Disclaimer: I don't own Phoenix Wright and all of that other good stuff.
A/N: All right. It looks like it's high time I addressed some issues going on here.
First off, though I appreciate the support, I really would rather not see my review page turned into a battlefield between readers. So long as it's not a blatant flame, everyone's entitled to how they feel about the story.
Secondly, I understand that some readers are having an issue about Phoenix having a brother. I did state at the beginning of this that it is an alternate reality and does not follow the Justice for All timeline. I'm very much aware that Phoenix is an only child and says so himself. I can recite when, where, what case, and what prompted him to say it. Believe me, I know. But this is a fanfic. If it's really that big of a deal that Phoenix has a brother, then I say to stop reading now, because Cameron eventually plays a huge role in this.
Next, there seems to be a problem with my characterizations. In my defense, may I remind some that this is my first Phoenix Wright fanfic. I'm trying to write about something that hasn't exactly been written about before and I really have taken everyone's opinions into account. I've even rewritten several scenes to help with the problem. I'm not trying to make everybody out of character, especially Phoenix, but I've put him in an unfamiliar situation where he's receiving threats. Really, how would he feel? How would anybody feel in that position? That's the question I'm trying to keep in mind as I write him. I'm not trying to make him come off as a complete and total jerk, but more anxious and under pressure than anything. I apologize if I've failed at accomplishing this.
As for Larry and Gumshoe, I know they're not idiots, but the game doesn't exactly make them the brightest crayons in the box, either. Larry, most of the time, is in his own little world. He does come through for his friends, though his reaction time may be a little off. Same with Gumshoe. They're both great friends, but not exactly up to speed with everyone else.
I'm not trying to personally attack anyone; it's just that these are reoccurring issues being brought to my attention. It could also mean that I'm not doing my part as an author, though I hope that that's not entirely the case. I want everyone to know that I do take everything told to me into account, but to understand my side as well. I hope this clears up the issues.
So, to the people who this notice affects, I hope you'll continue to read my story. If not, I understand. As for the rest of you, thank you for all of the reviews and support!
From now on, I'll be writing my stories in order of importance. If you want to see more of this story, please review and tell me so, or vote in the poll on my author's page. Thanks much!
Meanwhile…
(Gumshoe-sama is still sitting in his velvety, red chair, anticipating the next chapter.)
"I see that I am in the first paragraph, Narrator. I expect you to have done better in regards to my character."
Yes, Gumshoe-sama. Where is Knight Butz?
"Ah," he rotates his wrist in complete circles. "He is searching for Damsel Phoenix. Never you mind that, Narrator. Onwards, to the story!"
Yes, Gumshoe-sama.
--
You, Me, And The War Between Us
--
Chapter Four—Summons To Gourd Lake
--
"Detective…" His voice was stern, "Who was it?"
Gumshoe patted Phoenix's shoulder once. "You need to be more careful."
Phoenix frowned, unsatisfied with his answer. I was just almost killed by that psychopath of a man and he decides he's going to leave me with answers? "Detective," the lawyer tried a different approach, "how did you find me?"
For a brief second, Phoenix could've sworn he had seen a flash of relief cross the older man's face, as though eager to get off the first question.
Gumshoe answered, "Oh that? Well, I'll tell you one thing, pal, it wasn't easy. I mean, well, it was easy to find out where you were going because you left the criminal records out on the desk with that article you brought inserted in between the pages. After putting two and two together, I realized why you needed the phonebook, found the nearest address, and followed you out to Gourd Lake—"
"Wait, wait a second," Phoenix waved his hand in front of the detective's face, his eyes closed to think for a moment. "You say Gourd Lake? There were three addresses in that phonebook. How did you know which one it was?"
Gumshoe turned his head away. "Geez, for a guy who narrowly escaped death, you aren't very grateful." His eyes coming back to Phoenix, "All right Mr. Unappreciative Lawyer, let's say I made an educated guess. What do you say to that?"
The younger man paused. Well, I must say…I'm impressed. Detective Gumshoe didn't seem to notice the disbelief in the attorney's eyes and continued, his thumbs twiddling.
"Anyway, I left about a half hour after you did and ended up at Gourd Lake. I got lost for a while and I wound up having to trade some cards with this kid to get any information."
Phoenix's ears perked up. "What? Trade? What do you mean by that?"
The older man's eyes began to sparkle as he explained himself, "Oh, Steel Samurai, Pink Princess, ya know? That top knotted girl you used to hang out with forced me to watch the show with her one day and, well, I thought it wasn't so bad and—"
"You bought trading cards?"
"—my room is covered with wall scrolls and posters, but that's not all. I mean, there are action figures, too…"
Poster? …Oh yeah, that reminds me of the time when Maya and I got into that big fight about whether or not to take down Mia's old movie poster and put up one of the Steel Samurai…I'll bet she put it back up while I was gone, too. That must be the revenge she was talking about. I should've known…
"…anyway, back to the story, pal. He told me he saw you follow some guy out and you took a taxi after him. When I asked him which direction it was in, he replied that it was near the docks."
Phoenix was beyond embarrassment at this point. The fact that he had acted so carelessly, and let everyone see how evident it was that he was following James Rippon, made him want to curl up into a ball and never break out again. Cody saw me following him? I suppose it's not a surprise that Rippon, too, would see it the same way.
"Well, we headed down along there and began to stop and ask some people if they had seen you go this way. One angry elderly lady said you mowed her down while trying to run after someone…" Phoenix grimaced upon this, "…and others agreed with her testimony. It was just a few minutes ago that we heard you had walked in this general direction and, lo and behold, you're here with a destiny that says your brains are about to be splattered on the ground."
"…Gee, when you put it that way…"
Gumshoe straightened his back, holding out a hand, "Can you stand up now?"
Phoenix gazed at him and then his hand, chewing on his bottom lip. The fear had passed by this time, and his unstable breathing was now even and soft. He took the detective's hand, and the older stood up, pulling the lawyer to his feet.
"You seem better, pal," Detective Gumshoe said with a bit of observation. "Do you feel better?"
"About that? Yeah. But, one thing still bothers me." Eyebrows knitted together, Phoenix staggered backwards until he met the protective stance of the railing, and looked more attentively at the other man. "Who was it that told you to come out here? Maya? Cameron?"
"Huh? Cameron?"
That's right. Cameron and he don't know each other. Guess that rules that option out… "Never mind," he waved the thought away. "Forget I said that."
It was the detective's turn to look puzzled. Lifting a brow, he blinked several times, apparently unsure of whether or not to respond to Phoenix's statement. He must have decided against it because he, instead, turned around and began to shout orders to his men, who were throwing Rippon into the back of a police car and were waiting to drive him to the precincts. He's not getting off that easily…
"Detective…!" Phoenix was about to grab his shoulder when Gumshoe turned around, his face somber and emotionless.
"Would you like a ride back to your place? I'd be happy to give you one."
The lawyer frowned. He's avoiding my question. "Sure…Why not?" He hesitantly allowed the conversation to drop, hugging his body, and turned to look out towards the calm waters. "By the way…thanks, Detective. I really owe you one."
Gumshoe smiled. "Glad you weren't hurt, pal."
--
Instead of having the good man drive him all the way back to his apartment, Phoenix asked to be dropped off at Wright and Co. Offices for some last minute studying. Gumshoe told the lawyer that a testimony had to be given and Phoenix agreed to have it written up for the next day and that he would drop it by the precincts after work. Satisfied with that, the young attorney stepped out of the car and walked into the offices.
No one was in the unlocked room when he entered and he figured that Maya had gone home. He was bummed that she had not locked up the office on her way out. With the way things are going with me right now, it's not a surprise if someone decides to break in and steal, say, my radio. He carelessly tossed his jacket over Maya's desk and walked into his room, the light still on.
