` CHAPTER 26

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just received word that my cousin just died after a long bout with cancer. I'm dedicating this work to him and to his memory.

In loving memory of E.B., 1973-2013. Fly Free as a bird.

Just as they had done the previous day, Miles and Franziska sat in the courtroom lobby, going over their notes for this case. He had felt lucky to be able to drag it to day 2, but he was upset that he still hadn't been able to get Mick Vick to testify. He knew he had to drag it to day 3, and pray tell that Gumshoe and the rest of the precinct find that man in the meantime. He continued looking over his notes, but he couldn't help but lose focus as the weight on his shoulders was becoming too much for him to bear.

He looked across the lobby to see Wright and Maya sullenly talking. He clutched his elbow and winced; How selfish of me...they're going through a much harder time than I am right now...

"Miles Edgeworth? Is everything ok?" He turned his attention to Franziska beside him; he saw how she was genuinely worried about him, as her light blue eyes were somewhat widened with inquiry, but in a pleading way; "Yes, Franziska...I'm fine." He could tell she didn't want to accept this answer, but seemed to leave it alone in order not to stress him before the case.

The replacement bailiff walked into the lobby and announced that the judge was ready for the prosecution and the defense, so they made their way into the courtroom together and took the prosecution's bench. He quickly regained himself, clearing himself of any pressure he felt was on him momentarily; he saw Wright trying to do the same thing at the defense's bench across from him. The judge made his way up to his chair.

"Um, uh, yes. Was anyone able to find the witness, Mr. Edgeworth?" He was stumbling over his words. "No, your honor. However, the prosecution has prepared another witness and another expert testimony, your honor." The judge nodded, and as he did so, a lollipop fell out of his beard. He picked it up, and he excitedly proclaimed "Oh hoh! That's were that went! I've be-" CRACK! Franziska had tried hitting out of his hand with her whip the first time, but missed and hit his shoulder. "Owww!" CRACK! She succeeded in her attempt the second time through.

"M-Ms. von Karma!" He put a pouty face on, his lower lip pertruding from his face and a pair of puppy dog eyes to boot. "That was my lollipop..." CRACK! Miles looked over to see his co-council growing irritated with the judge, preparing to lash at him once more. He stopped her with his hand. "Franziska...we need to get on with the case. Can you please stop maiming his honor?" She crossed her arms and blew out a "Hmph."

The honor had ducked under the Judge's bench in order to protect himself from any more of Franziska von Karma's wrath. He poked his head out from under it, like a turtle poking his head out of his shell. Miles remained serious and told the judge "Your honor, you can come out from under there now." He poked his head up just a smidge further, revealing the top part of his beard.

Phoenix slammed his hands on his desk. "Your honor! We need to get this trial started already! Come out from under there, please!" He poked his head up just a little further and said "No. You're all being mean to me, so I'm taking my gavel and going home." Miles moved his hand out of the way of Franziska's whip. CRACK! "Ah! Alright! Fine! Geez!"

Edgeworth pulled some papers out of his binder; "The prosecution would like to call detective Gumshoe to the stand once more."

With that, the homicide detective made his way to the stand once more. "Witness, name and occupation, please."

The detective's eyes were darting around the courtroom, but in more of an absent-minded way rather than a nervous way. "Name's Dick Gumshoe, pal, and I'm a detective in Criminal Affairs."

Edgeworth spoke up again, hoping something would come to him as to what the detective should testify about. He slammed one hand on his desk. "Detective, please testify to the court as of the case held in this court a year ago, as where the accused is thought to have been the assassin."

He didn't understand; "What, the Matt Engarde case? Oh, I forgot the case name for that. Was it SY-3? No...BY-3? No...something with a Y-3 in it, though, pa-" CRACK!

"ACKK!"

Franziska spoke up in an irritated tone; "Scruffy, please stop with the foolishly foolish drabble and get on with your testimony."

He looked like a little puppy dog; "O-ok, sir..." Miles usually felt bad for the detective; unless Larry was around, he always got the blunt of Franziska's whip; but he was grateful for her lashing at him this time. This was too serious of a case for a lack of focus in anyone.

"Yeah, pal, I'm pretty sure that that's de Killer. I mean, doesn't he just look suspicious? And besides, I dug up some evidence from the I-don't-know Y-3 case for today, and look:" He presented the courtroom with two photographs, each depicting de Killer speaking with the man accused of hiring an assassin, Matt Engarde; "Look! He's right there talking to a man who confessed to hiring an assassin!" All four of them; Edgeworth, Wright, Franziska, and Maya, deflated at this presentation of evidence. It was sure to land de Killer a guilty verdict.

Wright began pressing Gumshoe on everything; all signs seemed to point to this man being the assassin. The judge banged his gavel.

"I believe this court room has heard enough to indict the defendant on all counts of murder. I hereby find the defendant..." He stopped. "Should I call you John Doe or Shelly de Killer?"

The man in the defendant's chair didn't even flinch; he showed no signs of pressure, fear, or doubt. "John Doe will be fine, your honor, sir."

"Y-Yes, well...I hereby find the defendant, John Doe..."

GUILTY

Edgeworth buried his face into his hands, and he could feel anger eminating from Franziska beside him; he didn't look over at Wright or Maya, but he could tell that they were just as sunk as he was. Gumshoe...why did you have to present that evidence? Why?

The courtroom was silent. "This trial is hereby ad-"

A flamboyant voice spoke up from the gallery; "HOLD IT!"

Miles looked up, to see Mick Vick standing up in the gallery. All sorts of commotion surrounding him ensued.

The judge grew wide-eyed. "Wh-what's the meaning of this outburst? This trial is o-"

The studio executive flashed his rings, causing a blinding glare; Edgeworth heard Maya ask Phoenix "...is that man wearing sunglasses indoors...?"

He spoke up; "Come now, Mr. Judge, I can't just let one of my most valuble employees be accused of murder like this, hmm?" He made his way over to the witnesses' stand, uninvited. As he left the gallery, Miles saw him pushing a pale, scared little girl with a black eye along with him; Pearl Fey...

"You'll have to excuse my niece, Pearl. She looks this way because she had a bicycle accident ealier today. She loves all the toys Uncle Mickey provides her with, doesn't she?" The young girl was wearing clothes of a regular child rather than her acolyte outfit; "Y-yes..." Her answer was filled with fear and seemed forced; the judge didn't notice this. "Ah, yes. If you're going to testify that this man is not Shelly de Killer, I believe we need to take a 30 minute recess in order for the prosecution to prepare this witness. Court will now be adjourned for recess." BANG!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm going to try to post part 2 of this trial tonight. I'm going to put it Edgeworth-Centric, and I'll make up for it by putting up 2 Franziska-Centric chapters tomorrow. Alright, thanks! -ghostfacekiller39