September 6
Fey & Co. Law Offices
It was odd coming back to the offices after last night, especially when it was filled to the brim with officers busily searching for clues. Police tape blocked the door, which Maya merely ducked under to step inside the offices. It felt almost surreal, as though she was walking into an office exactly similar to the Fey & Co. Law Offices but was decidedly not. Completely different and separate from the familiar comfort of the offices, like it was a cruel bastardized mockery of Mia's legacy. Maya eyed the various police officers who searched around looking for clues.
"Hey! You there! No Trespassing!" A voice called out to her. It was the detective that arrested Phoenix…His name was Gumshoe right? The detective examined Maya curiously. "Umm…Sorry, but I feel like I know you from somewhere!"
Maya gave him a confused look. "Eh?"
"Yeah! You're Miss May!" The detective announced triumphantly.
"Miss May….?" Maya shook her head. She didn't even know a May, let alone was one. "Um, I'm Maya Fey…Mia's sister."
"Ah, guess I got the name wrong." The detective scratched his neck, looking apologetic. "Sorry about that pal. You remember my name right?"
"You're Gumshoe right?" Maya guessed.
That seemed to make Gumshoe happy, a wide smile was on his face. "Sure is pal! Remember to get it right. Anyway, you're Mr. Wright's lawyer aren't you? If you've got business here, be sure to make it quick!"
(He thinks I'm Mr. Wright's lawyer…I should go along with it.) Maya nodded. "Yes. I'm his lawyer. I'll just ask you some things and then I'll go."
"Right then pal!" Gumshoe said.
"Hmmm…First thing, do you have Mr. Wright's cellphone?" Maya asked.
"Oh, that? Yup, I have it." Gumshoe said
"…Can I have it?"
"Sure!" Gumshoe said, and then corrected himself. "Hey, wait I mean no! Tricky lawyer"
(Uh oh, he's on to me! I can't tell it to him straight, maybe…) Maya suddenly had a clever idea pop in her head, a sneaky smile on her face. "Well, it's just…" She coyly put her arms behind her back, batting her eyes at Gumshoe. "You know."
Gumshoe blinked. "Eh? What are you trying to say pal?"
"I'm just saying…Mr. Wright! He's…a single guy." Maya wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "I mean, a phone holds a person's spiciest and dirtiest secrets!"
"Y-you're trying to confuse me pal!" Gumshoe said, shaking his head. "I already checked all the numbers in my memory! There weren't any suspicious call records in it. It's kind of useless to me, so you can have it."
(…That worked?) Maya was surprised, but she decided to go with it. She took the phone. "Oh wow, you're an amazing detective! If I were one I'd never think to do that."
"Uh huh, I sure am!" Gumshoe said, a wide smirk on his face.
Maya rolled her eyes, snickering to herself. She turned Phoenix's phone on, looking to the recorded conversation he and Mia had. (Looks like Detective Gumshoe didn't notice the calls, huh…) Turning the phone off, she decided to inspect the phone itself. Her eyes landed on the keychain tied to the phone's carrying strap, recognizing it immediately.
"Woah wait, it has a Signal Samurai keychain tied on the carrying strap!" She flicked the keychain, watching it dangle. "It's ancient, must have been from when the OG series was still playing. I didn't know Mr. Wright liked Steel Samurai."
Gumshoe looked over at the keychain too, his eyes following it swing in the air. "Hm, yeah. Really doesn't seem like the kind of guy who'd be into that stuff."
"Mhmm…" Maya put the phone in her bag. "By the way, did they do an autopsy on Mia?"
Gumshoe nodded. "Sure do pal! Do you want to see the results eh?"
Maya looked up at him hopefully.
"in your dreams pal!" Gumshoe snorted. "Now don't look at me like that pal, those puppy eyes aren't working on me pal!"
Maya frowned, looking down to the ground dejectedly and shuffling her feet.
"…Alright. You can see the report, but that's all." Gumshoe sighed, giving the report to Maya, allowing her to read through it.
(Her death was instantaneous…so she couldn't have written the note.)
"You know, seeing her death written like this…just feels wrong. It makes her feel like just another name in an obituary, so trivialized." Maya swallowed the lump in her throat. She made sure to mentally take note of everything in it, and she handed it back to Gumshoe.
"Yeah, I get that feeling too sometimes pal." Gumshoe sighed, looking off to the window longingly. "Mia Fey, she was a beautiful person, inside and out."
