More Than You Think You Are
Chapter 11:
Now this is complicated…
"Edgeworth," Phoenix stared solemnly at him and grabbed him just above each elbow and gave him a shake.
Edgeworth was shaking his head in shock, "You're wrong, Wright…"
"I'm not wrong!" Phoenix said, "I was in love with Jilly Baxter for most of my childhood—that woman is NOT Jilly Baxter."
Edgeworth's brows knit and he shook his head, still unbelieving.
"But she…"
"I know, buddy," Phoenix said and gave Edgeworth's arms another squeeze before letting him go, "It's always tough when you find out some girl's been playin—"
"But," Edgeworth said and patted his chest with his hands for emphasis, "I'm Miles Edgeworth. Who does she think she—"
"Yeah, I know," Phoenix said and nodded sagely, "No one is immune—"
"But I'm Miles Edgeworth!"
"Mister Nick, did you and Maya have a nice time in England?"
Pearl stared up at him turning herself side to side and biting her thumb.
"Heh," Phoenix said, "It was… Okay… Huh, Maya?"
"Ooh! I never want to go to London again!"
"What happened, Mystic Maya?" Pearl asked.
Maya looked at Phoenix and he looked at her.
"I don't even want to talk about it."
"Now he's depressed about it…"Phoenix said.
"That reminds me of the time Kiyance told me she had a photo shoot in Hawaii but really she had another boyfriend in Sausalito."
Phoenix stared at Larry for a moment and then downed the last of his coffee.
"But why impersonate Jilly Baxter?"
"Huh? Dude, I don't know…"
"It's like someone wanted to get close to us—to get at—wait!"
"WHOA! I'm waiting!"
"Larry, stop it. I'm thinking out loud."
"That's right man, think out loud!"
Phoenix glared at Larry and then got up, "I've got to find Edgeworth."
"Can I come?"
"No," Phoenix said, "This is between Edgeworth and me. Not Larry Butz."
"Aw come on Nicky! I'm a way better brother than Edgeworth!"
"No Larry. I don't—wait! Can you do me a favor?"
"Why should I?"
"Larry?"
"Okay. Fine, but only if you admit that I'm the best friend you ever had."
"Sure, Larry."
"What do you need?"
"I need Jilly Baxter—the real Jilly Baxter."
"Why?"
"Just, can you find her? And bring her to the prosecutor's building. Edgeworth is in 1202. Can you do that?"
"Why do you ask that like you think I'm going to mess this up?"
Phoenix sighed and started to walk out of the café, "Bye Larry."
"What do you mean he called in sick?" Phoenix shouted at the paralegal standing in the corridor outside of Edgeworth's office, "One—he's never sick! Two—if he was, he'd still be at work!"
"I'm sorry, Mister Wright," the pimply faced paralegal said, "I'm just telling you what I know. Maybe you should try call—"
"He's not answering his phone," Phoenix said, "What the heck! What could Edgeworth—"
**CRACK!
"Ow!"
"Wright! You foolish fool, why are you yelling in our building?"
"Miss Von Karma! You have to help me—"
**CRACK!
"OW! What—"
**CRACK! **SNAP! **WHOOSH! **CRACK!
"Do not make demands of me, Phoenix Wright."
"Please don't whip me anymore…"
"Why are you slithering around the prosecutor's building?"
"Slither…" Phoenix shook his head, "I have to find Edgeworth."
"My little brother is not in his office?"
"No." Phoenix glared at her; technically, Edgeworth was his little brother.
Franziska cocked her head up toward the ceiling and tapped her chin. Phoenix was startled—she was very cute when she did that.
"He doesn't have a trial today," she said and abruptly she turned and went back to her office. Phoenix hesitated and then followed her. She was on the phone.
"Where are you?"
She rolled her eyes and then stared at Phoenix while the other party—he assumed it was Edgeworth—talked.
"Stop being foolish and come to work. You're starting to get lazy like Phoenix Wright…"
"Wait a minute—" Phoenix started to protest, but Franziska stopped him with a raised index finger.
"Nobody cares, Miles Edgeworth," Franziska said.
Phoenix raised an eyebrow. The other caller seemed distraught. Was he really this upset about the Jilly Baxter impersonator?
"I don't understand," Franziska said as she drove her silver Camry at exactly 51 miles per hour on the highway, "Miles Edgeworth would never allow himself to be entangled with your nonsense!"
"It's not like he had a choice," Phoenix said staring at the speedometer and thinking that even little old ladies drove faster than Franziska, "You know, the speed limit is 70."
