Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Part #145 - Episode 5, Day 3, Investigation: Joe Darke Killings

Part 145: Episode 5, Day 3, Investigation: Joe Darke Killings

Part 145: Episode 5, Day 3, Investigation: Joe Darke Killings

Music: Silence

Not sure how anything that's happened today is your fault?

I'm sorry for what my sister said...

Music: Recollection ~ The SL-9 Incident

That's just the way it is.

We did what we had to...

in order for him to get the verdict he deserved.

I... didn't know.

the "Joe Darke Killings."
^{Sound: Realization}

(Sounds like everyone's heard about these killings but me...)

Phoenix probably would have been buried in law school at the time? He is kind of generally oblivious anyway, though.

That's why she used me...

That's why she used what happened to me.

What do you mean, "what happened" to you?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

It's all there in the file...

When he murdered Officer Marshall's brother,

But what did you have to do with those killings, Ema?

^{Sound: Wipe}

^{Sound: Realization}

Oh. I really need to be more patient with my snap-judgments in this episode.

What? He tried to kill you!?
^{Sound: Whack}

^{Sound: Wipe}

^{Sound: Stab 2}

So that means you...

Yes.

Music: Investigation - Core

(I didn't see that one coming!)

Well, the file said she was a witness. But... I didn't see it coming that she not only witnessed the final murder, but was nearly a victim herself!

Before we talk with Ema further, let's look around the office again. There's one subtle difference here...

Mia's desk.

I sit here even less now that I've stopped taking cases.

I'm borrowing this desk, okay?

(If that's what they're teaching in high school math, we're in serious trouble.)

Now for our massive evidence list. Most of these don't have new reactions from Ema, but I'll show the handful that do.

Right. A few days before he was murdered,

Uh it was the same morning that he was murdered, not a few days before. Weird error there.

(Although "stolen item" is more like it...)

(Swiped by that lone wolf who dressed up like him.)
^{Sound: Realization}

It didn't come as much of a surprise to me...

There was something strange about this shoe, wasn't there?

Let's see, what was it...?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

The traces of blood on its sole.

Not a big pool of it, anyway.

But we did find blood on the floor somewhere, didn't we?

Where was that again...?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

In the evidence room at the Police Department.

^{Sound: Whack}

Music: Silence

That's right. We now know the other numbers aren't related to the murder.

"7777777"... An "executive officer."
^{Sound: Realization}

It's weird that Teflon-Edgeworth hasn't had anything stick to him yet:

The murder took place between 4 and 4:40 PM in the evidence room, with Edgeworth's name on the access list during that time.
The victim was transported from the Police Department to the Prosecutor's Office by Edgeworth, in his trunk
The victim was killed by Edgeworth's own knife

So even if Edgeworth didn't do it, how did "7777777" get Edgeworth's knife out of his trunk and then stuff Goodman into it? Maybe they approached Edgeworth as he was getting ready to leave, asked him to run an errand for him, and then Edgeworth ran off with his trunk still open? Yes, I am still confident that Gant is the killer here.

Music: Investigation - Core

Uh, I believe that's one "seven" too many...
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

(We can't find out whose number this is unless we have some incriminating evidence.)

(That's going to be hard to dig up by tomorrow...)

Mr. Edgeworth is so kind, giving us something like this.

^{Sound: Light Bulb}

I don't think he knew who you were two days ago.

...

Music: Silence

Are you okay, Ema?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

...Is Larry behind us again?

^{Sound: Damage 2}

Never mind, just a gag with her sneezing the powder everywhere.

...

^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Music: Investigation - Core

(Might as well wipe my dignity away too while you're at it.)

This screwdriver was at Edgeworth's office, wasn't it?

...

Then what are we doing carrying it around?
^{Sound: Realization}

^{Sound: Whack}

I like that little dig at Phoenix's hoarder tendencies.

(If I recall...)

(Edgeworth said Chief Gant asked him to take this to the Prosecutor's Office.)

This one just gives the same response as showing Goodman's ID.

This jar's pretty fragile.

What do you mean, "about to"? It's already broken.

I meant again...

(This piece was found in Detective Goodman's evidence locker.)

(That means...)

Wait, it was found in the locker? I thought it was found on the floor in front of his locker. Though we were told it had an SL-9 evidence tag anyway.