Maya turned to Gumshoe, confused. "You knew her, right Detective?"
"Course I did. Everyone down at the precinct knew Mia Fey. Really pains me to say it but damn was she a good lawyer…" Gumshoe had teared up. It was an odd sight to see someone with his big stature almost cry, and seeing it made it harder for Maya to hold back her tears "Hey, what you looking at pal? I've just got a little dust in my eye, heh."
"Mia is the reason I became a defense attorney in the first place…" Maya said, her lip starting to started to fill her eyes, and it hurt to hold them back. But she couldn't show any signs of weakness, not now when so many people depended on her. "She was so proud when I won my first trial… I-It made me so happy when I thought about all the opportunities i would have to make her proud of me. B-But now she, she-"
"Hey, don't force yourself to not cry, ok pal? It isn't healthy! You hear? Come on, it's just me here. I won't judge." Gumshoe reached in his pockets, offering the handkerchief to her. "Here pal! You can keep it, it's fine I promise."
"…Ok, god I'm sorry this is so embarrassing." Maya took the handkerchief and used it to wipe the few tears that slipped. "I'm good now. Thank you Detective Gumshoe."
"That's good pal! Do you have anything else to ask me?" Gumshoe chuckled softly when Maya had raised her brow at him. "Heh! Don't tell anyone, I'll make an exception for you pal. This is your sister's death, only feels right to."
"Oh, um…Thanks!" Maya smiled gratefully, sniffling. "Hmm, actually, I wanted to ask about Mr. Wright's trial. Who's going to be the prosecutor?"
Gumshoe sucked in a breath, looking sorry for her…bad sign. "Yeah pal, it's bad. This is a trial I kinda looked forward to before talking to you, but now I dunno anymore. One thing is for sure though, you aren't winning this one."
(Yup, things just went from bad to worse.) Maya gulped. "Why do you say that?"
"The city's put Franziska von Karma on the prosecution pal."
Maya's chest tightened. "…Franziska."
"That's right pal, Prosector von Karma herself. I'm sure you know what that means for you." Gumshoe said. "Wait, you do know von Karmas, right?"
Maya nodded, letting out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding. "Of course I know her, I think she was the prosecutors in one of Mia's trials when she was only 16?" She still remembered the trial, Mia had come back to their apartment crying. "She's a prosecuting prodigy, daughter of none other than Manfred von Karma. The von Karmas have an obsession with perfection, willing to do anything and everything to keep a perfect track record. They call Franziska the Demoness of Prosecution."
"Aw man, don't talk about her like that. You're making her sound like some heartless demon." Gumshoe frowned. "Still, I'm afraid this pretty much decides your verdict."
"Ugh…" Maya groaned to herself. "Well, I think I'm done. I can't really think of anything else. Thanks by the way, I'll be heading out now."
"Oh wait, before you go." Gumshoe called out when Maya had already turned to leave. Maya had spun to face him, curious. "I don't suppose you're planning to talking to the the witness right? Anyway, you'd better not! Better you don't influence him with your lawyerly tricks pal!"
(Oh yeah, the witness! I forgot about them…) Maya thought for a bit, asking. "The witness?"
"Yeah, Mr. Redd White." Gumshoe said, looking guilty. "Sorry 'bout this pal, but I can't tell you anything about him."
(…You literally just said his name.) Maya rolled her eyes. "So did you send him home already then?"
Gumshoe saw the trap, and walked into it face first with a wide grin on his face. "Ahah! You're trying to use your lawyerly tricks on me right now! He's not to go outside til the trial."
(So that means she's still in the hotel across here.)
"Well, I guess I should know better than to try and trick a clever detective like you." Maya praised, just because Gumshoe deserves it.
Gumshoe laughed triumphantly. "You got that right pal! Now scram! We still have an investigation to do pal."
Maya walked out of the offices, now with some new information in her belt. She looked to the hotel room across, specifically gazing at the window where the man she saw had been. Smiling to herself, Maya gripped the strap of her bag tighter. She knew exactly where to go now, and it made her feel at least a little bit confident.
(Time to pay Mr. White a visit!)
September 6
Gatewater Hotel
Maya knocked on the hotel room door, patiently waiting outside for someone to open the door. She glanced at the notebook she was holding again, making sure she was at the right room. Room 303, that was the room the receptionist gave her. She looked up and read the plaque on the door which read "303". At least she was right, it would have been real awkward if she had gotten the wrong room. The door opened, revealing the same man who she had seen by the window the previous night.
