September 5, 9:27 AM
Fey & Co. Law Offices
Mia Fey, lawyer and owner of Fey & Co. Law Offices, sat in her office, filing through her junior partner's first case, still elated that he had so decidedly won in such a fashion. She couldn't help but smile at the thought of him in years to come. He would surely become a great lawyer and a good partner. She hesitated at the word.
Partner…
She admitted to herself that she believed she felt something between them that could grow in time. They were already close, and could share even the most personal of subjects between each other. But she had never taken the next step. And Phoenix was too nervous to, she knew. She stifled a laugh at the thought of Phoenix, so on fire last month in the courtroom, tripping over his feet trying to ask her out on a date. She was hoping he would someday. She would like to see where it would go if they attempted a closer relationship.
Just as she was entertaining the thought, she came across the papers detailing the evidence in Phoenix's last case, the statue of "the thinker." She found it amazing that Larry could have made such a clock. It was so beautifully crafted. She had expected it to have been made from a prestigious company. She shrugged. The world was full of surprises.
At the thought of the thinker, she suddenly remembered something and reached for her phone. It rang three times before another woman picked up the phone on her end. "Hello? This is Maya."
"Hey Maya, it's me," she said to her little sister, glad to hear her voice after so long.
"Mia! What's up?" Maya's voice said, excited to hear from her sister. "You haven't called in a while."
"Sorry," Mia apologized, fiddling with the phone cord, wrapping it around her finger. "I've been so busy. How you been?"
"Well, LONELY. And it's all YOUR fault." Mia was expecting the pout, and could hear the younger Fey's stifled chuckle on the other line. "Nah, I'm just teasing. I've been great! I'm finally getting used to having my own place."
Mia smiled. "That's good to hear."
"Yeah, it was rough the first few months. The neighbors were so loud and had fights all the time. But the landlord drove them out, and the new neighbor is pretty quiet. Like, serial killer quiet."
Mia rolled her eyes. "You're weird, you know that?"
"At least I don't make a living wearing skirts and pantyhose talking people to death."
"Right, you just wear a full dress and speak to spirits."
"That's right!" Maya said with pride, and Mia couldn't help but laugh.
"Actually," Mia said, getting down to business. "I'm calling because I have a favor to ask…"
She heard her sister sigh. "I know, I know. You want me to hold evidence for you?"
Mia smiled. "Sharp as always!"
"It's not a bunch of fake hundreds again, is it?" Maya said. "If it is, this time I'm gonna spend it."
Mia laughed. "No, thank goodness it's not. I don't need to bust you out of jail." She leaned forward on the desk, looking at another set of papers on her desk. "There's a lot of fuss about the upcoming trial…" She set the papers down. "I just don't feel safe keeping the evidence here."
"I gotcha. So what is it this time?"
She looked at the statue of the thinker, feeling strange that the piece of evidence was so vital to more than one case. "It's a clock, believe it or not."
"A clock?" The evidence even sounded strange to her sister. To her, a clock can't be that crucial to a case.
"Yeah, it's made to look like that statue, "The Thinker." And it tells you the time! I thought you might like it. You always liked toys."
She smiled as her sister huffed. "Hey! I'm not a little girl anymore, Sis!"
She laughed. "Now, now. You know I'm only teasing." She looked back at the clock. "But anyway, it's not working at the moment. I had to take the clockwork out."
"Laaaaame…"
"Hey, I had to do it, okay? I put some papers in it instead."
"Ah, so that's the evidence, then?"
Mia shrugged to herself. "Hmmm, yeah. There's a possibility it might turn out that way. I can't say for certain yet. I just need you to hold on to it for me."
"Alrighty, that's no problem."
"Great! Can you come by the office tonight, say 9:00, to pick it up? I'll be in a pretrial meeting until then."
"Okay, Sis, but I expect dinner! Something good! Like…" Mia waited for it. "…burgers!" Mia rolled her eyes as she smiled. "I could really go for a good burger."
"Okay, okay. We'll hit the usual joint."
Mia could practically feel Maya's smile through the phone. "Alright! It's a deal! See you soon!"
"Yep. I'll be waiting, Maya." She hung up the phone, sighing in satisfaction before going back to the papers.
. . . . .
September 5, 8:43 PM
Fey & Co. Law Offices
Mia sighed, putting her head in her hands as she tried to think of how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Her current case was one of absolute confusion, one that she had been working on her whole life to figure out. Somehow, though, the pieces that she needed were eluding her, and no amount of researching was bringing about the answers.
She stood and walked to the water cooler in the hallway, grabbing a drink and hoping to clear her head of all the names and dates and events floating around in her head. She had thought about asking Phoenix for help; he most certainly could help her figure out the missing pieces, but she didn't wanted to involve him if at all possible. Not with the criminal she was dealing with. She was almost sure he was on to her, and suspected her for sniffing around his business, but he hadn't made any sort of action yet. If he did, though, Mia wasn't ready, and wouldn't be able to survive the political backlash.
She thought about where Phoenix's career was heading, and how well he would do. She had her doubts about him, yes, but only because he wasn't experienced. There were things that books couldn't teach you, things that only experience would keep you looking for. She held high hopes for him, though. He was a genius when it came to court cases. She completely believed that in a few short years, he could open up a law firm of his own and become a well-known lawyer. He was certainly resourceful enough.
Her musings were cut short by a sudden knocking at the door. Surprised by this strange event – who would knock on the door at so late an hour? It was too early for Maya – she set down her Styrofoam cup and walked to the door of the firm, opening it slightly and peering out. "Hello?"
Her heart stopped. There he was. The man she was gathering evidence on. The executive officer of Bluecorp.
Redd White.
The taller man flashed a sparkling smile at her, his pompous hair slick with gel and his purple suit obsessively crisp and well-ironed. "Hello, Ms. Fey! How are you this evening?"
Mia hesitated, mentally thrown off by his sudden appearance. "Uh… Fine.. I'm fine." She opened the door a little more and stepped into view, not bothering to mask the confusion on her face. "Can I help you, Mr. White?"
White nodded, smiling. "I'm hoping you can, actually. You see, I'm in need of help, and you're the only one who I can get to help me." He took a closer step, and Mia unconsciously backed away a step. "May I come in? It's rather chilly out."
Thrown off by everything so far, Mia didn't answer, nor did she stop him when White took it upon himself to enter the firm. She looked out the door, briefly wishing that Phoenix were here with her before closing the door.
White had already walked down the length of the hall, hands behind his back as he stared at the paintings lining the wall with feigned interest. "What can I do for you tonight, Mr. White?" Mia asked, keeping her distance.
"Oh, it's much more simple than you might think, Ms. Fey." He turned to look at her, flashing a smile. "I just came to retrieve some of my possessions, that's all." He shrugged, smiling at her slightly relieved face.
She might have been relieved, but she was also confused. What exactly did you leave here, Mr. White? "Well, what might that be? Do you have an idea of where you left it?"
White nodded. "Actually, this might come across as slightly strange… but I believe you might have come into possession of it."
Mia, who had been walking towards him, stopped and looked at him incredulously. "What exactly did you lose, Mr. White?"
White started walking down the hallway, further into the firm, as he answered. "Oh, I didn't lose it, Ms. Fey." He looked over his shoulder. "Someone stole it from me."
