(Jared's POV)
The Old Bailey Courtroom…
"Order, please. Let us resume proceedings. Witnesses! You will now retake the stand." The Judge said.
"This is going to take a while." I said, looking down at the floor.
Nash and Ringo walked up to the witness stand.
"I presume you heard the defence counsel's summation examination?" The Judge asked.
"Oh...yeah...guvnor." Nash said.
"I did, guv, I did." Ringo said.
"...Mr and Mr Skulkin!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"Cor!" Nash yelled.
"Blimey!" Ringo cried.
'...This is going to be hard work.' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "Earlier in this trial, you gave the following testimony about your actions after you entered Windibank's…"
"Well it was bedlam soon as, weren't it?" Nash asked.
"It woz, Nash, it woz. Didn't even 'ave time to pull me dukes out me Lucy Lockets." Ringo said.
"However...that was a lie! You brothers!" Ryunosuke said, looking at the Skulkin brothers.
"Cor!" Nash said.
"Blimey!" Ringo said.
"On the night in question... ...you rifled through the items on the victim's counter!" Ryunosuke said, smirking.
"We never done nuffin' o' the sort!" Nash cried.
"'Ow d'you figure that out?" Ringo asked.
"..."
"You will now give formal testimony once again. You will tell the court precisely what happened on the night in question. And this time...you will tell the truth." The Judge said.
"...Each lie that passes your lips serves to increase the severity of your punishment. And that, gentlemen, may deal a crushing blow to your chances of ever seeing the light of day again." Van Zieks said.
"...!" Nash said.
"...!" Ringo said.
"A thought worth pondering perhaps." Van Zieks said.
"Say no more, guv! We 'ear ya!" Nash said, excitedly.
"We'll blab! We'll speak! We'll peach!" RIngo cried.
Witness Testimony
- Illegal Entry: The Whole Truth -
"Alright, we did knock a few things over. But we weren't riflin' fer nuffin'!" Nash said, worried.
"It woz when we 'eard the gunshot, see. Made us both jump, an' all that stuff went flyin'." Ringo said.
"Lummy, it didn't 'alf gimme a fright! We woz thinkin' the shooter'd come out the door and get us next."
"We stuck everyfin' back where we found it and scarpered...straight into 'im in the black."
"We couldn't 'ave shot the pawnbroker, see! We never even 'ad a chance, did we?" Nash asked.
"Hmmm...so you admit to the defence's accusation. You did indeed ransack Mr Windibank's countertop on the night in question." The Judge said.
"Err...not ransack, guvnor, no."
"That's right, Nash, that's right. It's...more like we tidied up. Yeah." Ringo said.
"..." Van Zieks said.
"Ugh...sorry."
"By their own admission, these brothers entered the pawnbrokery under dubious circumstances. However, they panicked and fled on hearing the gunshot, having first made good their mess."
"The way you say it...we 'ardly sound like roughs at all." Nash said.
"We don't, Nash, we don't. Can't 'e make us sound a bit more...cut-throat?" Ringo asked.
"Nope." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'It can't just be coincidence that these men showed up at Windibank's that night. There's more to their testimony than meets the eye. I'm sure of it!'
Cross-Examination
- Illegal Entry: The Whole Truth -
"Alright, we did knock a few things over. But we weren't riflin' fer nuffin'!" Nash yelled.
"It woz when we 'eard the gunshot, see. Made us both jump, an' all that stuff went flyin'." Ringo said. "Just before the gunshot, we 'eard a voice yellin' out, 'Gimme that gun!'"
"The bloke wot owned the place was 'oldin' a gun, so 'e should 'ave just fired instead of yellin' at the girl!"
"Yeah, right." I said, taking out the Crime Scene Photograph out of my sling bag and handing it to Ryunosuke. "Not what we see here, right?"
"Objection!" Ryunosuke said, presenting the Crime Scene Photograph. "So you're saying... ...that on the night in question, the victim, Mr Windibank, was wielding a gun, is that correct?"
"That's it, guv. You've got the picture." Nash said.
"'E has, Nash, 'e has. No question!" Ringo cried.
"And yet...photographic evidence obtained immediately after the incident clearly shows... ...that Mr Windibank was not holding a firearm of any description!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"Eh?! You wot?!" Ringo exclaimed.
"Gordon Bennett! That ain't right!" Nash said, looking down at the Crime Scene Photograph.
"Objection." Van Zieks said, doing the Objection pose. "There can be no question that the victim's revolver was used in the incident. I would remind the court that Mr Windibank's gun was found at the scene. Not only was it identified as the murder weapon...but it was found in the accused's hand!"
"Yeah! That moll-tooler used the victim's own gun to finish 'im off!" Nash said, terrified.
Flashback…
"Gimme that gun! BAM!"
The Old Bailey Courtroom…
"...Kind o' thing!" Ringo said, smirking.
"Hold it!" Ryunosuke said, doing the Hold it pose. "Stay exactly where you are! Right there!"
"Eh?"
"If the crime had taken place as you've so colourfully described in your testimony... ...it would give rise to an undeniable and significant inconsistency in the final moments you just acted out."
"Goodness! Are you sure, Counsel?" The Judge asked.
"You intrigue me, my learned friend. ...But let's see some evidence to support your claim. Where is the proof that demonstrates this inconsistency in the witnesses' portrayal of the victim's final moments?" Van Zieks asked.
"This." I said, taking out the Autopsy Report out of my sling bag and handing it to Ryunosuke.
"Take that!" Ryunosuke said, presenting the Autopsy Report. "According to their testimony... ...the witnesses claim to have heard a shout of 'Give me that gun!' followed by the gunshot."
"Indeed. With the two events happening almost simultaneously, or so we've been led to believe." The Judge said.
"Yes, that's right. Now, if that testimony is true... ...it would mean that at the moment of death, the victim and his attacker would have been facing each other. However...in the autopsy report, it clearly states... ...that the victim died instantly after being shot from behind." Ryunosuke said.
"Ah."
"So, as I stated before... ...there is an undeniable inconsistency in your testimony, Mr and Mr Skulkin!" Ryunosuke said, looking at the Skulkin brothers.
"NYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" Nash yelled.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" Ringo cried.
"But! But! But it's the God's 'onest troof!"
"It is, Nash, it is! When 'e woz shot that night…"
"...The shopkeeper 'ad a gun in 'is 'and! We saw it wiv our own bleedin' eyes!"
"Did I hear you right just now? You actually 'saw' Mr Windibank holding a gun?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Erm…" Ringo said, sadly.
"...Summat like that might've slipped out." Nash said, frowning.
"...!" Van Zieks said, at a loss for words.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you have all just heard the admission by these two witnesses... ...that on the night in question, they actually saw, with their own eyes, the victim wielding a gun. Which can only mean that despite their testimony to the contrary... ...the Skulkin brothers must have encountered the victim in person!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"Ah...erm…" Nash said.
"Erm, Nash, erm!" Ringo said, looking at Nash.
"NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
"Ordaaar! Ordaaar! Ordaaaaaar!!! Witnesses! Explain yourselves at once!" The Judge yelled.
"Well...the thing is... It weren't s'posed to, um…" Nash said.
"It would seem...that my previous warning fell on deaf ears. I made it quite clear that false witness...would be the death of you." Van Zieks said, looking between Nash and Ringo.
"...!"
"Am I to understand that you replaced the untruths of your original testimony with renewed lies?" The Judge asked.
"Um...ever so sorry, guvnor! Troof is, see...we, um…" Nash said.
"Cut it out, Nash, cut it out! If we blab now, ya know wot 'e'll do to us…" Ringo said.
"'He' as in Van Zieks or Stronghart?" I asked, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. ''He'? Who are they talking about?'
"Let me make your position here perfectly clear. You will talk. There is no other option available to you." Van Zieks said.
"Ugh…" Ringo said, annoyed.
