Chapter two: How to gather evidence

Pushing the chair away from the table Phoenix felt his heart pound loudly against his chest as if it was trying to escape from his body.

Breathing deeply he attempted to calm down but failed miserably as he became increasingly nervous the closer he got to the prosecutor.

"Calm down Phoenix," he said to himself as he numbly pushed past the many detectives and officers that crowded the small room.

Finally reaching her table he stood there for a moment. Her eyes were still reading over the file, darting back and fourth as she read from one sentence to another.

Phoenix had to will his feet to remain still as the sudden urge to just walk away overtook him. But before he had to fight with his nerves again she looked up at him, her strangely colored eyes looking directly into his.

"Can I help you?" her voice sounded annoyed.

Working saliva back into his mouth so he could again form words, he still found it difficult under her hard stare.

"I…um was just wondering if I could sit down," he managed to say. He smiled nervously at her feeling like he was back in elementary school and his friends had just dared him to talk to a girl.

She looked at him a moment her slender brow raising ever so slightly, before looking around at the rest of the room noticing around three other empty tables including the one he just left.

"Mr. Phoenix Wright I believe there are many empty seats," Her voice was cold and had a hint of annoyance.

Turning around he saw the many seats she was talking about. Sighing deeply he turned to face her again wishing he had thought this through a little more.

Running his hand nervously through his spiky black hair he scrambled to think of something to say.

"Yes I know. You just looked like you needed company," Wow, that was just great Phoenix.

Leaning back in her chair she crossed her arms defensively. "And you think out of all the people in this room I would like to have the pleasure of your company?"

"Well probably not, but…"

"And there is your answer Mr. Wright," she said calmly turning back to her paper.

Shit this isn't going well. Phoenix thought to himself. If he was going to win this bet he would have to go about this differently.

"Please Ms. von Karma. I promise not to disrupt you, I just hate sitting alone at a table." He felt like gagging being so sweet sounding towards someone who had tormented him countless times.

Sighing she put down her paper, "Fine you may sit down." Phoenix let out the breath he didn't even know he was holding and went to pull out the chair across from her. "But before you sit down, get me some more coffee." She held out her empty cup towards him without even looking up.

Taking the cup from her he stood there a moment before his brain finally kicked in again. "Sure thing, how do you take your coffee?"

"Black," she spat out.

"Your sweet enough already I guess that you don't need sugar eh?" Phoenix joked.

Glaring up at him her eyes narrowing into tight slits she fought not to make a scene with so many people around. Stepping back Phoenix swore that if looks could kill he would be the next autopsy report the police department would be gawking at.

"I'll just go and get your…um your coffee then," Phoenix muttered turning to walk towards the many coffee butlers that lay spread out over the table.

Reaching the table he began to pick up butler after butler trying to find one that was still full and relatively warm. Muttering to himself how stupid that last comment was.

"I can see you are quit the smooth talker Wright," A familiar voice spoke behind him.

Turning around Phoenix saw Miles smiling smugly at him.

"Only a few minutes into it and she is ordering you around, I would say that is excellent progress."

"Shut up Miles," Phoenix growled finally finding a butler that had coffee in it. "You know if you were a nice person you would help me out a little bit."

Huffing loudly Miles shook his head, "What makes you think I have any knowledge that would be useful?"

"Come on Miles you grew up with her. You must know little things about her that would help me out."

"Example?" Miles replied arms now crossed.

Rubbing his chin thinking hard Phoenix thought over what would be the best question to ask, knowing that Miles most likely would only give up a few things.

"Well for starters what type of men does she like?"

A look of horror spread over Miles face, "Wright, she is like a sister to me. Do you honestly think I know something like that?"

"Please Miles, you must have a guess," Phoenix pleaded.

"Well if I had to guess most likely sophisticated, refined men. In other words men not like you."

"Hey I'm refined," Phoenix retorted.

"Sure you are. That's why I had to drag your drunk ass home after that wine tasting." Miles replied his voice filled with confidence.

