"Why am I here again?" Phoenix mumbled to Dahlia.
They had been clothes shopping for over an hour now with Mia. The brunette defense attorney held a shopping bag in each hand, striding through the mall with ease. Dahlia and Phoenix, on the other hand, were fighting their way through the crowd. Dahlia maneuvered past a couple engaged in a conversation apparently more important than watching where they were going.
"Because you wanted to be my assistant," Dahlia said. "And if I have to go through this, so do you."
"You could have mentioned that in the job description," Phoenix said.
Dahlia shrugged. "I could have."
Phoenix rolled his eyes. "Whatever I did, I'm sorry."
"Would you both just brighten up?" Mia said. "Honestly, it's not bad."
"Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I like clothes shopping," Dahlia said.
"But because I'm a boy I don't like clothes shopping," Phoenix added.
"I don't see what you're complaining about," Maya said.
"Oh, Maya there you are!" Mia said. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Sure did!" Maya said.
Dahlia and Phoenix perked their heads up.
"Great!" Mia said. "We'll hit a couple more shops then head back, okay?"
Defense attorney and assistant simultaneously deflated.
"So close," Dahlia said.
The brooding session was interrupted by a shrill cry.
"What was that?" Maya said, looking around frantically.
"I think it came from over there," Phoenix said, pointing in the direction the scream had come from.
"Let's go!" Dahlia said, sprinting. The other three weren't very far behind.
Dahlia ran as fast as she could to the source of the scream, shoving past groups of people and throwing out the random apology. She skidded to a halt at the sight of police tape.
"Let go of me!" Dahlia turned her head and saw a teenage girl being dragged away by two officers. "I didn't do anything!"
"What happened?" Phoenix said, shocked.
"I don't know," Mia said.
"What's going on here? Civilians are unauthorized to be here, pal!" a male voice boomed behind them.
Maya jumped and turned around, followed by Phoenix, Mia and Dahlia. Detective Edgeworth stood there, looking irritated and torn. Then recognition flashed in his eyes.
"Phoenix?" Edgeworth said.
"Miles?" Phoenix said. "What's going on?"
"What are you doing here?" Edgeworth said stoically.
"We heard a scream," Phoenix said.
"This is a crime scene…" the detective trailed off when he saw Dahlia. As he stared, the hardness in his expression chipped away. He seemed to be in a daze. "I remember you. You're that defense attorney who…"
Dahlia hadn't known Edgeworth for very long, but she had never expected to see him look so emotional. She flinched when the detective grabbed her shoulders.
"You have to help!" Edgeworth pleaded. "She would never… you've got to believe me!"
Dahlia didn't know what say. One reason being she didn't know what Edgeworth was talking about.
"You've got to help her!" Edgeworth said, shaking Dahlia.
"23-15-23 space 13-9-12-5-19. 9-6 space 12-1-18-18-25 space 19-1-13 space 25-15-21…" Phoenix said.
Edgeworth turned to Phoenix, letting go of Dahlia. "14-9-3-11 space 25-15-21 space 4-15-14-20 space 7-5-20 space 9-20! 12-9-20-20-12-5 space 11-1-25… 19-8-5-19-"
"23-8-15 space 9-19 space 11-1-25?" Phoenix said.
"19-8-5 space 9-19 space 10-21-19-20 space 1 space 11-9-4!" Miles said.
"Umm… 1-6-21-4-12?" Mia said, incredibly confused.
The two men just stared at her.
"What did you say?" Phoenix said.
"What did I say?" Mia said.
"I'm not sure how to pronounce that," Phoenix said.
Maya looked at Dahlia, who seemed to be her last resort to understanding what was going on.
"I didn't follow any of that," Dahlia said. "It's some kind of code they use."
"Oh, so you two know each other then?" Maya said, smiling at Phoenix and Edgeworth.
"They had a whole conversation in code and you just thought of that?" Dahlia said.
"Sorry," Maya grumbled.
"Whatever. Anyone want to explain to me what's going on?" Dahlia said. "In English, mind you."
"Of course, pal," Edgeworth said, rubbing his arm sheepishly.
"So I take it some kind of crime occurred?" Dahlia said.
