A/N: I do not own Phoenix Wright or Miles Edgeworth; they belong to CAPCOM. The plot, Dr. Elizabeth Partridge, Martin Swanson, Alison Swanson, Kaine and Umbrae, David & Marla Carson, thier children and other incidental characters are mine.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A body is found in a forest in California...and Miles is wondering how to proceed when the Chief of Police, the bereaved father of the victim, asks him to personally investigate...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It's been awhile since I last updated and here it is! It wraps up the loose ends from the previous chapters which is why Miles gets this chapter all to himself for his P.O.V. and Phoenix will gets his in the next. Both will serve for the jumping board to chapter 17 when all the action will be in the present and I'll go back top split P.O.V.'s.

Anyhow, sorry for the wait and hope you enjoy the chapter!

Montgomery Woods State Reserve 15 miles east of the town of Comptche, CA are real places though they are used fictitiously. I love Google!

Not beta read. I'll change things at some point; always room for improvement!

Thanks to those who favourite and follow my work and me. MUCH APPRECIATED!

Thanks to my friends and readers online: on dA, and Tumblr. MUCH APPRECIATED!

EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS to my beloved husband of 17 years, DezoPenguin, for his love, belief in me, support, nagging (when necessary) and for helping keep me grounded during the writing process so I don't end up tearing my hair out! Love you, babe!

Rated T, Trigger warning: violence/victim of violence/description of gory image, male/male relationships, Phoenix X Edgeworth
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

November 3rd
Montgomery Woods State Reserve
15 miles east of the town of Comptche, CA
11:45 A.M.

The dog bounded merrily in the grass, darting in and around the trees while his family followed closely behind, stopping for a moment to admire the beauty that surrounded them. The brook babbled its sweet melody, the thick canopy of trees providing a ethereal, and ephemeral, feeling that the human members did not fail to appreciate. They stood in silence for some time, drinking in the sights, and sounds, of nature.

The dog trotted back toward them, wagging his tail, panting happily. The three children, ranging in ages from nine to seventeen, burbled as their parents watched solicitously from the other side of the brook.

The dog sat there for awhile, his head titled to the right; it was almost as if he were listening for something before getting up and racing into the forest, ignoring the yells of the children and adults as they tore off in pursuit.

When they had at last caught up with their errant pet, all four were breathing hard and watching in stupefied silence as they saw him digging furiously a few feet ahead of them. Curious, they drew slowly near, wondering what it was that he was so interested in digging up. Maybe it was something disgusting to roll in and the father grimaced as he thought of it.

He reached out to grab his collar... and froze, his eyes widening in shock at what he saw. His lips trembled and his gorge started to rise as he looked upon the horrifying scene that was spread out in front of him.

Oh my God...!

"David?" His wife, Marla, was coming up behind him and he waved her back savagely. She stopped, a puzzled look on her face.

"STAY BACK!" His voice was rough as he quickly grabbed the dog's collar.

"David?" A note of concern had crept into her voice with a curious tone, as if seeking an explanation. He didn't have one for the horror he saw laid out before him. "What is...?"

"I said STAY BACK! And I mean it!"

"Daddy?"

"Marla, get the children away from here! NOW!"

"But-?"

"NOW! And take Baxter with you!"

"All right." A note of offended dignity had crept into her voice. David let go of the dog's collar as she whistled softly who, after a few moments, turned and trotted to her, the four of them leaving the area. He had half-turned his head to watch them and was in no hurry to turn back to look at the horrific sight that lay on the ground in front of him.

Oh, my God...that poor, poor child...!

He fought his gorge down again before he shakily reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He punched in 9-1-1 and waited for the operator to answer the call.

"This is 9-1-1. What is your emergency?"

"My name is David Carson and I want to report..." He stopped, feeling nausea rise and fought to keep it down.

"Sir?" The operator's voice was concerned. "What is your emergency?"

"It's...it's..." He squeezed his eyes tightly shut.

"Sir? Are you all right?"

"No...I'm...not." He swayed on his feet. "I'd like to report...a …."

"A what, Sir?"

"Murder." He spit the word out and, unable to keep his gorge down any longer, turned to the side and vomited in the bushes nearby.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

1 P.M.

I stood a little off to the side, Dr. Elizabeth Partridge standing a little off to my left, her facial expression a stone mask as the C.S.I.'s taped off the area with yellow "CAUTION-CRIME SCENE" tape. The only sign that she was upset was the clenching of her fist at her side.

