Mina took a deep breath. She faced Georgia Peach on the witness stand. "Please recount the details tonight...but too much details please. There are children...and me here!"

"Aww," Georgia sighed, fanning herself with her gloved hand. "But I have such a vivid memory. It has to be from eating all my peaches!"

Blind also pointed in her direction. "I agree with the roomie. Tell us the details, but not enough to write the next Sixty Shades of Scarlet!"

"Ooh..." Mina said, suddenly adorned with a crimson blush. "Do you read those romance books, Willy?"

Blind burned a crimson red too. "What? No! I thought you just said you didn't want to hear those kind of details!"

Mina pressed her fingers togethers and grinned sheepishly. "It's different when both people are actually attractive in the romance!"

"Hey!" Monty growled from the sidelines. "My mom said I am somewhat attractive!"

"Order!" the judge shouted pounding her gavel. "Emphasis on somewhat. Now please, just the most necessary details, Ms. Peach!"

"Well then," Georgia sighed with her hands clasped to her chest. "First, my darling daddy took me out to Fat Tony's Trattoria where we ate a few pizzas and drank cheap wine. It was soooo romantic!"

"Did Mr. Banks act suspicious in anyway?" Blind asked with his hand to his chin. "Was he distracted at all?"

"Nope!" Georgia said, fluffing up her scarlet hair. "He was totally attentive the whole time and said some of the most romantic things!"

"Like," Monty said grinning. "How did you make it through security, darling, cuz you're da bomb!"

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Objection!" Blind shouted.

"What?!" Monty lisped.

"That's an absolutely unfortunate pickup line given the circumstances..." Blind said, facepalming. "Now continue please. What about around the time of Greta's fundraiser later that night?!"

Georgia rolled her eyes skywards. "That was my favorite part of the night. Monty and I had a nice long...game of chess!"

"Chess?!" the judge and Mina stammered, shocked.

"That's all you two did?" the judge asked, stupefied.

"What did you think we did?" Georgia laughed. "My Monty may not look like it, but he loves intellectual games of wit. And he's good at it too."

"So how long would you say you two played chess for?" Blind asked.

"Are you asking about our endurance?!" Georgia asked innocently. "Well I'd say we played for hours. He kept checking me out constantly!"

Blind shook his head. "And all that time, nothing suspicious happened? Did Monty ever leave for any reason?"

"Aside from bathroom breaks," Georgia said, "Nopity nope. Well, okay. Maybe one time!"

A smile formed beneath Blind's nose. "Care to elaborate?"

"Yes..." Georgia said. "He left to make a call. It was odd since we were in the middle of a real steamy session of castles and bishops."

"Mr. Banks?!" Blind asked. "Care to answer. Who were you calling? Your butler assassin perhaps?"

Monty Banks turned plum purple like he was about to be strangled by his tight collar. "No comment." he said.

Blind laughed and turned to his grandmother judge.

"So this lecherous man just plays chess with a beautiful lady and then stops to make a random sus call? And then he refuses to tell us who he was calling?! In my short career, this might be the most damning scenario ever."

"Come on!" Mina exclaimed, turning to Monty. "Tell them who you were calling, please."

He had not told her or anyone who he was calling, and surprisingly, the normally garrulous purple man remained quiet. The young rookie couldn't believe her ordeal. Her client was costing her this whole case and there was nothing she could do.

"I can't...." Monty answered. "Personal reasons. Perhaps it's best if I remain silent."

"Order!" the judge answered, and much to Mina's dismay, she said, "Without any further ado, we have enough evidence and testimony for the jury to deliberate. Mr. Banks has done himself no favors by recusing himself."

Mina slumped to her seat. It was over. She had lost. The jury headed off into the meeting room, leaving her alone with her failure.

But as she rested her head on the table, a pair of familiar leather boots approached her. "Gloom afternoon, Mina!" Mina looked up to see her familiar pastel goth friend, Winona standing beside her. "Was there something positively morbid you need my expertise on?!"