Chapter 10
Red Fanta
"Mom," Phoenix said from the backseat of the car, "Can Miles stay with us, then?"
Mom's reflection moved in the rearview mirror and Phoenix could see she was looking at him even though he could only see the lenses of her sunglasses.
"It's not so simple, honey," she said.
"So where will he go?" Larry said.
"The court decides that," Mom said, "Usually they see if he has other relatives that can take care of him."
"Does Miles have other relatives?" Phoenix asked.
"I really don't know," Mom said.
"You said he had an Aunt," Phoenix said.
"Yeah but…" Mom said, "I don't think he's going to stay with her."
"Is she mean or something?" Larry asked.
"She's sick," Mom said.
"Still?" Phoenix said.
"Nick sometimes people get sick—certain kinds of sick—and they don't get better," Mom said.
"Oh," Phoenix said, "Like with cancer."
"Yes," Mom said.
"So we need to make a thousand paper cranes," Larry said.
"That girl in the story still died," Phoenix said.
That killed the conversation until Mom parked at the hospital. It took them a while to navigate the big hospital and they kept losing Larry. So Mom was a little huffy when they got to the place were Miles was. Tomorrow was New Year's Eve, but Miles had nowhere to go.
The room where Miles was staying was open and there were four beds—and not all of them were empty. Phoenix frowned at the first patient—he must have had a dozen relatives camping near his bed and they all smelled like weird spices. Otherwise the room was empty except for Miles' bed. There was a curtain pulled around it.
The nurse was fat with jiggly arms and he and Larry couldn't help but giggle as she moved the curtain aside so they could visit Miles.
Miles looked scary. He was white—well Miles was always sort of pale—but Phoenix thought he looked almost as white as the sheets on his bed. His hair was a mess and he had dark circles under his eyes. He looked sick—like the kind of sick people die from. Funny, Mom didn't say Miles was sick.
Mom made Larry and him sit off to the side while she went to go talk to him. She hugged Miles and he cried in her arms like a little kid. Phoenix almost yelled at him—he would've if his dad hadn't just died like that. Phoenix just crossed his arms and glared at them—what was Mom's deal anyway? Miles was his friend.
Mom was still all sniffly when she came and told Larry and him that they could visit with Miles and not to say anything about his dad. She said she was going to get them something to eat.
Miles looked even worse up close. Phoenix was almost afraid to talk to him. So he let Larry speak first.
"Hey," Larry said.
Miles looked at them and his eyes looked really big in his face and they were kind of pink from all of his crying.
"Hello," Miles said, "H-how was your Christmas?"
"Um," Larry said, "it was okay. Yours?"
"Okay," Miles said, "We—um, we went to Nick's house. His mom made prime rib."
"Cool," Larry said, "Did… Um did you get anything cool from Santa?"
Miles looked at him strangely for a moment, "Santa's not real, Larry."
"Oh," Larry said.
"Are you sick?" Phoenix said.
"No," Miles said, "I'm fine."
"How come you're staying here, then?" Larry said.
Miles just looked at the two of them and then turned his face to the wall.
"Hey, Miles," Phoenix said, "Are you going to come back when school starts?"
"Um," Miles turned to face them, "I think so. Dad said I could play baseball instead of golf this year."
"That's cool," Larry said.
"We could go to that lighthouse," Phoenix said, "Now that all of us are together."
"Yeah," Miles said.
It was really weird. Phoenix didn't know what to say to him and from Larry's expression, it was clear that he didn't know either. Miles was staring at both of them and biting his lip.
"Um guys," Miles said and both Larry and Phoenix looked very focused at him, "My dad was murdered. Some guy was arrested a couple days ago. They took him to court—but no one will tell me what happened."
Phoenix looked at Larry and Larry made a face at him. Mom said they weren't supposed to talk about this. Miles was staring real hard at them and Phoenix frowned.
"If you find out what happens will you tell me?" Miles asked them.
"Sure," Larry said and Phoenix nodded.
Miles turned to stare at the wall again, "I'm supposed to leave here tomorrow. But I don't know where they're sending me. So I guess I won't see you guys until school starts again."
"I'll ask my Mom," Phoenix said, "She'll know where to find you. She works for the school people. We'll come get you when you move in to your new… um… house."
