September 7, 3:11 PM
Detention Center
Visitor's Room

Phoenix sighed as he stood, weaving his shoulders and smiling as they popped. Cracking his joints felt as satisfying as postponing the verdict in today's court. If he could keep up the momentum, he would get Maya out of here and back home by tomorrow. All he needed was to find the cracks in the story and he could bring the truth to light. If April would work with him, it would be much easier. If not...well…he would work with what he had.

He sat down again, trying to think of how it all fit together: the bloody note, the wiretap, the statue, the evidence… He was fairly sure he knew what had happened, but the only thing remained was who did it. If he had an idea of who did it, he might be able to pin down a motive. From there, he was positive he could figure out who did the actually killing.

His thoughts were cut short by the opening of the door and April May entering. She had taken half a step in before her face contorted in rage. "You!" She took several steps toward Phoenix, and he rose in preparation to defend himself, but the officer in charge of her got to April first. He held her back, and Phoenix watched as a woman fought to get to him, all elegance and modesty forgotten. The officer held her tighter while yelling in her ear. "Ma'am, calm down! Or it's the rubber room for you!" April quickly settled down, taking a seat across from Phoenix, her expression never changing from pure rage.

"So," she stared, and Phoenix could feel the venom of her words. "Come to laugh at me?"

Phoenix shook his head. "No," he said softly. "I never wished to humiliate you, Miss May, but…"

"Humiliate?!" April said. "I'm in jail because of you!" She slammed the table, causing the officer in the room to bristle. "My career is finished, and my name ruined because you couldn't keep your nose out of other people's business!"

Phoenix leaned forward, pointing an accusing finger at her. "You received what you deserved, Miss May!" He admitted that perhaps he was being harsh, but part of him knew the woman needed to hear it. "A woman is dead, with another woman's life in jeopardy, and you know why! I know you know!" He took several breaths, thankful that April had remained quiet. "I'm trying to save someone's life so that they can grieve in peace! Instead of mourning her sister's death, Maya Fey is also locked up like a common criminal!"

"What the hell do I care?!" April crossed her arms. "That bitch had it coming! You lawyers are all the same! She should have just minded her own business too! She did it to herself!"

Phoenix stood, pointing again at her. "Stop slandering her name! Give respect to the dead!" Thankfully, April didn't comment, and Phoenix sat down after a tense moment of staring at her. "April, I'm just trying to do the right thing. I don't mean anything by it. I just want to see an innocent person go free. Why can't you understand that?"

"Maybe because I'm in a jail!" She pointed at him this time. "Have you thought about that, Mr. Wright?"

Phoenix nodded. "I have. And I'm sorry for putting you here." April looked away, unconvinced. "I just want to find the man who killed my friend." April still said nothing. "Can't you understand how it feels to lose someone close to you?" Phoenix saw her expression change slightly, and pressed his luck. "I know Mia was nosey, and probably should have left well enough alone. But she was only interested in upholding the law." He shook his head. "She wasn't a bad person. She was actually a wonderful woman. She was using her own money to pay for her sister's housing so that she could be closer to her." He looked down, smiling in reminiscence. "They were so close… Mia would talk about Maya for hours at a time." He looked back up at April. "And now she's gone. And nothing will change that." He shrugged. "And perhaps you don't care, April. But can you really sit there, knowing that you can help me prove her innocent, and not help me? Can you live with yourself knowing you could have brought a murderer to justice?"

April snorted. "Justice…" She looked at him. "You lawyers have a twisted sense of the word."

Phoenix shook his head. "Not me. Perhaps it's unfair, but I think the law should always be upheld. I don't care who you are." He sighed. "I just try to do the right thing, April. And I don't think letting Maya sit in prison for a crime she didn't commit is the right thing to do."

April sat there, a scowl on her face, for a long time. Phoenix didn't say anything to her, intent on waiting her out. She eventually looked away, seeming to be deep in thought, and Phoenix was about to say it was hopeless when she finally said something.

"Redd White…" she said softly, and Phoenix leaned in to better hear her.

"Excuse me?"

She turned to him. "I said his name is Redd White." She rubbed an arm while looking away, and suddenly she looked scared. Phoenix narrowed his eyes in confusion as she continued. "He… he's my boss." She looked away. "He's in charge of Bluecorp. It's an information gathering agency." She looked at him, and Phoenix could tell there really was fear in her eyes. "I… I didn't want to help him, but… I don't want to end up like your friend…" She looked away again, and Phoenix suddenly felt bad for her. "He's a monster. And he'll do anything to achieve his own goals." She looked at Phoenix. "Please… don't tell him I told you…" She gulped, "He killed her."

