Chapter Text
January 28, 2017
Edgeworth Residence
3:02 am
A phone vibrates incessantly on a wooden side table, it being loud enough to wake the man it belonged to from his sleep. He felt around until he grabbed the phone, squinting until he could make out the caller ID information. ‘Lana Skye’--his boss, this was a work-related call then. He answered quickly.
“Good morning, Chief Skye” he tried to keep the sleep from his voice but a yawn escaped him.
“Good Morning Prosecutor Edgeworth, I need you to get down here as soon as possible… I have a case I need you to take.” Lana tried to keep her voice even but it faltered towards the end.
“Of course. Huh, usually you wouldn't call so early unless it was something high profile… Am I correct in my assumption?”
“... Yes, you are… in fact it's one of our own. Prosecutor Nolle…”
“Nolle…?” Miles struggled to find the words.“You're sure ?”
“Yes. It happened around midnight last night in their apartment. I'll be sending you the address so you can meet Detective Badd over there.” A lump formed in Miles’s throat, his head was swimming and he was hoping this was some sort of dream he could wake up from. He uttered “Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can.” before hanging up and tossing his phone on the bed.
It would seem that he couldn't escape the stench of death. It wasn't that long ago that the truth behind his father's death was finally revealed, tearing open old wounds and giving him a set of new ones.
He felt weary, out of habit he gripped his right arm in nervousness.
Nolle was dead. Nolle, THAT Nolle. That annoying prosecutor who bothered him incessantly. That Nolle, who busted into his office often to hang around on their lunch break. That Nolle, who always snickered and insulted his outfit choices. He should be glad they were gone, they were a thorn in their side, and yet he was unsettled, shaken, filled with longing.
Memories of their genuine smile played in his mind– they didn't always look at him contemptuously. He saw youth in their eyes, they often glittered with mischief and playfulness. He saw their face soften and how unguarded and peaceful they looked when they slept. He saw them stare wistfully at the scene beyond the window fiddling with a spoon after eating the parfait they stole from him. He saw how their eyes crinkled, lips revealed their teeth, and how they doubled over as they laughed–oh how they laughed, rich and melodic. He felt their warmth as they embraced him in a sweaty hug to annoy him. He saw how troubled they looked months ago when they came to him in confidence– came to him as a friend– to talk about their troubles and he just brushed them off. He only ever saw them filled with life and now he would be faced with the sobering reality of their death.
Miles felt nauseated by the flurry of memories and got up to wash himself of them. Going to the bathroom and splashing his face with water he looked into his reflection seeing the deep purple bags that adorned his eyes, stubble starting to grow on his cheeks and chin, and most importantly–how gaunt his face was starting to look.
“You look awful, fix that. What are you not eating, again? God Edgeworth, how do you expect to work like that?” Hecate's voice echoed in his head. That's what they would say right? If they saw him like this? They would look down at him with knitted brows, trying to cloak their worry with disgust. Miles hadn't considered that maybe Hecate was a friend of his, he would always deny it and he was sure Hecate would have as well.
His entire body felt numb as he continued his routine, now showered and teeth brushed, he dressed himself in a suit that now fit looser. Pangs of hunger were dulled by the lump in his throat, his limbs felt heavy but he had a job to do.
—
January 28, 2016
Sun view Apartments
4:45 am
He cut the engine of his car after securing a spot in the parking garage and walked towards the flashing blue and red lights, reality setting in. The heaviness returned and yet his body moved on its own, going towards the officers, him not even certain he heard their directions but finding himself going up several flights of stairs expertly, avoiding the elevator as usual.
He didn't have the guess which apartment was Nolle's as he saw about a dozen dark blue uniforms crowded around an open door and crime scene tape barring off the rest of the area. He quickly stepped under the tape making his way through the crowd, toward flashes of cameras and chatter.
There was no time to admire Nolle's choice of decor but their signature knee high boots caught Edgeworth’s attention as they lay undisturbed by the door. He closed his eyes, taking a breath as he clenched his fist.
“...That you...Edgeworth?” a gruff voice called from further into the apartment.
“Yes it's me, Detective.” Miles called back, going around the corner toward the source of the voice. Badd turned to look back at Edgeworth before beckoning him over.
“It hardly feels real doesn't it…” He said detachedly, his eyes hardening as stared down at Hecate's empty face.
Miles had followed suit, staring down. Hecate's eyes stared up vacant, soulless, and nonreactive to light. Their lips were parted and body was now stiff. Dried blood crusted around their nostrils and mouth, bruises adorned their face, and their usually perfectly quaffed hair was now unkempt and tangled. Miles’s eyebrows knitted together.
“Has forensics taken photos of the body already?” Miles inquired. “Yeah…First thing we did.” Badd answered. “Good.” Miles had crouched down, placing a glove on his hand before closing Hecate's eyes. He wasn't sure why but it made him feel better about this whole thing; maybe if it looked like they were just sleeping, he could get through this easier. He rose to his feet and Badd placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He met Badd’s gaze now, noticing the tiredness and grief on his face. Hecate was close to him, he knew them for quite a bit since they interned here straight out of the Themis school at the young age of 17. Miles would often see them dining on deserts and chatting around town.
A wave of sadness washed through Badd’s eyes for a brief second before he steeled his expression once again.
“Rest easy, kid.”