Well Enough Alone

Olivia chose to stay on campus, working out the legal aspects of the case...in the law library. She was filing for a stay of execution and meeting with an Appellent court judge later on today.

Beverly rode with me into town...I didn't have to ask...I suspected she'd want to...She didn't want to chance having to deal with Larry North... He more than likely would be joining Olivia and going to court with her.

We sat outside the house of Albert Jenkins, the estranged ex-lover of the murdered Darla Houston......I had bought us two steaming hot tumblers of coffee...We both liked ours with two creams and extra sugar...
"Thanks for bringing me along with you D.R." she said.

"I was going to need your assistance anyway...So..Where is Lover boy?" I asked.

"Probably sleeping off a hangover." she remarked...

"You were afraid to stay back there with your aunt weren't you?" I asked..

"Afraid of what?" she asked.

"Afraid Larry would eventually show up."I said.

"Not afraid...Just would have felt awkward...I mean Larry is a nice guy and all...but I don't think he gets it D.R... I've moved on..." she said.

"So you two did have a little somethin, somethin at one time?" I asked.

"Yeah...just a little light weight kind of thing...We dated for a couple of months...He took me to some nice places,I must say...but we didn't get serious....I didn't anyway...A couple of movies, a couple of nice dinners....A day spent in Atlantic City and a day trip to Baltimore.."she said.

"That was it?" I asked.

"Did I sleep with him? No D.R.....We might have kissed a little bit, fooled around in his car a little bit..but no sex..no intercourse if that's what you mean." she said.

''So what happened?" I asked.

"Nothing...I guess he got tired of waiting for me to put out...One day...I just didn't hear from him anymore..I figured he had moved on...I mean ,He's ten or eleven years older than me and I know there were older women around him, who probably were giving him what he wanted...Don't let his noble act fool you...I wasn't the only woman in his life...We both were pretty busy with our careers too on top of that,I was just getting started.....When I finally did catch up with him, he kind of blew me off, Made me feel like I was a child...I was just getting ready to uh warm up to him.Now all of a sudden ,he wants me again...Do you know he sent me more flowers this morning? Called me up last night, wanted to come over..He sounded drunk..I told him no.." she said.

"He kind of hurt you a little bit didn't he?  That he didn't wait for you, that he wasn't patient?" I asked.

Beverly was quiet for a minute...Then she looked at me...Her eyes were just as expressive as her aunts...

"You know me so well D.R.  You haven't known me that long...Yeah you're right..He did hurt me a little bit...One day he was just gone...Not a word...Not nothing...He'll never know how close he was... But........That ship has sailed. I gave Nelson a hard time...but he was patient...Probably more patient than I would have been...but he was...That's what I love about Nelson...I was more than just a conquest to him." she said.

"I was a Detective Bev...It was my job to read people...Maybe I'm a little too good at it" I said...Feeling a little bad about uncovering her emotions like that...She wasn't a perp,she was someone I cared about... I pulled her to me and hugged her and kissed her forehead....

"It'll be alright Bev." I assured her.

''Auntay told me that you were the kindest, most sensitive guy she had ever met..She's right...I see why she loves you so much."said Bev....I smiled upon hearing that.

Just then, Albert Jenkins came strolling down the street....He walked up the stairs and into his house...

"There's our boy...Do your stuff kid.." I said.

"Why do you want me to go up there and why did you insist on me wearing this, the tightest mini skirt I got?" she asked..

"I figured you could get more out of him than I could...and we don't have much time to waste...Is your wire in place?" I asked...

"Yes...Right where Auntay placed it...in my bra."she said.

"Good...Go ahead...Ring the door bell...I'll be in the car listening." I said.

"Wanna trade places?" laughed Beverly...

''I would but I don't have a bra." I smirked...She cracked up laughing.

"You are sooo extra." laughed Beverly as she walked up the steps..

II-

Beverly walked up to the door and rang the door bell..... Albert Jenkins came to the door...He was a short,stocky Black male....who looked like he might have been in shape at one time, but had let himself go a little bit...
Upon seeing Beverly he broke into a big smile....

''Baby,if you got the wrong number...I'll be glad to let you hang out here until you find it." he said.

"I have the right number Mr. Jenkins...My name is Beverly West....Attorney Beverly West and I would like to ask you a few questions."she said.

The smile left his face...

"Aww now look...Five or six other lawyer types done been here and I told them the same story...I'm sorry..I can't help your boy...I'd like to, but I can't."

