The Impossible Acquittal, Part 6
Title: The Impossible Acquittal,Part 6
Author: Phantom_Kaito
Rating: K+ / PG-13
Disclaimer: Being female I am neither Butch Hartman or Aoyama Gosho. Guess what that means?
Notes: Sequel to The Impossible Murder.
Previous Chapeters: Prologue; Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5,
Danny winced as Cujo began to bark loudly. While it was true he was very well trained by Axion, he was trained as a guard dog, which meant when someone approached the house, he let everyone know it. And Danny knew it was only a matter of time before his parents figured out it wasn't the neighbor's dog (since they didn't have one).
Of course Jack and Maddie weren't a huge concern at the moment. They were having a little nap that was in no was related to the cool chemistry teacher that had gotten fired for teaching Jazz's class how to make a sleeping drug.
The halfa went to the front door where Sam and Ran were supporting Tucker, who was unconscious.
"A little help here?" Sam called into the house, trying her best to drag her friend into the house.
"What happened?! Ghosts? Bad Cops?" It was one of Danny's greatest fears, that one of his friends would be hurt because of him.
"Trying to hit on Ran," Sam said dryly, indicating the Japanese girl with a shake of her head. Ran had the grace to look sheepish, while the small child beside her seemed to project righteous fury.
"...I don't think I want to know. Let's get him into the living room." Danny took Tucker from the girls and carried him out to the living room where Jazz and Takagi were seated, the three apparently in the middle of a discussion.
As they propped Tucker on the couch, he began to stir. "Man, what hit me?"
"A karate champ, a sleeping dart, something being kicked at obscenely high speeds, or any combination of the above," Danny answered dryly.
"Karate champ?" Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, so it was either the dart or the kicked object, aimed at you by an overprotective chibi. Might I advise refraining from flirting with Ran, you'll live longer."
Takagi laughed humorously. "Or maybe a dead body fell on you. With Kudo's track record I wouldn't doubt it."
"Geeze, you say that like I run into dead bodies all the time."
Everyone stared at the miniature detective.
"What?" Conan blinked, sure he ran into three or four dead bodies a week, but that was normal wasn't it?
"Shinichi, when was the last time we went somewhere and someone didn't die?" Ran asked, her face very white with realization.
"Um," the young detective thought hard. "There was that kid heist last year..."
"That's...not normal," Jazz said, slightly disturbed.
"So we have a death magnet on our side." Sam nodded appreciately, "Ever consider going goth?"
"Not really, can we get back to the kidnapping?" This line of inquiry was beginning to worry Conan.
"Fine," Danny sighed. "One day I noticed Val wasn't at school. When I got home that day there were cops demanding to know if I knew what happened to Valerie but refusing to tell me anything. The next day they grabbed me in front of the school, loudly announcing that I was under arrest for the kidnapping of Valerie Grey. They refused to let me call Mom and Dad or a lawyer. Instead they locked me in a small room where they tried to force me to confess. At least until Jazz dragged me out. Mom and Dad tried to hire a lawyer, but none will work for us."
"I've been acting as our legal adviser," Jazz cut in, "I'm trying to get some IA investigators to figure out what the hell is going on."
"Isn't it obvious," said Conan.
"You agree then," said Takagi, "Valerie was never the main target."
"Why is everyone deferring to the toddler?" Tucker asked, having been knocked out before Conan had been explained.
"No super shoes in the house," Ran warned Conan who had been reaching down towards his feet.
Danny sighed, "Let's just say he's as great a mystery genius as you are a technological genius. And what do you mean Val wasn't the target; she's the one that was kidnapped?"
"Don't you find it a bit of a coincidence that even though there was no evidence left reported so far, both of your identities are fingered as suspects less than 24 hours after Valerie disappears? That the officer in charge of your case is so against you to the point where he's risking federal prison? That no one will take you as a client despite the fact that you're legally guaranteed a lawyer? Doesn't this seem like an awful lot of bad luck?
Valerie's kidnapping wasn't the perp's main objective, it was a means to an end. Someone is trying to break you. To keep you islated so they can work on you."
