"Let's hustle buddy." Came man's voice. I stood up and followed him. We walked through a series of corridors, then stopped before a pair of wooden door. I was hustled forward into the courtroom. It was marvelous, I wish I could visit more, though not in this way. The jury sat in the jury box on the right hand side and the judge sat in the middle of the court room staring right through me. I scanned the audience, quite a few people had shown up. A couple hundred I thought. I turned to the prosecutor table, then the defendant table... and I couldn't quite believe my eyes when I saw him. It was Professor...one of the only people I truly respected in my life. If my intelligence is like a bucket, his would be like a deep well.

"Defendant come to the forward to this table and state your full name." The judge's voice boomed.

"Ling Qi."

"Now put your hand on the bible or your holy book and swear you will tell the whole truth, and complete truth."

I was an atheist but I knew the procedures from the mock trials so I put one hand upon the bible and swore my oath.

"Very well. You may proceed to the witness stand and give your testimony." The judge said. On my way to the stand a voice among the crowd yelled:

"Death will serve you will murderer!"

"He is the son of the devil!" I completely shrugged off all these kinds of comments.

"ORDER!" the Judge's voice boomed like lighting. He slammed his hammer several times to get the place adapted to silence. I was on the testimony stand there and there were no chairs so I know this is going to be a stand trial for me. When the place was at perfect silence, the judge spoke again:

"You are being charged w"

"Defense consul you may begin."

My attention was on the professor the whole time, I barely noticed Yumi standing beside him. Yumi sat down again after a look from the professor though from the look of her eyes, she seemed relentless even worried... Professor was fifty-three; he wore glasses, but he didn't really need them he just kept them as an accessory. Today he wore a black suit.

"Ling my boy, tell us the whole story of what happened that day," the professor said.

"That morning. We arrived in New York in his private jet. Then we separated at downtown Manhattan."

"Objection! The defendant needs to state the purpose of his travel clearly!" the prosecutor lawyer called. He looked like a scarecrow in a suit. He was so thin I was afraid he might get knocked down by the wind.

"Your honor?" Professor asked.

"Overruled. Processed."

I knew that was coming, Professor and I were preparing for this. It was a communication without words between us, just eye contact.

"The purpose? I didn't arrange a flight to New York. Louis did. And all of a sudden he told me to come."

"And you just went?" continued the prosecutor.

"He said it was emergency."

"And you believed him?"

"A friend is in need, why not?" I could do this all day, lies are essential right now and truth is crucial at this point.

"Lies! Lies!" The prosecutor said in rage.

"Careful with your words." Said the judge. "Though I do doubt your friendship."

"Both of his bodyguards and several of my friends can confirm that we called each other such?" the whole court looked awkward for a moment as no one spoke, finally the judge broke the silence.

"Very well you may proceed with your testimony."

"And at about 6:35 a.m. we meet again and we went to the Empire State Building together. He wanted to get a good view of the city."

"Was it just the two of you?" The professor asked.

"No, he also brought his friends." I replied.

"Do you know their names?"

"Not a clue."

"Objection! He obviously speaks of lies!" barked the prosecutor.

"Mr. Crow, Evidence?" asked the judge.

"The video camera footage shows that Mr. Massimiliano, Dr. Qi, a female and his two bodyguards going into the elevator." I don't like to be called by my last name, because it gives me a hollow feeling. But in knew it was necessary to use it in court. Before I moved my lips I took in a deep breath. I tried to organize what happened that day and choose my words carefully, and then I spoke.

"Can you identify the female?" asked the judge.

"We are still getting info on her." Said the prosecutor looking down.

"Then we will have no more of this." Said the judge.

"But, your honor..."

"Let the defendant finish." The judge said.

The place was silent, finally the judge said: "Go on Dr. Qi."

"Then we went to the rooftop together, then..." how am I supposed to say this part? A Robo knight appeared from the sky and killed Louis? But they are going to believe me, because there is video footage of it...

"Then?" said the judge. I must have gone quiet for too long.

"It's hard for words to describe, I suppose there a video footage taken that time by the security camera."

"Deputy is there such a video footage?"

"A moment your honor."

The whole court waited in silence.

"Your honor...There are no security camera footage that morning."

WHAT! I almost blurred it out. And at the same time the whole court went into frenzy. Even though I told Silk to block out all security camera footage of the building, all but the roof top ones. Someone must have erased it afterwards. Henry case to replace the security footage was easy, but not mine because the physical damage left behind on the building was un-coverable. The Courtroom burst into noise.

"ORDER! ORDER!" the judge smashed his gravel as if he was Thor reincarnated. The whole court room fell silent again.

"There must be a mistake your honor." Professor spoke will absolute calmness.

"I certainly can see that. What is your point defense counsel?"

"I mean this is ridiculous, just ridiculous. May I ask your honor if you have ever been to Empire State Building?" Professor asked casually.

"Yes, though questions not related to the case will not be tolerated again."

"But my honor it is related to the case."

"How so?"

"Do you feel safe when you enter the Empire State Building?"

"Of course I don't see the reason why not."

"That is precisely why. Unless someone was not doing his job right."

The judge was silent for a moment and nodded slightly.

