And Speak Of The Devil

The Liquid Love Band had just finished their set....Symphony Sam, the Master of ceremonies at Josies and quite a musician himself..came to the podium...

"Ladies and gentlemen....It is my honor to present a young man who has played here for a number of years...before he lived here in Philly and now that he has married one of our girls and calls this city his home...He has sat in with all of us at one time or another....He's here tonight to solo for us in between sets...Ladies and Gents , show your love for Mr. Donnie Ray Alexander...  "he said.

The crowd which was festive was clapping and applauding..I walked up to the podium and began to softly play my trumpet...

I scanned the crowd .....I didn't see her anywhere...I was kind of dissapointed..but the show had to go on...

I took my horn and began to play.....


I began to play my rendition of "My Funny Valentine."

I had been copying Miles Davis's version for so long..That I sounded exactly like him...

I scanned the crowd again..and there she was....My wife, Olivia...

 She looked gorgeous...She was wearing a beautiful leopard print top and a black mini skirt...She had a drink and she was looking up at me smiling...

Much as she'd done the first time we'd met almost four years ago in my hometown in New Orleans...That seemed like an eternity now..I was a detective then..A Homicide Detective and she a tourist..From Philadelphia, who had come down for Essence Fest..

She was a lawyer from a big Philadelphia Law firm, who was thinking about branching out on her own...and me..I was about to expose 22 of my fellow officers who committed atrocities, INCLUDING A TRIPLE MURDER in the Black community during and after Hurricane Katrina nearly devestated our city...

We both had big decisions to make....But we spent one great night together in her hotel room...It was the best sex I'd ever had in my life...Afterwords ,I was obsessed with her...Calling her after she returned to Philadelphia and eventually coming to Philadelphia to look her up...

We'd covered a lot of ground since then....I'd quit the Police Force in New Orleans, Gotten a P.I. License, Moved to Philadelphia...Rekindled my relationship with her and began working as her investigator at her law practice...with her niece ,Beverly,who I also caught a glimpse of in the club tonight..

I finished my set and the audience applauded wildly...

As the Liquid Love Band members made their way to the stage...I made my way to Olivia...

This place was unusually crowded tonight....Josie's was never not crowded, but not like this...Gus was making a pile of money tonight...

"What's so special about tonight Gus?" I asked..

"Well There is a bachelor Party over there and a bachelorette party over there...and a coming home party over there in the center...

''Coming Home?From Prison, College, Military??" I asked.

"Don't get me to lyin....I'm just glad they drinkin..."laughed Gus.

"I heard that!" I said and wafted my way over to Olivia...

"Heyyyyyyyyyyyyy.."I said upon seeing her..

"Heyyyyy.." she said..."You were great." she said..

"That's a better reception than I got...The night you first met me in New Orleans.."I said..

"This is a much bigger venue!" said Olivia..

It was and it had way more people....

"What are you drinking?" I asked...

 "My regular...Vodka with light Cranberry Juice"

I smiled...

"You're not from around here...That's not a southern drink...You're from up North." I said...just as I'd said when we first met...

She smiled...

"That's what you said to me the night we first met.." she said...

"Yeah,I know..Can I tell you a secret? I had actually seen you a few nights before when you came in the club..I thought you were cute....I wanted to talk to you...but you were gone by the time my set was finished.."I said.

She smiled..

"I thought you were cute too....I made sure I wore a very revealing yellow sundress to catch your eye the next time I showed up...Since we are uh confessing and all." she said.

''So...Can I order you a refill?"I asked.

"If you expect me to sit here and talk to you that would be nice." she said and laughed..

I laughed...

"Oh you're cute...I like that....Barmaid....Vodka and Cranberry juice on the rocks for the lady and a Corona for me." I said.

"Wowwwww.....Wowwwwwwwwwwww This conversation brought back memories...It was almost word for word..the words we spoke when we first met.."laughed Olivia..

"Yeah,how about that?" I said.

"You're done playing for the night?" she asked.

"Yeah....After the Liquid Love Band finishes this set ,A D.J. is playing the rest of the night." I said.

II-

Olivia and I joined several couples that were dancing slowly on the floor...

"Ouuuuuuuu..ummmmmmmmmmmmm.." she moaned as we danced slowly...

I pulled her to me...She still had such a nice shapely and petite body...She smelled so nice and her perfect brown skin was as soft as a new born baby....

Our bodies seemed to absorb each other...

I pulled her close...close enough to feel her body heat...I got an immediate erection...I was a little embarrassed...I didn't mean for that to happen, .Olivia stared in my eyes kind of strangely...We were in a crowded room full of people... She slowly and descree tely ran her hands down my leg, felt my erection and squeezed it a little bit....Her eyes grew wide and she looked at me...

"Whooooooo...Still happy to see me" she whispered...and then giggled.  "Whoooooo," she said and held her hand to her mouth..."You are a blessed man." she said.