Tucker blinked. "Wow, the kid is good. We just thought that was some of Danny's regular bad luck."
"That's why..." Danny said, his face pale. "That's why they arrested me at the school. They wanted everyone to see me being arrested so everyone would think I was the kidnapper."
""In all likelihood, yes."
"Danny, can you think of anyone who would want to do this to you," Ran asked, "Someone with a lot of money or influence?"
"Only one." Danny's eyes started to glow, "Vlad."
Conan shook his head. "Dad has an inside man at the facility where Plasmius is being kept, if he escaped we'd know. Not to mention Kid's been keeping tabs on his own. Does anyone have any suggestions about where we should go from here?"
"A reverse smear campaign. We go public with how Danny's civil rights have been violated." Sam answered, slamming her fist on the table.
"I'll try to get in with the local cops." Takagi volunteered. "People like Rees always bug the hell out of their coworkers. We could get support from within the system. Sato should be here by tomorrow, that should help. She's much better with people than I am."
Jazz shook her head. "All I can do is what I've been doing, giving legal advise and crack down on Rees."
"Ran, could you attend school with Danny tomorrow to keep an eye on things? Mom probably set you up as a foreign student anyway."
"No problem. But what are you doing?" Ran inquired.
"I'm going to look for clues on my own. 'Cause no one suspects a cute lil kid," said Conan, going into his chibi act.
Everyone was silent for a moment "Kudo, you are scary in ways the Box ghost could only dream of," said Takagi, a sweatdrop appearing on his forehead.
S$
Are you alright, I've barely heard a peep from you all day?
Yeah, I guess I just don't feel the need to say anything. I mean the real Danny's here and he's already thinking what I am and saying it.
Not necessarily, I mean in the past few months since the merger you've both had experiences separate from each other and that's bound to change you at least a little.
Maybe. But I still don't feel like talking much when the real Danny is around.
-Meanwhile in the next room-
What do you think of this?
It's a little overwhelming. But I think we have the makings of a solid plan in place.
That's not what I meant and you know it. I mean come on, you're the one always telling me I should tell someone.
Well that didn't include the real me.
He didn't seem to react when I asked if he was in my head. Maybe he has a copy of me up there.
If so, the definition of awkwardness was just raised a few bars...
S$
"So, this is your school." Ran looked up at Casper High.
""Yeah," Danny was hunched over, trying to look inconspicuous. All around him were people whispering and pointing. "Could this get any worse?"
"You had to ask," moaned Tucker as Dash approached.
"Hey Fentino, don't think you're so tough just cause some dumbass cops arrested you. You're way too much of a dweeb. And anyone who thinks you had anything to do with it's an even bigger dweeb." He poked Danny hard in the chest, causing him to fall over before walking away laughing.
"Why that..." Ran balled her hand into a fist.
Danny just blinked. "Did Dash just say, in his own neanderthal way, that he thought I was innocent?"
"And used the popularity game to make everyone else think you were innocent too?" Tucker added.
"Not on purpose." Sam grinned sarcastically. "Dash couldn't stand the thought of Danny being tougher than him. It would mean Danny was letting him beat him all high school-"
"-Even if it's true-" Danny cut in.
"-and that would destroy Dash's rep for good. Ah, school politics, working in our favor for once."
"Well, you are overdue for a lucky break," Ran said.
S$
"Class, this is Ran Mouri," Lancer introduced. "She's come all the way from Japan to study with us for a week. I want everyone to make sure she feels welcome. Remember, you aren't just reflecting on yourselves or your school, but your country. Does anyone have any questions for Miss Mouri?"
Someone raised their hand, "Do you have a boy you like?"
Ran turned deep crimson, "I...well..." She took a deep breath. "Yes. His
name is Ku-Shinichi Kudo. He's been by best friend since we were
children."
Paulina raised her hand. "What do you think about the ghost boy?"
Lancer sighed. "Miss Sanchez..."
"I think he's innocent," Ran said.
The classroom broke into an uproar.