"Bruv, come on! The game's up!" Nash said, terrified.
"B-But 'e'll 'ave our guts fer garters!" Ringo said, worried.
"In case it hasn't quite sunk in yet... ...no matter how hard you try to hide it...the truth will come out!" Ryunosuke said, looking at the Skulkin brothers.
"Ugh...um…" Nash said.
"On the night in question, it is now apparent that you brothers met face to face with the victim. I demand that you testify again to explain the precise circumstances under which this meeting took place!" The Judge chirped.
"Erm...well…"
"...Do we 'ave to?" Ringo asked.
"On pain of death. I suggest you make yourselves fully aware that this is your very last chance to tell the truth." Van Zieks said.
Witness Testimony
- Encounter with the Victim -
"Alright, so we'd just got inside the gaff and 'eaved a sigh o' relief when the geezer showed 'is mug!" Ringo cried.
"'Gimme that gun!' 'e bellowed, and then 'e flew at us like 'e woz possessed! I thought we'd 'ad it!" Nash said, angrily.
"For an old geezer, the bloke woz strong as an ox. 'E chucked me over the counter!"
"I pulled me gun on 'im, an' then 'e legged it fru that door into the back room!"
"We never 'ad nuffin' to do wiv killin' 'im! That's all wot 'appened, I swear!"
"So you're now telling us that moments before the victim was killed in the storeroom... ...you in fact encountered him in the main part of the shop." Van Zieks said.
"Um...well...yeah. S-Sorry…" Nash said, letting out a sigh.
"Well... ...we find ourselves at an interesting juncture. This changes matters considerably." The Judge said.
"But, but honest, guvnor, this time…"
"This time, Nash, this time... we ain't got nuffin' more to 'ide!" Ringo said.
"Very well. Counsel for the Defence, you may proceed with your cross-examination." The Judge said.
"Yes, My Lord!" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'This is it! The moment I've been waiting for!'
"Good luck, Ryunosuke." I said, happily.
Cross-Examination
- Encounter with the Victim -
"Alright, so we'd just got inside the gaff and 'eaved a sigh o' relief when the geezer showed 'is mug!" Ringo said, worried.
"'Gimme that gun!' 'e bellowed, and then 'e flew at us like 'e woz possessed! I thought we'd 'ad it!" Nash yelled.
"For an old geezer, the bloke woz strong as an ox. 'E chucked me over the counter!"
"I pulled me gun on 'im, an' then 'e legged it fru that door into the back room!"
"We never 'ad nuffin' to do wiv killin' 'im! That's all wot 'appened, I swear!"
"Press for more information here." I said, smiling.
"Hold it!" Ryunosuke said, doing the Hold it pose. "You say you had nothing to do with it?"
"Nuffin' at all!" Nash said, excitedly.
"Nuffin', guv, nuffin'! The old geezer went and shut 'imself in the back room, didn't 'e?" Ringo asked.
"Locked, it woz. From the inside."
"We know it woz, cos we tried to open it."
"But it's a decent door, that one. Good an' strong. Wouldn't budge an inch!"
"So in the end, the situation remains unchanged." Van Zieks said.
"...!" Ryunosuke said, in awe.
"Inside the storeroom with the pawnbroker there was only one other person. The sole person who could possibly have shot the victim: the accused, Miss Gina Lestrade!"
"Agh!"
"Hm... It would indeed appear so. What say you to that, Counsel?" The Judge asked.
'I don't know…' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "Was there anyone else apart from Gina who could possibly have shot Mr Windibank?"
"There could have been someone!" I cheered, looking down at the floor.
"Mr and Mr Skulkin!" Ryunosuke said, looking between the Skulkin brothers.
"Eh?! Wot?" Nash asked.
"Wot's that look for?" Ringo asked.
"From the moment you admitted that you'd encountered the victim face to face that night... ...the course of this trial changed completely." Ryunosuke said.
"It did?" Nash asked.
"What is your point...my learned friend?" Van Zieks asked.
"The question we must answer is who could have shot Mr Windibank. And it is the belief of the defence that the defendant is not the only possible answer at all." Ryunosuke said.
"You have my attention. In that case...let us return to this plan of the premises. The victim was killed in the storeroom, which was locked from the inside. Those are the facts. So pray...what other possible answer to the question of who shot the man could there be?"
"Counsel... ...you must now provide answers to the court in respect of two conundrums." The Judge said.
"Two...My Lord?" Ryunosuke asked, as he thought this to himself. '...Twice as many chances to be right, maybe?'
"Indeed. Namely... ...from what location did the culprit shoot the victim? And furthermore... ...where was the victim at the time?"
"... Understood, My Lord." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Son of a bitch." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag.
"Are you alright, Runo, Jared?" Iris asked, looking between Ryunosuke and I.
"No. I'm not."
"I'm not entirely sure. But there's one thing I am sure about. If I can prove that there's a credible new alternative to what happened... ...it would change Gina's prospects hugely!" Ryunosuke cried.
"So now...time for some clarity. Show the court on this plan the answers to the questions posed by His Lordship. If you believe someone else could have killed the victim, indicate from where that person could have fired the gun!" Van Zieks said, angrily.
"It could be anywhere." I said, taking out a map out of my sling bag and looking down at Windibank's Pawnbrokery floor plan.
"Take that!" Ryunosuke said, presenting anywhere on the floor plan. "The defence believes that the culprit could have shot the victim from this location here."
"... And in answer to the second question... Assuming the culprit fired from the location indicated, where was the victim at the time?" Van Zieks asked.
"Maybe in the storeroom." I said, pointing a finger at the storeroom.
"Take that!" Ryunosuke said, presenting the storeroom. "The culprit shot the victim from outside the storeroom!"
"... Continue." Van Zieks said.
"Mr Windibank died instantly from a bullet wound in his back. Looking at the stain of blood on the storeroom floor, it doesn't appear that the body was moved after death. Which tells us that he was almost certainly shot while he was in the storeroom. However, the crucial point is, where was the shooter when the fatal bullet was fired?" Ryunosuke asked.
"So you are adamant...that the shot was fired from outside the storeroom?" The Judge asked.
"Well, according to the Skulkin brothers' earlier testimony…"
Flashback…
"I pulled me gun on 'im, an' then 'e legged it fru that door into the back room!" Nash said.
The Old Bailey Courtroom…
"If Mr Windibank ran away through the door... ...we have to assume that the door was open at the time." Ryunosuke said.
"Ah!" The Judge said, his eyes widening.
"It was at precisely that moment, when the victim was fleeing for his life... ...that these brothers had the perfect opportunity to shoot the man in the back once he was inside the storeroom!"
"NAAAAAAAAAGH!" Nash yelled.
"GAAAAAAAAAGH!" Ringo said, worried.
"...!" Van Zieks said, at a loss for words.
"Come to think of it...do you remember what the prosecutor said at the start of the trial?" Iris asked.
Flashback…
"Moving on to the findings of Scotland Yard's coroner... His report states that the bullet entered the body on a rising diagonal trajectory." Van Zieks said, looking down at the autopsy report.
"Oh yeah." I said, as a voiceover. "I remember now."
"It means...the victim was likely shot by someone significantly shorter in height than himself." Van Zieks said.
The Old Bailey Courtroom…
"Poor man... Shot while he was running as fast as he could to safety…" Iris said, letting out a lot of tears.
"Ah! Of course! He would have been leaning forward as he was running away. So even if the bullet was fired horizontally, it would still have entered his body on an upward trajectory!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"So the culprit isn't necessarily someone shorter than Mr Windibank!"
"Yup. It couldn't be Gina." I said, taking out some chocolate chip cookies out of my sling bag to snack on them. "It is possible."
"Objection!" Van Zieks said, doing the Objection pose. "I'm sure my learned friend can't have forgotten... ...that the storeroom door was found closed, and...locked from the inside. You claim the victim was shot as he fled into the room. Do you also claim his corpse was dexterous enough to turn the key in the lock?"