Mia gasped, staring after him as he took a left into her office. He couldn't mean… "Stop!" She chased after him, almost tripping on her heels as she rounded into the office, where he was going through her papers on the desk. "Mr. White! What are you doing?!" She quickly crossed the room and grabbed the papers he was thumbing through, whisking them away before he could grab even one. He turned to her with a dangerous expression on his face, one that inspired a primal fear in Mia as he took a step toward her.
"Now, Miss Fey, I'll take what's mine…" He offered his hand to her. "The papers," he commanded.
She put the papers behind her back. "I'm sorry, Mr. White, but I can't give you what I don't have." She took a step back. "These are my other clients' papers. Strictly confidential, of course." She tried to give him an intimidating glare, but it melted under his terrifying gaze. It was only then did she realize that he had moved between her and the door, blocking her only escape.
"Miss Fey, you are a poor liar." He took another step. "I saw it before you swiped it from me. Now hand me the papers."
Mia gulped but didn't answer, stepping away from him as he took another step toward her. In one quick motion, he grabbed her violently and grabbed the papers from her hand, pushing her down, where she landed with a small squeak. She hit the glass light stand in the corner of her office, causing it to fall to the ground, spilling glass everywhere. "Hey! You can't…" She tried to stand and was quickly pushed down by the bigger man as he thumbed through the papers leisurely.
"Hm. Yes, everything's here." He looked at her and smiled as he tucked the papers away into an inside pocket of his jacket. "Thank you, Miss Fey. This would be terribly embarrassing if one of these papers fell into the wrong hands. Wouldn't you think so?" He walked away from her, where she cringed in fear, hoping he would just leave. "Well…it doesn't matter anymore." His hand brushed the statue of "The Thinker," and he turned back to her with an almost apologetic gaze. "I'm just sorry you had to get mixed up in this." He grabbed the statue and began walking back to her, where she backed away in horror, realizing what he was saying. "I can't allow you to reveal what you have discovered."
"Please! Please, no! Please! I…I…" Mia stuttered, tears streaming down her face as she backed away from him, trying to crawl away. Her back hit the wall, and she knew it was over. She looked up, tears brimming from her eyes as Redd White lifted the statue high above his head.
"Farewell, Miss Fey."
The statue came down, and Mia's world went black.
. . . . .
September 5, 9:08 PM
Fey & Co. Law Offices
Phoenix Wright ran up to the door of the law firm, unable to shake the feeling that he was in for it. "Late for my first pretrial meeting…" He sighed, imagining Mia tapping her foot, waiting for him in her office. "I hope she lets me off easy…" He opened the door to a darkened hallway, shedding his coat as he closed the door. "Mia! I'm here! And I'm sorry!" He put his coat on the coat rack near the door, walking down the hallway, slowing as he neared the T-junction that separated his office with her office. The entire building was dark, making Phoenix edgy. "Huh…Maybe she went home." He looked at his watch, noting that he was over an hour late. "I wouldn't doubt it." He sighed, scratching the back of his head before his nose picked up an unusual smell. "What's that smell? Is that…" He sniffed the air, wondered how in the world he smelled… "Blood?" His heart jumped into his chest. "Mia!" He took off for her office, crashing through the door with a start. "Mia!" He looked around, seeing a scene that would forever be burned into his mind.
A young girl was crouched over Mia Fey's body, the former crying over the woman's body. Mia lay unmoving, a bloody welt on her head, hair and neck covered in blood.
"Mia…" he whispered, frozen on the spot. What had happened to her? He collapsed to his knees, struggling with what he was seeing before crawling closer and leaning closer to her. "Mia! Mia, please don't be dead!" He knew his boss and friend was dead, but didn't want to believe it. Her hair, face, and clothes were covered in blood from the head wound she had received. His vision blurred as tears brimmed in his eyes. "No…" He covered his mouth with his hand, taking deep breaths as he came to terms that the truth.
Mia Fey was dead.
He looked to the girl that was crying over her body. "Did you know Mia? What happened?"
The girl looked at him briefly. "I…I…" She didn't utter another word as she passed out from shock. Phoenix quickly caught her in his arms before she would collapse on Mia's body, rising to pull her up into his arms and carry her back to the hallway sofa. He left her there, drying his tears on a tissue along the way, and went back to Mia's body. He was still devastated by Mia's passing, but something inside him demanded justice, and so looked for any clues as to what had happened here. His critical eyes crossed the room, taking in everything and noting its significance. Glass shards from a glass night stand…fairly new. Scattered papers…past clients. The statue of the thinker…coated in blood? He looked closer at the statue, careful to not touch the object for fear of leaving fingerprints. "Blood…" he confirmed. He looked at Mia more carefully, hating to see her like this, but resolute in finding something to give him more understanding of what had happened. "Blunt trauma…" he said. "Probably instantaneous death…" his gaze lingered on Mia's blood-stricken face. "I hope. Oh, if I hadn't have been late!" His heart felt like exploding at the thought of his oversleeping. Why hadn't he set his alarm clock! Why had he taken a nap in the first place! If he hadn't have been so lazy, Mia would have been alive today!
He placed his head in his palm, his other hand a fist shaking in anger at himself. He sighed, realizing that wasn't going to get him anywhere and looked back at the ground, noticing a piece of paper near Mia. He crouched near it, where he could see one word written in blood. Maya.
"Maya?" He turned the word over in his head. Did Mia write this? He grabbed the piece of paper carefully, turning it over to see that it was a receipt from a department store, dated yesterday. He filed the information away for later, standing. That was enough snooping around for now. He should be grieving over his friend, not snooping around their body like a ghoul. He made up his mind to call the police and walked over to the phone, picking up the receiver and staring in startled surprise as part of the receiver hung away from the other part. "What the… where are the screws?" It was like someone was trying to take apart the phone.
Before he could think any longer on the idea, he heard a scream from out the window of the office. "Police! Please, come quick!"
Startled, he looked out the window to see a woman in a pink shirt looking right at him with a phone up to her mouth. He moved to the window, partly afraid she suspected him to be the murder, but she moved away from the window as he neared it. He knocked on the window, hoping she would hear it from her room across the way, but she never returned. Sighing, he moved back to the other office, where the girl from earlier was sitting up on the couch, conscious again. He sat on the couch, putting distance between her and himself so as to not startle her. He stared at her for a moment as she stared at the ground, and he knew she was just as shocked by Mia's death.
He broke the silence tentatively. "How did you know Mia?"
She didn't answer, nor did she look at him.
"I worked with her," he said, attempting to form a connection with the girl. "She was my boss. And a good friend…"
The girl was silent a moment longer before answering softly. "I'm Maya…" She sniffled. "I was…her sister."
Phoenix's heart dropped even more, feeling pity for the girl. To lose one's own sister…
Before he even completed the thought, another formed in his mind. The writing on the receipt… Maya.
Did Mia write this girl's name on the receipt?
He quickly rose and retrieved the note, returning and sitting by Maya. "Before Mia died, she wrote a message in her own blood." He produced the receipt and showed Maya.
Genuinely surprised, Maya looked at the note, and then back at Phoenix, tears still in her eyes. "That's…MY name!" She looked away in thought and shock, no telling what was going through her mind. "Why would she write my name?!"
