Key:

Bold: Setting change

Italic: Emphasis/ Important sentence/ Important part of a sentence

Underline: Witness Testimony/ Cross Examination

Bold, italic, & ALL CAPS: objection, take that, or hold it

[Brackets: text message]

(Parenthesis): inner monologue

(?), (!): Phoenix not paying attention/ being shocked

Phoenix Wright

Turnabout Turncoat

District Courthouse 11:00am

Defendant Lobby No. 1

"Oh boy." Phoenix sighed as he sat down on a couch in the defendant lobby to rest his feet, "Today is going to be a long one Maya" he put both his hands on his face, "AND I HATE IT!" He shouted.

"It can't be that bad Nick." Maya saidchipper & reassuringly placing a hand on his shoulder, "How many witnesses are there anyway?" She asked cocking her head to the side as she removed her hand.

"Five." Edgeworth announced, "Potentially more, if you can convince the defendant to testify and reveal that absolute bastard of a human being so he may be indicted and be the first witness for the final day of the trial."

"What if we got someone else to testify as evidence of the motive? Would that be enough for an indictment?" Phoenix asked Edgeworth.

"Potentially." Edgeworth answered placing a hand to his chin, "Who pray tell did you have in mind?" Edgeworth queried.

"Hell, no, pals." Gumshoe growled announcing his presence before Phoenix could answer.

"Detective Gumshoe." Phoenix greeted seriously.

"Skip the pleasantries pal, you are NOT making Maggey relive that night." He snapped, "It's irrelevant to the current situation!" He shouted.

"Quite the contrary." Edgeworth announced wagging his finger, "I think I see where Mister Wright is going with this, her testimony could reveal the motive for your framing." He said crossing his arms.

"I'll do it." Maggey announced, "If Mister Wright can use it to establish a motive, then I will gladly take the stand today." She said determined.

Gumshoe sighed, "Magpie, if you are going to take the stand… so will I."

"Wonderful." Edgeworth said, "Kay and I will inform The Judge and come back to see if we can replace any of the witnesses with Miss Byrde and Detective Gumshoe." Edgeworth said before he and Kay left.

District Courthouse

Defendant Lobby No. 1

5 Minutes Later

Edgeworth and Kay returned, "The Judge said he's surprised but granted the request to the change of witnesses on our way back I reviewed the list and found the two we should replace." Edgeworth announced.

"Great." Phoenix said elated as he shut the case folder and handed it to Maya, "Who are we replacing?" He asked curious.

"Wendy Oldbag and Officer Mike Meekins."

Phoenix nodded, 'Perfect choices."

"Definitely the right call." Maya said agreeing as well, nodding her head.

"Good." Edgeworth said firmly, "Then we're all in agreement."

"Are we?" Phoenix asked.

"I beg your pardon?" Edgeworth queried arching an eyebrow.

"Despite your partnership with Detective Gumshoe, you still need to do your job. To reach Maggey and Gumshoe," Phoenix nonchalantly pointed at Edgeworth, "you my good friend need to put up a fight." Phoenix said.

Edgeworth nodded," Very well, prepare for a fight" Edgeworth shot Phoenix a glare, "Phoenix Wright." He growled.

"DEFENSE!" A bailiff shouted; THE TRIAL IS ABOUT TO RESUME! PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY BACK INTO THE COURTROOM!" He shouted.

"Prosecution!" Another bailiff snapped, "You heard my coworker that goes double for you."

Edgeworth shot the second bailiff a cold glare, "See you in court Phoenix Wright."

(If looks could kill, Edgeworth would be on trial for murder. I'm surprised that bailiff was unfazed.)

Phoenix stood up straightened his tie and then he and Maya walked back into the courtroom.

District Courthouse 11:20am

Courtroom No. 1

The Judge slammed his gavel down, "Court will now reconvene for the trial of Detective Richard Gumshoe." The Judge announced, "Before we proceed, changes have been made to the witness lineup." The Judge announced.

He turned to Edgeworth, "Isn't that right, Prosecutor Edgeworth?" He asked sarcastically.

"Yes, and a certain chatterbox of an old woman had to be forcefully escorted out of the courthouse by security." Edgeworth said nonchalantly.

