Episode 2-4: A Lesson in Patience

Sept 7, 10:30 AM. Police Department Entrance.

For once, there hadn't been any traffic on the road. It was probably for the best; Pam had been drifting into the other lanes, and her reaction time was awful. It was a miracle she hadn't been pulled over. Every now and then, she would see Kent or Mia in front of her truck. She would jerk her wheel to the side, only for them to disappear moments later. Pam gripped her steering wheel as if it was a life preserver.

She pulled into the department parking lot, staring up at the higher floors of the building. Pam had never been to Gant's office before, but Goodman had told her it was on one of the highest floors. She walked into the building, ducking into hallways to avoid as many people as she could. It would be better if no one knew she was going to talk to Gant. Still, she couldn't hide herself from everyone. Pam was pretty sure Meekins had seen her get into the elevator. She jabbed her finger into the 15th button, rubbing her eyes.

"Well, this certainly doesn't bode well." Pam turned to glare at Mia, who had appeared next to her.

"Will you go away already? You are doing nothing except scaring the crap out of me."

Mia shrugged. "You know, you are talking to yourself right now. Some people would call that the first sign of insanity."

Pam waved a hand through Mia's body, forcing her to dissipate into mist. The elevator dinged as she reached the floor. She ran out, not wanting to stick around until Kent showed up, too.

Gant's door was large and imposing. A scanner hung near the wall, and once Pam swiped her ID card, it opened without a noise. A giant organ stood in front of her, the metal pipes reaching out to the ceiling. Pam gulped, straightening her back before walking inside.

There were two halves of the room. To the left sat a desk, untouched. It seemed bare, as if no one was using it. Small knickknacks sat on the shelves, but everything was covered in a fine layer of dust. The right side of the room was a different story. There was a colossal suit of armor, shining as the sunlight reflected off it. Gant was sitting at his desk, as imposing as the day she first saw him. When she closed the door, he looked up from his paperwork with a smile.

"Ah, Wrighto! Just the cop I wanted to see!"

"What's the matter, sir? I was actually in the middle of watching a trial—"

"Oh, you won't miss anything there, trust me." Gant clapped his hands, the sound echoing throughout the empty room. Every clap felt like someone was driving a nail into her brain. Pam pinched the bridge of her nose, blinking hard. Kent had appeared behind Gant, pacing back and forth as a fuzzy blob. Gant motioned to a seat in front of him, and Pam took it after a moment's hesitation.

Gant set aside his papers, giving his whole attention to her. "So, Wrighto, have you gone swimming lately? The weather's been beautiful for a day at the pool!"

"Um…I'm not entirely sure what that has to do with anything—"

"Ah, but you must forgive me. I do love swimming." He sat forward, smiling without any warmth. The sun went behind the clouds, and the room was dropped into darkness. "You see, Pamola, I got an interesting letter from the Prosecutor's Office yesterday. Can you guess what it said?"

Pam didn't say anything, hands grabbing the edges of her coat.

"Well," Gant continued, "it was a letter from little old Worthy. Can you believe he would blame one of my men—excuse me, women—for interfering in his case? That's quite an accusation, don't you think?"

Pam couldn't show weakness, especially not in front of Gant. She got the impression that those questions were rhetorical. It didn't feel like Gant was offering her help. It felt like a noose was tightening around her neck. She tugged at her stray hair, eyes never leaving Gant.

"…yes."

"And would you believe that you were the officer that he blamed? I have it all right here." He handed her the letter. Edgeworth's writing was in a fancy cursive, borderline unreadable, but she could make out the majority of it. She frowned when she saw her name next to a list of offenses. Gant tugged on his white hair, cross-eyed. "You see, Pamola, we take slights like that very seriously here. Worthy has a whole list of things in that letter. He wants me to demote you, take your badge away, and strip you of all your accomplishments."

Pam's hands crumpled the letter. She stood, slamming the paper down on his table. Gant looked up, unimpressed. "You can't do that!" Her words didn't seem to have any effect. Gant hadn't moved an inch in his chair. Behind him, Kent's blurry shoulders shrugged, as if to say 'Did you really think that would work?

"And why not?" asked Gant. "You broke some very big rules, Wrighto. Not even Puffy would allow such disgraces."

Well, 'Puffy' is helping me do a lot of illegal things, so I don't think you know him as well as you think. Pam pointed to the letter on the table.

"Miles Edgeworth is nothing more than a bully. I want to see his evidence for making these claims." She was walking on thin ice. Gumshoe might still have her camera, and if those pictures were still on it, then it showed Pam was interfering. But she couldn't let Gant know that. Pam had to bluff. Time to take a page out of her brother's book. "I never interfered with any crime scene. Yes, I did investigate the Fey and Co. Law offices, but I never touched any evidence that was still there. And I did go to the Watergate Hotel, but for my own purposes." Pam crossed her arms. "I haven't talked to any witnesses, heck, I haven't even seen the defendant since the day of the murder. Whatever he has charged me with, he has no evidence to back up his claims."

Gant looked at the letter again, eyes zipping back and forth until he found what he was looking for. He glared at her over the top of the paper. "And what is this here about conferring with a defense attorney?"

Sweat rolled down her neck. Pam swiped it away, trying to keep her voice strong. Talking with Phoenix was definitely not something she could hide, at least not from Gant.

"The defense attorney on this case is my brother," she admitted. "However, Edgeworth doesn't have any proof that I have been helping him with anything. And even if I did, I am not on the case to begin with. There is nothing wrong with lending my brother my mind as he investigates into the murder." Gant had that smile again, the one that seemed to suck life out of everything around him.

"And what about this news about some kind of box, filled with evidence. Of course, Detective Gumshoe was the one to deliver it, but it held a medley of evidence that had not been collected by anyone official working on the case. Do you have anything to say about that, Wrighto?"

Pam's fingers twitched against her leg. She felt frozen in place. Kent shook his head before evaporating away. In the dark room, the air seemed to crackle with electricity. Pam couldn't tell if that was due to her sleep hallucinations or not. She sat back down, body stiff.

