About To Be In Trouble

 THURSDAY MORNING at the law offices of MCCLUSKEY/COZEN/CONNOR & PRATT

 We were all in the offices archiving and putting away files...We had all been involved in some serious litigation recently, Litigation that didn't involve us being in court...Litigations that were taking place in our own conference room...

 "I'm taking you guys out to lunch today, you've earned it." said Ms. Yvette..

 I had handled two labor disputes....

 My girlfriend Bee Bee had worked three Workplace injury cases....

 Sofia , the only one of us to leave the office had worked on an Immigration dispute and then returned to the office to litigate a Labor dispure...

 Like me, Kahlil had worked two labor disputes and one divorce...

Jade had done some fine investigating in all of our cases.....

At least we got to see each other everyday....so it was nice to go out to lunch to a nice restaurant..

with all types of Pasta....

 ''Ms. Yvette, this food is delish."said Bee Bee.

 "I'm glad you guys like it...

Donnie Ray and Olivia told me about this place and Gary and I double dated with them one night...I loved it."said Ms. Yvette..

 "I should have known ole Donnie Ray would be up on this..He's quite a foodie.."I said..

 "That he is.."laughed Kahlil as he took a sip of more wine..

"Ms. Yvette..Your phone is vibrating.."said Sofia.

"So it is...This is probably Gary." she said and picked up her phone..

 but it wasn't Gary...

"Oh My God...It's from Pinkney Bach.....WHAT IN GOD'S NAME COULD HE WANT?" asked Yvette.

 "Pinkney Bach...The Judge, The Youngest Judge in Philadelphia History....Him??" asked Jade.

 "The Former Youngest Judge in Philadelphia History...Remember after we got him off of that murder charge, he had to pay two years of that girl's law school tuition and step down from the bench.."Yes that's him.." said Yvette.

 "I remember he tossed you in the cooler during that other case we were trying in his court.."said Bee Bee..

 ''And he was kind of sweet on you too wasn't he Ms. Yvette?" asked Sofia.

 "That was years before...He fired Ms. Yvette because she didn't feel the same way.."said Kahlil.

"To put it mildly." I said.

"He sent me a text saying he needs to see me....That it's a legal matter...of the UTMOST IMPORTANCE!" said Yvette...

"Guys will say anything to try and get into your panties.." scoffed Bee Bee.

"This guy certainly will....UTMOST IMPORTANCE!!! I never want to see him again..."said Yvette.

 "What are you going to do Ms. Yvette?" asked Sofia..

 "Yes what?" said Jade, smiling...

''Well,First off, tomorrow is Friday, so how about I give you guys a four day weekend? You're off tomorrow, and Monday?" said Ms. Yvette..

 "Me Too?" asked Jade...

 "The five of you...All of your casework is done for the time being, Sooooo take a break!"said Yvette.."I'm off Monday too and I'm only working a half day tomorrow. I've got some files I need to file away." she added.

 "WOWW, THIS IS GREAT!" I said..

 "THANKS MS. YVETTE!" said Kahlil..

 "We can get our hair done Saturday, and buy groceries and pick up our dry cleaning this afternoon.."said Bee Bee..

 "And make it to Aqua Bar for Salsa Night." said Sofia.. "Thank you Ms. Yvette...

"If you're wondering what I'm going to be doing about Mr. Bach?  Nothing...I don't need his kind of trouble." said Ms. Yvette.

II-

TUESDAY MORNING-

We all had a great weekend and were back in the office...

 ''What a nice weekend" gushed Bee Bee.

 It was...she and I had gone to her parents house Saturday and had spent the night and they had let us sleep in the room together...We both were shocked...But we didn't do anything other than kiss.

 "Yeah we had a nice weekend too."said Kahlil..

He and Sofia had gone to the movies, then to Stoleys and had spent the night in her and Bee Bee's apartment..

Then Monday, the four of us had driven to the shore one last time...

 Jade came in

 with tumblers of hot coffee, doughnuts

and warm bagels and cream cheese...

We all were digging in when we looked up..

and there he was Pinkney Bach, formerly Judge Pinkney Bach...Now just an Attorney like us...

"Looks good guys..." he said, smiling..

 "Pinkney, what are you doing here?" asked Ms. Yvette.

