The Shadow Of Doubt

Steven Dandridge's Mother lived in the same rowhouse that she had raised him in many years before..He was an only child and his father had left the family when he was 10...

He was born and raised in Philadelphia, attended Philadelphia Public Schools, graduated from High School and worked a few menial jobs before entering Community College...He graduated with an Associate's Degree and got a nice office job in Center City... He was attending Night School at Lasalle Univeristy when he met a pretty little student named Betty Lucen....She had a young daughter from a previous relationship...The father had left and was in places unknown...

He and Betty courted for three years...Both of them graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration and got married soon after..

They lived with his mother at first and then eventually moved into their own apartment...His new Step-daughter did not like the new man in her mother's life and gave him a hard time...To make matters worse...Betty's older brother...Brad Lucen had gotten himself kicked out of the Marines and came to live with them...

He was only supposed to stay a few days...A few days turned into a few years... Steven resented him and the feeling was mutual...To say that all of this was putting a strain on the relationship was putting it mildly...

Of course I had gathered all of this information from Nelson and elsewhere before the three of us ,Beverly,Olivia and I set foot in Mrs. Gladys Dandridge's home..but she told us all of this anyway once we got there..

She took one look at Olivia and Beverly and was star struck!!

"Oh My Goodness..You're Olivia Bennett-Alexander...and her niece, Beverly West...I've seen you two on TV...I've followed you....What are you two doing involved in this?  My son...He can't afford you two!!" she asked.

''We are being paid by the Innocence Project mam and by Mr. East." said Olivia.

"Mr. East is still his Attorney of note...We are acting as his consultants...." said Beverly...

"Ohhhhh, Well he couldn't ask for two better consultants than you two...He's a nice guy and he has represented Stevie before...but I thought that this might be a little over his head...I'm glad you two are helping him out on the case...."she said.

"I'm their investigator...I'm going to be looking into his alibi and other things concerning the case..."I said.

She was really impressed..

"Ohhh My...You gals got your own detective and everything." she said.

"He's my husband."said Olivia...

She smiled..

"Ohhh keepin it in the family...Your niece is you co- Attorney and your husband is your investigator...I like that....Is she your sister or your brother's child?" she said ,looking at Beverly...

"I'm her brother's daughter."answered Beverly...

"I don't have any sisters..She's the closest thing I have to a sister."said Olivia...

''Oh, so your brother is a good many years older than you...Because you two are very close in age..I can see that."she said.

"Nine years!  Me and her...My Brother is 12 years older than me." said Olivia..

''Ohhhh,you was an oops baby!" she laughed..

''She and me both"laughed Beverly..

"I like you two gals...You think you can get my son off?  He's a lot of things, but he's no rapist..He loved the ground Betty walked on...He would have never of hurt that girl of hers...I don't care what she says...I tried to tell her that over the years....And My grandson...He needs to know his father...She won't let him talk to Stevie...She's told him that his father is dead...It breaks my heart."said his mother..

"We are going to do the best we can."I said..

She offered us Coffee and a slice of her home made Pound Cake,which was very good...

We decided there was no reason for Liv or Beverly to appear in court just yet..We were just consulting and doing interviews...Olivia and Beverly were going over transcripts from the first trial and the current preliminary hearings with Nelson at night and preparing him for the next day in court...

II-

Speaking of Nelson...He was doing pretty good in court....He is a very capable Attorney...and having us to give him a helping hand only added to his effectiveness..

He left today's hearing feeling pretty good..

"Don't Worry Steve...Somehow I'm going to get you out of this."he said to his client, who was three years older than him...Tall, white and with sandy blond hair..

"I sure hope so...You're the only hope I've got...If I could just talk to Betty..." he said..

Elaine English walked over to Nelson, She was an attractive Brown skinned Black woman, Nelson and Beverly's age..Who had gone to Columbia Law School...

"Well Nelson,I have to admit...You have certainly come up..Is that Armani you're wearing? Wow! I remember when you used to be an off the rack guy..You've got your own place now and you work for Robert Foxworth and Associates huh?   I thought you'd always be a Public defender...You have really come up...I'm impressed...Shame I'm going to have to beat your brains out in court."She smirked.

