Father Favors

My Father , Judge Keith Marshall walked into my office...

He looked around... He wasn't trying to draw much attention to himself....He was a distinguished Judge ,in line for a federal Judgeship...A widower...and here to for, thought to be childless...

"Hello, thanks for coming.." I said..  There was no hug or affectionate greeting...We were never like that...Our entire life was like some business arrangement...I knew he was my father...He knew I was his son...but it was never spoken about or made public...How convenient for him...

Bee Bee was in the office....She was the only one who had ever met my dad...She walked over to me..

''Good morning baby.." she said.

"Good morning.."I said and kissed her softly....

She noticed my father...

"Oh Hello Judge Marshall , nice to see you again." she said..

My father smiled for the first time..

"Beatrice...I remember you...Law school graduation....So you work here too huh?" he said..

''Yes..."

"Keep and eye on this guy." he said, pointing to me...and laughing...

''I try as hard as I can sir.." she said and smiled.

Just then, Yvette walked out of her office...

"Uh Ms. Yvette...I mean Ms. Jones...This is my...An old Family friend....Judge Keith Marshall....Judge, Ms. Jones is my supervisor.."I said.

Yvette wasn't fooled...She knew exactly who he was....From she and I talking about him on the nights when we were working a case...but she didn't let on that she knew..

"Pleased to meet you your honor...Keith is one of our best young attorneys...You should be proud to uh have been his mentor.." she said..

"I'm very proud of him." he said..

"Bee Bee..let me uh introduce you to our new investigator...Ms. Jade Lee..She's an ex-Homicide Detective from Tokyo...." said Yvette..

"Hello Beatrice...I kept missing you last week.."said Jade..

"Pleased to make your acquaintence." said Bee Bee...

Sofia appeared....

''Sorry I'm late.."she said.

"This is the attorney I was telling you about....Sofia Garcia.."I said..

"I remember you too ,from uh law school graduation...Wow! how nice you all wound up working here huh?" he said, smiling at her...as Khalid walked out..

"Hello sir." said Khalil...

'

Well, let's get going...We have a lot to talk about.."I said nervously as we left...

 Yvette turned to Bee Bee.,..

''Wow!  I almost blew it...You know that's Keith's Father don't you?" she said.

''Yes, I met him the day we graduated...I'm sure he knows that I know..Shame their relationship is like that."said Bee Bee...

"Their Body language gave off their estrangement..." said Jade..

''So that's his dad...Wowwww." said Khalil..

II-

My father pulled me to the side and smiled at me...

"So you and Bee Bee huh? Nice.....She's nice...Your boss is fine too...She's got a body on her, whoooooooo wheeeeeee!...and this friend of yours..This Latina girl...Ummmmmmmmmmmmmph....Boy...you've hit the jackpot here at this firm...All this trim....I was proud when you graduated from law school and passed the bar....But I'm even prouder that you landed at this law firm around all these hot women..whoooooooo wheeeeeee!" he said and nudged me...

For what it was worth it was the first sign of any kind of approval I had ever gotten from him....I kinda liked it...

''We'll take my car son." he said.. That was nice,  Him calling me "son" I thought to myself...

He had a 2018 Lexus Coupe....I had to give it to the man, he did have style..

At the wheel of his car was a very attractive white woman, who looked like she might be younger than me..She had on a Grey and white micro mini skirt and white stripper heels..

"Oh Son....This is my uh friend, Mitzi...She'll ahhh uhhh be going with us today." he said ,smiling sheepishly...

Sofia could feel my embarrassment..but she said nothing....She softly rubbed my hands ,like Bee Bee would do sometimes...I was glad she was here...Glad to have her support...

Whatever warmth I felt toward my father up until then vanished..

"Mitzi...this is my SON, Attorney Keith Jones...and his associate, Attorney Sofia Garcia...We will be uh tending to some business today.." he said..

''Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuu...He's handsome...Just like you daddy!" she said..

My father giggled like a high school boy....

I was disgusted....

Sofia squeezed my hand and then rubbed it softly as if she could sense how I felt..Good ,sweet Sofia..

''Well uh like I said...The threee of us plan to have a nice lunch and a little talk concerning legal business this afternoon..." he reiterated..

Mitzi wasn't a lawyer....I wondered just what it was she did... She didn't seem like she had a job to go to...

"Okay...I'll drop you guys off...You call me and I'll come and pick you up.." she said..laughing....

"You just want to enjoy my new ride...You don't fool me.." he laughed...

''Well Daddy, that's not all I want to enjoy....Try not to be too long ,okay?" she said..

''No longer than needed baby!" he said..giggling and smiling from ear to ear..