Phoenix shrugged. "I don't know. I was hoping you could tell me."
Maya shook her head, still looking down as if staring through the floor. "I…I don't know."
Before they could talk any more, Phoenix heard the tell-tale sirens that signified the police. Maya looked at the door, a look of terror on her face, one that Phoenix suddenly hated to see. She couldn't be more than eighteen years old, and she was already thinking the police were coming for her. "Don't worry. They're not here for you. It'll be alright."
She stifled a sniff as she heard the cars park outside, doors open and close, and the police storm into the firm. Seconds later, a big burly man with brown hair, strong chin and fierce gaze walked in, his trench coat giving him an intimidating look as he scanned the room. He held a gun at the ready and, upon sighting both Phoenix and Maya, aimed it at them, crouching in a defensive posture. "Freeze! Police!"
Maya shied away from him, backing into Phoenix's arms, and Phoenix held her close, feeling a kindred spirit with her as he held up a hand. "Don't worry, officer. We're unarmed. We just got here not too long ago."
The man moved away from the entrance as more officers moved in, and only when they had their guns trained on the two of them did he put his away. "Alright. I'm Detective Dick Gumshoe. We received a report from the building across the way about a murder. I'm gonna need you two to sit tight while the rest of my boys search the premises." He nodded to the other officers, and all but one of them left to search the rest of the building. Gumshoe looked back at them. "Stay right there, and don't move," he warned before walking into Mia's office. Maya was still curled into Phoenix's arms, quivering in fright, while Phoenix rubbed her arm assuredly, staring at the officer that was left in charge of them. He turned over many thoughts in his head as the detective searched Mia's office, prevalent among them whether Maya had killed Mia or not. He almost laughed at the very idea of Maya killing her sister; the girl was in so much shock, it was a wonder he hadn't had to have called an ambulance already. She was most definitely not the killer.
Detective Gumshoe thought otherwise, of course. He returned, looking skeptical at best. "There's a dead body in there, alright." He crossed his arms and looked down at the two of them. "Either of you wanna own up to it?"
"We didn't do it, officer." Phoenix said. "We just got here ourselves and found our friend like that."
Gumshoe nodded, not entirely convinced. "Uh huh. Sadly, that's not a good enough alibi to keep you two off the list of suspects. And you two are at the top." He stared a moment longer before noticing the note Phoenix had brought to show Maya. He grabbed it off the sofa and looked at both sides before showing it to Phoenix. "This mean anything to you two?" He pointed at Maya's name written in blood.
Maya stared at the detective fearfully. "Um…"
Gumshoe leaned down and looked at her in the eye. "You got something you wanna tell me, little lady?"
"Can you please give her some space?" Phoenix asked. "Mia was her sister. It's still a bit of a shock to her."
"Back off, pal," Gumshoe said, giving Phoenix a little shove. "Someone's just been murdered. I'm gonna get the facts straight one way or another." He looked back at Maya. "So. You wanna tell me what the word on the note means?"
Maya started crying again. "It's…it's my name."
Gumshoe stared at her for a terrifying moment, saying nothing, before straightening and turning to the officer. "Take her to the precinct. We'll question her later."
"No!" Maya said, backing further into Phoenix's arms as the officer walked toward her, unhooking handcuffs from his belt.
"Miss Maya," Gumshoe said, low and threatening, stopping her resistance. "You are in a lot of trouble. I suggest you come quietly, or you might find yourself in even more trouble."
Maya sniffled and sobbed, almost hyperventilating. Phoenix almost held her back but could see that the detective wasn't kidding. Regretfully, he let go and watched as the officer handcuffed a little girl and led her away like a criminal. Detective Gumshoe watched them go before turning to Phoenix. "And who might you be?"
Phoenix sighed, looking down in defeat and shame. "I was Mia Fey's junior partner. She was my boss."
Gumshoe nodded. "Uh huh. Then I need you to come down to the precinct as well. We have some questions for you."
Phoenix nodded, standing and allowing Gumshoe to show him to his police car, where they drove to the precinct.
. . . . .
September 5, 11:34 PM
Detention Center
Interrogation Room A
Phoenix stifled a yawn as he waited for the detectives to see him and ask him questions about the murder. He wasn't sure what he could tell them, only that he didn't do it. He wasn't even sure he could convince them that Maya hadn't done it, or even that he should. He didn't honestly know, at this point. It was insane to think that the young girl could have done it, but he'd seen weirder things in life. He tried to put together everything he had seen, so as to give the police an accurate report of what all he had experienced, but sleep was beginning to fall in, and it was taking everything he could do to stay awake.
Fortunately, he didn't have long to wait, as the door opened and Detective Gumshoe, along with another man, entered the room and closed the door. Gumshoe had shed his trench coat and wore a dress shirt and orange tie, with the sleeves rolled up to show beefy, muscular arms. Phoenix inwardly gulped as Gumshoe looked at him, not smiling. He gestured to the other man. "Mr. Wright, this is Alan Worthington. We'll be asking you a few questions, if that's alright." It was like he was challenging Phoenix to protest, but the young lawyer knew better.
"That's alright," he said, stretching his arms. He was still in his work attire, and was beginning to feel cramped in the rigid clothing, but he didn't dare voice his complaints. "Anything I can do to help, officers."
"Hmm." Gumshoe huffed as he sat down, laying some folders down on the table and taking one from the pile, moving the others to the side. "You say you were the victim's junior partner at the Fey & Co. Law Firm, correct?"
"Yes sir," Phoenix answered, clasping his hands in front of him.
"About how long had you known the victim?"
"Almost two years ago. I had met her in August of 2014."
Gumshoe didn't look up, continuing to look through the papers in the folder. "How did you two meet?"
"She actually defended me in a case. I was accused of murder, and she proved me innocent."
Gumshoe looked up. "So you've been suspected of murder before."
Phoenix gave him a hard stare. "Yes. And I was proven innocent."
"Uh huh." He went back to his papers, flipping through them leisurely as he continued his questioning. "How did you come to be in service of the victim?"
Phoenix looked up in thought. "When Mia had proven me innocent, I was currently working my way through my last year of law school. Aside from paying her for representing me, I offered to work for her after I graduated. She accepted, and I began work with her in October of 2014."
"Uh huh." Gumshoe stopped on a piece of paper. "Where you and the defendant close?"
Phoenix nodded. "We were good friends. We shared many personal secrets with each other and were comfortable with the other."
"Anything evolve from that?"
Phoenix cocked an eyebrow. "As far as…"
Gumshoe looked up. "Were you and the victim ever intimate, or just friends?"
Phoenix shook his head. "Just friends."
Gumshoe nodded and continued looking through the papers. He traced a finger across the paper, following a sentence as he spoke. "It says here that you asked for a raise a couple of months ago. Claimed you had proven yourself to the firm and had asked to be promoted to a full-fledged lawyer. This is before your actual promotion," he said aside to himself. "The victim denied your request, stating that you weren't ready. That you were still too arrogant and quick to prove yourself." He looked up. "You didn't feel any…condescension from this decision, did you, Mr. Wright?"
Phoenix straightened. "I didn't kill her." He looked at both Worthington and Gumshoe before continuing. "She was murdered after I had been promoted to a lawyer for two months. She was a good friend."
