Part 98: Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes - Trial (Day 4) - Part 5
Case 5 - Rise From the AshesTrial (Day 4) - Part 5

: Sorry, Edgeworth. I didn't mean to get you in trouble...

: Hmph. Don't worry about it.

: This is my problem, not yours.

: Hope I'm not interrupting anything, pals.

: ...

: ...

: Oh...

: Guess I am.

: I'll come back later.
He goes to leave.

: Oh, Detective Gumshoe! What is it?
But he comes back!

: You've got a lot of nerv, pal! Making a detective run all around while on duty,

: and to top it off you call me here... I've seen happier people at funerals!

: I take it Lana's having you run errands again.

: Let me tell you, this is the last time, pal!

: "Evidence Law"?
(Edgeworth was talking about this just the other day...)

: Rule 1: no evidence shall be shown without the approval of the Police Department!

: I-is that right, Mr. Wright!?

: It seems so.

: You could at least study some evidence law! Really!

: A message?

: She said, "If you're planning to take HIM on,"

:
("him"... I guess I'll need to give this book a thorough read...)

: Doesn't look like that book'll do you any good now though. All that's left now is

: the Chief Prosecutor's sentence.

: That's where you're wrong, Detective.

: Huh?

: Haven't you figured it out yet? Why I'm still sitting in that prosecutor's seat...

: despite all these allegations being thrown at me?

: Mr. Edgeworth...

: The real trial today...

: hasn't begun yet.

: What!? What else is there left to do? Your credibility's been all but ruined with this forged evidence you were unaware of, Ema Skye found out she unwittingly caused a man's death... And now you're telling me you want to do more!? You've gotta be kidding me, pal!

: You're missing the point, Detective. Lana didn't murder Detective Goodman.

: ...!

: She merely stuck a knife into his dead body. That means the real killer... is still out there.

: What!?

:
(And we're going to expose him... No matter what it takes! This case has hurt too many people. It's time to bring it to an end!)

: The court will now reconvene for the trial of Ms. Lana Skye.

: Mr. Edgeworth.

: Yes, Your Honor?

: The inquiry committee is planning to impose harsh penalties for your actions.

: Thank you for the news, Your Honor.

: Yes, well... *a-hem*

: Normally, this is where the prosecution calls forth a witness... but, er... *a-hem* *cough* *cough* This isn't easy to say...

: You see, there is some concern that Mr. Edgeworth may have, ah...

: Struck a bargain?

: ...!

: You think I may have manipulated the witnesses.

: I didn't say that!

: It's just, you see... Everyone has been talking, and...

: ...

: Very well, Your Honor.

: I have a solution.

: A solution?

: That being the case,

: the prosecution will allow the defense to call forth all further witnesses.

: What!?

: But there's never been a case example...

: Undeniably this is an unusual arrangement...

: but a very effective one.

: It would prove that I haven't struck any "deals" with the witnesses.

: Hmm...

: Well, Mr. Wright? What do you say?

: ...
(Unbelievable.)

: Very well. The defense accepts the prosecution's proposal.

: Then it's settled.

: The, uh... defense... may now call forth the next witness!

: Mr. Wright.

: ...!

: You do realize this is your last chance? If you call the wrong witness...

: this trial is as good as over.

: The defense calls...

: Damon Gant.

: The defense calls Damon Gant to the stand!

: D-Damon Gant...?

: What does he have to do with anything!?

: ...

: As the defendant's partner two years ago, Mr. Gant has first-hand knowledge of the crime.

: I feel we should hear what he has to say about it.

: Hmm...

: As luck would have it, he should still be in the courthouse.

: He would also be the least likely to have been manipulated by me in any way.

: Wouldn't you agree, Your Honor?

: True...

: All right. Bailiff! Please escort Mr. Gant to the stand!

: Witness. Please state your name and occupation.

: What is this, some kind of practical joke?

: I was just on my way to lunch!

: Your name and occupation, sir.

: Worthy... Are you sure you want to do this?

: Your name and occupation!

: So...

: You want to play hardball, eh?

: P-please, Mr. Gant.

: ...

: Fine.

: My name is Damon Gant. I'm the acting Chief of Police.

: Now then, Chief Gant. The court requests to hear your testimony.

: Oh, Wrighto. What's with the grim face?

: First, let's clear up this SL-9 Incident.

: Oh, you mean that time when Lana's sister murdered that prosecutor?

: Personally, I think it's been made pretty clear already.

: There are still some things unaccounted for.

: Oh? Like what?

: Like the role you played in all of this.

: ... Son...

: Either you're very brave... or very foolish.

: ...

: You are aware of course that a police chief has all kinds of weapons at his disposal?

: "Weapons"...?

: Sure. Take my testimony, for example.

: I don't have to give it if I don't want to.

: What?

: Is that true?

: I'm afraid so...

: The Chief of Police has the right to refuse to testify.

: Of course,

: such an action carries with it certain risks...

: ...

: Don't worry.

: I'm not here to hinder your trial.

: Just remember...

: If this turns out to be a big waste of time, don't say I didn't warn you.

: Very well. The witness may now begin his testimony.

: Hmm...

: Is that when Darke was arrested?

: Him? He was lying on the floor unconscious.

: I see... Everything seems pretty clear-cut.

:
(If the police chief has the right to refuse to testify...)

:
(Then I'd better hit him hard and fast!)

: As I recall... a ceremony was held at the Police Department that day...

: Yes, that's right. I guess you oculd say I'm a workaholic...

: That's probably what spooked Darke, and made him run away like that.

: I don't quite remember...

: At the very least, she wasn't there when Darke ran for it.

: So the two of you ran immediately after him, right?

: That's right, but Darke made it to the elevator first, so Neil and I split up.

: He went upstairs and I went downstairs.

: I guess you could say...

: he got "lucky."

: What's this about a power outage?

: Oh, that.

: The elevator stopped all of a sudden, and I got the shock of my life.

: Well...

: Probably not as shocked as Neil was when that knife went into his heart, though.

:
(That's not funny...)

: Could you tell us what you saw?

: It was a shocking sight...

: Darke was also lying collapsed on the floor?

: Yes, apparently he hit his head and was knocked out.

:
(Lana and Ema...)

: Lana was cradling Ema in her arms. Looking back at it now...

: She must have already known what her sister had done.

: ...!

: How can you know that!?

: Because of the victim's body.

: It had already been moved.

: So that means...

: That's right.

: I think you said earlier,

: Yes...

: ...

: Anyway...

: So you're saying...

: that the forgery had already taken place by the time you arrived at your office?

: That's exactly what I'm saying.

: I can understand how Lana must have felt,

: but moving a body and hiding evidence are inexcusable no matter what the circumstances.

:
(Is that how it really went down?)

: Staring at the witness won't do you any good, Mr. Wright.

: !

: If you're going to stare at anything...

: you'd be better off staring at the Court Record.

: Worthy, Worthy... Always the smooth talker.

:
(But which piece of evidence ties Gant to the forgery...?)
Loop.

:
(Lana did admit to forging evidence...)

:
(But that can't be the whole truth.)

:
(Somehow I've got to link Gant to the incident!)
Next time: Can you see how?