I couldn't blame her in the slightest for feeling that way as I saw the Chief of Police, Martin Swanson, his face white as a sheet, standing a little to Elizabeth's right. He was white to the lips, his hands shaking as his fingers curled into fists.

I could well understand how he felt and I shared his pain. I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, as to who had done this terrible thing to his 16 year old daughter, the victim of this horrendous crime.

Kaine and Umbrae. My heart ached for Martin, struggling to keep his composure but it was clear that the mask was slipping. This has their bloody fingerprints all over it.

I had to look away from the her pitiful remains and I could hear the sound of muffled weeping from some of the police officers that had come to the scene, my gorge rising despite my best efforts to try and keep it under control. I knew that some of the rookie police officers had already made use of the bushes-as their green faces and wobbly gaits proved all too clearly-and the veterans had sympathetic glances no doubt remembering their own shaky introduction to gruesome injuries to bodies at crime scenes.

Once the C.S.I.'s were finished, Elizabeth moved in, her mouth a tight, angry slash. I could tell that she was just as affected as Martin was and was trying to keep her composure but she was having a very difficult time of it as her tight jaw and clenched fists made clear.

I started to reach out my hand to touch her gently on the shoulder in order to offer her some comfort but the stony look on her face and the angry flash in her eyes convinced me otherwise and I reluctantly stepped back to let her pass as she made her way over to the body, her back ramrod straight.

Martin looked liked death and I knew that he was holding it together only by the skin of his teeth; he wanted to break down and cry but he had to steel himself not to. I couldn't help but notice that his gaze kept drifting back to his daughter's body and the flash of pain that flitted across his face when he did.

I stood there in silence for a few moments before I reached out, touching him gently on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Martin." I could feel his shoulders tense and then relax under my hand and he nodded, slowly, taking a deep shaky breath. I cursed myself for my inability to say anything else but what could you say that would make this situation better?

His daughter, whom I knew to be the apple of his eye, had just been murdered and here he was in his official capacity as the Chief of Police forced to look at her body which in and of itself was a very gruesome sight with half of her face missing, bits of brain and bone around her ruined head in a horrifying nimbus and blood everywhere.

"Thank... you, Miles." His voice was low, soft, breathing in sharply, his eyes watering as he struggled to compose himself. My fingers tightened on his shoulder and I could hear the strangled noises he was making as he tried to keep the sobs that were bubbling up from deep within him. He had a job to do and he was doing his best to try and carry out his duty as he always did but I could see that it wouldn't be long before he broke down.

"There's no shame in crying, Martin," I murmured as I pulled him back a little, away from Alison's body. "I know how upsetting this must be for you. I wish that I could say something to take away the pain but I know I can't and I'm not even going to try." I took a deep breath, my eyes looking down at the ground. "For what its worth, I'm... sorry for your loss."

How comforting that is, Miles. Good show.

I could feel him nod in acquiescence and stood there in silence while he let himself weep, his shoulders shaking with the power of his pent-up emotions. I closed my eyes, trying to keep back the tears I could feel in the corners of my eyes; to my horror, a tear spilled out, trickling slowly down my cheek.

God I knew how he felt. I was worried sick about Phoenix-I hadn't heard from either Kaine or Umbrae for some time now-and I couldn't help wondering why Alison had been murdered. I knew damned well that Kaine and Umbrae were responsible for her death but I was at a loss to explain why.

It doesn't make any sense. Why would they kill this poor child in the first place? I couldn't wrap my head around it, the seeming incongruity; the more I thought about it, the less sense it made. This little twisted game of hide-n-seek was between me and Kaine (and Umbrae, too) so why would they involve Alison? I shook my head slightly while Martin sniffled loudly, taking in deep breaths. It just doesn't make any sense...

We stood in silence for some moments until I could feel him straighten and I took my hand off of his shoulder. He turned to face me and my heart hurt. He was as pale as death, his green eyes with all of hell in them and rigid tension in his body posture. I could also see that his left hand was clenched tightly at his side and I winced.

He didn't say a word for awhile and, when at last he did speak, his voice was tight and raw.

"Miles?"

"Yes?"

He swallowed hard before he turned to face me. "I don't care what it takes or what rules you need to bend to do it but I want the animals who are responsible for Alison's death." His eyes blazed as he looked at me and I swallowed hard. "I'm charging you with this. Bring those bastards to justice."

