All In The Spin

TWO WEEKS LATER-

Officer Tom Garrison had been arrested and formally charged with the sexual assault and battery of our newest client....Tiffany Lewis....Who had filed charges immediately and had a rape kit done on her after their encounter...

Unlike the others, she was not using drugs...She was an Attorney, who was racing towards a court appearence...When Officer Garrison clocked her at 75 mph in a 55 mph zone...He pulled her over..
This was her third speeding ticket in a week and her fourth this year...She understood that this would put points on her license and draw her very close to a suspended license....Wouldn't be her first time...

She was surprised however when Officer Garrison asked her to follow him...She unwittingly followed him to an off road...He complimented her on how pretty she was...What nice size breasts she had , her nice figure...He ran his hands along her legs...She removed them...

He told her..as he had told the others that he could make all of her traffic violations go away...and refund her her money ,if he'd "be allowed to be nice to her.."  She asked him what he meant by that and what happened next horrified her...

He unzippered his trousers...

"You know what that means...Don't be naive....You be nice to me and I'll be nice to youuu..." he said.. and nuzzled next to her and began kissing her...

She said.."Noooo, uhhhh,I don't think sooo..."

He replied...

"Look Baby, you're about to get your license suspended with all the violations you got and we aren't even three months into the year...Let me help you...Thennnnnnn...you could help meeee..Heh,Heh, Heh..." he said..

"This is highly inappropriate...I'm going to report you....What is your name?" she asked..

"What? You think you're too good for me huh...HUHH?" he said and he slapped her repeatedly....The two struggled and he ripped her panties off and forced himself on her...

"GET OFF OF ME...GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME..." she yelled..

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...A  FRISKY ONE EHHH?? THAT TURNS ME ONNN BABY!!! NOW JUST RELAX...ENJOY THE ENVITABLE...UMMMMMMMMMMMM..." he moaned..

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...this is so gooood... I love me some brown sugar....yesssss.." he moaned.

After he was finished....He did rip the traffic ticket up...

She immediately reported him and had a rape kit and he was arrested and charged with Sexual Assault and battery and conduct unbecoming a police officer... He was put on suspension with intent to dismiss after he posted bail....

Olivia and Beverly immediately took her on as a client..She had the strongest case of all and they did something else...They convinced Sherry Warner and Wilma Barksdale to file criminal charges as well as civil charges! They were going to try him for civil damages first...Which meant they were suing the City of Philadelphia...His employer.

The case drew national attention....White Philly cop accused of raping three African-American women.... CNN, MSNBC, FOX an AL Jazerra all covered it and interviewed Garrison, his FOP Lawyer and Olivia ,Beverly and two of the women.


The officer got himself an Attorney who I recognized from my days as a Homicide Detective in New Orleans...This was the heavy hitter, Celeste Tate had warned of us..

Darin Kozel, a bulldog of a lawyer who usually defended right wing -conservative cause celebres...He defended those 22 corrupt policemen that I busted in New Orleans for crimes including murder after Hurricane Katrina.. He lost that case...but he hadn't lost too many more...Getting KKK members, Neo Nazis and a slew of bad cops off of several charges against them... He had been a former FOX news commentator at one time...I hated him... The fact that his last girlfriend was African-American made me hate him even more... He worked "White" and slept "Black as they say..

He immediately went on the attack...The way he always did...By Media...He called a news conference right after the opening of the trial...

"This officer is a symbol of what is happening around the country...Good men, charged to protect and serve are being targeted and being made scapegoats by the Liberal media and by lawbreakers themselves...I see Attorney Olivia Bennett-Alexander and her niece, Beverly West have attached themselves to this case...Two attorneys that never saw a controversial case with a promise of a big payoff that they didn't feel had their names attached to it.." he said..Something that could be said of him also..

Olivia and Beverly stood in the crowd , smiling as he spoke...