"Uh huh," Gumshoe said, nodding as he went back to the papers. He continued looking at the papers, shuffling some around, and looking back and forth between papers before closing the folder and setting it aside. "Alright, Mr. Wright. Let's just assume I believe you, and I think you didn't kill Miss Fey." He clasped his hands in front of him, leaning on the table. "Who do you think did it?"
Phoenix hesitated, knowing exactly what they were looking for. "Her body was still warm when I arrived. The killer must have just been there before me and Maya had arrived."
"So you don't think she had anything to do with it?" Gumshoe asked.
Phoenix shook his head. "No. She's her sister!"
Gumshoe shrugged. "That doesn't mean anything to me, Mr. Wright. In this business, I've seen mothers kill their own children, brothers kill brothers, and yes, sisters kill sisters. I'm looking at every possibility." He leaned forward. "Can you think of a reason why Miss Maya Fey couldn't be the killer?"
Phoenix nodded. "She was in shock at the sight of her sister's dead body. It had caught her by surprise."
Gumshoe shrugged. "Perhaps the sight of blood shocked her after she killed the victim."
Phoenix shook his head. "No, that's not what happened!"
Gumshoe leaned back. "Oh! So you know what happened, do you?" He looked aside to Worthington. "Please, enlighten us, Mr. Wright."
Phoenix sighed. "I don't know what happened, officers. But I'd be willing to bet my job that Maya didn't kill her sister." He looked at both of them in turn. "I saw her crying over her sister. That wasn't for show. That wasn't because of the sight of blood. That was because she saw her sister dead before her eyes."
Gumshoe crossed his arms. "Do you know why she was in the building in the first place?"
Phoenix shrugged. "No. It was Mia's law firm, not mine. She most likely allowed Maya to come and go as she pleased. Or maybe she had asked her sister to meet her there for some reason."
Gumshoe nodded, taking it all in. "Hm. What about you?" He cocked an eyebrow at Phoenix. "What were you doing there so late at night, Mr. Wright? It's not your law firm."
Phoenix nodded. "I was late for a pretrial meeting. Mia was onto something and asked for me to meet her at the law firm to discuss the case before she brought it to the authorities."
"And just what was that?" Gumshoe inquired.
Phoenix shrugged. "I don't know. She wouldn't tell me before this meeting. She kept saying how it was dangerous to even think about opening this case. It could be the end of her career."
"Seems like it was."
Phoenix stared at Gumshoe with a hard look, suddenly feeling an urge to go across the table and grab the bigger man. "I don't appreciate that comment, detective."
"And I don't appreciate this situation, Mr. Lawyer. You and Miss Maya are found at the scene of the crime, you both have a connection with the victim, and neither of you have alibis. Meanwhile I got a demonizing prosecution lawyer on my ass, telling me to figure out what the hell happened in there, and I can't find anything. You tell me what I'm supposed to think." He leaned on the table, awaiting Phoenix's answer.
Trouble was, Phoenix didn't have one. "I can see your point." He sighed, looking down. "But let me ask you this." He looked up. "If one of us had indeed killed Mia, why didn't we flee the scene of the crime? Why wait for the police to show up?"
Gumshoe shrugged. "Guilt? Stupidity? The list is endless, Mr. Wright."
"Then what's the motivation?" Phoenix almost shouted, unbelieving that he was being accused of murdering his close friend and mentor.
"That will most likely turn up in our investigation," Gumshoe said, gathering the papers and standing. "Right now, the main suspect is the little girl. You can go, but we'll be watching you. Don't think you're out of the woods yet, pal." Gumshoe held his gaze a little longer before walking out with Worthington, leaving Phoenix staring at the empty doorway in anger.
. . . . .
September 6, 8:57 AM
Detention Center
Visitor's Room
Phoenix Wright yawned again, cursing his sleep depravity as he waited for the precinct to allow visitors to the incarcerated. He didn't know her whole story yet, and he was sure she was tired of being questioned, but he wanted to hear Maya's account of what had happened. And it just felt wrong to leave her here without seeing her. He was almost positive the girl didn't do it, and yet they were treating her like a hardened criminal. He shook his head at the thought of Maya being interrogated by Gumshoe and Worthington all night, all the while grieving over her late sister. It made him sick.
He sat in the visitor's room, trying to find a comfortable spot on the metal chair, keeping an eye on the door as he waited for the officer to bring Maya to the room.
She showed up a few minutes later, escorted by a police officer twice her size. She sat, almost collapsing into the chair in a completely unladylike fashion, and attempted a smile at Phoenix. "Oh! It's you! The lawyer…" she trailed off, unable to remember his name.
"Yes. I'm Phoenix Wright."
Maya attempted another smile. "G-good morning."
Phoenix gave her a fake smile, knowing she wasn't feeling happy at all. "Good morning. You look really tired. Did you get any sleep?"
Maya shook her head. "No. They were asking me questions all night." She sat up straighter. "Um…are you…going to be my attorney?"
Phoenix hesitated, unwilling to go in blind, but unwilling to turn down the young woman in distress. He nodded, smiling warmly. "Of course. I know you didn't do it, and I'll prove it."
Maya looked uncertain. "Really?"
Phoenix nodded, feeling slightly discouraged at her lack of enthusiasm. "You don't think I can do it?"
Maya shook her head. "No. No one could. Who would believe me?"
Phoenix knocked on the table, drawing her attention to him. "Hey. I believe you. Alright? And if you know that you didn't do it, I'll win you an acquittal and get you out of here. Okay?"
Maya nodded, tears coming to her eyes again as she smiled. "My Sis was right about you, y'know?"
Phoenix cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I…was talking to my sister on the phone a while ago." She looked up in thought as she reflected on that conversation. "She had told me about your first time in court." She laughed. "I assumed you flopped out, but she said you were brilliant. She was very impressed with how you did. She called you a genius." She looked back at Phoenix. "She told me that if I ever got into trouble, and she couldn't help me, that I should go to you."
Phoenix stared for a moment before smiling in reminiscence. He chuckled softly. "I learned from the best." He sighed, thinking of her death. "And now she's gone." He shook his head and looked back at Maya. "I can hardly bear it. To think of what happened to her…" He had put his face in his palm, his fingers grabbing at his hair in frustration.
Maya had put her hand on his in sympathy. "I know…" she said.
Phoenix sighed, rubbing his eyes of fresh tears before turning back to the young woman. He looked her over for a moment before clearing his throat. "Um… Do you mind if I ask you a completely unrelated question that's been bothering me ever since yesterday?"
Maya gave him a weird look. "Um…I guess not," she said skeptically.
He gestured to her body. "Why are you dressed as you are?"
Maya looked down at her dress. "Oh, this?" She brushed the dress of wrinkles as she explained. "This is what all acolytes wear." She looked up with a smile. "It's my uniform, you could say."
Phoenix cocked an eyebrow. "And when you say acolyte, you mean…?" he left the sentence for her to finish.
"I'm a spirit medium," she said nonchalantly.
If this were a different setting under different circumstances, Phoenix might not have been inclined to believe her. Seeing as she had no reason to lie to him under the current situation, he went along with it. "Ah…So you're training to learn more about your practice?'