(I bet Oldbag fought as hard as she could.)

"Very good." The Judge announced before turning to Edgeworth.

"Prosecutor Edgeworth, please call the next witness."

"The Prosecution calls, Officer Joseph Batson to the stand." Edgeworth announced.

The young Officer approached the bench, "Name and occupation, now." Edgeworth ordered.

"Right, my name is Joseph Batson and I'm a Police Officer on the Los Angeles Police Department." Officer Batson announced.

"An encounter between you and Mister Wright was mentioned earlier, was the cigarette cartridge found during that encounter?" Edgeworth queried.

"Yessir Mister Wright found the pack and Miss Fey found the receipt." Batson explained.

"Hmm… I see." The Judge said.

"Please give your eyes witness testimony now." Edgeworth ordered with his arms crossed.

Officer Batson saluted, Edgeworth, "Sir yes sir!"

Witness Testimony: What I Saw That Day

"So that day was hectic for me I was out of the precinct most of the day" Edgeworth was about to interrupt but before he could Batson shouted, "HOLD IT!" as he put a finger up, "but don't worry Prosecutor Edgeworth, unlike Office Blake, I saw what happened." He looked over towards Edgeworth who was sighing in relief. "Anyways, I was off in the distance when suddenly there was a loud BANG! I turned to where I heard the shot, and I saw a man in a green trench coat place the murder weapon on the desk and walk away but at once come back like an idiot and then announce his crime! Then Officer Thyme tased and apprehended him. He whispered something in his ear, I couldn't hear it, but I assume it was his Miranda rights."

"Hmm." The Judge said, "Thank you for your testimony." He said with a solum undertone.

The Judge turned to Phoenix, "Mister Wright your cross examination."

Phoenix nodded, "Yes Your Honor."

Cross-Examination: What I Saw That Day

Phoenix approached the witness stand, "So, Officer you're assuming that the culprit is Detective Gumshoe because off a dirty trench coat?" Phoenix snapped angrily.

"Uh, no. I said it was him because the culprit was wearing a green trench coat."

"OBJECTION!" Phoenix shouted, pointing his finger at Batson, "Believe it or not Detective Gumshoe's trench coat is actually tan, it's just really dirty."

Batson looked at Edgeworth, who was just standing there arms crossed head tilted down eyes shut.

"Hey, Hamilton. Aren't you going to raise an objection or something?" He asked.

"The only thing that I object to is you calling me "Hamilton" based on how I dress, Mister Wright is correct in the true color of that jacket. In fact, after they started to date Maggey bought Gumshoe another tan one and before you ask if I have proof." Edgeworth snapped his fingers and a picture from Edgeworth's first trial came up it was a young Dick Gumshoe, who had just graduated from beat cop to homicide detective. Sure enough he was wearing a tan trench coat. "You weren't on the force at the time but this is the defendant when he had just made detective." Edgeworth sneered, "Though I can confirm through multiple affidavits that Detective Gumshoe was wearing the extremely dirty one that day." Edgeworth then muttered about having to raise Gumshoe's salary if he's acquitted so he can afford dry cleaning, "I present the affidavits and the photograph as evidence."

"The court accepts the affidavit into evidence, though I do have a question for Prosecutor Edgeworth." The Judge announced.

"Yes, Your Honor?" Edgeworth asked.

"Is the photograph of the defendant necessary?" The Judge replied.

"It might be, but it also might not." Edgeworth replied before nonchalantly shaking his head, "It's impossible to know at this time." He said with a snarky smirk.

"Hmm." The Judge said and turned to Phoenix.

"Mister Wright, what do you think?" The Judge asked.

"Your Honor" Phoenix sighed, "I'm not sure if I'm the best person to ask, but I will say that the defense has no objection to the photo being added to evidence." Phoenix announced.

"Very well, the court accepts the picture into evidence as well." The Judge announced.

"Now back to the matter at hand." Phoenix said.

Phoenix turned back to the witness.

"Anyone wearing green trench coat could've been the culprit, and you were a distance away from the incident so you couldn't see the culprit's face. So, tell me" Phoenix extended his arm index finger pointing at the witness, "how do you know the culprit was Detective Gumshoe?!"

