Kind of a filler chapter, this one. Most of the chapters will be like this from here on out, save for chapter 30. Yeah…enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Ace Attorney series characters!

Chapter 29 – Almost to the Turnabout (AN: More like the ending, but...I don't come up with good chapter titles)

The next day, at the Wright Anything Agency…

"Hey guys! Guess who decided to come with me?" Athena asked in a sing-song voice as she entered the office, dragging a certain prosecutor with her.

"Prosecutor Blackquill. Nice to see you here," Apollo said.

The samurai prosecutor nodded his head. Trucy had been talking to Charley, but quickly made her way towards them. "Hey Prosecutor Blackquill!" She beamed. "How are you feeling? Any better?"

"Yes," he replied in a low voice.

"Whoa. Your…your voice!" Apollo exclaimed. "It's…pretty croaky."

Athena nodded. "You think his voice is hoarse now? You should've heard him a few days ago! It was so gravelly!"

Simon shot a glare at her before turning to Trucy, who asked him, "So what brings you to the Wright Anything Agency, Prosecutor Blackquill?"

"He's-"

"Cykes-dono," he cut in. "Please let me speak for myself."

"But you aren't supposed to strain your voice. Doctor's orders remember? Unless of course, you want to just extend how long your voice is going to sound like this." Athena crossed her arms, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Or…you know, considering the worst case scenario, your voice might just stay like this forever, or even turn squeaky!" She started laughing. "Oh, I would never be able to face you in court if you were squeaking! I'd be too busy laughing!"

"Fine, fine. You talk." He crossed his arms, eyes looking up and away from them.

Athena recovered from her episode of laughter. "The reason why Simon is here, you two, was that he wanted to see how you two were doing." She leaned closer to them, covering her mouth with her hand as she whispered, "Though he won't admit it, he was actually worried about you two, especially after hearing that Kristoph Gavin had something to do with your disappearance."

"Aw! Prosecutor Blackquill! I'm glad you were so concerned about us!" Trucy wrapped her arms around the man, who nearly jumped back in surprise. After staring at her little form for a minute, he gently patted her back, unable to really return the hug.

"Apollo!" A new voice exclaimed. A rush of pink went by them and nearly tackled Apollo.

"Juniper!" He returned her hug.

Pulling away, she smiled brightly at him. "Apollo. I am so glad that you're okay! I was so worried about you!"

"I'm glad to be back too, Juniper. And it's great to see you."

She frowned, holding her hands in front of her and looking to the side. "I would've come yesterday, but I was with my parents, but I made sure to get here as soon as I could."

The guests didn't end there.

"After you, Fraulein Detective."

"Ha. As if I'd let you walk in first!" Ema marched into the agency, a smirk on her face. It immediately disappeared upon seeing Apollo and Trucy. "Boy am I glad to see the two of you here! It was hard being at the precinct and hearing about the kidnapping."

"Ema! It's nice to see you." You don't come by here often…

"And Prosecutor Gavin too!" Trucy piped in.

"Little Fraulein, Herr Forehead. You two had everyone very worried."

"You included?" Ema suddenly asked.

"Why, of course, Fraulein Detective. I couldn't bear to think what I would do without my courtroom rival and my little magician."

"Aw, shucks!" Trucy waved a hand in the air, although her cheeks turned red.

Wow. You only consider me a rival, huh? Gee, I thought I reached friend-status by now.

"Oh! This is like a nice little welcome back party, isn't it Apollo?!"

"Yeah, it does sort of seem like that, doesn't it?"

Phoenix entered the office with Iris, and both were surprised to see so many visitors. "Whoa. What's the occasion?"

"Daddy! We're having a welcome-back party!"

"For the two of you?"

"Mmhm!"

"But…we didn't plan anything, did we?"

"No…but maybe we could do something small? Oh! Maybe you could buy all of us some noodles, Daddy!"

There was a hum of approval through the small crowd. Phoenix sighed heavily. Oh…my poor wallet. He felt a hand on his arm.

"Come on Feenie. Those noodles aren't going to get themselves."

Even my girlfriend doesn't care about my wallet…Oh well. She's right.

"Did someone say noodles?!"

"Kay!" Trucy exclaimed. "What are you doing here?!"

"Mr. Edgeworth told me that the two of you were found, and I figured I'd swing by and say hello. But…I guess I could stay for some noodles, if you don't mind!"

"We don't mind at all, do we Daddy?'

Phoenix smiled weakly. Apollo snickered to himself. Mr. Wright sure looks happy right now. I can just hear his wallet sobbing.

"All we need now is for Mr. Edgeworth to be here, oh! And Serena too."

"Good luck with Mr. Edgeworth. I tried to get him to come with me now, but of course he wouldn't. But he did want me to say hi to all of you," Kay relayed.

"Oh well! We can have another little get-together with Mr. Edgeworth later, when he isn't busy!"

Hm…Maybe I could get him to pay for everything then. "Sounds like a plan, Trucy!"

"So he still refuses to reveal the other member of their group?"

"Yeah, sir. He won't budge, no matter what. Says he was sworn to secrecy."

But then why did he mention Gavin's name? Argh! This is insane! How could a murderer escape like this, without a trace?

"Have you searched his home?"

"His apartment? Yeah, sir. But we couldn't find anything there, at least…nothing that would help with the case."

"Meaning…you found something?"

"Er…well, yeah sir. We did."

"Well, what did you find?"

"His girlfriend's stuff, Mr. Edgeworth. Clothes, mainly dresses."

"G-girlfriend?!" He has a girlfriend?! And to think, he was pursuing Ms. Sterling…

"Well, we think she's his girlfriend. Unless it's his wife's stuff, but he said he wasn't married, so…"

"Detective. I want you to get any and all information on his…female acquaintance, posthaste."

"I'm on it, sir! You think…maybe she has something to do with it?"

"Not necessarily, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to know her identity. Perhaps she could shed some light on the matter." Edgeworth thought for a moment. "Detective Gumshoe. Was there anything peculiar about these clothes you found?"

"Oh…I…I'm not sure, sir. We just kind saw them. Why do you ask?"

"…No reason. Just…wondering."

"Actually, now that you mention it, there was something weird about them."

"What was that?!"

"They weren't exactly very well-made. They were…kind of bizarre-looking, like some amateur made them or something."

Hm…

"Uh…sir? Are you still there? Hello?"

"I'm here. I was just thinking. Very well, detective. I might come down to the precinct later today."

"I look forward to your visit, Mr. Edgeworth sir. See ya!"

Hanging up the phone, Edgeworth considered everything Gumshoe had just told him, and thought back to the little information known about the other member of the group. He had a person in mind, someone who seemed to be a suspect. There was only one problem.

Was this person involved in the murder of Ms. Gramarye somehow? And what about Mr. Huntley? Could this suspect be the one we've been looking for?

He stood up and began walking to his door. It looks like I should get to precinct now. I can't put this off, especially if my suspicion is correct…

So…yeah. Any idea who Edgeworth has in mind? I wanted to write more, but I feel like it would be a dead giveaway of who's the third and final person. You'll find out in the next chapter, but in the meantime, send me reviews/PMs telling me who you think it is, if you have a guess (or if you just want to leave a review, that's fine too)! Thanks!