Did Detective Goodman not have any other evidence from other cases in that locker?

This fingerprint was left on the locker when Marshall was stashing his bloody coat.

^{Sound: Realization}

(I wonder what's going to happen to Officer Marshall now...)

He'll probably end up selling lunches with Angel Starr.

At first I thought it was a joke,

but it turned out to be a goldmine of evidence.

We only directly used the video four times; I think the fifth was about the Blue Badger placement, blocking Gumshoe's locker. Or there's something else in there I'm still missing.

It also gave the Blue Badger some publicity...

of the negative sort, that is.
^{Sound: Realization}

It seems everything is somehow related to this incident.

Yes. The name of everyone connected to this trial is listed in here.

All that's left...

is to figure out just what role everyone plays in this case.
^{Sound: Realization}

If we search hard enough, I think we'll find our answers.

(What exactly did, or didn't, Lana do?)

You know, we've kind of investigated everything there is to investigate about Goodman's murder. We already examined the evidence room; learning that two incidents took place there doesn't change what we already found. So what are we going to be actually looking into today? I think it'll be more about solving the events of two years ago.

To that end, let's finally talk to Ema about it.

There was a terrible thunder storm that day... Unusual for the season.

I was alone in my sister's office.

We were planning to eat dinner together once she finished her work.

^{Sound: Wipe}

Joe Darke...

I didn't know what was going on.

Just then, Prosecutor Marshall showed up.

(Jake Marshall's brother...)

Joe Darke tried to take me hostage,

Then...

What happened?

I-I'll never forget it!
^{Sound: Realization}

Music: Silence

^{Sound: Thunder 2 x 2}

a bolt of lightning flashed outside the window, lighting up the office for an instant.

Music: Investigation - Core

(A permanent picture...?)

I guess we'll have to wait a bit to hear more on that topic.

So you weren't able to testify about that?

No, I was only asked about when I was attacked.

^{Sound: Realization}

Made it up? You mean, provided bogus evidence?

The Prosecutor's Office wanted that guilty verdict so badly.

Edgeworth!?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Yes.

But I'm sure he didn't know anything about it!

So, hold up a minute. Joe Darke runs off from questioning, Neil Marshall chases him down and gets killed, and they have to resort to making up evidence to convict Joe Darke of the murder? Isn't just being in the neighborhood of the victim enough evidence for this justice system?

Even so...

that's when it all started.

The rumors about Mr. Edgeworth, I mean.

It's all my fault...

(So it's true. Even though he may not have known it...)

(Edgeworth really was involved in falsifying evidence!)

She became cold, like she is today.

(She must not have been able to face up to what she did... Especially not to Ema.)

What did you see in the instant that crime occurred?

...

(Neil Marshall was stabbed right in front of this poor girl!)
^{Sound: Realization}

Music: Silence

Music: Recollection ~ The SL-9 Incident

Hmm. Another gap in the timeline from a witness. And Ema didn't actually see Joe Darke stab Neil Marshall. Did he run off instead, and someone else came in and killed Neil Marshall while Ema was passed out? Maybe someone desperate to get evidence on Joe Darke to put away the serial killer?

Poor Ema... You've been through so much.

I drew a picture, but it wasn't any good.

Two years ago... You must have been 14. That's understandable.

I decided that when I grew up, I'd become a scientific investigator.

And find the evidence to make an airtight case...

Well, don't I feel like an asshole now. All of Ema's "annoying quirks" from the first day that became more "endearing qualities" by the second day are now just reasonable characterization given her back story.

I see...

(I think I'm finally starting to understand what makes Ema tick.)

(But there's still something that bothers me about that crime.)

Not like we're stopping now.

There's something that's puzzling me, Ema.

What is it?

You said you were in Lana's office at that time, right?

That's right.

Why then would a serial killer come running in there?

Oh, there's no mystery there.

^{Sound: Realization}

At the Prosecutor's Office?

Taken in for questioning? You mean by the police?

But why did he run all the way over to your sister's office?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

For a moment, I thought he ran the full 30-minute drive between the two locations, too. Then I figured Lana just had some kind of visiting space at the Police Department for when she had meetings there or something?

Here I figured the game was being intentionally confusing and sat back to wait for a full explanation.

...