Maya nodded. "That's right. The Fey family, especially the women, have always been very sensitive to the spirit world."
Phoenix nodded with her explanation before hesitating as the realization hit him. "So your sister…?"
Maya nodded again. "Was also a spirit medium. She had left the mountain to "follow her career," she said, but she always practiced her powers." It was a rare moment since meeting her that Phoenix saw her eyes light up. She must have really thought well of her sister.
"So…" Phoenix said, a thought forming in his head, "if your sister was a spirit medium, and you're one as well…wouldn't you be able to call upon your sister's spirit and ask her who murdered her?"
Maya's eyes fell at the idea, and Phoenix was almost sorry he asked. But he had to know. "No," Maya said. "I haven't learned enough to do that yet." She sighed. "That's something only more experienced mediums can do."
Phoenix nodded, expecting something of the sort. "Well, if we can't solve the case that easily, I suppose we'll have to do it the old-fashioned way." He clasped his hands in front of him and smiled at Maya in what he hoped was a cheerful expression. "Could you tell me about the day of the murder?"
Maya nodded, seemingly glad she could be of some help. "Yes! Of course!" She looked up in thought, stroking her chin. "Let's see… that morning, I got a call from my sister. She wanted me to hold onto a piece of evidence for an upcoming trial."
Phoenix leaned forward in anticipation. "Evidence?" He still hadn't heard anything about this case she had been working on, but if he could get a hold of some evidence, it might give him a clue as to what it entitled.
Maya nodded. "Yes. That clock shaped like 'The Thinker.'"
Phoenix held his breath. That thing again? "How could that have been evidence in a case?"
"Uh…" Maya hesitated, looking back up in thought. "Yeah. She said something about that." She thought for a moment before looking back at Phoenix in excitement. "I remember now! You wanna hear it in her own voice?"
Phoenix's heart stopped, his mind thinking about what Maya had just said. "Excuse me?"
Maya nodded vigorously. "Yeah! My cell phone records conversations for a week at a time. I'm almost positive our conversation is on my cell phone!"
Phoenix's heart dropped as he shrugged his shoulders. "Where does that leave us though? You don't have your cell phone on you, do you?"
Maya stopped for a second before sighing with a sad expression. "No, I don't. That detective took it from me."
Phoenix nodded. "I thought so. Next time I see him, I'll ask Gumshoe for it."
Maya looked to the side and grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil that she was provided excitedly. "I'll write you a note so you don't forget, okay?" She wrote down a reminder for Phoenix and slid it to him.
He accepted it and stuffed it in his inside pocket of his jacket, smiling at her. His smile faded as she looked skeptical at him. "What's wrong?"
"Um…" she started, looking away. "I…"
Phoenix leaned forward. "Maya…" She looked to him. "It's okay. Tell me."
She held his gaze for a moment, eyes sad and depressed before sighing. "Listen, Phoenix…" She hesitated before looking down in what appeared to be shame. "Don't be offended. But can you see if someone else can look after my case?"
Phoenix hesitated before nodding, fully understanding. "Of course. Who do you want me to see?"
Maya looked up in surprise and relief. "Uh…" She smiled, laughing slightly. "Well. My sister gave me the address to a famous lawyer a long time ago. She said if I was ever in trouble, I should call him." She shrugged. "And, well, I'm in trouble." She smiled slightly. "Do you think you could go ask him to represent me?"
Phoenix laughed. "Sure, but you have to tell me who it is first."
Maya chuckled as she reached for another piece of paper and wrote down an address. She slid the paper to Phoenix, smiling. "Thanks so much. I have no one else to turn to…I..." She stopped.
Phoenix cocked his head. "What about your parents?"
Maya went silent, looking away, and Phoenix understood almost immediately.
"Oh…Sorry." He scratched the back of his head, fighting down embarrassment. "Don't worry. I'll take care of everything.
Maya looked back to him, smiling again. "Thank you. The trial's tomorrow at 10:00am."
Phoenix, who was about to get up, stopped and turned back to Maya. "What? Your trial is tomorrow?" He looked away in shock. "How did they fit it in so quickly?"
Maya shrugged. "I don't know. But it's tomorrow."
Phoenix pointed at the address. "What if this guy refuses?"
Maya shrugged again. "They told me that if I don't find one, the state will pick an attorney to defend me."
"How long do you have to find one?"
"Until 4:00 this afternoon," Maya replied.
"Hm…" Phoenix thought out loud. That would only leave him a brief window to find this lawyer and convince him to take Maya's trial. He nodded at Maya as he stood. "Well, if that's the case, then I have some visiting to do." He smiled at Maya as the young woman stood. "Don't worry, alright, Maya? I'll be back."
Maya smiled. "I'll be waiting."
. . . . .
September 6, 11:17 AM
Grossberg Law Offices
Phoenix opened the door to the Grossberg Law Offices and was amazed by the décor almost immediately. The walls were a warm tan color, with rustic paintings lining the walls. He was walking on a soft, velvet carpet the likes of which Mia's firm would dream about owning. Directly across from the door was a woman sitting behind a dark wooden desk, her blonde hair up in a queue and what looked to be at least three pounds of makeup on her face. She smiled as Phoenix walked up, and he was almost certain she drank a gallon of bleach to have teeth as white as hers.
"Welcome to the Grossberg Law Offices. What can I do for you today?" she asked.
Phoenix smiled at her warmly. "Yes, I was hoping to speak to Mr. Grossberg. Is he available?"
The receptionist shook her head, looking apologetic. "No. Sorry. Mr. Grossberg is out on errands right now." She shrugged. "I don't know when he'll be back. I can take a message for you, if you'd like."
Phoenix thought about leaving a message but shook his head. "No, thank you. I'll come back later."
"Okay! Have a good day!" she said, smiling. Phoenix turned and walked out the door, wondering just what he was going to tell Maya.
. . . . .
September 6, 12:02 PM
Fey & Co. Law Offices
Phoenix had decided to form a second plan in the event that Grossberg couldn't be Maya's lawyer. He had decided to commit to the decision ever since bringing it up to Maya, and if Grossberg wasn't her lawyer, his idea was better than anything else.
He would represent Maya.
To this end, he backtracked to his workplace, where Mia was murdered, hoping to gather clues. Even as he approached the building from a block away, he saw many police officers mulling about, going over every inch of the place in the hopes to find evidence. Crime tape circled the building, and squad cars covered every inch of the parking lot.
As he neared the building, a police officer intercepted him. "I'm sorry, sir, but this is a crime scene. I'm going to have to ask you to go around."
Phoenix flashed his attorney's badge at the officer, taking in the scene. "I'm the defense attorney for the suspect. I'm here to investigate the murder of the victim, Mia Fey." He looked at the man. "Perhaps you can show me to the office where the murder took place?"
At the mention of defending the suspect, the police officer's attitude changed immediately. "Of course, sir. This way." The police officer led Phoenix to the building and through the hallway to Mia's office, where she had died. Even here, police officers were turning the room upside down, looking for anything that would shed light on what happened here just a few days ago. The police officer bid him farewell and left, leaving Phoenix to his own devices. As he thought about where to start, however, he heard a familiar voice.
"Mr. Wright. I should've expected you here."
