September 9, 9:52 AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 1

Phoenix went over all the details he had memorized last night, though he had copies of everything he would need in a manila folder, just in case. He knew White was the killer, and that made him so angry to think that he was trying to get away with it, but he forced himself to calm down. He knew he could convict the man. All he had to do was reveal the truth, and the man's lies would crumble.

"Well… I guess this is it!" Maya said suddenly, looking more determined than Phoenix felt. He smiled, hoping to hide his nervousness. She definitely believed he could do it.

"Yeah," he agreed. "One way or another, this case gets decided today." He looked up and felt surprise as he saw the one person who would make or break this case. "Edgeworth."

Maya gave a small start at the sound of his name and turned to look at the prosecutor as he walked up to Phoenix. "I received a call from the public prosecutor's office yesterday." Phoenix cocked an eyebrow. Edgeworth continued. "She told me that whatever Mr. White says today, it will be the 'absolute truth.'" He looked aside. "No matter how you try to attack his testimony, if I raise an objection, I have it on good faith that the judge will listen to me."

Phoenix shrugged. "That's alright."

For once, Edgeworth looked uncertain. "What do you mean?"

Phoenix looked to Maya. "My client is innocent, and I have proven it so." He looked back at Edgeworth. "At least she'll have her life back."

Edgeworth cocked an eyebrow. "Even if you are the guilty party?"

Phoenix smiled. "You say that like you aren't completely sold on the idea. Don't you know that I'm guilty?"

Edgeworth bristled at the remark. "However you view it, the truth remains that you are on the chopping block. Your career is at stake here, and all for the sake of a girl you barely know."

Phoenix nodded. "I guess you could say I'm at peace with the idea. I know I proven the innocence of someone who was really innocent. I didn't ruin someone's life on the pretense of titles or records."

Edgeworth scoffed. "Well… I will do anything to get my verdict, Mr. Wright. Anything."

Phoenix shook his head. "What happened to you, Edgeworth?"

Edgeworth scowled, and Maya cocked her head in confusion. "Excuse me?" the man asked indignantly.

"Not every defendant is guilty, Miles, and you know that." Phoenix crossed his arms. "We are what we are because we must find the truth and bring it to light." He pointed at Edgeworth, poking him in the chest. "You insult our name when you strive for verdicts without learning the truth. Worse, you disgrace your office when you condemn an innocent in place of the actual criminal."

Edgeworth scoffed again. "How can we truly know who is guilty and who is innocent? The guilty will always lie to get out of the crime! The only way we can truly put away criminals is to get a guilty verdict for everyone. That is why I have made it my policy to find a guilty verdict for every defendant."

Phoenix shook his head. "That is a childish excuse and the easy way out. You discredit your intelligence to use such techniques."

Edgeworth shrugged. "Believe what you will. You'll receive no special treatment today." With that, he marched off, leaving Maya staring at Phoenix.

"Phoenix?" she asked him.

Phoenix ignored the question he was sure she was going to ask. "Well… court will be opening for session soon." He started for the door, but Maya called out.

"What? But wait!" He turned to look at her questioningly. "What about your defense attorney? He isn't even here yet!"

Phoenix laughed. "I'm representing myself." He laughed at Maya's stunned expression before beckoning to her. "C'mon. Court's about to start."

. . . . .

September 9, 10:00 AM
District Court
Courtroom No. 1

The judge didn't waste time waiting for the jury to finish seating themselves before he rapped his gavel to silence them and begin. "The court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Phoenix Wright." He looked to Edgeworth, who responded.

"The prosecution is ready, Your Honor," he said coolly, although he glanced at Phoenix before returning his gaze to the judge.

The judge looked to Phoenix, who also responded, "The defense is ready, Your Honor."

"Mr. Wright…" the judge began. He had been informed of Wright's decision concerning representation. "Are you sure you're up to doing this?"

Phoenix nodded. "Yes, Your Honor. I will be defending myself."

The judge nodded. "Understood." He turned to Edgeworth. "Mr. Edgeworth, your opening statement, please."

Edgeworth nodded. "Thank you, Your Honor." He addressed the court. "As the details of the event are already quite clear to the court, today we will hear the testimony of another witness to the defendant's crime." He nodded again to the judge, signaling the end of the statement.

