Morix: Web of Mistrust

Turnabout Masquerade, Part 18

November 23

Courtroom No. 6

12:00 PM

Deirdre Brigit

When I arrived in the courtroom after the recess, I could see the suspect of the hour standing at the witness stand. All three members of the prosecution's team were watching him intently, and Anton almost appeared to be afraid of the white-haired man watching nearby. I couldn't blame him in the slightest given the circumstances. We all had reason to believe that he was someone responsible for many cruel acts, including attempts to harm people for his own gain. I glared at him carefully, wary of what was going to happen next but still trying to keep my composure in the face of this opposition. 

"State your name and occupation for the court," Judge Diaphan said firmly, not at all in the mood to dawdle or engage in unnecessary conversation. 

The man was silent for a long moment, and I took in the full view of him. He had white hair cut close to his face and eyes so striking that they appeared to have the potential to pierce anyone's soul. He had his arms crossed, a clear sign that he wasn't in the mood to speak with any of us. "Collack Strann," he finally replied after a long moment. 

"Mr. Strann, you must be aware of what you have been called here for," Prosecutor Burke declared, her voice nothing short of fiery in its intensity. "We have reason to believe that you are responsible for this case. Furthermore, there are accusations that you are in truth Cade Green and Carson Rinko. Both of these identities are associated with the former head of Interpol. What do you say to that?"

"It isn't true," Mr. Strann replied simply. His voice lacked anything resembling enthusiasm, though this was understandable given what he was being accused of. "You're wrong to believe that I'm the one behind all of this. What reason would I have to do this? I've been watching the trial, and the only reason that you think that I did this is because you believe that I'm both of those people you just mentioned. Without that, you don't have a motive, and you don't have a case either. Is there anything you would like to say to that?"

"I guess that he isn't going to be giving up so easily," Victoria sighed. "I don't understand. I don't believe that Detective Umber would have much of a reason to lie about all of this, and that's quite the radical story for her to concoct assuming that she's been lying... Plus, Prosecutor Umber is going to want to back her up, isn't he?"

"The court would hear your testimony about what you were doing at the time of the attack on the victim," Judge Diaphan announced. She seemed to believe just the same as everyone else that the man on the stand was the culprit, and I was beyond relieved to have her on our side. She was going to make pushing him the right way even easier given her blatant lack of resistance. 

"Alright," Mr. Strann said with a loose shrug. His lack of defiance didn't sit well with me, and I had to wonder just what it was that was going through his head. What was he planning? He hadn't confessed to the crime and was still insisting that he was innocent, so what was he going to tell us to try and save himself? We would simply have to see. 

~ Witness Testimony ~ 

~ What I Was Doing ~

-"I was going out and about my daily business just like anyone else. I had no reason to attack the victim."

-"I've never even met the woman. Eileen Liyle... Razi Lesa... It doesn't matter. I haven't ever spoken to her."

-"Why would I want to harm someone who I'm not connected to at all? You're working solely off of conjecture at this point."

-"You claim that I'm these two people. Cade Green and Carson Rinko... Do you have any true evidence that I'm connected to either one of those names?"