''Why don't you tell me your story...You said you'd like to spend a little time with me." said Beverly smiling and batting her eyes...She was good..Sexy as hell and smooth too. I had to laugh..

He was grinning from ear to ear..

"After you babes." he said.

She walked in and sat down in his living room...The wire in her bra was working perfectly...

"The night Darla Houston died...She got a call from you, a call that lasted two hours." said Beverly..

"That's right...I was begging her to get back with me...I was crazy bout that white girl...No offense...Not that I don't dig sisters, cause I am sure digging me some you right now girl.." he said.

"None taken..."said Beverly..

"Apparently...There was two other guys trying to get with her...Some white boy...He a cop now...Bart Snark and your boy on death row....I aint have nothin against him...I aint even know him...I just wanted to get back with Darla...but she turned me down cold....We must've argued for two hours..." he said.

"Right...Then you went over there."said Beverly...

"No...I did not!!!...I was depressed..and mad...I went to the Liquor store that night and bought a bottle..Me and my boy Lance Jones..we bought a bottle and got tore up...Then I did somethin stupid....I took the empty bottle and busted the store window....Lance ran...but I stayed right there cryin like a bitch til the cops come and locked me up..." he said.

"You were locked up?" she asked..

"Yeah...I didn't get out of jail until the next morning...I didn't kill Darla...I couldn't have." he said.

III-

We returned to the dorms where Olivia was working alone...

"Hey babes."I said and pulled her to me ,kissing her passionately until Beverly cleared her throat...

"Oh Sorry...It's just that I haven't seen your Auntay in hours.." I said..

''So..How did it go?" asked Olivia..

"Albert Jenkins is not our man...His alibi checked out...He was on the phone with her up until an hour before she got killed...He and a friend...a Lance Jones bought a bottle from the liquor store..Jones and the owner of the liquor store verified his story....He then busted the window of a nearby establishment and earned himself a trip to the drunk tank...Where he was until the morning...It's all in the record...He couldn't have done this." I said.

"He was our main suspect...This leaves us right where we started.." said Olivia..

"Not really...Don't you find it strange that the police...were there RIGHT after the murder?  I checked the police log...Nobody called this in....How could they? Who but the killer knew that the murder had even been committed , yet there was Officer Snark, right on the scene...just in time to catch Tony James coming out of the house..He's already perjured himself in three other cases....I think we need to talk to him...Also...Let me see these crime scene photos.."I said.
Olivia passed them to me...I looked at them carefully....

"What do you see?" she asked..

''Well for one thing...These two text books...Who did they belong to?" I asked.

''One was hers..She was taking a biology class at this Jr. College...The other one was never identified."said Olivia.

"This was some shabby detective work....Who was the case detective working this?" I asked.

"He'll be no good to you..He died about a year ago...Heart attack."said Olivia.

''Well look here....Here is the murder weapon...A golf club right? The killer is right handed judging from the way it was swung and the way it landed...Tony James is left handed...plus he had recently had rotator cuff surgery...No way he could have swung a golf club like that...with either arm...I have his medical report. And all this broken glass and stuff...Look what's under the body...a ring...A Dallas Cowboy's ring.."I said.

"So what?" asked Beverly..

"So Tony James had had rotator cuff surgery, just months before..Because his hands had swollen during surgery, not only could he of not swung a golf club, but he couldn't have possibly of  had a ring on his finger..It's all in his medical reports...How come nobody looked at this? And that ring....It was under the body...meaning that somebody else...Somebody else had to have done this."I said.
Olivia and Beverly smiled...

"Pass me my phone..."I said..

"Who are you calling?" Olivia asked...

"I have a friend...In the FBI.." I said.

IV-

I called Philadelphia...

"This is FBI Special Agent, Sharon Ferrell-Hopkins, to whom am I speaking?" came the voice..

''Hey girl, long time huh?"I said..

There was silence...then a loud scream.....

"That southern drawl...You aint lost it yet...DONNIE RAY??? DONNIE RAY ALEXANDER!!!  OUUUUU...I AM MAD AT YOU!" she said laughing.

''Hey what did I do?" I asked.

"Why didn't you tell me that you had moved to Philly and was working as a P.I. here??  Didnt even tell me that you got married and to somebody I know too..." she said.

"You know my wife Olivia?" I asked.

"Yes I know her..We were in law school together..I want to speak to her.." she said..

"I will, but I need a favor."I said.

"I figured as much...Where are you?" she said.

"I'm in Dallas...My wife is working a case....It's very important...Here is my exchange number...You got a friend in Homeland Security right?" I asked..