Phoenix's eyes widened. "What?"

April nodded. "Redd White killed your friend."

"Why?!" Phoenix asked, suddenly completely alert. "Why did he do it?"

April shrugged. "I don't know… I was just his secretary." She looked away. "He suspected that she was gathering information on him, and had me tap her phone. Anything she said into it concerning him or Bluecorp, I relayed to him. One day he decided that was enough, and that he had all he needed. I was afraid of what he meant by it." She shivered. "Working with him was like staying in a prison. You did what he demanded, and you were fine, but get any of your own ideas…" she trailed off, and Phoenix could see that she was telling the truth about White. "Please," she said, shaking her head. "Don't make me testify in court! Please!"

Phoenix's eyes widened. "Why? That's the only way I can get an innocent verdict!" He stared at April, mouth agape as she stared pleadingly at him. "How can I prove Maya innocent if you don't testify tomorrow in court?"

April shook her head, "No, you don't understand! White has ears everywhere! If I testify tomorrow, he'll hear about it and he'll run!" She began to cry. "He knows I'm in court over this, and he's thought out everything! Even if the court believes you and sends someone to arrest him, White has already planned for me coming clean. The only way you can catch him is to turn the case around when it looks hopeless. Catch him by surprise."

"How do I do that," Phoenix asked, shrugging his shoulders, at a complete loss.

April also shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. But you can't let me testify tomorrow! If you do, he'll get me!" She began to sob, a complete turnaround from her attitude before. "Please, don't let him kill me!"

Phoenix sighed, feeling genuinely sorry for April, and nodded. "Alright. I'll see what I can do." He looked down, wondering just what he could do. "I don't know how I can do it, but I can't have you testify if it means endangering your life." He looked at her and nodded. "I'll find another way."

April's face was one of pure relief. "Oh, thank you! Thank you! I'm really sorry about your friend, but I don't want to end up like her."

Phoenix nodded. "You won't. I'll see what I can do." He stood and nodded to the security officer once before walking to the door.

"Mr. Wright," April called out, and he turned to look at the woman as she walked up to him, all attempts at seduction forgotten. "Please… Can you forgive me for how I've acted?" She looked up to him pleadingly, and he let out a big breath.

"I can," he said. "But I don't know if Maya will." He gave her an apathetic look. "She's the one who's been accused of murder. She should be grieving over her sister. Instead, she's fearing a guilty verdict for killing her." He shook his head. "I wouldn't hold my breath over her feelings toward you."

April looked down and nodded. "Yeah… I can understand." She looked up to him. "If you see her… please… tell her I'm sorry."

Phoenix smiled. "I will." He nodded once more at her before walking out the door.

. . . . .

September 7
Bluecorp Inc.
CEO's Office

Phoenix had been in the boss's office for less than five seconds and the décor was giving him a headache. The desk appeared to be made of pure gold, there were several strange trophies in a glass case, with a statue holding up some sort of sphere in front of the case, and a large, peculiar painting hung behind the desk. There was a rich, blue carpet spanning the office, even more extravagant than Grossberg's office.

The painting was the most noticeable item, as Phoenix had seen it before. Back in Grossberg's office yesterday, the man had said that it had cost him almost three million, and that it was a one-of-a-kind item. Phoenix found it strange that he suddenly saw another painting in the CEO's office of an information gathering company, especially since Grossberg himself is being blackmailed.

It didn't take a genius to see that White was the culprit now that he had seen the man's office. He was in charge of information. He could easily blackmail Grossberg, who—to White—was the only man capable of solving the murder. That Grossberg's picture was in White's office confirmed that the two were connected, and Phoenix could think of no other way the two men would be associated. Considering April's confession of the man's dealings with other people, it was likely that Mia had discovered his illegal practices and was working to bring them to light when she had gotten enough evidence to support her claim. White, of course, found out and silenced her, pinning the blame on a second party. But how did the man relate to Mia and Maya's mother? What had he done? And how was he related to the DL-6 incident? For that matter, what was the DL-6 incident? It sounded big, and Phoenix could feel himself treading thin ice as he waited for White to show.

