Earthcub12 Presents

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney ~ Courtroom Champions

Turnabout for a Prayer / Investigation 2-4

-September 4, 4:45 PM-
-Police Station-

Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice eventually made their way to the police station. Officers and detectives were swarming the place, not making eye contact with anybody. A busy place, but also somewhat calm, considering. Phoenix and Apollo made their way to the back of the station, where the chief of police say, working.

"Excuse me, sir." Phoenix called to him as he reached the desk. "My name is-."

"Can't help you, sir." The chief interrupted, his eyes transfixed on the computer. "If you need something, take a sheet of paper and list down your request. Make sure you add your full name, address, Social Security, and phone number and somebody will be with you shortly." The chief took a quick sip of his coffee and went back to work.

"S-sir," Phoenix said, slightly blushing, "my name is Phoenix Wright. I am a defense attorney. I ask that we use your evidence room to obtain a rather important piece of evidence; a priest's coat. It's for a murder case."

"Can't help you." He said, his eyes still on the computer screen. "Speak to one of the investigators."

Phoenix sighed and turned to Apollo. "Well… he won't be very helpful."

"Let's just ask one of the investigators." Apollo suggested. "They might help us out."

"Nah, they don't know us." Phoenix said to him, thinking of their next step. Thinking, Phoenix got an idea, reluctant to go forth with it. "I… I suppose we should go see Detective Novak. She said she would be at Prosecutor Hera Novak's office. Guess we should pay them a visit."

"Well, it beats waiting around here all evening." Apollo added. "Let's just bite the bullet and talk to them and see what we get. Let's head over there."

-September 4, 5:03 PM-
-Novak Agency-

After a decent walk, Phoenix and Apollo finally approached the small, colorless building. A sign read 'Novak Agency' along with a phone number and e-mail address. Phoenix walked up to the door, took a deep breath, and then walked in. As the door opened, a bell's light ringing can be heard. Phoenix looked around but saw nobody in sight. What they saw was a rather dank waiting room. Tattered couches lined up on the wall, a disabled wall clock with a crack on it, and a fish tank with no fish in it.

As Phoenix and Apollo walked further, they heard faint voices. The voices were those of two young women, and they appeared to be arguing. They heard the voices, but nothing understandable could come out of it. Phoenix went to the front desk and saw a bell. He lifted his hand over it and pushed down on it. A strong ding was heard. Suddenly, the arguing stopped. Phoenix and Apollo suddenly heard a faint,

"We'll discuss this at a later time, sister."

From the back room, Hera Novak entered the waiting room and set her eyes on Phoenix and Apollo. She wore the same clothes from the trial, even the green cloak that shrouded her right arm. She gave a faint smile and approached the desk.

"Mr. Phoenix Wright." She said. "I was not expecting you here. I usually take appointments in advance."

"Yeah, well, thought I'd pay a visit." Phoenix replied in a serious tone. Phoenix looked past Hera's shoulder and saw Raya Novak in the back room, eyeing the three. Raya took a deep breath and entered the waiting room.

"Mr. Wright, I thought you'd arrive here sooner or later." Raya said to him, smiling. "Can I help you with something?"

"Yes, please." Phoenix answered. "Detective Novak, I ask that I borrow something from the Evidence Room back at the police station. It's Owen's priest coat. It's of dire importance that I have it."

"Yeah, sure." Raya answered, still smiling. Raya pulled out a package and handed it over to Phoenix. Phoenix looked at the package without touching it.

"Is this…?" He asked her.

"Yup. Thought I'd save you the energy of going back to the station. You see, the police didn't find much usefulness in the coat, so they asked me to return it to the church. But, hey, since you're here, you can watch over it."

"Um… wow, thanks!" Phoenix thanked, carefully taking the package and tucking it away. Raya gave a nod and left the building. Phoenix turned back to Hera, her left hand at her hip.

"So, Wright… let's chat."

