The Body In The Bay

SIX MONTHS AGO-

Tuesday Morning to be exact...Josie got a rather disturbing phone call...It was from ADA Nina Rios ....

"Boss Lady...You have a phone call from ADA Rios.." said Josie...

"Hmmm...I wonder what this is about?" said Olivia...

"Maybe she's going to drop the charges against Richie" said Beverly with tongue in cheek..

"Fat chance of that." laughed Olivia...She took the phone... "Good Morning Nina.." she said.

 "Hola Olivia...Rather than tell you this on the phone...Why don't you meet me at your client's condo.." said ADA Nina Rios..

"Why?? What's up??" asked Olivia...

"Just meet me here...and bring me some Columbian coffee...You know how I like it mami." she said and hung up...

"What was that about?" I asked...

"I don't know...Nina wants me to meet her at Richie's condo...You guys feel like taking a ride?" said Olivia...

"Sure.."said Beverly..."This should be interesting.."At the time...None of us knew how interesting..

About a half an hour later...Olivia ,Beverly and I met ADA Nina Rios at Richie's condo...Richie was nowhere to be found...

Olivia passed her some Columbian coffee...

"Here you go Nina...just like you like it...Now where is my client?" asked Olivia...

"Yessss..Where is he? That is the question..."said Nina as she sipped her tumbler of coffee..

FBI Deputy Special Agent in Charge Sharon Ferrell Hopkins walked in the room then..She was carrying the electronic Ankle Bracelet that Richard Graves was supposed to wear..

"He's gone!!...Your guy flew the coop! No sign of him anywhere....We have a BOLO out on him and he is now on our FBI Top Ten Wanted Fugitives list."said Sharon...

I looked at the ankle bracelet and just shook my head....I laughed a little bit... We had just helped this guy beat a murder rap in California, when he was re-arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, who vanished years ago and hadn't been heard from since...We were prepared to defend him on these charges and had gotten him released from jail and put on house arrest and here he had jumped bail..I just shook my head..

Beverly stared at the ankle bracelet...She didn't say a word..

My wife Olivia was stoic...She said nothing...Surely she felt betrayed...

"Still think your client is an innocent man Livy?" asked ADA Nina Rios.

"What do you expect me to say Nina???....What would you say if you were me?" asked Olivia...who looked like a disappointed parent...I actually felt a little sorry for my wife..She had worked so hard for this creepy man...Had believed in him even when I didn't.

"Point taken...but you know this doesn't look good for him and it won't help you when we get him and you try to defend him or get him bail...Which he can forget at this point..."she said.

She was absolutely right and even though Olivia and Beverly didn't say anything..I'm sure they knew that ADA Rios was correct!

I put my arms around my wife...and hugged her... To date, there has been no sign of Richard Graves....He remains on the FBI's Top ten most wanted fugitives list...No one has any idea where he could be..

His wife ,Elaine Huggins -Graves ("Laney") remains missing.

II-

TODAY -

Olivia and Beverly were in court representing a woman, Juanita Tolson, in a non-jury trial who was in the middle of a bitter divorce....Her husband, Reverend Brian Tolson, Paster of Jericho Baptist Church had reluctantly given her the house and one of his cars...but was trying to get out of paying her Alimony...Alimony that had been previously agreed on...

Olivia and Bev were playing the court a recording made of her conversation with his lawyer..A.Rodger Cockrill...A brilliant, but somewhat sleazy attorney.

He sat with  her husband,Brian Tolson in court...Olivia,Bev and Mrs. Tolson sat on the opposite side...

The non-jury trial had been going on for the past three days...It was far from boring...It was as good as any reality tv show with allegations of infidelities flowing from both sides...

"So uh listen...Maybe uh...Mrs. Tolson...you and I could uh work something out."he said.

''Work something out? What do you mean?" she said..

"Perhaps we could uh meet downtown at a little place I know...and uh have some drinks, some dinner and uh work some things out after that."he said.