Everything was quiet, save the ticking of the clock in the corner of his room. With the interminable silence, it gave Phoenix time to think and he realized that he did not want to go home to face Cameron just yet, though it seemed selfish of him in the first place, and decided to write up his testimony before closing up the office. He grabbed a sheet of paper that he often used in writing formal documents and letters and found an envelope in the second drawer of his desk.
Sitting down in his leather recliner, he clicked his favorite pen, leaned forward, and began to write out his testimony, giving every explanation he could to show that he had had a reason for following the man. He started from the beginning, noting Gumshoe as the head detective on the apartment complex case, and pointed out the connection between Maxwell Ward and James Rippon. Gradually, he moved into how he had found out about James Rippon (save a few details that he knew would get Gumshoe into trouble), and began to explain the travel to Gourd Lake, Rippon's house, and Phoenix's own first impression.
The testimony itself only took forty-five minutes to complete before it was sealed and marked with Phoenix's black signature. He tossed the envelope into his second drawer so he would remember it for later and drop it by the precincts. Glancing at the small clock on the wall, he realized that it was almost seven. Cameron's going to wonder where I am if I don't get home soon.
Rising from his chair, a sudden movement caught the attorney's eyes and he looked towards his open door. A flustered Maya Fey stumbled into his office, doubled over, but still managed to glare fiercely at him.
"And just where have you been!?"
Surprised by her abrupt outburst, he replied, "I was just about to ask you the same thing."
She thrust a shaky finger into his direction, dark circles appearing under her eyes and her voice became hoarse and raspy, "Don't pull that with me, Phoenix Wright! I just ran all the way from the precincts because I got a call from Detective Gumshoe saying that your life may be in danger! By the time I got there, he had already dispatched his men and they were all looking for you! He comes back an hour later saying that you're just fine and dandy back at the office. So I ran all the way back here!"
"He called you? Why?"
"He wanted to know if you had been acting strangely lately. When I told him that you had been, he asked if I knew anything about a 'James Rippon.' I denied it and that's when he began to tell me that you may be in danger. Now, Nick, may I ask you something?" He did not respond. It was not because he didn't care what she had to say, but because her words, in general, had left him speechless. He had not wanted her to find out about the danger or James Rippon. She continued a moment later, despite the fact that he hadn't answered her question, "I thought you and I were partners, Nick! When I came back in just now, I saw these scattered across my desk!" She instantly whipped out three white envelopes.
Phoenix recognized them as the unusual letters he had been receiving as of late.
"If you and I are partners, then why didn't you tell me about these?"
He was silent for a while longer, his eyes unable to face hers and his head lowered to gaze upon the surface of his white desk. He focused his attention on the sound of the ticking clock as he seated himself back at his desk. A quick question appeared in his mind and before he knew what he was doing, he blurted, "So when did you have time to sneak in and read them?"
Her face pulled apart from the anger, becoming slightly taken aback, and then changed again to annoyance. She waved the letters at him, eyes bright with fire, "Nick! I ran here as fast as I could! The front door is still open because I didn't have time to close it! When I came in, the first thing I saw was your jacket sprawled across my desk and these scattered on top of it. I was curious, thinking that they were blackmail or something, so I grabbed one and looked at it. When I saw what it had read, I looked at the others. Nick, for the final time, what are these?"
She was still shouting, though her voice undulated in tone. Phoenix looked from her to the letters, remembering the sinister value of them. "So you've been standing there for quite some time without me knowing. Funny that you'd take to the letters first, especially if you were concerned for my wellbeing."
"All right!" Maya threw the letters up and he watched as they fell in all directions across the floor. "Detective Gumshoe told me why you've been going to the precincts so much. He made me promise not to tell you, but since you're being such a jerk, I am!"
"Wait? He told you? How much did he—"
She cut him off. "I rushed in and saw the letters sticking out of your coat pocket on my desk. I didn't read them, but I grabbed them since I figured that those letters would be the only letters you'd carry around with you right now." She paused, as though realizing that she wasn't making any sense. "…And even if they weren't the letters, I still know about them."
"Maya," Phoenix began, strapping on the most rock hard look he could muster, "I didn't want you involved. I went after James Rippon because he was indirectly a part of the case that I just solved. I have a reasonable argument that supports the idea that he might be the one sending me these letters. He was Maxwell Ward's friend and accomplice in all of their wrongdoings from five years ago. Now that Ward is in custody, he'd want revenge on his friend's behalf. When I met him today, that's exactly what he wanted."
"Yeah," Maya folded her arms across her chest, cheeks puffed. "Detective Gumshoe told me that he had you at gunpoint."
"Those letters," Phoenix continued on without bothering to comment on her last remark, "I am confident enough, will stop after today. Tomorrow I need to drop off my testimony regarding Mr. Rippon and everything will be at a close."
The young acolyte didn't look convinced. Her eyes wandered to the three letters that had fallen about the room. Phoenix watched her, wondering if she was going to start screaming again. He was relieved when he saw her eyes close at last, inhaling deeply.
"And what if you had died today? What if Detective Gumshoe hadn't got there in time? What then?"
There was an awkward pause. Actually, to be truthfully honest, I hadn't considered the possibility of him actually shooting me. Guess that was sheer luck on my part. Regardless, Phoenix kept his cool, for Maya's sake. "But I'm fine, aren't I? Nothing bad happened. Again, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Maya, I just didn't want you involved."
"You're starting to sound like Prosecutor Edgeworth," she untangled her arms and balled her fists. "You've changed, Nick, and I don't know if I like it."
He gazed upon her, jaw slightly agape and eyes wide with eyebrows slanted upwards. That's not the first time she's said that. Have I changed? I didn't notice. "I…" He couldn't look at her any longer. Guilt overwhelming him, Phoenix looked back to his desk, distressed. "I'm sorry, Maya. I just thought…I thought I could handle it myself. You're right; I didn't consider the possibility of him shooting me or me not coming back tonight. I don't know what I was thinking." He slowly sat himself in his chair, slouched over. "Even though I didn't want you hurt, I guess it wouldn't do me any better if I had died. I'm sorry."
There was another pause and Phoenix thought her to still be upset. She's probably giving me those big, evil eyes and that deep frown of disapproval. Next, I'll get the cold shoulder and the head shake of rejection. I don't blame her. I guess what I did was pretty stupid. But…was it really something Edgeworth would do? Well…that doesn't matter anymore.
A soft hand fell on top of his. Phoenix jerked back slightly and looked up. Maya was standing over his desk, a smile on her face. Well, I hadn't expected that.
"Nick," her eyes were glistening, as though she were about to cry, "I'm just happy you're okay. You're a real idiot, you know that?" She brought the back of her hand to her nose and rubbed it gently. "Promise me you won't do something so stupid again."
It seemed as though an anvil had fallen on Phoenix. He felt worse than ever as he watched her try so hard not to cry. If I refuse, I'm afraid that she will break out into tears.
"Yes, I promise," he agreed, nodding his head and taking her small hand in both of his. He continued to look at her even after she had turned away. "I'll tell you next time."
Unable to hold her composure any longer, Maya tore her hand from his, raced around the desk, and threw her arms around his neck as she buried her face into his shirt. "Nick!"
The impact nearly caused the chair in which he sat in to topple over, but he withheld both her and the recliner as he adjusted his weight. She was sobbing, something that he found extremely unusual. Or it could be the fact that I haven't seen her cry since her sister's death. I guess I didn't imagine she'd take it this hard…
Suddenly, a balled fist whizzed by him, striking him in the face.
"OW! Sonofa—"
"That's so you won't forget your promise!" Maya cried, her face red and eyes swollen with tears. Watching him squirm in pain, clutching his face, Phoenix could hear her chuckle softly.
