Title: The Theatrical Turnabout: Three Acts at Once! OR Turnabout Trio: A Starcrossed Affair!
Author: Echo Garrote
Rating: T
Genre: General Drama
Status: In Progress
Pairing: None of the Regulars
Summary: A three way gunfight leaves Apollo... defending all three defendants at once?!

Prelude: Where We Lay Our Scene.

There are many different crimes committed in this world.

I've got to do this quickly before anyone shows up.

But there is an old saying that all motivations for crime always comes down to four basic urges.

No second thoughts, just do it, and then I wont have to worry about them any more.

Loathing
Just a little more and I've got him! Ohh you bastard, tonight is the night you're MINE!

Lunacy
He'll pay, oh I swear it. No one steals from me! I had it first me me ME!

Lucre
Just a little more...and then I'll be the richest person in the city!

and...

Love.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!


Act 1: Know that we have divided our Kingdom in Three.

"Awww, come on Polly!" Trucy pouted. "I need the practice! Tonight's the night I debut this trick at the Wonder Bar! It'll work this time I swear, and your hair's grown back too, come on!"

"No way." Apollo shook his head. "You get someone else to help you learn how to juggle fireballs. Make Mr. Wright do it."

"Daddy's never around when I need someone to help me practice." Trucy frowned. "Especially now since every other day he's working on the whole Jurist system."

Smart man. Apollo thought to himself, but it was true. If Mr. Wright was always out talking with a committe on how to implement the Jurist's impact on the case so it wouldn't become like the old days when lawyers would just pander to a jury, while still allowing them to be involved with the case. If it wasn't that then he was with programmers trying to work on the living nightmare that was the MASON system. Making sure that the damn thing didn't do stuff like what had happened two weeks ago, Apollo wasn't sure Payne would ever be the same again. His hair sure wouldn't. Still, progress was being made, and the general public was still in favor for the entire system...for now. Still Apollo had misgivings and that was why he hadn't taken any really major case in a while, mostly just thefts and unlawful entries. Also every parking ticket case that seemed to occur in the city. He swore one day he would find that old hag of a meter maid and then she would meet Justice.
Phoenix said to let it go...he wouldn't stand a chance anyway against HER. He had said with a shudder. Apollo decided not to push the matter.

Still all his misgivings about the new state of the courts paled in comparison to his misgivings about helping Trucy pactice her magic.

Trucy was about to turn on the Ultra Pleading Teary Eyes when there was a knock on the office door. "Kid? Ya in there?!" A deep husky voice said. Trucy and Apollo both recognized it instantly. Trucy got up and went to open the door. Little Plum Kitaki was standing there in all her glory. Still dressed in her kimono but, thankfully not holding her broom. She did have, however, a large hand bag around one arm and Apollo was rather wary of the contents.

"Oh! Little Plum!" Trucy beamed smiling. "Nice to see you! Are you here to see Apollo or Daddy? Do you have a hit out on them?"

"TRUCY!" Apollo screeched jumping up from his spot on the sofa.

"BWAHAHAHA!" Plum let out a loud laugh. "You're a riot kiddo. No no. I am here to see you boy." She walked into the room and sat down on the sofa. "Nice place you got here." She nodded in approval. "I always like to see a place that's being used."

"Uh...thanks." Apollo said sitting across from her. "So...how's Wocky?"

"He's doing great!" She said smiling. "He's gotta rest for a while but Dr. Blaylock says he'll make a full recovery. "

"That's wonderful!" Trucy clapped her hands.

"Heh, kid's already gotten himself slapped twice for hitting on the nurses." She guffawed. "Boy's just like his father when he was his age. Makes a mother proud."

"So..." Apollo swallowed in anticipation "Why are you here?"

"Well, there was this little thing last night in Little Verona," She frowned. "And the son of one of the girls I play cards with got into a spot of trouble. The cops say he's done something, but I know it's all fake. This kid's a good kid. He'd never do what they said he did."

"What did he do..I mean what did they say he did?" Apollo said fearing the answer.

"They say he killed someone." She said.

Apollo nodded.

"And a cop."

"What?"

"And shot a priest."

"WHAT?!"

"Did he do anything else?" Trucy asked.

"He didn't do anything." Plum huffed. "Still, they say they got a case against him, so I thought I'd do my girlfriend a favor and hire you to help him out." She smiled. "What do you say?"