"Yeah...Yeah."she said.

"I'm going to give you a date and a year...I know they take satellite photos...I need a satelite photo of this street at this time and all of the cars on it...and I need a make on all of the cars."I said.

"Wow, when you ask for a favor Donnie Ray, you aint playin..." she said.

''Can you get that for me in like a day or so?"I asked.

"I can get it for you by midnight...."she said..

"You are a doll...I owe you big time..." I said.

"You better stop by and see me when you get home.." she said.

"I will...How did you know I got married and was living in Philly?" I said.

"Hazel Baylor told me...She also knows your wife..We work together in C.I.D."she said. ''Now put her on the phone."she said.

"Livy....Someone wants to talk to you..."I said..

Olivia took the phone...

"Sharon?? Sharon Ferrell ,Oh My God...You're FBI now...??" said Olivia...

"It's Hopkins now...I got married last year to a Homicide Detective...Looks like we both are.."said Sharon.

"You married Tony Hopkins didn't you?" said Olivia..

"I did...He's a Homicide Cop now.."said Sharon..

"Is he going back to law school and finish?" asked Olivia.

"He says he is...I don't care..I'm just glad I finally realized he was the one. We got married right before Thanksgiving." said Sharon..

"I got married on New Years Day.."said Olivia.

"I met your crazy Husband when he was a cop in New Orleans...He helped me crack a
big murder-corruption case...He told me he was quitting the force and that he had met somebody in Philly he was crazy about...I had no idea it was you girl." she said.

"Small world huh?" said My Wife..

"Yes It is..So good to hear from you Livy..."said Sharon.

I grabbed Beverly....while they were talking...

"Come on Robin...We got another mission." I said signaling to Livy that we were leaving.

''Where to D.R.?" she asked...

''To county lock up to visit a certain former police officer..And then to the community college to look up any missing text books." I said.

V-

We met Larry North in the bar that afternoon ,some hours later....He looked up when he saw Olivia, Myself and Beverly walking in and pulled up seats for us at the bar.

"I hear you guys have been pretty busy today..."he said.

"We certainly have...The shoddy police work in this case is atrocious....I've found several questionable facets of this case." I said.

"I think I have a legitimate argument for at least a stay of execution....That might buy you a little more time. I found a judge that was at least , a little sympathetic...Especially when I brought up all of the inconsistancies in the police work and in the jury instruction in the first case."said Olivia.

Larry smiled-

''Livy,I knew if anybody could punch some holes in this case...It was you."he said.

"My Husband and my niece did the legwork...I'm just preparing the legal briefs...."she said.

I excused myself and went to the men's room...I sent two text messages...One was to Sharon Ferrell-Hopkins ,thanking her for the photos of the street and the make on the cars....I now had a good idea who the killer might be...I just needed to check out one more angle.. I made another text message to Nelson East, I told him to call Beverly in about an hour...I had a feeling she might be needing to hear from him!

I walked back out to the Bar area...Where Larry was introducing Olivia and Bev to Barbecued Shrimp and Barbecued Chicken wings and buying more rounds of beer for everybody..

He was getting kind of drunk and kept hungrily staring at Beverly's cleavage...Something that was making her very uncomfortable..I could tell..

''Damn Bev, you sure are looking good tonight." he said lustfully..

"Thank you Larry."she said.

"Why don't you and I go grab a booth together and talk?" he said.

"I'm good right here with D.R. and Auntay." she said.

''Come on Bev...D.R. and Livy are newlyweds...They need to be alone together."he said.

"You can't take a hint can you?" asked Beverly...

"No...It's you that can't take a hint...I want to get next to you.." said Larry...

Beverly through both of her hands up in the air in exasperation...

Olivia cracked up...She was enjoying the entire thing...

I returned to the bar just then and sat in between Olivia and Bev...Larry snuggled up near Bev and put his arms around her...She tastefully moved his arm...A few minutes later, he had his arm around her waist,his hand  closer to her buttocks..She moved it again..He next tried to nibble on her ear..She eased away....

"Gettin you a little hot and bothered aint I?" he laughed snidely..

"Bothered is the more correct term."said Beverly...who moved her head.

Olivia put her head in her lap....She was laughing so hard, she was shaking...The barmaid who was taking in the whole thing was smiling too!

''Beverly....Come on now....You've been giving me a hard time the whole time you been down here."said Larry.

''I have not...I went out with you the other night.."she protested..

"Can't you see what you're doing to me?" he said.

