FIFTH TRIAL

[stagemanagers]

[The sound of the courtroom doors opening is louder and deeper than the stairwell doors were, as if they understand their dramatic importance.

It's time for yet another trial.

Natalie's podium has joined the other somberly-decorated ones in pretty short order. Unfortunately, the other ones are left entirely as they were - no pillows, food, or coffee provided by the Opera staff. You'll just have to try and make this quick. The Balladeer sounds like he'd like to get this over with as well when he speaks up.]

I'm sorry, Heather. I really didn't think... [He sighs.] Okay, go ahead.

Comments

[allicareabout]

She was shot.

[That's incredibly blunt, far more so than Billy usually is with this sort of thing; he doesn't seem short-tempered, per se, but he's not exactly here for fucking around right now, either.]

She took a single gunshot to the chest. Her shirt was covered in blood as a result, and there were multiple sets of bloody handprints on it, all centered over the wound. Her hands were bloody, it's possible one of those sets was hers, but it's pretty obvious that one of those sets was not.

Our killer also appears to have done her the courtesy of closing her eyes after she died, given that there were also small traces of blood on her eyelids. Because we're looking at a charmer like that.

There was another small pool of blood close to the body, looking like it was probably dripped down from someone or something. Some more scattered blood droplets leading towards the bathrooms. There was also a bullet in the wall in addition to the one in the girl.

So if we could get this underway so somebody can get what's coming to them, that would be perfect.

[...It's. Going to take him a bit longer than usual to calm down today, sorry about that.]

[trettende]

[ Hans totally agrees with you there, Billy. The sooner they get this over with, the better. ]

That makes sense with that I found, too. There was blood in the men's bathroom, on the basin of one of the sinks. The killer must have tried to wash their hands there, though they didn't do a good job of cleaning up any of the blood that dripped there.

[dontfeedplants]

[Wait a minute.]

She was shot? But who here even has a gun?

[aflatouttahell]

[Okay, she can do this, this is fine. She's fine.]

Shot? But... I know I didn't hear gunshots.

[dieformymusic]

[Alright so. Barely anyone but he and Raoul had sleep and the suspects were on the second floor. Great. Maybe Balladeer has the right idea for once.]

I found a handhund buried in the garden. It might have been used in the murder. When I checked the chamber it was empty and no bullets were lying around

...the owner of the gun should come forward sooner than later. It might be easier to prove you didn't do it. If they didn't do it.

[allicareabout]

That's what I want to know.

[aflatouttahell]

I got a gun from the booth in the lobby a while ago, but it was empty. So guns can come out of there, but I don't know about bullets.

[trettende]

[ Much as Hans might not like Winslow, he can't deny he did actually find something useful... Bleh. ]

Does the gun you found match the gun Jezebel had?

[trettende]

You mean the merchandise booth was handing out weapons?

[ Jesus christ ]

[aflatouttahell]

A gun on its own can't do much. It was a weird gun, though, it had little owls on it? I'd think gun people wouldn't want cute birds on their pistols.

[tellthestory]

.......what?

[trettende]

That's... weird. But distinctive, at least.

Is it possible the merchandise booth could hand out bullets too?

[dieformymusic]

...no, no owls were present on it.

Just an ordinary gun.

We can leave out Jezebel as the owner.

[dechagny]

I removed the bullet from the wall. [He presents it.] There seems to be dried blood on it, so I do think it might have...passed clean through. I also found a cushion with two bullet holes in it nearby. They definitely smelt of gunpowder, and might have been used to lessen the sounds of the shots.

[A pause, as Raoul adjusts his posture, leaning on the podiums.] And I would bet quite a bit on the culprit receiving the gun from the merchandise booth. I have...gotten a sword out of it, myself, but I keep it locked up.

[Yes, a sword and a wig and a cape and a retractable knife.]

[trettende]

Great. So we still have no idea whose gun it is.

[ Someone's still pissy from not sleeping... ]

I think the fact that it was buried should be incriminating enough. The gun you found has to be the murder weapon.

ey yo

[dechagny]

[As much as Raoul wants this trial over and done with, suddenly something comes to mind.]

Hold on. Is there...is there a way to tell if the gun was actually used recently? It wouldn't be hot, and the dirt might obstruct things, but...blast it, who here has some knowledge of gun use?

[So either they confirm the usage of the gun or pin down some suspects.]

[aflatouttahell]

It had owls on it? The handle is made out of rubber, too, which is weird. If... the guns I've seen are anything to go by.

[aflatouttahell]

Maybe, but I haven't gone there as much as some other people here. I know they have some weird stuff in there... and my diary, which is still creepy.

[allicareabout]

There should be some gunpowder fouling still on and in the barrel, if it was fired recently.

[...A lot of people get shot in Chicago.]

[tellthestory]

[There's a long moment of silence.]

Yeah, uh, that's...yeah.

[aflatouttahell]

... do... do you want it? It sounds like you know it, I could bring it to your office.

[inforapenny]

...I've never handled a gun before, but I know that firing one leaves residue. If it'd been fired recently, there should still be residue in the chamber, which unless the, uh. The shooty-- the barrel? was also packed with dirt, then there might still be some residue there.

[tellthestory]

I would really rather you didn't do that!

[dechagny]

Would the dirt it was buried in obscure that?

[He's sorry, he knows you're all tired but let's fucking check our shit here so we can pin it on this dastardly foe without a doubt.]

[dechagny]

It's worth looking, just to be sure. I don't doubt that guns could have come from the merchandise booth, but I want to know if we have the right gun.