opalander : Thank you! That's my hope as well haha. I have a lot more free time to do so probably~
Nathen The Protector : Thanks, that's a huge compliment! I hope you got the link, since my page isn't really working least from my end~
guest D : Glad you liked it! Yeah, I'm hoping to squeeze in some AAI2. I loved Sebastian haha.
OBSERVER01: Glad you think so!
Cranky Kong: Maybe, maybe not. It's all still unfolding so, we'll see~
Gilgamesh The King of Heroes: Well...you'll soon see haha. I don't think she's enjoying the payback that's for sure.
urs-v: Possibly haha
LiTtLeVoIcEs: Glad you liked it! Haha, yeah I felt she would be a fan. That's pretty cool! Thanks for that link :)
GalanthaDreams: Haha, I've been getting that from some other folk too. You could be onto something. Hmm, I feel like a first name basis will be a while haha. And thank you! I'm glad you like the cases- especially the last arc, cause that was a hell of plan, was worried I wouldn't pull it off haha. And well, you'll figure it out with college haha. I know that feeling! This whole summer I've been wondering what my existence is without a college life. Thanks!
AN: We're back with the next installment! I had a lot of ideas for this one, so we'll see how it'll pan out. Otherwise, thank ya'll for your support as always! It's always great to know that people are enjoying what I have to offer haha. So per usual thanks for reading, faving, following and reviewing as it's pretty encouraging~
So, this chapter is a long one, cause I had to set it up, but I hope you enjoy it! It's been a while, like a month since I updated so, uh, savor that. But I'm really looking forward to the next chapter for a number of reasons hehehe...
October 17th, 5:17 PM
Monolith Hotel, My room
It had been absolute chaos.
I had found the perfect prank. In the daily paper, a week after the adventure to the bookstores, I had found an advert about an American style speed dating event taking place at a pub. All I needed to do was convince Edgeworth to attend- the rest would work itself out. Of course, I knew there was no way he'd participate in an event like that on his own accord, so I readjusted accordingly. All I had to do was tweak the definition of speed dating to networking event. I told him he could meet other law related officials there, which, technically wasn't a lie, as there was a possibility, slim as it was, to meet other law people. Speed dating itself was a form of networking, as one is making or attempting to make connections with other people. So, he couldn't accuse me of lying. Deception maybe, but not outright lying. Heh.
I thought it would be hilarious to send Edgeworth in there and see the results. Being so blissfully unaware of his chick magnet abilities, it would come to light while moving from table to table, as woman after woman would be there, ready to hunt their prey. And I would be there at my own table enjoying the spectacle.
And it worked. Maybe a bit too well.
"Okay. So you're telling me, there was a mob of love struck women and jealous men, chasing down Mr. Edgeworth inside the pub, that was only stopped because of a weabo who had mind control powers and a hawk that flew in and out of the crowd attacking people?"
"Yeah, pretty much," I nodded with a sheepish laugh, looking at the spirit medium on my computer's video chat.
Maya stared at me, eyes wide.
"WHAAAAT?! This sounds like a plot to some manga…!"
"Hey, I know it's hard to believe, but that's how it went down. I wish you could have seen it. The cravat fluttering in the wind as Mr. Edgeworth tried to make his big escape, the clamoring of women behind him fighting for the right to his phone number, dudes ready to fight him for the women, a hawk flying in the crowd with a guy, who just yells in a deep booming voice 'SILENCE', in his attempts to subdue the mob... I mean that whole evening was nuts! I had no idea it would get that bad! But then again it was bad from the start," I said laughing.
"Was there a mob at the beginning?" she asked hunched over sweating slightly.
"No, but as soon as we got there, like, right after we got name tags, women were already trying to drag Mr. Edgeworth off to their tables. The other guys were picking up on it and shooting him dirty looks left and right. And mind you, this is before the thing even officially started," I wistfully smiled remembering the details of the downward spiral of a night. "Heh, but when the host started explaining how the 'dates' would work, Mr. Edgeworth's face was...gold. He went from disbelief to anger to horror in ten seconds flat! He was glaring daggers at me whenever the opportunity arose. Ahahahaha, man that was great!"
Maya shook her head at me in what appeared to be mild exasperation, yet I caught wind of the slight smile that started to blossom on her lips.
"So, how bad did he take it?"
I snorted.
"With people saying things like, 'So, Miles tell me about your sex life!' or 'My boyfriend is in jail, but I can make an exception for you…' 'You wanna be my next sugar daddy?' 'Will you please bear my children?', he didn't take it well. At all. I almost felt sorry for him. It was like throwing a guy into the coliseum to be eaten by lions. The best part was all of these conversations only had three minutes to get off the ground before the buzzer rang, bringing about the next guy in line to sit at the table," I chuckled.
"Jeez, talk about desperate…"
"Yep! Oh, and when Mr. Edgeworth made it to my table, woo boy, was he livid! He was all like, 'Is this really the American way? This is an utter waste of time! These women are harpies! That oldbag couldn't even light a match to them!' He told me he didn't date cause he saw it as frivolous. But I mean, hey at least he made up for like 26 years of nothing with like 20 dates, right? He got some experience pfft. Well, in any case he said he would make me pay for this later despite me trying instill feelings of brotherhood in him in the mutual sharing of awful dates- because the men weren't any better."
"Aww, no luck?" Maya frowned.
"Maya, listen carefully. A good portion of people who go to speed dating events are desperate and unappealing. Don't try this unless it's for fun. Or laughs. Don't expect much. Understand?"
"Uh, okay."
"Good. But if you must know, I encountered a man who kept showing me his battle scars, a man whose teeth kept falling out of his mouth, a man who was doped up on painkillers, a man who asked for 'a shag' in the bathroom of the pub and so on and so forth. The most decent guy was the weabo with the hawk. His name was something funny...think it was Blackquill or something," I said as I scratched my head.
"Wow, he was the most normal?" she asked covering her mouth looking off to the side.
"Sure, he sounds crazy, but he was really nice. Actually, I think you guys would get along pretty well if you met," I smirked.
"Huh?"
"I mean he is into samurai stuff, around your age...and oh, did I mention he's pretty handsome?"
Maya's eyes widened as her face turned a bright red.
"I- well, that's...t-that's silly," she replied as though she were contemplating the idea. She quickly changed the subject. "Uh, well shouldn't you be worrying about Mr. Edgeworth?"
"Worried?" I balked. "He's already taken his revenge. He bangs on my door early in the morning, sentencing me to join him in those English law studies things he attends- going to meetings, discussions, and trials for learning purposes or so he says."
Maya covered her mouth, casting a sideways glance. "That sounds...incredibly dull."
"You have no idea," I sighed. "And he also said that if I ever pulled a stunt like that again, he'd sue me. Somehow, I don't think he was joking."
"Well, congratulations. Sounds like you really outdid yourself."
"Thank you," I smirked.
I couldn't help but be proud of my prank despite its over the top results. Sure, going to legal talks sucked, but it was worth it, just to see Edgeworth's reaction in person. The last prank I could only imagine it. But I wasn't going to do anything else anytime soon, lest I be sued.
