Maria entered the dull room with nothing but a security camera and a chair. She sat in the chair and looked through the glass at Miles and Phoenix.
"So, you have a new suspect now," Maria said.
Phoenix nodded. "Yes, I'm confident that we got it right this time."
"But Ms. Herring was unresponsive to everything you said," Maria said, not doubtfully but with curiosity.
"I wouldn't say she was unresponsive," Phoenix said. "But enough about that for now."
"Yes, we were hoping you could tell us more about the Rivales," Miles said. "We need to find Carson Rivale, anything would be helpful."
Maria crossed her arms, lightly beating the book she was holding against her arm. "You have my file, so that can tell you just about everything I could. Carson is one of the most evasive and crafty snipers in the gang, it won't be easy to find him. I would think he'd be somewhere in Rivale 'turf' though. There should be a map in there that shows an estimation of what is considered Rivale territory."
Phoenix brought out the file and flipped through it. He showed Maria a map of the area with a section outlined in red ink. "This one?"
"Yes that's it," Maria said. "But it's just an approximation based on where turf wars and gang activity take place."
"I see," Miles said, looking at the map. "That's a lot of ground to cover."
"The Rivale's are very spread out," Maria said. "Are you two really going to go looking for this sniper?"
"In order to find Carson as soon as possible, the defense is cooperating with the police," Phoenix said. "We'll be working with Detective Gumshoe for the most part. Is there anything else you can tell us?"
"I've been thinking about what happened the night of the murder," Maria said. "The scream I heard, I'm sure now that it was a man. And it was the one that choked me. We were very close to the fire, and just as I was blacking out the man screamed and stopped strangling me. I smelled something burning, and blood. I think he was burned by the fire."
"Burned?" Miles said.
"I can't be entirely sure," Maria said, rubbed her arm. "But I think that's what happened. Why else would he stop strangling me all of a sudden? Why not make sure I was unconscious, or dead if that was the goal? And the scream certainly implicates that he was hurt."
"You were both close enough to the fire?" Miles said.
"I believe we were," Maria said.
"I see," Miles said, contemplating what it could mean.
"I'm afraid that's all I know," Maria said.
"This has been incredibly helpful," Phoenix said. "Now we know where to look and we have a lead to follow."
"Are you two really going after Carson?" Maria said.
"What else is there to do?" Phoenix said. "The police are searching too, but if no one finds him this case just becomes a bunch of possibilities and what ifs."
"We'll be working with Detective Gumshoe, hopefully our combined efforts will bring about success," Miles said.
"Just… be careful," Maria said. "Carson is one of the gang's craftiest snipers. And Rivales are known to be grudge holders."
"We'll be plenty careful," Phoenix said. "Thank you, Ms. Coldstare."
Miles and Phoenix walked out the doors of the detention center. Phoenix looked at the map in the case file, while Miles mulled over where Carson could be hiding.
"Where do you want to start?" Miles said.
"Well, Gumshoe said he'd be at the crime scene looking for leads," Phoenix said. "Let's head there."
They got into Miles' car and drove to the scene of the crime. During the drive, Miles asked Phoenix what that file said about Carson.
"There's a surprisingly large amount of information considering this guy's never been caught," Phoenix said. "Let me see; he's one of the Rivale Family's most elite snipers. Apparently he prefers to stay out of sight. He tends to go after people who get on the Family's bad side. You know; don't pay when they're supposed to pay, cheat them out of something, things like that. He's been described as athletic, patient, and sharp."
"Alright, what else?" Miles said, taking in the new information.
"Well, it says here that he's a skilled lock-picker," Phoenix said.
"Really?" Miles said.
"Yeah," Phoenix said.
When they reached the Oak Shade Garden, Miles parked his car and got out with Phoenix. In the parking lot, they saw Detective Gumshoe standing next to a police car.
"Hey, Gumshoe!" Phoenix said, getting the detective's attention as they walked over to him.
"Hey, pal!" Gumshoe said.
"Detective, any luck so far?" Miles said.
"The search hasn't been going on for very long, sir. But we've set out search parties, and we've got a team scouring the crime scene for possible leads. I was just about to check it out myself then join a search party," Gumshoe scratched the back of his neck. "I'm not sure there's anything else to find though. The police have literally been investigating that garden 24/7."
"I see," Miles said.
Gumshoe took out a map and unrolled it on the hood of the police car. It looked just like the map in the case file, only bigger. Gumshoe grabbed the pencil he kept behind his ear and traced a few lines.
"We've got 5 search teams places here, here, here, here, and here," Gumshoe said, separating the Rivale territory into five sections on the map. We assume that he's somewhere in one of these places, but we have no idea where. The L'ubriaco has already been checked, by the way."
Phoenix looked at the map, scratching his chin. "Yeah, that's where I would have looked first."
"You talked to Ms. Coldstare, right, pal?" Gumshoe said. "Did she tell you anything?"
"She gave us some information, yes," Phoenix said. "She said she thinks Carson might be burned, but I don't know if that means anything."
