Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Chapter 2
Turnabout Sisters
Phoenix Wright was on his way back to his office, the Fey & Co. Law Offices. He was late for a dinner that Mia planned. Phoenix hadn't worked on a case since he helped put Frank Sawhit behind bars. He knew something would present itself eventually, but it was getting a bit ridiculous now.
Phoenix arrived at the office entrance and headed inside.
Uh-oh, I'm late. Where's the chief? She must have gone home already. She said her sister was coming over and we were going to get dinner together...
Then, a strange smell hit Phoenix.
Something smells odd... That smell... It's blood!
'Mia!' Phoenix called.
Maybe she's in her office.
Phoenix headed through the door into Mia's office. The smell of blood was stronger than ever. Then Phoenix heard something. Someone was crying. They spoke.
'Sis...'
It was a girl. Phoenix looked towards the voice's source and a horrifying scene greeted his eyes. The girl who spoke was crouched over someone. Mia Fey was slumped up below the window. She was dead.
'Chief? Chief...?' said Phoenix, unable to keep himself from trembling. 'Chief!!'
Phoenix pulled the girl away from Mia's body and attempted to talk to her. He had to know what had happened.
'Who are you?' he asked.
Before Phoenix could get an answer, she fainted out cold. He picked her up and lay her down on the sofa in the office next door.
Phoenix moved back to Mia's body by the window. He held her shoulder. She was still warm. He didn't know how long he held her, all he knew was that when he finally let go, she was cold.
'Chief...' whispered Phoenix.
Phoenix decided to look for any clues as to what had happened here. There were only two obvious clues. Firstly, there was a glass lamp stand that had fallen and broken and then there was the statue. That statue. The same statue that had nearly gotten Larry thrown in prison. It was lying next to Mia and it was encrusted with blood. It seemed Mia had been killed with "The Thinker" statue just like Cindy Stone had. Then Phoenix spotted the small piece of paper lying next to Mia. He picked it up and had a look. A single solitary word was written on it in blood. "Maya."
"Maya"? Did Mia write this?
The paper was a receipt from a department store. It was dated from yesterday. He quickly placed it inside his pocket and stood up.
Since Phoenix couldn't find anything else that might be useful, he decided to call the police. He walked towards the phone and picked it up. As he did, he noticed that the receiver had a few of its screws loose as if someone was trying to take it apart. Phoenix didn't have much time to ponder the matter though because a voice suddenly shouted out.
'Police?! Please come quick!'
What the... Who was that?!
The voice came from outside the window somewhere. Phoenix rushed over and looked out. In the building across the street, a woman was staring straight at him, talking on a phone.
Phoenix went to check on the girl he left next door. He entered the office and found that the girl was gone.
Where'd she go?! I hope she didn't do a runner on me...
Suddenly the girl reappeared, as if by magic.
'Yipes!' cried Phoenix.
Don't scare me like that!
Phoenix made a stab at conversation.
'Umm, sorry but who are you?'
The girl stayed silent.
'It's okay,' said Phoenix. 'I work here.'
The girl spoke.
'Maya...' she said. 'Maya Fey.'
'Maya... Fey?' Phoenix repeated.
Ah! That was the name on the receipt! Should I show it to her? Nah, I'll just try talking to her first.
'Um, excuse me?' said Phoenix. 'Can you tell me what happened?'
'I came in... The room was dark,' said Maya. 'And... Sis...'
So Mia was already dead.
'So you're Mia's...' began Phoenix.
'Sister. I'm her younger sister,' finished Maya.
'And you were visiting? This late at night?' asked Phoenix.
'Yes,' replied Maya. 'She wanted me to keep some evidence for her. A clock. "The Thinker" it was called.
Phoenix pulled the receipt out from his pocket and showed it to Maya.
'Before Mia died, she wrote a message in her own blood. She wrote it on this receipt.
Maya's eyes widened with shock. 'Th-th-that's my name! W-why? Why did se write my name?'
'Please, stay calm,' said Phoenix gently. Maya's eyes had filled with tears again.
