Of all the people Edgeworth expected to react first, Simon Blackquill was not on the list. He looked up from his investigation the second that voice took to the air. "Defense Attorney Gavin?"

"What brings you to this section of town?" Edgeworth asked as he crossed his arms, eyes closed in contemplation. "I doubtyou come here frequently."

Kristoph Gavin smiled. "Indeed I do not, Mr. Edgeworth. I was simply providing pro bono legal services to the orphanage down the road when a young man interrupted my meeting. He insisted there was a member of the Home at this location who needed legal assistance. My presence here was requested, and so I came." Gavin nodded to Apollo. "You are Mr. Justice, I presume."

Apollo gasped. "Clay found me an attorney? So you… you came here to help me? To listen to me and believe in my side?" His brown eyes appraised Gavin with obvious fascination.

"Yeah? Well hit the road, pal! You butt in too early in the hospital case and too early here, too. Wait until the police force actually arrests someone to do your no-good 'defending'." Gumshoe barked while stomping his feet.

"Since when does a man like you do charity work?" Kay asked, an edge to her voice. "I don't see it."

"Calm yourself, Detective, Kay." Edgeworth wanted to keep this professional. He turned to Gavin to address him directly. "Though I disagree with my detective's tone, Mr. Gavin, I have a similar request myself. This investigation has only just begun. We are not yet ready to arrest any suspects. Please wait for an arrest to occur before offering your services to a potential client. Your proactive nature, while a benefit to you in many circumstances, has taken you too far this time."

"As I said a few days ago at the Dye Young Hospital," Gavin directed his words at Gumshoe and Kay before turning back to Edgeworth, "I see no harm in offering my assistance to an ongoing investigation in the capacity of a defense attorney. Your friend Mr. Shields would agree… as should you, if I recall previous events accurately." Gavin offered another small smile. "Right now, your investigation suspects this orphan child of a connection to your newly discovered murder case. For the sake of him and the orphanage I represent, I would like to argue there is no such connection. Will the good prosecutor hear my words?"

"Not if we don't have to," Blackquill growled.

"I was addressing the prosecutor in charge." Gavin matched Blackquill's tone with an icy jab. "Inexperienced prosecutors should not speak on matters over which they have no authority… or comprehension."

Edgeworth silenced the brewing argument with a glare, then paused to weigh his options. He thought back to what Franziska had told him about Gavin's behavior during her own investigation. In particular, he recalled how attempting to ice Gavin out of the investigation only led him to desire involvement more. Gavin was willing to intentionally provoke Franziska's ire to achieve his objectives. It did not seem as though removing Gavin by force would end favorably for him.

Besides, Edgeworth did not truly suspect Apollo. Not at this point of the investigation, at least. All he wished to know was what the boy had witnessed when he and his friends encountered the body. But when Edgeworth had tried to wring out testimony earlier, Apollo had lied.

The boy had reacted positively to Gavin's arrival. Perhaps Gavin's offer to defend him could contrast Edgeworth's own urgings in a "good cop, bad cop" maneuver, prying Apollo's mouth open in the process. Once Gavin felt he had done his duty to his client, he would almost certainly be on his way.

And so Edgeworth allowed Gavin to speak, if not immediately. "Having just arrived on the scene, Mr. Gavin, I'm not certain how you would argue your case. Should you not at least wait to hear what the investigation discovers about this child before you rush to his aid?"

"Will you all stop calling me a child? I'm fifteen!" Apollo protested, the spikes in his hair drooping over his face. "And… maybe a little quieter about my home life, Mr. Attorney?"

"Please. Call me Mr. Gavin. As for your living situation, there's nothing about it for which you should be ashamed. Prosecutor Edgeworth himself is an orphan by biology. His only close relatives today are family through adoption." Edgeworth would have objected to Gavin's casual invocation of his personal life, but Gavin did not give him a chance. "As for your question, Mr. Edgeworth, this young man's friend provided me with select details about the situation here today. If you feel there are any vital details that arose since Mr. Justice's friend came to find me, feel free to share what they are."