''Think so huh?" said Nelson.

''Why don't you cut your losses and make me an offer now? You can't win this loser case...I've got DNA.." she said.

"I'll see you in court tomorrow." said Nelson.

"Nelson....give it up...End this loser case and I'll ...I'll go out with you...I know you're too bashful to ask!"she  said..

"I'm seeing somebody Elaine.."said Nelson...

"Ohhhhhhhhhh..Really? Who?  Anybody I know?" she asked.

"Beverly....Beverly West...We've been together for about two years now!" said Nelson...

"Beverly West? Beverly West is dating you? She must have really gotten desperate after her relationship with Larry North fell apart...I heard she was dating some guy at the DMV..."laughed Elaine..

"Old Business..We've been together for two years now!" said Nelson..

"Yeah she fell off after her and Larry North broke up..."said Elaine...

"Larry North lives in San-Francisco...He's engaged and about to be a father.."said Nelson..."His organization is partially paying me."said Nelson...

"Now that's an eye opener...I bet'cha..Bev told him to throw you a bone..."laughed Elaine..

"It's not like that with us...I make pretty good money with Robert Foxworth and Associates."retorted Nelson.

 "Well,I see you dress better and have a nicer car and your own place...But Nelson...Ask yourself this....Of all of the cases he's given to Olivia Bennett-Alexander and Beverly West...There was a shred of hope at least of them winning the case...Look at this case you got...A loser...Stop being a dupe Nelson and stop being Beverly's play thing..."laughed Elaine..


Before Nelson could answer her..Judge Joseph Crawford called him to the side..

"Mr. East...A word!" he said.

"Your Honor?" asked Nelson...

"You've never practiced in my courtroom before...but I know I know you from somewhere..."said Judge Crawford.

"I don't think so sir."said Nelson...

He stared at Nelson hard and then smiled..

"You're Beverly West's boyfriend aren't you? I thought I recognized you...I remember you sitting in the guest section at the trial and seeing her sitting on your lap in that restaraunt....Boy, I bet that was fun..."he laughed..

Nelson said nothing...

"I see you have three un named uh ruh consultants on your docket...Would those consultants be Olivia Bennett-Alexander, Beverly West and Donnie Ray Alexander??" he asked.

Nelson was stone faced...

Judge Crawford Whispered...

"That's not a problem...I expect to see Ms.Olivia in court appearing with you soon...Ohhhh ho ho Ho...HOOOOOOOOO hoooo hooooo hooooooooooooooooo." he laughed...

''Sir they are just consultants..."said Nelson..

"I don't care about that...You can have as many uh consultants as you feel you need...I want to see Olivia...and tell her to wear something sexy....It will go a long way towards helping me rule in your favor boy because frankly...You got a loser of a case and that young girl there...She's going to twist you in so many knots, you're not going to know up from down..She's practiced in my courtroom before and she's damn good!" he laughed..

"I'm damn good too...I'll take my chances..."said Nelson...

"A man can take his chances doing a lot of things son...Ohhhh ho ho Ho...HOOOOOOOOO hoooo
hooooo hooooooooooooooooo." he laughed...

 Nelson walked into the hallway....Elaine English joined him...

"I overheard some of that....So Beverly really is your girlfriend huh?  "she said.

"You thought I was lying?" he asked.

"To be honest...I did...So you grew a pair and you pulled her...Wow....I am impressed Nelson...Everything about you impresses me now...I never thought I'd be saying this...but I am turned on by you...In the worst way..."she said...

''Take a cold shower Elaine...I gotta go."said Nelson.



It was days like today...he hated being an Attorney!

III-

It was turning out to be a muggy and overcast day....

Olivia ,Beverly and I interviewed Steven Dandridge' three co-workers... They testified in the original trial that he worked a full over night shift....We had credit card receipts that showed he was in the gas station and that he stopped and had a beer before coming home...Putting his time of arrival at a half an hour after the alleged attack...How then was this missed in the original trial?? we speculated as we walked through the park, back to our car...

''We have to talk to that girl and to the arresting officers" said Beverly..