"Work some things out?  What do you mean Mr. Cockrill?" she asked..

"Heh,Heh,Heh..I think you know just what I mean Juanita..can I call you Juanita?" he said.

"What? why are you talking so low?" she asked..

"Look..Ever since I laid eyes on you,I couldn't get over how attractive you are...Your husband is a fool for divorcing you...You're a very attractive woman...Extremely attractive and frankly I haven't been able to get you off my mind...Now if you and I could meet for drinks and dinner..I'll throw this entire suit out...and tell him that we couldn't make a deal....How about that?"he asked...

"Mister Cockrill...I-I-I don't know what to say....This is ...This is highly unusual..."she said.

"Just say you'll meet with me and wear that white blouse you had on last week..The sheer one and the peach laced bra..That was hot!"he said.

"You liked that one huh?" she said.

"I did...Do you have matching panties?" he asked..

"Mr. Cockrill....my goodness you are getting pretty personal." she said.

"I'd like to get very personal with you Juanita.....Between me and you, this whole suit is fraudulent..but I have to represent my client...but he's got no real case...Your attorneys are correct...He signed an agreement...He's trying to feign amnesia..but he's not fooling anybody..I've told him as much..He should have never of agreed to anything without legal counsel.."he said.

"Your counsel right?" she said.

"Any counsel...Any lawyer would have told him  the same thing."he said.

"So you're just taking his money right?"she asked.

"If he wants to give it away..what can I do? The more to spend on you baby..Heh ,Heh,Heh!"he said.

"Ouuu you're nasty."she said.

"I haven't showed you nasty yet.."he laughed...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.."she giggled...

"Damn your laugh turns me on Juanita."he said.

"Does it now? Well uh okay...what time do you want to meet?" she whispered seductively...

"Heh,heh,heh..How about 7:00 pm tomorrow night? Bottom of the C." he said.

"Okayyyyyyyyyyyy."she said..

"No need to uh mention this to your uh attorneys or anyone else."he laughed slyly.

"Of course not..."she said...

"Well alright..."he said seductively...

"I'll be wearing my matching peach lace bra and panty set."she said.

"Ouuuu yesssss."he moaned.

She never showed up!!! It was a got'cha moment....Attorney Cockrill had no idea his phone conversation had been recorded...He cried foul...but the judge, our friend, Judge Juanita Corley-Drinkwater was livid....She was no sufferer of fools as we learned the last time we had been in her courtroom...She later on became a client of Olivia and Beverly and a friend ever since...Outside the courtroom....In the courtroom she was hard and fair...

"SIDEBAR!" she yelled...

Nelson and I stood in the back of the courtroom smiling,trying hard not to laugh....

The three attorneys stood before the judge...She was livid!!!

''WHAT IN THE HELL DID I JUST HEAR?" said Judge Juanita Corley-Drinkwater..

''Your honor...I am as outraged as you are...I-I-I-I had no idea I was being recorded...This is low for you Mrs. Bennett-Alexander...It violates Attorney -Client priveledge.."he snorted.

"WHAT ATTORNEY -CLIENT PRIVELEDGE???She's my client....not yours....and I didn't tell her to record your conversation...She did that on her own..."said Olivia, who was trying very hard to hold her laughter back...

Beverly turned her head to hide her smile...

The judge looked at A.Rodger Cockrill...

"I'm throwing this case out...Mr. Cockrill, you are very close to be censored for your shameful behavior...but I'm going to give you a break today..Do you understand?" she said.

"Yes....Yes your honor..Thank you Judge Corley."he said meekly....

"I'm ruling that Mrs.Tolson be awarded the amount of Alimony originally agreed on...I AM THROWING THIS NONSENSE OUT...And I better not see you in my courtroom again for a while..."she snarled..

"Uh Yes Your honor.."he said..

"Get the hell out of my courtroom!" she yelled...