"Welcome!" a voice sounded from behind him, and Phoenix turned to see the man himself, Redd White, standing there smiling at him. He offered his hand, and Phoenix shook it as he continued his greeting. "My name is Redd White, CEO of Bluecorp. Whom do I have the honor of meeting today?"

Phoenix nodded, feeling that the man was much too pleasant, considering April's fear of him. She was lying, or he was a good actor. "Phoenix Wright, Defense Attorney." He smiled at the man as White gestured to a chair near his desk.

"Please, Mr. Wright, have a seat." He sat behind his desk and turned several papers over to hide their contents before leaning toward Phoenix, hands clasped in front of him. "What can I do for you today?"

Phoenix crossed his legs as he started. "I'm here because I believe I spoke to an employee of yours, Mr. White. Does Miss May work here?"

White nodded. "She does. She is my secretary. I received a call today about Miss May's appearance in court. Is that what you're here about?"

Phoenix nodded. "Actually, yes. Did you hear about her being arrested for tapping phones?"

White shook his head. "I'm afraid not. I deal with information, but to know what happens in court proceedings before they are made public is certainly a questionable endeavor for my business." He leaned back into his chair comfortably. "If you don't mind, could you fill me in? I'd like to know why my secretary is suddenly incarcerated."

If Phoenix hadn't seen April's expression himself when she confessed to him, he would think that Mr. White was completely innocent at the moment. He seemed to be a very pleasant man, if not a little eccentric, and was very polite. "Apparently, April May was charged with tapping the late Mia Fey's phone line. We can think of no other reason for her doing so except to supply you with information." He cocked an eyebrow. "You are an information gathering company, so we assumed you were asking her to do so."

White laughed slightly. "Mr. Wright, while Miss May gathers information for us as part of her duties, I can assure you that Bluecorp gathers said information legally. We don't support any illegal activity that can harm our good name. If she was tapping a phone, it was not on behalf of Bluecorp."

Phoenix nodded. "I understand, but she's involved in a murder case. Miss May was tapping the victim's phone line before she was murdered." He shrugged. "I'm really sorry, but we'll need more concrete evidence to rule you out. Can you prove that Miss May was in no way supplying you with the information she acquired through the tapped phone?"

"That's not fair, Mr. Wright," White said. "What can we possibly do to prove that she was acting of her own accord?" He leaned onto his desk, pointing at Phoenix. "Perhaps you should speak to Miss May about this. I'm sure she'll come clean."

Phoenix nodded, avoiding the subject. It wouldn't do to put White on guard before he was ready. "Perhaps." He shrugged. "She wasn't very forthcoming with any information."

It was exactly what White wanted to hear. "Then I suggest you ask her more thoroughly before you begin accusing good companies. It is entirely possible that she was acting of her own accord, and that we had no knowledge of her sources."

Phoenix nodded again. "Alright. I do have a few more questions for you, if you don't mind answering them."

White nodded. "Of course."

"Mr. White, where were you on the night of September 5?"

White laughed. "Why, I was at home. Why do you ask?"

"Well, we've had a witness testimony stating that you checked in with Miss May into a hotel that night."

For a very brief second, Phoenix saw White's façade crack. It was very brief, and he masked it well, but Phoenix knew then that White was hiding something. "And who was that?"

"The bellboy of the hotel, actually. He states that he remembers you very clearly."

White shrugged. "Well, perhaps I was, perhaps I wasn't." He leaned back. "And if I was, it is none of your business why we went to the hotel. If I wasn't, then that answers that."

Phoenix cocked an eyebrow. "So…which was it?"

White shrugged, suddenly uncooperative. "Who can say? You're the lawyer. Figure it out."

Phoenix scowled. "Mr. White, this is very serious. Someone was murdered here, and I'm just trying to clear your name."

White laughed. "Then put me on the witness stand, if you'd like. But I doubt you would want to do that. I have information on everything." He looked aside, crossing his legs as he rubbed a thumb and finger together. "The police…the courts…" He looked back at Phoenix. "They're amusing to me, nothing more. I can assure you that I didn't commit any murder, and that the legal system will believe the same." He flashed his smile that Phoenix was beginning to hate so much.

Phoenix sighed, crossing his arms. He decided to try another subject. "What exactly does Bluecorp do, anyway?"

"Ah, an excellent question!" White leaned forward enthusiastically. "We buy and sell various kinds of information. We are a company of the future." He smiled. "You might say, we are the future!" He spread his arms. "In just ten years, I've built this business up into the grand office you see now."