"Agh! But...but... ...what if someone else locked the door? Yes! There is someone else who could have locked the storeroom door!" Ryunosuke yelled.
"Is that so?" Van Zieks asked.
"Very well then, Counsel. Present your hypothesis to the court. In the scenario just described... ...the defence's assertion is that the victim was shot from outside the storeroom. In which case, who shut and locked the storeroom door from the inside?" The Judge asked.
"Gina could." I said, tossing a chocolate chip cookie into my mouth.
"Take that!" Ryunosuke said, presenting Gina Lestrade's profile. "Obviously, the person who locked the door was the only other person inside the storeroom at the time... ...the defendant, Miss Gina Lestrade!"
"Objection!" Van Zieks said, doing the Objection pose. "That's absurd! You're suggesting that the accused deliberately engineered the sealed room? For what possible reason?! Such actions would only serve to tighten the noose around her neck!"
"I am inclined to agree, I must say. ...Well, Counsel?" The Judge asked.
"... Ah...yes...that's a tricky one, that...isn't it?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Half-baked notions have no place in my courtroom, Counsel. Remember that, please."
"But of course Ginny would have locked the door. It almost goes without saying, doesn't it?" Iris asked.
"It, it does?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Well if I was Ginny in that situation... ...I know I would have locked the door. As quickly as I could! I mean... ...those two burglars had just fired a gun in her direction, hadn't they?"
"Yeah. And she doesn't have ghost powers to make herself intangible to protect herself from getting shot." I said, happily. "The only option she could have is closing the door and locking it."
'Oh yes! Obviously…' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "Before the two brothers arrived, Miss Lestrade and Mr Windibank were in the storeroom together. Now...I don't know what went on between them at that time, but at some point... ...Mr Windibank must have heard the intruders breaking into his shop, and left the storeroom."
"Intruders, eh? ...That's us, bruv!" Ringo said, excitedly.
"If your theory is correct, that would leave the accused alone in the storeroom." Van Zieks said.
"...Yes, it would. Then, probably only moments later, the victim fled back through the storeroom door hoping to escape danger." Ryunosuke said.
*BANG!*
"Hit in the back by the bullet, Mr Windibank fell to the floor where he was, just inside the storeroom. And what we have to ask ourselves now is, what would the defendant have done in that moment?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Ah! I, I see where yer goin' wiv this!" Nash said, his eyes widening.
"Outside the storeroom was a terrifying killer who had just murdered Mr Windibank. As soon as that thought struck Miss Lestrade, she slammed the door shut and locked it... ...in order to save her own life!"
"...!" Van Zieks said, at a loss for words.
"...!" The Judge said, in awe.
"Hold it!" Nash said, doing the Hold it pose. "But, but I ain't- I mean, we ain't the ones who dunnit!"
"We ain't, guv, we ain't! You've gotta believe us! I mean, come on! We'd never shoot no one!" Ringo cried.
"Objection!" Ryunosuke said, doing the Objection pose. "That's blatantly untrue! I know for a fact that you would. Because before my own eyes...you shot Mr Sherlock Holmes!"
"...!"
"...!" Nash said.
"There is only one logical conclusion here. Mr and Mr Skulkin, you brothers had every opportunity... ...to have been the true perpetrators of Mr Windibank's murder!" Ryunosuke said, looking at the Skulkin brothers.
"Ah...em...um…"
"Erm...em...ugh…" Ringo said.
"NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!" Nash yelled.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"
"Where, where does this leave us?"
"You mean to say it wasn't the pickpocket who shot the pawnbroker after all?"
"I should have known it was those three brothers! They look as shady as a dense forest!"
"That was amazing, Runo! All the members of the jury seem to be firmly on your side now!" Iris cooed.
"I know! First time ever! And probably the last…" Ryunosuke said, frowning.
"Well, I think you've done it! Surely they'll have to give a verdict of not-"
"And you just jinxed it." I said, letting out a sigh.
"...Keh...heh...heh…" Van Zieks said, laughing a lot. "An admirable effort...my learned friend."
"...!" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'What's this now? He's laughing?'
"You find the situation amusing, Lord van Zieks? I myself find the defence's argument most persuasive." The Judge said.
"I dare say... ...such chicanery is the bread and butter of the street performers in your provincial Eastern nation. But such blatantly malicious conjuring tricks amount to nothing more than inexcusable pettifoggery here." Van Zieks said.
"What?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"The hypothesis you put forward so ostensibly credibly cannot, and will not stand. Because, you see, it contains a fatal flaw!"
"A, a fatal flaw?!"
"...Do you mean to tell me that you're unaware of your logic's failing?"
"I say! Lord van Zieks... Might be an idea to explain this bally conjuring trick or whatever it is to the troops on the ground, hm?" Juror No. 1 asked.
"The fatal flaw in my learned friend's argument is really very simple to understand... ...assuming you're not too dim-witted to count bullets!" Van Zieks said, angrily.
"By George! Count bullets?!"
"Oh dear... ...he noticed then." Iris said, sadly.
"Yup." I said, frowning. "Of course he did."
"Huh?" Ryunosuke asked, and he thought this to himself. 'What's everyone talking about?'
"Counsel!" Van Zieks yelled.
"Y-Yes, sir?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"Tell the court, how many bullets were found at the scene of the crime?"
"Um...two. Two bullets."
"Correct. The first, that which hit the victim in the back, ending his life. And the second, that which struck the 'detective', Mr Sherlock Holmes, on his arrival at the scene."
"Indeed. The defence presented a picture showing the damage caused by the second bullet earlier in the proceedings. The bullet which injured Mr Holmes appears to have passed through his body to strike the calendar." The Judge said.
"Your Lordship's understanding is correct. Furthermore, we know there are two firearms involved in the incident. The revolver belonging to the victim, Mr Windibank... ...and the Skulkin brothers' revolver. The evidence shows that a single bullet was fired from each gun." Van Zieks said.
"Yes! Indeed it does! A single bullet from each!"
"Now then, my learned friend…"
"...!" Ryunosuke said, speechless.
"You yourself told the court only moments ago... ...that these two brothers shot Mr Sherlock Holmes right before your eyes." Van Zieks said.
"Yes, I, I did!"
"Oh my goodness! I, I think you'll find…" Juror No. 3 said.
"That if the single bullet that was fired from the brothers' gun hit Mr Holmes, it means…" Juror No. 4 said.
"Windibank not shot by same gun! Stop. Only one bullet! Stop." Juror No. 5 said.
"...Exactly. Yes, this Nipponese street performer presented an ostensibly credible argument. ...However! It was never anything more than a diversionary trick with no hope of standing up to scrutiny!" Van Zieks yelled.
"Ugh... UWAAAAAAAAARGH!!!" Ryunosuke said, breaking down.
"Ordaaar! Ordaaar! Ordaaaaaar!!!" The Judge said, angrily.
"...Pray forgive the discourtesy of flinging the dregs of this hallowed nectar into the public gallery…" Van Zieks said.
"L-Lord van Zieks!"
"...but this court needs to open its eyes. The accused, Miss Gina Lestrade, is no ordinary little girl. Despite her young years, she can, regrettably, no longer be described as a juvenile. No, the person in the dock is far from a law-abiding citizen. She has a past riddled with criminal conduct!"
"...!" Juror No. 1 said.
"...!" Juror No. 2 said.
"The truth is, the accused broke into the pawnbrokery on the night in question with loathsome intent... ...as we can see beyond doubt in this print which depicts her threatening the victim with the murder weapon!" Van Zieks said.
"...!" Juror No. 3 said.
"...!" Juror No. 4 said.
"And I have here in my possession one more piece of evidence the prosecution wishes to present." Van Zieks said, taking out the music disk.
"...!" Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'That disk!'
Flashback….