 ''I've left you texts all weekend and you've ignored all of them.." he said.

"I try to stay consistant." said Yvette...

 Bee Bee smiled.

 So did Sofia.

and Jade..

memories of his and Yvette's encounter years before lingered..


3 YEARS BEFORE

 "You know Ms. Jones...I don't live too far from here..I did have something more in mind for tonight..."he said softly..

They were in a bar...They had met casually during a case they had been working on... He was a very up and coming young Attorney, who's firm had hired Yvette as a consulting attorney.

 ''Do you want to win this case or not?  We are up against a sharp Attorney....One with more experience than both of us...We have to cross every t and dot every i.."said Yvette..

"Indeed, but we are just about ready....and we've got a whole nother day to finish up...I've got something else on my mind...I've had it on my mind for a long time...Since my firm hired you to work on this case with me.." he said..

"Pinkney You've had your hands on my legs for the past half hour and you've been running them up my skirt...now you're tugging on the waist band of my panties...Let me guess what that might be? Now look, we are working together...I don't do this...I don't sleep with people I work with...it makes things a little weird, plus ..Plus I'm a little older than you..."said Yvette.

"Age is but a number Yvette....I'm on the fast track to make partner...and I've got my eyes on something else..being a Judge.." said Pinkney..

"I Like a man who is Ambitious..Take your hands from under my dress please!!...."said Yvette..

"I'm very ambitious...I know what I want...and what I want is you...You don't want to make that long drive home...Come over to my spot..and I'll bring you to your car in the morning baby..."he said..

"I don't have a change of clothes...I'd get to work late...No...I don't think this would be a good idea...Now if you want to take five for tonight we can...But I'm not going home with you..And even if I did..Even If I did...That doesn't mean you'd be gettin some..I'm not interested."said Yvette..

Pinkney pulled her to him, His hand was still up her skirt...He tugged on the waistband of her panties, she finally moved his hands from under her skirt.........He attempted to kiss her, but Yvette moved her head...He tried to move it back, but she moved away....

"Look why make this difficult...I want you....I've been attracted to you since day one when you walked into my office..Stop playing hard to get...We are both too old for that!" he said..

"Pinkney, stop it okay? Calm down..I'm not playing hard to get....I'm not playing at all."said Yvette..

"Damnnn Yvette you are so sexy...Come on....Get with the program baby. I'm on the rise...And speaking of being on the rise...You have gotten a rise out of me.."he said..

"I uh can see that...Look, you're a great guy....For somebody...but not for me..Okay??...and you come on a little too strong..."said Yvette..

 It was near midnight... Yvette had had enough to drink...And she knew she didn't want to go home with Pinkney Bach..

He attempted to kiss her once again, but Yvette moved her head...Pinkney tried to move it back, but she moved away.... 

"Would you stop please??" she said.

"Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm, come here baby....ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh you've got me hotter than a cigarette at a gas station.." he moaned.. 

''Well you're not turning me on at all." Yvette said.

He grabbed her behind and pulled her into him, He kissed her neck and the side of her face....She eased out of his embrace once again..

"Look you've got me all hard and everything...Now look, you don't want me walking out of here like this...do you? Come onnnnn." he chided..

"STOP IT OKAY??? WHAT HAS GOTTEN IN TO YOU?" said Yvette....with a tinge of anger in her voice.,.

Pinkney knocked over a bar stool..Some of their briefs fell to the floor...His trousers were standing out like a circus tent...He was now grinding Yvette up against the wall and breathing heavily... They were in the back near the restrooms...The bar was packed.. Few people noticed or cared..

"Oh My God...If I could just walk you in the back....I can't wait....I've got to have you...Ummmmmm." he moaned..

He forcefully kissed her without her permission!!

''Would you stop it please?" she asked him...

"You've gotten in to me....I'd like to get INTO YOU!!! I can't stop....Do you really want me to stop Yvette?" he moaned...

Yvette slapped him hard twice and kneed him in the groin.....Patrons turned around...They heard the loud slaps...

"YES...YES I DO!" she said firmly...

Pinkney moaned and fell to the floor..

"OUUUUUUUUUUU!!!AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW UMMMMMMMMMMMMM...OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" he moaned ….