The judge nodded. "I see. You may call your first witness."

"Mr. Edgeworth!" Phoenix interrupted. The court turned to him, surprised, and even the judge looked threateningly at him. "You owe the court an explanation. Why didn't this witness testify in the trial against Ms. Maya Fey?!"

Edgeworth shrugged with a slight chuckle. "Oh, I'm ever so sorry. Mr. White is a busy man, after all, and besides. I thought Ms. May's opinion was all that would have been needed at the time. Again, my sincerest apologies to the court."

Predictably, the judge remained quiet. To Phoenix, it appeared he wasn't going to take sides. Possibly because he believed he knew the truth, but was silenced by White's reputation. He cleared his throat. "The prosecution may call its first witness."

Edgeworth nodded. "I would like to call Mr. Redd White to the stand!"

The double doors opened and Redd White himself walked in, taking the stand. The bailiff swore him in, and the court wasted no time in beginning.

"Please state your full name," Edgeworth said.

"Redd White. I am the CEO of Bluecorp, and I am at your service." He flashed a dazzling smile, and Phoenix felt his blood curdle.

"Did you know the victim, Ms. Mia Fey?" Edgeworth asked.

"No, sir. I did not."

Edgeworth flipped through papers. "You were at the Gatewater Hotel the night of the murder?"

"Correct," White nodded.

"And you witnessed the murder from there?" Edgeworth continued.

White cleared his throat. "Why tell what you already know?"

"Of course, Mr. White," the judge said. "Why don't you testify to the court what you saw?"

White nodded, smiling at Phoenix before beginning.

"Let's see," he started, stroking his chin. "It was about nine in the evening, I believe. I was quietly reading some papers by the window when I heard a noise from outside." He shrugged. "I wondered what was causing a racket so high, so I looked out. That's when I saw a spiky-haired man attacking a woman with long hair!" He pointed at Phoenix. "Needless to say that man was none other than you, Mr. Lawyer!" He crossed his arms. "I called Miss May over at once. She, too, was flabbergasted of course." He smiled. "The victim ran away, but you gave chase. You hit her once, and it was all over." He shrugged. "And that's the end of that."

The judge, eyes closed, meditated on all he had heard. He turned to the defense without comment to White and nodded. "Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination."

Phoenix smiled, feeling oddly confident, and walked in front of the witness stand, fingers stroking his chin. "Mr. White, can you be a little more detailed about the victim dodging 'my' attack? I think it's worth knowing what exactly happened."

White chuckled at Phoenix implicating himself. He obviously felt no danger and nodded. "Of course! The victim was attacked by you, and ran to the left! You gave chase and struck her down!"

Edgeworth suddenly interrupted. "Are you sure?" he asked, to which White laughed.

"Young man, I am always sure." He gave another smile. "I am the pinnacle of perfection." He nodded. "I am certain about this. The victim ran to the left when you attacked her."

Phoenix smiled and pulled out a slip of paper, thumbing through it. "See, that's the problem." He pulled out a single sheet and presented it to the judge. "The witness's testimony directly contradicts Miss May's testimony." He pointed to the exact line for the judge's benefit white addressing the entire court. "Mr. White has just testified that he saw Mia Fey dodge 'my' attack and run to the left. However, Miss May testified yesterday and said that Mia Fey ran to the right."

White shrugged. "Perhaps you misheard her."

Phoenix shook his head. "I think not. If we review the floor plans of the office, my point will become clear." He got a nod from the judge and pulled out the floor plans, bringing them up on the overhead projector for all to see. "Mr. White, you say the killer was here," he pointed near the couch in view of the mirror. "And that the victim ran to the left." He indicated the motion on the plans. "If that were correct, the victim would have been running directly away from the door, her only means of escape!" He looked up to the court. "That is extremely odd!"

White looked speechless, at a loss for words. He crossed his arms, deep in thought. "Very strange…" he commented. "I did see her run to the left… I did." Phoenix smiled, knowing that he was right.

The judge leaned forward to address Wright. "Mr. Wright, perhaps you can clarify. White says left, and May says right. Just who do you believe is correct?"

