APRIL 11, 2014 10:22 AM

LOS ANGELES DISTRICT COURT

MAIN LOBBY

"Miss Fey."

A man walked up to her, dressed in a plain black suit. Even his tie was nondescript - the only splash of color he had was his hair. Orange, with a single lock of white. He was perhaps four or five years older than her, if he had to guess.

"Good morning," she greeted. She didn't quite know who the man was, but politeness usually was a good strategy.
"Good morning," he replied with a soft smile and a nod. "You're the attorney for the defendant, Mr. Wright, I understand?" She nodded. "A pleasure to meet you, then. I'm going to be prosecuting this case. I'm-"

He was cut off by a shout from the bailiff. "Defense and Prosecution to their lobbies!"

"I'll see you in court, then, Miss Fey," he turned to her boss standing beside her, "Mr. Grossberg. Good luck."

He turned, and practically vanished into the crowd of people.

APRIL 11, 2014 10:30 AM

LOS ANGELES DISTRICT COURT

COURTROOM NO. 2

The gavel rang through the courtroom, banishing any vestiges of thoughts Mia had of the outside world. She glanced at Phoenix, who was looking down at his feet.

She'd get him a not-guilty, of that she was certain.

"The court convenes for the trial of Phoenix Wright in the murder of Doug Swallow. Is the Prosecution ready?"

The redheaded man nodded. "Yes, Your Honor."

"And the Defense?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

The judge nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Then, Mr. Emiya, you may begin."
Emiya, huh? She quickly wrote that down – it was always wise to have a personal copy of the Court Record, somebody at law school had mentioned. The name was Japanese, though that didn't mean much; she wasn't particularly Japanese herself, though her last name was too.

"Thank you, Your Honor. The Prosecution charges Mr. Phoenix Wright, the defendant, with involuntary manslaughter." The prosecutor...doesn't think it was intentional? Huh."At 3:05 PM, on April the Ninth, college student Doug Swallow was killed on the campus of his college, Ivy University. The cause of death is electrocution; the Prosecution submits this autopsy to the court."

Mia glanced over the autopsy; it was identical to the one she already had, thankfully.

"The murder weapon was a dangling electrical cable. It was raining at the time, which the coroner noted likely aided in electrocution - water is highly conductive, as you may know, Your Honor. The cable had broken at 2:50 PM, as can be attested by several students in the nearby lab, whose machines all suddenly lost power, including a clock. They were on the high-voltage circuit of the broken wire.

"In any case, a crowd of students saw Mr. Wright leaving the scene of the crime around 3:10 PM. This led to his subsequent arrest. On top of this, the victim was found holding a bottle of 'Coldkiller X,' a cold medication, which was found with Mr. Wright's fingerprints," Prosecutor Emiya finished.

"Understood. And how does the Prosecution believe the murder happened?" replied the judge.

"At around 3:00 PM, Mr. Swallow and Mr. Wright met outside near the pole the wire was dangling from, presumably with no knowledge of it. They had some kind of argument, and Mr. Wright shoved Mr. Swallow, who stumbled into the dangling line, causing him to be electrocuted. While being shoved, Mr. Swallow must have grabbed the pills."

Next to her, Grossberg rubbed his chin, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. "Something's...missing, I think."

Something missing? It did feel off...

Oh.

OBJECTION!

"Mr. Emiya...you claim that Mr. Swallow and my client had an argument, is that correct?"

"It is, Miss Fey."

She nodded. "The rest is clearly circumstantial evidence without that. Do you have any proof of it?"

The judge nodded. "The Defense makes a fair point, Prosecutor. Do you have proof?"

Mr. Emiya shook his head. "No. There were no video cameras and no photographs, unfortunately. However, in lieu of that, the Prosecution calls forth its first witness, to substantiate its claim."

"Very well then, Mr. Emiya. Bailiff!"

The doors opened, and Mia's lips curved slightly into a frown. It was her.

"Dollie!" It was the first thing she'd heard out of her client in the courtroom - which was fair, they had just started. Still...it was worrying. Dahlia Hawthorn was too suspicious for her client's excited response to be a good thing. The bailiffs, at least, made sure to shut him up.

Her heels clacked against the floor as she walked up, as pretty as a Disney Princess. "Oh, how lovely!" somebody exclaimed in the audience, and she could see the judge's eyes glazed over.

"Witness. Please state your name and occupation."

She smiled, softly, and Mia struggled not to grind her teeth. "Dahlia Hawthorne. I'm a student at Ivy University - I study literature."

