"Can't we just kill him, Nick?"

He had to admit, he was impressed at the threatening tone of her voice, and even the look on her face was scary. He knew she was kidding (at least, he was pretty sure she was) but the man on the floor in front of them didn't look so sure. Maya had come into the office doing this tough girl act, and he had let her carry on. If it was going to get them the evidence they needed in tomorrow's trial, he didn't mind. In his confusion and fear, the man they had come to talk to had fallen over a box of files on the floor, and was now cowering there as they stood over him.

For once, he decided not to rain on Maya's parade. Sure, threatening to kill someone was quite serious, but they were desperate. Tomorrow was the last day they had to prove their client innocent. And if this guy decided to squeak, all they had to do was deny it. It would be their word against a criminal's. So instead of scolding her, he raised a hand to his chin as if thinking about it.

"It may be too messy, Maya," he said. She turned her gaze to him, a look of disbelief on her face, as if shocked that Phoenix Wright was actually going along with this.

She smirked, turning her eyes back to the man and punching her right fist into her left palm. "Oh, I can do it without spilling too much blood."

"Y-You?!" the man said, looking incredulously at Maya.

Phoenix shrugged. "She's the muscle here, sir, not me."

Maya took a step forward menacingly. "Now, are you going to tell us what we need to know, or do I need to beat it out of you?"

"P-Please, miss! I'll tell you what you need to know!" he said, then turned back to Phoenix. "I'll tell you everything! I even have evidence!"

Phoenix put a hand on Maya's shoulder as if to calm her down. "Let's give the man a chance."

She nodded seriously, lowering her fists. "Out with it then! Tell us everything, the complete and total truth!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Not ten minutes later they were leaving the building with the information and the evidence. Maya let the man know that if he told anyone about their visit she'd be sure to see him again, and that he should also tell the truth at trial tomorrow, which would incidentally prove their client innocent.

When they were safely away from the building, Maya let out a burst of laughter. "I can't believe all that bluffing worked!"

Phoenix made a face. "I feel bad for the guy, though. And we could get into a lot of trouble if he calls our bluff and tells someone, assuming they believe him. I can't believe I let you do that!" In the heat of the moment it had seemed like a good idea, but now he was just worried.

"But the client really is innocent, and that witness was going to lie for the prosecution! At least now he'll be telling the truth." She nudged him in the ribs. "Admit it, you're impressed I pulled that off."

He rubbed the spot she had poked with her elbow. "I'm just happy the client won't be thrown in jail tomorrow. This was yet another close call."

"We always seem to make it through, though."

"We've been lucky so far. Or we make our own luck, like today," he said, looking at her disapprovingly.

"Hey, you went along with it." She grinned. "How about I buy dinner tonight?"

"That's a change; I'll take you up on that."

"I'll need my pay cheque though."

"Since when do I pay you?"

"Since I started paying for dinner."

"Of course."