//------------------------------// // Chapter 38: Kyle Bucy: Ace Attorney! Turnabout Forgiveness: Day 2 // Story: Le Retour // by k12314 //------------------------------// CHAPTER 38 Here we go, day two of three. You all know what to do by now. (Listen to this) I rolled off of the couch, and let out a loud yawn. I was in a tanktop, and my boxers, which are very comfortable for PJs. I looked over the little counter separating the living room and the kitchen, and as I expected, Dashie and Horseshoe were sitting at the little table in the center, eating some cheap cereal. Horseshoe smiled and chuckled a bit when he saw me. I look terrible in the mornings. "Well mornin' there, bub. Sleep well? Oh, and nice PJs, by the way." He chuckled again, and I shook my head, grinning. "Shut up... Hehe, so, ready to do some investigating?" I twisted myself around a bit, trying to crack my back. When I heard my spine popping, I let out a sigh of relief. Dashie stood up, and trotted over to me. "That's what's got me confused. Don't you investigate after that day's trial? It'd make more sense." I crossed my arms. "Yeah, you'd expect that. I investigate beforehand, so no snooping prosecutors can find anything before me." Horseshoe nodded. "Good plan. I like that. Real clever." He pushed his bowl to the center of the table, and stood up. "Alright, get dressed. We should head out now." I grabbed my t-shirt, pulled on my jeans, and threw on my jacket and hat, and out the door we went. "There's gotta be more at the scene that I didn't notice before... Or maybe I know who the killer is, I just can't remember who... Only time will tell." (Stop the music) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Listen to this) Back at the scene of the crime, I was trying to find a way that it could have been somepony else, who would have tried to frame Hoops. "Alright, so... Hoops came from the upper part of the street... That heads towards the Weather Factory. That means it was somepony who knew he took this route home from work, ergo, they timed the murder to frame him. So it wasn't just a robbery, it was pre-meditated." Detective Horseshoe waved me over to some hoofprints from where Hoops came from. "Hey, Kyle, these hoofprints, these are Hoops'. I know, because they match his hoof size when we arrested him. He was heading from the Weather Factory, right?" I nodded. "So... He stopped there," he pointed to the entrance to the alleyway, "and saw the body, and walked in," he pointed to the hoofprints leading to the bloodstain, "and then turned around to leave... When the guards got him." I nodded in agreement. "That would explain all of these hoofprints in a straight formation at the entrance. They belong to the guards who arrested Hoops." Dashie called out from the other side of the alleyway. "And these hoofprints here. These are too big to be Hoops'. They must be the killer's! They lead all across the street, like there was a chase, and then lead back into the alleyway, right next to the bloodstain, then back out, and in the opposite direction of where Hoops was coming from." I smiled. "Meaning Hoops couldn't be the killer." "That's right, killer... I'm getting closer. Just you wait." Suddenly, an idea popped into my head. "Hey, Horseshoe, are there any abandoned places in that direction, where the killer ran?" He put his hoof on his chin, and then nodded. "Yeah, an old apartment complex... Ah! I see what you're getting at. You think it's his hideout?" I nodded. "Yeah. Lets not investigate it now, it'd be suspicious for three ponies to be walking away from a crime scene and into a potential hideout in broad daylight." Dashie and Horseshoe nodded in agreement. "Alright. Dashie, you were right." I rubbed her head a bit. "The murderer is a friend of Hoops'. He knew Hoops was walking home from work, so he killed Lightning, and left the body out, knowing Hoops would see it, and alerted the guards to said murder. Then, he hunkered down in the abandoned apartment complex." "Heh. I'm not as dumb as I seem." I cocked my eyebrow at her. "Don't get too sure of yourself." "Hey!" Horseshoe and I laughed. Then, Horseshoe nudged my side. "Is there anything else we should be looking for?" I rubbed my chin a bit. "Well... I don't think so... Yeah, I think we're good here. Lets get to the courthouse. But first, lets go back to your house, Horseshoe. I need to change into my suit." (Stop the music) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Listen to this) "Hm... I can't figure out who the killer is! I know he's Hoops' friend, but that's a load of ponies. I need more information. Maybe... No... Gah! I can't figure it out! Just calm down, Kyle... Focus on what's going on now. You have a trial to win!" "Ah, hello, Mr. Bucy." It was Guilt Trip again. "Oh not this jackass again..." "Hello, Guilt Trip... What do you want? I'm trying to think." I glared at him, and he put on a very serious face. "I believe that your assumptions are right. Although I still suspect Hoops, I also believe that you may be correct. I don't really know what to think. You've opened many doors for this case. I'm not going to help you or give you evidence, but I won't be completely against you in there, either." He gave me a dismissive nod, and trotted away. Dashie just stared at him. "Well... That was interesting." I nodded. "Yeah... Well, at least he won't keep trying to shoot my logic down. That'll help. A lot. And that also means that his logic will actually contribute to my case as well." Dashie shrugged. "As long as we don't lose this, I'm fine with anything that happens." "Seriously... You know, I'm wondering what exactly the motive was. If it wasn't just for the money in the wallet, then what? I mean, it was obviously pre-meditated. Why would somepony plan a murder just to steal some money? That's a bit... Much. I mean, really." Dashie shrugged again. "Maybe he wanted revenge for something. I dunno if it was against Hoops, Lightning, or both, but it could be revenge." I scratched my chin. "Hm... That's a good thought. I think I'll use that..." The guard cleared his throat, and flicked his head towards the door. Dashie looked at me expectantly. "You ready?" I nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be. Lets get in there, and blow this case outta the water." (Stop the music) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Listen to this) The judge cleared his throat. "Court is now in session. Is the prosecution ready?" Guilt Trip nodded. "Yes, Your Honor." The judge looked at me. "Is the defense ready?" I stuffed my hand in my pocket. "Of course, Your Honor." The judge nodded. "Then we may resume this case. The prosecution may make it's opening statement." Guilt Trip nodded again, and cleared his throat. "Well, the prosecution has reason to believe that the defendant is, in fact, not the killer. I still have my suspicions, but the points the defense raised yesterday are too conspicuous to let slide. We have established that it may have been one of Mr. Basket's friends who committed the murder, not Mr. Basket himself." The judge closed his eyes, and sighed. "Right... OK, the prosecution may call it's witness." Guilt Trip leaned in on his desk. "The prosecution would like to call Mrs. Basket to the stand." "Hoops' mom? Hm..." Then, an elderly mare, with a grey mane, dark blue eyes, and a coat that was brown like Hoops', but a bit lighter. Her Cutie Mark was a foal in a basket, wrapped in blankets, sleeping soundly. "She must babysit or something." Guilt Trip tapped his hoof on his desk. "Name and occupation, please." Mrs. Basket smiled, and nodded slightly. Her head shook a little when she moved it. "Sure thing, sonny. My name's Caring. Caring Basket. I run a daycare business, and I do a darn good job at it too." (Stop the music, listen to this now) Guilt stood on all fours, and stared straight at Mrs. Basket. "Right. Now, witness, you knew the victim, correct?" "Yessir. I knew him back when I was a bit younger. He was just coming of age then. He was a kind one, he was, always taking me on dates, bringing me flowers..." Her eyes flitted back and forth. She looked very nervous. "I don't understand why anypony would hurt the poor dear. He was getting on in years. He was only five years younger than me, you know-" I shook my head. "The witness should refrain from getting off topic, please." Mrs. Basket glared at me. "You hush up, whippersnapper. I'm gettin' to it." I slouched forward, and frowned. "Whippersnapper... I'm seventeen, lady." Dashie cocked her eyebrow. "Sheesh, what a cranky old bag." She scoffed, and whipped her mane out of her eyes. "Now where was I... Oh, right. Lightning... A kind fella... I don't remember much about him, though. But like I said, nopony would ever want to harm a hair on his pretty little head." Guilt Trip closed his eyes. "Is that