"Would you not like to cross-examine the witness's statement Mr. Argentum?" Justia asked as I watched Morpheus shake his head in disappointment but Morpheus washed it away with his next words.
"No, your honor. It's not that I don't have any questions. I'm just worried about the standards the police investigation has fallen to."
"What do you mean Mr. Argentum?" Justia asked.
"I'm saying all Sergeant Dave just presented before the court was Hearsay. Nothing was backed by actual evidence. Perhaps the only evidence they have that links A.V. and K.M. to my client Revanche is a handkerchief. Everything else is hearsay since they do not even have clear evidence that shows the court that my client was present at the scene of the crime!"
"Are you sure about pursuing this line of questioning Mr. Argentum?" I asked directly from the witness stand.
"And now look, your honor! They're even beginning to threaten me so openly in court."
"Well don't tell me I didn't warn you.", I said looking at Morpheus's oblong face. "Would the court like to know where Mr. Sterling's position was last registered?" I asked looking at the crowd behind the council fence.
The crowd nodded and a few broke out into whispers and almost looked like they were cheering for me as Justia *slammed* his gavel on the sound block.
"Sergeant Dave I expect you to behave properly in my court, this isn't show biz where you can just rile up the crowd as you wish."
"Yes, your honor." I nodded confidently like I was hearing his words from one ear and tossing them out of the other in the next moment.
*Sigh*
Justia audibly sighed and looked at me with mock anger as the court calmed.
"Sergeant please don't make me hand you a contempt of court charge."
"..."
"Please explain to the court how you know Mr. Sterling was present at the scene of crime during the murder."
"Yes, your honor."
"..."
Everyone hung onto my words with bated breath as I baited them into suspense and finally revealed the answer.
"Because A.M visited the house of Vera Morrogan during the timeframe for murder."
There was pin-drop silence as everyone mulled over the words Of just revealed.
"Objection your hon-"
Morpheus's objection was drowned by the rush of *whispers* that began like the spread of wildfire with his objection. From one person to the next, lighting up the court like it was Christmas.
*slam* *slam* *slam*
"The court asks you to maintain order!"
Justia slammed his gavel several times to overpower the loud whispers people were talking in and deciding who the 'suspect' was.
Morpheus tried to speak but I mocked him from my position in the witness box.
"I asked you if you wanted to pursue this, didn't I?" and shook my head.
I saw Gracewell's lips quiver as a soft smile threatened to break out on the uncaring look she usually held. But I stayed seated in the witness box.
"You have an objection Mr. Argentum?"
"Yes, your honor."
"And what might that be?"
"This is a farce your honor, the two were hardened criminals, they could've easily threatened-" Morpheus tried to speak but Gracewell cut him short with a quick sentence.
"-and down what? Tell her to call the police?"
"Don't speak over each other Lieutenant Gracewell. Let the court do its job. This is not an area where you get into cat fights."
"Yes, your honor."
"Is there anything else you wish to say Mr. Argentum."
"No, your honor."
With a defeated expression, Morpheus sat down as Justia shook his head in disappointment.
"The court will announce its judgment after a short five-minute recess. Please wait in the lobby."
I left the witness stand along with Gracewell as we walked out into the lobby, people instantly crowded around me to get my opinion on the case.
'Damn it! I forgot to turn on my projection mask!'
'Oh, I know how to escape from this. I'm a good boss who doesn't steal credit after all.'
"Please, everyone don't crowd around my Lieutenant, although she solved the case and is representing she's a little public shy!"
The words had the exact opposite effect, or the intended effect, as everyone instantly crowded around Gracewell who was shooting me a deathly glare that I smirked at and escaped from.
*Tap* *Tap*
The soft tapping of my shoulder broke me from my reverie as I looked behind me and spotted Anneliese waiting behind me.
"What are you doing out here?" She asked.
"What are 'you' doing out here?" I was confused since she was supposed to be in witness protection for the duration of the court trial.
"The trial finished five minutes ago."
"Oh? What!!!!?"
"Yeah, Gracewell assumed you wouldn't show up since you hated crowds and the trial began without you."
"Shit."
"What happened?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to see their faces when they got sent to jail."
"You mean Vera?"
"Yes. I'm just glad she didn't show up, or I don't know what I would've done."
"They said she couldn't show up because she fell sick while in custody."
"She wasn't even outside with you guys?" I asked bewildered.
"No, why do you think Mr. Argentum didn't call her to be a witness to show how unstable you are?"
"Ah. That's why his case felt so lacking, or should I say empty? And I'm not unstable."
"Says the person who refused to take a shower for a week."
"Hey! I was just depressed at that point." I tried to argue but Anneliese shut me up.
"You aren't the only person who's lost someone you know."
"...when did this turn into a competition?"
"Hmpf. Anyway, let's go. I'm tired of standing around."
"What about Vera's trial? I want to watch it!"
Anneliese turned away and started walking as she said, "They postponed it!"
