February 23rd, 2017
High Prosecutor's Office
Room 1202, 6:50 PM
Phoenix's POV
Knock Knock
Bellboy: Ah, guests!
Phoenix: Oh! It's you!
Bellboy: Have we met somewhere…?
Judy: Huh!?
Bellboy: Mr. Edgeworth! I beg your leave. So long!
The bellboy left the room, leaving me and Judy feeling very confuse.
Judy: So… where's Edgeworth?
Ema: There, standing by the window, a teacup in his hand!
Edgeworth took a sip. Then he turned and noticed us.
Edgeworth: Oh, it's you.
Phoenix (Thinking): He has the hotel bring him tea service!?
Judy: Hey… we heard you just got back from the inquiry committee.
Edgeworth: Yes.
Phoenix: By the way, Detective Gumshoe was looking for you.
Edgeworth: Oh yes… He brought me some information, it seems.
Ema: Really? Was it helpful?
Edgeworth: Apparently, a new French restaurant is opening near here. I think he was trying to console me, somehow.
Phoenix (Thinking): Er, I think the report is on the other side, Edgeworth…
Phoenix: So, how did the inquiry committee go?
Edgeworth: Actually, they decided to treat this not as a case of concealing evidence, but as a communications error during the investigation.
Ema: "Concealing evidence"…?
Edgeworth: Yes. Apparently, there are some who believe…
Judy: Yes?
Edgeworth: *sigh* They believe that I concealed evidence.
Judy: What!? That's nonsense! I mean if this was back when we first met you, I would believe it, but you're better than that now!
Edgeworth: Apparently some still haven't forgotten the past. They gave me a warning. "You were lucky this time… again."
Phoenix: "Again"…?
Edgeworth: I've heard them say that so many times. Ever since that case two years ago…
I saw Judy looking at me with a concerned look, Ema was the same. Edgeworth also notices this and sighed.
Edgeworth: And knowing you two. You've probably found out about it, right?
Ema: Well we still don't know the main facts, but we know little information.
Judy: We heard it was your first big case.
Edgeworth: Yes… it was. That was the case that made me who I am today. That was when I became a force to be reckoned with. Until you guys came along.
Phoenix: Edgeworth, I know you don't like talking about the past that much, but we need to hear your experience with SL-9.
Edgeworth: I had a feeling I would talk to you about the case. Very well. The SL-9 Incident was a heinous serial killing case. The head of the investigation was the Deputy Chief of Police at the time… Damon Gant.
Phoenix (Thinking): That wacky old coot was involved in the case two years ago too then…
Edgeworth: He was the best we had, and it was my first time working with him… I was nervous.
Ema: Wow, you get nervous, too, Mr. Edgeworth?
Phoenix (Thinking): What I want to know is why was a Deputy Chief of Police on the investigation?
Edgeworth: In truth, I used slightly more… extreme methods than normal. We were dealing with a vicious murderer. If I let him go, the blood would be on my hands. We won our guilty verdict, and the killer was executed.
Phoenix: Wait, you didn't…
Edgeworth: Of course not! I didn't touch the evidence. Yes, I will do anything in my power to win a trial. However… I do have a code, and I follow it faithfully.
Judy: I see, and that's when the rumors started.
Phoenix: Are you going to be okay for the trial tomorrow?
Edgeworth: Well, I'm still the presiding prosecuting attorney. However…
Phoenix: Something happened?
Edgeworth: They gave the control of the investigation over to the Police Department.
Ema: The Police Department!
Edgeworth: Yes. Any further investigation of this case will be directed by the Chief of Police Gant. I can do nothing but wait for his results…
Phoenix: I… see.
Edgeworth bangs his fist on his desk.
Edgeworth: Why I ask you? Why!? All along, I've done only what I believe is right. I have nothing to be ashamed of! But still…
Judy: Edgeworth…
Phoenix (Thinking): Wow, I've never seen him this out of sorts…Oh, right! I'd better ask him this now…
Edgeworth: Anyway, as I was saying, I…
He picked up his head and saw the ID Card Record for the Evidence Room.
Edgeworth: What's this?
Phoenix: Edgeworth, you went into the evidence room that day, didn't you? Just before the incident occurred, no less.
Edgeworth: Yes, that's true.
Ema: W-why, Mr. Edgeworth?
Edgeworth: Please don't look at me like that. I… was asked to go. By Chief Gant no less.
Judy: The Chief of Police…?
Edgeworth: He wanted evidence from a case that wrapped up half a year ago. He told me he wanted me to keep here in the Prosecutor's Office.
