A Beach Too Far

A Beach Outside of SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA  7:30 AM...

Olivia was getting ready to leave...She had been standing on the beach for an hour...She was supposed to meet him here...He was late...He was always late...She knew he'd  eventually arrive though, He always eventually arrived...so she knew not to leave...

She looked at her watch and she was startled when she was tapped on the shoulder...She turned around and there he was ...Her client...Richard Graves..The 62 year old man who wired two million dollars into her personal account three weeks ago and told her he needed to see her at this location...and to come alone...

"Olivia...you came....You always come...I knew you would." he said. He was about six feet even, blond hair that was starting to gray, gaunt and unshaved...

"Richard....You've lost weight and you could use a shave...What has happened to you?"asked Olivia...

"I've been kind of just layin back, hangin out.."he said...

"I see."said Olivia..

"You look well...I see you got remarried..Nice...A pretty woman like you should have a man by her side.."he said..

"Richard you could be in a lot of trouble..."said Olivia..

"I know..That's why I called you...You're the best money can by...You always were ,Even when you came cheap..."he laughed...

"You always did believe in me.." said Olivia..

"I know talent when I see it." he said and smiled.

Olivia's niece , Attorney Beverly West and I...her husband, Investigator..Donnie Ray Alexander were a safe distance away...We were in a lifeguard hut...I had a very powerful camera with telescopic lens I had purchased in Philadelphia from fellow Private Investigator Kevin Morris's main man ,Peeping Tom. I could see them and I snapped plenty of photos...

Olivia had a very powerful micro listening device in her bra also...So that we could hear her.We also got this from Peeping Tom...He was ex-CIA....His devices were better than what a lot of cops and FBI agents used.

"God D.R. This is so cloak and dagger..." said Beverly...

"Your Auntay sure knows some nefarious charactors..."I said shaking my head...

"D.R. the man is loaded...Everybody in Philly knows him and his family....They own everything but the traffic lights in Downtown Philly.."said Beverly...

"That's what I hear...Real Estate moguls huh?" I said.

"D.R. ,His father and younger brother own one of every two skyscrapers in downtown Philly and if they don't own it...They did and they sold it....Their middle name is money...When Auntay was a Public Defender...Richie....That's what they call him got busted for a gun charge..."said Beverly...

"A Gun Charge?" I asked...

"Yeah...He was caught in front of his brother's condo with a loaded and unregistered semi -automatic pistol.....He hired Auntay to get him off and guess what? She did!!! Got all charges dropped...He never forgot her...He got caught with some marijuana that he claimed was planted in his hotel room...Auntay got him off once again...And then finally ,he was accused of making terroristic threats against his brother...Jack Jr...Auntay repped him again and got the charges dropped in an out of court settlement... Then He sued his family....Charged them with cutting him out of the family business...By this time...Auntay was working in Private Practice...She repped him again and won a huge settlement for him and profit sharing...He loves Auntay."said Beverly with a hint of pride..

"Okay...I get all of that....but what I don't get....This guy is one of the wealthiest guys in the city right?? And he hired your Auntay when she was a lowly public defender...He could have had some of the most celebrated attorneys in the city at his beck and call..Why would he hire a public defender??" I asked..

"I take it from all I've told you, the word eccentric didn't come up did it?"said Beverly...

I laughed and pulled her to me and kissed her on the cheek....I hugged her....

She giggled...

"What was that for?" she said laughing...

"Just you because you're you..."I said..

"He's the oldest son and after he graduated from Law school....He got an MBA...And he ran his father's business for a number of years....He got married to Elaine Huggins..Everything was good for awhile...Then there was a major shake up...I don't know what exactly happened...but there was talk about his younger brother having an affair with his wife...A public feud erupted and Old Man Graves replaced Richard with Jack Junior...Cut Richard off...Things went downhill for him after that...That's how his path and Auntay's crossed...The loaded weapon outside the brother's house, the marijuana charge, the terroristic threats...They were all aimed at the younger brother."said Beverly..

"I see...No love lost between the brothers....but he uh did sleep with the man's wife...So where is his wife? They split up?" I asked...

"That's the thing D.R.  His wife vanished....It's been ten years now...She vanished and hasn't been seen or heard from since...The police questioned Richard Graves extensively...but they never had enough to charge him with anything..No body, no blood, no proof of any foul play...The woman just dropped off the face of the earth..."said Beverly..

"People don't just drop off the face of the earth shortcake..."I said.

"Well maybe not..but the Police and even the FBI searched for the woman for years and so far they weren't able to find a trace of her...But here is where it gets cute..Three years ago...His wife was declared legally dead...and he began dating another woman...A real estate agent,Barbara Green...They were hot and heavy and it is believed he told her everything about his ex-wife... At least ADA Nina Rios believes that..She subpeoned Barbara Green and was going to order her back to Philadelphia to testify....Barbara Green was found shot to death in her apartment ...Not far from here.Which brings us to this beach." said Beverly...