Phoenix smiled as he shrugged. "Both witness are telling the truth."

Edgeworth chuckled. "Doubtful. That leaves a contradiction to the testimony."

Phoenix nodded, however. "There is one scenario that would explain their conflicting accounts."

Edgeworth's eyes widened. "What?"

Phoenix nodded, smiling. "The witness was not viewing the crime from the hotel."

The courtroom threatened to burst into noise, but the judge silenced them with his gavel before looking to the defense. "Mr. Wright, what do you mean?"

Edgeworth, too, demanded that Phoenix answer. "Yes, what do you mean? If he was not viewing the crime from the hotel, where could he have been?"

Phoenix smiled and pointed ever so casually at the spot he had recently claimed the killer stood. "Right here." He put up his hand to be granted an explanation, and the judge nodded. "Look. When the victim ran for the door, she was running to his left. To Miss May across the way, however, it was to her right." He shrugged. "In that scenario, both parties are correct."

Edgeworth slammed his hand down on the table. Please! This is no time for jokes in ill taste! That is where the killer was standing!"

Phoenix again nodded. "Precisely."

The courtroom broke out in discussion, so loudly that the judge had to rap his gavel many times to restore order. "Order! I will have order!" He glared at the jury before adding, "Anyone disturbing the order of this courtroom will be held in contempt!" He held his glare before turning it to Wright. "Mr. Wright! Just what are you suggesting!?"

White had turned white as a ghost, and seemed to be on edge. Before Phoenix could home in for the kill, Edgeworth opened his big mouth. "I OBJECT! The postulations of the defense are a distortion of the truth, Your Honor!"

The judge shook his head. "I would hear it from the defense, Edgeworth!" He looked to Wright, and the defense lawyer felt impressed that the judge, who must've been under such terrible scrutiny from White, would even allow him a chance to finger White. "Mr. Wright, please… what are you suggesting?"

Phoenix put his hands on his hips. "Your Honor! I'm suggesting that Mr. Redd White of Bluecorp is the actual killer of Mia Fey!"

The judge looked to White. "Mr. White? What do you say to this allegation?"

White simply shrugged. "It's an allegation on a poorly-remembered testimony." He chuckled. "In my haste for a quick judgment, I forgot a simple piece of information. Your Honor, if I may testify again…?"

The judge nodded a little too quickly for Phoenix's taste, but he said nothing. "Very well. You may begin your testimony."

White nodded, smiling at Phoenix before beginning. "Miss May's testimony was correct… as was mine. When you assaulted the girl, she first ran to the left. And then you hit her, savagely! That is what I saw! Next, with the last of her strength, she ran to the right. You chased her and delivered the final blow! That," he said, straightening his collar, "is what Miss May saw." He smiled again.

The judge nodded and turned to the defense. "You may begin your cross-examination."

Phoenix nodded and walked up to White, folder in hand. "How many times did you say I hit her?"

White smiled. "Twice! Don't you remember? Or were you in such a bloodlust that night that you've forgotten all details?"

Phoenix chuckled, pulling out papers from the folder. "That's what I thought. No, Mr. White, I don't remember that night, because I wasn't there that night." He looked to the judge. "I never hit Mia Fey, and I can certainly tell you that she wasn't hit twice." He gave the judge the autopsy report. "In this report, you can see that the victim was hit only once." He looked aside to Edgeworth. "Unless the prosecution has a third autopsy report they'd like to submit…?" Edgeworth's glare was furious, and Phoenix mentally patted himself on the back. He turned his attention back to White. "Mr. White, what do you have to say? I thought you were the 'pinnacle of perfection!'" White was silent, and Phoenix turned back to the judge. "Your Honor, if you could ask the witness for a new testimony…?"

"OBJECTION!" Edgeworth shouted. "The witness is obviously confused, Your Honor! I would like to request a ten minute break!"

"OBJECTION!" Phoenix interrupted before the judge could open his mouth. "The witness is confused because he's lying! I emphatically request that there be no break, Your Honor!"

It seemed the court was on his side, as they screamed for justice, and that he shouldn't get away. The judge made his decision and rapped his gavel once to silence the crowd. "Very well," he said. "If the witness would care to revise his testimony…?"