--
Phoenix agreed to open the office with Maya the next morning. Though he knew that that wasn't the way she wanted to spend her time in town, the lawyer couldn't help it. The last case had given him the money for the bills and groceries, but he could only cover half his rent. Cases prior to this just didn't cut it at all. He felt as though all the effort just cost him more money than what he had actually earned. He needed another client and as soon as possible. Rent's due on the first of November. It's already the twenty-sixth and I still don't have enough to make ends meet.
Dejectedly, he had awoken to the sound of an alarm that resembled quite accurately to that of a fire alarm. Nevertheless, it met its dire end once he had swept his hand across the dresser and knocked it into a wall, the batteries popping out from the bottom. When he found the strength to stagger into the front room, Cameron was already up and watching children's shows on the television. He was laughing hysterically over something stupid, but the one thing Phoenix noticed was how the man was already dressed, as though he had somewhere he intended to go.
Shaking his head, the half-conscious lawyer sluggishly moved to the bathroom on the other side of the room, stifling a yawn. Several minutes passed after the door had closed (as another rerun of the Steel Samurai came on), and running water could be heard, accompanied by clanging shower rings. Cameron, eyes glued on the television, only tapped his fingers against the arm of the couch, humming the Steel Samurai theme song once it cut to a commercial. Within the matter of thirty seconds, a sharp scream echoed from the closed door leading into the bathroom.
"CAMERON! YOU USED ALL THE HOT WATER!"
From inside the shower, Phoenix was hugging himself tightly, his teeth chattering, and he retreated to the other side of the tub where the water could only minimally reach. I'm going to kick him out…First I'm going to kill him, and then I'll kick him out…
Within a matter of five minutes, Phoenix had rushed his shower and managed to jump out before the ice had formed on the ends of his hair. Muttering a string of curses, he quickly dressed and looked to the mirror. His rage only intensified when he tried to shave and realized that all of his razors were dull.
"Cameron!"
He yanked the drawer open, retrieved his favorite comb, and looked at the massive globs of black hair caught in the teeth.
"Cameron! For the love of the Steel Samurai, do you have to be such a slob!?"
Several minutes later, he kicked the bathroom door open and stormed outside, a large, gray cloud following obediently afterwards. It was the perfect time and the perfect mood to call up those who needed punishment most…
…so Phoenix called up the post office.
He was only on the phone for fifteen minutes, but his escalating voice carried from his bedroom to the front room and Cameron had to turn up the television several times.
"I don't care if he had a family emergency! You don't seem to understand that my rent is due next month and I don't have all of my bills to cover—"
The TV was turned up again. Cameron leaned into the sofa, watching intently his favorite show of the hour. Once it cut to a commercial, the next sound was the phone being hurled against the wall, clangs emitting from the small bells within the machine. Phoenix stomped into the hall a moment later, his face redder than Edgeworth's car. The lawyer's stormy eyes met Cameron's, who was holding a package in his hands. When or where he had found the time to get it, Phoenix wasn't sure. Nor did he care.
The lawyer said nothing as the older brother offered it up to him, a small smile tugging at his face.
"What's that?" Phoenix asked, his tone flat.
"It's a Christmas present," Cameron replied. "I'm sorry I'm a little late with it."
Rolling his eyes, the attorney glanced to the calendar on his wall near the kitchen. Remember, Phoenix, it's not his fault…it's not his fault…It was the accident fifteen years ago. Don't be so hard on him…
"Cameron," Phoenix said, his voice still monotone, but he took the present anyway. "It's October. Christmas isn't here yet."
"…Oh." Raising his eyes back towards his older brother, the younger realized that the other was not kidding about the box being a Christmas present. "Well…I'd like for you to open it anyway. Please?"
Grimacing at what further destruction to his state of mentality could be done, Phoenix reluctantly agreed, "Fine. I'll open it." The attorney seated himself on the sofa next to Cameron, blinking.
The present did have its luster, what with a pretty red bow and wrapping paper that featured little snowmen. However, the real eyesore came from the thick, gray duct tape strung all over the large box. Phoenix tried prying it off with his fingernails, grew irritated with the stickiness that trapped itself underneath them, and pulled his keys from his pants pocket. Attempting to saw off the tape, he was only successful in cutting through the first layer before realizing that there was more underneath.
"Cameron," followed by an exasperated sigh, "why did you do this with the tape? This is ridiculous."
"I just wanted to make sure you got it without anyone else taking it first."
"Well, did anyone try to steal it from you?"
"No."
Phoenix stared at his brother for the moment before returning to his work. It was another ten minutes before he was able to tear the tape away, but tore off the wrapping paper in the process, and became entangled in the pretty bow, making it useless for any further wrappings. Irritated, Phoenix ripped the rest of the paper off, staring at the large produce box used for lemons.
It smells like lemons, too. Ignoring the terrible odor, he pried the box open and the first thing he could see was a giant, yellow book.
"…Cameron…Is this my phonebook?"
"Yeah, well…I thought you needed it."
"…But it was already mine. Why would you wrap up what's already mine?" He witnessed a short shrug from his brother and sighed again. "And the lemon box? Where did you get this?"
"Oh," this was followed by a large grin on Cameron's face, "I found that out back in the alley near the dumpsters. I couldn't find a box of my own and that one was a pretty good size."
…I refuse to comment any further. Tossing the phonebook aside, Phoenix reached in and pulled out a Ziploc bag with a half eaten piece of bread in it.
"Oh, I got hungry while I was putting things into your present," the elder pointed out. "That originally was yours, but I took a bite and just put it back in the box."
The attorney said nothing as he threw it over his shoulder and reached in again. The things that followed after that were a random assortment of tissues, five year old wafers, damaged pens and pencils, packs of gum without any gum inside, and a broken keychain.
"Merry Christmas, brother," Cameron reached over to pull his brother into a hug.
Phoenix did not share the joyous occasion, his narrow and bleak eyes staring at the pile of junk in the box—most of which he figured were useless scrap items that Cameron had collected from around the apartment.
"…I have to go to work now," Phoenix announced, dropping the box to the floor. He stood up and walked towards the door, not giving his brother or the gift another thought.
"Hey, I thought you had a girlfriend, Phonics."
"It's Phoenix, and…what gave you that idea? Wait…the better question would be: how is this question relevant to the present you just gave me?"
The attorney spun around on one foot, still sore from all of the morning disasters, and stared Cameron down.
"Well," Cameron appeared nonchalant, as though it were the most appropriate question in the world. "Grandma told me you had a girlfriend before. I just thought there'd be someone to keep me company…"
"That sounds suspicious on more than one account, but, no, there is no girlfriend."
"Oh…" The elder gave a shrug.
"Besides, there's always Maya. She called you yesterday, right? Didn't you two hang out for a while?"
"Well, yeah, and we traded a bunch of Steel Samurai cards, but then she got a call from the precinct and I came back here. Say, she said that the detective mentioned your name. What was that about, Nox?"
Phoenix pursed his lips together, sweat beading at the back of his neck. "Uh," he finally broke through, "that's nothing. Don't worry about it."
"Oh," Cameron appeared satisfied. "Anyway, Grandma told me about what happened three years ago."
Phoenix wanted to escape the conversation. "If you knew about it already, then why would you ask me about it?"
"You're my brother," Cameron replied, his voice certainly more tolerant than his brother's. "We haven't seen each other in eighteen years, so…I just thought we'd start by going over everything. I mean, I know you almost went to jail for it…"
"That's an understatement. Prison…Death penalty…Those would be more accurate."
"See? We're getting somewhere already! So, my first question: did you do it?"
"Actually, I'd rather not talk about it." Phoenix reached over and grabbed his blue jacket off of the makeshift rack. Slipping his arms into the sleeves, he added, "It was a big mistake and nothing like it will ever happen again."
