Turnabout Butterfly
Chapter Four
September 7, 3:11 PM
Detention Center
Visitor's Room
I sit down as Miss May is escorted to the chair across the window from me. I don't trust Sebastian to manage an interrogation well, so I sent him to question Father's mentor about the trial.
"Well hello!" She bows as she takes her seat. "I didn't expect anyone to visit me in such a dank place as this... It's really quite... moving." Her demeanor instantly soured. "Not! You stinking lawyer! I hope you die! Have you come to laugh? Yes, laugh at the fallen Miss May!"
"No, that's not what I'm here for, Miss May. There's something I wanted to ask."
"Unfortunately, there is nothing I want to BE asked. Haven't you done enough questioning, you... handsome devil?!"
I'm surprised by her remark. "Please, you're scaring the security guard."
She takes a few calming breaths. "... So? What is it you wish to ask of me, then? Hmm?"
"Well, the first question is about the man who stayed with you in your hotel room. Can you tell me about him? Or where he is?"
"No way, Jose."
"Very well." I'll need to "Second question: Why did you place a wiretap on Father's phone?
"Aww, when you say it like that it sounds so... cold. So criminal!"
"That's because tapping people's phones is a crime, Miss May."
"Oh, and I suppose you learned that in Lawyer School, hmm? Creep!"
Before I can respond, my phone starts ringing.
"Would you excuse me for one moment? I'll be right back." I step out to answer the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, Miles. It's Sebastian. The big boss is out, but I found three photos labeled LD-5; one man and two women."
"Are you able to take a picture of each and forward them to me?"
"I can do that."
"Thank you. I'll wait for you to send them."
"Alright. Goodbye."
I hang up and wait for Sebastian to send the photos. Once I receive the text with them, I start perusing them. One of the women has short hair and a gentle expression on her face. The other has a sizable afro and a warm smile but a sinister look in her eyes. The man has purple hair and an arrogant smirk across his well-structured face.
I return to Miss May with my phone in hand. "Sorry for keeping you waiting."
"You could've taken a hint and stayed gone when you got up!"
"The only reason I'm still here is because YOU won't talk to me!"
"Oh, so it's MY fault now, Mr. Bowtie?"
I ignore her comment. "Let's get back to the man who stayed with you in your hotel room. Can you tell me about him? Or where he is?"
"I'm not telling!"
"He's being accused of murder! I don't think you want to be protecting him."
"Hmm. Would you have sold out your dear old daddy to the cops?"
"... Point taken." I pull up the man's photo on my phone. "Have a look at this."
"Look, I've said several times, I'm not telling you - - !" Her eyes suddenly go wide. "Where did you...?"
"This is him, isn't it?"
Miss May is at a loss for words. "What? Who? When? Why...?"
"It IS him. This is the man who stayed in your hotel room the night of the murder!"
"No! No, that's not right." She swallows hard. "D-do you have proof that was him? Hmm? Y-yeah! Proof! Show me proof!"
"Very well." I stand up and make my way to the exit. "If you need proof, I'll go and find it."
September 7
Gatewater Hotel
Room 303
I see the bellboy approaching from down the hallway.
"Ah, welcome, sir! Quite the performance today, if I dare say so myself."
"Thank you. I apologize for putting you on the spot like that."
"No, no, not at all, sir! Your efforts today can only help the Gatewater's 'rep,' as they say."
"Excuse me? What do you mean 'rep'?"
"Yes! Our reputation will swell as the hotel where the murderer used a wiretap! We can charge a premium for the room, of course. It will be great for business, sir!"
"Just a moment! Miss May hasn't been charged with murder."
"I, too, will become famous! 'The Bellboy who brought the murderer ice coffee'...!"
I heave a sigh. I feel like we're both stuck in the same bad dream.
"So! You are our honored guest. Please let me know if there is anything I can bring you!"
"I wanted to ask you about the man who was with Miss May."
"Ah, yes... He struck me as a real 'Lady Killer,' if you'll pardon the expression. I knew it from the moment I saw him, sir. He and I are of the same ilk. We both carry the scent of... danger."
There we are in total agreement, Mr. Bellboy.
"If you had a photo of that man, I'm quite sure I could identify him."
I show him the photo on my phone. "Take a look at this photo."
"... That's him, Detective."
"Erm... I'm the lawyer."
"Oh, I know that! I just wanted to say 'Detective' once. You know how it is."
