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Legally Brunette (Ace Attorney style GameLit)
Chapter 5: Flipping the Verdict and the Bird

Chapter 5: Flipping the Verdict and the Bird

"Hey kid. Hey my wiz kiddo!" A nasally voice yelled over the speaker.

"Raven…" Mina gasped.

It was Raven Lockwood, her mentor and founder of Bird Brains Lawyering Co.

"It's not a good time right now," Mina said, turning bright pink as everyone stared at her.

"Oh, but is, my Mina girl!" he said in his flamboyant tone. "It's always a good time for …JUSTICE!"

There was a pause before Raven continued.

"--Here…put it on speaker phone, kid!"

Reluctantly, Mina did and held up the phone. "Helloooo lawyers and gentlemen!" his voice broadcasted loudly over the room.

Immediately, Divine and Larry both perked up.

"Why…" Divine Justice said, leaning over her podium. "Is that…Mr. Lockwood?!! I haven't heard from you in a racoon's age!"

Larry crossed his arms. "Ah yes, my ultimate rival. Your ratings have been slipping lately!

The phone speaker practically vibrated with excitement. "My good sister, Divine, I've been living it up at the Pair O' Dice resort and casino! As for you, Mr. Star Spangled Spandex, the only thing I'm rating now is the cheeseburgers."

Larry puffed out his bony chest. "You are no doubt afraid of me. I'm known to make even the greatest defense attorney cry uncle."

"That's because you look like an uncle!" Raven cackled. "Now I've been watching this whole trial from beside the pool and I gotta tell ya something! Mr. Bunting Dupree's alibi and character is so shoddy and fulla holes that a child could literally dissemble it."

Bunting Dupree ceased his sinister smirk. His eyes dilated and he looked nervously at the phone. "Excusin' moi! 'Oo do you think you are, Mr. Smarty Pants? My character, much like my face is tres flawless."

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"Ah yes," Raven chortled. "That's why Les Schargo's has sent buckets of salt to sabotage snail farms who supply other French restaurants!"

Mr. Dupree flinched like he had been struck with an invisible whip.

"Zat was never proven!" Bunting Dupree howled.

"I dunno," Raven giggled in his birdlike laugh. "You seem pretty salty about it."

But Raven did not let up. He continued his barrage. "Not only that, but you hired French mimes to harass food critics into giving you five star reviews."

Bunting balled up both of his fists "There are no words…" he growled.

"Literally!" Raven laughed. "And last but not least, Les Schargo's has covered up one terrible, horrible fact about its owner."

"Sacre Bleu!" Dupree screamed holding his hands to his cheeks. "No. No NOOOOO!"

Raven's voice broadcasted with a humorous confidence. "He is from New Jersey!"

Nearly deranged, Dupree ran as fast as he could to snatch the phone, but Legal Suit Larry restrained him. "Lies! Lies! Lieeees!" Dupree screamed. "I am a pure bred, baguette eating Frenchman from Paris!"

"Please stop," Legal Suit Larry cried tugging at Dupree's ascot. "I believe you're innocent, Mr. Dupree, but if you steal that girl's phone it will be a misdemeanor!"

The restaurant owner took a deep breath and regained his composure. "My deepest apologies," he said, straightening his hair and ascot. "Zat cur can insult my restaurant, my employees, my livelihood and my effiminate manner all he wants. But when he comes for my Frenchness, zat eez unforgivable."

He blew a jet of steam from his nostrils. "But I was out of line. Let us continue zis verdict. I do believe eet was een my favor."

"Hold the phone, Mina!" Raven shouted to his assistant. "And I mean that literally and metaphorically."

"Yes…?" Mina asked.

"I have sent two pieces of evidence to your phone that will overturn this case completely in your favor. If you play your cards right, you will get Trudy an innocent verdict and send Mr. Dupree to the slammer where he belongs."

"Why are you doing this?" Legal Suit Larry cried out, suddenly tugging at his collar.

"Simple!" Raven chuckled. "To prove that even a kid can beat you, Larry. My dear sweet Mina girl just got her braces off last week you know!"

"Adult teeth correctors!" Mina snapped turning bright pink.

"Like these braces or adult teeth correctors," Raven began. "These files are evidence depending on how you look at them. Now…I must go. The waiters are serving those neat little hot dog weenies on a platter and I must have one or five. Tata."

Click. Beep.

Every single person in the room stared at Mina. She trembled. "Well," she said, taking a deep breath. "Here goes nothing."

She opened up Raven's text messages, hoping desperately they could turn the verdict in Trudy's favor!