"About what?" Phoenix argued. "What do I have to say to you?"

"Why the hostility, Wright? I'm merely letting you in as a guest. Would you like to discuss case notes together? Or are you here to bother me?"

"Fine… let's level. So, Hera," Phoenix said to her, "tell me your story. Law school for nine years, huh?"

"That's right. And not just any run-of-the-mill law school. I only attended the best. I even attended Themis Legal Academy for good measure."

(Themis Legal Academy? Man, that sure is bring me memories. That proves where she got her colorful personality from.)

"What made you want to become a prosecutor?" Phoenix asked her.

"It's just something I've always wanted to do since I was a child." She answered. "My mother was a lawyer and my father was a prosecutor."

(Her mother a lawyer, her father a prosecutor. I can imagine home life can get a bit awkward here and there.)

"But my father left us when my sister and I were children." Hera continued. "So out of respect of my parents, I decided to follow in their footsteps, enrolled in law school, and became a prosecutor. So that's my story. Now, what's yours, Wright?"

"Huh?" Phoenix asked, defensively. "What do you mean?"

"Tell me your story." Hera added."What made you want to become a mere defense attorney?"

"Oh, well, um, I made a promise to a friend." Phoenix told her. "I attended law school, and that was when I met my mentor. She taught me everything I needed to know. One day, my mentor, she… she passed away. And so I live on through her. Through thick and thin, through ups and downs, it is what made me who I am today."

"Interesting story." Hera said to him. She looked over at Apollo and said, "So what's the story behind this guy? Is he your kid, or something?"

"Why does everyone keep saying that!?" Apollo snapped. "My name is Apollo Justice, and I'm fine! I mean, er, I'm a defense attorney working for Mr. Wright! I joined the agency a while back ago. You see, one trial-."

"Yeah, I don't care about you." Hera interrupted, turning back to Phoenix.

Apollo lunged back. "Say what!?"

"Mr. Wright," Hera said to her, "I feel we must talk about more pressing matters than our sad-sap backstories. What are your thoughts on the trial?"

"Oh, uh… what is there to say?" Phoenix asked her. "My client is innocent, case closed."

"Nice try. But, no. That won't cut it. As far as I'm concerned, your client is guilty until proven otherwise. That's just how it is. Sure, we've had some unreliable witnesses. But come tomorrow, I will have my secret weapon ready."

"Secret weapon…?"

"A key witness, if you will. You'll find out who, in time. Until then, rest up tonight. For today you may have narrowly scraped through, but tomorrow, victory will be mine. Don't you take me for some rookie, Mr. Wright. I am so much more than that. I have learned more tactics and more tricks than you could ever obtain in your pathetic, masculine life. Same goes for your sidekick."

Phoenix angrily glared at Hera, slammed his hand on the desk, and then said, "Yeah? And I'm looking forward to teaching you some pro-tips – as well as some manners!"

Hera looked down on his hands and said, "Please don't slam my desk again, Mr. Wright."

Phoenix looked down on his hands, moved his hands, and blushed. "S-sorry about that! It's a habit."

"I could tell." Hera said to him. "Anyway, I'm about to close up. So I think we're done here. See you tomorrow, Wright, for the battle is not over. You can let yourselves out, now." Phoenix stood straight up and slowly made his way to the door, Apollo following him.

"Is everything okay, boss?" Apollo asked Phoenix as they exit the building. "You've never been this uptight."

"It's something about her that's troubling me." Phoenix told Apollo. "Whenever I think about her, I just think back to the church. There has to be something she's hiding and I can't shake it. We're going to expose the truth tomorrow and get to the bottom of it."

"Yeah, she rubs me the wrong way, too." Apollo added. "Well, let's head on over to the church. I feel we took way longer than we should have."

"I agree. Let's hurry over to the church."

