September 7th, 1:44 PM

Phoenix Wright's Apartment

(... Blackmail... Murder... DL-6...)

These were just a few of the disconnected words that drifted through Phoenix's mind as she sat at her kitchen table, idly twirling a pen between her fingers. What was there left to find? Who could Edgeworth bring into the courtroom tomorrow? When the prosecutor had interrupted the judge before the DL-6 case file could be brought up, had there been a deeper meaning behind it? None of it made sense yet.

Phoenix stood up. There was clearly quite a lot of information she didn't have yet, and she wouldn't accomplish anything by just sitting in confusion.

(The Gatewater's my only lead for now.)

It was nearly impossible for Angelo to have killed Micah, but he had to be involved somehow, and there had to be evidence somewhere in his hotel room.

September 7th, 2:01 PM

Gatewater Hotel

Phoenix had expected a mob of police and detectives to be present in the hotel, but found only a half dozen or so pacing the hall outside of Angelo's hotel room.

"Thought you'd show up, Ms. Wright." Gumshoe barked from inside the room.

Phoenix shrugged. "You found anything yet?"

"I know what you're hopin' to hear. Yep, we found the remote receiver, alright." Gumshoe said.

"I'm guessing you don't really want to show it to me, right?"

Gumshoe frowned. "Well, that'd be best for the investigation, but since you're the kid's lawyer, I'm required to let you see it." She didn't sound enthusiastic.

"Perfect. Have you got it here, or is it under analysis?"

"Right here." Gumshoe answered, holding up a small device similar to a radio. "Didn't take much testing, that. It's only got May's fingerprints on it. There's an opening on it for a memory card or somethin'. Couldn't find the card anywhere, though; May must've gotten rid of it already."

"Thanks, Detective." Phoenix said.

"Before you ask, we haven't found anything else. Looks to me like that's the last of it." said another detective from the side of the room.

"Alright. I guess I'll get out of your way, then." Phoenix said, backing toward the door.

"Hold on a moment." said another voice. Phoenix turned, barely suppressing a gasp as she saw the speaker. Edgeworth was standing in the doorway, watching her. "Good afternoon, Wright."

"E-Edgeworth?" Phoenix stammered.

"I'm here to for the investigation. I'd like to commend you personally for your performance in the trial this morning." Edgeworth said, ignoring Phoenix's efforts at speaking.

"Er... thanks...?" Phoenix muttered, unsure.

"Now then, I've no further interest in speaking to you. You may go." Edgeworth said sharply, stepping aside. Phoenix left the hotel room quickly. It was rather hard for her to tell whether or not Edgeworth was actually being hostile toward her.

She sat down on a bench just outside the hotel.

What's next...? she wondered. She had hoped that the receiver would help her find an answer to some of her questions, but instead, it only raised another: what happened to the memory card? If it was important enough for Angelo to remove it from the hotel entirely after recording Micah's phone calls, then there must have been some sort of clue about the real perpetrator on it. There was a small worry in her mind that Angelo might have destroyed the tape entirely before the trial even began, but she tried to force it from her mind. She needed to be confident that she would be able to find the truth, after all. Thinking over the facts again, she remembered her plan to talk to Mrs. Grossberg again. So, returning to her car, she set off for the stately office again.

September 7th, 2:22 PM

Grossberg Law Offices

"Yes, Mrs. Grossberg is in." the secretary answered, sending Phoenix toward the elevators. The rattling platform stopped on the fourth floor, and Phoenix stepped out. Grossberg again answered the door promptly, a sombre look on her face.

"Hello again, Ms. Wright." she said, stepping aside for Phoenix to enter the office.

"Hello, Mrs. Grossberg." Phoenix said.

"Please, sit down." Grossberg said. Phoenix did so. "I can't say I'm surprised that you're here. I saw you in the trial this morning." Grossberg again sat in the armchair across from Phoenix. "You've got a real passion for your work, I can see how well Micah taught you."

"I'm... th-thank you, Mrs. Grossberg." Phoenix said shakily, watching the veteran attorney's face. There was a deep sadness in her eyes, the sort of look expected from someone who has seen entirely too much hardship for one lifetime.