"Can you be so sure?"
"Yes. Absolutely positive."
"Phonics…" Leaning over the arm of the couch, the lawyer could see his brother's eyes sparkling with malicious intents. "Now you're in denial."
"I am not." Surprisingly to himself, he was playing this childish game of reverse psychology. I have to get out of this. "Listen, Cam, I don't know what Grandma told you, but I'd rather just not talk about it. Can't you just respect my feelings and dro—"
"I think it's something you need to get off your chest."
Phoenix's patience was thinning. He didn't want to take it out on his brother, but this was just too much, and the stress load as of late was running him dry. "Cameron. I don't want to talk about it."
"You know, my therapist says that a man in denial will prove to have problems later on in his life. You know, job, finances, sex—Are you sexually frustrated, Pho—"
"ENOUGH!" Face flustered from the last bit, Phoenix Wright tore his front door open and slammed it shut behind him.
--
"I can't believe you just left him by himself, Nick."
"I already told you," Phoenix was busy drafting a second version of the testimony he was going to give to Gumshoe later on that day. He didn't even bother to look up at Maya, "my rent is due on the first of next month. That gives me exactly five days to get the money."
"Six if you're including the first itself…" the acolyte tapped her index finger against her chin.
"Yeah, what am I going to do, then? Put up a lemonade stand? I'd probably wind up paying the customers to buy." Phoenix shook his head. "He never called, never sent a letter, and never tried to get in touch. What am I supposed to do, drop everything and wait on him? I can't do that, Maya. I barely have enough money to pay the bills."
Maya was standing above his desk and he could see out of the corner of his eye her balled fists upon her tiny hips.
"He's your brother, Nick. In an eighteen year lapse, I would've thought you to spend more quality time with him. All you've been treating him like is a client. You know, you're being really selfish, Nick. At least you have a brother." She was insinuating her sister's death. He tensed, feeling the chill emit from her. She was telling him that her sister was dead—murdered—and that there would be no going back for them. At least Cameron was alive and there to form a sibling relationship with. There was a brief pause before she asked, "Did you even tell him what happened yesterday?"
The head of his pencil broke. Grinding his teeth together, Phoenix stared down at the deep, black line drawn out from the word "gun" to the edge of his page and off onto the white desk. "Maya…I do feel bad. It's just…priorities come first."
"That's cold," she told him. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you had some kind of personal grudge against him."
"Him? No." Phoenix was scrounging his desk for an eraser to clean his desk and paper. He pulled open several drawers and searched his pencil cup.
"I thought he was a lot of fun to be with, actually. I didn't realize he knew so much about the Steel Samurai. I hate to admit it, but he's really got me beat. He has double the amount of trading cards I have, and I have over three-hundred, Nick!"
"I didn't realize he was into Steel Samurai this badly."
"And he had all sorts of wonderful things to say about you…" she trailed off and shook her head after a moment. "Nick, you didn't have this much of a grudge against Mr. Edgeworth when he tried to convict all of our clients. And you even defended him!"
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"I'm saying…Mr. Edgeworth was, like, one of your best friends, right?" She didn't give him a chance to answer before she continued, "And he said and did a bunch of nasty things to you, right? Remember in my sister's murder trial when White tried to pin the blame on you? Mr. Edgeworth was going to find you guilty! Yet, you still forgave him!"
Phoenix looked up at her, a hint of incredulity in his eyes. "I'm surprised you pieced that together with the relationship between my brother and me. You see, I haven't seen Cameron in quite some time. Everything beyond that…well…it's personal." He went back to looking for an eraser.
"Nick! But…but we share secrets, don't we? What do you mean by—"
"That and I don't remember."
There was another awkward pause and Phoenix, in that moment, found an eraser and began to scrub away at his desk.
"You don't…remember?"
"That's right. It's hard for me to be close to someone I don't remember."
"But…but you hadn't seen Mr. Edgeworth in fifteen years and you still tried to be close to him…"
"Edgeworth's dead now." The words came bluntly and almost at a risen tone. Maya was taken aback—more at Phoenix's indifference rather than the blow itself.
"D-Dead? H-How?"
The attorney looked up, briefly, his eraser in one hand. In that brief moment, a thousand thoughts crossed his mind. He still hadn't recovered from yesterday's fiasco, nor had he come to terms with the letters that had been sent to him. He wasn't used to having to watch his back in case of an attack, and he only hoped that Rippon was the one sending them, because he was now behind bars. Even the subject of Edgeworth was still very touchy. Cameron showing up…It was true that Phoenix had been less than kind to his estranged brother, and he wasn't sure why. There was something there—a feeling.
He couldn't quite get used to it.
I don't harbor any bad grudges against Cameron. It's just…there's something—something I can't pin down right away. Something that makes me tense and short. I wish I could figure out what it was. Maybe Maya's right after all. Maybe I have changed. But when did this change come about? I don't like it either.
"I…don't know," he finally answered. "Detective Gumshoe didn't know either."
Maya's hands fled to her mouth, as though her jaw were going to detach itself from her face. Her eyes began to water and Phoenix shook his head.
"Don't cry, Maya, it won't solve anything. Believe me, I couldn't believe it myself." Easier said than done, Wright. Try to show some compassion, why don't you? Your morning didn't get wrecked that badly, and it wasn't like you didn't want to cry either. "I mean…when I found out, I began to yell and get angry. In the end, there was nothing I could do. He was dead, nonetheless."
"Was it suicide?" Maya asked, her voice cracking. "Or murder? Nick…"
"I don't know," he repeated. "I just don't."
With a sharp intake of breath, Maya turned and fled the room, slamming the door behind her. Phoenix sighed, dropping the eraser from his hand.
Smooth, Wright, real smooth. I'm sure that that was not the way she wanted to find out. Then again, how could it have been any easier than the way I found out? He was closer to me than he was Maya—one of my best friends, actually—and I let him down. How can I ever forgive myself for that?
Slowly picking up the eraser, he began to scrub the rest of the markings off of his paper and desk. Shortly after that, he spent the next twenty minutes revising. He remarked the letter with his black signature, and looked for a new envelope while he discarded the previous one from the night before. I misspelled my name at the bottom. How could I misspell my name!? That's almost as bad as Cameron calling me "Phonics." Because of that and the fact that it was in pen, I had to redo the whole testimony. Perfection at its finest, eh, Gumshoe? I should've just used white-out.
He found another envelope stashed at the bottom, an inch thick of dust coating the surface, and pulled it out. Wiping it clean, he stuffed the newly written testimony inside, licked it from corner to corner, and sealed it shut.
"There, now this time there shouldn't be any problems." He glanced up at the ticking clock on his wall. "Twelve thirty-three. Man, the day's flying." And all for what? "It's too slow today…" He leaned back in his recliner, arms crossed behind his head. I feel bad…Looking back on it now, I have been a real jerk these past few days. I should apologize to Maya. After all, she did come out here to see me…
Sitting up, Phoenix disengaged himself from his chair, maneuvered around his desk, and walked to the door.
"Hey, Maya," he called out.
When he pulled the door back, he was surprised to see that she was not at her desk—or in the room at all, for that matter. His eyes darted back and forth, curious as to where she had gone, until he saw a small, scrawled note with familiar chicken scratch markings that he could recognize as Maya's. He towered over the note, placing his hands on both sides of the desk.
Desk cleaner. We need desk cleaner. Be back later.
"…Oh." Phoenix used one arm to scratch the back of his head. "Oh yeah, I forgot to pick that up on my way into work." He turned his head to the large pile of mail sitting on the corner of her desk. And apparently…I forgot to bring the mail in, too. That's right, I'll check to see if I got anymore of those crazy letters.