"And I thought our last case was crazy."
Maya had told me about the Mask DeMasque case earlier and all the confusion they encountered along the way just trying to solve it.
"I think any case you guys are on is crazy by default. You're just a magnet for it," I remarked with a wry smile.
"You know, I wouldn't be surprised," she said looking upward for a moment, arms folded. "Though, I'm still wondering about that prosecutor we faced this time. It really seems like he has it out for Nick."
Of course, I already knew why. But I couldn't exactly spill the beans about him, not wanting to mess with anything in terms of the timelines. It was possible that my presence here might have affected things already and it was best that I didn't meddle with anything at least on purpose. I had asked Mia about it...at least when it came to Bridge to Turnabout, but the answer was that I absolutely should not warn anyone of anything. It was an experience that everyone needed to have despite the pain it caused.
"Seems like a lot of people do," I said. "But I have a feeling you'll figure out why. Sooner or later."
"...Yeah."
There was a pause as Maya fell silent with something clearly on her mind. I checked the time on the computer which now read as 5:35. With little else to say, I decided to take advantage of the lull in the conversation.
"Well, unfortunately I have to get ready for this stupid party tonight so I gotta go-"
"Wait! A party? You never mentioned that!"
"Yeah, it's a dinner party for the law people," I grumbled. "Don't really feel like going, but it's free food at any rate."
"That's always a plus!"
"You would know best," I said.
"Hey!" Maya pouted.
"Maya, you practically eat money out of Mr. Wright's wallet. I would say the same about mine, but luckily for me I don't have a defense attorney salary," I chuckled.
"Hmph…whatever. Tell me about the party later!"
"Sure thing. And if I see Mr. Blackquill again, I'll be sure to put in a word for you," I winked.
"Well...that's…" the spirit medium fidgeted as I saw the slight tint of red return to her face. "...You know, I really gotta go clean those toilets! Talk to you later!"
The video on my computer screen closed abruptly, with a BLOOP sound effect. I blinked. I didn't even have time to react to her blatant lie, as I knew it Phoenix who had the toilet fetish.
(I was only kidding. What's she getting so worked up about?)
I could only laugh. The messenger application only closed its video, but not its chat, so I typed in a message for Maya to look at later whenever she came back online:
Have fun cleaning those toilets ;)!
Now, I had something new to make fun of Maya for, though I couldn't dwell on it for long at this very moment.
This evening at eight, there was going to be a dinner party held for some individuals involved in the English legal system. I didn't want to go and I was fairly certain Edgeworth didn't want to be there either. However, he was a responsible and (mostly) polite person. He had no personal interest in pomp and circumstance of the event, but for him it would have been rude to decline the invitation considering how the hostess, Mrs. Rothman, had been quite helpful and benevolent towards him the entire time he was here. And since he started dragging me along to some of these legal hearings and what not, she was all too happy to invite me as well, much to my chagrin.
God. I didn't want to go. This whole thing screamed upper class and fancy. The other people I had met so far had cultured and sophisticated written all over them. Sure, most of them were agreeable, but listening to them and their big vocabularies discuss law, politics, and other worldly topics, made my head spin. It was like being a visitor from another planet crash landing into another universe.
(...Wait a minute.)
Okay, well that's exactly what happened, but what I meant was more like a difference of culture and class as what I was currently experiencing… Unsurprisingly, Edgeworth was right at home with it, whereas I drowned like a fish from a freshwater pond, who was thrown into the salty ocean. It was a struggle to keep up with it all. Edgeworth just had a knack for screwing me over in the most productive ways possible. I almost wished he had sued me instead.
I sighed. I did figure it probably wasn't going to be all bad. After all, Mrs. Rothman was a pretty likeable person. I had watched some trials and witnessed a few cases that she presided over. Right off the bat, I could say that she was a bit more sane than the judge we normally had in our courtroom. I wasn't sure who else she invited, but in the very least I could talk to her.
I still had a bit of time to freshen up and figured I should get a move on it, as Edgeworth being the nitpicker he was about time, was going to knock on my door seven o'clock sharp. There wasn't much I had to do besides shower, but I did I have a tendency to take a while, so it was better to get a head start, especially in regards to a time stickler prosecutor.
After my shower, I got dressed. My outfit wasn't anything special; it was almost like my regular courtroom outfit except for how I had no vest, decided to wear a red bowtie instead of a black one, and a long black skirt that was slightly above my knees a little instead of pants. I let my hair down too for a change.
I saw the way everyone else dressed. Even for somewhat more relaxed settings, they were at most business casual. And I didn't want to feel completely out of place, so I figured especially for tonight, I should probably dress better than what I normally did.
A few minutes after I was dressed, there was a light rapping on my door. Rising from my seat, I picked up my small black purse and shuffled over to answer. I pulled the door open to reveal Edgeworth dressed in his normal red suit and cravat get up. It must have been nice to have an outfit that you didn't have to change out of after work hours.
"Are you prepared to leave?"
"Mhm," I nodded shutting the door behind me.
"Excellent," he said pleased. "Let's go. I don't want to waste any time, since it's about an hour drive."
He strolled ahead of me, in the normal Edgeworth fashion. I lagged behind, wondering how the night would turn out. For my sake, I hoped it wouldn't tedious.
October 17th, 7:45 PM
Hertfordshire, Rothman Estate
Edgeworth drove us into Hertfordshire in a red rental car. While London had the hustle and bustle city life happening, the more Hertfordshire was the opposite, least from what I was seeing anyhow. Looking out the window, I saw a lot of the countryside; rolling hills, long winding roads, trees galore and plenty of lakes. It was breathtaking. I had been so used to city life that I never had the opportunity to see anything like this. The closest I ever got to seeing anything similar was Central Park. It was a lovely view, I had only wished the skies weren't so gray and gloomy. But overall, the drive over was pleasant. Few words had passed between myself and Edgeworth. I had only spoke once to ask if he would be willing to take me back here another time when the weather was a bit better so I could take some pictures. Maya wanted to see some of the sights and I knew she would appreciate spots in nature especially since she had told me that it helps heighten her spiritual awareness or something like that. In the very least, she could have some idea of where to go if she ever wanted to visit.
Driving on to the property, I was taken aback by size of the estate. It was a towering two stories. The building was made from stone of subdued shades of brown and light bluish grays, with an ash gray roof having two chimneys- one on the left side and one on the right. Both stories had tall rectangular windows, five on the second floor and four on the ground level. The mansion was perfectly symmetrical, even down to the neatly trimmed hedges in front. Though something was strange about it. It seemed a bit too well kept, maybe a bit too pristine. It was even a bit dull to observe as there wasn't much one would consider eye catching about the estate other than its size. And with the addition of the gray overcast, it blended in with the background. I couldn't figure out why, but something about it unsettled me.
Edgeworth parked behind the cerulean blue car on the curved pathway, a distance away from the mansion. The car didn't appear to be in good condition, with chipped paint and a dent in the bumper which was clearly broken. There were no other cars present, so I assumed we were second to arrive.