"I've done some research on this town. He has done too much good to truly be a villain, risking his very existence to protect people multiple times. I don't understand why everyone on the TV says he kidnapped that girl. I've heard no evidence other than prejudice."
"Hmm a compelling argument Miss Mouri. Have you taken debate?"
"No, but my Dad's a detective and my Mother's a lawyer."
Nathan raised his hand. "Does that mean you think Fenton did it?" Danny shrunk in his seat.
"Even less so than Phantom. While he was visiting Japan, Danny saved the life of my little brother, Conan, showing that he too is a hero. When the country had turned against his father during the Impossible Murder, rather than getting angry or rant, he worked with the police to uncover the truth. He is someone who tries to solve problems, rather than giving into temper. Like Phantom there is no evidence against him. The police do not seem to have a viable suspect, so they hound on those who cannot defend themselves."
"That's enough, Miss Mouri if you could take a seat, we'll begin class. Impressive. It's nice to see the young generation using thier brains.
Danny gave Ran a grateful smile as she walked past, and class began.
S$
"You wanted to see us, Lancer-sensei?" Ran asked as she and Danny stood in the office.
"Yes," Lancer smiled "And Miss Manson and Mr. Foley can come in as well." The two entered the office a little shamefaced.
"Mr. Fenton I can not begin to apologise for what happened to you the other day. I believe Miss Mouri's speech at the beginning of class may help matters, but you have been singled out for something I honestly believe you didn't do. I want Miss Mouri to stay with you today, not just to show her around, but because she seems to have a good influence on the other students."
Danny was speechless. "Thank you Mr. Lancer, I-"
A scream tore through the school. Danny, Ran, Sam, and Tucker ran towards the sound, Lancer following at a bit of a distance. they burst into the girls locker room to find Star crumpled on the ground shaking. In front of her was Paulina, lying facedown on the floor, blood surrounding her head like a halo.
"What happened here?" demanded Miss Tetslaff.
"I was trying to find Paulina. Kwan said he saw her by the locker room so I came in. Oh God, she's dead!"
Author: Phantom_Kaito
Rating: K+ / PG-13
Disclaimer: Being female I am neither Butch Hartman or Aoyama Gosho. Guess what that means?
Notes: Sequel to The Impossible Murder.
Previous Chapeters: Prologue; Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5,
Danny winced as Cujo began to bark loudly. While it was true he was very well trained by Axion, he was trained as a guard dog, which meant when someone approached the house, he let everyone know it. And Danny knew it was only a matter of time before his parents figured out it wasn't the neighbor's dog (since they didn't have one).
Of course Jack and Maddie weren't a huge concern at the moment. They were having a little nap that was in no was related to the cool chemistry teacher that had gotten fired for teaching Jazz's class how to make a sleeping drug.
The halfa went to the front door where Sam and Ran were supporting Tucker, who was unconscious.
"A little help here?" Sam called into the house, trying her best to drag her friend into the house.
"What happened?! Ghosts? Bad Cops?" It was one of Danny's greatest fears, that one of his friends would be hurt because of him.
"Trying to hit on Ran," Sam said dryly, indicating the Japanese girl with a shake of her head. Ran had the grace to look sheepish, while the small child beside her seemed to project righteous fury.
"...I don't think I want to know. Let's get him into the living room." Danny took Tucker from the girls and carried him out to the living room where Jazz and Takagi were seated, the three apparently in the middle of a discussion.
As they propped Tucker on the couch, he began to stir. "Man, what hit me?"
"A karate champ, a sleeping dart, something being kicked at obscenely high speeds, or any combination of the above," Danny answered dryly.
"Karate champ?" Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, so it was either the dart or the kicked object, aimed at you by an overprotective chibi. Might I advise refraining from flirting with Ran, you'll live longer."
Takagi laughed humorously. "Or maybe a dead body fell on you. With Kudo's track record I wouldn't doubt it."
"Geeze, you say that like I run into dead bodies all the time."
Everyone stared at the miniature detective.
