Chapter Four

Turnabout Paradise

Miles got a letter in the mail about being a witness in a trial. He was thirty years old now and the chief prosecutor. He and Phoenix tied the knot after Matt Engarde's trial. The words that Engarde said haunted him.

"I may be guilty of murder and not an amazing prosecutor like you but I can give hell of a blow job right, Miles?"

The Path to Paradise director was charged with torture, neglect, murder, and conspiracy to commit murder. The list went on and on. He had to explain further to Phoenix about his experience at The Path to Paradise. He had a hard enough time telling his therapist as it was. He looked at his chief prosecutor golden nameplate on his desk. It read, "Miles Edgeworth-Wright". His pet name Phoenix gave him was Mew after the acronym in his name.

He put the paper in the bag and left the office. He went right to Wright Everything Agency. When he got there Phoenix was at his desk. "Athena and Apollo are they on a case?"

"Apollo went on a date with Klavier. Remember when they used to live with us? Trucy is putting on a magic show and Athena is with Simon Blackquill. It is her first time out on a date in awhile. Usually she baggers me for cases," Phoenix explained.

"We have your office all to ourselves," Miles said, "I need some help with a case. I am not prosecuting believe it or not I'm a witness."

"The Path to Paradise case? I know a lot of the other witnesses are in prison now: Ivan de Cellars, Kristoph Gavin, and Matt Engarde. You and Klavier are the only witnesses who have not landed in prison. Also this guy John Toughlove has a very famous defense attorney. I will help you and the prosecution as best I can and may I ask who is prosecuting?"

"Franziska von Karma so that is a good thing. Winston Payne would lose even if the defendant were guilty. I wish Klavier or I could prosecute but we have too much personal stuff involved in this case," Miles said.

"I will advise Franziska during the trial. Whenever you are having a hard time with your testimony look at me and don't let Kristoph bother you,"

Miles nodded then hugged Phoenix. Everyone had gotten back by the time Miles and Phoenix were done talking. Trucy went up to her father and Miles.

She hugged them and said, "Daddy Miles, Polly and I will be here for you during this trial." They went back to the mansion for a big family dinner.

Athena spoke about prosecutor Blackquill, "If Franziska backs out he is willing to be the prosecutor with his feathered friend Taka. After hearing about the defendant's crimes a whip is not enough punishment during the trial. Taka and the knives Simon throws would make more sense."

Miles said, "I usually do not accept violence in the court but I can with this case." Miles looked at how much wine was left in his glass. The red liquid squirmed around in the glass. He wondered how he was able to ignore The Path to Paradise for so long. He drank more wine than he usually did.

"Everyone can go out tonight dinner is over," Phoenix sad. He looked over at a drunk Miles. Apollo left with Klavier and Trucy went up to her room. Athena called Simon to pick her up and soon only Miles and Phoenix were in the dining room.

Phoenix helped Miles to the tub He turned on the water and undressed Miles. He helped him get in. "When this is over I am buying the land that torture center is located on and I want to turn it into a sanctuary for troubled youth. I want to get rid of the old building to make new ones." Phoenix took off his shirt and pants. He helped Miles wash his hair and back.

"Want to go on vacation after this trial? I can massage your tense muscles like you like, Miles?" Phoenix said before he kissed Miles.

"Somewhere sunny, this winter has been one bitter bitch," Miles said. Phoenix massaged Miles' shoulders. He kissed his collarbone as well.

"Oldbag was pretty bitter at our wedding. She ran screaming objection into the courtroom and nearly gave the judge a heart attack," Phoenix said as he laughed. Miles nipped on Phoenix's ear.

Miles said, "Maya, our maid of honor chased after her and our best man Gumshoe chased after them. Marrying you was the best decision I ever made."

Miles finished his bath and they went to the bedroom. Both had heavy lidded eyes with a faint of purple under them. Miles got into bed and pulled the covers over his head. Phoenix got in as well and began reading the case file again. "What did they call the incident that happened to me? The last time it was DL-6."

"TB-12, it sounds like a strong case of tuberculosis." Phoenix smiled and scratched his head.

"It does and I am sorry you have to assist the prosecution instead of defending a client who was wrongly accused. "

"Do not be sorry I want truth and justice no matter what side I'm fighting on," Phoenix said.

"I still worry about you…."

Miles fell asleep on Phoenix's chest. The trial was tomorrow. Miles woke up to see Phoenix getting dressed. He decided to wear a black suit and burgundy tie. Miles said teasingly, "Back to black? What about your normal blue suit."

"I wanted to wear something else for once and what are you wearing today?" Phoenix retorted.

"A cravat to hid your love marks and a black suit. " They both were done getting ready when Trucy went up to their room. She looked concerned. Miles did not tell them the gory details about his time at that prison. Miles knew the media was all over it thought. Due to budget cuts the Criminal Affairs Department could not afford one.

"Yesterday I went to buy groceries since neither of you have time and I heard people saying nasty stuff about daddy Edgeworth," Trucy said, "Well obviously the tabloids call him a man-whore who only got Chief Prosecutor by sleeping with powerful men but regular people gossiped about how he is a fag. Why is it that Klavier and Apollo are an item while you two are vilified?"

"Probably because we are not rock stars and not 24 anymore," Phoenix said. He laughed, trying to add humor to a humorless question. Miles nipped his ear.