(Phew! I was right…I think?)
"Um, are you Mr. Redd White?" Maya inquired. "I wanted to discuss some things with you."
"Oh, yes of course that's me! Welcome!" The man opened the door wider, which prompted Maya to go inside. "Please furnish me with the title of your personage!" He said, an irritatingly condescending tone in his voice.
"…What?"
"Your name! I was just inquirably asking the title you go by." The man explained.
(Is inquirably even a word?)
"Um…I'm Maya Fey." Maya said. "What are you even saying?"
"Ah! I was not aware I was speaking to someone who was wordly challenged. Perhaps I have intimidated you with my giantesque vocabulary." The man laughed mockingly, showing off the rings on his fingers. Maya hated him already. "Unfortunately, I'll have to dumb myself down for you to understand me."
"Thanks" Maya said sarcastically.
"As you are aware I am Redd White, secretary extraordinaire!" The man boasted. He turned his attention to Maya, scrutinizing her harshly "Let me guess, you are here because you are the lawyer that the detective has talked about. The good detective told me not divulgify any information to you."
This made Maya's brain hurt, she felt as though she was losing braincells just by looking at this guy. "Um, yeah that's me."
"No matter." White said dismissively "I shall tidy myself up, for this is a momentatious moment for my career, is it not?"
Before Maya could even respond, White had already disappeared into the hotel room's bathroom. It gave Maya a chance to snoop around the room. She went over to inspect the table, which had two wine glasses and a half empty bottle of wine. (He must be staying with someone…) Maya wasn't the type to drink, but even she knew the wine was probably pretty expensive. Putting the bottle back, she stepped back to examine every little detail in the hotel room. A fake potted plant on the dresser, a simple bed and the window that overlooked the city. Something else had caught her eye however, a screwdriver sticking out of an open dresser drawer.
(What the hell is something like this doing here? Maybe I should take a closer look…)
"D-desist! Halt!" White had cried out as he walked out of the bathroom, hurriedly running over and banging the drawer shut. "How abhorriously despicable! Do they teach prying in other people's business in law school?"
"U-uh! Sorry!" Maya apologized quickly, stepping a few steps back. "I um, i just got curious. Sorry…"
"Hmph, I accept your apology." White sighed dramatically. "Only because I'm exceptionally kindoodhearted."
(Yeah, sure.) Maya thought, biting her tongue to stop herself from saying it out loud. "Anyway, I'd like to ask you a few things, especially what you witnessed during the incident."
White chuckled. "Witnessed? Incident? My, how professionique! I do like myself women with large…" He raised his eyebrows suggestively. "Vocabularies."
"….Moving on." Maya said, not daring to touch that can of worms with a 50 foot pole. "Just, tell me what you saw."
"Hmm, no!" White shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Why, you'd just have to come to court tomorrow! Detective's orders, I'm afraid,"
(Thanks for making my job easier, Gumshoe. Not.) Maya sighed to herself, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. "Well, since you're not telling me I'll have to go now. Thanks anyway."
"Of course of course! Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen!" White gestured to the door. "Please, be on your way!"
Maya rolled her eyes, exiting the hotel room and closing the door behind her. She stood in the hallways, just as lost as before.
September 6
Grossberg Law Offices
Maya was back at Grossberg's office, she wasn't sure why but she was. The receptionist said the same thing as she did before, but the tone she used was much more irritated and tired. Without much to do, Maya decided to sit on the couch and wait for him, her bag by her side. She gazed intensely at the bookshelf, searching the book titles for any answers. Phoenix's phone was in her hand, she had listened to Phoenix and Mia's call a few times already while waiting for Grossberg. She just liked to hear Mia's voice, it was comforting.
(…God, I'm wasting my time here.)
She pressed the play button on Phoenix's phone, playing the phone call for the sixth time already. As she closed her eyes to listen to it one last time, she was interrupted by someone loudly clearing their throat. Opening her eyes, Maya turned towards who it was. It was Grossberg, who was now standing by his desk. Not much had changed with him, though she could see that his hair was starting to grey.
"Mia's girl right?" Grossberg asked.
"Um…sister." Maya corrected. "I'm Mia's sister."