Being settled, I opened the passenger side door and stepped out onto the stone pathway, slamming the door shut. Edgeworth did likewise, though shutting the driver's side door more gingerly than I did.
"If you must close the door, I'm going to ask you don't slam it like a wrestler would," Edgeworth requested.
"Sorry," I muttered.
"Is everything alright?" he asked as he walked beyond the driver's side door.
"Hm?" I fidgeted with my purse.
"You seem a bit glum," the prosecutor said meeting my eyes with a searching gaze. "Not your usual mischievous self."
"I'm fine," I deflected waving a hand. "I think it's just the weather that's killing my mood is all."
"It is a dreary night, isn't it?" Edgeworth noted arms folded. "I heard it might rain too."
"Rain? Seriously? On the day I let my hair down?" I asked clutching my purse tighter. "I'm not getting it ruined!"
Without another word, I began to jog down the circular pathway to the front door, opting to ignore looking directly up at the looming architecture. Within a minute I stood directly in front of the heavy looking wooden entrance. I pressed the small white doorbell on the side of it. Behind me, I heard leisurely footsteps approaching.
"I didn't say it would rain this very instant," he said in mild amusement.
"Well, I can't take any chances!" If there was anything I disliked, it was the sensation of cold, wet droplets hitting me, especially when it would dampen my thick hair, making it all poofy.
In a few seconds, there was a creaking sound accompanied by the sight of the wooden slab being pulled away, revealing the figure of a woman around average height, wearing one of those black and white maid outfits, apron frills and all. Her pink lips bore no smile, and small brown eyes bore no emotion. In one quick motion, she flipped her brown bang to the side out of her eye, causing her hair to swing back and forth like a windshield wiper.
"You would happen to be...Mr. Edgeworth and Ms. Doom?" she asked in a flat tone.
"Uh, yes. That's us," I replied trying to get a feel for the woman, though I had to wonder if there was anything to feel.
"Please, come inside," the maid said moving aside, stiffly as though she had parts that needed to be oiled like a machine.
Edgeworth motioned for me to enter first with an extended arm. I gulped as I stepped into the estate. The main hall was massive. The walls were painted a placid greenish blue, while the floor was mosaic tile in white, brown, and yellow, in a diamond pattern that made me think of the shape of a prosecutor's badge. The archways of doors down the hall had white pillars on both sides, while hanging directly above the entrance to the rooms were...deer mantle pieces? The hall was lit by a couple of small light fixtures and a giant chandelier that hung in the very center of the room. At the far end of the hall was a grand staircase leading to the second floor. I wondered what else could be up there since it looked like a lot was on the first floor alone.
As I was admiring the hall, I heard the door close behind me, allowing with a couple of sets of footsteps. The more casual set, belonged to Edgeworth who had stood beside me, also taking a gander, while the other shuffled at the speed light, as the maid brushed by us into one of the rooms. Just as quickly did she enter the room, just as quickly did she exit, though this time it was with another woman who could definitely be identified as a human. Unlike her servant, she ambled into the hall with grace as her long, almost black hair tied in braid, swung side to side. Against her bronze complexion, her golden eyes shined with elation as she approached.
"May I present to you, Mr. Edgeworth and Ms. Doom," bowed the maid.
"Thank you, Noa," Mrs. Rothman said.
Noa gave a curt and excused herself, off to venture the very end of the hall.
"Miles, Lyn, I am glad the two of you could make it," she smiled warmly.
"We had no intention of missing the occasion," Edgeworth bowed.
"Yeah, wouldn't miss it for the world," I said forcing a smile.
"Right now, this would make you two the third guests to arrive. The other, Mr. Dawson, is in the lounge," she said adjusting the jacket of her beige pants suit.
I bit the inside of my mouth. I didn't want to meet anyone, not just yet. I wanted to hold off on meeting people for as long as I could.
"Mrs. Rothman…?" I began.
"Hm? What is it, dear?" she questioned looking down at me.
"Before we go to the lounge, could you show me your piano? You promised I could see it!"
"Lyn, perhaps it would be best to wait until after dinner to-"
"Oh, it's no trouble at all, Miles. I had nearly forgotten I was to show Lyn the baby grand," she said clasping her hands together. "And there is some time before dinner and the other guests arrive."
"If it's no problem for Mrs. Rothman, then I suppose it's fine," Edgeworth said arms folded. "However, remember not to drown out every other note with the sustain pedal and to hold your fingers upwards, not flat."
"Ugh! I know, I know," I groaned. "You've told me a bazillion times…"
"It's simply for your benefit if you wish to improve," he said tapping his finger on his arm. "In any case, if it's alright with you, Mrs. Rothman, I think I shall get acquainted with Mr. Dawson."
"Oh, absolutely. You'll find he's an interesting man," she smiled. "He's in the lounge, second door on your right."
With a slight bow, he departed. I watched as he strode down the hall and into the room with clear confidence and perfect posture, straight and tall, with his head held high. It sort of bothered me how he made simple things look that much cooler than what they actually were. Whenever he entered a room, every step was deliberate, carrying such an aura around him that demanded respect, the clear image of a man well groomed for success. It was something I noticed more frequently whenever I tagged along in the law studies. Edgeworth had a strong presence in a room full of people, whether he knew them or was just getting acquainted to them. I had been told that I had a presence in a room, but it would certainly never compare to his. So solitary, yet he knew so many people had so many contacts and connections...he just simply knew what he was doing. Probably thinking he's so great, so talented, so refined-
(...Ugh. What don't you do right?)
"Are you ready to see the ballroom?" Mrs. Rothman asked pulling me out of my mild irritation.
"Yeah! Definitely!" I said generating genuine enthusiasm.
October 17th, 7:50 PM
Ballroom, Rothman Estate
We walked by the staircase towards the end of the hall to these giant umber doors. Mrs. Rothman turned the dulled golden knob and pulled one of the doors open, strolling in as I followed. When she turned the lights on in the ballroom, I was surprised. This room had a different energy from the hall. Whereas the hall had the heavy aura of grandeur of a somewhat gloomy nature, the ballroom felt much more full of life. The white walls with a gold trim helped make it feel bright, while the red curtains over the three tall windows in the room helped accent it, with a bit more energy. Underneath two of the windows were two red chairs. In front of the window positioned center was the baby grand piano, its lid raised, of a mahogany color along with another chair. I eyed the instrument hungrily as the older woman and I approached it.
"This room is beautiful," I said as I took a seat.
"I'm glad you think so," Mrs. Rothman said with a fond smile. "It was my late husband's pride and joy. He loved to play in here every day."
"Oh, wow. I had no idea," I replied. "Then, is it really okay if I play?"
"Of course. Charles loved music and loved spreading that joy to others. Besides, I miss hearing the sound of melodies flooding into the hallway."
