Flannel tipped his fedora and flashed a billion dollar grin, grandstanding for the judge and the entire studio audience. His star power clearly leaving them all starstruck and gasping for words. Immediately, Mina had a question that came right out of her legal gun.

She thrusted a finger at the wannabe Michaelson impersonator.

"Objection. I already call a faulty witness. When I spoke to Flannel before, he wasn't acting like he was the genius artist behind Chiller and the Man In the Reflective Device!"

"Yeah that's right," a middle aged woman from the audience cried. "You're Flannel Billions…not the King of Pop!"

Flannel struck a funky pose and exclaimed "Ow!" like he was Freddie Fahrenheit in the middle of a vocal improvisation. "That hurts," he said. "You see. While I may not be the King of Pop, I am a direct heir to his throne. Call me the Royal Prince of Pop!"

Ashley rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna call you the Clown of Pap if you don't get on with it. Tell the good audience and the judge what you saw on the day of the murder!"

Flannel crossed his arms and funkily bobbed his head. "If you'll kindly bring up the monitors, I can point out something during our performance that clearly had no rhythm!"

The overhead monitor flashed behind-the-scenes footage of DeFunkt's final funk. Mina glanced over at Star and Trudy in the audience. With their hands to their mouths and eyes shining bright, they were giddily watching the behind the scenes footage of their favorite dance duo before their final epilogue.

As the robots played, the cameras pivoted around them and as soon as they reached Ladbot's backside. Flannel cried, "Hold the groove. ZOOM IN!"

The monitor zoomed in to a suspicious rectangular device hooked onto the back of Christian's golden jetpack.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Ooo oooh yeah yeah yeah, c'mon-a!" Flannel screeched in his funky falsetto. Mina winced and so did the judge.

The judge slammed the gavel. "That octave is not permitted in this courtroom! Especially for male singers!"

"Unless you're a eunuch," Mina snarked.

"My apologies," Flannel said in a hushed voice. " I just saw what turned this Thriller into a Chiller! It's some kind of explosive device planted on his back."

Flannel began to chant like he was a Hee Bee Gee Bee in the middle of a hit disco number. "What's it doing on his back? What's it doing on his back, tonight?! Todd Le Matinee must have planted it! Ooh ooh yeah! Ow!"

Ashley punched Flannel in the shoulder. "Just shut up and give them your testimony. If you stopped being a funkster for a second, they'd all see the case you have here!"

"Ooh ooh yeah," Flannel nodded as Ashley glared at him. "Scary lady you are so right. Just as my super fine girlfriend saw Todd pat Christian on his back, I saw an explosive device rewatching the footage! Our number was a banger but I'm afraid things shouldn't have been that bangin'!"

The judge fixed her glasses. Her elderly eyes opened in amazement. "At long last, we've reached the point after much funkin' around. If Ms. Krepes saw Todd pat Christian's back and you see a bomb attached to it, that surely means…he's…guilty!"

The room quieted down, including Mina. All eyes were on her, waiting for a defense against this fail safe testimony. She wanted to speak up so badly, but the silence was swallowing her whole. There was truly no way out of this jam. And it wasn't the funky kind of jam either or the jam you put on toast. It was total jam in her defense. She observed the paused monitor scanning it for an escape until something caught her eye on the very edge of it. She squinted her eyes and leaned closer.

"Miss Hawkins," the judge said, "is there something in your eyes?"

"X's," Ashley chuckled. "Because she's toast."

"No…" Mina said. "Hold my intelligent phone for a second. Zoom in…I see the truth!"

"It can't get any closer," the barrister said. "Maybe by a few pixels."

"Good…" Mina said. "I need all the pixels I can get get."

They zoomed in even closer to an insignia. One that had a very distinctive and bold symbol. It was a streak of yellow lightning…wearing a high heel. Beneath it read, the Electra Company."

The very company that had employed Flannel Billions!