all?" Mrs. Basket nodded. "Yep. I don't understand why anypony would wanna kill him, much less my son." I chuckled, and shook my head. "Are you sure you remember anything about him at all? Your son said he wasn't the nicest guy in Equestria." Mrs. Basket blinked. "What're you saying, whippersnapper?" I put my hands on my hips. "There's a problem with your testimony. You keep insisting that Lightning was a really nice pony." She glared at me. "That's because he was! You tryin' to speak ill of the dead, boy?" I shook my head again. "No... But your son, is a different story." (Stop the music, listen to this now) "When I visited him in the Detention Center, he told me that he toyed with mares, and swindled them, and used them, and then stabbed them in the back in the end. Hoops also told me that he did the same thing to you." Guilt Trip stared at me like I was nuts. "But that means Hoops has a motive!" "Not so fast, Guilt. I was at the scene again before this trial. I saw Hoops' hoofprints there, but they were headed here from the Weather Factory, where he works. His hoofprints lead from the opposite end of the street from where the killer ran after the murder, and said hoofprints lead into the alley, when he was arrested by the guards. There's no way Hoops could have killed him!" Guilt Trip closed his eyes, and furrowed his brow. "Hm... You're right. There doesn't seem to be any way Hoops could have done it. But we still don't have any other suspect, so he is still under suspicion." "Can't blame him for that. It's only logical." Suddenly, Mrs. Basket growled. "You were just bad-mouthin' Lightning... Who do you think you are?" I cocked my eyebrow. "Uh... A defense attorney?" Mrs. Basket started gritting her teeth, and gave me a stare that made me shudder a bit. "No. You're just a dirty-mouthed good-for-nothing!" "Ack!" I recoiled a bit. I wasn't expecting such an old woman to get so mad. "He was a sweet boy! He never did anything to me! He didn't swindle me! He didn't do anything like that! I... I swear it..." A tear ran down her face. "She must've really liked him... All that happened years ago, and she still can't let go... Poor mare." I slammed my hands on my desk. "Mrs. Basket, I believe that you, in fact, were 'swindled' by Lightning. If so, I say that you re-testify to satisfy these facts." She kept crying, and shook her head, repeatedly saying "it's not true." She eventually stopped, wiped her face, and let out a long, stressed sigh. (Stop the music) "Alright, whippersnapper... You got me. I... I just don't understand why he did those things to me... I'll tell you everything." The judge nodded. "Please, go on, Mrs. Basket. And Mr. Bucy?" "Yes, Your Honor?" He gave me a sad look. "Go easy on her, OK?" I nodded. "Yes, Your Honor." Guilt Trip leaned down on his desk a bit. "Witness, if you will." (Listen to this) Mrs. Basket took a deep breath, and hung her head in shame. "Lightning was always nice to me at first whenever we first started seeing each other... But eventually, he began to act harshly, always yelling at me, and demanding that I loan him some money. He started getting physical when I said no... So I was always giving him money, and myself... I know Hoops didn't kill him. I think it may have been his friend at the Weather Factory. Hoops told me Lightning snatched one of his friends' marefriend away..." I rubbed my chin. "Do you know this friend's name?" She put a hoof to her chin, and then smiled sheepishly. "Uh, I forgot. Sorry about that." "Of course you did. OF. COURSE. I can never catch a break, can I?" Guilt Trip slammed his hoof on his desk. "Witness! I implore you to try to remember. Dig deeper! Any nugget of information will help!" Mrs. Basket rubbed the side of her head, and closed her eyes. "It was... I can't remember his name, but I do know that he worked in the Rainbow part, with Hoops." I nodded. "That could narrow it down. Now the guards don't need to interrogate the entire factory." Dashie grinned. "Alright! We've got this in our favor now." I crossed my arms, and nodded. "Right. Lets just hope it stays that way..." Guilt smiled. "I will be personally interrogating some of the workers myself. I assure you that tomorrow, one of them will be on the witness stand... Is that all, Mrs. Basket?" She nodded meekly. "Then that will be all. You may leave." She slowly climbed down from the stand, and left. I felt bad for making her have to dig up those horrible memories, but she gave us some valuable information. (Stop the music) The judge cleared his throat. "Alright then. Does the prosecution have any more witnesses to call?" Guilt Trip shook his head. "No, Your Honor." The judge nodded. "Right then. I grant both sides one final day to find the murderer, if not, I will be forced to declare Hoops guilty. This is your last chance, you two, make it count." He banged his gavel, and we were off. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Third Person) A little ways down the street, Kyle broke off in the direction to head back to the scene of the crime. Dashie looked worried, and Horseshoe looked confused. "Kyle... Where are you going?" Horseshoe furrowed his brow. "I hope you aren't planning on investigating more, and not getting any sleep." Kyle waved his hand dismissively, and grinned. "Relax, I'll be fine. I'm just gonna go over the scene a bit more, and then head back. I'll catch you two later." They both nodded, and headed back to Horseshoe's house. Kyle headed back to the scene of the crime. But that's not where he was actually headed. "I didn't want to worry them... Time to check out that old apartment complex. I bet the murderer knows we're on his trail, so he probably turned tail and is running to hide somewhere else. He probably left behind some evidence." The building definitely fit the "abandoned" description. The door looked like it had been boarded up in the past, but the boards were gone, and the door was slightly open. Kyle decided to let himself in. *Crrrrreeeeaaaaak* (Listen to this) The door made a terrible sound when Kyle opened it. He shook his head, and looked around. There were bits of rubble laying on the ground, most likely from the building falling apart from disuse. "Hm... Yep. Creepy, falling apart, and dark. Definitely a hideout. Lets get searching..." Kyle looked in a few of the rooms, but he didn't see anything important. Just old, empty apartments. He went up a few floors, and saw that on the fourth floor, all the walls to each apartment had been knocked out, making the floor one large room. "Hm... This must have been his main area of the building... Spiffing, if I do say so myself." A dark figure loomed in the shadows, watching Kyle, who was oblivious to its presence. "I wonder who this nutter is. He's taken over an abandoned apartment complex, hollowed out a floor, and only stayed there for a day or two." Kyle almost tripped over something, and when he kneeled down to see what it was, he couldn't believe his luck. "The handle of the knife! Ha! Now I can show this to any witnesses from the factory, and if any of them get nervous... It's our killer. I've got you now..." Kyle kept on looking around a bit, but he couldn't find anything. He took off his hat, and wiped his forehead. "Sheesh, it's hot today... Where the heck did this guy keep all of his stuff? He couldn't have moved his entire setup out of here without getting caught." The dark figure crept out of his shadowy hiding place, and picked up a bit of wood from an old table that had broken long ago. (Stop the music, listen to this now) Kyle scratched his head, and put his hat back on. "Yeesh, this guy didn't have anything. Who could he be...?" The figure, who was a stallion, shook his head, and smiled wickedly. Kyle stepped over some smashed furniture, and into an old living room, which was the only room without the walls busted out. He let out a whistle. "Jackpot... This is where he was staying, no doubt about it. Old food, newspapers... Wait a second." The stallion's eyes widened, and he knew what Kyle had found. Kyle took the photo off of the nightstand, and looked at it. "It's an old picture of Hoops, and one of his friends... The darn picture is faded... Who is it? He looks so familiar..." The killer climbed over the furniture. He was so close. Kyle had no idea. Kyle crossed his arms. " I know that stallion... But from where... Dang it! Why can't I remember?!" The stallion raised the wooden plank with his wing. Kyle rubbed his chin, and then his eyes widened with realization. "Oh my Goddesses... The killer... He's-" The stallion cut Kyle off. "Right behind you." THWACK (Stop the music) Kyle fell to the floor with a dull thud. The killer smiled like a madstallion. "You thought you were so smart, didn't you, Kyle? Well now you're mine. I'm gonna lock you away, and after tomorrow's trial... You're dead."