Much less confident than before, White nodded meekly. "Okay…" He sighed and began to think. "Um…well, see… I looked at the other window when I heard that thing fall. Then, the next moment, I saw Miss Mia run to the left! The killer," he pointed at Phoenix. "You, attacked her…but she dodged." He hesitated, and Phoenix could see the gears whirring in his head. "Um…and then…she turned, and ran for the door!" He slammed his fists on the table. "Then you did her in with a single blow!"

The judge nodded at the defense after White had ended his testimony, and Phoenix walked up. "Mr. White, could you please clarify about 'this thing' you heard fall? Just what exactly was 'this thing'?"

White, at the sound of an easy question, seemed to perk up. "Oh…that? It was the glass light stand."

Phoenix had him. He knew it. He just needed to press further. "So you're saying you saw the glass light stand?"

White nodded, unsure and uncomfortable with where Phoenix was heading. "Yes."

Phoenix shrugged. "Frankly, I find that impossible." He pulled out a small bag that contained the glass shards, remains of the light stand. "The stand broke into pieces when it fell. You would have no idea it used to be a light stand just by looking at the broken pieces." He almost smiled when White turned as white as his name. "Furthermore, I know personally that Mia Fey, my boss, kept the light stand in the corner of the office. This is proven by the floor plans submitted by the prosecution." He turned to White. "You would not have been able to see it from the window at the hotel. The only way you could have seen the light stand from where it was, was if you were inside the Fey Law Offices. In other words, you were at the scene of the crime when the murder took place!"

"OBJECTION!" Edgeworth cried out. "My client did not kill Mia Fey!" He looked to White, and Phoenix wondered what he was thinking. "Mr. White, don't you think it's time you confess to your crime?"

White looked askance at Edgeworth. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Edgeworth chuckled. "I mean that you should confess that you placed the wiretap!"

"Mr. Edgeworth!" the judge cried out. "Explain to the court what you mean by this!"

Edgeworth nodded. "Distinguished members of the court… Mr. White is slightly confused. Allow me to explain." He cleared his throat before beginning, and Phoenix smiled at the challenge he was presenting him. "As you know, Mr. White is CEO of Bluecorp. He ordered his secretary, Miss May, to tap the law offices of Ms. Fey. The only question is: when was the wiretap placed in the office, and by who?" He smiled at Phoenix, and Phoenix smiled back. Edgeworth, completely oblivious to the ideas going through Phoenix's mind, continued. "Mr. White. In order to place the wiretap, you entered Ms. Fey's office. Am I correct…?" The inflection in his voice hinted that White agree with him, which he did, almost desperately.

"Yes, you are!" He smiled at Phoenix as he continued. "In order to place the wiretap, I breached the Fey & Co. Law Offices! That is when I saw the accursed light stand!"

The judge nodded. "For the sake of the court, Mr. Edgeworth, I believe you must explain your theory to the court."

Edgeworth nodded. "Gladly." He smiled. "Mr. Phoenix Wright has made his position quite clear. He has determined that Mr. White knew the glass stand was in the office. He has shown that there was only one time Mr. White could have seen the stand: At the very moment of the murder. Thus, Mr. Wright would like you to believe that Mr. White was the murderer!" The jury all discussed amongst themselves, and Phoenix could feel them leaning towards Edgeworth's explanation. "However! It is a fact that Mr. White had been to that office well before the murder took place! He went to place the wiretap! He could have seen the glass light stand then." He smiled at Phoenix. "Ergo, Mr. Phoenix Wright's theory is revealed for the baseless conjecture that it is!"

Again, the judge silenced the court with a rap of his gavel before glaring at White. "Mr. White! You will testify to the court about this wiretap!"

White nodded. "Of course! It was the beginning of September… the week before the murder. I had entered the Fey & Co. Law Offices. Of course, I had done so to place the wiretap. That is when I saw this glass light stand."

The judge leaned forward at the end of his testimony. "So you saw the light stand a week before the murder even took place, and that this is how you were able to identify what had fallen over? By the sound?"

White nodded. "Of course, Your Honor!"

The judge nodded. "I see." He turned to Phoenix. "You may begin your cross-examination."