"Thank you. Can you testify as to why Mr. Swallow and Mr. Wright might fight?"

"If...you want me to..."

WITNESS TESTIMONY

–Dougie and Feenie–

"I'm currently dating Feenie."

"A little over half a year ago, however, I was dating...Dougie."

"I can't believe they'd fight, though!"

"Neither of them would hurt a fly!"

"But...one could have gotten jealous, I guess."

"Fair enough," replied the judge. "There's a strong reason for the two to argue; the defendant resorted to violence as things got heated, and that tragically led to Mr. Swallow's life. A textbook involuntary manslaughter case. Motive, events, and a fair amount of proof has been established. I see no reason to waste any more time."

What? Wait! "Hold on, Your Honor. The Defense has a right to cross-examine the witness." This could mean eight years in prison! ...that wasn't her speaking, she belatedly realized.

"That...is true, Mr. Emiya. Alright, Miss Fey?"

"Thank you, Your Honor." She turned to Dahlia.

CROSS-EXAMINATION

"I'm currently dating Feenie."

HOLD IT!

"Miss Hawthorne, who is 'Feenie'?"

"Phoenix. The defendant," replied Dahlia.

"And this is a pet name you gave him?"

She nodded. "Yes, several months ago."

"...Fair enough."

"A little over half a year ago, however, I was dating...Dougie."
HOLD IT!
"'A little over half a year ago,'" echoed Mia. "How long, precisely?"
"I don't recall the exact date, but...eight or nine months ago?"
"–but I do!" jutted in, uh, Wry? That was his name, right?
"Silence, defendant! Or you will be held in contempt of court!"
That question would have to wait, then. But why was Dahlia not telling? Mia couldn't believe Dahila would just forget.
"Anyway..." said Dahlia.

"I can't believe they'd fight, though!"
HOLD IT!
"Why not?" Mia asked.
"Well..."

"Neither of them would hurt a fly!"
HOLD IT!
"They wouldn't even swat a fly?"
Next to her, Grossberg coughed. "I think it may...be an idiom."
"Oh...uh, right. Go on, witness."

"But...one could have gotten jealous, I guess."
HOLD IT!
"Which one? Was one more likely to be jealous than the other?"
"Miss Fey, they screen science majors at Ivy University, such as Mr. Swallow, for tendency towards violence - background checks, mostly of behavior in school," interrupted the prosecutor before Dahlia could speak. "The school claims that it prevents 'dangerous elements' from accessing the more easily misused things on the campus - toxins, high-voltage machinery, and the like." His furrowed brow showed his opinion of the debatably legal policy. "I submit a relevant excerpt from the school's policy guidebook."
"Accepted into evidence, Mr. Emiya. The reasonable conclusion, then, is that Mr. Swallow was far less likely to initiate violence, which would make this only a tragic accident, rather than involuntary manslaughter. Any objections, Miss Fey...?"
Any objections...? Well, obviously. If that stood, her client was toast. But what? "Yes, Your Honor. Or...well, does the witness corroborate this? Witness, would you agree that the defendant is far more likely to initiate violence than the victim?"
Dahlia looked down at the witness' stand, her eyes shadowed. "...yes."
"Waaaah...!" She glanced over at her client, whose eyes were wide. "D-D-Dollie...?"
"Your Honor!" Mia spoke before Wry could get a chance to say any more. "I request the witness further testify on the matter of her relationship with the defendant, since it has clear relevancy to the case at hand."
"That's a reasonable request. Witness?"
Dahlia nodded slowly. "Alright, Your Honor..."

WITNESS TESTIMONY
–Feenie and I–

"As I said, we met about eight or nine months ago."
"We started dating almost immediately after we met."
"He's a very sweet guy, but..."
"He's just...very passionate, you know?"
"I could see things getting out of hand if Dougie accidentally said the wrong thing."

"Thank you, witness. Your cross-examination, defense?"
"Yes, Your Honor."

