Mini Skirts and Manipulations

I started off by myself this morning...I missed not having Shortcake with me to manage me through these Philadelphia Streets...This was still a new city to me and it was much larger and had way more sections than my native New Orleans...

Lucky for me...Beverly programmed my GPS in my car, early this morning before I left...

"This will be fine.. It'll get you there .."she said with a smile..

"I kind of miss you not being with me..."I said.

"You Do? Awwwww....I have to drive to Jersey...To check out a DNA lab..." she said.

"Jersey?" I said.

"Yes.. At the time Dandridge was accused...Our Own Lab was undergoing a government inspection...A Routine thing...So his DNA evidence was shipped to a lab in New Jersey for processing......Auntay told me to go check it out...Talk to them...Find out anything I can about their history...Tell you the truth...I wish you were going with me for this..."she said.

"You'll do just fine...We did this together once before...I told you what to look for and what questions to ask.."I said..

"You did.." said Beverly...

And in court....Nelson arrived early with Steven Dandridge and prepared his final argument...Today was the last day of Preliminary hearings...If a trial was ordered and it looked like it would be..They would need to get ready to pick a jury as early as tomorrow.. Nelson hoped that Beverly would be in court then...She was a genius when it came to Jury selection...

Nelson looked at Elaine English as she walked in...

She had on a bright yellow Mini Dress..She looked sensational...She whispered in Nelson's ear as she walked by...


"I want you!" and winked... She was definitely trying to tip the scales in her favor...but after the night he had had with Beverly...She would have to try harder...MUCH HARDER!

Judge Joseph Crawford sat sternly above ,prepared to listen to their last arguments before jury selection....Then, he nearly fell off of his chair...


Olivia walked in...

She was wearing a black and white striped top and a gray mini skirt and black high heels...

His eyes nearly popped out of his head...and his mouth hung wide open...."LAWD!!" he remarked to no one in particular.......

Olivia ignored him...She sat with Nelson and whispered something in his ear...Then she introduced herself to Steven Dandridge and talked to him briefly...She opened her briefcase and took out some papers ,which she spread across the table...


Nelson and Elaine began their arguments..

They both could have run through the courtroom naked for all the attention..Judge Crawford was paying to them.. His eyes were locked on Olivia..

She paid him no mind...


II-

Betty Luce Dandridge was an attractive Blonde ,about my age...With a sweet demeanor about her...I was surprised when she allowed me to come into her home..

"So you're with Alexander & West Attorney's at Law. huh?" she asked..

 "Yes.I'm an investigator for their firm...."I said.

"That's Olivia Bennett-Alexander and Beverly West right?   I've seen them on Television...On the news quite often...I've followed them." she said smiling..

"Yes..Mrs. Bennett-Alexander is my wife." I said..

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..I recognize you...You're usually standing with her or in the background..So why are you here? What do you want with me?" she asked..

"We are working as consultants for Attorney Nelson East...He's representing your husband.." I said.

Her smile turned to a frown....

"Mr. East was here a week or two ago...My husband wants to speak to my...His son...But I don't know if that's wise..My brother said it would be traumatic...and not to do it." she said.

"I understand , you've told your son that his father was dead?" I asked.

"My brother said that that would be better." she said.

"Your brother still lives here?" I asked..

She sighed...

"Yes...He was supposed to be out of here in thirty days...That was six years ago...He never left...He's had one bad job after another and been fired from all of them...Stevie was a good guy...a good husband and provider for the first few years....before he uh...before he uh violated my daughter.."she said.

"He swears he never touched her.."I said.

"I know..And I want to believe him...I wanted to believe him...but the DNA was in her panties and all over the bed spread..." she said..

"And your daughter swears it was him right?" I asked.

"You know...She's changed her story at least two times...She said it was dark and she had been asleep and her back was turned and that Steve turned her over and entered her doggie style ..She was facing down..She told me she never got a good look,but that she knew it was a grown man...an older man.."said Betty..

"So she never actually saw his face..?" I asked.