"For all its worth…" Edgeworth mumbled, drawing a stare from the judge. Phoenix ignored him, walking up to White.

"Mr. White. You say you had entered the victim's office a week before the murder, and that you saw the light stand then. Am I correct?"

White nodded, looking absolutely confident." You are correct."

Phoenix nodded, said nothing, and walked over to grab a small piece of paper and give it to the judge. Edgeworth and White both craned their necks to see what Phoenix had given to the judge, but neither had an idea of what had just happened. Phoenix himself stood by and waited for the judge's answer to all this.

Finally, the judge looked to Edgeworth. "Mr. Edgeworth, do you know what this is?" He held up the receipt that had Maya written in blood.

Edgeworth nodded skeptically. "Yes sir. That's the receipt that the killer used to direct our attention to an innocent bystander. He was planning on leading us around in the dark."

The judge nodded. "Indeed." He flipped over the other side, taking a strong look at it. "The other side is what interests me more. It says here that that the only item purchased was one glass light stand." Phoenix could suddenly feel the tension in the air as the judge continued. "It was dated September 4th… the day before the victim's death."

It was as if Edgeworth was hit by a truck. He was absolutely speechless. Phoenix cut in. "Mr. White, when you allegedly entered the Fey & Co. Law Offices at the beginning of September, this light stand was not there." White didn't reply, looking down in fear at the podium, and Phoenix stood in front of him. "You can't continue running, Mr. White," he said softly, and White looked up at him, defeat on his face.

"OBJECTION!" Edgeworth called out, and Phoenix was genuinely startled as the prosecutor walked up in front of the judge's stand. "Your Honor, I admit there is some thread of logic to Mr. Wright's claim, but there is no concrete proof! I would like to request one more day before Phoenix Wright is granted his freedom! I need time to make one more inquiry into this matter!"

"I OBJECT!" Phoenix yelled. He pointed at White, who was looking defeated at the stand. "Mr. White's guilt is obvious! There is no need to prolong this trial any further!" He looked to the judge, pointing a finger at him. "If anything, I demand that the prosecution find motive to my alleged killing of my partner, Mia Fey!" The courtroom erupted in a roar of approval and dissent alike, and the judge had to rap his gavel several times to bring order back to the courtroom. Before he could speak, though, Phoenix continued. "I ask, because I can find motive for my allegations that Redd White is the killer!" Before the judge could voice his opinion, Phoenix had pulled out papers from a special manilla envelope, and was rifling through them. "Mr. Obrien was an esteemed doctor of Los Angeles four years ago. He had a wife, three kids, a dog, a nice estate in the countryside outside LA, and a reputable business. Yet inexplicably, on April 4th of 2012, Mr. Obrien committed suicide!" He looked up and handed the judge the entire case that outlined Obrien's suicide. "Police had discovered that the suicide was a complete shock. Obrien had never been diagnosed with any sort of mental deficiency that might encourage such extreme action, and his life, while not perfect, was never in any sort of dire straits that he would use such an option to escape."

"What is the point of this, Wright?" Edgeworth asked impatiently, but Phoenix ignored him.

"The report goes on to say that the family admitted to Obrien dealing with a businessman of sorts a year before he committed suicide. That family remembered getting calls from a business known only as Bluecorps., and that the man on the other line would only speak to Mr. Obrien. Miss Obrien testified that the man had identified himself as Mr. Redd only once. Police never made the connection, Your Honor, but if you look at these documents, you'll find that the evidence is quiet clear."

"OBJECTION!" Edgeworth cried out, and Phoenix had the privilege of seeing the prosecutor look harried and dismayed.

The judge, having put on glasses to view the documents, looked over them to Edgeworth. "Quiet, Edgeworth!" He turned back to Phoenix after Edgeworth had returned to his normal, seething glare. "And what is that, Mr. Wright?"

Phoenix pointed at White. "Mr. White was blackmailing these men and women in these newspaper clippings for some unknown reason. The reason isn't relevant to this case, but these newspaper clippings and reports all lead to one thing: White was indirectly responsible for these people's suicides. Mia Fey was investigating these suicides and the connections they had to White when she was killed." He looked at White. "White's motive was to protect the secret he has harbored for almost ten years: his company, and he in particular, thrives off of blackmail."