Music: Silence

Across from the elevator?
^{Sound: Realization}

But Lana was the Chief Prosecutor, wasn't she?

No, silly!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Didn't I tell you?

^{Sound: Realization}

That's... a much simpler explanation. The SL-9 files even referred to her as an "Executive Investigator", alongside Damon Gant. Though detective-to-prosecutor is an interesting career switch.

She was the best in the entire force!

Whaaaaat!? (That's news to me!)
^{Sound: Stab}

After the Joe Darke case,

"You're so good at faking evidence, you belong over here!"

(Lana used to be... a detective?)

(I'd better have another talk with her!)

Music: Investigation - Core

While we're free to go pretty much anywhere, the game is hinting pretty heavily that we should go to the detention center next.

Music: Silence

^{Sound: Realization}

L-Lana...
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Falsifying evidence...

I didn't think you were the type.

But Lana! If you're wrong...
^{Sound: Whack}

an innocent person might be found guilty!

Lana was so desperate to convict the man that threatened her sister. But did she really get the right one?

Lana.

Ema told me about you.

Oh?

About how you were a detective two years ago,

That's right.

Could you fill me in on the details? Especially about that unusual change of jobs?

...

quote:

If we visit the detention center before talking to Ema and clearing all of her topics, Lana isn't around yet.

Looks like they're questioning Lana again.

(I guess we're not the only ones who want to question her...)

Well, since we've come all this way, why don't we go see Mr. Meekins?

Uh... Let's not and say we did.
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

(I'd rather come back and do that later.)

I like that Phoenix is just as annoyed by Meekins as I am.

Music: Detention Center - Jailer's Elegy

Let's look around and go through our massive evidence list before talking to her.

This guard monitors the visitor's room.

Still not much to look at in here, really.

Attorneys and prosecutors have no business showing evidence outside court.

(She really means it...)

Lana...

Yeah, we just get that reaction to everything we have.

No more distractions before the main event, I guess.

A lot of revelations were uncovered at the trial today, not the least of which was

the fact that this case is largely connected to another one, two years ago.

I know how obsessive Officer Marshall can be.

...

I believed in you, Lana!

It couldn't be helped, Ema.

^{Sound: Realization}

Well, all drama aside, the fact of the matter is

at 5:15, there was no murder at the Police Department.

^{Sound: Whack}

^{Sound: Wipe}

Was Goodman still alive when Lana found him, but bleeding out? Did he tell her who killed him, and that it was a setup for Edgeworth? That's about all the sense I can make out of Lana right now. She's acting like someone being blackmailed or threatened.

...

Music: Silence

^{Sound: Whack}

Why won't you tell us?

(I don't think I've ever seen Lana look so fazed before...)
^{Sound: Realization}

Music: Detention Center - Jailer's Elegy

She was amazing!

^{Sound: Wipe}

They probably worked well together with Manfred von Karma...

Chief Gant?
^{Sound: Realization}

Damon Gant... he was everything I aspired to be.

(Ema really idolizes her big sister.)

But now you're Chief Prosecutor... What happened?

I always planned on becoming a prosecutor. The reason I became a detective was...

Interesting cross-training.

Gant's help in the SL-9 case was crucial to its resolution.

^{Sound: Realization}

(Maybe I should ask more about this "investigation" of theirs two years ago.)

Still waiting for something actually helpful...

"Second-in-command"? That means the investigation lead was Damon Gant, right?

Now there's an interesting little tidbit. When Darke ran into Lana's office two years ago, was he really looking for Gant?

(They even had the same office...!)

We led a team of the best detectives on the force:

It was the first time Marshall worked with his brother. He was quite... "gung ho."

Music: Silence

We asked him to come in for questioning. We were desperate for evidence.

Now how can you be so sure he was the serial killer if you didn't have any evidence?

Music: Recollection ~ The SL-9 Incident

(When he tried to murder Ema...)

You see, the first person who happened upon the scene of the crime...

was me.
^{Sound: Realization}

...! (Now you tell us...)
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

First one that you know about, maybe. Let's assume that Joe Darke really was the serial killer, for reasons that the game won't explain to us. The question the game seems to be wanting us to ask - did he really kill Neil Marshall? Or did someone else do it while Ema was passed out, and before Lana arrived?