"I suppose you still want to know why I didn't represent Matty myself, don't you?" Grossberg asked quietly, bowing her head. Phoenix didn't answer. "Ms. Wright, you told me that Micah was investigating a blackmailing case when he was killed. If that's the case, then the first thing you need to know is that I know exactly who killed Micah, and why." Phoenix stared. "But, as I said to you yesterday, for reasons well out of my control, I can't tell you. I am ashamed to be of so little assistance to you, and you cannot know how sorry I am for it."

"Mrs. Grossberg, please," Phoenix said, desperation flickering in the back of her mind, "There must be something you can tell me... anything about Micah's case, or the investigation..."

"... There is only one thing I can do, Ms. Wright." Grossberg stood up, walking to her desk. From a drawer, she drew two photographs. "Micah gave me these photos weeks ago. They are both pieces of evidence from a case many years ago."

She held up the two pictures. One was of a dark-haired man with a gentle smile on his face. The other was of a gaudily dressed woman with hair dyed a violent shade of purple.

"I can't afford to tell you who either of these people are, but I suspect that you'll be able to find someone who can." Grossberg said. Phoenix stared at her, perplexed. "I told you yesterday, Ms. Wright. I want nothing more than to help the both of you, but there's nothing more I can do, given the circumstances."

Phoenix had no idea what to think of Grossberg's words. It was clear to her that the veteran attorney meant everything she said, but she couldn't fathom what would cause Grossberg to approach the situation in the way that she did.

"Thank you, Mrs. Grossberg." she said after a lengthy pause. Taking the photographs, she asked, "Should I... go?"

"You don't have much time left. If there isn't anything else you need to ask me, then you should definitely get out there." Grossberg replied.

"Alright." Phoenix turned and left the office. As she paced back down the hallway, she stared at the two photographs. There was something very vaguely familiar about the man in the first, but she was fairly certain she had never met him. There was no such familiarity about the woman in the second.

She nodded to the secretary as she left the building and returned to her car.

"Where to...?" she mumbled, running the possibilities through her mind. (There must be someone related to this case that can tell me who these people are...) Three possibilities sprung to mind. She could return to the detention centre and ask Matty, or, as unlikely as it was that she would get an answer, she could also ask Angelo there. Finally, there was Detective Gumshoe. If Micah had been working with her in his search for information on the blackmailing cases, it was quite possible that the detective might have an answer.

Something clicked in her head. (I never read through the case file that Micah sent me to get- ... wait, it had Grossberg's name on it!)

She barely restrained a self-indulgent cheer at her deduction as she started the car and took off for the hotel.

September 7th, 2:56 PM

Criminal Affairs Department

Detective Gumshoe, as it would happen, was not at the hotel. Phoenix had checked in with the other officers still combing the building, but she was told that Gumshoe had returned to the precinct for one reason or another. So, her high spirits slightly dampened, Phoenix had returned to her car and traveled instead to the precinct.

"The... DL-6 file from the other day?" Gumshoe inquired, giving Phoenix a curious look.

"Yes, the one that I brought to Micah's office." Phoenix confirmed. "Did you take it back during the investigation, or it is still at the office?"

"I filed it away again after the initial search was over." Gumshoe answered. "D'you think you might still need it?" she asked, casting a glance toward the evidence room.

"Definitely. I'm almost certain that whatever Micah was investigating is crucial to this case."

Gumshoe gave her an odd look, but trudged off toward the evidence room all the same. She returned fairly quickly, the case file back in her hand.

"Well, there y'go. Not sure what good it'll do you, but you can take it."

"Thanks, Detective." Phoenix said. She paused as she was turning to leave. "How's today's investigation going?"

"Not too well, thanks to you." Gumshoe said, sounding annoyed. "If you hadn't wrecked that May guy's testimony, we'd already be finished here."

"Detective, shouldn't it be more important that you get past all the confusion to find the truth? Does it really matter how quickly you get the job done?" Phoenix asked, taken aback.

"All I'm sayin' is, not too many of Ms. Edgeworth's trials go on for more than one day, 'cuz she always works everything out right away. She doesn't waste time doubting the answer." Gumshoe said.

Phoenix was nonplussed. (Edgeworth... what happened to you...?)

"Anyway, let us know if you find anything out, would'ya? We're startin' to run outta time here." Gumshoe said, turning her attention back to the book she never seemed to be without. Before Phoenix could reply, Gumshoe turned and walked away.

