Part 99: Case 5 - Rise From the Ashes - Trial (Day 4) - Part 6
Case 5 - Rise From the AshesTrial (Day 4) - Part 6

: If you really had nothing to do with the forgery...

: W-what's that!?

: And what's that on it... a handprint?

: Chief Gant! Your explanation, please!

: ...

: I don't know.

: You tell me, son.

: Huh?

: My dear Wrighto. Don't you know

: the second rule of evidence law?

: Rule 2: "Unregistered evidence presented must be relevant to the case in trial."

: Tell me, how is that rag relevant to this trial?

: It appears... the defense was not prepared.

:
(I guess it's too early to use this piece of evidence.)

: Please accept my profound apologies, Chief.

: Would you mind giving the defense another chance?

: Well, okay. I'll do it just this once. But only because you asked, Udgey.

: Thank you. I assure you the defense is terribly sorry.

: Ha ha ha...

:
(Yeah. Sorry I didn't nail you...)
Whoops. Let's try that again.

: You claim you had nothing to do with the forgery...

: but I'm afraid that is a claim you cannot back up.

: Explain yourself.

: Several pieces of evidence were found in your office.

: That's that Blue Badger you showed us earlier.

: A piece of this jar was discovered in your safe.

: ...

: Not only that,

: was actually found inside your desk!

: It was found where!?

: You see, Chief Gant.

: These articles of evidence uncovered in your office...

: Chief Gant! What's the meaning of this!?

: Ho!

: Here's a defense attorney who may even rival Worthy!

: So you admit to it, then? That you were involved in the forgery?

: Who, me?

: Or do you mean...

: you?

: Me? Why would I have anything to do with that!?

: Well...

: You were the one who snuck into my office when you "found" this evidence.

: ...!

: Prosecutors aren't the only ones capable of forging evidence, you know.

: Defense attorneys can do so too.

: Isn't that right, Wrighto?

: However! Detective Gumshoe was present during the investigation!

: Worthy, my boy. Not even detectives are exempt from the law.

: Rest assured Dick will receive his due punishment.

: Wh...

: WHAAAAT!>

:
(If Detective Gumshoe's salary drops any further, he'll end up paying to work!)

: Yes, well. In light of the Detective's presence...

: please give us your testimony regarding these pieces of evidence found in your office,

: and their relation to the forgery that took place at the crime scene.

: My, my...

: Kids these days no longer know how to put two and two together...

: Hmm...

: Mr. Wright.

: Yes, Your Honor?

: When investigating the crime scene...

: you should have been more careful to observe protocol.

: You do understand that I am the Chief of Police, right? There will be consequences...

: Ooh...

: Indeed, I believe I will press charges... so you won't make the same mistake again.

: My apologies, Chief, but would you mind waiting

: until tomorrow for that?

: Today is...

: well, you know...

: All right, Udgey.

: In return, though...

: I know! I know! That place, right?

:
(Huh? What are these guys, telepathic?)

: I'd appreciate it if you'd stop making these ridiculous allegations.

: Yes, you do have a point...

: You wouldn't have the guts to do something like that...

: What!?

: I'll have you know, back in the day I once broke into a cattle ranch, and tipped-

: M-Mr. Wright! What are you saying!?

: Anyway, you can't prove you didn't carry in the evidence, can you?

: If you have proof to the contrary, you're going to need it later.

: Later? What are you talking about?

: What else?

: I'm talking about when your fingerprints are found.

: Yes. If they're found inside my safe,

: they would prove your investigation was illegal.

: Grrr...
(I've never faced anyone as slimy as this guy!)

: What do you mean by that?

: This is all purely hypothetical, of course...

: but suppose I did place those items in my safe. Such an act...

: wouldn't necessarily constitute forgery.

: If concealing evidence found at a crime scene isn't forgery...

: I'm not through speaking yet, Mr. Wright.

: It all depends on "when" the evidence was discovered.

: wasn't discovered in the initial investigation?

: It would appear not.

: After all, it wasn't listed in the evidence list.

: For all we know, it could have suddenly materialized the day after Darke was sentenced.

: Oh, and wouldn't that be convenient...

: Wright.

: !

: The Chief is talking about a "possibility." So long as you can't rule that out... your remarks, however clever they may be,

: will only succeed in wasting time.

:
(Tell me something I don't know...)

: Come now, Mr. Wright.

: Think about it.

: How can you look me in the eye and say that!?

: Because I'm innocent.

: ...!

: Remember?

: Who was it that murdered Neil?

: I'm not sure I care for the word "murder" here...

: but in the end the person responsible for Mr. Marshall's unfortunate demise...

: ...

: Well? Now do you see?

: Really, Chief Gant?

: At the very least, there is one very large benefit you've reaped from all this.

: Oh? I wasn't aware.

: What is this "benefit"?

: That would of course be the position you have - Chief of Police.

: Oh...

: The resolution of the SL-9 Incident secured your promotion to Chief.

: That in itself is sufficient motive!

: ...

: Ho! Ho! Ho! Oh,

: that's a good one.

: Huh?

: Do you really think I'm that incompetent?

: What do you mean?

: Even without that case, I was already in line to become the next chief.

: The resolution of SL-9 merely sped up the inevitable a little.

: Is that true, Edgeworth?

: Yes..

: He was going to be made Chief anyway.

: Be careful when pointing that finger...

: or you might wind up being the one pointed at!

: So that means...

: there's only one possible motivation for you to commit forgery. If you didn't do it for yourself...

: then you did it for someone else.

: Don't be silly, Worthy. You know me better than that. There are only three people I look out for:

: Me, Myself and I. ...

: There, it's out in the open now.

: Udgey, would you mind if I changed my testimony a little?

: By all means, please do!

: "Nothing in it" for you?

: Sorry, but the only person I care about is Yours Truly.

: That girl... Lana's little sister, was it?

: You're right...

: You don't feel sorry for anyone.

: Be tough on crime and tough on people.

: That's how I was raised.

: You seem to be lax enough on yourself, though.

: Ho! Ho! Ho!

: Oh, that's a good one, Worthy!

:
(Hmm...)

:
(Could there have been something in it for him?)

:
(Bah! I can't think of how it would help him!)

:
(That means...)

: Relax and take a deep breath, Mr. Wright.

: !

: Try to think "outside the box."

: After all, that's what you're good at, isn't it?

: Think outside the box...
(I never thought I'd heart him tell me that...)

:
(It's "Who would ask the Chief for help?")
And we loop.

: It appears...

: the defense has nothing more to say.

: Chief, would you please repeat your testimony from the beginning?

: ...
Next time: What did Gant have to gain?