'But why would she write my name...?
I knew I shouldn't have shown it to her.
Then Phoenix heard the sound of police sirens. they pulled up outside. He heard footsteps thundering up the stairs and then: 'Freeze! Police!'
A large man wearing a huge overcoat came stumbling through the door. He regained his balance and then looked at Phoenix. 'I'm Detective Dick Gumshoe. We received a call from a young lady across the street. Said she saw a murder she did.
That woman who screamed?
'Neither of you move, 'kay?' said Gumshoe. He went over to examine the crime scene.
Great. Did Maya kill Mia? Nah. she wouldn't.
'Whooah!' Gumshoe came thundering back over to Phoenix. 'What's that paper in your hand there?' He yanked it out of Phoenix's hand and had a look. '"Maya"? Does that mean anything to you?
'Um,' mumbled Maya, 'That's my name...'
'WHAAAAT!?' cried Gumshoe. 'It's obvious that the victim drew this in her own blood right? So this means that with her dying breath, the victim wrote down the killer's name!
'K-killer? M-me...?' whispered Maya.
'Case closed!' Shouted Gumshoe. 'You're coming with me to the precinct!'
'W-what!?' Maya cried. Before she could say anything else, Gumshoe had slapped handcuffs on her and dragged her away.
Phoenix was also taken in for questioning and didn't get out until the next morning. Phoenix needed sleep, but now was not the time. He planned to go straight to Maya as soon as the Detention Centre's visiting hours began.
Phoenix arrived at the Detention Centre a little after 9am. The prison guards brought Maya into the little room in front of Phoenix.
'Oh!' cried Maya in shock. 'It's you! The lawyer... G-good morning.'
'Good morning!' Phoenix replied cheerfully in an attempt to cheer up Maya. She looked tired.
'Are you going to be my attorney?' asked Maya.
'Of course!' said Phoenix. 'Cheer up!'
'R-really?' said a shocked Maya.
'Um, don't; you think I'm capable?' asked Phoenix.
'It's not that,' replied Maya. 'No one could help me now. who would believe me? Even you, when you found me in the office, you looked at me like I'd done it.'
I did?
'No! I never thought...' began Phoenix.
'It's okay,' said Maya. 'I understand.' She paused. 'I've heard about you.'
'Huh?' said Phoenix surprised. 'What have you heard?'
'Mia speaks about you. We were talking on the phone just the other day. she told me it was your first trial. "It was quite the scene!" she said. She said you're a genius but you need more experience.
Genius?
Phoenix was feeling quite embarrassed now.
'I'm sorry!' said Maya. 'I didn't mean to trouble you!'
'That's okay,' said Phoenix. When I think that there is someone out there who killed Mia...'
'I know,' said Maya.
'There's been something I've been meaning to ask you,' said Phoenix. Now that the situation was a bit more calmer, Phoenix had the chance to actually look at Maya properly. 'What's with your outfit?'
Maya was wearing set or purple and white robes complete with a mystical symbol around her neck. Completely opposite fashion sense when compared with her sister.
'Oh, this?' replied Maya. 'It's what all acolytes wear. Like a uniform.
'Acolytes? Aren't they something religious?' Phoenix was confused. 'What exactly do you do?'
'Oh don't worry, it's nothing strange. I'm a spirit medium,' replied Maya.
'Spirit medium?!'
That's what people usually call strange.
'The Fey family, mainly the women, are very sensitive to the spirit world,' said Maya.
'Fey family?' replied Phoenix. 'Was Mia like this too?'
'Of course!' Maya was smiling now. 'She left the mountain to "follow her career". She had first-class powers too!'
I never knew...
'Wait!' Phoenix suddenly had a brainwave. 'Can't you call Mia's spirit then? we can just ask who killed her!'
'I-I'm sorry,' replied Maya. 'I'm still only in training. I can't do something that big yet.'
That would have been too easy.