"Ohhh I seee.." I said.

II-

We had been in San Diego,California for one day....Olivia had told me about the two million that was wired not into the company account,but her personal account...and the call from an old high profile client...

It had been her idea for me to wire her...and me to get the telescope from Kevin's friend..Peeping Tom....Kevin and Peeping Tom had brought the equipment over to our Duplex...

"Donnie Ray...I've repped this guy a number of times...but frankly..He scares me..I don't want to be alone on a beach with him..." she said.

She divided the two million three ways , which she didn't have to do...but she's always been good like that...

"We are a team...Me, my niece and you Donnie Ray...Without you two I wouldn't be this successful...We share everything." she said...

"Thank you dear...Uh can I uh place the wire in your bra?" I asked jokingly....

"Oh My God....You've got a one track mind."she said laughing...."I was going to get Bev to do that...but if you insist..."she said giving me the side eye and laughing..

That had been a few days ago....Now we were in San Deigo..Staying at a downtown hotel and at this early morning clandestine meeting with this mysterious man...

"Olivia...I didn't kill this woman...She was my friend...and at one time my lover..I wouldn't have killed her." said Richard...

"Why was she living in San Diego?" asked Olivia..

"She moved out here...She got a job...We weren't together anymore...But we occassionally dated...We were what do you young folks call it? Friends with benefits...ADA Rios seems to think that she could shed some light on my wife's disapearence.." said Richard Graves...

"Richard?" asked Olivia..

"Before you ask Olivia...I didn't kill my wife....I don't even know if she is dead..She could be in Europe screwing some other wealthy guy for all I know...She's been missing for ten years now..She's been declared legally dead almost three years now..ADA Rios won't leave it alone...Still trying to prosecute me for a murder when there is no proof that there is even one..."he said.

"So tell me about Barbara.." asked Olivia...

He smiled salaciously.....

"Barbara....What can I say? I met her a few years ago....My wife had been missing for a year....I was pretty sure our marriage was over...She had slept with my damn younger brother... Barbara was a real estate agent who was doing business as fate would have it ..with my younger brother..I met her at a gala event my brother was hosting downtown in Philadelphia...We had a nice conversation ..a very nice conversation I recall and we met at a nice little watering hole after the gala was over...We exchanged numbers and agreed to meet again....We went to a few lunches and a couple of dinners....Like me, she liked to play the ponies and she liked to gamble...I took her to Atlantic City for a weekend...By then,I had known her for about two months... There in AC, away from my father and brother's prying eyes..our passion for each other finally exploded... We wound up in one of the casinos...I forget which one...In a suite making sweet love all afternoon..."

 "We began seeing each other romantically for a few years.....She moved out here in San Diego about two years ago and our romance kind of cooled off...but I continued to visit her out here and when I was out here...I stayed with her...and of course..our sexual relationship resumed...That never stopped..
In fact..The last time we had sex was a few months ago....on this very beach....in the ocean..."

"The paparazzi caught us....Damn them....but we didn't care...And that was the last time I saw Barbara..I swear Olivia...I rented myself an apartment....a small one..A few miles away from San Diego...but I never saw Barbara after that glorious day..I swear...I didn't kill her...That's why I wanted to meet with you face to face...To tell you my side of the story....I'm pretty sure the San Diego PD is just days away from arresting me and trying to charge me with murder...and I know in Philly ADA Rios wants a piece of me too.." he said.

"And you want me in place out here to rep you in the case that that happens?" said Olivia..

"Oh it's going to happen...I just want you to be the one that reps me.." he said.

"Richard?" asked Olivia..

"Yes Livy?" said Richard..

"When you first met me...I was a Public Defender....I defended the kind of people that don't usually travel in your circle...people that otherwise couldn't afford an attorney...Drug dealers, Stick Up boys, Pimps, Prostitutes..Box men,  and the like...A man like you could have had the best and the brightest...Why did you hire me? Because I was cheap?" she asked..

"No...because you were brilliant....I watched you...You actually defended your clients..You weren't lazy..You didn't take short cuts...You didn't tell them to accept a plea...You gave them a defense and you actually won cases...You stood out amongst the pack.....You had more integrity and a better work ethic than half of my father and brother's high paid attorneys....Plus I knew that they couldn't get to you...Poison you....You got me off then and years later when you wisely went into private practice..You got me off again....I had to pay you top dollar then...Hahahahah..but you earned every penny Livy girl and I see you've trained your niece well....She's just like you....."he said.

"I'm here with her and my husband...We are staying in downtown San Diego.." said Olivia..