"I'll be takin' that whatever-it-is of McGilded's down to the Yard, thank you very much! So hand it over!" Gregson said, grabbing the Music Disk Box from Gina.
"Oh, yes, of course…" Ryunosuke said.
"No, don't! Don't give it to 'im! It's mine, that is! Mine!" Gina cried.
"I'm sorry, miss... ...but anythin' belongin' to McGilded has to be taken in as evidence now." Gregson said.
The Old Bailey Courtroom…
"Oh Gina…" I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Yes, that music box disk... McGilded's music box disk…'
"The very day before the hateful murder of Mr Windibank... ...the accused attempted to make off with this article, which clearly doesn't belong to her. And with none of the subtlety of a pickpocket, I might add. But by brute force and brazen impudence." Van Zieks said.
"Good gracious!" The Judge cried.
"Make no mistake! Any sympathy for the accused on account of her years is misguided and dangerous! There are no depths to which this girl would not stoop if pushed. No crime she would not commit. ...The court forgets that fact at its peril."
"...!" Juror No. 5 said.
"...!" Juror No. 6 said.
"Hm...I see... I think it would be prudent to take this music box disk into evidence, Counsel. As a grim testament to the defendant's character." The Judge said.
"Hold it." Gregson said, doing the Hold it pose. "Um...Lord van Zieks...I, um…"
"Gregson?" I asked, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Inspector Gregson...what...?'
"Yes, Inspector?" Van Zieks asked.
"We had a meetin' yesterday at the Yard with the prosecution service, and, um... ...I, I think it was agreed that that disk wouldn't be used as evidence." Gregson said.
"..."
"This is Bond Air all over again." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'What's this all about? Why is the inspector acting strangely? That's the first time he's said anything to van Zieks at all…'
"I am unaware of any such meeting." Van Zieks said.
"But! But those were the instructions, right from the top. The government bigwigs were insistent!" Gregson said, worried.
"Inspector, I am the prosecutor, and I alone determine how to present my case. Your warning is noted. ...Thank you."
"...!"
"The prosecution wishes to proceed with submitting this disk as evidence, My Lord."
"In-Indeed. Bailiff!" The Judge said, angrily.
The music box disk has been entered into the Court Record.
"The prosecution has established the accused's motive, opportunity and baseness of character. There is nothing more to add. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I await your informed decisions...and rest my case." Van Zieks said.
"Let's take a look at this." I said, grabbing the Music Box Disk, picking it up, and walking over to the defense attorney stand. I flipped it over to see the bloodstain on it. "Right."
"Oh! Runo, Jared, look! This is blood!" Iris chirped, looking down at the bloodstain.
"Yes, you're right." Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'Just a small smear, but definitely blood. Actually, I feel as though I might have noticed that before…'
"Haha! Then it's my time to shine again! I thought I'd be waiting forever! Alright, hold still with that disk, Jared." Iris said, taking out her gun.
"Okay." I said, holding the Music Box Disk on the Bloodstain side. "Ready for the luminol."
"Can we get this done quickly, Iris, Jared?" Ryunosuke asked.
"In a flash!" Iris cheered, shooting out the luminol spray out of her gun at the bloodstain on the music disk. "Ooh! A lovely bright shade again."
"..." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'Wait, that colour…'
"What is it?" Iris asked.
"It's just...that green, it... ...it's not the first time we've seen that colour, is it?" Ryunosuke asked.
The blood samples portfolio has been updated in the Court Record.
"A note." I said, looking down at the note on the back of the music box disk. "Hmm…"
"'For McGilded'... That's the man you defended in court a couple of months ago, isn't it, Runo?" Iris asked, looking down at the note on the back.
"Yes. Or rather, mistakenly defended." Ryunosuke said.
"I wonder what his name is doing on the back of this disk…"
"That's a question I'd love to know the answer to myself."
"Can't tell you because it's spoilers." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I don't believe it... I had the jury on my side for once, for all of five minutes…'
"Oh dear... It wasn't even for five minutes, Runo…" Iris said, sadly.
"My Lord!" Juror No. 1 yelled. "Wonder if I might say something at this point?"
"Proceed, Mr Foreman." The Judge said.
"Been stumbling about in a bit of a fog up to now, if truth be told. But all of a sudden... ...the answer's bally obvious to me and my men! There's only one thing for it!"
"Shit." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Oh no!'
"Very well. The court will hear from the jury. Ladies and gentlemen, you will present your leanings as to the defendant's culpability." The Judge said.
"Guilty!" Juror No. 1 said.
"Guilty!" Juror No. 2 said.
"Guilty!" Juror No. 3 said.
"Guilty!" Juror No. 4 said.
"Guilty!" Juror No. 5 said.
"Guilty!" Juror No. 6 said.
Six fireballs flew into the fire of black side of the scales, making the scales lean towards guilty.
"We have a consensus among the jury, it seems." The Judge said.
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains...must be the truth." Van Zieks said, smugly.
"Iris, you wrote that for 'The Sign of Four'!" I said, looking over at Iris. "I know that quote well. Really well."
"I know you do, Jared. You're right! I did! That's, that's my line! I wrote that! For Hurley! Argh! How dare he use it against us?!" Iris exclaimed.
"Don't worry, Iris. I don't think we're finished yet." Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'There's still more to this case than we realise. There must be, because there's one thing that I'm absolutely certain of. Gina didn't shoot Mr Windibank! That's beyond any doubt!'
"Very well... ...we will proceed with the second summation examination of the day. Mr Foreman, are you and the other jurors ready?" The Judge asked.
"Garrideb Squadron is primed and ready for action, sir!" Juror No. 1 said, angrily.
"Very good. So, ladies and gentlemen of the jury... ...you will each explain on what grounds you have now determined the defendant to be guilty!"
Judicial Findings
- The Jurors' Contentions -
"Once a rogue always a rogue, I say...hm? Different breed to us law-abiding citizens!" Juror No. 1 yelled.
"As only two bullets were found at the scene, I would say the whole case is done and dusted." Juror No. 2 said.
"You don't need a stereoscope to see the truth here. Every which way you look at it, it was that pickpocket!" Juror No. 3 cried.
"Hm...I never imagined that simple operation would cause me such grief…" Juror No. 4 said.
"The accused attempted a theft on the previous day. ...I can see I'm in for a busy day ahead." Juror No. 5 said.
"I am ballistics expert. I have seen many shootings. There is nothing I do not know about guns." Juror No. 6 said.
"Hmmm... It would seem there is little remaining room for doubt." The Judge said.
"Have to admit, I was rather bowled over by the argument put forward by the chap in black. But when that fell apart like a house of cards, I saw that I'd jolly well been hoodwinked. Well, no more!" Juror No. 1 said, excitedly.
"Great…" I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Ugh...the whole courtroom is turning against me.'
"It's not fair!" Iris said, worried.
"Iris?" Ryunosuke asked.
"What's wrong?" I asked, looking down at Iris.
"That prosecutor's being mean! Just because Ginny's done some things she shouldn't have done in the past... ...that doesn't make her a murderer!" Iris cried.
"Allow me to savour this fruity vintage while I savour the spectacle of your fruitless debate on the matter. Here's to the truth coming out...eventually." Van Zieks said.
"..." Ryunosuke said, speechless.
"That's enough preamble. Counsel, proceed with the summation examination." The Judge said.
"...Yes, My Lord."
Jury Examination
- The Defence's Rebuttal -
"Once a rogue always a rogue, I say...hm? Different breed to us law-abiding citizens!" Juror No. 1 yelled.
"As only two bullets were found at the scene, I would say the whole case is done and dusted." Juror No. 2 said.
"You don't need a stereoscope to see the truth here. Every which way you look at it, it was that pickpocket!" Juror No. 3 cried.
"Hm...I never imagined that simple operation would cause me such grief…" Juror No. 4 said, sadly.
"He's annoying me." I said, frowning. "Can you press for more information here."