What had happened since the second teen departed? Edgeworth had to remind himself. "We have forensic evidence proving Mr. Justice was present at the scene last night. There is additional testimony that links Mr. Justice and unspecified others to an incident involving their interaction with the victim's body, though the nature of such interaction remains factually unclear."

Gardner took offense to Edgeworth's characterization of her testimony. "What do you mean, 'factually unclear'? I told you they were a bunch of gang hooligans disposin' of a body!"

"And so the charges are clear. I hardly need more proof to dispute this woman's claim," Gavin asserted, more smug than Edgeworth would have liked. "I am ready to present my argument. Will the good prosecutor hear me?"

Edgeworth gestured for Gavin to continue, keeping a taut smile on his lips. Please be brief, Mr. Gavin. I'd like to perform a real investigation when possible.

-Argument-

"Why Justice is Innocent"

"I do not deny that this young man was out late at night with illegal intentions. However, these are intentions upon which he did not act.

"Not only that, but there is no proof that Mr. Justice or his associates had anything more than a chance encounter with your victim.

"Tell me: have you searched this man for weapons? Gotten him to name any associates who may possess one? If you have not done so, you have no evidence on which to hold him.

"The Home assures me Mr. Justice has no record of disciplinary issues. They are quite anxious for news of his release.

"As you can see, there is no reason to keep this young witness at the scene. With your permission, I would like to escort him back to his home so that I may continue with my business there."

Edgeworth waited to make sure Gavin was finished before he cut in. "Thank you for your contribution, Mr. Gavin, but it was hardly necessary for you to trouble yourself on my investigation's behalf."

"Please, I insist. Do you have a response for me, Mr. Edgeworth?"

Do I wish to embark on a rebuttal of Gavin's argument?

-Yes, I do.

-No need.

Edgeworth wasn't inclined to waste the investigation's time. "Your argument requires no rebuttal, for you and I are in agreement. As I have already acknowledged, we lack the evidence at this time to consider anyone a suspect. B-"

"Yeah, so get out of here!" Kay snapped, crossing her arms. "There's no reason for you to even be included in this case!"

"Kay, you did not let me finish. For while everything I have previously stated is true, I was about to concede that Mr. Gavin presented a very good point."

Her mouth popped open. "What?"

"We have not searched Mr. Justice nor gotten him to explain his actions last night in any amount of detail. The first time we questioned him about the matter, he lied to our faces."

Apollo stuttered for a moment before Gavin swooped in to defend him. "His hesitation to tell you the truth about his whereabouts last night is inadvisable, certainly, but still understandable. As we all now know, he was wandering the streets at the time with an intent to vandalize. Those in the legal profession may know that such an intent is only criminal if acted upon, but he is a mere teenager and cannot be expected to know the difference. I believe Mr. Justice here lied to you out of fear of arrest for vandalism, not for any reason related to murder."

"Wait, so I'm not in trouble for last night?" Apollo asked. "Even though Mr. Edgeworth found my paint can?"

"The only way you can be arrested for vandalism is if you've vandalized something, Mr. Justice. Anything less is but a flight of youthful fancy," Gavin assured. "Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Edgeworth?"

This might be Edgeworth's best chance to get the boy to testify. He'd be damned if he didn't take it. "I will agree once Mr. Justice provides me with his account of what occurred last night in relation with the body. I am far more concerned with the murder than I am with any aspiring street painter."

Gardner shook her head. "You can't be serious."

Apollo looked from Edgeworth to Gardner to Gavin, eyes wide. "I suggest you do as he says, Mr. Justice. The sooner you offer your testimony, the sooner you and I can depart from this… fragrant scene."

The teen sighed, face downcast as he fidgeted with his bracelet. When he glanced back up at Edgeworth, his eyes carried a new sense of resolve. "Fine. I'm… fine. I'll do it."

-Witness Testimony-

"Last Night"

"My friends and I were out last night. The city painted over some of their art and they wanted to redo it. It was my first time coming with them.

"We got to this alley when it was dark and quiet. I had no idea that lady was there!

"As we were getting out our paint, someone bumped into the bag with the… um... the body. It fell over.

"We were trying to put it back in the trash can when the top came open. Everyone freaked out!