The bouncer came around the bend...just as Pinkney was getting to his feet..He was in pain and out of breath....

"Is everything alright? You okay mam?" he asked..

"I'm fine.." said Yvette, gathering her things....She left money on the table to pay for her drinks..

Pinkney was getting his wind back...both sides of his face stung....He was embarrassed...Several people were looking at him...He was red as a beet...Two women were snickering...

"Yeah,I'm okay..I uh slipped, Lost my balance...I'm sleepy...I-I uh better get home.." he said..

"Yeah you'd better."said The Bouncer who stared at him balefully...

The Bouncer knew what was up...He frowned and shook his head and walked away...

Pinkney was in pain....both his face and his groin...and he was livid!!!

Yvette gathered her things and left..

"I'll see you tomorrow...I'm going to forget about this night Pinkney..." she said.

The next day when she went to work, she was told that her services would no longer be needed by Pinkney Bach's law firm...She was paid for the work she did up until that time. No Explanation was given.. She knew exactly why she had been fired..

Pinkney Bach looked at her...

"Yes Yvette, you are nothing if not consistant....I'm in trouble or about to be..and I need your legal services...I'm serious...This is no joke.." he said..

 ''There are many fine lawyers at this firm and many in Philadelphia..I can refer you to them.."said Yvette coldly...

 "None as fine as you five....I'm serious ,I need your help." he said.

Yvette thought of how he had tossed her in the cooler, when he was a Judge and she and her five "Fine Lawyers" were trying a case in his courtroom..

A YEAR AGO!

"ALL RISE FOR THE HONORABLE JUDGE BACH!" said the Bailiff...

"Alright, Let's get on with this hearing....Uh Ms. Jones...Where is your client?" he asked..

"Your honor..My client's Mother died...And he flew to Detroit to attend the funeral...He missed his flight this morning..and won't be back into Philly until tomorrow...I'd like to ask for a continuance.."said  Yvette..

Judge Bach sighed..

"Ms. Jones, Ms. Jones, Ms. Jones...This is the third continuance in this case you have asked for...Now this is getting ridiculous..."he said..

"Your honor I know, I know and I'm very sorry but..."said Yvette.

"There is no but...There is no more but's....The trial will go on without your client!.." said the Judge..

"No..No..No...Wait !Please! We are prepared for this case, but we need our client here...His testimony is a very important part of our defense...We had planned to put him on the stand."argued Yvette..

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU PLANNED TO DO!  HE IS NOT HERE, IS HE? I HAVE MADE MY DECISION MS.JONES, NOW YOU HAVE ARGUED WITH ME ,MORE THAN YOU HAVE THE PROSECUTION AND I AM TIRED OF THIS BLATANT DISRESPECT OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS..." he said..

"Of your accomplishments? This has nothing to do with you...This is about our ability to represent our client fairly...You've done nothing but side with the Prosecution  this entire trial...I think that's a bit unfair and if you declare this a mistrial...I'll appeal.."said Yvette..

"YOU'LL WHAT? NO THE HELL  YOU WON'T" he said..

Ms. Yvette was uncharacteristically angry...

"Oh Yes The Hell I will..." she snarled back..

 "Ms. Yvette...Cool it...We'll appeal...It's all good..He can't stop us from appealing.." I said ,rubbing her arm...

"Ms. Yvette come on....Cool it...We'll get some drinks, we'll ride this out..We don't want him tossing you in the cooler"whispered Kahlil softly..rubbing her back..

"Thank You Guys..He's acting like a spoiled little brat." she said..

"I HEARD THAT!   SPOILED LITTLE BRAT EH? You say one more word...ONE MORE WORD AND I'LL HOLD YOU IN CONTEMPT!" screamed Judge Bach, who was uncharacteristically angry himself..

"NOW SAY SOMETHING!! SAYYYYY IT!" he bellowed...

The jurors were stunned at his tone...So were the people in the visitors section....You could cut the tension in this courtroom with a butter knife...

Now even Bee Bee was somewhat worried..

"Come on Ms. Yvette, it's over...Later for him.."whispered Bee Bee..

"You know what you are Pinkney? You're a Bully and I hate Bullies..." said Yvette defiantly...

