Chapter 13:
Duty

"Daddy daddy daddy, all my life

Phoenix sat with his hands cupped over his mouth and nose.  His eyes were still rimmed red with emotion.  Edgeworth sat next to him on the woven bench, looking a little nervous—he wasn’t sure how to comfort his friend.

“Do you want coffee?” Edgeworth said,

Phoenix shook his head. 

“I’m sorry,” Edgeworth said, “You know I have to take her into custody.”

“You said I could talk to her,” Phoenix said.

“She’s not talking to anyone anyway,” Edgeworth said.

Phoenix stared at him, angry, hurt, worried, and Edgeworth could only meet him with the same frown he normally wore.

Phoenix stood after a while and went outside to pace in the brisk air.  He shuddered in the cold, having left his coat with Maya, but he seemed to calm down.

“Nick!” He paused and looked up to see as Pearl jogged across the street toward him.

“Hey Pearls,” Phoenix said.

“I had good news but…” Pearl looked at him in concern, “Are you okay?”

Phoenix scratched his head, “I’m fine,” he said, “Just trying to get some fresh air.”

“Well,” Pearl said, “Maya was found and she’s all right!”

When his expression fell, Pearl stepped back in surprise and covered her mouth.

“Mister Nick?”

“There’s more news than that,” Phoenix said.

Pearl looked serious and then she smiled, “Everything is going to be all right.”

Phoenix relaxed a little, “What makes you so sure?”

“Because you’re here,” Pearl said, “Mystic Maya is safe, and Mister Edgeworth is helping.”

At the mention of Edgeworth, Phoenix grimaced and shook his head.

I've been trying to find my place in this world"

“We all have our reasons for being here,” Edgeworth said cryptically.

He’d managed to corner Phoenix near the overlook where Phoenix had been staring transfixed by the waterfall just visible across the valley.

Phoenix had been there before.

With Maya.

“Listen to me Wright, you have a larger role in this than you think,” Edgeworth continued, “Let me take you back to the city.”

“I don’t think I can stand being in the same car with you for two hours,” Phoenix said angrily.

“Don’t be stubborn, Wright,” Edgeworth said, “I can explain this in the car.”

“No!” Phoenix said, “No games!  You can explain it right here!”

“Calm down,” Edgeworth said darkly.

“Fine, I’ll go with you.”

They walked back toward Edgeworth’s car in silence; neither of them exactly comfortable with the other.

“You’re lying to me, Edgeworth,” Phoenix said when he closed the door, “I don’t have my magatama, but I can read you like a book.”

Edgeworth was silent as he buckled in and started the car, when they got out on the road, he said, “I’m not lying.  But I haven’t been very forthcoming.”

“How is that any better?” Phoenix said.

Edgeworth had to pause to stop himself from reacting.

“Maya is in grave danger,” Edgeworth said, “My department has leveled charges against her so that we could bring her out of Kurain without those stubborn Elders getting in the way.”