"Ivy's Trial" By: Angela Moseley (Warning this section contains some violence) It began on Saturday and it would also end on Saturday. A little old lady moved quickly through the dark streets, completely unware of what was about to befall her. As she walked along, she was suddenly aware there was someone behind her. The tall,dark figure stepped out into the light. "It's you! You better get out of here. I have nothing more to say to you." "Oh really? I just wanted to say hello and goodbye." the figure pulled out a handgun, equipped with a silencer. The figure fired once. The shot made very little noise as it found its target. The bullet tore into the old woman's neck. "Rest in peace," the figure said as the woman staggered towards the figure. 10 minutes later.... Ivy sighed as she packed her equipment into her red car. She began looking for keys. Reaching under the seat of the car, her hands brushed something warm, but she though little of it- especially when she found her keys. Now she was just glad to get home, and into her bed. The next morning Ivy came downstairs, only to find Zack stretched out on the couch,watching tv. If he was bored he showed signs of it. "So how does my amplifier work?" "It works just fine Zack." "Why didn't you let me come along with you last night?" Zack asked. "Cause I wanted to go alone. I needed something to do. Carmen hasn't been or heard from for two weeks now..." "Yeah, but it's still MY equipment-" Zack was cut off by a knocking at the front door. "I'll get it," Ivy said. She was throughly surprised when it turned out to be the police. "Are you Ivy?" a cop asked her. "Yes..." "Then you're under arrest!" "Huh? For what charge?" Ivy questioned in shock. "For the murder of Senator Martha Johnson." "I didn't murder anyone!" Ivy screamed. "Tell it to the judge lady." The next day news of Ivy's arrest had spread through Acme and the media like wildfire. Outside of the courthouse where Ivy would be tried, there was a press conference being held. The officer who had arrested Ivy was patiently answering questions. "How do you know if you have the right person?" a reporter asked. "Because in the detective's car we found the murder weapon- a 25mm handgun. We also found the young lady's finger prints on the gun." "What do think her motives were?" "A few months ago Senator Johnson tried to Ivy thrown off the Carmen Sandiego case along with a few other detectives, for failure to capture her. Although she was voted down, Ivy and another detective at different times, swore to get revenge. I wouldn't put this crime past the detective; she is very shrewd and very resourceful." "When does the hearing proceed?" "This coming Tuesday." "Will she be tried for the death penalty?" "Possibly.That's all the time I have for now." Tuesday 11:00 am As Ivy waited for the judge and prosecutor to show up, she spoke with Zack yet it was clear she was still in shock. "Sis, we still don't have an attorney." "What?!" Ivy cried. "Do not worry Ivy, I'm sure you we be found innocent," Armando said as he strolled up to her. At that moment Ivy's "prosecutor" walked in. "Well, well up to your neck in trouble I see- and sinking fast." Ivy couldn't belive her eyes; it couldn't be, could it? "Lee Jordan!" Ivy exclaimed. "Wow talk about corruption in the system..." Zack commented. "Without an attorney to represent you, I'll simply win this case." "I'm her attorney, so back off Lee!" Had the world the completely gone insane? Lee Jordan was her prosecutor, and Carmen Sandiego was her attorney?! Ivy almost fainted right then and there. "Ivy are you okay?" Zack asked. "Yeah," Ivy repiled "But I-" "All rise," said the bailiff. Everyone in the courtroom stood up, and Armando quickly dashed to his seat. After the judge entered and sat down, he said, "Order, order in the court. So what do we have here?" "A murder trial your honor," the bailiff said. "The prosecution may go first." "Your honor," Lee said, "I will prove without a shadow of a doubt, that this she monster Ivy, killed senator Martha Johnson on Saturday August 18." "Does the Defense have anteing to add?" the judge asked. "Your Honor I, Betty Stillwell, will prove that my client is innocent of all the charges against her," Carmen said. Had the judge not noticed who the lawyers were? Ivy found this very odd. But she said notihing. So far in 2 hours things were not looking up for Ivy. Lee was quick to point out that the murder weapon had been found in Ivy's car, also that here fingerprints are all over it, and she was in the area at the time of the murder. From within the crowd there were murmurs that Ivy could hear, such as: "I hope they give that redhead life in prison," one old lady said. Another replied, "Can't she get out when she's 21?" "No. She's legally an adult, you know 18, so if found guilty she can be put away for life." Ivy gulped; she couldn't go away for life for a crime she didn't commit. "For my next witness, I call the Chief to the stand," Carmen said. The Chief really couldn't put his hand on the Bible, because he is a CGI head floating in a pink window. But he answered the questions anyway. "So Chief, you've known Ivy for quite sometime now, and you know she would never resort to murder, whatever her faults are," Carmen said. "That's right, Ivy would never murder anyone. Sure she can drive people crazy with her attitude, but what teenager doesn't? She doesn't take lives, she protects 'em." "That's all for now," Carmen said. "So Chief, would you say Ivy has a nasty side? Perhaps even an impulsive side?" Lee asked. "Yeah but she would NEVER shoot anyone- especially old ladies." This continued for hours- Carmen calling witnesses and Lee cross-examining them. Despite Carmen's attempts, Ivy was still losing the case- the evidence was still stacked too high against her. Even for a split second Carmen found herself doubting Ivy. Yet Zack never lost hope for his big sister, and he had an idea that just might save Ivy. Eight exhausting hours after the hearing began, it was over for the day. They would have to come back tomorrow at 5:00am sharp, to beat the media. Ivy was hauled away, on the grounds that she was still a threat to society. "Don't lose hope Zack, I know Ivy is innocent," Carmen said then left. Zack noticed Lee had left with woman, who had long brown hair. He sighed and walked outside, sitting down on the steps of the courthouse he came to a decision. A half hour later, Zack waited outside of the city morgue. He was wearing his portable "Zack Attack 20,000". He shivered as he roamed around the morgue- the place was pretty creepy. The body of Martha Johnson had yet to shipped to the embalmers. Somehow the autotopsy findings was delayed in getting to the court for some reason. Working quickly, Zack scraped dried blood from under the nails, and a few hair samples that were clinging to the blood. That was all he needed for the moment. Back at Acme headquarters, Zack worked quickly doing a blood analyses. "Zack, you should get some sleep. The hearing continues at 5:00am bright and early tomorrow morning," The Chief said. "Not when my sister could be to jail, or on death row, for a crime she didn't commit." Suddenly, the screen began to flash. "Hey Chief the blood analysis is revealing something. According to the analysis, the blood belongs to someone else, and was taken around the time of death. I'll know more tomorrow." "I can't believe I let you break into the city morgue," The Chief said. The courthouse 5:00am Ivy slowly marched into the courtroom. To make sure she wasn't a threat she wore shackles, complete with an orange prison uniform. She could barely move. When Ivy sat down at the table, Zack was shocked to see her in shackles. Ivy was obviously depressed. Zack put his arm around her. "Ivy, I've been gone two months, and you've already been arrested." A new voice said. To be continued...