I nodded with mild hesitation as I looked down at the ivory and ebony keys. If that was the case, then I would have to do my best not to disappoint. I had been wanting to get on a piano for a long time since the front desk worker at the hotel asked me nicely to stop practicing in the lobby. I had managed to get away with it for some time, playing the same songs over and over, but I assumed the management had enough… It was a drag since there weren't any other pianos nearby, unless I wanted to find a music store, and even then it would feel awkward for me to play for hours and leave without buying anything. It made me miss being at home where I could practice for as long as I wanted, whenever I wanted. But the chance was here, and a baby grand piano at that!
(Here goes nothing…)
I decided to be brief because I was worried about the many mistakes I'd probably make since I was out of practice and only remembered a handful of songs. I pressed my trembling fingers on the cool keys which were layered in a coat of dust and started to play. I picked Minuet in G because it made me feel kinda ritsy like this occassion and was short, happy and to the point. The version I played was only about two minutes long. I couldn't mess up that much in that short amount of time. Once my fingers were finished gliding across the keys, I raised my foot slowly from the sustain pedal allowing the notes to slowly fade away.
"That was lovely," she commented with a tiny clap. "Though, isn't there more to this song? I would love to hear the rest."
I awkwardly laughed.
"To be honest, I've forgotten the rest...it's been awhile since I've played anything and I'm not very good at reading music, so I have this bad habit of not finishing things...Mr. Edgeworth tried to help me with that, but I'm just not as good at reading like he is," I sighed.
"Oh, I'm certain you'll get there, dear. Just keep practicing."
I looked down at the keys as my lips twisted to the side. Keep practicing. That's what I was always told, but sometimes I wanted to quit. There were some days where my hands would fumble all over the keys, missing the correct notes while hitting all the wrong ones. Some days I felt as though I just wasn't going anywhere with practice and I would just leave the instrument for days before returning.
I had this feeling of being slow, and not only with the piano. With things like work, etiquette, and making solid connections, I felt so behind. When I observed others, I wondered how they did it. How much of themselves did they put in? Did they do this for hours, days in and days out? Was it natural for them or did they work really hard at it? Of course, I knew effort was needed as well as time, but I wondered how much time it would take to learn, especially when I moved a slug's pace.
"Mrs. Rothman?" I asked. "Did you...ever feel like you were lagging behind others? Like, the more you tried to close the distance between you and them, you found that you couldn't catch up?"
She pressed a couple of her manicured fingers on her lower lip, mouth slightly agape.
"I can say I have," she paused. "But I have learned with age, that it is not so much about 'catching up' as it is about moving at your own pace."
"Your own pace…?"
"Comparing your growth to others will only serve to distract you. Everyone develops differently, at different speeds. You may not arrive at your goal today or tomorrow, but rest assured if you keep moving, little by little, you'll make it."
Make it...? ...Yeah. I'd definitely make it. One day, I'd get there.
(And maybe then, he won't seem so unreachable.)
After pondering for a moment, I stood up from the chair, with a little bounce to my step. I felt a little better, though not fully enough to calm my nerves about this evening, but it was an improvement.
"Thank you for allowing me to play," I said feeling content.
"Anytime. If you ever wish to practice here, let me know."
"Y-You really mean it? I can use this piano?"
She nodded forcefully. "I wouldn't lie. Besides, I like to hear the rest of the Minuet."
"Ah...of course! I-I'll do my best!"
Mrs. Rothman laughed quietly. We were both about to leave the room until she glanced out of the nearby window, which had just exhibited a flash of lightning. It was no longer just gray skies, but now rain, lightning, and thunder. It was coming down hard. She frowned.
"Hopefully, everyone en route won't be soaked," she mused aloud. "But no matter. Let us proceed to the lounge- A few more guests may have arrived."
I swallowed. She started moving ahead me at a brisk pace. Without a choice, I tagged along, leaving the security of the ballroom, entering into the unknown of the lounge.
October 17th, 7:56 PM
Lounge, Rothman Estate
This room lacked the brightness and uplifting energy of the ballroom. The red carpet, beige walls, dim lighting from the chandelier, and visible three windows slightly draped with puke green curtains, displaying the poor weather outside, made the room feel somber. In the far left corner of the room was a portrait of someone- a white haired man, whose other features I couldn't quite make out from where I was standing. On the right side picture there was a suit of armor holding a sword. I wondered if the sword was real. In between two windows was a long mirror, where a dark haired man in a gold colored suit examined himself. Mr. Edgeworth was talking to him, or rather trying to appease the other man, who was adjusting his bow tie.
"There's nothing wrong with it-"
"It's crooked! And I spent so much time trying to get it right!" the man sighed, dropping his hands to his side. In an instant he recovered with a laugh and a wave. "But that's okay! It's just like prosecuting! I can't do that right either haha!"
"That's nothing to laugh about!" Edgeworth recoiled.
(...Um, I guess they're getting along?)
I turned my attention away from them and observed two other men who were a few feet away unaware of our presence. One was an older, sturdier man sitting on one of the many green chairs spread throughout the room, looking down at his silver pocket watch. He put it away in his black suit jacket pocket, bored as he looked up at the smaller man in a burnt orange suit who stood in front of him with knees bent and both fists clenched.
"Just who do you think you are?"
"A man of prestige and a select degree of fame, unlike yourself," the seated man said. "Stop wasting my time."
The other man growled. "You just wait! Karma is going to come back and bite you in the arse!"
"I'd best have it, then deal with the like of an annoying Scot like you," the older man said. "Why don't you step out with your pipe. Bet you've been dying to have a go of it ever since you stepped foot onto the property."
"You...You bastard!" The blond was inflamed, face now a notch above the color of his suit. He raised his fist, ready to clock the seated man in the face, while the other man remained unfazed, opting to reach into his pocket and observe his watch again.
"Ahem, gentleman," Mrs. Rothman began with a bit of an edge in her voice. "Stephen, William, It is nice to see you both."
The fist abruptly stopped its course only inched away from the other man's face. The blond closed his eyes and took a breath before turning around to face Mrs. Rothman and I. The timekeeper decided to raise his head toward us in interest.
"Yeah, likewise," the blond muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hmph. About time you made your appearance, Deidra."
"I'd like to introduce you to Ms. Lyn Doom, an associate of Mr. Edgeworth."
"Hello," I said to no one in particular. "Nice to meet you."
"Stephen Ackerman," the blond said gruffly taking my hand in a quick, but firm shake. "And I'm telling you right now, don't you dare call or even insinuate that I'm Irish! Almost every foreigner I meet does it! I'm a hundred percent Scottish! So if say otherwise-"
"I- I got it! I won't forget, I promise! You're a Scotsman!"
"Good," he remarked folding his arms satisfied. "Do that and we shouldn't have any problems." It was then, Mr. Ackerman huffed off to the bottom left side of the room, plopping down in a chair as far away as he could get from the other guy.
"Hmph. Lowlife ingrate," the seated man said without moving an inch. He briefly glanced up at me. "William Breckenridge. You'll remember that name if you know what's good for you."
"Um, alright..."
(Nice to meet you too...Not. I wonder what those two were fighting about?)
