}




We only ended up finding it using chemical means.



I was wondering if they were going to bring that point up. Two points for this episode.

Oh... right.
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

So... that means no prints.



D-don't ask me!
^{Sound: Stab}



(Prints other than the ones left by the bloody hand...)

Music: Logic and Trick


^{Sound: Photo Snap x 3}

Ah, I didn't notice before, but the handprint only has three fingers (or maybe a thumb and two fingers; hard to tell). So maybe there are two prints that weren't wiped away?



There are two spots we can dust here. I'll go for the one further away first.


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Ta-da! ...Doesn't look like much, does it?

Hmm... I gave it my best shot.



But it doesn't look like we'll get a clearer result from this print.

Okay, let's try a different finger, then!



Last chance...


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

I'll spare you the full sixty seconds of dusting and blowing repeatedly in every corner of this giant print and just skip straight to the payoff.



We don't get any hints for this one. So I picked the least-likely result to start.


<sup>Sound: Scan x 3


Sound: Whoops</sup>

No surprise there. We don't get any dialogue about how to be better at life, we're just left on the same screen to try again. We've got a few likely suspects to try out here, but eventually...





We get a match. Not exactly who I was expecting, but that's also expected; we're only on Day 2, after all.

Hey, these fingerprints, they...
^{Sound: Realization}

Music: Silence


^{Sound: Whack
Sound: Damage 2}

It's Officer Marshall!!!
^{Sound: Realization}

Music: Suspense

Huh? O-Officer Jake Marshall!?
<sup>Sound: Light Bulb


Sound: Select Jingle</sup>

And I was just starting to like the guy, too.


^{Sound: Whack}

Ema.

This is decidedly different from Detective Gumshoe's prints.

...!
<sup>Sound: Light Bulb


Sound: Realization</sup>

Oh.. Oh!!!


^{Sound: Wipe}

Jake's definitely not telling us something. Meekins said that Marshall wasn't around when he showed up. And the wannabe cowboy said he'd ridden off before everything went down. But we have some evidence indicating he was in the evidence room, and tried to hide that fact. Is the blood from that day? Is that locker his? Did he try to hide something inside it?





Here's why I don't think Jake Marshall is the killer, though. (Other than knowing there's a lot of episode left to go.) There was another bloody handprint, from someone else in the evidence room, that was wearing gloves at the time. However, our cowboy may be an accomplice of some sort. We haven't really dug into anyone's motive very well yet, other than vague ideas of revenge against the prosecutors. None of which explains why a fellow detective was murdered!

It looks like our investigation is finally turning up some results!

...!

I guess this is what you'd call "decisive evidence"!

Music: Silence



I do like Phoenix's tone-deaf excitement here.





We fade out in silence for a change; a nice touch for the mood.

Music: Jingle - It Can't End Here



We have a cornucopia of evidence, though I am having trouble figuring out how it all ties together still. It seems rather obvious that Goodman was not killed in the parking garage by Lana, but I have no idea how Edgeworth is going to kick off things at trial tomorrow. I'm sure we're in for some shocking revelation, too. We'll just have to be in our usual reaction mode and see what happens!