Chapter Text
“What do you mean, a new assignment?” Ema’s expression dropped into the familiar scowl of her early twenties.
Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth sighed gently, reshuffling the stack of files to locate a page and slide it across his desk for her perusal.
“I realize you’re not technically a detective anymore, and that it wasn’t your ideal line of work—” Ema snorted at the understatement, “—however, I think you’ll find this detail to your approval.” He taps the top corner of the paper with his pen.
Ema leans in, brows furrowed, until they jump up her forehead and her tight jaw slackens. “Prosecuting Partner: Franziska von Karma,” she reads. She glances up to meet Edgeworth’s indulgent little smile.
“Quite. I believe you’ve crossed paths briefly, yes? She was just arriving as you were departing my— shall we call it, a personal investigation stint?”
“Yeah… yeah that was a bummer, by the way. Apparently things were just getting good right when I had to go.” She smirks, not unkindly. “You stuck-up jerks had all the fun. If I may say so. Sir.”
Edgeworth’s amused gaze goes distant and vaguely pained in recollection. “That’s not the word I’d use for my abductions and framings, but it was an… interesting time to be sure.” He shakes his head. “Regardless. For the foreseeable future, you will be teaming up with my sister, newly returned from her Interpol job. Do you accept?”
“I can say no?”
“Do you want to say no?”
She’s surprised to find how quickly the answer comes. “... No. I- I mean no, I don’t want to refuse.”
“That’s good to hear. Alright, your case begins out along the port at the edge of town. Franziska will fill you in on the rest. I don’t mean to impose, but could you pick her up from the airport first? Her U.S. license recently expired.”
“Oh. Sure, no problem. Right now?” Ema half-turns to hold the doorknob.
“Best to get a head start. It wouldn’t do to keep her waiting. And Miss Skye?”
She stops with one foot out the door and looks over her shoulder at him. “Yeah?”
“Keep an eye on her for me. And good luck.”
Ema’s bright smile returns with a vengeance and she tilts her luminol glasses at him in lieu of a gallant tip of the hat. “You got it, boss.”