PW fanfic- Turnabout Attorney - Chapter 3

Life relaxed for Phoenix, with Zed taking up alot of the slack around the place. Through Miles' resources, he found out a few interesting things about his new partner. They learned from his CV that he had studied law at Harvard Law, and had some degrees in forensics and psychology from Auckland University from his last 3 years in New Zealand- Miles managed to have a chat with a few of the lecturers at the Universities, and found that they did recall him attending, they didn't remember his name though. He had also worked up quite a good reputation with the investigations team in Auckland. After a couple of reference phone calls, Phoenix found he had even earned the nick name `The Skunk' cause of his uncanny ability to sniff out evidence, and his unique skunk coloured hair. He didn't seem to mind the nick name much at least, despite being compared to a notoriously bad selling creature. He was very relaxed about alot of things in his life.

Sometimes a little too relaxed.

All of his degrees and employment details were under the name Zed. No last name, just Zed. He seemed to hold no shame in covering up that he didn't want people to know his true name. Phoenix tried not to think about it too much. He knew from his first court case, against Prosecutor Payne, that Zed was going to make an excellent lawyer with a bit of experience in his belt. He seemed gifted at being able to read into the truth and was very thorough in his cross examinations. He also had a very daring way of exposing the truths alot of the time. Phoenix wondered sometimes if he had any run in with the Von Karma family.

“You know what I think, Nick?”

Phoenix's eyes flashed open in fright, to find Maya, his 19 year old assistant grinning from behind his laptop screen. Blinking his eyes shut firmly a few times before he re-orientated himself to his location again, he suddenly realised that he was at his office for once, and had drifted off to sleep.

“You think I need to buy you a burger?” Phoenix joked, closing his laptop screen, “We can both have something to eat if you're hungry.”

“Wha... No!” Maya cried, suddenly putting on a cute expression, “Although... I wouldn't say no now that you offered...” Phoenix leaned back on his chair, and snuffled a laugh for a moment. Good ol Maya- always has food on her mind. “I have a theory on Zed.” Phoenix raised his brows, straightening back to an upright in interest.

“All right. Let's hear it!”

“Zed is a Secret agent.” Maya grinned, suddenly forming her hands into a gun and swinging them about the place like her life was in danger. “Wouldn't it be so cool if he was here on a mission to like...” Swooping around to face the other direction, she glanced about jokingly for a moment, “get back some government documents, or something?”

“I don't think Zed is a Spy, Maya,” Phoenix laughed, picking up a lonely pen on his desk, using it to motion with, “He's got a real qualification in law, and had real experience with forensics. Besides, what could I have that he could possibly want?”

“Yeah yeah, I know, but secret motives are much more dramatic, don't you think?” Maya eyes almost sparkled at whatever scenario was playing in her mind. Noticing Maya's bag nearby with a flier on the latest action cartoon, Phoenix snuffed another laugh. `Double 0 Ninja', an action cartoon about a ninja that works for a secret government agency. I'm behind with the trends. Phoenix thought with a smile, getting out of his chair, and walking towards his window.

“I have a meeting in 10 with our next client, Maya,” Phoenix asked, opening up the blinds to let more light in, “Do you mind boiling some water for some tea for me?”

“Sure thing, Nick!” Maya smiled happily, giving Phoenix a cheeky wink, “Watch out for the whoopee cushion under the guest seat though- Zed planted it there this morning as an April Fool's prank.” Phoenix's face drained in colour for a moment then, making a mad dash for the guest seat to save his client the embarrassment of Zed's humour. Maya quickly scuttled out of the door towards the kitchen area with a giggle, cheering herself in triumph at Zed's defeat as Phoenix pulled the offending cushion out and chucked it behind the curtain quickly. Phoenix face turned into a grimace for a moment, as he straightened his blood red tie.

“The company is finally starting to really take off and make a big name for its self at least,” Phoenix mumbled to himself, attempting to cheer himself up, “We've got plenty of work, my rent is paid, and we now have two lawyers. The cases have all been interesting too- a couple of cases without murders even.” Stopping for a moment, he laughed to himself, remembering a few of the cases. A smile returning to his face finally, Phoenix brushed down his dark blue jacket, looking out his window proudly. “Zed could end up being a great asset to the company- I just wish he wasn't so… interesting.” Suddenly, the door knocked. Phoenix's eyes lit up. “That'd be the next client now.”

Opening the door from their lobby, a lady in her early 20s stood, dressed in a wonderfully pink summer dress and a delicate shell necklace. Tucking a lock of bright pink hair behind her ear cutely, she walked in and waited in the middle of the room, looking at Phoenix.

“My, my,” Shelly giggled, eyeing Phoenix shyly, “if I knew my lawyer was going to look so adorable, I would've dressed up for the occasion.” Freezing in his tracks, Phoenix's face turned bright red, as he turned to his client.

“Eh...” Phoenix stammered, brushing his hair back shyly, “Thanks, but I'd rather keep this relationship professional if you don't mind. Can you tell me a bit about what you need me to defend you for?” Shelly looked surprised for a moment, giving a half smile as she started to fiddle with her purse.

“It's easier if I show you what the case is about. Could you come over here to the light please, Mr Wright?”

“Sure,” Phoenix smiled, approaching his client. She pulled out from her purse what looked like a handkerchief. Her face flushed for a moment, as she gripped her hand as hard as she could. Suddenly, her foot bolted out and kicked Phoenix's feet out from under him, making him land flat on his back. Starting to flail his hands to defend himself, the handkerchief was forced over his mouth and nose and clamped down tightly. Wait! This can't be happening- why is she doing this?

“There's no need to struggle, Mr Wright. Or may I call you Phoenix?” Shelly said silkily, finger combing his hair back with a hand gun as if to comfort him, “I promise you won't feel a thing ” She bent down to his ear then, brushing him with her lips, “Sweet dreams.” Suddenly, there was a loud, shattering noise. Overwhelmed by the fumes entering his lungs, the noise kept bouncing through his ear drums like a monkey hammering a band of pots in his brain. Desperate to scream, he slammed his eyes shut, and begged the noise to stop in his mind. Shelly's grip finally relaxed off his mouth then, as he heard Maya scream his name from nearby, and run off in a panic. Phoenix heart sunk, as paralysis took over, greying his mind off his surroundings. I'm sorry, Maya... So sorry...