Actually, no.
"Without a doubt, that is the man who checked in with Miss April May. How about I write an affidavit swearing that that's him!"
"An affidavit? I suppose that would be helpful."
"Yes! I've always wanted to write an affidavit, sir. From hence forth I will be known as 'The Bellboy who swore the affidavit'!"
"Yes yes, I don't have a lot of time at the moment."
This should make things easier for me.
Meanwhile, outside Grossberg Law Offices...
"... Yes, I'd like to speak to Gregory Edgeworth. This is his lawyer, Sebastian Debeste."
"... Hello?"
"Hey, Mr. Edgeworth. I had something to ask you about some photos I found in your mentor's office."
"I'm listening."
"That incident involving Mia Fey's mom and aunt. Was it the LD-5 incident by any chance?"
"It was. Why do you ask?"
"I found three photos in your mentor's office; one man and two women. On the back of each one was written 'LD-5 Incident - Exhibits A B and C'."
"Are the two women wearing kimonos?"
"They are. I'm assuming they're Misty and Morgan Fey?"
"Yes. Who's the third person?"
"He's a muscular guy in a pink suit decked out with gold and diamonds."
"I see. It looks like my intuition was right about who killed Mia. You'd better hold onto those photos."
"You think they could be important evidence?"
"Yes. It's important to keep profiles of people involved in a case in the court record. They can be presented to identify individuals of interest as well as present information relevant to a particular person. For example, Miss May's testimony from earlier is catalogued in Miss May's profile."
"Alright. Thanks for the tip."
September 7
Detention Center
Visitor's Room
I sit down as Miss May sits back down across the glass. "Could you have a look at this?"
"What's that?"
"The bellboy's affidavit! He told us everything he saw. He told us about the man you checked in with. He told us who he was."
Miss May tenses up immediately. Now I'm getting somewhere.
"If you don't talk, I'm taking this photo to the press!"
"Whaaaaat!?"
"Even though he should've been witness to murder, your little 'friend' is missing. I'm sure the press would have a field day with his reputation!"
Miss May grimaces as she starts to tear up. "Ooooh! Fine! I'll talk! You... you win, Mr. Bowtie."
I fold my hands on the ledge before me. "Now, tell me about the man you were with."
"That man... He's my boss. Redd White, the president of the information gathering conglomerate, Bluecorp."
"Information gathering?"
"Well... I suppose you could call it a detective agency."
"Hmm... So this is the man that was with you the night of the murder?"
She sniffles as she nods. "I'm... I'm scared to talk. I don't want to end up like her!"
"It's okay, I'll just ask Mr. White himself. Can you tell me where Bluecorp is located?"
She nods and writes an address on a torn out page from my notepad.
"Thank you." I accept the paper and start to leave.
As I step outside, my phone rings. "Hello?"
"Miles? Where are you?"
"I'm on my way to Bluecorp to speak to Mr. White."
"Where is it?"
I tell him the address.
"I'll be right there."
September 7
Bluecorp Inc.
CEO's Office
"What's with the surreal décor...?" Sebastian marvels at the office interior.
"WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"
"What the - - ?!" Sebastian and I spin around.
The man from the photograph is standing behind us at the entrance to the office. "Welcome! Please furnish me with the title of your personage!"
Sebastian gives me a quizzical look. "What did he say?"
The man walks over to his desk. "I was just inquirably asking the title that you go by."
"I believe he was asking for our names."
"Oh. Sebastian Debeste."
"Miles Edgeworth."
"Mr. Debeste and Mr. Edgeworth, is it? Right, I see... Splendiferous. Perhaps I have intimidated you with my giantesque vocabulary...?"
"I assume you must be Redd White?"
"Yes, I am. Redd White, CEO of Bluecorp. You know, Corporate Expansion Official? My business dealings bring me into contact with the elite of the elite. So I'm afraid I am not used to conversing with the wordily-challenged."
"We're here to 'inquirably' ask about the murder of Mia Fey."
"Hmmm, let me guess... You two are attorneys fresh out of law school, are you not? That's the only explanation for why you would come to meet me like this!"
"We are, and we're representing Miles's pops in the trial."
"No matter." Mr. White puts his feet up on his desk. "So, what business does a 'mighty' lawyer have with a man such as myself?"
"Miss May is an employee of Bluecorp, is she not?"
"Correct. She was my secretariat. What a shock it was to hear what she has done!"