September 7th, 3:11 PM

Phoenix Wright's Apartment

Phoenix dropped the folder onto the table and flipped it open. Inside was a disjointed mix of different photos and articles, some dating back nearly two decades. As she scanned over the uppermost article, the word "Fey" jumped out at her. She began reading from there, but quickly found that she would need to read the full document to make sense of it.

The article, a newspaper cutting, described some sort of scandal fifteen years prior. Halfway down the page, she paused.

(This sounds like the scandal that Matty told me about...)

On the side of the page was a picture of a man, identical to the one Grossberg has given her. The label beneath it read, "Milo Fey, 31".

(Matty's father...)

The rest of the article seemed unrelated to the Feys, and Phoenix shifted it aside. It seemed odd to her that such an article would be filed under Grossberg's name, and she began to scan through the others to find a connection. Another article, halfway down the stack, caught her eye. It was a police search warrant, dated for near the same time as the incident described in the first article.

DL-6 Invest.

Location: Grossberg Law Offices

Head Detective: Detective Badd

Reason for search: Suspicion of involvement in information leak

Result: Indecisive

Phoenix reread it in confusion. According to the first article, there had been a highly publicized leak of classified information about DL-6, which she remembered Matty mentioning, but Grossberg? The idea didn't match her impression of the attorney at all. If Grossberg had been responsible for the media finding out about the police consulting a spirit medium, why would she have later become Micah's mentor? Unless Grossberg had done it as an effort to make amends for the ruin of the Fey family, it didn't add up. Even then, what would Grossberg have had to gain for it in the first place? Surely, if she had been involved, the police would have found evidence of some sort.

None of it seemed to make sense. (Maybe... Maybe Matty knows something more about it.)

Resealing the folder, Phoenix returned to her car.

September 7th, 3:44 PM

Detention Centre

Visitor's Room

"Hey, Ms. Wright!" Matty said brightly. He didn't seem to have lost his cheery mood from the morning.

"Hey, Matty." Phoenix replied, sitting down. "I've got some evidence I need your advice on."

Matty raised an eyebrow. "Alright, let's see it." he said. Phoenix opened the folder, removing the

article and photos. She set the two photos in front of Matty first.

"That's my dad-!" Matty said in surprise. He looked up at Phoenix. "Where did you get that picture?"

"From Micah's old boss. She gave me both of these photos, but she said that she couldn't tell me who they were." Phoenix said. She slid the other photo forward, and Matty froze.

"That's..." he muttered, looking shocked.

"You know who it is?" Phoenix asked urgently.

"... only the last name. White. She was re-... well, Micah suspected, at least, that she was responsible for the scandal surrounding my dad. Micah told me that she runs an 'information agency', which basically means a private detective office. Mic's big blackmailing investigation was all about her. He suspected that White was blackmailing all kinds of people using hidden information, with her agency as a cover."

While she listened, something clicked in Phoenix's memory.

"Information Agency... that's what Mr. May said that he worked for in the trial this morning! Blue-something or other... Bluecorp!"

"D'you think White might have been involved?" Matty inquired.

"Seems like a good guess." Phoenix said. "Thanks a lot, Matty. I think this might be just what we need to get you out of here."

"I hope so. Get going, Ms. Wright, I'll see you tomorrow." Matty said.

"Bye, Matty."

September 7th, 4:03 PM

Bluecorp Inc.

CEO's Office

(This is the place...)

Phoenix slowly walked around the office. The decor was almost sickeningly vibrant. A massive trophy case was built into one of the walls, (which were all painted a glowing blue), with a vast array of plaques and cups lined up inside it. Bright lights lined the ceiling, and an enormously overdressed desk stood near the centre of the room, painted a bright gold.

"Hel-LO, there!" came a voice from behind her. "Wonderfully splendid to meet you, ma'am!"

Phoenix hesitantly turned to face the speaker.

"You are the lawyer that the secretary told me about, yes?" asked the very woman from Grossberg's photo. She looked near identical to the photo, though her face was noticeably more lined with age.

"Er, yes... Phoenix Wright." Phoenix said, slowly offering a hand. The woman accepted the handshake with a vigour easily rivalling Angelo's.

"Phoenix Wright, excellent!" she said.

(I can see where Angelo gets it from...)

"I am, of course, Raine White, the CEO of this most spectacular corporation. Now then, Phoenix Wright, what is it that you require from me? Perhaps, an investigative request?"