He looked over to see Detective Dick Gumshoe walking toward him, the bigger man holding out his hand in greetings. Phoenix shook it. "Detective." He looked around as the two men separated. "Looks like your men are tearing this place apart."
Gumshoe nodded. "A murder case is pretty serious. We need to find anything and everything there is to figure out how Miss Fey died." He adopted an apologetic look on his face. "Mr. Wright, I wanna apologize for last night." Phoenix raised his eyebrows in surprise as the man continued. "I understand your grief over the loss of your friend, and I'm sorry for the way I treated you last night. Murders are serious, and our boss is even more serious about them than the usual bigwigs. I just wanted you to know that I don't think you murdered Miss Fey."
Phoenix smiled. "Thank you, Dick. I appreciate that."
Gumshoe nodded. "No problem. You don't have the look of a killer anyway." He crossed his arms. "Which brings me to the next problem. I don't think the victim's sister did it either. She's just a little girl, and I can't personally see her murdering anyone." He shrugged. "No matter what I think, though, you two still remain the primary suspects. I assume you're down here to investigate?" Phoenix nodded. "Have you decided to represent both the young Miss Fey and yourself in court tomorrow?" Again, Phoenix nodded, and Gumshoe himself nodded as he stood aside. "Alright, then. Help yourself. Try not to touch anything if you can help it, but anything you can do to shed light on what happened here would be great."
Phoenix nodded, greatly relieved that Gumshoe was being cooperative. "Actually, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Gumshoe shook his head. "Was there an autopsy done on Ms. Fey?"
Gumshoe nodded. "Yes, actually. I just received it not too long ago." He stepped away to a desk—Mia's old desk—and grabbed a brown folder, handing it to Phoenix. "I can get another copy at the station. Everything you need to know is in there."
Phoenix nodded, making a mental note to look at it in greater detail later. He turned back to Gumshoe as the detective berated one of his officers for handling some evidence too roughly. Gumshoe turned back to him with an apologetic look.
"You said last night that you had a demonizing prosecutor overseeing this case." He cocked his head in confusion. "Who exactly is the prosecution for tomorrow?"
For once, Gumshoe looked unsure, a look that didn't suit the big man. "The city's appointed Prosecutor Edgeworth on the trial. I hate to say it, Mr. Wright, but you have your work cut out for you tomorrow."
Phoenix nodded, the news not sitting well with him at all. Miles Edgeworth was a feared prosecutor, having founded guilty verdicts for all he prosecuted. My, how he's changed… Phoenix thought to himself before nodding at Gumshoe with a smile. "I'm sure it will be a good challenge."
Gumshoe cocked an eyebrow. "Challenge? Edgeworth will tear you a new asshole if you don't watch out, Mr. Wright. I'd stay on my toes and do all the research you can before tomorrow."
Phoenix nodded, putting his hand in his pocket to keep from fidgeting with it. "I'll take care of it. Don't worry about me." As he was talking, he felt a slip of paper in his pocket and pulled it out, unsure of what it was doing there. It was Maya's reminder to get her cell phone from Gumshoe, and he was glad she had written it down. "By the way, did you happen to find Maya's cell phone anywhere?"
Gumshoe hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Oh, yeah. I have it right here. "He pulled the cell phone out of his pocket, a humorous motion considering the cell phone was hot pink with a ribbon tied to it.
Phoenix nodded at the phone. "That's it. I don't suppose I could convince you to allow me to take it, could I? It might help me in my investigation."
Gumshoe hesitated, thinking about Phoenix's question before placing a hand on a hip. "What exactly do you want with this cell phone, Mr. Wright? And give it to me straight. You're on thin ice as it is."
Phoenix shrugged. "Truthfully, I don't know. I believe something is on that cell phone that could save Maya's life. But I can't say for certain."
"And you don't think I would want to see this 'something' that you're talking about? You don't think Mr. Edgeworth would want to see it?"
Phoenix crossed his arms. "I'm sure you could, yes. But it could result in a little girl behind bars, falsely accused for murder."
Both men held each other's gaze for a moment, oblivious to the other officers coming and going, and eventually Gumshoe relented. "Sure. I can't imagine being responsible for ruining that girl's life." He handed the phone to Phoenix. "I wrote down all the numbers she called, anyway. Edgeworth will have that, at least."
Phoenix nodded, pocketing the phone. "Thank you, Detective. I really appreciate this."
Gumshoe scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Don't worry about it, pal. Another thing," he said, looking around to see if he would be overheard. He lowered his voice while thumbing toward the window. "Across the way, you can find the witness to the murder. See what you can find out from her." He stepped away, smiling at Phoenix. "Now if that's all, I have some stuff to see to. Take as long as you want and give the place a good once-over. I'll tell my boys to leave you be. If you have any questions, I'll be around." He gave Phoenix a final handshake and left, leaving Phoenix to look over the room and see if he had missed anything from last night.
. . . . .
September 6
Gatewater Hotel
Phoenix had looked over the office carefully, but hadn't found anything else of use to him, and so decided to head to the hotel to talk to the witness. The receptionist was all too willing to point him in the right direction after he revealed himself to be a lawyer. He scaled the stairs to the third floor, walking through the hallway to Room 303. He knocked on the door three times, waiting for almost thirty seconds before the door opened, and a woman appeared. Even having just opened the door, her perfume almost overwhelmed Phoenix, as well as her looks. She had pink, wavy hair, wore a blouse that showed too much cleavage and a skirt that rode too high on the thigh, and knew how to flaunt herself.
She looked momentarily surprised before smiling seductively. "Well, hello there, handsome."
Phoenix, usually a solid guy, could feel his knees grow weak at the woman's smile. "Umm… hi." He said, smiling weakly. "Uh…" He started, wondering how to begin.
"Wait a minute," the woman interrupted. "You're the lawyer, aren't you? I'm April May. The detective told me not to speak to you, you know?"
Phoenix cocked an eyebrow. "Did he, now?"
April laughed. "Well, he did tell me that that was what his boss said. But he told me off the record to tell you whatever I could." She laughed again. "It's like something out of a movie! Detective going behind his boss's back, trying to find the truth. It's pretty exciting, don't you think?"
"Um…yeah." Phoenix smiled uncertainly.
She laughed at his nervousness. "What's wrong, lover boy? Am I making you nervous?"
Phoenix shook his head, laughing. "No. No, um…" He looked up. "I was just wondering if I can ask you a few questions."
The woman laughed. "As long as you ask the right ones…" she said, standing aside and gesturing for him to enter. "Come in."
Phoenix entered the room, the smell of womanly scent strong in the air. The hotel room was normal as far as Phoenix could tell, with few personal items of the woman inside. Maybe a hairbrush, or make-up. Before he could look any further, April laid a hand on his shoulder, smiling at him. "Why don't you make yourself at home… I'll go freshen up." She walked away, trailing her hand down Phoenix's arm before walking into the bathroom and closing the door.