He pulled out a blue screwdriver out of his draw.
Phoenix: But… it was solved, right? It would have to be if the evidence was already filled…
Edgeworth: The Chief is never one to explain himself. In any case, on the day of the stabbings, I brought this back here.
Ema: Can I ask what kind of case it was?
Edgeworth: I… can't say. It really has nothing to do with the current case.
Judy: All the same, this seems a little strange. Could we have it, please?
Edgeworth: Hmph. Stubborn as always. I told you this has nothing to do with the case, but if you must go ahead. Speaking of investigations, Ema?
Ema: Hmm?
Edgeworth: You sister wanted to know if you're still working on that scientific investigation?
Ema: H-huh? Y-yes! Of course! Why just today we were using what Ms. Hopps has on her belt!
Edgeworth: Luminol testing fluid… Hm? Well then… You might have a use for this.
Ema: Aluminum powder for taking fingerprints!
Edgeworth: It's been chemically treated for better adhesion.
Ema: F-for me? Are you sure? We are the "enemy" you know.
Edgeworth: I've no say in today's investigation… do as you will.
Judy: Edgeworth… I don't know-
Edgeworth: No need to thank me. Here, take your powder and these fingerprint files for everyone involved in this case.
Phoenix: I, uh, th-thanks!
Phoenix (Thinking) How about giving these to Detective Gumshoe as well!?
Judy grabbed the file, while I put the powder in my coat pocket, and we left.
Ema: Alright, guys, just one thing to investigate, then we should be okay!
Phoenix: There were at least two handprints we found in the evidence room.
Ema: So what are waiting for? Let's go!
Judy: Hey, wait up, Ema!
Evidence Room
Sector Three, 7:55 PM
Ema: Alright so we know that we've found two handprints here from different lockers.
Judy: Right, the first one is on the first locker when you enter the room.
Phoenix: And the second one is one Detective Gumshoe's locker. Let see if this aluminum powder stuff works.
Ema: You know how do to it?
Phoenix: I… uh…
Judy and Ema gave a grin and a look.
Phoenix: Okay, okay, so I have no idea. I'm a lawyer, not a cop!
Judy: Okay, here I'll show you since I'm an officer myself. All you have to do is find some sort of hand or finger. Then you find the clearest print for the powder, that way you'll most likely so find some sort of result. Once you have chosen a finger, all you have to do is spread the power on the finger, make sure you have a good amount of powder, otherwise, the print won't come out every clear. Then once you've put on enough powder, you just blow away the remaining powder.
She did just that, and soon she started to blow.
Judy: And there.
Ema: But, that doesn't look like a print at all.
Phoenix: She's right.
Judy: Hmm… well, my guess is that maybe someone was wearing something like a glove to hide his fingerprints.
Phoenix: Are you saying, you just wasted my time!?
Judy: Okay, okay, calm down! Here, you try it. There's a clear fingerprint next to the bloody handprint, just do what I did, and if you find a print, I'll look at the files that Edgeworth gave us and we'll see whose fingerprints they belong to.
So I did what I did and found a clear print, and Judy looks at the file.
Judy: Yep, this is definitely Detective Gumshoe's locker alright.
Phoenix: …
Ema: Mr. Wright, what's with the "so what" look?
Phoenix: I was probably thinking "so what".
Judy: Okay, okay! So it's not relevant to this case, but at least we know it works.
Phoenix: Whatever, let's just test the other locker and get this over with.
Second verse same as the first. We went back to the locker with the other bloody handprint and did my thing.
Judy: Alright, now let's see here. … … …Hey!
Phoenix: Wh-what!? Whose fingerprints are those?
Ema: Is from someone I know!?
Judy: They're Marshall's prints!
Ema: Huh? O-Officer Jake Marshall!? Th-that's got to be a coincidence! He's not involved in the crime!
Phoenix: But he is on the fingerprint file, and his prints do match his.
Judy: I'm sorry Ema. But these are decidedly different from Detective Gumshoe's prints.
Ema: …!
Phoenix: The luminol reaction. The blood and the fingerprints are in the same place.
Ema: Oh… Oh!
Phoenix (Thinking): So, we have Jake Marshall's fingerprints… on a wiped bloodstain!
Ema: But why would Officer Marshall…
Judy: I don't know, but like it or not, he's gonna have to testify about this in court tomorrow.
Phoenix: Well, looks like our investigation is finally turning up some results!
Ema: …!
Phoenix: I guess this is what you'd call "decisive evidence"!
Ema: I… I don't believe it!