"Hold it!" Ryunosuke said, doing the Hold it pose. "Would you please stop muttering about things that have nothing to do with this trial, sir? The defendant's life is on the line here!"
"Hm, well, the thing is... ...I couldn't really say that it is nothing to do with this trial, to be honest." Juror No. 4 said.
"Huh?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I mean, there's no question that the man was shot, but the bullet had simply vanished from his stomach. It's quite inexplicable. ...Don't you think?"
"... I almost don't want to ask, but this surgery you've been muttering about all this time. You were operating on…"
"What was the fellow's name now? Herr Lich? ...No. Herr Loch? ...No. Hairlock?"
"Sherlock Holmes by any chance?"
"Yes! Good Lord! It was that Hairlock fellow!"
"WHAAAT?! You're, you're the surgeon that operated on Mr Holmes?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"That's right. Using the very latest anaesthesia techniques, I might add! It was a fairly major op, I can tell you." Juror No. 4 said.
"Wow." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'This is crazy!'
"Let me see, the fellow was brought in not long after midnight, if I remember correctly. They said he'd been shot by some criminal or other. So I opened him up like a shot. But the funny thing is, I went over his insides with a fine-tooth comb, and couldn't find the bullet anywhere. So I'm afraid I had to throw up my hands and just stitch the fellow back up." Juror No. 4 said.
"... I hate to state the obvious, but…" Ryunosuke said, letting out a sigh.
"Yes?"
"...surely that's because the bullet is still at the scene of the shooting!"
"The counsel for the defence is correct. As is clearly shown in this photographic print." The Judge said, holding up the photographic print.
"The bullet that the Skulkin brothers fired at Mr Holmes hit him in the stomach region... ...then exited his body and lodged into the shop wall where the calendar was hanging by the door. I think you'll find it's really quite simple if you just consider the problem three-dimensionally." Ryunosuke said.
"Hah! Who do you think I am, son?" Juror No. 4 asked.
"...Um, well, 'juror number four' is about the best I can do."
"As soon as I saw the wound to the man's stomach, I flipped him over."
"...Like a pancake? Are, are you saying that you checked his back?"
"Of course I did! And there wasn't a trace of injury. No sign that the bullet had left the body at all!"
"What?"
"Are you sure?" I asked, crossing my arms. "How can a bullet not leave a body after the person got shot?"
"That's the point! The only logical conclusion was that the bullet was still somewhere in the man's innards! Which is exactly why I set about slicing him up! And I'm still none the wiser, even now! How many times do I have to say it? Can somebody please explain how it happened? Can somebody please solve the mystery!" Juror No. 4 said, angrily.
"...It's almost as much of a mystery as how this jury was put together." Ryunosuke said.
"The mystery of where that bullet ended up is infuriating! Where's an expert when you need one?"
"Contradiction." I said, happily.
"Objection." Ryunosuke said, doing the Objection pose. "Those two statements clearly contradict...the idea that all I do is pit jurors against each other!"
"Ooh! A ballistics expert!" Juror No. 4 chirped.
"'Pitting'... 'P-i-t-t-...'" Juror No. 6 said.
"On the night in question, Mr Holmes was shot by one of the Skulkin brothers. But since there was no sign of an exit wound on his back, we must assume the bullet didn't pass through him. However, no bullet was found lodged in Mr Holmes's body, either. Furthermore... ...a bullet was found lodged in the wall of the shop where Mr Holmes was shot. Juror number six…" Ryunosuke said.
"'Hello. My name is Vilen. Pleased to meet you.'"
"Ha! Vilen sounds like the word villain." I said, laughing a lot. "Love it."
"This apparent contradiction in the facts that is so clearly troubling juror number four... Are you able to explain the mystery?" Ryunosuke asked.
"... I have seen wery similar situation in motherland." Juror No. 6 said.
"...!"
"It was night. There was blizzard. I was running away long mountain round in freezing cold."
"Golly." The Judge said, in awe.
"The snow was piling high on both sides of road. It was wery narrow and dangerous. My pursuers had hunting rifles and they were on dog sleds." Juror No. 6 said.
"Well, that's Russia for you." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. '...Mental note: don't ask too many questions.'
"I was shot from behind, and I fell down in snow. And this situation was wery similar to what I hear today from doctor. They could not find bullet in my body. And no sign of - how do you say? - exit wound." Juror No. 6 said.
"Then, then where did the bullet go?" The Judge asked.
"Bullet never hit me."
"Well if it never hit you, why did you fall down?" Juror No. 4 asked.
"Bullet hit frozen wall of ice wery close to my side." Juror No. 6 said.
"What?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"One small piece - wery sharp - broke away from lump of ice and pierced my body. It made deep wound that looks just like bullet wound."
"Good gracious…" Juror No. 4 said, at a loss for words.
"Of course, piece of ice quickly melted inside me. And that is solution to mystery of disappearing bullet." Juror No. 6 said.
"..." Ryunosuke said.
"..."
"But, but that doesn't answer the question at all!" Juror No. 4 said, terrified.
"Hm?" Ryunosuke asked.
"The shooting happened in a pawnbroker's shop... ...not some snowy mountain road in another country!"
"... ...Just an idea, but we might not be looking at EXACTLY the same scenario here."
"Runo... ...where exactly was Hurley shot again?" Iris asked.
"Um, well, according to the report, in his stomach. Sort of around this area, I think." Ryunosuke said, looking down at the autopsy report.
"Well...that's precisely where he always wears a little pouch on his belt."
"A pouch?" Ryunosuke asked, as he thought this to himself. 'Actually, I might have noticed something like that.'
"Yes, a pouch. It's where he keeps three glass phials of very dangerous chemicals that he uses in his investigations."
"In some cases, pouches can be bulletproof vests." I said, smiling. "If it was made out of the right material. And if there are things inside the pouch which can protect the person."
"What?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed, and he thought this to himself. 'Really?' He then spoke aloud. "Doctor! Where is the pouch Mr Holmes was wearing?"
"Hm, well... ...the fellow had nothing like that on his person when he arrived at the hospital as far as I remember." Juror No. 4 said.
"If I may…" Van Zieks said.
"Lord van Zieks...?" Ryunosuke asked.
"While I realise it is forbidden for the prosecution to interject during a summation examination... ...I should inform the defence that I have the pouch in question in the antechamber outside the courtroom."
"Sorry?"
"As I understand it, when the police arrived on the scene and found Mr Holmes injured... ...they removed the pouch in order to assess the wound."
"Ah! Thank goodness. I thought I was getting forgetful for a moment!" Juror No. 4 said, excitedly.
"Since then, it has been in my safekeeping along with all other evidence relating to the case. I can personally vouch for the fact that it has not been touched since the incident occurred." Van Zieks said.
"Very well. While extremely unconventional during a summation examination... ...I must demand the prosecution presents the item in question with all speed." The Judge said.
"Ryunosuke, we need Sherlock's pouch." I said, clutching the strap of my sling bag. "Without it, it's hopeless."
"Agreed. Bring forth Mr Sherlock Holmes's pouch!" Ryunosuke yelled.
A bailiff brought in Sherlock's pouch into the courtroom before placing it on the table.
"Hm, I see... So this is the pouch worn by Mr Holmes on the night in question, is it?" The Judge asked.
"Yup." I said, walking over to Sherlock Holmes' pouch, picking it up, bringing it to the defense's desk, and looking down at it. "Holy shit."
"Look at that! One of the phials is broken and the leather around it is scorched black! It's almost as if...the phial exploded!" Ryunosuke cried, looking down at Sherlock's pouch.
"Exploded?" The Judge asked.
"So...that night... ...the bullet from the Skulkin brothers' gun struck Mr Holmes's pouch."
"And it was the glass phial exploding that caused the fellow's injury!" Juror No. 4 said, angrily.
"The bullet did not penetrate wictim, but was deflected into wall of shop." Juror No. 6 said.
