Like a lot of our best cases...This one was beginning where one was ending..
My wife, Attorney Olivia Bennett-Alexander and her niece, Attorney Beverly West -East and the rest of their team.. Myself, Investigator Donnie Ray Alexander and Associate Attorneys Nelson East, Beverly's husband and Josie Boyd were standing in court anxiously awaiting the verdict in their latest murder case... The Case of Larry Dodson, A Beverage Truck Driver accused of murdering his boss and a woman he was having an affair with...
The case had made the news and had captured the imagination of the city... The man had an impeccable record and his bottling company had come to us and paid his legal fees.
"I hate the waiting...It's been four days.."said Olivia..
"I know and they asked for interpretation of the law and what he could be charged with four times."said Beverly...
"Is that good or bad?" asked our client, Larry Dodson...
"It can go either way..depending on the type of jury you have...I think we got you a good jury.."said Nelson, patting him on the back and smiling hopefully..
"I agree with Nelson...I think you'll be alright." I said.
"Here comes the Judge and the Bailiff." said Josie..
Lt. Tragg, the arresting officer had a lot riding on this case...It was the first case he had brought back since a two week suspension, based on his last case in which he and ADA James "Jumpshot Jim" Taylor got into a fist fight after the verdict of the last trial and both men spent a weekend in the "Cooler" the Holding Facility at the courthouse..
The Deputy Of Operations was mortified, more than usual...and upset about Lt. Tragg possibly withholding evidence in a six year old case that resulted in a young man being imprisoned falsely...For this, he was suspended for two weeks.....
It had been so nice with him not around....but now he was back and he had brought in this case and stood there with a superior grin on his face... He was 100 percent certain this was a conviction..
ADA Ron Harper sat next to him...He was praying for a victory...Since he had last had a case with Lt. Tragg, he had had five straight victories..Five convictions in a row..He was on a roll, plus he was hoping he would finally beat Olivia ,Beverly and Nelson, his old Public Defender colleagues..
''Baillifs, bring me the verdict..."said the Judge.. He read the verdict and smiled...
''Alright ,read the verdict." he said.
"COUNT ONE, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE- NOT GUILTY"
"COUNT TWO, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE- NOT GUILTY"
"COUNT THREE, USE OF AN INSTRUMENT OF CRIME IN THE COMMISSION OF SUCH CRIME- NOT GUILTY"
"COUNT FOUR, MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE- NOT GUILTY"
"COUNT FIVE, MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE- NOT GUILTY"
The jury was polled and all of them said "Not Guilty!
'Well, I'd like to thank the jury for doing a sterling job once again and you are dismissed...You can
gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" he said and did his little two step...
Everybody laughed..
"We did it Niecey Poo.!!!"said Olivia..high fiving her niece!
"We pulled it out Auntay!!...It looked close, but we pulled it out.."said Beverly...
"YOU GUYS ARE BEASTS IN COURT!!!....WOWWWWW, YOU HAD ME SWEATING!I THOUGHT I WAS DONE!!" said our client, Larry Dodson... His wife, two teenaged children, his mother and his aunt all joined us...thanking us, congratulating us..
"I told you that It can go either way..depending on the type of jury you have...I knew we got you a good jury..I'm happy for you man"said Nelson, patting him on the back and smiling.
Nelson had got eight ,out of twelve jurors that we said we needed...All working class African -Americans, frour males and four females....all around Larry Dobson's age...a jury of his peers.
"Awwww man that was a nail biter..." I said. I had done a thorough investigation..Shadowing Lt. Tragg, questioning the same people he had questioned, relooking at forensic and DNA evidence, getting second and in some case third opinions and developing a timeline which placed our client elsewhere and shined a spotlight on the dead woman's husband and another boyfriend she had at the same time..
It had been a complex investigation...I almost felt like a homicide detective again...
I managed to conduct my shadow investigation without Lt. Tragg knowing what I was doing..He didn't like Private Investigators in general.
"What a relief.." said Josie..
"Nicely done, Nicely done...You pulled out that ancient predicate and it was smooth sailing from there on in... Again, Nicely done! I was on a roll too...Say listen...You guys got cars..why don't you follow me....I know a nice spot we can all have lunch..Just to show you there is no hard feelings..."said ADA Ron Harper..
''Awwww how nice.. I have a good team.. Beverly and Nelson actually found that predicate...They had used it during a case the three of us had when we were public defenders.."said Olivia..
