Mina dropped all of her court papers in disbelief. They fluttered down harmlessly to the floor. "I'm going to be barred from the court? Just for some making the judge aware of the gothic subculture?"

"More like you were gothstopping the legal proceedings!" William said, throwing an accusatory finger right at Mina.

The judge shook her head, allowing her brown curls to flop around on her ageing scalp. "I have to agree with my grandson here. I know nothing about the world of goths and emus and I could care less. What I do care about is that I could be having a big, delicious grilled snail sandwich at Les Schargo's right now. And for that, I wholely agree with the disbarment. Miss Hawkins, on behalf of this court I..."

Mina held her to her cheeks. "My lawd, it can't end this way...I can't let them do this...not with Winona and Chet's lives at stake!"

"Objection!" Mina screamed loudly, causing everyone and even the hardly budging judge to jump.

"What is it, Miss Hawkins?" Justice Divine demanded. "I hope you know that you have no power in this..."

"I just want to say I can't be silent anymore!" Mina cried, her hand firmly holding her to the stand. "There's something everyone needs to know about this case."

Lou Farabutto glared from behind William, his beady eyes narrowed at her.

Receiving the scoundrels glare, Mina turned her head. She stared at the overhead venetian blinds, a glint of sunlight filtering past her eyes. "This isn't the first time that justice has let me down..." Mina said with resignation. "The Hall of Lawson never managed to prosecute the criminal organization who...put my boyfriend to death."

"That..." Blind said. "Has nothing to do with this case at hand. Not when I'm in charge will justice go unheeded..."

"But...William..." Mina said softy. "What you don't know is that it will. I don't mean to make light of your vision impairment, but you are blind to true justice..."

"What do you mean?" the snide prosecutor demanded. "Do I not recognize all the facts here?"

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"You do...but...Lou Farabutto has..."

Lou gave a nasty smirk from beneath his stache. He took a white gloved hand and crossed his neck with it. Mina gulped. She fully knew where this was going: if she talked, Lou would put a hit on Chet.

"I have pledged not to tell a lie," Mina said folding her hands. "But just yesterday...Lou Farabutto...Mr. Wintendo himself. Told me that if I..."

Mina watched as the Gamefather raised his personal E-Phone as she spoke. It would be game over soon if she kept talking.

"Well..." Justice Divine demanded. "Tell me what he told you? Any evidence in this case is valuable even if it comes from the defense attorney."

Lou had pressed the phone to his ear.

Mina closed her eyes and screamed, "Lou is holding Chet hostage and he threatened to break our kneecaps with monkey wrenches if we didn't get Winona a guilty verdict!"

Everyone turned to face Lou who lowered his phone. "You-a really gonna believe some punky pisanos?" he laughed. "Where is your evidence a leetle girl?"

A husky woman's voice bellowed from the door. "Oh, Hawkins might not have any...but we have living proof of your crimes, Farabutto!"

Mina's eyes widened as Chief O'Law, Raven Lockwood...and an unshaven and gaunt but grinning Chet Cody stood before them.

"My Chet!" Winona gushed. "As gloomarvelous as death is, I'm so happy you're alive!"

Chet Cody straightened his petrdroid beanie and placed his hands on his hips. "Nice to see ya too babe! We finally managed to 1-Up, Mr. Farabutto and I've got an extra life in the process!"

Mr. Farabutto looked at his phone, clutched his chest and screamed, "Whaaaaaaaaa!" in his best Hario voice.

"What the huh?!" Mina stammered. "I hope my brain didn't break and I'm just hallucinating on mega shrooms!"

"Nope, kid!" Raven exclaimed with a merry laugh. "I had just come back from my vacation and saw the chief was in over her head so I gave her a little help at the arcade!"

The mom aged chief looked away bashfully. "And I'm not proud of it, but here we are! We put the whole Used Gaming Mafia behind Business Park Bars!"

Chief O'Law pointed at Farabutto. "For extorting and kidnapping innocent people, as well as promoting video game violence, Lou Farabutto, you are coming with us.'

"Wowie zowie!" Mina grinned widely. "All's well that ends well! I'm so happy you're safe, Chad."

"Uh Miss Eagle Attorney Lady?" Winona's boyfriend asked, placing his hand behind his head. "The name's Chet Cody. Sorta like Cheat Code...it's kinda like a cheat code to remembering my 8-bit name!"

"Whoops!" Mina grimaced. "Sorry. I was thinking of someone else. Oh well, all's well that ends..."

"Not-a for you, Miss meddling attorney!" Lou said in his deeper, more gravely plumber voice. "For you will be pushing up Daisies and I don't mean the princess! See-a you at the bottom of a bottomless abyss!"

He pulled out a gun and aimed it right at her head. Two cracks went off.