Miles said, "Didn't Klavier and Apollo make a sex tape for helping guys' sex lives but to answer this more seriously it had to do with my negative reputation and Phoenix's as well. This trial the defense has a chance even with Franziska as lead prosecutor and Blackquill as second in command. Doesn't help most witnesses are in prison for murder."

"I did not know that the Path to Paradise was politically powerful. Some of my friends in the magician field have been sent there," Trucy said.

After the chat with Trucy both men got into Phoenix's navy blue SUV. Miles did not want to take his sports car. He knew the media would be all over the trial. Phoenix drove and as they got to the courthouse they saw reporters and cameras. They were able to find a parking spot in the parking garage. Miles put on sunglasses before getting out of the car. They walked quickly passed the reporters. Phoenix made sure Miles was in the witness room before he went to Franziska.

Miles sat on a satin chair. He found a book and began to read it and as he read he could feel someone's breath on his neck. He shuddered and closed the book. He saw golden locks and a prison jumpsuit. It obviously was not Klavier. He sat closest to the door with some headphones on. Kristoph said, "I was hoping we could have some fun in here before the trial but it looks like you are married." His voice closely resembled a hiss of a snake. Miles shuddered some more.

"I turned my life around unlike you did," Miles said in almost a whisper.

"Just because you are Chief Prosecutor does not mean you are above me," Kristoph said. Kristoph loosened Miles cravat and noticed the love marks on Miles' neck. Klavier pushed Kristoph off of Miles.

Klavier said, "I know you have not had sex in awhile but it doesn't mean you can molest Mr. Edgeworth!"

Kristoph sneered and said, "One of these days the both of you will regret leaving me."

"No Kristoph, you are beneath me, you're a jealous ex and a murderer." Miles glared at Kristoph.

Kristoph said, "I don't have to live with putting innocent people in prison. You were not called the Demon Prosecutor for nothing." Miles looked at the clock. He would ignore Kristoph.

Klavier went to go testify. Miles passed around, waiting for his time to go up. Finally after the clock's ticking got the best of him Miles was called to testify. He went up to the witness stand. The whole courtroom stared at him. Franziska said, "State your name and occupation witness."

"Miles Edgeworth and I'm the Chief Prosecutor in this district," Miles said.

"Please testify how this man tortured you," Franziska said. Miles looked down and let out a deep sighed. It was time to face the beast.

"He would beat me and shock me with a cattle prod. He would stick things into me. The torture sessions were two or three days a week for two. It was about my sexual orientation. We barely ate and worked long hours doing menial labor," Miles said.

The defense started the cross-examining Miles. Miles noticed it was a young lady with long, cherry, blonde hair and lifeless dark brown eyes. She had tanned skin and a business suit on. Her voice made Miles shiver as she asked her first question. "My client did not ever hurt you. There is no EVIDENCE to your testimony and for someone who had been tortured you sure do not look it."

"OBJECTION!" Franziska yelled, "We found the weapons that were used on the men. Also honey scars are not always visible." Franziska showed the tools used to torture Miles and the rest. "The DNA matches the victims and the perpetrator."

"I would like to see the scars of each victim to see if they match because forged evidence is a problem in this court," She said with a smirk on her face.

"We are not here to humiliate the victims but to find the truth. Lana Loco or should I say Defense Attorney Loco," Franziska said.

"Court adjourned for an hour and the defense should defend their client and not belittle the witnesses," Judge said.

Miles sighed in relief as he got out of the courtroom. Phoenix came out of nowhere and hugged him tightly as he hugged him he saw Ms. Loco sucking on Kristoph's lip. He listened to their conversation in Phoenix's arms.

"I know you said that because you wanted a treat in the courtroom. Our congenital visits can only be so frequent. After this trial I have a surprise for you and it is something you always wanted. " He only heard that and then court was back in session. Ivan de Cellars would testify.

Miles waited for the trial to be over in the witness room. It felt like hours before Phoenix came in and announced John Toughlove got the guilty verdict. "How did that happen?" Miles asked.

"Judge got tired of the defense constantly questioning the validity of the evidence and Toughlove got the guilty verdict," Phoenix said, "Now lets go on that vacation."

As they walked out of the courtroom Klavier and Apollo were talking to the media, in each other's arms. Klavier said, "Now that this traumatic event is over Polly and I can get along with our lives." They smiled at the cameras. Klavier took his shirt off and undid Apollo's. A flash hit Miles eyes; it wasn't a camera flash but a bomb. He grabbed both Klavier and Apollo and shielded them from the blast. Phoenix shielded Miles.

Miles started shaking violently. It felt like an earthquake and was over in a second like one. Blood and blurry vision, Miles opened his eyes. Phoenix's right arm had been blown off. Miles took his jacket off and tied it around his stub. Both Klavier and Apollo gripped onto each other. Klavier cried in Apollo's arms. In the blur that was his vision he saw the remains of the crowd.

Blood and bodies blown across the room, some stuck to the walls. The room looked like it was painted red. He saw a couple dancing in the courtroom but it could not make out whom.

Miles called 911 and said, "Someone set a bomb off at the courthouse. Please send ambulances, firefighters, and police. My name is Miles Edgeworth, please hurry we need help now!"

Miles blacked out as he gripped onto Phoenix. Closing a painful chapter in his life only seemed to open another one…