Between Ashley's pair of reliable witnesses and a rockist boomer judge who harbored a hatred for anything pop, Mina was sure it couldn't get much worse. She knew her facts well: Himbolake was 'improving' his relationship with ex before she died, and even though she had died ingesting his tacky mints, it was Penny who's hands had been on the box. It wasn't fair to accuse Penny, even if Mina's client has the dubious blood red aura, but Mina was at least hoping that Ashley could convince the judge that Penny hadn't known about the poison so it could ruled as an accidental death.

Still, the poison had to come from somewhere and Mina knew it originated from a man who was as sweet and deadly as poisoned honey. She had to prevent the poison truth from seeping out of his veins and into the general public.

Himbolake grinned gallantly and ran his fingers along the ridges of his cornrows. It seemed he was quite confident Mina would get him off scot free. But she didn't account for one thing: his big, stupid mouth.

Barry Stair, the aptly named barrister (Mina wondered if his parents pushed him into that job or it was a stage name) ruffled his powdered wig and read from an aged scroll to the judge. It seemed he took great pride in acting like this was a 17th century trial.

"The great…and *ahem* honorable Judge Jude Mentle will preside over the case of Stabs V. Himbolake in lieu of the tragic absence of Justice Divine Justice."

Mina patted Blind on the back, trying to make him feel comforted while they searched for his grandma.

The judge climbed his way to the front of the room, where he sat on his perch like a hawk ready to swoop upon some unfortunate rodent. "I don't appreciate that throat clearing when you said honorable," Mentle said. "Such a disrespectful whippersnapper!"

"Whippersnapper!" The powdered barrister gasped. "I'm 57 your honor."

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"57 going on twelve, boy!" Mentle snapped. "Now tell me this case before I find something else to complain about."

"Yeesh…" Mina muttered, rolling her eyes. "He'd complain about heaven given the chance."

Barry Stair cleared his throat again nervously. "Your honor, Mr. Dustin Himbolake, famed solo member of the popular boy band N'Snare has been accused of murdering his ex girlfriend, the Princess of Pretty Pop herself, Whitney Stabs!"

Mentle banged his gaval. "You know, when I was thirty five in 1975, and rockers ruled the airwaves, this kind of awful thing never happened! Rockers never did anything like this…"

Mina rolled her eyes for a second time. "Oh yeah, totally no sex, drugs and rock n roll huh?!"

"That's my genre's motto," Mentle said, and grinned his yellowing old teeth. "Notice how it isn't murder, poison and pop music!"

Mina slapped her hand in her face. She has totally set herself up for that punchline. Being grody and elderly hadn't prevented Mentle from having quite punchy comebacks.

"Anyway," Mentle said, pointing at Barry. "Continue…"

Barry pointed to where Janie was sitting. "The sister and conservator of Whitney Stabs, has accused Himbolake of poisoning her sister with Take My Breath Away mints in a fit of jealousy and rage over her sister's autobiography, You're Poison and…"

"Objection!" a deep voice boomed right in Mina's ear. She looked to her left and saw Himbolake stand up.

"Your honor," Dustin said, grinning broadly. "No offense, but this testimony Janie is about to present is totally stupido! And I'd like to take this to the court of appeals!"

"What in the huh?" Mina squeaked. "Court of appeals?"

The judge seemed equally perplex but Himbolake, with a wave of his biceps, threw sparkling glitter in the air and flexed for the teeny boppers. Soon the room was filled with the shrill screams of lovestruck teenage girls. "Eeeee Dustin! We believe you!"

"We love you Dustin!"

Soon, it was like they were at a Himbolake concert with Dustin thrusting his body forward and all of his fans chanting, "Go Dustin! Go Dustin!"

The defense, the justice and the prosecution's mouths had all dropped to the floor. Himbolake turned to face them with another marvelous grin. "Seems the court of appeals thinks I'm innocent…and quite appealing!"