December 22, 4:30 pm
Simon had lost track of time for a while. When he found it again, he texted Athena to ask where to meet her, and he showered, and got himself dressed again. He was running out of clothes. Picking some up would have to be one of his errands– along with speaking to the director of the space center.
He spent longer than he should have in the shower, feeling the hot water running over his back and shoulders, its heat cleansing. It felt so good. So different than the prison showers he’d been used to for the past seven years. At the same time, it was almost odd to shower alone, with no one watching.
He pushed the thought from his head and turned off the shower, drying himself off, and squeezing the excess water out of his long hair with the towel.
Body steaming, he went and checked his phone. Athena wanted him to pick her up from the chief prosecutor’s office. Well– at least it seemed like she wouldn’t have been available earlier, anyway. So perhaps his moping was of no consequence.
He took Taka on his arm, and headed out to get Athena.
She was waiting for him on the steps outside the prosecutorial offices. The sun was setting behind the building and it cast warm, orange golden beams of light over her as if she radiated the very sun.
Before she’d noticed him she was swaying gently back and forth with the swing of her arms, lost in thought and restless momentum. Despite the pensive crease on her brow– the moment she noticed him she lit up with a bright smile and an eager wave.
“Simon! Taka!”
She stuck her hand in her pocket .
“Hold on, I got a treat for Taka from the nice lady selling bento boxes while I was waiting…”
The car was pulled up against the curb, and Simon rolled the window down. Taka hopped into his lap, and stuck his head out the window for the treat.
Simon chuckled, rapping his hand on the steering wheel.
“Oh now you’ve got him all excited, Athena.”
Athena grinned as she leaned forward, and pulled out a wrapped package of small sausages–cut in the shape of octopi– which she dumped into her hand and held out through the window.
“I like staying on Taka’s good side,” she teased “you know, so he doesn’t decide to divebomb me in court!”
The raptor ruffled his feathers happily and snatched up the treat. He nuzzled his head against Athena’s hand.
“He likes you already,” Simon said. “He’s been wondering where his treats have been the last couple of days.”
Athena’s fingers gently scritched his head as she chuckled.
“I’ll have to solve the mystery for him, then…mostly by buying extra treats myself, I think.” She winked, “Mr. Wright won’t mind me cutting into company funds.”
“If Wright-dono would prefer, he can go ahead and contribute a few fingers to the cause. Come on and get in the car, Athena.”
Athena opened the door and slid in with a laugh, Widget flashing a cheerful yellow around her neck.
“I don’t think he’d be happy if he lost his pointer finger. He wouldn’t be able to do the classic objection anymore!”
Taka hopped into Athena’s lap, like a small dog with extra large claws, and flapped his wings against her as she was trying to buckle her seatbelt.
“What a shame that would be. I think it would throw off Wright–dono’s whole approach.”
“Taka, come on!” Athena laughed. she managed to buckle herself anyway, before she smoothed out the bird’s feathers. “Ridiculous little guy…”
She looked back at Simon with a grin “Don’t get any bright ideas, mister. I’m still in training, I need him to pass me to ‘experienced lawyer’ before you go throwing off his groove and maiming his hands.”
Simon laughed and slapped the wheel before he pulled out into the flow of traffic again.
“Alright, I’ll save the maiming for after you’ve been promoted then, how’s that, Cykes-dono?”
“Perfect, Mr. Simon.” Athena said with a satisfied hum, scritching under Taka’s chin. “So…I heard you’re taking me shopping today…or maybe I’m taking you shopping? I recently got my paycheck from the boss, after all.”
“Shopping is involved. I’m running out of clothes.” And by running out of clothes he meant that really he only had the one outfit and it was starting to smell. “Keep your paycheck to yourself though– Edgeworth-dono provided me with more than enough.”
“Aww…and here I wanted to spoil you now that you were out and about again.” She pouted at Taka “hear that? He won’t let me buy him a new coat.”
“It’s very kind of you to offer. Maybe I’ll acquiesce to letting you buy me dinner.”
Athena leaned over and prodded his shoulder with a grin.
“you’d better…you know I spent a bunch of nights wondering where I’d take you the day you got out? Trying to figure out the best restaurant in LA to really wow you with.” She nodded slowly. “……I kept coming back to Eldoons noodles. Because it was cheap enough for my salary, and delicious enough that I eat it several times a week.”
“Well! It’s been a long time since I’ve had a good bowl of noodles. So why don’t we settle on that, after a little bit of shopping. There’s those bo-ken to consider. We’ll have to visit a martial arts store as well as a clothes store…. and at some point I have to think about an apartment…” Simon bit his lip. When he’d been arrested, he was still living with his older sister. He’d never looked for a place to live before.
Athena leaned over, bumping against his shoulder with a quiet hum.
