"I-I would like t-to see h-him, please,"
"I don't understand. Who are you talking about?"
"I-I don't kn-know his n-name! P-Please just l-let me... S-See him.." Phoenix gripped the opposite side of the marble countertop, his face flushed with the humiliation of having to stand on his tip-toes in order to be able to get a clear view of the tight-lipped, hairless, man on the other side.
"I don't understand who you are talking about, sir." The voice reaching the defence attorney's astute ears was gruff, stern, fed up and the spiky-haired man couldn't help but take a tiny step backwards, overwhelmed by the intimidating aura being emitted by the man across the desk from him, the comical police-force posters and cartoon figurines surrounding them doing little to calm his wiry nerves.
"U-Uh..." Phoenix's trembling voice faltered as his eyes trailed off until they reached the floor, staring down depressively;
"H-He's, um, a... I-I mean h-he, uh... K-Kidnapped s-someone.. N-Nine months a-ago.."
"Oh, him?" The officer's eyes suddenly tightened into a squint, as if analysing the hesitant, shorter, man in front of him in case he was not 'trustworthy' enough, before he allowed himself to relax again.
"Wait. You're the man he... Did that stuff to, aren't you?"
"W-Well, I-"
"Of course! There's not a single soul around here who doesn't know your face, you know. Mr Edgeworth made sure of that." The defence attorney's cheeks reddened further at the mention of the prosecutor, his eyes darting away bashfully as he tried to hide his discomfort at the mention of his name.
"R-Really...?"
"Hold on.." The police officer frowned at the cowering defence attorney before him, leaning forward upon his desk attentively with his clenched fists burrowing through the forest of leaflets and files dotted about the place. Phoenix gulped, visibly sweating.
"What business would you have with your kidnapper? He's not trying anything on, is he?" The officer raised an eyebrow as he spoke with his gruff voice.
"O-Oh no, n-no! Nothing l-like that.."
"You can tell me whatever is going on," The officer glanced around at the scenery surrounding them, his hazel-brown eyes darting over the few disgruntled members of public whom were precariously perched upon the cream, leather, sofa as they stared blankly into empty space with their thumbnails in their mouths - chewing on the flesh's protective cover in trepidation -, before bringing his eyesight back to Phoenix's trembling body;
"No one is listening."
"N-Nothing's going o-on... I... I p-promise!"
"Well, I don't believe you." The defence attorney stared up in despair and disbelief, opening his rosebud mouth to stammer some sort of retort before he was interrupted by the officer again.
"But I'll let you off this once. You seem... Desperate."
"Th-Than-"
"On one condition."

Phoenix held his tongue and allowed his sigh of relief to promptly worm its way back into his mouth and down his oesophagus.

"An officer must accompany you to ensure there is no foul play." The defence attorney instantly nodded in affirmation. After all, an officer would only serve to reassure him of his safety - wouldn't they?
"Right. I'm glad that's sorted, then. I'll just quickly call up my assoc-"
"No need, sir!" A younger, scrawnier, curly-haired, officer practically leapt off of the sofa and skipped over to their sides behind Phoenix, planting a firm hand upon the shorter man's shoulder (which certainly caused the defence attorney to jump).
"I'll take him there."

Phoenix's eyes widened as a chill slyly crept up his spine at that voice.

He could only feel the blood pounding in his head at that moment - could only hear the dizzying vibrations of silence along with that same, jumpy, voice.

No way...

"Are you sure? I was thinking of calling Andy. Andy's a pro."
"No, we'll be fine,"

How could they be conversing as if everything was completely normal?

Perhaps it wasn't him, after all.

The defence attorney's eyes coyly trailed to his left until they met the thin, taller, man beside him.

Oh, no.

It was definitely him alright.