Everyone gathered in the courtroom for what may be Mina's last trial. Her mentor, Raven, stood beside her, having gone through his own trials and tribulations and Ashley, Mina's rival prosecutor, turned something, maybe more, stood to the left of her.

  On the defendant bench, Trudy and Winona, Mina's two friends, were accused of the same thing as her.

  In the audience, Mina's mother, a beautiful, slightly greyed woman with dyed long hair dressed in pink and wearing her signature pearls.

  Her father was in the audience too. He wore a proper pinstriped suit, but his adult braces and gawky face resembled his daughter as much as her mother did. Both Hawkins were equally dismayed it had come to this. First the Devillia breaking and entering case, and now murder, it was too much and they had flown from New York just to see her.

  Several of Mina's previous clients showed up too to cheer her on too. Star Skye, the famous sci-fi actress turned wannabe pirate, Todd the remaining member of the DeFunkt robots, Chet Cody, bass player, video game addict and thieving ex of Winona, Vicki Electra, posh mean girl turned friend who inherited her billionaire mother's company after she was arrested, Monty Banks, the former mayor who was now running for reelection after Ivor Ebony stepped down much to everyone's dismay, and a mysterious and fabulous brother and sister dressed in suave purple trench coats and floppy hats, who may or may not have been the Santiago criminals.

  Across from Mina, the Dark Prosecutor stood, his towering cyborg presence lording over everyone else. Encased inside his metal core, her boyfriend turned ex only by the cruel release of death. His permanent client D. Vito wore a suit too, but that did not stop him from eating his signature smelly gas station prosciutto and mozzarella.

  Lastly, the judge sat at the center. Divine Justice, even in her late seventies still possessed the regality and dignified manner a judge should. Even if she was completely oblivious to the fact her deceased grandson was being used as a sinister prop in D. Vito's revenge scheme.

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  Barry Stair, the aptly named barristair in his powdered wig leapt forward and read from an antiquated piece of parchment. "Good morning, Divine, your honor! We have gathered here before you for the second trial of Miss Mina Hawkins and her friends, Trudy Cumberson and Beverly Hillside alias Winona Chandra Sumac! They have been accused of murdering Johnny Vito. Son of taxi driving slob, Denny D. Vito!"

  "Ahem," D. Vito coughed. "I did not approve of that moniker pally. I drive a clean cab and a clean reputation!"

  The cab driver wiped his greasy meaty hands on his suit. "Now strike that from yer book or face da consequences!"

  Dark Persecutor slammed his metal gauntlets together, sounding like two blocks of steel slamming together.

  The barrister tugged nervously at his old school lapel.

  Mina grimaced. She knew full well the true William wouldn't lay a finger in anyone unless they crossed his girlfriend. Now he was just some steely stormtrooper for the Aura. She would have to lay her feelings of sentimentality to rest and face him like the dead man he was.

  "Order!!!" Divine cried, slamming her gavel. "You will not intimidate the court staff with brute force, Mr. Vito. Who do you think you are? Son of the mob?!"

  Vito chuckled. "Naw bub. I'm just a humble taxi driva. I work for peanuts and eat them when I have to skip lunch. I humbly tank you for taking my case against dis very talented but wicked ex friend o' mine!"

  Raven elbowed Mina in the ribs. "Owie, what gives?" Mina said, closing her right eye and rubbing her rib cage.

  Raven whispered. "Sorry kiddo, had to get yer attention somehow. Just wanna tell ya. It's probably best you don't go telling the judge who Mr. Vito truly is!"

  Mina glared up at him. "But wouldn't they arrest him?"

  "They might…" Raven said, rubbing his lucky soul patch. "But he will bring on the nukes if you do!"

  "Great," Mina said, her eyes rolled skyward with a frown. "Gotta walk on egg-salad sandwiches with this guy!

  Vito met her gaze and he sneered. He pulled out a photograph. "Now great an' honorable judge. Let me tell you about my precious lil' boy they killed!"