Rising Uncertainty

Innocent or Guilty

"Hey Nick?" Maya seemed hesitant. "Are you sure this guys innocent?"

Phoenix's head snapped up from the files he was looking at. He knew she was talking about his current client, Ron O'weigh. He sighed quietly before walking over.

"He's innocent Maya. He has a solid alibi and-"

"Most of the guys speak highly of him?" She interrupted as she read through his notes. "None of the women in that office building do?"

"He's... ah... a bit old school- but being sexist doesn't make you a criminal! It just makes you an awful person," Phoenix explained.

"Yeah, but it also makes it more plausible that he did this. And which guys don't approve of him? You didn't write that down." She was very curious as to the reason why Phoenix thought this man was innocent. "Where does he even work?"

"Oh, he's a prosecutor... and the guys who don't like him- well, one of them is the prosecutor for the case. Then there's Payne and a few others we don't know." He explained.

"So Edgeworth is the prosecutor of this case... and he's one of the guys who don't like him?" She asked.

"Exactly-"

"Then shouldn't we trust him? I mean, he knows the guy and seems pretty sure of his guilt from what you've written down." Maya looked at Phoenix and tilted her head.

"Miles is being stubborn. He's seen what I've seen and I've even explained it to him but he just refuses-"

"Miles? Since when did you call him by his first name?" She asked, raising a brow.

"Oh, uh, I've been doing it to annoy him," he lied.

"I'll start doing it too!" She cheered.

"Maya, I don't think-"

"Why not? You do it!" She said sharply.

"Because I've known him for a long time and know when to stop," he said, wrinkling his nose slightly.

"Fine, but that doesn't explain why you won't just trust him on this. I've gotta say Nick, even I'm on his side on this one." She said with a shrug.

"Wait, what? You aren't siding with me?" He seemed dumbfounded at this.

"You've gotta understand-"

"What did he do?" Pearl had walked up to them now.

"He didn't do anything," Phoenix repeated.

"Pearly, he hurt some women while at work. These women got the courage to speak out against him and did the right thing." She said, throwing a glare at Phoenix.

"He has an alibi for all of the accounts! There's nothing on security so far and-"

"And you're believing him over them?" Maya interrupted.

"No- I-" Phoenix felt guilty at this but he truly did believe his client was innocent. Or did he? He was starting to doubt it but he was too far in to drop the case and he had to believe in him. In his innocence.

"Some of the women remained anonymous it seems... I don't... I don't support this one Nick." She said quietly. She had a gut feeling about this and she didn't see why Phoenix was so sure he was innocent.

"Alright... just... okay," he seemed suddenly very unsure of himself. "I have evidence to back up all of his alibis if that's anything. Security photos and things like that."

"That is something, Wright." Phoenix's head shot up when he heard Miles' voice. He stared at him for a few seconds and furrowed his brows. What was Miles doing in his office? And why now of all times?

Phoenix noticed that he he was still missing his suit's jacket so he must have went straight from his place to his office. He hadn't even bothered to pick up a different one that he most definitely had at home. He was also wearing a face mask.

"What are you doing here?" Phoenix asked.

"I stopped by to..." he glanced over at Maya and Pearl. He seemed to hesitate for a moment. "...to talk about part of the case. I've been informed that you have some evidence I do not."

"You're still sick," Phoenix said.

"That's not important right now." Miles turned his head and reflexively coughed into his elbow.

"How can you say that? You being sick will affect your work-"

"Maybe it would for you, but I assure you I've worked in far worse conditions. I refuse to rest until I've cracked this wide open-"

"Isn't that the polices job?" Maya asked.

"It would be if they weren't all incompetent fools." His eyes were narrowed at the two.

"Miles-"

"Be professional, Wright." He directed his glare at Phoenix.

"Okay, Edgeworth. You're sick." He repeated. "You need to rest. I can handle-"

"I just came to get the evidence you haven't given me yet. I did not come to get lectured by you." He seemed a little angry about something else.

"What's got you all pissed off?" Phoenix asked.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you accused me of keeping evidence from you last week and here you are with something I haven't even seen." He said calmly.

"I don't want to show the opposition all my cards," Phoenix said.

"Then it's settled. I can stop updating you on evidence and make your job even harder. And here I thought we were partners." Miles saw Phoenix shrink back at that. He sighed before breaking out into a coughing fit. "I-I apologize for-" he was cut off with more coughing.

"It's whatever. As long as you don't get any of us sick." Phoenix mumbled.

"I'll be taking my leave then-"

"Wait, Edgeworth... I'll give you the evidence." Phoenix had spoke up.

"Really? Thank you Wright. It will be of great help to prove him guilty-"

"I wouldn't go that far. It's pretty clear from that evidence that he had nothing to do with the assaults." Phoenix said harshly.

"I'll be the judge of that, Wright." Miles looked at him for a little longer and raised his brow. "Well? Are you going to give it to me?"

"Oh- right! I'll go get copies of it," Phoenix said before rushing off into another room.

Miles nods before looking around the office. He couldn't help but smile at the children's drawings that were scattered around. He thought it was very unprofessional but it was very charming.

"Why does Nick think that man is innocent?" Maya was quiet. She seemed unsure.

"I... I'm not sure. I think he may be a friend of Larry Butz, but that's just a guess. I never really paid him much mind at work and when I did, I disliked him greatly." Miles looked away as he spoke. Something else was going on but it didn't seem like he was going to say it. "I'll get him that guilty verdict..."

"Here's the evidence." Phoenix handed him the files.

"Thank you, Wright. I will see you later-"

"See you in court, Edgeworth."

Miles hesitated before nodding and leaving the building, Phoenix watching his entire way out.

"Mr. Nick...?" Pearl watched him quietly.

"Let's... let's just eat some cake, yeah?"