''And I see ...She is now married to former New Orleans Detective, Donnie Ray Alexander, who betrayed 22 of his co-workers and did not stop until these men all went to prison for crimes that were sketchy at best and were based mostly on here say...He was so disgraced in New Orleans and became such a pariah..He was forced to quit the force and move....I see he's met a kindred spirit in Olivia Bennett, who was nothing more than a Public Defender , a few years ago...Getting law breakers off..When this case is over...I will prove to you that my client arrested these women ...all of them for breaking the law and it was they who came on to him....AND THEN RIPPED THEIR UNDERWEAR AND CRIED RAPE...AFTER HE DROPPED THE CHARGES ON THEM...All my client is guilty of is maybe ,poor judgement.." he said.

He was the Master of Spin....He could take the most outrageous claim and spin it into a story that a lot of people would find credible..

"Incredible...He's going to really go with that?" said Olivia..

"I know this guy babe...He's good...He's going to take their lives apart...Every part of it...and if there is anything ..any little thing he can exploit...Believe me..He'll use it... He's the Master of Spin."I said.

"We've dealt with guys like him before...We can spin a good story too if we need to."said Beverly....

"Not quite as slimy as  Darin Kozel...Trust me.. And Shortcake..You will need to spin something to counterbalance and checkmate this guy...He'll have you second guessing yourself."I said.

II-

As the trial went on...It was actually very interesting to watch ...From a Stylistic matter...

Olivia and Darin Kozel had identical styles and argued to standstills...The judge often having to over-rule them both and bring them both to numerous sidebars...

Beverly on the other hand was different...She put the jury, made up of 11 white men and one Puerto Rican woman at ease....She made them laugh and she got some of the material witnesses to just state facts....She interviewed the CSI staff who got fingerprint and DNA evidence and she stuck with the irrefutable scientific facts ...That he had sex with these women ,which he shouldn't have...being an on
duty police officer and that he did drop legal charges that he had filed against them for sex..also wrong..

Darin found her frustrating, but was unable to put up a counter-argument against her...

Olivia, taking her cue from her niece...Toned down her obvious disdain for the man and kept it light...Spinning her story of three desperate women...None who had ever gone to jail or been in any trouble with the law before ,at the mercy of a predator ,who used his authority as a law enforcement officer to take advantage of them..

By the end of the second week of trial, the jury could have gone either way...but it was clear ,just from what I was overhearing in the hallways during break..

That the jury members clearly thought that he was wrong to make deals with the women for sex...Yet they still weren't convinced that he raped them...Incredible!!!

III-

 "Donnie Ray honey...I could use some help....You were right ...He is good...He even checkmated Beverly when it came to jury selection..He kept every single African-American off of the jury.." she said.

"Yeah...that is a first....usually Shortcake helps to pick pretty good juries..." I said..

Beverly and Nelson were walking towards us just then....

 "He is good...We have to do a better job of showing this jury, that these weren't consensual sex acts by people who made deals to get criminal charges dropped..but that Garrison came on to these frightened women...That he's a predator..."said Beverly.

"You would think that three women...Three women who don't know each other...A school board employee, An Architect and an Attorney. Three established women , who don't know each other...all telling the same story would mean something."said Nelson.

"It would if they were white women and had not broken the law...All that jury sees is A school board employee who bought a nickel bag of Marijuana and was smoking it in her car and driving under the influence...An Architect who bought an even larger quantity and was smoking in the parking lot of her condo...an An Attorney with the worst driving record in three states...None had criminal records..None wanted to go to jail...All were desperate and they traded the only thing they had of value..Their sex to a good hearted guy who was trying to help them."said Olivia..

"WHAT? That's crazy...He was taking advantage of the situation." said Nelson...

"You're preaching to the choir baby...Auntay and I know that that is a load of crap...but we have a jury of 11 white males and one Puerto Rican woman...They aren't going to look at it like that." said Beverly...

"Then talk to her....The Puerto Rican woman...Direct your entire argument to the woman...She is no doubt from the hood..She knows how things go down...She can relate...More so than the men..At best you get a hung jury and try again.."said Nelson...

I smiled at Nelson....

"Not bad....Not bad at all..." I said.

Olivia smiled and hugged Nelson...She looked at her niece...

"Bev, you got a smart man here....He's definitely a keeper...I keep telling Robert Foxworth, I'm gonna steal you from him one day Nelson." she joked...