"I saw the face for just a second. I'd never seen a dead body before. It was awful. And the smell…

"We all went home after that. I tried to forget about it. Clay and I were going to do something really fun today until you arrived.

"That's all that happened! We just stumbled on the body by chance. No one I know would ever help murder a man. I promise!"

"I see. Thank you for providing this investigation with your testimony, Mr. Justice. If you don't mind, I have a few clarifying questions." Edgeworth did his best to hide how disappointed he was. Even if he hadn't suspected Apollo, he'd still hoped the boy would know something. Could he really be as clueless as Gardner about the body's previous whereabouts? Was it too much to hope Apollo was still hiding something?

"Questions? What, like a cross-examination?" Apollo looked once again at Gavin. "I thought defense attorneys did those."

"In court, you would be correct. In investigations, however, I like to conduct my own form of cross-examinations to maximize the amount of information I glean from witnesses."

"Think of it as though Mr. Edgeworth and I have switched positions for this interrogation. He asks you questions about your testimony, and I will strike back against any query that I find leading or inappropriate. For your and your friends' sake, of course," Gavin added. "Would you like me to do that for you, Mr. Justice?"

"Yes!" Apollo's answer came instantly.

It seems I will have to be careful with how I phrase my questions here. Once again, Edgeworth lacked evidence to call out any contradictions, so he would likely spend most the testimony pressing for elaboration. Surely Gavin couldn't take offense to that.

"I don't like this, Mr. Edgeworth. I still don't get why the attorney's here," Kay grumbled in a voice low enough that only Edgeworth and Gumshoe could hear.

"Me neither, pal. It's got me on edge."

"Would you two be quiet? Mr. Gavin has given us his reasons. His involvement has encouraged a witness to speak to us. Once we are done with Mr. Justice, Mr. Gavin will be done with us." Edgeworth had his own suspicions, but now was not the time to give them a voice. Now was the time to cross-examine a witness.

-Cross-Examination-

"Last Night"

"My friends and I were out last night. The city painted over some of their art and they wanted to redo it. It was my first time coming with them."

"HOLD IT! Earlier, Mr. Gavin told the investigation that you have a clean disciplinary record. Why did you seek to change that by joining a group of graffiti artists?"

"Because I realized that keeping my act up was pointless." Apollo crossed his arms. "I'm never going to be adopted. My father's never coming back for me. And my… the man I looked up to the most isn't who I thought he was. He was exposed as a fake months ago."

"I'm... sorry to hear that." Edgeworth knew how that felt, to a degree. There was a time not that far in the past when he'd felt quite lost himself.

"That's no excuse to join a gang, boy! You'll cycle in and out of prison if you live that way. Learn an honest trade, work hard with your hands. That's how all us poor folk ought to make a livin' in this country," Gardner advised, then sniffed. "If you ever get out from under this murder business. You can get a lot of jail time for throwing out a body."

"You will refrain from making unfounded accusations towards my client, madam. Mr. Justice has yet to testify about his time in this alley the night before." Gavin steered the conversation back to the matter at hand. He turned to Apollo. "Tell Mr. Edgeworth what occurred, if you will."

"Well…

"We got to this alley when it was dark and quiet. I had no idea that lady was there!

"As we were getting out our paint, someone bumped into the bag with the… um... the body. It fell over."

"HOLD IT! Did you notice how the bag was positioned before it was knocked over?" Kay raised her eyebrow, prompting Edgeworth to clarify. "Was the bag containing the victim's corpse on the top of the rubbish pile? Leaning partially over, perhaps?"

"I don't know! I didn't notice it until it fell. I wasn't the one who bumped it, either."

"Was the bag containing the body all that fell over when this incident occurred?"

"I don't think so, but I also don't remember. Why is this such a big deal?"

Gavin butted back into the conversation. "If you're trying to deduce when the body was moved to this location, as I suspect you are, then I doubt Mr. Justice will be much help in this regard. The very fact that the body bag tumbled out of the trashcan indicates it was placed near the top of the bin." Gavin adjusted his glasses, sunlight reflecting off the lenses in just such a way. "I suggest we move on from this line of questioning."

Once again, Edgeworth found himself agreeing with Gavin. This didn't seem to be bringing him any leads. He kept his eyes on Apollo. "Continue your testimony, then."