"I hope so," Miles said.
"Are you just going to live by yourself?" Larry said.
"Maybe," Miles said, "I know how to use a microwave."
"That's cool," Larry said. Phoenix stared at Miles, unable to think up any more pleasantry. Miles stared at the wall and Larry started poking at the balloons someone had sent to Miles. Several moments dragged in the heavy silence. Then Phoenix moved toward the bed and shoved his face toward Miles, glaring as hard as he could.
"Miles what's wrong with you? Mom didn't say you were sick. But you look sick."
"I'm okay," Miles said, "The food here isn't good."
"Mom's going to get food," Phoenix said.
"Yeah," Miles said, "I told her I wanted chicken nuggets."
"Sweet," Larry said.
It got quiet again and they all looked about the room in disparate directions trying to seem occupied.
"Phoenix," Miles said, and he balked—long enough for Phoenix to answer.
"What?"
"Is this how you felt when your dad's plane crashed?"
Phoenix stared at Miles, not sure if he wanted to laugh or cry.
Phoenix fumbled in the mirror with his tie. Normally he kept it tied but it needed pressing so he had to start from scratch. As he undid the knot and redid it he started to really feel Maya's absence.
She couldn't tie a tie but at least she would have reminded him that the knot he looked at in the mirror was opposite of the actual knot in front of him.
Somehow he'd managed to piece together his suit in its entirety—clean too. Phoenix took a moment to gloat a little as he filled the reservoir in the coffee machine and threw out the grounds from yesterday and replaced them with fresh ones. He put on his jacket and set his coat near the door and waited for the coffee to finish. Then he filled his dented brushed steel travel mug, proudly displaying a scratched up hologram sticker of the Evil Magistrate—courtesy of Maya—and left his apartment.
Phoenix walked out to the mailbox to get the newspaper and found six of them. He put the current day's paper under his arm and dropped the rest in the recycle bin. By the time he reached the building he was whistling. Today, Wright&Co. Law Offices was open for business.
Phoenix looked around the little office and frowned. Nothing had changed—Charley looked a little sad—but everything else was the same. Phoenix sighed as he tossed the newspaper on the counter and went to water Charley. Nothing had changed, but it didn't seem right without Maya.
Phoenix turned on the computer and stared at the screen as it booted. He opened his e-mail first. He hadn't looked at his inbox since the twenty-eighth—the day the Hammond trial ended. Of course, Maya would have cleaned out his inbox while she was in—so he wasn't expecting any business mail. Phoenix frowned as he scrolled down the list.
"Steel Samurai Alerts… Pink Princess Updates… Someone responded to your post on Neo Olde Tokyo Online…" He might've been annoyed if he didn't miss her so much.
Phoenix only had three e-mails not related to Maya's interests. One was from that Mexican Race horse owner. One was from the owner of the business park, wishing him a Happy New Year. The last one was from M. Edgeworth, no subject. Phoenix sipped his coffee and stared at the e-mail.
January 2, 2016 at 1043 A.M.
From: medgew .gov
To: (You)pwright rgumsh .gov jmars2 .gov dabutz_99 lskye .gov
Subject: (none)
Good Morning,
It was brought to my attention that the champagne bottles had love notes attached to them. I am embarrassed to admit, that a few 'forward' neighbors that live in my building gave me the champagne and I simply 're-gifted' it. Please disregard the note cards—unless you would like an introduction with one of these neighbors. Sorry for any confusion.
Cheers!
Edgeworth
Cheers? Edgeworth was so weird. Phoenix grinned as he read the names of the other people copied on the e-mail. So Edgeworth had tried to warn him. Phoenix paused thoughtfully and then hit reply.
January 6, 2016 at 953 A.M.
From: (You)pwright
To: medgew .gov
Subject: RE:(none)
My heart is breaking…
Phoenix hit send. He waited for a minute, but there was no reply. He opened the desktop solitaire game—probably the most sophisticated application on the sad little computer—and hit deal. Phoenix was about to lose his fifth game of solitaire when he saw the reply come in.
January 6, 2016 at 1107 A.M.
From: medgew .gov
To: (You)pwright
Subject: RE: RE:(none)
Idiot.
Phoenix smiled and hit reply.