-September 4, 5:23 PM-
-St. Owen's Baptist Church (Hall)-

Phoenix and Apollo entered the doors of the church and heard the faint sounds of arguing from upstairs; DJ's room. Phoenix and Apollo looked at each other, then rushed up to the room. When they entered the room, they saw DJ and Phineas Filch. Filch was cowering under his towel while DJ was in the offense, shoving and snapping at him.

"You little thief!" She bickered. "Give me back cell phone! NOW!"

"N-no way!" Filch argued back, his face turning red. "It was downstairs, so it's mine! Finders keepers!"

"If you don't hand it back to me, I swear I will-!"

"HEY!" Apollo shouted with his chords of steel. "What the heck is going on here!?"

DJ snapped towards the two lawyers and yelled, "Just a little thief I'm dealing with! No big whoop!" She turned back to Filch. "Give it back! I can see it in your pocket, dude!"

"No! It's mine! Get yer own!" Filch said to her.

(I feel like I'm dealing with some schoolkids. Well, guess I should be the adult and fix this.)

Phoenix walked over to Filch and said, "Okay, Filch. Hand it over. Come on."

Filch took a deep, disappointed breath before digging into his pocket and pulling out DJ's cell phone. DJ swiped her phone away from him and checked it out.

"Yuck. Smells like rat." She commented, revolted.

Just then, Maria Cupp entered the room from the opposite side of the room. "Is everyone okay? What in the world is-?"

"RATS!" Filch yelled, cowering. "I CAN'T GET CAUGHT AGAIN!" With that, Filch bolted out of the room in a flash. Maria sighed, rubbing her eyes.

"I'll have a word with him later on." She added. She walked over to Phoenix and gave a smile. "Welcome back, Mr. Wright. May I offer you some refreshments? You look exhausted."

"It has been a long day, Ms. Cupp." Phoenix admitted. "But we're not done yet. I have Owen's coat here for you."

"You do!? Excellent!" Maria clapped her hands, excitedly. Phoenix pulled out the package and set it on a nearby table.

"Where's Father Hope?" Phoenix asked as he prepared to unwrap the package.

"He went to tend to the garden. He'll be back later, I assume."

(Good. That'll give me time to check this out for myself.)

He unwrapped the plastic and underneath was a white coat with golden markings; Owen's coat. The coat was neatly folded and the collar of the coat had some blood stains on it.

(Surprisingly not a whole lot of blood on it. Well, guess I should add this to the record.)

'OWEN'S COAT' ADDED TO COURT RECORD

ITEM DESCRIPTION: Owen's coat that was worn the night he was murdered. A white coat with golden fleece and some blood around the collar.

Maria stared at the coat, blankly. Apollo turned to her.

"Ms. Cupp?" He said, worryingly. "Do you need to step outside and collect yourself?"

"No!" Ms. Cupp answered quickly. "I mean… no. I-I'll be fine."

Phoenix continued to unfold the coat. He felt something weighing the coat down and noticed some items in the pockets of the coat. Phoenix reached in and pulled out a journal, a golden key, and a cross necklace. Phoenix examined the brown, leather journal. A page of the journal was bookmarked. Phoenix looked over at the nervous Maria, who was hugging herself.

"Ms. Cupp?" He asked her. "Do you mind if I-?"

"No, no. Go right ahead." Maria gestured to the journal. "I don't think he'd mind."

Phoenix opened the journal. Inside was legible handwriting that read,

September 1

Things have gotten quite eerie here at the church. Ever since Brother David's fiasco with Sister Maria, not a whole lot has been the same. Now there are these… RUMORS, spreading. I must do everything in my power to hide the truth and keep it from HIM. I don't think I can trust him any longer. It kills me to say it, but… something must be done about these problems. Luckily, only I have the ability to do anything about it. For as long as there is light, the cross is the only way to the truth. It's about time these rumors are laid to rest. God… forgive me.

Phoenix went through the passage one more time when Maria touched his shoulder. "Mr. Wright? What is it?"

