Family Affairs

Beverly, Olivia and I arrived at Valhalla ...The women's correctional center early the next morning to meet with Beverly's client...17 year old Stephanie Blakely, the foster daughter of Olivia's good friends, Jake and Kim Blakely....Kim Blakely had been Kim Moore  at one time..Born and raised in Philadelphia..Educated in Philadelphia Public Schools..Graduated from Temple University and studied at Penn Law alongside Olivia..Graduated and got a J.D. and practiced law in the Public Defender's office for one year,then became a prosecutor for two years and then went into private practice where she met Jacob Blakely..a handsome young Lawyer ,who was teaching law and administration of justice at a local Jr. College...The two hit it off, got married and often double dated with Olivia and her first husband, Elwood....

Like Olivia...Kim had two miscarriages..They took in a foster child, Stephanie...When she was four and raised her as their own...Soon after, Kim got pregnant and they had a child of their own, Kendra Blakely...The two were raised as sisters...They appeared to have the perfect marriage and family....

I learned all of this from Olivia, although I did my due dilligence and looked it all up myself...I can't help it...In my heart I'll always be a homicide detective..

II-

 "Donnie Ray...I envied Kim and Jake so much for so long...I wanted a family just like theirs.."said Olivia.


"I doubt you would have gotten that with lyin,cheatin ass Elwood."said Beverly..

"You're right baby...but you know what? I found a decent man who loves the ground I walk on and I got you...my favorite niece..That's okay with me.."said Olivia,looking at both of us and smiling..

''Auntay...You think my daddy has any other kids out there that even he might not know about?" asked Beverly.

Olivia smiled..

"It's a wonder the way he used to go through women....But even if he did...You'd still be my favorite niece..We practically grew up together.." she said hugging Beverly...

"I know right? Sometimes it's like you're my big sister..."said Beverly smiling....

We heard the sound of a buzzer and a door opened and a guard walked in with Stephanie Blakely...Even in her orange jumpsuit, she looked very attractive...She had one of those bodies that looked good in anything she had on...She was a carmel colored girl with green eyes and reddish hair and curves on top of curves...Very developed..I expected a little girl and instead saw a woman...

She smiled...

"Thank You Bev..Thank you for coming back..."she said...She looked at Olivia..."Ms. Olivia...I haven't seen you since...well since I was a little girl..How are you doing?" she said.

It was as if this was a cordial occassion...No mention that she had stabbed her foster mother 108 times...

"Steph..I -I wish this was a happier occassion...I-I have to ask you...Did you do this?" asked Olivia..

She looked at Olivia and smiled..

"Didn't you read the police report? Yes.. They caught me with the knife in my hands..." she said rather non-chalantly...

"Why Baby? Why did you kill your foster mother???..She raised you like you were her own?" said Olivia..

"It wasn't what it looks like..Ms. Olivia...For years I was in heaven...I had a beautiful home...Loving ,doting parents and a sister...It was a good life...but when I was around 14...Things began to change...I began to change..."she said.

I could imagine exactly what began to change...She began to blossum...Her hips began to curve, her breasts began to get larger..and her foster father Jake began to notice more about her than he should...

"Jake and I....Well we began to start feeling things for each other...It started innocently at first...He accidentally walked in on me when I was just in my panties and bra.....And then it was a stare here, a stare there...We would brush up against each other in the hall....and one thing led to another and the next thing you know..We wound up in bed, making sweet love.."she said.

"Oh My God Stephanie...NO!  How could you?  When did this start?"asked Olivia..

''When I was 15 the first time..We were both very ashamed...and we promised to never talk about it again...but when I was 16 ,we did it again and again and again and finally in the shower one night..

And we knew we were madly in love...we couldn't fight it...He told me that he hated Kim and that he was thinking of leaving her...and for me to just hold on...finally...Kim began to suspect that something was going on between us...She started treating me different...Mean, cruel and one day she told me that she was calling the foster parents place and arranging for me to be sent somewhere else...I would have to go to another high school, make new friends...IN MY SENIOR YEAR...I'd lose my whole way of living...I begged her to reconsider...but she wouldn't...She wouldn't Ms. Olivia...I told Jake and he was livid...He said that she had to go."said a tearful Stephanie..