"No one told me I was supposed to spit it out!" Phoenix shot back trying to defend himself. True he had managed to become pretty tanked off of some of the finest wines created, but honestly after a while they all tasted the same. He had to admit the best part of the day was singing at the top of his lungs along with the radio on the ride home, enjoying every moment of torment Miles had received.

"Keep telling yourself that," Miles uttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Phoenix asked, swearing he heard Miles say something.

Shaking his head Miles continued. "I don't have anything else that would be helpful. Franziska and I didn't giggle like school girls over who we had crushes on. We studied law that was our fun."

"Boy, game night at the von Karma house must have been a riot, let me guess all you played was Clue." Snapping his fingers he continued, "And I bet you always wanted to be Misses Peacock."

"Very funny." Miles droned out.

Looking down at the many goodies on the table Phoenix thought about something else a little simpler that maybe he would be able to do to impress Franziska.

"Does she like chocolate or something?" Phoenix questioned pointing to the food.

Raising a brow Miles looked over suspiciously at him. "Well I suppose she does like fruit cake."

"Ew, really?" Phoenix replied. "No one likes that. It's like eating a rock with old fruit shoved into it"

"That is all I will tell you Wright, the rest you will have to figure out yourself. Who knows why I helped you in the first place." Miles said.

"Because you are such a caring person Edgeworth," Phoenix replied. A goofy grin spread over his face.

Miles only rolled his eyes and walked away disappearing again into the crowd.

Finally making it back to the table Phoenix set the cup down in front of her.

"Took you long enough you fool, I'm surprised it's still warm," Franziska spat out.

Scratching his head Phoenix bit his lower lip nervously, "I know, sorry about that. But I thought this might make it up to you."

She looked up at him, her face looking cross, but her eyes holding a slight tint of curiosity.

Watching as he set a paper plate down her eyes looked the cake over with surprise, "How did you.."

Sitting down Phoenix sat back in his chair, and air of confidence about him, "And you didn't want me sitting with you." Yes Phoenix you scored some points there!

Shaking her head she looked back down at her file, "Just stay quiet you fool."

Sighing loudly Phoenix looked around, almost every detective, officer and legal staff had turned up for this. Most likely they had been forced into coming, explaining why Franziska and Miles showed up. He on the other hand was happy to get out of the office and avoid the boring paperwork that lay waiting on his desk when he returned.

His eyes looked over across the table, watching as Franziska read over the papers like she was in some sort of trance. Despite all of the noise and commotion buzzing around her she still was able to keep her focus.

His eyes drifted from the white paper she was reading up to her face.

She doesn't look nearly as scary when she isn't threatening you in court. Phoenix though to himself. Keeping his gaze on her he tried to think of how the hell he was going to pull this off.

Franziska and he didn't get along that well. It was a known fact among the law office. Time did however lessen her anger and bitterness towards him, but both found it hard to be together in the same room for to long.

Her eyes looked up and locked with his, catching him by surprise. He couldn't even pretend to be looking at something else; she had caught him staring at her.

"What are you looking at?" She asked.

"I was just wondering what you were reading," Phoenix lied.

Setting the paper down she took a sip of her coffee. "Just a case I will be taking in a few weeks, nothing important."

"Then why don't you relax, and enjoy the afternoon. Leave the paper work for later?"

"I do not relax Mr. Phoenix Wright. I strive for perfection," Franziska shot back her tone now back to its usual bitterness.

Great now I'm back at zero. "I know," Phoenix sighed, not knowing what else to say.

Franziska looked over at the defense attorney; he looked slightly defeated in being shot down by her so quickly. Guilt started to rise in her thoughts. Maybe she had been a little too bitter with her words.

"Well what do you propose, would be the best way to relax?" Franziska asked sounding like she was not overly happy about putting off work for once in her life.

Phoenix face lit up. "Well, we could go and find Miles. I think the presentations will be starting soon. We could go get a good seat?" Yes! I'm back in the game!

"Very well," she replied.

They both got up from the table. Franziska gathered up all her papers and files, her arms overflowing, while she balanced her coffee and cake precariously with her one hand.

"Here let me take some," Phoenix offered, taking the heavy files from her. Secretly gloating in his head over her surprised expression over him helping her.