"We were trying to put it back in the trash bin when the top came open. Everyone freaked out!"

"HOLD IT!" This must be the moment Ms. Gardner spoke of in her testimony. "Why bother trying to place it back in the bin at all? The bag was right next to the trash. It would still have been picked up the next day if you hadn't interfered."

"Mr. Edgeworth, are you saying you wish the body hadn't been found?" Gavin asked, a tease of a smile on his lips. "That is an odd sentiment for a prosecutor as zealous as yourself."

"That's not my meaning at all, Mr. Gavin. I am glad that this crime came to light regardless of how the discovery was made. I simply wish to know the witness's thinking in moving the body before he knew what the bag contained."

"It wasn't my idea to put it back, necessarily. We just wanted to work on the wall facing the dumpster and didn't like stepping or tripping on it." Apollo shuddered at the memory. "The bag was so heavy…"

"I see. And you had no idea what the bag contained until the top came partially open?"

"None! I'll never forget what I saw. I...

"I saw the face for just a second. I'd never seen a dead body before. It was awful. And the smell…

"We all went home after that. I tried to forget about it. Clay and I were going to do something really fun today until you arrived."

"HOLD IT!" Edgeworth was about to ask another question when Gumshoe interrupted.

"Yeah, hold it, pal! You and your friends found a dead body last night and didn't think it was important to call the police? What sort of irresponsible behavior is that?!"

Apollo cringed at the force of Gumshoe's voice. "We were all scared! We didn't want to answer any cop questions about what we were doing out at night with paint cans. If we'd stuck around, we might have been blamed for the death."

"Like how you are now?" Kay asked.

"I never said keeping quiet worked," the teen grumbled. "It would have if that lady over there hadn't seen us."

"Look, I know how you feel, but you should have at least come back in the morning to call." Kay offered the younger man advice. "I don't care what sort of sneaky work you were up to in the night. A murder is serious business."

"I am willing to concede that Mr. Justice and his peers behaved as less-than-ideal citizens upon discovery of the body. Regardless, the body was reported to the police this morning and Mr. Justice is here before you now, telling this investigation the truth of what he saw. I would think his cooperation more than makes up for such a minor error in conduct." Gavin shut down the line of questioning. "Do you not have more pressing concerns, Mr. Edgeworth?"

"I have many, Mr. Gavin." Namely, who the victim was and where they'd been killed before their untimely disposal. Sadly, it seemed this testimony would answer none of Edgeworth's most burning questions. "I am content to let you off with a warning, Mr. Justice. Please now wrap up your testimony."

"...

"That's all that happened! We just stumbled on the body by chance. No one I know would ever help murder a man. I promise!"

"HOLD IT! If your encounter with the victim was truly fortune's work, why the deception earlier? Vandalism is a minor offense, especially in light of a murder."

Apollo began to sweat. "I don't know! I was afraid I… I've never really gotten in trouble before, okay? And then the famous Miles Edgeworth starts questioning me about the stuff I did last night? I panicked a bit."

"You can be kinda intimidating, Mr. Edgeworth." Kay piled on. "I can see how you might have spooked him."

Gardner groaned. "Oh, don't you all see? The boy's lying, plain as day!"

"What makes you say that, Ms. Gardner? Did you, perhaps, witness anything that would contradict Justice's testimony?"

"Heck yeah I did! Don't you remember what I told you before?" Gardner pressed, sighing when she didn't get an immediate reaction. "I told you I saw those boys manhandling the body! It didn't fall on them. They're the ones who threw it in the trash in the first place."

Edgeworth flipped back through his Organizer to check before objecting. "That's not what you told me in your previous testimony, Ms. Gardner. You never said you saw these young men carrying the body as they approached, only that they were 'running amok' until their unlucky encounter with the victim. If a group of teenagers really were carrying a heavy corpse, I don't think they would be doing much running."

"Grk!" Gardner cringed, holding up a gardening shovel to hide her face. "Well, that's… true, I suppose. But I saw what I saw, and-"

"Ms. Gardner, are you now claiming you perjured yourself in an official statement to the police?" Gavin asked. "Was the testimony you gave Mr. Edgeworth anything less than the whole truth?"