"... ...A delightfully complex aroma." Van Zieks said.
"Well, it would appear one mystery has been solved at least." The Judge said.
"Though it has no bearing on the truth of this case."
"...!" Ryunosuke said, at a loss for words.
"The bungling and burgling brothers shot the detective, and the accused shot the pawnbroker. The pertinent facts of the case remain unaltered." Van Zieks said.
"Ugh…"
"But at least the mystery is solved! I can sleep easy tonight! Thank you, young man!" Juror No. 4 cheered.
"...Da. 'Thank you wery much.'" Juror No. 6 said, happily.
"...Glad I could help." Ryunosuke said.
"Due to its bearing on the conundrum just solved, the court will sequester this scruffy pouch as evidence." The Judge said.
"Hurley's pouch isn't scruffy!" Iris yelled.
"The only person that could be scruffy is Dick Gumshoe!" I said, angrily. "And he won't be born until 1986!"
Holmes's pouch has been entered into the Court Record.
"Now, the summation examination... It would appear the defence is somewhat struggling to alter opinion, hm?" The Judge asked.
"Please, My Lord! A little more time." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'After all, that's a new piece of evidence. It could be a valuable clue. And you can't afford to overlook anything here, Ryunosuke. There's still a way to turn this around...somehow. I'm sure of it!'
"You got this, Ryunosuke." I said, happily. "I know you do. Never give up, never give in."
"Hold it." Ryunosuke said, doing the Hold it pose. "Then I ask you to reconsider your leaning, sir!"
"Oh no, that's another matter entirely." Juror No. 4 said.
"Sorry?"
"All I can think about for the moment...is this wonderful sense of relief I have that the mystery is solved. I need some time to let that sink in before I could possibly consider anything else."
"Alright…" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'I thought surgeons had to be able to think quickly…'
"Perhaps we should leave him alone for now while he savours his inner peace... ...and focus on some of the other jurors?" Iris asked.
"I suppose we'll have to. ...I wish I had the chance to experience inner peace sometimes." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"Hurley always turns up at just the right moment!" Iris chirped.
"Just like the Doctor." I said, looking down at the floor.
"...Does he always come in the form of a pouch?" Ryunosuke asked, and he thought this to himself. 'Seriously though, it sounds like the great detective was on death's door. But maybe his injuries won't be for nothing. That pouch could be a very valuable clue.'
"That's because it is, Ryunosuke."
"Here it is. We discovered it just now. Yes! On the night in question in Windibank's pawnbrokery...another bullet was fired!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"Hold it!" Van Zieks said, doing the Hold it pose. "What is this new trickery, you Nipponese conjurer?! Where did you find that bullet?"
"It was lodged inside Mr Holmes's pouch."
"What?!" Van Zieks exclaimed.
"This pouch was removed from around Mr Holmes's waist before he was taken to hospital. And since then, it has been touched by no one." Ryunosuke said.
"Do, do you mean to say... ...the shot fired by the Skulkin brothers that night…" The Judge said.
"Yes. As your Lordship has surmised...it hit this pouch."
"But that makes no sense whatsoever! We already know the whereabouts of the bullet fired at Mr Holmes. It's clearly visible in this photographic print!"
"Ah!" Juror No. 1 said, at a loss for words.
"Two guns from the scene have already been submitted into the Court Record as evidence." Ryunosuke said.
"Yes. That of Mr Windibank, and that belonging to the Skulkin brothers." The Judge said.
"And examination of both guns revealed... ...that only a single bullet had been fired from each."
"Ah!" Juror No. 2 said, speechless.
"But, but that must mean…" Juror No. 3 said.
"That's right. We now know that on the night in question, three bullets were fired. However! Only two bullets were fired from the guns recovered from the crime scene! And until that incontrovertible inconsistency is somehow explained... ...we cannot and must not pass judgement!" Ryunosuke yelled.
"Agk... AAAAAAAAARGH!!!" Van Zieks said, breaking down.
"Ordaaar! Ordaaar! Ordaaaaaar!!! While this summation examination remains incomplete, the court has been presented with new facts. Facts that would appear to shake the very foundations upon which the case against the defendant has been built." The Judge said.
"...!"
"As is my prerogative in this situation... ...I hereby temporarily suspend the summation examination."
"By Jupiter!" Juror No. 1 said, worried.
"What?!" Ryunosuke exclaimed.
"Crap." I said, looking down at the floor.
"Bailiff! Bring the witnesses back to the stand at once!" The Judge chirped.
"This is far from over, Ryunosuke."
Nash and Ringo were brought back into the courtroom, onto the witness stand.
"Witnesses…" The Judge said.
"Guvnor!" Nash said, excitedly.
"Were you listening to proceedings while the defence carried out the summation examination?"
"We woz, guvnor, we woz!" Ringo cheered.
"Perhaps we can dispense with the tedious preamble. Simply answer this one question: A third bullet has been identified at the scene of the crime. ...What do you make of that?" Van Zieks asked.
"Make of it, guv? I dun't make nuffin' of nuffin' if I can 'elp it. Um…" Nash said.
"Is it one of yours?"
"Gorblimey, guv, gorblimey! Not a chance!" Ringo said, terrified.
"In that case...did you have an accomplice?"
"Wot?! Eh? Wot?! Never! The Skulkin bruvvers work alone!" Nash said, worried.
"It's just the two of us! That's our trademark!" Ringo said, angrily.
"And here we thought Inspector Tobias Gregson was one of them." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. '...How soon we forget poor Sulky…'
"Only two of the bullets from the crime scene originated from the firearms we have in evidence. The third bullet was fired from another gun. ...Where is it?" Van Zieks asked.
"Lummy...that's an 'ead-scratcher... ..." Nash said.
"Hmmm... Counsel for the Defence…" The Judge said.
"Y-Yes?" Ryunosuke asked.
"I should like to hear your thoughts regarding these new developments. The third bullet...and the mysterious missing firearm from whence it came."
'Thinking back over all the testimony we've heard and all the evidence we've seen... ...I think I'm starting to form a picture. A picture of what really happened that night.' Ryunosuke said, thinking that to himself, before speaking aloud. "My Lord, I think it's clear what this third bullet tells us about the Skulkin brothers…."
"They could have had a secret accomplice." I said, happily.
"You're right, Jared. They had a secret accomplice." Ryunosuke said, smiling. "On that night at Windibank's pawnbrokery...the brothers must have been working with a third man."
"Erm…" Nash said, at a loss for words.
"The witnesses are clearly doing their best to cover up the existence of this accomplice... ...but the evidence all points to the fact that there was someone else present! Someone carrying a gun!" Ryunosuke yelled.
"Objection!" Van Zieks said, doing the Objection pose. "...An accomplice, you say? Pigswill."
"...!"
"These protracted proceedings have already forced us to endure two summation examinations. Yet in all that time, there has been not a murmur of a third man. If this apparently wraithlike being exists... ...the court must be shown hard evidence! Without it, this fantasy will be crushed."
"Agh!"
"The prosecution demands answers on two counts: Firstly: proof - evidence - that this accomplice was ever at the scene of the crime. And secondly... ...the identity of this spurious character."
"They're lying, Ryunosuke." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'The Skulkins are lying. I know that. But... ...how can I ascertain the identity of the person they're hiding?'
"Well, Counsel?" The Judge asked.
"..." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'I'm supposed to prove the existence of this accomplice... and reveal the person's identity, even…' He then spoke aloud. "In response to the prosecution's demands, My Lord, the defence is…"
"I think you're ready to present some answers." I said, smiling. "You have all the information already."
"The defence is ready. I believe I can provide all the answers the prosecution demands." Ryunosuke said, smirking.
"So, my Nipponese friend, despite the swimming eyes, you seem to think you have something to say. This promises to be interesting." Van Zieks said.
