Striving For Perfection

Chapter 3:

Perfect Case - Part 2

Author's note: Okay…you know the drill. I don't own Phoenix Wright games or characters…and if I did, I'd be swimming in my own pool of money (which would be shaped like a dollar bill!) However! I DO own Marty Cruss, Guido, Anya Trin and Herr Volker. For all of you just joining in on this story...you might want to go read Limits of Perfection first...it might get confusing. No touchie! Just a note...all of this is flashback to get you all in the know about what exactly happened during the Marty Cruss trial. Got that? All right!

To my reviewers:

Aetheryn: Ooh! Sounds interesting! Anything specific with that pairing?

Jade: Ah, silly me! I was so excited, I bypassed spell check! But it'll be...haha, pardon the joke here...perfect this time.

Vaxl: Yup, and it just gets better from here on in! Prepare for the second part of the trial! muahahah!

AND NOW...ON TO THE STORY!!

Date: May 12

Time: 11:00 AM

Place: District Court No. 2

Phoenix, for the first time, got to gaze upon the man who called himself Guido...in person. Phoenix had seen his photograph before...and that was intimidating...but this...he was...in a sense, the epitome of a bodyguard. Guido was tall and muscular, with an intimidating glare that could freeze even the blackest of hearts. He was bald, and his wiry moustache curled at the ends of his lips perfectly. The one thing that really caught Phoenix's eye, though, was the tattoo of a skull and crossbones on Guido's right shoulder. It was about this time, that Guido had caught Phoenix staring at him, and his lips curled into a threatening snarl.

"Wha cha lookin' at?" he growled, each syllable crisp and clear as he spoke, with a deadly undertone. Phoenix chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his head.

"Uh...no-nothing really...the...uh...exit sign above your head was...uh...rather interesting...it was...uhm...short-circuiting."

Mentally, Phoenix slapped himself. If ever there was a time that he didn't carry off the professionalism of his career...this would have been it.

"If you're done babbling, Mr. Wright, may we proceed with this trial?" Anya questioned smartly.

To Phoenix, Anya was...different. Now, Phoenix had defended many cases, and he had been in his job long enough to at least tell the difference in this sort of matter. Anya Trin didn't just seem overly-confident...she...she gave off the impression of someone who has already won. ...this...this seemed to be her true personality. Not the scared little girl act she had put on earlier. For some reason, this woman had been putting on a show...hiding her personality...hiding herself. But for what reason... Phoenix hadn't a clue. It sort of reminded him of Mimi Miney. While she was on the stand...when he would be completely way off in his accusations, Mimi acting like a complete ditz...as though she hadn't a care in the world. ...but...when Phoenix stumbled upon something that was correct, Mimi changed at the drop of a hat...she went from silly and cheerful, to arrogant and vindictive...Suddenly, her sentences that were clogged with the word "like", were complete, precise, but still sort of rushed. Phoenix wondered if Anya, like Mimi, had something sinister to hide...but he could dwell on it no further, for the judge's voice rang out and shook Phoenix from his thoughts.

"Well, Mr. Wright? Are you ever going to answer the prosecution's question?"

"Uh...yes, Your Honor! We can proceed!" Phoenix replied quickly.

Anya flicked her hair back and turned to the muscular man on the witness stand. For a moment, Phoenix caught a look between the two of them. It was...understanding? Not the sort of gentle understanding...where someone sympathizes with your situation...it was...different. It was...that sort of understanding between two people when a plan is to be executed. Before the defense attorney could call them out on it, though, Anya Trin began speaking.

"Witness, please state your name and occupation."

"Guido. Bodyguard."

'Well that was short and simple...I'm half surprised he didn't say "Me Tarzan. King of Apes." Or something like that.' Phoenix thought to himself with an amused smile.

"Mr.…Guido. Can you please testify about your relation to the defendant?" Anya questioned, a frown etched deep on her lips upon seeing Phoenix's smile. The muscle-bound bodyguard merely nodded, and then cracked his knuckles menacingly as he turned, looking straight at Phoenix as he spoke. If he hadn't gotten the message now, Phoenix understood that this man was attempting to intimidate him...which most likely meant that he had something to hide. Phoenix's smile only got wider at this thought. He would take pleasure in figuring out what exactly this man was keeping under lock and key.

"Mr. Cruss is my boss. When he wants something done, I'm his man. There's nothing I wouldn't do for the guy. He pays well." Guido stated, crossing his arms over his chest.

There was something about one part of his statement that caught Phoenix's attention right away, and he jumped on the chance. "Hold it! Mr. ...uh...Guido, sir. You stated that when my client wants something done...that you'd do it for him?"

"Yeah...what about it? I'm a bodyguard."

"So then you'd do anything he asked?"

"What part of that don't you get?

"Oh, I understand completely! ...Do you work for anyone else?"

"Sure. I work for nightclubs...other private businessmen...that sort of thing."

"And according to your duties, you'd do anything for them as well?"

"Yes. Do you not understand this or something?"

"Of course I do, but I doubt that murder is part of your job."

"It's routine-"

Realizing his slip, the muscle-bound bodyguard became furious. "Now wait just a minute there! That's not what I meant!" he exclaimed. "Oh? What did you mean then? You never finished your sentence." Phoenix questioned curiously. There was silence in the courtroom. All spectators held their breath...and then...suddenly...there was the sound of someone crying. To everyone's disbelief, Guido had broken down and started bawling like a baby. "Ohhhhh...it was me! I killed Herr Volker...I kidnapped Miss von Karma and hurt that Edgeworth man! I did it! Not Mr. Marty! He's such a nice guy! I can't! I can't let him go to prison! WAAAAAAHHHHHH!"

To say that Phoenix was stunned, was an understatement of the highest degree. He couldn't believe that this man was actually the guilty party. But...then again, Guido would have had to have been a madman to admit to such a heinous crime such as this one, if he didn't do it.

"ORDER! ORDER please!" the judge shouted, banging his gavel. "If this statement is true, then I can pass down a judgment immediately."

"It's TRUE your honor! It's TRUE!" Guido shouted, sobbing loudly. Anya pressed her hands over her ears and winced as another torrent of tears started up. "WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TAKE HIM AWAY?!" she shouted.

Date: May 12

Time: 1:00 PM

Place: District Court No. 2

"Well, now that everything has been taken care of, I'll give my ruling now." the judge stated calmly, wiping his brow. "Ms. Trin, how is...uhm...Guido?" Anya folded her arms over her chest and gave a 'hmph'. "He's used up several boxes of Kleenex already...but he'll be fine." she stated in an irritated voice.

"Good. Well...Mr. Wright...do you or your client have anything to say before I pass the verdict?" the judge questioned.

"I don't, Your Honor." Marty Cruss stated.

"Neither do I, Your Honor." Phoenix added.

"Well then, I will pass down my verdict...I declare Marty Cruss...to be not guilty." The judge banged his gavel and left the courtroom. His black robes billowed behind him and the door to his chambers slammed shut.

Phoenix turned to look at the rookie prosecutor with a cheerful smile. "Ms. Trin, I-" he stopped upon finding that she, too, had walked out...no...stormed out. He chuckled nervously, and scratched the back of his head nervously. "Well...uh...Mr. Cruss...I'm glad that-"

"Congratulations Mr. Wright." Marty Cruss stated, as a sinister smile crept up onto his face.

"What?"

"I do believe that this is the first time you've ever gotten a guilty man...a not guilty verdict."

"...WHAT?"

"...Like I said...congratulations...Eheheheh..."

With these words, Marty gave a mocking bow and left the courtroom...and left Phoenix Wright...stunned beyond comprehension.