The Jurist Trial - Part 1

[take_that]

Even from the gallery, Phoenix can see the judge fidgeting and shifting in his seat. 

I don’t blame him - I’m jittery, too. Everything depends on how the trial goes today.

The test of the Jurist system could change the legal system permanently - and so much more.

Klavier Gavin is prosecuting. He’s grown his hair out since Phoenix last saw him.

Phoenix clenches and unclenches his fist. He glances down at Apollo, Trucy standing by his side.

It’s all up to them now.

—

The trial opens with Sparks Brushel, obnoxious as ever, giving his testimony. A forger named Drew Misham was poisioned. Atroquinine - again.

The reporter drones on, but Phoenix’s eye widen when Brushell talks of an envelope, thinking back to the one in Kristoph’s cell.

If only I could have examined that envelope properly…

Eventually, Apollo is able to figure out the truth Phoenix already knew - Vera is the true forger, not her father. She is brought to the stand, chewing at her nails.

She talks about the career she and her father had made by the forgeries she had produced. She mentions receiving the stamp with the Gramerye troop she had kept -  the one with the atroquinine found on it.

Of course - if the poisoned stamp was put out in the mail, the “weapon” would be gone from the scene of the crime. Clever bastard.

Klavier’s eyes widen, and a sheen of sweat on his forehead catches in the light.

Finally, at Klavier’s request, she brings up a forgery commission she had produced seven years ago - a diary page.

Klavier’s face is twisted in a frown, his hands in a death grip on the podium. Phoenix begins to get the sense that he’s asking not for the sake of the trial -  but for himself.

Phoenix is stunned. This is one angle he’d never considered.

Klavier…he didn’t know.

“He’s told you nothing, has he?” Klavier shouts at Apollo from across the courtroom. “Your soiled, sullied mentor. Nothing?!”

Phoenix keeps watching, his face impassive. 

Finally, Apollo turns back to Vera. “Who asked you to forge that evidence? For all of our sakes, who was it?”

Vera opens her mouth to speak, but then raises her hand to her throat and begins gasping - all the while, staring at Klavier.

Then, the world seems to slow as she limply falls to the floor with a thud.

Vera whispers, but her words echo across to the gallery.

“..The…devil…”

Phoenix’s stomach drops. 

The nail polish…the one Gavin gave Vera…no!

The courtroom is in instant chaos. The judge bangs on his gavel, in a futile attempt to restore order. 

Phoenix glances at the door.

There’s no time. It has to be now.

Phoenix scurries out of the courtroom, to the lobby where his bike is waiting.

—-

Trying to catch his breath - he had ridden as fast as he could to the jail - Phoenix peaks around the corner. 

Kristoph’s cell is empty. The guard says he’s currently “occupied.” Good.

After managing to shoo the guard away, Phoenix steps inside.

Sure enough, the yellow envelope is still there, on the table - with Drew Misham’s name on it.

Phoenix pulls out the bottle of chemical detecting spray from his pocket. I owe you one, Ema.

Just as he had thought, the reaction on the stamp tests positive for atroquinine. This is the stamp that killed him.

Phoenix quickly opens the letter and reads it:

The interview request came, like you said it would, and they’re looking into the case.

I swear on my life, I won’t tell them about you.

So please, release the “spell” you’ve put on my daughter.

I’ll write later with a report.

Drew Misham.

Just then, Phoenix feels a hand on his shoulder.

“What’s this? A burgler…in jail?”

Ice in his throat, Phoenix slowly turns to find Kristoph Gavin smiling down at him.

“I didn’t know you moonlighted in larceny, Wright.”

Phoenix took a breath, stealing himself.

“Gavin… there’s something I have to ask you.”

“‘Can I steal your stuff?’” Gavin huffs. “The answer is no.”

“Vera Misham hasn’t received her verdict yet…you follow me, Gavin?”

Gavin smiles, shaking his head. “There are no known survivors of atroquinine poisoning. But it never hurts to hope.”

He knows. That snake.

“Well, I’ll be leaving now.” Phoenix steps toward the door.

“Wright. Wait.”

Phoenix stills.

“Would you mind leaving that letter? It’s private.”

Damnit.

“Oh, sorry,” Phoenix puts it down on the table. “Forgot I had it.”

“Many thanks.” 

Gavin smiles as Phoenix leaves.

—-

Once he’s outside, Phoenix unclips the pin from his hat and inspects it.

Yup. The entire conversation was recorded, as was the note.

I owe you one, too, Cassian.

Phoenix hops back on his bike.

It’s time to put Edgeworth’s project to the test.