CROSS-EXAMINATION

"As I said, we met about eight or nine months ago."
HOLD IT!
"Your Honor, the witness seems to be fairly unsure of when they started dating, which seems unusual."
The judge hummed. "I suppose so, but that seems irrelevant."
"Perhaps, but I would like to know the exact date." Eight months ago - it was definitely eight, not nine, she could feel it - and Dahlia Hawthorne couldn't possibly be a coincidence. She refused to believe it.
"I'm sorry, but I don't remember it exactly," said Hawthorne.
The judge shrugged. "I'm sorry, Miss Fey. It's lost to the mists of time."
"Not precisely," Mr. Emiya interjected. "If you recall, Your Honor, the defendant rather vocally noted he remembered."
"That...is true. But, Mr. Emiya..."
The red-haired man shrugged. "I'm curious as to where Miss Fey is going with this."
"Very well, then. Shall he testify?"
"I am not prepared to call up Mr. Wright to testify as of yet, Your Honor," Emiya noted.
"Perhaps it is best, then, that we have a short recess, so as to allow the defendant to talk to the both of you about it, if that is reasonable to the both of you?" Mia nodded, as did the prosecutor. "Court will resume in precisely ten minutes. Adjourned!"

APRIL 11, 2014 10:45 AM
LOS ANGELES DISTRICT COURT
DEFENDANT LOBBY NO. 2

Mia had to practically drag her client out of the courtroom. The kid looked shellshocked. His girlfriend had turned on her. A few moments after they left the room, though, his lips turned up. "It's fine – Dollie just wants to make sure justice is served. And she's not...precisely wrong, obviously. Even if it wasn't me. I know she'll be just as happy as I am when you get me off, Miss!" Wry's mumbling got louder and louder, before Emiya walked in.
"Miss Fey, defendant."
"Mr. Emiya, right?" she asked.
"Shirou Emiya, yes. Forgive me for rushing off, earlier."
She shook her head. "No offense taken."
"I'll simply be watching, to make sure no information is suppressed, Miss Fey. The time for that was in the detention center."
"Understood," Mia replied, before turning back to Phoenix. "Anyway, what day did you meet Dahlia Hawthorne?"
"August the 27th!"
She was right. It couldn't be a coincidence. "You're sure?"
"Absolutely! I'd never forget the day I met my Dollie!"
"Do you...have any proof? A timestamped picture, maybe?"
"I...don't think so. But you probably do."
"Me?" She raised an eyebrow.
"No, uh, Mr..." Emiya pointed at himself, a smile pulling at the ends of his mouth, and her client nodded. "Yeah, you. You run this place, right?"
"'This place'? You mean, the courthouse?" He nodded. "I don't, but if there is documentation here, I can subponea it. Were you spectating a trial?" Oh. That was true - anybody who entered the courtroom was recorded, for security!
"No, I was down in the library downstairs. But I had to present my student ID to get in, and they scanned it."
"I'll be accessing that, then. There is strong corroborating evidence that you two met that particular day, if that's the case. That's pretty open-and-shut, and thus we've basically covered what we came to talk about...but why was Miss Hawthorne here? Do you know?" Belatedly, he frowned. "Forgive me, Miss Fey."
She shook her head. "No, it's a reasonable question. I think I have the answer, actually..."
"And you're not going to tell me, I suppose?"
She nodded, a soft smile on her face. "Guilty as charged."
"That is your right. I wonder where you're going with this, though, Miss Fey. I fail to see the relevance."
She shrugged. "You'll see." She stood up, and gave Wry a look. "Let's head back."
"See you in a few minutes, then, Miss Fey. Good luck, once again, though you seem not to need it." He turned, and left the room by the same door he'd entered.
Did Grossberg just not follow her? Where was he?