''Despite all this...we still have an elephant in the room...The DNA in the semen ,in the panties.."said Olivia..

"It could have been placed there....but then..so much and all over the sheets..I don't know...Nelson said he asked Dandridge and he couldn't explain it either...We gotta talk to the wife and the step-daughter as well."
I said.

IV-

Olivia and I sat in our bedroom talking....I slowly helped her out of her clothes and unhooked her bra...

"Umm, I like this one.."I remarked...

''Tell me one you don't like."asked Olivia, laughing.. I smiled... I continued talking....She sat attentively listening...

I talked  mostly about the case and our strategy for the next few days...Beverly was out...and Josie had long gone home...

She looked at me...

''Donnie Ray,I must be losing my touch...This is the longest you have ever wanted to talk shop after we got home.." she laughed.

I smiled..

"You haven't lost anything babes...I just wanted to stare at you some more..." I said...I hadn't lost sight of how deliciously sexy she looked sitting on the side of the bed...

"Well come on over here and let mama help you scratch that itch.." she said..

I ran my hands along her brown silky legs and up her mini night gown and began kissing her softly...

"Ummmmmmmmmmm...now that's more like it.." she said as I eased her panties down and off and just lie across the bed in my boxers ,smiling at her in between kisses..

 I entered her softly and gently and began to stroke her softly and slowly....She 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...She matched me thrust for thrust and even bit my shoulder at one point...She was so soft...so moist and smelled so good...I was losing my mind slowly....while continuing to stroke her masterfully....I didn't know where the tears came from and I didn't ask her...but the tears were just streaming down her face as I began to move in and out of her faster and harder...

''Ohhhhh my Godddddddddddddddd, MISTAH ALEXANDARRRR...OUUUUUUUUUUU....oooHHHHHHHHHHHHH......Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..." she moaned ..."Don't Stop...Don't Stoppppppppppp...please...don't stopppp." she moaned, which turned me on more...

''I'm not planning to stop anytime soon baby.." I moaned...

 "Ouuu make sure you don't.Ouuuuuuuu, my lawd....Ohhhhhhhhhh!" she moaned as I masterfully and carefully took my time and entered her warm and moist center..

We made sweet passionate and intense love for close to five hours...I couldn't get enough...Her eyes got as wide as saucers as she looked at me with surprise as I kept stroking her, with no end seemingly in sight. She felt as though she was climaxing several times....then in a huge wave, just like a few nights before....I climaxed furiously and hard....not yelling , but shaking mightily.....then taking a deep breath and collapsing on top of Olivia....drenched in sweat....She looked up at me and gave me a juicy and wet kiss....I surprisingly felt myself getting hard again...and began to move slowly inside and out of her....once again!!!


 "Ummmmph..you are something else.." she sighed...

"So are you."I said as we continued making sweet ,sweet love...

Another hour and a half slid by and I came like a river....

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.." I moaned softly, still kissing her...

"Oh My God, Donnie Ray...Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!"she moaned.....

Sweat drenched both of us as we lie in the bed cuddled up....

Meanwhile..a floor below us...Nelson sat somberly on the bed in Beverly's room...

 "Bev?" he asked her...

''Yes Boo." she said.

"You didn't have anything to do with me getting this case did you?" he asked..

"Me? No...You said his mother hired you..."she said..

''She was directed to me through the Innocence Project."he said quietly...

''And they have a list of Attorneys they subcontract...Including your boss, Robert Foxworth, My Auntay and me and my cousin, Kayla among others...Who put that thought in your head? Ohhhhhhhhh, you've been talking to Elaine English....Haven't you?  She's trying to get into your head baby......I don't talk to Larry North at all...Haven't talked to him or Sylvia since we were last in California...That's the truth....She probably told you something like...I traded down for you after Larry and I broke up...But the opposite is true...I traded up for you baby...I got a better man than any I've been with and look at you...Look at how good you're doing for yourself...You didn't do that for me...You did that for you...And I'm just fortunate to have been there when you blossomed ...I'm the one who's lucky...Lucky to have you. If There is The Shadow Of Doubt on your mind, remove it...I love you and I'm lucky to have you."said Beverly...