"Thank you Ronnie Baby."said Beverly jokingly..
She remembered her and Nelson up all night searching for that predicate when they were Public defenders..
In the Law Library until nearly closing, until they found it.. It was a warm night in May of that year...
He drove her to Jakes and they had a Hot Dog...They were so happy to find it..
Beverly let Nelson kiss her...It was the second or third time they had ever kissed...They weren't officially dating, but they were kissing occassionally, Nothing more... He was begging then...and she kept telling him to be patient.. Unknown to him, she was close to giving in...He was a really good kisser and he was getting her hot...She almost asked him to come up to her apartment... The early days of their love story!
Her aunt Olivia was quite proud of both of them the next day and they went on to win their case...Just like they won this case..
"That's nice of you." I said... Part of me knew he was just trying to get in good with my wife..
"Cool , cause after today, I can imagine what things would be like in Sam Mother's place." said Nelson..
He was talking about Lt. Tragg's tirades...Which we had to hear after a bail hearing and during a trial and especially after we won..It was hard to eat in peace...even when we were ignoring him.
"I know right? I don't even feel like him today.." said Josie..
ADA Rockland Cambridge was there too...
"You guys mind if I tag along...I need a favor.." he said..
"I don't mind, do you guys?" asked Ron Harper..
"Of course not, Rockland is like family." said Olivia.."
Lt. Tragg was out of ear shot to the conversation, but just the fact that they were having a conversation perplexed him..
"They just beat Harper in court and he's laughing nd talking with them and I remember the wars Rockland Cambridge had with them...He's dating Beverly's mother...I just don't understand it.." he scoffed...sick to his stomach that he had once again brought in a dud of a case..
II-
Ron took us to a very tony, very trendy looking restaurant and bar for lunch..very upscale.
"WOWWWW! This place looks great!" said Beverly...
"Yeah, I went on a date with a young lady a few weeks ago and we came here...I liked it.." said Ron Harper.
"You guys still dating?" asked Beverly...
"Wellll, I'm certain there will be a second date." said Ron Harper, smiling..
"Nicee! This is a great place for a date.." said Nelson.
"Wanna take your favorite girl here one night?" whispered Beverly to Nelson..
"You read my mind.." laughed Nelson..
''Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww" said Beverly as she and Nelson embraced in a sweet kiss.
"Ron, I am impressed, your lady friend has great tastes in restaurants...She rivals my husband."laughed Olivia.
''What type of cuisine is served here?" I asked.
"Italian...Pasta dishes..." said Ron Harper..
"Ummmmm yum...I'm in the mood for that." said Josie..
"Indeed!" said Rockland.
"Rockland, you said you needed a favor...A legal favor?" asked Olivia..
"Yes, nothing major...I go before the uh Tenent Board of the Development I just recently moved into..I'm building a pool and there has been uh a dispute with one of the neighbors...So we are mediating it tomorrow...You know what they say, an attorney who represents himself has a fool for a client...I did all of the research and uh I have all of the pertinent documents.. I just need another attorney to be with me...Be my uh ruh second...Now I know you guys just finished a big case.. I don't want to bother you or Bev...I was just uh...." said Rockland..
"Say No More! This would be a great education for Josie... Hey Jo, would you mind being Rockland's second tomorrow in a mediation he's having with his Tenent Board?" asked Olivia.
"It won't be more than an hour, I promise...I just need you to kind of sit with me, Act as my Attorney."said Rockland..
"No, I don't mind. Sure!" said Josie..
"GREAT!!!I've got all of the pertinent documents...I just need you to be there to make sure things don't get out of order...I'm pretty sure the jerk who is protesting the building of my pool will have legal representation." said Rockland..
"No, I'll do it...Where do you want me to meet you?" asked Josie.
"I'll pick you up at Liv's office tomorrow morning... Liv, I really appreciate this.." said Rockland..
''Rockland, you're practically family now, don't mention it... Just invite us over when you finally fill that pool." said Olivia with a laugh..
''But of course " he said... The thought of Olivia, Beverly and Josie
in his pool in bikinis nearly drove him to distraction...
"Oh here comes our food." he said.
Different Pasta dishes were served with a nice bottle of wine for the table...It was a nice respite after a long trial...Nice and relaxing...but for our friend Rockland Cambridge, Assistant District Attorney...the fireworks was just beginning...For him, this was the calm before the storm.