"Right right…" Grossberg smiled at her softly. "Please, make yourself comfortable. So you're the one who's been looking for me?"
Maya nodded, turning off Phoenix's phone and putting it in her bag. "Yes, that's me."
Grossberg sat on the chair at his desk, leaning over to examine Maya closely. "That badge on your collar…?" He sighed, an almost melancholic tone in his voice. "Ah, so you're a lawyer now are you? Following in your sister's footsteps perhaps?"
Maya nodded again, though she said nothing.
"I see…" Grossberg trailed off.
"…Um. That's a nice painting." Maya said, breaking the silence. She pointed to the painting hanging on the wall.
"Ah!" Grossberg chuckled. "I see you've noticed. Quite a beautiful impressive painting is it not? It's at least three million dollars, and I don't plan to part with it."
"Yeah…." Maya said. decidedly not impressed.
"Well, what is it you wanted?" Grossberg asked. "I'm not particularly busy these days so please, proceed."
(Not busy…? What?) Maya raised her eyebrows at that. (Then why were you out earlier?)
Grossberg cleared his throat again, equally as over the top. "M'girl, you came to see me did you not? Out with it now."
"Well…" Maya crossed her legs, placing her hands on her lap. "It's about Mr. Wright."
"A-ah! Mr. Wright eh?" Grossberg laughed nervously, already starting to sweat. "Go on."
(…What's with the reaction?) Maya grew suspicious, wording herself carefully. "Well, he asked me if you could represent him in his trial."
Grossberg shook his head. "Sorry m'girl, but I'm afraid I'm really quite busy. I can't go taking cases on a moment's notice, especially if the trial is tomorrow! So sorry, I can't."
"…I never told you that the trial was tomorrow."
"Well, urk." Grossberg then blurted out. "See, I'm busy! So I can't, sorry."
"You're finding an excuse to not represent him." Maya stated simply
"….M'girl, I'm-"
"Shut up! Stop lying out of your ass!" Maya shouted, slamming the table as hard as she could. "Fuck you! How in the hell can you refuse to help an innocent man being accused of murder?!"
Grossberg sighed. "I'm really sorry Maya, but I just can't."
Maya's eyes pricked with tears, some were even streaming down her face. She didn't care. "You know what? I'm glad sis doesn't work here anymore! I'm sure she hated working for a prick like you!"
Various emotions crossed Grossberg's face, sadness, guilt, regret, but it soon settled on anger. "That is out of line, leave my office now."
"Fine!" Maya gathered up her bag stood up, slipping the strap on her shoulder. "I'm going to look for a lawyer somewhere else."
"…Think not." Grossberg grumbled.
"What?"
"I said I think not." Grossberg sighed, regret painted across his face. "I'm afraid every lawyer I know is going to refuse him. I can't tell you why, I'm terribly sorry."
(Every lawyer huh…) Maya held on to the strap of her bag. "…Not every lawyer is going to refuse him." She said, now smiling to herself.
"Wait…" Grossberg was taken aback, struck dumb. "You don't mean…"
Maya nodded. "Yes, I do mean that."
"But-" Grossberg protest. "M'girl-"
Maya ignored his protests, turning around and tuning out anything Grossberg said. She gripped the strapped of her bag tightly, determination flowing through her veins. (II'm going to show you a lawyer who isn't gonna refuse.) She exited out of his office and then the building, not even taking the time to talk to the receptionist.
September 6, 3:42 PM
Detention Center
Visitor's Room
Maya had taken the taxi this time, since Grossberg's office was much farther away from the detention center than her apartment. She regretted what she said, but the more she thought about it the angrier she got. It wasn't fair, Phoenix was innocent and yet Grossberg outright refused. Isn't that what a defense lawyer's job was, to defend the innocent? Maya knew that if Mia were here she would agree.
"Oh, Maya!" Phoenix greeted as Maya had walked in to the room. "You're back, it's nice to see you here."
Larry was there too, he grinned and saluted her. "Sup Maya, I've been here helping lift Nick's spirits."
Phoenix snickered. "He's doing a pretty good job at it."
Maya let out a soft sigh, she hated to be the bearer of bad news and ruin their spirits. She sat on the chair next to Larry, bluntly saying. "Nick, he refused."
Again, the uncomfortable silence.
"…Oh." Even with the strained smile, it was obvious Phoenix was disappointed. "That's…unfortunate."
"WHAT?!" Larry suddenly burst out. "Why not?"