"Oh, Finn," Mrs. Rothman called. "Why don't you introduce yourself to Lyn?"
"Ah!" the man at the mirror jumped and as a result elbowed Edgeworth in the side. However, the man didn't notice and immediately rushed down from where he was, stumbling over his own feet. He fell into Mr. Ackerman's lap face first.
"What the hell?! What are you doing, you twat! Get off!"
"S-sorry! I'm so sorry!" he said removing his face from Mr. Ackerman's crotch. Finn walked over much slowly, but still with a quick step over to us.
"I'm...so sorry! I'm a complete failure! I couldn't even take notice of you, to even introduce myself!" he stroked his chin. "...Though, it's probably alright, since, I'm not even worth committing to memory."
"Uh…"
"Oh! I'm sorry! I'm making you uncomfortable, aren't I? Oh, dear. I'm no good, just no good, making a lady upset…" he said pushing his brown bangs out of his freckled face.
"It's fine. Really," I said unsure of how to handle him.
"R-really? It's fine? Being around a person like me? ...Wow! Americans must be so nice! Or at least more tolerable than some people here, who wouldn't even acknowledge my existence... I'm Finn Dawson," he said taking my hand and clasping it firmly for a bit too long.
"Yeah, nice to meet you..."
(This guy is a mess…I would hate to see him in court! Or, then again seeing that trainwreck might be entertaining.)
"Um, you can let go of my hand now," I said trying to slip free of his grasp.
"Oh! Oh dear, I've done it again! I've inconvenienced you!" he said sliding both hands down his face. "Ah! I'm going to not be a bother and sod off over in the corner!" He shuffled away to the unoccupied far right corner of the room.
"Deidra, when will dinner be served? It is three minutes, 42 seconds, and 7 milliseconds before eight o'clock. I do not wish to further waste time with these twats."
"It will be soon, William. We are just waiting on a few others to arrive."
Mr. Breckenridge sighed. "Disgraceful, how they waste time, probably milling about!"
"Goodness, this isn't a courtroom," Mrs. Rothman laughed.
"I'll have you know, that if it was, I'd be dismissing the case for whoever's tardiness," he said flicking open his watch again.
Mrs. Rothman shook her head gently, and opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Noa who had stepped into the room.
"I believe more guests have arrived, madam."
"Ah, please excuse me," Mrs. Rothman said exiting the room with Noa.
(Seriously, just how patient is Mrs. Rothman? I mean, just these three guys are out there...what other crazies are coming?)
I wasn't sure how I'd get by this evening with such strange people. I sighed. That's when I noticed Edgeworth approaching me, rubbing his side from the blow he had recently received.
"So...how's it going?" I asked him.
"Oh, it's...going," he remarked with a slight eye roll.
Well, it was good to know we were on the same page. I couldn't have imagined what it was like to be alone with Mr. Dawson for more than five minutes. And then those other two...yeah. I was glad to have been with the piano instead even if it was for a brief, fleeting moment.
I took another cursory glance around the room. Mr. Dawson was still standing in the corner of the room, now muttering things to himself, while Mr. Ackerman was sulking in a chair. Mr. Breckenridge pulled out his pocket watch and flipped it over on a regular basis. It was kind of annoying. Why was he so wound up about time anyway?
"Uh, Mr. Breckenridge?" I asked taking a step towards him.
"What do you want?" he asked not looking at me.
"I just wanted to know about your watch," I started looking at it. "It seems important to you."
He scoffed, flicking his long black graying hair to the right.
"How observant. It's good to know the education system in America hasn't completely failed."
(...I'm going to do my best not to punch him.)
I folded my arms.
"What? You're still standing there?" he sighed. "Fine. If you must know, this watch is a priceless family heirloom. In fact, my mother gave this to me as a child. 'Time is valuable and of the utmost importance, she would always say. 'Don't let others waste it'. To her not being timely was a sign of disrespect. Why, one day as a child, I stayed behind late after soccer practice by fifteen minutes. When I arrived home, my mother was angry. 'What were you doing?! I made dinner! I was getting worried!' She berated me endlessly. Initially, I didn't grasp why she was so upset, for it wasn't too much time missed. It was not until many years later did I truly understand. To spend time getting ready and preparing for others, only for them not to arrive at the requested time, is an flagrant insult. So, it is disgraceful that others aren't always on time!"
"Ok, I guess I can kind of understand. But wait," I paused. "It's not eight o'clock yet."
"Hmph. To be early is on time. To be just on time, is late."
I turned to Edgeworth. "Wow, he's worse than you."
"While I agree with Mr. Breckenridge's sentiment on time, I believe that is where the similarities end," Edgeworth rebuffed, most likely displeased that any comparison between himself and the older man were made.
Mr. Breckenridge, went right back to his watch, uninterested in saying anything else. I shrugged, turning my attention away from him. It was then I saw Noa return with two women.
"May I present to you, Ms. Ingrid Jamison," Noa gestured to the tall, well endowed woman in a white dress. "And Ms. Harriet Irving," Noa said glancing at the smaller woman in long violet dress, hunched over, clinging to her purse.
"How do you do? Nice to meet ya lot!" Ms. Jamison grinned doing a little twirl in her strapless dress. It was then I noticed that one of her legs didn't look normal. It didn't match the same pale skin tone the other leg and the rest of her body had.
"H-hello. I-It's nice t-to make your acquaintance," Ms. Irving said as she slouched over, twirling a finger in her shoulder length red hair.
Noa left the room once again. I wondered where Mrs. Rothman had wandered off to, but I didn't dwell on it as we all started introducing ourselves. It was run of the mill, until I noticed something odd. When Ms. Irving's eyes locked with Mr. Breckenridge's, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. Mr. Breckenridge, far from his usual distant and uncaring self looked shaken. I watched him shift uncomfortably in his chair, flipping the cover to the watch open and shut repeatedly.
"I-it's s-such a surprise t-to see you here," she managed to stutter out.
"...Likewise," he said quietly. "Have you been well?"
Yes, something was definitely weird here. He was actually being civil towards her. More so than Mrs. Rothman and it was clear they knew each other. But I couldn't watch for too much longer as a pair of breasts blocked my line of sight.
It was Ms. Jamison bending over, eyes glazing over my being. We had already introduced ourselves, so I didn't know what she wanted or what she was looking at. I hoped there wasn't something on my face. I was going to ask what was up, but it seemed she was far too focused on ...something. I could feel a bit of a cramping sensation in my stomach coming on. I was already nervous to begin with and this but this wasn't helping. Unsure of what to do during this inspection, I just ended up staring at her rack. I had to admit, I was kinda jealous. She had a bust size, I'd never be able to have, unless I wanted back problems.
"I see, I see," she said standing straight up. "I think I understand."
"Understand what? What were you looking at ?"
"You're aura...it gives off one of lightheartedness and fun!" she suddenly grabbed me, spun me around, and arched my back as she held the small of my waist, causing my new line of sight to be the ceiling.
"W-what is happening?" I asked, starting to feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead.