"Well..She knew Steve's cologne..She said she smelled it...It was him...I think Steve was drunk and thought he was in my bedroom...That's what my brother said." she said.

"And where was he through all of this?" I asked.

"He was out..At the bar...but he got back right after this happened and he called the police...She was a minor then....He did most of the talking.."said Betty...

"Is your daughter here? Could I talk to her..I used to be a cop..I assure you..I know how to interview a minor."I said.

"Minor? She's 19 and will be 20 in a few weeks..." said Betty..

She walked me up to her daughter's room...Her daughter,Stacy Lucen, now 19, was very shapely and attractive ,like her mother..She had on headphones...

"Baby, this is an investigator..He wants to ask you about ...About that night with ...With your...With Stevie.."She said.

"Mom!  I don't want to talk about that anymore...What that creep did to me..."she said.

"Stacy,I'm just trying to get your side of the story...If he is really guilty...He's going back to jail...But he swears that he never touched you that night..Please..I won't be long..Just take your time and tell me what you told the police.."I asked..

"I never told the police anything..Uncle Brian talked to them."she said.

Just then a big sloppy hulk of a man appeared in the door..

"THAT'S RIGHT!! ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW YOU ASK ME!" he said.

""Right now I'm asking her and only her mother need s to be in the room ."I said.

"Brian please!" said Betty....

"Who the hell do you think you're talkin to?" he bellowed..

"Would you please just leave this room while I conduct my interview...?" I asked calmly..

"INTERVIEW IS OVER!  YOU"RE GOING OUT THE DOOR!" he bellowed...He lunged at me...I grabbed his hand and bent it backward and put his arm behind him...

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" he writhed in pain...I spun him around and pushed him into the hallway...I didn't want to have to hurt him....

He was already out of breath...He charged at me...I moved out of the way and he flipped over the bed and landed on the floor with such a crash that I thought he was seriously injured...

He was out cold...but still alive... Betty applied a cold compact to his head....

"Oh My God...He's been drinking and it's not even lunch time.." said Betty...

III-

In court...Olivia spoke quietly to both Nelson and his client during each interval....

Nelson reshaped his argument....

Elaine English vigourously objected to certain things..but Judge Crawford with predictable knee jerk precision, over ruled every point she made...She had no idea that it was because of Olivia's presence alone and nothing Olivia was saying or doing to him..She was hardly making eye contact with the judge...She didn't have to...

He was beside himself watching both of them..both very attractive women...He had a massive erection...So massive that he had to continue to sit behind the bench...To keep himself concealed..He was sweating profusely...Which everyone noticed!

Olivia sat quietly and crossed her legs and Judge Crawford nearly fell out of his chair...She laughed a little bit at the effect she was having on this man....She couldn't believe it....

After recess...Beverly appeared in court...Judge Crawford was even checking her out... "MY WORD..IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY...BOTH OF THEM!LAWDDDDDD!!!!" he said to himself quietly..."LAWD!" he said....

Beverly whispered in her Aunt's ear and showed her and Nelson some documents she had...

Olivia scanned them and then said something to Nelson, who noticed how intently Judge Crawford was staring their way...

Both looked perplexed....but ADA Elaine English looked even more perplexed...They called her over to look at the information...

"This should have been brought out during the original trial....I move to supress..." she said...

Judge Crawford asked to view the evidence..Then he called for a half hour recess...

When he returned....He said.

"I'm going to allow this...but I want the DNA retested and I want him swabbed again...by our lab and by the FBI....In the meanwhile...Jury selection will begin two days from now!..." he said.

"I don't believe this...I don't believe this...Anybody can see that this is a slam dunk...I started not to take this case because it was just too easy.."said ADA Elaine English...

"Everything is not always what it seems..."said Beverly, smiling...

"Heyyy Beverly Girl...How are you doing?" said Elaine English...

"I'm doing good...I see you're an Assistant District Attorney now!...Good for you!"said Beverly...