Phoenix nodded, smiling. "That's really quite impressive, Mr. White." He looked around as White soaked up the praise, his eyes landing on the painting. "Mr. White, I have to admit that something has been bothering me since I arrived here."

White smiled. "What exactly is that, Mr. Wright?"

Phoenix gestured to the painting. "That painting on the wall behind you…" White turned to look at it as Phoenix commented. "I've seen it before."

"Oh?" White asked, his usual happy face turning to confusion.

Phoenix nodded. "Just yesterday, in fact."

White shrugged, laughing. "Your point being…?" He fixed Phoenix with a confused look that seemed to dare him to continue.

Phoenix did, of course. "The point is actually a question: Why is that painting, which is a one-of-a-kind item, hanging on your wall?"

White narrowed his eyes, his smile falling from his face. "Mr. Wright, perhaps you don't fully understand where you stand in the mix of things." He pointed at him. "Let me ask. Who are you?"

Thrown off by the question, Phoenix hesitated. "Uh… I'm Phoenix Wright. A lawyer."

"No, my feeble friend." He clasped his hands in front of him. "You are a 'mere' lawyer." He smiled, dangerously this time, and Phoenix could feel that he had taken one step too far onto the thin ice. "You are worth nothing. I, on the other hand, am the owner of one of the most important and glorious businesses known to man." He shrugged. "You lawyers all believe you can intimidate me. I've only just set Grossberg in his place." He cocked his head. "Must I do the same to you?"

Phoenix, whose brain was suddenly reeling at that small tidbit of information, shook his head. "Of course not. I wouldn't dream of it."

White nodded. "That's a good boy. Because I think you'll find yourself in far more trouble if you decide to pursue this route. Mr. Grossberg found out the hard way. Let him be a reminder of just how far the mighty can fall." He stood and pointed to the door. "Now leave. Before I change my mind."

Phoenix nodded, standing. "Of course. Have a good day, Mr. White." He walked out, already of a mind to march down to the precinct and command to April to confess to everything. He shook his head of that thought as he exited Bluecorp. It wouldn't work. He would need hard evidence to bring White down, not just a witness's claim. Perhaps Grossberg could shed light on the deal…

. . . . .

September 7
Grossberg Law Offices

Phoenix slowly walked inside Grossberg's office, seeing the giant of a man staring reminiscently out of his window, hands clasped behind his back. Phoenix could tell something was bothering him, and second-guessed his reason for being here. He had to know the truth, though, and cleared his throat to announce his presence.

Grossberg looked over, startled, before sighing heavily at the sight of Phoenix. "Oh. Mr. Wright."

Phoenix walked up to stand beside the man. "What's wrong, Mr. Grossberg? You look like a man at the end of his days."

Grossberg sighed as he looked down at the floor. "No, not yet. I'm just thinking about this whole mess…" He looked up at Phoenix. "Mia spoke highly of you before her demise. She always said you had the makings of an Ace Attorney." He smiled weakly. "She even dared to say you would surpass me in terms of success." He looked away. "You did well in today's trial."

Phoenix smiled. "So you went?"

Grossberg nodded. "Yes. What you had said to me yesterday bothered me more than anything." He turned to him. "I had to come. To cheer you on, so to speak." He looked back at the window. "That poor girl… I don't know what I would have done if things had gone poorly for her."

Phoenix cocked his head. "Then why did you refuse? If it meant that much to you, why not help?"

Grossberg was silent for a time before answering, "I presume you've learned of my involvement?"

Phoenix nodded. "White is blackmailing you, isn't he?" Grossberg's silence confirmed it. "He has something on you, and wants you out of the picture."

Grossberg sighed again. "Very well… This may be the chance I've been waiting for." Phoenix cocked an eyebrow as Grossberg continued. "Redd White is a man who makes his living through intimidation. Bluecorp is a company that excels in finding people's weaknesses, I'm afraid. I've…" he hung his head. "I've been paying them for fifteen years now… All because of the DL-6 incident, as you may have guessed."

Phoenix nodded. "You couldn't defend Maya because of her family's involvement in the case."

Grossberg nodded. "Precisely. White would have destroyed me if I did."

"How?" Phoenix asked.

Grossberg sighed, his voice breaking. "It is hard for me to tell you this, my boy. The DL-6 incident was top-secret. The police didn't want the public to know that they had been using a spirit medium."