"As I said, good luck." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I have to push forward now. There's no other option. I need to use every single piece of evidence available to me if it will make a difference…'
"In that case, Counsel, I would ask you to present the evidence without delay. On the night in question, in the moments leading up to the death of the victim... ...what proof have you that there was a third intruder present at the scene?" The Judge asked.
"There was." I said, taking out the Blood Samples Portfolio out of my sling bag and handing it to Ryunosuke.
"Take that!" Ryunosuke saud, presenting the Blood Samples Portfolio. "The evidence is right here...in this portfolio."
"By Jove! That portfolio again, is it?" The Judge asked.
"Do you expect the court to rifle through your papers itself? Be more specific!" Van Zieks yelled.
"...!" Ryunosuke said, speechless.
"You claim one of those blood samples proves the presence of this third intruder. Well, which one is it?"
"It's that one." I said, looking down at the Blood Samples portfolio and pointing a finger at Windibank's Main Shop sample. "It has to be."
"Take that!" Ryunosuke said, presenting Windibank's Main Shop sample.
"What am I looking at here? There appears to be some green paint or suchlike around the bullet hole in the middle of the calendar." The Judge said.
"That's a bloodstain, My Lord."
"A bloodstain?"
"Green blood? Curious, even for you. Is the court to understand that the intruder was some unhuman creature?" Van Zieks asked.
"It's...something developed by Mr Sherlock Holmes." Ryunosuke said, smugly.
"By the great detective!" Juror No. 3 said, in awe.
"New invention! Stop. Not yet appeared in stories! Stop." Juror No. 5 said.
"It's this, you see." Iris said, holding up her luminol gun. "It...doesn't have a name yet, though. Jared called it luminol, but I don't know if it sounds good. This fogger sprays a chemical that reacts with the different elements in people's blood to change its colour."
"Different elements...of people's blood...?" The Judge asked.
"Yes. Everyone's blood is slightly different, you see. Because it's made up of different elements. So by seeing what colour it changes to, you can tell in a flash whose blood it is!"
"In the future, it's called luminol." I said, happily. "It's part of forensic science. Or it will be in 1937. A future friend of mine, Ema Skye, she's into it. She has a fingerprinting kit and luminol. Ema adores forensics. She will leave behind a fingerprinting kit as a keepsake."
"Ooh! Luminol! That brings a whole extra dimension to looking at blood!" Juror No. 3 cooed.
"Talk of blood in courtroom! Stop. Very exciting! Stop." Juror No. 5 said.
"As an example, this one shows the blood of the victim, Mr Windibank." Ryunosuke said.
"Ah... A striking blue." The Judge said.
"Yes. So you see, the green colour of this bloodstain on the calendar... ...shows that somebody else was shot in the main part of the shop!"
"Now hold fire there, young man! Could be from some unrelated incident, couldn't it?" Juror No. 1 asked.
"No. It's not unrelated." Ryunosuke said, sadly.
"...!"
"The date showing on the calendar is the date on which Mr Windibank was killed."
"By golly!"
"Therefore we can assume that whoever was shot, was shot on the same day."
"Then whose blood is it?!" Juror No. 4 exclaimed.
"Well, the Skulkin brothers in the stand don't appear to be suffering from any gunshot injuries... Which means it must be the blood of somebody else. The third intruder, in fact." Ryunosuke said.
"Objection." Van Zieks said, doing the Objection pose. "Whose identity the court is still waiting to hear. You can't delay this any longer, my learned friend. Who is this alleged third intruder?"
"It could have been Eggs Benedict." I said, happily. "Sorry. Eggert Benedict."
"Take that!" Ryunosuke said, presenting Eggert Benedict's profile. "The man's name...is Eggert Benedict."
"Eggert Benedict?! Who on earth are you talking about, Counsel?" The Judge asked.
"He paid a visit to Windibank's pawnbrokery on the afternoon before the incident took place." Ryunosuke said.
"When the accused attempted to deceive the pawnbroker into releasing this article into her possession." Van Zieks said.
"...That's right."
"...!"
"The man identified by the defence, Mr Eggert Benedict... ...then attempted to take the article from the defendant by force."
Flashback…
"Broker!" Benedict said, angrily.
"Um, yes, sir?" Windibank asked.
"I believe this filthy pocket thief has just redeemd an article from you, no?"
"Yes, yes, erm…"
"The article in question belongs to me. I demand for it to be returned at once."
"Oh my!" Susato said, worried.
"Now that's a lie! Wot are you tryin' to pull?" Gina asked.
"Give me back my overcoat, you wastrel. And needless to say... ...any music box disks, too." Benedict said, trying to grab the coat from Gina.
The Old Bailey Courtroom…
"Inspector Gregson was there at the time, and can attest to what happened. In the end, it was the inspector himself who took the disk." Ryunosuke said.
"Can you corroborate this account, Inspector?" The Judge asked.
"Erm, yes, My Lord. That's more or less what happened. And in the interests of bein' thorough, I asked Windibank for a print showin' the fellow. Taken from one of his 'Red-Handed Recorder' gubbinses." Gregson said, taking out a photographic print.
"Also known as a security camera." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Yes! That's him talking to Mr Windibank that morning.'
"And you claim this man is the brothers' accomplice?" The Judge asked.
"Well, Mr and Mr Skulkin?" Ryunosuke asked.
"... Never seen the geezer before in me life!" Nash said, terrified.
"On me life, guv, on me life! Never seen 'im!" Ringo said, worried.
"Well...somewhat unsurprisingly, it appears our witnesses disagree with the assertion." The Judge said.
"I'm sure Your Lordship recalls my learned Nipponese friend's actual assertion. Which was that he could prove the identity of the alleged accomplice." Van Zieks said.
"Yes, and I can!" Ryunosuke said, smirking.
"Then show us the evidence!" Juror No. 3 yelled.
"I agree! We must see proof that the clean-cut gentleman in the photograph is the filthy criminal you say he is!" Juror No. 2 said, angrily.
"..." Ryunosuke said, and he thought this to himself. 'This is the last piece of evidence... I've had a feeling that something has been missing in this trial from the very start. But now...I'm going to drag it kicking and screaming into the courtroom!'
"Are you ready to present your answer to the court then, Counsel?" The Judge asked.
"Yes, My Lord. The defence will present the evidence now. Proof that the man pictured in this photographic print was in fact the person struck by the third bullet!"
"This." I said, taking out the Music Box Disk out of my sling bag and handing it to Ryunosuke. "What? It's bigger on the inside. And it makes it easy to hold evidence."
"Take that!" Ryunosuke said, presenting the Music Box Disk. "As I mentioned before, on the afternoon of the day in question... ...the defendant attempted - deceitfully, admittedly - to reclaim this disk from Windibank's."
"Which is when the aforementioned Eggert Benedict appeared on the scene, I believe. This man then attempted to purloin the article from the defendant's possession, no?" The Judge asked.
"That's correct, My Lord. I myself was present at the time. It was following this that a minor incident occurred." Ryunosuke said.
Flashback…
"But of course, sir. Here is the disk for you." Windibank said, walking to the back and picking up the disk, before handing it to Benedict.
"... Very well. Then I shall bid you farewell. ...Say goodbye to style." Benedict said, walking away from us.
"Wait a minute! That disk... ...is mine!" Gina said, running up to Benedict to try to grab the disk from him.
"Argh! What, what do you think you're doing, you little tramp?! You've...you've drawn blood, you filthy animal!"
The Old Bailey Courtroom…
"Being a music box disk, it has countless small but sharp metal protrusions over its surface. Those protrusions caused Mr Benedict's finger to bleed. And the resulting smear of blood is still visible on the disk now." Ryunosuke said.
"Goodness! A bloodstain, is it?" The Judge asked.
"My assistants and I have just analysed the bloodstain here in this very courtroom." Ryunosuke said, smugly.
"Using...my trusty fogger gun!" Iris cooed, holding up her fogger gun.
"Also known as luminol spray." I said, happily.