"Well...I ummm..." Apollo said inspecting the floor and the ceiling.

"I believe I am intruding." A voice cut through the room. All three people looked towards the doorway, Trucy had forgotten to close the door all the way, "It sticks!" she often cried, and there was a rather large man who seemed to be the poster boy for the word 'goon' he was behind a wheelchair, pushing it. In the wheelchair was an elderly woman, grey thinning hair, wrinkles and age spots, but as a whole still rather pretty. In the way that pretty women that age gracefully are. She was dressed in a way that made Apollo instantly think of all those old movie stars in those old silent movies that Kristoph forced all his staff to watch. Elegant would be the word that would come to him later, however right now the only word in his mind was DANGER flashing in large neon red letters. That was because the air around Plum Kitaki suddenly went red hot.

"Dee." She nodded at the woman in the wheelchair.

"Plum." The woman nodded back. She turned to her monolithic assistant. "Wait outside." He nodded and left. She rolled forward into the agency. "You are Apollo Justice." She said it as a simple statement, not a question. "I had heard that a new lawyer had taken residence in Mr. Wright's office." She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Trucy. "And you are not Mr. Wright's assistant from before."

"Nope!" Trucy said happily, not really sensing the tension in the air. "Mr. Wright is my daddy!"

"Hmmm." The wheelchair woman turned to Apollo. "My name is Dee Vasquez. Your mentor and I have met before. I wish to hire you to defend a client."

"Vasquez..." Plum said softly. "I was here first."

"Allow the boy to hear all options Kitaki." She said calmly not even looking towards Plum. "My associate Mr. Rivales' daughter has gotten into some trouble. I wish to hire you for her defense."

"What...kind of trouble?" Apollo said, expecting the answer already.

"She was in Little Verona, they are charging her with two counts of murder and attempted murder. All of it is entirely fraudulent." She waved her hand. "You will have no difficulty clearing her of all charges."

He swallowed. "Why is that?"

"Because I can tell you exactly who the real culprit is." She said.

"Vasquez," Plum stood up and her hand went inside her hand bag. Apollo instantly wondered how far he could dive to safety, and how bulletproof were these couches. "You better watch your words." Plum said through gritted teeth.

"I am not referring to that childish fool you are here for no doubt. I am talking about a woman who belongs to the most loathsome, deceitful, heartless organization in this city."

"Oh," A new voice said. APollo felt all blood, what little there remained, drain out of his body. "I feel my ears burning." A third woman walked into the room. Apollo didn't need for her to introduce herself, she was on the news often enough to know. Viola Cadaverini, the mob queen of the Cadaverini family, people called her the 'Pretty Snake' for her looks, venomous nature, and the rumor that she ate live rats whole. Mr. Wright had said he had dealt with her before she took control of the family, and prayed she had forgotten her. Apparently he didn't pray loud enough. Trucy had backed into the corner and was shivering with fear. Apollo couldn't even move from his seat. Viola calmly waked into the room and sat down next to Apollo. He managed to keep from fainting. The bandages were long gone from her head, but she still wore the same typre of dress, predominantly black with a slight white collar and red ribbon.

"I want to hire you Mr. Justice." She said calmly. "My nephew's daughter has been accused of some wretched lies."

"Little Verona? Two murders, one shot, a cop and a priest?"

"Oh you are informed." She shot the other two women a neutral look. "It seems I arrived here late...well...what shall we do then?"

Plum scowled at the two other women. She looked at Apollo and Trucy, frozen like deer in the headlights of an oncoming Mack Semi. "The boy's been given a lot to think about." She said. Her hand never leaving her handbag.

"I agree." Vasquez said nodding. She snapped her finger and her large goon appeared at the doorway. "It would not to for him to make a...hasty...decision."

"Fine." Viola nodded and got up. "Tomorrow evening, I will expect the proper, well considered, answer Mr. Justice."

Apollo nodded.

The women gave Apollo proper letters of introduction, and what little information they had on the case. Not much more than an address and some names. Then, slowly, one by one, they exited the Agency. Apollo managed not to pass out as he closed the door and made sure it was closed. Trucy looked at the three pictures of the three accused youths and smiled at Apollo.

"So! Who're you gonna pick?"

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Oh. My. Gawd. This is AWESOME so far! ...And scary.
NEXT CHAPTER PLEASE!!!

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