This is a filler chapter, just wrapping up the end of the investigation. Of course, I have a longer author's note at the bottom.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Ace Attorney series characters!
Chapter 5
March 5th
Detention Center
Visitor's Room
"How did the investigation go, Mr. Wright?" From the bank, Phoenix returned to the detention center to further question Robin.
"It went…well enough. I managed to gather some information, but I wish I'd gotten more." Phoenix looked through the glass at his client. "I had a few questions to ask you, Mr. Banks. If you don't mind that is."
"Not at all, Mr. Wright. Ask away."
"For starters, when I was looking around your work area, I noticed that you didn't have notepad, while your other coworkers did. Did it go missing?"
Robin frowned, smoothing a hand over his blonde hair. "My notepad? Why, I don't recall losing it. I'm positive I used it just today when I was working. You didn't see it?"
"No, I didn't. What did you have written in it?"
"Just a list of errands I needed to run and matters I needed to resolve. I jot random notes on it as well, to keep it all in one place. It works much better than sticky notes, let me tell you." The man shook his head, chuckling. "You should've seen my work area at my old workplace. There were sticky notes everywhere."
"Right." That mental image makes me feel better about my desk. "We'll have to keep an eye out for that then."
The man became serious again. "You don't think that notepad is related to the case, do you?"
"It's hard to say at the moment, but we'll have to see." If he did use his notepad today, then where did it go? Did someone take it? The attorney thought about what else he wanted to ask his client. "Oh! That's right! At the crime scene, I found out that the murder weapon was determined as being a binder. A binder that…has your fingerprints on it, Mr. Banks."
Robin was taken aback. "A b-binder?! Where did you find the binder?!"
Why does he seem so worried about it?! "Er…I didn't find it myself. One of the investigators told me about it."
"I see. I apologize for my reaction. I must have seemed suspicious."
Yeah, you kinda did. "It's alright, but is something the matter? What was the binder for?"
"That binder is for a fascinating store I came across. It's called Varia T. There's a whole assortment of interesting, well, miscellaneous, items sold there. I expressed my interest in the merchandise there, so the owner brought that binder to the bank. It has a huge list of products he sells in the store, and it even has products that aren't available in the store. He happens to be a client of ours too."
"Wow. That's convenient." Too convenient. I should find out more about this owner. "Could you tell me more about the owner of the store?"
"Of course. His name is Benny Factor. Nice, friendly man. A bit up there in terms of his age, but still quite pleasant, although he is a bit too talkative for my personal taste."
"Benny Factor. And you said he's a client of the bank? Does he know the people there?"
"I think so. He was familiar with me, since I'd gone to his shop before, and I think he knew a few of the other bank tellers as well."
"Did he know Mr. Monet?"
"Hm…I'm not quite sure, Mr. Wright. He may have, but I don't remember seeing them interact. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious." This Benny guy…I need to try to meet him if I can. "So he owns the store Varia T, huh?" Real original name right there.
"Yes. How about you go pay him a visit? If not to investigate, I highly recommend you see the many products on sale at his shop. It's a nice place. You could spend hours perusing through there. I'll tell you the address."
Phoenix jotted down the address. "Thanks. I might just go do that when I leave here. Oh, and Mr. Banks. There was this woman at the bank when I went there. She had blonde hair and was wearing a black outfit. Who is she?"
The guard at the door cleared his throat. "The police need to question to the suspect, Mr. Wright."
"Oh." The attorney checked his watch. "This'll be the last time I see you before tomorrow, Mr. Banks, since visiting hours end soon. Take care, alright. I'll do my best to get you your not-guilty verdict."
"Thank you, Mr. Wright. Good luck with the rest of your investigation and have a nice evening. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow."
Phoenix watched as his client was escorted out of the room. He read a scrap piece of paper he had in his hand. "Varia T. Time to go check this place out."
March 5th
Shop Street
Varia T Front Entrance
Well there goes my plans for talking to Benny Factor. *sigh* A huge red "Sorry. I'm closed" sign was hanging on the inside of the red wooden door. Phoenix stood there, staring at it for a moment. He stepped away from the entrance and went to the glass window, where he figured there were items on display for passers-by to see.
There's a sheet of fabric covering the window. Huh. That's weird. What could be behind it, and why is the sheet there in the first place, to prevent theft? Although…if I was a thief and I saw this, I might be more tempted to go inside and see if there's anything valuable in there…but I'm not a thief. I'm an attorney.
Shaking his head, Phoenix exhaled deeply, his shoulders sagging a bit with disappointment. He'd been eager to speak with the shop owner and find out if he had any involvement in the case.
No other choice now but to return to the office. It is starting to get late anyway. As he turned around, he'd bumped into someone. "I'm sorry. Are you…" He trailed off when he saw the person just continue walking. They were wearing jeans and a gray hoodie. The only physical characteristics he managed to see were the person's medium height and black hair. "…Okay?" They must be if they didn't even bother to stop and talk. Oh well. To the office.