"Is there any proof it was me?" Gant didn't answer her. He just stared, looked at her with his hands clasped tight in front of him. He wasn't like Mia, who could just look at someone to slowly peel away their secrets. It was a hard stare, practically ordering Pam to confess her crimes. Pam leaned forward, pointing to the letter once more. "Was there any footage of me giving the box of Gumshoe? Any photo evidence that I did it? Any eyewitness testimonies? Anything at all?"

Gant shook his head. Pam shrugged, leg bouncing up in down.

"Then there is no proof that I did anything."

"For someone who says they are innocent, you do sure seem jumpy, Wrighto." Gant stood, walking around the desk to stand in front of her. Now that he was looking down on her, Pam had to fight to keep her composure. "You aren't stupid, Pamola. You know that, should there be any sort of investigation into this, you will come up lacking. Am I wrong in assuming that?" Pam didn't answer, fuming as the man paced in front of her. "It wouldn't look good for something like this to get out. For a rookie to have such a mark on their career at such an early point…I don't have to tell you that it looks bad."

He turned to the armor stand, staring at the pointed spear it held. Pam squirmed in her seat, hand going in her pocket to clutch at her new badge. He's going to ask me to give it up, she panicked. But I can't go yet! I still have so much to do! I can't fail now! She held her breath, watching Gant's back for any sign of movement. She hadn't expected him to start laughing. It was a loud, boisterous sound that bounced around the room. Pam watched the man turn around, confused at the complete attitude change. He was clapping again, a lighter smile on his face.

"That's why I have a bit of an idea, Wrighto! Maybe we can help each other out a little bit!"

"Sir?"

"Oh, don't worry. It's nothing outrageous. See, Wrighto, I know you're a good detective. We need more people like you around here, so I wouldn't let anyone take you away from us. At least, not yet." Gant walked back to his desk, grabbing Edgeworth's letter. "Maybe Worthy is right, and you are a loose cannon just waiting to go off and get everyone else in trouble. But see, I think Worthy is a loose cannon all his own. You've no doubt heard all the talk of forged evidence and forced convictions." He waited until she nodded before continuing. "I need someone I trust to watch him, make sure he doesn't do anything to put the department in danger. You lived in New York. You know how the press loves to tear down the police every chance they get."

Pam stood, watching as he put the letter in a nearby safe. There were a few other items in the safe, but she couldn't tell what they were before he shut the door again.

"What are you implying here, sir?"

"Simple. I am going to ask that you be put with Gumshoe and Edgeworth for future cases. Keep an eye on him. When I ask, report back to me about what he's doing. If you do that…" He smiled and rubbed his gloved hand's together. His pink glasses slid down the length of his nose. "You can consider this little incident forgotten about!"

Pam looked to the safe, trying to keep her face in check. Yeah, until you need to blackmail me for something else. Why else would you have kept that letter detailing all my crimes? She bit the edge of her cheek while Gant continued to laugh. I need to have a talk with Puffington. Something about this guy is not right.

Gant held out a hand. "So, Wrighto, you'll watch after Worthy for me, and I'll clean up this whole mess. Do we have a deal?" She blinked, seeing Mia and Kent on each side of Gant. One was nodding, urging her to agree, while the other was shaking their head. She couldn't tell which was which. Both were fuzzy blobs. She bit her tongue, and the mirages disappeared.

Pam had a bad feeling about all this. She had no doubt Gant was the one who pulled the strings around here. Why did she feel like she had just walked into a trap? Pam let out a breath through her nose, taking Gant's hand. If she wanted to keep investigating Kent's case, she had no other choice but to consent. Gant shook her hand fiercely, jerking her arm up and down.

"Smart move, Wrighto! I can already tell we're going to be fast friends, you and I! Now, we aren't technically done here. Take a seat for me." She did, and Gant walked over to his organ, sitting down on the bench and cracking his fingers. "You did break some rules, so to appease the Prosecutor's Office, I need to give you one of ol' Gant's patented lectures. Strap in, Wrighto! This is going to take awhile, so you might want to get comfortable."

Pam winced, getting flashbacks to her interview with Gant months ago. If this was anything like that, she was in for a world of a headache. She did as he asked, resting her back against the chair as Gant began his long speech, filled with laughter, a loud organ, and talks of swimming.

Sept. 7, 2:23 PM. District Court. Defendant Lobby No. 1

The lobby was quiet, save for Pam's gentle snores as she waited for the trial to end. She had barely sat down before her eyes had shut, sending her into a fitful sleep filled with dreams of Mia or Kent, sometimes both. There was a loud chatter from the courtroom, but what woke Pam up in the end was the main doors opening. She blinked heavily, yawning as the people streamed out of the courtroom. She waited until she could see Goodman's white hat before standing, darting through the crowd and pulling him to the side.

"What the—" He yelped when she grabbed his arm. Once they were out of the main crowd, Goodman recognized her. He sighed, straightening his hat. "Geez, Wright, you scared me. When did you get back?"

"About an hour ago. It was Gant who wanted me."

"That doesn't sound good." Goodman put a hand on her shoulder, brows furrowed. "Did he use the organ on you?"

"Yeah…" Her ears were still ringing from that thing. Pam would say one thing: despite how weird Gant could act, he knew his way around a keyboard. She shook her head, shrugging Goodman's hand away. "We talked and came to an agreement. Thankfully, I still get to keep my badge."

"You're lucky. If it had been anyone else, you would have been sacked. I'm sure Gant had his reasons, as mysterious as they may be."

Pam tugged him toward her as the second wave of people left the courtroom. "Forget me, tell me what happened in court today! What was the verdict?"

"Nothing. The trial is getting put off until tomorrow." Goodman laughed, his fedora bouncing around on his head. "I'll tell you, Wright, I don't think I've ever seen Edgeworth look so frustrated in all my years of working around him. Your brother, Phoenix, was it? He's got a real knack for finding clues."

Pam relaxed, shoulders finally able to release the tension they had been holding. "What can I say? It's a family thing. Give me the details."

"Well, the short version is that April May, the lady in pink, was caught wiretapping the victim's phone. I think it had something to do with the murder weapon being a clock. Edgeworth pointed out that the tapping had nothing to do with the murder, but then your brother called the bellboy of the hotel to the stand. That's when they found out someone was rooming with Miss May.