January 6, 2016 at 1108 A.M.
From: (You)pwright
To: medgew .gov
Subject: RE: RE: RE:(none)
I hope you learned your lesson about re-gifting—and stirring up the passions of little old ladies.
Then he hit send. Edgeworth made him wait of course. Edgeworth probably had work in front of him anyway.
January 6, 2016 at 1223 P.M.
From: medgew .gov
To: (You)pwright
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE:(none)
Don't you have a job?
Phoenix laughed and hit reply.
January 6, 2016 at 1225 P.M.
From: (You)pwright
To: medgew .gov
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE:(none)
Yes. I'm monitoring my e-mail. In case there's a client.
Phoenix laughed and hit reply. Phoenix went back to his solitaire game, pausing often to check for a reply. After an hour he stood and took off his jacket and his tie and hung them on the computer chair. The sofa was the same—stained where Maya dripped chilidog chili that day—Phoenix frowned and dropped himself heavily on the sofa and turned on the television. The news channel was on—talking about the Rector trial again and his heinous crimes. Phoenix changed the channel. A man was standing over a woman in a hospital bed telling her that he never meant to hurt her and—Phoenix changed the channel. Highlights from a football game. The Great Gurgitation. The Money Show. The Steel Samurai…
Phoenix stopped flipping the channels when he got to the news channel he'd started with. He frowned at the pretty young journalist whose hair was bobbing around against the gray winter day. He startled when his chin hit his chest. He turned and pulled his feet up onto the couch still staring at the TV. Something was strange…
Phoenix turned up the volume—for some reason it was almost mute. He sat up when he recognized the steps to this district's courthouse.
"…the Police have declined to comment on this case at all, though it is widely speculated that they will move forward to expedite this trial. I'm Laura Costa, live from the district courthouse. Where the district—"
Phoenix tuned out the television again and stood to get something to drink from the mini-fridge Mia had bought to keep drinks for their clients and Maya kept stocked with soda and chips "for the office" she'd told him—from what he'd seen "the office" meant mostly her. The fridge was mostly empty now, though Phoenix was relieved to find one unclaimed red Fanta. He was still fumbling with the tab as he sat down. Then he glanced at the TV and dropped it on the floor.
Edgeworth was glaring at him from the TV screen.
"…Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth. Prosecutor Edgeworth, can you tell us if the arrest made earlier this afternoon—"
"No comment," Edgeworth said and started to move away but the camera panned to follow him.
"Have they caught the Honeymoon Killer?"
Edgeworth glared back at the camera once before turning and shoved himself into the crowd going the other direction. The camera was focused on the reporter again.
Phoenix laughed and picked up the still unopened soda can. He forgot he'd dropped it and jumped up from the sofa when it started to spray pink foam and an unnatural red liquid everywhere.
Miles wasn't there on the first day back from winter break. No one in class mentioned his absence—except Larry—and he only brought it up to Phoenix. By the afternoon, class started to feel the same as it ever had, like winter break had never even happened. Like Miles had never gone to that school at all.
Larry talked animatedly about something Phoenix had already tuned out while the two of them made their way home from school. This was how it used to be, right? Nick and the Butz, best buddies, loyal pals, right? Phoenix frowned a little, there was something missing.
"Huh Nick?" Larry said and tugged on Phoenix's backpack. Phoenix stopped at looked at Larry, startled at the interruption of his musings.
"What?"
"Tomorrow," Larry coaxed. Phoenix frowned and started walking again.
"I'm sorry Larry," he said, "I wasn't listening."
"I said we should catch it and put it in Misses Gagner's desk before class tomorrow."
Phoenix stopped turned and blinked at Larry. He certainly shouldn't have been this surprised. Larry was always thinking up bad ideas.
"Um," Phoenix said, "What are we going to catch again?"
"Nick!" Larry slapped his own forehead, "Are you even listening to me?"
Phoenix sighed, "Larry, I don't think we should put anything in Misses Gagner's desk. I told my mom I wouldn't get any more detentions. She said if I was good for a whole month, she'd take me to Ocean World."
"Ocean World?" Larry said, "That place seems stupid. Come to this fake aquarium and see a stupid whale show that only lasts ten seconds…"
"Yeah but I've never been there," Phoenix said.
