Summary:
The first investigation phase begins.
Turnabout Sisters
Thursday August 11th 2016 – 9:01 AM
Miles felt his anxiety, induced by the situation at hand, strengthen as they approached the Detention Center. Missile waited outside, sitting prettily and still, as the poor animal was not allowed inside. Need to make him a service animal, Miles thought. It wasn't too farfetched of an idea and Missile outwitted most humans, anyway.
"We would like to speak with the suspect in custody as of last night." Gregory gave as much details, dancing around the fact that they knew not whom they would speak with, and presented his proof of attorney to the front worker.
"Please follow me, sirs."
When they entered the visitation's room, a woman sat behind the glass pane. Miles recognized her immediately, the woman who held him at gunpoint, and said, "You?" I feel worse. This can't mean well for Wright. . .
"You wasted no time, huh? Red Samurai. . ." She shook her head. "What do you two want?"
Gregory took a seat and Miles followed in hesitation. Gregory addressed her, "As we're meeting again, Miss, I expect proper introductions are in order. I am Gregory Edgeworth and this is –"
"What happened?" Miles blurted out, unable to contain it any longer.
" . . . my son. Miles Edgeworth. We are Defense Attorneys, looking to hear your version of events. Let us start with your name."
"Fine. But I have the right to refuse your help. My name is Ruby Frost."
"Frost?" Gregory scratched his chin, "I know I have heard that name before. Miss Frost, can you clarify your relation to the victim?"
"The victim . . . she was my younger sister, Fiona."
Miles repeated, "Your sister?" Two beds at that apartment for two sisters . . . so there were three people involved after all.
"I see. Miss Frost, your sister was found in the apartment complex that you shared with Mr. Wright. Is there anything else you can tell us about the murder?"
"Look," she brushed her whitish hair to the side and folded her arms, "I ain't dumb, pops. The only reason either of you care is because of Wright."
"You would be mistaken." Gregory frowned, "We care about upholding the truth and ensuring the proper people receive their proper sentencing."
". . . You haven't heard from him have you?" She looked away.
"No." Miles answered, "I take it he is the other 'unapprehended' suspect, though." A victim, a suspect, and a criminal on the run.
"Probably. Would explain why he didn't get in touch." Ruby answered dismissively.
Miles thought about it for a few seconds before asserting, "You are withholding information because you believe we would drop you for Wright. Need I remind you that there are two of us present?"
"Red Samurai, would you believe in my innocence?"
"Unless otherwise proven, I see no reason not to. If you did not commit the murder, then you would need a proper defense."
"What my son is saying, in essence, is we can investigate this situation in earnest on your behalf. But we will not be able to do so without a letter of request from you."
Ruby bit her lip while curbing laughter, "You mean you can't go pokin' around the crime scene with my say-so. You're one-dimensional and vile. No deal."
"You would rather go without an attorney?" Miles said.
"I'll be assigned one is what they said to me. My sister is dead. Do you even care? Or are you just relieved it ain't your precious boy?"
. . . She may have a point.
"Miss Frost, this day was going to be a tragedy no matter who died. I am deeply sorry for your loss and would love the chance to find justice for your sister. Please reconsider," Gregory slid his business card under the glass, "and if you decide to, give us a call."
"You're a decent actor, pops. I'll think about it. Guards! I'm done here!"
The officers escorted the Edgeworths out as they took the suspect, Ruby, back. On the outside, Missile returned to his people and Miles asked, "Well, now what? We cannot search the crime scene as we are."
"She might warm up to the idea after we give her space. I am going to look into something in the meantime. Do you have any thoughts?"
What can I do at this point? Ray is negotiating with the prosecutors and father is . . . "What are you looking into?"
"Frost. I have heard that name before." Gregory seemed to be contemplating something since that name came up.
Miles spoke a thought he had earlier, "Two beds. One for each sister . . . there were three people staying there."
"Yes. Strange. It seems like your friend is now evading the police. It would be nice to know who saw him last and learn why he feels the need to run."
"Right. He's still acting suspiciously . . ." Miles frustratedly thought about his options, frowning greatly as he did. The apartment is out of the question for now. Phoenix is wanted and M.I.A. I have no way of reaching out to him, either. Bluecorp is still not an option, either.
"Father, can you take me back by my apartment, please? I will drive my own car back to the offices. If I come up with an idea, I will let you know . . ."
#
Thursday August 11th 2016 – 10:06 AM
"How'd it go?" Larry asked, muting the racecar program playing on the television. Miles waved him to discuss it outside while Gregory researched the Frosts. Miles explained the detention center suspect and the victim were both Frosts and that Phoenix was still untraceable.
