Phoenix sighed. This had been an unexpected treat. Franziska had given him a call and asked him to come to IV Chinese, "for old times' sake," as she said. He was pretty sure that was not the correct use of the term, but it was good to know she was putting more effort into being social.

Even though they met for lunch, well before curfew could begin, they were the only two people in the area. Even the shopkeeper went back after receiving their orders. Phoenix finished off the last of his shark fin soup. He chuckled, glad that Franziska had talked him into ordering the same shark fin soup.

"Thanks again for calling me."

"Oh." Franziska took a delicate sip of her water before placing it next to her empty bowl. She smiled. "It was...no problem."

"So," Phoenix finished the last bit of grape juice. "Is there anything else we should do?"

Franziska tapped the desk with her fingers. This was the critical moment. She took a breath, and then pulled her briefcase to her lap from the floor. She put one hand inside, but did not pull anything out.

"I have been conducted courtroom research over the past few days. I was wondering if you could help me resolve an issue." She pulled a folder from the case, opened it, and dropped it in front of Phoenix. "Here are some notes I made."

The first thing Phoenix noticed was that Franziska's "notes" were not post-its or index cards, like those of most other students. Inside was a white page with bulleted statements printed in Times New Roman font.

Police Report

Incident Review

Location: District Courtroom No. 4

Date/Time: February 16th, 2013

Victim: Walter "Terry" Fawles (Age 25)

Occupation: Convict (death row)

Main Witness: Miles Edgeworth

Suspect: Dahlia Hawthorne.

Police Report

Incident Review

Location: District Courthouse Cafeteria

Date/Time: August 27, 2013

Victim: Diego Armando (Age 28)

Occupation: Lawyer

Main Witness: Dahlia Hawthorne

Suspect: Dahlia Hawthorne

Phoenix looked over the information next to the bullets before looking up at Franziska. She nodded. "Do you remember the time I visited Fey & Co Law Offices with you? My memory is as good as you would expect. There was a case that drew my attention."

Phoenix wanted to scold Franziska for peering too much into Mia's work, but his attention was brought back to the list. He read it over again, just to be sure. He already suspected the answer, but he was still compelled to ask.

"This person seems dangerous. Have they been taken in yet?"

Franziska replied with a practiced shake of her head. "No. But they do have a photo." Even as Phoenix held the file, she stuck her hand in the back section and yanked out a smaller piece of paper, holding it up to Phoenix's eyes.

His heart stopped. The hair was red, yes. And the clothes, a white dress paired with a transparent pink stole, were something he had never seen on anyone before. But the face was unmistakable. He looked past the photo back to Franziska.

"Is...is this Iris?"

Franziska shook her head. "No, it's Dahlia Hawthorne. But at the time, she was going by the name 'Melissa Foster.' Who is to say she did not change her name again?" She took a breath. "Or even that she went to using her real name? What if there was never a Dahlia Hawthorne at all?"

For a moment, all Phoenix did was stare into his empty bowl. Then he got up from his seat. "I need to go." Franziska was startled, but her voice rang out regardless. "What for? I have the information here."

She scowled. "Check Ms. Fey's own files. You'll find one identical to my notes. Check the public records. You'll get this photo the same way I did. It's all there, black-and-white!"

Phoenix lowered his head. "You won't be satisfied, won't you?" His voice was toneless. "You won't be satisfied until Iris is proven to be a criminal, and when she's out of my life." He looked at Franziska, who sat there as straight as an arrow. Her voice cut through the air again. "That will not change the facts. And neither will you."

Shaking his head, Phoenix moved to the door and walked straight out through it.

"Now, Iris." Mia looked straight ahead at her client through the barrier. "I came here to get the answers I need. I want to help you, but I can't have you concealing things from me. Do you remember the question you posed to me when we met yesterday?"

Iris leaned forward until her forehead touched the transparent material of the barrier. "What connection could I have with Dahlia Hawthorne, you mean?" She looked into Mia's eyes with an even mixture of dread and resignation. She watched as Mia held up a thin, paperclipped stack of papers.

"You can read it yourself if you like. I can pass it through the slot. But how about I just tell you?" Mia's voice was firm. "These are birth certificates. Iris Bluegrass White. Born August 26, 1993." She paused. "And Dahlia Cardinal White. Also born on August 26, 1993. She might be Dahlia Hawthorne now, but she's still your twin sister."

Iris choked, looking down at her knees. Then she raised her head, eyes shut, and nodded. Mia sighed, but she touched her magatama. There was still the one secret that had yet to be unraveled. "As to why you spent so long trying to keep this from me, I can think of only one reason. Five years ago, Walter Fawles was put on trial for kidnaping Ms. Hawthorne and ransoming her for a certain diamond in Mr. Redd White's possession. He may have been convicted, but the diamond disappeared. And so did Ms. Hawthorne. And when it all began to come to light, Mr. Fawles lost his life."

Another pause. "Did you know about this?"

Iris wiped her eyes. "Yes," she croaked. "I did know what Dahlia wanted to do. She wanted me to help her. I didn't," her voice raised an octave, "I didn't help her. But I did know what she had done. And I knew she became Melissa Foster." She was trying very hard not to sob, so Mia took on a gentler air.

"What is done is done," she said. "Past is past. I am only interested in your future. Whatever else may have happened, I do not believe you are responsible for the murder of Jane Dodder or for what happened to Doug Swallow, and I will do everything in my power to prove it." She put a hand to the barrier.

"Do you trust me?"

Iris choked, but put her own hand up, with only the barrier separating it from Mia's.

"Yes. I do."

Mia smiled. "That is all I really need to hear."

-A multi-chapter story; Chapter 25; story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.