Chief Prosecutor Office
September 6 9:00 a.m.
"How's your wife detective?" Edgeworth asked seriously.
"She's alright, sir… I want to say thank you. If it wasn't for you I-"
"I understand, detective." Edgeworth interrupted Gumshoe.
Edgeworth was pissed. His demeanor was bluffing worse than Phoenix when he pushes the attorney to a corner. However, after so much pushing, the attorney eventually reveals the truth, which Edgeworth was afraid to show Gumshoe. His shoulders were heavy between the situations of last night. There were two attacks this time, but he was unable see one. 'Who were the victims? Where were they? How many people are behind this? What are their motives?'
The birdman managed to get away again, but the only solace of last night's endeavor was Maggey's safety. A foreign feeling of guilt hindered him, which kept his behavior harder to stay in check. The prosecutor slammed his hands against his desk, eyes glued to the wooden desk where his thin file contained only reports of these attacks. Gumshoe was beginning to suspect the agitation of the chief prosecutor. "Sir?"
"Detective…" Edgeworth slurred lightly in his tone. He cleared his throat before directing the scruffy detective. "You may leave."
Gumshoe blinked several times in confusion. "Boss?"
Edgeworth sighed heavily before addressing Gumshoe, "You should be with your wife, detective Gumshoe. I don't understand why you came to work when your wife was recently in a hostage situation."
"She said it was okay for me to come to work." The detective slouched his shoulders in a mope. "But you're right." He turned his direction away from the prosecutor. "I should be home with her."
"Comfort you wife, detective Gumshoe. You do have duties here, but your wife should come first." Gumshoe was completely touched how Edgeworth showed faint compassion. The detective took a step back, slightly baffled. He shook his head quirkly to make sure he wasn't imagining the words that escaped the Chief Prosecutor.
"Okay, sir!" The scruffy detective yelled.
"I will give you the day off with pay, however, you must also bring Mrs. Gumshoe here tomorrow for questioning. We need to know where she has been held." Edgeworth glared at the detective. "Do you understand?"
"Yes…" Gumshoe slacked his shoulders again before heading out the door.
Edgeworth returned to his chair. He lifted the cup of tea off his desk and wiped it lightly with a napkin, cleaning the edges of the cup as the slam he had done earlier caused some of the herbal liquid to jump from the china cup. After successfully wiping the other tea stained areas off his desk, he leaned back, holding the cup with its china plate underneath. His exclusive laptop lit lightly against the files on his desk while he peered out the window. The day was lovely, clear blue skies and not a single cloud in sight. The sun shimmered light through the large ceiling to roof windows of his office. The grand view of the city ahead of him. Busily attending to the errands of their everyday life, oblivious to the darkness that has befallen on their city. His grey bangs prevented any sun from hitting his grey eyes as he made contact with the lip of the cup with his own. Downing a sip carefully and eloquently.
He shuffled back to his papers, laying the chinas back on the mahogany desk. The file contained several reports of missing persons. However, in his late night endeavor, he had Gumshoe shimmy through case reports of these bloody baths from the police records. It turns out that Wright wasn't the only one who was not kidnapped. He examined the report, his grey eyes carefully inspecting every fine detail.
The person in the report was actually the victim of Wright's last case. "EUREKA!"
There was definitely a connection. He finally had a lead, not a big one, but something was better than nothing. The report contained his name and hospital report. The victim had also suffered lacerations in his esophagus, but his injuries were more catastrophic than Wright's. His vocal chords were badly damaged and required a breathing tube through his nose. That removed him as a witness during Wright's trial of Ms. Regina Fate. Incapable of telling his part of that night. Edgeworth thought of another odd detail. 'Why only these two?'
Edgeworth was thankful knowing that his attorney friend/rival was well and recovering fine; however, was stunned how he suddenly called off the investigation in his apartment.
The other attacks, including last nights, all victims were missing, but Phoenix and this Michael Powell were the only two remaining. The prosecutor sent out two investigation teams to find anything, a clue or any evidence on the night's attacks or attackers. Still nothing. Just a bloody mess, very uneven too. As well as very odd claw marks against the building walls. Edgeworth wanted to get to the bottom of this and fast. He dialed for his secretary to contact the hospital. Edgeworth was going to make an unexpected visit to this man, even though he had a feeling he wasn't going to gain much, especially based on the predicament the patient was in.
The chief prosecutor's focus returned to the dark malevolent birdman who interrupted him and the detective from seeking the source of such bloody garnishes. Edgeworth knew this man was not alone. He had help. And they were good. Real good. And too well organized. How he got to Maggey was something Edgeworth yearned to know. He would interrogate Maggey later, but for now he desired to unmask the demon man. The thought of this malicious man made Edgeworth grapple the arm of the tea cup, squeezing it lightly in his grip. The way the black bolted eyes glared, seething in darkness. It was humiliating to be trumped again. This mystery birdman had also stolen the evidence from the forensics lab, specifically Phoenix Wright's and incapacitated the forensic scientists there. Miles had a sinking feeling, but brushed it off. However, the possibility was still there. 'Does Wright have anything to do with this?' Edgeworth sighed before taking another sip of his tea.
The phone on his desk rang. Edgeworth held his tea with one hand and reached the button with another. "Yes?"
"Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth, prosecutor Gaspen Payne is here to see you. He said he's going away for while, a leave of absence." The secretary's tone was unenthusiastic.
Edgeworth sighed with annoyance, "Inform Prosecutor Payne that I am busy with an investigation. His unplanned vacation is of no importance to me."
"I tried telling him that, sir, but he is insistin-! HEY!" The secretary stopped.
Edgeworth raised a brow in suspicion, placing the drink in his hand down. There was rustling in the background as well as sounds of fluttering papers and banging. The prosecutor crossed his arms, patiently waiting for the fuss to end. A weak and frantic voice answered, "Chief Prosecutor!"
Edgeworth recognized it as Gaspen. "What is it Mr. Payne?" Edgeworth crossed his arms, tapping his index finger lightly against his bicep. He was slightly intrigued by the audacity of Gaspen Payne. The frantic man continued through the desk phone.
"I wanted to tell you I am taking a leave of absence! Scary things have been happening around here with-!" The prosecutor stopped. There was weird shuffling going on in the background. Sounded like a feud as he heard several security guard wrestling down the dunce prosecutor. 'Leave it to Mr. Payne to make a fool of himself.'
"Give that back! Idiot! Ahem!" The secretary muttered several words before addressing Miles. "Sorry about that, sir."
"Make sure Prosecutor Payne doesn't hurt himself or anyone on the way out." Edgeworth shook his head before ending the call. He looked back down at the paperwork in front of him. It was time to make an Emergency visit.