"Your brother pulled out that hotel room list from before, showing just who Miss May had been rooming with. Miles tried to debate that it had nothing to do with the case, but the judge seemed to think otherwise. I believe they sent someone down to ask Mr. White some questions, and I'm sure he'll come down to the court to testify tomorrow. That's about it."

"Okay…okay, not great, but not terrible either," Pam mumbled. She studied her shoes. "I guess you were right. I didn't think through everything about the case, and I shouldn't have tried to get involved."

"But it did help, even if it just sped up the trial." Goodman flicked her in the head. She flinched, rubbing the red spot on her forehead. "Just don't do it again. I mean it."

"Yes, sir. Not a toe out of line." Pam looked to the great big doors, seeing a familiar blue suit. She bowed to Goodman. "I need to get going, but thank you for everything."

"I guess your welcome," he said with a grin. "But I don't do favors for free, rookie. You owe me."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Pam rolled her eyes, crossing the room to her brother. He was talking with Maya, her guards just a few feet away as to give them some privacy. She managed to catch the end of their conversation.

"Oh, I was just doing my job, heh heh." Her brother was rubbing his neck, blushing as Maya looked at him with stars in her eyes.

"No, really, that was amazing!" Maya put a hand to her cheek, biting her bottom lip. "But that other attorney was cool, too. His eyes were so wide, his lips trembling from the passion of the moment!"

Please tell me she's not talking about who I think she is. Pam shivered at the far too detailed vision, clearing her throat. Phoenix looked at her, cheesy grin still on his face.

"Pam! What did you think? I did do pretty good in there, didn't I?"

"I wouldn't know. I got summoned to the police department just before April May's testimony." Pam tugged at her ear, still hearing the echoes of the organ. "I got chewed out by the Chief of Police."

"Oh no!" Maya took her free hand, making Pam jump. Looks like all the Feys are touchy people. "Did you get in trouble for trying to help me?"

"Well, a little—wait, how did you know that? I don't think I've talked to you since the day of the murder."

Maya seemed to shrink back at the word 'murder', but rebounded quickly. She shook Pam's hand, pearly white teeth shining.

"Phoenix has told me about you when he became my attorney. You're Pamola, the best detective in the world, someone who can always find the right evidence just in time!"

"Just Pam," she corrected, glancing at her brother. He was miming zipping his lips to Maya but stopped when he saw Pam looking. He was a little pink in the cheeks. "Did my brother really say all that?"

"Yup!"

"How interesting," she said with a yawn. That nap had done wonders for her. Now she was only seeing weird things every now and then, instead of near constantly. She let go of Maya's hands, reaching up to pat the girl on the head. "I guess you'll have to go back to the detention center now, huh?"

"W-wait, really?" Maya looked to Phoenix, who was returning back to his normal color. "I thought…well, I just thought I could go home."

"I'm sorry Maya," Phoenix sighed. "We have to find the real murderer first. I want to completely clear your name, and until we find the killer, you'll have to stay at the detention center. But trust me!" He slammed a closed fist into his open hand. "I have a good lead now! I'm going to go have a talk with Miss May, and then find Redd White."

"I'll go with you," Pam suggested, but Phoenix was quick to shake his head.

"No way. You just said you got in trouble with the Chief of Police! You are on thin ice Pam. I'm not having you take another peak into this."

"What, you think you can just boss me around now? Try and remember who the older sibling is, Phee."

He crossed his arms, eyes looking her up and down. "I don't care. You need to go home, get some rest. I'll tell you what I find, and you can feel free to offer your opinions, but I refuse to let you lose your job. If you won't be careful, then I will."

"You have got to be kidding me…" She knew he was right. It would be lucky if she could drive back to the apartment at this point. She sighed, shoving her hands into her pockets. "When did you go and decide to grow a pair?"

"H-hey!" Just like that, Phoenix had gone red again. Maya laughed. It was a nice sound. Her brother walked past her, shoving her shoulder as he did. "The things I do for you, and that's the thanks I get? Why do I even bother…" He went out the front door, calling a cab from the entrance. Maya was still laughing, waiting until he drove off to stop herself.

"Wow, you're way funnier than Phoenix told me!"

"He said I was funny?"

"Actually, he said that most of the time you were a kill-joy." Maya's hands flew to her mouth. "I…wasn't supposed to say that, was I?"

"No, no, please continue." This would be perfect blackmail for later.

"O-oh, well, he also said—"

"Miss Fey." One of the guards behind Maya stepped forward, putting a hand on her arm. Maya jerked away, all color leaving her face. "We need to go back to the detention center. Please follow us."

"Oh," Maya whispered, "okay, sure." Pam could see the girl was shaking, hiding her hands between the folds of her clothes. Pam looked outside to where her truck was waiting for her. She could go home and rest, like Phoenix said. But she never had been good at listening to her brother. She patted Maya on the head, causing the girl to look up.

"Don't worry, I'll be right behind you."

Maya smiled, shaky and unsure, but a bit more confident now. "Thank you, Pamola."

"Just Pam!" She called as the girl was taken away. Pam watched as Maya was loaded into a cruiser, taking her time to walk to the door herself. As the cruiser pulled off, she thought she saw Mia in the car with her little sister. When Pam blinked, the police car was gone. She shook her head, jogging outside to her car and vowing to take a nice long nap once all of this was over.

Sept. 7. 5:35 PM. Detention Center. Visitor's Room.

"And that's when the Steel Samurai takes out the Evil Magistrate!" Maya slammed her hand down on the table, causing the glass to wobble. Pam was leaning on her hand, only staying awake because of Maya's loud outbursts. At least the young girl was looking a bit livelier now. Ever since they had gotten back to the Detention Center, Maya had been talking nonstop about her favorite show. Pam guessed it was her own fault; she had asked what the girl liked to watch.

"Okay, but what about the other guy? The Winter Ward, or whatever his name was, wasn't he supposed to fight the Steel Samurai?"