"It's… Owen saying how the truth must come out. He's saying he can no longer trust David, I think. I don't know." Phoenix answered.

"Oh… well, things haven't been the same since Brother David's act of rage. Even Owen was quite nervous."

Phoenix looked back at the journal. The sentence that caught his attention was,

"For as long as there is light, the cross is the only way to the truth."

Phoenix looked at it over and over. Suddenly, a realization hit him. Phoenix's face intensified as he read the sentence again and again. Apollo walked up to him. "What's wrong, Phoenix?"

"It's this sentence. Listen to this." Phoenix read the passage aloud to them. "'For as long as there is light, the cross is the only way to the truth.'"

"Okay… so? He's just being figurative. So what?"

"Apollo… I think this must be a clue. A clue to the 'secret of the church'."

"You… you can't be for real!" Apollo yelled, jolting back. "You really thing so!?"

"Mr. Wright!" Maria called, her hand to her mouth. "If what you're saying is true… then-."

"Owen Miles probably knew about the secret but didn't want anyone to know." Phoenix hypothesized. "And, this might sound crazy, but this secret could be real. And that this whole mess with murder and everything is tied into this one 'secret'."

"I guess, but… where do we start?" Apollo asked Phoenix. Phoenix looked back in the journal.

"For as long as there is light, the cross is the only way to the truth."

(Light… cross… truth…!) Phoenix looked outside the window where the main service area was and saw the large, wooden cross on the wall. (That's it!)

Phoenix turned to DJ who was texting on her phone, as usual. "DJ! Can you turn the service area light on, please!?" DJ groaned and got up.

"Whatever." She sighed. She went to the main controls and switched the lights on. The service area brightened up and… nothing happened. Phoenix rubbed his chin.

(Darn! I thought for sure that's what it was! There must be something else…)

"Thank you, Miss DJ. Can you turn the lights off again, please?" He asked of her. DJ switched the lights off, Phoenix still eyeing the cross on the wall. He looked to his sides and saw spotlight projectors hanging on the wall. That is when Phoenix got an idea.

"Apollo! DJ! Do me a favor and switch these lights on and point them at the cross!"

DJ groaned. "Why? What's the big deal?"

Apollo slowly approached the spotlight and grabbed it. After looking for the switch for a good few seconds, he managed to turn on the light and managed to point the light at the cross. DJ reluctantly did the same. Phoenix waited a few seconds… and still nothing happened, much to his disappointment. The cross was brightening, but nothing beyond that.

"Boss," Apollo said, confused, "I think we're kind of wasting time here, don't you think?"

"Yeah… I'm sorry, guys." Phoenix said, setting the journal down. "Guess I just got a bit too imaginative. Sorry about that."

(I have to be missing something… hmm… maybe the 'truth' we're looking for isn't something that appears right before us… but something that we must seek!)

Phoenix grabbed the journal and said, "Keep the lights there! Follow me! DJ, watch the place!"

"Whatever." DJ said, still texting away on her phone.

Apollo and Maria looked at Phoenix as he grabbed the coat, along with the items, and rushed out the door. Apollo and Maria then turned to each other in amazement before they followed him. After reaching downstairs, Phoenix looked around the service area and rushed to Owen's office. He ran inside and looked around, Apollo and Maria chasing after him, both out of breath.

"Mr. Wright, what's the plan? What are we doing?" Asked Apollo, impatient and catching his breath. Phoenix pointed to the far side of the room.

"Look…"

What the three witnessed was something extraordinary: a passage underneath Owen's desk. The surface below the desk slowly moved to the side, revealing a staircase leading into a dark, unknown tunnel. Phoenix, Apollo, and Maria stared down at it, amazed.

"I can't believe it." Maria commented, completely amazed. "It's… it's true! And here I thought they were just… just stories!"

"Boss…" Apollo Justice muttered to Phoenix Wright, peeking down the tunnel leading to God knows where. "What are we getting ourselves into?"