"I OBJECT!" Edgeworth yelled, launching into his rebuttal before the judge could say anything. "These newspaper clippings are not enough for the defense to accuse my client of murdering the victim!"

"Then I would like to call a witness," Phoenix said quietly, and the judge looked to him expectantly before Phoenix looked out amongst the crowd. His eyes settled on the one man he knew that could help him now.

Grossberg.

"I would like to call Marvin Grossberg to the stand." The lawyer looked around incredulously, unbelieving that he was being asked to testify. The entire courtroom turned the gaze to look at Grossberg, and the big man felt embarrassed for being put on the spot. He shook his head silently, afraid to speak, but Phoenix nodded his, a look of determination in his eye. Something in his eyes gave Grossberg hope. Hope and pride. He looked to the judge, and saw the judge staring at him expectantly, and so he nodded. It felt like he was placing his head in a guillotine with that simple motion. He didn't miss White glaring daggers at him.

"Very well. The court recognizes Grossberg as the defense's witness." The judge was silent as Grossberg was sworn in, and looked to Phoenix to begin.

The defense attorney wasted no time, asking only a simple question. "Were you blackmailed by White?"

Grossberg nodded almost fearfully, and Phoenix could see him sweating. "Yes, I was."

"How long has he been blackmailing you?"

Grossberg's nose twitched. "For about fifteen years, now."

"He lies!" White screamed from his place next to Edgeworth, and Phoenix shook his head.

"Your Honor, I only seek the truth." He stood right in front of the judge. "I am a man of the law, and as such, I will see that it is upheld, no matter the person that it brings to justice. I sincerely hope I am not a minority in this courtroom."

The judge was silent as he stared at Phoenix, and Phoenix wondered if he had offended him. Edgeworth stared at the judge, White stared at the judge, Grossberg stared at the judge, and the court stared at the judge. All were waiting to hear the judge's verdict in the case.

"In light of the evidence that has been presented to me throughout these past two days, I have reached a conclusion concerning this murder, and am ready to give my verdict." He stood, looking at Phoenix, Edgeworth, White, and Grossberg in turn. He sighed, as if unable to believe he was about to do what he was about to do. "I find the witness, Mr. Redd White, guilty of murdering the victim Mia Fey."

The court erupted in chaos at this verdict. Phoenix felt a great weight lift from his shoulders, and even though he heard White screaming from the other end of the courtroom, he didn't care. He didn't even look at Edgeworth, whom he knew was furious. As the judge was adjourning court, he picked up his things and left the courtroom without comment.

. . . . .

September 9, 2:24 PM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 1

Phoenix had just walked into the lobby before Maya hugged him fiercely. "You did it, Phoenix!" Phoenix had to admit that the smaller woman had deceiving strength.

"Yeah," he managed, "I did." He smiled as she released him. "It was simple, really. I just had to know the truth." He chuckled again as the lobby doors opened and a man walked in that he was hoping to see.

"Good show, my boy!" Grossberg said, coming up and slapping him on the back good-naturedly. "Very good indeed! Why, I was on my seat the entire time! And calling me up like that in the middle of the trial. You have a lot of bullocks!" He chuckled slightly before continuing. "The late Ms. Fey was right; you will be quite the defense attorney before this is all over."

Maya also nodded. "Yeah, he will!"

Phoenix smiled, embarrassed with all the attention. "I just do what I can," he said, hoping it would convince them.

Grossberg shook his head vigorously. "My boy, you have done more service to me than you could possibly imagine! If you ever need anything, please let me know!"

Phoenix smiled again. "Really, Mr. Grossberg, it was no problem. I was just doing my job."

Grossberg extended his hand, and Phoenix shook it. "And you do a marvelous job." He smiled warmly at Phoenix before adding, "You were right, you know. Your reason for defending Maya, even though the case looked hopeless. Lesser lawyers would have failed where you succeeded." The men parted, and Grossberg looked admiringly at Phoenix. "This case proved to the world of your desire to see the truth above all else. It is a rare thing in the court systems today. I must say that you give all defense lawyers a good name, Wright. Though I be a first-rate lawyer myself, today I stand humbled by your abilities." He patted Phoenix's shoulder. "Keep up the good work."