Maya shook her head, her black hair whipping around. "No, that's episode 54! We're on episode 64. The Winter Warder fell into the volcano, remember? His screams of agony resounded around the world—"

"—heralding his death to all of Neo Tokyo, I remember now. It still seems a little brutal for a kid's show."

"It's not a kid's show!" Maya shouted, once again slamming her hand on the table. "It is a work of art that people of all ages can enjoy. There has never been a show that can capture the current political state of the world in such a beautiful and powerful way!"

"Okay, I'm sorry." Pam covered a yawn with her free hand. "You're right, it sounds like an interesting show. Maybe I'll watch it some day if they ever run a marathon on TV."

"Well, if you don't like watching Steel Samurai, what things do you like to do?" Maya rested her elbows on the table. "Do you like to write, or play video games, or take walks? You know, some kind of thing that you do for fun!"

Pam slowly sat up, racking her brain for something to say. She certainly hadn't done anything fun recently. To many horrible things had happened to even think of such a thing. But Maya was waiting for an answer. The girl was annoyingly persistent, and Pam knew if she didn't say something quick, the girl would badger her to an early death. So she said the first thing to come to mind.

"I like to play the piano sometimes."

"Wow, really? I never took you for the type!"

"It's been a couple years since I've even touched a keyboard." Pam tapped her fingers on the table, trying to remember what the ivory felt like. She couldn't, so she stopped. "I'm sure I wouldn't sound good anymore."

"Oh, you're just saying that!" Maya put her hands together, smiling. "I bet after a few lessons, you could play anything! Maybe even the Steel Samurai theme song!"

Pam felt herself begin to sweat. "Uh, yeah, maybe so."

"Hm, what to talk about now…" Maya tapped her chin. "Oh! What is it like being a detective? Is it all mysterious, like in the movies? Do you hunt down criminals, racing against the clock before they kill someone else?"

"Most times I just deal with my idiotic coworkers. And most cases aren't as exciting as the shows make it out."

"Well, tell me about the exciting ones! What was your very first big case?"

Pam thought back to New York, when Kent had finally put her in the spotlight. She supposed it wouldn't hurt anyone if she told the story now. She yawned again, jumping when she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. She pulled it out, holding up a finger to Maya.

"One second. Hello," she said tiredly, "this is Detective Wright."

"Pam, um, I have some news for you." It was Goodman. His voice was pinched, worried. Pam raised an eyebrow. Goodman never called her by her first name, usually sticking to calling her 'kid' or 'Wright'.

"What's wrong?"

"Um…well, how's the best way to put this? It's about your brother. He's been arrested."

"He's been what!" Pam stood up so quickly that her chair was pushed to the floor. Maya shrunk back, looking at her with wide eyes. The questions fell out of Pam's mouth, one after the other. "What happened? Is he all right? Who was the officer to arrest him?"

"Two words," Goodman muttered. "Redd White." Pam's grip tightened on her phone. "White says he's going to testify in court tomorrow. He says your brother was the one to kill that Mia Fey person."

"Ha! Fat chance of that working. He was with me all day. I'd be more than willing to testify in court. I even have the movie ticket stubs as proof."

"I don't think it's going to matter."

"What do you mean? Proof is proof, Goodman, and I have loads of it."

"Pam, you aren't thinking! Redd White isn't just a bad person. He owns the blackmail industry, in every way. Trust me when I say that those ticket stubs will mean nothing in court. All it would take is a quick call from White, and the theater would say they never saw you."

"But I was with him that whole night, right up until—"

"Wright," he snapped. "Edgeworth can and will say that you are just covering for your brother. You know what will happen then, right?"

Pam was fuming, but only because Goodman was right. She kicked the chair in the floor, causing Maya and the nearby guard to jump. "It means my testimony will mean nothing, all because Edgeworth doesn't have enough spine to admit I was right about White."

"What it means is that if you walk into that courtroom tomorrow, you are just going to cause more problems." Goodman sighed. Pam could hear Gumshoe's loud voice in the background. "Listen, I think I can sneak you into his room for a couple hours. Hopefully that will be enough time for you two to come up with a game plan."

"Sir…you don't have to…"

"Yeah, and I really shouldn't, but…let's just say I don't like seeing someone get blackmailed." There was a dark edge to his voice, something Pam didn't understand. "Get over here, asap. I'll try to distract Gumshoe. I'm sure it's going to be a long night for the both of us…"

Sept 9. 9:52 AM. District Court. Defendant Lobby No. 1

"I can't believe you won't let me come," Pam whispered. Her brother was busily looking at his case report and didn't bother to give her his attention. Pam continued to talk, keeping her voice down so that only Phoenix and Maya could hear her. "I still think I should give my testimony, say you were with me that night—"

"No way," Phoenix cut in, holding up a hand. "We already know White has the Prosecutor's Office in his pocket. I don't think it would matter anyway. No, I need to not only prove myself innocent, but also prove him guilty." He shook the file in his hand, smiling. Pam could tell it was fake. "Besides, with the evidence we gathered on our own, plus Miss May's testimony from yesterday, I feel like I'm in a good position."

"But Phoenix!" Maya tugged on his blue sleeve. "This is crazy!"

"You're not wrong," her brother said. "But it's not the first time I've had to deal with crazy. Pam is my sister, after all."

"Hey!" Pam hit her brother's arm. It didn't hold any real force behind it, but it made both him and Maya laugh. "Pot calling the kettle black."

Maya looked past Pam's shoulder, laugh cutting off suddenly. She pointed to Miles Edgeworth, who was walking toward them with his signature scowl. "L-look!" Maya stuttered. "What's he doing here?"

"Nothing good," growled Pam. She went to take a step forward but stopped when she felt her brother's hand on her shoulder. Phoenix shook his head, pointing to a side door that would lead out of the courthouse.

"You should go. Things are about to start, and I don't want you getting on Edgeworth's bad side."

"Trust me, I think I'm already there…" Pam rolled on the balls of her feet, standing on her tip toes and giving her brother a quick peck on the cheek. Her brother blushed.

"What was that for?"

"Luck. You're probably gonna need it."