"'What she has done'?" Sebastian fingers his baton. "You mean the wiretap?"
"Indeed! She is paid to answer phones. Tapping them is NOT in her job description. She does gather information for us as part of her duties. But, I assure you, we do not condone illegal methods! It is ineffable that she would do this."
It sounds like he's trying to turn Miss May into a scapegoat. "On the night of the murder were you in April May's hotel room?"
Mr. White shrugs. "Who can say? I seldom pay attention to mundane details such as time and place. My motto is: 'Don't worry, be happy!'"
"Still, Mr. White... The hotel bellboy has stated on the record that he does remember you very clearly."
"No matter! The bellboy can say what he pleases. I still won't talk to you. If you want me to speak, put me on the witness stand! Although I doubt you'd be capable of doing that."
Sebastian fingers his chin. "He raises a good question, actually. Why didn't prosecution call him as a witness? He should have 'seen' the same thing as April May!"
"Oh hoh hoh. The police... the courts... To me they are mere toys. Playthings for my amusement!"
"What kind of company is Bluecorp, anyway?"
"Ah, excellent question! We buy and sell various kinds of information. We are a company of the future! You might say, we ARE the future!"
Sebastian looks at me with a disturbed look in his eyes. "Sell... information?"
"In just 10 years, I've built this business up into the grand office you see now. Ah, in case you were wondering, Bluecorp was named after the color 'blue'! I, Redd White of Bluecorp, as founder and CEO, named it so! And why, you ask? Because I like the color blue of course! Fantabulistic, is it not?"
Sebastian speaks up. "Uh... there's something that's been bothering me."
"Yes? What might that be?"
"That big painting on the wall over there. I've actually seen it before."
"Oh?"
"Just yesterday, actually."
"Your point being...?"
"My point is simple. Or rather, my question is simple: Why is that painting hanging on your wall?"
Mr. White takes his feet off his desk. "Mr. Deworste and Mr. Edgeless, was it?"
"Debeste."
"Edgeworth."
"It appears you do not fully grasp your position here. I ask again. Who are you?"
"Umm... huh? We're lawyers?"
"No, my feeble friends. 'Mere' lawyers. Worth nothing. Zilch. Zeppo. Nada! Just like that sorry excuse for an attorney, Grodyburger! Heed my exposition! The police, the courts, they all do my bidding."
"So you say." I fold my arms. "But I wonder if that kind of control is really possible."
"I don't expect you to understand. It is a world beyond your compensation. You came here from Grodyburger's, I presume?"
"Mr. Grossberg's, yes."
"Then you must ask him: Why is it that this painting of his hangs here? Perhaps then he will tell you? Perhaps he will explain how a man can live life purely for personal profit!"
"Very well." I take out my phone and call up Mr. Grossberg, putting it on speakerphone so that Sebastian can talk as well.
"...Hello?"
"Mr. Grossberg?"
"Jumping Jehosephats! Oh! You!"
"What's wrong? You sound so pensive... like an old man at the end of his days."
"Hmm? I'm not senile yet! I was just thinking about this whole mess."
"So you came to see the trial?" I ask.
"Yes, yes I did. Something was bothering me all last night, you see. I couldn't get a wink of sleep."
"Really?"
"What was that?"
"Well, you see, it's just... your father, Miles. My boys, I owe you my thanks, truly. I don't know what I would have done if things had gone poorly for the man."
"If you were that worried about it, why did you refuse Father's request for defense?"
"I'm sure he's on edge wondering."
"On edge? Mr. Edgeworth? No, no, I'm sorry. It's just... I need more time to think about it, my boys."
"So, we're at Bluecorp right now."
"Oh? Oh, I see."
"Mr. Grossberg... I have to admit, something has been bothering me."
"Oh? What is it? Well, out with it, my boy!"
"You see, it's just... there was a giant painting hanging on your wall the other day, was there not? The one you said you had 'no intention of parting with'? Well, it's in the CEO's office at Bluecorp. Redd White's office."
There's a notable pause on the other end of the line.
"So... you noticed. I suppose I should have guessed you would. It is a large painting..."
"Mr. Grossberg," I enter the discussion, "I know you and Mr. White are connected somehow!"
"C-connected, you say?"
"Yes! And I know what it is. Mr. White has something on you doesn't he? Blackmail?"
An audible gulp sounds from the phone.