"So are you going to just stop being fun?" Larry said, "You want to be like Miles?"
"No," Phoenix said.
"Are you going to come over later?" Larry said.
"I don't know," Phoenix said, "I have homework."
"No you don't," Larry said, "It's the first day back."
"Yeah but, the teacher said it's going to be harder now that Christmas is over and we have those tests we have to take—"
"Stop," Larry said, "I'm just going to go home."
"Bye Larry," Phoenix said.
"Bye," Larry said, and he kicked at a few stones as he continued along the street by himself.
Phoenix went into his house. Mom came home about a half-hour after him. She was carrying the mail and her workbag. She found him sitting on the sofa with his school bag on the seat next to him, one elbow propped up on it.
"Nick?"
"Oh, hi mom," he said.
"How was school?"
"It was okay."
"Just okay?"
"Yeah."
Mom went to sort the mail in her hand and Phoenix watched her anxiously. She didn't have anything for him. She didn't say anything when she came and sat beside him on the couch. He barely acknowledged it when she pulled his schoolbag away to set it on the floor. Then she slid over and hugged him.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm fine mom," Phoenix said.
"Don't try to lie," Mom said, "Just tell me what's bothering you. Then we'll find a solution to making it all better."
Phoenix hesitated. Then he said, "Mom, how come Miles isn't back at school with us?"
Mom seemed surprised at his question and then she smiled, "You miss him?"
"Not really," Phoenix said, "But he said he was coming back."
Phoenix was still peeling off his red Fanta soaked shirt when his phone rang. He groaned and dropped the shirt in the sink and went to answer it.
"Hello," he said.
"Any luck with that?" Phoenix was surprised to hear Edgeworth's voice.
"What are you—?"
"It's me. Edgeworth."
"I figured as mu—"
"You said you were trying to get a client."
"I'm not going to represent you in court again," Phoenix said.
"Never?" Edgeworth said.
"No," Phoenix said, "What do you need, Edgeworth?"
"Is it a bad time? You sound busy. I'll just leave you a—"
"I'm not—really—busy," Phoenix said, "Why?"
"I need a favor," Edgeworth said and Phoenix found that he was suddenly quite intrigued.
"I'll help if I can," Phoenix said, "What do you need?"
"I don't really need anything, just your time," Edgeworth said, "Can you throw a baseball?"
"Uh," Phoenix said, "You mean for real throw one? Because I can throw just about anything I can pick up."
"I'm sure," Edgeworth said, "I need you to pitch to me, since the batting cages will be closed by the time I get out of here. You really don't mind?"
"Pitch?" Phoenix said, "I don't—"
"Normally I would ask Dick, but he's busy and my boss said I have to get in some batting practice."
Phoenix tried to play the last sentence in head again—what the heck?
"Um," Phoenix said, "Who is this again?"
"It's me," It certainly sounded like Edgeworth's voice, "I um, I'll pay you for your tro—"
"Edgeworth," Phoenix said, "You just said you'd pay me to throw stuff at you."
"Not stuff, baseballs."
"Can we meet at People Park?"
"Where's that?"
"Miles I saw you there yesterday! You had your dog—"
"Oh," Edgeworth paused, "Can you give me an address? I don't remember how I got there."
That's strange, Phoenix thought, "How do you not remember? Are you telling me you walked all the way over there from your building?"
"Just give me the address—or the cross-streets," Edgeworth said.
"Just meet me in front of my office building—what time do you want to do this?"
"Well, it's just after three—I have to go home and change, how about five or five thirty?"
"That's fine," Phoenix said. Interesting, he didn't think Edgeworth was into sports.
"Thank you," Edgeworth said and he hung up. Phoenix set his phone on the counter and turned on the sink to try and rinse the soda out of his shirt.
A/N: Thanks for Reading!
Phoenix POV (I just finished playing Justice for All (again ;p) so I was distracted for a bit. That was actually the first PW game I ever played and I was confused about that guy that chose death and made Phoenix all angry—I remember thinking it was weird.)
So yeah… Miles plays baseball in this story—I promise it makes sense, bear with me.
UPDATED 5JUL2015- Minor revisions and corrections. I can't figure out how to make the e-mails look like e-mails. But hopefully you get the idea.