"When did you decide to get all soft and squishy, Pam. I thought you were a hardened detective, unfeeling and cold—"

Pam stomped on her brother's foot, watching with satisfaction as he winced. She straightened out her jacket.

"And that was a reminder to not get too cocky."

"Now who's the pot?"

"Shut up, Phee. And good luck." Pam headed for the door, glaring at Edgeworth before she left. He didn't so much as look at her, but she saw the way his hands tightened into fists. Seems like she was still getting under his skin. Good. Better for her to be annoying then a bootlicker. Pam slammed the door behind her. She slowly made her way to her car, feeling lost and tired. Kent appeared in her passenger seat as she started the engine.

"You know where I would always go when I felt a little down?"

"Go. Away."

"Well, that's quite rude, don'tcha think?" He put his hands behind his head, glasses bouncing on his nose as she got on the road. "Don't be a bummer. Go to a bar. It'll clear your head."

"Alcohol is the last thing I need."

"Would you rather sleep?" Pam looked over, almost running off the road when she saw blood on the front of Kent's white shirt. The car behind her honked. By the time she had corrected herself, the blood was gone. Kent's expression hadn't changed. He was laughing now, though it didn't sound like she remembered. "No, we both know that's the last thing you want to do. Right there, looks like that one's open."

The bar was on the corner of the street, open sign light up in blue and red neon lights. A bar, open this early in the morning? Pam pulled into the parking lot, reading the sign. Cosmo's. What a weird name. There was a slogan underneath the signage: 'Cosmo's here to grant your wish – open 24/7'. Pam tugged the key out of the ignition as Kent rubbed his hands together.

"Now we're cooking with diesel," he said with glee, disappearing as she exited the truck. Pam was walking to the door when Mia appeared, shaking her brown hair in disappointment.

"You shouldn't be doing this," she warned. Pam ignored her, walking through the apparition.

The bar was almost empty. It had nice decorations, local college banners hanging on the wall next to world famous athletes and musicians. There was a pool table in the middle of the room, and an old grand piano sat in the corner. Only three other people were in the room: two were a couple, whispering words to each other in the corner. The other was a familiar man, cowboy hat sitting on his head as he drank from a glass.

"Jake Marshall?" She walked up to him as the cowboy turned from his bar seat. He smiled, raising his glass to her.

"Well, if it ain't the maid of the evidence room. Did you have fun cleaning up that dusty old place?"

Pam winced, sitting down beside him. The bartender scurried over, and she placed her order before speaking. "You've heard about that, huh? Word spreads fast."

"And I heard about how you snooped around in Miles Edgeworth's case." Jake laughed, slapping her on the back. "You really know how to piss the wrong people off, cowgirl."

"Tell me about it." The bartender returned, handing her a whiskey. He was an older man, and he smiled kindly at her before he wandered off. She took a small sip, sighing. "I feel like everything I do just ends up bad."

"Hey, I wouldn't go that far. Sometimes that's just the way it goes. You always have a little sand in your boots, if you know what I mean."

"What brought you to a bar this early?"

He shrugged finishing his drink. "I come here when I'm off. Helps me relax, you know?"

"Well, alcohol will do that."

"Ah, no, this isn't any of that liquid courage. I know better than to get drunk when I have work in the morning. Apple juice is a good substitute."

Pam kept drinking her whiskey, letting the conversation lull. It probably wasn't a good idea, but Pam was sick and tired of everything. Why was it that some cases ended up so well, like with Stirman and Isha, while this one fell apart no matter how much she tried to help? Jake watched her drain her glass, fingers tapping on the table.

"Man, you really are a carbon copy of Kent. Even down to the drinking."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"When things didn't go his way, he'd go straight for a bar. He'd go just to relax, unwind. I never really liked the guy, and I was more than happy to see him leave for New York, but I'll admit, he was the best drinking buddy I ever had. Still a jerk, though."

Pam ordered another drink, this time of apple juice. She turned in her seat, now completely facing Jake. "Well, I've never been known to make conversation, but I could sure use someone to talk to. Are you going to tell me stories about him, or do you need to run to the bathroom again?"

Jake chuckled, shaking his head and causing his dark hair to whip around. "How about this? You forget that whole mess with the steak, and I won't mention the evidence room situation anymore. Deal, little lady?"

Pam shook his head, holding back a yawn. "My name's Pam, not 'little lady'."

"Yeah, sure." Jake winked at her, rapping his knuckles against the bar counter. "Hey, I'd like another drink over here! Alright, Pam. What about the ol' sheriff do you want to know? Oh, and if you tell him I told you any of this, you're dead meat."

Pam fought to keep herself from flinching. "I…don't think that will be an issue."

"The stories won't be all warm and fuzzy," he warned. Pam looked over his shoulder, seeing Mia and Kent sitting at one of the tables. They seemed to be arguing, but she couldn't hear what they were saying. Whether that was due to Jake Marshall's presence or the whiskey, she couldn't tell. Pam shook her head.

"I don't care at this point. I just need to sit down and not think for a bit."

"Sounds just fine, pardner. Well, it all began back when I was nothing but a policeman. I didn't have so much as a cowboy hat back then. That's when I first saw them: a mechanic, a prosecutor, and a Scot walk into a bar…"

Sept. 9. 2:24 PM. District Court. Defendant Lobby No. 1

Pam raced through the doors of the courtroom, breathing heavily as she fought against the crowd. She'd come back just in time. It looked like the trial was over now, and not a moment too soon. Her talk with Jake had managed to put her mind at ease for a couple hours, but now her panic had come back in full force. She grunted as a man pushed her into the wall. There were so many people coming out of the courtroom that it was impossible for her to see her brother. Seeing a bench, she stood on top of it, looking out for a familiar blue suit.

No…no…there! He was watching as someone—Is that Maya? No, that person's way too tall, but who else would wear such strange clothes?—walk out one of the side doors. He looked a little pale, maybe a bit lost too. She pushed her way through the crowd, elbowing a few people until she made it to her brother.

"Phoenix!" she called, making him jump. Pam grabbed his arm, pulling him to the side. "Well, I see you're not in cuffs. How did it go?"