Phoenix looked at Owen's journal and tucked it aside. "Something amazing, Apollo."

COURT RECORD

-Attorney Badge: My personal badge proving my profession. I never leave home without it.

-Owen's Autopsy Report: Cause of death was an instant kill by a David statue to the victim's head. Time of Death: About 8:00-8:30 PM. Victim is covered in bruises.

-Body Outline: The aftermath of the crime. Blood is splattered around the head and facial area. The statue sits to its left.

-David Statue: Depiction of Michelangelo's David statue. The murder weapon.

-Shattered Coffee Mug: A cup that was likely to have been shattered during the fight between Owen and the killer. Owen probably used this cup against said killer in defense. Was made by Maria Cupp for an ill Owen.

-Jar of Blood: A jar of Owen's blood found in his very office. I have several questions…

-Child's Drawing: A drawing showing Owen, David, and an unknown woman. A bloody smear is on the side because of me.

-Bloody Print: Some kind of bloody print from a shoe on top of the dumpster. Could it be involved with the murder?

-Glass: Shards of glass littering the floor. Must have come from the broken window next to it. A shard has blood on it.

-Black Cloth: A black strip of cloth. Origin unknown.

-Crime Scene Photo: A photo taken of the crime scene. Drops of David's blood left a trail between Owen's desk in the background to the shattered window.

-Church Diagram: A detailed diagram of St. Owen's Baptist Church. The crime scene on the left side is highlighted.

-Bloody Priest Coat: David Vaughan's official priest coat. It is completely coated in Owen Mile's blood. There is also a small tear in fabric over the blood.

-Raya's Statement: "David Vaughan was covered in the victim's blood and his right hand was bleeding profusely. We had doctors patch his right hand up on the way to the Detention Center."

-What it's Like To Be an Average Jack; By Jack Anchor: "Memoir written by Jack Anchor. Includes original, award-winning chapters like, "How to Be Me" and "How to Tackle the Game of Life, Today".

-Jack Anchor's Crime Scene Photo: A photo taken by Jack Anchor; contains a man that fits David's description in the crime scene just after Owen Mile's murder.

-Bag of Coffee Beans: Bag of coffee beans made by Maria Cupp. Gave this bag to Athena before she suddenly disappeared. Found in the crime scene.

-Wall Markings: Odd markings on the wall above the body outline. Could have been a shelf or bookcase.

-White David Statue: A white David statue found in the Junkyard. Mr. Hope donated it to the bum in the Junkyard.

-CD: A disc that has faced some hardship in the junkyard. Could be DJ's lost disc.

-Silver Ring: A silver ring given to the priests. Belongs to David. Rumors are these rings could lead to amazing things.

-Owen's Coat: Owen's coat that was worn the night he was murdered. A white coat with golden fleece and some blood around the collar.

PROFILES

-Apollo Justice: A strong, but loud and persistent, attorney who works with me at the agency. Is friends with the defendant.

-Athena Cykes: A gifted attorney that can read people's emotions though their hearts.

-David Vaughan: The suspect of the crime. A priest at the church where the murder took place.

-Owen Miles: A revered priest that owned the church. The murder victim.

-Jack Anchor: A prestigious news anchor who prides himself a bit too much. Witnessed the murderer.

-Raya Novak: A no-nonsense detective in charge of the investigation. Only been working for a few short months.

-Phineas Filch: A tricky thief that was a witness to a crime a long time ago and is now a janitor at the church.

-Damien Hope: A happy-go-lucky priest that was Owen's apprentice. An overall loving, trusting guy.

-Maria Cupp: The kind, eccentric coffee-lady that works at the church. Called the police.

-Hera Novak: The prosecutor of the case and sister to the detective. This is her very first trial, but showcases great skill.

-Desiree Johnson (AKA DJ): A teenage girl in charge of sound and light. Operates in the church's control room.

-Dennis de Bum: A bum that lives in the junkyard across the church.