The Underworld Chapter 4
Edgeworth looked up as someone knocked on his door. That was odd... Usually only Gumshoe came to his office, and the detective never knocked. He placed his pen down. Thinking of the detective made him realize that he was late. That was another odd thing. If there was one thing that Gumshoe did right, it was showing up places on time... "Who's there?"
"It's Detective Gumshoe, sir... I uh... I have some important evidence for the Smith case."
The prosecutor frowned as he stood up. Smith case? That was the code name for the Cadaverini case. Was something wrong? He felt his stomach knotting up as he hurried to the door and opened it for the detective.
Gumshoe stood at the door, frowning heavily, something held in his outstretched hands.
Miles stared at it in shock, his eyes trailing up to meet Gumshoe's. A bug. Why did the detective have a listening device? "Come in, Detective." He kept his tone calm and business-like. "Could you get the Smith file down for me?" He pointed to the shelves, hoping Gumshoe would get the idea.
"Yes sir." The detective shuffled over to shelves and placed the bug down before grabbing the Adam Smith file and bringing it over to Edgeworth's desk. Sighing heavily, the prosecutor sat, pulling out a pen and paper from his desk drawer. "This evidence... Is it decisive?" Taking the pen in hand, he wrote, What's going on?
"Yes sir," Gumshoe replied, pulling up a chair across from him. He took the pen from him. I'm the mole.
When did this happen? Edgeworth's eyes were wide in shock. He never expected this. Chewing on his lip, he tried to ignore the sense of guilt he felt. If he hadn't gotten him involved... "So then it was definitely the husband?"
Last night at Tres Bien Vitcko set me up with Viola Cadaverini. "No doubt about it sir..." The detective looked down at his hands that were shaking so badly that he could barely write.
"I'll start building my case right away then..." And you accepted their offer?
I didn't have a choice. They threatened Maggey. "You'll get a guilty verdict without a problem, sir!" His hand hesitated before continuing to write. I'm afraid that they'll kill her. I don't know what to do.
So they knew about Gumshoe's crush on Maggey? They must have done their research ahead of time then... Miles swallowed. He was on very thin ice here. One wrong move, and it was his life- or Maggey's. Just do as they say. I'll think of something. "Thank you, Detective..."
Yes sir, but if I do that, they'll find out about the investigation. I don't want you to be killed either. Gumshoe stared at him, his face heavy. I don't know how closely they're watching me.
Miles closed his eyes and tapped the pen on the paper, thinking. Do you want to drop out of the investigation? "Perhaps I should take you out somewhere to celebrate."
"Really, sir?" He stared down at the paper for a few moments before writing a reply. No, I said I wanted to help you sir, and I meant it. Besides, I'm in too deep now. If I stop coming to this office, they'll kill Maggey. You'll think of a way to save her, won't you sir?
I'll try, Detective. I really will. "Yes... In fact, it's almost lunchtime now... Why don't we go somewhere?" The prosecutor stood up, startling the detective. He needed to get out of there... He needed to go somewhere where they could speak freely.
"Where, sir?" He stood up to follow him as he headed for the door.
Edgeworth decided it would be best to be vague for the people listening in. "Oh, just this place that I know... I'll drive." They stayed in silence as they walked down toward the underground parking garage. Gumshoe went to push the button for the elevator, but glancing at Edgeworth headed for the stairs; the prosecutor didn't use the elevator unless it was completely necessary ever since DL-6.
Following after the detective down the, Miles reflected on his predicament. He was being backed into a corner, and by Detective Gumshoe, no less. He regretted getting Gumshoe involved... Or should he? If Gumshoe hadn't known what was going on, what would have happened when the Cadaverinis had contacted him? Perhaps it was better for him to know what was going on. Hopefully the detective would watch what he said to other people... The only thing that worried him was that someone would get information from Gumshoe. He always did give out case information to the defense... But surely the detective knew that their lives were on the line, right?
He studied the man's back as they went down another floor. What if it came down to his life, or Maggey's? Who would he choose? Who should he choose? He let out a small sigh, causing Gumshoe to glance back at him for a moment.
They reached the parking garage, and Edgeworth unlocked the car doors before he and Gumshoe got in. He took his time buckling his seat belt and starting the car while he searched for bugs. The detective reached into his pocket, and drew something out to hand to Edgeworth; his handmade bug sweeper.
Nodding his thanks, the prosecutor swept the car, and finding it clean, let out another sigh. "Thank you, Detective..." He began backing out of the parking lot, using that as an excuse not to look directly at him.
"You can keep that, sir... You need it more than I do." He looked at Edgeworth who seemed to be concentrating on the road more closely than usual.
"Detective... I'm..." Miles trailed off for a moment. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry, sir?"
"I'm sorry for getting you involved in this mess."
"I told you that I wanted to help you sir. It's not your fault," the detective replied, studying the prosecutor's face carefully.
"It is... If I hadn't been looking into the Cadaverinis, they wouldn't have become suspicious of me. I've been a fool, thinking that I could bring them down. Who am I to think that I could face down the underworld and win?" Edgeworth's eyes narrowed slightly as he stopped at a stop light. For a few moments, the only audible sound was that of the car's left blinker as he prepared to turn.
"Someone has to do it, sir," the detective said finally. "And you're the best person for the job. You're the only person willing to do it who actually has a chance."
"But I've driven myself into a corner... I've driven you into a corner! And I've unwittingly dragged Miss Byrde into this mess as well." He tapped his fingers on his steering wheel nervously, still not looking at Gumshoe. "What am I supposed to do? How can I get us out of this alive? Do I just give up? Do I just let the Cadaverinis get away with their crimes? As a prosecutor, I'm supposed to find the truth, but at what cost?" He finally looked over at the detective, his expression pained.
Gumshoe just stared at him, not knowing what to say and feeling a bit uncomfortable. "Mr. Edgeworth..." The prosecutor had always been the one who knew what to do, not him. The detective had been witness to Edgeworth's insecurities only once before, and that had been after the earthquake had occurred during his stay at the detention center. Seeing him like that made the detective want to give him a big hug, but he knew the younger man would not appreciate it.
"It's your choice, Detective," Miles decided. "You're the one in the most danger right now..." He pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant and unbuckled his seat belt. Sighing, he leaned forward, resting his arms and forehead on the steering wheel.
"I wish that were true, sir," Gumshoe replied quietly. "But we both know that they have their sights on you." He reached out a hand as if to lay it on the prosecutor's shoulder, but he hesitated, letting it fall to his side to unbuckle his seat belt. "If you want to keep fighting, them, I'll be right there with you, sir."
Edgeworth turned his head to look at the detective before sliding out of the car. "If we don't fight them... They'll just keep killing more innocents."
The detective nodded in agreement as he got out, closing the car door behind him.
"Then..." the prosecutor hesitated before nodding. "Then we're going to continue our investigation. Because justice should always prevail."
"Yes sir!" Gumshoe exclaimed, relieved that his friend had regained his composure. Edgeworth entered the restaurant with Gumshoe feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He was going to follow this through to the end, and he wasn't going to do it alone.
Meanwhile, a man sitting in a nearby car in the parking lot opened his cell phone. "It looks like your first threat wasn't enough to turn him..."
"Then... We'll just have to 'clip' our little birdie's wings, won't we? Hee... hee... hee..."