"Yes mam!.."said A.Rodger.Cockrill who grabbed his briefcase and hurried out....Juanita's soon to be ex husband, Reverend Brian Tolson was as red as a beat..

"Rodger, you're a creep ,supposed to be representing me and trying to make time with my wife...I aint payin you jack and I plan to sue your ass." he screamed as the courtroom session came to an end...

I laughed my head off...

Nelson now joined by Beverly was laughing so hard,his sides were hurting...He was slamming his fist up against the wall..

The judge looked at my wife and smiled ...

"Mrs. Bennett-Alexander....That was a neat trick you pulled..."she said.

"Your honor?" she said with the innocence of an adolescent....

"You know that guy's reputation as a sleaze...You figured he might try a stunt like this...You advised your client well...Good job.."she said laughing...

"How's that baby?" asked Olivia...

"BABY???Herbie Jr. is no baby..He's eating us out of house and home."she laughed...

"How old is he now?" asked Olivia..

"He's almost two...Between me and you Olivia...I'm pregnant again with number two."said Judge Corley...

"Get out?" said Olivia..

"Yesss. Child!!!Herbie can't keep his damn hands off of me..Everytime I turn around that man is on me...it's a wonder we aint had more children...tee hee..I don't know how he gets any work done...Always over here up under me..."she laughed...

"Well congratulations."said Olivia..

"Thank you baby." she said.

"Take Care Olivia, Beverly....I'll be seeing you."she said as she walked away...

Juanita Tolson walked over to Olivia and hugged her...

"Thank you Livy...Thank you sooo much...I'm in your debt..." she laughed..

"Just doing my job.."laughed Olivia...

''Your ex-husband's lawyer won this case for us." laughed Beverly...

"I know right? and you know what the ironic thing is? I did find him quite attractive...Under different circumstances...I might have gone out with him."she laughed...

Nelson and I cracked up laughing...

III-

Olivia's smartphone rang....She looked at it and her eyes got as large as saucers.....Then she got a beautiful smile on her face...

''Well I'll be damned...Another country heard from." she said.

''Who is it Auntay?" asked Beverly....

"It's my big  brother...Your daddy!" said Olivia...

Beverly's eyes lit up....

"Ouuuuuu..answer it Auntay.."she said..

''Well Hello stranger...How are you?" said Olivia..

"Baby Sis...Baby Sis...I'm doin fine..just fine....You'll never guess where I am.." he said.

"Here in Philly?" she said..

"No..but you're close...I'm in Maine...Bar Harbor ,Maine.."he said.

"That's not close...What are you doing there?" she asked..

''You know I'm a free lance photo-journalist...And I'm covering the story of the damn year..Which is why I called you...You have got to get up here..."he said.

"Get up there? Maine?? For what?" asked Olivia..

"Guess you haven't seen the news today have you?" asked Jimmy West...

"Uh No.....Your daughter and I have been in court...We just wrapped up a trial..."said Olivia..

''Well last week...they discovered the dis-membered body of a lobsterman....in the bay."said Jimmy.

''Sorry to hear that...but if that's why you want me to come up to Maine...forget it."she laughed.

"Oh you want to come up here baby sis...I've been keeping up with you and my daughter...I saw you two on the national news just like everybody else when you and my baby girl defended that creepy guy Richard Graves and got him off of a murder rap in San Diego earlier this year." said Jimmy...

"I hate to say it...but the weirdo has made me famous."laughed Olivia..

''Yeah...well the coppers up here made an arrest in the dismemberment murder and guess who they pinched? Richard Freakin Graves and get this..he was dressed as a woman...Has been masquerading as a broad for the past year or so....Your boy, RICHARD GRAVES!!!! He's in jail here....The FBI and the news media have descended on the town....I got to photograph him and interview him....I told him I was your brother...And he asked me to get in contact with you....He says he didn't do this.Yeahhh right!"said Jimmy...

