They ran outside and crossed the street, dashing into the Fey & Co. Law Offices.
"I don't think she followed us," Phoenix said.
"Good," Maya said.
Pearl opened Dahlia's diary and began flipping through the pages.
"Anything good?" Maya said.
"Um..." Pearl bit her lip. "I forgot. I can't read."
"You can't read?" Phoenix said.
"Mother said I should always focus on spirit channeling, so I don't know many words," Pearl said.
"Really, wow..." Phoenix said.
"Out of the way pal!"
They moved just in time to see Edgeworth sprint by.
"I'm not done with you yet you idiot!" Larry said, got on his trail.
"... Didn't see that coming," Maya said.
Phoenix sighed. "What is this? Fourth grade?"
Maya and Pearl shrugged.
"Well, guess I'll go save Miles," Phoenix said. "Wait up guys!"
"Don't run away from me!" Larry said.
"I'm sorry alright?" Edgeworth said.
"Sorry don't cut it 'pal'!" Larry said.
"Wait up! I wanna beat up the stupid detective too!" Pearl said.
"Pearly come back!" Maya said.
"Ah ha!" Larry shouted.
"Ai!" Miles squealed in a fashion Phoenix recognized rather well.
"Yep, fourth grade all over again," Phoenix said.
Finally, he caught up to Larry and Edgeworth.
"What is wrong with you today?" Larry lectured.
"What's wrong with me?" Edgeworth said. "I'm not the one who just-"
"That doesn't answer my question!" Larry said.
"Guys! Guys! What's going on?" Phoenix said.
"Oh Wright, when did you get here?" Larry said.
"What are you two doing?" Phoenix said.
"This idiot," Larry pointed at Edgeworth. "Has the brain capacity of a rock!"
"I'm sorry alright?" Edgeworth said.
"Still doesn't explain things," Phoenix said, wondering when he had become the normal one.
"First there was that thing with the security footage," Larry said. "Now I'm just finding out about something else!"
"There's more evidence?" Phoenix said.
"Witness, actually," Edgeworth said.
"Seriously? Who?" Phoenix said.
"In addition to visiting a florist and cutlery shop, Fey went to get her hair done apparently," Larry said.
"Why does that matter so much?" Phoenix said, earning an appreciative look from the detective.
"It matters because it's an unaccounted for aspect of the case," Larry said. "We need every lead we can get, right?"
"I guess so," Phoenix said. "I just can't believe Dahlia would go to a hair stylist. It seems kind of girly."
Maya flicked Phoenix's forehead. "In place of Dahlia. She hates being called girly. It's one of the reasons she doesn't tell anyone about it."
"You know, I can't really see Fey doing that either," Larry said. "Her hair never looks all that fancy."
"She doesn't go to get it all trimmed and neat," Maya said. "Dahlia dyes her hair."
"Really?" Larry said.
"Yeah, it's kind of the only thing she does that could be considered girly," Maya said.
"But what about her dia- Ow!" Phoenix stopped midsentence when Maya rapped him between the eyes.
"You know, I thought Pearls got it from Dahlia but now I'm not so sure," Phoenix said.
"Girls really do love to hit you don't they?" Larry said.
"You get used to it," Phoenix said. He held back a smile when he saw Edgeworth sneak away from Larry's distracted wrath. Dahlia's right, he is a ninja. Maybe Kay rubbed off on him.
"So seriously, does Fey really dye her hair?" Larry said. "I mean, I guess I could see her getting stressed pretty easily but still it's a little early for grey hairs."
"No! It's not grey!" Maya said. She showed Larry the photograph of Dahlia as a kid.
"Black?" Larry said, stunned. "Why does she-"
"It's complicated," Maya said. "This was taken right before she started coloring her hair. When she moved to the city, she started getting it done professionally. And for the record, I'm only telling you this because it's going to come up during the trial anyway. Dahlia doesn't like to talk about it."
Larry stared at the photo. "You know, she looks kind of familiar with black hair. Like that girl from my first- I mean distraction!"
"First what?" Phoenix said.
"It's nothing," Larry said. "She definitely wasn't Fey, forget about it."
"Uh…" Phoenix wasn't sure how to respond.
"Hey, where'd Edgeworth go?" Larry said.
"Oh, he went that way," Phoenix said, pointing down the road.
"Thanks man," Larry said, and started after the detective.
Edgeworth reappeared from behind Phoenix. "You really are a pal."