"Good to know Livy....Keep your eyes open...They'll be picking me up within a few days."he said.

"Oh you know this huh?" said Olivia...

"Sure as we standin here on this beach and you gettin sand in your hair.. They're going to get me...I'm hidin in plain sight, but it's only a matter of time...Don't worry about me..I'll be alright...Just stay ready when I call you.."he said.

"Where are you off to now?" asked Olivia..

"Believe it or not to get some breakfast and some coffee...then maybe back to my spot."he said.

"Be well Richard."said Olivia...

"I will....You too kiddo."he said as he walked away...

 III-

 Olivia, Beverly and I stood on the balcony of our hotel room....This was all of our first times in San Diego and all of our second time in California period...We had been in San-Francisco a year ago for another case..

I would never forget that beach or this beautiful view from this hotel....Our room was like a suite....

Beverly was a floor below us in a simular room....

"Auntay...I am sooo glad I decided to work with you in private practice...If I had gone to D.C. I would have never gotten to travel to all of these places..."said Beverly...

"Baby..I didn't expect or plan to be in all of these locations....I'm just as surprised as you are..."laughed Olivia looking on at her niece...

"It's Donnie Ray!!...He's our good luck charm..As soon as he came along we started having fun." said Beverly who grabbed me and hugged me...

She had told me as much a few weeks before..

"Hell...I'm saying it was you and your Auntay....I lived a life of cheap coffee, bad food, stake outs and arresting perps until I met you two....Now I'm making better money than I have a right to have and I'm traveling to places I only dreamed about going and I live with two beautiful women...I'm in heaven."I laughed..

"We are all each other's good luck charms..."said Olivia smiling...

"I hate to be Debbie Downer...but Liv this guy seems to be kind of...welll..."I said.

"An odd sock?? Eccentric?? Weird?? Yes..All of them...Donnie Ray...He scares the hell out of me...He always has...but he's always paid me well and always held me in the highest regard..." said Olivia..

"Auntay...I'm just askin...Do you.....Do you....Well do you think he killed his wife?" asked Beverly...

"I don't know...Bev..He's always said that he didn't...ADA Nina Rios thinks he did...What's more important though is this murder case right here in San Diego...Of his ex-girlfriend, Barbara Green...She was shot to death two weeks ago and even he thinks he's the prime suspect and about to be arrested.." said Olivia..

"It is weird that he doesn't see her for two years..then all of a sudden...He's out here...they're together a few months ago and then word comes down that she's about to be summoned to Philadelphia to be questioned about his wife's disappearence and now all of a sudden..She's shot to death.."I said.

"Doesn't mean he killed her....Why would he? She might not know anything about his wife's case."said Olivia...

"Look at my little lawyer....Already got her strategy..."I joked...Smiling...

"Well while you guys work out a strategy...I saw a few boutiques that have my name on them...I'm going sight seeing and shopping.."said Beverly..

"Have a good time...Will you be joining us later for dinner and drinks?"asked Olivia..

"Yeah...I'm gonna take a little nap when I come back....Call me Auntay..."said Bev as she left...

"I will." said Olivia...

Beverly had been gone a few minutes when I casually walked over to Olivia and unbuttoned her navy blue Alexander McQueen jacket...

She was wearing a black lace bra with purple lining...the wire was in the middle...

She smiled...

"You couldn't wait to do that could you?" she said...

"No,I couldn't!!...I figured you don't need the wire now...Especially since he didn't really say anything incriminating..."I said softly...

''What you have in mind is more incriminating than that I gather.."said Olivia with a sly smile..

"Damn sure is .."I said, admiring her bra and slowly unhooking it...

"Ummmm, you're enjoying this too much."said Olivia,smiling slightly...

"Yes I am."I admitted...

She unbuttoned my trousers and I stepped out of them and took my shirt off..She slipped out of her white pants...

I leaned over and kissed Olivia passionately....Her soft hands massaged my growing erection....

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ,you feel soo good baby..Myyyy goodness."she cooed..

''So do you "I said as we kissed in the middle of the floor passionately...

We moved into the bedroom area and slowly got in the bed...Still kissing each other slowly and softly...

I laid Olivia across the bed and I spread her legs....I entered her very slowly this time....She is good and wet and warm like an oven....I'm staring into her beautiful brown eyes and looking at that gorgeous dark and baby soft skin...We were face to face...She leaned up and kissed me...and I begin thrusting inside her ...Slowly at first and then just a little faster..I wanted this to last....

Three hours seemed to evaporate like nothing...

Olivia moaned and put her arms around my neck and drew me closer to her..She wrapped her legs around my waste and we began to move in a slow, yet deliberate rhythm for quite some time...