He picked up the bundle, noting the weightiness of it, and carried them to his office. These must be all of them. I suppose the post office brought them over as soon as I got off the phone with them this morning. Spreading the letters out upon his desk, he sorted through them, pulling the bills apart from the actual mail. Bills…bills…magazines…coupon books… His eyes wandered to the several white letters with stickers on them. …Those are the ones. Looks like Rippon sent me one for each day. If that's the case and my mail has been behind for about a week, there should be seven in this pile. His fingers moved the letters aside as he counted silently to himself. …four…five…six…seven…eight…eight?
Phoenix blinked, his eyebrows rising, and he recounted several times. Did I get my math wrong? Or…is it possible that Rippon is still sending them to me? He examined the date when the stamp was marked. It was marked yesterday…It's the most recent so…
His hand trembled as he picked up the letter on the top of the stack. He slowly tore the top of it off and pulled out the letter from within. Unfolding the letter, his eyes searched his mind for comprehension of the letter. It is…It's the same…
DoN't IgNoRe Me
"Why—!" Phoenix hurled the letter away from him. "James Rippon, if you think that this is some kind of joke…!"
"Knock, knock."
Immediately embarrassed by his spontaneous outburst, Phoenix whirled around on his back foot to stare at two figures looming in his doorway. Both were tall, about as tall as Phoenix, but the tallest was a brunette, a long strand of hair cascading down his right eye while another fell down the side of his face. He was unshaven, but no other facial hair than that. In his left ear was a silver post, one that could be seen clearly when ricocheting off of a beam from the light above. His deep blue eyes twinkled with a sudden movement as he half closed them, and he turned his head to reveal his profile, whispering to the man behind him. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail, ending a quarter of the way down his back.
Phoenix squinted, confused, realizing that the other man was almost hidden behind the brunette. He held a much more somber face, yet, looked younger than the taller man. Thin framed glasses clung to his perfectly rounded off nose, and his monotone blue bangs swung from side to side as he shook his head. His hair was thick and ended in small curls around his shoulders. The one thing that caught Phoenix's eye was how much his bright eyes stood out against the red, triangular shaped tattoo on his left cheek, followed by two earrings of the same color curling around the outermost part of his ear.
The brunette wore a forest green turtleneck, a tan vest laid over it, and blue jeans. Casual clothing, Phoenix recognized, nothing special. The other man was clad in a black turtleneck with matching denim pants and polished shoes. Whoever they were, they didn't seem to be anyone of any real authority.
"Uh…hi," Phoenix said with a long drawl. He was still mortified that he had been caught in the act of spouting vicious strings of unmentionables. "Can I…Can I help you?"
"I sure hope so," the brunette replied, giving an obvious forced chuckled. His voice was deep but the lawyer could catch the mild twang in his voice. Sounds Texan…or maybe a little further east of that. "Mr. Wright…Stock firm?"
"Huh?" At first, Phoenix didn't catch the question clearly. There was his name and then something about a stock firm. "I beg your pardon?"
"Stock firm," the gentleman repeated. "You are Mr. Wright, yes?"
"Mr. Wright, yes." But then, Phoenix shook his head, "Mr. Wright the lawyer."
The man's eyes widened slightly, perhaps realizing that he had made a mistake. Phoenix looked over the shoulder of the tall man to see the other, but he held no valued emotion. The brunette's mouth gaped and it seemed as though he were struggling to speak, but could not find the right words to say. It took a few more moments before he could finally speak.
"O-Oh. I see."
"Is there a problem?"
"Well," the man darted his eyes from Phoenix, to his desk, and then back to the lawyer, "we were trying to find someone—from a stock firm, that is—and we thought that he would've come from here."
"No," the attorney shook his head, "this is Wright and Co. Law Offices. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but there wouldn't be anyone you're looking for here."
"Family members, then?" the man persisted. "How about family members in the stock firm? Cousins? Siblings?"
Phoenix thought about it for a moment. "No…no one, I'm afraid. Except…" He turned his head, bringing a balled fist up to his chin, slowly, as he mused over the thought.
"Yes?"
"My father…" Phoenix began, his words low at first, unsure of what he was saying. "He may have been associated with something like that a long time ago…Or was that banking? Eh, never mind that last part; I can't remember exactly."
"No, wait," the man intervened, sharply leaning forward. His agile movement nearly knocked Phoenix from his feet. "What was that last part?"
The lawyer had to balance himself with one arm propped up on his desk as the man came in closer. His arm grew quickly sore and he sidestepped away from the brunette.
"Nothing. I don't remember."
"Your father, right? Where is he now?"
Phoenix grimaced, his eyebrows knitting together. "I…I don't know. I'm not, nor is anyone else I know, associated with any stock firm companies. Is there anything else that I can do for you?"
"Are you sure?"
The lawyer frowned. How persistent. I already told him… "Sir, I'm very busy. If there is nothing else I can do for yo—"
"You're not covering up for anyone, right? I mean, it's not like that person is in trouble or anything."
"Why are you here?" Phoenix asked, cautiously. "Did someone tell you to come here?"
The brunette laughed, his face confident and bright, as though he had found what he was looking for. "I'm sorry, Mr. Wright, to have come here and bothered you. You see, it's just very important that we find this person. They are an employee for a local stock firm and we've been sent here to try and find the whereabouts of that person."
"What for?"
"That information…is classified." He smiled again and held out his hand, "Thank you for your time."
Phoenix hesitantly looked down at the hand before him, a cyclone of thoughts running through his mind. Nevertheless, he took the man's hand and shook it twice before releasing it. The man turned to leave.
"Have a nice day."
--
Maya wasn't back until two forty and the rest of the day was spent in silence between her and Phoenix. He wasn't mad at her, per se; but the two men who had visited him hours before had put a severe damper on his already dreary day. Leave it to someone else to rain on my parade. Or flood it. Whichever sounds nastiest. After that, he remained at his desk, tapping the end of his pencil against the wood at a slow rhythm, his eyes wandering about the room.
Stock firm…and my father…It's painful to say, but their arrival did nothing but dig up old thoughts…in which I can't remember. When was the last time I thought of my father? …Or my family, for that matter? It's been so long that I can't seem to recall much, but what is there just flares up pain. I know Grandma was there for most of my life, and Cameron and mom were only there for a short while. His incessant tapping quickened in pace. …And dad. I don't remember him at all or what happened to him. If he's alive, I don't know about it.
He closed his eyes and exhaled.
I've been on the edge lately and I'm not even sure why. Is it a premonition? I don't really believe in them, but stranger things have happened. Maybe I should get my thoughts straight. First there's that psychopath who keeps sending me those weird letters. Is it Rippon? Rippon wasn't very happy that I put Ward and his cousin behind bars, but it seems I'm still getting them even now. It's possible that they'll stop now, though. And Edgeworth…
Phoenix stopped drumming long enough to form a silent prayer.
Did he really commit suicide? And how come I've never heard about it? Sure, there's the note with his handwriting, but is it true? And why? Of course things were tough after that trial with Gant, and von Karma didn't make things any easier, but is that any reason to take your own life, Edgeworth?
"It just doesn't make sense," he mumbled.
And then Cameron just shows up out of the blue. When we were kids, he and I were pretty close. He's only five years older than me, but he really took me under his wing. Then…then dad disappeared and mom and Cameron went somewhere else while I went to live with Grandma. I haven't seen mom since, and she rarely kept in touch. Anytime I'd ask Grandma, she'd change the subject. Then mom moved for good and Grandma moved to the other end of the city two years ago. But…
"I'm so confused. Why can't I remember what happened to dad? Why is it such a blur to me?" Phoenix hadn't realized that he was still tapping the pen against his desk. "Whatever it is, my feelings just can't let go. There's a reason I feel angry with them, but I can't think of any logical explanation. And those two men have been bugging me, too. All these things are happening at once and I can't explain any of it."