Ms. Jamison pulled me back up. "Haha! I was right! I knew it!"
"Right about what? Knew what?" What was this woman doing?
"You have the energy of a dancer!" she giggled clapping her hands. "I can totally see it!"
(What on Earth…? Aura? Energy?)
"Uh, okay… I don't really follow, but you're right. I do like to dance."
"See, I'm never wrong! The pink man has a dance aura too!" she said cocking her head to the side, scratching the side of her face. "But his is different from yours...not loose or light. Very strong! Stiff! Um! Precise!"
(The pink man…?)
"My suit, is red, not pink!" An irritable Edgeworth corrected from across the room.
...Did he have supersonic hearing or something? I laughed. But that was interesting. Not too surprising considering the von Karma upbringing. Manfred probably made him and Franziska learn classical ballroom dance or something.
"Okay, so does anyone else in this room have a dance...aura?"
"Uhhhhhh, nope! Orangey is a stomper. Yellow's too clumsy, as well as purple. Black is athletic, but not a dancer. No one else in the room is. Unless you count me!" she pointed at herself with a thumb grinning.
(Well, she's certainly excitable. Though, that's the understatement of the year…)
Before I could say anything else, a monotone voice caught my attention.
"Presenting Mr. Andrew Hardwick," Noa said arriving with a man in a dark green suit. "Dinner will be served shortly."
"Why, thank you," he said kissing Noa's hand. Noa said nothing, but looked at him briefly and walked away.
"It is 8:02! You're disgraceful!" yelled Mr. Breckenridge.
"I'm terribly sorry-" Mr. Hardwick started, but then noticed Ms. Jamison. "-sorry I didn't get here sooner to meet this lovely lady. Your name, miss?"
"Ohh! It's Jamison," she flushed excitedly. "Boy, what an aura...such a pervy passionate aura! Definitely a dancer..."
"Are you ignoring me?" yelled Mr. Breckenridge. "The nerve of you..."
"I don't need to ignore you, old man. I'm quite certain the rest of the world is doing that right now," Mr. Hardwick said taking out five American dollar bills fanning himself with them. "You're old news and that should be a good thing considering those rumors, which are disgraceful if you ask me."
Breckenridge went as white as a sheet of paper. He said nothing else, but scowled at the man clad in green from his seat. Ms. Irving awkwardly patted Breckenridge's shoulder in a feeble attempt to soothe.
"Serves you right," Mr. Ackerman sneered.
(Damn, high society is throwing some major shade…)
With a shit eating grin, Hardwick turned his attention to me. "Your name miss?"
"It's Lyn Doom."
"A Yank?" His eyes widened. "Well, just blow me!"
"H-huh? N-now, w-wait a second! That's moving way too fast!" I recoiled. "Y-You have some kind of American fetish?!"
"Hm?"
"We've only just met! We haven't even had a real conversation…! Doing something like that is just...!" I said shaking my head furiously.
That was when Edgeworth quickly entered the picture.
"...Lyn, he didn't mean it like that," he paused. "That expression is one of surprise here. Not a colloquial expression... for a carnal desire."
Oops.
(Well, that was smooth, Lyn. Now, this is awkward...Of course I say something like that when I'm trying to keep it together!)
I placed a hand behind my head and ruefully laughed.
"Uh, I'm sorry. Just ignore that."
"A carnal desire? I only do that at least after one date, so if it interests you..." Mr. Hardwick said wiggling his eyebrows. "...We could arrange something."
"N-Nope! I'm all set, thank you!" I said flushing.
"Ah, well, the offer is always available. To all the ladies in this room," he grinned snapping his fingers.
(Casanova, had better move over.)
He then glanced in Edgeworth's direction.
"Actually, have we met before, sir…?" he said eyeing Edgeworth with interest, as he stroked his chin.
"...No. Perhaps we should keep it that way," Edgeworth said shutting him down.
"My, my. So cold," Hardwick said in a honeyed low voice. "I think you could use some warming up."
Edgeworth turned cherry red. "A-Absolutely not! I am warm enough as it is now!"
Oh God. Hardwick was getting this devilish smile.
"Uh, yeah, trust me. He's as cold as an icebox, no matter what you do, he'll never warm up to you," I said trying to throw Edgeworth a line.
Edgeworth shot me a glare. "Cold as an icebox?"
I half heartedly shrugged in response.
"Oh, I see. He's taken," Hardwick said stroking his chin again. "...Care to make it a threesome? Together we can provide lots of body heat!"
My jaw dropped. I didn't just hear what I thought I heard… There's no way he just seriously suggested that! At a freakin' dinner party no less!
"W-What the hell?!" I cried clutching my purse tightly. "You're out of your mind!"
"NGHHOOOOOO!" Edgeworth took a step back appalled at the implication. "What's wrong with you?!"
"Oo! Oo! Ingrid wants in! Let's make it four!" Ms. Jamison said excitedly raising a hand like a student.
"You guys are gross," Ackerman said.
"How scandalous! ...I think," said Dawson. "I know I'd mess something like that up, so glad I'm not involved !"
"O-oh my…" Ms. Irving said with a flush.
"Disgusting fools," Breckenridge said.
...That cramp in my stomach was getting worse. More beads of sweat were forming atop of my forehead. I buried my face in my hands. It was okay. Everything would be fine. I just needed to survive the dinner. And then we could leave, never look back and pretend like that never happened.
As if to save us from the shame, I heard the toneless voice of an angel.
"Dinner will now be served. Please follow me to the dining hall," Noa said standing at the doorway.
I bolted out of the room, accidentally bumping into Ackerman as he was walking out of the room at a normal pace.
"Ugh, watch what you're doing, you stupid Yank!"
I ignored it, not caring. The only thing that mattered in this moment was escaping the room and staying as far away from that idiot Hardwick as possible.
(Actually, I think there was a mistake. His name should have actually been Harddick.)
In a few moments, everyone filed out of the room. Ackerman first, followed by Hardwick who was getting handsy with Jamison, Breckenridge, Irving, Edgeworth and Dawson taking up the rear. Spotting Edgeworth, I moved back, well aware of the fact that I couldn't survive sitting next to most of the other guests. Noa, seeing that everyone was out, led the way across the hall.
October 17th, 8:45 PM
Dining Hall, Rothman Estate
Well, it could have been a lot worse. That thought was one of my only consolations as we neared the end of dinner. The food which had been one of my main worries wasn't bad. I had thought it would have been some strange, unrecognizable fancy food served in tiny portions. But to my pleasant surprise it was, to me elegant in its simplicity, cooked chicken, carrots and green beans and mashed potatoes were the main dish, served with some red wine, followed by a cheesecake dessert. Who knew that something so basic could be that savory?