Phoenix put his hands in his suit pocket, looking around as he waited for April to finish, when he noticed the table near the window. A wine bottle and…two glasses. Phoenix stopped and went to the desk, his fingers brushing the glasses as the wheels in his head started turning. Why two glasses? "Somebody must be staying with her…" he said softly to himself. He looked up and through the window, recognizing Mia's office from across the way. The police were still running around in the room. The office itself was clearly visible from here, but Phoenix knew it would be difficult to recognize a face from this distance, though. He himself couldn't make out any remarkable features of any of the policemen in the office. He filed the information away, taking one last look at the glasses before walking away and looking around the room some more. His eyes stopped on a half-open drawer with something sticking out. He walked up to take a closer look, noting that the thing was a screwdriver. A screwdriver? What was a screwdriver doing in April May's apartment? That kind of tool didn't fit the woman he had just seen.
Before he could open the drawer to investigate further, he heard April May's voice. "Hey!" He quickly turned to see April coming out of the bathroom, looking flustered. "What are you doing?" She moved between him and the drawer, pushing him away. "I don't think you should be snooping around in my room, Mr. Wright."
Phoenix stepped away. "Right, uh…sorry." He laughed, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "The lawyer in me…trying to investigate everything…" He gave her a sheepish grin before clearing his throat. "Um… about those questions…"
"About them." She said, all humor gone from her eyes. It was clear she was already tired of Phoenix's presence, so he made it quick.
"Detective Gumshoe said you were a witness to the crime. Can you tell me what you observed at the time of the incident?"
She laughed in a not-so-humorous manner. "I'm afraid not." She smiled at Phoenix's shocked look. "Remember? The detective told me not to tell you anything."
Phoenix crossed his arms. "But he also said off the record to tell me anything that could help. Somebody's life is at stake here, Miss May. Anything you can do to help."
She shook her head. "Nope. Sorry. You'll just have to come to court tomorrow."
Phoenix took a deep breath, already feeling annoyance at the woman. She was obviously hiding something, that much was sure. She was no ordinary witness. "What is it exactly that you do, Miss May?"
She shook her head. "And why exactly do you need to know, Mr. Wright?"
Phoenix shrugged his shoulders, furrowing his brow. "It's just an honest question."
April gave him a sweet smile. "Then let me give you an honest answer." Her face became serious. "Fuck off."
Phoenix clenched a fist but said nothing. "Well…Can you tell me if anyone else is staying here with you? A boyfriend or coworker?"
"And what gives you any idea that someone else is staying here with me?" May asked.
Phoenix gestured to the table. "Well, there are two glasses on the table over there. I'm assuming someone else is staying here with you," He couldn't resist himself. "unless you just like to indulge yourself."
April's face was priceless. "I got a better question. How about you get the fuck out of my hotel room? Or I'll call the cops." She smiled sweetly at him, and Phoenix began to start hating the smile. He nodded.
"Fine." He put on a fake smile. "You've been very helpful, Miss May. I'll see you in court tomorrow."
She smiled sweetly again. "I'm sure you will."
She closed the door behind him, leaving Phoenix fuming. He sighed, putting the woman out of his head. "Maybe I'm in over my head," he said to himself. Perhaps he should pay another visit to Grossberg.
. . . . .
September 6
Grossberg Law Offices
Phoenix sat in Grossberg's own office of the Grossberg Law Offices, intent on waiting for Mr. Grossberg to show. He would be more apt to solving Maya's case than himself, Phoenix admitted. He was more experienced, after all. The receptionist didn't mind him waiting, either. She was too busy with her computer, and let him be. Phoenix went over the case in his mind, wondering just what was going on. He was positive Maya didn't kill her sister, and he knew he didn't do it. The only other person so far that was connected to the case was April May, and she was starting to look very suspicious, if her answers to his questions were anything to go by. But how did she know Mia? And what was her motivation if she did kill Mia? There were too many unknowns, and with court being tomorrow, he didn't feel comfortable taking on the case as it was.
He instead passed the time by looking around Grossberg's office, amazed by the grandeur he saw. Compared to Mia's meager style, Grossberg was luxurious. He had bookshelves lining the wall, a desk that was at least twice the size of Mia's, and paintings hung across the walls. One in particular, a painting of a man sitting against a tree with a sunset casting glares across a sea in the background, was so eye-catching, Phoenix studied it for some time. It was a wonderful piece of art, he could tell. It must have been very expensive to come across.
"Ahem."
Phoenix snapped from his thoughts and turned around to see a very large man in a brown suit and graying hair staring at him. "Are you Mr. Wright?" he asked in a deceptively gentle voice.
Phoenix smiled, holding out a hand. "Yes, I am. You must be Mr. Grossberg, correct?"
Grossberg shook the offered hand, the meaty hand enclosing around Phoenix's in a firm grip. "That's correct." He smiled at Phoenix before looking startled. "Hm…? That badge on your collar…" He smiled even bigger. "Are you a lawyer as well?"
Phoenix laughed, slightly embarrassed. "Well…yes. Yes I am. Though not as good as you, to be sure."
Grossberg laughed. "Oh, come now. We all fight for truth and justice. Some have just been in the game longer than others."
Phoenix chuckled before gesturing to the painting. "That's quite a work of art you have there."
Grossberg smiled. "Yes, it is. It's a wonderful painting… the weave of the straw hat, the color of the sky…the hue of the sea…" He sighed lovingly. "I had it appraised. Close to three million dollars, this painting. There's no way I'd part with it." He smiled, coming back to the situation at hand. "What is it I can do for you, Mr. Wright?"
Phoenix took a seat, and Grossberg followed, his great weight making the chair creak, and Phoenix had a brief scare the chair would break. "Um… Well, I'm here on behalf of Maya Fey, actually."
At the mention of the girl's name, Grossberg took a deep sigh. "Ah…yes. Miss Fey. Go on."
Phoenix cocked an eyebrow. "Is there a problem?"
Grossberg sighed as he looked away. "Well, sonny…" He looked at Phoenix. "Let's just say that, if you came to ask me to represent her, I'm afraid that's out of the question."
Phoenix couldn't have been more startled. "Why not? What am I going to tell Maya? She's depending on you!"
Grossberg stood, hands clasped behind his back. "I know, Mr. Wright. I know. Believe me when I tell you that I feel truly sorry for denying her my help." He looked back at Phoenix. "But also believe me when I tell you that I cannot take this case." He shrugged. "No lawyer worth their weight in salt would take this case, actually." He took quick steps to Phoenix. "And you would be wise to do the same. Walk away, boy. It's for the best."
Phoenix took a step back. "Why? Why can't you, or I, or anyone help Maya?"
Grossberg opened his mouth but hesitated. "I…cannot say." He looked away shamefully. "I'm truly sorry, my boy, but I cannot speak about it. My career depends on it." He looked at Phoenix. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave. There's nothing I can do, believe me."
Phoenix could tell Grossberg was right, that he couldn't help him. He didn't know why, but he could also tell that Grossberg wouldn't tell him that either. He nodded, discouraged, and began walking away when Grossberg called out.
"Mr. Wright." Phoenix turned around. "Take my advice, son. Don't go to court tomorrow."
Phoenix shook his head. "I'm sorry, sir. But I can't allow an innocent person to be falsely accused. It goes against everything I stand for." He held Grossberg's gaze before walking out the door, feeling more determined than ever.
. . . . .
September 6, 3:42 PM
Detention Center
Visitor's Room
Phoenix sat, twiddling his thumbs as he thought about how to break it to Maya that he was all she had. He ran several scenarios through his head, but none of them sounded good enough for him. He never had enough time deciding on one before the door opened, and Maya appeared, police officer escort in tow.