"And you don't believe him?" asked Olivia..

"Hellll to the no...I think he offed his wife years ago too like they say,but that's just me.....Anyhow, you did help him beat one murder rap in Cali...Maybe you can save his neck from this...Plus I want to see my little sister and my daughter, I miss the both of you...Come On...Malinda is here with me..I got a place you and Donnie Ray and Bev and her uh fella can stay too...What do you say Livy?" he asked..

''Wow Jimmy..I'm trying to take this all in...."said Olivia..

''Don't think too hard Livy!...Put Beverly on the phone...I know she's right under you."he laughed...At times..his sister was more Beverly's parent than he was..

"Hiiii Dadddyyyyyy!" said Beverly, as giddy as a schoolgirl..

"Heyyy baby...how you doin?  I'm tyin to get your aunt to come up here to Maine...The cops caught your client...the one who jumped bail on you! He got the nerve to be on trial for yet another murder.."said Jimmy..

"Richie is up there? Oh My God!  In Maine?" said Beverly..

''Sure is...Tell your Auntay..Do you still call her that?"he asked chuckling..

''Yes..."said Beverly laughing...

"Tell your Auntay to come on up..This guy needs a lawyer, real bad and he's loaded I hear....Crazy as a crack house rat...but loaded.."said Jimmy..

"If we do come...Can I bring my boyfriend?" she asked...

There was quiet....then..

"You still seein that lawyer,uh Nelson?" he asked...

''Daddy you remembered..."she said...

"Yeah..yeah..yeah...I keep up with you two....If you come up...I got a place  you and uh Nelson and Liv and Donnie Ray can stay...Is my brother in law around?" he said...

"D.R. my daddy wants to holler at you?" said Beverly..

I came to the phone...

''What'cha know good Jimmy?" I said.

"You got the hot hand Brother in law....Talk to your wife....Tell her she needs to get to Bar Harbor,Maine...I got a place for all of you guys...Come on up...Your crazy ass client is in a jam...AGAIN!!"said Jimmy...

''Richard Graves????...I'll be damned..That guy can't stay out of trouble..."I said. ''He's wanted by the FBI for Interstate Flight to Avoid Prosecution for murder."I said.

''Yeah ,well he's wanted for killing a lobster man up here...a local...He says he didn't do it."said Jimmy...

''The man has the worst luck."I laughed...

"Don't he now?" laughed Jimmy.

"Tell my brother ,We are on our way..." said Olivia...

"YAyyyy!" screamed Beverly who asked Nelson...''Can you come with us?"

 "Yeah...I just wrapped a big case up...I got a few days.." he said..

She kissed him hard....

"Ouuuuu..you get to meet my daddy...Last time he was here..We were dating, but we hadn't really gotten close yet.."she explained...

He laughed....

"I imagine...We aren't going to be able to stay in the same room..."he said..

''Don't worry...We'll work around that..We'll work somethin out."she said.

''Well Don't stand there guys...Bev and me have to go shopping, get some clothes for Maine.."said Olivia...

"You heard that Jimmy?" I said.

''Can't wait...Malinda really wants to see Livy and Bev. What kind of beer you like Donnie Ray..I'll have all of the things you guys like here when you get here." he said.

IV-

A WEEK EARLIER-

The left arm was the first thing that floated to the top....It scared the lobstermen to death that saw it...Then about an hour later...another arm, some legs and a headless torso floated to the top of the bay....

By the time the police and the medical examiner's office was called...a head had been found, further down the wharf...

A crowd of people gathered around...Homicide Detective Clint McDonald..arrived on the scene..

"Good Lord...I've seen some crap in my day...but never anything like this..." he said..

"You think a shark got him Clint?" asked a uniformed officer...

''Shark? In these waters...? look at the cuts...surrated knife cuts...No this was done by a butcher...The two legged kind that walks amongst us." he said..

(TO BE CONTINUED)