But other than the food...everything else could have gone better. Mrs. Rothman sat at the head of the long table, while the rest of us sat on both sides. Edgeworth sat on the left of me, while I had the misfortune of Mr. Dawson sitting on the right side of me. Across from me was Mr. Breckenridge. Talk about fun, right? Between Mr. Breckenridge mocking me for the American way of cutting food and Mr. Dawson spilling wine on my skirt and then freaking out about it through the majority of the dinner, I was ready to jump off a cliff. This was made even better by how there was now a somewhat awkward air just hanging above myself and Edgeworth ever since Hardwick said his part in the lounge. He didn't speak to me much, opting to direct his attention to Mrs. Rothman most of the time and even seemed a bit touchy towards me. So, yeah, this sucked immensely.
I also had the added bonus of that cramp, continuing to increase in its destruction of my stomach...I knew what I needed to do to feel relief, but there was no way I was going to do it at the table. I had no idea what type it would be. Loud? Silent? Silent but deadly? It was just too risky. I couldn't exactly excuse myself because well, it was dinner. Every time I tried to excuse myself at home during a meal, my parents thought I was either trying to get out of eating or trying to puke it out...so I was just holding on until after this was over. Luckily it was just about done.
Though I had to admit, I was glad I wasn't the only one who had a shitty time. Mr. Ackerman, who was also sitting next to Mr. Dawson, looked ready to punch him in the face by the end of it. Even Mr. Breckenridge, throughout the course of dinner, started going downhill. He'd reach into his pockets, pants and jacket, pat himself down, crouch under the table and chair, searching for something. That's when I realized he wasn't checking his precious watch every other second. He must have been searching for it. Ms. Irving tried to help him look for it, but it was to no avail.
The only ones who seemed to have any real fun out of the guests were Mr. Hardwick and Ms. Jamison, who had got all buddy buddy. I would have said screw them, but I had a feeling they'd be screwing each other soon enough.
Wondering when my misery would end, I kept playing with the spoon on my empty plate, while glancing up at Mrs. Rothman every so often to see when she would dismiss us. She had been chatting with Ms. Irving until Noa politely interrupted, placing a sealed envelope in front of her employer before taking her standing position a few feet away from the table.
"Thank you, Noa! I had almost forgotten this," Mrs. Rothman said carefully opening the envelope. "Oh, pardon me, Harriet. The sender requested I read this letter after dinner and share it with everyone. I hope you don't mind."
"N-no, it's fine," Ms. Irving shook her head.
Mrs. Rothman, pulled out a folded up letter. She opened it fully and began reading. The longer her eyes lingered on that sheet of paper, the more her face contorted. Within a few moments she sat the paper down and placed a shaky hand on her head, eyes lacking their usual shine.
"M-Mrs. Rothman…?" Ms. Irving started. "W-what's wrong…?"
Our host exhaled deeply. "Everyone, I think it's best that you all accompany me to the study! I- there's something I need to share with you, that is of the utmost urgency!"
She stood up from table a bit wobbly, snatching up the letter and envelope in a hasty fashion, before she rushed out of the dining hall. Whatever she had just read it wasn't good, that much I could tell. Mrs. Rothman was normally so calm and composed...what was in there that rattled her?
I heard the murmurs of everyone around, as we stood up from our seats, looking at each other, wondering just what was going on. Without delay, Noa told us to follow her to the study, as to not keep Mrs. Rothman waiting. And having no other choice, we all did what we were told.
October 17th, 8:55 PM
Study, Rothman Estate
The study was another subdued room, perhaps because the lamps in the corner and on the desk weren't on. The light glowing from the chandelier here wasn't enough to spread to every crack and crevice of the room. It shone its brightest light on a couple of armchairs, table, and desk covered in books and papers directly underneath it. The two bookcases separated in the middle by the empty fireplace to the right of the desk, while not as lit up, were a bit more visible. We all filed in through the doorway in anticipation. Noa returned to Mrs. Rothman's side, while some of us decided to sit in the arm chairs, loungers, or atop of a table away from the desk.
Mrs. Rothman was behind the desk, holding on to that letter, like a parent grasping the hand of a small child, unwilling to lose them.
"Just what is happening around here?" Ackerman demanded standing directly in front of the desk. "What's got you all flustered?"
She didn't immediately respond at first, taking a moment to glance at everyone in the room.
"This letter...I was told to open it after dinner and share it with you all," she said biting her lower lip. Reluctantly, she began to read aloud:
Good Evening Mates,
I hope this lil ol' note finds ye well, in fact, totally, wholly, and completely well! ...Because it won't be the case for long ahahahaha! I must say, some of you have been naughty little boys and girls. Didn't Mummy and Daddy teach you better than that? I'm certain they'd be disappointed in you. But no matter. Oh, well, I mean, it does matter a bit, but only in the sense that tonight you will be punished for your crimes. No spankings (though, I'm sure some of you naughty children would LOVE that. Wink wink nudge nudge, hmmmmm?). But it will hurt. Hurt as in your heart will stop beating, your lungs will give out, your brain will stop processing- you understand where I'm going with this, don't you? YOU. WILL. DIE. Well, some of you. The rest I've no intention of killing, since you've been good little boys and girls. And thus, your reward is life! Isn't that great? Relish in how you, YES YOU, get to enjoy your time on Earth a weeeee bit longer. So, for some I hope you've enjoyed your last meal. To the rest, I hope I can provide you entertainment of the highest caliber! Let me make this an evening you will surely never forget!
With lots o' love,
A Mate.
Mrs. Rothman looked up from the letter, sweating bullets. Nobody moved as a heavy silence dominated the room. The sick feeling in my stomach was rising.
"What...what the bloody hell is that?!" Ackerman freaked out. "Who's the piece of crap who sent that?!"
"I...am unsure," Mrs. Rothman grimaced. "There was no name on the envelope when this was delivered today."
"W-w-what did t-they mean by b-being naughty boys and girls?" Ms. Irving asked holding the purse in front of her face as though it were a barrier.
"They probably meant it in...the sexy way! Yeah, that's the only explanation! Because I haven't done anything wrong!" Mr. Hardwick screeched biting down hard on a pound he pulled from his pants pocket.
"What an awful turn of events! But surely they wouldn't waste their time killing a worthless person like me! ...Hopefully," Dawson said hands running down the both his cheeks.
"Nooo! The only crime I ever committed was bust a hole through a floor during a salsa!" Ms. Jamison cried biting her nails.
"H-hey," I began. "Maybe it's all a big joke...okay, a really sick joke, but maybe it's not real!"
"Yes! I agree full heartedly! It's a stupid prank someone set up!" Hardwick said eagerly.
"You know, I bet it's one that you set up, you dirty scoundrel!" Ackerman accused.
"Me…?"
"The letter had your stupid perverted sense of humor!"
"I wrote no such letter! It's in bad taste! I could purchase far better paper and ink than that!"
"Everyone!" boomed Edgeworth. "We need to remain calm!"
The room quieted.
"Joke or not, we need to contact the police," Edgeworth said.
"Ah! Yes! The police!" Dawson squawked. "I'll call them! It's the one thing I can do right, in a situation like this!"
Excitably he pushed Ms. Irving out of the way as he scurried out of the room to make the call. She would have hit the ground if not for Hardwick grabbing her by the waist, with a lecherous grin.