"You do raise a valid point there. So what are you suggesting right now?"

"I wish to cross examine a security guard from during that shift to be called up to the witness stand at this instant."

"Very well. Due to lack of circumstantial evidence. Dr. Qi you can rest at the defendant box for now. Bring forth the next witness, Deputy if you please." Walking towards the center of the court was a man in uniform.

"Witness, state your name please." Said the judge.

"Joe Dibus."

"Now put your hand on your holy book, that you will tell the whole truth and complete truth."

He raised his hand up and swears an oath on the bible.

"Prosecutor you may begin."

A bunch of phony questions were asked from the prosecutor, though none of them had any significance to do with the missing video footage. Professor didn't object once, because he wanted a clear grasp of the situation, no matter how long it took. And so far I never saw him wore of patience. That was his way of doing things.

"Is that it?" asked the judge.

"That is the conclusion your honor." Replied the prosecutor.

"Very well. It is time for defense's counsel cross examination, proceed."

"Thank you, your honor. Mr. Debris, did I pronounce your name right?"

"It's pronounced Mr. Dibus." the man replied, he sounded stressed. The whole court gave a small laugh, even the judge gave off the slightest hint of a smile. It was professor way of doing things, he likes humour, everyone likes humour, it wear out the enemy patience out while drilling holes right through their very own words. Impressive.

"Order, order!" the judge slammed his hammer.

"So you are responsible for the security of the empire state building am I correct?"

"Certainly."

"So that means you are certainly responsible for the missing video footage?"

"That was an accident."

"When does your shift start and when does your shift end?"

"5:00am till...noon."

"So are responsible."

"Objection! Your honor, he is trying to take advantage of my witness!"

"Very well, I will overrule it this time. But I am warning you defence counsel."

"I understand your honor. May I continue to proceed?"

"You may."

"So you were in the building that time, but where in the building?"

"I was patrolling, the other office floor, when all of a sudden the fire alarm went off and water got everywhere."

"And what did you do next?" Professor questioned.

"As soon as I realized that was a false alarm, I went to the security camera room to find all the data erased and a couple of guards knocked out."

"How can I know you weren't the one that knocked out these guards?"

"What do you mean? Those were my colleagues."

"But you would do it for money?"

"No."

"Not even for a million?"

"Probably then. But wouldn't anyone do so?"

"Men would do anything for money, huh. Not trying to be cynical here but you just stated yourself that you would sell your colleagues out for a certain amount, if I was in your place I would probably asked for a much higher price."

The man looked down at his shoes, his face purplish red from anger and embarrassment.

"So tell me who hired you to do so?"

"No one."

"So you just did it without being paid, what a shame...then what did you do it for? for love?"

"No!" the man voice was close to screaming. Then realizing the entire place went silent he looked apologetically at the judge.

"Apologies your honor," Professor said.

"Overruled. You may continue." The judge said.

"Hey, buddy. I am trying to help you out here, you just got to cooperate with me alright?" Professor said with a warm hearted smile. And he almost had me fooled on that one.

"Ok."

"Good. So tell me what you really did."

"After I scanned the security camera room, I called the 911 and searched throughout the building for anyone who needs medical attention and checking if everything is still alright. When I got to the rooftop, no one was there except...for 2 dead bodies." Louis bodyguards I made a silent remark to myself.

"Who's is it?"

"Two big men, both in suits."

"Did they still have a breath left when you were there?"

"No sir. They didn't." Professor has a strong sense of charisma that has effect of turning foes into allies. If it works, than this case maybe a turnaround ace.

"Just a few more questions before you are done, bear with me please."

"Ok."

"Did you notice anything unusual on the rooftop?"

"Yes."

"Tell me please."

"There are huge cracks in cement and they were fairly recent too."

"Anything else?"

"The railing broke off."

"And how?"

"I didn't quite get catch that one sir."

"It means how did it happen?"

"No clue sir."

"Exactly like I expected. None of them knows a thing and they still get paid. That's all I am going to ask your honor."

"You should be more careful with your radical comments, Mr. Wang." It was the first time the judge used Professor's name.

"Will try." He chuckled.

"Dr. Qi come forth to the witness stand and, Defendant counsel be ready to testify."

I did as the judge told and professor said:

"May I proceed to testify?"

"Certainly." The judge said.

"So Ling boy could you tell me what happened on the roof top?"

"There was a-"

Before I could say anything, a courtroom clerk burst through the pair the doors and was panting like a deflating balloon.

"Your honor! We have an enormous breakthrough..." the rest of the words were loss intake of breath.

"Take in a deep breath then speak." Said the judge.

"A few minutes ago...The authorities has arrested a male that is believed to be a prime suspect to the case. And he is here right now."

"Bring him in." Said the judge.

The place was confused and I was even more confused, because I could not think of anyone else who been at that scene at the precise time. Most likely it was just some sort of coincidence. The court waited a few minutes in small talk and chit chat. And the courtroom doors opened once again. There was a police office at each side of him, two in the back and two in the front. And the prime suspect walked in the middle. The smile was unmistakable. And I was completely taken back mentally for a moment. It was Stainless Steel.