4. Chapter 4: The Perfectionist (1/2)

december 2016, prison lake, 4:32pm

this is ridiculous weather to be outside on a boat.

this thought crossed dahlia's mind as she made her way to the miniature lake in the prison yard, frank sahwit just two steps behind. the lake had been implemented last year (at dahlia's request) so she could have a place to watch the sun travel across the sky. there was the swimming pool at the other end of the complex, but it was indoors, and the other inmates tended to hog the pool. dahlia greatly valued her privacy. maybe she wouldn't have committed so many crimes if people had simply left her alone.

dahlia chuckled at the thought, then focused her mind on the task at hand. it was new year's eve, a light snow was falling, and the freezing temperature forced dahlia to wear one of her fur coats. but there was one man sleeping on a boat, dead centre in the middle of the lake, without a care in the world.

yanni yogi.

the man who had his life ruined fifteen years ago in the dl-6 incident, then was forced to play the part of a

oken man for the rest of his days. dahlia didn't expect to learn much from such a fool. redd white had already told her everything regarding dl-6 that she needed to know. still, it couldn't hurt to ask. and she really did like her lake.

'push the boat out, frank. i'll row to him.'

'are you sure? i'd be happy to-'

'i wish to talk with him alone, frank.'

sahwit did as instructed. dahlia got into position as he pushed her into the water. dahlia took up the oar and expertly rowed around the rock formations dotted around the lake. she'd had plenty of practice doing so after the lake's construction. in no time at all, her boat was floating side by side with yogi's.

he was still asleep, and the parrot from the trial was resting at the boat's edge. dahlia had no interest in waiting for him to wake up. carefully, she pulled the oar out of the lake, balanced some water on top, raised it above yogi's head and poured it right on his face.

'what the heck!' yogi screamed, jumping out of his slumber and almost falling head-first into the water. the parrot didn't move. yogi frantically scanned the area and noted dahlia's presence by his side.

'now see here young missy, it's unpolite to... wait a minute...' yogi's voice faltered away, taking a closer look at dahlia. she had a feeling she knew what was coming.

'meg, is that you?'

dahlia had no time for this.

'i'm not meg you blithering idiot, now drop the act and talk to me normally.'

yogi smiled. he sat straight up and a serious expression crossed his face. the parrot seemed to note this change in demeanour, as it opened its eyes to watch the exchange.

'you don't waste any time, do you young lady? forgive me, i'm so used to acting like a simple-minded old man that it's become... almost comforting to me. i assume you have something to ask me?'

'nothing in particular. i'm looking for information on phoenix wright and maya fey. anything you can tell me that isn't on the news?'

'not especially. they seemed like a nice enough couple to me.'

dahlia raised an eye

ow, 'they're a couple?'

'well, they didn't say it out loud, but i certainly got that impression.' yogi noted dahlia's reaction, and smiled again, 'ah, i see now. mr. wright dumped you for ms. fey and now you're looking for payback?'

dahlia was disgusted at the idea, 'of course not. i couldn't care less who feenie dates.'

'feenie, huh? cute nickname.'

she'd had enough of this nonsense. it's true she had dated feenie once, but not out of any physical attraction to the man. plus iris did most of the work.

'this conversation bores me. i'll be leaving now.' dahlia went to steer the boat back to land when she noted the parrot looking at her. out of curiosity she asked, 'am i forgetting anything, polly?'

'squawk, don't forget von karma, squawk.'

'hmm, that prosecutor must've re-trained polly to say his name. wonder why he did that.' yogi said, getting ready to go back to sleep.

'i'll be sure to ask when i see him later today.'

december 2016, prison li