"Because she failed, right?"

Grossberg nodded. "Precisely. She failed, and the police called her a fraud. Practically ruined her. I rose to her defense and cleared her name of any wrongdoing." He hesitated. "But…I…" He looked down shamefully. "I told Mr. White about Madam Fey and her failure." He turned away and began pacing. "He offered me riches. Wealth beyond my comprehension. It is an embarrassment to me now." He stopped. "Because I talked, the police were mocked far and wide. In secret, they began looking for the one who sold them out. White heard about it and came to me again. Only this time, the offer was blackmail. In exchange for an absurd fee, he would lead the police around and keep me from being discovered." He sighed. "Several times I thought about confessing everything to the chief of police." He shook his head. "But I just can't. I don't understand it, Wright, but I just can't."

Phoenix nodded, the entire thing making sense for him now. " I see."

Grossberg turned to Phoenix. "Wright, White controls all of the laws of this country as he sees fit. He is the most powerful man in the country." He laid a hand on Phoenix's shoulder. "If you still wish to challenge him, though, have a look at Mia's office. She followed his every move for years. She was so close to finishing him!" He smiled. "She spoke so well of you. She confessed to me of wanting to bring you into the case. She fully believed that you would have discovered his methods in no time, and that the case would have already been solved." He held Phoenix's eyes for a moment in understanding, as both men thought about the woman Mia had been. "But now she is gone, and you must pick up the pieces. I know you can do it. After watching you in the trial today, I know you can bring this monster down." He patted Phoenix's shoulder. "Head to Mia's office. Find out what you can. Please…bring down the madman."

Phoenix nodded, trying to force down the sense of pride in his chest. "I will."

. . . . .

September 7
Fey & Co. Law Offices.

Phoenix stood, looking around the office, feeling strange that the office seemed so normal. It was hard to imagine that a murder took place here. He brushed those thoughts aside, focusing on Grossberg's suggestion. Mia would have placed anything she would have found in a folder somewhere, not lying around. Especially in a case like this. He walked behind her desk to the bookshelf that held all of her cases she had ever worked on. Being that they were in alphabetical order, he began with the most obvious choices: DL-6, White, Redd, Bluecorp…nothing that caught his eye. He trailed through the "F"s, thinking that she had filed the case under her mother's last name, and was rewarded with a file on "Fey, Misty." He grabbed the file and flipped through it slightly before taking a seat at Mia's desk and looking through the entire file more thoroughly. Inside, he found a personal note by Mia herself, talking about her mother's fall, and that she had found two men responsible. One was Marvin Grossberg, of course, but the other wasn't identified. Before she could write the second man's name down, the record stopped.

It was strange, Phoenix knew, and not much to go on. He looked through the entire folder more thoroughly but couldn't find anything else incriminating in the book and so returned it to its place. He decided to skim through her entire library, hoping to find something that may be connected to the case. The biggest part of her files ended in "S". He flipped through the first of the folders, noting that most of it consisted of suicides. Mia had made note of several politicians, policemen, lawyers, etc., and that she had written little notes by each of the articles. Of peculiar note was one note, 'White' in Mia's handwriting. Phoenix stroked his chin in thought, ideas running through his head. One stood out among the rest. Mia must have thought White was involved in these suicides. He looked among the newspaper clippings, noting that the victims were normal, happy men and women who suddenly and violently committed suicide for no explanation. He decided to pocket the clippings, intent on using them, and replaced the folder. He had a sudden thought and looked back on the shelf for the "W"s and found them to be missing. There was no file dedicated to that letter, and yet there was a place for it. Like someone took it and hadn't returned it.

Phoenix smiled to himself, knowing what was going on. White must have taken the file to cover his tracks, and then killed Mia to prevent her from connecting all the evidence she had found. He didn't know what was in that "W" file, but he was confident he could connect White to these suicides, and in turn, Mia's murder, if he could get him on the stand. And he was positive he could do that. He smiled to himself as he walked out of the office, heading to Bluecorp.

. . . . .

September 7
Bluecorp Inc.
CEO's Office

"Well, aren't you persistent." White said, walking into the office quickly. Phoenix stood, steeling himself against the inevitable threats he knew White would use against him.

He smiled. "Sorry, but there's something I have to ask you."

White sighed, rubbing his forehead in annoyance. "Mr. Wright, I really hate having to repeat myself, but it seems the message hasn't gotten through your thick skull yet." He crossed his arms. "Stop bothering me! If you try my patience further, I fear a nasty accident may befall you."