Did she just call him by his first name?   Did they know each other on a personal basis?? It sure sounded like that to me!!

"That's it...That's It...That is Ittttttttttttttttttttttt!  Bailif!!!...Ballifs Take her the hell out of here!  A night in the cooler will cool her jets..." said the Judge..

Two Bailiffs took Ms. Yvette by the arms and led her out of court...She said no more...She glared at him balefully as she was escorted out...Ms. Yvette looked like she wanted to cut him....I had never seen her this angry at anyone before! None of us had!

 "Oh My God!" said Sofia..

 "I saw this coming!" said Bee Bee.

 "I saw it too."I said.

 "WOW!" said Kahlil..

"Come on...Let's get out of here...Nothing more we can do guys.." said Ms. Jade..

He said to us...

"I expect you guys to be prepared for trial tomorrow....Do I make myself clear?" he said.

Not one of us answered him....

''I said DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" he asked..

We still didn't answer, we just kept walking..

 "Ms. Yvette was right...He is a bully." said Bee Bee..

 "Asshole is more like it.." I mumbled..

 "I really don't like him." said Sofia.

"Me neither...What a butt head.."said Kahlil..

Some of the Jurors heard us and they laughed...

The four of us filed out quietly without looking his way.....

TODAY-

 "Yvette some bad things have gone down between us in the past....I -I have behaved horribly with you..I know...but you did save me from a murder rap once before...And Now I'm about to be in trouble again...I think somebody is trying to frame me for murder...If I didn't respect your talent...If I didn't think you were the best...I wouldn't be here...I swear...Please...I can pay you.." he said.

Something about a desperate man...Something about desperation that appealed to Yvette's heart...
As much as she wanted to hate Pinkney, the sight of this proud and arrogant man begging for her help touched her..

She looked at him...

''Alright Pinkney , tell us your story.." she said.






III-

"I work for the firm, Peterson and Jackson Attorneys at law...I've been an Associate Attorney there for close to a year...Ever since I stepped down from the bench...I'm actually making more money now than I did when I was a Judge if you can believe that...

One morning , I was in early having lunch when this other attorney who works there walked in..His name was Bud Talliger...We have never gotten along...We were both in competition for the Senior Associate spot....

Personally, I thought I had in in the bag....

Anyway, he came in two weeks ago..

 "You know Bach, it is one thing to steal one of my clients....but to be sleeping with my now former fiance is a whole nother thing...You crossed a line buddy..." he said..

"I don't know what you're talking about...That client lost confidence in you...I was able to give that client sufficient representation...and as far as your fiance...I did not sleep with her...That's a lie or a figment of your rather fertile Imagination.." I said.

"Whyyyy you " he said and he punched me in the stomach......

I punched him in his jaw and knocked him down .....He got up and punched me in my jaw...We grappled with each other...

Just then, Wally  Peterson, The Founding Partner's son  and his Para-Legal, Susan Goode got in the middle of us..

 "Guys, Guys...Break it up....If my father was in here, you'd both be fired..Chill..." he said, coming in between us..

 "Yes..both of you go get some coffee....Get some fresh air.." said Susan...

 "Yes...Good Idea Susan.." I said..

 "This isn't over asshole.." said Brad Tallinger to me.

"Brad just chill. You're so wound up...You're at war with everybody!"laughed Wally...

"Get your hands off me...It's a good thing your father doesn't know a lot of things uh Wally...?" he said..

"Whatever Brad, Bite me okay?" said Wally...

 "I worked late that night....I was done around a quarter til midnight...I ran downstairs and got a coffee, I came back to get my briefcase Yvette and when I came back... I found him in my office, dead..Brad Tallinger..He had three bullet holes in him...I didn't kill him, I thought he had gone for the day.." said Pinkney..

 "What did you do?" asked Yvette..

"I got the hell out of there and quick...I took the back steps and set off the alarm, leaving out the back door..I didn't want anyone seeing me leave out the front.." said Pinkney..

 "Did you call the police?" I asked..

"No, but somebody did...The police were on the scene right away...I was down the street, I saw the Medical Examiner's van and The cops..

Taking the body out and all..." he said.

 "You should have called the cops and stayed there...That would have shown you had nothing to hide.."said Jade..