"I can't help that...You know that." I said.

"Let's do something about that!" she said and looked at me devilishly....

She took my hand and we walked to a foyer in the back of the club near a dark hallway..

We were in a little foyer and I pulled her to me and kissed her passionately..She returned my passion...I felt her booty a little bit, she didn't move my hand this time......I ran my hands up her skirt and softly rubbed her legs, squeezed her butt and continued kissing her passionately...

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Donnie Ray...Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu."she moaned..

A few people walked past us as we continued kissing....This wasn't an unusual occurence... plenty of couples kissed in this back foyer that led to one of the restrooms...There was a little red light, which was the only light that allowed vision in this foyer...

"Damn girlll...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.."I moaned as we continued kissing.....

After about 20 minutes, we stopped...

"Oh My God, Donnie Ray...ouuu." moaned Olivia, who smiled at me....

"Woooooo..I think we better finish this at home.." she said laughing shyly...No way we were going to try and do anything in these bathrooms, not with this many people roaming around tonight...

"Yeah,you're right.."I said and stood there for awhile until I calmed myself down...

We walked back in and sat down at our table...Her niece ,Beverly joined us..

"Heyyy,I wondered where you guys had gone to..." said Beverly....

''We just went out to get a little air."I said.

Beverly pulled a wet napkin out of her purse and wiped the lipstick off of my lips and my shirt...

"Always nice to get a little fresh air."she said and smiled..

"Auntay...we may have a new client..."said Beverly...

"You are a workaholic girl....Out trolling for clients on a night we are out having a little fun."laughed Olivia..

"Wasn't looking for this client..He came to me."said Beverly ,pointing to a young man across the bar ,dancing with another girl...

"He's cute...He try to hit on you?" asked Olivia..

"Kinda sort of...He  already knew who I was....He said he saw me, you and Kayla up at Green Hill State Prison, when we were up there representing Billy Harris last month.."said Beverly...

"He an inmate, ex-inmate?" I asked.

"No..but his grandfather is....He says that his grandfather was arrested and convicted four years ago for a murder that occurred in 1977...before I was born...You too Auntay...I don't know about you Donnie Ray."she said and laughed..

"Awww your little niece got jokes."I laughed..

"So what does he want?" asked Olivia..

He says his crazy great grandmother said on her death bed...five years ago that she thought her son..His grandfather might have killed that little girl in 1977...And some goofy Detective ran wild with it and on the basis of that got his grandfather convicted and sentenced to life in prison for a murder he's convinced he didn't committ...And get this...The Detective who made the case is himself in prison for an unrelated murder.."said Beverly...

"Oh My god...That's rich..."I said laughing hard and slapping my thigh...

"Ohhhh, so he didn't try to hit on you?" said Olivia..

''Well uh after we talked about the case, he asked me if I was seeing anybody.....I told him I had a boyfriend and it was serious.."said Beverly...

"Speak of the Devil....There is your significant other.."I said as Nelson made his way to our table..

"Lawd Have Mercy...You gotta stop lookin so good Beverly...I can't take it." said Nelson...

"If I stop looking good, you won't want me no more."said Beverly...

Nelson put his arms around her and hugged her...

"Nahhhh,I'd still want you...you've grown on me...your personality..." he said laughing...

"Goofball." she laughed and kissed him...

III-

"Hey just a heads up...I saw that creepy judge that has the hots for you Livy...Joe Crawford in here...You might want to either get up out of here or lay low."said Nelson...

"I'll do no such thing...He'd better leave me alone."said Olivia..

Just then, the young man Beverly had told us about walked over to our table..

"And Speak of the devil....There's your new client ,Bev."said Olivia pointing at the young m,an who was making his way to our table.

"You're Olivia Bennett-Alexander?" he said and extended his hand...

He was tall, about six feet, two inches and reed thin ,with very expressive brown eyes..

"I'm John Gleason and as I was telling your niece....I saw the two of you at Green Hill State Prison...when I was there visiting my grandfather. You represented Billy Harris..the death row inmate..You guys got him off..My grandfather said that if you guys got him off...Maybe you could free him..He's four years into a Life Sentence for a murder he didn't committ..he was convicted on flimsy evidence by a jack ass detective that couldn't make a case if the crook confessed..and check this out...That same detective is now an inmate himself for an unrelated murder in the same prison.." he said.

"Okay..look John..I don't have much on my dockett...Here is our card....Come by our office on Monday..I'll take a look at your grandfather's case...but I can't guaruntee or promise you anything...you understand?? I'll look into it..If it looks like he was railroaded...as you say...I'll represent him."said Olivia..

"Thank you, that's all I ask...Did I mention that he's represented in part by the Innocence Project and you two come highly recommended for this type of case..."

"So you knew who we were from The Innocence Project?" asked Beverly...