“So…martial arts shop, clothes store…and thinking about an apartment.” She glanced up at him “it’s pretty overwhelming, I know…when I had to look for an apartment on my own after living with my grandparents forever , it was a LOT. I actually spent like…three weeks sleeping on the Anything Agency’s couch before I started finding leads.”
“Thrilling,” he drawled. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Well, perhaps I’ll see if Edgeworth-dono has any advice. I’m meeting with him tomorrow about a prosecutorial case load.”
He had been intending to do that today, as well. But the day had gotten away from him.
“Oh…he’ll absolutely be able to help.” She hummed softly under her breath “and if you’d like, I’d be happy to apartment hunt with you, or even put in a good word with my landlord if he’s got any open apartments.”
She gave him her sunniest smile “…you know, to keep you company. Not because I’m looking for more excuses to hang out or anything.”
He chuckled. “Are you my court appointed therapist as well?” he teased. “But no, I’m glad to have company on these errands. You were right when you said it earlier– it’s not good for me to spend too much time alone.”
He really hadn’t expected to lose those whole several hours.
“Unless you really oppose, you’re stuck with me I’m afraid…psychoanalysis and all.” she stuck her tongue out at him “I didn’t fight for years to try and save you just to ignore you, after all.” She brushed down Taka’s wing with a more muted smile. “but I knew it…in times like these, company is the best medicine. People who care about you, being close. It’s too easy to get lost in your own head alone.”
“You’re right about that, Athena,” he sighed. “For now, let’s get lost in clothes instead.”
December 22, 6:30 pm
The hard day at the office was done– the reports that had to be processed? They were processed. The newbies in need of training? They’d all been sent home for the day with a pat on the back and a ‘good job, pal!’.
The blue badger statue the Chief wouldn’t let go of had been polished, and Missile had been fed. Which left Gumshoe whistling cheerfully as he bounced along the street and towards the bus stop,starting a message to Maggie on his beaten up old flip phone.
His cheerful message was interrupted by the sudden buzz of an incoming call.
“GAHHH!!” He nearly fumbled the thing out of his hands, it bounced several times before he caught it and slammed down the green ‘answer’ key
“Gumshoe here!”
“I’m at the payphone at the end of the block. Meet me there.”
The voice on the other end of the line immediately hung up. Luckily, Gumshoe recognized it. After all, he’d only been chatting with Agent Badd the day before.
“…..” Gumshoe tugged at his collar. “Looks like I ain’t gonna be off the clock just yet…”
With the finality of the cell phone snapping shut, Dick Gumshoe changed course.
When Dick reached the payphone, Badd was there, with his hands in his big coat pockets. This time, instead of a lollypop in his mouth was an actual cigarette.
He got right to business, without any pleasantries.
“I figured you’d want to hear this update, and it’s not something I can say on the phone.”
Gumshoe nodded, snapping a salute right away before he crossed his arms. “Well…you got me mighty curious, pal. Did somethin’ happen?”
“You’re damned right it did,” he said, sucking on the filter of his cigarette. He blew a long stream of smoke out his nose. “Two of our agents in Cauli just dropped out of contact half an hour ago. They were in pursuit of last night’s target after leaving the airport.”
Gumshoe’s eyes widened. “…two Justitia damned interpol agents dropped out of contact? You don’t think…”
“Yeah, I do think,” he nodded sharply. “We’ve got one more guy on the ground there– the guy who flew in with the target. He’s made a positive ID of the guy that the target left the airport with. Looks like it was the one that our Phantom was calling ‘Specs’.”
Gumshoe whistled low under his breath.
“…So they’ve actually managed to get a bead on one of the big bads…” He rubbed his neck. “‘course…sounds like they’re probably alerted now, if they’ve taken out two of your guys. Might mean they’re gonna try to move soon, right?”
“That’s right.” Badd nodded again. He took the butt of his cigarette out of his mouth and ground it under his heel on the cement. “Things are about to get hairy, Gumshoe. Real fucking hairy. We’re putting together an inter-agency team as we speak. So this is me asking you– do you want in on this?”
“M-me, sir?” Gumshoe asked, physically twitching in surprise. “…You’re kiddin’ me? I’m just Dick Gumshoe of the LAPD, sir!”
“Yeah,” Badd nodded. “And this Fulbright was one of your guys in the LAPD, right? So I figure you might have a personal stake in it. Plus, I know you. You’re a damned good cop, Gumshoe.”
Gumshoe blushed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly with a goofy grin.
“…Well, that’s a hell of a compliment coming from the best damn detective we’d ever had, sir. If you think I’d be a good fit…count me in. I got a personal stake alright. Fulbright was onna ours. Least I can do is help get one over on the people responsible, right?” He paused. “….can I tell Mags, first? Or Do I gotta keep this hush hush?”
