My Very Best Friend

ADA Richard Gray still had on his bloody suit jacket and slacks...

He hadn't had any sleep, He'd been up all night....This was cruel and unusual punishment he wagered..

Lt. Tragg walked in with a tumbler of Hot Coffee.. Only, he was drinking it...

"Come on Richie...What happened? " said as he slurped the hot coffee...The aroma was driving Richard wild and he knew it..

"Look, we got you cold...Your wife was shot to  death, your fingerprints and DNA are all over the crime scene...you've got blood ,probably hers all over your jacket and your trousers...Tell me what happened so I can help you out? Don't you want to get this off your chest so you can go to sleep?" asked Lt. Tragg..

"You really are a gotdamn idiot, like a lot of people say....My DNA and Prints would be in the condo...I live there....and secondly...Who do you think you're talking to, one of your suspects??  I'm a prosecutor..Do you think I'm going to say anything to you that you can use against me?  I want my lawyer... That's the only person I am going to talk to..MY LAWYER or else I am exercising my right to remain silent.."snarled Richard Gray...

''Suite yourself...but you're not making it any better.."said Lt. Tragg..

 ''He's not making it any worse either!...."said Olivia, who showed up just then...

 "ADA Gray, you don't look like you've slept a wink....Did he keep you up all night?  Shame on you lieutenant."said Beverly...

 As a Homicide Detective, I had tried that once..and only once...It never worked again...Attorneys always intervened...

 "We hate to keep you up any longer...but we have a bail hearing set for you...In a few hours." said Nelson..

Josie didn't have a class today...She had come along with us..

Lt. Tragg was mildly irritated and mildly amused...

"Whatever....This is a loser Olivia.." he said.

 "You've said that before Lieutenant."said Olivia..

"And you've been wrong before."said Beverly..






II-

In his office, ADA Chris Garcetti was looking at files..

Files on us...

Olivia Marrisa Bennett-Alexander..  Born and raised in Philadelphia PA. , youngest of two...Older Brother, James West....Educated Philadelphia School System... Graduated Valedictorian, Philadelphia High School for Girls.. Studied Trial Advocacy and Administration of Justice, Temple University..Graduated from University of Pennsylvania Law School, Passed Bar in  Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Deleware….Public Defender, Downtown Corporate firm...Fluent in Spanish and French ,Married to Elwood Barnes, Attorney, Two Miscarriages, Divorced...won huge settlement, bought current property, started law firm....Married Donnie Ray Alexander of New Orleans....five years ago...Hmmmm." he mused..

He pulled Beverly's file next..

"Hmmmm, we are the same age...Born and raised in Philadelphia Pa.  Daughter of James West, older brother of Olivia Bennett-Alexander and Alfreda Johnson...Beverly Cheryl West-East

Educated in Philadelphia School system, Graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls and like her auntie studied trial advocacy and Administration of Justice at Temple University, Just like her Aunt, Graduated from University of Pennsylvania Law School,  Fluent in Spanish and French, just like her auntie. Passed Bar in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Deleware...Public Defender ...Then went to work with her aunt as a partner in her law firm..Was once considered to be on a fast track for an appointment as an Attorney at the U.S. Department of Immigration. ...Married two years ago to Attorney Nelson East... He mused..

Nelson's file was next... Born and Raised in Philadelphia PA.. Nephew of reputed Crime Kingpin, Fathead Newton...

Educated in Philadelphia School system, Graduated from West Catholic High, Attended St.John's University in New York City.. Majored in Administration of Justice and Trial Advocacy.. Attended Law School there also. Graduated with Honors...Passed the Bar in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Deleware..Fluent in Spanish, French and Russian..

Went to work as a Public Defender ,mentored by Olivia Bennett-Alexander, Left to work for Robert Foxworth and Associates and recently began working for Olivia Bennett-Alexander and Beverly West's law practice...

Married Beverly West Two years ago.

I came up next, Donnie Ray Alexander..Born and Raised in New Orleans ,Louisiana..Mother died when 14...Raised by his Aunt and Older Sister...Did a stint in the Marines, Honorable Discharge, Joined the New Orleans Police Force..Worked his way up to Homicide Detective, Earned Associate Degree in Administration of Justice , New Orleans Community College.. Was involved in sting operation with the FBI that resulted in the arrest and conviction of 22 policemen, including his Lieutenant in a triple murder and cover up during Katrina... He resigned from the NOPD, Got a P.I.
License, Moved to Philadelphia and went to work for Olivia and Beverly...Married Olivia Bennett, five years ago on New Years Day in New Orleans...Then moved to Philadelphia..

