12 Chapter 12 - Another fight another angle

WITNESS'S TESTIMONY 4 - DAISY BLOSSOM (IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE SHOOTING A DRAMA)

"The party was an exclusive one. Only production team and stage crew. The only one unreleated was Edward. Me and Devvy were the last one to get there. Devvy's producer, Hugh Palton made a toast. Some of us gave congratulatory speeches to Devvy and went drinking and eating.

At one point, during party, she whispered something into Edward's ears and they both went outside.I was looking the whole time by the way. They were too far to hear but I'm sure Devvy is the one who talked first.

She said something to Edward.His face suddenly went black.It was more like he was caught red-handed. She kept going... now that I thought about that it was Devvy who mostly did the talking.Anyway, she kept talking and talking until she started hitting him on his chest and shoulders.Then she cried on his shoulders.It was like they were shooting a drama.

Lastly she screamed something at him and turned away. Right then Edward grabbed her hand and tried to pull her back in. She struggled back. But as you may have already known, Edward is a model and undoubtedly his body strength was no match for a girl like Devvy.

That was when Mr.Palton and I ran to the scene and broke them away. He kept screaming "This is not over. We are not over yet." Devvy got super upset and was into serious-crying mode by then. That's why I didn't let her drive, you see. She didn't say a word on the way back.

I thought of asking her what it was all about. But then I thought of Edward's words and realized that maybe she was breaking up with him and he didn't take it too well.

That's all. That's what happened at the party. Except for their fight, nothing out-of-ordinary happened."

"I see....That's pretty normal." Judge Colonel said.

I need to get into examination before that knucklehead prosecutor over there interrupts.

"If I may, Your Honor..."

"Proceed Mr.Morals"

This is my last shot. I need information to estabalish argurments that would keep Josh from a sentence or the judge will really make a verdict this time.

...............................................................................................................

CROSS EXAMINATION 4

"You said that you and Mr.Palton went out to separate them as soon as they started fighting."

"Yes.That's what I said."

"Does that mean Mr.Palton was watching them the whole time too?"

"Oh.ugh...no....sorry if I misled you like this.Let me explain.Except for me, Mr.Palton and other people were totally unaware of the fight.They were socializing.He came with me only because I asked him to. You see.....when I dashed out of the room, he was standing at the entrance. I just screamed "OH MY GOD they are fighting..." and he simply came with me.

Actually he followed me. I got to them before him because I was the one who realized the situation first and he had a limping leg."

"I'm sorry, limping leg?"

"Yes. Mr.Palton had injured his leg.The other day, when he was instructing constructors and builders for the stage, he tripped over one of the props and fell down. It wasn't that high but he twisted his right ankle. That's why he is limping now although the doctor said he would recover soon."

That sure sounds like Mr.Palton. He wants to be in charge of everything.

"Are you done stalling the trial Mr.Morals?" Payaya interrupted me.

"What? I'm not stalling anything."

"He is right Mr.Morals. You are kind of stalling the trial. It's about time I make a decision."

"Wait wait...just wait a second.I'm not done yet."

Without even waiting for their response, I faced the witness and said.

"Witness.Can you tell me in details about what happened when you and Mr.Palton got to them?"

"Ummmmm.....sure."

"Like I said earlier I got there before Mr.Palton. As soon as I got there, I tried to separate them but Edward was so strong and he just wouldn't let go off Devvy. But when Mr.Palton got there, we combined our strength to detach her from him.

I grabbed her hand and took her to the car.Mr.Palton stayed behind trying to hold Edward back.Then I started the engine and drove right away."

She finished talking.

"Satisfied?" Mr.Payaya said with a smirk.

Grrr.......her testimony is pretty solid.I don't even know what to ask.At this rate I'm gonna lose the case and Josh is going to jail.

"This is ridiculous.Your Honor, the prosecution demands a verdict right this instant. All the evidences are pointing at defendant and defense couldn't make counter-arguments.There is no....."