"I don't have to steal him....I already got him..."said Beverly who gave Nelson one of the most passionate kisses I had ever seen her give him...

Nelson Blushed....

IV-

I felt as though my girls needed a little help....I did some research into Officer Tom Garrison...

Born and raised in Philadelphia...He was a straight A student all through Public school and a stand out wide receiver on his high school's football team which went all city and won the city championship....

He attended Penn State ,where he played football for three years ,until he tore his ACL and had to sit out....He didn't return for his senior year and enlisted in the Marines...He was dishonorably discharged for what I found out was an incident in which he was accused of raping a female marine...It was a wild ,drunken party and the facts were never gotten straight and the rape charges were dropped ,but he was booted out....

Back in Philadelphia...He applied for the Fire Department...Washed out...Then he applied for the State Police...Washed out...A friend got him in the Philadelphia Police Academy and he graduated...

He kept his nose clean for a few years and then he found himself in trouble again...He was accused of  beating a suspect into a coma...The suspect, who was white lived...but Officer Garrison was suspended...

Back on the force, he was assigned first to West Philadelphia....Then eventually to Olde City and Center City...

I did some more digging and found that there were other women ...Other women who accused him of bartering sex for the dropping of charges...The question was...How was I going to find them?

The answer was my friend and fellow Private Investigator, Kevin Morris...

"Donnie Ray...what's going on?   I'm watching you wife and Beverly on Television...They are really in a doozy of a trial with this dirty cop." he said...

There was Livy and Bev being interviewed about the policeman accused of raping three women...The interviewer was asking them if it weren't possible that this guy had consensual sex with the women in return for their charges being dropped and they became angry when they heard he had made the same arrangement with other women??

Such was the genius of Darin Kozel and his brilliant spin....He used the media well and had public opinion swaying toward something more tawdry than it actually was..

"Kev, I got the book on this guy and he comes off as a misguided golden boy...but.." I said.

"You think he's been doing this for awhile and not just these three right?" said Kevin..

"Exactly..."I said.

"You know ...he used to be stationed ,not too far from here...and I used to hear things......But I know who would definitely know...."said Kevin...."I'm gonna make a call...this is where you go...This is who you talk to."said Kevin...

"Thanks Kevin..."I said.

"Anytime....Tell Livy and Bev I said Hi." said Kevin..

"Will do." I said.

VI-

Kevin sent me to the office of a man known only as "Big Chicken."  He employed "Exotic dancers" (Strippers) in his clubs...he also had girls on the street...Prostitutes....His man ,Rollo Jones searched me and took my .38 smokeless..

"I'll return it when you leave." he said..Then ,another man walked me up to Big Chicken's office...

"Hi..I'm Donnie Ray Alexander...I'm an Investigator for." I said...but he stopped me..

"I know who you are...I'm watching your wife and her little niece on Television now.."he said.

"Damn ,your wife and your niece are cute...You live with both of them?  You got some pimp in you..The only reason I'm talkin to you is because Kevin vouched for you...Your wife is representing those three broads who say that cop raped em huh? I know that cop ...I can't stand him...He used to be out here...Used to shake me down regularly...He was worse than the juice guys....He's as dirty as they come...He shook down my girls...I'll give you 27 names...27 girls he pulled that same crap on..."said Big Chicken..

"Will they talk to me?" I asked..

"They will if I ask them to...He busted em...for gettin high or for sellin a little hoochie coo and he took their drugs and he forced them to pleasure him in return for dropping the charges..They'll testify to that.Though uh, considerin their occupation...I can't swear that a jury will take their word over a cops." he said.

"Thank You Big Chicken.."I said.

"Don't mention it...If I uh ever get in any legal trouble...Maybe your wife and her niece could help me out.."he laughed..

"Maybe...I'll certainly bring this to their attention.."I said and left.

Beverly sat alone in a bar having a drink...When she was joined by Darin Kozel..

She looked at him and smiled..

"We shouldn't be sitting next to each other drinking."she said.

''Why not? We are not in court...We are just sitting here having a friendly drink.." he said.

"How are we having a friendly drink? I was here first..."said Beverly...