"Yeah,but you know me...I'm entertaining offers in Private Practice...A few firms in New York and here  in Philly are looking at me.." she said..

"Always chasing that dollar.."laughed Beverly..

"You aint doing so bad yourself...You and your Auntie there have become celebrities....And I knew you both when..Come here Olivia and say hi."said Elaine..

"Hey girl, how are you doing?"said Olivia...who hugged Elaine...She had always liked her..She never held a personal grudge against her for anything...And she thought Elaine was a fine attorney..She still did...

"Not as good as you two...You're lucky to just be consultants on this loser case...Shame I'm going to cream your boyfriend in court Beverly.....And speaking of that...You and Nelson huh? How did that come about?" she asked.

"He's a real nice guy....He pursued me for a long time..Finally I gave in...and as it turns out...He was just what I always needed...I dated a lot of fly guys...I got tired of that." said Beverly...

"Nelson is nice and safe..He's so different now....Remember when you and I both thought he was a cornball?" she laughed..

"That was a long time ago...Not now...And after all...You dated him too...I wasn't out the door good and you were all up in his grill."laughed Beverly...

"Yeah,I did...I dated him twice...How times change. He dresses nicer now..Has a nicer car and I hear he's got his own place now...He's a changed man....Even more aggressive in court...He is impressive." she said..

"Yupper."said Beverly...

"So it's serious between you two huh?" asked Elaine..

"I love him Elaine and he loves me...It can't get any more serious than that.." said Beverly...

Olivia stepped out in the hall for a minute when Judge Joseph Crawford stepped in front of her..

"MY GOD OLIVIA!!!...You are just sex personified...Lawd!!!...You are wearing that skirt!!" he said...

"Joseph...I'm here as a consultant...I'm not trying the case..I'm just helping...And you shouldn't say things like that to me...They can be perceived as sexist."she said..

"They are sexist...All I can think about when I see you is sex...Let's walk back to uhhh my chambers for a minute or two...Talk a little bit."he said looking at her salaciously...

"For What? Talk about what??" she asked..

"You know what! We aint got to talk baby...Not if you don't want to...Know what I'm sayin??Heh Heh, Heh!!" he said softly...

"Can't do that...There's my husband! See you tomorrow!" she said smiling...and ran over to me...

 "Heyyy Baby!" I said and kissed her passionately...."I've missed you." I said.

''I missed you too...Let's go somewhere out of the way so we can uh talk."she said running her finger across my lips..

"Talk?" I said..."Sure"

''Of course....we don't have to talk if you don't want to!" she said looking at me seductively...

"Lawd Today..." I said and put my arms around her and hustled her out of the courthouse,past Judge Crawford....

Judge Crawford stomped his foot in frustration and stormed off..

"DAMN IT!!! DAMN IT TO HELL!!" he said...

"Liv this case has some life to it...Wait til I tell you what I've found..." I said.

"Me first!!!We've got Jury selection tomorrow and then Dandridge is going to be tested again...and The DNA tests are going to be done by our lab and the FBI....Judge Crawford ruled it in lieu of the evidence ,Beverly found..."said Olivia..

Nelson walked over...

"Bev just told me about the lab.....and the retesting...This is great..."he said.

"I've got even better news...Let's get out of here..." I said...

Beverly walked over - "If you're ready Nelson...We can go..I'm starving and I want a cold one..."said Beverly...

Nelson's phone was vibrating...He was getting a text...

He looked at the photo that was sent...Of a pair of Pink Bikini Panties and the message below it..

"These Are Mine..I just slipped out of them....You can have me and them if you want them...Just let me know.."

 He knew this was Elaine English ,who had sent this text....and probably from a burner phone...She was trying to get in his head..but he wasn't going to let her...

"Anything wrong Bae ?" asked Beverly....

"Nah.Nothing ."he said and wisely erased the text....

"Then come on guys...The tap should be running at Josies right about now."said Olivia..

"Good Idea.." I said as we all left the courthouse...

(TO BE CONTINUED)