"Hey, Little Drummer Boy!" Maya called out from the other room, startling him. "I've only heard tapping coming from your side of the room! Aren't you getting any work done?"
"Speak for yourself," he retorted. "The only thing I've heard from you is that radio. What are you doing that's constructive?"
She laughed and he could hear the squeak as she got up from her chair. Maya entered his room looking better than when she had left it last. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks flushed slightly from giggling. She approached his desk and sat on the corner of it. "Nick, you've been quiet all afternoon. What's up?"
"Nothing, nothing," he quickly said. "I just had some people come in here a little while ago thinking that I ran a stock firm. I guess their presence just has me a little confused."
Her laughter intensified, "A stock firm? Can't they read?"
"That's what I thought, too. The office clearly says, 'Wright and Co. Law Offices."
He, too, couldn't help but break out into a smile, followed by a round of soft chuckles. "Well, it's almost four. I have to drop this by the precincts," he held up his sealed testimony, "and then what do you say we go out to dinner?"
"Oooh!" She clapped her hands together and jumped off of his desk, bouncing up and down like a small child. "Yes! Yes!"
"All right then," he stood up, taking the testimony with him. "Let's close up the office and we'll go there together."
"Nick, can we invite your brother?"
He turned to look at her, a look of utmost hope in her eyes. "Sure, I think that would be great. I know he'd like it, too."
"Yes!" She began to pump her fists into the air, which prompted greater laughter from him.
--
Maya was skipping into the Criminal Division at a quarter to five. Phoenix was behind her, his hands shoved into his pockets and looking slightly less than happy. He was trying his best to get his mind off of the two men from earlier, their presence sending shivers up his spine. He chewed on the inside of his mouth, eyes wandering about, until a loud "Whooooooooooop!" broke out and Detective Gumshoe immediately materialized into view.
"Pal!" Gumshoe had his arms outstretched, a wide smile on his face as he approached the acolyte, "How ya doing!? I haven't seen you since I don't know when!"
"Detective," Maya mirrored his grin, her arms crossed behind her back, "It's great to see you! I'm still working hard, of course."
"That's good to hear," but he didn't bother to ask her what she was working hard at. He looked over her small frame and then stared beyond her shoulder to where a forcefully happy Phoenix Wright stood, a halfhearted smile on his face. "And it's good to see you too, pal."
"It's good to be alive." Sidestepping around Maya, he extended his hand, "Thank you for everything you did yesterday, Detective. And, though it may seem awkward to say this, thank you for telling Maya everything too." He turned his eyes to her, "She deserved to know and I was too stupid not to tell her."
"Nick," her smile became pure and true—not as lighthearted and friendly as when they had first come in. It was sincere, and Phoenix knew that his words held dear to her.
"Anyway," he looked back at Gumshoe, withdrawing the sealed testimony from his coat pocket, "here's the testimony."
"What took you so long with it!?" Gumshoe suddenly blew up, taking both Maya and Phoenix aback. Then, just as quickly as it had come, another resilient, wide grin replaced his anger. "Your criminal has been held up all night and won't answer any questions about what happened. We need some documentation to act as proof against him in order to get him to say anything."
"Well," the lawyer gestured to the envelope, "there's your proof. I'm sorry it took so long; I was at the office."
"Ah, it's no problem, pal," Gumshoe tossed the envelope on the desk behind him. Looking at the name plate (and recognizing the area from having been there so many times), Phoenix recognized it as the Detective's own. "I'm just glad to know that you're okay and that the kid is back." He glanced back to Maya, "What would he do without you?"
"I know!" Maya chirped, puffing her chest out like royalty. "Nick wouldn't survive on his own! I think I'll have to sacrifice training in order to watch him like a hawk." Her furtive glimpse in Phoenix's direction was enough to make him gulp.
"Well, I don't think you should skip training," the lawyer replied, offering his opinion. "And if you keep up with that smart aleck attitude, I think we'll just have to settle for something cheap and unsatisfying for tonight."
"Niiiiiiiiiiiiick!" Maya pouted. "You're such a party pooper!"
"See? I can joke around, too."
"Hmm?" The detective quirked an eyebrow, "What's this about 'cheap and unsatisfying,' pal?"
The acolyte sharply whirled back around to Gumshoe, her shoulders hunched and fists balled. "We were going to go out to eat, but Nick is being mean!"
"I'm not being mean," Phoenix denied. "Take a joke, Maya."
"That joke wasn't funny!"
Phoenix's eyes looked back up to the older man, "Detective, we'd invite you, but I know you're still on duty."
Gumshoe rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah. Not to mention, I'm kind of waiting for someone to come by. But maybe next time, okay?"
"Absolutely," the lawyer nodded and then turned his attention back to Maya. "I'll call Cameron first and tell him that we're going out. You can chat with Detective Gumshoe, all right?"
"Sure!" she avidly agreed.
Convincing himself that they would be fine for the moment, Phoenix stepped out of the room, looking to acquire signal on his cell phone. He didn't have to travel far before he found himself down the hall, but he had successfully received a dial tone. Punching in the numbers to his apartment, he held the phone up to his ear, looking at the white wall before him.
It only rang twice before a rusty voice intercepted, "Hello?"
"Cameron," Phoenix spoke, trying to think of a perfect way to ask his brother out to dinner. I doubt he's forgotten that argument from earlier. "Say, Maya and I were going to go out to eat and I was wondering if you'd like to join us." Well, maybe being blunt isn't so bad…
There was a brief silence on the other end and the lawyer feared that his brother was still angry from that morning. He held his breath, waiting for a reply.
"Where at?"
I didn't expect that answer… "Uh, we haven't decided yet. Probably a burger joint or something. Is that okay with you?"
There was another round of silence. Phoenix figured that Cameron was contemplating the options. At least he can't say that I'm too stuck up to hang out with him now. "Cam?"
"Sure, sounds good. Except…I don't know this town from my elbow. Think you can come by and pick me up?"
Town from his…what? "Of course. We'll catch a taxi and be by in a few minutes."
"All right, I'll be waiting."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye."
After the click, Phoenix turned to walk back where he had left Maya and Detective Gumshoe. He was whistling inattentively when he approached them, and their conversation was halted by his arrival.
"What did he say, Nick?" Maya asked.
"He wants us to come and pick him up."
"Okay," she agreed and looked back to the detective. "Bye, Detective Gumshoe. It was great seeing you again."
"Come by the precincts any time," he chuckled. "Wouldn't want you to be a stranger."
"I'll see you around, then," Phoenix said, pivoting on his back foot to leave. "Let me know how things go with Rippon."
He was taken off guard when the swat of an open palmed hand violently struck against the midsection of his back like the snapping of a rubber band. The attorney cried out and stumbled forward, regaining his balance only by the miracle of his reaction time. Maya gasped and quickly shifted her attention from Phoenix to Gumshoe. Holding himself against a nearby desk, the younger man jolted his head around to gaze upon the older man, his eyes filled with angry storm clouds and his eyebrows arched more sharply than that of a triangle's side. The creases on both sides of his mouth were greatly deepened and twitched on one end.
"What was that for!?" he roared, noting how calm and collective Gumshoe seemed. Wait…is he…laughing!? "What's so funny!?"
"I…uh…I was just giving you a pat on the back for all the good work you've done recently," the detective replied, his eyes shifting back and forth. "Sorry if I hit you too hard, pal."
"You should be!" Phoenix shouted, pulling himself into an upright position. He held a hand against his damaged backside, grunting in pain. "Geez, next time give fair warning, would ya? That was completely uncalled for."
"Sorry," Gumshoe apologized again, though he was still smiling. "I didn't mean it."
