Holden

ONE WEEK LATER-

We were in State Appellate Court on a Wednesday Morning.
 

The Honorable Judge John Bartlett-

"I am here to tell you that I looked over your brief from 2019...The Discretionary Dockett that was filed and I found that the court got some things wrong in the case of the Late Victor Olipio....They should have found him guilty only of taking part in the robbery and not in the death of the police officer...The guilty party had already been convicted and executed... Executing him was a mistake, a gross mistake...

While I can't undo his death by lethal injection....I can overturn his sentence and conviction of first degree murder and declare him "Legally Innocent." said Judge Bartlett.

It was a victory for me...Sofia and I had tried the case in 2019 in an attempt to save Victor's life and had failed...He was executed...We had gone all the way to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and argued and lost.

Now I had been told that I was right all along. This didn't help poor Victor at all...He was dead...His body moldering in the grave.

"Papi We won!" said Sofia, kissing me on the cheek...

"Yeah we won!  but it didn't do Victor any good." I said.   His execution was the first and only execution I had witnessed..

 

 Ms. Yvette hugged me...Her body was so round, so warm, it brought back memories from years ago...

"We got that archaic law changed that put Victor in that situation in the first place...didn't we?" she said.

"Yeah, but it didn't help Victor."I said.

"I know...but now there won't be another Victor..."said Bee Bee , who had known Victor Olipio as a child in their Fishtown Neighborhood.

Sofia had also known Victor Olipio as a child in their Fishtown Neighborhood.

"Come on homey....We have to celebrate each victory as they come.." said Kahlil...

"Yes....It's still a victory."said Jade.

Victor Olipio had no family or friends at this hearing...Only us...His Attorneys, Two of whom, were from his old neighborhood and had known him..

"Come on guys, let's go get something to eat...." said Ms. Yvette.

And in Philadelphia....At the Apartment Complex where Holden Louden lived..

Lt. Tragg and a Tactical squad arrested Holden Louden...

"Louden, you're under arrest for the First degree Murder of Haley Barbera." said Lt. Tragg.

As the Tactical squad handcuffed Holden Louden and dragged him ou of his apartment building...

"You're makin a mistake... I didn't kill her....I didn't kill anybody..."said Holden.

"Tell it to your lawyer....Holden Louden...You have the right to remain silent, anything and everything you say can be used against you in a court of law, you have a right to an attorney...if you can not afford one, one will be provided to you...Do you understand these rights that I am reading to you?" said Lt. Tragg.

"Yeah, Yeah , Yeah, I understand them..." he said , still resisting the police who were dragging him out and forcing him into the police car.

We were in a Diner in Upstate Pennsylvania at the time...

We stopped for Brunch....

 

 "This is a nice cozy place....I think Karen ,Natalie, David, Brooke and Sean ate here when they appeared in Appellate Court." said Yvette.

"I don't care what you say, Nothing beats the food at these cozy little Diners." I said.

"Real Comfort food, prepared with love." swooned Bee Bee.

"You sound like a commercial Bee."laughed Sofia. 

Kahlil burst into laughter... "Keith is right though...This is good eating..." he said.

"Yvette, your phone is ringing..." said Jade.

"Yes, I wonder who it is? Oh It's Alexa..."said Yvette.

"Hello Alexa.." said Yvette.

"Hi Ms. Yvette....I'm just calling you to let you know, what I talked about with you has come true..Lt. Tragg arrested Holden Louden...

"Okay..here is what you do....You go to Central Booking..You represent him....This is good because Lt. Tragg won't know we are involved... You tell him to dummy up...Not to talk to or say anything to anybody...No Cops, detectives and certainly no other prisoners....Tell him that we are coming...We are going to get him arraigned..Tomorrow if we can okay?" said Yvette.

"Okay!  Thanks Ms. Yvette." said Alexa.

II-

The "Fishbowl", the nickname the detectives gave to their interrogation room...

Holden Louden sat at the table silently....He winced at the horrid smell....

"Damn man, you guys ever heard of Febreeze.?" he asked and laughed..