Last but not least...Josephine "Josie " Boyd...Daughter of Philadelphia Crime Kingpin Joe Boyd...Born in Philadelphia, raised in New York City  with her mother, his estranged wife.. Came to Philadelphia as a young woman after her father's death...Attended University of Pennsylvania...Has a degree in Architecture...Went to work for Olivia and Beverly as an Office Manager..Later got a Para Legal certification from Community College, Presently in second year of Law School at Drexel University...

He put the files away...Quite a distinguished bunch he was facing..Highly educated and highly skilled.

Olivia and Beverly had only lost one case since they began their law practice.. and that was to 

Rockland Cambridge... They got the verdict overturned and won the retrial..

Well they were going to lose this case...To him! And it was going to stick...

He had nothing personal against Richard Gray....In Fact, He thought he was an okay guy....but he had murdered his wife and he was going down for it.

III-

Olivia, Beverly, Nelson and I appeared in court with ADA Richard Gray...

We argued that ADA Richard Gray was a noted attorney.....Richard Gray had been an ADA for two years...He had moved here from New Haven, Had Attended Harvard Law school and passed the Bar in Mass.

He had an Impeccable ,stainless record and was no threat to the community and was entitled to reasonable bail.

Chris Garcetti's argument was almost like his opening statement arguing that the defendant had committed a heinious crime and was indeed a threat to the community of released..He called Forensic specialists who testified that his DNA was found at the crime scene..

"He lived there at the residence your honor...His DNA and Prints should be there.."argued Nelson..

"If they weren't there...I'd be suspicious.."said Beverly..

Which brought gales of laughter from the spectators...

"I think counselor is trying his case here at the bail hearing your honor.." added Olivia.

"I agree"said Judge Turner Freeman, our friend..."Bail is set at 100 thousand..." he said..

Richard paid the ten percent and was released on bail...

Olivia, Beverly and Josie walked out with Richard Gray...

He was jubilant..

Nelson and I stared at Chris Garcetti..

He was livid...He jumped up and down like a petulant child, kicked over two chairs and moved his desk...

"Control yourself counselor...You're close to contempt.."said Judge Freeman...

He stared at the Judge and stormed out of the courthouse..

 ''What did I tell you Niecey Poo, when they lose they look sooo pitiful.."said Olivia..

"I know right?" laughed Beverly...







IV-

ADA Karen Page ran up to us as we were leaving...

''Richie...Richie...what the hell happened..?" she asked..She was  near tears...

"Somebody shot and killed Pamela....It wasn't me...I didn't do it..I swear....I wasn't even home..I was out all night...I got home around 9:00 am yesterday morning and I found her in our condo...Face up, shot to death...I didn't do it....I wouldn't do it...She was my friend...My Very Best Friend.." he said.

Olivia and I looked at him funny when he said that...

"Oh My God...Well you've got two very good attorneys representing you....Liv, Bev...he's no killer..I know this guy...I've worked with him...He's passionate about justice.."said Karen..

 "If you weren't a Prosecutor Karen..I'd ask you to be second chair.."joked Olivia..

Josie laughed..

"I suppose you're hungry.." she said..

"No I'm sleepy....I need a shower, a change of clothes...but I can't sleep in that Condo, Not where Pam was murdered..." said Richard.

"I'll go with you, get you some clothes...You got a place to stay?" asked Nelson...

"I have a friend, a special friend...I'm staying with him....I'll stop by and see you guys in the morning...Thanks for getting me out.."said Richard...

"They impounded your car....Evidence..."I said..

"That's alright...I'll get a rental..My friend will take me to the airport.."said Richard....

"Okay, we'll see you in the morning Richard.."said Olivia..

"Okay...and thank you Liv, Bev, Nelson, Donnie Ray and Josie.." he said as he got in Nelson's car

Nelson drove off with him...

"Liv, take care of him...If I can be of any help...Don't hesitate to call me.."said Karen..

"I certainly will.."said Olivia..

Olivia, Beverly and I and Josie all piled in the SUV and headed home..

Lt. Tragg approached Karen..

 "ADA Page...Karen...You uh really like that guy Richie Gray huh?  I thought he was an okay guy, a real straight shooter, but look, he's married..or he was... You don't think he killed his wife so he could uh get to you do you?" asked Lt. Tragg..

"Arthur, Don't Be Ridiculous...There was nothing like that between me and Richard...We are strictly professional...Strictly colleagues...And besides..I wasn't his type anyway."said Karen..

"Not his type? You're Gorgeous...You're definitely MY TYPE!" said Lt. Tragg...

''Artie don't start!"said Karen..

B.L. Benz, the Host of HARD BOTTOM...and the Podcast WRONGFULLY CONVICTED , walked up...

''Hey Babes.." he said...he completely ignored Lt. Tragg, his one time friend..

"Hey Baby."said Karen...

She gave him a kiss that sent him in orbit......

They walked away without saying a word to Lt. Tragg…

Lt. Tragg was livid...He stomped his foot and jumped up and down...


(TO BE CONTINUED)