Chapter 23 How to get out of this situation?

(Marion POV)

Okay Marion had to admit she hadn't really thought through the consequences of her recent actions. She'd let herself be blinded by her anger and thirst for vengeance. Now the situation had worsened because Nezoko wasn't even on her own but was accompanied by 2 others... What were they anyway? monsters? demons? extra-dimensional beings? EDB? Yes, that'll do for now.

So this EDB 'Dakota' was going to run this trial. Okay if there was a trial it was because they didn't know who had killed that cat. It wasn't bad she could try to pin it on the cop. After that, it wouldn't be too difficult: everyone hated the police.

_"You took your time. You only had 30 seconds left and I was going to have to intervene. Let's get on with explaining how this trial works. First of all, everyone has the right to be defended, as much as it pains me to admit it. Charlotte and Marion therefore have the choice of choosing a lawyer. As the judge of this trial, neither I nor Nola can be a lawyer. You can't choose each other as lawyers, and you can't not have lawyers. If the person you choose agrees to be your lawyer, he or she will represent you for the entire trial. Now I'll give you a minute to choose or I'll choose for you," _said Dakota.

Marion had already chosen her lawyer. Charlotte, however, answered first.

"Anna, would you be willing to defend me at this trial?" asked the policewoman.

"I haven't defended anyone since I left school," Anna explained.

"I'm sure you'll be able to defend me. You're the best person to save me from the worst. I don't know you, but I've heard of you, and so far your actions have proved that I'm right to put my trust in you," said Charlotte.

"Anna will defend Charlotte," says Dakota.

Anna seemed to want to protest, but no sound came out of her mouth. Perhaps she'd learned to keep her mouth shut.

"For my part, I've chosen Fransico Dellini as my personal lawyer. He's the most competent lawyer I know and has years of experience," said Marion.

Fransico had gotten her out of a lot of trouble, and he'd no doubt be able to get her out of this mess. True, his fees were overpriced, but what the hell, she had more than enough to pay him.

_"Oh, you want to bring in someone from outside the show, why not? Let's welcome Francisco Dellini," _said Dakota, waving her cane.

Suddenly, Francisco appeared in the middle of the courtroom. He fidgeted for a moment, looked around and then stared at each person present for a moment before looking back at me. He readjusted his suit and spoke.

_"Hello, can someone tell me what's going on?" _asked the fifty-year-old.

Marion wanted to explain, but Dakota was quicker.

"No, no, no, that won't do. The audience will get bored if we spend our time re-explaining everything. It's easier to download the necessary information directly into his mind" said the EDB before Francisco could get his head around it for a moment. Marion knew better than anyone that downloading information into the brain could be painful.

"Okay if I understand correctly you want me to be Miss Roka's lawyer. Can I refuse and be sent home? I know it doesn't matter to you but I have a wife and a little girl I want to hug again." asked the lawyer.

How dare he? After all you'd done for him? He should beg you to take him on as your lawyer again?

"Of course you're free to refuse to be his lawyer as far as going home is concerned, let's just say I wouldn't allow anyone to leave the hotel and this court until the judgment has been handed down and the sanctions given. So do you want to be Marion's lawyer?" asked Dakota.

Francisco seemed to think for a moment, then finally answered.

_"In any case, it's not as if I have much else to do while I'm here. I agree to represent Mademoiselle Roka during this trial. I'd like to speak to my client alone," _said Francisco, accepting.

_"Motion granted, while you confer with your respective clients, I'll take care of empaneling the jury and introducing the last judge in the case, as well as the prosecutor," _said Dakota.

Francisco headed for the door, which had just opened, and Marion followed. They were now alone and could talk.

"Francisco I..." Marion couldn't finish her sentence.

_"Shut up. Please shut up. I'm not even going to ask you if you did it, the answer's obvious. At least if you don't tell me, I'll be able to deny knowing anything about it. I'm going to ask you just one question. Do you wish to plead guilty?" _asked Francisco.

"Plead guilty? Have you gone mad, Francisco? I sent for you to get me acquitted, as usual" exclaimed Marion.

"That's what I was afraid of, you haven't changed a bit. You're still the same spoiled brat," commented Francisco.

_"I won't allow you. I'm a Roka. You don't have the right to talk to me like that" r_eplied Marion.

"You don't get it, do you? You're convinced that your name can get you out of trouble again. But there's no one to bribe, no judge to **** and the consequences aren't a small fine to be paid by your beloved dad." said Francisco.

Marion took a step back. This was no time to hesitate.

_"It wasn't me who stabbed that cat, it was her, that cop. She's the one who held the knife," _said Marion.

"That's good you haven't lost your ability to lie. I hope you still have your ability to sell water to fish, because we're going to need it. Now that you've decided to plead not guilty, I need you to tell me everything you know about everyone present and how the day went." asked the lawyer.

Marion began to tell her story. She understood that this trial would be unlike any she'd experienced before.

(Chalotte POV)

_"Thank you so much, Anna, for agreeing to be my lawyer. Frankly, I'd never imagined I'd end up in the dock," _said Charlotte.

Charlotte waited several seconds before Anna spoke.

_"Thank you, but I'm not sure I'm competent. You probably should have done what Marion did and got yourself a professional lawyer. You must know some lawyers, being an inspector," _says Anna.

"I know lawyers, but I don't trust them. They're only good at circumventing procedures and letting criminals go free. Besides, I wouldn't want to involve anyone in this show," said Charlotte.

Once again, it was several seconds before Anna answered.

"Thank you for your confidence in me, I'll try to live up to it. Can you tell me what happened? Then we'll see how we can organize our defense," said Anna.

Charlotte told Anna everything she could remember about the day, down to the last detail. When she had finished, Anna looked at her and smiled.

"Okay, I've got an idea of what we're going to do, and if it works, there's no chance of you being convicted of ****," said Anna.