Apollo was no stranger to getting up early, having spent the past couple of years practicing his Chords of Steel. But even he could not prepare for the voicemail left on his phone.

"It's Klaire! Come to the Detention Center, pronto!"

After swallowing down a bowl of cereal and a couple cups of coffee, Apollo took the bus to a train station close to the Detention Center, instead of waiting for a later ride on the subway. He found himself a second surprise when Klaire greeted him on the steps leading inside the building.

She had become something of a living contradiction. Her uniform was fresh and without a single wrinkle, her shoes were polished, but her eyes seemed a little shadowed, and she was a second slow in recognizing him and giving a wave.

Apollo could not help but wince. "Is something wrong?" He paused. "Is your brother having trouble?"

Klaire did not bother to chuckle at the half-hearted joke. "No, my other brother is doing alright. I'm sorry for the trouble. I called you here because I have a client who might need your help. It's a really big opportunity if everything works out for you."

The captive behind the glass barrier bowed his head. He was a man with long, tangled brown hair, but there were some streaks of grey, and the hairline was receding. His face was gaunt, and his forehead was wrinkled. He wore a pair of glasses with thin rims, and there was tape around the bridge. He wore a white dress shirt and black pants, but they both seemed a size too big for him. All in all, he did not look well. Apollo suspected the man was at least thirty years of age, even if he looked a decade older.

Apollo gestured, and the man took a seat on the small plastic stool set in his side of the room.

"My name is Manny Coachen. I will give you the basic facts, although I know they're nothing simple."

Apollo nodded. "You were accused of murder?"

Coachen blinked, looked down at himself, and resigned himself to Apollo's perception of his demeanor.

"Yes. I was accused of stabbing a man. I did not recognize him. They showed me pictures and everything, but I swear I did not recognize him." He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"I was walking out from my apartment, and I saw the man laying flat on his back. I went right back inside."

Apollo's brow furrowed. "You didn't try to help him?"

Coachen threw up his hands hopelessly. "Hey, I went back in, yes, and I got my phone right there and then for help! How do you think I got caught?"

He sighed. "But again, I had nothing to do with the guy."

Apollo was hit with another surprise when he parted ways with Coachen and went back through the door. Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth was only a head or two taller than him, but Apollo suddenly felt so tiny. He, who had faced down Kristoph Gavin. He, who had supplanted Klavier Gavin.

Edgeworth gave a nod. "Well met, Mr. Justice."

"He-hello, Mr. Edgeworth"

The prosecutor folded his arms. "I want to say that I have been following your progress through the news, both on screen and on paper. I must say that you have started your career with a bang, as they say."

Apollo scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly. "It's an honor to hear you say that, sir."

"Which is why I'm hoping that you did not accept Mr. Manny's request for you to represent him in court."

Apollo froze. Edgeworth shook his head. "I'm not surprised at this disappointment. I know you haven't heard much of Manny Coachen, for he has put himself nearly into hiding these past years. But he has indeed been under investigation for ties to the Red Carnation syndicate, although he has never faced conviction."

"You mean, you guys think...he's an associate?"

Edgeworth's face tightened. He seemed even larger than before. "No. He has been accused of leading the group."

Apollo felt a twinge in his stomach that he had never quite felt before.

"The...leader?"

Edgeworth snorted.

"The Don, the boss, the leader, whatever you want to call him." His voice hardened. "This is not just a case for me. This is the city's pursuit of long-thwarted justice. I will try to convince him to take a plea deal, and get him to confess everything I am certain he knows. And I hope that when, not if, he does, you will accept his decision. Because nothing in old Wright's bag of tricks will stop me from taking you down if you meet me face-to-face in court. Good day."

And with that he was gone, moving past the younger defense attorney and opening the door to set up his own meeting.

Apollo was alone. He had all the time to think. But there was only the one thought that mattered.

What had Klaire gotten him into?

-A multi-chapter story; Chapter 26; story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.