Following Anneliese out, I did not have to book a cab using Vanessa since Raivesh was waiting right at the place I had taken off from.
"What happened?" I asked worried if he needed some help from me.
"Nothing sir, I had never watched a court case sir, so today I thought why not watch it with you sir! I have to say! You were amazing out there sir! Keep it up!"
I had to do a double take to see if he hadn't actually realized who I was or he was pretending.
"You're new in the city?" I asked as Anneliese sat down in the back seat of the side he had opened the door off.
"Yes sir! Very new! I just shifted here from Bindia City."
"Bindia City?" That's a new name.
"It is a small and upcoming city sir, full of people like me eager for work!"
"I see." I had to struggle to keep a stoic face since I couldn't imagine a city filled with such expressive individuals.
"Come in, you can talk inside!" Anneliese said, peeking out of the PTV with her head.
We sat down on our seats as we continued our conversation.
"What's special in Bindia City?"
"Best food sir! I haven't had such tasty food anywhere else sir!"
"I see." I nodded.
"'You liking it so far in Inception City?"
"Inception City is also really good sir! Especially with people like you keeping it safe for us normal people sir!"
"Thank you." I nodded.
"What is your post here sir?"
"Sergeant."
"Sergeant is? The head?" Raivesh asked looking in the rear view mirror to lock eyes.
"Yes, it is. I'm the head of police in this City."
"Oh. Big position then sir, congratulations."
"Thank you."
"This case should get you a big fat pay increase then, no?"
"Yes, it will. Do you know any good orphanages in Bindia city?"
"Hahaha~ No sir, in Bindia city there are no orphanages."
"No orphanages? I asked with an incredulous expression on my face."
"Yes, sir, no orphanages. All orphaned children belong to the city and are taken care of by the city itself."
"Where is this Bindia City?"
"It is just a few hundred miles south of here sir. One of the best cities down south, hard to miss because of its unique architecture."
"I will try visiting sometime."
"Oh! If you do make sure to call me sir! I would love to give you a ride around!"
"Sure." I agreed since I suddenly realized I didn't fear getting into a PTV and crashing again, as long as it was him, because he kept me distracted.
"...I just hope he doesn't get distracted himself." I mumbled.
"You said something, Sir?"
"No, don't worry. Nothing."
"Alright, sir."
The rest of the ride was calm, smooth, and peaceful. The PTV glided through as I hummed to the tune of songs playing in my AR glasses, sweeping past the rungs of traffic as the afternoon sun glazed the sunroofs of all the PTVs below.
Reaching our destination the police Headquarters, I stepped out and paid Raivesh a hefty tip since he had to pay the fine for jumping traffic earlier in the morning.
"Thank you sir."
"No worries. Just don't make it a habit to drive like that and you will be fine."
"Yes Sir, I will make sure I only drive like that in your presence."
That wasn't what I meant, but I gave it no attention and walked back into the office with Anneliese following behind me like a duckling.
"What happened? Why are you so silent today?" I asked Annelilese since usually, she'd be commenting something about me or my habits.
"No, it's just...I just feel like I'm forgetting something."
I froze in my steps for a moment and then continued as if nothing had happened.
'Should I tell her that the GAI wiped some of her memories? No this might be the perfect opportunity to find out what was wiped.'
"What do you think you're forgetting?"
"I feel like I should contact someone but I don't remember who. I think it was something to do with some task you gave me, I don't remember what."
"Hm~m."
'Shucks, it's just something random, at least it's nothing to worry about."
"Greetings Sergeant Dave." Novie greeted me as I greeted back with a head nod.
"Good afternoon Novie, I hope you're having a great day."
"I am! I hope you are too!"
"Never better."
Anneliese and I split up at the reception as she walked towards the Cadet's area, still with a pondering look on her face as I walked towards my office.
Opening my door that scanned my wavelength ID to let me in I stepped inside and collapsed into my sofa.
*sigh*
'What a day.'
'I missed Revanche's conviction. I wonder what sort of judgment he got.'
'Well, I can still read about it in the city's news tonight. Not like the judgment is going to vanish into thin air after it was recorded.'
I read through the notifications log on my AR glasses that had appeared while I was in court.
It was mostly notifications about people taking my picture, and a few people sending me emails congratulating me on my return.
Nothing special.
Nothing new.
As I scrolled towards the notifications from yesterday, my eyes landed on the file that GAI had sent to me yesterday.
'TheTruth.media'
'Should I watch it?'
'Do I need to watch it?'
'There surely was a reason for such secrecy right?'
'At least I hope there was.'
I selected the media by pinching it and waited with my nerves taut as I watched the loading symbol for the media come into view.
A warning popped up that read.
[Format not recognized, attempting to modify and convert media format to recognizable format.]
[-------------[]Convert—---[]Cancel—-------------]
'Converting format? How old is it that Gracewell has to convert formats? Two decades old or something?'
I clicked on convert and waited patiently only for the loading screen to flash by as the media began with the face of a man with a handlebar mustache.
"I am your father."