Ace Attorney (I'll come up with a real name eventually) [RPG]

[The Truth]

"Perhaps you are looking at this the wrong way. What if there was more than one culprit? Then would there be a reason to leave a card?"

[Blade]

-==IC: Annabeth==-

Annabeth seemed shocked by the idea, but slowly nodded.
"That would make sense, yeah..."

[The Truth]

"And what do you think that reason is?"

[Blade]

-==IC: Annabeth==-

"To try and cover up who was the other culprit?"

[The Truth]

"Hm...no, I doubt that. I think the calling card was left by the real killer."

[Blade]

-==IC: Annabeth==-

"Hmm.." Annabeth nodded; that was her original idea, but she seemed confused still, about the two culprits thing.

[The Truth]

Pike sighed. "Assume culprit 1 hired culprit 2 to do the deed. Culprit 2 leaves a calling card. There is only one logical reason for this: culprit 2 wishes for culprit 1 to know that they were the one responsible for the death, and thus require the money."

[Blade]

-==IC: Annabeth==-

Annabeth nodded.
"Okay, yeah, that makes sense." Annabeth said, as it made much more sense than any of her theories.

[The Truth]

"Now, going by that logic, we realize we are looking for TWO killers. Thus, it doesn't matter if the person who Diddet has an alibi."

[Blade]

-==IC: Annabeth==-

Annabeth smirked at the pun, but nodded.
"But that then raises the question of who the other killer is..." Annabeth said with a slight frown.
And do we have any evidence to prove it?

[The Truth]

"Hm...perhaps we should begin by trying to catch the killer's employer. To do that...what would the motive be for killing a thief?"

[Blade]

-==IC: Annabeth==-

"Perhaps someone who's had something of theirs stolen." Annabeth then looked at the autopsy report and the crime scene photo again, to see if there was anything there.

[The Truth]

"Hm."
Pike mimed swinging a fishing rod. "Well, you've hooked a lead, now reeeeeel it in. Our good prosecutor might know some info that could prove payne-ful to his case."

[Blade]

-==IC: Annabeth==-

Annabeth nodded, and then slammed the desk.
"Mr. Payne; do you happen to know whether our victim has stolen anything recently?"

[The Truth]

(Payne): "..."

(Diddet): "..."

(Judge): "..."

(Gallery): "..."

(Payne): *flips hair* "Ms. Valentine, may I remind you that the victim was a serial pickpocket?"

(Pike): "Perhaps a better question would be, was anything found on the corpse?"

(Payne): "Nothing was found."

[Blade]

-==IC: Annabeth==-

"If there was nothing found, then whatever it was was probably taken..." Annabeth mumbled with a frown.
"If he were a serial pickpocket, why might nothing be there?" Annabeth questioned, as those two things didn't make sense together.

[The Truth]

"Er...perhaps...Ah! I know. Obviously, the drunk reclaimed whatever was taken from-"

(Pike): "OB-JEC-TION!"

"Was anything FOUND on the accused?"

(Payne): *sweats* "we-well, no, but-"

(Pike): "Well, Ms. Valentine? Who do you think should be searched?"

[Blade]

-==IC: Annabeth==-

"I believe that Mr. Diddet, who was the first known to come across the body, should be searched."

[The Truth]

(Payne): "OBJECTION!"
"There is no sound basis for searching the witness!"

(Pike): "Hm. He's going to be stubborn, I see. Well, this works in our favor. If we search the right thing, we can open a nice can of worms, get Diddet looking guilty before we ever search him. Now, think about this: if something was taken from the corpse, something - or things, rather - would be left behind. Do you agree?"

[Blade]

-==IC: Annabeth==-

"Right." Annabeth said with a nod.