Chapter 5

Investigation Time!

[August 23, 10:05 AM Caduceus Main Lobby]

Caduceus was buzzing with police activity. Detectives and forensic investigators were going every which way. Wright & Co. entered the lobby.

"So this is Caduceus…" said Phoenix as he took in his surroundings.

"Is it always this busy?" asked Maya, narrowly colliding with an investigator.

"Yes and no. We're always busy caring for patients and performing operations. But all these police officers and investigators are crowding up the place." said Angie, tripping over an investigator looking at something on the floor.

"Hey, I'm investigatin' here!" said the investigator from the floor. He proceeded to look back at whatever the hell he was looking at that was so interesting on the floor.

"Is this how detectives always conduct their work?" asked Angie.

"I guess some of them…" said Phoenix, watching his step now.

"Speaking of detectives, look Nick! It's Detective Gumshoe! Heyyy Detective!" shouted Maya, running over to Gumshoe.

"Is he a friend of yours?" Angie asked Phoenix.

"From a certain point of view… yeah." answered Phoenix. At this point in the Ace Attorney timeline, pretty much every case Phoenix had worked on, Gumshoe is the lead detective. Phoenix and Angie follow after Maya. Gumshoe looks over his shoulder and sees them coming his way.

"Hey, it's you pal! Man, it feels like every case I work on you're always the defending attorney." said Gumshoe, scratching the back of his head. He was wearing his usual ratty green trench coat and had his brown tie not quite properly tied around his neck, per usual. Gumshoe might not be the brightest detective on the force, but he means well.

"I can say the same thing to you, Detective. You always seem to be the lead detective on every case I work on." said Phoenix, shaking Gumshoe's hand.

"You almost got rid of me, pal! Detective Badd was the lead detective for this case, but apparently he had a heart attack while questioning the suspect and is recuperating at the Hotti Clinic," said Gumshoe, "I actually paid him a visit earlier this morning! Boy, he was not happy being bed ridden and having to turn his case over to me."

Phoenix thought back to his conversation with Derek at the detention center. He mentioned he performed open heart surgery on a detective. That must be who Gumshoe is referring to.

"Aw, too bad. A change in detective would've been refreshing." teased Maya.

"C'mon pal, you know I'm everyone's favorite, lovable, comic relief detective!" said Gumshoe with a dopey grin on his face. "Seriously though, I feel bad for you pal."

"Why is that?" asked Phoenix.

"Because there's no way in hell you're winning the trial this time!" Gumshoe confidently declared.

"But you say that every time," pointed out Maya.

"Except this time I mean it. We've got decisive evidence and a decisive witness!" said Gumshoe, puffing his chest out a little to assert his dominance. Phoenix has been in situations very similar to this before, but it never gets any easier. "By the way pal, who's your new assistant?" asked Gumshoe, looking at Angie.

"Me? Oh, no I'm not his assistant. I'm a nurse here at Caduceus." corrected Angie.

"Ah, okay," said Gumshoe, "Mr. Wright always has all these young girls hanging around his office, it's almost concerning."

"What do you mean, Detective?" asked Angie, slightly concerned.

"Well first it was you, Maya," said Gumshoe, gesturing toward Maya, "Then it was that other high school girl who was way into forensic science. And then there was that other cute little girl. What was her name?"

"You mean my little cousin, Pearly?" asked Maya.

"That's right! It's almost like you're running some kind of daycare, pal." said Gumshoe to Phoenix. Angie gave Phoenix a worrying look.

"Well, uh, it's just Maya now. Ema is studying forensic science in Europe and Pearls is training her spirit channeling at Hazakura Temple." said Phoenix, nervously.

Gumshoe laughs and says "Relax pal, I know you're not some kind of pedo. Besides, Mr. Edgeworth has his fair share of young girls hanging around the Prosecutor's Office. You never met Kay but she was loads of fun on our investigations together. You'd like her, Maya!"

"Really? I like making new friends! You have to introduce us sometime, Detective." said Maya, excitedly.

"But another time," interjected Phoenix, "So, Detective, have you found anything interesting during your investigation?" asked Phoenix, casually.

"Oh ho ho ho no you don't, pal! You're not getting any information from me so easily this time! My two lips are locked tighter than two fingers in a Chinese finger trap." said Gumshoe, making a locking key motion to his lips.

"Is that little Dicky?" came a voice from around the corner. A woman with short black hair and glasses approached the group.

"Ms. Myers, sir! It's good to see you, sir!" saluted Gumshoe.

"That's Doctor Myers now, Dick. I see you finally made Detective, eh?" said Cybil Myers. She's one of the many well respected doctors at Caduceus. According to her Wiki, she's also 'intelligent and spirited.'

"You know this detective, Cybil?" asked Angie.

"Didn't I tell you I used to be on the police force? I trained this big lug when he was just a cadet." said Cybil, playfully punching Gumshoe's arm.

"If it wasn't for you, sir, I wouldn't have passed my officer exam!" said Gumshoe, excitedly.

"I heard you barely passed with half a point to spare." recalled Cybil.

"All thanks to your training, Ms. Meyers! Erm, I mean, Dr. Meyers!" said Gumshoe, standing at attention.

"Relax, Dick, I'm not your superior officer anymore." said Cybil. Gumshoe relaxed his shoulders a bit.

"So… little Dicky huh?" giggled Maya.

"I was a little smaller when I first joined the force. And don't get any funny ideas, pal! Only Dr. Meyers can call me by my first name!" snapped Gumshoe.

"So since you used to be an officer, are you helping with the investigation at all Cybil?" asked Angie.

"I'd like to. But that prosecutor with the frilly shirt won't let me near O.R. #3." said Cybil, folding her arms.

"O.R. #3? Is that where the crime took place?" asked Maya.

"Yup. On the 3rd floor near the elevators." Said Cybil, pointing her thumb towards the elevators.

"D'oh! Dr. Meyers! You can't tell them that!" pouted Gumshoe.

"Well Nick, looks like we know where we're investigating next!" said Maya, looking up at Phoenix who appeared lost in thought.

"Hang on a minute… you said a prosecutor with a frilly shirt? You don't mean...?" Phoenix already knew who Cybil was referring to.

"Yup! You'll be facing Mr. Edgeworth in court tomorrow, pal." said Gumshoe.

Phoenix has clashed with Miles Edgeworth many times in the past. They used to be childhood friends, before Edgeworth transferred to another school. Phoenix never saw him again until he became a lawyer and faced him in court. Also, a lot of other stuff happened throughout the original trilogy of games that I won't get into here.

"Oh, that's right! Angie," said Cybil turning to Angie, "I was hoping you could help me organize some of the blood vials in the supply storage?"

"Sure Cybil! If you'll excuse me, Mr. Wright, I'll leave the investigation in your capable hands." said Angie and walked away with Cybil.

"So Detective Gumshoe! Can we go up and investigate the crime scene? Can we? Can we?" said Maya, giving him puppy dog eyes.

Gumshoe scratched the back of his head in thought before answering, "Well, I really shouldn't let you two up there… but if Mr. Edgeworth is still up there I guess it's alright!"

"Alright! You heard him, Nick! Let's go!" said Maya, already running toward the elevators.

"Thank you, Detective." said Phoenix.

"Don't mention it. I've got some more questions I gotta ask that Director anyway. See ya later, pal!" said Gumshoe as he walked off.

Director huh? I might have to speak with him at some point myself, thought Phoenix as he made his way toward the elevators.