"I think that painting is fairly gaudy proof."
Mr. Grossberg takes a long shaky breath. "Very well. This may be the chance I've been waiting for. Maybe it's time to get this off my chest, so I can finally rest easy again. After all, you're Gregory Edgeworth's son and student. Perhaps it was fate?"
"What's he talking about?" Sebastian whispers to me.
"Redd White is a man who makes his living through intimidation. Bluecorp is a company that excels in finding people's weaknesses, I'm afraid. I've been paying them for 15 years now."
"15 years!"
"All because of the 'LD-5 Incident,' as you may have guessed."
"That's the name on the back of those photographs!"
"As you suspected, I could not stand in defense of your father because of this. White would have destroyed me if I did."
"So that's the connection!"
"It is hard for me to tell you this, my boys. But arresting Redd White will be nigh on impossible."
"Impossible? Why!?"
"He has information on everyone. It gives him an iron grip! He owns judges, attorneys, prosecutors, police... and politicians."
"What!?"
"They are bound, unable to do harm to themselves, and therefore, to him."
"And they can't all team up together against him? Surely, their combined authority would be more than enough to safely arrest him!"
"There was such an attempt in the past. One of his victims came clean about the blackmail White had on him nine years ago, and after that, he made arrangements to leak out his blackmail to the press little by little in the event of his arrest. If he gets jailed, there'll be no one to stop the outflow of dirt he has on those in power."
"So he can blackmail anyone whether he has dirt on them or not?!"
"You can't be serious!"
"Don't talk to me like that. What you hear is nothing more than the weight of many years."
Sebastian decides to change the subject. "What is the "LD-5 Incident"?
"'LD-5' is nothing more than the sorting code the police gave the case. It was 15 years ago now... I received a request from a medium. A spirit medium."
"A medium...?"
"Her name was Misty Fey."
"Fey!"
"Indeed. She was Mia's mother. She and her sister Morgan had been investigating a murder at the bequest of the police. And... they failed. As a result, the police called them dangerous."
"This is what your pops was talking about the other day!"
"I did all I could for them, and in the end, cleared them of wrongdoing. That murder case, however remains unsolved to this day. That case, is the LD-5 Incident."
"But why were you blackmailed over this, Mr. Grossberg?"
"The LD-5 Incident was top-secret at the time. It made sense. The police didn't want people to know they were using mediums! They couldn't let people know. But one person found out. I... I told him."
"You told White?"
"He offered me riches... It is an embarrassment to me now. Because I talked, the police were mocked far and wide. In secret, they began looking for the one who sold them out. Of course White heard about it, and he came to me. Only this time, the offer was blackmail."
"I see..."
"White controls the law of this country as he sees fit. Yet if you would still challenge him... Have a close look at your father's office."
"Father's office...?"
"She followed his every move for years and was to prosecute him in court. Your father's understudy, Eddie Fender, was supposed to represent Mr. White in court. There may be a record of something in Mr. Fender's files of what she found."
"I'll go take a look, then." Sebastian leaves the office.
"Thank you for your time, Mr. Grossberg. Have a good evening."
"Thank you, Miles. Goodbye."
As soon as I hang up, Mr. White strolls around his desk. "I trust you've found a excellefactory answer to all of your questions, Mr. Edgeless?"
"All except one."
"And what might that be?"
I glance down at Mr. White's feet. "Those are some nice shoes you have there."
"Aren't they a fandazzling sight?"
"I would say so. And I think Miss May would say so as well."
"Of course. A woman of her caliber would be well-versed in identifying shoes."
"Indeed she would. I dare say she was able to identify them being in Father's office on the night Mia Fey was murdered."
"Is that so?"
"Yes." I present an excerpt from Miss May's testimony from her profile in my organizer. "She testified that she recognized the shoes of the killer in Father's office. A statement that proves that Father could not have committed the murder."
"What a bizarre accusation, Mr. Edgeless. What is it that you should be doing now? Investigating me? No no no. I think not! You should be searching for the one who killed Miss Mia!" Mr. White activates the interphone on his desk.
"Secretary's Office, hello?"
"Mr. Edgeless will be leaving now."
"Yes, sir. I'll send someone right away."
"Wait a second, Mr. White. You are absolutely right. I should be looking for the killer now. And actually, I've done better. I've found him. He's right in this room as we speak."
Mr. White goes silent for a moment.