Phoenix cocked an eyebrow. "Really. Like Mia Fey?"

White laughed. "You would like to pin me for her murder, wouldn't you?" He shook his head.

Phoenix nodded. "Why not? I think you did it."

White scowled. "Trust me, Mr. Wright, that kind of accusation would be frowned upon. It might be dangerous for you to go around shouting such things."

Phoenix shook his head, incredulous. "So the truth comes out. You plan to shut me up just like you did Grossberg?" He was silent as he and White glared at each other before he added, "I should have expected as much. This company is built on blackmail."

White was silent for a moment before chuckling. "What a bizarre accusation. You should be looking for Mia's killer, not investigating me. I've already said that I didn't do it, and everyone out there will believe me." He walked to his intercom and phoned the secretary's desk. "Mr. Wright will be leaving now."

[Yes, Mr. White. I'll send someone up.]

"Mr. White, you're wrong!" Phoenix said. He boldly thrust his finger on White's chest, poking the man accusingly. "What I should be doing right now is going after you!" He had a good idea that the man was arrogant enough to do it, but he still prayed that White was confident enough.

"Just what are you insinuating?" White asked threateningly.

"Mia was on to you. She was keeping tabs. For this reason, you had April May tapping her phone. Then, Mia was murdered, and all documents about you mysteriously disappeared." He held up a finger. "So, the culprit would be…?" White was silent, and Phoenix laughed condescendingly. "Even a child could work it out, Mr. White. You did it!"

White was silent for a time, glaring at Phoenix before turning back to the intercom. "We won't be needing an escort for Mr. Wright," he said, glaring at the lawyer. "Instead, please connect me to the public prosecutor's office."

[Of course, sir. One moment…] The phone was silent for a moment before a female voice came on. [This is Chief Prosecutor Lana Skye. Is this Mr. White?]

White smiled. "Yes, ma'am, this is. I have a favor to ask of the prosecutor's office. I've changed my mind. I want to testify tomorrow in court."

[What? What's this about?]

"The Mia Fey case. I witnessed the murder, you see. And thus, as a very important witness, I would like to testify." He looked over to Phoenix, and it took all of Phoenix's willpower not to smile. He wasn't one to trap a man into convicting himself, but White was deserving of it.

[What? Why now? I thought you said you didn't want to go to court!]

"Silence!" White said. "I said I've changed my mind!" He looked to Phoenix again before adding as an afterthought. "Oh, and another thing. Send the police right away. The man is standing in front of me right now. He looks quite dazed, but could be violent."

[What? What man?]

White glared at the phone. "Are you even listening? The murder! He's standing right here! Send the police immediately!" White didn't wait to hear an answer, and hung up the phone. He turned to Phoenix and smiled. "Didn't I tell you, Mr. Wright? You are a mere lawyer, as was Miss Mia."

Phoenix put on his most convincing glare. "How dare you!"

White shook his head, laughing. "I'll point the finger at you, and you will be tried as Miss Mia's killer. The case is as good as settled. No lawyer of any worth will defend you."

Before Phoenix could think of anything to say, a familiar figure entered the office. "Detective Gumshoe, sir." He said to White before looking at Phoenix. Phoenix could see that, at the sight of him, Gumshoe's face fell for the briefest of moments before he put on a stoic expression. "Is this him?" he asked, and White nodded.

"Yes. Take him away, Detective. I'll be testifying against him tomorrow."

Gumshoe nodded slowly, approaching Wright while pulling out handcuffs. "Turn around, please, Mr. Wright." Wright complied, allowing himself to finally smile as he felt Gumshoe cuffing him. "I'm sorry…" Gumshoe whispered to him, and Phoenix restrained himself from telling him that everything was alright, that he had a plan. He instead sighed heavily, as a man would in his position, being accused of murder from a man with the legal courts in his own pocket.

As Gumshoe led him away, White laughed. "I'll see you tomorrow in court, Mr. Wright!"

. . . . .

September 8, 3:37 PM
Detention Center
Visitor's Room

The court proceedings had been postponed due to the new witness and suspect, and the trial had been pushed up to tomorrow, despite White's insistence that it should have been today. Phoenix himself was okay with the postponement. It gave him the opportunity to go over everything he had learned, and to piece it all together. He was confident he could convict White with everything he had; all he needed to do was get him on the witness stand and work his magic.