"What am I doing to you?" she asked.

"You are turning me the hell on..That's what you're doing...And I think you know what you're doing too..."he remarked...

"I heard Cold showers can remedy that!" said Bev...

Olivia spit her drink out ...Beverly and Larry both turned and gave Olivia the side eye!!
The barmaid turned her head....She was laughing too!

"Come On Larry, Let's not go there okay? Leave well enough alone okay" she said.

"I'd be well enough if you'd come back to my room with me tonight." he said.

"I think you've had too much to drink Larry, calm down.." said Beverly...

"I can't calm down...You got me messed up over here Bev...All seriousness..All Jokes aside...I'd love for you to come by my room tonight..Just you and me...We could have a few drinks...Or maybe some coffee, Listen to a few sounds, Talk some more....Intimately!!! It would be nice."he said.

"All Seriousness..All Jokes aside, NO! We have to be in court tomorrow...I'm going to be talking to a judge that I don't know...And frankly, we should all be turning in early tonight." said Beverly.

"I'm rolling after the next round." I said and gave a fake yawn...I was tired of this whole charade....Olivia and the barmaid were enjoying it...but it was wearing thin on me and I know Beverly was agitated..

"Bev...You need to loosen up...I think a little sexual healing would loosen you up and relax you for court tomorrow." said Larry.....

I hung my head....Did this guy actually say those words out of his mouth?

"Oh My God!!! No You didn't just say that!!! I'm sorry Bev"laughed Olivia ,spitting her drink out again....She laughed so hard her sides were hurting her....The Barmaid
shook her head and laughed out loud!

''Auntay, you're just egging him on."said Beverly ,smiling at her aunt and giving the barmaid the side eye!!

A patron on the other side of Olivia got up, He was shaking his head and stumbling...Even he had heard enough and Beverly moved and sat next to me.....I smiled, but I knew she wasn't liking this at all..

Just then an angry young white guy in a Dallas Cowboys jacket came storming up to where we were....It was Officer Bart Snark!!

"YOU JUST COULDN'T LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE HUH?? WHICH ONE OF YOU WENT TO VISIT MY DAD??" he snarled...

''Aww man, Hell, This is all I need to further ruin my night...YOU!" said Larry standing up and staring at Bart Snark...

I stood up...Olivia grabbed my arm...

"It's okay Livy..I got this..."I said.

"Snark ,you're out of order...and you've been drinking..."said Larry...

"SIT DOWN LARRY!" snarled Bart Snark...

"I've had enough of you Snark...I'm gonna belt ya one."said Larry...

I could see where this was headed...Better for me to take the heat on this one...

"WHYYYY I"lll" he said and lunged at Larry, I grabbed his arm and twisted it and slammed his head hard on a table...The crowd got silent...

"Listen to me you piece of crap!!!...You can intimidate others, but you can't pull that crap on me!!...Ya hear???..Now we visited your father and we had a nice little talk...That's all....We are attorneys and we are doing our job....You're off duty and you're drunk....and disorderly...Now simmer down...before I call the police on you!"I said.

"Let me go...Let me go!!! I'm runnin you in.....assaulting an officer..."he bellowed...

I twisted his arm a little more..He belched....I could smell alcohol on his breath and coming from his pores...He was very drunk...

"ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHH!" he yelled...

"I'll break your fat pudgy little arm Opie...Don't push me." I snarled, surprised at my own anger...

"Donnie Ray!!!!...Stop... Don't hurt him.....Let him go!" yelled Olivia...

''D.R. be cool...be cool...Let him go..." said Beverly...She was visibly concerned....

I ignored them...I put my head next to him and spoke so he could hear me...

"I was a cop too!!!...I know the drill...and I did a little checking up on you Snark...Several Brutallity charges, two IA investigations....You'll never make detective like that.....How bout if I call your Lieutenant, tell him you assaulted four law abiding citizens...including two women, who might sue the city of Dallas...Huh?Leave well enough alone...Go Home Snark!!" I said.

He stopped struggling....I let him go...His face was as red as a beat....He was huffing and blowing...

"Okay...Okay...But you better watch your back....This is aint the end of this...I'll be back..." he said rubbing his arm....

"Nice ring" I said.  he had on a Dallas Cowboys Championship ring..."One thing we got in common..We are both Dallas Cowboys fans." I said.

"You don't sound like those guys. You from round here?" he said.

"I used to be from New Orleans , before I moved to Philadelphia."I said.

"Philly huh?  Philly!" he said and stormed out of the bar..