"What?" Conan blinked, sure he ran into three or four dead bodies a week, but that was normal wasn't it?
"Shinichi, when was the last time we went somewhere and someone didn't die?" Ran asked, her face very white with realization.
"Um," the young detective thought hard. "There was that kid heist last year..."
"That's...not normal," Jazz said, slightly disturbed.
"So we have a death magnet on our side." Sam nodded appreciately, "Ever consider going goth?"
"Not really, can we get back to the kidnapping?" This line of inquiry was beginning to worry Conan.
"Fine," Danny sighed. "One day I noticed Val wasn't at school. When I got home that day there were cops demanding to know if I knew what happened to Valerie but refusing to tell me anything. The next day they grabbed me in front of the school, loudly announcing that I was under arrest for the kidnapping of Valerie Grey. They refused to let me call Mom and Dad or a lawyer. Instead they locked me in a small room where they tried to force me to confess. At least until Jazz dragged me out. Mom and Dad tried to hire a lawyer, but none will work for us."
"I've been acting as our legal adviser," Jazz cut in, "I'm trying to get some IA investigators to figure out what the hell is going on."
"Isn't it obvious," said Conan.
"You agree then," said Takagi, "Valerie was never the main target."
"Why is everyone deferring to the toddler?" Tucker asked, having been knocked out before Conan had been explained.
"No super shoes in the house," Ran warned Conan who had been reaching down towards his feet.
Danny sighed, "Let's just say he's as great a mystery genius as you are a technological genius. And what do you mean Val wasn't the target; she's the one that was kidnapped?"
"Don't you find it a bit of a coincidence that even though there was no evidence left reported so far, both of your identities are fingered as suspects less than 24 hours after Valerie disappears? That the officer in charge of your case is so against you to the point where he's risking federal prison? That no one will take you as a client despite the fact that you're legally guaranteed a lawyer? Doesn't this seem like an awful lot of bad luck?
Valerie's kidnapping wasn't the perp's main objective, it was a means to an end. Someone is trying to break you. To keep you islated so they can work on you."
Tucker blinked. "Wow, the kid is good. We just thought that was some of Danny's regular bad luck."
"That's why..." Danny said, his face pale. "That's why they arrested me at the school. They wanted everyone to see me being arrested so everyone would think I was the kidnapper."
""In all likelihood, yes."
"Danny, can you think of anyone who would want to do this to you," Ran asked, "Someone with a lot of money or influence?"
"Only one." Danny's eyes started to glow, "Vlad."
Conan shook his head. "Dad has an inside man at the facility where Plasmius is being kept, if he escaped we'd know. Not to mention Kid's been keeping tabs on his own. Does anyone have any suggestions about where we should go from here?"
"A reverse smear campaign. We go public with how Danny's civil rights have been violated." Sam answered, slamming her fist on the table.
"I'll try to get in with the local cops." Takagi volunteered. "People like Rees always bug the hell out of their coworkers. We could get support from within the system. Sato should be here by tomorrow, that should help. She's much better with people than I am."
Jazz shook her head. "All I can do is what I've been doing, giving legal advise and crack down on Rees."
"Ran, could you attend school with Danny tomorrow to keep an eye on things? Mom probably set you up as a foreign student anyway."
"No problem. But what are you doing?" Ran inquired.
"I'm going to look for clues on my own. 'Cause no one suspects a cute lil kid," said Conan, going into his chibi act.
Everyone was silent for a moment "Kudo, you are scary in ways the Box ghost could only dream of," said Takagi, a sweatdrop appearing on his forehead.
S$
Are you alright, I've barely heard a peep from you all day?
Yeah, I guess I just don't feel the need to say anything. I mean the real Danny's here and he's already thinking what I am and saying it.
Not necessarily, I mean in the past few months since the merger you've both had experiences separate from each other and that's bound to change you at least a little.
Maybe. But I still don't feel like talking much when the real Danny is around.
-Meanwhile in the next room-
What do you think of this?
It's a little overwhelming. But I think we have the makings of a solid plan in place.