With a final nod, Grossberg walked out, leaving Phoenix stunned and Maya speechless. "Wow!" Maya said. "He's one of the best lawyers in the country!" She looked to Phoenix and smiled brightly. "That kind of compliment doesn't come lightly from him, I know!"

Phoenix nodded, himself feeling humbled. "I know. I just hope I'm worthy of that respect." He stared off for a moment before shaking his head and looking at his watch. "More importantly, though, I believe I told you that we'd be having some of the greasiest burgers you've ever tasted." He looked up to her, smiling, as her face brightened even more.

"Sounds like a plan, Phoenix!" She turned, and the two of them set out for Joe's Greaser.

. . . . .
September 9, 2:49 PM
Joe's Greaser
The Usual Booth

Phoenix shed his coat and tie, leaving his vest and dress shirt on as he sat at the booth. His most difficult case was just over, and his suit was too constricting to properly celebrate. "So," he began. "What are you gonna do now that this case is over?"

Maya sighed contently, playing with a napkin. "Well… I don't know." Her eyes reflected just how tired and worn out she must have been. "I guess now I can finally focus on my sister's funeral." She looked up. "I don't know much about having to prepare for funerals, but… if you could help…?"

Phoenix nodded. "Of course," he said softly. The subject was still painful to talk about, but he wanted to see Mia off as best he could. He wasn't there for her when she needed him most, so he would make up for it by giving her a proper funeral.

Maya cleared her throat before continuing. "I want to thank you again for what you did these past few days." She looked at him with genuine gratitude as she said, "We've never even met before, but you still helped me." She smiled. "You even took my place just to guarantee I would be innocent." Phoenix could see her eyes gloss over, threatening to drop new tears. Her hand found his and she squeezed it as she said, "Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much it means to me."

Phoenix squeezed back, smiling warmly. "It was no problem. I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

The two sat there, hands enveloped in each other, as they unknowingly established the bond that would keep them together for the rest of their lives. From this moment, their lives were entwined, and both would become the most important person in the other's life.

They separated as their server, Ashlie, arrived with their food. She set down the plates of burgers and fries and, with a smile, left them to eat. Maya wasted no time, diving into her food immediately, and Phoenix laughed at her appetite. They sat eating in a comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company, until Maya had finished her food and sat back, patting her stomach. "Ahhhh….that was so good!" She looked at Phoenix, who was finishing off his fries, and grinned. "You eat so slow!"

Phoenix smiled as he swallowed a fry before commenting. "I have a feeling you'll be that one friend that is skinny as a stick but has the appetite of an elephant."

Maya guffawed while nodding. "You bet. I can eat you out of house and home in a day."

Phoenix chuckled before taking a drink of his soda. "Mmm," he sounded, remembering something mid-drink. "That reminds me." He set his drink down and clasped his hands in front of him. "What are your plans as far as housing now? I know your sister paid for your rent and utilities…" He trailed off, not needing to finish the sentence, and Maya looked down in thought.

She eventually shrugged. "I don't know, actually. I really need to start thinking about it."

Phoenix looked away, not knowing how to put it. "Well… This is just a suggestion, but…" he hesitated, unsure of how to exactly say what he was thinking without having it sound weird. "Um…"

Maya laughed. "C'mon, Phoenix. Out with it!"

Phoenix sighed as he looked to her. "Don't take it the wrong way. I'm really just trying to help. But you could stay at my apartment if you'd like. It's a two-bedroom apartment, so it wouldn't be too awkward."

Maya smiled, putting Phoenix's fears at ease. "That's actually a good idea." She laughed. "And after this case, I know you aren't that kind of guy. So don't worry."

Phoenix nodded. "Good. We can move your stuff from your current apartment to my place whenever you'd like." He looked aside, thinking about something else. "We also need to get with Grossberg later and see about Mia's possessions. I'm sure you'll get most of what she had, so we need to get that straightened out." His fingers stroked his chin. "And I need to find out what will happen to the offices. I may have to close them down and find work elsewhere."

Maya nodded, slightly morose, and Phoenix smiled sadly. One day they would get over this tragedy. But, for the moment at least, they had each other.

And that was enough.