"The next morning, Lt. Tragg and his men interviewed our entire staff, Attorneys, Para-Legals, Administrative Assistants everybody...I told them I had worked late, but I lied a little bit..I told em I had left and I didn't know how the body got in my office."said Pinkney...

 "That could be troubling....How do you know somebody is trying to frame you?" asked Yvette..

 "Because..." said Pinkney who opened his briefcase...He pulled out a plastic zip lock bag...

In it was a .22 caliber pistol...

"I caught someone burglarizing my loft...They hid this under my bed...That was Thursday...I took a pencil and lifted it, placed it in this bag and hid it until I could reach you....This is probably the murder weapon....by now, Lt. Tragg and his men have been given an anonymous tip and are probably ransacking my loft... I packed some clothes and put em in the trunk of my car....I'm leaving this with you...If I am apprehended..I don't want that gun on me.." said Pinkney...

 "We can't keep this..Can we?" asked Bee Bee..

 "That would be with holding evidence, wouldn't it?" asked Sofia..

 "Right now, we don't KNOW it's evidence...Kahlil..put this in my safe...We'll hang on to this for the time being."said Yvette.

 "I'm on it."said Kahlil, taking the plastic bag with a pair of scissors to hold it and placing it in the safe,.

 "Thank you Yvette..I'm in the indoor parking lot...I'm going to vanish for awhile and see how this plays out..Thank you so much. Uh is there uh some back stairsteps here?" he asked.

"Yes...I'll show them to you..."said Yvette as they walked out of the office..She showed him the stairsteps.

 Pinkney turned toward Yvette....His cologne smelled great.....He stood close to her..

"I really appreciate this Vettie...I really do.." he said and stared at her seductively...

"It's nice to be appreciated Pinkney, Keep in touch." is all Yvette would say and she walked away..

 "You know...I'm almost glad to be in court again, arguing in front of a jury...It gets my juices flowing...These litigations here in the conference room got kind of boring."I said.

 "I feel the same way...I wonder if Olivia and Beverly ever have litigations.." asked Bee Bee..

 ''Sure they do..I've heard them talk about it...It's just that they're in the news for some big murder case most of the time.."said Sofia..

 "Well whatever, I miss being in court..I'm looking forward to this."said Kahlil..

 "He hasn't even been charged yet... Cool your jets.."laughed Jade..

"I remember being a young attorney like them...Always wanting some action."laughed Ms. Yvette.

IV-

Later that night at Gary's house..

 "Don't tell me you're going to take that clown's case? He sexually assaulted you once and when he was a judge, he tossed you in the cooler.."said Gary..

 "I know...but now he'll be beholden to me....provided I get him off.."said Yvette..

as they sat on Gary's big sofa and looked out at the city..

 "You've already gotten him off once...When he was charged with killing the Judge's wife.."said Gary.

 ''Yeah that's right.. I'll be getting him off twice...Why are you complaining??...Don't I get you off everytime I come over here?" she asked and smiled at Gary slyly.. He appreciated Yvette's humor.

 "You sure do....You don't get him off like this..." said Gary kissing Yvette..

"Oh hell no....All of this....Is reserved just for you baby." she said and returned his sweet kiss...

 She slipped her panties off and eased herself down on Gary and began to ride him like a surfer rides the waves..

"This is all for youuuuu." she cooed.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh my goddd Yvette....Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.." he moaned..

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu YESSSSSSSSSS...YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS....OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH GARY YESSSSSSS!"said
Yvette..

 They were soon lying on top of the bed , making sweet love....

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Vettie ,you're my sweet , sweet girrrrl..." moaned Gary..

"Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Gary...Ouuuuuu weeee...Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu weeee." she cooed..

as they made sweet love on his huge sofa...

 While they were making sweet Love, Lt. Tragg

 and his men , armed with a search warrant had located Pinkney Bach

 at a friend's apartment...and promptly arrested him, charging him with First Degree Murder...It would be the second time in his career that he would be charged... A year ago it was another Judge's wife and now an attorney at his firm....

 Meanwhile ,Yvette and Gary were driving each other crazy in bed, at his home, making sweet sweet love.

their thoughts far from anyone else....

(TO BE CONTINUED)