"Don't threaten me, fancy-pants! I know lawyers like you can't arrest people!" Gardner snapped, though her eyes remained fearful. "Prosecutor Boy, you know I'm an honest woman. I told you the truth the first time. So maybe I got a bit hasty in my words about the hooligan boys. I see… I see a lot of bad folks in this neighborhood." She sighed. "I guess those boys are just troublemakers. Not murderers."

"That's all I believe they are as well," Edgeworth replied. He wasn't upset to know this orphaned youth was innocent per se, but he did wish he could have learned more about the case from this debacle. "Ms. Gardner, I ask that you return to your home. The police investigation here is about to pick up in earnest, and I do not believe any civilians will desire to be present for it. Forensic testing in an area such as this one has the potential to get rather messy."

"Please say we aren't searching the whole trash, sir." Gumshoe pouted. "It stinks in the alley enough as it is!"

Edgeworth ignored Gumshoe for the time being. "Mr. Justice. Mr. Gavin. That includes the pair of you. I will record Justice's testimony in my Organizer and may well call on him as a witness in the ensuing trial. Beyond that, I have no reason to involve the two of you in this investigation any further."

-"Justice's Testimony" added to Organizer-

"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Edgeworth. It's a delight to see what we can achieve when our two sides of the courtroom are equals with mutual respect for one another." Why did Gavin glance at Blackquill as he finished that statement? "Good day to all of you. Goodbye again, for some."

Edgeworth looked back and forth, conflicted as to whether he wanted to get involved in this tangle. Curiosity won out in the end. "Prosecutor Blackquill. Would you get the forensic officer to examine the outside of the body bag for fingerprints? I would like to see if Mr. Justice's testimony holds up to scrutiny."

Blackquill had to use visible effort to tear his eyes off Gavin. "Yes, Mr. Edgeworth."

Edgeworth ran up to Mr. Gavin, reaching him just as the lawyer and teen reached the street entrance. Apollo had been rambling animatedly until he saw Edgeworth approach. "Mr. Gavin, a few final questions. Mr. Justice, you may continue on. I trust you will now be more considerate of your actions and the impact they have on your future."

"I guess." Apollo still wouldn't meet Edgeworth's eyes. He looked at Gavin instead as he left. "Anyway, seeing you… it made me want to become a lawyer again. I want to stand at the defense bench, not sit in the defendant's chair. Watch out for me in a few years, will you?"

"Certainly, Mr. Justice. You be on your way now." Gavin obliged Edgeworth's request, hanging back. As soon as the teen was out of earshot, his amiable demeanor slipped for a second. "What do you want, Mr. Edgeworth?"

There were two questions Edgeworth could ask Gavin at this point. "Your business at that boy's orphanage. How did you come into it?"

"Is it so hard to believe I harbor a charitable side?" Gavin asked. Edgeworth's only answer was to stare at him. "Very well. Ever since that well-publicized disbarment that occurred last April, the Bar Association has been doing what it can to restore the collective public image of its members. One of the organization's new policies involves mandatory hours of pro bono legal services for the city's needy. The deadline for completion of such service is at the end of the month, and I'm behind on my contributions. Luckily, one of the companies I consult for retains a local philanthropist on their board of directors. It was at her suggestion I came to the aid of both Dye Young Hospital and Joyful Family Home. For the next few days, I shall perform whatever legal services those nonprofits require free of charge."

"I see." Edgeworth should have known it was something along those lines. "Does Mr. Justice know that was your motivation in coming to his aid?"

"The topic did not arise, so no. He does not." Gavin put a hand up, shaking his head. "That boy. A lawyer. Honestly. If an unwashed urchin like him ever manages to pass the bar, much less afford the necessary education, I'll have no choice but to hire him straight out of law school."

So that confirmed it. Gavin's presence had nothing to do with Edgeworth's case. Was it rude of Edgeworth to be relieved by such news?

He only had one question left for Gavin. "How do you know Prosecutor Blackquill? He's a new prosecutor with only one case under his belt. I didn't think the two of you would've had an opportunity to cross paths already."