'Phoenix?' asked Maya. 'Um, can you do me a favour?' She handed Phoenix a piece of paper. 'This is the address of a famous lawyer. She said to contact him if I was ever in trouble. Could you go and ask him if he could represent me?'
Hmmm.
'Sure. It can't hurt to ask,' said Phoenix.
'Thank you!' said Maya. 'I have no one else to turn to.'
'What about your parents?' asked Phoenix?
Maya stayed silent for a few moments.
'Oh. I see,' said Phoenix. 'Don't worry.'
'Thank You,' said Maya. 'The trial starts tomorrow at 10:00.'
'Tomorrow?!' cried Phoenix.
'Tomorrow,' Maya repeated.
'What if this lawyer refuses?' asked Phoenix.
'I get picked an attorney by the state.'
'When will that happen?' asked Phoenix.
'This afternoon at 4:00' said Maya.
I'd better hurry.
'Could you do me another favour?' asked Maya.
'Hmm?'
'I have a recorded phone call with Mia on my cell phone. The detectives took it when they arrested me. The conversation is quite important. Could you try to get it back?'
'Sure! I'll be back soon then okay, Maya?' said Phoenix.
'Okay,' said Maya.
Phoenix got up and left the detention centre. He pulled out the piece of paper Maya had handed him. Apparently he was looking for a Marvin Grossberg of Grossberg Law Offices. It was a few blocks away so Phoenix walked. When he arrived he entered and spoke to the receptionist.
'Is Mr. Grossberg around?' asked Phoenix. 'It's pretty important.'
'Sorry,' said the receptionist. 'Mr. Grossberg is out at the moment.'
Damn.
'Do you know when he'll be back?' asked Phoenix.
'Sorry sir, I don't know.
Oh boy. What now? I'll have to wait until later.
Phoenix decided that for now, he'd just head back to the office and see what was going on. He hailed a taxi and went back. When he entered, he was greeted by a number of police officers all searching for clues. Before Phoenix could speak, a voice called out. 'Hey! You there!'
Phoenix turned and saw the detective from last night running at him with an angry glare on his face. 'You're not supposed to be here! It's a crime scene!' he shouted. 'Oh, wait. I've seen you before, right? Wait, you're Butz! Right?'
'No, no, I'm Phoenix Wright,' replied Phoenix.
How can I be mistaken for Larry?
'Oh, guess I got the wrong name, Mr. Wright. Sorry bout that,' laughed the detective. 'Butz was a killer! You're no killer right?'
Larry was innocent...
'That's okay... Gumshoe wasn't it? Dick Gumshoe?' said Phoenix.
'Right! At your service!' replied Gumshoe. 'That's Detective Gumshoe to you!' barked Gumshoe. 'And don't call me "Dick".'
A voice called: 'Hey, Dick! Get over here!'
'Y-yes, sir!' replied Gumshoe. 'I'll be over in a minute!'
Gumshoe scratched his head. 'Umm... Ahem! You're her lawyer, right? If you need anything here, be quick.'
He thinks I'm Maya's lawyer!
'Detective,' asked Phoenix. 'Do you happen to have Maya's phone?'
'Yeah, I have it,' said Gumshoe. He pulled out a bright purple mobile phone.
'Any chance of you giving it back?' asked Phoenix.
'Sure!' said Gumshoe.
Really? That was a bit eas-
'Wait a minute, pal!' barked Gumshoe. 'Sneaky guy!'
What do I say? I'll try being sneaky.
'What's the matter?' asked Gumshoe.
'You see the strap on the phone?' asked Phoenix.
'This?' Gumshoe help up the strap. 'It says "The Steel Samurai: warrior of Neo Olde Tokyo." Isn't that an action hero on TV?'
'That strap is a collector's item you see,' said Phoenix. 'Maya was worried it might get lost down the precinct.'
'Really?' said Gumshoe.
'Yeah,' said Phoenix.
'Okay,' replied Gumshoe.
Huh?
'I wrote down all the numbers she called anyway. Here you go,' said Gumshoe.
Did he notice the recorded call? Apparently not.
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