Edgeworth sighed and put down his half-empty cup of tea to the side. He was alone in his office. He leaned back a little in his chair, but did not give in to the ungentlemanly urge to put his feet up on the desk before him. He did not doubt he could win the case, but it would take more than a little maneuvering. There was a singular detail that the entire case hinged on. Namely, there was not a body to perform an autopsy on, let alone bring into the morgue.

Sure, he had Manny Coachen in custody. And true, his main obstacle in court was nothing more than what he would best describe as Phoenix Wright's apprentice. But he had to manipulate more than just the court. Coachen would have to prodded, too. He was in the worst position he had been in for some time, but the situation had to sink into his bones.

Edgeworth tapped his forehead absentmindedly. How to go about this? Goad Coachen with the possibility of the police finding the missing body? He would not go so far as to lie about a successful search, but putting the metaphorical fire under his feet might get a word or two from him. Could Coachen have an agent, or a couple of agents, around in the city? Probably, but he was safely locked in the Detention Center and under the eyes of the ever-present cameras. Could he manipulate his defense attorney? Who knew? Apollo Justice had some experience under his belt, but he was still green.

There was a knock at the door, and Edgeworth grunted. If his hunch was correct, and he was sure of it, the key to the trial would be coming shortly.

"I'm here."

The door opened, and Kay Faraday popped her head in. "Hi, there Mi-er, Mr. Edgeworth! We have your visitor!"

Edgeworth allowed himself a smile. "Thank you, Detective. Please bring her in and wait outside. I do not want our conservation reaching unneeded ears."

Kay gave him a faux pout. "'Unneeded? My services are what brought her here!"

"For which I'm grateful. Please bring her in."

At that, Kay disappeared, and the door opened wide.

His guest was a young woman with long black hair and a lean face. Her clothing was atypical; a black long-sleeved jacket over a knee-length kimono. The underlying garment was purple, matched with a yellow belt and a red dot over the heart. She was twenty-two years old, but had enough poise to match the prosecutor.

The stranger walked towards the desk, and Kay shut the door. Edgeworth raised a hand, and she folded her arms.

"Are introductions in order?"

"You have probably already heard, but I am Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth. I already know who you are. You are Reina Kitaki."

"And next you'll be telling me I run a motel service, as if I wasn't spirited away by your friend back there."

"I know enough to know what is and what is not a legitimate business, Ms. Kitaki, and I know you have tried to strike a balance." Edgeworth waved his hand dismissively. "You own the Ivory Motel, a close approximation of a typical small apartment building, but for rooms that go below the typical price. You have the deed in your hands. Waiting lists, ledgers, calls, breakfast, lunches, and dinners served alongside rooms. But some in the Prosecutor's Office have reason to think you have...a side business, so to speak."

He got up from his chair, straightened his back, and walked out from behind the desk. "Maybe a pickpocket needs a place to stay, or a robber needs someplace to hide his loot. And wherever there are people around to demand such a thing...well, there is always someone to supply it."

Reina did not budge, nor did her face twitch. Edgeworth admired that, but he needed to speed things up.

"Of course, you do not want to manage the Ivory Motel forever. My detective has been at work. You're hoping to move towards the center of the city when the time comes."

Reina finally nodded.

"And you're hoping to open a restaurant, at that."

Reina nodded again. "A lawyer's a lawyer, huh? Nothing's off the table, I guess? Even blackmail?"

Edgeworth chuckled. "Not blackmail, Miss. I just need a little cooperation. Someone was attacked and went missing at your place of business. Surely you understand the gravity of the situation."

Reina scowled. "You've done enough homework. All that's left is to wrangle a plea deal out of me."

Edgeworth's eye narrowed. "No, that is for the defendant. I'm offering you immunity."

Reina's face twitched. "What's the catch?"

"There is no catch. You tell me what you know, and we will decide what your testimony tomorrow will be. We win the case. You sign some forms, and you'll have your dream secured."

-A multi-chapter story; Chapter 27; story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.