"When you phrase your question in that manner, I would think the answer is obvious. Why not use some of that logic for which you're so well known? Or perhaps your detective could enlighten you." Gavin turned away without another word. Quickly as he'd arrived, he was gone.

That didn't answer his question. Edgeworth frowned at the sight of the blonde lawyer's head, then shook Gavin's image from his mind. Like it or not, he still had a case to solve. A case on which he had made a startling lack of progress.

When Edgeworth returned to the heart of the alleyway, the smell only seemed to have gotten worse. Did anyone working the investigation have face masks they could share?

"Mr. Edgeworth, sir! The forensic officer has found immediate results from the fingerprint test you requested. Several prints were found in spots all over the bag's outer layer, including Apollo Justice's." Gumshoe beamed. "That kid's testimony is one hundred percent true!"

"I see. Thank you, Detective."

-"Victim's Body Bag" added to Organizer-

"Too bad a bunch of kids had to handle the bag before we found it. We might have been able to lift the killer's prints." Kay sulked.

"It may still be possible. I only asked for an examination on the outside layer of the bag in question. By putting the victim's body into the bag, it's entirely plausible our killer left prints on either the inside of the bag or the victim's clothes… assuming this person wasn't wearing gloves. We will search these items once the body is taken away for its autopsy."

Blackquill frowned. "Where is the mortician, anyway? I would have thought an examiner would be here by now."

"I found myself waiting strangely long on an autopsy a few days ago as well. I do wonder…" Edgeworth cut himself off. He had a different question to ask Blackquill. "Forgive me for changing the subject, Prosecutor Blackquill, but how do you know Mr. Gavin?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we've all met him before. He's a huge jerkface to prosecutors and police, but you knew that already. Why, though?" Kay leaned in, eyes growing wide. "What did he do to get under your skin?"

The younger prosecutor sighed, then turned away. "I didn't think I would encounter my foe again so soon. Not after our brutal sword fight on the courthouse floor." He swallowed. "Defense Attorney Gavin was my opposing lawyer in court this morning. He is entirely to blame for the trial of that slithering viper taking as long as it did."

Kay practically did a double take. "You got him for your first case? I am so sorry."

Edgeworth made eye contact with Blackquill before he responded. "My apologies that your first trial was such an ordeal for you. You should be proud of the efforts you made in the past few days. Know that Mr. Gavin would not be trying to rattle you had you not presented yourself as a skilled opponent. Your first courtroom victory, however hard it was won, will be your stepping stone into a grand, fulfilling career as one of the office's greatest new talents."

His little speech didn't cheer Blackquill as much as Edgeworth had hoped, but the younger prosecutor still expressed his gratitude. "I appreciate your faith in me, Mr. Edgeworth. Your words bolster my strength for the trying times ahead."

Before Edgeworth could respond, an emergency medical vehicle pulled up in front of the alley, nearly trapping the investigators inside. Between gas fumes and the potent smell of varied waste products, it was enough to make Edgeworth choke. He did his best to hide the reaction.

When the truck's crew hopped out from the back, Gumshoe was the first to speak. "About time you all showed up! We called over an hour ago."

A particularly soft-stomached examiner went to respond, but had to cough and gag before any words could come out. "S… Sorry. The chief mortician was at the courthouse until-" cough! "Ten minutes ago. For the…. Mhm. Sorry. For the hospital murder case. A lot of her staff was there too. They had all the other reports done, but weren't prepared for…" he looked like he was about to vomit, "more."

Franziska's trial? How did it end? ...No, now isn't the time to ask. "We'll allow you to load up the body, officer. Please leave the bag it was found in at the scene. In the meantime, how about the group of us wait outside the alleyway?"

"Yeah... go ahead."

July 6th, 12:25pm

Outside Alleyway

Alleyway Entrance

"Still interested in lunch, Kay?" Edgeworth asked once they were outside. The investigation site had reeked the entire time they were there. The medical car's arrival simply took things up to an unbearable level.

"Nope! I've lost my appetite. I don't want to eat ever again."

"Gumshoe?"

A shrug. "All in a day's work for a homicide detective. Now that I don't have to see or smell the body anymore, I'm sure my hunger will return."