Her eyes lit up, causing Phoenix's heart to drop. "You're back!" She quickly took a seat across from Phoenix, unable to contain her excitement. "Where you able to find the lawyer?"
Phoenix sighed, deciding to be honest with her. "Maya…he refused your case."
Maya's face dropped, and she looked more helpless now than before. "I see…" Tears began to form in her eyes. "I've been abandoned, then."
"But what about your family?" Phoenix asked sincerely.
She looked down, hand on her forehead. "I only had my sister." She sniffed. "My father died when I was very young. And I don't know where my mother is."
"What happened to her?" he asked.
She sniffed again. "The women in my family have always been strong mediums…" She looked up. "About fifteen years ago, my family was involved in an incident. There was a young man who was also involved…and he…he…" She looked away. "He ruined our mother's life." She started crying, and it was all Phoenix could do not to reach across and hug her. "After that, she disappeared. Then, seven years later, my sister decided to be a lawyer and left the mountain."
"So…" Phoenix began, "you live by yourself?" It was a sad thought that a girl at only seventeen years old had to live alone.
Maya nodded. "Yeah…" She wiped tears from her eyes. "I've gotten used to it by now."
Phoenix nodded. "It's still rough, I bet. Living on your own."
Maya nodded. "Yeah. But it makes me stronger."
Phoenix nodded, smiling warmly at her. Something still bugged him, though, about their last conversation. "Do you think you could tell me a little more about that man who ruined your mother?"
Maya nodded, leaning on the table. She looked very tired. "About fifteen years ago, there was an unusual murder case. It made quite a stir. Everyone was talking about it, apparently. The police were running out of leads, and they were getting desperate…"
Phoenix held up a hand. "Wait a minute… they didn't use a spirit medium, did they?"
Maya nodded. "The police convinced my mother to try to contact the victim."
Phoenix almost laughed, but the sight of Maya's face stopped him. He couldn't believe it. "Wow… So, what happened?"
Maya shrugged. "The case was solved…" She sighed. "…we thought."
"You thought?"
Maya looked down, as if in shame. "The man my mother helped the police capture was innocent…" She waved a hand in annoyance. "The police's consultation with a medium had all been carried out in secret, of course. But a man found out about it and leaked it to the press. He told all the papers that my mother was a fraud, and the media jumped on it almost immediately." She clenched her fists. "She…my mother…became the laughing stock of the nation."
Phoenix sat in silence, unsure of how to speak to her, or if he even should.
Maya went on. "My sister told me that the man's name was White. Other than that, I don't know anything about him."
Phoenix nodded, sighing with sorrow at the young woman's situation. He looked up at the clock and noted the time with dread. 4:00 PM.
Maya noticed it as well. "Just a little longer now before the state-appointed lawyer comes, I guess…" She sighed with futility, and Phoenix made up his mind.
He stood. "Good. I want to be there to tell him he won't be needed." Maya looked up in shock, speechless. "I'm going to defend you, whether you want me to or not."
"But…why?"
Phoenix took a deep breath, remembering a time when he, too, had no friends to turn to during trouble. He wouldn't let Maya feel the same way. "Because I won't abandon you." He took her hands in his as he smiled. "You may not know me very well, but you're my best friend's sister. You can count on me."
She stared, speechless for a moment before beginning to cry again. "That's so kind of you…" she said. She squeezed his hands in a desperate grasp, and he squeezed back before sighing.
"Well. Seems I have some work to do if I'm going to get you out of here!"
Maya wiped away her tears and smiled. "Right. Thank you!"
Phoenix and Maya both stood, and for once Maya was smiling. "One last question," Phoenix asked. "You are innocent, right?"
Maya looked shocked before looking insulted. "Yes! I'm trusting you with my case, so… you trust me, right?"
Phoenix nodded, smiling. "I do. And I'll do everything I can to prove you innocent. All I need you to do is believe it me."
Maya nodded, smiling. "I do. And I'll be rooting for you tomorrow."
Phoenix smiled again as the officer in charge of Maya walked up. "Visiting hours are over, sir. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Phoenix nodded as the officer grabbed Maya gently and guided her to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Maya."
"Bye, Phoenix! I'll see you tomorrow!" She was led out of the room, but still managed to shout, "and you'd better win!"
Phoenix smiled as he walked out and headed in the opposite direction, still thinking about the stuff he had learned. Just what was inside that strange woman's drawer? She was sweet until I tried to look into it. There has to be something there! Considering he was at a great disadvantage going into the case tomorrow, he decided to head back to the hotel and see if he could make up to Miss May.
. . . . .
September 6, 4:25 PM
Gatewater Hotel
"Miss May!"
Phoenix knocked on Room 303, hoping that April would be home. He really needed to see what was in that drawer, and he wasn't going to take no for an answer, not when someone's life was at stake. He was getting no answer, despite how loud he knocked or yelled. He sighed in frustration as he turned away from the door.
Just as he was about to give up hope, a bellboy appeared, carrying a tray with a teapot and several cups. "Good afternoon, sir!" he greeted.
Phoenix cocked an eyebrow. "Excuse me…you are?"
"Ah, I beg your pardon, sir!" He cleared his throat politely. "I am the bellboy of this establishment, at your service, sir."
Phoenix looked him up and down before nodding. "Of course."
"I've just come up to deliver room service, sir. But while I'm here, is there anything I can do to assist you?"
Phoenix gestured to the door. "Do you know where Miss May might be? I'm Phoenix Wright, defense attorney at law," he flashed his badge, "and I have a few questions for Miss May. She's a witness to a murder I'm investigating."
"Ah," the bellboy said. "Miss May is currently out at the moment. She's expected back soon, if you wish to wait for her." He smiled before taking a step back. "If you've no need of anything else, I'll be taking my leave." He turned to leave before stopping and returning. "Ah, I almost forgot! Might I ask you to inform Miss May that there is a message for her? Please tell her that Mr. White, of Bluecorp, phoned."
Phoenix nodded. "Of course. I will." The bellboy turned and left as Phoenix just recalled the name…White! The name of the man that ruined the Fey family! Just a coincidence? He doubted it. This case was getting stranger and stranger, and it made it all the more frustrating that he couldn't find a footing to prove Maya innocent! He went to April's door in frustration and, on impulse, tried to open the door. He never expected it to open, but was shocked when it did. The door opened slightly, and he stood there, debating if he should go inside or not. It would be considered trespassing if he were to enter, but he was almost certain April was hiding something.
He finally decided to enter, ready to face the consequences, and walked in cautiously, looking for anyone inside. "Hello?" he called out. When he didn't get an answer, he walked inside slowly, closing the door behind him, and set to work. He walked straight for the drawer, noting the screwdriver still sticking out. Miss May must not be very cautious. He looked inside the drawer, shocked when he found…
A wiretap…?
He found it very strange that a woman like her would be in possession of a thing like this. He pocketed the wiretap, noting that April was becoming more suspicious as the day went on. He quickly took off before April showed up, ready to use this bit of evidence in court tomorrow. There were many things going through his head, and all of them he was going to plan for before court tomorrow.
. . . . .