Badd stroked his stubbly chin. “I’ll ask your man Edgeworth about that. Don’t say anything for tonight. I’ll give you a ring in the morning. Sound good?”
“Perfect.” Gumshoe flashed a broad grin with another snappy salute. “Happy to be working with ya again, Agent Badd, sir!”
Badd saluted him back. “Pleasure’s all mine, Gumshoe. I won’t take up more of your evening– I gotta go organize this shit.”
“Lemme know if you need anything else, sir. Just give me a heads up if it’s gonna involve another strip search and wire, eh?”
“Ah, so that’s what you need the missus’ permission for, eh?” he grinned slyly at Gumshoe.
“You know what they say! A good relationship is a communicative relationship! Anyway, the doghouse may be roomier than my apartment, but I sure don’t wanna be put in it!” He burst out laughing.
December 22, 7:45 pm
Phoenix Wright was half-way through a good bottle of red wine when his cell phone buzzed, rousing him from the couch.
He grimaced as the sound of the ringtone cut through the dialogue of the old film noir that Trucy and Pearl were laying on blankets on the floor watching. The girls shushed him, and he held his hand up in apology, answering the call, and standing up to slink out of earshot into the office.
“Edgeworth? Hey, what’s up? This is the second time you’ve called me today.” He leaned against the office wall, phone on his shoulder, with the door half closed, watching the girls in the other room. In his other hand he held the neck of the open wine bottle.
“Wright, something’s come up. I’d like to talk to you about it in my office.”
He glanced down at his wine.
“Can it wait til tomorrow morning?”
“I’d prefer that it didn’t. Please, Phoenix?”
He sighed. Edgeworth calling him by his first name always did the trick.
“Alright. I’ll be there asap. I gotta call a cab.”
He ended the call without waiting for Edgeworth to respond.
Phone in his pocket he shuffled back into the other room, and put his bottle on the table.
“I have to go see Mr. Edgeworth, but you two enjoy your movie, okay?’
Both of the young ladies looked up at him with concern, and he promised them everything was fine, before he went off to call that cab.
December 22, 8:10 pm
Miles still hadn’t been home from his office since the night before. He’d had a few hours of sleep at his desk, and a lot of coffee, and his secretary had brought him a fresh suit from his home to change into around midday.
But he was tired. Lady justice, he was tired. And it didn’t look like he was going to be able to sleep any time soon.
It hadn’t even been 48 hours, and things had gone completely sideways. What he needed was to know that Phoenix Wright had his back. Somehow, when Wright was involved, things always turned out well… alright.
It’s almost Christmas, too.
In a couple of days it would be the 11th anniversary of the final resolution of the DL-6 incident. When Phoenix Wright had helped him put the ghost of his father to rest, and finally helped quell the terrible guilt that had lurked in his own heart for so long.
Yes. If anyone could help with this mess, it was Phoenix Wright.
So when the door clicked open, and Phoenix walked in, Miles looked at him with stark relief.
It became a little less stark when he noticed Phoenix in a floppy sweatshirt and his familiar beanie, but it was relief nonetheless.
“Phoenix,” he breathed. “Thank you for coming so soon. I know it was on short notice.”
“Any time, Miles. Even twice a day.” Phoenix sauntered over, and hefted himself up to sit on Miles’ desk. “I don’t see any dead bodies, so hey, that’s better than I was worrying about.”
Miles got up, and sat on the desk beside him, leaning–more like sagging– shoulder to shoulder with the other man. He smelled the scent of red wine on him, which was typical, though not fantastically encouraging at the very moment.
He leaned his head on Phoenix’s shoulder.
“The bodies are in Cauli. Presumably, anyway.” He sighed.
“What?” Miles felt Phoenix tense against him.
“We lost contact with two of our Interpol agents in Cauli two hours ago while they were following the suspects. They may have been captured, but Lang is already considering them presumed dead.”
“You’re kidding. Two hours in to no-contact? I’ve disappeared for way longer than that!”
“Trust me, Phoenix, I know,” Miles drawled. He had too, of course. “But that’s just the kind of people we’re dealing with here. Our last agent is canvasing the area they were last seen with Cauli police as we speak. They’re expecting to find bodies– or what might be left of them– by tomorrow morning our time.”
“Holy shit.”
Miles nodded. “That’s the kind of people we’re dealing with here. Phoenix….”
“Yeah, Miles?”
“I need a favor from you. A big one. I need you to fly to Cauli in the morning and start investigating.”
He felt Phoenix flinch against him and sit up in surprise, staring at him.
“What? Me? Why? I’m not with interpol. Hell, I’m not even a detective.”
Miles shifted and turned to face him, frowning already.
“Obviously. You’re a defense attorney. A fantastic one– in your own absurd way.”