"Don't mention it," Phoenix said.
"I forget sometimes how angry Larry can get," Edgeworth said.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Phoenix said.
Edgeworth sighed. "Get back to work and write a very detailed progress report."
"Just don't forget anything," Phoenix teased.
"Wow, if only I'd thought of that sooner," Edgeworth deadpanned.
"I don't suppose you remember where Dahlia's hair stylist is?" Phoenix said.
"Here's
the business card," Edgeworth said.
"Thanks dude," Phoenix said.
"Good luck," Edgeworth said, walking away.
"Good luck?" Phoenix said. "Like, with the investigation?"
"I don't think that was quite it," Maya said. "Keep in mind, this is Dahlia's hairdresser."
Phoenix broke into a cold sweat. "Oh, of course."
After taking a cab ride, the trio stood in front of a small building.
"Wait, Mr. Nick," Pearl said. "Before you go in, you need protection."
Phoenix smiled and opened the door. "Okay, I know this is Dahlia's hairdresser but seriously I don't think-"
"Take that!"
A pair of scissors flew through the air, missing Phoenix by mere inches.
"Hah! You throw like you cut hair!"
"Yeah, not sure how I missed that giant head! Let me try again!"
"You might hurt yourself! Here, let me save you the trouble!"
Powder flew across the room, and Phoenix closed his eyes just in time.
"My eyes! You're dead!"
Phoenix turned around and stepped back outside.
Pearl rolled up her sleeve, a look of pure determination on her face. "I'm going in."
"Pearls, wait-" As usual, no one listened to Phoenix.
"YEEAAAAHH!" Maya and Pearl charged inside.
"This is just nuts," Phoenix muttered. "I wonder if I can get a raise after this."
From outside, he heard a random string of noises. Some of which sounded rather painful, concerning the spiky-haired artist. Even in prison, she still manages to make my life difficult. You're laughing your head off right now, aren't you Dahlia?
He was hesitant, but Phoenix opened the door and stepped inside. Maya and Pearl were on opposite sides of the room, each holding a man by the ear.
You know what, I'm not even going to ask what happened. Phoenix took out the business card Edgeworth had given him. "Uh, I'm looking for a Mr. Matt Engarde?"
The man being restrained by Maya looked up. "That's me. Uh, dude could you please let go of me?"
"No scissors?" Maya said.
"Yeah, no scissors," Matt said.
"Good boy," Maya said, letting go if his ear.
"Little girl, can you please let go of me as well?" the other man said.
"Don't be such a baby, Juan," Matt said. "You wrestled a bear, right? I think you can handle a little girl."
"Don't rub it in!" Juan said.
Pearl let go of Juan's ear, allowing him to straighten up.
"What's going on?"
A blonde woman stormed into the room. "And what is this mess? Both of you, in my office, now!"
"Uh, Ms. Andrews dude, I need to talk with this dude here," Matt said, gesturing to Phoenix.
"Oh, a client," Ms. Andrews said. "I'm so sorry sir. These 2 get so out of control."
"He started it!" Juan said.
"Alright, Corrida, you come with me. Engarde, I'll deal with you next," Ms. Andrews said.
It's funny, I can almost see Dahlia right next to me. Giving out snide comments and subtly egging everyone on. Phoenix shook his head. No wonder she comes here.
"Alright, sorry about that dude," Matt said once Juan and Ms. Andrews were gone. "I can see you're dealing with some really out there bed hair, or whatever you want to call that."
"What? No!" Phoenix said, covering his spikes protectively. "I'm not here for a haircut!"
"Hi Mr. Matt," Pearl said, running up next to Phoenix.
"Ah, if it isn't little Pearly! Haven't seen you around in a while," Matt said.
"Mystic Dahlia wanted to protect me from Mr. Juan," Pearl said.
"With good reason, dude!" Matt said. He lifted his bangs and revealed scars over his eye. "He did that, you know! Had some freaky razor and just went like-"
As Matt droned on, Pearl whispered to Phoenix. "That's what Mystic Dahlia told me to say if I ever saw Mr. Matt again."
Phoenix nodded his head. "Smart."
"And just when I thought I was safe, dude, what does Juan do?" Matt said.
"He smacks you with a hot towel!" Maya said.
"That's right, dude!" Matt said. "How'd you know?"
"Dahlia told me the story," Maya said. "I'm her cousin."
"Her cousin?" Matt said, examining Maya. "Let's see, topknot, robes, you must be Maya."