"Something like that." Phoenix said.

(I'm gonna need to be careful of what I say to someone as... interesting... as Ms. White...)

She reached into her bag and drew out the photo of Milo Fey. As Raine looked down at it, an odd sort of glint very briefly flashed in her eye.

"And who is this?" she asked. It was clear from her tone that she already knew the answer.

"Milo Fey." Phoenix said. "But, you already knew that, didn't you?"

The glint reappeared for a brief moment. "I've no idea what you mean, Ms. Lawyer. I don't know any Feys."

"You must have heard about the trial earlier today, though. A boy named Matty Fey was put on trial for the murder of his brother, and a secretariat from this company was brought in as a witness." Phoenix said.

(What reasons could she have to play dumb about this...?)

"Ah... yes. That was what Angelo was up to today, wasn't it? I must confess that my knowledge about the trial itself is rather lacking." Raine said. Phoenix was about to speak, when Raine continued, "The look in your eyes tells me that you don't believe me, Ms. Lawyer. It's really not polite to dig into other people's business, you know."

(You-... if there's ever been a bigger hypocrite...)

"You'll be the defense for the case, I suppose? How unfortunate." Raine continued. "You'd have no other reason to come here, after all. So, out with it. What else have you brought here?" she asked. There was a eerily commanding note in her tone, and Phoenix was slightly unnerved. Repressing a shudder, she reached back into her bag.

(Guess I don't have any other options.)

"Ah." Raine said as Phoenix drew out the newspaper article. "I was so hoping you wouldn't bring this up." she didn't sound panicked. Rather, there was a note of smug finality in her tone. "I've no interest in discussing this topic, Ms. Lawyer. But, I must thank you bringing it back to my attention." she took a step back, toward her desk. Reaching a hand under the desk, she pressed a button. "Security. My office, immediately."

"What-..."

"I'm afraid I can't allow you to remain in my office any longer, Ms. Lawyer." Raine said.

"You know, don't you?" Phoenix demanded. "You knew that Micah was onto you. You've been blackmailing anyone you could get near, and Micah had finally caught on!" she was trying to get any scrap of information she could before Raine's security guards arrived. As she heard footsteps in the hallway, she continued, "You were behind the information leak in DL-6, and that's where Micah caught onto it! That's what he's been collecting information on all this time! But, you knew that yourself, right? You had Angelo May spying on him in his office the whole time!"

Raine seemed to be restraining an angry retort; her face was twisted into an awful smile. Just then, the doors flew open and two security guards entered. They took a hold of Phoenix's shoulders.

"You... you did it, didn't you?" Phoenix said as the guards looked toward Raine. The woman gave a noticeable twitch.

"On second thought, Ms. Wright should stay here." she said in a dangerous tone. "Don't let her leave, would you?"

Immediately, the two guards dragged Phoenix toward the wall, pinning her arms to it. Raine picked up a phone from her desk, dialing a number.

A voice came through the speaker. "Ms. White? What is it?"

"Good afternoon, Ms. Edgeworth."

Phoenix gasped. One of the guards covered her mouth with a vicelike grip.

"Yes, I've changed my mind. I'd like to testify in tomorrow's trial. I witnessed the murder myself, you see."

"Why did you not tell me this sooner?" Edgeworth asked.

"I don't think that really matters right now, Ms. Edgeworth. Before I go, though, there's something I need. Send the police over to my office right away."

"May I ask what for?" Edgeworth inquired.

"Certainly. The killer is standing in front of me."

Phoenix's eyes widened. She attempted a shout of protest, but the guard's grip held fast.

"She's been detained, but there's really no telling what she might do, given the chance."

"She? What do you mean, White?"

"I will gladly explain this to you later, Ms. Edgeworth. Right now, I need the police."

"... Very well. I will order a team over immediately."

"Many thanks, Ms. Edgeworth." Raine said, hanging up the phone. She approached Phoenix. "Uncover her mouth, would you?"

The guard dropped his grip on Phoenix's mouth. "What the hell are you up to, White!?" she demanded.

Raine only smirked. "You'll see soon enough, Ms. Lawyer."

Without another word, she drew an arm back, punched Phoenix in the face, and Phoenix lost consciousness.

Still doin' what I can here. Good news, though. I've just graduated, so my schedule should be much more open to continue working on the fic.

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