"Laugh away Laughing Boy....Be sure you're laughing up at Greene Correctional Center when they stick that needle in your veins...You're in big trouble boy....Murder one with special circumstances...The Coroner says she was still alive when you put her in cement overshoes and dropped her in the drink..a pretty cruel way to die....I'm just sorry we can't do the same to you when we pass sentence..."snarled Lt. Tragg.

"I didn't kill her...I'm tellin you man, you got the wrong guy....I didn't kill her....I mean we had our issues..but I wouldn't have done that....I wouldn't have....I didn't kill her..." said Holden..who was horrified at the description of how Haley met her end... It was indeed a cruel and horrifying way to die..

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" came the voice of Attorney Alexa Pratt....

"And who might you be?" asked Lt. Tragg..

"Alexa Pratt, Attorney at Law"said Alexa...She pulled out her Bar Association Card and her work I.D.

ALEXA PRATT- ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY- McCluskey/Cozen/Connor & Pratt

"McCluskey/Cozen/Connor & Pratt...That's Yvette Jones's firm...do you know her?" asked Lt. Tragg.

"Yes...She's a partner....I interned under her for awhile.....Now can we have the room?" asked Alexa..

"Sure "smirked Lt. Tragg, thinking she was too green to have a chance of winning this case.

"You were Haley's friend....I mean, she worked with you...."said Holden.

"She was my para-legal.... I don't believe you did this...I hope I'm wrong...Some other attorneys from my firm will be contacting you possibly tomorrow...They're going to try and get you arraigned... I want you to write the names ,addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of anybody who can vouch for your charactor...write as many people as you can think of.

While you are locked up, don't talk to anybody in here about your case, Not Cops, Not Detectives, Bailiffs or anybody you happen to be locked up with...Nothing...Dummy up you hear?  Everybody in here is looking to make a deal, so be smart...Got that?" said Alexa..

"Got it...and thank you....Alexa is it?" he said..

"Yeah....I'll see you tomorrow.." said Alexa.

She watched as he was handcuffed and escorted to the holding cells above known as "The Cooler"

After we all got home from upstate that night..We were all settled down with our significant others.. What better way to spend a warm spring night than to be making love.?

Bee Bee was wearing another sheer see through Baby doll.....She had just taken a hot shower and walked into our bedroom..

My eyes popped out of my head..She had on a new bra and matching panties that I hadn't seen before.

She giggled..

"A successful day for the most part...I was happy for you, being proven right after six years." she said.

I pulled her towards me...I just wish we had of been able to have pulled this off in 2019. A man might still be alive....Now as far as pulling something off" I said.

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu." she giggled..Her body was shaking in anticipation....

"Oh My God Bee Bee...You are so sexy....but then you always have been, as long as I've known you." I said.

"Awwwwwwwwwwww" she giggled.

I undressed and  unhooked her bra  and slipped her panties down and off  and took her into my arms and kissed her softly....

Who could ask for anything more?

"Ohhhhh my godddd, Bee Bee..."I moaned...

"Ummmmmm, ouuuuuuuuuuuu you are so hard....Ouuuuuu, look at youuuu!" she exclaimed as she stroked me lightly...

We lie across the bed, kissing and practically slobbering over each other....

"Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Bee Bee..." I moaned..

"OH MY GODDDDD YOU'RE SO BIGGG!. SO DAMN HARD HOT STUFF! OUUUUUUUU!" she moaned..

"You're so SOFT AND WET!" I said...

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HOT STUFFF!" she cried out....

"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM YOU FEEL SO DAMN GOOD!" I cried out...

"SO DO YOUUUUUUUU!!! " she cooed...

Soon we were making love passionately on top of the bed..

The next EIGHT TO NINE HOURS, all we were thinking about was each other..

The same was next door at Kahlil and Sofia's house..

Sofia and Kahlil were lying across the bed..

Kissing ,fondling and laughing..

He unhooked her bra and  slipped her panties down and off...

"OHHHHHHHH MAMASITA!!!" he moaned...