"Poor girl." Larry bit his cheek, "I guess that's . . . good news for Nicky, though."
Miles ignored that obnoxious feeling of relief and said, "Unless Ray or Father can find information, we are stuck with what we knew before. Oh. Larry? Are you going on another date?" He checked his watch and realized the time.
"Every day at noon."
". . . Hmm." A Bluecorp insider. That might be something I can use. "You know how I wanted you not to ask her about Phoenix? Now might be the perfect time to bring it up."
"Oh?" Larry scratched his head. "Hm. Yeah. Probably."
"May I do the asking?"
"Uhh. We been over this before. Dude, it's a 'date'. As in, get your own!"
"Larry." Miles tried to stop glaring, but it was extremely difficult not to let his eyes squint, "You know I wouldn't be asking if I had any other possible leads."
"Fine. Lemme give her a call real quick." They waited for several rings and it hit voicemail. "She must be busy. Kay. Date's in less than two hours. You think you'll be ready?"
"I am ready now, truth be told. What about you?"
"I'll just send her a quick text and stop by home. Meet you up there separately." He typed a message and then said, "Done! See ya in a bit!"
Miles went back inside and waited it out. Gregory glanced up and said, "Just you?"
"Larry's getting ready for his date . . . I might step out for a bit."
"Where to?"
"When Larry meets up with Julia, I wanted to ask her if she knew Phoenix. She works at Bluecorp."
Gregory adjusted his glasses, "I see. Just be careful. I did find why I knew the name 'Frost'. There were once three sisters – Ruby, Fiona, and Ursula Frost. The youngest, Ursula, was murdered in June of 2015, last summer."
"Another Frost? Murdered?" Miles would normally sit down and discuss this, but his body stiffened unnaturally today.
"Yes. Ruby Frost commented in an article, stating the accused did not commit the murder and that it was Redd White who did. Despite this testimony from her, the accused rookie detective, Marcus Moreno, was found guilty."
"If what she wrote is true, then it makes sense how she is involved with White and why she or her sister would become a target."
"Yes. If we learned of her name before this incident occurred, we might have made that connection much, much sooner." Gregory sighed, "I will keep looking. The connection must then exist, somewhere, between those sisters and Phoenix."
"Okay. Thank you, Father."
"You're welcome, Miles. . . . If he knew that White was this dangerous, Phoenix might be better off avoiding us."
"Why would you say that?"
". . . White is a known manipulator, but it is unclear who all he has trained under his thumb. One of the weaknesses of the law, I suppose, is that it is carried out by men and women who are fickle themselves."
"We would never be slaves to that man. Phoenix, of all people, should realize that." Miles argued with a flash of heat on his face.
"That is a lot of faith in someone you haven't seen in thirteen years. The same in reverse, if you think about it. How could he know where your loyalties lay?"
"Not with a tyrannical corrupt businessman. That much should be obvious."
"I will remind you, again, that as far as that claim goes, the courts will see it as supposition. Speaking of, if White is the true perpetrator, we must act carefully. I wonder if that is what Phoenix is doing?"
"Would he be in more danger resisting arrest?"
". . . We need to investigate that crime scene. I can't put my finger on it just yet, but I wonder if he was even at his apartment last night. If Miss Frost calls, I will let you know." Gregory read through articles, leaving Miles to consider quietly.
"You think Phoenix was elsewhere last night?" Miles finally asked.
Gregory sat up straight and explained, "Well . . . I would be surprised if he could outrun the police, had they been actively searching for him. The way the news is wording the crime, they have neglected to name either suspect. I would imagine that means they suspect Phoenix, but do not have a way to pinpoint him at the apartments just yet. He rents it, yes, but that means very little if he was not home."
"If Phoenix was at the apartment last night, he would be in custody today?" Miles crossed his arms, starting to visualize what Gregory claimed.
"And if Phoenix did outrun them, somehow, he would already know he was a suspect. It's almost as if . . . they want to draw him out by giving him false pretense that he is not the main suspect and then arrest him unawares."
Miles tapped his arm with his finger. "Then it would be easy to spin the blame on him."
Gregory nodded, "Yes. They could claim he avoided arrest, purposefully. That may be true to some degree, but . . ."
"Unless someone saw him at the apartments . . ." Miles followed the thought path.
" . . . it would be hard to say with certainty that Phoenix was even there to begin with. So, they are forced to use these tactics to muddy those waters."
"At most, he would be guilty of running a business out of the apartment, changing those locks, and allowing people outside his contract to live there."
"But I do wonder if Miss Ruby Frost witnessed the murder and this is a way to silence her as well. Either way, this case is already raising my suspicion."
"I do not think so. She would have been killed, too, correct?" Miles closed his eyes.