"Yes. And we added the results to this portfolio." Ryunosuke said, smirking.
"I say!" Juror No. 1 said.
"It's green!" Juror No. 2 said.
"It's exactly the same colour as the blood around the calendar!" Juror No. 5 said.
"The evidence is conclusive! The man calling himself Mr Eggert Benedict, who was in Windibank's earlier in the day... ...is the accomplice who was present at the scene of the crime that same night!" Ryunosuke yelled.
"So there was someone else there!"
"Look at those two brothers now! They're sweating buckets!"
"Oi! Who are you talkin' about? ...It's boilin' in 'ere!"
"My Lord! It is the opinion of the defence... ...that Mr Eggert Benedict...should be summoned to the courtroom to testify!" Ryunosuke said, angrily.
"Hmmm... It would certainly seem that we can ill afford to ignore this gentleman's apparent presence." The Judge said.
"Objection!" Van Zieks said, doing the Objection pose. "...This has gone on long enough now. This flagrant ignorance of the mechanics of law."
"...!" Ryunosuke said, at a loss for words.
"Sherlock Holmes, you say? Yes, I've heard the name. The protagonist in a series of short stories for the vulgar classes. A god of detection or some such." Van Zieks said, scoffing.
"...!" Iris said, speechless.
"But it's luminol!" I said, looking down at the floor.
"And now you employ chemical substances devised by this fantastical persona in the highest court in the land? Chemical substances that apparently won't be used for over thirty years? Do you expect us to take you seriously? The samples made by this plaything are not fit to be called evidence." Van Zieks said, annoyed.
"Hmmm…" The Judge said, sadly.
"So the bloodstain turned a shade of green. What of it? Here's to you successfully proving that no other blood in the world would turn the same colour."
"Ah...well…" Ryunosuke said, frowning.
"And pray, do not even think of suggesting that we should take Mr Holmes's word for it!" Van Zieks yelled.
"Ugh…"
"Is he right? Is Mr Holmes's concoction a load of rubbish?"
"I don't know... I mean, he is a great detective."
"What are you talking about?! We can't let him get away with that!"
"..." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'I knew it would come to this. Of course Mr Holmes's invention isn't going to be recognised by any official body. And Jared knows it will be used in the future. But...what other choice did I have...?'
"Hm... I'm just remembering what Father Christmas over there said before. About how he was temporarily suspending the summation examination." Iris said, looking over at the Judge.
"Ah!" Ryunosuke said, in awe.
"In other words... ...the examination isn't over yet, is it?"
"Nope. It isn't." I said, happily. "You're not wrong there, Iris."
"G-Good grief! What did you just say, young girl?" The Judge asked, looking at Iris.
"And in a summation examination, the decision as to whether or not the trial continues... ...is in the hands of the six jurors, isn't it?" Iris asked.
"...!" Van Zieks said, speechless.
"So the way I see it... ...it doesn't matter what certain other people think of Hurley's invention. At least, not for now!"
"Yes!" Ryunosuke said, as he thought this to himself. 'She's right!'
"Young lady, you have quite the devious mind!" The Judge chirped.
"It really just comes down to one thing: Whether these ladies and gentlemen of the jury... ...are convinced by what you say, Runo! ...Is that about right, would you say? Or did I misunderstand something?" Iris asked.
"You didn't misunderstand anything, Iris. You're on the same wavelength as me. That's why I let you do the talking." I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Unbelievable! Mr Holmes's partners are forces to be reckoned with!'
"Iris Watson...sharpshooter!" Iris said, holding up her foggy gun.
"After that shrewd precis of the situation from an entirely unexpected source... ...it must be acknowledged that the previous summation examination has yet to reach its conclusion." The Judge said.
"This is absurd!" Van Zieks cried.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the court now looks to you for your final leanings in this matter."
"...!" Juror No. 1 said.
"...!" Juror No. 2 said.
"As proud citizens of Her Majesty's Britain, I'm sure you will come to fair and just conclusions." The Judge said.
"...!" Juror No. 3 said.
"...!" Juror No. 4 said.
"So then, state your final decisions in turn, please." The Judge said.
"Not guilty!" Juror No. 1 said.
"Not guilty!" Juror No. 2 said.
"Not guilty!" Juror No. 3 said.
"Guilty!" Juror No. 4 said.
"Guilty!" Juror No. 5 said.
"Not guilty!" Juror No. 6 said.
All six fireballs are launched into the scale, four into not guilty and two into guilty, the scales leaning towards not guilty.
"Two call guilty, and four call not guilty. Such is the outcome of the summation examination." The Judge said.
"Objection." Van Zieks said, doing the Objection pose. "My Lord, with all due respect, this is an outrage! The prosecution refuses to accept this decision!"
"...On what grounds?"
"If these jurors are persuaded by some half-baked concoction devised by a pretender to real police work... ...then they are too ignorant to be trusted with the judgement of anyone's guilt." Van Zieks said.
"I'm sorry, Lord van Zieks, but the outcome of the summation examination cannot be ignored. This trial will continue!" The Judge said, angrily.
"Agk... AAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!" Van Zieks said, breaking down.
"...Nevertheless, we find ourselves in a rather awkward situation. The defence has very reasonably requested the subpoena of a new witness. But sadly, I fear that will be impossible."
"What?" Ryunosuke asked.
"The name the gentleman gave for himself - Eggert Benedict - is quite clearly false." The Judge said.
"Yup." I said, while Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'I don't believe it! Just when I'd managed to prove the man was there that night…'
"...Um... Could, could I say something?" Juror No. 5 asked.
"...? Who was that, please? Who spoke?" The Judge asked.
"Um...it was me, My Lord."
"Okay." I said, as Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'Juror number five...?'
"What have you to say, madam?" The Judge asked.
"If possible...Inspector…" Juror No. 5 said.
"Eh? ...Me, ma'am?" Gregson asked.
"I wonder if you might show the photographic print to me again? The one in which the gentleman is shown."
"Ah, right, yes. This one, you mean? Of Mr Benedict?" Gregson asked, taking out a photographic print of Eggert Benedict.
"... ... ...Yes... There's no doubt in my mind." Juror No. 5 said.
"Juror number five, you don't mean to say... You know this man?" Ryunosuke asked.
"Yes, I know him." Juror No. 5 said.
"What?!"
"No!" Van Zieks yelled.
"GOOD GRACIOUS!!! Ordaaar! Ordaaar! Ordaaaaaar!!! Juror number five! How on earth...?" The Judge asked.
"I am a communications officer. Stop." Juror No. 5 said.
"...As we can clearly see…" Ryunosuke said.
"The gentleman in the photograph is... Stop. ...also a communications officer. Stop. He works in my office. Stop. A very talented operator in fact! Stop. He should be in the communication station now. Stop. Tapping away on the telegraph. Stop."
"Um…" I said, and Ryunosuke thought this to himself. 'This doesn't seem right somehow... I can't put my finger on why, but...it doesn't feel right.'
"Hm... I suppose we all imagined the accomplice would be some sort of hardened criminal. It's...a bit unexpected to find out that he has a respectable job by day, whatever he gets up to at night." Iris said.
"Yes...I suppose that's it." Ryunosuke said, while he thought this to himself. 'I suppose that's why I felt something was wrong…'
"If the gentleman is at London's communication station, we should be able to subpoena him within the hour. Lord van Zieks, if you please…" The Judge said.
"...Yes, My Lord?" Van Zieks asked.
"Make the necessary arrangements with all haste!"
"As Your Lordship bids."
"The court will recess for one hour. When the new witness arrives, we shall reconvene to hear the gentleman's testimony. Inspector Gregson…"
"Yes, My Lord?" Gregson asked.
"I should like to hear from you specifically about events at the pawnbrokery on the day in question. Come to my chambers during the recess." The Judge said.
"Yes, sir, My Lord."
"Very well... Court is adjourned until 1:40 p.m.!"