III-
The day started off good for Rockland.. He had spent the night with his girlfriend, Alfreda Johnson, Beverly's mother and Olivia and Beverly's office manager.
'Ouuuuuuuuuuuu....ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm...Oh my god Alfreda, you're driving me crazy..."moaned ADA Rockland Cambridge....
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh work me , work me daddy, work me like a job...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, oh my goodness..." moaned Alfreda...
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!" he yelled..
''Rockland please!!! I have neighbors and the window is open...you want everybody to know we are up here doin the nasty?" said Alfreda...
"I don't care if the world knows how good I feel...ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" he moaned..
She laughed...
''Glad you're enjoying yourself..but I do care....I have to live here...Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, lawd...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! ROCKLAND!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!OUUUUU!" she giggled..
The bed was squeaking out of control and the headboard was slamming up against the wall so hard, the paint and the plaster was coming off...
''Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...oh Rockland...ouuuuuuuuuuuuuu give it to mama, give it to mama strong....YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" she moaned...
"AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW LAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWD!" he yelled....
Alfreda reasoned....Rockland had the hormones of a teenaged boy...At least when it came to her..
He always wanted to do it..
He called her during the day, even when he was working on a big trial ...He'd ask her what color were her panties...She never told him, but she'd always laugh...
He didn't spend every night with her..but he called her every night..
Lately he had been bugging her about moving in with him...She had been refusing..She hadn't lived with a man since Basil Riley and that didn't turn out so well...She told him she liked things just the way they were ...They had enough seperation that she didn't feel smothered.,
Then there were nights like this..
.
Olivia and Beverly and the gang had finished a big murder case..
Chances are they were all going to be sleeping in late today...It wouldn't matter if she was a little late...
The way Rockland and her were going at it...She probably was going to be late..
''Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..." "Ohhh baby, give it to meeeeee....ummmmmmph..."screamed Alfreda
"Sock it to me Rockland...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..."
"LAWDDD woman, what are you doing to meeeee?"he said...
"What am I doing to you? What are you doing to MEEEEEE?"she cooed...
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh gooooddddddd lawdd it's soooo
goood...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh I've missed you girl...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh sweeeeet
jesusssssssssss you are a demon in the
bedddddddddd...arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.." "Morrre...Morreee....morrre...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.. Rockland..ouuuuuu......OHHHHHHH."
she wailed...
"Ohhh Alfreda, Alfreda,ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..I'm losin my minddddddddd!! "
"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...I love you soooooooooooooo much...ouuuuuuuuuuuu..ROCKLAND!!!!"she yelled out...
Rockland lifted her up and began thrusting feverishly into her...He seemed to like this position...
"Wooooooooooooooooooooooooou.......ummmmmmph, Rockland....What are you doing to me? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Rockland.....I love you!!!" she screamed out.... SIX TO SEVEN HOURSOF THIS SEEMED TO JUST SLIP BY AIMLESSLY!
''Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..." "Ohhh baby, give it to meeeeee....ummmmmmph..."
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....ALFREDA...ALFREDA, I LOVE YOU TOOO! ...ouuuuuuuuuu, more, more... ohhhhhh..."
"Sock it to me ROCKLAND...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..."
"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuu baby..OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...I just love you soooooooooooooo much...ouuuuuuuuuuuu..ROCKLAND!!!!"she wailed... He came so hard....he felt as if all of the bodily fluids and energy was being drained from him...He was a little afraid he might be dying...
They continued kissing.....
They were going to shower but they wound up by the bathroom door,in a passionate embrace...
"Rockland, it's near daybreak....Don't you have that meeting with the board today baby?" she asked..running her soft finger across his lips...She could see that he was getting more aroused....So she stopped...
"I'll cancel." he moaned..
She laughed...
"Well you can't stay here all day...I have to go to work..." she said breaking their embrace and I'm not going to screw you all morning...I know you'd like that...but I do have things to do today..." she said...He kept kissing her and softly rubbing her breasts...she found herself turned on more than usual...
"Rocccccccccccccccklandddddddddddd...Come on...we had a nice night... you've got to go home..."she cooed.. She began softly stroking his now engorged penis....
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I can't go home nowwwww." he moaned...in between hot, sweaty kisses...
"But you have to...." she said softly...She stroked him until he came......