"OUUUUUUUUUUU PAPI...AYE MIOS DIOS! You are sooo damn hard! OUUUUU! AND BIG! AYE MIOS DIOS" Sofia moaned  as she rode him on the side of the bed until neither one of them could take anymore...

"You've always gotten me hard mamasita." said Kahlil.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she cooed.

before they too were making sweet love for the next EIGHT TO NINE HOURS!

Gary and Ms. Yvette were way ahead of us..

"Ummmmmmmmm, I couldn't wait until you got home." said Gary...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Gary!." Yvette moaned..

He unhooked her bra and slipped her panties down...

Yvette eased herself down on Gary's waiting penis...Gary felt how warm and wet she was and was simply delirious with pleasure....He knew how hard she was working lately.

They had been making sweet love since They got in the door .....Downstairs on the couch

And then straight  to the bedroom..

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU GARYYYYYY!" Yvette  moaned  as she rode him on the side of the bed until neither one of them could take anymore...

"UMMMMMMMMMMMM VETTIE GIRRRRL!" moaned Gary..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HUSBAND!" Yvette moaned..

They had made love early into the morning hours....

Enjoying  their massive and  smart bed.. 

Yvette smiled..

The bed was sturdy and very very comfortable...It moved with their every move and was very comfortable and warm..It actually enhanced their lovemaking..

NINE TO TEN HOURS had passed by.

 Bee Bee and I were fast asleep in each others arms..

Sofia and Kahlil were in each others arms and still kissing, almost asleep.

And Gary and Ms. Yvette were sound asleep..

A nice stress buster for a long day.

And At Ms. Jade's House...

"I'm so glad you finally came home." said Danny...

"I'm glad to be home with you too. This was a hell of a day.." said Jade.

"Come here..." said Danny, pulling her towards him..

They kissed passionately..

Standing in the middle of their bedroom kissing passionately.

Danny slipped her panties down....

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH JADEEEEEEE!!!" he moaned..

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM DANNY!" she cooed...

She eased herself down on Danny slowly.....they began kissing...

"OUUUUUUUUUUUU JADE!" he moaned. He didn't know if he was coming or going....

"OHHHHHHHHHHH HUSBAND!" she cooed.

They began making love. 

Enjoying a nice warm spring afternoon and night. At Ms. Virginia's House, a few doors down...

"Jetty!! You're staring at me like you want to rip my clothes off."said Ms. Virginia.

"Oh I would never do that...You pay good money for your clothes....Hey by the way have your breasts gotten larger?" he asked..

"No Smarty, they haven't! You asked me that before!" laughed Virginia..

"Well uh let me uh see....Unzip that dress, let me take a look." he asked slyly and unzipped her dress , slipped it off  and began kissing her..

"Ummmmmmmmmm are you sureeee?" he asked..

"I'm positive...but I think your penis got bigger...Ouuuuu lawddd!" said Ms. Virginia..

"I'm certain it has...especially in the last few seconds...Heh Heh Heh!" he laughed.

"I just know it has... Does it ever go down? Myy goodness." laughed Virginia.

"Not when you're around..it stays hard all day..." he said.

"I believe it!" she said..

"UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...OUUUUUUUUUU VIRGINIA, I'M SO HORNY RIGHT NOW...I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT!" he said.

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU YEAH!" she said and they both giggled in between smouldering hot kisses.

He unhooked her bra...

He slipped her panties down...

and humped her over the bed....

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU YOU NASTY DOGGGG!  OUUUUUUUUUUUU!" she screamed out...

Jetty was on top of her and didn't know if he was coming or going... She always smelled so good, Her skin was so soft...and her voice was so entrancing, he couldn't control himself..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH VIRGINIA, LAWWWD!!!" He cried out..

"YOU LIKE IT DADDY?" she asked him..\

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! I LOVE IT!!!" he moaned..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH VIRGINIA, LAWWWD!!!" He cried out..

"YOU LIKE IT DADDY?" she asked him..\

"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" he moaned..