"It was close." He was still looking toward the door, a hand on his neck. He let out a shaky breath. "Way too close. But…we got him. Redd White is behind bars."

"Phee, that's great!" She snapped her fingers in front of his face, finally getting his attention. She frowned, hands on her hips. "Then why are you spacing out so much? Did something happen? Was it Edgeworth?"

"No, it was…well, um…i-it's not something I think I can explain. I'm happy we finally got Mia's killer, but…" He started walking towards the exit, eyes locked on the floor. "It's not something…well, it's not natural."

"Phoenix, are you okay?" When he didn't answer, she jogged to catch up to him. "Okay, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. At least tell me what happened to Maya."

"Well, when I was arrested, they let Maya go. She sort of acted as my legal advisor today. As for where she is…" He still wasn't looking at her. "She said she would meet up with me at the office, at nine. Well, when I say she said it—"

"Okay, that's enough." Pam dragged him to her car, glad there weren't any ghosts in her truck seats. She pushed him inside. "Obviously you had a tough time in there, but the worst is over now. You need time to recharge, and I know just the place to go."

"Where are we going?"

"Mee's and Moe's. They're my new favorite joint. It's on me." She jumped into the driver's seat, reaching up to muse her brother's hair. "Think of it as a congratulatory dinner for my baby brother's first solo case."

"Two minutes does not make you older!"

"It does legally speaking."

Phoenix opened his mouth, then immediately closed it. He laughed, the sound bouncing around the truck. Pam relaxed in her seat, driving out of the parking lot.

"There's the smile I was looking for. Now tell me, I'm curious: how did Edgeworth react? I'm guessing he cried like the little baby he is? Threw a temper tantrum?"

"Oh, you have no idea."

Sept. 9, 9:02 PM. Fey and Co. Law Offices.

It felt like the murder happened ages ago. The office looked exactly the same as it used to, not an officer in site. Pam ran her hands along the countertop, watching her brother out of the corner of her eye. He was spinning slowly, taking in the room. To her surprise, he didn't look upset. He looked contemplative. She sighed. If he was anything like her, he was hiding his grief for later. Maybe she could help. Pam wasn't good at dealing with her own emotions, but she was more than happy to help Phoenix with his.

"Hey, Phee." He looked at her, and she shoved her hands into her pockets. "I know it must be hard coming back here."

"Yeah, but…it's not as bad as I thought it would be. It's hard to explain."

"I know Mia was important to you." Pam stared at her brother's attorney badge, very uncomfortable all of a sudden. What was she, a therapist? Still, she continued. "I want you to know you can talk to me. Even though Mia's gone, she'll still be with you everywhere you go, ya know?"

She heard him mumble something under his breath. It sounded like he said, 'No kidding'. Phoenix rubbed on the back of his neck, biting his lip.

"Yeah, um, Pam, about Mia. Well, something happened in court today, and I know you won't believe me, but um. Well, it's uh. You see, Maya kind of sort of—" The office door slammed open, cutting him off.

"You came!" Maya walked through the door, smiling and running up to hug Phoenix. "I was worried you wouldn't come!"

"O-oh, well I was actually expected to see M—"

"And you're here too, Pam! I wanted to say thank you for all your help!" Maya was quicker than Pam thought. In the blink of an eye, Maya was hugging the detective with a surprising amount of force. Pam blinked, slowly bringing a hand up to pat the girl's head.

"Well, I'm not sure how helpful I really was," Pam said slowly. "I think I was more of a nuisance than anything. It was Phoenix who did all the work."

"But you tried to help me, even though it would have gotten you in trouble! Phoenix used some of your evidence in court today! Every bit helped uncover the true criminal." Maya let go, looking at her with stars in her eyes. "Plus, you talked with me about the Steel Samurai! How could I not be thankful?"

"Well, when you put it like that—"

"Anyway," Maya interrupted, turning to Phoenix. "I'm starving. How about we get some burgers?"

"Actually, we just ate—" Phoenix tried talking, but Maya was one step ahead.

"Well, I've been busy, so I could go for a burger all the same!" She headed toward the door, smiling and bubbly and…well, if Pam didn't know it already, she would have never guessed Maya had been on trial for murder. The young woman blinked, reaching out and pulling on the back of Maya's collar. The girl lurched back, rubbing her neck. "What was that for?"

"Maya, I just wanted to say that…well, I'm glad you're innocent. And I'm sorry for what happened." Maybe this had all started as Pam's quest for self-achievement, but somewhere along the way she realized that Maya was more important. Pam had only spent a little bit of time with Maya, but the girl seemed like a good person. Maybe she could try to get to know the younger Fey, as a tribute to Mia. Pam repeated what she had said to her brother just moments ago. "Mia will always be with you, and I know she'd be proud of you."

Maya's smile wavered, but it didn't fall. "Oh, I know. It's sad but Mia is a part of me! I know she'll be there for me, even beyond the grave. And when Phoenix needs her, I'm sure she'll be there for him too!"

Pam blinked. "Wow, you two are taking this a lot better than I thought you would."

"Argh, please let me finish my thought!" Phoenix was gripping his hair, tugging on it in spasms. He let go of his spikey locks only to grab her shoulders. "Pam, you aren't going to believe me, but Maya channeled Mia during the trial today. That's why we both seem so calm. It's because I literally talked to Mia's spirit!"

Pam removed her brother's hands slowly. Now that she looked at him a little closer, he did have a sort of crazy look in his eye. Pam took a step back, looking from Phoenix to Maya.

"Oookay, so you two are more tired than I thought you were. I mean, I get it. I've been seeing things too, but both of you have to realize that Mia's ghost wasn't actually real. The sooner you accept that she's gone—"

"You don't believe us?" Maya's cheeks were all puffed up, and she was crossing her arms like a toddler denied dessert. "But it's true!"

"She's right, Pam," her brother agreed. "I talked to Mia. Maya's whole body changed, and the Chief was right there—"

"Phoenix," Pam cut in sharply, turning to face him fully. She pointed a finger in his face, hoping to snap him out of this hopeless daydream he was in. "I understand that everyone handles their grief differently, but this is ridiculous. Mia is dead, and there's no way the dead can come back and speak to us! The sooner you get out of this weird denial stage, the sooner you can—"

She saw her brother's face pale. He wasn't looking at her, but at someone behind her. Pam thought he was looking at Maya at first, but the voice that spoke was not that of the young girl. It was a voice she had heard for the past three days, and it made her whole body freeze up.

