Nightmare § 3

[prosecutes]

Police officers and detectives alike rushed around the room in a frenzy, each hoping to find that one piece of evidence to seal the deal and tie the case to a suspect.

In other words, it was just another day for Miles Edgeworth. As per usual, he calmly strolled through the scene of the crime. Detective Gumshoe trailed behind clumsily, occasionally tripping over a piece of evidence or hunched officer here and there. The numerous yeps and curses this resulted in were ignored; the detective was too busy looking up at the ceiling and all around the room in awe.

"I've never been in such a huge fancy room before, sir!" he boomed. Edgeworth cringed as he heard Gumshoe's words echo throughout the concert hall. "Can you imagine what it would be like to run a trial in one of these?" Without looking back, the prosecutor shook his head. He had no time for Gumshoe's antics, not when a suspect was to be named within minutes.

"Attention, investigation team," he announced boldly. Every last man and woman in the room stopped in their tracks to look up at the magenta-clad prosecutor now standing on the concert hall stage. "The guilty party in the Khan Ductor murder case is none other than Forté Klavírní."

The room went into an uproar. "That's impossible!" "But she's so sweet!" "She doesn't even speak English!" Edgeworth couldn't care less. "Those of you within trajectory of the stationary murder weapon, I suggest you move," was all he had to say to regain their undivided attention. He was referring to the firearm hidden behind a side curtain, affixed to the wall. "I have discovered the hidden trigger mechanism for the gun."

Humming lightly to himself, Edgeworth put on a pair of thin latex gloves. From his court record came sheets of piano music, carefully wrapped in plastic. He took a seat at the piano and prepared himself.

Every note, every beat, every dynamic. Perfectly pronounced by his nimble fingers. Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu -- the piece performed mere hours ago when the murder occurred.

The investigation came to a complete standstill. All eyes were on Miles Edgeworth, looking prim and proper as ever, playing the instrument with all the care and precision of a professional. Yet upon reaching a certain measure, he slammed his fingers down on a sour-sounding chord and retracted them at once. After a delay of exactly 3.5 seconds, the weapon fired.

After the resulting roar of panic had subsided, Edgeworth calmly removed a digital camera from his court record. "This recording device was confiscated from a concert attendee who intended to upload the performance to YouTube," he explained. "If any of you had been paying close attention, you would have noticed the A sharp played in the chord where it is clearly marked as A natural. An insult to Chopin if there ever was one."

Getting up from the piano stool, Edgeworth took a step away hastily as the piano was swarmed with detectives searching for fingerprints and trigger devices. "I'll begin drawing up the paperwork for miss Klavírní's arrest," he declared.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Sits up and yawns, lazily rubbing an eye as he attempts to wake up.*

...Hm. I must be so out of practice by now...

Comments

[poet-of-piano.livejournal.com]

[The rush of emotions that went through him at the sight of this dream was overwhelming, but none of them were as powerful at the utter horrified shock he felt when he heard his own composition being played... Even more so, because that was a composition he never wished to be published. What in heaven's name had Julian done?! He was meant to burn that piece! If he ever managed to return to his own reality, Frederic would have to have a word with Mr. Fontana...]

An insult indeed... [It wasn't fair for him to be too angry at the moment. After all, he hadn't even met this man before, so it would be rude to let his own feelings through.]

[prosecutes]

[Edgeworth obviously didn't recognize Chopin -- even if he did remember what the famous composer looked like, the drawings recorded in history books portrayed him looking much older. As far as he knew, this young man was simply another pianist offended at the criminal's tactics.]

Criminals rarely give thought to anyone's wishes aside from their own.

[poet-of-piano.livejournal.com]

I can see that. Using a piano, which is meant to portray beauty and emotion, as a trigger for a weapon... It's appalling. I am rather impressed that you managed to discover such a well hidden mechanism.

[prosecutes]

Though it was not obvious at first, logic led the way to finding the answer. No matter what the case, there can only be one truth.

[demonichymn.livejournal.com]

Pssh. Awful lot of work just to get one felony, if you ask me.

[prosecutes]

What do you mean?

[notaskittlerly.livejournal.com]

[... well, colour her impressed, if a little shocked]

That was very impressive.

[prosecutes]

Practice makes perfect, I suppose.

[notaskittlerly.livejournal.com]

I didn't even realise that a piano could be used that way...

[prosecutes]

A criminal will use whatever tools they've got on hand. The woman was an expert with the piano... it's only natural that she would use a familiar element.

[gesangvoll]

To use something as elegant as the piano for something as crude as murder... Did this truly happen, and, if so, did the culprit receive just punishment?

[prosecutes]

The defense was utterly hopeless with all the evidence against her. I saw to it that she received the death penalty for her crimes.

[gesangvoll]

That is rather reassuring. The punishment fits the crime, I believe. After all, not only did she murder someone that I am assuming was a musician, but she also did so through modifying a piano.

You play very well, by the way.

[entropygoggles.livejournal.com]

You play the piano, Mr. Edgeworth?

[prosecutes]

Yes... though I haven't had a chance to practice in quite some time now.

[entropygoggles.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that! Can I listen to you play sometime?

[magictrucygirl.livejournal.com]

You probably could have taught Daddy how to play piano better than I could Mama Edgeworth!

[prosecutes]

You play as well?

[magictrucygirl.livejournal.com]

I can play better than Daddy can, that's for sure. But I'm a magician, piano isn't really my thing, ya know?

[slammingtables.livejournal.com]

G-Gee, that's one creative way to kill someone. All joking aside; I didn't know you played piano, Edgeworth.

[prosecutes]

The subject never came up before.

[slammingtables.livejournal.com]

Oh, of course. Since we never have conversations about pianos. We should do it more often.

[knightmare-hime.livejournal.com]

It would be wise to actually make use of that courthouse here in Somarium. You play the piano quite well. [Possibly better than we do.] Have you considered putting together a justice system?

[prosecutes]

Of course. Yet it takes more than a couple of lawyers to establish an entire justice system. The process is not a simple one.

[knightmare-hime.livejournal.com]

No doubt. Laws need to be enforced before we can tread down that path. And we would need to appoint a judge, though, if the overlord was willing, I would say that role could easily be filled. She is, after all, the overseer of Somarium.