Bev and I had talked to his Dad at the county jail...But he had told us nothing...I could see why the son was so nasty...The apple didn't fall too far from the tree. We stopped by the college library later,I found out something very interesting there.

"You guys get out of here...he's drunk and he's liable to come back and start more trouble.."said Larry...now suddenly sober...and serious.

He slyly walked over to Beverly and put his arms around her...His forehead touched hers...He smiled at her...

"I wouldn't have let him hurt you baby." he said slyly....She turned her head...His breath smelled like all of the liquor he had consumed, I suppose...

Olivia gave him a side eye...I had calmed down and I smiled...

"Be nice Bev" said Olivia softly in her ear.

Beverly smiled and said- "I know Larry, but it's cool."she said and removed both of his arms from around her waste..

"No...it's not cool...I think I should drive you home and stay with you awhile until you calm down...This has been a little upsetting.You need a little comforting" he said.

''Nooo, You don't have to do that...I'm fine.." she said.

"I-I-I insist." he said.

Just then her phone rang....

''Excuse me..I have to take this.." she said..

It was Nelson!

"Hey babes...Everything okay?" he said.

"NELSON!!! , NELSON!!!I'm so glad to hear from you Nelson" she said where we all could hear...

I saw Larry angrily stomp his foot.. Olivia excused herself...She had to go outside and laugh again...I smiled wryly.

"Damn Nelson!!!...Couldn't leave well enough alone." grumbled Larry...He angrily stomped his foot again...At this point, the barmaid was slamming her fists on the bar and laughing hysterically.....Some of the patrons were also laughing...Larry was oblivious to the fact that he was making a fool out of himself..

"Donnie Ray sent me a text about an hour ago and told me that I ought to call you around now.."  said Nelson.

Beverly looked at me and smiled the sweetest smile...

"Yeah...I uh told him how depressed I am with you not being here...I can't wait to get home and in your arms again." she said.

"I'm missin you too ,somethin crazy baby." he said.

"Awww, mama is gonna be home soon...And I brought you something too!"she said.

"You did?" he said.

"I think you'll like it.."she said seductively..."It's from Victoria's Secret..."she said.

"Yeah,Yeah.."said Nelson..."Send me a photo of you in it from your phone." he said.

"Okay,soon as I get back to my room....Don't you post this on Facebook or Twitter."she said.

"This is just for me babes...Damn..you got me wantin to see it now."he said.

"You are so silly."she giggled..

"I'm horny.."he replied..

"Yeah...That too!" she said, laughing...

Larry was watching this and listening to their conversation...His mood grew somber and funky...He looked irritated...

"Well guys...I'm turnin in...Good Night." said Larry who stormed off into the night...Olivia had composed herself and was returning to the bar as Larry was storming out....

''Larry? You alright?" asked Olivia..

"Ask your niece!  I have been played!!" he said.

"Larry...She has a man...She told you that..How are you being played?" asked Olivia.

"We got a big day tomorrow Livy!...You got to see that Judge and I-I-I'm going back up to the prison.."he said ,changing the subject...

"Okay Larry,drive safely...I'll see you in the morning."said Olivia.

"Good Night Livy.....Your niece has really gotten under my skin..." he said.

He slammed the door of his car and tore off into the night...

Olivia looked at me...

''Don't ask!" I said.

She laughed some more and shook her head...

"Come on girls, let's go home." I said as Beverly and Nelson continued to talk on the phone...

Olivia looked at me, then kissed me on the cheek...

''When you went to the restroom...Did you call Nelson?" she asked me..

"I uh didn't call him..I texted him...I told him to call Beverly in about an hour...I figured Larry might try to put the moves on her and she might need a quick rescue.."I said.

"You think of everything..."she said.

''Hmmm, I'm thinking of something right now, Wanna guess what it is?" I said pulling her to me and kissing her passionately..

"Probably me, Naked..."she whispered in my ear and laughed...

''Wow...You're good. That's exactly what I was thinking" I laughed.

"That wasn't too much of a stretch" said Olivia laughing.

Just then ,Beverly finished talking on the phone.. She walked over to me and put her arms around my neck and kissed me on the cheek...

"Thank you soooo much D.R."she said.

''For what?" I said innocently...

"I know you texted Nelson and told him to call me...Good looking out...You always look out for me and Auntay." she said.

"You're my girls...I have to look out for you...We're family...." I said and hugged them both...

We got in the car and drove back to our rooms...

They were family, the only family I had!

(CONCLUSION NEXT)