CHAPTER 15

Franziska and Edgeworth were sitting in the courthouse lobby; She noticed with every passing second Miles grew paler, sickened at what could be at his hands today. She didn't understand what was going on in his head at the time; she just knew he needed someone to be there at his side. She saw his hands trembling everytime he turned the page of the case file as they went over it one more time together. Finally, the bailiff called onto him to start the case, so Franziska just took a seat in the gallery.

As she took her seat, she saw that the Miles Edgeworth that was ghostly and trembling in the courtroom lobby had vanished, and the calm, calculating and confident Miles Edgeworth stood behind the prosecution's bench, across from an equally composed Phoenix Wright at the defense's bench.

The judge made his way up to his chair and made his opening statement, biting his tongue several times in the process. After a little bit, he was finally able to ask his usual questions. "Is the prosecution ready?" Edgeworth gave the standard reply of "The prosecution is ready, your honor." The judge then did the same towards Phoenix, except the defense version.

After Miles' opening statement, he called Detective Gumshoe to the stand, and, as they had hoped, Phoenix absolutely blew apart the detective's weak testimony.

Franziska breathed a sigh of relief when Edgeworth was able to call his next witness to the stand, the bailiff, Mike Meekins.

"Witness, name and occupation, please."

The bailiff gave a salute; "MIKE MEEKINS, COURTROOM BAILIFF, SIR! READY TO TESTIFY, SIR!" Franziska let out a sigh in the gallery. Edgeworth spoke up; "Tell us about what happened the day of the murder."

Meekins shot up another salute and told the court about bringing the coffee to the defendant and the victim. Klavier had given him some cash to run over and get it during recess, and he purchased it and brought it over.

OBJECTION!

Phoenix Wright was glowing with confidence. "If this testimony is true, than it should clear my client of any suspicion..." Edgeworth didn't flinch at this, as he was secretly hoping for this outcome. "...and cast all suspicion on to the man on the witness stand, Mike Meekins!"

Franziska flinched and Edgeworth slammed his hand on his desk. She knew he was not prepared for that outburst on Wright's part. The trial continued, Edgeworth unable to prove Meekins' innocence. In the end, Mike Meekins was charged with the murder of Damon Lyght.

The stand in Bailiff carried Meekins' away on his shoulder, with the disgraced officer screaming in tears his innocence, being carried away to his death for something he had no involvement in. As the courtroom dispersed into the lobby, Edgeworth remained at the prosecutor's bench, head buried into his hands in despair. Franziska approached the distressed man she loved, and told him to wait right there, kissing him on the cheek as she went to go get the defense team who was up to their usual post case chatter in the lobby.

As she approached, she heard Klavier claiming that he hoped to see Wright in court one day, and saw Pearl Fey tugging on Phoenix's sleeve, begging for change to go the vending machine. She hit Phoenix with her whip.

"Phoenix Wright! I demand you and everyone here follow me at once!" She was furious. Pearl continued tugging at Phoenix's sleeve, and Phoenix just became irate and began yelling. "Alright, Pearl! Here's the change! Now go get your snack and meet me in the courtroom."

Pearl had a tear in her eye. "...s-sorry, Mr. Nick..." She turned and ran towards the vending machine. "P-pearls, wait..." CRACK! "How dare you make a little girl cry, Phoenix Wright!" She dragged him to Edgeworth, who was still in the same postition he was in earlier.

Franziska softly prodded his shoulder. "Miles...explain the truth behind the case today to Mr. Wright and his friends." Edgeworth looked up, tears in his eyes and ghost pale skin. "You...put an innocent man to death today, Wright."

Phoenix jumped back in shock, "Wh-what do you mean!?" Edgeworth explained everything he and Franziska had found out to him, Phoenix clearly in despair over what he had done.

As Phoenix began stammering, his phone rang; it was a private number. He picked it up unsuredly;

"H-Hello?"

An eery voice came on through the other line; a voice that shot chills down both Edgeworth's and Wright's spines...

"Hello, Mr. Wright. It's sad we have to meet again under these circumstances..." Shelly de Killer.

"What do you want?" Phoenix's tone was a quiet yell of desparation.

De Killer let out a sinister chuckle. "...it appears I am in need of your services, Phoenix Wright. I do believe I am soon to be arrested...and it'd be in your best interest to assist an old pal in his time of need, wouldn't you agree?"

Phoenix was red in the face; "What makes you think I'd help you?"

After that, a small voice came over the other line; "Mr. Nick! Hellllpppp!"

Everyone in the entire party was stunned, and de Killer spoke up; "...3 days to give me my acquittal, Mr. Wright. If not, she dies. You'll be having no contact with her, as she is to be held at one of my client's houses while I'm at the detention center, and I can't reveal their identity to you, can I? Well, I guess I'll be seeing you later this evening, to discuss my trial next week. My my, I've heard they've been making a ton of preparations for my appearance. Well, ciao, old friend." The tone flatlined on the other line.

Today wasn't a good day for anyone, it seemed.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I would particularly like getting reviews for this chapter, because I thought it to be a great plot twist, but I'm unsure of how I worded it, and I'm unable to find a better way of putting it into perspective. I haven't really ventured into suspense stuff like this ever, so it'd be great to know how I did on my first time trying to create that element in a story.