What? I-I CAN'T! I CAN'T! Phoenix is-!

"I...can't, Martin." My voice was low, apologetic. "I...I have another case that is taking all my attention at the moment."

You don't know HOW much!

He shook his head. "It wasn't a request, Miles; I'm ORDERING you to drop whatever this other case is and work on Alison's murder until its solved." He stared at me, his face blazing. "Find whoever is responsible for this and bring them to justice. I don't care how long it takes; I don't care how many channels you have to go through; I don't care how you go about your investigation... just do it." He had to look away from me then and I sighed loudly.

"Do it, Miles." He looked into the distance. "Your have control of this investigation. Do whatever you have to to solve it."

"But, Martin, I-"

"I said THIS IS YOUR INVESTIGATION. DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO IN ORDER TO SOLVE IT."

The look on his face brooked no argument and I acquiesced without another word. He nodded once and stalked away, wiping at his eyes with shaking, impatient fingers, my heart sinking in the general direction of my feet. What was I supposed to do now? I couldn't leave Phoenix to the mercies of that twisted twosome but what could I do? I had been given direct orders by the Chief of Police himself and there was no way I could get around that.

I sighed again as I turned and slowly started to walk to where Elizabeth was wrapping up her initial crime scene investigation, her face sympathetic. I nodded once and then we started talking about her findings.

What am I going to do now? I can't leave him to that twisted duo's mercy! My face reflected the inner turmoil I was feeling and even Elizabeth noticed it, as the gentle touch on my shoulder proved.

I nodded, gritting my teeth and trying to hold back the tears I could feel forming in the corners and coughed once before taking another look at Alison's body, my heart aching with thought so for my own lost one.

This could be his body lying here one day, I thought miserably, my hands clenching into fists at my side. If that ever happens, I would never forgive myself! I could never live with his death on my conscience!

"Miles." Elizabeth's voice was gentle and tender and I jerked my head up to look at her, my eyes shining. "Don't let them get to you." Her eyebrow raised. "I take it that you have some idea, or theory, as to who is responsible for this?"

I nodded numbly, unable to speak because of the lump in my throat.

Elizabeth took a deep breath. "Why don't you combine the investigations? Solving Ally's murder and... finding Phoenix." She looked hard at me, her face earnest. "If they are connected, then one will logically lead you to the other." She took another deep breath, her eyes sparking. "I want those bastards caught before they have a chance to hurt someone else. And let me tell you, Miles Edgeworth, that the last thing I want to see at a crime scene is Phoenix lying here so quit feeling sorry for yourself and get started!"

I reared back as if struck, my emotion showing plainly on my face. I knew that she didn't mean what she'd said-we were all heart sore over Alison's murder-but it still stung, my mouth working but no words emerged. The feeling that raced though me was one of reproach; to my mind, it was as if she were accusing me of some kind of negligence, of not making every effort to find Phoenix.

Deep down, I knew that wasn't what she meant but it still hurt, just the same. I was finding it very hard to forgive myself for him even falling into their hands in the first place or even the difficulty I seemed to be having in even locating him with all the tools I had at my disposal and it ate at me like acid.

She came to herself again after a few minutes and looked away, wiping her eyes and taking a few deep breaths.

"I'm... sorry, Miles," she said quietly, her voice hitching. "I... didn't mean what I said. I know that you're worried to death about him and so am I. I..." She stopped, sucking in breath from between clenched teeth.

I nodded, swallowing hard as I felt her hand grip my shoulder tightly, her fingers trembling.

"I...know..." I whispered brokenly, trying to keep the tears I could feel welling up in my eyes. "I..."

Elizabeth shook her head hard as my voice faltered.

"You don't have to say another word, Miles. You'll do your best, I know, and I am sorry that I spoke without thinking it through first." She smiled wanly. "I love both of you and I want him back with us again, safe and sound, just as much as you do." Her eyes flickered over to Alison's body and then quickly back at me. "Bring him home, Miles...please. I... I...couldn't bear it if I...lost...another..."

A sob escaped her tightly pursed lips before she could stop it, looking helplessly at me, her professionalism warring with her tender humanity. In the end, her humanity won out and I put my arm around her shoulders and gave her that shoulder she needed so badly, silent tears streaming down my face as well.

Phoenix...