"Why are you asking about food, now?" Blackquill asked, glancing between the three of them. "Are we taking a break?"

"Not right this moment. I was interrupted before I could ask earlier, but the three of us intended to invite you to lunch back at the courthouse. Our trials ended at roughly the same time, after all." Edgeworth shook his head. "Instead, I brought you with me to a murder scene. You may leave if you wish, Prosecutor Blackquill. You do seem worn out from your trial this morning."

"I wouldn't leave just yet if I were you." The officer from before came out to see them. He was still visibly green in the face, but seemed to fare better on this side of the van. "When was this John Doe first found?"

"Last night. His death wasn't called in to the police until this morning, however."

The officer groaned. "Wish somebody would have spoken up earlier. This makes everyone's job harder."

"What do you mean?"

"That body we're here to fetch. It's old."

Edgeworth felt his stomach lurch. This time, it wasn't the smell. "How old?"

"Seven days. Minimum."

To be continued...

Organizer

Profiles:

Miles Edgeworth
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Description: Me. What can I say? Currently High Prosecutor for my local district.

Dick Gumshoe
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Description: A homicide detective, one of the many assigned to this district. How I nearly always end up working with him, I cannot say.

Kay Faraday
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Description: My self-styled assistant, best known for her claim of being the second Yatagarasu. Soon, her aspirations will be focused on higher education more than stealing from others.

Simon Blackquill
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Description: A new prosecutor on the scene, one who just finished trying his first case in court. Appears slightly uncertain of himself, but a respectful man besides.

Petunia Gardner
Age: 68
Gender: Female
Description: A retired landscaper who was tending to her home garden when her attention was drawn to the victim's body. Did not call the police until the next morning.

Apollo Justice
Age: 15
Gender: Male
Description: A teen orphan. Was wandering the street with the intent to vandalize when he noticed a corpse in the night. Identified by Gardner the morning after, though his current companion was not.

Kristoph Gavin
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Description: A defense attorney known for staying calm during his trials. Appeared on the scene of the crime to defend young Justice. Before that, he was Blackquill's opposing counsel in court.

Evidence:

Prosecutor's Badge
Type: Other
Description: My badge. It allows me to do my job, and is to be kept in my pocket at all times.

Cachè's Flyer
Type: Other
Description: A missing person's poster for one Wess T. Bower. The name and face are unfamiliar to me. I received this item a few days ago. Not sure why it is still on my person.

Gardner's Testimony
Type: Testimony
Description: Gardner saw a group of teenage boys from across the street the night before she called the police. Claims they had spray paint in their possession, but fled without using it upon discovering the body.

Can of Spray Paint
Type: Evidence
Description: Full can of blue paint that is applied via spraying. Found near dumpster. Bear's Justice's fingerprints.

Justice's Testimony
Type: Testimony
Description: Justice and his friends happened upon the body while out last night by complete chance.

Victim's Body Bag
Type: Evidence
Description: A large black trash bag in which the body of the victim was stored. The outside of the bag is littered with fingerprints, Justice's among them.

A/N's: Pierce wrote this chapter in its entirety. She wishes to leave notes.

PTV: So I'm slightly off on when I promised this chapter would be out. However, I am thrilled that I can slide one more update in before the New Year. Did I know when we began this fic in 2016 that we would enter 2020 still working on it? No. Do I regret spending so much of my youth putting AAI3 together? Also no. I love the feeling of writing this game-fic, I love the friends I've made along the way, and I can't wait to finally reach the fic's conclusion in its fourth year running. My New Year's Resolution is to finally finish AAI3 in 2020. With the help of my co's and beta, I know it can be done. And since my school gives me the vast majority of January off in addition to the holidays, I want to get Middle, Part 1 out in its entirety before that month is over. Expect at least two January updates on this fic alone.

As for the chapter's content, you readers get a little more information this time around, most notably how long the victim's been dead. AA usually only deals with fresh bodies, so we thought it would be a nice twist for the finale victim to be the one who died first in the game. Such a setup presents its own unique complications, ones we intend to delve into next chapter. I look forward to getting that out to you.

Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday breaks, may the new year be a bright, prosperous time for us all, and I will see you on the far side!