March 5th
Wright Anything Agency
When the defense attorney got back to the office, Trucy was there to greet him. "Hey Daddy! Where have you been? We've been waiting for you for a while now."
Phoenix paused taking off his jacket. "We?" Does she mean Iris? No. Iris is probably on the train to Kurain. I'll give her a call soon. I wish I could've gone with her to visit Maya and Pearls too, but at least I've got this case to keep me busy.
"Yeah. Polly and I."
"Apollo's here? Where?" Phoenix searched around but couldn't see the other attorney.
"Inside the office. He's silently moping about Athena leaving."
"I am not moping. I'm fine!" A voice bellowed from within the office.
Sure, Apollo. Whatever you say. As if your "I'm fine" could fool me.
"Anyway Daddy. You never answered my question."
"Yeah. Where were you, Mr. Wright?" Apollo asked as he entered the room, crossing his arms.
Whoa, whoa. What is this? I feel like a teenager who just came back home late and is being interrogated by his parents. "I was out investigating."
"Investigating?" Apollo repeated.
"Oh! Does that mean you have a case, Daddy?" Trucy asked, clearly excited at the prospect of her father having a client to defend.
"He was probably investigating Mr. Eldoon's noodle stand for the cheapest soup he could get."
…Well…that was what I was originally going to do, but I probably shouldn't say that. "That's funny, Apollo. But yeah, I was investigating. A case."
"Oh! Tell us more, Daddy!"
"Yeah. Who's your client?"
Phoenix relayed the information about the case to them. Apollo pressed a finger to his forehead. "Wow. Sounds like a hard case. Have you figured out who's the real murderer?"
"No, I haven't. Right now, my best bet is to first of all, prove Mr. Banks didn't commit the crime, and second, to possibly suggest that this other patron, the shop owner who came into the bank, is a suspect."
"Well, I'm sure you'll find a way to turn things around when you get cornered in court tomorrow, Daddy!" Trucy replied, grinning.
Even Trucy's positive that I'm going to get cornered in court.
"Speaking of cornered, who's the prosecutor?"
"Oh, I forgot to mention him, didn't I? I'll be up against Prosecutor Gavin."
"Prosecutor Gavin? Was he there investigating?" Apollo asked.
"Yeah, he was, although he seemed to be more concerned with trying to impress Ema and getting on her good side rather than investigating. I kinda felt bad for him. It must be rough."
"Hey, that's his choice." Apollo shrugged.
"Polly! Don't be so rude about it." Trucy frowned. "If only Athena, Kay, and I were successful at getting them together."
"At least you tried, Trucy, and it's the thought and effort you girls put into it that counts."
"They did put a lot of effort into it, didn't they?" Apollo said, a smirk on his face.
"You're lucky Athena's not here, or she would've grilled you for saying that," the magician retorted.
"But she's not here, now is she? Speaking of Athena though." The younger defense attorney pulled out his cellphone. "She sent me a picture from inside the airplane."
Phoenix and Trucy huddle near him to see. "Hey! She's got a big smile on her face and is waving!"
Phoenix read the text under the image. "'Will miss you and everyone at the WAA.'"
"Wait, there's more." Apollo was now smiling as he swiped on the screen.
"Whoa. That flight attendant does not look happy."
"And look at Athena, Daddy." The yellow-clad attorney in the picture had a sheepish smile on her face.
"She texted me that she had to turn off her phone, since she got yelled at." Apollo stowed his phone away. "She'll try to send an email or call when she gets to Europe."
Phoenix nodded his head before yawning. "Oh boy. I think it might be time we head home, Trucy."
"Alright, Daddy! Let me just get my things." Trucy went further into the office.
"You going to be okay, Apollo?"
Apollo's brows furrowed in confusion. "Uh…yes? Why…do you ask?"
"Since Athena's gone. I imagine you must miss her."
The other attorney crossed his arms, turning his head away. "No. I'm fine."
Phoenix walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's not a bad thing to admit you miss her, Apollo. I mean, Iris is only two hours away, and I miss her."
"Yeah…you're…you're right."
"And if you want, you can always come spend a few nights with us. You're always welcome, you know."
"I…" Apollo hesitated. "I guess…one night…wouldn't kill me," he mumbled.
"That's the spirit. Just as long as you promise not to wake us up at five in the morning doing your Chords of Steel exercises."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Trucy jumped in-between them, wrapping an arm around their shoulders. "Lucky for you two, you've both got me! I'll double my efforts to make the two of you happy while your girlfriends are gone!"
Both lawyers chuckled, and with that, they closed the agency and went back to Phoenix's apartment.
As the attorney laid in his bed, he stared up at the ceiling. Tomorrow's the first day of the trial. I hope I'm ready enough for it. Little did the attorney know that he wasn't all that ready for what the future had in store for him.
I really tried hard to come up with a name pun for the store, and sure enough, I couldn't. (Note: Thanks to SuperSonicSmash for suggesting the new name for the store, Varia T.) The next chapter will be, as mentioned in Phoenix's internal monologue, the first day of the trial against Klavier Gavin! I'm super excited for it, and I hope you guys are too.