"It's all right, detective," Maya said hastily, accepting the admission of guilt on behalf of her injured friend. "He'll be fine when the bruising heals."
"Yeah, right," Phoenix muttered. "Let's go, Maya." And he limped out the door, hunched over like an elderly person.
He watched as the young girl held him around his back with one arm and supported his shoulder with the other. She seemed concerned, but not as concerned as he had hoped when her hand suddenly left his shoulder and tapped down against one of the loose folds on her outfit that was considered a pocket. He heard her intake of breath and she whirled around, her eyes capturing his.
"Nick, I forgot my cell phone back at the office."
He stifled a sigh, forced himself to stand erect without her help, and dug around in his coat pocket in search of the keys. When he had successfully found them, he deposited them into her waiting hand. "I held onto these for you while you were getting your stuff inside the office. I keep forgetting that my pair is with Cameron."
"You need to get them back," she said. "I'll call you from the office and we'll meet up at the usual joint, all right?"
"Sounds good to me. I'll be waiting at the apartment then, okay?"
"That's fine. See you in a while."
--
At five forty-five, Phoenix was unlocking his door to his apartment. He looked inside from out of the crack of the door and saw Cameron on the couch (which seemed to be his favorite place), watching television.
"You ready?" the younger brother asked as he stepped inside, opening the door wide.
"Yup," the older replied, not even taking his eyes away from the television.
Sounds like a sitcom. Funny thing to see him watching something other than Pink Princess or the Steel Samurai. "All right. We're just waiting on a call from Maya then. She left her cell phone at the office and she's supposed to call me when she gets it."
"Oh," was all that the elder said.
Phoenix blinked, blowing forced air out through his nose. "Listen, Cam," he reached over and grabbed the remote. Then, without further delay, he turned the television off. He was surprised when Cameron didn't protest. Nevertheless, he had something he wanted to say and he couldn't sweep it under the carpet any longer. "Are you still mad about this morning?"
Cameron shrugged, "Why would I be mad?"
"Because I didn't tell you about my girlfriend."
"Well, don't you think I have a right to know? I am your brother, after all."
Phoenix stood there, watching the other man stare back with the same intensity. "I just don't want to talk about it right now. It was a stupid mistake that would be better left unspoken. I…will tell you…someday."
"Someday…Someday…" Cameron went back to looking at the black-screened TV. "You see, I was just hoping we could get into learning about each other now, Phonics. I mean, I have questions about you; you probably have questions about me. I just wanted to know a little bit about your past."
"Well, why about that in particular?"
"Why? Well…because…"
Phoenix looked away, staring down the hall that led to his bedroom. "It's not important right now."
"Why? Because I'm not important to you right now?"
The words came out so fast, but the acidic tone struck the attorney like a slap to the face. "I…I never said that…"
"You don't have to." Cameron looked once more at him before rising to his feet. "If I asked you another question, would you answer it for me? Or would you keep it a secret, too? Like, why did you become a lawyer?"
"That? Well, it's a long story and—"
"And you won't tell me." Cameron blew the fringe of hair from his face. "I understand, Phonics. I understand real good."
"Cam, listen to me…"
"I know that you're real busy and all…Probably don't have time for a bumpkin like me…Should've seen it coming…"
"Huh?" Phoenix stalled, many thoughts running through his mind. "Seen what coming?"
"We probably shouldn't go out, either…Might cause a ruckus…"
"What? What are you talking about?"
The older brother began to mumble an incoherent string of nonsense and shuffled towards the door. The last comprehensible thing that Phoenix could understand was "should take a walk…"
"Cameron!" Phoenix called after him once his brother was already halfway out the door. "Where are you going!?"
"Out for a walk," the elder replied, his eyes distant and unfocused. "Should probably let things cool off…"
He's acting weird now. "Cameron, don't go out there alone. You don't know the city that well to travel in it by yourself."
"…Gotta think things through…"
And the door was shut.
"Cameron!" Phoenix dashed towards the door, reaching out for the knob and twisting it. He grunted when he realized that Cameron had locked it on his way out and fought to open it. It took several unnecessary seconds to do so and by the time that Phoenix had successfully torn the door open, the elevator door was shutting.
He stared, defeated, at the end of the hall at the closed doors. He couldn't help being torn between two feelings. Part of what he said was true…while the other half…was untrue. I just…I just don't understand. And his reaction…It seemed unnatural. I don't know if it's the side effects of the accident or whatever. But…well…maybe I was just a little too hard on him.
"Man…not again. Every time I try to patch things up with everyone…It's been like that for the last few days. When am I gonna get it right?"
Phoenix slowly closed the door, taking time to imbibe the situation. He shook his head, turning towards the couch where Cameron had occupied just moments before. Sluggishly moving towards it, he heavily fell down on top of it, sighing. His eyes looked to the ceiling, wearily. I can't believe that happened. "That didn't go as well as I had hoped."
Gradually, his attention moved to the phone on his wall. "Maya should be calling anytime now. Wonder if she'll still want to go out after I tell her that Cameron won't be coming…" Until then, I suppose I'll just close my eyes for a while. Thinking about this is just making my brain hurt.
Images of the fight played upon the darkness of his thoughts until they slowly faded into the approaching abyss into the unconscious. He hadn't meant to fall asleep, but it must've been all of the pressure building from the last few days. Nevertheless, the guilt did not unburden itself from his chest.
He did not dream, which enabled his body to relax even further. It wasn't until the gradual prickling coming from his left foot startled him awake, and he also became aware of the stiffness in his shoulders from lying in the same position for so long. Phoenix rubbed his eyes, grunting, and sat up on the couch, shaking his numb foot awake.
Reaching up to the baseline of his hair, he silently cursed when he realized that he'd fallen asleep and sprung to his feet, reaching for the phone. Maya may have tried to call me... How could I not hear it!? He stopped short when he saw that there was no message on the machine, nor had there been any sign of anyone calling.
Blinking in great disbelief, he quickly dove into his pants pocket and withdrew his cell phone. He flipped open the lid. There were no missed calls.
"She never called?" He looked at the lower left corner to see the time. Phoenix began to dial her number. "That's strange..." Six forty-five, you'd think she would have called.
The phone rang four times without a single intermittence and he gave an exasperated sigh as he shut the lid. Where the heck is she...?
Walking back to the couch, he sat down, noting that the couch was still warm from where he had slept. He was silent in thought, anything plausible in reasoning escaping him. He couldn't understand. He stared at the ceiling, unfocused, for another twenty minutes before pulling out his cell phone again and dialing Maya's number.
Again, there was no answer.
Knitting his brows together, Phoenix dialed the number to his office, anxiety overwhelming him when there was no answer there either.
"Maya," he whispered. It's not like her not to call me and let me know what's going on. I'm worried. He stared at his cell phone, his heart a mixture of emotions as he contemplated what to do. Cameron is still out on the streets, he noted when he heard no footsteps or other noises indicating that his brother was home, but I have absolutely no idea where Maya is.
His mind battled with himself, unable to make up what it was he really wanted to do. What he looked at his cell phone again, he frowned. Jumping from the couch, he marched toward his coat rack, grabbed his long, dull green trench coat, and quickly left his apartment. Pulling his arms through the sleeves, he rode the elevator down, thinking of the best place to call a taxi.
--
Phoenix arrived at his office at seven fifteen, his heart pounding aggressively with worry. He had tried twice more to call Maya from within the cab, but there was still no answer as he feared.
He climbed the stairs, skipping several at some points when he felt his blood pressure rise. Rounding the corner sharply, he moved past the large plant sitting off, hugging the opposite wall, and stopped in front of his door. He raised his fist, ready to pound on the door to the office when he realized the yellow Post-it note on the front of his door.