He showered, shaved and put on an extra suit he kept at her place for such an occassion...In fact, he kept several suits here...
"You're right...I'll drop you off at work...I told Josie, I'd pick her up..I have to stop my place and get my briefcase...It has my documents in it for the hearing." he said..
"That's my guy.....My responsible guy.." Alfreda whispered..
They kissed slowly before she went to take her shower...
HOURS LATER-
Rockland and Josie sat in a conference room with the tenent board of the development he currently lived in...He was having a dispute with a neighbor about the dimensions of the pool he was building..
Josie never believed she'd be in this position , sitting here as Rockland's second in a legal matter..She remembered when she was a Para-Legal , assisting Olivia, Beverly and Nelson in several legal battles against him..one in which they actually lost..
Olivia often said that he was next to Keith Wallace, one of the toughest attorneys she had ever gone up against...She said he might even be tougher...He was wildly intelligent, imaginative, very articulate and always prepared..
Josie watched him....He sighted laws and precedent to these people, from memory..They were stunned and he didn't give an inch...
He shot down nearly every opposing argument..
The opposing attorney, A guy about her age named Justin Berkowitz was clearly in over his head , jousting with Rockland and getting very frustrated...and unusually angry...It was as if this was personal to him!
Josie had very little to do today...but she was getting an education.
Rockland smiled confidently., He finally went to his briefcase...
"I have the schematic design and the exact measurements of my planned pool right here..to prove I am not in violation.." he said...
The other attorney, Justin Berkowitz looked at the papers and then looked at Rockland...
"You're kidding right? what is this?" he asked...Smiling...
"What are you talking about?" said Rockland..
A close look at the document showed a drawing of a swimming pool that might have been drawn by a kintergarden child..
"Hey wait a minute...This isn't my design.... My architect designed this to specification....I had it in my briefcase with my notes...there must be some mistake... I put this presentation together myself.." he said.
"Are you sure Mr. Cambridge...I know you're an attorney, not an architect, but come onnnnnnnnnnn!"he said, smiling..
There was quiet snickers from the all white board and a few outright laughs.
Josie looked inside his briefcase...It was filled with drawings by small children, drawn in crayon and
water colors..
She was stunned..
"You can't be serious! You hold us up for a month and then when we have a meeting, you come unprepared with this crap?" sneered the young white lawyer...Justin Berkowitz
"You're an Assistant District Attorney...I've heard of you...Maybe you've been working too hard..Maybe you've had a nervous breakdown.." he laughed..
''Don't Patronize me..I was practicing law when you were still sitting in the back seat of a car trying to get to first base with a cheerleader." said Rockland, getting angrier by the second!
"Rockland...Rockland...cool it...Let's go home...Come on..." said Josie..
IV-
SOME HOURS LATER-
"Heyyy Josie, How did everything go?" asked Olivia..
''Hi Josie."said Beverly...
Josie looked totally mortified..
"It didn't go well at all...Doesn't look like Rockland will be getting that pool...Everything just fell apart...I'd never seen Rockland like that...He was quoting law and precedent from memory like a champ..He had em on the ropes about to fold and then he went in his briefcase to show them the exact design and specifications his architect had drawn and he had a slew of pictures drawn by a child in kintergarden with crayons and water colors...He said he didn't know where his original drawings were...He said he had no idea how these pictures got in his briefcase..He asked for a continuance, so he could go home and find his original architect's sketch, but the mediator said no...The opposing counsel, all but laughed us out of the conference room...Rockland was devestated." said Josie.
"WHAT? Someone obviously switched the architect's sketches and replaced them with the drawings or he picked up the wrong briefcase..."I said.
"That had to be it." said Nelson..
"I saw the sketches his Architect made.. The last time I was at his place... He spent the night with me last night and then we got dressed at my place...He stopped by his place to pick up his briefcase and he brought me to work and picked up Josie.I gave him that briefcase as a birthday gift...It was the right briefcase.." said Alfreda..
"Somebody was in his place and switched the briefcase or it's contents.....We all know how thorough Rockland is..He doesn't make mistakes like that.." said Josie...
"No he doesn't...I think this takes some looking into...Get me the phone number to that tenent board." said Olivia..
"And maybe we should go back to Rockland's place and have a look see." said Beverly.
"Shortcake, you read my mind." I said.
We didn't think anything about this...but it was only the beginning of Rockland's troubles...