"I don't know…" Maya said. "He just refused…sorry."
"What? Are you serious/! What the hell?" Larry yelled.
"It's…It's fine Larry." Phoenix said, though his voice was noticeably shaky. "I mean…hopefully the attorney they'll give me will at least do his job."
"It's not fine Nick!" Larry protested. "We both know the lawyer you'll get will suck!"
"Larry…"
"Now hold on a second." Maya piped up. "I said Grossberg refused you, but I didn't say that I did."
"Wait, Maya you-" Phoenix tried, but he was interrupted by Larry.
"I knew you'd do it Maya!" Larry hugged Maya tightly, so tightly Maya couldn't hug back "Nick! You have a lawyer now!"
"Uhhh, you're kind of choking her Larry." Phoenix said.
"Oh, heh sorry!" Larry let go of Maya, who coughed a bit.
"Maya, I don't wanna stress you out." Phoenix began. "That's why I didn't want you to take my case. So why Maya, why now?"
Maya looked from Phoenix, to Larry, and back again to Phoenix. She took in a deep breath. "Because, I know you're innocent." She declared. "Mr. Wright, I saw it. The face you had when you saw sis… That wasn't the face of a guilty man. It was the face of someone who's innocent, and you bet your ass I'm not going to be abandoning someone innocent."
"Maya…" Phoenix's eyes welled up with tears."T-thank you, thank you so much."
Maya smacked her palm on the desk. "Well! It's time to fight for your justice!"
"I don't know how I can help, but I'll try my best!" Phoenix added, now grinning widely.
"Me too dude!" Larry chimed in. "Is there anywhere you need to go? I'll drive you there!"
(Well, there has been something that's bugging me…Mr. White got all defensive when I had looked inside that drawer. Maybe…)
"Actually." Maya grinned, standing up. "There is one place you can take me to before the day ends."
September 6
Gatewater Hotel
They had arrived fairly quickly at the hotel, due to Larry's car. The car drive on the way there was pleasant, despite Larry's reputation he was actually quite a pleasant person to talk to. They had talked about various topics that interested either one, something that distracted them both from the predicament of their mutual friend. Larry parked the car in the parking lot, unlocking the door to let Maya out.
"Thanks Larry. I appreciate it." Maya said, opening the car door and stepping out.
"No problem man!" Larry leaned back in his chair, his hands behind the back of his head. "You go on ahead, I'm gonna wait for you here."
Maya smiled at him one last time, before closing the car door shut. It wasn't long before she was by the doorway of room 303, looking around cautiously for anyone who would notice her. She snuck inside, as covertly as she could manage. Quietly, she opened the drawer, letting a little "Aha!" when she saw that there was not only a screwdriver, but a wiretap. Her thoughts were interrupted by the door opening, and she quickly closed the drawer shut. The person who walked in was a man, who looked prim and proper.
"Good afternoon ma'am!" The man greeted, he must have been staff judging by his attire.
"U-uh! Hi!" Maya blurted out, reddening in embarrassment. "Excuse me but, who are you exactly?"
"Ah, I apologize for startling you ma'am. I am a bellboy at this establishment, at your service." The Bellboy said politely.
"Oh." Maya nodded. "Right, ok."
"I've just come to deliver room service, ma'am." The Bellboy explained.
"Right, um. Do you know where Mr. White is?" Maya asked.
The Bellboy nodded. "I believe our guest is currently using the facilities. Do you know him ma'am?"
(…Facilities? Don't you mean bathroom?) Maya stared at the bellboy, trying to think up an excuse. "Yeah! Um…well uh, I'm his…sister! And I uh, am here cause of family stuff." She faked a laugh. "Ha ha, yeah…"
"Of course Miss, well I'll leave you to your family business now." The man turned to the door.
Maya sighed in relief
"Before I forget." He spoke up. "Might I ask you to inform Mr. White that there is a message for him? Please tell him Miss May phoned him."
"Um…sure?" Maya said, shrugging.
"Thank you ma'am."
She watched the bellboy leave, deep in thought. (Miss May, that sounds familiar…) She replayed the various events throughout the day, trying to pinpoint why the name sounded so familiar. (Wasn't that the name Gumshoe mistook me as?) Maya almost jumped out of her skin when she heard White's voice calling out for the Bellboy. She quickly exited the room, and she made her way down the stairwell and into Larry's car.