"Well, I wouldn't say that's necessarily true. The dead are very persistent, after all."

Pam turned around, her finger now pointing at Maya. Or at least, it was someone wearing Maya's clothes, though they didn't fit the person wearing them. It was Maya's body, but the face was one matching Mia Fey. At first Pam thought she was hallucinating again. She tried saying something, but the words got stuck in her throat.

"What—who—you're—" Pam didn't realize she had been backing up until she felt her brother's hands on her shoulders. She shook her head, licking her suddenly dry lips. "I must be seeing things again…"

"Oh no, I'm completely real." To prove this, Mia walked closer, grabbing Pam's hand. The detective jumped when she felt warm skin. She couldn't touch the hallucinations; Kent and Mia had been little more than dust. But this Mia was real. Pam felt her stomach lurch. Whether it was the alcohol from before or the food she'd just eaten, she couldn't tell. All Pam knew was that she was feeling very ill.

Mia noticed it first, immediately letting go of her hand. "Phoenix, your sister is looking a little green…"

"Well, can you blame her? As I remember it, I passed out twice when I first saw you." He spun Pam around to face him, which only made her nausea worse. "Pam, are you okay? Do you need a soda?"

I…I need…Pam gagged, holding a hand over her mouth, pushing her brother to the side and running behind the front desk. Thankfully, there was a trash can nearby, and Pam used it to empty the contents of her stomach. While she was busy retching in the trash can, Mia ordered Phoenix around.
"Quick, there's a drink machine on the 1st floor! Get something with some carbonation; she's going to need it."

"R-right!"
Pam heard the office door slam shut, but she never took her face out of the trash can. Soon enough she felt someone pull her hair out of her face.

"Sorry about that." Mia rubbed her back, which only made Pam sicker. A dead person should not be able to rub someone's back. "I guess I could have handled that better, huh?"

"You died," Pam managed to say, spitting into the bin. "I saw your body."

"That's true. I am dead."

"Dead people stay dead."

"Not in the Fey family. Tell me, did Phoenix tell you that Maya was a spirit channeler?"

Pam thought back to that day in the apartment. Now that she mentioned it, her brother did say something along those lines. Pam grabbed a handful of tissues, wiping her mouth and tying up the garbage bag.

"I didn't think he was actually telling the truth! We didn't have any channelers back in New York, only people trying to make a quick buck. I didn't think…well, it isn't real!"

"It isn't? Then tell me," Mia grabbed Pam's chin, gently turning her face upwards. "What exactly am I? A ghost? I'm just as real as you are. Maya and I share the same body. It doesn't last forever, and Maya is still in training. She is only able to channel me when she feels very strongly. What you said must have triggered something."

"I…I didn't mean to offend her." Pam's stomach was still doing jumping jacks at the site of Mia, but she had gotten in under control. She used the desk as a brace, pulling herself back up. Her eyes never left Mia. "So, Maya can just…let dead people inside her head?"

"Not easily. She is still in training after all."

"So she just couldn't call someone out of nowhere?"

"It would have to be someone she knew very well. Most trainees can only contact departed family members at first." Mia tilted her head, black hair falling over her shoulder. "Why, is there someone you wanted to talk to?"

"No…no, there's no one." Pam couldn't reveal Kent's secret, not when she was already so frazzled. She sat down in her brother's chair, holding one shaking hand in the other. "I'm sorry, this is all a shock to me. I could have never imagined something like this happening. You're...alive. That's why Phoenix and Maya were so collected, even after your murder."

"It had something to do with it, yes." Mia stared at her office, a frown tugging her lips down. "I'm sure they will still grieve, but not as badly as most would. Sometimes being able to speak to someone brings comfort, even if they aren't around anymore." Mia shook her head. "Anyway, while I'm here, I wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?" Pam pinched her leg. She couldn't believe she was talking to the real Mia, and not a version that her sleep-deprived brain had created. Mia put her hands together, as if she was going to pray.

"I know it's a lot to ask of you, but I wanted you to continue to look after your brother and Maya. Phoenix has a long way to go in terms of becoming a great lawyer, but I want you to push him to do his best. He needs someone to encourage him, though I'm sure you were already planning on doing that. As for Maya…well, she needs someone to look after her." Mia bowed her head, black bangs obscuring her eyes. "After I left home, I got caught up in my thirst for revenge against White, for what he did to our mother. Maya suffered because of it. My obsession, ultimately, became my undoing."

Pam would have to ask her brother to fill her in on whatever Mia was talking about. She nodded her head, which was enough to get Mia to continue.

"She needs someone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on. She needs a sister, one that was better than me."

"I...I can't replace you Mia. And I'm not always the best sister. Ask Phoenix, and I'm sure he'll tell you a hundred reasons why you should pick someone else." Pam squirmed in her seat. She hadn't felt this uneasy since before she had become a detective. She was already having to lie to Phoenix about why she was really here. She didn't want to have to lie to Maya too. Mia shook her head, smiling.

"Actually, I think Phoenix is the best evidence that you are a good listener. He's opened up a lot since you came here. Besides, I'm not asking you to be her sister. I'm just asking you to be her friend. Look after her for me, please?"

Pam could only hold out for a few seconds before her shoulder's fell. She was too tired to fight anything at this point. She sighed, and Mia knew her answer.

"Okay. Yeah, I can do that."

"Thank you, Pam." Mia looked to the clock on the wall, the hands quietly ticking away. "My time will be up soon. Maya can't channel me for long before it starts to strain her." To Pam's surprise, Mia bowed to her. "I guess I should say thank you, for helping Phoenix and Maya. I am in your debt."

"No, really, it was all Phoenix. I just broke a bunch of rules and almost lost my badge in the process."

"Be that as it may, a debt is still a debt. If you need me, I'll be happy to give you some advice. My information is your information."