"Dahlia's mentioned me then?" Maya said.
"Yeah, all the time," Matt said. "You're Maya, Steel Samurai fan. Props, by the way dude. You're little Pearly, cutest kid on the map. And you're… Oh now I remember! Nick, the guy who-"
"Screams like a girl, I know!" Phoenix said.
"Whoa, whoa, chill dude," Matt said. "You're more stressed than Dahlia."
"How would you know?" Phoenix said.
"I'm her hair stylist, it's my job," Matt said. "40 minutes with me and not only do you look it, but you feel as refreshing as a spring breeze."
Phoenix blinked. Delightful.
"Oh yeah, just ignore it Nick," Maya said. "Dahlia says he's crazy."
"No, I'm the normal one around here," Matt said. "It's Juan you have to look out for."
"I heard that!" Juan said.
"Get bent Juan!" Matt shouted. He turned back to Phoenix. "Say, why isn't Dahlia with you guys?"
"Mystic Dahlia got in big trouble," Pearl said. "But she's innocent Mr. Matt!"
"So wait, that dude was serious? Dahlia got arrested?" Matt said.
Who jokes about that? Phoenix nodded his head. "Yeah, we're investigating for her."
"Ah dude, Dahlia's one of my best clients!" Matt said. "I know she has a few rough patches, but still!"
"Yeah, for once I understand you there," Phoenix said, playing with Dahlia's diary in his hands.
"Whoa dude, you have her diary?" Matt said.
"Oh yeah, we still never looked through it," Phoenix said.
"Let me see that," Matt said. He flipped through the book. "Oh man, this is definitely Dahlia's diary."
"Here, give me that," Maya said. "Huh, it's like she wrote stories in here."
"Can I see?" Pearl said.
"Well, uh, you can't read remember?" Maya said. "Besides I don't think Dahlia's handwriting would make it any easier."
"Really? It's that bad?" Phoenix said.
"Look here," Maya said, showing Phoenix the open page.
Dear Diary, I can't sleep so I thought I'd write my thoughts. You know something noticed? Ami and Mia have the same letters. Weird, right?
Phoenix grazed the pages, and much to his surprise, the content became much darker.
A white flash of pure fury, searing through any resolve. Red petals fall, swirling and dancing. Black petals mix into the swarm, and with their touch melt away the scarlet exterior of the other petals, until there is nothing but black. The red drips down, splattering the floor like blood. The blood stains dry, turning brown. A black petal falls in the center, and everything melds together. Everything gets farther away, revealing that these stains are brown eyes of a face. One side is red, the other black.
His eyes widened, he hadn't expected such a deep story. He wondered what it meant.
I tried calling her again, but I don't know why. It's not as if I want to hear her voice. But Pearly was just born, I guess I figured she deserved to know. I guess it doesn't matter though, she won't pick up. Maybe it's better that way. Honestly, I don't want Pearly to meet her. Mother is bad enough.
"Who's she?" Phoenix said.
Maya flipped the page.
I am not my sister. I am not my sister. I am not my sister. I am not my sister. I am not my sister. I am not my sister.
"Sister…" Phoenix whispered. He looked at Maya, who looked back at him grimly.
Her red locks swayed gently in the breeze. The wire dangled, sparking occasionally. She looked down at the body spread on the ground, lifeless and limp. Another man runs up to her, looking shocked beyond belief.
She begged him not to tell anyone she had been here, she was innocent. For all her lover, she asked he keep her secret.
Slowly, he nodded his head.
She stood up, and a tear streamed down her cheek as she thanked him. She turned around, and her parasol covered her smile just in time. He would make the perfect scapegoat.
"What is this about?" Phoenix said.
Dahlia stared at her reflection, dazed. She brushed her fingers through a lock, and let it flutter back down. Her vibrant scarlet hair was turning dull and darker. It was becoming the same way it was before. The same as…
"Hers," Dahlia breathed. "No, I'm not her. I'm not my sister. I'm just not."
Viola stepped out of the shadows and looked in the mirror with Dahlia. "I agree, you're nothing like your sister."
"Wha- how did you…?" Dahlia said.
"She was in this cell with me too," Viola said. "Nasty girl."
Dahlia stroked her hair. "I'm in the same cell that she was."
"Still, you're very different," Viola said. "Even if you're starting to look identical again, there's one very big difference."
"What?" Dahlia said.
"You're not dead yet," Viola said.