"I TAKE IT THAT'S ANOTHER YES!  YOU NASTY DOGGGG!  OUUUUUUUUUUUU! " she said...

"LAWD!!" he mumbled as they made sweet love..for the next EIGHT TO NINE HOURS. He was deeply in love in a way he had never been before...Virginia loved that a man loved her this much....

Such a nice night! ,after such a long day for us.

III-

COURTROOM D- NIGHT COURT, The Next Night..

"Wow....I didn't expect to be arraigned the next night...wow/.." said Holden...

"These are the attorneys I told you about that are going to be helping me with your defense, Yvette Jones Lockwood, Keith Jones, Beatrice Evans- Jones, Sofia Garcia-Ahmed and Kahlil Ahmed... and their investigator, Jade Lee-Ho." said Alexa Pratt.

"Pleased to meet you...I remember seeing you all at staff meetings....I made deliveries for them...

Never thought I'd be meeting you in a situation like this...but thank you all just the same." said Holden. 

 "Pleased to meet you....Thank you for the list of witnesses..We contacted ever single one and they are here tonight." said Yvette.

"Yeah,  I remember you..."I said.

"I remember you too."said Bee Bee, smiling.

"Hello Holden...I remember you too!"said Sofia.

"So do I, hello Holden." said Kahlil.

"Hello Holden..."said Jade.

COURTROOM A-

NIGHT COURT-

Holden  was in court with us tonight..one day after he was arrested.Charged with Murdering his on again off again girlfriend, Haley Barbera

In Philadelphia, Night Court only operates two nights a week....Tuesday and Thursday, Tonight was Thursday...and fortunately...We got an arraignment date of 8:00 pm. 

The Judge in this case would not be the Judge in the actual case....

Lt. Tragg was not there... He was probably snuggled up with Judge Kelly Ann at her loft...Night court was too low profile for him anyway....No witnesses...No media..and a bunch of  Judges  and ADA's who were mostly older Judges and ADA's about to retire...It was lightweight. It was in session from 7:00 pm- 10:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays...We were quite fortunate to get a date.

"Wow We are first on the docket..."said Holden.

"That's because I had more than enough time to apply for a time and date....We aren't always so fortunate." said Yvette.

The ADA that did show up was not going to be the ADA that tried the case...He had only the basic out line of the case at hand... He basically wanted to go home...So he didn't really put up much of a fight.

Bee Bee, Sofia and Alexa Pratt presented 24 charactor witnesses .who all argued his sterling and good charactor..

Kahlil and I argued that our client had no prior arrests, had been gainfully employed since his high school graduation and was attending Community College..He was no threat to the community...

Finally Yvette argued that he was not a flight risk and eagerly awaited his day in court, to fight these unfair and egregious charges..

The Judge agreed and released Holden on his own recognizance.-

"Damn, You guys are the truth....Thank youuu!" said a jubilant Holden, a free man after only one night in the hoosegal..

"Go Home Holden, get a good night's sleep..."said Yvette, who passed him a business card..

"Stop by our office tomorrow morning...11:00 am." she said.

"Will do and thanks guys for everything." he said ,looking at all of us...

"Especially you, Cutie Pie..."he said to Alexa..

and gave her a smooch!

"UMMMMMMMMMMM!" he moaned... "I'll see you all later." he said and he hurried out of the courtroom door. He left Alexa stunned.

"Ouuuuuu....you're , you're welcome..." said Alexa, totally surprised by the kiss.

"Heyyyyyy what was that?" asked Bee Bee.

"I don't know.....You tell me..." said a startled Alexa Pratt.

"No Mami, you tell us! "laughed Sofia.

"Maybe you should have invited him to couples night.."I laughed..

"Stop it, all of you...Don't make more out of that than need to be.."said Kahlil.

"Thank you Kahlil." said Alexa Pratt.

"Hopefully, Olivia will have saved us a place at Curley's..." said Jade.

"Come on Alexa, Join us...You deserve a couple of cold ones....I'm buying...Your drink is on me.."said Yvette.

