"Mystic Maya," Pearl gasped, "you're making a mess." Maya was sitting behind Phoenix's desk, her bare feet resting on top of legal papers. She had brought her and Pearl's lunches from home, since Phoenix was going to be in court this afternoon. She wouldn't have a chance to pester him for burgers today.
"Nick likes to clean, Pearly," Maya said, taking a swig of Coca Cola. "Besides," she added, "he doesn't need this stuff." She was referring to the legal papers under her feet. They were pertaining to the trial he was currently at. If he didn't bring them, she figured, he didn't need them. She had made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches -- cut into triangles, just like Mia would have done when they were little -- and had somehow gotten jelly onto his papers.
Pearl reached over to grab her drink, and accidentally knocked Maya's over with her long sleeves. "Oops!" she squeaked. The soda spilled across the already messy desk.
"It's okay," Maya assured her. "I'll go get some paper towels or something." As Maya searched the room for something to clean up with, Phoenix burst into his office in a panic.
"Maya!" he called to her. "Have you seen the autopsy report for my case?"
"Um," Maya hesitated, "but Nick, aren't you already supposed to be in court?"
"I forgot the autopsy report," he explained. "We're on a recess, but I can't go get another one from the police department! It'll take way too long!" He started searching the room, going for the desk first. Maya blocked his way, her arms outstretched in front of it. "What are you doing?" Phoenix exclaimed.
"See, the thing is," Maya mumbled. Phoenix got a hand around her and reached for whatever was on the desk. He grimaced as his hand fell onto something wet.
"Maya, what did you do?!" he cried, looking around her shoulder to see what he was looking at. "Is this soda?!" Maya laughed nervously.
"Um," Pearl piped up. "It was my fault, Mr. Nick. Don't be mad at Mystic Maya." Phoenix sighed and moved to the other side of the desk, wondering if he could still salvage the report. "But you like to clean, don't you, Mr. Nick?" Pearl smiled. "After all, you're always cleaning the toilet." Phoenix picked up the wet autopsy report and walked out the door without another word.