"Partially...I remembered you from the Prison....I couldn't keep my eyes off of you..."he said..

"John, this is my boyfriend, Nelson East...He's an Attorney also.."said Beverly..

Nelson didn't take kindly to John Gleason flirting with Bev, but before he could get mad..His eyes grew large..Liv, Donnie Ray!! It's Judge Crawford.." he said.

 "And Speak of the devil..."said Olivia.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh ho ho ho ho hooooooooooooooooooooo..what do we have here? Olivia..Olivia..Olivia..Lawddd today...A leopard print top...MEEEEOWWWWWWWWWWWW!" said Judge Joe Crawford...He was obviously drunk...

"Judge Crawford!!!!..You've been drinking..."said Olivia..

"Maybe sooo....but damn girl...You just took me out of my drunken state...Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrowlllllllll!" he said...

"Okay Fido..time to get back in your cage...Good Night!"I said.

 "Oh MY GOD! Nooooooo!" laughed Beverly hysterically!

 "You!!! You got in the middle of something beautiful between me and Olivia...Damn you!"He said looking at me... Then took one last look at Olivia and went..."Growwwwwwwwlllllllllllllllllllllll!!!!!"  and stumbled off..

"Oh My God..He's hysterical.."laughed Beverly...She was laughing hard and banging her fist on the table..

"Meoooooooooooooooooooooow!" laughed John Gleason..."What a kook!" he said.

''Stop...Stop it!"laughed Beverly who's sides were hurting...

"Grrrowwwwwwwwwwwwwlllllllllllllllllllllllllll!"said Nelson....

Both men busted out laughing...

"Monday I'll stop by your office...Thanks for agreeing to look into my grandfather's case.." said John Gleason...who was starting to contain himself..

"We'll see you on Monday..My my my..you all are having a  good time with this..."said Olivia..Who then looked at me...

"Let's go home Donnie Ray.." she said.

"Not a bad idea at all.Grrrrrrrrrrrrowwwwlll"I said looking at Olivia salaciously...

"Oh God Have Mercy." said Olivia, sighing.....

Beverly shook her head and laughed...She looked at Nelson...

"You coming with?" she asked..

"Meyowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!" he said...

Beverly cracked up laughing...

"I take it, that's a yes.." she said...

We all busted out laughing and exited Josies...into the Philadelphia Night...

IV-

 Monday morning found us hard at work on John ''Jack" McCann's case......

Olivia was in town most of the morning filing an appeal to overturn his conviction....A hearing was set for a few days from now...

Beverly on the other hand was in the office face timing Mr. McCann up at the prison.....Explaining to him that she had met his grandson and they had agreed to take his case....He was elated...

"You think we got a shot? " he asked..

"Of course I do...If I didn't think so, My Aunt and I wouldn't have taken the case sir." said Beverly....

''Well I'm grateful...This has been a hard four years..." he said...

"I hope you won't have to do another hard four years....We'll be up to see you in a few days.." said Beverly..

"I am looking forward to it.." he said...

John Gleason was sitting at her desk smiling...His grandfather hadn't known that he was there in the office.

Beverly looked at him...

"Okay...My Auntay is downtown filing a motion  to overturn your grandfather's conviction and she just texted me...They've granted us a hearing in a few days.." said Beverly...

John Gleason smiled..

"You know you are sooo pretty Bev."he said..

"Thank You , John have you been listening to anything I just said?" she asked..

"Yeah....Your Aunt filed a motion to overturn my grandfather's conviction and she's been granted a hearing in a few days.."he said thinking about Olivia and how sexy she was herself...This was where Beverly gets it from ,he mused and smiled..

He smiled...

"I listen to every word that comes out of your beautiful mouth Beverly.....with rapt attention..."he said.

"Okay..Well I've got work to do....Don't you have somewhere to be right now?" she asked..

He smiled again...

"I do...but I'd rather be with you..."he said.

"John....John...You're a real nice guy and you're cute..and I'm flattered, I am...If I was single..I'd certainly give you a play...but I'm not...I have a boyfriend...and we are pretty serious...So...don't get your hopes up okay?" she said.

"But there is hope right?" he said..

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh my god! I didn't say that." said Beverly...

"Why don't you have lunch with me?" he asked...

Just then ,Josie and I walked in...before she could answer...She looked relieved to see us...

''Hey what's goin on Shortcake?  Johnny boy!!!.... Josie and I stopped at McDonald's..We got Quarter Pounders and Big Mac's for everyone and fries.."I said.

"There's enough here for you John" said Josie...

"No..No, uh...I'll be going now." he said and got up...I'll see you all Wednesday.." he said.

Olivia was getting out of her car just then and waving to someone across the street...

"Your Aunt is here....She'll want to get in on this..."I said...

"Well give me that Quarter pounder..She can have the Big Mac this time." laughed Beverly and we all dug in.


(TO BE CONTINUED)