"Well, while you idiots wait for the police, I'm leaving," Ackerman said making his move toward the doorway.
"W-wait a s-second-"
"Wait for a what?" he paused turning to look back at Harriet. "We're sitting ducks here. That letter said that some of us were going to die ! But it won't be me. If you all know what's good for you, you'll do the same."
"But what if it was you who wrote that letter?" I asked.
"It wasn't me," Ackerman said curtly. "I'll be going now."
With that, he shuffled out of the room, leaving the rest of us behind.
"Well, wouldn't you know, I think it's time for me to take my leave too-" Hardwick began.
"H-has a-anyone seen M-Mr. Breckenridge…?" Ms. Irving asked nervously twirling a strand of hair.
I froze. Come to think of it, I hadn't seen or heard him the entire time we were in here. I found myself turning my head left and right, in an attempt to spot the man. Everyone else did likewise. I hadn't noticed with all the commotion, but he wasn't present. And I was certain he would have been making rude comments the whole time...
"Oh, dear…"
"Yeah, come to think of it, I haven't see that old man since dinner…"
"Maybe black pulled a disappearing act...?"
I was starting to feel dread sinking in.
"Ackerman…" Mr. Edgeworth said, as though a light bulb went off in his head. "We can't allow him to leave!"
Suddenly he sprinted out of the room into the hall. I watched as Ms. Irving scurried out after him looking as pale as ever. One by one, everyone left the room and not wanting to be left out of the loop, I leapt from my seat and exited into the hall.
October 17th, 9:08 PM
Main hall, Rothman Estate
I ran down to witness Mr. Edgeworth, Ms. Irving, and Mr. Ackerman all down by the front door.
"You can't leave until we've confirmed the whereabouts of Mr. Breckenridge," Edgeworth said pointedly a few feet behind Ackerman.
"Y-yeah! J-just where is he? W-what did you d-do to him?" Harriet accused.
"I...nrgh...wouldn't knnnnoooow!" he said straining himself as he tried to force the door open. "RRRRAGGGGGGGHHHHHH!"
Mr. Ackerman put his foot up and tried pulling the knob as hard as he could for a few moments before he gave up.
"...I don't think I was leaving anyway," he remarked in a quiet voice. "Just what the hell is going on?!"
"What is it?" Edgeworth asked.
"The door...it's sealed shut! I can't get it open!" the blond said throwing his hands up in frustration.
"Let me see that," Edgeworth said walking past the other man to the door. He took hold of the knob, turned it and pulled, but that door wouldn't move no matter how hard he tried.
"...You're right. This won't budge an inch," he remarked folding his arms.
"W-w-what?! A-a-are you s-saying we're locked in!?" Ms. Irvin cried.
"It seems to be the case for now, yes," Edgeworth tapped a finger on his arm. "Mrs. Rothman, there wouldn't happen to be any other exits?"
"No," she frowned. "The front door is the only way in and out, unless you count windows. But even if that door wasn't forced shut...this weather is too dangerous to drive through."
"Hey everyone," said Finn running down the hall. "I have good news! The police are on their way!"
"Oh, that's great!" I said. "When are they getting here?!"
"Uh, well, you see...oh, this is a bit awkward," he ran a hand through his head. "Quite awkward...uh, so, the police won't be here for at least an hour...or maybe and hour and thirty minutes...with the storm brewing, you know? But it's okay! We...just have to sit tight until then!"
It was like receiving an ice cream cone that you were about to lick, only to have the scoop of fall right off and hit the floor.
"Hey, um, d-don't look so down! I'm sure we'll get out this...hopefully," he said waving a hand.
"You sure know how to make someone feel better!" I snapped.
"Gah! I-I'm sorry! Very sorry!"
"...Let's just ignore that issue for now," Edgeworth said. "We need to focus our efforts on finding Mr. Breckenridge."
"Hmph," Ackerman said. "I bet that louse is probably the one who planned the whole thing, disappearing like that."
"N-no! H-he wouldn't do s-something like that! H-he was worried about h-his watch…" she frowned. "He noticed it was m-missing in t-the dining hall."
"In that case, let's have a few people check the dining hall, while the rest search elsewhere."
Harriet nodded. "I-I'll check the dining hall."
"Oo, oo! I'll join purple!"
"Noa and I shall accompany you as well."
"Then, I have no choice, but to join all of you lovely ladies."
With that the five them walked down the hall into the second room on the left. That left me, Edgeworth, Ackerman and Dawson.
"Where else was he tonight?" I asked.
"Uh, well we all were in the lounge...I think."
"Let's check there first," Edgeworth said leading our party into the second room on the right.
October 17th, 9:16 PM
Lounge, Rothman Estate
"W-what?!" Edgeworth had stopped dead in his tracks once he stepped foot in the room. Ackerman and Dawson did likewise, though at first I couldn't see the reason they had all suddenly grinded to a halt.
"Ahhhh!" Finn shrieked. "T-that is terrible!"
Ackerman said nothing, but I saw the knuckles of his balled of fists whiten, and he seemed that much more tense. I managed to squeeze by the two of them to get further into the room. And that's when I saw it. Right there in the corner was Mr. Breckenridge unmoving, blood all over his white dress shirt, pinned against the wall through the chest with a sword.
Holy shit.
That sickness was moving through my body sinking lower and lower. I didn't particularly care for the man, but this...was... I wanted to think that he was just searching for that watch. That maybe he had found it, and maybe was sitting in some unoccupied room talking about how stupid we all were as he flipped it open and shut. Hell, almost anything else would have been better than this. Anything but this…because now, we knew that that letter was no joke. Someone...among us was a killer. And we were trapped with them.
I supposed this night wasn't going to be so tedious after all.
Evidence:
Prosecutor's badge: With this, I can prove I'm a prosecutor. Dunno why we don't wear them on our lapels like defense attorneys though.
Magatama: Magical sacred charm that should allow me to communicate with Mia.
Profiles:
Maya Fey: Age 19. Probably my best friend at this point.
Miles Edgeworth: Age 26. My mentor. When he's not giving me a hard time, he's kind of nice.
Detective Gumshoe: Age 33. The guy who's saved my hide more times than I can count.
Larry Butz: Age 25. My favorite wannabe casanova.
Judge: Age ?. Old timer judge. No one know his real name.
Mia Fey: Deceased. My spirit guide who pops by occasionally to give advice.
Phoenix Wright: Age 26. The man I'm supposed to be saving. Pretty awesome dude.
Deidra Rothman: Age 45. A patient and kindhearted judge.
Noa Carter: Age 32. Mrs. Rothman's maid. Seems practically robotic.
Finn Dawson: Age 35. A self deprecating prosecutor.
Stephen Ackerman: Age 26. An irritable defense attorney.
William Breckenridge: Age 56. A high and mighty time obsessed judge.
Ingrid Jamison: Age 28. An energetic prosecutor who likes dancing.
Harriet Irving: Age 33. A shrinking violet defense attorney.
Andrew Hardwick: Age 30. A lecherous prosecutor.