He stopped, his anxiety and rampant thoughts coming to an abrupt halt. It took a moment for him to realize the big, capital letters scrawled across the note, and he slowly brought a shaky hand up to it, fingering the corner.
MEET ME AT GOURD LAKE
The writing was bold and black. The attitude was more of an order than a request and Phoenix immediately thought of Cameron. Maya's handwriting is much neater than this, and I've never seen Cam's penmanship before. He also knows where my office is. Then an idea struck him, What if Cam came here and met up with Maya? It's a possibility...That could be why she hasn't been answering her phone…He must've told her about our argument and she's mad at me. Aw man… But that last thought didn't matter. He felt much better at the thought of them ending up together. Man...making me worry like this. Wait until I get my hands on them. Rolling his eyes, he turned to leave, mentally counting the change in his pocket to see if he had enough to make it to Gourd Lake.
--
He spent the entire bus ride convincing himself that it was Cameron he was going to meet. He had to believe that, and eventually, it came naturally to him.
Phoenix arrived at the closed gates of Gourd Lake nearly at eight and began his walk from there. It was a chilly night with hardly any moonlight. Clouds hovered in the sky, rolling alongside the moon for whatever reason. Either way, the attorney cursed his lack of light and common sense in bringing a flashlight. He could feel the hair on the back of his neck rise on end. Just the day before, he had been here, in this same park, trying to track down a man who, at first, had nothing more to do with him than he had the Apartment Complex Case. Now, he was here on a different mission, but Phoenix tried to stay confident that the outcome would be a little more alleviating than the previous day's had been.
He pulled up the collar on his long coat and wandered into the park, avoiding all eye contact with the trees. I feel like I'm in a cemetery for some reason. Trees like these are often in my vision of a cemetery, anyway. I guess it's because it's so dark and no one's around. Besides the sound of leaves rolling across the concrete path with the wind's bustle, the young attorney could recognize the sound of his own shoe soles clicking against the pavement. Almost to a rhythm, he realized, and forced himself to chuckle. Phoenix could hardly see what was in front of him and the strain the darkness put on his eyes made his body much more tired.
I'm not even sure where to meet him. Why didn't he put that on his note? I'm going to be wandering around here for hours. This prompted a long sigh from the defense attorney, who wondered how it was that he kept ending up in such terrible situations. His eyes wandered across the ground where the shadows of the serpentine trees formed and he shuddered again. Clouds unveiled themselves from the moon for the moment, privileging him with some light. Moving around to avoid a leaf pile, he continued along the long path, but found himself looking back to the brick wall which marked the entrance and his personal sanctuary.
He crashed into a wiry bush and scolded himself for not paying more attention. Using his arms to pry his leg out of the hibernating plant, he continued along his way, careful to avoid the tipped trashcan that had rolled its way down the path. It quickly gave an abrupt turn and collided with the lamppost. A frown formed on Phoenix's face when he realized that the lamppost wasn't turned on, meaning that it was either broken or sporting a bad bulb. In the end, however, it didn't help him. Clouds had covered the moon again. The darkness was still his only companion, like it or not.
It wasn't long before he finally made it into the clearing, several benches materializing in his view with the large shadow of "Samurai Dogs" next to them. Luckily, the clouds in front of the moon disappeared long enough for him to realize that all was calm on the lake, and that no one else save him was in the vicinity.
"Gods…" he moaned, "Where is he? I have good reason to leave him here and go back home." But his head drooped, "…I can't do that to Cameron, even if I wanted to. He's not familiar with this town and I don't want him getting lost." Another sigh escaped his lips and Phoenix turned his attention to the wooden sign in front of him. There was still enough moonlight left for him to check his watch and guess the time.
Eight fourteen. It's not too terribly late, but it's not early either. I should find Cameron as soon as possible and get the heck out of here. "But where would he go?" Venturing right would take him straight back to Rippon's house…a place that he'd rather not see again. However, the left would take him to the boat docks. "Yanni Yogi," Phoenix breathed. "Another crazy guy I'd rather not see again. Still…I doubt Cameron would go off into the woods by himself, so, I guess it's to the docks I go."
Trudging past the overturned trashcans, Phoenix hugged his body to keep warm. His luck dimmed when another set of clouds rolled in overhead, taking the moon's attention again. He found himself stumbling through piles of leaves, and tormented himself for not having brought earmuffs to defend himself from the rising wind. His ears were stinging from the cold, but he wasn't sure if they were any better off than his fingers. Even the double layered coat was too little in keeping the defense attorney satisfied. Cameron…why couldn't you have picked a warmer place to talk?
The boat docks came upon him much faster and easier than Rippon's house had, and Phoenix could spot the boat house, but there was no light to be seen inside. In fact, the closer he neared it, there seemed to be a large board on the door. I guess no one's working the boat rentals anymore. What a shame. His attention was diverted when the sound of someone coughing perked up his ears. Shifting his eyesight left, he made out the form of a dark silhouette, standing patiently on the docks. Phoenix breathed a sigh of relief.
"Cameron!" he called out. Phoenix glanced around. There weren't any signs of Maya. "What in God's name are you doing out here like this!? Why would you want to talk here!?" Shaking his head, the defense attorney approached him. Still, he was pleased to know that his brother was safe.
The figure before him was tall and wore a large hat on his head. Though clad in a thick coat, his structure proved him to be a male, and a very built one at that. Wow…Cameron's more toned than I remember him being. And I didn't see him take a coat or hat out with him. Maybe he came back while I was sleeping to get them? Nevertheless… "Cameron," Phoenix began, "what do you want to talk about?"
Although his face could not be seen, Phoenix was positive that it was his brother before him. After all, who else would want to meet with him at this hour? Cameron turned without saying a word, and stepped forward, pointing at a waiting boat. The attorney glanced between him and the boat. Then, he looked back to Cameron.
"Are you serious? You want me to get into the boat? Cameron, not only is this illegal, it's just plain dangerous! Do you even know if that boat is safe?"
Again, Cameron said nothing, but stepped into the boat. Once he was securely in, he turned to look at Phoenix, crossing his arms over his chest. The younger brother rolled his eyes. "Enough games, Cameron. I'm not getting into that boat."
Cameron stomped his foot, causing a disturbance in the water. Ruffles in the water could be heard as they collided against the dock posts and Phoenix stared at him, feeling the chills run up his body. He must still be really peeved at me. I want to talk to him…but…
"Fine. Fine." Throwing up his arms, Phoenix surrendered and followed Cameron into the boat. "But not for long, Cameron. We can do your sightseeing tomorrow. I'm so cold that I think my fingers are going to fall off."
Cameron had already detached the rope from the dock pole and used an ore to push the boat off. Phoenix said nothing as his brother rowed the boat along, and looked up into the sky. The clouds were still hovering over the moon, and he watched as they slowly moved by. He wasn't sure what Cameron was planning, but the boat was aimed for the center of Gourd Lake by the time Phoenix realized it. The fog was even beginning to settle in and the wind had gotten worse.
"Cameron," Phoenix began, softly. "Say something to me. This silence is eating me up." He turned around to stare at the rowing man. "Look, I know what happened back at my apartment tonight was childish and immature. You're right, we should be able to discuss family matters, but, it's…just that I'm not ready yet, all right? I mean, what with mom and dad and grandma…I…Cameron, are you listening to me?"
The boat stopped. The defense attorney looked around and realized that they were smack-dab in the middle of the lake. There would be no way anyone could possibly hear them. However, if something happened, it would be too cold and too far to swim to shore.
"Cameron," he brought his eyes back to his older brother, the worry starting to bother him again. "All right, Cameron, let's talk."
"Cameron?" the man answered. However, this voice was deeper than Phoenix had expected, and sounded nothing at all like his brother's. "What on earth possessed you to think that I was Cameron?"