"Actually, it's 65," Franziska said, "The minimum speed is 40. So I am going at the perfect speed."
"Perfect for what?" Phoenix muttered.
"Do not mock me Phoenix Wright or I'll go back to work and you can find your own way to catch Miles Edgeworth!"
Phoenix crossed his arms.
"So how is it that you and Miles have different birthdays?"
"We're fraternal twins," Phoenix said, "I guess there were some complications during the pregnancy and I was born way too early. I had to be born, to save Mom."
"So my bro—Miles Edgeworth tried to kill you in the womb?"
Phoenix shot her a look of horror. He'd never thought of it that way.
Phoenix shook his head, "No way, Edgeworth wouldn't step on a bug…"
Franziska laughed, "Fact…"
Phoenix laughed with her for a moment before a solemn thought crossed his mind. He looked at Franziska. Her gloved hands were placed precisely at ten and two and she was staring intently at the road.
"Who taught you to drive?"
"Miles Edgeworth," she smiled a little, "He started when I was twelve—we used to take daddy's car when he was away on business."
Phoenix grinned. The thought of Miles stealing Manfred Von Karma's car—well they had the same blood. That's totally something he would do. Too bad he couldn't teach Franziska how to speed.
"What was he like as a teenager?"
"Why?"
"Well, I don't know. He won't talk about it," Phoenix watched her face hoping she wouldn't be angry.
Franziska smiled more broadly, "He was exactly the same as he is now. Except he was really skinny. Like a spaghetti."
(Like a spaghetti… Wait. What?)
"That's it? He never had a stupid job? Or got arrested?"
"Why would anyone want to get arrested?"
Phoenix looked sidelong at her. Oh, right. These were the progeny of the 'perfect' prosecutor.
"I guess I was hoping my own brother was a little less… boring…"
"Watch what you say Phoenix Wright! Miles Edgeworth is not boring!"
Phoenix raised his eyebrows at her. Whatever…
"You know, if you stepped on it—just a little—we might get there before next Tuesday…"
Edgeworth stared at the rows of brightly painted storage sheds and turned the keys in his hand. He felt rooted to the spot, unable to lift his feet.
He shoved the keys back into his pockets when he heard the sound of an approaching car—a late model sedan, American most likely.
He turned to see a white Chevy Impala pull up behind his car. She got out of it, grinning at him as she walked toward him. Her hips swayed rather dramatically as she walked and he couldn't tell if it was from wearing those ridiculous stilettos or if her skirt was too tight.
He forced a smile. She took off her glasses.
"I'm sorry if I kept you waiting Miles," she said and sidled up to give him a kiss on the cheek.
He grimaced and pulled away from her.
"You wouldn't lie to me would you, Jilly?"
"What's gotten into you? I'm doing this for you. I just want to help, Miles."
"With what exactly?"
She looked at him strangely and her eyes narrowed with some trepidation.
"It's like we talked about, sweetie. I want to help you clean out your Dad's things—so you can find closure."
"I'm pretty sure closure isn't in that shed," Miles said.
"Why are you acting so strange, Miles?"
"You wouldn't lie to me, right?"
"I would never lie to you," she stared at him with those jewel bright green eyes and pushed a strand of honey-blonde hair behind her ear, "Never."
"Hmm," Edgeworth said thoughtfully, "I just have one more question, Jilly."
"One more? You promise? One more question and you'll stop treating me like a criminal?"
Edgeworth gave her a small smile and nodded.
"What color corsage did Phoenix Wright bring you on your Senior Prom?"
Jilly Baxter laughed, "Oh boy, Miles. That was ten years ago—how am I supposed to remember a thing like that?"
"Easy," Miles said, "Jilly Baxter didn't go to prom with Phoenix Wright…"
Jilly—well she wasn't Jilly Baxter—Not-Jilly backed away from him and pulled a compact handgun out of her bra.
Miles stared at her.
"Now, this complicates things…"
A/N: Thanks for reading! Hurry Phoenix! Hurry!
What happened in England? SPOILERS! That's what! (I am committed to spoiler free content—mostly because I haven't the slightest…)
I apologize for the dirty jokes (they're only mildly dirty…)
Sorry about all the car stuff—Edgeworth seems like a car guy to me… Why else would he have a 2001 GTV Cup limited edition Alfa Romeo? (Look at the pics from Rise from the Ashes, that's totally what he's driving—am I getting too nerdy for you? o.O)
Told you there was some weird conspiracy stuff building…
UPDATED JULY 2015