"That's a very valid point." Officer Batson replied, "However, the serial number of the gun is a match for Detective Gumshoe's firearm."

"REALLY!?" Phoenix & Edgeworth shouted both slamming their respective desks hard.

"OFFICER!" Edgeworth roared not even trying to hide his anger.

"Y-Yes s-sir?" Batson replied shaking as he saluted Edgeworth.

"WHY WASN'T I INFORMED ABOUT THIS!?" Edgeworth shouted.

Batson opened his mouth and was about to answer.

"WHY!? TELL ME OR SO HELP ME YOU WILL BE PAID LESS THAN THE DEFENDANT!" Edgeworth threatened cutting him off.

"Mister Edgeworth calm down." Kay said trying to quell the rage radiating from Edgeworth, "Maybe it was listed in the evidence, so he didn't think he needed to." Edgeworth looked through the evidence and luckily for the officer it was.

"You are very lucky Officer" Edgeworth said before glaring at the witness, "it is as my legal assistant said it is listed in the evidence that the firearm found at the scene has a serial number that matches the one assigned to Detective Gumshoe."

"OBJECTION!" Phoenix shouted before slamming his hands on his desk, "It was proven yesterday that the gun was not fired on that day by the full ammunition clip & the lack of gunpowder burn" he extended his arm & pointed at the witness, "you can't concretely prove that the defendant was the culprit."

"What are you insinuating Phoenix Wright?" Edgeworth asked crossing his arms while arching an eyebrow.

"Come on Edgeworth it's obvious if you think about it." Phoenix announced.

After a brief silence Edgeworth learched back in realization.

"Wright, are you insisting what I think you are?" Edgeworth asked trying to wrap his head around what it implies.

Phoenix nodded before placing his hands on his hips, "Yes I am" Phoenix announced, "I believe that a third party, the same person that stole Detective Gumshoe's firearm" Phoenix slammed his hands on his desk, "planted the gun to implicate Detective Gumshoe of the crime."

The Judge slammed his gavel down.

"Mister Wright, can you provide evidence to support your claim?" The Judge asked.

Phoenix again slammed his hands on his desk, "The culprit was so sloppy it's not even funny." Phoenix announced.

"How?" Edgeworth quirried.

Phoenix smirked, "The direction the culprit ran away after fireing the shot, was the opposite direction of where the defendant emerged from after the crime."

The Judge and the Prosecution team let out audible gasps.

"Officer Batson." Phoenix said getting the witness's attention.

"Yes sir?" Batson asked saluting.

"How many entrances and exits are there from where the alleged murder weapon was stolen?" Phoenix quirried.

"There are 2, one that is near the forensics lab and the other near the Chief of Detectives desk." Batson explained.

"Are either in view of the security cameras in the room where the defendant's firearm was?" Phoenix asked.

"No sir." Batson answered, "Well technically the one near the forensics lab is, but that camera is broken and the replacement the chief ordered hasn't arrived yet."

"Broken how?" Phoenix asked arching an eyebrow.

"We don't exactly to be honest we think something is wrong with the recording software or it won't turn on." Batson answered sheepishly.

"Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here, but to enter the evidence room you need an Identification card, correct?" Phoenix asked.

"Yup." Batson answered.

"And that card would leave behind a record, correct?" Phoenix asked.

"Yeah." Batson replied.

"Your Honor I have no further questions for this witness." Phoenix announced, "However the same cannot be said about the Prosecution." Phoenix said.

"Ask away Mister Wright." Edgeworth said.

"Is the id card record on the evidence list?" Nick asked.

Edgeworth sighed, "I was worried that you were going to ask that, the Officer on duty, Mike Meekins had apparently misplaced it and prior to the trial beginning yesterday had not delivered a copy of the record." Edgeworth announced.

"Your Honor, I would like to request that a copy of the record for that day be sent here as soon as possible." Phoenix announced.

"No objections your Honor." Edgeworth said.

Suddenly a rumbling noise was heard from the defense desk and Maya's cheeks turned red.

"Sorry, I'm hungry." She said embarrassed.

The Judge slammed his gavel down, "The defense's request is approved and while we wait, we will have the final recess of the day and lunch." The judge announced.

To be continued…