"Don't mind if I do...Thank you Ms. Yvette." said Alexa.

IV-

Later that night- CURLEY'S BAR- COUPLES NIGHT-

"Look, they made it!" exclaimed Jazzy...
 

"I knew they would..."laughed Dabnis...

"Back from Night Court."said Kayla.

"The City's best kept secret."laughed Kayla's husband, Ray...

"I have yet to use it with a client, but Yvette and company and Olivia and her team have utilized it so well." said Jessica.

"Yeah they have." said Chip.

"I've used it both as a Public Defender and since I was on Wrongful Conviction."said Karen.

"It's a grand old tradition in Philadelphia legal circles...To try cases in Night Court."said B.L.

''Don't do a story on it B.L." said Natalie.

"Yeah..Lt. Tragg might be watching and get hip to it..."laughed David.

"He still might miss it..."laughed Brooke.

"I'm surprised he doesn't already know about it... So many of the people he's arrested have been arraigned there and released."laughed Sean.

"Even if he did know...What could he do about it?" asked Zoey...

"Show up and offer an un needed rebuttal." said Lem.

"Yeah and who needs that?"laughed Renee..

Her husband, Tyrell laughed.. "He's enough of a problem in regular court settings." he said.

"He's in here." said Lee pointing to him and Kelly Ann 

Lt. Tragg and Judge Kelly Ann were in a corner engaging in some deep throat kissing, oblivious to everything and everybody...

"I don't think we have to worry about him at all." said Matthew.

Nina cracked up laughing... "I agree with you Matthew." she said.

"He's feeling no pain." laughed her husband, Carlos..

 

 "Ouuuuuu thanks for saving us seats." said Yvette, kicking off her high heels and sitting down with her husband, Gary...

"But of course." said Gary.....

"This is couples night Alexa...We come here with our spouses every Thursday...You get two free drinks for every two you order." I said.

"Ouu sounds nice...Maybe when I get a boyfriend...I'll be back." said Alexa.

"That might be sooner than we think eh?" said Bee Bee ribbing her.

"Hmmmmmmmmmm!" laughed Sofia.

Kahlil just smiled, but said nothing.

"I'm telling you I was just as surprised by that kiss as you guys...It meant nothing to me...He's not my type."said Alexa.

"Okay girlie, if you say so."laughed Bee Bee.

''We are just joshing you girlfriend. He might have kissed any one of us or all of us."laughed Sofia.

"I sure wish he had." said Alexa..

All three women broke out into good natured laughter.

"Tomorrow we have to give him the phone and the portal and hear his side of the story."said Jade.

"You guys have got it down to a science." laughed Danny Ho.

"They sure do...So disciplined....I'm honored to work with them, be part of the team." said Virginia.

Jetty sat back and laughed....

More Drinks arrived.. 

"Vettie Girl, you guys made it and from your looks, you were successful. "said Olivia.

"Yeah girl...Successful and tired." said Yvette.

 

"I hear that." said Donnie Ray...

"Heyy Alexa girl." said Beverly.

"Heyy Bev, Nelson." said Alexa.

"Glad you could join us tonight."said Nelson.

"No boyfriend yet?" asked Josie.

"No but our sorors, Bee Bee and Sofia are trying to give me one...One I didn't pick Bev." said Alexa,who like Beverly, Bee, Bee and Sofia were members of Delta Sigma Theta.

"They are such hazers." laughed Beverly...

"Wouuu, my head is spinning...."said Paris.

"Josie, come get your man, I think he's had enough.."laughed Bresha.

"I got you babe!" said Josie, laying Paris's head on her lap....

"Ouuuu I like that kind of TLC..."laughed Tony...

"We are going home soon...You can tuck him in Josie." laughed Alfreda...

"He'll be alright."laughed Rockland..

Our case had begun...We were defending Holden...Still I couldn't get my mind off that girl who had been at the bottom of the river..If Holden didn't do this...Then who was cruel enough to do this to somebody?

(TO BE CONTINUED)