He was sitting in the visitor's room, waiting for his visitor to show. He had an inkling of who it was and was proven correct when the door opened and he heard her cry out. "Wright!" He looked up to see Maya standing at the doorway. "Mr. Wright!"

Phoenix smiled as he stood. "Maya!" He was almost positive she would have been let go when he was accused, but it still gave him relief to see that she was free. "I'm glad they let you out."

Maya smiled, ignorant of why she was released. "Yes! All thanks to you!" She hugged him fiercely, and he patted her on the back before she stood away, still smiling.

Phoenix smiled back. "Just doing my job. Although I think the tables have turned, now."

Maya cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Phoenix looked away. "I, uh… well, now I'm a suspect." He looked at her sadly. "They've received a reliable witness claim that I am the one responsible. I'm being convicted of murdering your sister."

Maya, unbelieving, was silent, mouth agape. "What? You're being convicted?"

Phoenix smiled and nodded. "It's quite brilliant, actually. I'm positive I know who killed your sister." He gestured for Maya to sit, and sat across from her. "His name is Redd White, in charge of Bluecorp. It's an information company, built by blackmail. Your sister was following White's every move, and was close to convicting him of the blackmail when he found out and murdered her." He shrugged proudly. "A man of that stature is very arrogant. All I had to do is antagonize him, and he decided that I killed her. He's going to testify tomorrow, and because he has the entire legal structure in his pocket, he's confident he can get me a guilty verdict."

Maya stared incredulously. "What? Why would you do that?"

Phoenix shrugged. "I got you off the hook. I knew you weren't guilty, so I got you out of here the only way I knew how."

Maya's eyes began tearing up. "But why? Why would you put yourself in this position?"

Phoenix smiled. "Because I can't abandon you. I won't have an innocent person tried and convicted for a crime they didn't commit."

Maya stared at him, a few tears streaming down her cheeks before shaking her head. "I didn't want that, though. I don't want you to go to jail for me."

Phoenix smiled. "Oh, I won't. Granted, this is dangerous, me being convicted of the murder, but it was the safest way to try to solve this case without you being suspected." He shrugged. "I know I can get this guy convicted for murdering your sister, but I didn't want you mixed up in this next trial. It could get ugly."

Maya was silent for a time. "Thank you," she barely whispered. She wiped her eyes. "Is there anything I can do for you? You've helped me so much… I feel like I should repay you somehow."

Phoenix smiled and patted her hand. "All I need for you to do is believe in me." He chuckled. "You can come to the trial and watch the show, if you'd like. It'll be quite an upset, me being suspected of murder, testified against by the most powerful man in the country, and me proving to the world that he did it." Phoenix laughed again. "It'll be a slap in Edgeworth's face."

Maya managed a small laugh. "I'll bet." She looked up at Phoenix. "Are you sure you can do this?"

Phoenix shrugged. "I don't have a choice. It's me or him. I have to be ready for tomorrow." He laughed at Maya's nervous expression. "Don't worry. You're off the hook."

"But at your expense?" Maya shook her head. "How is that fair?"

Phoenix smiled warmly. "It's what your sister would have wanted. You didn't murder her, and that's the truth. I get the truth, no matter the consequences." He patted her on the shoulder. "You should be getting home. You should be remembering your sister's memory in peace."

Maya stood staring at Phoenix before hugging him fiercely. Phoenix hugged her back, feeling a connection with the girl more so than ever. "Don't lose," she said. "Don't abandon me again."

Phoenix rubbed her back reassuringly. "I won't." He parted, holding her shoulders. "Don't worry." He smiled. "Your sister said that your favorite food is burgers." He laughed. "This time tomorrow, we'll be stuffing our faces with the greasiest burgers you've ever tasted. My treat."

Maya managed a laugh. "It's a deal." She looked over at the soft 'ahem' from the security officer and nodded. "Well, visiting hours are over. I'll leave you to piecing it all together."

Phoenix nodded. "Alright. I'll see you in court tomorrow."

Maya gave him one final hug before walking out, leaving Phoenix to be escorted back to his cell. Inside, he had only one bed that was little more than cloth stretched over a slab of wood. He sat on the bed, closing his eyes and sorting through everything he had learned thus far. He had learned a lot of things about White, and knew he could convict him tomorrow, despite the grim outlook he saw for himself. With nothing else to do but wait, he lay down on the bed, sighing and closing his eyes.