"Let's use some logic, shall we? The victim, Mia Fey, was a prosecutor, and was murdered in Father's office. That means that Miss Fey had business with Father on the night of her murder. There was a wiretap on Father's phone, and Mr. Fender was scheduled to represent you in a trial. That means that you had a reason to be tapping Father's phone. If we connect those pieces of information, then we can deduce that you were aware that Miss Fey would be at Father's office on the night of the murder. When we consider that Mia was to retrieve some evidence from Father's office that night, that would imply that she was murdered to stop her from retrieving the evidence. Finally, there's the fact that she was to prosecute you in a trial. Taken together, it means that you murdered Mia Fey to stop her from prosecuting you for your crimes."
Another moment of silence.
"You know, Mr. Edgeless, you're sporting a swell set of stompers yourself."
"I beg your pardon?"
"And that note found next to Mia only mentioned 'Mitsurugi'. It could've been referring to either you or your father."
"Just what are you insinuating, Mr. White?"
Mr. White activates the interphone on his desk.
"Secretary's office."
"We won't be needing an escort for Mr. Edgeless. Instead, please connect me to the public prosecutor's office."
"Of course, sir. One moment please."
I don't like where this is going.
"White? That you? What are you doing calling me at a time like this!?"
"Hello. Chief Prosecutor? I've changed my mind. I want to testify tomorrow."
"What's this about?"
"The Mia Fey case. I witnessed the murder, you see. And, thus, as a very important witness, I would like to testify."
"What? Why now? I thought you said you didn't want to go to court?"
"Quietude...! I told you I changed my mind, didn't I? Oh, and one other thing. Send the police over here right away. The man is standing right in front of me. He looks dazed but could be violent!"
"What? What man?"
"Are you even listening? The executioner! The hatchet-man! The liquidator... The killer, man!"
"What!?"
"Mr. White... this isn't another one of those..."
"Chief Prosecutor. I do not believe you are in a position to freely offer your opinions to me, correct? I'm telling you to send the police, now!"Mr. White turns off the interphone. "Did I not tell you, Mr. Edgeless? You are a mere lawyer!"
"How dare you!"
"I'll point the finger at you, and you will be tried as Miss Mia's killer! The case is as good as settled. No lawyer of any worth will defend you. I have friends in the local lawyer's association, you see. You'll be given a lawyer so stupendously inept that they make even Mr. Deworste look competent."
I can only scowl as the doors fly open behind me.
"Detective Gumshoe, reporting, sir! Aaa! Butz! Hairy Butz!"
"Edgeworth, actually. Miles Edgeworth. And my friend's name is 'Larry'."
"Oh, right! Sorry, pal. Butz was that murderer, right?"
"Detective Gumshoe. I present to you, the man who killed Miss Mia Fey!"
"W-what!?"
"Take this despicable human being into custody. Farewell, Mr. Edgeless!"
September 8, 3:37 PM
Detention Center
Visitor's Room
I can't believe it's only been a day since the first trial. My trial begins tomorrow. White's going to set a trap for me. And the prosecution will be in on it, of course, Wright included. An attorney was assigned to me by the state, yesterday, but I refused. I had an idea.
"Miles? Miles!"
"Oh, Sebastian! Great, you made it. Did you find anything?"
"Just now, yes. I found a packet in Mr. Fender's files with a long list of names and some sort of codebreaking table."
"Codebreaking table?"
"Have a look."
I examine the packet Sebastian found. "I wonder what it could mean."
"So, did they let you talk to your pops in his cell or something?"
I explained what had happened to Sebastian.
"I don't believe it! How many people does that man need to destroy before he's satisfied!?"
"We already have a strong case against White. The difficult part is to find a way to overcome the dead man's switch that Mr. White has set up."
"Well, with both you and your pops behind bars, the only people at my disposal now are Mr. Fender and Kay."
"I'll go talk to Father about the evidence you found. Maybe he can make sense of this codebreaking table."
"Alright. I'll be ready to defend you and your pops tomorrow."
Times may change, yet with crime it's the same old story. In fact, it's gotten worse. Lengthy court proceedings are no longer realistic. Beginning a few years ago, a limit of three days was put on initial court trials. Almost all finish in a day. Most with a guilty verdict. I never thought I would end up in the defendant's chair myself for this case. With the true culprit appearing as the star witness. This is it! Tomorrow, it's me or him!
TO BE CONTINUED...