"Thanks, but—" Pam bit her cheek, stopping herself. She peered up at Mia, remembering something from what seemed like years ago. "Any information?"

"Well, anything that I can remember. What's your question?"

Pam stood, glancing at her brother's notebooks. On the day of the murder, there had been that list, the one with the witnesses on it. It was long gone now, but there was that name. Pam saw Kent appear behind her brother's desk, sending her a thumbs up.

"There was a witness list that Phoenix was copying on the day of the murder. Someone on it was named Megan Ehrars. I need to know where she lives, or if she's even alive."

Mia tapped her chin, pausing before grabbing a piece of paper and scribbling something on it. "Yes, I remember. I didn't know too much about her. Her name appeared in a newspaper briefly a few years ago, and the issue wasn't very popular. It was pretty minor, but it did involve Redd White. I'm not sure if I have the newspaper anymore. First, try checking with the Los Angeles Times. They may have the issue in their archives." She handed Pam the slip of paper. "If that doesn't work, this is the only other lead I have for you. It's an address for a small house in the lower economy district. It was in Megan's name up until about a year ago."

Pam took the paper, trying to reign in her frustration. It was better than nothing at all. She should be happier. At least this would put her in the right direction. She would check the address first, maybe on one of her off days—

Mia touched Pam's wrist, making her flinch a little. "Why do you need her address specifically?"

"I'm…working on a case. It's top secret. But this person," Pam waved the paper around, "is integral to what I'm working on. I…can't say why, and you have to understand that Phoenix can't know."

Mia hummed, slowly nodded her head. "All right. As long as you aren't getting yourself into trouble, I'll keep this information between us."

All the tension from the past few days melted out of Pam. "Thank you, Mia. You have no idea what this means—"

"Just make sure to take care of my sister," Mia said, smiling. "If you don't, I'll have no choice but to spill the beans."

"Am I getting blackmailed by a ghost?"

Mia laughed, pulling Pam into a hug. Pam froze, uncomfortable with the thought of being touched by a dead person. After Mia didn't let go, Pam slowly returned the hug.

"Take care of them for me," Mia muttered as she let go. Pam nodded.

"Of course. You have my word."

"Thank you, Pam. And good luck."

The young detective blinked, watching as Mia shrunk. It only a took a few seconds, but soon Maya was back to normal. The spirit channeler rubbed her eyes, yawning.

"I channeled her again, didn't I?" When Pam nodded, Maya sighed, walking back to the couch and sitting down. "I'm sorry. When you said spirit channeling wasn't real, it must have made me a little upset. I usually only channel when I'm wound up, for some reason. Sorry if that scared you."

"It's fine. It was just a little weird." Pam remembered the trash can filled with vomit, wincing. "Um…how much of that did you remember?"

"It's kinda fuzzy, but I remember you getting freaked out, and how you talked with Mia afterward. I think my big sis was trying to block my hearing, but I remembered bits and pieces. Again, I'm super sorry about making you sick. I really didn't mean it!"

Pam sat down beside Maya, thinking back to her promise with Mia. Well, there was no time to start like the present. She ruffled Maya's hair, not unlike how she messed with her brother's when they were younger.

"There's nothing to apologize for. Trust me, you got nothing on the weirdness that is Phoenix." Speak of the devil, her brother was opening the door, bottle of soda in hand. He looked around the room, eyes landing on Maya. Pam noticed he walked a little slower.

"Did Mia—?"

"She said she had to leave." Pam wasn't sure how she felt about talking about a dead person in the present tense. "But we talked things over. I guess I was wrong to doubt you, Phee."

"No, it's okay. I knew it would sound crazy." He handed her the bottle. "I guess the question is, what now? The trials over, and I have no idea what to do."

"What do you mean?" Maya jumped up, tiredness forgotten. "You take over the law offices! It's what my sister wanted, see?" From some hidden pocket, she pulled out a letter and handed it to Phoenix. "She told me to take care of you."

"Take care of me?"

"She meant this office!" Maya gestured to the room, dark save for the light streaming through the window. "I'll be helping out here at the new Wright and Co. Law Offices!" Maya elbowed her brother in the side. "It's got a nice ring to it, don't you think, Nick? Er, you don't mind me calling you that, do you? Mia told me that's what Larry called you, and it's easier to say than Phoenix."

"Oh, uh—"

"He thinks it's a great name," Pam said, folding her piece of paper and putting it in her pocket. "So, you are going to help my brother out? Make sure he doesn't get himself arrested again?"

"Yup!" She grabbed Phoenix's hand, shaking it excitedly. "It's Maya and Nick against the world!"

"Yeah…" Her brother shook Maya's hand. He was smiling, a real, genuine smile that Pam hadn't seen in days. It was good to see. "To the Wright and Co. Law Offices!"

"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!" Maya dragged her brother to the door. Pam followed behind, hands in her pockets. "Now let's hit up that burger place! I'm starving!"

"H-hang on, Maya—"

"No time to waste! Let's move, people!"

Pam saw something out of the corner of her eye as she shut the office door. She turned to the hall window, Kent and Mia standing together. Both nodded to her.

"Get some rest, Detective."

"And that's an order, Pams."

She let out a quiet laugh, turning and following after Maya and Phoenix. The paper in her pocket was begging to be looked at, but for once, Pam ignored the urge. Rest didn't seem like a bad idea. Not bad at all.

Well, here's another large chapter (10k words!). This wraps up Turnabout Sisters. Hope you enjoyed seeing Pam's reaction to everything. I figured since Miles has 'logic' and Phoenix gets the Magatama later, this could be Pam's little 'superpower', or her thing that helps her solve cases. Though in this case, it was more of a problem than anything else.

One more thing: 5 reviews and almost 1000 views?! Excuse me? What? I'm so happy that people enjoy reading my story. I know people don't usually like OC's, but I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this. The good news is I think I know the direction I want to go with this story. The bad news is I'm catching up to my pre-written stuff. I'll still write though, as long as people enjoy it. Thank again!

Next up we have another Bonus Episode. Here's the hint for who it will be about: TFNHSLV.

See you next week!

GBG