Miles stared at the map on the hood of the police car. There must be some way to figure out where Carson is. Think, Miles! He glared at the map in frustration, but it didn't tell him anything new. He closed his eyes, thinking hard about everything he knew about the case. He's injured, so wherever he is he probably won't leave for a while. But that doesn't help us if we don't know where he is.
Miles sorted through all the information he had. Is there something we've overlooked? The investigation doesn't seem to have any leads, but what about the trials? The trials… An incredibly important fact dawned on Miles. Then piece by piece, everything came together.
"I've got it!" Miles exclaimed, startling Phoenix and Gumshoe.
"What is it?" Phoenix said.
"I know where Carson is," Miles said, feeling quite sure he had it right.
"Really, sir?" Gumshoe said, getting excited. "Alright, get into my car I'll drive us there right away, sir!"
Miles tapped his forehead. "That won't be necessary, Detective."
"Just where is he, Edgeworth?" Phoenix said.
"It's been staring us in the face this whole time," Miles said. "From the first day of the trial. The witness who reported the crime said he didn't see anyone come in or out of the garden."
"You're right," Phoenix said, realization evident in his facial expression.
"The killer was burned, he couldn't leave the garden without someone noticing him," Miles said. "Furthermore, that trail of kerosene Missile found finally makes sense."
"We already knew how the trail made sense," Phoenix said. "When the killer climbed down the tree with the rope, he burned it with kerosene."
"Not that one, the one leading to the shed," Miles said. "Yes, there was a kerosene lantern on the shed's roof, but I was confused as to how that could create a scent trail. In actuality, the trail must have been created when Carson fled the scene after being burned. There is an herb garden close to the shed with an aloe plant growing. Aloe is a medicinal herb used for treating burns. After grabbing some of the aloe, he must have hid in the garden shed. He is skilled in lock-picking; it's not hard to imagine he could get inside without a key."
"That makes sense!" Phoenix said. "But wait; what if he's not there anymore?"
"That's not possible. The police have been investigating the garden non-stop and they didn't see anyone," Miles said. "Besides, Carson wouldn't want to risk being discovered."
"That's right," Phoenix said. "Let's go!"
Miles, Phoenix and Gumshoe entered the garden and paced over to the shed. Miles grabbed the doorknob and twisted it, but the door didn't open.
"Hmm, it's locked," Miles said.
Phoenix took a few steps backwards. "I can break it down."
Just as the hot-blooded defense attorney started for the door, Gumshoe stopped him. "Whoa, whoa, take it easy, pal."
The detective reached into his coat pocket and a faint jingling sound could be heard. "I have the key you know."
"Of course you do," Miles said stoically. He was not about to admit that the thought had never occurred to him. Nor the fact that he been on board with Phoenix breaking the door down. "You are the detective in charge of the investigation, after all."
Gumshoe took out a small key and unlocked the door. The detective opened it and stepped inside, followed by Miles and Phoenix.
"There's no one in here," Phoenix said, disappointed.
Miles gazed around the shed; he would not be satisfied until he had fully examined every possibility. The shed was dull and dusty. On the walls were various gardening tools, and crates and sacks were scattered across the floor. Was I wrong? There doesn't seem to be anywhere to hide. I was sure I had it. I must look at this from every angle. Hmm… every angle…
Miles looked up at the ceiling. Above him was a horizontal grid of wooden beams. A few areas were covered with a tarp. Miles smirked. "I'll be right back."
The prosecutor walked out of the shed and came back moments later with a ladder. He positioned the ladder to be supported by one of the beams and climbed up. When he reached the top, his eyes were immediately drawn to the figure lying on the tarp. He wore a large coat, but he seemed to have a slim, tones frame. His leg was badly burned. The man looked to be around thirty, with dark hair and a sun kissed complexion.
Shock and recognition coursed through the stunned prosecutor. "Xavier?"
The man panicked and flung himself off the tarp, audibly wincing in pain when he landed. He quickly stood up and scrambled to the door. "Move, get out of the way!"
He ran into Gumshoe, who had been standing in front of the door. The detective looked at the man, who had fallen to the ground. "Do I look that stupid, pal?"
Miles got down from the ladder as Gumshoe helped the man up and kept a hold of him, despite the man's protests.
"You don't understand! Let me go!"
"Come on, pal. We just want to ask you a few questions," Gumshoe said and brought him over to a couple police officers that had come over to the shed.
Phoenix glanced at the Carson Rivale's profile and smiled. "Yep, we definitely got him."
Miles, Phoenix and Gumshoe watched as Carson was escorted away to be questioned. Miles triumphantly crossed his arms and smirked. "I knew it."
"Yes, we know. Good job, Edgeworth," Phoenix said.
"Oh, not that. I saw him at the Prosecutors Building a few days ago. I knew something was off about him the minute I saw him talking to Maria," Miles said.
Phoenix and Gumshoe glanced at each other, knowing smiles on their faces.
"What?" Miles said.
The detective and the defense attorney suddenly found something incredibly interesting in the sky. In unison, they said, "Nothing."