"Unless witnesses already alerted the police and Whi – the perpetrator only had time to murder one sister. Miss Ruby already openly claimed that White murdered Ursula. . . that is a stain on his name, regardless of the weight it holds. There is motive . . . but we need to tie it all together."
"We need Ruby to tell us what she knows." Miles concluded as well, then checked the time again.
"See what you can learn from Larry's friend. There is probably more to this than we know."
#
Thursday August 11th 2016 – 12:11 PM
"Strange. She normally exits those doors by now." Larry said as they waited in the back-parking lot. Missile sniffed around, minding his own business.
Miles asked, "You don't think anything has happened to her?" With how things were shaping out, Miles would not doubt the possibility.
"I'll call again." They were unusually silent as the call rang several times, then went to voicemail. "Damn. Nothin'. Dude, stop clawing into your arm!"
Miles let go of his grip and said in a daze, "Oh, was I? Sorry, just really stressed." I hope nothing has happened. "Let's wait a little bit longer."
"Yup. Wasn't gonna go anywhere anyway." They found nothing to say to each other in the few more strained moments that followed, but Julia eventually parked next to them and stepped out of her baby blue smart car. "Um. Hi, Larry."
Missile sniffed at her feet, barked approvingly once, and waited for his due adoration. She smiled and pet the boy then said, "Aw. Who is this? And . . . who are you?" She asked once noticing Miles.
"These are two of my good friends." Larry answered with a smile.
She frowned again, "Oh. Your friends."
"Yeah! Hey, what's up? You feelin' alright?"
She's surprisingly normal. "Nice to meet you. I am Miles. I have to agree with Larry, you seem agitated by something."
"Oh?" She stood up straight and allowed Missile to lean into her legs, "Do I? Sorry. I called off work today. I forgot to let you know . . . Um. I may be planning a last-minute trip to see family."
"Sounds fun!" Larry approved, hoping to cheer the group's entire mood.
"Yes. Fun." She murmured. Miles felt his eyes narrow at her.
"Hey, I called you a couple of times." Larry mentioned, but non-aggressively.
Julia put a hand over her mouth and said, "I lost my phone. Anyway, I wanted to make sure you didn't wait up for me."
"You lost your phone but still managed to call in?" Miles asked.
"I have a house phone. I didn't copy your number down, though, Larry."
"It's cool," Larry shot Miles a glare of his own before smiling back at Julia.
"Before the two of you go," Miles sought his opportunity, "I have to ask you, Julia. Do you know a person who might work here? He is a friend of ours."
"Oh. I am. Not sure. Who – who are you thinking?" She began to twist her hair.
"Phoenix Wright."
"Never heard of Phoenix . . . Wright? Hmm." She covered her mouth once more.
There it is again. "Miss Julia, you are absolutely positive of this?"
"Yes. I am sure! Leave me alone!" She became incredibly defensive in a matter of seconds and Miles felt his interrogative side shine through.
"Dude, back off." Larry warned, "She said she doesn't know."
"Unfortunately, I do not believe that."
"Screw off! Believe what you wanna believe, but don't go 'round interrogatin' people based off a hunch."
"I am not interrogating . . ."
"I – I am sorry. Your friend . . . is he . . . in trouble?"
Still think her behavior is coincidence, Larry? "I believe so, yes."
"I . . . see. I am so sorry, but I can't help you." She tugged at her shirt and refused to make eye contact with Miles.
"Not a problem, Miss Julia. If you happen to remember anything, have Larry give me a call. If you will excuse me . . ." As long as Larry is trying to be her knight, I can't force anything out of her. What an annoyance.
Missile stayed with Julia, wagging his tail up at her. "Missile?" Miles called, then a thought occurred to him. "Good boy. Stay with those two. It looks like they need you more than I do."
Missile might be able to pull out the truth in a friendlier way than I can.
"Are you sure, man?"
"Of course. Missile is smart, you will not have to worry about him. There's an outdoor dog restaurant just five minutes from here that serves food compliant with dogs and their owners alike. I'm sure you can check it out for his sake?"
"Sounds interesting." Julia smiled, "Do you have the address."
"Of course." Miles smiled. Ah. Missile. You are a great dog.
"Um. Okay. I will bring him by the offices later." Larry shrugged it off, unsuspecting of Miles' overreaching plan.
"Hmm." Miles thought in the parking lot, now alone again. Missing phone. Acting scared. White's involvement. The Frosts. These events could all be interconnected somehow.
A girl with pink hair and matching dress came out the back door and said, "Well, if that little punk hadn't pulled the fire alarm, we would have found him. I know, sir, I know! We'll find him, I swear."
Fire alarm?