"But I'm here now...I find you very attractive Beverly...And very knowledgeable in the courtroom...I imagine you are uh quite knowledgeable in other places also...eh?" he smiled as he gulped down his drink and ordered another..

"So I've been told." she said.

"Hmmm...I'll bet you have been."he said.

''What are you trying to say?" asked Beverly...

"Nothing...Nothing.." he said and laughed sheepishly.

They talked about sports, things in the news and music for close to two hours.....Finally he turned to Beverly and said...

"As I have told you...I find you very attractive.." he said.

''Yes..you told me that..Twice I believe.. Considering your political views...I'm surprised you'd be interested in me, A Black girl" she giggled..

"Politics have nothing to do with sex or uh love or uh ahhh attraction." he said.

"I know what you mean..But you don't even know me..." she said and smiled..

"I'd like to be your friend Beverly. I'd like to get to know you.." he said and rubbed her legs softly..

She laughed and politely moved his hands...

"Maybe after the trial.." she said.

"How about tonight? We could get real friendly....Heh heh, heh?" he said.

"Uhhh,I don't think that would be wise.." said Beverly..

"Look...I don't care about this trial...I get paid either way...Win or lose...Your Aunt is doing a wonderful job...She's the best attorney I have ever gone up against...She's like yourself a very beautiful woman, very articulate...and  very sexy...just like you...I see where you get it from.." he said, rubbing her legs again and letting his hands linger a little too long on her hips...

She politely removed his hands again...

"You have a problem with your hands don't you?" she said silently...

"My hotel is not far from here...Come with me.."he said.

"What? You can't be serious !!!I don't think that would be professional or prudent...I'm the opposing attorney in this case..."said Beverly...

"Your Aunt is the opposing attorney...and besides...Who would know???...It would be our little secret Beverly..."he said laughing and rubbing her legs...

Beverly laughed and moved his hands one last time...She dropped a few dollars on the bar...

"Not gonna happen Darin...Not ever! You seem like a nice guy...But,you're not my type." she said and got up and left.....

"I could learn to be your type....In BED! "he said.

"Good Night...I'll see you in court." she said and walked out..

He stomped his foot in anger....

Meanwhile...back at home...Olivia laughed as I put my arms around her...

"BIG CHICKEN??? How did you meet Big Chicken??" she asked,laughing...

"You know him?" I asked.

"Yes...he's a pimp...."she laughed...

"I gathered....He owns two strip clubs..."I said.

"Yeah....Bev and I have repped his girls when we were Public defenders...Nelson probably has too..And you got me 27 girls ,who say he raped them in exchange for sexual favors...??" she asked.

"Yeah...I know that aren't the most credible...but it does show a pattern...They should be allowed to tell their stories.."I said.

"They should...but due to their occupation...This jury will never take their word over a cop's."said Olivia.

Olivia was wearing a frilly pink baby doll, with a Black, white and pink sheer thong with polka dots on under it...

I slipped the thong down and continued squeezing her breasts gently and kissing her neck..


"Ummmmmm, this feels so good..."I moaned..

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Donnie Ray..." she moaned..

''So you can't use them at all?" I asked as Olivia kissed me softly...

"Nobody will believe them...They hardly believe the Architect, The Attorney and The School Board member...What makes you think they'll believe strippers?" she said smiling as she slowly unzippered my trousers...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuu...you're good and hard..." she said...

"It's all in the spin...ouuuuuuuuuuuu..arghhhhhhhhhhhh.."I moaned as she stroked me softly...

I bent her over the table and softly entered her...

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.." I moaned..

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.." she softly moaned as I moved in and out of her...and softly ran my hands through her hair....

"Yesssssssssss...it's all in the spinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuu..all in the spinnnnnnnnn.."she moaned..

"Yes...Yesssssssssssssssssssss...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..the spinnnnnn.." I said as I rode her silently...

"Let's stop talking now....ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu......oh my goodnesss...ouuuuuu" said Olivia...

"Yes...ohhhhhhh..let's..ummmmmph" I said as we continued to make sweet love..

What I couldn't know was that this case was already spinning out of control.


(TO BE CONTINUED)