Edgeworth tried to appear relaxed as he went into the prosecutor's lobby. Fortunately, Maya was focused on talking to Phoenix in the Defense's Lobby just before the trial after she had kept needling Edgeworth about why he seemed so agitated. He couldn't bring himself to tell her about Pearl just yet, but he knew he'd have to at some point. But before doing that, he had to make sure Franziska know what she was doing. Ordinarily, he wouldn't be concerned, but this wasn't about his life, or even Phoenix's. He knocked on the door once, and, of course, the one time was all he needed.
"Enter!" Franziska ordered. Edgeworth walked in. The prosecutor glared at him. "What do you want, Miles Edgeworth?"
"I just wanted to make sure you remembered the plan," he said.
"Well, of course I remember the plan, uncharacteristically foolish as it is. A Von Karma is perfect in every way, you know," came Franziska's response.
"I see," Edgeworth said with a bow. "Thank you for helping me, Franziska. I will take my leave now." And with that, he left and entered the Defense's Lobby. Maya and Phoenix were still talking. Maya looked up excitedly, then looked away sadly. Edgeworth couldn't help but feel awkward and unwanted.
"I apologize for intruding," he apologized curtly. Maya looked back up at him.
"You're not intruding at all, Miley! I was just hoping you were Pearly...I'm worried about her. I mean, I didn't ask about her yesterday because she likes to run around and be alone for times like this, but...I thought she'd be here by now. She wouldn't miss this even if she had to run here..." Maya said worriedly. Phoenix nodded.
"Yeah, that is a little odd...Edgeworth? Why are you looking so pale?" the spiky-haired former attorney asked. Edgeworth hadn't even realized that he was getting paler as Maya spoke of Pearl, nor that his fists were clenched and he was trembling slightly, until Phoenix brought it up.
"It's nothing that concerns you, Wright," Edgeworth replied with a glare. There was nothing Phoenix could do, anyway. It was better that he didn't know what was at stake. But Edgeworth couldn't well keep Maya in the dark. Maybe she'd have some advice, or see a way channeling can help, or...something. He looked to Phoenix. "I request to speak to Maya alone, if that's okay with you." He looked to the bailiff. "Unless there isn't enough time."
"Of course I don't mind," Phoenix said a little too quickly. Call Edgeworth crazy, but it seemed like the guy wanted to be alone for a minute.
"You have five minutes, Mr. Edgeworth. Make it quick," the bailiff responded with a salute. Edgeworth led Maya to a secluded area somewhere in the building, wherever that was.
"What's wrong, Miley?" Maya asked as soon as they got there. Edgeworth let out a sigh.
"Maya, I have not been truthful to you." He furrowed his brow. "I mean, I've been keeping something from you." He cleared his throat. "Maya, Pearl is not absent by choice. She..." He had to draw himself up to finish the sentence. "She's been kidnapped."
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!" came Maya's shocked response. "B-but...but...Who would want to take Pearly?" She looked away, and Edgeworth was quite sure she was holding back tears, trying not to show him how scared she was. Edgeworth pursed his lips. He had to tell her, but it was getting harder for him by the second.
"Shelley DeKiller," he managed out. Maya grew even paler than Edgeworth at the news, her eyes widened, and she even looked a little green. Of course she did. The news probably brought up very unpleasant memories for her. "Maya..."
"H-how do we get her back?!" Maya squeaked. Poor girl...Edgeworth grit his teeth. It was better she knew all of this now. In court, he wouldn't have time to tell her anything.
"Well, his condition is that I throw Wright's case..."
"Wh-why would he do that?" Maya was very close to tears at this point.
"My guess is that his client intervened and has his fingerprints all over the crime scene. If Wright gets off, then his client will be found guilty," Edgeworth responded. With Maya getting hysterical right in front of him, it was a lot easier to keep his composure than it was before.
"So...so this is why you didn't investigate yesterday...you were planning on throwing the case..." Maya stammered.
"No, Maya. I was planning on letting Shelley think I was doing his bidding so I could keep Pearl alive, but I have no intention of throwing the case."
"Then you'll let Pearly die?! How could you, Miley?!" Maya screamed furiously. Edgeworth winced, pretty sure Maya was on the verge of hitting him.
"I have no intention of letting Pearl die, either," Edgeworth answered calmly.
"So, then...you have a plan?" The hopeful expression on Maya's face would kill Edgeworth if his plan went awry. He could only hope it would work.
"Yes, I have a plan," Edgeworth replied. Maya smiled.
"Then I trust you, Miley! You're always so smart!" she said while clapping her hands. Edgeworth wanted to tell her he, in fact, wasn't, but there was no point in arguing now. There wasn't enough time for it. "I'll help however I can!" And, with that, she rushed back into the lobby. Edgeworth wanted to tell her that, even though there was pressure on him, it was Franziska and Gumshoe who would be doing all the work actually saving the girl. All the magenta-clad prosecutor-turned-defense-attorney-for-this-case could do was buy time at this point. Had he had more time, he would've checked up on Gumshoe, but since he didn't...he walked back into the lobby to see Phoenix force a smile.
"What were you guys talking about? Is something wrong?" he wondered.
"Of course not, Wright. We were just discussing defense strategies for your case," Edgeworth answered. Maya smiled wider.
"Exactly! We're going to kick some Von Karma butt!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"It's time for the trial to start," the bailiff said. Edgeworth nodded.
"Indeed. Let's do this." And with that, the gang filed into the courtroom.
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