Phoenix rubbed the back of his neck bashfully. “Aw, thanks, Miles. But uh, so, why do you want me to go to Cauli?”
Miles stared. Phoenix could be obtuse, but he would have thought this was obvious.
“Because when they arrest someone,” Miles said slowly, “I need you to defend them.”
Phoenix was staring at him like he had two heads, and Miles was pretty sure he had a similar expression on his own face.
“Why would I do that?” Phoenix asked.
“Because… you’re a defense attorney?” Miles repeated again. “A fantastic one?”
“Again, thanks, but…” he scratched his hair under the beanie. “You’re planning on catching the right guy, right? You haven’t even caught anyone yet. Why would you want me to defend them?”
“Obviously we’re planning on catching the ‘right guy’!” Miles could hear his own volume rising, but he couldn’t quite manage to moderate it. “And when we do I want you to make sure he’s the right guy by defending him.”
“Oh, so you want me to lose?”
“What? Phoenix, this isn’t about winning or losing, I trust you to check my work!”
“I’m flattered but…” he bit his lip. “Miles, I’m not going to defend someone I don’t think is innocent. I have to trust my client, that’s just the way I work.”
Miles stared at him, and sputtered, trying to come up with some reply.
“I’m not going to defend someone I think is guilty, Miles. You know I can’t do that. If you bring somebody in, and they say they’re innocent and want me to defend them? Well, you know how I work. But I’m not going to fly out to Cauli and wait for you to arrest somebody so I can ‘check your work’.”
“You can’t be serious, Wright.” Miles slipped gracefully down from the desk and stood up, adjusting his suit. “Isn’t this everything we’ve been talking about? Making sure people get a fair trial? A court that isn’t about winning or losing but about making sure the right person takes the blame for the crime?”
“Sure, absolutely. But for me, it’s also about trust. I have to trust my client, Edgeworth, or I’m not going to be able to do my job.”
“Wright, you do realize that guilty people deserve proper representation under the law,” Miles said again. “We’ve talked about this. We can’t have a system that’s only set up to assume guilt and punish it.”
“I know, Edgeworth. But I just can’t. You’re going to find someone else because the kind of person you’re talking about? Somebody who’s ordered the deaths of all those people and doesn’t even care? There’s no way I can defend them.”
Everything was spinning out of Miles’ control. This was not what he’d expected at all.
“But Wright, we’re partners. I need someone whose judgment I can trust to–”
Phoenix cut him off, grabbing his hand, and squeezing it.
“I’m sorry, Miles. But you’re not going to be able to trust mine. Not on this one.”
Miles pulled his hand away, and looked down.
“Fine. If that’s the way you feel about it. If you really won’t compromise that ridiculous personal philosophy of yours, to help me, and to help ensure a fair investigation and a fair trial, then fine! I will find someone else who can!”
Phoenix put his hands in his lap for a moment, and then he stood, too.
“Thanks for understanding, Edgeworth.” Phoenix put his hand on Miles’ shoulder for a moment, but Miles felt frozen stiff and didn’t move. He watched Phoenix shake his head and shuffle toward the door. “I’ll call you in the morning, okay? Get some rest. You’re coming apart at the seams.”
Miles just watched him go. The office door clicked closed behind him, and he was alone.
The chief prosecutor made a low noise as he flopped down into the chair behind his desk. It turned gently under him until he was facing the window, where the dark horizon of L.A. was laid out before him.
He didn’t know what he was going to do.
Who the hell was Miles going to get to pull this mess together? Who could actually make sure that they caught the right criminals, and that justice was done?
He needed a real team. He and Phoenix had talked endlessly about how it ought to work– a prosecutor, detective and lawyer working together to find the truth. To make sure things were done right. That the right people were held accountable.
He had been planning to fly to Cauli with Phoenix and Gumshoe in the morning, and work the case like old times.
But times had changed, he supposed. They’d all changed. And Phoenix only wanted to play the game his own way.
Well fine.
And suddenly tired, angry, frustrated Miles Edgeworth knew exactly what he was going to do. He knew exactly the three he was going to put on the case. May Justitia help him.
If that was the way Phoenix wanted to play, Miles Edgworth wasn’t just going to gamble– he was going to double down.
December 22, 9:00 pm
The chief prosecutor swaggered briskly into the secure hospital room, and straight up to the bed, where Bobby and No-one had been flipping through a magazine.
“Mr. Edgeworth?” They raised their eyebrows– Bobby in confusion, and No-one in mild interest.
Edgeworth rested one hand on his hip, and with the other, pulled something out of his pocket. He slammed it down on the bedside table next to the magazines and sunglasses.
It was a police badge.
“Detective Robert Halblicht– how badly would you like to earn my trust?”