"Yes, a murder," Edgeworth said. "A security guard was strangled and shot in the head."
"That's awful," Maya said.
"Who was that girl being dragged away?" Mia said.
Edgeworth looked down. "Her name is Kay Faraday."
"Kay, huh?" Dahlia said. "I take it she's the one I've 'got to help.' Am I right?"
"Yeah," Edgeworth said. "I don't believe for one minute that she would kill someone, pal. But they found evidence, then a witness, and everyone began suspecting her."
"How do you know her anyway?" Phoenix said.
For a brief moment, there was a hint of a smile in the detective's eyes. "I guess you could say she was my assistant. I've known her since she was 10. Cute kid."
"Sounds like you two are close," Mia said with her usual comforting smile.
"Which is why I know Kay is innocent," Edgeworth said; all business once again. He turned his attention to Dahlia. "You were the first defense attorney to win a trial against Prosecutor Larry Butz. You're still a rookie, but you managed to get Phoenix and acquittal."
The detective looked pained again. "By the way, sorry about that pal. I didn't want you to be a murderer, but…"
Phoenix stopped him. "It's alright Miles, I'm not mad or anything."
"Still," Edgeworth said.
"Don't care," Phoenix said, smiling. He suddenly put his arm around Dahlia. "Dahlia and I can get Kay off the hook. Right Dahlia?"
Dahlia removed her assistant's arm. "Sure."
"Hold it, 'Dahlia and I'?" Edgeworth said.
"After that case, Nick became my assistant," Dahlia said.
"What happened to the artist thing, pal?" Edgeworth said.
"As Dahlia's assistant, I figured I could help people more than I could as a painter," Phoenix said. "Besides, no one was buying."
"Ah," Edgeworth said. "So you will help Kay then, pal?"
"Of course," Dahlia said. "If she's innocent she needs a lawyer. We'll go the detention center now and talk to her."
The detective seemed to relax. "Good to hear."
"Alright then, we'll see you later," Dahlia said. "And I'll make sure to tell Kay you said hi."
The foursome left the crime scene, with Dahlia in the lead. The prospect of a new client was motivating for a new defense attorney. Phoenix walked next to her; this would be his first case as an assistant so he was excited too.
"Hey Nick," Dahlia said.
"What?" Phoenix said.
"I just realized something," Dahlia said, smirking. "We just got out of a shopping trip."
Lawyer and assistant high-fived.
They flagged down a taxi and rode to the detention center. Minutes later, they were sitting in a room separated by glass. A teenage girl with long black that had a key sticking out of it was on the other side of the glass. Her style looked very Japanese inspired.
"Hi there," Kay said, smiling. "Name's Faraday. Kay Faraday, 'kay?"
"Yes, Edgeworth told us about you," Dahlia said.
Kay's eyes lit up. "You mean Uncle Edgey? I knew it! He would never think I did it! So are you going to be my attorney?"
"How'd you know I was an attorney?" Dahlia said.
"The badge on your hoodie," Kay said. "Uncle Edgey told me defense attorneys always wear that."
"That would be correct," Dahlia said. "My name is Dahlia Fey, attorney at law. And this is my assistant, Nick Wright."
"Wait, I know you!" Kay said, recognition written all over her face. "You were on the news. You're the one that beat Prosecutor Larry."
"True," Dahlia said. I never realized how big a deal it was.
"And Uncle Edgey told me all about you," Kay said, looking at Phoenix. "You're Phoenix Wright, the one who screams like a girl!"
Dahlia smirked, Phoenix did not. "Remind me to put spicy pickle juice in my old 'pal's' coffee mug."
23-15-23 space 13-9-12-5-19. 9-6 space 12-1-18-18-25 space 19-1-13 space 25-15-21… = Wow Miles. If Larry saw you…
14-9-3-11 space 25-15-21 space 4-15-14-20 space 7-5-20 space 9-20! 12-9-20-20-12-5 space 11-1-25… 19-8-5-19 = Nick you don't get it! Little Kay… she's
23-8-15 space 9-19 space 11-1-25? = Who is Kay?
19-8-5 space 9-19 space 10-21-19-20 space 1 space 11-9-4! = She is just a kid!
1-6-21-4-12? = Afudl?