The Crimson Stain Chapter Two

Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth sat at his desk, sipping his afternoon tea. It was peacefully quiet, which was odd for this time of day. "Perhaps Detective Gumshoe has finally learned not to bother me at work."

A smile graced his lips as he decided how ridiculous the notion was. Gumshoe never could take a hint... Most likely he was tied up in some investigation. He tipped his head slightly, trying to remember what Gumshoe had been prattling on about yesterday.

"For the last time Detective, I don't know what you should do about Miss Byrde!" Miles exclaimed, annoyed.

"Sorry sir..." Gumshoe sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"Now how's the Shervaldi case coming? Any suspects?"

"I think I've found a new lead, sir, but I'm not too sure if I should pursue it... The source seems kind of... sketchy..."

"Of course you should pursue it!" he snapped. "What kind of detective are you?" He drummed his fingers on his desk impatiently. "You do realize that your evaluation is coming up soon, don't you?"

Gumshoe winced. "I know sir... But um... I kind of wanted to talk to you about that... You see... It's um... Getting hard for me to afford to pay my bills..."

"Get me a suspect for the Shivaldi case, and then we'll talk about getting you a raise... Dismissed."

"Yes sir..."

Miles frowned slightly. Perhaps he treated Detective Gumshoe too harshly... If the man couldn't even afford his bills... He shook his head. It was the detective's own fault. If he hadn't always assisted Phoenix Wright so much or if he hadn't muddled so many investigations... Why was Gumshoe assigned to so many cases anyway?

Sighing, he placed his teacup down. Gumshoe meant well, and he was always there when he needed him, but... He was just so... goofy. He had to admit though, that he was rather fond of him...

Miles looked up as there was a knock at the door. "That must be the good detective now... Strange, usually he just barges right in... Come in," he called.

Mike Meekins entered the office and instantly raised his hand in salute. "Goodday Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth sir!" He raised his megaphone to his mouth. "The police chief would like to have a word with Detective Gumshoe, sir!"

The prosecutor winced at the loudness of Meekins' voice. "Put that thing down!" he ordered.

"Yessir! Sorry sir!" Meekins lowered the microphone and saluted.He looked around. "Is Detective Gumshoe here, sir?"

"No," he snapped. "Does it look like he's here?" Miles scowled at him. "This is my office, may I remind you, not Detective Gumshoe's..."

"Oh..." Meekins twiddled his two pointer fingers together as he glanced away apologetically. "Sorry sir... It's just that no one has seen him all day... And he hasn't answered his radio... He's not at the precinct, or his house... Or any of his usual places, so the chief figured he'd be here..."

"Well he's not, so you might as well leave..." Miles opened the door and pointed.

"Yessir..."

"I think I've found a new lead, sir, but I'm not too sure if I should pursue it... The source seems kind of... sketchy..."

"Wait," Miles said, frowning. "What was the last thing anyone saw him doing?"

"He said he was going to follow up on a new lead he found," the officer replied. "Didn't say where though..."

He creased his brow for a moment. "You may go..." He didn't pay any more mind to Meekins as the officer escorted himself out. "Sketchy... Something bad couldn't have happened to him, could it?" He shook his head. "No, of course not... No one could possibly hurt Gumshoe... He's just too..." He struggled to find the right word. "Lovable," he decided, and instantly grimaced at himself. Lovable? No, more like unbearably irritating...

His cell phone started ringing, and he glanced at the caller ID before picking up. It was Gumshoe. Of course, trust Gumshoe to call him when he was the only one not searching for him... "Edgeworth here... What do you want, Detective?"

"That's not a very nice way to greet a friend, now is it?" The voice wasn't Gumshoe's. Not even close.

"Who is this?"

"Who I am isn't important," the cold voice informed him. "What's important is who's with me..."

A bucket of ice dropped into the pit of his stomach as he clearly hear the voice of Gumshoe. "You won't get away with this, pal!"

"What... What do you want?" Miles demanded, trying to keep his voice calm. The last thing he wanted to do is make himself seem desperate; that would just give whoever that was more leeway with him.

"To see you sweat. Good day, Miles Edgeworth."

Miles sank into his chair as he heard the click signifying the man hanging up. "G-Gumshoe? He's... No!" The corners of his vision faded into black as he realized the implication of what was going on. With his head spinning, it was hard for him to think, but finally he realized that he should call the police.

"So he didn't make any demands?" The detective questioned for the fifth time.

"No," Miles replied irritably. He had been in questioning for what seemed like hours even though the conversation must have been only fifteen seconds long. "He just said he wanted to see me sweat..."

"So it's an enemy of yours," the detective said. "Maybe the family of someone you got declared guilty..."

He sighed. "If it is, that doesn't narrow it down any... I must have gotten over one hundred people convicted..." He narrowed his eyes. "It doesn't make sense..." He clenched hisleft sleeve with his right hand. "Why Detective Gumshoe? He never hurt anyone... He's... He's like a big teddy bear... If they wanted revenge on me, why didn't they just kidnap me instead?"

"You've been in this business long enough to know that these guys rarely make sense," he replied."It could be that they thought this would hurt you more."

Miles looked away. "I know..." He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the crushing feelings of guilt. If he hadn't pushed Gumshoe so hard to follow that lead.

"Get me a suspect for the Shivaldi case, and then we'll talk about getting you a raise... Dismissed."

How could he have said that? The poor man could barely afford to eat and he was too busy obsessing about work to help him... This was his fault... All his fault. What if Gumshoe got killed because of him? His head spun and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block it all out. He remembered something similar to this happening to Wright... Maya was found alright... Gumshoe would be found too...

Miles lifted his head to look at the detective. "We have to get Gumshoe back. If it's the last thing I do, I need to see him again..."

"Don't worry sir, we'll find him."

Of course, the main question now, was how?