That's not what I meant and you know it. I mean come on, you're the one always telling me I should tell someone.
Well that didn't include the real me.
He didn't seem to react when I asked if he was in my head. Maybe he has a copy of me up there.
If so, the definition of awkwardness was just raised a few bars...
S$
"So, this is your school." Ran looked up at Casper High.
""Yeah," Danny was hunched over, trying to look inconspicuous. All around him were people whispering and pointing. "Could this get any worse?"
"You had to ask," moaned Tucker as Dash approached.
"Hey Fentino, don't think you're so tough just cause some dumbass cops arrested you. You're way too much of a dweeb. And anyone who thinks you had anything to do with it's an even bigger dweeb." He poked Danny hard in the chest, causing him to fall over before walking away laughing.
"Why that..." Ran balled her hand into a fist.
Danny just blinked. "Did Dash just say, in his own neanderthal way, that he thought I was innocent?"
"And used the popularity game to make everyone else think you were innocent too?" Tucker added.
"Not on purpose." Sam grinned sarcastically. "Dash couldn't stand the thought of Danny being tougher than him. It would mean Danny was letting him beat him all high school-"
"-Even if it's true-" Danny cut in.
"-and that would destroy Dash's rep for good. Ah, school politics, working in our favor for once."
"Well, you are overdue for a lucky break," Ran said.
S$
"Class, this is Ran Mouri," Lancer introduced. "She's come all the way from Japan to study with us for a week. I want everyone to make sure she feels welcome. Remember, you aren't just reflecting on yourselves or your school, but your country. Does anyone have any questions for Miss Mouri?"
Someone raised their hand, "Do you have a boy you like?"
Ran turned deep crimson, "I...well..." She took a deep breath. "Yes. His
name is Ku-Shinichi Kudo. He's been by best friend since we were
children."
Paulina raised her hand. "What do you think about the ghost boy?"
Lancer sighed. "Miss Sanchez..."
"I think he's innocent," Ran said.
The classroom broke into an uproar.
"I've done some research on this town. He has done too much good to truly be a villain, risking his very existence to protect people multiple times. I don't understand why everyone on the TV says he kidnapped that girl. I've heard no evidence other than prejudice."
"Hmm a compelling argument Miss Mouri. Have you taken debate?"
"No, but my Dad's a detective and my Mother's a lawyer."
Nathan raised his hand. "Does that mean you think Fenton did it?" Danny shrunk in his seat.
"Even less so than Phantom. While he was visiting Japan, Danny saved the life of my little brother, Conan, showing that he too is a hero. When the country had turned against his father during the Impossible Murder, rather than getting angry or rant, he worked with the police to uncover the truth. He is someone who tries to solve problems, rather than giving into temper. Like Phantom there is no evidence against him. The police do not seem to have a viable suspect, so they hound on those who cannot defend themselves."
"That's enough, Miss Mouri if you could take a seat, we'll begin class. Impressive. It's nice to see the young generation using thier brains.
Danny gave Ran a grateful smile as she walked past, and class began.
S$
"You wanted to see us, Lancer-sensei?" Ran asked as she and Danny stood in the office.
"Yes," Lancer smiled "And Miss Manson and Mr. Foley can come in as well." The two entered the office a little shamefaced.
"Mr. Fenton I can not begin to apologise for what happened to you the other day. I believe Miss Mouri's speech at the beginning of class may help matters, but you have been singled out for something I honestly believe you didn't do. I want Miss Mouri to stay with you today, not just to show her around, but because she seems to have a good influence on the other students."
Danny was speechless. "Thank you Mr. Lancer, I-"
A scream tore through the school. Danny, Ran, Sam, and Tucker ran towards the sound, Lancer following at a bit of a distance. they burst into the girls locker room to find Star crumpled on the ground shaking. In front of her was Paulina, lying facedown on the floor, blood surrounding her head like a halo.
"What happened here?" demanded Miss Tetslaff.
"I was trying to find Paulina. Kwan said he saw her by the locker room so I came in. Oh God, she's dead!"