"Wait a minute, Are you saying Mr. Blakely put you up to this?" I asked her... She refused to say anymore..

''Stephanie...My husband asked you a question."said Olivia..

Her entire demeanor changed as if the last few minutes of conversation hadn't occurred...

She smiled...

"You got married again Ms. Olivia???...Good for you...Jake always used to tell my mom that you could do better than Elwood...Neither one of them liked him." she said...

Beverly looked at Stephanie...

"Steph..Did Jake put you up to this?  The only way I can help you is if you tell me everything.." she said.

"I-I want to go now...Come see me tomorrow....Guard!" she said...

The guard came and escorted Stephanie back to her cell...She looked at us before she was escorted out...

"Thank You Beverly..You're a great attorney...Sure was nice seeing you again...Ms. Olivia and meeting your new hubby!" she said.

Beverly looked at us both..She was embarrassed...

''You know what? I'm sorry I brought you both into this...You were right Auntay...This is an open and shut case...I can't really do much more for her..."she said.

"Beverly Denise West..I'm surprised at you....There is terrific opportunity here baby....Don't you see it?" said Olivia.

"Babes..that girl is crazy..."I said.

"I don't like to use that word...but she obviously has some mental issues...Order a psych eval Bev..Donnie Ray, Talk to people she knows...her classmates, girlfriends...I'm bettin they know more about this story than you think...And Bev..You and I should talk to Jake tomorrow, Hear what he has to say .."said Olivia..

I smiled.....I tapped Beverly on the shoulder...

"Look at your Auntay...huh?" I said..

"Auntay...She's a murderer and she has mental issues...Would you really want her back on the streets?" asked Beverly..

''She's not going back on the streets...She was caught in the act and she's admitted it....But she obviously needs help and what's more...She shouldn't go to jail by herself...There is something else going on here,can't you see it?"said Olivia..

I smiled...

"I can certainly see it.." I said.."My wife is right..She was manipulated into this...And if not..We at least need to be sure." I said.

 "Okay...Then let's be about it." said Beverly as the three of us left the prison.

III-

Bev and Olivia went their seperate ways...I went to the Junior College looking for Jake Blakely....I spoke to several of his collegues and friends...even students and former students..

"Mr. Alexander, Jake Blakely is one of the most sterling men I have ever known."

"A real nice guy."

"I never knew there was any problems in the marriage.."

"Kim and Jake were the ideal couple...I envied them.."

There was nothing bad said about him by anybody......This was the general consensus..

I checked his and his wife's financials...Credit cards, Debit cards, Bank accounts...Nothing out of the ordinary....and no major debt on either of their accounts....What did raise my eyebrows was three seperate one million dollar life insurance policies on Kim...taken out three years ago..two years ago and earlier last year...I wonder if Kim was even aware of this...

I spoke to Kim's father and mother...her nieces,nephews,cousins,aunts and uncles...None of them suspected anything wrong with the marriage and they certainly found it odd about the life insurance policies...I next visited the insurance companies...They were astounded...Not one was aware of the other one.....I could see very clearly what was in play here...He was planning to make a fortune...He manipulated a troubled girl into killing his wife and he was planning to collect a fortune...Brilliant...He figured no one would believe this girl's story...

I needed to talk to Jake Blakely....He wasn't answering his phone and when I drove by the house...I didn't see his car...Their daughter, Kendra was located at his mother's house...His parents were as astounded as everyone else was at what had happened...They told me that Jake was out of town at the present time and was due back in a few days...

''Jim took this very hard."said his father...

I told them that I was a private investigator and that I worked for an attorney...I left out the part that I was working for Stephanie's defense attorney...and they didn't think to ask.

Kendra told me how an argument started between Kim and Stephanie that grew into a yelling and screaming match and how in horror she watched her foster sister stab her mother several times with a knife...She had been the one who called 911...

It was the same story she had told the police...I didn't dwell on it...I thanked everyone and was on my way..

IV-

Olivia and Beverly went to Lady Chatterlies Lover, Panties and Bras for the discriminating woman...Owned by our friend, Bridget Jones...

''Auntay, why did we stop here?" asked Beverly...

"Because I missed you baby...Two weeks and no girlie talk..No girlie time to shop and buy things we buy."said Olivia..

''You were with your man ,in Paris...on a romantic getaway."said Beverly smiling.