"Well, how am I supposed to know where he went? Yeah, he wasn't at either location . . . no, no, the police aren't looking there! Okay, I'll check again!" She shut the phone with a loud thud and let out a scream, "ARRRUGHHH! How is this my fault!?" She then saw Miles and perked up, "OOoooh waa! Sowwy there big boy! I didn't see you, rawr!" She winked at him and Miles felt more repulsed than had she just owned up to the outburst.
"It is quite alright . . . Miss."
"May! But you may call me April, teehee!" What lunacy has stumbled my way?
Miles then let out a huff of his own, "I am sorry for overhearing you, Miss April. I should really be going, though."
"Oooh! Wait! You look . . . hmm. Dashing. Would you care to listen to a lady's woes?"
Well now. Maybe this is the opportunity I've been waiting for. Miles smiled and said, "Why not? What troubles you, Miss April?"
"Let's walk. I don't need my boss overhearing me." She rolled her eyes, "By the way, you weren't waiting for someone, were you?"
"Not exactly. Were you?" Miles asked.
"Oh, I've got five office boyfriends, but none have your allure. How about I go for six?" She winked.
Miles internally sighed. "That is very . . . forthcoming of you."
"Relax! Everyone's got a date or twelve. Intermingling is not only encouraged; it brings about a tighter workspace." April let her tongue hang out flippantly.
I sincerely doubt that. "Vexing. Did you have something you wanted to air out?"
"Well, someone pulled the fire alarm last night. Of course, the police and the firefighters respond in a minute. Everyone left had to be escorted down . . . There was . . . um . . . a mix-up at that point. I can't tell you about that! But the punk who pulled the alarm hasn't been found yet and apparently that's my fault."
Interesting. Something about that actually seems useful. "What time was the alarm pulled?"
"5:30."
". . . Who pulled it?"
"Oh. That's. . . well, I can't tell you. But his French hair is SO gonna get grilled! French fried hair!"
French, huh? ". . . Miss April. You are absolutely sure that you cannot tell me who it is? Maybe I can assist in your search?"
"Tell you what, hotshot. I'll let you 'assist' down south," She pulled Miles fingers toward her crotch, to which he quickly removed his hand.
"That will not be necessary."
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull but naughty boy."
"That is . . . not how that saying goes." Or even used in the appropriate application.
"Naughty and wrung up. You'd cum in less than a minute anyway." She blew him a kiss on her hand and he felt that vein in his temple pop out. "Oh? Is that not the issue? Hey! Are we sporting the same team?"
"And what, pray tell, does that mean?"
"Y'know. Do you crave dick as much as I do? You look the type. The dolled-up ones always do."
". . . Anyway, I believe that our morals are incompatible, Miss May, so I shall be taking my leave." Miles began to walk away, and she bounced toward him.
"Wait, wait! If you answer this for me, I might tell you. Something. Do you like demure guys or ones that can throw you across the room?"
"Who in their right mind wants to be thrown across a room?"
"Hmm." She brought her hands up to mimic what looked like a cat and winked. "So, you like soft, pretty boys?"
"I never said that."
"Aha! You like teddy bear men! That's a popular choice, so I hear. Do you find White attractive?"
Not in the least. ". . . Can we stop discussing my attractions? There is nothing to gain from this."
"I am conducting my own research, teehee. I am just curious, y'know?" she stuck her tongue out again.
"Do not pry into other's personal business. It is very unbecoming. Now, if you will excuse me." Miles started to fume but he could not afford to waste time correcting this young woman's behavior. Sex starved people were the absolute worst people, who trampled on people's personal spaces way too frequently. Part of the reason why Larry drove Miles so crazy was because he exhibited a lot of those same tendencies.
"Prude!" she yelled after him, but Miles could not care any less at this point. If someone pulled the fire alarm, they would have had good reason to do so. Fortunately, he had a timeline mapped out in his head and a probable person who might have pulled the alarm.
#
Wednesday August 10th 2016 – 5:34 PM
Phoenix ran out of Julia's office the moment White left an opening – but it did come at a price. He buried his left hand and wrist under his right armpit, trying not to scream out in pain, and pulled the fire alarm on his escape. Immediately, all workers dropped what they were doing and crowded around the halls to the stairwells. Phoenix brushed passed people, leaving the handful of workers to block White from catching up to him.
White may have had time and agility to pursue, but he had that statue in his hands and security footage around various strategic locations. The wrong witnesses and the wrong cops could tarnish his carefully crafted image, and so the hunt for Wright would have to wait.
Notes:
Hope this clears up worries :)
If there's any questions, please let me know. It's one thing to have a game handle and draw together all these various hints and clues, but it's difficult sometimes to keep it all straight in writing.