"Ohhhhhhhh Donnie Ray...Ohhhh Donnie Ray.....ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh this is soooooo gooood..."she moaned as we continued to make love....I don't know how long we lie there on the bed like that before she turned me over and positioned herself on top of me and began going up and down , up and down.....Her hair partially blocking her face....

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Livy..." I moaned...as she held on tightly and began moving faster and harder..

I pulled her to me and began kissing her passionately.....

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Donnie Ray...this is beyond goood...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.." she cooed..

"Yessss...arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...it is..." I moaned as we continued....

It was another hour of sweet lovemaking before I came so hard that once again I was frightened it could be this good...

Olivia climaxed too and turned her head from side to side...Tears just flowing from her eyes...and sweat running down both of our bodies...

I laid between her legs with my head on her breasts....

She held me in her arms...

"Wow....my bra got you that excited?" she asked...

"Livy,it's you...I never had anything quite as good as what you got in my life.."I said..

"Oh Myyyyy."she smiled...and blushed a little....

IV-

Later that afternoon, we showered and dressed and got Beverly and went out on the town....

"Auntay ,tomorrow I've got to take you to some of these shops...Now that we can afford it..You just have to buy these shoes I saw." laughed Beverly....

"Ouuuuuu Shoes!" laughed Olivia.....

I smiled as we walked along the streets...

As we walked...We heard a familliar voice...

"Beverly?? Beverly West??...Livy??" came the voice of Attorney Larry North...an Attorney we worked with in Texas last year and who feverishly pursued Beverly in Philadelphia later on...To the point of trying to set up Beverly's boyfriend, Attorney Nelson East...

"Larry North...Soloman told me that you two were working out here last year...."I said...

"Well Hello Mr. North..."said Olivia....

"Heyyyy folks...Yeah...Soloman did good work for me....I was very disappointed that he left and went back home...We used to paint the town here.."laughed Larry North...

''Some people evolve....Grow up.." said Beverly...

There was an uneasy silence between  us..Then Larry asked...

"How is Soloman anyway???..I haven't heard from him." asked Larry North..

"He's engaged and he has a little one on the way.."said Olivia...

"WHATTTTT?? Wow!!!  Who is the lucky lady? Anybody I know?" asked Larry....

"You remember Celeste Tate...she worked in the Public Defenders Office with us and then became an ADA?" asked Olivia...

"Yeah..Yeahhhh, Red..I remember her...She was your friend Liv."said Larry North...

"Still is..They both work in Private Practice now.."said Olivia..."You still with the Innocence Project?" she asked..

"Uhhh No...I handled a few more cases and then I settled on something more permanent...I have a job at a downtown law firm and I rent a small house not too far from here.."he said.

''So you like it out here in Cali huh?" I said.

"Yeahhhhh..Nothin like Cali...Warm weather, beautiful beaches..."he said wistfully...

"Earthquakes!" said Beverly....

He laughed...but ignored Beverly's remark...

''So what are you three doing out here?" he asked.

"I have a client who is out here...He fears he's about to be arrested..He's from back home."said Olivia...

Larry gave Olivia the side eye...

"Crazy Ass Richard Graves?" he asked...

"I take you've heard of him?" I said smiling...

"Everybody in Philadelphia has heard of that guy....He used to love your wife....You must have repped him what three or four times Liv?...His former girlfriend was shot to death a couple of weeks ago..Every cop in this city is looking for him..." he said.

"You mean there is a warrant out for his arrest?" asked Olivia...

"Yeah...Nobody knows where he is...You've seen him Livy?" he asked..

Olivia looked at me and Beverly....

"That's why he wanted the early morning meeting on the beach and told me to come alone..." she said..

"Wow,you were taking your life in your hands with that crazy guy."said Larry North...

"He says he's innocent!" said Olivia...

"And you believe him?  If you're repping him I guess you have to...I personally think he offed his wife some years ago.."said Larry...

"Well you're entitled to your opinion Larry."said Olivia diplomatically...

He sensed that this was a sore matter so he dropped it and turned his attention to Beverly...

''So little lady..How have you been?" he asked.

"Just fine." she said.

"Yesssssss you are..Lawd..I don't know who gets prettier, You or your damn Aunt...My goodness...You're a lucky man Donnie Ray.."he said smiling...

"Listen...You guys ate dinner yet?" he asked...

"We were out looking for a place."said Olivia...

"I know a nice place....I was out and about myself....Why don't you guys join me??" he said...

Olivia hesitated and looked at Beverly....

"It's okay...Lead the way Larry." said Beverly...

I for one was relieved.....He and Beverly didn't exactly end things on the best terms...I was glad that at least for now they had buried the hatchet..

We followed Larry to a Tony Bistro.. I could already tell this was going to a very interesting trip out West....

TO BE CONTINUED-