APRIL 11, 2014 10:50 AM
LOS ANGELES DISTRICT COURT
COURTROOM NO. 2

"The trial has resumed for the trial of Mr. Phoenix Wright. Mr. Emiya, would you like to discuss what occurred?"
"I would, Your Honor. I present to the court, the record of all people who entered the courtroom library on August 27 of 2013." Out of the corner of her eye, Mia could see Dahlia stiffen, and she struggled to contain her smirk.
"As you may note, Phoenix Wright entered the library at 2:05 PM. Miss Hawthorne entered about twenty minutes later, at 2:27 PM. The time of leaving is not recorded, but neither checked out any books, so it is reasonable to assume that Mr. Wright was there for at least the time until Miss Hawthorne entered. Very few short books exist in that library, as you might guess. This corroborates the witness' claim that they met there on August 27."
"Understood," nodded the judge. "I think that is a fair assumption. Your point, though, Mr. Emiya?"
He shrugged. "I have no idea. I was still abroad at the time, in fact. Miss Fey?"
She smiled. "Firstly, I would like to introduce two individuals to this court. One is Mr. Diego Armando, a former attorney at Grossberg Law Offices. Currently, Mr. Armando is in a local hospital, under long-term care. He has been unconscious for the last eight months.
"Secondly, Miss Melissa Foster. She is an orphan and was a witness in a recent trial."
I would like to call the court's attention to a trial on February 16 of last year. It was the trial of Terry Fawles."
"Miss Fey!" Grossberg muttered. "I understand now. Be careful."
She nodded to him. It was checkmate, however. "The prosecutor was Mr. Miles Edgeworth, and the defense was myself and Mr. Armando. During the trial, Miss Foster had a secret revealed. Her real name...Dahlia Hawthorne."
"A pseudonym?"
She shook her head. "No, she had faked her death some years before, and taken a new name." Muttering began in the audience, before the judge slammed his gavel.
"How unusual. This is all on record?"
"It is."
"Objection, Your Honor. This case is unrelated, and therefore serves only to cast suspicion on the witness' testimony," interrupted Emiya.
"Objection sustained. That is true, Miss Fey. Evidence without an established connection, including court cases, is invalid."
"Right..." She paused momentarily, to collect her thoughts. "But there is a connection. Please bear with me."
"...alright, continue," said the judge.
"The case ended inconclusively, with the suicide of Mr. Fawles." Emiya's eyes widened. "Myself and Mr. Armando, however, were not satisfied. It seemed likely that Mr. Fawles was not guilty, but he had ended his life before any resolution could be found."
"How tragic."
She nodded. "So we continued to investigate; we researched Fawles' first trial, and we would talk to the people involved. Particularly, we spoke to Miss Hawthorne. In the lunch room of this building, Mr. Armando and Miss Hawthorne met last August."
"The twenty-seventh?" asked the prosecutor.
"Exactly. They were meeting over a late lunch, and so the room was empty at the time, other than them. The police were called at 2:37, when a member of the janitor staff saw Mr. Armando collapsed over the table. Poison was found in his blood. Short-acting; it couldn't have been drank more than fifteen minutes before the call."
"And Miss Hawthorne was held in suspicion, I assume?"
"That's correct, Your Honor. However, they couldn't find any poison on her, and there was no reason to assume she'd left the room; the janitor had seen her, apparently shellshocked."
"And you believe...?"
"That now we have evidence that Miss Hawthorne would indeed have access to such a poison!"
"I fail to follow your logic, Miss Fey," began Mr. Emiya. "I presume that it's evidence from this case?"
"It is."
She had to get this right. If she failed, Hawthorne would walk free once again, and she couldn't permit that.
TAKE THAT!
"Doug Swallow was a pharmacology student, correct?"
"Yes...?"
TAKE THAT!
She held up the excerpt from the guidebook.
"Moreover, at Ivy University, pharmacology majors are screened to ensure their access to toxic substances."
"You mean to imply...?"
"That the toxin that poisoned Diego Armando was obtained by Dahlia Hawthorne through Mr. Swallow! Miss Hawthorne has testified that she had a relationship with somebody who could get her such a material, and obviously she would want to distance herself from him as soon as possible after the poison killed someone. Dating the defendant, who she believes would be likely to be very protective of her, would be a perfect cover-up!"
"Supposing that's true, Miss Fey...wouldn't that make it likely that your client killed Mr. Swallow to make sure his girlfriend's secret wasn't revealed?" asked Emiya.
It...would. It would. That would be why Mr. Grossberg told her to be careful.
She'd painted herself into a corner.
She knew her client didn't do it, that was clear enough. It didn't fit with his character, and anyway all the evidence was circumstantial...except for that medicine bottle.
Why would Hawthorne want to frame Wry? 'Cause Mia didn't believe for a second that Dahlia actually cared for him. She used Terry Fawles, she'd used Doug Swallow, she'd have used Phoenix Wright in a heartbeat. He had to have found out something suspicious. Something that could lead to her conviction. But...it couldn't be something he knew was illegal.
And it was on the day of the poisoning...?
Bluff. She had to bluff. Push off the verdict; she needed more time.
"Doesn't all the evidence point towards Mr. Swallow's death being accidental, as you noted...?"
The judges eyes hardened. "Enough, Miss Fey. It's become abundantly clear that this was a waste of time."
"Actually, Your Honor, she's raised some valid suspicions. There's no more to find here, I think, but I'll maintain my subpoena on Miss Hawthorne."
"Are you sure, Mr. Emiya? I can't say I see your reasoning."
"I am."
The judge frowned. "Proceed."
"Yes, Your Honor. The prosecution calls Mr. Phoenix Wright, the defendant, to the stand."

To be continued.