Nelson had tears in his eyes...He hugged Beverly..Who kissed him slowly, softly, tenderly...

"I love you too baby....I always have."he said.

"Awwww Nelson...I know...I know....Don't let Elaine or anybody get in your head....I never let Larry get in mine and he's tried hard...This is about Me and You...Me and You baby...We are working together on this one...I can't wait to get in court with you..."

Nelson began kissing her slowly,softly and gingerly unhooked her bra and slipped her panties down...

She began to ease his boxers down....She peered at his huge ,engorged erection...Then smiled at him..

''Well...That said....I see what you can't wait for." she said smiling and continuing to kiss him...

 "Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.." he moaned..

"I guess you got over your doubt real fast didn't you?" she said.

"I sure did!"he moaned.. 

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Nelsonnnnnnnnnn...Ouuuuuuuuuuuuu!" she moaned...

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh girlllll.." he moaned....

The bed began to rock softly and the headboard began to lightly slam against the wall...

Beverly and Nelson made sweet and slow passionate and intense love for close to five hours... She felt as though she was climaxing several times....then in a huge wave....Nelson climaxed furiously and hard.... shaking mightily.....then taking a deep breath and collapsing on top of Beverly....drenched in sweat....She looked up at him and gave him a juicy and wet kiss....

It wasn't long before he had mounted her a second time and was thrusting away inside of her...

"Oh my goodness..Nelsonnnnnnnnnnnn...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.."she moaned...

Another two hours seemed to evaporate into nothingness as they continued to make love...both of them cumming together and holding each other ,while shaking...and breathing heavy...

"Feel better?" she asked....As Nelson held her in his arms...

It was raining softly in the window!

"Much " he said as he got up and headed for the shower...

''Where you goin?" she asked..

"Gotta shower and shave...I have an extra suit over here don't I?  I didn't pack an over night bag...I figure I can prep for the hearing tomorrow right here..." he said.

"Might as well, You've practically spent the night..I'll make us some coffee....Since I'm up...I'll help you." she said.

"That would be nice.." he said, smiling at her...He pulled her to him and kissed her neck......He pulled her to him and kissed her deeply again...

She smiled at him and kissed him softer, slower....He felt himself getting aroused again....Beverly kept on kissing him passionately.....Pretty soon he was back in the bed...holding her in his arms, while she softly continued kissing him...

"Hmmm maybe we can start working in another hour  or two"he said....

Beverly smiled..
"Yeah...Maybe in an hour..."she said and gave him another wet ,sloppy kiss that was driving Nelson wild...

They wound up making love for another three hours...with no sign of stopping...

And upstairs Olivia sat on the side of the bed and made a decision...

"Donnie Ray...Tomorrow...or I should say today... You go talk to that girl, her uncle and Dandridge's wife...Beverly is going to do some research into that DNA Lab that did the testing...I did some research...It wasn't our lab...It was done by a lab in New Jersey...Bev is going to make some calls..I'm going to court with Nelson tomorrow." she said.

"You are?" I asked..

"Yes...This is going to be a difficult case....Nelson is going to need all of the help he can get.."she said.

"You know who is going to be presiding."I said.

"And with me there...He'll rule in Nelson's favor.." she said.

''What do you plan to do?" I asked.

"Do? I'm not going to do anything...Or say anything...I'm just going to be there...Advising Nelson...Quietly....I don't have to do anything..." she said.

''So by you being there...The Judge is going to get all hot and bothered and possibly rule in Nelson's favor..." I said ,smiling slyly..

"Yes....It always works on you..and you're as big a horn dog as he is...I'm sure it'll work on him."she said smiling at me....I put my arms around her and ran my hands slowly up her soft legs, caressing her hips and her buttocks...We began kissing passionately again for awhile...

Olivia eased herself down on me , draped her arms around my neck and began kissing me softly as she moved up and down....

"See...you got aroused and all I was doing was talking to you.." she said in between kisses...


"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.."was all I could utter as Olivia moved up and down on me...


Another hour and a half of sweet lovemaking followed...It was raining outside....

"Nelson does need all the help he can get on this one..."I said smiling and continuing to kiss Olivia...

(TO BE CONTINUED)