''Yess and it was great...I have to show you the  pictures we took.."said Olivia..."You were with your man too."she added..

"Yes...It was wonderful Auntay...Then all this stuff happened.."she said.

"Sooo..Nothing makes a woman feel better sometimes than a little shopping...Knock yourself out..On me.."said Olivia..

Beverly's eyes got as wide as saucers...

"For real?" she said.

"Yesssssss.." said Olivia..."Take your mind off of this case for a minute and we'll attack it again tomorrow with fresh eyes.." she said.

"What if I uh want to model this stuff for Nelson tonight?" said Beverly smiling slyly...

"All the better,just make sure you get your rest...No all nighters if you can uh help it...and I know I should talk..."said Olivia..

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuu..listen at you bad girls." laughed Bridget Jones...

"Hey Bridget..."said Olivia and Beverly together...

I walked in just then...

"Ladies!  Hey Bridget..." I said...

''Hey Donnie Ray, How did you know they were here?" laughed Bridget..

''She's driving my car..I have GPS..."I laughed.

"Always a detective" laughed Bridget..

"You know it."I laughed.

''Well you need to sit outside...Maybe your wife wants to surprise you tonight ."came the voice of my ex-fiance...Brenda Young...Both Bridget and I turned in surprise...

''What are you doing here?" I asked angrilly...

"Buying panties...like your wife and her cute little niece are doing...A girl can never have enough...Especially when she's in a new city with a new man." said Brenda..

"That's the friend of a friend you were talking about Bren....You don't need my help..You have a male friend..Sounds like he's got benefits.." I said.

Bridget looked baffled..

"Now Donnie Ray....Do I detect a hint of jealousy?" she said.

"Why would I be?" I said.

 "Look...I am in a bit of danger...I need to see your wife tomorrow about drawing up that little ole restraining order and soon...That man who is after me is here in Philadelphia..He has traced me here..I saw him today." she said.

"How do you know this Brenda? Maybe he just lives here." I asked..

She ignored me..She tossed three thongs and three bikini panties and six matching bras and three babydolls on the counter and pulled out a credit card..

"I'll tell you everything tomorrow when I stop by your office...Could you ring these up darlin?" she said.

''Sure "said Bridget who looked at me and smiled.

She rang the articles up and Brenda smiled...grabbed her shopping bags and exited out the front door...

"I'll see you tomorrow .Tell your wife I'll explain everything." she said.

Bridget looked at me..

"I take it that's your ex huh?"she said.

"Yeah...One of two..We were engaged to be married..She left me at the alter..Now,I see that that was a blessing."I said.

"Ouuuuuuuuu, you are bad....But that is soooo true sometimes."said Bridget...

Olivia  walked up just then..She had seen and heard the entire exchange..She softly kissed me in the lips...

"Come on Donnie Ray, I bought something that will take your mind off  of everything that is stressing you tonight."said Olivia, smiling sweetly...

Bridget looked a bit surprised...

"Liv, you reppin his ex?" she asked astounded...

"I repped his other ex too.." she said putting her things on the counter...

'Wow...you're a confident woman." said Bridget...

Olivia smiled..

 "This man loves the ground I walk on...I'm not worried about either of those women.." she said confidently...

"Yeah...He is kind of sprung..He knows he got a good thing." said Bridget as both she and Olivia laughed...

Beverly walked up with her order...

"Auntay, thanks...I bought a few things but I think I just want to sleep tonight. I'll meet you at the car " she said.

"Poor thing...I hate to see her stressed about this case...It is a bear of a case.." said Olivia...

''I hope she feels better."said Bridget..

''You know my niece...She'll be feeling better in a few days...Maybe tomorrow even..."said Olivia.

V-

Night fell on the city...Beverly talked to Nelson on the phone at our place , said good night and then went to bed....

Surprisingly...I was emotionally drained myself...

I sat on the side of the bed staring out the window...

Olivia sat on my lap...

I went to say something and she put her index finger on my lips...

"Shhhhh...Quiet baby...don't talk..Tonight we'll just sleep and not think about this case...We'll start fresh tomorrow..." She said...

I smiled and held her tight as she sat on my lap and leaned her head into my chest...

Yes...Tomorrow we would start fresh!

(TO BE CONTINUED)