"Wait!!!!!!!!!!"

That was me who screamed. Suddenly all eyes are on me.

"What did you just say?"

"I said I demand a verdict..."

"Not you.Witness."

"Me?"

"Yeah.You.Can you repeat the last part of what you just said?"

I can see that she is confused but she repeated.

"Okay.....I said I started the engine and drove off."

"So, you guys left and Devvy didn't pay for the bill?"

"No.Why would she pay for it? It was a celebration for her sixth-anniversary not her birthday treat."

"Then who did?"

"Mr.Palton did.That was the plan from the begining. Why? Is it important?"

HELL.....Yeah.

I accidentally said "A-HA" out loud.

"Your Honor, what is happenig? Is Mr.Morals losing his mind?"

With a big, big smile I said

"It's you who is about to lose his mind Mr.Payaya. Miss Blossom, you gave me just what I needed."

"Mr.Morals what's happening.Am I the only one who is clueless right now?"

"Allow me to explain Your Honor. Do you remember, earlier in Miss Blossom's testimony that she admitted that she saw vomit on the couch while she was waiting in the living room?"

"It’s hard to forget.Yes."

"Yesterday, when I was at the crime scene, I saw it too. But it wasn't just vomit I saw. I saw something else. Covered in the filty vomit, I saw a piece of paper. It was a receipt of the payment from last nigh party."

With a proud smile I turned to Mr.Payaya as I said the last word.

"Ahhhhhhhh............" He seemed to realize what I am getting at.

"Eehhhhh......" Daisy followed a second later.

"I don't understand. What does that receipt have to do with the murder, Mr.Morals? Care to elaborate?"

See. I told you.He can be naive sometimes.

"I didn't bring up the receipt as I was self-convinced that Miss Love paid for the bill and it would be logical to have found it in her living room.But now Miss Blossom testimony just told us that someone else paid for it. So why was the receipt which wasn't paid by the victim found in her living room?"

I purposedly raised my voice on last words.

"Huhhhhhh......I see. That's brilliant Mr.Morals.Good job."

"Clearly only one person could have brought it to the crime scene and that one person is none other than the payer himself, MR.HUGH PALTON!!!!!!"

".................................................."

The whole courtroom is in an uprorar now.

"Order Order Order in the court.Please be silent."

I take that as a chance and declared.

"The defense would like Mr.Palton to testify about his presence at the crime scene."

"Ob-Ob-Objection.This doesn't change anything.The prosecution's point still stands.Bringing Mr.Palton into this mess wouldn't make any difference."

"OBJECTION.This changes EVERYTHING.If he brought the receipt to the scene, that means he would have witnessed the crime……or worse he could have COMMITTED it."

"Ughhh...." Mr.Payaya groaned.

"Mr.Morals is right."

YES.The table has turned.

"Order Order Ordre in the court."

Judge Colonel pounded his gavel.

"Court will make a decision."

"Today's trial has reached to an end. A new fact has come into the light. That is a new witness has appeared. And we will hear why the receipt he paid for was found at the crime scene from this new witness, Mr.Hugh Palton. The court demands further investigations from both prosecution and defense."

"Yes.Your Honor."

"Yes.Your Honor"

"The court is adjourned.We will continue this trial the day after tomorrow at 10 a.m."

Everybody including judge Colonel started standing up from their seats.Then I remembered something and said

"Your Honor, please wait."

He turned back with an annoyed, presumeably angry face and said

"What Mr.Morals? I have a wedding to attend to tomorrow. Do you want me to miss out on that one too?"

"Um.No no Your Honror. I was just gonna ask if I could investigate the crime scene too?"

"Oh yeah that you can. I will call a baliff and issue you a permit later."

"Thanks.Your Honor."

After taking an issued permit from a baliff, I ate dinner, went back home and called it a day.

I didn' want to do anything.I've used up all my energy in the court. I've got one more day to investigate anyway.