And they kissed passionately right in front of us...

I hung my head.....

Sofia continued to softly rub my hands....

''It's alright papi" she whispered in my ear...

We drove to a tony little bistro across town...

I had brought Bee Bee here a few weeks ago...She had told me that Olivia, Beverly, Donnie Ray and Josie had brought her here the week she worked a case with them.....

The food was very good.....

Sofia showed him her notes and laid out her entire argument....My father listened and then smiled..

"I usually listen to prosecuting attorneys...not defense attorneys...You have been very astute young lady...My son speaks very highly of you..." he said.

"Thank you sir.." said Sofia..

"Of course you both know that this meeting is highly inapropriate and in fact...IT NEVER HAPPENED! Do I make myself clear?" he said..

"That goes without saying.."I said..

''Yes sir." said Sofia..

He then looked at me..

''Son ,I'm going to try to get this case when it comes up on the dockets...but you know you can't be involved in this in any way..." he said.

''What do you mean? I'm second chair.." I said..

"No...You're not involved...If it comes out that you're my son and any investigator worth his or her salt can find that out...It is a matter of public record...That will make this entire thing tainted...So you can not be involved...Get that pretty supervisor of yours to be second chair..." he said with a raffish smile..

"That's okay Keith...He does make a valid point...I'll see if Bee Bee or Khalil will be my second chair.."said Sofia.. "Thank you papi.."she said and hugged me...

"You're welcome Sofia.."I said, wanting to help her..

"I know where your heart is at."she said...

"File a protection junket for your client immediately...That says that the government can't touch him until after this has been resolved in court..: said my father..

"I did that already..."said Sofia..

My father smiled...

''Ummmmmm smart and sexy...I like that." he said.

Sofia blushed...


III-

At Josie's Bar some hours later...Yvette Jones sat at the bar...

Gus the bartender and owner asked her..

''What can I get you Ms. Yvette?" he asked..

"Gus, Do they make Citris Martini's here?" asked Yvette...

"Sure do Missy....Do you by chance know the attorneys ,Olivia Bennett-Alexander and Beverly West?"

  asked Gus..recognizing their drink of choice now of days...

''Sure do! I know them both...Liv and I were room-mates in Law School and you can't know her and not know her niece.."said Yvette.

''They went to Seattle last year and came back here raving about Citris Martinis...So I had to get someone who knew how to make em.....Here try this...tell me how you like it." said Gus..

Yvette looked at it and smiled..

''Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm Gus....This is soo good!" said Yvette..

''I like the way your lips look on that glass.." came the voice of ADA Rockland Cambridge..

"I see more of you now than I have since we broke up...Where is your lady?" asked Yvette..

"She's Over Olivia and Beverly's place, making last minute preparations for the wedding next week..It's nothing but women over there ,so I decided to step out for a drink.Will you be coming to the wedding?" he asked.

''I'll be there...I'm assuming you'll be there too!" said Yvette...

"Yes...Beverly's father will be coming in...So I'll be meeting him...I'm not too anxious to have to do that" said Rockland..

"Jimmy?He's a pussy cat... I haven't seen him in years..I hear he's married now!" said Yvette..

''You know him?" asked Rockland..

"Yes...He's Olivia's older brother...Liv and I were room mates in Law school.."said Yvette..

"That's right you were....Uh are you coming with someone?" he asked.

''I may...I may not."said Yvette..

''Still haven't found anyone yet huh?" he asked.

"I didn't say that.." said Yvette , who had finished her drink...She plunked a few dollars down...

''Thanks Gus...These extra dollars are for whatever he's drinking...Byyyyyyyyyyyeee Rockland.."she said and left...

He smiled and watched her walk out of the bar...

IV-

My father and his new girlfriend dropped us off at our apartment complex....I stood in the hall with Sofia..

"Thank you soooo much Keith for doing what you did for me...This means a lot to me.."she said and hugged me again...

Bee Bee came to the door...

She smiled..

''So, Everything turn out alright?" she asked.

''Yeah, I suppose.." I said.

''Bee Bee , you got a real special man here....You better be good to him, you hear?" said Sofia.

''I tryyyyyyyyyyyyyy.."said Bee Bee... The three of us laughed...

And at Yvette's apartment..

She and Gary were kissing passionately.....He had brought her some fresh tulips...

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuu girl, I thought about you all day.." he said in between soft, slow kisses.

''I know...I got 13 texts from you...First I don't hear from you for days, weeks..Now I hear from you too much...but that's okay...Least I know you're still interested in me.." she said.

"Yeah baby...I'm still interested....Very Interested..." he said....

(TO BE CONTINUED)